Artist description spottiswoode & his enemies are a six piece rock band that is growing a cult status in New York city. comparisons to Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Jim Morrison, Leonard Cohen, David Byrne and Bowie still don't capture it.

Music Style ROCK

Musical Influences Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen

Similar Artists Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Doors

Artist History spottiswoode & his enemies have been friends for many years. the association started many years ago in washington DC when all but one enemy was a zimmerman. after "taking a one year break" the core members of the zimms (minus one) re-united and added McMahon to form the rock band currently known as spottiswoode and his enemies.

Group Members Jonathan Spottiswoode (leader, songwriter + vocalist), John E. Young (bass), Tim Vaill (drums), Riley McMahon (lead guitar), Candace DeBartolo (sax), Kevin Cordt (trumpet)

Instruments vocals, guitar(s), bass, drums, tenor sax, trumpet

Albums spottiswoode & his enemies

Press Reviews ** The New Yorker Magazine, March '99 "spottiswoode, the genius behind this tight sextet, writes astringently morose ballads about love, and his deep, rough-hewn voice will make you think of Leonard Cohen **"Time Out New York 6/15-22/2000 "Local British transplant Spottiswoode will amuse you with his unconventional songsmithery" **Time Out New York 3/2000 "Expect drama from Spottiswoode, a local boulevardier who writes jazzy little numbers in the manner of a less dyspeptic Tindersticks, or NickCave without the heavy religious or homicidal impulses...Spottiswoode possesses a lovely crooning baritone **"Aiding & abetting" Spottiswoode utilizes all sorts of cheesy pop cliches, but he invariably strips then down to their cores and inverts them, leaving behind some truly spooky stuff. Not yer everyday album, but those of us with a dark side will partake with gusto. Some really amazing work here **"Flagpole Mag.-athens, GA, jan, '99 "his enemies could well have been cast as the supporting players in a black comedy starring tom waits and set in any hole-in-the-wall corner bar-a two piece horn section who looked like a manhattan couple from an early woody allen film & a sharp rhythm section of weirdos who resembled Captain Beefheart's Magic Band in both sound and appearance-spottiswoode , obsessing over the awkwardness of dating women and the pursuit of happiness sang, 'why go to work...why be a jerk, when you could be dancing instead' - good point! **"Washington Post Reviews, dec 4, '98 "his voice proves appropriate for the somber ballads on 'ugly Love' with a gruff whisper that sometimes suggests leonard cohen's, the deadpan observations of such songs as 'love her again' and 'nice girl' are often incisive...still it's the music that insinuatingly creates the mood...the album's sound is frequently hushed and generally spare, which makes the occasional sax, strings or gospel backing vocals all the more striking...with such canny juxtapositions, 'ugly love' achieves an astringent beauty"Wash DC City Paper, dec 4, '98 "it evokes a '50s music hall at the british seaside or a lounge singer negotiating his own sleaziness"**Creative Loafing, Charlotte, NC, nov 21, '98 "and now for something completely different...spottiswoode's lyrics drip with gallons of leonard cohen...spottiswoode is a jolt of mellow energy in today's hyper-beat music world...some songs have a decidedly Paris cafe flavor, but the devilish guitars conjure up alienation and fear...laborious, gorgeous and doomy in the same breath, spottsiwoode's bare bones determination and neuroticism is compelling"**Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, NC nov 20, '98 "spottiswoode plays it low and slinky, with mood galore. Imagine haning out with Leonard Cohen, sipping martinis in a dark corner of some hip bar, dissecting Bowie's 'space oddity'....spottiswoode would probably be the band onstage" Flagpole Magazine, Athens GA, nov 18, '98 "spottiswoode's new solo project UGLY LOVE (groovetownUSA records) is an eerie collection of love songs and waltzes reminiscent of the moodiest material by leonard cohen, tom waits and smoke"

Location New York City, New York - USA

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