Vaud & the Villains

Vaud and the Villains is a 19 piece 1930s New Orleans orchestra and cabaret show. With echos of Bruce Springsteen’s Seeger Session Band, they mine the rich soil of Americana roots, trad jazz, revival music, parlour music, gospel, zydeco and folk…but they are more then a genre bending musical/concert haymaker punch. It is at once seedy and inspiring…gritty and sublime. The cabaret combines the elegance of Weimar era Berlin with the arresting sultriness of Moulin Rouge.The Americana Noir show is founded by J. Andrew Comeau, as Vaud Overstreet and Dawn Lewis as Peaches Mahoney…both of them have had long careers as actors but in 2008, were moved to create something fresh inspired by a Depression Era charlatan and relative, Vaud Comeau. They also shared a love for the traditional folk songs they had both known growing up and began setting new arrangements to those songs. The themeatic message of the show is captured on the logo, “Every Saint Has A Past, Every Sinner Has A Future”. And the message of hope, duality and acceptance is evident in the choices of songs, spoken word and dance. The show is comprised of a five piece horn section, five vocalists, a rhythm section, and three dancers.Among their many engagements, they have played for LACMA's ArtWalk, OC Weekly, for the City of West Hollywood, House of Blues, El Rey Theatre, Cirque Berzerk, Clear Channel, and Disney Studios, as well as live on the air on KPFK in Los Angeles, Live on the air with Suicide Girls, Amoeba Records, Café Was, The Mint, and many many sold out shows at their home Fais Do Do.

• http://www.vaudandthevillains.com/