Dum Spiro Spero

Rank #12 El Cerrito, CA Americana / Folk / World

About

Members: Craig England Jr., Rafael Rangell, Bowie Johnson, and Anthony Yousko

Sounds Like: DeVotchKa, Beirut, Calexico, The Devil Makes Three, The Avett Brothers

Label: I Am We Productions, I Am We Productions

Bio: Dum Spiro Spero is the aural equivalent of a time machine, transporting listeners into an Americana somewhere after covered wagons but before filtered cigarettes. The Berkeley based, folk fusion trio’s music was probably what Levi Strauss hummed while he was inventing denim. No hyperbole. The ban... See Full Bio

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Status

: Playing a new old spot in Oakland on telegraph. Come on bring the noise. @ The Legionnaire Saloon http://t.co/Z3g67pUd8e

Press

“A penchant for Latin phrasings isn't the only peculiarity about local quintet Dum Spiro Spero, which features an odd but melodious combination of instruments: banjo, accordion, violin, musical saw, etc. The resulting jug band sounds a lot leaner and drier than its size would suggest. It resists being catchy — none of the tunes on this EP have an accessible verse-chorus-verse structure; instead, the songs build from a series of tiny motifs.”

— Rachel Swan, East Bay Express

“But really, there’s something amazing to be said for anyone like Anthony Yousko who can not only keep up with the technical mania of his bandmates’ guitar and violin with a goddamn musical saw, but can also use said saw to form backbone ostinatos as instantly catching as the distorted vocals in M83′s “Midnight City.” Or for frontman Bowie Johnson’s ability to keep a straight face while singing lines like: Guns are poison / you can’t plant one and watch it grow. And that’s the beauty of their mushroom samba brand of kinder, gentler, almost-Appalachian Americana, I suppose : their deliberate embracing of what could be considered the relentlessly unhip into their own domain, lacking a single solitary second of irony the entire way. In a better, loving world they’d be redundant. And that’s fucking tragic, and while there’s something to be said for that, too, all I can do at the moment is pray to whatever god I don’t believe in that there’s still some beer from las”

— Port Morsby, East Jesus

“This Collection of Folksy Roots tunes sounds like it would be more at home in Appalachia than the Bay Area. Think Fiddles and lyrical tales with a slight touch of the macabre adding a genuine Southern flavor.”

— Kirsty Evans, East Bay Express

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Recent Blogs

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Mar 4, 2012
Wednesday March 7 Santa Cruz Farmer's Market 2-4:30 Backstage Lounge Doors @ 6... [more]

A great thanks to our spons...
Aug 26, 2010
First a big thank you to the generous people @ San Franola, a San Francisco base... [more]

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Play "We've Got Faith, We've Got Love"

We've Got Faith, We…

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Cigarettes & Gin

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Black Sheep

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Eleven Arrows

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Shows

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Wed
Jun 12

The Lost Church
San Francisco, CA, US | 7:00pm
The Lost Church
San Francisco, CA, US
Wed Jun 12 7:00pm
Details

The Rogers are bringing you their own take on Americana , borrowing from alt.country, gypsy jazz , folk ,honky tonk,moaning slide guitar,while the singer croons along to the highly emotional lovelorn tunes. Dum Spiro Spero is the aural equivalent of a time machine, transporting listeners into an Americana somewhere after covered wagons but before filtered cigarettes. The Berkeley based, folk fusion trio’s music was probably what Levi Strauss hummed while he was inventing denim.
Mon
Aug 12

Burt's Tiki Lounge
Salt Lake City, UT, US | 8:00pm
Burt's Tiki Lounge
Salt Lake City, UT, US
Mon Aug 12 8:00pm
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- Tickets
Tue
Aug 13

Neurolux Lounge
Boise, ID, US | 7:30pm
Neurolux Lounge
Boise, ID, US
Tue Aug 13 7:30pm
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Comments

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Fable Cry
Hello fellows! I just had a listen to your bangarang tunes, and I say, yes! If we're out that way we'll let you know, and if you guys are ever around Nashville, definitely ...
Mike Glendinning
Great sound guys. www.mikegrungejazz.com
The Rogers
Hey I was wondering if you would like to perform with us & Wesley Morgan & The Twin V's at The Hotel Utah on September 29 th . Please let me know . Oh yeah hope the to...
Shiv
Autumn twas a pleasure to meet u earlier today ... beautiful music and cool band!
Karmin
Sorry I couldn't make it to your show last night in Boston. Great meeting you on the street though. Music sound fantastic!!
christine monkman
Hey, I went to your show last night. You probably don't remember me, but I just wanted to let you know you're awesome! you guys played such a good set :)