Ghosts and Vodka...

One of my favourite bands.

Ghosts and Vodka stem from Cap'n Jazz, a highly influential Chicago-based early emo band active in the early nineties (listen to Oh Messy Life on Analphabetapolothology).

Sadly they split up all too soon, their entire catalogue collated on a single retrospective album. However, their being sowed the seed for several other great Chicago-scene bands to come and go over years - a couple of my other favourites are Owls and Joan of Arc.

I discovered Ghosts and Vodka quite organically in a journal about constructing communities through independent music subcultures in Chicago that I was reading as part of my research for my dissertation. I loved 'em from the start and listened loads when I was living in Canton, Cardiff.

Unusually for me (at least nowadays) it's entirely instrumental. But don't be scared! Dive in and have a listen to Andrea Loves Horses and It's All About Right Then:

For me it's all about the guitarist Victor Villarreal. His unique sound and style define everything he's involved with. Unfortunately he succumbed to the temptations of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle, which was probably partly responsible for the band splitting in 2001 (again their entire catalogue sitting comfortably on an appropriately-titled single album: Addicts and Drunks...)

From what I can gather, they never really achieved much outside Chicago. Heck, I guess that's part of the charm for me. Being in bands and making music is a great way to live your life, and these guys were doing it and being great at it.