ESG

ESG (Emerald, Sapphire and Gold) is a band that emerged from the South Bronx in the early 1980s.  They were totally and completely unique, creating a sound that was unlike anything on the scene at the time – funky post-punk, post-disco dance music.

The band originally consisted of the Scroggins sisters, Renee (vocals), Valerie (drums), Deborah (bass) and Marie (congas, vocals) and friend Tito Libran (congas, vocals).  They were active in the early 80s, disbanded, and the re-formed in the early 90s after their music had become popular sample materials for bands like TLC, the Wu-Tang Clan, the Beastie Boys, Big Daddy Kane, Gang Starr, Junior Mafia, Tricky, Jay-Dee, as well as indie rockers like Unrest and Liars.  Accordingly, in 1992 ESG released the 12″ EP Sample Credits Don’t Pay Our Bills!

While ESG was super influential in NYC, and their influence on hip hop/rock/punk is beyond measure, they quietly hung up their hats to pursue fairly quiet lives in the city.  There have been a few releases, and shows here and there, but all in all the Scruggins sisters have moved on to other (if not bigger and better) things.  But, they will forever be remembered as one of the greatest bands you’ve probably never heard of!

Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band

Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band created music that is hard to characterize because it is completely unique.  It is most commonly tagged “avant garde-blues,” but if you watch any of the videos posted here I think don’t think the label does Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band justice.  They are just too funky.

Throughout their career, the band’s musical direction was tightly controlled by Don van Vliet (1941 – 2010), aka Captain Beefheart.  The man was a true artist, committed to the craft of creation.   But that dedication, combined with super intense rehearsal regimes and poor salary, led in large part to the break-up of the original Magic Band.  

Beefheart reformed a new band of musicians under the name, but left the music industry for good in 1982 to pursue his career as a painter.

Although he and his band achieved little commercial or mainstream critical success, Beefheart sustained a cult following as a “highly significant” and “incalculable” influence on an array of New Wave, punk, post-punk, experimental and alternative rock musicians, most notably Tom Waits and the Residents.  Beefheart passed away in 2010 after a long battle with MS.   Below I have posted the last video of him.  It has nothing to do with his Magic Band, but it is just too great not to post.

If you don’t know much about Captain Beefheart, it’s worth checking out his Wikipedia page.  He is kind of like a little known god of music.  Way interesting story.