The Widow's Bane Explained

The Widow's Bane
Landscape:yes
Origin:Boulder, Colorado, United States
Genre:Folk punk, sea shanty, gothic rock, klezmer, roots revival, murder ballad, vaudeville, cabaret
Years Active:2008–present
Label:Rusty Road
Website:Official website https://thewidowsbane.bandcamp.com/
Current Members:Mortimer Leech, Rutherford Belleview, Rictus Corpum, Franklin McKane, Bat Catacombs, Madame Reaper, Jimson Crockett, Abracham Lynch

The Widow's Bane is an American band from Boulder, Colorado whose music incorporates elements of roots revival, sea shanties, klezmer, vaudeville, gothic rock, and murder ballads while evoking the comedic cabaret styles of Tom Waits and Nick Cave. The band defines their genre as Zombie-Death-Polka. Its line-up includes frontman Gov. Mortimer Leech (a.k.a. Clay Rose), Rutherford Belleview, Rictus Corpum, Franklin McKane, and Bat Catacombs. Previous band members were Jimson Crockett, Abracham Lynch, Frank Raven, James Calvin Thompson, and Philip Parker. Their live show is characterized by zombie-style makeup, Great Depression-era costumes, the creepy animatronic movements of lead singer Leech, and dancing by self-styled "snake-charming hussy," Madame Reaper.

In 2018, The Widow's Bane wrote and performed the score, for a production of Wicked Bayou, with Denver based Wonderbound ballet company.[1]

Awards

2013 - Best Music Video - Mile High Horror Film Festival[2]

Press

You've never heard 'zombie death polka' quite like the Widow's Bane does it[3]
An interview with Rutherford Belleview [4]
Zombies are just undead gentlemen: An interview with The Widow's Bane[5]
Widow’s Bane: Roots music from the undead[6]
Mortimer Leech Raises Hell for Wonderbound's Wicked Bayou[7]
Widow’s Bane – The Afterlife Is A Never-Ending Party[8]
KCSU Music: Live In-Studio Session with Clay Rose of Gasoline Lollipops and Widow’s Bane[9]
Part 1: Zombie Death Polka[10]
Part 2: Mortimer Leech, Age Unknown[11]
Part 3: The Story Behind The Song[12]
The Widow’s Bane find the sacred in the profane[13]
Mortimer Leech & The Widow’s Bane: A New Lease on Death[14]
Mortimer Leech of The Widow's Bane confronts his eternal past[15]
The Widow’s Bane Brings Music From Wonderbound Collaboration To CPR’s OpenAir[16]
Widow's Bane: The rocking dead[17]

Discography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wicked Bayou. Wonderbound.
  2. Web site: Film Programs + Awards -MHHFF- Genre Film Festival.
  3. Web site: You've never heard 'zombie death polka' quite like the Widow's Bane does it. Tom. Murphy. June 6, 2013. Westword.
  4. Web site: Widow's Bane: The rocking dead . Coloradoan.com . 2014-10-21 . 2019-08-16.
  5. Web site: Zombies are Just Undead Gentlemen: An Interview with The Widow's Bane. Molly Tanzer Issue: 27. September 2010. September 27, 2010.
  6. Web site: Widow's Bane: Roots music from the undead. October 30, 2009.
  7. Web site: Mortimer Leech Raises Hell for Wonderbound's Wicked Bayou. Andy. Thomas. October 20, 2018. Westword.
  8. Web site: England . Dan . Widow's Bane - The Afterlife Is A Never-Ending Party - BandWagon Magazine . Bandwagmag.com . 2018-10-16 . 2019-08-16.
  9. Web site: KCSU Music: Live In-Studio Session with Clay Rose of Gasoline Lollipops and Widow's Bane. November 1, 2018. KCSU FM.
  10. Web site: Part 1: Zombie Death Polka. Wonderbound.
  11. Web site: Part 2: Mortimer Leech, Age Unknown. Wonderbound.
  12. Web site: Part 3: The Story Behind The Song. Wonderbound.
  13. Web site: The Widow's Bane find the sacred in the profane. Bill. Forman. Colorado Springs Independent.
  14. Web site: Mortimer Leech & The Widow's Bane: a New Lease on Death. March 6, 2019.
  15. Web site: Disappearing Completely With Mortimer Leech. October 30, 2018.
  16. Web site: The Widow's Bane Brings Music From Wonderbound Collaboration To CPR's OpenAir. Daniel. Mescher. Colorado Public Radio.
  17. Web site: USA TODAY. FTC.
  18. Web site: The Widow's Bane by The Widow's Bane. music.apple.com.
  19. Web site: Don't Be Afraid it's Only Death, by The Widows Bane. Clay Rose.