CAPSTONE PROJECT - JUNKYARD JAZZ

Inspired by the Peculiar Pretzelmen, Stian’s original idea for this project was to build the instruments, create the music and put on a live show. The first step in the process was finding materials. Ideally not new, but something that could be repurposed.  This included visits to the junk yard, scrap, and looking on eBay.  For the body for the banjo, Stian found an old film canister.  In the end that was the only piece that was a used item.  The wood, strings, fret wire and tuners were purchased new.  

Construction of the banjo is now complete.  It is a four string electric banjo.  This is the same as what the banjo player in the Peculiar Pretzelmen uses.  This is different from traditional bluegrass, which uses a 5 string acoustic banjo.   The compositions are still in process.  And now with our shelter in place, the project is morphing into something a little different.  Instead of a live show, it will most likely be a recording of an original piece of music or maybe even two.  Stay tuned!!!

The Peculiar Pretzelmen is a two man rock jazz band, actually more steam punk.  They are hard to describe and there is very little information out there about them.  The two main instruments are a customized drum kit and custom built electric banjo. Their music style is quite unique music and worth a listen.

An excerpt from their website:

"Black blooded sneaky so and so’s in pin stripe suits careening wildly through the shadows and gutters of neglected culture, the Peculiar Pretzelmen strum, slam, stomp, smack, smash, and scream the old and abandoned incantations raising the specters of all the spirits we left for dead. Pounding drums speaking in tongues, restlessly reinventing roadmaps until the riddles are all undone."

ABOUT THE BANJO History bits taken directory from Wikipedia.
The banjo is a four, five, or six stringed instrument where the body is typically a drum that acts as a resonator.  The membrane is usually circular but can be any shape. Early forms of the American version of the instrument were adapted from African instruments of similar design. The banjo is frequently associated with folk and country music. Banjo can also be used in some rock songs.  Historically, the banjo occupied a central place in African-American traditional music and the folk culture of rural whites before entering the mainstream via the minstrel shows of the 19th century.  Along with the fiddle, the banjo is a mainstay of American old-time music. It is also very frequently used in traditional jazz.

Capstone Project: Stian Wrigley (Band 2020)