Set in a Chinese restaurant, the foot stomping, kung-fu fighting video for all-gal bluegrass quartet Uncle Earl's John Paul Jones-produced "Streak O' Lean, Streak O' Fat" is one of the more jarring cultural blends we've encountered recently. In a totally good, weird, Zeppelin-related way. The band doesn't fight -- that's left for various hollaback girls (and boys). They stand amidst it all with shit-eating grins, shouting Chinese over old-timey fiddles and loopy Raymond Scott sound effects, until it's time to school the karate choppers with Western dancing. We're not making this up...
We dig the bluegrass goth look, but two lingering questions: Why's creepy piano dude John Paul Jones such a stand-up-while-I-play showoff? And is that Contra or Square dancing? Neither? Reminds us of Zach and Will down on the farm.
Waterloo, Tennessee is out on Rounder Records. Hear some tunes at Earl's Space.
