Baltimore Alternative
(Baltimore, MD)

December 1998
Subject: The Velvet Mafia

The Velvet Mafia's lead singer, Dean Johnson, is tall, bald, and partial to slinky dresses. The group's guitarist, Bruno Bettelheimer (Susanne Hassenstein) likes to dress like a man. And then there's cellist Satan, percussionist Sailor McDrum, and saxaphonist Father Josh Atkins, all partial to wearing costumes. They're outrageous-looking. They write songs with outrageous lyrics. And they're a complete hoot to listen to.

As unusual as the Mafia's lineup is, somehow it all jells into a tight ensemble for a sound that reminds you of the B-52s - but unlike the B-52s, there's no doubt as to the direction in which the band members' interests lie (Johnson wrote all the lyrics.

Sometimes the songs are tragic, like "Baby Looked Good," which tells of the death of a young hustler, and "Poppies in Springtime," about a heroin addict. But more often the songs are of the in-your-face-and-loaded-with-attitude variety, as in "Deli Boy" ("Cut the Mustard for me / Make that special delivery / Skip the coleslaw, forget the cheese / I'll eat my lunch on my knees"), "Fierce Ruling Diva" ("'Little Red Corvette' is her favorite song"), or "The Jersey Gigolo" ("Oh no, here we go / Here comes the Jersey Gigolo / Oh my, can't you see / Nothing from New Jersey was ever free").

Other songs speak of lust for a beautiful man, like "Rock God" or "You Got It (Goin' On)," or the frustration that happens when true love turns out to be less than true. Most of the songs, whatever their subject, are irresistibly catchy and it's almost impossible to resist singing along.

Hey, with all the false modesty and endless apologies we've been subjected to recently in the media, it's kind of nice to hear a group of musicians as tight as this with major attitude.

All together now: "Fierce ruling dee-vaaa..."

© 1998 Trip Records, Inc., All Rights Reserved.
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