Heart of olde

>> L.A.’s Eleni Mandell sings classic
cabaret with a timely twist

by LORRAINE CARPENTER

“I’m a nostalgic person. I have my grandparents’ photographs pasted all over my room and I’ve spent long hours staring and wondering about that period of time. But I’m happy where I am.” And why not? L.A.’s Eleni Mandell has paid those dues, playing her Tin-Pan-Tom Waits-influenced tunes all over North America in coffee houses and punk dives alike, recently graduating to the international festival circuit, without major label support. Mandell’s unique fusion of stark, noir arrangements, smoky cool and contemporary fire spurred the Mirror’s questions about her cohorts, her writing and her secret drum machines.

Mirror: So your solo touring days are over?
Eleni Mandell: That’s right, I’ve got Kevin Fitzgerald on drums—he’s played with the Geraldine Fibbers and the Circle Jerks, which gives me my punk rock credibility (laughs)—and Ryan Feevus on upright bass, and Woody Jackson on guitar, guitorgan and lap steel. They’re all monitoring me.

M: It must have been amazing to get to know Tom Waits early in your career.
EM: Yeah, I used to see him more often when he and his family lived in L.A. It’s been a few years. He was very encouraging and kind and actually saw me perform, which definitely gave me the courage to persevere when things got really difficult.

M: What’s your connection to Kid Congo Powers?
EM: We once recorded a demo and he’s played a few shows with me, and we’re friends. He’s a really great guy, I met him when we were in a short film together. He played my pimp. I’m not a very good actress but it was awfully fun.

M: Any interest in pursuing acting or other media?
EM: Well, I minored in creative writing in college and wrote sort of a horrible novel. I’ve just started writing again and hope to continue doing that throughout my life. With songs, I developed a way of writing in extremely short form, so prose is much more of a challenge, but I just love words. And I’d love to be in more film projects, but I’m not planning on getting an agent and going on auditions. If somebody called me, though, I’d certainly be willing.

M: I know you pride yourself in using analog and staying away from computers for recording, but how do you feel about electronic music?
EM: I really love all different kinds of stuff, but I can’t think of any electronic music that I listen to. If somebody wants to make me a mix tape, that would be cool. I’m not against electronic music, I just don’t personally want to record electronically.

M: We shouldn’t expect any loops or samples or Moby duets then.
EM: Actually, on my first record, we used drum machines that were made in the ’50s, which are not electronic, they’re analog, they have tape inside them, but we did use drum loops. But no, I don’t have an interest in sounding like the popular music of the day, like rapping over somebody else’s music from 50 years ago. (laughing) Who knows, though, I’ll probably sell out first chance I get. :

At Club Soda on Friday, June 28, 7pm, $25.50