(front)

CHARMING HOSTESS

Feast, An Eat | Punch

Fusion on vinyl

(back)

EAT

1. Dali Tzerni (2:30)

2. Mi Nuera (3:14)

3. Won't You Keep Us Working (2:35)

4. Dilmano Dilbero (1:40)
5. Klezsex (2:26)
6. Elenke (5:23)

7. I'm Not Hungry (2:15)

PUNCH

8. Ms Lot(1:39)
9. Aish Ye Kdish (3:18)
10. Heaven Sitting Down (4:05)

11. Torso (4:40)

12. Esturlu (2:44)

13. Two Boys (2:27)

14. Kaffe Turke (1:35)

(booklet)

charming hostess                 eat

(1998, Vaccination Records)

Charming Hostess blended eerie harmonies, complex rhythms, and a playfulness about gender. Charming Hostess drew on women's vocal traditions (primarily from Eastern Europe and North Africa), and integrated them with American folk forms both white and black. Charming Hostess was founded in the fertile anarchy of Barrington Co-op, and nurtured by the West Oakland arts community, along with other coeval bands such as Fibulator and Eskimo. Half of Charming Hostess was also in Idiot Flesh/Sleepytime Gorilla Museum. The final effect was of a hoedown where bodacious babes belted the blues in Bulgarian while a punk-klezmer band rocked out in accompaniment.  The genre of this incarnation of Charming Hostess was KLEZMER-PUNK/BALKAN-FUNK.

1. Dali Tzerni

Aren’t my eyes black enough for you? Isn’t my face fair enough for you?

Your eyes are black, but you can keep them.

Your face is fair, but it’s flat as a plate.

I don’t want it.  Keep it for yourself.

Words: Bulgarian

Music: Traditional Bulgarian song from Pirin-Macedonia

Arrangement:  Jewlia Eisenberg and Charming Hostess

2. MI NUERA

I.  “My beautiful daughter-in-law,

Embroider the waists of our blouses.

Your peers have already done this,

And you’re just lying there sleeping.”

“I have no light, nor anyone to give it to me.

My mother-in-law is killing me with screams!”

II.  Once there was a priest lying sick in bed.

In the middle of the night, he called to his maid:

“Bring me a pitcher, there’s no water.”

She went to the fountain and was bitten by a frog.

And in nine months she bore a tiny

Child who lacked nothing, not even a cassock.

III.  The bride bathes and

Her suitors rejoice.  What do brides deserve?

I’ll tell you:  white bread, a bed of roses, a beautiful chicken.

I’m telling you!

Words:  Ladino (Judeo-Spanish)

Music:  Three Traditional Jewish wedding songs from Morocco

Arrangement:  Jewlia Eisenberg and Charming Hostess

3. WON'T YOU KEEP US WORKING

G-d of the nightfall, G-d of the shade.

G-d of the deep

It’s you who have made all of the evening,

All of the night, all of the motion without light.

Won’t you keep us working, working, working down below?

Words:  The Residents

Music:  The Residents (Published by Pale Pachyderm BMI)

Arrangement:  Jewlia Eisenberg, Charming Hostess

4. DILMANO DILBERO

A celebration of the growth and harvest of red peppers.

Words:  Bulgarian

Music:  Traditional Bulgarian song which became the theme song to the Bulgarian equivalent of “The Beverley Hillbillies”

Vocal Arrangement:  Phillipe Koutev

ReArrangement:  Jewlia Eisenberg and Charming Hostess

5. KLEZSEX

(My greenhorn cousin came to me,

Beautiful, with cheeks like red oranges,

Eyes like heaven in the springtime,

And feet that wanted to dance.

As the years passed, she became a ruin.

She gathered paychecks week by week

Until nothing was left of her.)

Today, when I meet my cousin and I ask her:

“How ya doing, greenhorn?”

She sighs, and I read from her expression:

“Columbus’s land should burn!”

Words:  Hyman Prizant

Music:  Abe Schwartz and the Rebbe of Lebedik un Freylekh

Arrangement:  Jewlia Eisenberg and Charming Hostess

6. ELENKE

Elenke, little Elenke,

Beautiful Elenke meets

A little beautiful boy.

Oy.

Words:  Bulgarian

Music: Traditional Bulgarian song PLUS “Fun Tashlikh” by Abe Schwartz

Arrangement:  Jewlia Eisenberg and Charming Hostess

7. I'M NOT HUNGRY

When I look into the mirror I see you.

There’s a fat girl who spits and stares,

Hides behind my chair,

She’ll pull out your hair, she will.  I’m not hungry,

No I’m not hungry, I have to kill that fat girl.

I’ll break her neck, then I”ll brush my teeth.

I’m not hungry, I have to kill that fat girl.

I’ll throw her up, then I”ll brush my teeth.

(This song is for) those who died on Cosmo’s altar.

Words:  Jewlia Eisenberg

Music:  Traditional Bulgarian song

Vocal Arrangement:  Phillipe Koutev

ReArrangement:  Jewlia Eisenberg and Charming Hostess

charming hostess                 punch

(2005, ReR)

Charming Hostess as a tight, hard rocking, extraordinary seven-piece unit comprising bass, drums, guitar, fiddle, various horns, accordion and other occasional instruments. The work is distinguished by the amazing vocal arrangements (everyone sings, and exceptionally). Full of additive rhythms, stretched harmonies and pinpoint playing, this is evolved material, executed with great skill - and great looseness. Traditional pieces from Bulgaria, Palestine, Transylvania and the American South appear in personalized arrangements alongside original songs that lean on zydeco and traditional American folk music.

8. MS LOT

Well if he treats me like a young girl still,

That father of mine, and here’s my sister

And we’re still traveling into the hills—

But everyone on the road knows he offered us

To the Strangers, when all they wanted was men

And the cloud of smoke still over the twin cities

And mother a salt lick the animals come to—

Who’s going to want me now?

Words: Muriel Rukeyser

Music: Traditional Bulgarian

Arrangement:  Jewlia Eisenberg and Charming Hostess

9. AISH YE KDISH

Live on, workhorse.  Relief comes while you are unaware.  Your condition is bad—I see you have no money, and you tell me, “To hell with it all!

The gates of mercy are overcrowded.  We need water, we need bread.  If it would only rain money!”  Live on, workhorse. Your country is green, full of water and pasture—but not for the poor simpleton, accepting just what God gives.  What a pity: Ask, demand to know!  Don’t just dream—how often have dreams betrayed you?  Haven’t we told you?  Ask how!  But everything happens while you are unaware.  You remain a workhorse, unaware.

Words and Music:  Sabreen, from Palestine

Arrangement:  Charming Hostess

10. HEAVEN SITTING DOWN

Wintertime. I wish I was dead, or way far out to sea: Someplace where no one knows me.  I wish I was in heaven sitting down.

Buoyed by a good-will cloud, waiting to get taken down.  Someone calm me with a brick! I wish I was in heaven sitting down.

Two gardenias para mi, rubies in a grey green sea.

My chest opens up to sing some old song that used to soothe me, but now I’m out to sea.  I wish I was in heaven sitting down.

 I wonder why.  I’m hoping so.  I’m empty and clear. In water, a tear.

Words: Jewlia.  Title taken from traditional Af-Am spiritual

Music: Jewlia, Charming Hostess

11. TORSO

Languid play is one trip to take.  I urge her fast, fast out of her dress.  She’s mean, elaborate, gorgeous in shadow.  I get lost where her legs meet her torso.  I won’t lie:  I am weak but true.  I want you in my bed again, your smell in my hair.

When she sees a toddler with red hair, she exclaims, that’s what my child will look like.  Do I care what your child looks like with some man, when the child should be yours and mine?

Marriage is a sacrament, but we can still be friends.  Marriage is a sacrament, I gave it up for Lent.  Marriage is a sacrament, but I can still be spent.

This will take a little time.

Words: Jewlia

Music: Jewlia, Charming Hostess

12. ESTURLU

Everything’s good, I have a good husband, but when I see the young men, I want them!   Little Esther, mama’s girl, don’t give me any trouble!

Night comes.  I think I’m going to cry—what good is this worn-out husband of mine!  Esturlu doesn’t eat meat, she’s saving for her own house.

Words:  Sephardic (Judeo-Spanish) girl’s song from Turkey

Music:  Traditional

Arrangement:  Jewlia Eisenberg, Charming Hostess

13. TWO BOYS

Two boys are playing and they don’t know what they’re doing.  But as I’m trying to age with grace, I’ll walk by without slowing.  Two boys are growing and they don’t know where they’re going.   I guess I’ll stop for a minute just to watch them play, for the joy of a young man moving.

One hawk is cresting, and the chickens are nesting.  Boy, I wanna be just like you—but I’ll settle for the next best thing.  Two men are boying, and I’m guilty (but enjoying).  First the little one knocks the big one to the ground, then the big one’s free and the little one’s bound.  I saw your shirt ride up when you lay down--your pearly belly was showing, and I could not keep from looking.

Three boys are playing, and I don’t know what I’m doing.  I’m saying over and over, “This too shall pass”---just to keep me away from ruin.

Words: Jewlia Eisenberg

Music: Jewlia Eisenberg, Charming Hostess

14. KAFFE TURKE

Words: Albanian anti-assimilation, pro-honoring the old world ballad by Djedo from the Immigrant Suns, from Detroit

Music: Djedo

Arrangement:  Jewlia Eisenberg

Charming Hostess on Eat | Punch is:

Jewlia Eisenberg: singing, musical direction, Carla Kihlstedt: singing, fiddle; Nina Rolle: singing, accordion; Wesley Anderson: drums, percussion, singing; Dan Rathbun: bass, gumby, singing; Nils Frykdahl: guitar, saxophone, flute, didgereedoo, guitar, percussion, singing; and Jenny Scheinman: fiddle.

Eat | Punch 2023 Rerelease, released by !aNGr!

Eat, originally released by Vaccination Records.

Punch, originally released by ReR MEGACORP|USA.

Learn more about Charming Hostess at www.charminghostess.com

THANK YOU:   Carrie Abresch, Penny Allman, Annmarie Piette and all Andersons, Linel Aujnoti, Mike Berk, Shamma and Boyarins, Nat Bonnewit, Erik Carter, Katherine Copenhaver, Daria Curtis, Chris Cutler, Linny DiFranza, Seth Eisen, Eisenberg/Garetz family, Liza and Danny Engelberg, Kai Esbensen, Blake Eskin, Michael Farkas, Fred Frith, the Frykdahl family, Todd Gascon, Heidi Good, Robert Goldman, Mara Hazeltine, Marika Hughes, Sam Hurwit, Idiot Flesh, Immigrant Suns, Jack Jelenko, the Kihlstedt family, Jo Kreiter, Steve Lew, Rance Manion, Dren McDonald, Jesse Miller, Alenka Mullin Koga, Michael Murphy, Lorrieann Murray, Matthew Myers, Erin Neff, Nan Noonan, Sam Prestianni, Pussy Posse, the Rathbun family, Keith and Ann Rolle, AnMarie Rodgers, Schloss, the Shambhala centers, Muhammad Siddiq, Christopher Sharon, Mike Silverman, Jill Slater, Chuck Squire, the Stikman, John Shiurba, Lama Tarchin, Cynthia Taylor, Maggie Trapp, Lexa Walsh, Doug Wolk, Mark Wyman, ROMAC (Rowdified Oaktown Music and Art Community), Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival, and the UCC Survivors.

ALSO ON THIS RECORD ARE:  

Rebeckah Ekberg: vocals on  Dilmano Dilbero and I’m Not Hungry

Laura Nicodemus: vocals on  Dilmano Dilbero and I’m Not Hungry

Chuck Squier: drums on I’m Not Hungry

Jab: Trumpet on Torso

John Yi: Saxophone on Torso

Tom Yoder: Trombone on Torso

Feast Produced by: Madame Macario and AnMarie Rodgers

Eat Engineered by: Dan Rathbun, Polymorph Recording. Special thanks to Mark Stichman for production and engineering assistance. 

Eat Produced by:  Charming Hostess and Dan Rathbun

Punch Engineered/Mastered: Dan Rathbun, Polymorph Recording

Punch Produced: Jewlia Eisenberg and Dan Rathbun

All music written or arranged by:  Jewlia Eisenberg and Charming Hostess

Art Design: Matthew Myers

Learn more about Charming Hostess at www.charminghostess.com