Absinthe (band)

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Absinthe, founded in 1995, is a rock band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Sam Llanas, best known for his work with the BoDeans, leads this group on vocals and acoustic guitar. Other members include Jim Eannelli on guitars and fretless bass, and original BoDeans' drummer, Guy Hoffman.

The trio's first performances were held in an elegant restaurant/bar within a Milwaukee landmark building called The Shorecrest Hotel. Their quiet acoustic rehearsals took place in an upstairs apartment. The Absinthe repitoire consisted of original rock songs, ballads and dirges intermixed with various covers of similar forms.

As Llanas brought more of his original songwriting to the band, his subsequent solo CD came more into focus. Between Halloween 1997 and May 1998, the trio recorded 17 songs at the BoDeans private studio, Hacksville. Integral to creating the Absinthe sound was Milwaukee producer-engineer Gary Tanin. Tanin recorded, mixed and mastered 12 of these songs - creatively woven together for an album entitled "A Good Day To Die" (1998). The main theme is defined in the title track recalling the suicide of Llanas' older brother. Tracks move from acoustic to electric, from gentle ballads to dramatic rockers. The sessions hosted a variety of extra musicians bringing violin, mandolin, cello, keyboards, female voices, and eerie sound samples into the finished sound spectrum.

Llanas calls this "moody pop" but it is much richer than pop to the average ears. The writing exhibits more impressionistic than straight ahead story telling. He describes feelings and situations both past and present, to create a mood that's somber and unnervingly current. By tying in tight, charming melodies, Llanas and the Absinthe band crafted a thoughtful, meloncholy album of loss and redemption - tapping a spiritual dimension reconciled by hope. "A Good Day To Die" was given an 8 star rating out of 10 by four different music critiques in a 1999 issue of Playboy magazine. In February and March 1999, Absinthe toured major northeast, east coast and southeast cities. Steve Klieber handled the bass on the Absinthe tour. Closer to home, they showcased at Chicago area music clubs and various Milwaukee venues such as Linneman's Riverwest Inn.