spasm band: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Informal; specialised (music/cultural)
Quick answer
What does “spasm band” mean?
A group of street musicians, often self-organised and informal, known for creating spontaneous, lively music.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A group of street musicians, often self-organised and informal, known for creating spontaneous, lively music.
Specifically refers to a type of improvised New Orleans street band that uses homemade or unconventional instruments (like washboards, jugs, suitcases) and plays in a rhythmically infectious, jerky style. The term can also be humorously applied to any group playing in a similarly rough, energetic, and spasmodic fashion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is of American origin and refers specifically to a US cultural phenomenon. In British English, it would be understood only in musical or historical contexts, not as a living cultural practice.
Connotations
In US English, connotes cultural heritage, improvisation, and grassroots music. In UK English, it's a historical/foreign musical term with no native cultural resonance.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both varieties, but near-zero in everyday UK English. Used in US English within specific discussions of jazz history or New Orleans culture.
Grammar
How to Use “spasm band” in a Sentence
The [spasm band] played on the corner.He joined a [spasm band].They formed a [spasm band] with kitchen utensils.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “spasm band” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The musicians decided to spasm-band their way through the festival.
- They were spasm-banding on the South Bank last summer.
American English
- They love to spasm-band in the French Quarter.
- We spasm-banded for tips outside the stadium.
adverb
British English
- The music played spasm-bandly from the pub cellar.
American English
- They performed spasm-band-style, with buckets and spoons.
adjective
British English
- It had a wonderfully spasm-band feel to it.
- He plays a spasm-band style of washboard.
American English
- That spasm-band energy is infectious.
- They're known for their spasm-band antics.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in ethnomusicology, American studies, or jazz history papers discussing pre-jazz or folk roots music.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might be used by music enthusiasts or in cities with strong street music cultures.
Technical
A historical term in musicology describing a specific early 20th-century ensemble type from New Orleans.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “spasm band”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “spasm band”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spasm band”
- Using it to describe any band with a nervous performer. / Confusing it with a 'brass band' or 'marching band'. / Thinking it's a modern term for electronic music.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered a precursor or folk root of jazz. Spasm bands were more informal, used homemade instruments, and their repertoire often included ragtime, blues, and folk tunes played in a highly rhythmic, 'rough' style.
It's best used historically or to specifically evoke the New Orleans tradition. Using it for a modern garage band might sound odd or humorous, as the term carries specific cultural and musical connotations.
The name comes from the jerky, spasmodic rhythms of the music. Early accounts describe the music as having a 'spasmodic' quality due to its intense syncopation and the players' energetic, sometimes erratic, movements.
While the original early 20th-century bands are historical, the tradition is kept alive by revivalist groups, some street musicians in New Orleans, and in genres like 'jug band' music. The spirit of informal, improvisational street performance continues.
A group of street musicians, often self-organised and informal, known for creating spontaneous, lively music.
Spasm band: in British English it is pronounced /ˈspazəm band/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈspæzəm bænd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated; related to the concept of 'making a joyful noise'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a band playing music so rhythmically jerky it seems like a spasm.
Conceptual Metaphor
MUSIC IS A CONVULSIVE BODILY MOVEMENT (the rhythm causes or resembles a spasm).
Practice
Quiz
What is a defining feature of a traditional spasm band?