ebolabuddha-WE LIVE Bandcamp!

Above is the recording from ebolabuddha, the improvised Metal band that I played with in March of this year. Seeing this is a pleasant surprise, as I was not aware that any type of release was planned. Here's to more! Eli and Steven, let's record a 7" or 12"!!

Purefinder-VAMP Music-Art-Consignment, Oakland CA; 5/9/15

Perhaps there was a lingering bit of frustration from me, regarding last night's proceedings at Pretty Penny, for I played really intensely and really loud this afternoon at VAMP.
Had a good time, doin' it, too! Andrew brought all sorts of electronics to play, including samples (the BART sample is hilarious), and I played a stripped down back line kit that was loaned VAMP by one of the guys that plays in a band with Fernando, co-owner of this great downtown Oakland record/art/clothing store. Thanks, young drummer! It was great fun to play a small, chipped old ride cymbal that I have, one which gets a fine, dry tone and not too much wash.
Back to the volume thing: it just felt really good to wail! I focused on playing beats, it being Oakland Drops Beats Day and everything. Not too sure how some of the people that came into VAMP felt about said beats, but, again, I certainly tried to stay within the loose parameters of the event's aesthetic. The most satisfying moments for me occurred a bit later into our forty minute set; we had some really connected moments. These moments were also the loudest of the set. Hmm.....maybe a pattern has emerged.
Hopefully I'll be able to make more pattern-based sound with Purefinder, going forward in time.
What a freakin' blast.

Below: Andrew and his rig, nice Gretsch backline traps

Below: Purefinder in action (photo by Tracy Parker, thanks!)

Janina Angel Bath-Pretty Penny, Oakland CA; 5/8/15

Playing Goddess-centered devotional music inside of a clothing shop in the swanky Rockridge District of Oakland on Friday night is probably not the best way to do so. That said, I always have a fine time playing the music of Janina Angel Bath, and this evening's experience was no different for me.
After a bit of futzing around with what we thought was a huge p.a. problem, we worked up a set of six inter-connected pieces, with poetry, singing, and improvisation, and it seemed to flow quite fine. I can't recall any major mistakes or blunders, which is, obviously, good. It was particularly cool to play along with the tambura, as I've never had that experience. VERY cool, actually!
I felt like the vibe that we conjured up was delightfully psychoid, spiritually powered, even. Hopefully some of the people that chose to listen to us felt the same way.
All in all, it was a fine time, if a slight bit frustrating to be sort of overpowered, volume-wise, by the chatter of the party. Then again, it was a Friday night at clothing sale in Rockridge. It's all about set and setting, I guess.

Below: gear

Below: Janina Angel Bath and me, live shot (photo courtesy of Emerald Vernon-Lapow, thanks!)

Upcoming shows!

Another busy weekend coming up!

First, I'll be playing with Janina Angel Bath in Oakland!

Friday, 5/8 8PM
Pretty Penny 9 Year Anniversary Party
5488 College Ave.
Oakland, 94618

Next, I'll play with Andrew Palmer's Purefinder, as part of the Oakland Drops Beats Festival!
 Saturday, 5/9 2PM
VAMP Music-Art-Consignment
331 19th St.
Oakland 94612

Looking forward to these events!

Earspray-Spice Monkey, Oakland CA; 5/4/5

It most definitely felt like a Monday night at Spice Monkey last night. Just a few people milling about, small groups of folks eating....quiet.
Quiet sort of sums up Earspray's vibe last night as well. Not that that's a bad thing for me. I really enjoyed our float-ey, ambient thirty minute set. For me, it was all about the waterphone, which paired pretty well with Carlos' electronics. We even got in some rhythmic patterns, much to Mr. Jennings' delight!
One friend told me that he "didn't have ears to hear it", and that's OK, too. Sometimes things unfold in these ways.

Below: Carlos and gear

Above: Earspray in action (photo by Eugene Koontz, thanks, Eugene!)
Below: video!

Rent Romus' Life's Blood Ensemble-Finnish Kaleva Hall, Berkeley CA; 5/2/15

Right off the bat, I have to mention how sweet it was to play music inside of such a great old hall! The Finnish Kaleva Hall is truly a local gem, and I'm so happy to know that it's so close to where I live. Excellent place!

I also feel really proud to have been part of Rent Romus's Life's Blood Ensemble again. Playing the Otherworld Cycle is pretty emotionally draining, but always worth the effort. My sense of our performance at the Kaleva Hall is that that particular grouping really gelled, in the way groups do over time. Our playing of the written pieces, while probably not technically perfect (which just makes me think about how Sun Ra, when notating recordings that he'd heard of the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra, made sure that the "mistakes" were notated as played), felt really solid to me. There was a feeling of boldness, especially within the rhythm section. I figure that it helped that we had the full complement of players: all cellos, all basses, all horns were present.

There were some really fine solos, especially from Josh Marshall and Heiki Koskinen, the vocals from Bob Marsh and Ron Heglin felt really powerful, the strings of Bill Noertker, Jason Hoopes, Crystal Pasucci, and Shanna Sordahl were thick; again, everything just felt ON to me. A nice feeling! I suspect that Rent felt quite moved, as it sounded as if he got a bit choked up when introducing the musicians upon conclusion of the second set. I was very happy for Rent at that moment.

Of course, it was a real pleasure to be part to the battery with Suki O'Kane and Tim Orr. I have a lot of learning to take in from that experience.

Below: setting up and soundchecking

Above: my rig; Bob takes in the vibes
Below: part of the Life's Blood Ensemble in action!

Above: post show high!

So, yesterday's performance of Rent's Otherworld Cycle will probably be the last in the SF Bay Area for a while. I don't know where it will be performed again, but I've been really honored to have participated in it. Hopefully it won't be my last time to do so!

Many thanks to Rent Romus and all the musicians that have performed the Otherworld Cycle!
Below: very cool frieze on the wall of Kaleva Hall

Crow Crash Radio-Free Oakland UP, Oakland CA; 5/1/15

It was definitely cool to talk to Free Oakland Utopian Project's founder, Jocelyn, in between sets at her space yesterday evening. Free Oakland UP is rooted in art project that she did at Mills College and others; Jocelyn's art form is Experiential Art, meaning she creates environments for people in which to have unique experiences. She basically invites people into the space that they can take a "free treasure", and the place is certainly filled with them. I found a Shelly Manne LP!
Crow Crash Radio certainly had a fun experience in the space! We took the extended set times as chances to stretch out tunes: at least four went for twenty minutes or so. I felt as though we set up some good, psychedelic vibes. I also got to sing Sweet Jane, something that I used to do within a high school band, many years ago. That, within the context of a song called Love for Lou. Yes, it is very Velvets-ey. We also did a damaged, exploding version of Innana, one of our oldest songs.
If you're ever in Oakland's Dimond District, seek out Free Oakland UP and grab some free stuff!

Below: Andrew and Brian

Above: Andrew teaches the youth about theremins on May Day
Below: Jocelyn and her space of treasures

Below: Crow Crash Radio full, photo by Jocelyn Maggait