New Infinite Plastic Internal track up at Bandcamp!

https://infiniteplasticinternal.bandcamp.com/album/peace-in-hawaii

A surreptitious moment, playing a sound sculpture by Harry Bertoia at Honolulu Museum of Art in 2016.

Flying Pontecorvos live at Luggage Store Gallery up at Archive.org

 

I was going through some CDrs and found this recording. I listened and liked it, so I put it up at Archive.org. Seems so long ago now!

https://archive.org/details/flying-pontecorvos-6-4-15

This show occurred at one of two alternate locations that the Luggage Store occupied in that time. We played with a great, street level view of Market St. through really nice big windows. Last I saw, that space was a fancy burger joint. I wonder what goes on there now. 

Early band document

 

Fancy title, right? 

This is a sticker for a band that I played in during high school. Mr. Sqeaky. We played from 1987 to 1988. We played a couple of shows, one in Frederick, MD, the other in Manassas, VA. 

Our music was simple Hardcore styled Punk Rock, I guess. I considered it some kind of Garage Rock, but, really, the former description fits. Original? No, not at all. But it was a first attempt at that sort of thing by all of us I believe. It was ours, at least for a minute. 

As I recall, the sticker was made by the guitarist's, named Brant, step brother, who was named Rusty. 

We did one recording, by a fellow named Max, but I don't think that they survived. So, here the scant proof of the existence of Mr. Sqeaky, a suburban VA high school band from the 1980's.

Barney Cauldron live at Hemlock Tavern audio up at Archive.org!

 Barney Cauldron plays some Ornette, then freaks out. We were opening for Jambang/Greg Ginn and the Taylor Texas Corrugators.

https://archive.org/details/01-theme-from-a-symphony

My memories of playing 4'33" by John Cage

Yesterday I was listening to some John Cage prepared piano pieces in the car, and it got me to thinking about the time that Surplus 1980 played 4'33". 

We performed this piece at the Starry Plough in 2017 or '18 I believe. As I recall it, even though everyone in the group was familiar with Cage and his infamous silence-oriented piece, not everyone in the group was keen to do it, especially since Moe! had decided that we'd open our set with it! I was game, despite understanding the reservations of the others in Surplus 1980. You have to figure, that from an audience member's perspective, it would seem pretty off putting to sit or stand there and watch a band simply focusing on being silent for almost five minutes. Still, we went ahead with it, as planned. I remember the first minute or so, and the nervous energy that seemed to build from the bar/dance area of the Plough as people realized what Surplus was up to. This being a Berkeley audience, one had to figure that they'd sussed it out pretty quickly. Nervous laughter, maybe a mild taunt or two were forthcoming. Up on the stage, the musicians stood or sat within their respective zones. Some fidgeted, some remained still. Another minute passed, and the tension within the room ratcheted up accordingly. It's pretty amazing, the way that time and the perception of it get so skewed when you're in performance mode. At some point, guitarist Bill Wolter's forearm brushed across the strings of his guitar, giving off a brief cluster of tone. It was really funny, the way that that brief occurrence of sound broke up the silence. I mean, it felt HUGE. The guitar was quickly muted, and Surplus continued with our "playing" of 4'33"

It strikes me that Cage, though he probably would not have enjoyed the music of Surplus 1980, would have found that moment interesting within the intellectual context of the realization of 4'33". 

After what seemed to be a much longer duration than four minutes and thirty-three seconds, Moe! counted off our next piece, and we actually had occasion to play our instruments. I felt pretty satisfied to have performed a renowned piece by a great musical artist. I wonder how those in attendance felt about our foray into willful silence........

I remain grateful to and admiring of Moe! for having the balls to do that with our rare performance time, that's for sure.

Live shot 'cause why not....

 

Live shot of me playing with Ovipositor in Davis, CA 2007. A fun outdoor Bar B Q type show with lots of bands. I figured why not post it. 

Not much else to say, so I won't.

Ovipositor Live at the Stork Club with Tom Herman live clips up at Archive.org!

 

I uploaded these two tracks to Soundcloud some years back, but they've been deleted there. I figured to get them up to the more permanent Archive.org for posterity. A fun show, and the best "encounter with Rock Star" for me. Tom was very gracious to play with us a few times, even though he didn't particularly like Ovipositor very much. 

https://archive.org/details/14-autumn-leaves