New Cosmists digital release!

Many thanks to Andrew Palmer for his help with this release!

Happy New Year!

Pics of me drumming in 2017 with Ornithos Loom, Suzanne Kleid, and Garrett Caples. We read poems by David Meltzer and played along with them.
Here's to a productive year for all people.
Let's do this!

Live Birdsaw pics

I put these up at Birdsaw's Facebook page this week, figured I'd post 'em here, too before cleaning up my desktop.
These shots were taken at Fais Do Do in East Los Angeles in 1999 by my old friend Mona Goss. At the time, Mona was pursuing an acting career in Hollywood. She came to the show and graciously sent me these photos some years later. Thanks, Mona!

Cosmists-Luggage Store Gallery, SF CA; 12/22/16

It's really hard to believe that Cosmists have been playing for five years! Where in the hell does the time go? Last night's gig at the Luggage Store Gallery proved to be a quiet triumph for us: we overcame the absence of CJ, who was not able to attend.
This development had me worried, but I was able to get my pal Kersti Abrams to fill in. This kept Cosmists a quartet, with Thomas Harrison Jr. making his debut with us on bass.
After a really fine set from Jack Hertz, full of spaced out electronic meditations and glitches, we began our four movement set with a conducted improvisation called Layer Cake. I guess it was an attempt by me to use conducting methods, mostly influenced by reading about Butch Morris some years back. Just simple gestures, cuing in the other group members as I sat on the floor. Kinda Hippie, I guess. Still, it was fun and fulfilling to try. We also played a couple of purely improvised pieces and one piece from my graphic score Saturations With Jumps. That one is still developing. It never sounds quite like I have been hearing it in my head, but I guess that if one wants exact precision, one should write out scores with standard musical notation. As for the improvisations, one of them featured a really tight ending after some cool East Asian, almost Gagaku feels. Real good.
Back to the triumphal feeling: some people that I don't know showed up and stuck around. Just a few, but that's enough. I realize that Cosmists don't play music that is accessible, so, really, if anyone sticks around to listen, it counts big time. Thanks to whomever those people are. Glad that you're out there, and very grateful that you stuck around.
All told, a fun evening that ended with everyone happy and aesthetically, if not monetarily, fulfilled. Cosmists continue to do it for the pure joy of sound.
As usual, thanks to Outsound, Luggage Store Gallery, and those that showed up, especially Andrew, Thomas, Kersti, and Jack.

Below: Cosmists instruments

Above: I really like this photo of Thomas's feet and pedals!
Below: Mark Conducts (photo courtesy of Jack Hertz, thanks Jack!)

New Ear Spray digital track!

Cosmists play next Thursday!

Cosmists will play at Luggage Store Gallery in San Francisco next Thursday! This iteration of Cosmists will feature bassist Thomas Harrison Jr., CJ Borosque, Andrew Joron, and me. Also on the bill will be my friend Jack Hertz.
Details here:

Thu. 12/22
Luggage Store Gallery
1007 Market St. @6th St.
SF 94103
8 PM Sharp
$-no one turned away for lack of funds

Hope to see some pals there!

Brandon Evans Trio live footage!

Footage courtesy of Outsound Presents. Thanks, Outsound!