It's already March of another year on the planet of confusion and as I see I have not been here to post since a dog's age. What has transpired is a drastic relocation back to the land from whence I had come back in 2007. Everything boxed, loaded onto a moving truck and trucked out across the continent, back to the land of big trees, endless forests, immense mountain gods, rivers, and dramatic skies.
Here we are in a darling of a rental house one block from the freeway with easy access to every corner of this city. It's taken some time just to get the basics organized and then it was time to pull the wheels out of the bag and mount them up and make a space for sound to happen. Luckily we have a great basement with high ceilings so there will be no need to accommodate a separate studio which is good because I wouldn't be able to afford it anyhow.
So I have begun work at the bike shop, wrenching for dollars. But I have not made my presence known to too many people here and have yet to attempt a public sounding of the Offset Needledom. That will come in time. Meanwhile Eli and I have attended a couple of shows around town, friends bands, punk rockous and folkie such sounds. THis week we'll check out a Daniel Menche show not far from our corner of the planet. Friday I will venture out on a blind date, prompted by a mutual friend, Upstate NY sound artist Al Margolis. So contacts are being made and the apparatus is under construction but at least ground has been broken on this new site.
12/18/11
Last East Coast Engagement: New Year's at 119 Gallery
This will be the final performance just a week before Eli and I drive West. I'll perform with Grau Garten, one last time until next winter. This will be an all out blast out with Id M Theft ABle, Crank Sturgeon, the return of Birdorgan, as well as others. Gallery is at 119 Chelmsford, Lowell, MA. THe show will get started around 6 I think. For more information go to the 119 Gallery website: http://www.119gallery.org/?page_id=7161
Video of Crank Sturgeon at 119 Gallery New Year's Eve 2008:
Video of Crank Sturgeon at 119 Gallery New Year's Eve 2008:
Sun Worship XI at BUOY Gallery; 12/17/2011
Last night concluded the quarterly series I've curated for the past three years. For three years every three months I have accumulated some of the most inspiring performers I've had the honor to know and call friends in New England. For this final installment I brought together some really special people. The night started off with Id M Theftable. Just two days off the plane from a tour of England, tired, disoriented, jet-lagged, he was fantastic. Voices came from him that seemed impossible from such a body as his.
Second was the trio Los Condenados. A firey fury of electronic sounds melded with the vocalizings of Andrea Pensado and the horn playing of Jules Vasylenko. Walter Wright provided controlled electronic chaos via his various circuit boards of noise. Third round was Eric Dahlman and Eric Nugent of the Auddity trio, performing as Eric and Eric or Audd. Next up we had bunq present a film strip about little boy who wanted to be an artist. Then Crank Sturgeon. Next I performed with Dei and Marc Bisson, an homage to my first show in Manchester, at the old M.A.P. gallery. With only three people in the audience we decided to just perform together as one set. That started a lot of things for me in the New England free improvisation community. Greg Kowalski projected on the wall behind us and all that was missing was Steve Norton, our horn player/percussion guru who couldn't make it as he was performing in Somerville at the time. After our set came Skinny Vinny. They are always a crowd pleaser and are able to cross boundries and offer something people can relate to. And unlike many of these performers whom the uninitiated may not be able to discern whether or not they are educated in their line of performance, or whether they are novices or seasoned veterans, Skinny Vinny is easily identifiable as two performers who know their chops. Another demonstration by bunq defining the Winter Solstice and describing some of the traditions around it, as well as sacrificing a stuffed dog and distributing beef jerkey from amongst the synthetic fill. The evening concluded with 2/3 of Mystic Out Bop, Kit and Frank Turek. It was one of the best Sun Worship events I could recall, the Winter Solstice always being my favorite and seeming to involve some excellent performances. I look forward to visiting in the future and setting up the occasional Sun Worship show. And who knows, somebody might carry on the tradition once I'm gone. But I don't think it will be quite the same. Thanks to all who have come to perform or witness this special event. It's really meant more to me than I can put into words. The series has been a way I was able to participate both in the free improvisation community and the local community in Kittery, melding the two, trying to present art to this area that has been inspiring me. And now it is time for another chapter.
12/10/11
Time Slipping, Final Performances in New England
Time speeds up when the dance card is filled. I made the announcement to fellow Grau Garten members after a performance at 119 Gallery, Lowell back in August. It didn't go over so well. We'd all been finding our voice collectively, feeling where we fit in with each other. Now I change the plans.
Now in December, time is running out and I've been performing as much as possible before we depart.
Last night was a long evening at the Flandrew Flopera on Congress Street Boston. 10 sets, projections, etc. I performed solo sound second to last. Friend and projectionist Greg Kowalski accompanied me. Other sets of note were Marc Bisson in a quartet with Joshua Jefferson, Morgan the violinist, and a trumpeter I hadn't seen before, topless Dei wrapped in christmas lights with Crank Sturgeon self inflicting sneezing fits with black pepper liberally consumed. Oroboros with Dave Seidel electronics and Bill Bacon drums and flutes, Greg Kowalski doing an incredible mapping projection on the window spines in the loft. Walter Wright, Lou, and Joe Bourgio squalking, squeeking, shuttering, buzzing, moving.
The weekend prior was at the Wombat Zone in Somerville, former home to the Combat Zone punk house. The show was on the tail of a Russian party that hadn't yet concluded which meant a night of coming and going and incredibly over packed impossible enviornment. Set up was stressful and I was convinced I would leave something behind at the end of the night. But all that stress made for a great set, all of us packed into the kitchen, my speaker and Greg's projector perched on top of the refrigerator. Our set was concise, the three of us sounding off of eachother. I taped Marc's guitar to my mic'd wheel 3/4 of the way through until he was helpless in my packing tape web! Not a bad final show for the next 12 months. I have promised to return and visit and set up shows while back East in the future.
That was a long night. I dropped Greg off at home in Newburyport after 3am. Then I had another half an hour drive to get home to Kittery Point. The cold I had the previous day was raging the following morning.
Prior to that evening was our November 20th show at the Whitehaus. Eli and I had just come off a grueling bike swap trip in Dundee, MA. We drove from Dundee to Jamaica Plain where we delivered some bikes and components off at Bikes Not Bombs. From there we found the Whitehaus with help from Steve Norton. Eli and I were hours early and killed the extra time wandering the meandering streets of JP. Eventually we returned to find Steve, Greg, Marc and Dave Bacon in the living room setting up. Another great set, again consolidated into a confined space. 2/3 of the way though the set Marc Bisson was on the floor infront of my table when I became unamplified. For the remainder of the set the packing tape was flying every which way with some percussion elements.
It's an emotional time approaching our departure date, spending last evenings with friends in a performance scene unique and so rich compared to other similar scenes around the country. Something really special is happening in Northern New England and I have been so lucky to be a part of it. As I've told everybody, we will be back and Grau Garten will continue. But few and far between will be these moments. Out there in the West is another chapter in my life that has yet to begin. I know it will be rich and it will change me in some ways I am not yet aware of. I know to simply trust in the future and my will to continue growing and evolving as an artist and human.
Now in December, time is running out and I've been performing as much as possible before we depart.
Last night was a long evening at the Flandrew Flopera on Congress Street Boston. 10 sets, projections, etc. I performed solo sound second to last. Friend and projectionist Greg Kowalski accompanied me. Other sets of note were Marc Bisson in a quartet with Joshua Jefferson, Morgan the violinist, and a trumpeter I hadn't seen before, topless Dei wrapped in christmas lights with Crank Sturgeon self inflicting sneezing fits with black pepper liberally consumed. Oroboros with Dave Seidel electronics and Bill Bacon drums and flutes, Greg Kowalski doing an incredible mapping projection on the window spines in the loft. Walter Wright, Lou, and Joe Bourgio squalking, squeeking, shuttering, buzzing, moving.
The weekend prior was at the Wombat Zone in Somerville, former home to the Combat Zone punk house. The show was on the tail of a Russian party that hadn't yet concluded which meant a night of coming and going and incredibly over packed impossible enviornment. Set up was stressful and I was convinced I would leave something behind at the end of the night. But all that stress made for a great set, all of us packed into the kitchen, my speaker and Greg's projector perched on top of the refrigerator. Our set was concise, the three of us sounding off of eachother. I taped Marc's guitar to my mic'd wheel 3/4 of the way through until he was helpless in my packing tape web! Not a bad final show for the next 12 months. I have promised to return and visit and set up shows while back East in the future.
That was a long night. I dropped Greg off at home in Newburyport after 3am. Then I had another half an hour drive to get home to Kittery Point. The cold I had the previous day was raging the following morning.
Prior to that evening was our November 20th show at the Whitehaus. Eli and I had just come off a grueling bike swap trip in Dundee, MA. We drove from Dundee to Jamaica Plain where we delivered some bikes and components off at Bikes Not Bombs. From there we found the Whitehaus with help from Steve Norton. Eli and I were hours early and killed the extra time wandering the meandering streets of JP. Eventually we returned to find Steve, Greg, Marc and Dave Bacon in the living room setting up. Another great set, again consolidated into a confined space. 2/3 of the way though the set Marc Bisson was on the floor infront of my table when I became unamplified. For the remainder of the set the packing tape was flying every which way with some percussion elements.
It's an emotional time approaching our departure date, spending last evenings with friends in a performance scene unique and so rich compared to other similar scenes around the country. Something really special is happening in Northern New England and I have been so lucky to be a part of it. As I've told everybody, we will be back and Grau Garten will continue. But few and far between will be these moments. Out there in the West is another chapter in my life that has yet to begin. I know it will be rich and it will change me in some ways I am not yet aware of. I know to simply trust in the future and my will to continue growing and evolving as an artist and human.
9/5/11
Could it be? SUN WORSHIP 10 Comes To BUOY Gallery
Coming up soon is the 10th installation of the quarterly series known as Sun Worship. The series has been dedicated to bringing the work of performance artists involved in free improvisation to the Seacoast area for two and a half years now.
Sun Worship Series::: http://offsetneedlesound.blogspot.com/p/sun-worship-history.html
BUOY Gallery::: http://www.buoygallery.org/
For this particular Sun Worship event I have imposed a restriction on the performers to present work without the aid of electricity. This is not only a way to celebrate those artists who already have been able to present works unaided by electric current, but also challenge those of us that have thus far relied on it.
Two such artists are pioneers of the experimental music field from New York, Tom Hamilton and Al Margolis. Long time friends Tom and Al have performed all over the world together. This will be a very special one of a kind installation by these two who have been developing their set specially for this acoustic version of Sun Worship.
Tom Hamilton::: http://www.myspace.com/dataday
Al Margolis::: http://ifbwana.com/content/bio
Horn blower, percussion percussor and visual artist Steve Norton will be bringing his group Kilter to BUOY. Steve has been playing free improvised music and other means of audio expression for decades. He is an expert in knowing when, what, and just how much.
Kilter::: http://www.rednotebook.org/music/kilter.html
A Boston group that celebrates their non electric eccentric with every performance is Skinny Vinny. I'm going to take a guess that this will be a 4th participation for The Skin Vins at Sun Worship. Their sound has momentum!
Skinny Vinny::: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=35433
I was hoping to be joined by trumpet player Forbes Graham but alas he is in Europe and will not be attending. Bicycle wheels will be summoned for sound with or without aid from another sounder. (Instead I performed with an amended version of a group I am part of, Grau Garten. Missing was Greg Kowalski, participating were Steve Norton, Marc Bisson, Dave Bacon, and Dei Xrist)
Another Boston trumpeter and returning artist Eric Dahlman has let me know he will be able to participate and will be accompanied by friend Erik Nugent.
And the latest addition is William Jasper and friend Myles. William and Myles are 14. William and his siblings have performed around Portsmouth for years and it will be an honor to include them at this 10th Sun Worship event.
BUOY Gallery has been very generous to share their space and host the Sun Worship Series for the past two years. Please come, bring some beverages, a donation, something to share, an open mind and ears. This event is sure to be a memorable and moving experience.
Sun Worship Series::: http://offsetneedlesound.blogspot.com/p/sun-worship-history.html
BUOY Gallery::: http://www.buoygallery.org/
For this particular Sun Worship event I have imposed a restriction on the performers to present work without the aid of electricity. This is not only a way to celebrate those artists who already have been able to present works unaided by electric current, but also challenge those of us that have thus far relied on it.
Two such artists are pioneers of the experimental music field from New York, Tom Hamilton and Al Margolis. Long time friends Tom and Al have performed all over the world together. This will be a very special one of a kind installation by these two who have been developing their set specially for this acoustic version of Sun Worship.
Tom Hamilton::: http://www.myspace.com/dataday
Al Margolis::: http://ifbwana.com/content/bio
Horn blower, percussion percussor and visual artist Steve Norton will be bringing his group Kilter to BUOY. Steve has been playing free improvised music and other means of audio expression for decades. He is an expert in knowing when, what, and just how much.
Kilter::: http://www.rednotebook.org/music/kilter.html
A Boston group that celebrates their non electric eccentric with every performance is Skinny Vinny. I'm going to take a guess that this will be a 4th participation for The Skin Vins at Sun Worship. Their sound has momentum!
Skinny Vinny::: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=35433
I was hoping to be joined by trumpet player Forbes Graham but alas he is in Europe and will not be attending. Bicycle wheels will be summoned for sound with or without aid from another sounder. (Instead I performed with an amended version of a group I am part of, Grau Garten. Missing was Greg Kowalski, participating were Steve Norton, Marc Bisson, Dave Bacon, and Dei Xrist)
Another Boston trumpeter and returning artist Eric Dahlman has let me know he will be able to participate and will be accompanied by friend Erik Nugent.
And the latest addition is William Jasper and friend Myles. William and Myles are 14. William and his siblings have performed around Portsmouth for years and it will be an honor to include them at this 10th Sun Worship event.
BUOY Gallery has been very generous to share their space and host the Sun Worship Series for the past two years. Please come, bring some beverages, a donation, something to share, an open mind and ears. This event is sure to be a memorable and moving experience.
8/7/11
Upcomming Offset Needle Radius Stuff...
Upcoming events of bicycle wheel and whatever elseness coming down the pike around New England. Next up will be
FRANTASIA FEST 8 up in Livermore Falls. Yes, it's time for another three day bonanza/residency/thingy up in sleepy town Livermore Falls, Maine, hosted by the generous people Fran and Kathleen Szostek. Fran is absolutely tireless in assembling these three day events, a process that takes a year of work and much sacrifice to put together. This year brings the added feature of a partnership with the music department at UMaine Farmington. The first night of Frantasia will take place at a performance space on the University campus while Friday and Saturday nights will continue the tradition of taking place in Livermore Falls' Treat Memorial Library building, right on the main drag.
Offset Needle Radius will be the second set Friday evening, just after the Skinny Vinny thingy.
NEXT appearance will be as part of the Grau Garten trio at 119 Gallery in Lowell, Mass. Grau Garten has performed in a few different mutations and in it's full capacity consists of Steve Norton on sax, horns, and various other wind thingies and percussive stuff, Marc Bisson on guitar slinky, and other things, Greg Kowalski performing improvised projected visuals and myself on the bicycle wheels and perhaps a few other elements.
The following night will bring the 10th edition of Sun Worship at BUOY Gallery, Kittery. This is a special ALL ACOUSTIC edition which will challenge those of us who regularly rely on amplification for our performances while coming naturally to those whose sound sources are acoustically amplified.
Please come out to experience some of these amazing performances. There is always something for everyone and a chance to witness some out of the ordinary creative expression.
FRANTASIA FEST 8 up in Livermore Falls. Yes, it's time for another three day bonanza/residency/thingy up in sleepy town Livermore Falls, Maine, hosted by the generous people Fran and Kathleen Szostek. Fran is absolutely tireless in assembling these three day events, a process that takes a year of work and much sacrifice to put together. This year brings the added feature of a partnership with the music department at UMaine Farmington. The first night of Frantasia will take place at a performance space on the University campus while Friday and Saturday nights will continue the tradition of taking place in Livermore Falls' Treat Memorial Library building, right on the main drag.
Offset Needle Radius will be the second set Friday evening, just after the Skinny Vinny thingy.
NEXT appearance will be as part of the Grau Garten trio at 119 Gallery in Lowell, Mass. Grau Garten has performed in a few different mutations and in it's full capacity consists of Steve Norton on sax, horns, and various other wind thingies and percussive stuff, Marc Bisson on guitar slinky, and other things, Greg Kowalski performing improvised projected visuals and myself on the bicycle wheels and perhaps a few other elements.
The following night will bring the 10th edition of Sun Worship at BUOY Gallery, Kittery. This is a special ALL ACOUSTIC edition which will challenge those of us who regularly rely on amplification for our performances while coming naturally to those whose sound sources are acoustically amplified.
Please come out to experience some of these amazing performances. There is always something for everyone and a chance to witness some out of the ordinary creative expression.
5/11/11
Friday may 13::: YDLMIER Tape Releaes Show, BOSTON
In February I recorded over 2 hours of material to be released on the exclusive YDLMIER cassette label. The result is the 47 minute cassette entitled "Spoke Tension". Friday May 13 will be the release show, hosted by YDLMIER at the Flandrew Floft in Boston. Greg Kowalski will be performing free improvised projections with me. Other cassettes being released and performances by:
Moon Climb The Wall
http://www.myspace.com/moonclimbthewall
Ghost In Salad
http://www.myspace.com/ghostsalad
Pataphor
http://www.myspace.com/pataphorband
After May 13 I will have a handful of cassettes for sale for $6 in person, $7 in the mail.
UPDATE::: Here is video from the performance recorded by Greg Kowalski:::
Moon Climb The Wall
http://www.myspace.com/moonclimbthewall
Ghost In Salad
http://www.myspace.com/ghostsalad
Pataphor
http://www.myspace.com/pataphorband
After May 13 I will have a handful of cassettes for sale for $6 in person, $7 in the mail.
UPDATE::: Here is video from the performance recorded by Greg Kowalski:::
3/8/11
Sun Worship 8 at BUOY March 19th
I am very excited for the 8th in the Sun Worship Series. Not only because the line up consists of performers whose work I truly hold in high regard, and that some of these performers have become my friends. But Sun Worship 8 concludes two years of the series. Two years is not so long to be doing something. But in the early days I really had no idea if I could pull something like this off. Now it's two years later. Thank You BUOY!
This Sun Worship takes place of the night of the Super Moon, a full moon while the moon passes above the closest it's been in 18 years. Scientists studying the moon's influence on our planet report an increased incident of earthquakes, unusually high tides, and volcanic activity during a Super Moon occurrence. This will obviously have an affect on the energy on Saturday night which will be intense. Come experience some intense energies at BUOY! If you're unsure about coming out to be at a public occasion, wear a mask or costume. Or stand out under the intensity of the super moon light watch through the window. But please if you can donate a buck or two for out of town performers its much appreciated...
Andrea Pensado has ventured off into solo and occasional collaborative performance since the disbanding of her previous duo QUFUQ DUO. Overheard recently at XFest where she performed with guitarist Dave Ross and Lou Cohen, a comment about the brief description of Andrea's work: laptop. Her performance goes vastly beyond what comes to mind when imagining a performer behind the laptop generating sound. Andrea uses her voice and passion with screams, screeches and subtler sounds to create sound pieces that range from static and gentle vocalizations to harsh high decibel intensity.
Crank Sturgeon for those uninitiated, earned himself a reputation for public nudity and being a nonsensical nut over the 20 years he has been performing. I know him as an extremely approachable fellow that transforms into a half fish half human sound scientist who has assembled some unpredictable experiments to share with his audience. His performances are constantly changing incorporating various props and special effects as well as audience participation.
Steve Norton is an expert player of many horns who has been tooting around Boston for a stack of decades. He partakes in many Boston area groups such as Duck That!, and Metal And Glass Ensemble. He has enlisted floutest Matt Samolis who is credited with founding Metal And Glass Ensemble among many other great honors.
Eric Dahlman is a Boston area horn player who incorporates various other acoustic sound elements to his improvised performance. Horns, some common some strange like the two headed horn, wind up toys, aluminum foil, all thrown into the mix. Performances I have seen of Eric's I would describe as gentle, playful at times. Sometimes angular and generative.
Dave Seidel spent 10 years playing electric guitar in New York's New Music scene, and playing some killer gigs at that. Now he lives in Peterborough and performs primarily on computer using CSound to generate compelling drones of sound that hook one's attention and then pulls the listener through a transformative listening experience. Is it magic? Is it hypnotism?
Joshua DeScherer was granted his PhD for music composition from Buffalo University in 2009. I first heard him perform an unusual piece written for voice and double bass at Frantasia Festival that same year. He's been teaching music in Portland and working on repurposing electronic toys and studying the sound qualities of dismembered vinyl Lp's. I am looking forward to finding out what he might bring to his first Sun Worship event.
Art from the 2011 Art-PM Challenge will be showing in BUOY Gallery at the same time.
This will be the second consecutive Sun Worship event which I will not be performing at. Offset Needle Radius will be back for the following two Sun Worships. June will be the Divisible By 3 Sun Worship 9 on 06/18, comprised of all trios with the live projections of Greg Kowalski. I will be performing with Steve Norton and birdorgan's Marc Bisson.
Sun Worship 10 will be all acoustic in which I will perform a duo with trumpeter Forbes Graham.
Stay tuned and thank the Sun.
This Sun Worship takes place of the night of the Super Moon, a full moon while the moon passes above the closest it's been in 18 years. Scientists studying the moon's influence on our planet report an increased incident of earthquakes, unusually high tides, and volcanic activity during a Super Moon occurrence. This will obviously have an affect on the energy on Saturday night which will be intense. Come experience some intense energies at BUOY! If you're unsure about coming out to be at a public occasion, wear a mask or costume. Or stand out under the intensity of the super moon light watch through the window. But please if you can donate a buck or two for out of town performers its much appreciated...
Andrea Pensado has ventured off into solo and occasional collaborative performance since the disbanding of her previous duo QUFUQ DUO. Overheard recently at XFest where she performed with guitarist Dave Ross and Lou Cohen, a comment about the brief description of Andrea's work: laptop. Her performance goes vastly beyond what comes to mind when imagining a performer behind the laptop generating sound. Andrea uses her voice and passion with screams, screeches and subtler sounds to create sound pieces that range from static and gentle vocalizations to harsh high decibel intensity.
Crank Sturgeon for those uninitiated, earned himself a reputation for public nudity and being a nonsensical nut over the 20 years he has been performing. I know him as an extremely approachable fellow that transforms into a half fish half human sound scientist who has assembled some unpredictable experiments to share with his audience. His performances are constantly changing incorporating various props and special effects as well as audience participation.
Steve Norton is an expert player of many horns who has been tooting around Boston for a stack of decades. He partakes in many Boston area groups such as Duck That!, and Metal And Glass Ensemble. He has enlisted floutest Matt Samolis who is credited with founding Metal And Glass Ensemble among many other great honors.
Eric Dahlman is a Boston area horn player who incorporates various other acoustic sound elements to his improvised performance. Horns, some common some strange like the two headed horn, wind up toys, aluminum foil, all thrown into the mix. Performances I have seen of Eric's I would describe as gentle, playful at times. Sometimes angular and generative.
Dave Seidel spent 10 years playing electric guitar in New York's New Music scene, and playing some killer gigs at that. Now he lives in Peterborough and performs primarily on computer using CSound to generate compelling drones of sound that hook one's attention and then pulls the listener through a transformative listening experience. Is it magic? Is it hypnotism?
Joshua DeScherer was granted his PhD for music composition from Buffalo University in 2009. I first heard him perform an unusual piece written for voice and double bass at Frantasia Festival that same year. He's been teaching music in Portland and working on repurposing electronic toys and studying the sound qualities of dismembered vinyl Lp's. I am looking forward to finding out what he might bring to his first Sun Worship event.
Art from the 2011 Art-PM Challenge will be showing in BUOY Gallery at the same time.
This will be the second consecutive Sun Worship event which I will not be performing at. Offset Needle Radius will be back for the following two Sun Worships. June will be the Divisible By 3 Sun Worship 9 on 06/18, comprised of all trios with the live projections of Greg Kowalski. I will be performing with Steve Norton and birdorgan's Marc Bisson.
Sun Worship 10 will be all acoustic in which I will perform a duo with trumpeter Forbes Graham.
Stay tuned and thank the Sun.
3/5/11
Self Torture Mental Sickness
Yesterday was the first day of XFest, a mash up of musicians from the area with some visitors from NYC and Montreal. Each set is comprised of two regional and one visiting performer. Nothing is predetermined, all music or sound pieces created on the spot. As with last year I performed in the first set of the festival with a trumpet player from Boston I really admire and a guitarist from NYC.
All day I was tearing myself up, wondering what the hell I was doing devoting my time for creative expression to performing these sound collages on bicycle wheels. Is it any good? Is there some relevance to what I'm doing? Or is it misguided garbage just pissing away the energy into the dumpster? I was really being hard on myself. Then we got down to the 119 Gallery where it all takes place and I saw Walter who curates the festival. And Skot Id M from Portland. Eli came with me too. I set up and then came Forbes and the guitarist.
Anyhow, we played and there were some truly magic moments there and all my self torture just melted away. I have a posse and they were all there. Later in the evening another fellow sound explorer performed on a couple of small cardboard boxes bound together with rubber bands and a coffee can hanging from his mic stand by a piece of wire. It's good to have community, even the nuts need it.
All day I was tearing myself up, wondering what the hell I was doing devoting my time for creative expression to performing these sound collages on bicycle wheels. Is it any good? Is there some relevance to what I'm doing? Or is it misguided garbage just pissing away the energy into the dumpster? I was really being hard on myself. Then we got down to the 119 Gallery where it all takes place and I saw Walter who curates the festival. And Skot Id M from Portland. Eli came with me too. I set up and then came Forbes and the guitarist.
Anyhow, we played and there were some truly magic moments there and all my self torture just melted away. I have a posse and they were all there. Later in the evening another fellow sound explorer performed on a couple of small cardboard boxes bound together with rubber bands and a coffee can hanging from his mic stand by a piece of wire. It's good to have community, even the nuts need it.
2/7/11
Nortwest Campaign Complete:::
Saturday February 5th concluded the performances for this trip to the Northwest, with a live broadcast on KPSU 1450am in Portland, Oregon. Listen to the streaming archive HERE. (See Ricardo Wang's digital photos of the performance HERE:::)The good news is that we were on time to the station at 11 am having left Seattle at 7. Sleep deprived and coffee sweat induced for sure. The previous night's escapades were a performance in Seattle's Gallery 1412 with Jane who sang her heart felt banjo and accordion tunes as Cowlick. After the Offset Needle Radius set I answered questions for about 15 minutes about my performance and free improvisation in general. Fun fun and fun.
The good times began with a live set on KAOS Radio Olympia on Richard Sinclair's Dancing In Circles radio show Tuesday night Feb. 1st. I was still under the throws of a nasty cold. But despite that and written quarrels with the parking cops, the radio expose itself was a great time with Eli in the studio taking photos and trying not to snag the many cables that criss crossed through the air.
All in all Offset Needle Radius had great receptions in all three venues and it just goes to show determination is a great tool. All these performances were booked within two week's time. Next year I'll plan ahead and really get something together.
The good times began with a live set on KAOS Radio Olympia on Richard Sinclair's Dancing In Circles radio show Tuesday night Feb. 1st. I was still under the throws of a nasty cold. But despite that and written quarrels with the parking cops, the radio expose itself was a great time with Eli in the studio taking photos and trying not to snag the many cables that criss crossed through the air.
All in all Offset Needle Radius had great receptions in all three venues and it just goes to show determination is a great tool. All these performances were booked within two week's time. Next year I'll plan ahead and really get something together.
1/23/11
:::Offset Needle Radius LIVE on the radio:::
Through a fierce last minute campaign to drum up some performance opportunities in the Northwest I've been offered two live on air slots. Although I have guest engineered on live radio and played in a band live on the radio, this will be a first for Offset Needle Radius.
To hear streaming broadcasts, check out KAOS Radio Olympia for the Dancing In Circles radio show 9 to 11pm Pacific (Midnight to 2am Eastern) and to KPSU Radio Portland for the What's This Called? show on Saturday February 5th 12 noon to 1pm (3-4pm Eastern).
1/22/11
Northwest Territories, Here Comes Offset Needle Radius:::
Last minute preparations and attempts to try and squeeze just a couple of performance opportunities out of the Northwest has so far resulted in one booking so far, for Friday February 4th at Gallery 1412. The show will be 8pm with local acoustic songster Cowlick. I will be spinning, soothing, and torturing the steel wheels generously donated by my friend and once co worker Matt Cardinal.
Unfortunately my timing for a visit to the Northwest is not quite ideal as I seem to be fitting my time there in between the "Is That Jazz?" festival and the Seattle Improvised Music festival. So it goes. I am grateful for the opportunity to bring it to Seattle in any capacity. Thanks to the generous people at Gallery 1412.
Gallery 1412 is located at 1412 18th Avenue in Seattle between Pike and Union. If you are reading this, I hope you'll come check it out:::
Unfortunately my timing for a visit to the Northwest is not quite ideal as I seem to be fitting my time there in between the "Is That Jazz?" festival and the Seattle Improvised Music festival. So it goes. I am grateful for the opportunity to bring it to Seattle in any capacity. Thanks to the generous people at Gallery 1412.
Gallery 1412 is located at 1412 18th Avenue in Seattle between Pike and Union. If you are reading this, I hope you'll come check it out:::
1/10/11
Bonus Track from Impending Release
Fionas Week was recorded over a week residency in Concord, NH in January 2010. I set up in the kitchen of the house and recorded every night. Instrumentation consisted of the 700c one cross pattern bicycle wheel mounted on the Park TS 2 stand, as well as Fiona's collection of instruments for little people including miniature piano, plastic keyboard xylophone, whistles, mini cassette recorders, and a buddha box. This track was a bonus that didn't make it onto the final album but is none the less a good example of the recordings.
Whatever T.W.T.D by OffsetSound
Mastering is being done in Brooklyn by Andrew Gerhan, layout assistance from Michael Winters, inside photograph by Eli Thompson, 2010. Released on Wow Cool -vs- Offset Sounds Recordings
Whatever T.W.T.D by OffsetSound
Mastering is being done in Brooklyn by Andrew Gerhan, layout assistance from Michael Winters, inside photograph by Eli Thompson, 2010. Released on Wow Cool -vs- Offset Sounds Recordings
12/18/10
2 Lous + Greg Kowalski
Video by Greg Kowalsky. He is manipulating projections in real time as 2Lous performs off to the side. The sculptures seen were constructed out of salvaged materials by Peter Donovan and myself.
12/16/10
Performance Audio from Oct. 23 2010
As has been their tradition Lou Bunk and Lou Cohen who host Somerville Massachusetts' Open Sound Series, have posted a recording of my set on October 23rd. This is the first time I've been able to listen back to a live performance. Interesting. Here's the LINK to listen. This performance was in stereo. However, my home stereo currently is mono so I can't attest to the stereo effect on this recording. Enjoy...
11/22/10
Sun Worship VII on the Horizion
Sun Worship no. 7 is coming up in less than four weeks! I have to admit, the Winter Solstice one is my favorite. And just days after this event, we will be treated to a full moon on the solstice.
The Sun Worship is going to be a bit more work than usual but I'm looking forward to the results. Based on the collaborative participation effect Laura Lulof's installation had on the previous Sun Worship event, it seemed like it just wouldn't be the same to go back to the same old Buoy Gallery for the next one. So I have enlisted area artists Peter Donovan, Al Mead, and Greg Kowalski to help transform the space once again into another collaborative installation. Performers that evening will include Peace, Loving from Jamaica Plain, after a very heavy year of touring. Also appearing will be Maine's veterans of improvisational sound, Mystic Out Bop Review, Walter Wright's Loup Garou, Lou Bunk and Lou Cohen from the Open Sound series in Somerville will bring 2Lous, and of course, an installation of the Offset Needle Radius. Greg Kowalski (previously of Qfwfq Duo) will be returning to add beautiful improvised projections throughout the evening. Come one come all to another convergence of the Sun Worship!
Copies of the poster on heavy semi-gloss paper will be available for purchase at the event or get in touch with me.
Copies of the poster on heavy semi-gloss paper will be available for purchase at the event or get in touch with me.
10/25/10
Balloons, Bicycles, and Bodies::: Offset Needle Radius opening for Judy Dunaway Dec. 4th
When::: Saturday December 4th, 8pm
Where::: Andrew's Loft, 381 Congress Street Boston
Andrew Eisenberg has extended a great invitation to me which I thankfully accept. I'll be performing on a bill with internationally known Judy Dunaway at Andrew Eisenberge's loft on Saturday December 4th. The theme of this event is "Balloons, Bicycles, and Bodies". Fulfilling the Bodies portion will be Bodydrama - movement by Joe Burgio , Rachael Rosner, Betty Wang; sound by Lou Cohen, Matt Samolis, Walter Wright.
Judy Dunaway has explored New Music utilizing balloons as primary sound source since the late 1980's. She's perfomed with many vetrans of New York's New Music movement since the late 80's and has written over 40 pieces of music for balloon.
Find more artists like Judy Dunaway at MySpace Music
Judy is currently a visiting lecturer for the Massachusetts College of Art in the Art History department. Andrew's loft is at 381 Congress Street in Boston. This space used to be the Mobius offices. Show up around 8.
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Come and Gone::: Octoer 23rd at THird LIfe STudio Union Square SOmerville
THe long awaited Offset Needle Radius Somerville premier has happened. My sincere thanks to Lou Cohen and Lou Bunk for hosting the series and inviting me to participate.
Weeks prior to found me in the studio after work, casting into the night's dark embrace working on the expanded vocabulary of my untrue cast of spoked hoops, new movement, new sounds, new dialogue.
The night concluded with the participants packing gear, brief conversations, and hauling equipment out to vans and cars parked outside on Somerville Avenue. It was probably around 11pm. The last performance was birdorgan, accompanied by Laurie Amat on vocalizations and Lucio Menegon a.k.a. Kingtone on prepared guitar. Diedre was off on an island off the Maine Coast creating her own mayhem for the evening.
Prior to birdorgan and friends was Shawn Greenlee of Providence. He triggered sounds utilizing a lit sensor picking up color and shape drawn on a piece of paper at close range, fed into a laptop and then amplified on a fender 212 Combo and GK solid state amp into some stacked 6/10 speaker cabinet. The computer screen lit with waves of distorted color accompanying a shrill distorted scream of tones in unison.
After my set and a brief repose the duo of Noell Dorsey and Brendan Murray performed a piece for two voices , crash symbol, tom drum and synths.
I built a few new piezo contact mics and taped them down good to 50cm x75cm plastic sheets Dei Xrist had bestowed upon me weeks prior. Bicycle wheels were rolled on the floor like boomerang yoyos try as they might to return to the Master's warm hand, lose momentum until succumbing to a slow motion wobble dance until a crescendo of metallic death cry ends in still silence the wheel looses all vibration. The hand grabs and returns it to life to repeat this ritual again, again, with the others rolling and crashing. Plastic contact sheets on the wall and floor a wheel finds its way and rests there with aggressive hisses now amplified the metal scrapes along the plastic sheet. A metal rod produced assists in each spoke speaking its harmonic identity. They rang and hissed each with its own 11/32nds out of tune with its neighbor. Subtle input from two other wheels resting aside the A/V cart which was also amplified. Onto the Aalpa Wheel, the First and Best of them, atop the TS 2. It blobbered, trickled, cackled and swooned in a outpour of emotions for nearly 10 minutes.
In all performed for about 30 minutes. It felt good, complete, not rushed nor bullied from the switch in the line up from third position to first. After my eminent start was announced I stood bent in half holding my charges silently at my side until the room settled down to a pre dawn hush of 60Hz. THen they began to roll and tumble as I described.
It was the first test of a pair of JBL Eon 15 G2's I picked up in Woburn on the way down. I met George in a large ballroom linened for a wedding party of 95. Staff milled about the empty room making small adjustments to the setting. George was the wedding D.J. that night and he had some Rock Classique howling threw them. I didn't need the demonstration. I knew what I was getting. Setting them up at the THird Life Studio I noticed one of the volume pots was seriously fucked up scratchy. It was a little annoying at the time but I don't mind in the long run. I'll fix it when I've finally had enough.
Eli and I opted to leave the van where it lay, a block away on Bow Street. Might as well as I've already gotten the parking ticket, a reward for not feeding the meter that hid in complete dark blackness beneath the tree beside the van. I had no idea those meters were nocturnal.
After circling the globe over and over in tighter offset radii until we were circling around Union Square looking for a landing, getting off course, righting ourselves, and finally exiting the vessel. That's when I wish I had noticed the unreadable writing on the shadowed toll troll demanding rent on the curb I had taken. But I didn't . Instead Eli and I crossed the street and walked, in search of food. In a window was Marc Bisson, Mike Daily, and their friend and a third of Prehistoric Horse, Lucio Menegon.
They were eating large fresh looking sandwiches full of stuff. Food friendship and information all in one stop. Birdorgan was just off a week trip down to NYC for a few performances and Lucio had just performed at 119 Gallery the previous evening.
I failed at Boston navigation once again, guessing in leu of street signage as seems to be the tradition. I think it may be necessary to mature there or at least drink the water for an extended period to gain the homing pigeon extra sense of locality to efficiently navigate the paved cow paths Boston is built on. No matter the hassle of hunting for signs denoting our current and desired location I am always glad to be in the heart, just a curb away from being swept along with the trash in the street. It is eye opening alive and complex. Next time I'm bringing along a map. THat will be December 4th at Andrew Isenberg's loft at 381 Congress Street in Boston propa. See you then.
If you're lost and looking for a specific location in Boston, just remember::: it's right next to the Dunkin Donuts.
Weeks prior to found me in the studio after work, casting into the night's dark embrace working on the expanded vocabulary of my untrue cast of spoked hoops, new movement, new sounds, new dialogue.
The night concluded with the participants packing gear, brief conversations, and hauling equipment out to vans and cars parked outside on Somerville Avenue. It was probably around 11pm. The last performance was birdorgan, accompanied by Laurie Amat on vocalizations and Lucio Menegon a.k.a. Kingtone on prepared guitar. Diedre was off on an island off the Maine Coast creating her own mayhem for the evening.
Prior to birdorgan and friends was Shawn Greenlee of Providence. He triggered sounds utilizing a lit sensor picking up color and shape drawn on a piece of paper at close range, fed into a laptop and then amplified on a fender 212 Combo and GK solid state amp into some stacked 6/10 speaker cabinet. The computer screen lit with waves of distorted color accompanying a shrill distorted scream of tones in unison.
After my set and a brief repose the duo of Noell Dorsey and Brendan Murray performed a piece for two voices , crash symbol, tom drum and synths.
I built a few new piezo contact mics and taped them down good to 50cm x75cm plastic sheets Dei Xrist had bestowed upon me weeks prior. Bicycle wheels were rolled on the floor like boomerang yoyos try as they might to return to the Master's warm hand, lose momentum until succumbing to a slow motion wobble dance until a crescendo of metallic death cry ends in still silence the wheel looses all vibration. The hand grabs and returns it to life to repeat this ritual again, again, with the others rolling and crashing. Plastic contact sheets on the wall and floor a wheel finds its way and rests there with aggressive hisses now amplified the metal scrapes along the plastic sheet. A metal rod produced assists in each spoke speaking its harmonic identity. They rang and hissed each with its own 11/32nds out of tune with its neighbor. Subtle input from two other wheels resting aside the A/V cart which was also amplified. Onto the Aalpa Wheel, the First and Best of them, atop the TS 2. It blobbered, trickled, cackled and swooned in a outpour of emotions for nearly 10 minutes.
In all performed for about 30 minutes. It felt good, complete, not rushed nor bullied from the switch in the line up from third position to first. After my eminent start was announced I stood bent in half holding my charges silently at my side until the room settled down to a pre dawn hush of 60Hz. THen they began to roll and tumble as I described.
It was the first test of a pair of JBL Eon 15 G2's I picked up in Woburn on the way down. I met George in a large ballroom linened for a wedding party of 95. Staff milled about the empty room making small adjustments to the setting. George was the wedding D.J. that night and he had some Rock Classique howling threw them. I didn't need the demonstration. I knew what I was getting. Setting them up at the THird Life Studio I noticed one of the volume pots was seriously fucked up scratchy. It was a little annoying at the time but I don't mind in the long run. I'll fix it when I've finally had enough.
Eli and I opted to leave the van where it lay, a block away on Bow Street. Might as well as I've already gotten the parking ticket, a reward for not feeding the meter that hid in complete dark blackness beneath the tree beside the van. I had no idea those meters were nocturnal.
After circling the globe over and over in tighter offset radii until we were circling around Union Square looking for a landing, getting off course, righting ourselves, and finally exiting the vessel. That's when I wish I had noticed the unreadable writing on the shadowed toll troll demanding rent on the curb I had taken. But I didn't . Instead Eli and I crossed the street and walked, in search of food. In a window was Marc Bisson, Mike Daily, and their friend and a third of Prehistoric Horse, Lucio Menegon.
They were eating large fresh looking sandwiches full of stuff. Food friendship and information all in one stop. Birdorgan was just off a week trip down to NYC for a few performances and Lucio had just performed at 119 Gallery the previous evening.
I failed at Boston navigation once again, guessing in leu of street signage as seems to be the tradition. I think it may be necessary to mature there or at least drink the water for an extended period to gain the homing pigeon extra sense of locality to efficiently navigate the paved cow paths Boston is built on. No matter the hassle of hunting for signs denoting our current and desired location I am always glad to be in the heart, just a curb away from being swept along with the trash in the street. It is eye opening alive and complex. Next time I'm bringing along a map. THat will be December 4th at Andrew Isenberg's loft at 381 Congress Street in Boston propa. See you then.
If you're lost and looking for a specific location in Boston, just remember::: it's right next to the Dunkin Donuts.
10/8/10
10----------10----------10----------
Our favorite stressed out fish Crank Sturgeon has put together a last minute celebration to mark the coming of the Three Wise Tens, this Sunday October 10th, 2010. Wait, if I'm correct, the date on that very day will be 10/10/10! How could it be! It must surely be a universal convergence. But what does that date really represent? It's been ten years, ten months and ten days since Y2K! 2000, a new era of stuff that, well, is a lot like stuff before but more faster and techier.
Performing their interpretation of the significant convergence of 10's will be
Offset Needle Radius
Pictures by Elizabeth Thompson
Performing their interpretation of the significant convergence of 10's will be
Offset Needle Radius
Galen Richmond
Mystic Out-Bop Review
Id m theft able
Andrea Pensado
Walter Wright & Setheyney (Satan)
Crank Sturgeon
Skinny Vinny
I am sharpening 10 bicycle wheels to be wielded as ancient weapons to defend the Trifecta of 10's from outside subvergence. Come see me spin, scatter, roll and tape these ten beasts of sacrificial offering.This will take place at Apohadion Theatre
107 Hanover St
Portland, ME
 |
| Crank Sturgen metamorphosizes |
 |
| Crank's 10 Heartbeats |
 |
| Andrea Pensado lets out the demons |
 |
| Offset Needle Radius hones in on some bicycle wheel magic |
 |
| All the players played |
Pictures by Elizabeth Thompson
Things will(didn't) begin promptly at 8pm so don't fuck around.
9/3/10
Sun Worship VI Taking(taken::) Shape
Hot on the tails of another Frantasia Festival is the 6th edition of Sun Worship Series. This time Mercury will still be recovering from a retrograde session of confusion and adding to that sensation is an installation at our host gallery Buoy. The installation is by Brooklyn artist Lauren Luloff. The space is broken up with colorful walls of laminated fabric with occasional windows and portals. Should be interesting- and I like interesting.
Photos by Elizabeth Thompson
On the bill was Id M Theft Able, Skinny Vinny, some such configuration of Birdorgan, and the post accident return of Offset Needle Radius, Improvised projections by Greg Kowalski. At the conclusion of Id M Theft Able's set, a chorus of mayhem ensued created by all of the evening's participants.
This was first Sun Worship not to occur on a SUNday. Instead, it will be happening on SATurday September Eighteenth. SO no more excuses. Come experience fringe sound art in an otherwise well hemmed arts community.
On the bill was Id M Theft Able, Skinny Vinny, some such configuration of Birdorgan, and the post accident return of Offset Needle Radius, Improvised projections by Greg Kowalski. At the conclusion of Id M Theft Able's set, a chorus of mayhem ensued created by all of the evening's participants.
This was first Sun Worship not to occur on a SUNday. Instead, it will be happening on SATurday September Eighteenth. SO no more excuses. Come experience fringe sound art in an otherwise well hemmed arts community.
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