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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

Sun Worship V, The One That Almost Got Away

   Feverishly trying to keep up with springtime work volumes at the bike shop took precedence over creative endevers.  That meant that planning for the fifth Sun Worhsip event suffered. So I was even more grateful for the performers who were able to rally with only two weeks notice.  Eric Dhalman was able to enlist a friend on guitar and bass to accompany him on horns, whistles, and various light treats. Although Joshua Jefferson was not in the area to join in, Steve Norton and Angela Sawyer were up for a performance and brought their elaborate collection of bird calls, horns, electronics.  They performed an extensive and dynamic set moving through various textures and intensities.  Birdorgan was complete again with percussionist Mike Daley who incorporated his crutches in the first performance since he crashed his scooter.  Lighting up their set was Greg Kowalski from Qfwfq Duo, projecting real time abstract images across the group and wall behind.  I brought along the bicycle wheel, electronics, etc., for a performance of Offst Needle Radius that was somewhat eclipsed by bunq's implosion of various objects, crumpled paper, balancing sticks, toys, etc.
   In all, the evening was another great night of free improv performance.  September will bring Sun Worship VI, will be the first Sun Worship event to take place on a Saturday, and will no doubt be great.  So write it on your calender, September 18th: Sun Worship VI!

Sunday April 11th:::Ecco Fatto, Speet Silex from France, Coming To Buoy Gallery

   Ecco Fatto is a year old duo comprised of Emmanuel Lalande and Jean-Paul Buisson.  Their sound is comprised of improvised material derived from a piano sound board and the inner workings of an electronic piano.  Examples of the results sound sparce, dark, dream-like sound/wave patterns, as a soundtrack to the moving waves of color one sees after minutes of being conscious with one's eyes closed.  Click on one of the blue bars to hear examples.

 Ecco Fatto photo by Elizabeth Thompson

 Ecco Fatto photo by Elizabeth Thompson

 Frank of Mystic Out Bop Review, photo by Elizabeth Thompson

 Skinny Vinny photo by Elizabeth Thompson

   Accompanying Ecco Fatto on this visit to the United States, will be Speet Silex, which was a late addition and unfortunately, I have no information to offer other than THIS.
   Also on the bill will be Mystic Out Bop Review, a trio of musicians from Maine who have just celebrated a 10-year anniversary.  Plus Joshua Jefferson from Skinny Vinny and Duck That! will bring his group Hospice for the 300.
   Again, this will be on Sunday, April 11th.  Doors are at 7:00PM and I hope to get the show started around 7:30.  Donations are requested to offset the costs to performers and the gallery.  

Sun Worship IV IS Coming: Sunday March 21st

   Thriving on the deadline, the flier is in the works. A great line up once again with diverse sets from New England Phonographers Union, Warewolf, Crank Sturgeon, Marc Bisson, bunq, and of course, Offset Needle Radius.

   The New England Phonographers Union
is a fluid congregation of sound artists and field recordists who work with untreated and unprocessed recordings of the rich and varied sounds around them. Through the exploration and documentation of urban and rural public spaces, sound objects and events, the Union captures auditory phenomena otherwise lost, and re-interpret the particularity of individual places as a newly idealized sonic environment. Within a focused listening environment the members present their recordings, both individually and as collaborative improvisations.  Performing at Sun Worship IV will be Rick Breault, Mike Bullock, Linda Aubrey Bullock, Ernst karel, and Jed Speare.
  
   Crank Sturgeon
has been freaking out audiences around New England and the world for longer than I can tell you about. His combination performance art/noise creation is always unique and completely unignorable.  Utilizing during various performances, nudity, inflatable sculptures, masks and costumes, contact mics, intense square wave generators and high volume.  Crank Sturgeon was unable to participate in Sun Worship III having just come off yet another European tour and down with a case of the travel bugs.  I'm really excited to bring him back to Kittery this time around.

 Loup Garou (Warewolf)
is collaborative group consisting of Walter Wright of Apocalypso Trio on electronics, Setheyny Pen of Ralph Eats Dynamite on toy pianos and objects, Mike Daily of birdorgan on prepared guitar and whatnot, Kit Demos of Mystic Out Bop Review on electronics.  The pairing of sound sources can at first seem unlikely or perhaps unsettling. The introduction of melody from the damaged primitive sounds of the toy piano jars some peoples idea of free improv sound.  The result is playful and disarming at times, conflicting and challenging other moments.  This event will see Mike Daily hurting his drums, accompanied by Walter Wright and Kit Demos on electronicas.  Sadly, Setheny and her toy pianos won't be able to make it...

   Marc Bisson
is one quarter of birdorgan, utilizing prepared guitar, electronics, synths, wind up toys, and many other objects to create sort of a one man improv band of unique sound that moves easily through varying textures and intensities.

   bunq
has been appearing at area free improv sound events for some time, usually accompanying sound performers with his creative stacking and balancing performances.  Always with different elements to create teetering towers with, challenging his own sense of balance and the limits of structural gravity resistance, until the inevitable climax of a crash scattering objects across the floor.  Each time David's performances are an exercise in tension building, structure rendering, release, and rebuilding.

   This is happening at Buoy Gallery at 2 Government St in Kittery just over the bridge from Portsmouth.  We'll get things started around 7pm.  Donations requested.  Please bring $$ or gas cans full of petrol to help offset the cost to performers and the gallery for bringing you this event.  It is truly a labor of love and oobe.

Review: SUN WORSHIP III, by Peter Donovan

Nailed to a tree
down a path in
the dark-this is
underground.  Forget
what you know about
sound. Full circle thru
the filter of life.
Thrown out the window
& let go.
There's a man rolling
his drum set &
one zinging a bike
rim.  Slurping Arias
to 1000 thread count
patch work sky scrapers.
Forget what you know.
close your eyes.  You're
in an underground cave
only florescent deep sea
fish see-That's what you


hear-it's the inside of
a beetle's shoe in the
mossy garden of doom.
It's warm, slow &
friendly in here.
It's gentle geek
underground abandon.
Punk Rock for the
new world.
The real deal-people
who are truly here
to listen.  This isn't
any poser mall
brought lingo & look-
this is finding that
thing that's real.
Hope you were there-
if you weren't-
oh well your loss


     -PFD.



(Photos by Eli Thompson & JBaker)

Portsmouth Area's Experimental Improvisation Event of the Year

Coming soon, it's Sun Worship III event on December 20th at Buoy Gallery in Kittery. Here's the flier. This is going to be a really fun event. You will be very sad if you choose not or are unable to attend.
Click on the flier for a printable image. THen go to your favorite local coffee shop and tape it to the window. This is how we spread the word.