Copies of the poster on heavy semi-gloss paper will be available for purchase at the event or get in touch with me.
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.
8/26/10
Frantasia 2010, Still Maine's Largest Festival of "OUt" Music
Just a day before Frantasia 2010 was to begin, I called curator Fran Szostek to tell him Offset Needle Radius would not be performing. With my hands still battered from a bicycle accident on June 23rd, I was not prepared physically or mentally to perform. My spirit was damaged in that crash, debilitating my hands, making everything I do difficult or impossible. After six weeks of physical therapy the hands have improved, at least the right hand has. The left is still not much better than it was soon after the accident. Self pity aside, I do feel lucky that I still have five fingers on each hand and they each can do at least a little something.
I was rolling into Livermore Falls at about 6 on Friday August 19th under grey velvet skies. I love turning the corner and crossing the bridge into Livermore Falls, the lonely little town seemingly unaware of the annual festival that takes place here, drawing talented performers of fringe music from all across the Northeast.
At Fran and Kathleen's house, I found Walter Wright, Joe Burshio, Kathleen, Noel Walsh, as well as meeting a few new people on the walk down to the Livermore Falls public library that would host this year's festival.
Nights full of a wide range of music, primarily consisting of experimental free improv, New music, performed by exceptional musicians dedicated to this fringe form of creative expression. Crank Sturgeon Andrew from Skinny Vinny, Audrey Chen and her son Ivan, Walter Wright's Apocolypso Trio with Id M THeftable, all Friday night, here in this small auditorium beneath the library, just off the main drag in this small paper mill town.
Inside there are sounds created in the moment, some that will only be heard in this fleeting moment. People sit quietly in folding chairs witnessing this performance carefully watching, noting how these objects sing when in the hands of the performers. Each year returning performers return with further reaching, intentional depth learned from the previous year. We come and learn how to be free from the confines of popular music. We come and share the results of our work, to show how far we have come in twelve moths.
Outside dimly lit by a street lamp, below street level parking lot tucked behind the post office and library, walled in by a jungle of overgrown August weeds and trees. People are talking, catching up, reuniting after having not seen each other since last year's Frantasia. They are missing something happening inside, or watching through the open door to the stage.
One can not or at least shouldn't try to absorb every sound wave emanated in a night, over-taxing one's ability to really hear what is happening. Breaks and rests are necessary to recharge. There is too much going on in each moment to take it all in. My ears take in the masters, performing sets I wouldn't want to miss for anything, live music that will be unlike anything I've experienced. Other sets are performed by the learners, the listeners, studiers, still finding their sound, still learning how to hear, not quite having yet learned to let go, to channel.
Showing up a day late to the beginning of this year's Frantasia leaves me feeling not quite fulfilled at the conclusion of the weekend. Where as last year I was present for the entire event, this year I felt as if I could have benefited from just a little more.
Spending those three days together at meals, workshops, nightly performances, a feeling of belonging to a sort of extended family sets in. Sharing a devotion to and appreciation of fringe sound has found us together each year here at this unlikely venue. Frantasia is a festival, a musician's retreat, a family reunion, brought together by a special person Fran Szostek with the help of his wife Kathleen. For more information and sign up, follow link HERE>>>
I was rolling into Livermore Falls at about 6 on Friday August 19th under grey velvet skies. I love turning the corner and crossing the bridge into Livermore Falls, the lonely little town seemingly unaware of the annual festival that takes place here, drawing talented performers of fringe music from all across the Northeast.
At Fran and Kathleen's house, I found Walter Wright, Joe Burshio, Kathleen, Noel Walsh, as well as meeting a few new people on the walk down to the Livermore Falls public library that would host this year's festival.
Nights full of a wide range of music, primarily consisting of experimental free improv, New music, performed by exceptional musicians dedicated to this fringe form of creative expression. Crank Sturgeon Andrew from Skinny Vinny, Audrey Chen and her son Ivan, Walter Wright's Apocolypso Trio with Id M THeftable, all Friday night, here in this small auditorium beneath the library, just off the main drag in this small paper mill town.
Inside there are sounds created in the moment, some that will only be heard in this fleeting moment. People sit quietly in folding chairs witnessing this performance carefully watching, noting how these objects sing when in the hands of the performers. Each year returning performers return with further reaching, intentional depth learned from the previous year. We come and learn how to be free from the confines of popular music. We come and share the results of our work, to show how far we have come in twelve moths.
Outside dimly lit by a street lamp, below street level parking lot tucked behind the post office and library, walled in by a jungle of overgrown August weeds and trees. People are talking, catching up, reuniting after having not seen each other since last year's Frantasia. They are missing something happening inside, or watching through the open door to the stage.
One can not or at least shouldn't try to absorb every sound wave emanated in a night, over-taxing one's ability to really hear what is happening. Breaks and rests are necessary to recharge. There is too much going on in each moment to take it all in. My ears take in the masters, performing sets I wouldn't want to miss for anything, live music that will be unlike anything I've experienced. Other sets are performed by the learners, the listeners, studiers, still finding their sound, still learning how to hear, not quite having yet learned to let go, to channel.
Showing up a day late to the beginning of this year's Frantasia leaves me feeling not quite fulfilled at the conclusion of the weekend. Where as last year I was present for the entire event, this year I felt as if I could have benefited from just a little more.
Spending those three days together at meals, workshops, nightly performances, a feeling of belonging to a sort of extended family sets in. Sharing a devotion to and appreciation of fringe sound has found us together each year here at this unlikely venue. Frantasia is a festival, a musician's retreat, a family reunion, brought together by a special person Fran Szostek with the help of his wife Kathleen. For more information and sign up, follow link HERE>>>
7/3/10
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!
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!
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