12-22-11 >><< Marana Jocund website up + New DVD/CD release (almost ready)!!
This website was created by the incredible talents of Rob and Megan McKearney. Bookmark it or else! There's also a youtube account of a variety of Marana rehearsal and live videos....
Which is good, because the Bay Area Marana tour is right around the corner. Dates are up on the Events page. Gigs'l be posted on an individual basis as they come up. First up is the good ol' Mindgaze Hut in Oakland with Jordan Glenn's new quartet Shaken Flesh. C'mon down...
Rob and Meghan's immense talents have also contributed to a Marana Jocund DVD/CD release that's almost ready to go. This release features live and rehearsal footage from our summer 2011 sessions, and will be available at all of our upcoming shows. The packaging artwork is reason enough alone to buy one. I'll be posting a link to purchase options soon.
12-5-11 >><< Post HIT, Gamelan Jam, Marana Tour, The Hare
The premiere of 'HIT' came off nicely, and a decent recording was produced as well. I'll try to get it edited down for a listen and post somewhere soon. Thanks to all who were involved. Being somewhat new to 'soundcloud,' I may finally be able to post some mp3 stuff on this site.
My first performance as a gamelan musician will tomorrow at 4 PM at Wesleyan's World Music Hall. It's been an epic journey with this ensemble so far - lots of parts to learn and memorize and a whole different instrumental technique. Those in the Middletown area (are there any?) c'mon down and trip out to an afternoon of interlocking patterns, gongs, and eclectic dancing.
I'll soon be returning to the Bay for some holidazing and jumping right back into the saddle with Marana Jocund, my free-hardcore trio with Rob Pumpelly and Megan McKearney. Current gigs are posted on the Events page.
Finally, regarding things BlipVert related, I'll be embarking on a massive project after the new year to remix an album's worth of material for NYC saxophonist and composer Rob Mosher. Rob released an incredible album of songs in '08 called 'The Tortoise and the Hare,' and has asked me to remix the record in a 'Blipvert style,' re-releasing it as 'The Hare.' Needless to say, this will be an incredibly involved project, and might not get finished until December 2012. However, occasional tracks and pieces of info will be posted here from time to time. Regardless, I highly suggest buying a copy of Rob's album, as its some of the most successfully executed music I've heard in awhile.
11-4-11 >><< Alvin Lucier Festival @ Wesleyan University, 'HIT'
This coming weekend will be the Alvin Lucier Festival at Wesleyan University, a three day event celebrating the music of composer and educator Alvin Lucier. Alvin was a 40 year faculty member at Wesleyan, and has worked with the likes of John Cage, Gordon Mumma, and Robert Ashley. After weeks of preparation, the first concert will be held tonight at Wesleyan's Crowell Concert Hall at 8 PM featuring Alvin's solo works.
Needless to say, this will be a monumental event. I'm happy to be helping out with performing in John Cage's Rozart Mix - which involved countless hours of analog tape splicing - and Pauline Oliveros' Rolling Meditation. Events are listed on the Events Page with further info.
Right around the corner will be a premiere of my new composition for guitar and Balinese percussion called 'HIT.' The composition is in three short scenes, and will be premiered at Wesleyan's CFA Hall on November 15.
9-15-11 >><< CT, PAK, MJ, OG!
The OG referring to 'Oh, Gosh' of course. I now live in Connecticut, I play more weird instruments, I get asked weird questions by Anthony Braxton, and write vitriolic papers about how music sucks and how it could be better but still sucks but I like it anyway.
VERY excited and pleased to mention that I have rejoined musical forces with Ron Anderson once again. Fuck, it only took 10 years. I'll be doubling the low end as a bassist - yes, a bassist - for a nice gig with PAK at Littlefield's in Brooklyn on October 2. For those who don't know what PAK is, its one of my earliest NYC bands that I started playing with back in 1999. Ron and I have a dynamic musical history, and I've had to learn some pretty insane parts in a relatively short period of time. In addition to two basses, we'll have trumpet, keys, violin, sax, and Keith Abrams on drums. Keith is, in my opinion, one of the best drummers working in NYC. Pleased to be working with this crew of ridiculous (meaning good) musicians again. More to come....
Many more Marana (3x fast) Jocund vids are up on the youtube. You can subscribe to the channel (MaranaJocund) or type in the name in the search bar. Really insane stuff. Look for some tour dates January 2012.
8-10-11 >><< Marana Thanks!, fun. in New York, Adios...
A giant helping of thanks to all who came to the two recent Marana Jocund gigs at the Makeout Room and the Uptown. The two venues will never be the same! In the end, some of the most dynamic and extreme music I've been a part of for a long time. Rob and I put in a lot of work over a period of weeks, and I couldn't be happier with the end result. A brief video clip of one of our slower, 'stoner-rock' vibe tunes - Sorceress - from the Makeout Room gig, is up. Check it out here. Pleased to say that even though I'll be moving this is a project that won't be stopping any time soon. Many more vids, live/rehearsal footage, and future tour dates to follow.
One of the best ways to welcome oneself back to an area after a long while is with a truly insane gig. I'll be spending some time in NYC for a week or so before heading up to Wesleyan, and fun., the guitar/keys duet I have with Gene Baker, will be dropping by ABC No Rio's COMA series on August 21st @ 7 PM. Info is on the Dates page.
And with that, West Coast Phase II has come to an end. And thus, East Coast Phase II begins....
6-13-11 >><< Europe/Steim thanks, summer 'fun,' Marana Jocund, leaving the Bay
Big, giant thanks are in order to all the great people who made my recent residency at the Steim Institute and trip to Europe headache/stress-free and extraordinarily enlightening. These would be (in no particular order): Takuro Mizuta Lippit and Vivian, Nico Bes, Frank Balde, Juan Matos Capote, Ferdinand Maks and Kim, Desiree van Theil, Teun de Reeper and all Eat Concrete supporters, Luca Cataldo and all of the International Training VJ's, Wouter Massink, all of the Oddstream stage technicians and hospitality crew....Thanks for all your help, inspiration, and support!
In addition, and thanks to Luca Cataldo and the VJ's, an incredible new video has been posted featuring a BlipVert interview and live performance clips from both of my sets at Oddstream. Check it out on the Videos page. Professionally edited and shot, and without a doubt the best visuals and lighting at a concert that I have ever had. Thanks guys. Enjoy!
Summer has arrived, and with that means less work but more fun. A variety of new dates are posted on the Dates page, including two August gigs with a relatively new project that I'm beyond excited about, Marana Jocund. Originally duet project started by guitarist/drummer Rob Pumpelly of Mirthkon, Rob has re-lifed the project to take on a more free-hardcore sound with yours truly, and I must say it's turning out to be completely insane (meaning good)! Really dynamic, really intense, and really fun. We'll be burning down the Makeout Room and the Uptown soon...c'mon down!
Finally, and at long last, I'll be leaving the Bay Area for the East Coast this August for further illuminating musical study at Wesleyan University. I recently received an acceptance to Wesleyan's doctoral program in Ethnomusicology, and can't say how excited I am to begin this course of study. As to my current musical projects, everything will more or less be continuing in regular fashion, and some major changes may be taking place as far as sound and instrumentation (imagine - 'Blip-World'). Ultimately, this is the beginning of a new musical direction and chapter for me, and I'm incredibly honored to be attending one of the oldest and best ethno programs in the world.
Which is to say, get yourself down to a gig this summer. Let's do it right, loud, and extreme!
5-7-11 >><< Dystopia Gardens re-presentation
For those in the NYC area who want to catch a good yet cheap as hell show (which is not possible anymore in NYC) Dystopia Gardens will be returning to the PIT stage for the month of May. Dystopia Gardens is a drama-comedy written by sketch-duo Jerry Miller and Will Nunziata, and happens to feature selections from my Triple Acid Foot and stop:skronk:explode! BlipVert records. Think 1984, Brave New World, Logan's Run with a comedic edge; funny as hell, and always entertaining. Info is posted on the Dates page. Check it out! Purchase tickets here.
4-17-11 >><< Emeryville madness, new BlipVert EP ready
A fun gig'l be occurring in the sleepy (or noisy as hell, depending on if you live near the Oaks Card Club) town of Emeryville, CA this Friday, April 22nd, featuring BlipVert and other local acts of insane persuasion at a new loft space called 'The Shop.' (flyer below) Info is on the Dates page. Nice this, as I can basically walk there from where I live, and there'l be a champagne and hooker overload at my place afterwards. Actually, there won't be, as you can simply wander down San Pablo Ave. and find those things any night of the week, and rather cheaply....
A new BlipVert EP is almost finished, and will hopefully be released soon. Continuing along the lines of extreme guitar shredding and 15 part vocal harmonies, this'l sorta be the second half of Quantumbuster Now. More to be posted as events warrant....
Come on down to a gig or two and say hi, g'bye, or whatever! Cheers
3-16-11 >><< STEIM confirmed
The STEIM residency for the beginning of June has been confirmed. I'll be holed up Lockheed-style in an incredible music studio for a week with the hopes of composing or producing something truly epic (for now, a secret). STEIM is an organization based in Amsterdam that focuses on research and development of tools for musicians specializing in electronic arts and music, and I happen to be one. There'l be a culminating concert on June 5.
Once again, if anyone has any ideas for shows/events/whatever around the May 29 to June 7 timeframe, please send me an email at blipvertmusic@gmail.com as soon as possible.
3-7-11 >><< Thanks...again!
Thanks to all who came out to the recent BlipBand gigs. Great turnouts, which meant a lot as this new group is a big step in the furtherance (or morphing) of my BlipVert ideology. New videos of the group have been posted to the Videos page for your viewing pleasure. There's a total of 6 from the Oakland Mindgaze Hut show, and you can either follow the youtube links to the rest or check out the BlipVert channel which is blipvert123. More dates will be posted when they come around.
2-8-11 >><< Good and Cool and Neat
New band is sounding epic! So much talent, so little time. Don't forget about the two gigs with The Will Redmond Band end of this month at the Ivy Room and The Mindgaze Hut. Info is on the Dates Page. C'mon down!
BlipVert @ the Oddstream Festival in Nijmegen, Holland for this upcoming June has just been confirmed. Cool deal this, as some of the amazing dudes and dudettes appearing will include Alec Empire (originator of digital hardcore and founder of Atari Teenage Riot), Ceephax Acid Crew (Squarepusher's little brother), Knalpot (EC label mate and incredible multi-instrumentalists), and cult favorites Chicks on Speed. More to be announced soon....
I'll be trying like mad to hook up some more shows around this festival, and there's talk of a residency at Amsterdam's STEIM. Nothing confirmed yet, but further bulletins approaching. If anyone has any gig possibilities or ideas centering around the week of May 29 through June 6 or 7, please contact me at blipvertmusic@gmail.com and we'll discuss. Let's get this going!
1-17-11 >><< New Date Added for LA Blip-Trip
A last minute gig with iso/2 will occur at The Tribal Cafe on January 22. Check the dates page for complete info.
1-14-11 >><< New Yeah (Whatever), Things, Blip-Trips, Thorngs-Tours
Another year, another set of things to deal with/set up/attend to. First of all, a giant thanks to all those who in any way supported my sorry self in 2010. A long strange trip indeed. Most of the year was spent formulating the new band, new BlipVert record, new tours, new work, and new outlook on life, the life point mostly referring to doctoral applications. These took a good several months to organize, plan, and put together. If all goes well, and I'm praying like hell that it will, I'll be on the East Coast again in some capacity this summer, ready to engage in even more super illuminating and serious musical study. Thanks to our lovely economy, its damn near impossible for (serious) musicians, and much less anyone for that matter, to do anything at all. Rather, keepin' on keepin' on....
Many new things for the new year thus far. First of all, a nice trip down to LA next weekend for a BlipVert gig at DIY Gallery, with info on the Dates page. Just a one-off this time, so all LA compatriots get up on it! This'll be with the otherworldly iso/2 who supported me on the last trip down there, and some LA local groups. A new video is available - at over 10 minutes! - of the last BlipVert gig that occurred at this fine space.
The Will Redmond Band (which I'm still trying to think of a good name for, or perhaps that's good enough) which is starting to sound like a monster (meaning 'good') will throw down a few gigs in February (info on the Dates page) and will feature new saxophonist Charlie Gorczynski, straight outta Chicago. Pleased to have him on board, and a ridiculous (meaning amazing) player to boot! This band has taken some time to formulate but has been well worth it. I'll be handling multiple duties on electric kalimba, udu drum, and the raita.
Nextly, nice new review of Quantumbuster Now from webzine and review site Foxy Digitalis. See the Reviews page.
And lastly, I'll be hoofing it to Europe again in June for the Oddstream festival in Holland and hopefully some other dates accompanying.