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Nov 022016
 

shadowbody

I apologize for the radio silence. It’s been a busy few months. (Btw, anyone want to write for an experimental music blog?)

I just wanted to plug a show at Blackbird Tattoo on Thursday, November 3 at 9pm. It’s organized by FMRL Arts, and it features Shadowbody, a duo comprised of Cher Von on percussion, vocals, and loops and Adam Koan performing butoh-based body movement. As I’ve mentioned a few times before, Cher Von is one of my favorite performers. If you’d like to learn more about butoh, check out this Wikipedia entry.

The show also features Brady Sharp performing extended technique guitar and … well … me! I’ll be performing “scoop & loop” audio pluckings under the moniker Adventure Bomb. This will be my first show in something around 3 years. This past week, I’ve been on a gear manhunt in my basement, remembering what buttons do, and practicing. It should be “interesting.” 🙂

Check out the streams below and see if it’s your thing. More info on the Facebook event page.

FMRL presents Shadowbody/Adventure Bomb/Brady Sharp
Thursday, November 3, 9 p.m.
all ages, $10 to $15 sliding scale
@ Blackbird Tattoo, 515 W Thompson Ln, Nashville, Tennessee 37211

Aug 122016
 
Justice Yeldham

Justice Yeldham

Nashville’s vital experimental curators FMRL Arts is presenting Ditch Fest, a three-day festival of music and visual art.

The fest takes place at Betty’s Grill on August 14 through 16. FMRL Arts is taking the unique approach of time-releasing the lineup, one festival-day at a time. Thus far, all we have is the lineup for day one, which is subtitled “Time Fades Away.” Keep checking the FMRL Arts site for updates on days two and three.

But the day one lineup? It’s spectacular.

First off, we have Sidney, Australia based audiovisual artist Justice Yeldham who is one of the most creative people alive. At the fest, he’ll be performing with broken pieces of glass and contact mics. He also creates pinball machines where the ball strikes guitar strings, piano strings, and tuning forks and remote-control car races where the cars “play” records doubling as the racetrack. The drivers sit in repurposed racecar game cabinets. They control the rc car through the game cabinet steering wheel and view the track through the monitor, which broadcasts the rc car front camera. It’s a brilliant idea, and I won’t be surprised if this type of racing becomes a phenomenon around the world.

Next up, we have Bryan Lewis Saunders of Johnson City, TN. Update: Saunders had to cancel. In his place is the artist Depths & Chained. Of him, FMRL states:

Inspired by the music of Henryk Gorecki and Gyorgy Ligeti, the regal melancholy of seminal second-wave of black metal records, the work of ambient composers Eliane Radigue and William Basinski, kosmiche music, classic harsh noise and the churning, pulsing fervor of Brighter Death Now, Depths & Chained serves as an exploration of the space in which these influences can co-exist.

Then there’s Pico Dorado, Scott Bazar‘s method for musical improvisation where each performer is assigned a color.

Finally, we have Cleveland, TN solo artist TORSCHLUSSPANIK, which is a German word that has no English counterpart. It literally translates to “gate shut panic” and speaks to the fear that time is running out. Her music incorporates heavily-distorted found sounds cut up into audio assemblages. Check out the stream below.

Admission for Ditch Fest day one is a $10 to $15 sliding scale. Show starts at 9 p.m.

FMRL Arts presents Ditch Fest
Day One: Time Fades Away
Featuring Justice Yeldham, Bryan Lewis Saunders, Pico Dorado, and TORSCHLUSSPANIK
August 14, 9 p.m., $10 to $15
@ Betty’s Grill, 407 49th Ave N, Nashville, Tennessee 37209

Nov 042015
 

10428641_743883065654731_7117688292867042538_n_grande

FMRL is presenting a great show tomorrow evening at the 12 South Portland Brew featuring veteran tape loop artist Jason Lescalleet, this time duetting with sound manipulator Kevin Drumm. The New York Times posted a review of one of their recent shows here. (Thanks to FMRL for referring me to this article.)

Nashville’s Harvest Team will open. More info on the Facebook event page.

FMRL presents Jason Lescalleet & Kevin Drumm Duo with Harvest Team
Thursday, November 5th, 9 p.m., $10-$15 sliding scale.
@ 12 South Portland Brew, 2605 12th Ave S, Nashville, Tennessee 37204

Sep 152015
 
Tatsuya Nakatani. Image by hearhums.blogspot.com

Tatsuya Nakatani. Image by hearhums.blogspot.com

It seems like every time Tatsuya Nakatani comes to Nashville, I’m out of town. On Friday, September 18th at 9 p.m., he’ll be performing with special guests at the 12th South Portland Brew. I’ll be in St. Louis getting married. At least it’s a good excuse.

However, if you’re IN town and NOT getting married, check out Nakatani, performing a solo set and an improvisation with special guests Jeff Coffin (Dave Matthews Band), Celine Thackston (Chatterbird), Matt Wigton, and Brady Sharp.

Here’s what I wrote about Nakatani in the show notes to the Theatre Intangible podcast he appeared on:

Japanese-born experimental percussionist Tatsuya Nakatani connects with his instruments in a way like I’ve never before seen. He extracts every ounce of musicality out of his gongs, singing bowls, bells, cymbals, drums, handmade bows, and other devices. His performances are an extremely visceral affair. You really get the sense that his instruments are extensions of him. Seeing him live is a cathartic and almost spiritual experience.

This is a special show. Don’t miss it.