Announcement
After a bit of a dealing-with-other-things layoff from public performance, I'll be re-emerging with a solo set as part of Sonica Electronica, a benefit for Pittsburgh's International Children's Art Gallery. On the bill:
All the way from Oakland, CA, Matt Davignon (Ribosome Music) will be improvising soundscapes with heavily modified and processed drum machines (they sound like synths, actually).
Legendary Pittsburgh music innovator Steve Sciulli (Life in Balance) will unleash some of his latest work on synth, wind controller, and will most likely bring other surprises.
Master guitarist Mike Klobuchar will supply his expertly created ambient guitar loops and textures to reboot your mind.
Given the experimental side of the show, I'm starting to think I'll bring my more listener-friendly work (BuyExpensiveDrinksCore), some of which was most recently heard last summer on WRCT, along with some new things in that vein. Loungey, fuzzy, loopy, hypnotic...what's not to like? Not too many people have heard this stuff yet--you can still be among the first. Or I might play all the way "out"--who knows what the mood will be? We'll also do a collaborative improv at some point, surely.
No cover as such, but there will be a request for donations to support the Gallery, and (we hope) defray Matt's travel costs. We'll see you--and you hear us--there.
International Children's Art Gallery, 5020 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15224. Friday, July 17, 2009, 7:30PM. All ages. Donation suggested.
I went spelunking through the archives and found a very promising track.
I'm all about the pedal steel right now. Now if I could just find one ultra-cheap...
Live BoN show on WRCT--another in our line of really good radio-only sets.
Announcement
Circuit bender Kevin C. Smith and I are back at the table of bent electronics for a live-on-the-radio show on WRCT. It'll be Monday, March 23, at 9PM EDT--you can check it out over the airwaves, or online via live stream. The Speak 'n' Spell might come back to life, and maybe the Furbies will sing...or something entirely different will happen. There's only one way to find out: tune in Monday at 9. We'll see you...on the radio.
WRCT, 88.3 FM Pittsburgh, or WRCT, 9PM Monday March 23.
Awesome Bureau of Nonstandards show--the Furbies laughed at us, though.
Announcement
It's time to smash your cell phone, saddle up your Furby, and bring your noise-making keychain on over to the Morning Glory Coffeehouse in the new-on-the-cultural-radar neighborhood of Morningside. That's right, circuit bender Kevin C. Smith and I will be at it again as the Bureau of Nonstandards, with Kevin coaxing a stunning variety of sounds from his bent and twisted toys, while I munge the results into a post-human groove, hunched over the laptop with email-checking intensity.
We'll be appearing with Beach Fuzz, all the way from Manchester in the UK, about whom I know pretty much nothing, apart from the excerpts on their Myspace page, which range from feedback and drum bashing to psychedelic drone ambience.
Will the Speak'n'Spell give us evocative vocals? Will the Furbies chant in religious ecstasy this time? C'mon out and see.
1806 Chislett St., Pittsburgh, PA 15206 [Map]. All ages. 7PM.
I'm about to send out a gig spam for Friday's Bureau of Nonstandards show. Time got away from me, folks.
That riff was too good to be his own composition, but I can't figure out which song I ripped off.
That was a pretty darned good Bureau of Nonstandards set. So does Kevin. Live on WPTS. Favorite bit: when we took the Furbies to Tibet.
Announcement
Circuit bender Kevin C. Smith and I are up to our tricks again--we're playing the WPTS Live show this week. You won't have to schedule it, since it's on the radio or live internet stream. You can just dial it in, kick back, and listen to an hour of pure electronic id from Kevin's Speak 'n' Spells, Furbies, Casios, and other curious sources, as well as my sonic twisting of the results. See you...on the radio.
92.1 FM Pittsburgh, or wpts.pitt.edu, Wednesday February 18, 2009, 9PM
I wish I'd gotten up at 3 and put down that little melody I can't remember now
Announcement
Here's a special one: circuit bender Kevin C. Smith and I are going back to the well of bent and twisted electronic toys, while I fire up the live remixer. Will the bent Furby do its three stooges thing again? We'll find out. I might just bust out a short solo set of my latest stuff as well.
We'll be joined by local scene legend Steven Sciulli on his new Hartmann Neuron synth--this might just be the only one of these anywhere near town, and is quite the special device. I know I'm looking forward to hearing what Steve can do with this thing. And if that isn't enough, we'll also be joined by Power Pill Fist from Black Moth Super Rainbow...and he'll be playing Atari 2600! Some surprising stuff is going to happen.
Once again it's at Your Inner Vagabond, so you'll be able to check out some fine coffees, teas, and middle-eastern/subcontinental entrees and desserts. How can you lose? By not coming, that's how. See you there!
4130 Butler St., Pittsburgh, PA
Announcement
It is indeed that time of year again: leaves are curling up and dying, falling from trees in colorful death-droves, and there's that peculiar decaying aroma of politics in the air. Should you be anywhere near Pittsburgh on Wednesday, November 5, consider stopping in to Your Inner Vagabond for the sixth annual Open Mic Jandek Cover Night.
As ever, the guidelines are simple: anyone can come and play, but you have to cover a Jandek tune. Any style, genre, instrumentation, or approach is welcome. Aesthetic risk-taking is actively encouraged. (Hey, last year I did a no-input all-feedback version of "Down in a Mirror.") Unlike previous years, however, we have room for a drum kit. Anyone up for "John Plays Drums"?
This year, we're hosting the evening at Your Inner Vagabond, a very comfortable coffeehouse and world lounge in the happening Pittsburgh neighborhood of Lawrenceville. Decor is very Middle Eastern--carpets, pillows, low tables...the perfect setting for someone to tackle "Khartoum," for instance. YIV serves a wide variety of delicious teas (iced and hot) and often astonishing Middle Eastern and Subcontinental desserts, as well as coffee. While no alcohol is served, you can BYOB.
Also, it won't interfere with your voting. Come on out! See you there!
4130 Butler St., Pittsburgh, PA 15201. Wednesday, November 5, 8PM. All ages. Free, but order something to eat or drink to show some support for the space.
Announcement
Minmei Decelis (My Boyfriend the Pilot) is leaving town and going out with a bang--one last show at Your Inner Vagabond with the Bureau of Nonstandards (that's circuit-bender Kevin C. Smith and yours truly) and 8cylinder. It's not just a show; it's an experience: Min, Kevin, and I will be doing a live film soundtrack to the classic Forbidden Planet. Rehearsals have been quite compelling--I'll be playing processed guitar, Kevin will be bringing a bunch of bent toys, and Min will be playing two Theremins. You heard me, two Theremins. Come on down and check it out.
4130 Butler St., Pittsburgh, PA 15201. Tuesday October 21, 8PM to midnight, with the movie at 10:00. All ages, BYOB.
Announcement
Time for another show...with a few twists. I'll be doing my recent trip-hoppy BuyExpensiveDrinksCore (although...this time, you cant!) using the new baritone guitar, for some extra core-moving bass frequencies. This show gets rolling Saturday afternoon, and I'm on at 5PM sharp (not Rock Time). And it's a benefit for the Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania. How can you lose? Come on out, hear music, and know that you're doing something nice for animals. I'll be joined by plenty of other performers, as well:
Surviving the Odyssey doing their blend of electronica, trip-hop, ambient, synth-pop, and electro dance music. DJ Dale Cooper will be stirring up some irresistibly danceable tracks. Bass Clown will bring the deep house, soul, funk, jazz, and other booty-moving music. TurnStyles does all kinds of music, and for this evening he'll be spinning the funky house. Make sure you're in it when he does.
And you'll get a chance to meet some animals up for adoption. See you there!
The Home Economics Building in South Park, South Park PA. 3:30 PM until midnight. $5 benefits the Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania.
Directions:
1. From Pittsburgh take the Liberty Tunnel and take 51 S. towards Uniontown.
2. Get on 88 S./Library Road.
3. Follow Library road to the park entrance following the signs.
4. Veer Left onto Corrigan Drive and take that into the park.
5. Follow Corrigan Drive till the T in the road and make a right onto Brownsville road.
6. Make the immediate Left into the parking lot. The Home Economics Building is to the right of the Buffalo Inn.
