Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Rock More (neo)-futurism: Decay/Sustain, Blank Slate
Posted by Scott Shoger on Wed, Mar 31, 2010 at 4:27 PM
I wanted to mention the Intermedia Festival yesterday, but I also don't want to neglect a couple more gatherings for artists experimenting with all manner of new sounds: Decay/Sustain, what bodes to be an impressive multimedia experience presented by Asthmatic Kitty, Joyful Noise and Transpanther (April 9 at Big Car/Mt. Comfort); and Blank Slate 2, a celebration of improvised music featuring several Audio Recon artists (April 3 at the Earth House).
Decay/Sustain will feature contributions by several Asthmatic Kitty artists, including Ecuadorean-born studio rat Roberto Carlos Lange, who will perform in two of his guises, Helado Negro (at 7:30 p.m.) and Epstein (9 p.m.); recent AK signee (just announced today!) Julianna Barwick (8:15); and Jookabox (midnight) — as well as several bands on Joyful Noise: Kid Primitive Family (9:45), Berry (10:30), Abner Trio (11:15) and Jookabox. It's extra-nice when you say it twice. Also, art by DM Stith, Jonathan Dueck, Ryan Irvin and John Berry will remain on the walls all month (opening April 2 at the PlopLop show). $5 entry fee.
A whole slew of preview tracks:
Helado Negro, "Dahum"
Julianna Barwick, "Cloudbank"
Epstein, "Gallop"
Kid Primitive Fam, "The Sun"
Berry, "Out"
Abner Trio, "You're Gorgeous"
Jookabox, "LIGHT"
And coming up this weekend is the second edition of the improvised music festival Blank Slate, which will run from 6-11 p.m. at the Earth House ($10 cover, $7 for kids and old folks). Music downstairs in the cafe and upstairs in the sanctuary. Artists performing include Detroit free-jazz trumpeter James Cornish, Columbus, Ohio jazz ensemble Wizards, some folks in the Audio Recon camp (e. Brown, Neil Cain), multimedia artists and IUPUI instructor Jordan Munson and some dudes from art-metal band Basilica.
We've got preview tracks for Blank Slate as well, in nearly inscrutable, freeform podcast form.
Here's your (sort-of) key to the podcast provided by e. brown on the Audio Recon site:
1. Excerpt of Dan Godston at Myopic Books on 1-11-2009 - 2nd half
2. Ways & Means Trio: Dan Godston (trumpet, small instruments), Jayve Montgomery (reeds, percussion), & Joel Wanek (upright bass, percussion) — performing at the SpareRoom on October 15, 2005
3. Section Con Gerard
a) the long track is Wizards; b) the track with strings is from a recording led by Hasan Abdur-Razzaq: on drums is Ryan Jewell; c) The track with tenor and piano is Andy Meyer and I’s duo.
4. e. Brown
5. “bees and beekeepers” excerpt from a Dan Godston recording
6. nero04 is a James Cornish track
7. “bamboo grove at the Spice and Fruit Park” a recording by Dan Godston
Rock / Visual Arts / Performance Arts Intermedia Festival to showcase futurist art
Posted by Scott Shoger on Wed, Mar 31, 2010 at 2:08 PM
I'm starting to salivate over the wealth of offerings scheduled for the Intermedia Festival, IUPUI's celebration of futuristic music, art, theater, etc., set to take place April 23-25 at the Central Library, IUPUI's Information, Communications Technology Complex and on the streets of Indy.
Seriously, this looks way more adventurous than experiments in new music that have been conducted by the ISO and others this year.
Plus, the event will lend itself well to live blogging, so you can expect reports from yours truly during some of the main events.
Not that I'm familiar with many of the artists. It's part of the adventure, and appeal, that these innovators in all things electro-acoustic, telemetric and beyond aren't household names.
I'd encourage anyone interested to click around the elegant, info-packed website. But here are some tantalizing snippets.
First, there are these interactive projects (all these blurbs are taken from the Intermedia website):
"The Washington DC-based Floating Lab Collective will present their work titled 'Scream At The Economy,' a participatory project that invites people to call a phone number and scream at the economy. The archived screams will be recorded as mp3 files. The musical composition will be played in the 'screamer,' a portable speaker system, that will perform in public spaces.
The Florida-based Mobile Performance Group is a collective of new media artists who disseminate their works by using automobiles, video projection, cell phones, FM transmission, wireless hotspots, and any other technologies that allow artists to engage the public.
The Occupation Forces Project, by New York artists Mark Skwarek, Joseph Hocking, and Serial Krusher, is a piece that simulates of an invasion of earth by an alien occupation force. The project will be a free, downloadable, mobile application or projected augmented reality, which will allow users to view an alien invasion army through their mobile devices at various stations throughout the Indianapolis Library and in the downtown area.
Portuguese computer-artist Andre Rangel will present 'Graffonic,' a work utilizing video tracking and laser pointers to assist participants in creating a reactive work of art."
Seriously? A simulation of an Indianapolis invaded by an alien occupation force! I don't even know if we'll see that at GenCon.
And then there are the concerts, most of which will be held at the Central Library.
- Pamela Z
We get Pamela Z on opening night — "a composer/performer who makes solo works combining a wide range of vocal techniques with electronic processing, samples, and gesture activated MIDI controllers."
Bora Yoon — "an experimental multi-instrumentalist, composer and performer, who creates architectural soundscapes from found objects, chamber instruments, digital devices, and voice."
- Big Robot
The locally-based laptop ensemble Big Robot, which "interweaves live players with computer and media interactivity."
The nief-norf project which "is chamber percussion collective that is active in the performance, study, and promotion of contemporary music. The nief-norf project firmly believes in the music of Steve Reich, David Lang, and John Luther Adams as well as Iannis Xenakis and Mario Davidovsky. Using the words of Kyle Gann as a guide, we consider ourselves Totalists."
So glad there are still some Totalists out there.
And the list is nearly endless, with a full slate of concerts scheduled for Saturday, and an opening night with both Pamela Z and Dance Kaleidoscope. It's all free — FREE! — and looks tremendous.
Click away for the full schedule. More on this as we approach zero hour.
DJ & Dance Tuesday is the new Saturday: Let Go! at The Lockerbie
Posted by Danielle Look on Wed, Mar 31, 2010 at 12:01 PM
At the end of every month, online invitations for a “freak out dance party” at a small bar in downtown Indianapolis run rampant on social networking websites. The brainchild of A Squared Industries, Let Go! at The Lockerbie (on the first Tuesday of every month) has grown exponentially since its conception. A Squared says of their monthly shenanigans at the tiny pub, “We have been setting sales records at the bar, we've had to start moving tables and chairs out of the place beforehand so there is room for all the people, and we ruin Wednesday mornings every damn month - it's just getting to be too much fun.”
Too much fun? Hardly. Every month new pictures of a swarming dance floor and diverse crowd are published to the internet as evidence of another crazy night with Annie and Andy Skinner of A Squared Industries.
- gregthemayor
As the monthly event continues to gain attention, A Squared continues to raise the bar. They are proud to announce that guest DJ’s (both amateur and seasoned) will be joining them behind the decks in coming months. Regulars at Blu Night Club will be excited for the April Edition of Let Go! as John Larner and Slater Hogan of Muzique Boutique join Annie and Andy at the DJ table.
This Tuesday, make sure your evening schedule includes a good, healthy power nap before heading out for the night. The extra dose of energy might be enough to fuel your dance moves until the party stops. Shaking off your Wednesday morning headache at work the next day?
You’re on your own there.
- gregthemayor
For pictures of past events and the current Let Go! DJ schedule, visit the A Squared blog.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Rock Steve Ross: no longer en Vogue?
Posted by Scott Shoger on Tue, Mar 30, 2010 at 11:58 AM
The IBJ reported yesterday that Steven Carter Ross, the owner and manager of The Vogue, declared personal bankruptcy March 19, and is now waiting for a judge to decide whether he can continue to run the venue or if he'll have to sell it off. While The Vogue is still profitable, Ross lost a good deal of money on a Cincinnati nightclub, Electra, which, he told the IBJ, failed to recover from the negative impact of the city's April 2001 race riots. The bankruptcy filing intersects with his divorce filing, and Ross and his estranged wife continue to argue over the assessed value of The Vogue.
Ross said that none of these proceedings should affect The Vogue or its 40 employees. He emphasized the venue's success and his business acumen. "The Vogue has the three most important concepts of Indianapolis real estate: location, location, location," Ross told the IBJ. "I learned a long time ago if you run it like a business, chances are you'll be successful. Indianapolis nightclubs come and go because the owners think it's a personal party. But it's a business and it has to be run like that."
Seemed like that personal party idea worked pretty well for, say, Studio 54, but I guess that shindig ended in bankruptcy too.
Rock / Roots More Final Four Music News
Posted by Rob Nichols on Tue, Mar 30, 2010 at 11:34 AM
The Elms have been added to the Sunday lineup at the Lawn at White River. They are scheduled to be on stage around 4:15pm. Don't you think their "Back to Indiana" will get some TV time this weekend?
Switchfoot and One Republic will play a tent party downtown (corner of Jackson and Meridian) Friday night at 7p. You have to win tickets with X103, just so you know. But you could stand outside and listen, I guess.
Jet will play at a tent party Saturday at the Slippery Noodle — doors open at 6p. There will be big screens in the tent, so you can watch the games and listen to Jet. Tickets for this one are $10.
And if you want to see Butler's 50-minute public practice, they are the first team scheduled on Friday, with a noon court time at Lucas Oil Stadium. It's free. I bet it will be a poplular destination...
My ear's to the ground. Send me your live music info and what to do this weekend at rob@rockforward.com
DJ & Dance Moombahton: Reggaeton's "weird little cousin"
Posted by Alex Edgecombe on Tue, Mar 30, 2010 at 11:09 AM
Electronic music has been - and forever will be - filled with hundreds of sub-genres that change by the week. One of the newest additions to that expanding list is Moombahton, best described as "reggaeton's weird little cousin."
Moombahton (pronounced moom-buh-tone) was first created by DC producer and DJ Dave Nada while DJing his cousin's high school ditch-day party. Simply, it's the slowing down of Dutch House music from 128 beats per minute to around 108, a common tempo for popular reggaeton. Producers of this music will then add new drums and effects to heighten the Latin swing and feel.
Here's an example of the transition:
The initial song that Nada used to create this sound was Silvio Ecomo & Chuckie - Moombah (Afrojack Remix).
And now the Moombahton edit:
Dave Nada - Moombahton
It's always difficult to know if these unique sub-genres will ever become very popular, but Moombahton is already seeing a lot of new edits and productions by DJs other than Nada. Keep your ears open and you may start hearing this around the Circle City.
For more Moombahton, check out T&A's free release from Dave Nada.
Punk & Metal Just because you're going solo doesn't mean you have to suck
Posted by Nick Selm on Tue, Mar 30, 2010 at 10:06 AM
So Tim Barry, of Avail fame, is playing the Vollrath tonight. This is a very good thing. The recent trend in the punk rock world has been for former frontmen to go solo with a new-found folkish sound. Chuck Ragan (Hot Water Music), Frank Turner (A Million Dead), Tom Gabel (Against Me!), Brendan Kelly (The Lawrence Arms), the list goes on and on. The results are varied, but for the most part, the transition doesn’t work too well.
Two years ago, I went to see The Revival Tour (a tour reserved for punk frontmen who have gone folk) in Bloomington. That leg of the tour featured Chuck Ragan, Ben Nichols, Tim Barry and Austin Lucas. Maybe it was the fact that the show was at Rhino’s (a boozeless all-ages venue) or the fact that it was on a Sunday (a boozeless day in Indiana), but it was a tiresome affair. Chuck Ragan’s set was nearly as self-serving as his album (Feast or Famine, I haven’t bothered listening to any other of his offerings since then). Ben Nichols’s set was fine, but in a solo setting, his voice reminded me too much of Chad Kroeger (uh, from Nickelback). Austin Lucas gave one of the worst performances I had ever seen in my life. Not only was he a prima donna, bossing around the sound guy, but he looked and acted like Wizpig, the villain from Diddy Kong Racing.
The highlight of the night was when Tim Barry started playing. He moved the microphone off the stage and onto the floor and played directly to the crowd, as if he were playing in some basement in Richmond, Virginia, 20 years ago. He had as much, if not more, fun than the crowd and didn’t take himself too seriously. With his third solo album, 28th & Stonewall, freshly released, the show on Tuesday is sure to be a hoot. I just wish more of these solo punks would be more like Tim Barry and less like Wizpig.
- Austin Lucas
Monday, March 29, 2010
Hip-Hop Andy D on Laundromatinee
Posted by Scott Shoger on Mon, Mar 29, 2010 at 1:46 PM
I fear our growing blog is in danger of an Andy D overdose, but it's only right to share his new Laundromatinee session, recorded at January's Local Music Git Down. One video here, two more songs, an interview and introductory notes on the Laundro site. Dodge promises 13 more sessions, which were taped in an abandoned space adjacent to Locals Only — and there's an index page for the Local Music Git Down on the site already.
Andy D - Ragnarock (Viking Lover) from LaundroMatinee on Vimeo.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Rock / Roots New Music: Gaslight Anthem, Peter Wolf, Will Hoge
Posted by Rob Nichols on Sun, Mar 28, 2010 at 11:15 PM
First, a reminder of the free NCAA Final Four Men's Basketball Championship-related concerts this week:
April 2 - Stone Temple Pilots
April 3 - Daughtry with Darius Rucker
April 4 Goo Goo Dolls with LL Cool J
All are concerts series are at the Lawn at White River State Park.
So, I've seen an underwhelming Stone Temple Pilots performance at Carb Day/Crazy Day at the track, and have no use for Daughtry. But I'd watch Darius Rucker play a free afternoon show, and my guess is the Goo Goo Dolls and LL Cool J will be a helluva party.
Next, I'm gathering a list of as many of the other music-related shows that are a little less-publicized and downtown that weekend - bookmark the NUVO site for upcoming info...and "Go Dawgs".
You know I love The Gaslight Anthem, right? Their first single (and title track) from the forthcoming album "American Slang" can be heard on their Facebook page. The record comes out June 15th, and they are touring England before hitting the US.
Hear "American Slang" here
Album Track list:
1. American Slang
2. Stay Lucky
3. Bring It On
4. The Diamond Church Street Choir
5. The Queen of Lower Chelsea
6. Orphans
7. Boxer
8. Old Haunts
9. The Spirit Of Jazz
10. We Did It When We Were Young
Will Hoge finished his most recent tour right here at Radio Radio in Indy, and rocked the freakin' joint in November. The roots-rocker recently (3.19) appeared on the terrific Live Lunch program at WFPK in Louisville. Wanna see? He does a nice little intro piece on the late Alex Chilton, who recently passed away.
J. Geils Band frontman Peter Wolf's new album "Midnight Souvenirs" hits record stores on April 6. See the short video he released about recording a duet with Shelby Lynne.
For this year's Record Store Day celebration on April 17, Bruce Springsteen will honor it with a release of a ten-inch EP, featuring two rare tracks: "Wrecking Ball" live at Giants Stadium (2009), and "The Ghost of Tom Joad" live with Tom Morello (2008). While both tracks have been previously available digitally, this is their first release in physical form.
Hear "Wrecking Ball" (LIVE)
Indiana stores participating in National Record Store Day:
13th floor music Seymour
House O' Hits Madison
Indy CD & Vinyl Indianapolis
JL Records West Lafayette
Joe's Records Evansville
Karma Plymouth Plymouth
Karma Records Indianapolis
Landlocked Music Bloomington
LUNA Music Indianapolis
Missing Link Records Indianapolis
ParkCo Music Kingman
record cellar audio video vincennes
Side 1 Music Richmond
TDs CDs and LPs Bloomington
The Underground Record Shop. Indianapolis
Tracks Records Bloomington
Vibes Music Indianapolis
Village Green Records Muncie
Von's Records West Lafayette
Wooden Nickel Music Fort Wayne
Friday, March 26, 2010
DJ & Dance Jackola: 20th Anniversary Party DJ
Posted by Alex Edgecombe on Fri, Mar 26, 2010 at 1:39 PM
Unless you're among the tragically unhip, you're no doubt aware of Nuvo's 20th Anniversary Party tonight. The entertainment is being headlined by Indy favorite Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, but will also feature another revered Indy entertainer, Jackola.
Jackola is well known for his exciting, high energy DJ sets and is regularly booked around Indianapolis and throughout the Midwest. Check out a mix of his from Indy music blog the Circle City Mixshow*.
Jackola - "Oh" (DJ mix from Circle City Mixshow)
Be sure to stick around after the Reverend's set tonight to catch Jackola moving people on the dancefloor!
*Writer Alex Edgecombe operates the Circle City Mixshow blog
