This month’s podcast is from my first Music About Art performance at the Howland Cultural Center in May 2016. I play at a lot of art openings, which tend to be rather crowded, noisy affairs where my music becomes very much a background element. While I really enjoy playing openings, I wanted to explore the idea of how soundscapes can affect how art is experienced in a more contemplative setting, thus the Music About Art concept was born. As always, the soundscapes are inspired by both the art and the space it occupies. Here is some of the art that was on exhibit:
Clockwise from top left: Paper Dots – Leigh Williams, Suspension – Hiro Ichikawa, Empty Void 05 – Jayoung Yoon, The Hole – EDA
BONUS! here’s some video of the performance shot by Thom Joyce
The second year of the Errant Space podcast kicks off with some fairly mellow, in studio experimentation. All three parts of this one are performed on the baritone guitar, which I’ve been gravitating to lately. I think the little bit of extra low range appeals to me as a bass player. I’ve tried ambient looping using bass guitar, but I find that those low frequencies muddy up pretty quickly, so the baritone guitar is a nice compromise.
And, for those who are interested in such things, here’s a photo of the latest pedalboard setup (with the lower bit of the baritone):
Here it is, the twelfth Errant Space Podcast! And we’re closing out the first year of podcasts with a real doozy! This one features TWO previous guests: Neil Alexander (ES podcast #8) and Dean Sharp (ES podcast #3). We recorded this one at Neil’s monthly Adventures In Electronic Music workshop at Space Create in Newburgh, NY on February 3, 2016. It was a fun evening with a Q&A about looping techniques and gear, followed by a couple of improvised pieces which are presented here as the first three-way collaborations on the Errant Space Podcast. Big thanks to Neil for inviting Dean and me to be part of the workshop. It was a real honor to play with both those guys and I think the end product is a rather fantastic sonic journey.
Here it is, the tenth Errant Space podcast! Number ten is something different, as its the first to feature an acoustic instrument; the accordion of Mr. Andy Rinehart. That’s right, accordion, with all its wheezy mechanical goodness!! I think it adds some really interesting textures, and Andy brings some nice rhythmic elements to this space out. His approach to the accordion is wonderfully abstract, and it was a real treat to play with him.
This month’s podcast was recorded at the Cocoon Theatre in Poughkeepsie, NY during their Beckett Festival.
Photo courtesy of Cocoon Theatre
I played in the lobby before and after a performance of Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days. The first third of the podcast was recorded pre-show, the last part was after the show. I think its interesting to hear how the play’s performance effected my performance – that Beckett sure does take one to a weird place!
Another collaboration this month! Featuring Nailgun (the ubiquitous Neil Alexander) on keyboards and assorted tech.
It was an honor to have Neil stop by for some improvised soundscaping. I’d seen him perform a few times, but didn’t really know him beyond that. Turns out he’s a super-nice guy and it was a real joy to make music with him. I’m very much looking forward to collaborating with him again in the future!
Performing at St. Andrews. [Photo Tony Cenicola]Welcome to Errant Space podcast #7.
This one is taken from a performance at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, which is around the corner from my house (literally). I played there on October 10, 2015 supporting a watercolor exhibit. Playing in big, interesting spaces really suits the Errant Space sound and I’m always on the lookout for new spaces where I can perform. Let me know if you have any ideas!
This time I’m exploring the minimal end of the ambient spectrum and experimenting with generative processes. The result is probably the most languid podcast yet. Insomniacs take note!
The last three-quarters of this one was recorded during an all day performance at Newburgh Open Studios on September 25, 2015. There’s a lot of material left from that day that will likely show up in future podcasts.
He brought a few effects and used a couple of mono-synths and a few more effects from the Rude Anagrams collection and we created what, to me, sounds like an imaginary soundtrack to a sci-fi film noir.
