Month: April 2013

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Artist profile: Zhongyu

Although Zhongyu, the band, is relatively new to the world, its seeds stretch back several decades. It started as a recording project for the compositions of Jon Davis, which defy categorization by combining qualities of progressive rock, jazz, space rock, chamber music, and Asian traditional music. These compositions are the result of years of listening to challenging music, and strive to present balance: between complexity and simplicity, noise and silence, beauty and terror, energy and calm.

Personnel:

  • Jon Davis — Stick, guzheng, theremin
  • Dennis Rea — guitar
  • Alicia DeJoie — violin
  • James DeJoie — woodwinds
  • Randy Doak — drums

Sample:

Links to artist websites:

Links were good as of when the artist performed. Some may no longer work.

Performances:

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Artist profile: Trimtab

Trimtab promotional photo
Trimtab promotional photo

Trimtab formed in 2001 in Minneapolis, MN under the concept of Jason Goessl, who, inspired by the work and philosophy of R. Buckminster Fuller, realized a link between Fuller’s architecture and musical form and meter. The original band was comprised of Jim Anton on bass, Tim Glenn on drums, and Goessl on guitar. Their first full length album The Car, the House, and the Map was released in 2008 (Conduit Records).

With Goessl’s move west to Seattle, WA, the second and current incarnation of Trimtab features Phil Cali on bass and Brian Oppel on drums. Trimtab’s latest compilation New Model is slated for release later in 2013 (Parlour Trick).

The music of Trimtab is difficult to sum up in a simple phrase or genre. The band’s compositions are sonic portmanteaus that meld philosophical and architectural concepts with classical, jazz, Eastern Indian, African, and rock music styles. The unpredictability and complexity of their compositions is magnetic, generating a seemingly new listening experience with each performance. Varied meters create hypnotic tensions. Abrasive chordal and percussive expression mixed with gentler melodies and intense dynamic changes creates a unique gravitational pull. Whether listening to the arc of a Trimtab album or just a single composition, a development from compression, to tension, to visual, to abstract, to the electrical is evidenced.

Goessl, Cali, and Oppel sustain a synergy that reveals an exhibition of melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic transformation. Refreshingly, the unexpected is the only thing the listener can expect from Trimtab.

Personnel:

  • Jason Goessl — guitar
  • Phil Cali — bass
  • Brian Oppel — drums

Sample:

Links to artist websites:

Links were good as of when the artist performed. Some may no longer work.

Performances:

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Artist profile: Tone Dogs

Tone Dogs promotional photo
Tone Dogs promotional photo

Tone Dogs began in 1987 as a studio experiment between musical alchemists Fred Chalenor and Amy Denio, under the creative technological guidance of audio engineer Drew Canulette at Dog Fish Studio up in the hills above Newburg, OR. Fresh pie was served, Fred and Amy played their basses and guitars and drums and whatnot, and luminary guests (Frith/Reichel/von Drehle/Bain) were invited to contribute. They recorded Ankety Low Day (orig. C/Z Records, Matt Cameron on drums) and Early Middle Years (orig. Soleilmoon, Will Dowd on drums), and toured the US and Europe through 1991. Now Fred and Amy are back, playing some golden oldies and venturing as always into uncharted territory, on basses, guitars and other whatnots.

Personnel:

  • Amy Denio — Guitar, bass, whatnot
  • Fred Chalenor — Guitar, bass, whatnot

Sample:

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Artist profile: Thinking Plague

Thinking Plague promotional photo
Thinking Plague promotional photo

Thinking Plague explores the frontiers where rock, folk, jazz and modern symphonic music meet. Through these explorations, the band has created “a genre of music unto itself, eclectically derivative in a bold way and spectacularly innovative in the old-fashioned sense of genuine originality” (Andy Watson – Journal Wired Summer/Fall 1990). Founded in 1982 by guitarist and composer Mike Johnson, and bassist, drummer and producer Bob Drake, the band has undergone numerous personnel changes, while members have performed with some of the leading avant-progressive artists in the world, including Présent, 5UUs, the Science Group, Hamster Theatre, Hughscore, Caveman Shoestore, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Peter Blegvad, Amy Denio, Janet Feder, Underground Railroad, Claudia Quintet, and others. Thinking Plague has released eight albums, including a live CD and a re-mastered re-release of their first two LPs on one CD, as well as contributions to various compilations. They were featured in the recent documentary Romantic Warriors II: Rock in Opposition, and they have performed at various major avant-progressive festivals in North America and Europe, including Rock In Opposition (France 2012), Gouveia Art Rock (Portugal 2008), MIMI (France 2000), NEARFest (USA 2000), ProgDay (USA, 1999) and others. Legendary Henry Cow drummer Chris Cutler said of Thinking Plague: “Every now and then a landmark group emerges. Thinking Plague in my opinion belongs in that category. Being an interesting group isn’t a matter of learning to imitate some favourite bands’ style, it’s having an original musical vision and the skills to bring it into being; it’s breaking new ground. That’s why Thinking Plague qualifies in my book.”

Personnel:

  • Mike Johnson — guitar
  • Mark Harris — woodwinds
  • Dave Willey — bass
  • Elaine Di Falco — keyboards, vocals
  • Robin Chestnut — drums
  • Bill Pohl — guitar
  • Kimara Sajn — keyboards

Sample:

Links to artist websites:

Links were good as of when the artist performed. Some may no longer work.

Performances:

 

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Artist profile: Operation ID

Operation ID promotional photo
Operation ID promotional photo

Operation ID has been variedly called anything from “jazz” to “progressive rock” to “man rock” to “thought-rock” to the self-christened “bionic synth-pop.” What began as duets between members Ivan Arteaga (saxophone/clarinet) and Jared Borkowski (guitar) in a University of Washington basement quickly expanded to include Evan Woodle on drums and David Balatero on bass, playing improvisation-heavy, free jazz-influenced compositions. Rob Hanlon soon joined on keyboards. With their current lineup complete, Operation ID oriented themselves toward a more through-composed musical landscape, transitioning from a purely instrumental outfit into one that more and more incorporates solo and group vocals by all five members of the band. Their first album, Legs, released on Table & Chairs, reflects the changes that have occurred throughout the entirety of Operation ID’s first two years of existence. The album more than hints at the band’s current direction. As Operation ID continues to compose and rehearse new music to play in their frequent Seattle-area shows, their fanbase and music horizons both continue to grow.

Personnel:

  • Jared Borkowski — Guitar, vocals
  • Ivan Arteaga — Woodwinds, keyboards, vocals
  • David Balatero — Bass, vocals
  • Evan Woodle — Drums
  • Rob Hanlon — Keyboards, EWI, vocals

Sample:

Links to artist websites:

Links were good as of when the artist performed. Some may no longer work.

Performances:

  • Seaprog 2013 — Day One