Two upcoming shows to tell you about next week. We know there's a lot going, but it'd be a serious mistake to miss out on these happenings. Albany is finally getting on the map for underground music, and these shows are a great example. And if you're feeling like you should make a choice, just take the chance and hit BOTH of these shows. We wouldn't steer you wrong!
And as usual, if you can't make it, tell a few of your pals - we really want to keep the energy of our past shows going, and we need you all there! Thanks for spreading the word.
*****************************************************************************
THURS. JULY 31 -- UAG Gallery 247 Lark St. 8:00 PM SHARP!!!
*****************************************************************************
Hair Police (noise psych rock masters from Lexington, KY)
Bone Parade (Albany's own makers of "dark soundscapes" )
Twilight of the Century (Troys' Rise Set Twilight meets Albany's Century Plants - see what happens!)
Ghoul Poon + Jason Cosco (electronics/ noise/madness/ excellence from Albany)
8PM's the time. $10 is the suggested donation. Hair Police are amazing, and include Mike Connelly from Wolf Eyes, if that helps sweeten the deal for you. If you like your rock LOUD, weird, righteous, and intense, be there...
****************************************************************************
SUNDAY AUG. 3 -- UAG Gallery 247 Lark St. 7:00 PM SHARP!!! ****************************************************************************
The NO MORE BUSH Tour makes a stop in Albany!! We told you about this one already, and we'll keep reminding you because we don't want anyone sleeping on this special night. Rock legends, underground and otherwise, come together to celebrate the end of the Bush era. And since they're legends, this show will definitely be... legendary!
A fantastic array of talent, different styles, genres, you name it. Show of the year in Albany? You bet. If you have questions about who the performers are, and why they're legends, just shoot us an email, or scroll down to the next post for some bios to read...
Zaika (Tom Carter & Marcia Bassett)
Jack Rose
Valerie Webber
50 Foot Women + Axolotl
Charles Plymell
Kate Village + John Morton
Wovoka
Byron Coley + Ziamaluch
Hope to see you all out for these shows!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
No More Bush Tour - SUNDAY Aug. 3!
In conjunction with Ecstatic Yod, Ecstatic Peace, and Arthur Magazine, the Albany Sonic Arts Collective is proud to present:
NO MORE BUSH TOUR
SUNDAY AUG. 3
UPSTATE ARTISTS GUILD
247 Lark Street, Albany NY
7:00 PM SHARP!
Zaika (Tom Carter & Marcia Bassett)
Jack Rose
Valerie Webber
50 Foot Women + Axolotl
Charles Plymell
Kate Village + John Morton
Wovoka
Byron Coley + Ziamaluch
Five years ago, in a time of woe for the underground, the country and the world, the members of the Ecstatic Yod Collective organized a tour called More Hair Less Bush. Including a variety of musicians and writers, the tour brought the flame of hope to cities cast into darkness by the hideous secretions of the Bush Twins.
Now, in 2008, as we prepare to enjoy thelong-promised fruits of regime change, we felt it was time to bring our show on the road again. But this time, rather than offering balm and apologies to the psychically wounded, we would like to celebrate the pre-dawn of a new day -- a day when the word “cheney” is once more an empty phrase we use to terrify youngsters. To this end, we have assembled a revolving cast of musicians and writers, all of whom honk the horn of freedom with both hands. We trust it will be a gas. Trinkets will be available at all shows. Tour schedule and bios follow. Support is being provided by Ecstatic Peace Records & Arthur Magazine.
Info/photos/ etc: glasseye@yod.com
PERFORMER BIOS
50 FOOT WOMEN is a San Francisco-based duo with Jessi Leigh Swenson and Elaine Barry Kahn. Swenson is known for her trance-forming work with the Believers and Duck, Kahn is a wild card. Combined, they create and destroy small forms with the ease of kettle fish. They promise to have several secret weapons up their sleeves.
AXOLOTL is the ghost-wolf of New Jersey and all points west. Currently resident in the head of Karl Bauer, this ghost takes many forms, and uses many tools to do its jobs. On this tour, there is a functional involvement with several things. Psychedelic? You bet!
BYRON COLEY is a writer from Western Massachusetts . His organizational abilities are dwarfed by his capacity for letting a participle hang. He is a veteran of the More Hair tour.
JOHN MORTON is legend that begins in Cleveland , with the Electric Eels and spasmodic guitar art bonged against the arc of the infinite. Later, in Brooklyn , these inpulses devolved into more insanity and writing and art and phlug. Now, here he is again. He promises a theremin. Think fast! A veteran of the More Hair process.
CHARLES PLYMELL is one of the great writers of our age, and a ferociously talented/opinionate d editor, publisher and reader as well. Based for the last few decades in Cherry Valley , NY , Plymell’s evil eye and exquisite grasp of language and image are a deadly combination. It’s always an extreme pleasure to hear him read. A veteran of More Hair.
JACK ROSE is one of the pre-eminent geniuses of acoustic guitar creation and dissemblage. In the years since he left Pelt, Jack has toured and recorded incessantly, inventing moves that would make past masters blush. His fingers are magic fever generators.
KATE VILLAGE is one of the most savage guitar players our planet has yet produced. Her most blues-wailing style with Crystalized Movements, Vermonster, B.O.R.B., Magic Hour, Major Stars and solo have made her an icon to the youth of every nation. Watch her bring it to the masses.
VALERIE WEBBER is a Montreal-based writer whose poetry and prose combines a naïve belief in perefection and a wise-ass sneer at its collapsing façade. Her work has been widely published in Canada and the U.S.. , and her voice has a soft purity, oftimes at odds with its content. She is a veteran of the More Hair tour.
WOVOKA is an upstate channeler of mystery-volk in all its drugged and writhing splendor. Rarely spied except through a cloud of basement smoke, their vibes are their amplifiers.
ZAIKA is a duo comprised of Marcia Bassett and Tom Carter. Both are long-time and very active members of the American underground scene: Marcia with Un, Double Leopards, Shackamaxon, Hototogisu, GHQ and others; Tom with The Mike Gunn, Charalambides, Badgerlore, Friday Group, Kyrgyz, Spiderwebs, etc. Together, they create very special kinds of silver cloud eruptions.
ZIAMALUCH represents the bridge between ERL and Burnt Hills in terms of Albany ’s underground continuum. Unseen in public since opening a gig for Universal Indians, Ziamaluch once again scales the scales.
NO MORE BUSH TOUR
SUNDAY AUG. 3
UPSTATE ARTISTS GUILD
247 Lark Street, Albany NY
7:00 PM SHARP!
Zaika (Tom Carter & Marcia Bassett)
Jack Rose
Valerie Webber
50 Foot Women + Axolotl
Charles Plymell
Kate Village + John Morton
Wovoka
Byron Coley + Ziamaluch
Five years ago, in a time of woe for the underground, the country and the world, the members of the Ecstatic Yod Collective organized a tour called More Hair Less Bush. Including a variety of musicians and writers, the tour brought the flame of hope to cities cast into darkness by the hideous secretions of the Bush Twins.
Now, in 2008, as we prepare to enjoy thelong-promised fruits of regime change, we felt it was time to bring our show on the road again. But this time, rather than offering balm and apologies to the psychically wounded, we would like to celebrate the pre-dawn of a new day -- a day when the word “cheney” is once more an empty phrase we use to terrify youngsters. To this end, we have assembled a revolving cast of musicians and writers, all of whom honk the horn of freedom with both hands. We trust it will be a gas. Trinkets will be available at all shows. Tour schedule and bios follow. Support is being provided by Ecstatic Peace Records & Arthur Magazine.
Info/photos/ etc: glasseye@yod.com
PERFORMER BIOS
50 FOOT WOMEN is a San Francisco-based duo with Jessi Leigh Swenson and Elaine Barry Kahn. Swenson is known for her trance-forming work with the Believers and Duck, Kahn is a wild card. Combined, they create and destroy small forms with the ease of kettle fish. They promise to have several secret weapons up their sleeves.
AXOLOTL is the ghost-wolf of New Jersey and all points west. Currently resident in the head of Karl Bauer, this ghost takes many forms, and uses many tools to do its jobs. On this tour, there is a functional involvement with several things. Psychedelic? You bet!
BYRON COLEY is a writer from Western Massachusetts . His organizational abilities are dwarfed by his capacity for letting a participle hang. He is a veteran of the More Hair tour.
JOHN MORTON is legend that begins in Cleveland , with the Electric Eels and spasmodic guitar art bonged against the arc of the infinite. Later, in Brooklyn , these inpulses devolved into more insanity and writing and art and phlug. Now, here he is again. He promises a theremin. Think fast! A veteran of the More Hair process.
CHARLES PLYMELL is one of the great writers of our age, and a ferociously talented/opinionate d editor, publisher and reader as well. Based for the last few decades in Cherry Valley , NY , Plymell’s evil eye and exquisite grasp of language and image are a deadly combination. It’s always an extreme pleasure to hear him read. A veteran of More Hair.
JACK ROSE is one of the pre-eminent geniuses of acoustic guitar creation and dissemblage. In the years since he left Pelt, Jack has toured and recorded incessantly, inventing moves that would make past masters blush. His fingers are magic fever generators.
KATE VILLAGE is one of the most savage guitar players our planet has yet produced. Her most blues-wailing style with Crystalized Movements, Vermonster, B.O.R.B., Magic Hour, Major Stars and solo have made her an icon to the youth of every nation. Watch her bring it to the masses.
VALERIE WEBBER is a Montreal-based writer whose poetry and prose combines a naïve belief in perefection and a wise-ass sneer at its collapsing façade. Her work has been widely published in Canada and the U.S.. , and her voice has a soft purity, oftimes at odds with its content. She is a veteran of the More Hair tour.
WOVOKA is an upstate channeler of mystery-volk in all its drugged and writhing splendor. Rarely spied except through a cloud of basement smoke, their vibes are their amplifiers.
ZAIKA is a duo comprised of Marcia Bassett and Tom Carter. Both are long-time and very active members of the American underground scene: Marcia with Un, Double Leopards, Shackamaxon, Hototogisu, GHQ and others; Tom with The Mike Gunn, Charalambides, Badgerlore, Friday Group, Kyrgyz, Spiderwebs, etc. Together, they create very special kinds of silver cloud eruptions.
ZIAMALUCH represents the bridge between ERL and Burnt Hills in terms of Albany ’s underground continuum. Unseen in public since opening a gig for Universal Indians, Ziamaluch once again scales the scales.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
PHOTOS FROM THURSDAY NIGHT
Thanks to everyone who made it out on Thursday for our June event. It was a great time. Hope to see you all on July 12 for BRENDAN MURRAY and BROWN WING OVERDRIVE.
Here are a few snaps from the show...
eric
CENTURY PLANTS
CENTURY PLANTS
CENTURY PLANTS
ROBEDOOR
ROBEDOOR
POCAHAUNTED
POCAHAUNTED
BILL & THURSTON
THURSTON
BILL
BILL & THURSTON
BILL
BILL and THURSTON
BILL & THURSTON
BILL & THURSTON
THURSTON
THANKS TO CHRIS BASSETT & JESSICA DARNELL FOR ALL THE PHOTOS!
Here are a few snaps from the show...
eric
CENTURY PLANTS
CENTURY PLANTS
CENTURY PLANTS
ROBEDOOR
ROBEDOOR
POCAHAUNTED
POCAHAUNTED
BILL & THURSTON
THURSTON
BILL
BILL & THURSTON
BILL
BILL and THURSTON
BILL & THURSTON
BILL & THURSTON
THURSTON THANKS TO CHRIS BASSETT & JESSICA DARNELL FOR ALL THE PHOTOS!
Thursday, May 29, 2008
JUNE 26 - Thurston Moore + Bill Nace/Robedoor/Pocahaunted/Century Plants!!!
Just a quick note here to let everyone know about the next ASAC event. I'll post something more detailed soon, but for now, just hold the date on your calendars!
It's going to be a KILLER night of amazing music - don't miss this one.
THURSTON MOORE + BILL NACE (Sonic Youth, Vampire Belt, X.0.4., etc).
ROBEDOOR (amazing duo from LA)
POCAHAUNTED (another amazing duo from LA)
CENTURY PLANTS (Albany)
THURSDAY June 26 @ 8PM
UPSTATE ARTISTS GUILD
247 Lark St. Albany
A very rare Albany appearance from Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore, a repeat visit from the ever amazing guitar wizard Bill Nace, the first ever east coast tour for Robedoor and Pocahaunted, and ASAC's own Century Plants. Sounds pretty sweet for a hot June night, huh?!?
We'll get you the flyer soon.
One important thing: space is pretty limited for this show, so it'll be tight and cozy but fun! Get there early if you can...
see you on 6/26!!!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
SATURDAY MAY 17 - next show!!!
May's here, and we are thrilled to be announcing our next event in the monthly series. We're on a roll, and this month is no exception. It's gonna be a fantastic night, so don't miss out!
Monday, April 21, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
SATURDAY 4/26 at UAG - be there!
hey everyone -
The sun is out and spring might finally be here. yeah!!
So a week from Saturday we've got our next ASAC event, and it should be a boatload of fun. As before, we'll be at the awesome Upstate Artists Guild on Lark St. Come on out for this one, bring a few pals too if you can.
here's the scoop on it:
ALBANY SONIC ARTS COLLECTIVE presents “4 Solo Sets for April”
TRAVIS JOHNS (field recordings, electronics)
ERIC HARDIMAN (guitars, electronics)
RAY HARE (guitars, electronics)
HOLLAND HOPSON (banjo, electronics)
video projections by JASON COSCO
The Upstate Artists Guild
247 Lark St.Albany, NY
Saturday April 26, 2008
doors at 7:30 pm: show at 8:00
$5 suggested donation at the door
The Albany Sonic Arts Collective (ASAC) is proud to present “4 Solo Sets for April” the fourth installment in our 2008 monthly series of live improvised experimental music events at the Upstate Artists Guild. Previous months have showcased world renowned musicians from Germany, Philadelphia, New York City, and Cincinnati, Ohio. For this very special evening, we will offer four solo sets from locally-based musicians. A diversity of styles and approaches will characterize the night, and the audio wonders will be enhanced visually with live improvised video projections from UAG member Jason Cosco.
A common theme among these four musicians is a dedication to the exploration of new sonic spaces and atmospheres. In some cases, improvisation is blended with more structured musical approaches, resulting in fascinating and compelling blends. Each musician will present a set showcasing a particular style and/or strategy. Please join us in supporting these local musicians and come be part of our ASAC community!
Travis Johns writes and performs music that he describes as an "abstraction of reality." Consisting primarily of processed field recordings, improvisations and amplified "small sounds," he attempts to weave a tapestry of experiences, gestures and thoughts into a singular, enveloping mass of sounds. Often labeled as noise at first, a more concentrated listen will yield countless paths for the ear to follow, leading to listening experiences that he hopes will provide infinite possibilities for interpretation. His music has been performed extensively throughout the United States and abroad to a wide variety of audiences, ranging from galleries to anarchist warehouses to international music festivals. An avid performer and improviser on electric bass and electronics, he is a member of the Oakland, Ca. quartet le Pink Canoes (with Noah Phillips, Aram Shelton and Zachary Watkins), the improvisation trio Satellite (with Gudmundur Steinn Gunnarsson and Liz Meredith) and Vslykon, a collaborative duo with sound artist Ayako Kataoka. Travis is also a founding member of the Thinktank Collective, an international arts collective focused on the interrelation of sound and image. More information on both Johns and Thinktank can be found at: www.think-tankmedia.net.
Eric Hardiman plays guitar and various other instruments as one-half of Albany-based experimental minimalist guitar duo Century Plants, and also plays in Albany free form psych rock collective Burnt Hills. In addition, he records solo material under the moniker Rambutan. He also has experience playing both Javanese and Balinese styles of gamelan. He runs a handmade DIY label, Tape Drift Records (www.tapedrift.com), and is also a founder of the Albany Sonic Arts Collective. Hear excerpts of Eric’s solo work at www.myspace.com/rambutanmusic.
Ray Hare is a musician who currently plays in Albany-based experimental minimalist guitar duo Century Plants and free form psych rock collective Burnt Hills. He records solo music under the name Fossils From the Sun, and has just released his debut cd for Tape Drift Records. Hear excerpts of Ray’s solo work at www.myspace.com/fossilsfrthesun.
Holland Hopson is a composer, improviser, and electronic artist. As an instrumentalist he performs on soprano saxophone, clawhammer banjo and electronics. He hopes someday to play the musical saw. He has held residencies at STEIM, Amsterdam; Experimental Music Studios, Krakow and Katowice, Poland; Sonic Arts Research Studio, Vancouver, Canada; and Harvestworks Digital Media Arts, New York where he developed a sound installation based on Marcel Duchamp’s With Hidden Noise. In 1993- 1994 Holland recorded environmental sounds on four continents and in over a dozen countries as a fellow of the Thomas J. Watson Foundation. Holland’s latest recording is With Hidden Noises released on Grab Rare Arts (www.grabrarearts.com).
Jason Cosco is a video and sound artist who is a member of the Upstate Artists Guild and has previously played a solo noise set for the Albany Sonic Arts Collective. He does extensive VJ work around the Capital Region. He has worked with the band Death by a Thousand Cuts, and currently plays in the Albany-based Grab Ass Cowboys. Check out some of Jason’s work (http://jasoncosco.mosaicglobe.com/).
The sun is out and spring might finally be here. yeah!!
So a week from Saturday we've got our next ASAC event, and it should be a boatload of fun. As before, we'll be at the awesome Upstate Artists Guild on Lark St. Come on out for this one, bring a few pals too if you can.
here's the scoop on it:
ALBANY SONIC ARTS COLLECTIVE presents “4 Solo Sets for April”
TRAVIS JOHNS (field recordings, electronics)
ERIC HARDIMAN (guitars, electronics)
RAY HARE (guitars, electronics)
HOLLAND HOPSON (banjo, electronics)
video projections by JASON COSCO
The Upstate Artists Guild
247 Lark St.Albany, NY
Saturday April 26, 2008
doors at 7:30 pm: show at 8:00
$5 suggested donation at the door
The Albany Sonic Arts Collective (ASAC) is proud to present “4 Solo Sets for April” the fourth installment in our 2008 monthly series of live improvised experimental music events at the Upstate Artists Guild. Previous months have showcased world renowned musicians from Germany, Philadelphia, New York City, and Cincinnati, Ohio. For this very special evening, we will offer four solo sets from locally-based musicians. A diversity of styles and approaches will characterize the night, and the audio wonders will be enhanced visually with live improvised video projections from UAG member Jason Cosco.
A common theme among these four musicians is a dedication to the exploration of new sonic spaces and atmospheres. In some cases, improvisation is blended with more structured musical approaches, resulting in fascinating and compelling blends. Each musician will present a set showcasing a particular style and/or strategy. Please join us in supporting these local musicians and come be part of our ASAC community!
Travis Johns writes and performs music that he describes as an "abstraction of reality." Consisting primarily of processed field recordings, improvisations and amplified "small sounds," he attempts to weave a tapestry of experiences, gestures and thoughts into a singular, enveloping mass of sounds. Often labeled as noise at first, a more concentrated listen will yield countless paths for the ear to follow, leading to listening experiences that he hopes will provide infinite possibilities for interpretation. His music has been performed extensively throughout the United States and abroad to a wide variety of audiences, ranging from galleries to anarchist warehouses to international music festivals. An avid performer and improviser on electric bass and electronics, he is a member of the Oakland, Ca. quartet le Pink Canoes (with Noah Phillips, Aram Shelton and Zachary Watkins), the improvisation trio Satellite (with Gudmundur Steinn Gunnarsson and Liz Meredith) and Vslykon, a collaborative duo with sound artist Ayako Kataoka. Travis is also a founding member of the Thinktank Collective, an international arts collective focused on the interrelation of sound and image. More information on both Johns and Thinktank can be found at: www.think-tankmedia.net.
Eric Hardiman plays guitar and various other instruments as one-half of Albany-based experimental minimalist guitar duo Century Plants, and also plays in Albany free form psych rock collective Burnt Hills. In addition, he records solo material under the moniker Rambutan. He also has experience playing both Javanese and Balinese styles of gamelan. He runs a handmade DIY label, Tape Drift Records (www.tapedrift.com), and is also a founder of the Albany Sonic Arts Collective. Hear excerpts of Eric’s solo work at www.myspace.com/rambutanmusic.
Ray Hare is a musician who currently plays in Albany-based experimental minimalist guitar duo Century Plants and free form psych rock collective Burnt Hills. He records solo music under the name Fossils From the Sun, and has just released his debut cd for Tape Drift Records. Hear excerpts of Ray’s solo work at www.myspace.com/fossilsfrthesun.
Holland Hopson is a composer, improviser, and electronic artist. As an instrumentalist he performs on soprano saxophone, clawhammer banjo and electronics. He hopes someday to play the musical saw. He has held residencies at STEIM, Amsterdam; Experimental Music Studios, Krakow and Katowice, Poland; Sonic Arts Research Studio, Vancouver, Canada; and Harvestworks Digital Media Arts, New York where he developed a sound installation based on Marcel Duchamp’s With Hidden Noise. In 1993- 1994 Holland recorded environmental sounds on four continents and in over a dozen countries as a fellow of the Thomas J. Watson Foundation. Holland’s latest recording is With Hidden Noises released on Grab Rare Arts (www.grabrarearts.com).
Jason Cosco is a video and sound artist who is a member of the Upstate Artists Guild and has previously played a solo noise set for the Albany Sonic Arts Collective. He does extensive VJ work around the Capital Region. He has worked with the band Death by a Thousand Cuts, and currently plays in the Albany-based Grab Ass Cowboys. Check out some of Jason’s work (http://jasoncosco.mosaicglobe.com/).
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Century Plants in Saratoga with Sunburned!
Not an ASAC event, but we hope you'll make it up to Saratoga on April 12th to catch CENTURY PLANTS opening up for SUNBURNED HAND OF THE MAN. Thanks to the Saratoga Arts Council for putting this one on.
Saturday April 12th, 8PM
at The Arts Center
320 Broadway, Saratoga
$5, all ages
Century Plants, featuring Eric Hardiman and Ray Hare, is a guitar-based duo from Albany, NY playing improvisational noisy psychedelic minimalism. Working with an array of sound sources and strategies, they create sonic systems that simultaneously unsettle and hypnotize listeners. They've been described as "Part raging metallic clang by way of the holy Shred, part meditative feedbacking in total Zen style", "hazy psychedelia", "massive inferno style guitar destruction" and "axe-slinging skull soothers". One review notes that "The music .... contains both fuzz-drenched melodic improvisation and blistering atonal squall, blending themselves to create a musical behemoth that is both intimidating and accessible." Another describes their music as "extremely tense, dark and utterly spellbinding" made up of "a rich tapestry of textures".
Century Plants have released 6 full-length recordings in their first year alone, on underground labels from all over the globe, including Hardiman's Tape Drift Records. They've also appeared on compilations and split releases. A feature interview is found on Foxy Digitalis.
Read more about Century Plants
Read more about Sunburned Hand of the Man
Sunday, March 23, 2008
C. Spencer Yeh
Thanks to everyone who made it out last night. An amazing night!! Stay tuned here for announcements about the next event(s) and more pix from last night too. Special thanks to Mark Lunt for the photography.
(photo by Mark Lunt)
(photo by Mark Lunt)
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