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Call for Entries – Concert Photos and Poster & Album Art Show (U.Oregon)
Sorry for the late announcement, as the deadline approaches… but…
Concert Images – Call for Entries:
Seeking photography that features live music performance, musicians, music festivals or concerts for exhibit in the Aperture Gallery located in the Erb Memorial Union at the University of Oregon.
The exhibit, which runs 5/8/2013 – 5/19/2013, will coincide with the Willamette Valley Music Festival May 11, 2013.
Please submit up to five (5) .jpg images, with original dimensions, for consideration to gallery@uoregon.edu by 4/25/2013.
Poster and Album Art Show – Call for Entries:
West Coast Gig – Independent Music Poster and Album Art Exhibition 5/10 – 5/22
Seeking independent album art and concert posters from west coast bands, promoters or venues from 1990 and later for an exhibit at the Buzz Coffeehouse Gallery in the Erb Memorial Union at the University of Oregon.
Please submit pdf or jpg images of posters, with original dimensions, to gallery@uoregon.edu by 4/25/2013
Accepted works will be reproduced and installed by the UO Cultural Forum during the Willamette Valley Music Festival May 11, 2013, in the Buzz Pub Stage Area.
The exhibit will run 5/10/2013 – 5/22/2013
~Dan – np: Tom Waits – Rain Dogs
Chali 2Na – “Against the Current” & future PledgeMusic (12/12/12)
Jurassic 5 baritone Chali 2Na has a few solo albums to his name, but this next project, as hinted back last winter, is about to see the light of day. We finally have a video for “Against the Current“…
And a week from now (on 12/12/12), his PledgeMusic drive will go into effect.
As excited as I am to tell you about it, I admit humbly that it’s going to take me some time (and some help) to get this thing assembled the way I intend it for you. So as a snack before the meal, I came up with a way to reward y’all for getting involved and being a part of it from the jump. Starting 12.12.12 (next Wednesday to be exact) I’m going to begin releasing a series of EPs along the way until the book is ready to ship. The first installment of the series, from this project I labeled, “Against The Current” will be a sample of the four that will follow. The most enjoyable thing about my music career for me personally, has been collaborating with Artists from many different walks of life, and even places of the World. And I’ve been influenced by so many different types of music, that with this project I’m actually going in on a couple of them. The 2nd EP will be heavily influenced by Electronic and Dub-Step music. I’m also finishing up one that’s Caribbean influenced and another one I’m going to record exclusively with my live band. And the last one will be a true vintage Hip Hop record, even-though I know that’s not exactly what Hip Hop sounds like in current day. Hence the name of the Project.
Keep in the loop on his PledgeMusic page:
http://www.pledgemusic.com/artists/chali2na
~Dan – np: Sufjan Stevens – Silver & Gold (Songs For Christmas) Vol. IX: Let It Snow!
Sean Avery ~ animal sculptures from shattered CDs
Australian artist Sean Avery created these animal sculptures that uses old CDs…
He chops up the discs and turns them into whimsical animal sculptures. Some of his pieces use circuit boards, chips, and other recycled computer parts.
Avery states, “I blend many different man made materials together to make them appear strangely organic, with a distinct sense of movement.”
Gorgeous work, if you ask me! View more at: http://seaneavery.com/
~Dan – np: John Zorn – Madness, Love and Mysticism
Packaging Art : Design in front of the Music
A big piece of what still links me to music is the artistic approach that goes into the whole package. Sure, break it all down, and the actually music hitting my ears is the “most important” component, but I still dig the physical product (CDs & vinyl).
Two of my favorite record labels go out of their way to create stunning packaging: the John Zorn-run Tzadik Records and the Mike Patton co-owned Ipecac Recordings.
For Zorn, the die-cut and gorgeous lettered detail in Tzadik’s Masada Book Two series jumps to the forefront, as do many of the stunning titles in the Archival series (The Dreamers, etc). For Patton, the gold-embossed Mit Gas from Tomahawk was a first step, and the Peeping Tom & Mondo Cane packaging was colorful and stupendously took Ipecac’s level of art-packaging to a new level.
Both labels obviously believe in the physical artistic value, otherwise, they wouldn’t bother. Well, this post delves a little bit into that process with two designers for Tzadik & Ipecac, respectively…
In a recent interview with Chippy from Tzadik…
Poor quality digital artwork is a shame because the original art/packaging is an extension of the concept. Most people therefore will not be able to fully appreciate/experience beyond the music. At the same time, the low quality is a good reason to truly really seek out the hard copy because there is so much more beyond the digital world. People forget about the beauty of books and print. The paper, the binding, the thread, glue, etc. There’s a reason why artists/designers use a certain ink, stock, varnish, diecut, emboss/deboss, etc. Dismissing this part of the experience minimizes the experience.
READ the FULL INTERVIEW with CHIPPY
Aaron Lazar from Tzgani Design worked on the most recent Book of Knots release from Ipecac. The original design would have cost too much ($6-7/per unit), but would have been a three piece laser etched packaging design that would cradle a CD (printed in aqua, yellow and orange) and would function as a working astrolabe. Check it out in higher-resolution. I wish this could have come to fruition, but I guess you have to be realistic in your artistic pursuits, too.
It is works of art like this that make me seek out more than just a download version. Even if “CD quality” 320 kbps, it still seems hollow to me. And more than just design… with music moving to a cloud-based platform now, here are eight reasons why vinyl is cleaner than “the cloud”… READ HERE at DigitalMusicNews.
~Dan – np: John Scofield – Up All Night
The Office in Georges Seurat’s “Sunday Afternoon”
I’ve seen Georges Seurat’s “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte” done as a topiary garden / art installation (in Columbus, OH)… well, now NBC has put the cast of The Office into the mix…
(click for larger)
Oddly no Michael or Holly… but, cool nonetheless…
~Dan – np: The Lonely Island – Turtleneck & Chain 
REVIEW: Mankind & Kari Spohn @ Wandering Goat (Eugene, OR – 4/29/11)
On Friday, Eugene photographer Kari Spohn and Eugene “post-something” band Mankind hit the Wandering Goat with two very different artistic openings. Kari’s black & white photography was throughout the coffee shop… her opening starting at 5:30pm. I dig her work – very “beauty in the everyday” and nice use of lines in concrete and steel in my opinion.
Delightful bites of caprise bread slices and sounds from the espresso machine’s froth fuzz soon gave way to the post-rock / post-metal bombast from Mankind at 6pm…
photo by Wes Hurd
Mankind is a great find for post-rock fans in Eugene. They played a fairly tight set of some fantastical heavy instrumental music that sucks you in. Mankind is James Madson on bass, Joe Harvey & John Hurd on guitars and Courtney Stubbert on drums. For fans of Explosions in the Sky, think a touch heavier. “Explosions in the Isis” perhaps. Definitely recommended for fans of Explosions, Isis, Mogwai, et cetera. And I’m glad Mankind are in Eugene. I look forward to seeing them play a show where they can stretch their legs – the Goat’s stage is a bit small!
And don’t worry… the sonic takeover of the art opening wasn’t intended as a clash. It was a compliment to the photography (Kari and Mankind are kindreds).
Over at Bandcamp, you can download (for free) the first batch of demos from Mankind. You won’t be disappointed:
http://mankind.bandcamp.com/The Appropriate Linkage:
- Mankind’s Site
- Mankind’s Social Media Links (see below)
- Kari Spohn’s Flickr / Twitter
- Wandering Goat’s Site / Facebook / Twitter
Next show for me… possibly Tin Hat at the Mission Theater (Portland) on 5/19 or Blackfield at Aladdin (Portland) on 6/1. Or, I assume some other stuff will pop-up in May…
Breaking news as I was writing this review up… Barack Obama announced that a special force killed Osama bin Laden! Mission Accomplished (for real this time)! I’m not celebrating the death, but rather the justice.
Murat Eyuboglu & Shara Worden – Letters to Distant Cities
New Amsterdam Records welcomes singer-songwriters Shara Worden (of My Brightest Diamond) and Clare Muldaur Manchon (of Clare & the Reasons), along with indie-classical multi-instrumentalist/composer Rob Moose (of yMusic), collaborators in the enchanted and melancholy Letters to Distant Cities, a multi-media project curated and produced by photographer and videographer Murat Eyuboglu, exploring urban solitude through the poetry of Turkish-American poet, Mustafa Ziyalan.
Letters to Distant Cities, released Tuesday, March 29, is a spoken-word album bookended by two original songs: My Brightest Diamond’s “The Sea” and Clare & the Reasons’ “Invisible.” The Sea opens the album and cracks the door to a mythical realm, into which Shara Worden enters and embodies the female persona of Ziyalan’s poetry, speaking the texts of 24 poetic snapshots, connected by Rob Moose’s incidental reflections and interventions for violin. After the poetry, Invisible closes the album, drifting wistfully to its bittersweet conclusion.
- The Sea
(composed & performed by: Shara Worden) - Sugar Cube in the Rain
(#2-18 performed by: Rob Moose, Shara Worden) - The Most Unknown Fruit
- The Starfish, The Sleeper
- Gone
- Letters to Distant Cities
- Midsummer’s Winter
- Dimming Eyes
- The Red Balloon
- Close Your Eyes
- The Cloud-Likeness
- Ripples
- Ghostly Flowers
- Truant Colts
- In the City’s Caverns
- Bliss
- Her Poems
- In the Land of Sleep
- Invisible
(composed & performed by: Clare & the Reasons)
Go to New Amsterdam’s album page for sound samples! Also, check out the arty/mournful-turned-magical video for “The Sea” featuring My Brightest Diamond / Shara Worden:
Says fellow poet Murat Nemet-Nejat:
In Ziyalan’s work one can see the impulse of the Turkish language in the 20th Century to represent a social reality beyond national borders. It points to the prophetic nature of Turkish poetry becoming a medium for a global sensibility — the psychic dislocations globalism creates in consciousness.
In addition to the CD, the album package includes a set of 24 pristine keepsake cards, comprising a photographic illustration for each of Zilayan’s poems collected on the recording. The images were captured by project visionary Murat Eyuboglu with model Jamie Ansley. Designer Adam Frint brings musical, poetic, and photographic elements together, creating a physical connection to the album’s sense of memorabilia.
I just ordered it from Amazon… you can also order it directly from New Amsterdam Records. If a CD isn’t your thing, New Amsterdam has the full mp3 album for only $6 (a couple bucks cheaper than Amazon’s price – and directly from the source).
~Dan – np: Porcupine Tree – Metanoia
Jazz Stamps – coming March 2011
Thanks to Aural Addict for the scoop…
Jazz stamps will be coming out at the USPS in March 2011…
Paul Rogers designed the stamp based on several previous pieces of work by David Stone Martin, Alex Steinweiss and others (see below).
The only requirement given to Paul was that the letters J-A-Z-Z appear in the design and that no recognizable performer be depicted. Beyond that, it was up to Paul to communicate the feeling of jazz. I think he nailed it. Read more and see some excellent prototypes & sketches over on Paul Rogers’ site:
http://drawger.com/paulrogers/?article_id=11778
~Dan – np: Erik Friedlander plays Masada Book Two: Book of Angels, Volume 8 (Volac)
1-Bit Symphony
Tristan Perich‘s 1-Bit Symphony is brilliant. Perfect for the experimental fans, perfect for electrical engineers who also dig music, and perfect for fans of post-modern minimalism. It is an electronic composition in five movements on a single microchip. Though housed in a CD jewel case like his first circuit album (1-Bit Music 2004-05), 1-Bit Symphony is not a recording in the traditional sense; it literally “performs” its music live when turned on. A complete electronic circuit—programmed by the artist and assembled by hand—plays the music through a headphone jack mounted into the case itself.
It comes out today (Aug 24, 2010) and is limited edition… http://bangonacan.org/store/product/181
~Dan – np: John Zorn / Masada String Trio – Film Works XI: Under the Wing
Puscifer covers “Rocket Man” (plus A Perfect Circle news)
It’s always a good day when a new song from Maynard James Keenan arrives, whether through Tool, A Perfect Circle or his most shits-and-giggles collaborative project, Puscifer.
This time around it’s the latter headlining a song that should be familiar to us all – Elton John’s ode to orbital loneliness, “Rocket Man”…
Officially credited to Puscifer & Steven Drozd (Flaming Lips’ lead guitarist) and dubbed Rocket Mantastic, the cover is a beautiful rendition of the 1972 classic. While the song appeared on Puscifer setlists last year – including the Los Angeles Nokia show we attended – the recording is attached to Christopher Pomerenke’s cheap music documentary The Heart Is A Drum Machine, in which Keenan appears for roughly 15 seconds – staring at the camera and not saying a word. You’re certainly not missing out if you haven’t seen the film; it’s poorly made and difficult to sit through. What’s more – the song’s not even in the damn thing. But now you have it, here and autoplaying on Puscifer.com.
In more Maynard news, not only is Tool working on a new album, but [Antiquiet] recently got the scoop on new activity with A Perfect Circle as well. Songwriter Billy Howerdel and vocalist Maynard James Keenan are once again working together as A Perfect Circle, and new music from the beloved group is on the way.
The possibilities of a full album and tour are both still very much in the air. However, Howerdel told [Antiquiet] on the record that [A Perfect Circle are] working on “something” that should be out this year.
~Dan – np: George Hrab – Trebuchet
Bird on a Wire
Being a fan of animals and a fan of avant-garde/experimental music, I am really digging this…
New commission for The Curve
French artist Céleste Boursier-Mougenot creates works by drawing on the rhythms of daily life to produce sound in unexpected ways. For his installation in The Curve, Boursier-Mougenot creates a walk-though aviary for a flock of zebra finches, furnished with electric guitars and other musical instruments. As the birds go about their routine activities, perching on or feeding from the various pieces of equipment, they create a captivating, live soundscape.
Thanks, Jim Tuerk of Greenleaf.
~Dan – np: Hotel Lights – Hotel Lights
Dirty Car Art Gallery
So… yeah… Scott Wade is a genius.
This is a dirty car…
This too…
And this…
And this…
Check more out at:
~Dan – np: Bill Frisell – Disfarmer
upcoming David Bazan & a Sufjan senior project
Pedro the Lion’s David Bazan is finally releasing his full-length debut. It’s not his first release under his own name. He had an EP out in 2006 (Fewer Moving Parts) and has released a few iTunes EPs/singles and some 7″ vinyl releases since Pedro the Lion’s last “band” record, Achilles Heel (in 2004). David’s album comes out September 1st (on Barsuk Records CD/LP/mp3)… it’s called Curse Your Branches…
1. Hard To Be
2. Bless This Mess
3. Please, Baby, Please
4. Curse Your Branches
5. Harmless Sparks
6. When We Fell
7. Lost My Shape
8. Bearing Witness
9. Heavy Breath
10. In Stitches
Keep your peepers here or on davidbazan.com for info as it shows up.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Also, as reported on All Good Naysayers, student Jax de León did a senior graphic design project on Sufjan Stevens‘ 2005 album, Come On Feel the Illinoise, called Illinois: Visualizing Music.
Check out more about Illinois: Visualizing Music (link).
Speaking of Sufjan, Asthmatic Kitty is trying to call Osso’s upcoming album a Sufjan Stevens’ release. Ha!!! We’re on to you guys… come on, when is Suffie’s real next album coming out!? :)
OK, I know… Osso’s Run Rabbit Run album is a “real” album… and it’s gonna be rad as hell… but you know what I meant.
~Dan – np: Dave Douglas & Brass Ecstasy – On Stage: 6/18/09 (early set)
-Eyvind Kang
-Frank Zappa
Amazon.com mp3 downloads
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