The seventh annual Transmodern Festival is just a few weeks away, and this year promises to be just as big as ever. With events going down at the H&H, the BMA, and even at places around the Baltimore waterfront, it will run from April 15 through April 18.
In addition to some choice experimental music from Baltimore and beyond, get stoked for film, roaming performances, interactive art, theatrical productions, and pretty much every form of artistic output you can think of. This one's for all your senses, so don't miss out. Tickets are $10 each night or $25 for access to the whole shebang.
Get the full lineup and schedule after the jump. 4/15 Thursday @ The Baltimore Museum of Art
Infinite Body will be at the Pet Cemetery tomorrow night along with Hemlock Ernst, Sunglasses, Earn, and Coma Cinema. Hemlock Earnest is Sam Herring's (Future Islands) solo moniker, and this will be his debut performance. I first learned about Sam's freestyle capabilities when we got to record a taste last year.
This was recorded outside by Katherine Gorman on a back porch in Mt. Vernon last Fall. Sam will be opening tomorrow night's show, but LA's Infinite Body coming to town is another fine reason to head out on a Tuesday night. I've recently been spending some time with his latest release, Carve Out The Face Of My God.
This LP was recently released by Post Present Medium, a label run by half of No Age, Dean Spunt. Infinite Body is solely the works of Kyle Parker, an avid participator in LA's noise scene. While he once produced noise of the harsh and damaged variety, Infinite Body finds Kyle in a new light.
An even stronger progression from his debut LP White Hymn, Carve Out The Face Of My God uses elements of noise in ways that allure and fascinate your ears. The new record paints feelings of beauty and tranquility, while emotion is deeply transparent. The ability to see through and within is surely a theme throughout this record's journey. There are ups and downs and highs and lows, yet the album manages to make you feel at ease in a world of instability.
I've seen elements of drone used in a lot of different ways, but none have resonated with me the same way as the the continual hums that are found throughout this record. Drone is used to portray a sound that illustriously endless, as the songs feel to have limitless depth. While this idea is felt throughout, it's the quieter moments that really bring out the vast space and massive nature. Parker's ability to seamlessly bring all of these factors together are what's solidified this as being one of my favorites so far this year.
You can order the record here, and don't miss out on this fantastic bill tomorrow night.
Hey, there's a lot to do this weekend. Let's get to it.
Tonight if you happen to come across Oliver and Guilford, you've got two options. Penthouse Gallery is offering The Great Valley, Brendan Sullivan, Bear & Pieces, and Sun on My Head. Bear & Pieces has a new tape almost ready which I am stoked for, but here's "Falling Down" off of Brendan Sullivan's Wooley Eyes tape.
Just around the corner is another fine bill. Moss of Aura, Power Animal, Winks, and Semya all play in the Annex. Just like the show in the Penthouse, there's a couple artists playing this one that you'll hear new things from on a compilation I'm putting together for Friends Records. Look out for details on that soon, but for now, get Winks' "Weed Makes Sex Weird" stuck in your head.
And last but not least, Friday night the 5th Dimension has a big one at the H&H put together by True Vine and Aural States. Matmos, Konk Pack, and Leprechaun Catering will all blast you with electronic stimuli, for just a $5-10 sliding donation. Jason Willett shared some Konk Pack sounds at Aural States earlier this week.
See what's going on Saturday after the click. Saturday night the Ottobar has New York's Vivian Girls, with Vermont's Happy Birthday, the United Kingdom's Wet Dog, and our very own Weekends. Vivian Girls were pretty good last time they were around these parts with Ariel Pink. Details on the new Weekends LP will soon be available, which was mixed and mastered by Rob Girardi. It will be called Strange Cultures, and you can expect to hear things from this record very soon. This one's off their debut:
Down at the Annex, you can catch Videohippos, Nuclear Power Pants, Fang Island, and The Chinese Stars. Nuclear Power Pants are about to set off on tour with Height with Friends, and Videohippos just got back from a tour. Add the much hyped Fang Island and the always great Chinese stars, and you've got yourself a show.
There's a lot to do this weekend, but be sure to stop by Open Space Saturday and/or Sunday afternoon. This is their first Publications and Multiples Fair, a gathering of small press outlets, music, and tacos.
It's free of charge, but you'll want bring some cash to grab super awesome things from Lost Ghosts Records, Important Comics, Watercolor, and much much more. While you buy cool things and support great people, live music will be played. Performances will go down both days between 3PM and 8 PM both days, get the full schedule after the jump. Publications & Multiples Fair @ Open Space 2720 Sisson Street Baltimore, MD 21211
Last Saturday the Windup Space featured a tour send-off show for Height with Friends, a group that I've made pretty clear to be one of my recent obsessions. We dropped the Druid Hill Lake EP on you last week, and have plenty more in store.
Pictured above is Sam Herring of The Snails, better known for his frontman roll in Future Islands. The Snails portray a looser and funkier side of handful of fantastic local musicians in other projects, and also serves as an outlet for using snail hats. This set was a ton of fun, and hopefully Sandy Snailbelow, Barnacale Snailiams, Snailbraham, Sammy Snail, Justnailin and Bob will bust out more snail action in the future.
Dope Body also ruled, yet again. Get their tape here, and catch 'em at the Hexagon next Sunday with one hell of a supporting cast. View the the full set of photos after the jump. Dope Body
Tonight the Metro Gallery's got a charmer with Bachelorette, Lands and Peoples, and Surf City on the bill. Unfortunately The Art Department are no longer part of this, which is politely illustrated above. But need not worry, this one will still treat you well.
Bachelorette is from New Zealand, and released My Electric Family via Drag City last year. Last year's release was Annabel Alpers' first record with added musicians. The familiar looping melodies are still intact, but expanded to a sound that turns bedroom pop into grand ballroom pop.
Lands and Peoples displayed some incredibly promising new tunes at their last show opening up for Warpaint, and tonight should be no different. L&P's Caleb Moore just released his new solo album yesterday, under the moniker Dead Drums. The album is called Fashion Defense, and is up for free download right here. Look for more words on this release in the coming weeks.
Peep some videos fro New Zealand's Surf City and Bachelorette after the click.
DNA Test Fest III, brought to us byDC's favoritenew labelFan Death Records, is April 3 atSonar. Enter our ticket giveawayhere, and tell me why I should go to Test Fest instead of going to see Bonnie Prince Billy. Here's some newPsychedelic Horseshit.
This is a music project from Columbus, Ohio. You might recollect Psychedelic Horseshit saying mean things about Wavves last year, or you might recognize their weird and spastic music, and it's also possible you're wondering why a band would be called that. Either way, here's a new Psychedelic Horseshit track called "Unseen Voids".
This is the first track on Acid Tape, released this week by Fan Death Records. This track is as close to to prior output as you'll get on this cassette, yet it is likely the most consciously tangible song ever to be released by the group. "Unseen Voids" then transcends you into "Modern Daze". Rising from the deep textures and jaded electronics is a pop song, one that's twisted with what the tape's name suggests. While this track layers ambient melodies laced with vocals and warped guitars, in the end drum machines are hi-jacked by outer space and all is soon forgotten.
Once fully taken over by astronauts, "Modern Daze" rolls into "Hard As It Gets (Chill Sax Mix)" - a dub song. Psychedelic Horeshit has often been categorized as shit-gaze, as Fan Death urges that "Acid both is and isn't the best representation" of said genre. This release certainly dabbles in new boundaries not tested before by the group. Plus, who really knew what shit-gaze even was in the first place.
The rest of the cassette indulges in experiments far and wide, and more than certainly comes recommended on my end. Get it here. Yet another solid reason to attend DNA Test Fest.
Above is a freshly cut video from our living room session with Future Islands recorded late last year, with Splice Today editor Zach Kaufmann behind the lens. The song is called "As I Fall", and will be the closing track on In Evening Air, their Thrill Jockey full length which drops on May 5th.
This LP will easily be one of the best works to come out of Baltimore this year, 36 minutes of some of the most confident and realized output to birth from the trio. William, Sam, and Gerrit are poised to celebrate their upcoming releases via the way they know best, setting out on a full U.S. tour.
April 5th at the Zodiac, Future Islands play with Jason Urick,Child Bite, and Zoos of Berlin. In addition to this being the release show for their EP dubbed In the Fall, which precedes the LP and is limited to 500 copies, this will also be the release show for Jason Urick's Fussing & Fighting. Half of the proceeds go to benefit Whartscape.
Get all the tour details and another new living room session video below.
You might recognize "Litte Dreamer" as the beautiful closing track of Wave Like Home, or from a remix done by Jones with the added vocals of Victoria Legrand from Beach House for their Post Office Wave Chapel remix 12 inch out on Free Danger.
After a short stint of shows in early April, Future Islands embark on a massive North American tour with Jana Hunter's new band, Lower Dens. The tour also features dates with some other favorites including Height with Friends, Double Dagger, and Lonnie Walker. The In Evening Air album release show will be a big one at Floristree on April 30, with Double Dagger and Dustin Wong.
April 2 - Middlebury, VT @ Middlebury College April 3 - Providence, RI @ Building 16 April 4 - Brooklyn, NY @ Glasslands (w/Air Waves, Guardian Alien) April 5 - Baltimore, MD @ Zodiac (w/Child Bite, Zoos of Berlin, Jason Urick) EP Release Party for us + Jason!! April 9 - Frederick, MD @ Cafe Nola April 22 - Washington, DC @ Black Cat (w/DOUBLE DAGGER, Ed Schrader) April 23 - Charlottesville, VA @ Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar April 24 - Greensboro, NC @ tba
North American Tour with LOWER DENS April 30 - Baltimore, MD @ Floristree (w/DOUBLE DAGGER, Dustin Wong) In Evening Air Release Party! May 1 - Brooklyn, NY @ Death by Audio (w/DOUBLE DAGGER, Light Asylum) May 2 - Philadelphia, PA @ Danger Danger (w/DOUBLE DAGGER) May 3 - Shepherdstown, WV @ Blue Moon Saloon May 4 - Raleigh, NC @ Berkeley Cafe (w/Lonnie Walker, Whatever Brains) May 5 - Charlotte, NC @ Milestone May 6 - Greenville, NC @ The Phoenix (w/Lonnie Walker, NAPS) May 7 - Charleston, SC @ Outer Space May 8 - Atlanta, GA @ 529 May 9 - Athens, GA @ Nasty World May 10 - Knoxville, TN @ Pilot Light May 11 - Chattanooga, TN @ tba May 12 - Oxford, MS @ tba May 13 - Pensacola, FL @ tba May 14 - New Orleans, LA @ tba May 15 - Houston, TX @ Mangos May 16 - Austin, TX @ The Mohawk May 17 - Lubbock, TX @ Riprock (w/Height with Friends) May 18 - Las Cruces, NM @ The Equinox May 19 - Phoenix, AZ @ tba May 20 - Las Vegas, NV @ tba May 21 - Los Angeles, CA @ Sync Space (w/Foot Village, Robedoor) May 22 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Smell May 24 - San Francisco, CA @ tba May 25 - Eureka, CA @ Lil Red Lion May 27 - Portland, OR @ tba May 28 - Olympia, WA @ Northern May 29 - Seattle, WA @ Sunset Tavern May 30 - Boise, ID @ tba May 31 - Salt Lake City, UT @ tba June 1 - Denver, CO @ Rhinoceropolis (w/Pictureplane) June 2 - Kansas City, MO @ The Pistol June 3 - Bloomington, IN @ The Bishop June 5 - Chicago, IL @ tba June 6 - Detroit, MI @ tba June 7 - Toronto, ON @ Primary Colors June 8 - Montreal, QC @ tba June 9 - Burlington, VT @ The Monkey House June 10 - Dover, NH @ The Brickhouse June 11 - Boston, MA @ tba June 12 - Brooklyn, NY @ tba June 13 - Baltimore, MD @ Penthouse
Last week David Carter shared a quality recording of The Soft House's performance of Terry Riley's In C, and now Guy Werner has just passed along his video documentation.
Guy Werner had 6 cameras set up throughout The Soft House, as he controlled them via his rig in the loft space. These shots were also used during the set, projected onto walls to give the audience multiple perspectives of the many musicians involved.
Below is a 10 minute piece on the evening that Guy put together, providing nostalgia for those who were there, and an idea of the magnitude for folks that missed out.
After the click view the full 55 minute video of the entire piece, also with thanks to Guy.
"In C" Ensemble Will Redman (of Microkingdom)----------------------vibraphone Dave Jacober (of Dope Body/Holy Ghost Party)-----marimba Nathan Elman-Bell (of Quartet Offensive)-----------glockenspiel Rob Parrish (improvisational percussionist)---------glockenspiel Rod Hamilton (of Avocado Happy Hour)-------------Malletkat Emmanuel Nicolaidis (of Thank You)----------------xylophone Jeremy Hyman (of Ponytail)--------------------------marimba Jon Birkholz (of Soul Cannon)--------------------------organ Ben Frock (of Ben Frock and the Subatomic Particles)-organ Tim Murphy (Baltimore jazz legend)-----------------rhodes Amanda Schmidt (of Avocado Happy Hour)---------rhodes Dustin Wong (of Dustin Wong/Ponytail)-------electric guitar Zach Utz (of Dope Body/Holy Ghost Party)--electric guitar Jaime Moffett (jazz musician)------------------electric guitar Andrew Bernstein (of Teeth Mountain)-----------------------alto sax John Dierker (of Microkingdom/Quartet Offensive)-----tenor sax Andy Abelow (of Small Sur/Soft Cat)-----------------------alto sax Britton Powell (of Hume)---------------------------------------double bass Kate Barutha (of Soft Cat)-------------------------------------cello Will Pesta (of Happy Family)--------------laptop Grayson Brown (of Comeback Ranch)---laptop John Somers (of Do While)----------------laptop Sam Shea (of Copycat Theatre)----------laptop John Jones (of Each Others)--------------laptop Beau Crawley (of Turquoise Cats/Drugs Bunny)----live processing Mark Brown (of DJ Mark Brown) --------------------live processing John Butler (of Mothersday)--------------------------live processing Tom Fitzgibbon (sounds)------------------------------live processing
Folks often let me know of upcoming shows, but few promise they'll turn winter into spring. Bethany Dinsick did just that the other night, with a show set for tomorrow at the Zodiac. In addition to astral endoresements, I was passed along this track.
Bethany recorded and emailed me this song from a bar in Wilmington, North Carolina on Tuesday. Recorded on Garage Band, let's accept this is as a vocal blessing from the road.
Bethany has recently made a habit of producing such aural blessings, in particular with her debut under her own moniker. This was one of my favorite pieces of last year, and here's the title track from her debut, Bottle Tree.
The homecoming show tomorrow night is with her recent tour mate Teaadora, along with Secrets Secrets. Bethany promises, "there will be astral communication and connections, seances, celestial pop, meditational r&b, and the winter will be shed due to the fact that the show is the day before the spring Equinox." I'm pretty sure we're all down for the shedding of winter. The show Friday night starts at 10 PM.
Run DMT's Bong Voyage and Get Ripped or Die Trying have become headphone mainstays when in the need of cosmic journeys or ADD-relief, and have proved helpful for pretty much everything else in between. With much thanks to Chocolate Bobka, these releases will now reach a physical format.
The NYC-based blog yesterday announced the beginning of The Curatorial Club, in which they'll help archive sounds that were previously unavailable. The first batch of tapes released will come from Alex Bleeker, Twin Sister, and Baltimore's own Run DMT.
This will be Run DMT's debut tangible release, and will be limited to just 20 handmande cassettes. The tapes will feature Bong Voyage on one side, and Get Ripped or Die Trying on the other side, as was originally intended for these works. Chocolate Bobka also promises that the tape will be speckled with exclusive new Run DMT magic dust.
Order the tape for $5 here, and peep the artwork below.
Fan Death Records are responsible for this event, and are also behind the cassette that will be given out to the first 100 attendees. This tape will never be produced again, and here's the tracklist:
Side A 1. Leather - Inna Altar 2. The Chickens - Phocomulous Vers. #1 3. Broken Neck - Ben 4. Twin Stumps - Missing Persons 5. Useless Children - Skin 6. Pygmy Shrews - AM Breakout
Side B 1. Lamps - Wanda & Mable 2. Death Domain w/ Cult of Youth - Justify Treason 3. Home Blitz - A Different Touch 4. Psychedelic Horseshit - Phone Card 5. Birds of Maya - Making Friends 6. Neon Blud - BFF Blud
Bmore Musically Informed is the only place you'll find a ticket giveaway for this. In order to enter, here's what you need to do. Yesterday two friends of mine tried to convince me that I should go see Bonnie Prince Billy play in Rehoboth Beach this night, instead of going to DNA Test Fest. In the comments section of this post, tell me why I should in fact go to Test Fest as originally planned. The person who comments the best reason wins. Check back here April 2nd.
Today we are premiering the first sounds from our label, Friends Records. The label will have it's own online home soon, but for now hear some tunes in a familiar place.
Height with Friends released their debut record Baltimore Highlands on Wham City last year to much acclaim. A core group with a revolving door, Height's vision for this project is deeply rooted in, well... everything. With the follow up LP dropping later this Spring, his apparition has since expanded.
The new album is called Bed of Seeds, will be released on vinyl via Friends Records, and will be limited to 500 copies. We just sent the album to the pressing plant late last week, but for now we have a digital present to share. Streaming above is Druid Hill Lake, a free EP that you can download in full below.
This album was created much differently than prior efforts. Height first constructed melodies and harmonies, next wrote lyrics, then allowing Mickey Freeland to come in and build the beats. Live instrumentation played by Mickey Free, Travis Allen, and Height can be found throughout. Back-up vocals by Emily Slaughter, Gavin Riley, and Mickey Free are also heavily felt, as Height explains this album is their first LP to have the sound of a real group.
Height headlines a tour send-off show at the Windup Space this Saturday, March 20th. Following that is a two month tour, the first leg of which is with Nuclear Power Pants. Get all the details on this North American tour with a lot of other great bands below.
Mar 20 2010
9:00P
Wind-Up Space with The Snails, Dope Body and King Rhythm
Baltimore, Maryland
Mar 31 2010
8:00P
Tipsy Teapot with Nuclear Power Pants and Lonie Walker
Greenville, North Carolina
Apr 1 2010
8:00P
Tir Na Nog with Nuclear Power Pants and Lonnie Walker
Raleigh, North Carolina
Apr 2 2010
8:00P
Outer Space with Nuclear Power Pants and Lonnie Walker
Charleston, South Carolina
Apr 3 2010
8:00P
TBA with Nuclear Power Pants
Athens, Georgia
Apr 4 2010
8:00P
New French Bar with Nuclear Power Pants and Plucky Walker
Asheville, North Carolina
Apr 5 2010
8:00P
The End with Nuclear Power Pants
Nashville, Tennessee
Apr 6 2010
8:00P
Pilot Light with Nuclear Power Pants
Knoxville, Tennessee
Apr 8 2010
8:00P
Eagle’s Nest with Nuclear Power Pants and Geocash
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Apr 9 2010
8:00P
The Whole (on U of M campus)
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Apr 10 2010
8:00P
TBA with Nuclear Power Pants and Birdnames
Chicago, Illinois
Apr 11 2010
8:00P
TBA with Nuclear Power Pants and Child Bite
Detroit, Michigan
Apr 12 2010
8:00P
The Mansion with Nuclear Power Pants and Footbags + B
Kingston
Apr 13 2010
8:00P
Casa Del Popolo with Nuclear Power Pants and Blue Skies Turn Black
Montreal, Quebec
Apr 14 2010
8:00P
242 Main with Nuclear Power Pants
Burlington, Vermont
Apr 15 2010
8:00P
Siera Grill with Nuclear Power Pants
Northampton, Massachusetts
Apr 16 2010
8:00P
The Cottage with Nuclear Power Pants
Boston, Massachusetts
Apr 17 2010
8:00P
PVD with Nuclear Power Pants and Chinese Stars
Providence, Rhode Island
Apr 18 2010
8:00P
Firehouse with Nuclear Power Pants
Worcester, Massachusetts
Apr 21 2010
8:00P
Bard College with Nuclear Power Pants and Rapdragons
