The Night/Bird Watch

2/13/2018 REPEAT OFFENDER  featuring: bree melechinsky - alto sax alex liebman - tenor sax zack warpinski - upright bass pete gierzynski - drums

Remember when you were racing a subway train and realized at some point you were winning? Every muscle inside you working for victory. I don't actually remember it either, but Repeat Offender made me think I was. It wasn't chaos because the craziness was controlled, though wild. Like a happy beach party with way too many beach balls. These guys slayed. Horns, drums, and upright bass never made me feel so ready to play a game of hockey. Thanks Repeat Offender. <3

t.e.e. 1/30/2018

Performers:

Andy Cook - Guitar and voice

Kate Murray - Synthesizer and Background Vocals

Is it ok to say charming about music these days? Well, Andy Cook’s performance and songs are damn charming. I felt giddy at the soundboard. His voice has a stern softness to it. If it was a soundtrack, the character would be walking somewhere important and Andy’s songs would be their fuel. The words come out as classic the moment he sings them, don’t know how he pulls that off. Kate was the perfect flourish to adorn the performance. Once again, I had an absolutely lovely time taking in the performance at t.e.e. Whoever books this stuff is really killing it. ;D

t.e.e. 1/23/2018

Performers:

Jill Zimmerman - Guitar, Piano and Voice

Tony Peterson - Electric Guitar and Background Vocals

Mina Lein - Background Vocals

If writing pop music were easy, everyone would do it. Jill Zimmerman can write pop music. The kind that you can’t help but like. AAAAND she has an incredible voice that perfectly suits the music she writes. It’s timeless stuff. I am behind the soundboard for most t.e.e. performances. This show was a breeze to mix because the actual sounds and voices were used to each other already. She had two accompanying singers on a few songs and they blended so well. Tony’s electric guitar was tastefully played and the tone was dialed in. Mina Lein’s voice stood out, but didn’t distract. I imagine she likely sounds great solo as well. It is so nice to hear people do things they are very good at and enjoy themselves while doing it. This was that. I had fun.

t.e.e. 1/16/2018

Performers:

Adam Biel - Guitar and effects

Charlie Milkey - Guitar and effects and visuals

Here’s how I felt while watching Biel/Milkey last Tuesday:

(( Am I in the jet of plane with God’s ear muffs? Peaceful and encompassing. A thought without concern for completeness. Patience. Don’t fidget when NOISE stops, it’s you, don’t be afraid. Wash away, it’s not all spirits. It is also your mind’s static. The music is a mirror — my reflection says: I’m not afraid, are you? ))

The music was beautiful, the visuals were a trance. I don't know what else to say, I loved it.

t.e.e. 1/9/2018

Performer:

John Stojevich - Original poetry read aloud

There was a train in the 331 Club on Tuesday. It began with the name of a poem, the container. Then that car was filled with human context. John’s reading, a crane dropping weight onto the wheels. He didn’t say anything other than speak the words and titles of his poems. One right after the other. 90% of the bar was transfixed, the other 10% were seemingly trying to make obvious how little interest they had. John didn’t seem to notice the 10%. He just went on, spilling his mind onto the smelly carpet of the stage. I kept referring to this booking as “risky,” because who books live poetry readings at a bar on Tuesday evenings? Thing was, the risk was not mine, it was John’s, and he wasn’t scared, and that made the whole performance a poem. So happy he accepted the challenge.

t.e.e. 12/19/2017

Performers:

Jeffrey Skemp - poems and affected voice, percussion

James Everest - affected guitar & vocals

Karen Townsend - Accordion & vocals

Martin Dosh - Drums & Percussion

Ben Durrant - pocket synths and effects

I’ll admit I was a bit distracted with some technical aspects of December 19th’s performance. It was difficult to listen the way I normally like to. Despite that, I managed to take in some real moments, like really drink up and digest them. I have to tell you something that may not sit well with you, I am not a big fan of Tom Waits. Luckily for me, despite that this was the name I heard tossed around as a reference for Jeffrey Skemp’s set, I disagreed. Jeffrey is an alligator reading poetry, teasing into a song often. He’s like a young gator though, with a Grandpa for a hero. Innocence with a severe respect for wisdom. This set was fun, but not blind. The crowd was jovial and sincere. The vibe was December, I loved it. I worry a bit when I hear “poetry backed by music.” It reminds me of coffeeshops I frequented as a 17 year old. When you’re a fan of Nirvana, coffeeshops are a weird place to be quarantined. This was not like that, and I am so grateful and happy to have been there for it.

t.e.e. 12/12/2017

Performer:

Jonathan Kaiser - Cello and Voice

Wowza.

The wind through an old house. It’s cold everywhere but where I am. I’m in a mystery, but am not worried. I’m held and alone. A cello for lungs, a voice like a cello. Jonathan Kaiser did something otherworldly last Tuesday. I was speechless after; other than dribbling gratitude that felt inadequate. The 331 transformed into an alter and all we listened to was the moaning beauty and deliberateness from stage. I am pretty sure no one remembered where they were. By golly, I am so grateful. (still feels inadequate).

t.e.e. 12/5/2017

Performer:

Pat and Terry

Featuring;

Zack Warpinski - Elektron Analog 4

Holly Hansen - Volcas and guitar pedals and a mixer

The following is from the perspective of Farrah Briest:

On top of the rippled ice of Tuesday’s intro to winter, Pat & Terry, otherwise known as Holly Hansen and Zack Warpinski, walked us around every neighborhood in Minneapolis, throwing up soundscapes like they were nodding to each old street. They passed tempos like turning corners and near the end of the set they walked us over a bridge where we found something like a piano with a vocalist leaning on, about to cue in, and a little melody rolled us past the last easy blocks. Matching the usual mood of t.e.e., the set was a refreshing walk after a day of chumps in traffic.

Jonathan Kaiser, playing the next t.e.e., surveyed the setup and mentioned Zack’s drum machine (Analog 4) tying into Holly’s volca and guitar pedal setup  controlling its tempo. Curious to hear more, I checked in with Holly about what dishes were out on this buffet of sound:

“Oh yah, we had that A4 running as the master and sure I had my volca sample and beats and so that was going... Oh Yah, and we had that Count to 5 running on the alt 3-4 of the mixer so ya know we could sample whatever whenever. So of course we had the gravitas tremolo running in an aux send with his A4 controlling speed using CV so that was that. You know how it is. 

t.e.e. 11/28/2017

Performer:

Under Violet

featuring:

Sara Bischoff - Vocals and Electric Guitar

Chris Bierden - Bass and Background Vocals

Mike Gunvalson - Drums

Alex Proctor - Keys

What I felt was that I was in a hot tub. But not the kind that implies you’re rich, the kind you built yourself out of cedar. This band is beyond pleasant and caring. Sara Bischoff’s songs make me feel known. To me, those are the best songs. She sings each song like they are jewels, carefully and deliberately. And thank heavens because they deserve it. Her backing band is pro, and that is good not because they stand out, but because they do not. Pro because they understand a good song, and how to lift it up. The bass lines, a pedestal for the vocal melody. The drums like prairie grass and the keys a wind blowing. I am so into this music. A brew crafted from Mazzy Star and vintage country. The wit and simplicity of the words make the songs instant classics. The lack of modern electronic sounds is a welcome haven, a relief. Don’t get me wrong, I love electronic music, but in this context, the lack of it feels like breathing. I am ecstatic about this band, the only thing I don’t like is that I don’t have a physical copy of this music and I don’t know when I get to see them next.

t.e.e. 11/21/2017

Performer:

Claire Taubenhaus (Tiny Deaths) - Vocals and trax

t.e.e. 11/14/2017

Performers:

Adam Svec - Improvised vocal melodies and lyrics

John Keston -Improvised Rhodes, Moog Synthesizer

Somehow, this duo pulled a feminine energy from the air. I’m not even sure what I mean. Maybe that it seemed emotionally vulnerable in a way that I often encounter when interacting with women. Just emotional, not on purpose. Adam’s voice always seems like silk to me. Tight weaved. No different for this performance. I kept forgetting he was making these words up on the spot, a good thing in my opinion. It’s also odd how little I noticed his vocal effects processor. Another good thing in my opinion. 

Walking down the street

you imagine a camera

following you each block.

So you smoke,

it helps the scene.

it’s not bad,

it is easy.

Easy to imagine a worthwhile story

while walking like a sunset zombie

imagining waves watermarked

over a fading face.

When you get home you lay flat on your back

stare at the ceiling like a friend,

WHHYYY NOT!!!!! -Karen Carpenter

This guy. He’s been doing an amazing job recounting his ZA experience. He said I could share it here if I’d like. So share I do. 

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four