POGO #2

For those of you who are unfamiliar, the POGO that Jamison had referenced is "Put Out or Get Out", an art and music (as if they were different...) zine that Katarina Riesing (my lovely lady) and I publish. If any fellow spiralsonicers are interested in contributing, our next issue is themed X-rated (open to interpretation). The format will be standard 8 1/2 x 11 paper folded in half and xeroxed, but not in that order. There is also a CD included, so any pics, words, or sounds are welcome. I've got this idea about putting some short erotic fiction pieces that would be one or two pages long that will be interspersed as "sex scenes". If anyone is interested in this in particular e-mail putoutorgetout@live.com. Also, we have a bare bones myspace at:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=334963754

Peace be with you,
Rev. Bro. J

cosmic overtones

Finally my first post to the spiralsonic landscape! Spiralsonic. An appropriate name choice indeed. I have always basked in the warmth of knowing that the art that I have devoted my life to is connected to the cosmos on so many primal and organic levels. The physics of sound and the physics of nature are twisted together like the DNA strand (which so happens to also be a spiral...). And so my life's quest is formed around something tangible yet intangible. Something stable yet unstable. I have always found music in the oddest of places. Most of the music I hear does not involve musicians, written music or even instruments. Most of the music I hear is what I call "the dance of probablities." Rustling leaves here, bird chirps there, a plane going overhead. And somehow all of it locking into this primal time that is often as amusing as any Brahams symphony. Cage heard it. Ives heard it. And Beethoven was pissed he didn't hear it. Although somehow I bet he still did... 

Yet another night of sonic joy!

Last night I managed to have yet another evening of immense musical awesomeness!  First off I played with Raul Malo, which was a fun, flying-by-the-seat-of-my-pants adventure which included some fun soloing, high notes, and latin shit (which I can't get enough of)

Later I checked out the Rabbit Press "Art Carnival."  What a fantastic party!  one of the best I've been to in a while (even though I was flying solo.)  Great music, diverse and fun crowd, and cool art/culture magazine.  I spoke with the editor and chief about POGO, hopefully we can make connections down the road.  two thumbs up for building a community of artists!

And THEN after THAT at 2 Am (it was a long night) I went to 91.1 WRVU Radio station to check out some ORE Theatre Intangible for some experimental electronic music.  Tony Youngblood is the DJ and mastermind behind the project and completely destroyed an hour set of purely improvised electronic bliss.  We talked a while about experimenetal music in Nashville (also some about Tom Waits... because,... well, he's the fucking coolest)  and hopefully there will be sonically communal growth in that dept as well.  All in all I have a few conclusions to draw:

1)  music in nashville is actually fucking great and is only getting better.  There are numerous burgeoning scenes sprouting left and right of various most excellent genres

2)  I feel a sense of the future, for art, music ... even culture.  With the technological and communication levels heightening to such incredible degrees, there are immense possibilities for people to connect and empower their causes in ways never before seen!

3)  I don't feel so alone in my desire to build a community of creative artists and musicians who are like-minded and want their voices to be heard.  

Hoorah for last night!  

Can I please stop blogging.... no

I had to throw another quick post up to proclaim my excitement for the new art/culture magazine "the Rabbit" in Nashville.  This Saturday, they are having a an "art Carnival" with music, art, food, beer, the whole nine yards.  And it appears to be at a warehouse.  Im definitely checking it out - and two thumbs up for Nashville's underground surge!

An incredible night of sound

Last night I experienced a tremendous array of sounds all of which were transcendent.  First I watched David Lynch's "Eraserhead" at the Belcourt Theatre whilst drinking a PBR.   This was the first David Lynch movie I had ever seen, and all I can say is,.... holy shit.  What a heavy flick - and what unbelievable use of sound!!!  In fact, it is what made the movie work in my opinion.  If you haven't seen it, please do so.  You might want to "alter your state" before hand for viewing enhancement.

After that I checked out a band I've been meaning to see for a while, Tommy and the Whale.  I was hoping for a much needed sonic pick-me-up, and they delivered in full effect.  Probably one of the best shows I've seen in Nashville (by a local band no less!) and quite possible one of the best shows ever.  I could go into detail as to why this was, but I'll just say, if you live around Nashville, check this band out - some of the best indie-pop-rock I've heard.  Incredible songwriting, excellent musicianship and they definitely know how to put on a show. 

Thats all for now - and please - anyone who wants to use this blog as a "diary of sorts" - please feel free.  I don't want this blog to be all about me.  me me me.  

on rotation

I just got Kneebody's album "Break me" and I was pretty damned floored.  I have been familiar with this group for a few years but never checked out a lot of their music until just recently.  I even had the chance to talk with the trumpeter, Shane Endsley (who also happens to be a badass drummer) when I was living in NYC.

Anyway, if you want to hear seriously new music that rocks out, check this group.  somehow they manage to be ultra-cerebral yet visceral at the same time.  

Also, to the AUTHORS of this new blog, to add other people, go to settings, then to permissions.  there you can invite people via email.  Lets spread the word and build a community.  or not.  

¡ namaste ! 

to check out the album, go to http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/6824989/a/Break+Me.htm

here a note, there a note

just to let you know, I'm giving every "author" of this page "administrative privileges," which means you may change anything about the blog you want.  I trust everyone who take advantage of this will do so in the best way possible.  

I'm also happy to report that there was an article in the Nashville Scene about the lameness of live music here in Nashville.  This would seem like an unfortunate thing, but I'm hoping it will wake everyone up a bit and help them realize the importance of live music in their city.  So go out and support music wherever you are, I'm doing so tonight!

 

Brad Mehldau documentary

http://youtube.com/watch?v=n4dV9inZCo4

This is the link for the first part of a seven part documentary on the king bad-ass known as Brad Mehldau. It's definitely worth checking out and inspiring to the Maxx.

.... and one more thing

not sure if this is possible, but please feel free to invite anyone you think might be interested in such a blog.  hopefully you'll be able to just connect them yourself.  If not, please let me know and I'll add them (since I'm the big bad administrator type guy!)

Welcome to SpiralSonic!

Many of you may wonder what the hell is going on here.  Especially those of you I invited to become a part of this "blog-o-sphere."  Well, I decided to try and create an online community of sorts.  I understand that some of you I invited to be might not have spoken with me in a long while, but what better way to reconnect than via internet, the brutally crashing wave of the future!  I wish our world didn't revolve around such a deluge, but we really only have two options: surfs up or man overboard.  

The name 'spiralsonic' is derived from my belief that, other than the fact that the spiral is a very powerful form in our universe, I like to believe that practically every thing we do, and every way we grow, moves in a spiral.  This may be spiraling inwards: towards a more focused and powerful center; or spiraling outwards: covering more ground, and understanding more our world.  

Obviously sound and our manipulation and experience with sound as 'music' or 'art' is no different.  So ultimately, this is a forum for like-minded individuals to converge, discuss, inform, complain, inspire, and celebrate our experiences with sound, specifically through venues of creative music.  

I understand that many of you will read this, ponder it a moment, and move on with your lives, which is absolutely fine and/or dandy.  However, if you would like to connect with other artists, musicians and creative people in such a way, please feel free to contribute posts, images, audio, video, or whatever else this new-fangled blog world can accommodate.  I also hope this finds everyone well and on a constantly spiralling path towards a larger, yet more focused path in their quest for sonic nirvana.  

¡ namaste !