sonic alchemy, stretched membrane, texture, chance and exploration
8pm: Ben Bennett/
Wilson Shook9pm:
Thomas Dimuzio
San Francisco-based
Thomas Dimuzio is one of those unsung artistic figures whose influence and abilities have substantially outstripped his visibility. Composer, collaborator, experimental electronic musician, multi-instrumentalist, improvisor, sound designer and mastering engineer - Dimuzio has been busy doing his thing(s) since the late 1980's, but is still only known to a small circle of electronic music enthusiasts. A true sonic alchemist who can seemingly create music events out of almost anything, Dimuzio's listed sound sources on his various releases include everything from "modified 10 speed bicycle" and "resonating water pipe" to short-wave radios, field recordings, loops, samplers and even normal instruments such as clarinet and trumpet. And while his wide range of musical interests make it impossible to pin a label on him, Dimuzio clearly has an insider's knowledge of older experimental musical forms such as musique concrete and electroacoustic, as well as more current dark ambient, noise and post-techno styles.
Dimuzio’s pioneering and innovative use of live sampling, synthesis, signal processing, custom crossfade looping and algorithmic mixing fuels a synergy of man and machine in his live performances. Intercepted signal feeds from his collaborators, as well as wild sources of MIDI-controlled feedback, modular synthesizers, circuit-bent toys, ambient microphones on the streets, et al become integrated as sound sources within Dimuzio’s system of live interactive electronics. His music has been released internationally on labels including RéR Megacorp, RRRecords, Asphodel, No Fun Productions, Seeland, Isounderscore, Gench, Record Label Records, Odd Size Records, Sonoris and Melon Expander. Dimuzio’s studio-based releases include his critically acclaimed (All Music Guide Pick) debut LP HEADLOCK, his double CD masterwork Sonicism, potent early cassette works detailed on Louden, and Slew, his compilation of compilation tracks spanning 14 years. His live releases Mono::Poly, Markoff Process, and Gench Concert Archives document a large number of his solo concerts.
Ben Bennett is an improvising percussionist from Columbus, Ohio. He attempts to create unique shared experiences through performances that emphasize presence, immediacy, and intuition. He applies a broad palette of sound that derives from an ongoing investigation of the physical nature of the body and of the stretched membrane (i.e. drumhead). His unconventional approach to musical form and audience relations can reveal a powerful musicality in the most unlikely gestures.
"The crux of Bennett’s output is formed through his anomalous showmanship and in the resourceful nature of the instruments he tailors. If there is “value” to be found in his art, then these aspects surely make for a sensible starting point. Recycled objects and household items are transformed into contraptions assembled for a purpose unknown to the performer until the very moment he drags them before baffled onlookers, inserting them into an orifice or smashing them with an unrelated implement. Such instances of universal obscurity add to the queer web of noise that makes the resulting sound so riveting from the perspective of the audience." -Tiny Mixtapes
Wilson Shook is an improvising saxophonist living in Seattle, Washington.
Wilson’s music emphasizes focus, texture, chance and exploration. It is ‘new music’ in that it explores each new moment and seeks to develop a critical awareness of the present.
Sonically, Wilson's music is informed by lower case and minimalist aesthetics, while embracing the full range of his instrument. He is especially interested in incidental or 'between' sounds: material that exists on the edges and in the cracks of the conventional sonic palate. Politically, Wilson's work attempts a practical approach to feminist, anarchist and surrealist conceptions of freedom on a situational scale.
Cost: $6-10 sliding scale