The Water Live @ Metro Gallery 12-10-10

The Water is a fantastic band from Baltimore comprised of Dan Cohan and James Klink.  These two sound more like a six-piece and play spacey, instrumental scores that sound epic.  They played the Metro Gallery last month (on the bill with We Used to be Family) and here's the full audio below.  Catch them at the Golden West tomorrow.

The Water Live @ Metro 12 10 10 by Guy Werner

Ecstatic Music Festival: Dan Deacon & So Percussion

Last week I went to NYC to tape our own Dan Deacon collaborate with Brooklyn's So Percussion on January 20th, 2011 at the Ecstatic Music Festival. Held at the Kaufman Center in Merkin Hall, Deacon acted more as composer rather than performer (although he joins in occasionally) as So Percussion, new music beat makers, execute the composition for a packed hall. Titled "Ghostbuster Cook: Origin of the Riddler", it is unlike anything you've seen any of the musicians produce before. I could go into their motivations, but you might as well get it straight from them in a video I've 
posted below produced by the Ecstatic Music Festival.  As far as my videos of the evening goes, I've posted a 10 minute highlight reel on YouTube in HD and the whole performance in SD on Vimeo. It was a difficult event to cover, but I think you'll enjoy what was an innovative and entertaining work. Huge thanks to Sam Herring for operating one of the cameras. The Ecstatic Music Festival is a new music series worth checking out, blending disciplines and genres. Go to www.ecstaticmusicfestival.org





Full performance in SD.

Highlights reel in HD.

A brief conversation with the artists about the collaboration.
Enjoy!

Snow Day

Here in Baltimore it is snowing nicely.  The good, sticky kind with big flakes.  Since I have no recordings in mind to post until tomorrow I thought I'd throw up this video I made during one of last year's blizzards.  Just fooling around with projections on snow.  Tempted to do some more of this in HD...

Celebration Microshow 01/13/10

Mobtown Studios hosted local favorites Celebratiion for an incredibly pleasant evening of acoustic beauty. I and Sarah were lucky enough to be in attendance and the full audio was posted by Mobtown last week.  Thanks to Bmore Musically Informed for clueing me in to the post, and many thanks to Mobtown Studios and Celebration for the amazing show.  Get the audio here.  Photography by Tedd Henn at HennPict.

Video: Iraq N' Roll Benefit October 23rd, 2010

The Iraqi Student Project is a great charity organization that tries to right some of the very real and personal wrongs of war. Specifically they raise money for displaced Iraqi students so that they may receive an education for free here in the states. Last October there was a benefit held at the Metro Gallery and it featured the talents of Dustin Wong, Romantic States, INEVERYROOM, and Yeveto. The evening went well and everyone enjoyed themselves. I finally have the video to post. Thanks to Mika Sam for organizing it and being great. Huge thanks to David Carter for the audio. David is a five-star taper, and far more diligent than I am at getting track listings and packaging his live audio sets properly. Bmore Musically Informed posted the full Dustin set here a couple months ago.  Check out the Baltimore chapter of the Iraqi Student Project here.

Glasser @ Metro Gallery 11/20/10

Being that this is a new place for me to post recorded music I have some recordings that have been sitting around a bit that I would like to get out there.  This recording is among my favorites.  Glasser is the recording and stage name of American born Cameron Mesirow. The name “Glasser” was inspired by “a midnight vision of a figure hovering over water”.  Her stuff was initially released in the UK before getting a foothold here.  Dense electronics and lush vocals create an abstract, ethereal world.  Moody and sincere, beautiful and a little threatening.  I had no idea what to expect when they played the Metro Gallery last November and was blown away by the performance.  One of my favorite shows last year.  I recorded the audio and posted it below.  The recording sounds pretty good as well.  Visiting sound tech Jamie Hill did a marvelous job.  No track listings as usual (I'm lazy about that sort of thing - heresy I know) but most of the songs are off of the debut album The Ring.  

Glasser @ Metro Gallery 10-20-10 by Guy Werner

Friday, January 21st, 2011

Two Baltimore bands are playing tonight that I'd recommend.  Balti Mare are playing at the Creative Alliance with that classic gypsy sound.  I recorded them at Joe Squared on the 17th of December.  Joe's was hopping with holiday celebration, and that is thoroughly reflected in this recording.

Balti-Mare Dec 17th. 2010 @ Joe Squared by Guy Werner

We Used to Be Family has got to be one of the best bands in the city.  Part rock, part indie, part marching band with a bit of jazz.  They play loud and know how to fill a room.  Catch them tonight at the Metro Gallery with Rhymes with Opera, Ryat, and Great Tap Root.   Full disclaimer; I am engaged to Sarah Williams, owner and operator of the Metro Gallery, but even if I wasn't it would still be my favorite venue in the city.  Last time We Used to be Family played at the Metro I recorded them.  It was December 10th and you can listen to it below.

We Used to be Family @ Metro 12-10-10 by Guy Werner