Robert Fisher Memorial (1957 - 2017) Saturday, April 22, 2017 at noon at ONCE in Somerville

photo by Anthony

Robert Fisher Memorial (1957 - 2017)

an invitation to family, friends, and fans of Robert Fisher & Willard Grant Conspiracy

Saturday, April 22, 2017

high noon at ONCE, Somerville, MA, USA

venue info & directions:

http://www.oncesomerville.com/contact/

There will be food, music, images to celebrate the life of a friend from the world-wide music community.

Your stories are welcome.

RSVP, assistance for travel arrangements, questions: email Dave at RobertFisherMemorial@gmail.com

This is a SAVE THE DATE announcement - we are working on a discounted hotel arrangement for travelers.

Robert Fisher obituary link...

MUSIC: Chris Brokaw, Willard Grant Conspiracy, Thalia Zedek, Andrew Hock - Monday, May 11 at TT's

Come see this show:

Chris Brokaw - 11:00pm
Willard Grant Conspiracy - 10:00pm
Thalia Zedek - 9:15pm
Andrew Hock - 8:40pm

TT the Bear's
Monday, May 11, 2015
8:30pm Doors - 18+
10 Brookline Street, Central Square, Cambridge, MA

http://www.ttthebears.com/

admission at the door, or tickets here:
http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?&eventId=5832545

STOMPBOXSONIC pedal demos w/ DMC on viola…

Thanks to Adam Brilla and Michael Hutcherson (Blast Zone), and the talented pedal designers that made this possible:



SONIC EXPLORATIONS #1: David Michael Curry, viola





SONIC EXPLORATIONS #2: David Michael Curry, viola




http://stompboxsonic.com/
http://earthquakerdevices.com/
https://www.facebook.com/nerdknuckleeffects
http://www.mrblackpedals.com/
http://michaelhutcherson.com/

Empty House Cooperative to provide music for The Steel Yard and the Iron Guild's 7th annual Halloween Iron Pour...

Join The Steel Yard and the Iron Guild for the 7th annual Halloween Iron Pour.

27 Sims Ave, Providence RI
Friday, October 26, 2012

5:00 PM $10

http://www.thesteelyard.org/events/calendar/2012/10/26/206

5:00 - Doors open
5:30 - Reclaim, an aerial dance by Teresa Kochis & Michelle Struckholz, with live music by Cave of Colors
6:00 - DJ Unkle Thirsty
7:00 - Iron Pour Begins, with music provided by The Empty House Cooperative

There will also be a ceramic sale hosted by the Ceramics Cooperative.
Food vendors will be on site.

Rain date: Saturday, October 27th.

Empty House Cooperative at The Advent Library Concert Series - Friday, October 19, 2012

The Advent Library Concert Series is a monthly program that presents jazz, modern, folk, ethnic, and improvised music. The Library space is intimate and enchanting, and has a great sound for small acoustic groups, especially. The series is curated by Matt Samolis.

The Concerts are at the Church Library on the corner of Mt. Vernon & Brimmer Streets in Beacon Hill, Boston. Directions, parking info, and other church items may be found here: http://theadventboston.org/geninfo/direct.htm

Friday, October 19, 8pm $10. suggested donation


Variations for just quartet: 
Lou Cohen: wiimote and laptop, 
Randy Winchester: tuned glass, 
Petaluma Vale: harp, 
Matt Samolis: flute

Empty House Cooperative
 - David Michael Curry: viola etc. 
Jonah Sacks: cello etc

JaJuNo Trio
 - Noell Dorsey: voice, 
Jules Vasylenko: reeds, 
James Coleman: Theremin

http://shoebei.wordpress.com/

Christina Vantzou and the Geometric Collective Mini Orchestra at MFA Oct. 11, 2012

Here's a dreamy, instrumental project that i'm part of for Thursday, October 11th at the Museum of Fine Arts:

Sound Bites: The Nancy Lee Clark Concert Series
Every second Thursday of the month from 6-8 pm in the Linde Family Wing for Contemporary Art - an evening of small group ensembles.

Christina Vantzou and the Geometric Collective Mini Orchestra

Christina Vantzou is an artist, musician, and composer.  She attended the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore (1997-2001) and moved to Brussels in 2003 where she currently resides.  In recent years sound has become a key aspect of her artistic identity.  Christina is a founding member of The Dead Texan (Kranky) and was a touring member of Sparklehorse.  Nº1 is Christina's first solo album, a meticulously pieced together fully  symphonic score made from homemade orchestral, voice, and synthesizer samples.  Nº1 was made in collaboration with Minna Choi and Magik*Magik orchestra and released together with an accompanying film.  In live performances, Christina employs experimental techniques such as graphical notation and notation in time.

This performance will feature an ensemble of local players including members of Debo Band, Mr. Sister, Hallelujah the Hills, Metal and Glass Ensemble, and Empty House Cooperative.

http://www.mfa.org/programs/music/christina-vantzou-and-geometric-collective-mini-chamber-orchestra

http://christinavantzou.com/

Iron Guild & Empty House Cooperative at Mac Steel

Empty House Cooperative - this time as DMC on viola, guitar, and multi-amp soundscape, and Jonah Sacks on cello, did the music for the September 1, 2012 iron pour event "Molten Mayhem" by the Iron Guild at Mac Steel in Rutland, Vermont.

 - here's some video:



 - related:


http://www.ironguild.net/


https://www.facebook.com/events/384772858254535/

http://mountaintimes.info/news/important-community-bulletins/2012/08/the-iron-guild-performs-molten-mayhem/

Hidden Tooth "July 18, 2012" on Robert and Leopold

New limited edition release:

Hidden Tooth – July 18, 2012
3” CDr (R&L027)
Edition of 52

http://robertandleopold.com/

Noise dirge from the collaborative efforts of Chris Brokaw (Codeine / Come) and David Michael Curry (Willard Grant Conspiracy).  Slow feedback slumping into guitar and viola squelches, equaling a funeral song for the recently deceased.  Showing a level of constraint, though slapping their heavy hand of amplitude.

-----------------

I LOVE Hidden Tooth - hanging out with one of my best buddies ever and blasting some cathartic noise is my kind of meditation and sharing.

look for THIS on the page:

DMC long overdue music update...

Lots of back-burner projects percolating:

As a gift to its participants, I will record music inspired by my solo music for the dance & theater developmental workshop piece at Harvard in 2011 by choreographer Liz Lerman, called Healing Wars, voiced by Bill Pullman & featuring some amazing dancers (Tamara Hurwitz Pullman, Lauren Simpson, Ali Ross & many others pro & student)

http://lizlerman.com/civilwarLL.html

x

----------------

My ambient collaboration with Nick Gill of London WILL HAPPEN - back burner be damned!

http://nickfuckinggill.com/

----------------

I am working on a few of my own songs to include in the next Willard Grant Conspiracy record. Robert Fisher spent some time on the East Coast to develop music for it with me - we had a grand time reconnecting and playing… we recorded a bunch of his songs that i will add to as well…
 - stay tuned...

http://www.willardgrantconspiracy.com/

----------------

Thalia Zedek Band is in the midst of recording her latest record for Thrill Jockey - we hope it ends up on vinyl. Don't cry for drummer Dave Bryson, who has relocated to Argentina.

http://thrilljockey.com/thrill/Thalia-Zedek/

----------------

Empty House Cooperative will have a UK vinyl release by the beautiful hand-crafted label of David Hand called Lancashire and Somerset. The recording features a trio of early core members Jonah Sacks - cello, Chris Brokaw - guitar & melodica, and David Michael Curry - viola, coat-rack bass, singing saw, noise.

 http://lancashireandsomerset.co.uk/

----------------

The Iron Guild will present a live spectacle iron pour event called "Molten Mayhem" at Mac Steel in Rutland Vermont, Saturday, September 1st, 2012, for which Empty House Cooperative will provide live musical accompaniment.

http://www.ironguild.net/

----------------

more info as it happens…


thanks for reading,

 - DMC

DMC Solo Photography Show - June, 2012

DOOR 3 Gallery presents:

David Michael Curry
PHOTOGRAPHS - observations & little histories

Opening Reception - Thursday, June 7, 2012, 7 - 9 pm.
on view through July 2 during bike shop hours

351 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139 (617) 868-3392
www.broadwaybicycleschool.com

Artist statement:

Looking and listening is as much a compulsion as it is a lifestyle choice for me.

In art school, I specialized in billiards and beer, skateboards and weird music, but I also learned about seeing from photographer Abelardo Morell, filmmakers Saul Levine and Luther Price, and my Dad Justin, a lifelong painter and educator in art.

In my photography, I look for the history of things, up close.
I see beauty in decay and have the ADHD superpower of noticing the little things and finding a personal poetry about them, like an observational osmosis translated to an internal collage of tangents, fragments, and stories.

Sometimes I am lucky enough to travel the world to play music, and I always bring my camera.

I also love bicycles. PLEASE RIDE ONE if you can!

These photographs are printed small, especially for the Door 3 Gallery's miniature scale.

 - DMC

David Michael Curry solo viola recorded November 5, 2011

From a Grizzler and Friends show at Studio Soto in the Fort Point area of Boston.

David Michael Curry solo viola - November 2011 by emptyhouse


.

Animal Ensemble Ensemble

I'm part of the Animal Hospital Ensemble.
i play viola.

Kevin Micka's solo loop-based orchestrations performed live like an exploded diagram with each element performed by an actual person.

http://animalhospitalmusic.com/animalhospitalensemble.html


Video by Yoon S. Byun, produced by Lauren Frohne, Boston Globe Staff

see also:
http://www.jimsullivanink.com/content/view/2064/38/

Poster by Dan MacCarthy

HALLOWEEN IRON POUR 2011 with EHC MUSIC

http://www.thesteelyard.org/events/calendar/2011/10/28/191

Halloween Iron Pour: Molten Masquerade 10/28/2011
27 Sims Ave, Providence RI, 02909 - 401.273.7101 - contact@thesteelyard.org

Join the Steel Yard and the Iron Guild for the 6th annual Halloween Iron Pour.
The theme for this years event is Molten Masquerade, and will feature larger than life flaming masquerade masks!

Music provided by the Empty House Cooperative.

There will also be a ceramic sale hosted by the Ceramics Cooperative.
Food vendors will be on site.
$10 - Doors open at 6:00pm, the performance begins at 7:00pm
Rain date: October 29th.

GRIZZLER

LINK to Grizzler photo-set of rehearsal at Flandrew Fleisenberg's loft in Fort Point, Boston, on my Flickr Page:

the improvisational noise group working out ideas, theories & flavors...

Empty House Cooperative Documentary Film Soundtrack Music:

I did some solo Empty House Cooperative music for a series of documentary shorts produced by PJ Moynihan sharing the work for families done by The Consortium - The Support Network for Families of Western Massachusetts

Here's one:



From The Consortium: Children with behavioral or emotional challenges have their own unique needs. The Support Network works to support the needs of families in Western Massachusetts who have a child age 19 or younger with behavioral or emotional challenges. Each family determines its own needs. The Network's mission is to support the unique strengths, insights and skills of families so they may best achieve their individual goals.

Empty House Cooperative - 'Improvisation on Henk Visch'

‪For the Groninger Museum Sessions‬, in Groningen, The Netherlands... While on tour with Willard Grant Conspiracy, I was able to participate in music for this art exhibit. The sounds were spontaneously inspired by the drawings of Henk Visch.

Hidden Tooth "Lost Records" - out now

Hidden Tooth "Lost Records"
The debut release from the noise duo of Chris Brokaw & David Michael Curry.
Limited edition of 100 handmade & numbered CDR packaging.

"Tranquil drones give way to chattering forest explorations and finally to collapsing corrugated sheets of metal."

Instrumentation includes guitar, viola, upright bass, home-made coatrack bass, electronics…

$12 US funds (postage included)
$15 US funds WORLDWIDE (postage included)
i'm not a paypal user, so send me an e-mail to arrange purchase.

emptyhouse (at) gmail dot com

http://hiddentooth.muxtape.com/

THANKS,
- David.

Pictures from "Thunderclaps and Iron Pours" by The Iron Guild, with music by Empty House Cooperative

Stormy weather was the theme of the Iron Guild's September 4, 2010 iron pour in Rutland, Vermont at Mac Steel scrapyard. "Thunderclaps and Iron Pours" used a massive stage setting constructed of towers and tanks, sculpture torches, fire, molten iron lightening bolt rivers, and sparkling showers of flaming curtains of steel wool. Thundering cannon shots and fireworks helped celebrate the elements. Live musical accompaniment by Empty House Cooperative featured viola, guitar, waves of amplified feedback, home-made instruments, loops and pre-recorded sounds from nature. Members of the Iron Guild worked their magic with the fiery cupola furnace & molten metal and danced among sparks in leather protective gear.

Below is the music from the almost one hour long event, followed by pictures showing preparations, the music setup, and the iron pour.

also - come to the Halloween Iron Pour at the Steel Yard in Providence, Rhode Island on October 29, 2010:
http://www.thesteelyard.org/events/calendar/2010/10/29/163

http://www.ironguild.net/

EHC for IRON GUILD Sept 4, 2010 DMC solo by emptyhouse











- DMC

Hidden Tooth on Muxtape

Hidden Tooth on Muxtape:


http://hiddentooth.muxtape.com/

The noise duo of David Michael Curry and Chris Brokaw.

Waves of feedback, relaxed and brotherly...

Live house shows will happen occasionally with an announcement for those interested to get location and time details via e-mail - usually in the Somerville, Massachusetts area. Also look for us every once in a while at art galleries, local experimental, improvisational & noise shows, etc.

The MUXTAPE page will be home-base for announcements.

XOX
DMC
&CB

DMC - fixin' my viola...

A luthier might cringe at my methods for fixing my own viola:

Thalia Zedek Band TOUR in Spain - February & March 2010

The Thalia Zedek Band is touring Spain in February and March 2010.
please come and see us, say hello, enjoy some massive and sweet shoe-shaking music… we've been working on some new songs - DATES BELOW:



22 Feb - MADRID (Moby Dick)
24 Feb - VITORIA (Pabellón Universitario/Kultur Kanpus)
25 Feb - BARCELONA (Sidecar)
26 Feb - ZARAGOZA (Lata de Bombillas)
28 Feb - GIJON (Savoy)
1 Mar - MADRID (Nasti) * solo acoustic show *
2 Mar - CÁDIZ (Aulario la Bomba)
3 Mar - HUELVA (Universidad)
4 Mar - GRANADA (Centro Cultural Caja Granada)
5 Mar - VALENCIA (Octubre)
6 Mar - HUESCA (Centro Cultural del Matadero)

LOVE,
DMC & The TZB

Links:
Thalia Zedek Band at THRILL JOCKEY

Thalia Zedek Band with Tanned Tin Tours for February & March 2010

David Michael Curry in these upcoming shows with friends - one "DRONE", one "NOISE", one "ROCK":

DRONE show:

Saturday, November 14, 2009, 8 p.m., $6

Metal & Glass Ensemble - CD Release Concert at The Nave Gallery

Celebrate the release of Metal & Glass Ensemble's second live CD for 2009.
Recorded at Clarendon Hill Presbyterian Church in June 2009 in a performance with unique metal and glass instruments along with strings, winds and percussion.

http://www.navegallery.org/upcoming.html
http://www.jimsullivanink.com/content/view/1613/38/

--------------------------------------
NOISE show:

Sunday, November 15th at 8 PM

GRIZZLER at the Fall of the House of Entropy series at the Piano Factory, 791 Tremont St., Boston MA.
(Entrance down a small set of stairs off the parking lot at Columbia & Northampton, a block off Mass Ave.)

Listen at Opensound site:
http://www.opensound.org/index.html#listen

Grizzler pics and remarks by DMC:
http://emptyhousecooperative.blogspot.com/2009/03/world-needs-to-learn-about-dave-gross.html

Grizzler thoughts by Forbes Graham:
http://blaqlghtn.blogspot.com/2009/11/thoughts-after-attending-grizzler.html
--------------------------------------
ROCK show:

Friday, November 20 at 9:00 pm / $7

THALIA ZEDEK - at the Milky Way w/ Shepherdess, Audrey Ryan
284 Amory Street, Jamaica Plain, 02130

http://www.milkywayjp.com/event/?id=316

Thalia Zedek Band at Thrill Jockey Records website:
http://www.thrilljockey.com/artists/?id=10045


- Hope to see you there, Friends.

- DMC

Metal & Glass Ensemble at The Nave, June 19, 2009.

91 minutes and 17 seconds of pure droney bliss, free for you to enjoy.
Info on the players, the piece, and download, at the link:

http://www.jamendo.com/en/album/49528

Metal & Glass Ensemble is a Boston-based improvisational group with a rotating membership who create acoustic drone-based music with bowed cymbals and other metal objects, and glasses tuned to a just-intoned 23-note octave. This just scale, employing whole-number ratios akin to a natural harmonic overtone series, is the only formal tuning used in the group. The bowed metal generates its own shifting but interrelated pitch classes, while the instrumental players contribute using a variety of microtonal intonations. In this way the music is liberated from the 12-tone equal-tempered octave, and explores a broad spectrum of harmonic relationships.

WILLARD GRANT CONSPIRACY TOUR - Fall 2009 UK/Europe

I'll be playing viola & singing saw for this tour, which starts in Ireland and ends in Greece, with just about everywhere in between:

WILLARD GRANT CONSPIRACY TOUR
(for new record - "Paper Covers Stone")
Autumn 2009 with The Doghouse Roses

ALL UPDATED INFORMATION AND TICKET LINKS FOR THE UK/EUROPE TOUR VIA WGC MYSPACE TOUR CALENDAR - LINK...


WGC SITE LINK
3 songs from "paper covers stone" here:
WGC MYSPACE LINK

David Michael Curry and Jules Vasylenko at Opensound May 2009 on Soundcloud

David Michael Curry and Jules Vasylenko at Opensound May 2009 by emptyhouse

Jules Vasylenko's reed instruments


DMC's clarinumpet

Empty House Cooperative on Soundcloud

Empty House Cooperative at PA's - April 17, 2007 by emptyhouse

Empty House Cooperative music for an IRON POUR

Jonah Sacks (cello) and Dave Curry (viola, electronics, etc.) will be making noise, sound, & music to accompany an iron pour event, which involves fire, a huge metal scrapyard stage set, and molten iron casting performance art by Boston's Iron Guild:

MAGMA OPUS

SATURDAY JUNE 13th 2009 (raindate June 14th)
doors 7:30, performance 8pm - $5 suggested donation
Mac Steel Scrap Yard 286 North Main Street, Rutland, VT 05701

http://www.ironguild.net/

Link: directions on Google Maps

come on, take a road trip!

- DMC

Empty House Cooperative on MUXTAPE

http://emptyhousecooperative.muxtape.com/

DMC on Twitter

My Twitter page...
sometimes music, sometimes paint, sometimes nutty tangents...
micro-blogging, as the saying goes.

any of my pals on Twitter? (not you, Ma!)

http://twitter.com/davethepainter

xox
DMC

The world needs to learn about Dave Gross' GRIZZLER...

LINK: GRIZZLER at Mobius March 27, 2009, 8pm
725 Harrison Avenue, Suite One, Boston MA 02118



I've been playing with this group recently. I'm not sure if I'll ever meet everyone in the band - it's always different. I think of it as islands of sound building bridges to the other islands... everyone improvises with their distinctive sound and it can sound like a random collage sometimes, but its eccentric and energetic and fun. Approach with an open mind and it will expand.



from press release for upcoming show:

Grizzler is a large improvising band organized around a diverse group fifteen of Boston's best musicians. Individually and in other groups, these musicians have developed their own strategies for music making. In Grizzler, we each try to stay true to our own individual voices while creating a collective, spontaneous composition.



- DMC

History Post: EHC on hinah...

Time to remember and reconnect with hinah... old friends and musical & photographical taste-makers from France. Laurent and Eloise were early supporters of Empty House Cooperative, and their multi-media empire includes an extensive catalog of limited-release CDs, beautiful photographs by Laurent Orseau, reviews, favorite lists, creative writings, an archive of exclusive MP3 gifts of musicians they have some relationship with, and more...

LINK to Empty House Cooperative gift: Middle East Restaurant Dinner Music.
This is an early, slightly awkward recording, around 1998, i think, plus a later solo violin piece.
I appreciate it as a reference point for showing the learning curve of a shifting sound. Things have changed, but it's kind of cool to hear where EHC came from...


LINK to EHC: Improvisational Music - the limited edition CD that was later edited and mastered and became "Painted Plane" (Sedimental Records). This page of hinah includes all the info, but the disc is long ago sold out.

Thanks hinah, for keeping up with what's new and for maintaining the old archive stuff as well.

EHC pics of DMC, Chris Brokaw, and Jonah Sacks by Leslie Brokaw

"The Song That Never Ends"

A while back, I participated in a project by artist Jared Nielsen. Here's a quote from his site:

"The Song That Never Ends is the world's largest musical collaboration. It is a randomly constructed experimental composition composed of audio tracks contributed by musicians internationally."

I've never met Jared - he contacted me via e-mail one day. I e-mailed him a few long tracks of viola and upright bass and such... the song happens in art gallery settings, I believe there's a computer randomly assembling the composition from participants' contributions.

LINK to His site which includes extended samples.

xox
DMC

Empty House Cooperative at Outpost 186 January 14, 2009 - MP3 for you...

Another in my collection of experiments in sharing music...
Empty House Cooperative at Outpost 186 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, January 14, 2009. The full show, 23 minutes and 27 seconds.
The Players, pictured from left to right: David Michael Curry - viola/ saw/electronics, Craig Colorusso - bass clarinet, Jonah Sacks - cello.

Part of "The Series" - at Outpost 186 on Wednesday nights presented by David Gross and friends, dedicated to challenging the listener with the Boston area's best in the noise and improvisational field.

The control stripe above the photo uses Flashplayer. Listen to the stream by clicking the start triangle, or to get an MP3, follow this link and then look for "Download Original" next to a picture of a blue musical note on the right side of the page (around 27 MB). Sorry it's not a direct link, it's a free hosting service. Sometimes there are other ads for things that might say "download", like for unrelated audio converters and such, so again, be careful that it's the blue music note and small plain blue text type saying "Download Original".

If a monthly download limit is reached, it may become temporarily unavailable, but somehow, I doubt that will happen.

Other pieces in the series:

"Empty House Cooperative at PA's Lounge, December 11, 2008 MP3 for you."

"a small wall of sound"

"EHC soundcheck November 9, 2006"

"whipping wires"

"sing and scream"

Enjoy,

- Dave.

Empty House Cooperative at PA's Lounge, December 11, 2008 MP3 for you.

Another experiment in sharing music...
This time, it's the entire Empty House Cooperative piece from the December 11, 2008 live show at PA's Lounge in Somerville, Massachusetts. It starts very quietly and is a little over a half hour long, so it may require patience for some.

The Players, from left to right: David Michael Curry - viola/ saw/ horn, Craig Colorusso - bass clarinet, Jonah Sacks - cello, Drew O'Doherty - guitar, Chris Brokaw - guitar.

Thanks to Brad Searles of Bradley's Almanac for the photograph.

This uses Flashplayer.
To get an MP3, follow this link and then look for "Download Original" next to a picture of a blue musical note on the right side of the page (around 36 MB). Sorry it's not a direct link, it's a free hosting service. Sometimes there are other ads for things that might say "download", like for unrelated audio converters and such, so again, be careful that it's the blue music note and small plain blue text type saying "Download Original".

If a monthly download limit is reached, it may become temporarily unavailable, but somehow, I doubt that will happen.

Other pieces in the series:

"a small wall of sound"

"EHC soundcheck November 9, 2006"

"whipping wires"

"sing and scream"

Enjoy,

- Dave.

David Michael Curry - "a small wall of sound" MP3

Another experiment in sharing music...
Viola, guitar, and I've dusted off the old clarinet for some amateur skronk. I'm still exploring a favorite subject of feedback drones. Not much thought put into this... just letting it flow.

This uses Flashplayer.
To get an MP3, follow this link and then look for "Download Original"  next to a picture of a blue musical note on the right of the page (around 12 or 13 MB). Sorry it's not a direct link, it's a free hosting service. Sometimes there are other ads for things that might say "download", like for unrelated audio converters and such, so again, be careful that it's the blue music note and small plain blue text type saying "Download Original".

If a monthly download limit is reached, it may become temporarily unavailable, but somehow, I doubt that will happen.

Other pieces in the series:

"EHC soundcheck November 9, 2006"

"whipping wires"

"sing and scream"

Enjoy,

- Dave.

Thalia Zedek nominated for 2008 Boston Music Awards (VOTE)

It looks like Thalia Zedek has been nominated for "Best Local Act of the Year" in the 2008 Boston Music Awards. HERE IS A CHANCE TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!

Here is a link to vote:
http://contest.flyfi.com/bostonmusicawards08/vote/

Public voting ends December 5. Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony at The Roxy, Pearl, and Underbar on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m.

Here is a link to general coverage of the event from the Boston Globe:
http://www.boston.com/ae/music/packages/bma/

Other Thalia Zedek Links:
On Thrill Jockey Records
Thalia Zedek on Myspace

Thanks,
Dave

Come: Saints Around My Neck, reunion show in Spain, November, 2008

This is just a snip from a song, but in my opinion, it's one of the most powerful modern songs in existence. It's the last part of "Saints Around My Neck" performed by one of Boston's best bands, COME, who reunited for a show at the Tanned Tin Festival in Spain in November 2008. Featuring Thalia Zedek singing and guitar, Chris Brokaw on guitar, Daniel Coughlin on drums, and Winston Braman on bass. The night was sold out, but there were a couple other people from Boston in attendance, and we were all brought to tears. (OK, the Bostonians were mainly just me and Mel Lederman from the Thalia Zedek Band, which performed the previous night.)

with Love,
- DMC

EHC MP3 4 U

A piece of music for you - descriptively titled:

"Empty House Cooperative, a soundcheck before a show, from PA's Lounge, November 9, 2006, with DMC and Drew O'Doherty".



There were four players that night, Jonah Sacks on cello, Thalia Zedek on clarinet, Drew O'Doherty on guitar and melodica, and I played viola, singing saw, and did voice, loops & electronics, but only Drew was at the soundcheck, which features his melodica.

As with "whipping wires" and "sing and scream", this uses Flashplayer. Follow this link and then look for "Download Original" next to a picture of a blue musical note on the right side of the page to get an MP3 (around 7 or 8 MB). Sorry it's not a direct link, it's a free hosting service. Sometimes there are other ads for things that might say "download", like for unrelated audio converters and such, so again, be careful that it's the blue music note and small plain blue text type saying "Download Original".

Another experiment in sharing music... If a monthly download limit is reached, it may become temporarily unavailable, but somehow, I doubt that will happen.

- Enjoy.

"Whipping Wires" solo DMC viola and feedback improvised music (Flashplayer & MP3)

Here is another piece of improvised music for you, along the lines of "sing and scream" but more aggressive with the feedback and manipulation of its overtones by blowing a toy superhero horn into the f-holes of the viola to warp the feedback... I'm also enjoying the fluid bass tones of the same loop underneath for both pieces, exploring a theme of heavy flowing hypnosis juxtaposed with whipping wire sounds and woody screaming vocal viola tones. These themes will often show up in a solo David Michael Curry or Empty House Cooperative show, and emanate from private musings in the home studio, which is not really a studio... just a random room in my apartment when I sense that the neighbors aren't around... sorry if I'm wrong about that, neighbors.

This uses Flashplayer. Follow this link and then look for "Download Original" on the right to get an MP3 (around 8 MB). Sorry it's not a direct link, it's a free hosting service. Sometimes there are other ads for things that might say "download", like for unrelated audio converters and such, so again, be careful that it's the blue music note and small plain blue text type saying "Download Original" on the right side of the page.

An experiment in sharing music... If a monthly download limit is reached, it may become temporarily unavailable, but somehow, I doubt that will happen.

- Enjoy.

- Dave

Thalia Zedek Band - Europe TOUR - October, 2008

The Thalia Zedek Band is touring in UK and Europe in October, plus the Tanned Tin Festival in Spain in November... Danny Lee from Uzi, one of Thalia's earlier bands, will be filling in on drums for this tour. Daniel Coughlin will be back in the drummer's throne for Tanned Tin in Spain.


October 2008:
05/10/08 : Corsica Studios - London (UK) (www)
06/10/08 : The Cooler - Bristol (UK) (www)
07/10/08 : Firebug - Leicester (UK) (www)
08/10/08 : The Maze - Nottingham (UK) (www)
09/10/08 : Taylor John’s House – Coventry (UK) (www)
10/10/08 : Adelphi Club - Hull (UK) (www)
12/10/08 : El Lokal - Zurich (CH) (www)
15/10/08 : Unwound - Padova (I) (www)
16/10/08 : Viper Club - Firenze (I) (www)
17/10/08 : Circolo degli Artisti - Roma (I) (www)
18/10/08 : Covo Club - Bologna (I) (www)
19/10/08 : Chelsea - Vienna (A) (www)
20/10/08 : Feierwerk - Munich (D) (www)
21/10/08 : Bang Bang - Berlin (D) (www)
22/10/08 : Knust - Hamburg (D) (www)
23/10/08 : Botanique (Witlof Bar) - Brussel (B) (www)

November 2008:
14/11/08 : Tanned Tin festival - Castellon (ES) (www)

Empty House Cooperative live clip from Outpost 186 show.

Empty House Cooperative live video clip at a recent show at Outpost 186 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, featuring, left to right: Chris Brokaw on guitar, Craig Colorusso on bass clarinet, Jonah Sacks on cello, and David Michael Curry on singing saw and viola. Thanks to Jeffrey Smith for posting in on YouTube. The clip is from a 30 minute extended single soundscape piece.

a Free Song from Thalia Zedek Band "Liars and Prayers"

Photo: Thalia Zedek's champagne salute at the CD release party.

Enjoy the song "lower allston" - a free MP3 - courtesy of Thrill Jockey Records, of Chicago.

From the new record - Thalia Zedek Band "Liars and Prayers".

We're all quite proud of it, and I encourage you to get a copy.

xox
- David Michael Curry

Thalia Zedek Band "Liars and Prayers" CD Release Party will be a LIVE RADIO SHOW on the air and internet - WMBR Pipeline - Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Thalia, Mel, Daniel, DMC, Winston - photo by Damon Vrettos

Thalia Zedek Band "Liars and Prayers" CD Release Party will be a LIVE RADIO SHOW on the air and internet - WMBR Pipeline - Tuesday, April 22, 2008.

Pipeline! is the live local music program of MIT's WMBR 88.1 FM in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Every week a local band plays live on the air. Hosted by Jeff Breeze, show airs every Tuesday night from 8pm-10pm EST. Starting at 8pm, Jeff plays records and CD’s of bands from all over the New England region. Then, at 9pm (or close to it!), the Thalia Zedek Band will play live over the air until around 9:45pm, followed by a quick on-air interview.

You can listen live on the internet webcast, or download a podcast of the show afterwards.

Tell your friends around the world.
ROCK WITH US ON THE RADIO!


- DMC

Thalia Zedek Band "Liars and Prayers" new record out April 22, 2008

I love this record. It's got guts, life, death, colors, stars, love, politics, lies, and destruction.

The players: Thalia Zedek (sings/guitar), Winston Braman (bass), Daniel Coughlin (drums), David Michael Curry (viola, trumpet, backup vocals), M. G. Lederman (piano).

It was recorded by Andrew Schneider.

It's on CD or vinyl LP (LP includes MP3 download) from Thrill Jockey Records.

The Band:

(Dave, Mel, Winston, Thalia, Daniel)
photo by Damon Vrettos

PS:
As usual, this blog crosses over to all the bands & friends I play with, and other seemingly random topics...

xox
DMC


.

Sing and Scream...

Music for you: David Michael Curry - "Sing and Scream"



This uses Flashplayer. Follow this link and then look for "Download Original" on the right to get an MP3 (around 16MB). Sorry it's not a direct link, it's a free hosting service. Sometimes there are other ads for things that might say "download", like for unrelated audio converters and such, so again, be careful that it's the blue music note and small plain blue text type saying "Download Original".

Solo viola over a dark loop sample, 13 minutes, 42 seconds. Sounds similar in mood to Empty House Cooperative. The root of the loop is viola and reverb effects manipulated an octave lower. I recorded this in my apartment with direct signals from the amplifier and Line-6 loop sampler mixed with live microphones on the viola and in front of the amplifier, a Fender Princeton Reverb. The last five minutes is mostly shrieking feedback viola voicings... a sweet start and scary end. The reverb swell at the end is in the live performance with knob-turning of the reverb on the amplifier. My usual effects pedals include a lightweight Boss FV-50-H volume pedal, Boss Digital Reverb/Delay RV-3, Pro-Co RAT (distortion), Bixonic Expandora 2 (distortion), Line-6 loop sampler, Boss RC-20 Loop Station.

An experiment in sharing music... If a monthly download limit is reached, it may become temporarily unavailable, but somehow, I doubt that will happen.

- Enjoy.

- Dave

Empty House Cooperative is part of Middle East 20th Anniversary and Benefit for Stephen Fredette - Saturday, Nov. 10

Middle East 20th Anniversary Party and Benefit for Stephen Fredette:

- Hallelujah The Hills, Reid Paley, The Thalia Zedek Band with special guest Chris Brokaw, Mel Lederman, Empty House Cooperative, Helms, IV Diffusin, Drug Rug

- also Billy Ruane’s 50th birthday.


November, 10 2007 at Middle East Upstairs 
472 Massachusetts Ave, Central Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139


Cost : $10 or contact me or anyone else you know on the bill for advance option of $8 reserve list
EARLY DOOR - 8PM

LINKS:
set times on Middle East Anniversary blog

myspace - hallelujah the hills
myspace - reid paley trio
myspace - thalia zedek
myspace - m g lederman
chris brokaw
myspace - drug rug
myspace - helms
Middle East Nightclub

History Post: Session at Peerless Mastering - Empty House Cooperative Australia Show

colorful stripes...
Mastering makes a recording sound its best before mass production...
This hasn't been mass-produced, but I wanted it to sound its best anyway.
Jeff Lipton at Peerless Mastering has golden ears and is a swell guy.

This is a bit from the Australian show in Melbourne, August 2006, with EHC regular Thalia Zedek on clarinet, and special Melbourne guests Pete Cohen from Sodastream on upright bass, and Mick Turner from Dirty Three on guitar.

Empty House Cooperative plan for tour...

So, my pal Dave Gross has been bugging me with a "master plan" to tour by travelling solo for a month and playing as Empty House Cooperative in different cities with new people in each city - improvising with local musicians not necessarily of the noise or indie rock scene, but on the edge of each... people who have friends in those far away places who would come out to the shows so the room wouldn't too lonely... Since most of the EHC regulars have day-jobs, this seems like a good plan, except of my infamous procrastination.

I've thought of this approach many times, cuz I'm a daydreamer... who's up for it?

EHC has had plenty of random encounters with improvising friends around the world, but time to organize for real, eh?

We'll see...

"Dave, Dave, and Dave" an improv music show - Friday, February 16th.

Daves converge from the far corners of the improv globe...

gdg, solo saxophones (Dave Gross)

Empty House Cooperative:
David Michael Curry, Jonah Sacks,
Chris Brokaw, Craig Colorusso,
cello, guitar, bass clarinet, viola, loops, singing saw, etc.

Dave Bryant, keyboard
John Turner, bass
Eric Rosenthal, drums

Friday, February 16, 2007
at Third Life Studios
33 Union Square (Somerville Avenue in the heart of Union Square)
Somerville, MA
doors at 8 p.m., music at 8:30
$7
co-presented with the Somerville Arts Council

Dave Gross (gdg, to you) astonishes, balancing the razor's
edge of tiny, razor-sharp sounds, treating his saxophones
as metal sounding tubes or, perhaps, even physical razors.

Dave Curry appears with the Empty House Cooperative, whose
flexible ensemble combines our shared experimental approach
to improvisation with elements from ambient and popular musics.

Dave Bryant attacks from the free-jazz direction, informed by his
experience with Ornette Coleman's Prime Time and work with
a slew of Boston improvising greats.

related links:
http://www.timfeeney.com/opensound.html
http://www.myspace.com/emptyhousecooperative
http://www.accuraterecords.com/bryant.html
http://www.gdgsite.com
http://www.somervilleartscouncil.org
http://www.thirdlifestudio.com

Jumbo - the Boston Circus Band...

At last, an easy way to check out the mythical beast known as JUMBO...
Inactive, but hopefully not extinct - check out the JUMBO MYSPACE PAGE.

I played in this band with many friends, and loved it.

Quote: Jumbo was formed by Hyde, the Conductor, and played the Boston area in the mid/late-90's, performing circus standards from the Sousa-era as well as one-shot projects, such as the Nutcracker Suite, Academy Award theme music night, and Tragical Mystery tour - all served up the unique Jumbo-style.

Hyde's concept was deceptively simple yet ear-shattering in execution: Get 20-40 amateur musicians and have them play old school circus classics from grade school sheet music on instruments they've never played before. Generally about half the band read music at any given time, while the rest would "wing-it."