The Red Masque
Floorian
Powerlunch
The Great Quentini
POWERLUNCH: Baltimore based instrumental "power trio" (i.e. the classic late 20th century configuration of guitar, bass, and drums), that specializes in the juxtaposition, combination, permutation, and complete obliteration of the dichotomy between intricately composed material and various improvisational strategies, as well as small-minded, arcane, and obsolete musical concepts such as 'stylistic purity'. What does this mean? Almost all of the music will never sound the same twice, even though each composition still retains it's own individual stamp, form, and direction. One could call this a process of 'living in the moment', and/or 'learning to deal with memory deprivation'. Emphasis is placed on organic real-time structural/timbral development, which is achieved through the various uses of live electronics, in combination with a personal vocabulary of various 'extended instrumental techiniques.' As a result, the overall sonic spectrum is quite large and extremely unpredictable, especially for a basic 'rock & roll' trio. Imagine, if you will, a couple of disenchanted 'jazz' and 'classical' musicians pretending to be 'electronic hardcore punk rock' musicians, who are then, once again, posing as jazz musicians...
Powerlunch generally consists of: Matt Frazao:: guitar/electronics, Devin Gray::
drums, Evan Lipson:: bass. However, for this performance, they will be adding both members from the duo Exploding Fist: Andrew Gaspar:: turntables, Joe Lentini:: mixing board
THE RED MASQUE: original avant rock band from the Philadelphia area. Part art,
part alchemy, the group's experimental songwriting style is both angular and eerie, accented by freeform space rock improvisations, intricate acoustics, dark atmospherics and chunky riffs. Unconventional and eccentric in musical form, the band fuses together such disparate musical references as horror movie soundtracks, rock-in-opposition, zeuhl, heavy rock, gothic, psychedelia and kraut rock. Founded in February 2001 by bassist/keyboardist Brandon Ross and vocalist Lynnette Shelley, the Red Masque went through several lineup changes before solidifying with drummer/multi-instrumentalist Brian ("Vonorn") Van Korn and guitarist Kiarash Emami. With this lineup, The Red Masque produced a single (Beggars & Thieves) and the sophisticatedly sinister full-length album (Feathers for Flesh) in 2003 and 2004 respectively.
For this event, The Red Masque will perform with THE COLOR OF POMEGRANATES as a visual backdrop. THE COLOR OF POMEGRANATES, directed by Sergei Paradjanov, is the acclaimed poetic masterpiece that wasbanned by Soviet censors who feared it was a nationalist parable.The story depicts the life and spiritual odyssey of the medieval Armenian poet and troubadour Sayat Nova, and his rise from carpet weaver to archbishop and martyr.
The Red Masque is: Kiarash Emami :: electric and acoustic guitars, mandolin, keyboards, pennywhistle; Brandon Ross :: bass guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboards; Lynnette Shelley :: vocals, lyrics, noises & percussion, webmistress; Brian (Vonorn) Van Korn :: drums & percussion, flutes, celtic harp, keyboards, theremin
FLOORIAN: a seductively spellbinding band from O-high-o. Their debut album "What the Buzzing" was released in September on The Committee To Keep Music Evil, the label headed by Anton Newcombe of the Brian Jonestown Massacre (and part of the Bomp! stable of labels owned by legendary underground rock guru Greg Shaw). Exploring the realms of psychedelia, space rock and experimentalism, Floorian has conjured its own unique style of darkly melodic, hypnotic drone rock. While not easy to describe, these excursions are very easy to space out to, filled with mind-stretching sounds and textures... yet they also spend a considerable amount of time rocking out. The critics rave -- Matt Shimmer said: "While some songs are predominately atmospheric and soundscapey, the focus rests on a strong rock and pop influence that Floorian pulls off wonderfully. "Symptoms Alone" is a nine-minute epic of intergalactic folk-rock, like what you'd get if you shot Yo La Tengo even further into the depths of space. "Auravine," meanwhile, focuses more on drones, making great use of a wavering bassline, a sparse beat, and some echoing, atmospheric sounds in the background. Filled with amazing solos, galactic atmospheres, and catchy, all-enveloping bouts of rock, this is one of the best psychedelic records of the year."
Floorian consists of: Todd Fisher, John Godshalk, Larry Durica, Alex Lee Mason, and Bill Spiropoulos
THE GREAT QUENTINI is one man. or one entity. He takes discarded and forgotten talking Barbie dolls, Halloween novelties, turkey basters, pots and pans, and so much more, and magically sculpts music from thin air. Born in an obscure corner of Pennsylvania. Abducted by space aliens for cross cloning with Yeti. Twelve year residency at Dr Zorg's secret underground space station. Five year unexplained gap. Thirteen years in Philadelphia recovering from wounds received while fighting Gondar. In the words of an 8-year-old critic: "Don't be afraid Mom, he's just a Sacred Clown."
