Gabe Lueders and Dave Selden have been friends since high school, and artists since birth. This is a new means of collaboration for both, separated by many miles; Gabe is in Iowa, Dave in Oregon.
For any readers (hello?) in the Portland area, PICA’s TBA:06 festival begins tomorrow. I am planning on checking out the visual art exhibits, perhaps the opening music performance by John King tomorrow, as well as the Scout Niblett show.
I just got back from Iowa a few days ago, where Gabe told me he thought Will Oldham was coming to Portland in the near future. Well … he is. For three (3) shows at the Misison Theater. You can read more at McMenamins’ web site, and even purchase tickets from Ticketmaster, if you are inclined to pay $6 handling per $15 ticket (holding back rant). I am going to go pick some tickets up in person this week.
Bonnie Prince Billy
+ Visual artist Shary Boyle
Friday, November 3rd, 8 p.m. door, 9 p.m show
Saturday, November 4th, 8 p.m. door, 9 p.m show
Sunday, November 5th, 8 p.m. door, 9 p.m show
I have aquired a few new cd’s that are worth mentioning.
Interesting enough, Bonnie and Johnny both do covers of Bruce Springsteen songs.
Johnny Cash - American V : A Hundred Highways
The 5th album in the american recording series is good and sentimental since it was released more than a year after the death of the legend. His voice is older and raspy but it sounds like it has been around for a thousand years.
Tortoise & Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy - The Brave and the Bold
Will Oldham is a genius! I did not like this album when I first heard it but in true Bonnie form it gets better every time I listen to it. I don’t understand how this man can take a song like “Daniel” by Elton John and turn it into something I can not stop listening to. Genius!
Deadboy & the Elephantmen - We are Night Sky
This is a band that Josh turned me on to. Worth checking out. Speaking of covers he does a cover of a Bonnie song.
Gabe sent me this amazing video last week with the following note attached:
Dave,
Here is a copy of the film that Phil and I made last fall. It is a little rough and drawn out but it has its moments.
We are thinking of editing it down to 15-20 mins and putting an introduction at the beginning that will explain the concept better. And then maybe submitting it to the Lost Film Festival. You should check out their web site www.lostfilmfest.com. They came through DSM and did a showing at the Art Center. It was cool, mostly underground films.
I hope things are well with you and Sarah. Talk to you soon.
Your Artistically like-minded friend,
Gabe
I love this blog. Click the thumbnail above to download Gabe’s movie. It’s a 51 MB Quicktime movie.
Sarah and I went to a Sigur Ros concert tonight. We haven’t been to a concert for a while, but this one was amazing. I was pretty curious how they’d be live, and I was surprised in a very good way. The sound was just incredible in person, moving your whole body. Combined with the amazing light/multimedia show, it was probably the most emotionally intense musical experience I have ever had. They played mostly songs from their new album, Takk.
I was also surprised, not knowing much about the band, how much of the sound is not digital. I just didn’t picture a man able to reach such high notes, nor to sustain that kind of falsetto for 2 hours! Wild. Great drummer, too.
The opening act was Amiina, who I want to check out further. 4 women who played a variety of interesting instruments (cello, violin, wood saw, “service, please” bells, piano, organ, computer) in a really compelling way. A very good opener to Sigur Ros.
I got some good sculpture ideas during the concert. I want to do more with light, as I did a teensy bit in college.
Oh, and Ticketmaster still sucks, just so you know.
I went to the Maintenance Shop in Ames to see this ensemble of four songwriters who are on tour together. David Bazan (Pedro the Lion), Mark Eitzel (American Music Club), Vic Chestnut and Will Johnson. It was a good show. They each took turns leading while the rest backed them up. Eitzel was probably my favorite. I have been waiting almost ten years to see him play live.