4/11 | Thollem’s Hot Pursuit Of Happiness w/ Glassmen, Space Tugboat and Stray Passage @ The Frequency

Wed, 4/11 | @ The Frequency

121 W Main St, Madison, WI 53703

Doors 7pm // Show 7:30pm

18+ ID Required
$8 (+$3 minor surcharge @ door)

Thollem
Glassmen
Space Tugboat
Brennan Connors & Stray Passage

//////////////////////////////thollem-at-luggage-store-cropped_3THOLLEM (On Tour)
With a synthesizer and a microphone, Thollem’s Hot Pursuit Of Happiness forges elements of Punk Rock, Blue and Psychedelia, among many other influences. Including new songs and solo arrangements of Tsigoti songs, with “fluid keys pulverization” (Brad Cohan, Spin Magazine), Thollem’s work is ”political debauchery and a forward vocal delivery … that comes a-swingin’ right out of the gate” (Chocolate Grinder, Tiny Mix Tapes)

Over the last decade, Thollem’s toured non-stop internationally, recording with over a hundred different musicians from a wide variety of genres resulting in more than 60 albums on 22 different vanguard labels. As a vocalist, Thollem’s been releasing albums the last 10 years with his Italian agit-punk band Tsigoti (5th album soon), Hand To Man Band (Mike Watt, John Dieterich, Tim Barnes) and Andy Kaufman plus his initial solo album ‘Machine in The Ghost’. He’s planning on releasing the first HPOH album later this year.

Thollem has performed and recorded with members of Deerhoof, The Minutemen, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Half Japanese, Wilco, Unwound, Old Time Relijun, Cibo Matto, Jealousy Party, Stars Like Fleas, Tenderizor and more. 

www.thollem.com/hot-pursuit-of-happiness

Personal Note: Thollem McDonas is one of my favorite perma-tour Experimental artists.  He has been very influential to my free improvisation explorations in the last decade.  I’m thrilled to share a bill with him once again!  Also, I can’t wait to see Angela, I always learn so much from her.  It’s been a couple of years, they are beautiful people and there’s much to catch up on.  Thollem has collaborated with GrimmusiK Records in the past on both the Colias experimental/ambient compilation, live free-improv collaborations at Dobra Tea, and with a marvelous performance at our Audio For the Arts series (can’t seem to hunt down the live recording for that, unfortunately).  Thollem has an overwhelming discography, check out his extensive releases here.  < So much wonderful music to explore in his collaboration filled catalog.

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Brennan Connors & Stray Passage (Madison, WI) is a jazz trio that embraces free and structured improvisation, original compositions, groove based material, and sound exploration. The breadth of a performance ranges from fiery high energy music to focused minimalism, all while maintaining a sense of narrative organization and compelling ensemble interplay.  “Emergence” CD (setola di miale) available at the show!

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Glassmen (Madison, WI) is experimental indie rock with guitar, organ pedals, drums, and vibrato. The sound, sometimes jarring, is fragile, sharp, and reflective — like glass.

Sarah Jennings Evans started Glassmen in 2012 after being diagnosed with a rare joint condition that left her unable to use her arms.  She created music with voice, organ pedals, and loops of old recordings.  Guitar came back as her arms recovered.  Meanwhile, multi-instrumentalist Vivian Lin (TUO TUO) kept busy playing in other people’s side projects (The Party Drug, The Divine Hammers), but was looking for a musical home.  She joined Glassmen in 2015 to add drums and vocals.

Personal Note:  I’ve been meaning to get on a bill with Glassmen for a couple of years now and it’s finally going down!  ^ Check out this live version of Needle, love the sound.  Excited to hear their live set!

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Space Tugboat (Madison, WI) is dark catchy punk rock, with a twist of demented humor of reality. 

Personal Note:  Big thanks to Dan from Space Tugboat for hooking up the show and taking care of booking.  Dan has supported Stray Passage for years and given us opportunities to play.  Now we finally get to share a bill together!!


 

9/22 | Surrounded By Reality: Thollem McDonas & Sisters Three @ Audio For The Arts Studios

10622803_10152484717378598_6069226290890956706_nMon, 9/22 |  $10  7pm  @  Audio For The Arts Studios  +  Live Stream

SURROUNDED BY REALITY PRESENTS

THOLLEM MCDONAS 

SISTERS THREE

(aka Brothers Grimm + db pedersen)

 Join us for our reinvented concert series, Surrounded By Reality! This time, we welcome Thollem McDonas and The Sisters Three. Doors open at 7:00 pm for this 7:30 pm performance. Tickets are $10. Stream the concert live. 

Thollem’s solo piano work is a constant flow full of nuances and collisions of his studies of 350 years of keyboard musics and those found in the ever-changing environments along his perpetual travels. “Thollem McDonas does what few can: He combines extreme imagination with terrific post-classical chops and an ability to communicate through melody. A fresh, disciplined avant-pianist with an attractively extreme viewpoint.” (Greg Burk – LA Weekly)

“An intense and virtuosic keyboard improviser” (TimeOut, NY), Thollem ”inhabits a world uniquely his own, rhythmically, harmonically and formally. A true original.” (Terry Riley)



“The Sisters Three are: my brothers, my sisters, my challengers, my keepers, my fellow mossy stones, my companions in chaos.” – Huckleberry Grimm

The Sisters Three (Brothers Grimm + db pedersen), ‘so wither’d and so wild in their attire, that look not like the inhabitants o’ the earth,’ – on this autumnal equinox performance – invite you to both celebrate Summer’s end and to encourage the return of Fall. Bring elements of Autumn, memoirs of Fall. By time The Sisters Three convene this September 22nd, the current embers of Madison’s cicada choir will be totally absent as will all the anxious energy spun by Summer’s zeal. Provided silent sanctuary, The Sisters Three will pay special homage to those courageous leaves which cast off chlorophyll pretensions and reveal the wide spectrum of their honest selves.    


1/9 | 7-9pm Dobra Tea – Thank You Show

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Thurs 1/9, 7-9pm @ DOBRA TEA

THANK YOU SHOW

BC GRIMMguqin, guzheng

DB PEDERSEN – throat singing, flutes, vox sfx

ERIC MILLER – bass viola da gamba

For three years The Brothers Grimm have been heading the experimental music series “Tea & Improv” at Dobra Tea.  Sadly, Dobra will close it’s doors this January, 2014.  We’ll have one last show on Thursday 1/9 as a way to say thanks to all who have worked/come out to enjoy these events since 2011.  DB, BC, & Eric will all perform short solo sets, as well as improvise together.

It can be difficult to find a welcoming platform for experimental & improvised music.  Dobra has been our enthusiastic home base for much of this Madison experience.  It has not simply been “a venue”, but a meeting place of disciplined philosophies, where music & tearoom perfectly alight in purpose – to have conversation.  In a vibrant, hue-struck room with no internet or to-go options, the result is meaningful discussion with close friends.  It was never the intent of our music to overpower the space (& people in it) to a hush, but rather to be another conversation & accept all happening sounds as music/inspiration.  3..2..1.. Now!  ~ All conversation is improvisation.  We fuel off the energy you give us and channel it back, vibrating the air.  No sound is excluded from this Cageian discourse ~ kettle boils, clayware scrapes, somewhere a laugh, all is music.

Perhaps the most important element of performance in Dobra has been a public space for unknowing teagoers to encounter “avant-garde”//”difficult-edgy-freaky-‘nonmusic’music-skronky-improvised-noise…stuff”.  We’re thankful for situations where people may come/go at any moment, have lively chit-chats, not feel they have to be classically-stuffy/know-the-rules, & happen upon experimental music over the flowing cup.  Hearing such racketous free-for-all (beautiful to some…) on a record, coming at you through the speakers can be challenging for unpracticed ears – but having that be a live experience and seeing that the musician performing extended techniques is another breathing, sweating, emoting, human being that is trying to communicate something to you – is when this music becomes immediate & relateable.  The more you as an audience give of your energy/vibes – the better the conversation is.

We’ve released a couple of albums at Dobra, including: Moonish Lodestar (2013) by Watercourse Quartet & Redolent Spires (2012) by The Borthers Grimm.  Had wonderful performers such as:  Watercourse Quartet w/ Ben Willis, Pat Reinholz (aka Weather Duo + Brothers Grimm); Lovely Socialite, db pedersen, Eric Miller, Thollem McDonas (aka Thollem Electric), Brian Tairaku Ritchie, Sult w/ Jacob Felix Heule, Guro Skumsnes Moe, Håvard Skaset; Timbre, Samuel Lockridge, Brother Stripes w/ Timothy Russell & Nick Zoulek; Prom Night Records w/ Brad Henkel, Nathaniel Morgan, & David Grollman; Dale Kaminski, Joey Molinaro, Zane Merritt, TJ Borden, Wrest Trio w/ Benjamin Bennett, Jack Wright, Evan Lipson; Stray Passage w/ Geoff Brady, Brennan Connors & more! – The tearoom has also played host to local Hindustani & Carnatic Indian Music group Saaz, Baroque & early western period instruments, & Yuri on the Russian domra.

Thanks to Qi Hong for fostering communitea.

Thank to the close friends who have come out over the years to support  &/or participate in these happenings.

Thanks to all of the great Devoteas who have worked at Dobra & become a part of our lives.

Much love & one cup!

~ BCG   (on behalf of The Brothers Grimm)

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November Shows!!! [10th, 19th, 26th]

Three unique shows for GrimmusiK this November > more details soon to come!

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Mine All Mine & DragonFly Lounge presents

Sat, 11/10 @DragonFly Lounge

US Today (Cincinnati)

Dad Is Mad (Madison)

Mind Born Sons (Madison)

$5 Cover, 21+
Doors at 9:00PM. Music at 9:30PM

BC Grimm will be joining forces with Mind Born Sons this Saturday, 11/10 on Guzheng & Pipa.  Including Josh Pultorak (percussion) & Adam Pergament (poetry>vox fx) of Venice Gas House Trolley, Jim Castenada (cello), and BCG (guzheng, pipa) of GrimmusiK ~ Mind Born Sons will perform improvised accompaniment for effected spoken-word poetry, inspired from travels throughout East Asia.

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Mon, 11/19 @Frequency

Thollem Electric: Tsigoti + 

BRAIN GRIMMER 

8:30pm | $5 | 18+

Join us for two solo electronic music acts as Thollem Electric (electric Piano + fx) & BRAIN GRIMMER (Cello + Guzheng + APC40 > AbletonLive) explore electronic sound-scapes in experimental sonic territories.  With 5 albums released as Brain Grimmer since September, 2011 WALT: Recycle Vol I   [2011] | BEATS EP   [2011/2012] | Recycle Vol II  [2012] | CONVERGING Lines: Recycle Vol III   [2012] | Baby’s First DubStep [2012] } ~ BCG is working on fresh material for a new solo album.  This will mark his first Official BRAIN GRIMMER live set, don’t miss it!!

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Mon, 11/26 @Audio For the Arts

Surrounded By Reality presents

Benjamin Bennett + Brothers Grimm

8pm | $10

We are very excited to bring in improviser Benjamin Bennett (percussion + home made inst) for a solo set and in trio with the Brothers Grimm!  For the last few years, Surrounded By Reality has been a committed force in Madison‘s Free Improvisation, Experimental, and FreeJazz community.  Utilizing Audio For the Arts professional recording-studio space, the SBR concert series offers it’s audience the uncommon opportunity of being present for a live-concert studio recording!!  Come, partake in the recording of a new, live Brothers Grimm album!!

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