We're following a band from Philadelphia called Blackened Blue, and we've just posted a recent recording of one of their newer tracks, "High Tide", in our On The Side section. Blackened Blue's music is unique in a way that will often stay beneath the media radar for awhile. They're unusual, and unusually musical, but not in any of the ways that will usually attract immediate media attention. One of the really unique qualities they bring to their original music is that their song arrangements showcase a vibrantly creative respect between the four musicians. It allows them to put tracks together that are precisely crafted, but that move effortlessly --- and often surprisingly --- across a range of musical boundaries. You wouldn't usually hear a blistering metal passage as part of a groove-based song, or a lyrical passage in the middle of hard alternative track, but Blackened Blue go wherever they want to go, and somehow take you with them. It's not so much that they defy established conventions, it's more like they just see right through them, ignore them, and move on. There's much more to hear and see about Blackened Blue at blackenedblue.com, and their album A Brief Moment Of Clarity is available at Amazon, Last.fm and iTunes.
Back on the Indie Rock side, this shockingly good band has quite a history as it turns out, which they can tell you about better than me if you check out the "About" tab at thehuntingaccident.com. I heard about them from Amber Wilkes (@ambersapimp), but I only had about twelve seconds when I first followed the link to their Soundcloud, just enough time to think, man I hope I remember to check this out again later. I'm sure glad I did. Most unbelievably, the entire six-song release Trees and Parks is free to download at their Bandcamp.
At Heart & Soul working with Dan Agosto on the 'ohana Dreamdance track "Some Time" when we got talking about sounds. Here's a soundtrack from the game Fez. Here's what he says, "A beautiful soundtrack for a truly beautiful game, whether or not you can play, you should get the soundtrack."
Alliance Dance Company is at Ruth Page April 20-21 at 7:30 performing "Fighting for a Dream", a dance performance focused on fighting for what you believe in. It's a two act show, the first act includes all new works by Bryan Hurd, Lindsey Jaynes, Kimberly Schomburg, Stephanie Unger, and Amy Williams while Act II is the Artistic Director Jennifer Gage's full ballet "Fighting for a Dream". There were still a few tickets at brown paper tickets when we wrote this, but if you want to see this resourceful and imaginative Company, maybe you should check it out now.
On Tuesday, April 10 at 12:15 PM, Alliance Dance Company presents a free show at the Harold Washington Library (in the Cindy Pritzker Auditorium Lower Level). It's a preview for their Ruth Page shows later this month (April 20 and 21 at 7:30 PM), Fighting for a Dream. Tickets for the Ruth Page shows are at brownpapertickets.com, and there's more information at Alliance Dance Company, where you can find the full story about the imaginative performances they're presenting as part of their Ten Year Anniversary Season.
Here's a great new track from TOOM called "rolls_royce" that we just found on his Sounclound at soundcloudcom/idigtoom. A steady, exotic groove right around 120, this is some imaginative electronica that's worth more than one listen. TOOM did the original score for Katie Graves and Matthew McMunn's most recent work, "Act II" from "Shakespeare, I Love You: Pericles".
rolls_royce by TOOM
At 4dancers.org, one of the best (and one of the fastest-growing) dance sites around, Johnny Nevin takes a careful look at the multi-year collaboration between noted New York choreographer Alexandra Beller and the innovative composer Robert Poss. Beller's "Other Stories", their latest collaboration, is an intriguing example of how two remarkable artists manage to harmonize the creative imperatives of Choreography and Music. You can read more about Choreography and Music: Alexandra Beller and Robert Poss at 4dancers.org and at the Huffington Post.
Katie Graves and Matthew McMunn Dance will be featured this weekend in Blunt Object Theatre's Shakespeare, I Love You: Pericles. Graves and McMunn, choreographers and dancers, along with Josh Anderson and Adam Gauzza, join four theater companies, each performing one of five acts from the play. Graves and McMunn's "Act II" features an original score by TOOM (Mason Thorne). Shows are at the Den Theatre March 30, 31 and April 1 at 7PM, and March 31 at 2PM. For more about Katie Graves and Matthew McMunn check out katiegraves.net.
This April, Alexandra Beller / Dances, celebrating ten years of successful performance since its founding by New York based choreographer Alexandra Beller, will present "Other Stories" in seven performances at Joyce Soho. The work is set to a remarkable original score by composer Robert Poss, widely respected for his imaginative design of guitar-layered sound structures. Poss' album Settings - Music for Dance, Film, Fashion and Industry is newly available for digital download at sites like Amazon. Alexandra Beller / Dances is raising money through a Kickstarter Campaign in order to include Poss' live performance of the score at all of the performances. Shows are April 4, 8, 13, 19 & 21 at 7:30 PM, April 7 & 15 at 2 PM. For more information phone is 212 242-0800, or check out the Joyce Soho site.
Powerplay FYI's new album "A Normal Life" will see its full release later this spring, but they've launched a new Bandcamp where you can hear all of the tracks from this really innovative album. This is one of the more atmospheric tracks on the album, a short, striking instrumental called "Passage", written by Dave Morales, lead guitarist for the band.
"Triptych: 3 Dance Voices" is an independent Dance production by three imaginative, award-winning choreographers. Jessica Miller Tomlinson and Jacqueline Stewart have presented two such productions each of the past two springs as part of their successful JMT/JLS collaboration. This year Winifred Haun, founder of Winifred Haun and Dancers, brings her widely-admired work to the collaboration. Performances are Friday, March 23 at 7:30, with an after-performance discussion, and Saturday, March 24 at 7:30, both at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts. Tickets are available through Brown Paper Tickets.
