Music

Zu’s Bassist Massimo

In a limited way of words, how is it possible for me express the level of my anticipation in seeing this show? When Nels told me he’s friends with this Italian band Zu, their long reputation for being extremely supportive in the music community, as well as being these hard working super guys, I was even more all over this. I was up in the Bay Area for a 10 day hang with Nels, and his trio, the Singers for their recording… many of favorite people/friends in one place, Devin, Scott, Breskin, and Saint, doing what each of them do best. This show was thrown into the mix of one of The Things to be attended.

Once again Nels was extremely generous with his impossible schedule. Even when he needed all the possible time to write, rehearse, and practice for the recording session just a few days away, he still made the time to take me to this show. He knew I would like the music, this “Roman metal/math/no-wave/free noise/punk/jazz trio”. (Well, he did want to see his friends, too.)  Little did we know the kind of near-red carpet reception from the Great American Music Hall would later make this evening such a… trip. If only I was a drunkard, I would have abused the loads of free drink tickets given to us. I instead stuck with my known limit of the outrageous number of 3 beers, that is, when I’m shooting. Otherwise, I could have as much as 5? These days, anything in excess just makes me sleepy.

Never in excess, actually, is the amount of music I can compile on lately. As I drift along, attaching myself to different sources of music branches of personalities, I’ve learned to live on it.

The opening band cancelled (who and why, I’ll never know…) DJ Belladonna of the local radio station KFJC stepped in and played some insanely awesome stuff. Her selections of the evening was on the tip of industrial experimental low level ground covering…. mmmm…… undertone beats and drones. One after another was just freaking me out. I had to run and get her information. One band I got her to write down for me was C.O.T.A. , and their song “Children of the Apocalypse”. I still can’t find it. This music gave me all kinds of ideas for my future projects.

The band promptly started at 10 p.m. The audience was of mixed age, loosely packed yet excited. This type of crowd I still haven’t gotten the right impression of… They are a combination of too cool and too enthusiastic. I wondered if I was also one.  But my enthusiastic was well reasonable. There I was about to meet my new set of amazingly talented, visionary friends. The too cool part, I’m still trying to shred, but I can’t help it sometimes knowing that it took me years to feel like I belong somewhere – No, scratch that, more like, it took me all my life to be comfortable enough to accept that people don’t hate me by default…. Ah, too personal. Back to the jolly night that it became….

Immediately I was drawn to Massimo, the bassist. His smile was sincere and welcoming. Soon after, I got the good nature sense of Luca’s, the baritone player. I eve dropped on Nels and Patton’s conversation a bit over their discussion of gear boxes. That was amusing. I’ve met Patton a couple of times before, the last being from the Moonchild gig over a year ago, also in this same GMH place. He was polite. I didn’t get to talk to him at all after a friendly introduction, only got to watch him wrapping up his gadgets. I also didn’t get to talk to Jacopo, the drummer. The rest of the short after show evening was funny and pleasant. Nels was in a great mood, maybe the quality of their tequilas were acceptable? I threatened to go to Mexico City with the band, as I could see them for being my newest potential favorite (I did not miss my chance to diss Nels’s trio as old news to me, now that I’ve secured the Silent Fourth Member slot. Nels was so sweet as to recommend that I’m not much trouble to have along.)

And the night was concluded in such a super weird ideal way. We didn’t even have any problems finding a street parking near the venue. I want to make a point to see them again, Europe or where ever.

Zu's Drummer Jacopo

Luca, Nels, and Jacopo after show

Massimo and Luca

Patton and Jacopo

Trevor Dunn Trio :
Phillip Greenlief – saxophone
Trevor Dunn – bass
Kjell Nordeson – drums

Nels Cline Quintet :
Nels Cline – guitar
Trevor Dunn – bass
Scott Amendola – drums
John Dietrich – guitar
Ben Goldberg – clarinet

Kjell Nordeson

Phillip Greenlief

Trevor Dunn

Scott Amendola

Trevor Dunn

Scott Amendola

Nels Cline

John Dietrich

Trevor Dunn

Nels Cline

Scott Amendola

Scott Amendola with Greg Saunier

Ben Goldberg and Trevor Dunn

Ben Goldberg and Trevor Dunn

Los Punkinhedz :
Money Mark on keyboards
John Wicks on drums
Mike Watt on bass
Raymond Pettibon Guest vocal

guitars at the studio

Mike Watt runs over some songs

Money Mark

John Wicks

Mike Watt

Raymond Pettibon

John Wicks

Money Mark

Mike Watt

Mike Watt and Money Mark in studio

Raymond Pettibon in studio

session engineer

Money Mark

Mike Watt, Money Mark, and my couchsurfer Abbéy Odunlami

John Wicks, Mike Watt, and Money Mark

Raymond Pettibon, Mike Watt, and Money Mark - LA River

Ben Goldberg – Clarinet
Charlie Hunter – Guitar
Ron Miles – Trumpet
Scott Amendola – Drums 

Ben Goldberg and Charlie Hunter at rehearsal - Berkeley, CA

Ron Miles at rehearsal - Berkeley, CA

Scott Amendola at rehearsal - Berkeley, CA

Ben Goldberg prepares for show - Kuumbwa

Charlie Hunter

Ben Goldberg

Charlie Hunter and Scott Amendola

Ron Miles

Wayne Horvitz - Piano and Keyboards
Timothy Young - Guitars
Keith Lowe - Acoustic Bass
Eric Eagle - Drums

Wayne Horvitz

Keith Lowe

Timothy Young

Eric Eagle

Wayne Horvitz

Keith Lowe

Timothy Young

Keith Lowe

Eric Eagle

Timothy Young

Eric Eagle

Wayne Horvitz