So, my jam band tends to get drone-like. That’s mostly my doing. We all have different musical inclinations and desires, but when we’re in Hollow Way, no matter how fast or groovy we get, it’s inevitable that we’ll fall into drone at some point. It just feels good.
Drone is slow, and relies on tones, overtones and diads working together to create long, sustained sounds of various intensities based on what you’re trying to communicate. Drone as a musical artform is very old, of course. Think of Buddhist chants– that’s just drone. Monks would chant in drone together, and often in caves to maximize the soundscapes. You’ve all heard that before, no need to give an example.
Using guitars, it can sound something like this (though this isn’t a great recording or example):
Drone Metal is more complicated than this, of course, and mixes elements of what is usually the highly simplistic drone form with actual song structure and lyrics. One of the bands that really exemplifies drone metal is Sunn 0))), one of my favorites:
Two nights ago a friend who works for a black metal promotional series wrote asking if I’d go to this: http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/events/new-york-2013-drone-activity-in-progress. I’m glad he wrote because otherwise I wouldn’t have even known about it.
The creator of the Blackened Series was going to be there and wanted to meet to talk about possibly collaborating on some things. I grabbed my best guitar bud without knowing what to expect, and we went. I took today off of work.
I really knew nothing about the event beforehand– there could have been 50 people, or a 1000 or more. I didn’t know where it was, told only that a shuttle would pick us up from one of the further L-train stops.
The venue turned out to be here: http://www.knockdowncenter.com/ an old empty factory that has been turned into an art space. Massive interior. The way they had it set up for the drone/noise event was impressive on all levels. They created three stages in different wings, and had some of the largest sound rigs I’ve ever seen, video art installations everywhere. The shuttle bus, which turned out to be a luxury bus, went back and forth all night long and holy crap was turnout good.
I took this from the side of the center stage:
The person below is Mick Barr, the brains behind one of my favorite black metal bands, Krallice, doing a 30 minute drone solo. It was indescribably good.
Below is the legendary drone metal god, Stephen O’Malley
One of the side rooms:
This shot reminds me of how Hollow Way looks these days.
They had brick over pizza all night long, serving probably about 5000 people.
I grabbed the shuttle back at around 2a and made it back home by 3:30.
Oh, the main pictures are already all up: http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2013/05/drone_activity_1.html
The description of the event there is pretty good, and the comments are pretty accurate.
Part of the reason I was invited to go was to meet with the creator of the Blackened Series. He’s interested in collaborating on something. No idea what. He wanted to meet in person to see what I was like, so we just talked about music, my favorite Blackened events so far, etc. He said: “I’ve been running the Blackened Series completely by myself for the last 5 years. I’m ready to no longer do it alone.” He seems like a nice guy, though he’s definitely “in” the industry. The only one there wearing a white shirt. He’s the founder of Vice Records, and also used to run all those shitty electro-fucktard Scion events. But his favorite music is black metal, and the Blackened Series is an awesome side project. Since I’ve been on the mailing list, I’ve gone to just about every show announced. They’re doing it right, for sure.
Obviously I have no idea about what working with him would entail, and it’s probably not for me. But, I would be interested to collaborate somehow. We’ll see if he writes back after our intro session. Maybe I can get a legendary metal event up in Harlem somewhere– would be a first. I need to find a big empty church or something.
Anyway, I’m all slept up and ready to train so I better get out of here.
Hope you all have a great weekend doing your good stuff. Keep working hard at it and I will too. We’ll see what happens. All we can do is our best stuff, you know?
Later.
