One year ago, during an ice storm, Will Glass and Shouwang Zhang and I spent a day with Matt Boynton and Jorge Elbrecht at Vacation Island Studios in Bushwick to record a song cycle based on a few of my translations of Chinese Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai.
We mixed the recordings with Jorge and then they were mastered by Harris Newman in Montreal.
The project is called SIX ESCAPISTS OF THE BAMBOO...
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One year ago, during an ice storm, Will Glass and Shouwang Zhang and I spent a day with Matt Boynton and Jorge Elbrecht at Vacation Island Studios in Bushwick to record a song cycle based on a few of my translations of Chinese Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai.
We mixed the recordings with Jorge and then they were mastered by Harris Newman in Montreal.
The project is called SIX ESCAPISTS OF THE BAMBOO STREAM and since Shouwang is in town visiting from Beijing, we've taken the opportunity to perform these five songpoems for the first time this Thursday, March 29th, at Ran Tea House on Kent Avenue in Williamsburg. If you haven't been to the teahouse, it is behind the black door next to Glasslands between South First and South Second streets.
Shouwang's other band, CARSICK CARS -- for good reason, the most celebrated rock band in modern China -- will play a set after we're finished.
SOVIET POP, the new project from Carsick Cars' old rhythm section, will play first. They make noise music using rare synths.
Our old friend WILL ROAN, formerly of Amazing Baby and currently of Pro Choice, will play songs before, between, and after the sets.
The show is free. It will kick off around 8:30. In keeping with the Tang Dynasty vibe, there will be some rice wine available. Bring your friends. This will be a fun time!
If you haven't been to RAN, it is totally awesome. Lots of tall plants, strange lighting, bug zappers: it's just like China.
You can preview the translations and the tunes here:
SIX ESCAPISTS OF THE BAMBOO STREAM:
http://sixescapistsofthebamboostream.bandcamp.com/
CARSICK CARS:
http://soundcloud.com/carsick-cars
SOVIET POP:
http://www.vice.com/noisey-vbs/soviet-pop
269 Kent Ave! 830! Thursday! Come a bit late if you have to.