Unstable Ensemble Stuff

Jason Bivins · July-12th-2004, 10:08 AM

Hi all,

Just doing a bit o' self-promotional stuff as there are things a-brewing for the UE.

Firstly, and most imminently, we are doing a few midwestern dates beginning later this week. I know that I'd told many of you we would be doing a much fuller tour, but it's just not going to happen right now for a number of reasons. Thanks very much to those of you who offered your help and advice, esp. Vince Kargatis and Captain Hate. We hope to see you guys when we hit the road again later this year. For now, here's what we got:

14 Bloomington, IN - Lynda Mitchel Yoga Studio with Son of Earth, Virgin Eye Blood Brothers, Wooden Wand & the Vanishing Voice
16 Minneapolis, MN - Acadia Cafe
17 Madison, WI - Pasture Music Festival with Christina Carter, Born Heller, Matt Valentine & Erika Elder, Pelt, and others.
25 Chicago, IL - Hungry Brain for Emerging Improvisers Series with Aram Shelton Quartet

Scott Hreha's band is sharing the bill with us in Minneapolis. Critic rawk!

It's possible we'll be playing St. Louis on the 24th and/or Louisville on the 20th, but in all likelihood we'll be in the studio that week recording our 4th rekkid. So what happened to the 3rd one? It's coming out sometime this Fall, hopefully on the early side of the season so you can give it out on Halloween and then stuff it in Xmas stockings in lieu of coal.

In the meantime, as the website sez:

New Music "In Gop Wee Shrug" appears on the "No W...NOW! A Musical Petition Against George W. Bush" compilation released by Passive Aggressive Records. Also appearing on the compilation is Elliott Sharp, Pauline Oliveros, Jack Wright, Loren Connors and others. The CD is a benefit for Not In Our Name.
The New York City based Antiopic label has included the UE in their ongoing Allegorical Power Series of MP3s. Our piece, "Gelassenheit" is posted as part of their Volume V set.

Hope to see some of you in Minn. and Chicago.

al j · July-12th-2004, 10:34 AM

You're a regular rock star, Bliv. That's great news that you guys are maintaining so much activity. Portland and Seattle need some attention too! All the better if the UE's a hair band.

Other Steve · July-12th-2004, 10:55 AM

Been too swamped and diverted to post for a little more than a week, but just happened to catch this... what happened to the July 22 Phonomena date at Subtonic (listed on the Phonomena site), which I duly listed and recommended in this week's ish of Time Out New York?!?

Jason Bivins · July-12th-2004, 11:09 AM

How unstable . . .

Steve, this is honestly the first I've heard of it! Weird. Thanks for the rec, of course. Um . . . I just emailed Eric. We're supposed to be in the studio that day but who knows. Oy.

Other Steve · July-12th-2004, 11:25 AM

J.Biv:

Go here: http://www.vintermusik.com/phonomena/

Jon Abbey · July-12th-2004, 11:26 AM

yeah, I was looking forward to that too. ya bastids!

Jason Bivins · July-12th-2004, 11:32 AM

Y'know Toshi Kajiwara has done this before. Booked a gig and neglected to inform us about it. Weddle is freaking out about this! We may try to shift things around and make this if we can pick up a last minute gig elsewhere out East.

This doesn't change the fact that we're bastids, though.

Other Steve · July-12th-2004, 11:54 AM

Just keep me posted, pal. My deadline for running a correction is the evening of Thursday, July 15.

Jason Bivins · July-12th-2004, 03:13 PM

Cancel away, my man. I just got off the phone with Eric. It turns out we do have a St. Louis show for that Saturday (an early show at Lemp Arts, Schaumann - be there, beeyatch) and we just can't work this out what with studio time already booked and prohibitively long drives.

Alas, I was excited about the unexpected opportunity to see my NYC buddies. We'll be up in the Fall though, gents.

Other Steve · July-12th-2004, 04:14 PM

Dammit, Biv, when is Weddle gonna spring for that Family Vineyard company jet, beyotch?

Wonder if that means I should double-check the Susan Alcorn/Tatsuya Nakatani show scheduled for Phonomena a week later? (Of course, I know the answer to that question, don't I?)

Bummer.

MRS · July-12th-2004, 04:17 PM

7/22 is perfect, Biv. . .day after I get back in town.

Ennis Snavely · July-14th-2004, 04:16 PM

Jason,

I picked up a copy of "The Liturgy of Ghosts" a while back and have been enjoying it. I hope you make it to DC sometime.

Jason Bivins · July-19th-2004, 11:37 AM

Ennis, nice new name. And thanks - glad you enjoy the disc.

Tour is going well so far. We've done three gigs, including a really fun one Friday night in Minneapolis. OFN overlord Scott Hreha's band played with us. And the mighty Derek Taylor was fine company and splendid host. Derek, so great to meet you at last! I wish we'd had more time to gab about our absurd number of mutual interests.

Saturday was an interesting day at Wisconsin's Pasture Music Festival, whose lineup included mostly "avant-folk" and experimental drone bands like the Blithe Sons and Pelt. A couple hundred young shaggy people who mostly hadn't listened to much improv, but who were very receptive to and enthusiastic about what we were doing. Jason Ajemian of Triage sat in with the UE for a rockin' hour of music in the sun.

We're off into the studio this week, then onto St. Schaumann (er, Louis) on Saturday and Chicago on Sunday.

Derek Taylor · July-20th-2004, 08:39 AM

Jason, glad the tour’s going well. The pleasure was mine providing roof & paltry ammenities. A blast to finally meet & have a chance to hang. Marty & Eric seemed like cool cats, hope that Elsie’s breakfast didn’t hang too heavy in your gullets on the winding road to Wisconsin. Looking forward to chances for further conclaves in the future (Fall NYC?). And can’t wait to wrap the ears around the new UE rekkid!

Jay · July-26th-2004, 03:34 PM

Just wanted to get the word out that I caught the UE here in Chicago. Great chemistry amongst the trio (I'd echo Derek's thoughts re: Marty and Eric) and we even had a special unannounced guest that proved, er, "unstable." For those that have enjoyed the group's previous work, the new disc looks like it will be a treat - a sonic departure?? Should be a hell of a rekkid.

Looking forward to a winter tour!

Sergio Zamora · October-2nd-2004, 05:21 PM

(not sure where to post this, so I'm putting it here)

I have an extra copy of Unstable Ensemble's 'The Liturgy of Ghosts' which I'd like to give to somebody. I think most folks who are into it already have it on account of it's a great CD and of course because of the Biv (and a certain Mr. B)

Anyway, PM me if you're interested.

edit: Ok, it's going out to Vince

Gary Sisco · October-3rd-2004, 09:02 AM

Yeah, but where's the next rekkid, Blivins? Huh? Where is it?

Captain Hate · October-3rd-2004, 09:49 AM

The Prof prolly will be out of touch for a while since he got hitched yesterday. The timing of it shouldn't be surprising since I'm gonna kick his ass in Fantasy Football today.

Brian Olewnick · October-3rd-2004, 09:54 AM

Hey, best wishes, Jason!

Tanager · October-3rd-2004, 09:59 AM

I'm thinking Jason needs to host a post-nuptial hang.

Cem · October-3rd-2004, 10:03 AM

Congratulations, Brother Bivins!

Sergio Zamora · October-3rd-2004, 10:13 AM

Rock on, Prof! Congratulations!

Gary Sisco · October-4th-2004, 08:33 AM

Yeah, yeah, but where's the new rekkid?

Nate Dorward · October-4th-2004, 10:45 AM

Congrats, Jason.

& where's the new record?

Jason Bivins · October-6th-2004, 06:22 AM

Thanks, guys. We're logged in for the first time in a while, and I saw this. Keeping to the thread topic, for the moment, the new rekkid should be out in January or February I think - it's finally listed on the FV news page, so that means it must have some kind of reality. We shall see. We're actually already at work getting the fourth record together, strange as that sounds; the delays have been financial in nature, as always.

In other Biv news, Umbrella is putting out a trio disc with Biv, Davis, and Richmond sax player Jimmy Ghaphery, and the second Biv/Davis duo record will probably be coming out next year too. Feast or famine, baby.

walto · October-6th-2004, 07:23 AM

One more piece of Biviana. I got a UNC Press pamphlet in the mail the other day with the Prof's book listed therein. Nice blurb too!

Jon Abbey · October-6th-2004, 10:56 AM

congrats, big man!

Other Steve · February-24th-2005, 05:37 PM

Second verse, same as the first: Any truth to the listing on the Phonomena website that indicates the UE will be hitting Subtonic on March 17?

And if the answer for some strange reason is "yes," can you please prevail upon Weddle to rush me the new CD, even a burn?

Brian Olewnick · February-24th-2005, 06:24 PM

Old news, Steverino. They'll be drowning out Radian upstairs.

Jon Abbey · February-24th-2005, 08:37 PM

they'll be there assuming it's open, tonight's phonomena is cancelled, third week in a row.