the dotmatrix project

Israel Darling kicked off our second show at The Green Bean, followed by the relentless big band, The Brand New Life. The kids came out to get deep, the kids came out to dance, hell, the kids were out! This was only our second show without a 21+ age limit. So. much. more. fun.

Here’s a taste of what they both sounded and look like last week, first Israel Darling:

Samson The Mason *

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Photo by Stephen Charles

Photo by Stephen Charles

Photo by Stephen Charles

Now, The Brand New Life:

Time Warp *

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Photo by Stephen Charles

Photo by Stephen Charles

Photo by Stephen Charles

* These tracks were not live recordings from the DMP show. We should have live albums of these sets ready for release within a couple of months. Check back for music videos and more photography as well.

Come Hell or High Water

The Graveyard Fields

The Alcazar Hotel

Thanks for the memories.

Local legend Bruce Piephoff pulled together an all-star ensemble for his DMP performance last February (sweet Jesus, it’s been that long?). With Renee Mendoza (Filthybird) on vocals, Scott Walker, Landon Walker & Jennie Walker Brunner on bass, cello and violin (Walker Family Band) and David “Driveway” Moore on harmonica (ETI & The Goodbye House), Bruce led the audience through a memorable set of narratives steeped in southern tales — stories of inequality and of politics and with bits of love splashed here and there.

Please enjoy this beautifully shot slice of that down home pie.

And remember, Bruce’s live album is currently available on Amie Street for only $1.82.

MUSIC VIDEO CREDITS

Director: Harvey K. Robinson
Editor: Zach Hadgraft
Camera: Mark Wagoner, Alex Maness, Blake Faucette
Gaffer: Jonathan Faw
Grips: Matty Sheets, Barry Staples
Sound: Danny Bayer, Don Ravon and Cesar Oviedo

Just over a month ago, I was contacted by a guy named Lazlo from up in New Jersey. He told me that he found DMP through twitter and that he was putting together a benefit album for his buddy Shayne Miel — the force behind The Future Kings of Nowhere who also graced our stage last summer — and wondered if I might know anyone that would be willing to donate an original song to the cause.

After only a week or so of wrangling, I was able to get Lazlo 11 tracks from artists local to the area. I love the heart of this place.

I never did get Lazlo’s last name, but the album is already ready for download.

From the press release:

INDIE MUSICIANS UNITE TO BENEFIT CANCER-STRICKEN COMRADE

This Album Kills Cancer 54 tracks of original indie rock, metal, punk, and folk from across America and around the world, is now available exclusively as a digital download for a $15 donation

photo by Elizabeth Lemon

One hundred percent of the money raised by sales of the album goes directly to musician Shayne Miel, to help with the costs of his cancer treatments. The compilation features exclusive tracks from The English Beat, Paul Sanchez, The Cucumbers, Rick Barry, The Winter Sounds, and many more.

In November of 2009, Shayne Miel, the frontman of the North Carolina indie band The Future Kings Of Nowhere (www.thefuturekings.com), was diagnosed with stage IV lymphoma. Like so many Americans today, he does not have sufficient medical insurance, and the cost of treatment has been a substantial financial challenge to Shayne and his family.

When Lazlo – the force behind NJ-based Internet radio station BlowUpRadio.com and the host of Lazlo’s Den – heard of his friend’s Shayne plight, he responded not just with sympathy, but action.

“On January 6, I emailed many of the bands I have met over nine years of doing BlowUpRadio.com, asking if any of them would donate a previously unreleased track for a benefit album,” Lazlo recalls. “Having 54 artists so willing to help was extremely moving, and a testament to how giving musicians can be to help others. I initially hoped to get an album’s worth of material; instead, we ended up with three albums worth of songs, which is wonderful.”

“It was very important to me that all the money raised goes to Shayne to help with his medical bills,” Lazlo stresses. “We worked it out so that people will be using Shayne’s PayPal account to purchase the album, so 100% of the money will go directly to him.”

Shayne has been keeping a blog of his experiences with cancer, which you can read at http://thismachinekillscancer.tumblr.com

This Album Kills Cancer track listing:

DISC 1
The Future Kings Of Nowhere – Let’s Be Pirates! (live @ BlowUpRadio.com)
The Tea & Whiskey – Pray For Shayne
The English Beat – They Call It Ska (live)
Red Flag Fleet – Quotidian Oblivion
The Winter Sounds – Bird On Fire
Fairmont – Oh Your Bitter Heart
Citified – Sleepsound
Paul Sanchez – All of My Might (alternate version)
Greg D – In The Name Of
Grover Kent – Running Out of Ramones (acoustic)
The Tremors – Late Night Drive-in Monster Show (live @ Dotmatrix Project)
The Broke Downs – Giving It All Away
The Crayons – See My Eyes
Rick Barry – Audrey There You Are (live from the penthouse)
Kaitlyn Raido – Hating You
The Good Graces – Pepper
The Cucumbers – The Boss’s Song
Zigman Bird – New Stuff (live @ BlowUpRadio.com)
State Run Media – From The Fire
Brett Fuentes – Nightfall On A Budding June
Jeannie O’Neil & Thomas Martin – Silver Train

DISC 2
Drew & The Medicinal Pen – Baking In The Sun
John Raido & Friends – I Don’t Mind
Bruce Piephoff – Rosalita (live @ Dotmatrix Project)
Hey Tiger – Say Nothing (acoustic)
Christian Beach – Baby’s Back In Town
Pete Jager – Day and Night
The Raving Knaves – Black and White World
The Heshers – Cloud
Jim Testa – The WE Fest Song
Jonathan Andrew – I Am No Longer Important to You (live)
Keith Monacchio – Dynamite
Matt Colligan – A New Day (live @ BlowUpRadio.com)
Possum Jenkins – Burn These Leaves (live @ Dotmatrix Project)
Jason Didner – Salt and Sand
Brett Harris – Perpetual Motion
The Break Evens – Crime Spree
Rik Mercaldi – Sliding
Joe Whyte – It’s A Shame
The Wigg Report – Good Times
Jon Caspi – Smile (live)
Colie Brice – Jersey Blues (remix)
Tony Tedesco – Shine On

DISC 3
Montagna & The Mouth To Mouth – Unabomber Blues
Decoration Ghost – Camera Bag And A Backpack (live @ Dotmatrix Project)
The Bronzed Chorus – Hiding In the Woods (live @ Dotmatrix Project)
The LawnDarts – Tell Me Why
Workday/Schoolnight – My Creation
The Successful Failures – Sinkhole
Project Tritium – Affectus Incognitus (live @ Dotmatrix Project)
Julian Peterson – Music Only We Can Hear
Kristen Leigh – Stouffer Chemical Company (live @ Dotmatrix Project)
Mimi Cross – Nitelite
The Wag – Setting Sun (alternate version)

Please share this post with as many people as possible and do consider buying an album yourself.

Thank you!
-Sean

If you listen to Morgan McPherson’s lyrics carefully, you’ll discover that the young lady knows where she’s been. With self-described influences ranging from Tori Amos to Bush to Beethoven to Aerosmith, Morgan now seems to be in the process of finding her own sound… and having a bit of fun along the way.

Just like it should be.

MUSIC VIDEO CREDITS
Editor: Michael McQueen
Camera: Michael McQueen
Camera: Jeremy Hyler
Camera: Mark Steinberg
Sound: Danny Bayer and Don Ravon

You can check out Morgan’s entire DMP set on Last.fm or support a local musician by picking up the album over at Amie Street.

What else can be said about Mr. Rozzi? As a long-time staple on the Greensboro hip hop scene, Rozzi constantly brings the energy, no matter the show or the circumstances. On this fine evening last March, he rolled into The Green Burro with a posse full of performers, including the lovely and talented Vanessa Ferguson, the R&B dynamo Jeremy Johnson and L in Japanese on the 1’s and 2’s.

Killer.

And give Ioannis Batsios some dap for the creative rendering of the video. Way above and beyond…

MUSIC VIDEO CREDITS
Editor: Ioannis Batsios
Camera: Ioannis Batsios, Matt Williams, David Bradley
Sound: Danny Bayer, Don Ravon

When I heard Kristen’s sound for the very first time — as the background music to her own interview in Harvey’s Kitchen — I couldn’t get it out of my head for weeks. In a very, very good way.

After watching this video, I’ll bet the same will be true for you.

MUSIC VIDEO CREDITS
Editor: Michael McQueen
Camera: Michael McQueen
Camera: Jeremy Hyler
Camera: Mark Steinberg
Sound: Danny Bayer and Don Ravon

You can check out Kristen’s entire DMP set on Last.fm or support a local musician by picking up the album over at Amie Street.

Fans of these bands know that they have only two things in common — they’re big in numbers (Israel Darling flexes from Jacob Darden performing solo to a full seven piece act) and they rock.

And that’s enough for me.

Israel Darling’s Appalachian style with Darden’s ponderings on religion and daily life in his songwriting may contrast heavily with The Brand New Life’s dedication to bringing the funk and groove to the party with their big band brass and rhythm section, but hey, that’s what makes the show unique.

DMP will have Don Ravon recording the event, Stephen Charles and Kyle Rhines shooting stills and a film crew headed up by Michael “Mangler” McQueen.

If you’d like to help promote the show, grab the above poster for your Facebook profile picture. If you’re a huge fan (and saint), feel free to grab the large version to print for posting in your dorm, neighborhood, back shed, etc.

Gracias.

When our music director, Don Ravon, booked Randy Furches to participate in our singer/songwriter night last June, I knew very little about his sound. The most I could find about him online was an interesting article the New York Times ran, delving into the subject matter of his song, Poor Ellen Smith — a tune about a distant relative of over a hundred years gone by, Peter DeGraff, who happened to be the last man (legally) hanged in North Carolina.

As it turns out, Randy’s sound is much more of a cross between pop artist and crooner than alternative acoustic. IMO, his vocal delivery is reminiscent of Tom Jones engaged in a footrace with Richard Cheese, and hell, I like Richard Cheese! Collaborations like the one above with local MC King-Kev-O exemplifies Randy’s inclination to toss the genre box aside when making his music.

Aside from all the marketing mumbo jumbo that drives the music “industry” these days, isn’t that what it’s all about?

MUSIC VIDEO CREDITS
Editor: Michael McQueen
Camera: Michael McQueen
Camera: Jeremy Hyler
Camera: Mark Steinberg
Sound: Danny Bayer and Don Ravon

You can check out Randy’s entire live set on Last.fm or support a local musician by picking up the album over at Amie Street.

There’s live original music going on in this town just about any night of the week now, what with all the shows at various bars, coffee shops and performance spaces, but Monday nights find me working the sound board at the Blind Tiger’s world famous Open Band Jam, where bands can sign up in whole or in part, empty spots in the roster being filled by one of the three house musicians on call.

Like most open jams, Monday has its regulars: the wiry art-funk of Carla R; the Trower/Vaughn/Hendrix blues worship of Stickers for Cigarettes; the spacey reggae/hip hop of Xuluprophet; and the duo that plays each week under a different name, but always includes an original titled either “I’m the Batman” or “No More Dead Cops,” but either way it ought to be the theme song for the next installment in the Caped Crusader silver screen franchise. Any and all experimentalism is spelled with a little “E”; it’s what punk must have been like before it started taking itself too seriously. There’s also the house band, and of course my sub-Ed Sullivan MC’ing.

Photo by Dan Bayer

Sometimes I think open mics are the purest form of public musical expression; rough-hewn garage bands bump shoulders with semi-professional part-time pickers, original visions too far out to fully elucidate bang heads with questionable-or-not covers of classic rock chestnuts. Too varied to coalesce into a self-policing “scene,” not polished enough to charge admission to, sometimes teetering on the brink of musical chaos, it’s an opportunity for musicians and audiences alike to take chances on new approaches and new talent.

There are other open mics in town too: Matty Sheets hosts one at the Flatiron, and there are open blues jams at Plum Krazy’s, the Clubhouse and Club Zion. The blues jams, as the name implies, are pretty much rooted in that genre, but still fun nonetheless, and a good chance to work on your chops while meeting other local musicians.

So don’t let your lack of a band, or a missing member, or fear of public performance keep you from going out and being part of Greensboro’s music scene. Open mics are a chance to experiment and hone your craft, or just to play music in public without the stress of having to hunt down regular gigs. Most importantly, it’s fun!