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AVAILABLE LIVE ALBUMS

kristen leigh live at dmp album cover


randy furches live at dmp album cover


morgan mcpherson live at dmp album cover


filthybird live at dmp album cover


albina savoy live at dmp album cover


universal mathematics live at dmp album cover


mr. rozzi live at dmp album cover


bruce piephoff live at dmp album cover


The Tremors live at the dotmatrix project


Queen Anne's Revenge live at the dotmatrix project


The Leeves live at the dotmatrix project


Hammer No More The Fingers live at the dotmatrix project


The Bronzed Chorus live at the dotmatrix project


Laurelyn Dossett live at the dotmatrix project


janik live at the dotmatrix project


the tiny meteors live at the dotmatrix project


project tritium live at the dotmatrix project


The Raving Knaves Live at the dotmatrix project


tom beardslee live at the dotmatrix project


possum jenkins live at the dotmatrix project


dawn chorus live at the dotmatrix project


citified live at the dotmatrix project


old stone revue live at the dotmatrix project


The Radials Live at the dotmatrix project


Sorry About Dresden Live at the dotmatrix project

Archive Page 2

Universal Mathematics Shares The Love At DMP


Photo by Kevin Belton

Imagine this:

Everything in the world can be broken down into three nouns. Negativity, positivity, and neutrality.

Now imagine looking up and seeing an atomic bomb being dropped straight onto your brain. Now imagine that, while most atomic bombs are composed of negativity, this one is of a very unique composition. Imagine that this bomb is composed of pure positivity.

Now imagine that this bomb is actually the imprint left on you by one, Clement Mallory, aka Universal Mathematics.


Photo by Kevin Belton

An infinite number of varying descriptions could be used to characterize a performance by this man. Perhaps one in several thousand would even begin to come close to completely accurate.

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

Universal Mathematics is more than music, more than poetry, and more than performance. It is a full-blown inspirational experience. When Clement Mallory picks up the microphone, you are intrigued. When he performs, you are entranced. When he puts down the microphone, you are left feeling better about yourself and about life in general. While Mallory seems to identify more as a poet than a musician, and while a good half of his DMP set is spoken word, his performance is less poetry reading and more interactive motivational theater. He makes smiling your only option.

Poetry Alive: Universal Mathematics
Photo by Kevin Belton

The message throughout this distinct and almost unclassifiable performance is one of love and appreciation. Backed by the immaculate DJ skills of L in Japanese, Clement Mallory seems almost unaware of his audience much of the time. It is almost as if the words flowing from his mouth come forth from a deep well of honesty and compassion. His words seem inspired from his personal experiences, yet, the selflessness of his delivery leaves one with the impression that, more than self-expression, this performance is designed to help us, to make us feel better about who we are. A good example of this can be found in the track, My Love, wherein he states:

Loving you increases my love for me, so I’m going to love you more ’cause I have to love myself.

He seems to do what he does strictly out of a genuine desire to make us all feel happier and more comfortable about who we are.


Photo by Kevin Belton

During the tenure of the performance, Mallory deals with issues ranging from creation, self-reflection, acceptance of our fellow human beings, the importance of teaching ourselves and our children, and the very nature of existence.

In the track, Who am I?, he asks:

Being human, am I characterized differently from any other human being? Do we not all have one head, two eyes, two ears, one nose, one mouth, one neck, two shoulders, two arms, two hands, one chest, one stomach, one gender, defined with private section, two legs and feet?

The answer to the title of this piece comes near the end of the track, right before a moment of too-perfect-to-have-been-planned feedback where he boldly states:

I am God.

It’s a concept piece full of imagery so heavy that it seems to overwhelm even the PA. This track is definitely a highlight of the set.


Photo by Ioannis Batsios

Placing Universal Mathematics into a musical category is a nearly impossible task.

Clement Mallory is a writer, an MC, a teacher, an outlandish angel. His performance is poetry, it’s hip-hop, it’s motivational speech, it’s emotional release, it’s nearly theatrical in it’s execution. His message is uplifting, it’s inspiring, it’s fun, it’s… dare I say… universal. This man puts on a performance that is more than a performance. It is an intricate spiderweb of imagery and sound that leaves one with a feeling of happiness and well-being.

For the love of love, check out Universal Mathematics at c37words.

Recording Engineer: Don Ravon
Mixing Engineers: Dan Bayer, Don Ravon
Cover Design: Sean Coon
Cover Photograph: Kevin Belton

You can also listen to the live album on last.fm.

A Big Thanks To Local Music Lovers

I’d just like to take this moment to thank everyone who came out last night to The Blind Tiger to check out the Leeves, my band the Raving Knaves, and The Goodbye House, the new project from Matty Sheets, James Marshall Owen, Dave “Driveway” Moore and Randy Seals.

The Goodbye House
Photo by Elizabeth Lemon

The Goodbye House is a great band, combining elements of all the members’ previous musical directions, but coming together in a real organic way, kinda like one of Elvis Presley’s mashed banana and peanut butter sandwiches.

Here’s a taste:

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And of course the Leeves’ brand of jazz/punk can’t be underestimated either. It was simply a rockin’ night all the way around.

The reason I’m thanking everybody is because, as a local musician, I’ve come to realize that community will get you through times with no money better than money will get you through times of no community. As part of the dotmatrix project, I’ve watched a community grow around local original music, seen more people coming out to shows — despite (or maybe because of) the bad economy — and I’ve watched musicians collaborate on some really great music.

James Marshall Owen of The Goodbye House
Photo by Paula McLean

Usually I’ve seen this from behind the soundboard, but in the last few months I’ve seen it from the stage, playing with the Knaves, alongside bands such as Switchblade 85, Come Hell or High Water, the Brand New Life and so many others.

In the midst of uncertain times, to be able to get up and play your music in front of and alongside appreciative people is truly a wonderful thing.

Albina Savoy: Emeline

IMHO, the coolest aspect of what we do here is our documentation of the music scene, specifically in Greensboro, where I call home. And not just individual shows, but the gestalt of the entire scene as it unfolds over different periods of time.

While some bands find a modicum of success and play for years to come, touring regionally at times, many more bands form, play out locally for a while and disappear into the ether without the notice of more than a handful of friends and family and only the most hardcore music lovers in town.

Albina Savoy falls into such a category.

And while that’s a shame on many levels — their sound was so unique, beautiful in ways that’s hard to describe — at least we have a few reminders of their sound to enjoy.

If you like what you hear in the video, be sure to check out the band’s live album on Last.fm and AmieStreet (all proceeds on AmieStreet go to Albina Savoy).

MUSIC VIDEO CREDITS
Editor: Blake Faucette
Camera: Andy Coon
Camera: Blake Faucette
Camera: Sean Coon
Sound: Danny Bayer

Gate City For Haiti

gate city for haiti benefit fundraiser greensboro nc

I know it’s a Tuesday night, but c’mon, you know you don’t hit the sack until 11pm or so. Even if you show up for an hour, you’ll be doing your part to help out our neighbors in Haiti.

There’ll be great original, local music, high energy DJ’s, fantastic artists at work and a silent auction of DMP photographs from shows past.

Hope to see you there.

Extraordinary North Carolinians

Early morning, February 1, 2010, as I stood in-between the driving lanes of Elm Street alongside hundreds of others anticipating the opening of the International Civil Rights Center & Museum, I felt awestruck.

International Civil Rights Museum
photo credit: Dan Routh Photography

It may have been the combination of moving words from Doctor Franklin McCain, Senator Kay Hagen and a host of other speakers.  Or it may have been an emotional release brought on by the lack of sleep I endured to be downtown at eight o’clock in the morning (not my usual modus operandi).  The simple truth of the matter, though, is that an integral part of History — not just Black History, or American History, but Human History — had unfolded less than a block from where we all stood.

Exactly fifty years had passed since that day, and about two decades had passed since the Center & Museum was originally commissioned.  I remember, even as an adolescent, being concerned about the future of the historic site.  It really is something in which every resident of Greensboro (especially those native to the city like myself) can find pride…and it honestly brought a few tears to my eyes.

So, on February 1, 1960, four seemingly ordinary Greensboro residents were inspired to do the extraordinary.  In recent weeks, I’ve wondered how many other “ordinary” North Carolinians have proven themselves capable of extraordinary feats.  I began searching for icons in the world of music whose origins can be found in the Tarheel State.

I ended up finding a long, long list of musicians all born here in North Carolina.  An abridged list (very abridged) is as follows:

John Coltrane (b. Hamlet, NC, 9/23/26–7/17/67)
John Coltrane
photo by vanveen1967

Thelonius Monk (b. Rocky Mount, NC, 10/10/17–2/17/82
Thelonius Monk
photo by Ben Pearce

Maceo Parker (b. Kinston, NC, 2/14/43
Maceo Parker
photo by dimervansanten

Nina Simone (b. Tryon, NC, 2/21/33–4/21/03)

Shirley Caesar (b. Durham, NC, 10/13/38
Shirley Caesar
photo by Brendan Hoffman

George Clinton (b. Kannapolis, NC, 10/22/41)
George Clinton
photo by Pix Gremlin

Roberta Flack (b. Black Mountain, NC, 2/10/37)
Roberta Flack
photo by Sweeping Zen

Ben E. King (b. Henderson, NC, 9/28/38)
Ben E. King
photo by Live at J&R

Max Roach (b. Township of Newland (Pasquotank County), NC, 1/10/24–8/16/07)
Max Roach
photo by lieberkater

The list grew to be far more extensive than I had imagined.  In the world of Jazz alone, there were a great number of influential figures born, raised, or educated in North Carolina.  I can only imagine what names and faces I might be able to add to this list — whether it’s five, ten or twenty years from now, or maybe even five, ten or twenty months from now!

(Information gathered from the following sites: North Carolina Jazz Musicians, Wikipedia)

Julie Welch Photography: The Alcazar Hotel

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William Dawson of The Alcazar Hotel brought high energy to The Green Burro for the October Dotmatrix show.

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To see more of Julie’s work, check out her blog.

Julie Welch Photography: Pinche Gringo

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Josh Johnson’s one man band, Pinche Gringo, gets backup from Liza Jane on maracas and Jimmy Brad on guitar.

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Hearing the blues Pinco Gringo style.

To see more of Julie’s work, check her blog

Michael Dunn Photography: The Alcazar Hotel

The Alcazar Hotel

The Alcazar Hotel performs October 29, 2009 at the Green burro. Members from left to right: Edward Stanley (guitar), Steve Newton (drums), William Dawson (lead vocals) and Adam Dodds (bass).

The Alcazar Hotel

William Dawson serenades Julie Welch.

Check out more of Michael Dunn’s work on his blog

Michael Dunn Photography: Pinche Gringo

Pinche Gringo

Josh Johnson in his one man band, Pincho Gringo, performing at The Green Burro.

Pinche Gringo

An audience member gets comfortable as he takes in the garage/blues sounds.

To see more of Michael Dunn’s work, check out his blog.

Elizabeth Lemon Photography: The Alcazar Hotel

on the spot

Will Dawson connects with camera and crowd.

william dawson

Fans become part of The Alcazar Hotel’s performance as Will Dawson moves off the stage and into the crowd.

To see more of my work, check out my blog.