This group has gone through so many group member changes since it formed.....that I feel like a bus driver in the city....hahahahahahah!!!!! Anyway...let's see..currently there is HOWIE MALL on various woodwinds,ALEX KATSARIS on acoustic and electronic percussion ,
CARL IMMEKE on violin /mandolin and myself on guitar and vocals...we'd like to add some other elements into the group like an additional percussionist, a bassist,a keyboard perhaps and they need to sing harmonies..that is a big part of this music and it's been missing for quite awhile...so if you're out there and want an interesting new challenge ..come and join us!!!
Influences
WOW ...where to begin...so many....hhhmmm well at the top needs to be GOD ,YESHUAH ANd My FAMILY, DEAD CAN DANCE,YES,
COcTEAU TWINS,RADIOHEAD,PETER GABRIEL,PAT METHENY, The BEATLES,THe CHIEFTAINS,JONI MITCHELL,SUZANNE VEGA,KING CRIMSON,WEATHER REPORT,TOAD THE WET SPROCKET,DAVe MATTHEWS BAND,MOODY BLUES,PINK FLOYD, THE PRETENDERS....CELTIC MUSIC, THE IMPRESSIONIST PERIOD,JAZZ,WORLD MUSIC...THE UNIVERSE...NATURE...LIVE IN GENERAL
Sounds Like
WELL..... WITH ALL THESE DIFFERENT INFLUENCES ...IT SOUNDS LIKE A DELICIOUS MULTIFLAVOURED STEW THAT INNERWEAVES MELODY ,HARMONY AND RHYTHM INTO A PLEASANT BLEND...LET THE PEOPLE HEAR WHAT THEY WILL IN IT...IF THEY ARE MOVED BY THE LYRICS AND MUSIC...THEN WE HAVE DONE OUR JOB...HOW'S THAT? ...YEAH ...VERY COOL...
The group was formed in 2001 as a means to explore different musical flavours then what I had been envolved in up to this a point...Before STRANGER tHan FICTION I had been in a group called MARBLE FEATHER playing bass and singing harmonies..it was kind of folky with some celtic flavourings..some guitars, a bit of cello,bass and percussion...before that I was in a group called PHiLOSOPHy of CHANCE....hhhmm how to describe it ...rather poppy with a U2 flavour...yeAH...so now it was time to take on the challenge of forming something new..... this group needed to be different ...pulling from elements from different genres from all over the world...thus the evolution of alterjazzicalworldfolkfusion...the lyrics have a strong spiritual and social consciousness at their core...Our gifts ARE GOD given and so that is an important aspect of this music...
I had come from a classical background( studying voice and composition)and jazz besides playing in a myriad of different bands growing up...we do a majority of original music with some tasteful covers pulled from such diverse groups as YES,the BEATLES,DEAD CAN DANCE the CHIEFTAINS....to name a few....the composition process comes in different ways...sometimes we might be jamming and certains cells of ideas come out of that and then they're added upon...other times...I 'll come in with a more structured song idea with lyrics...and then everyone in the group adds their own elements into the mix...it's a very organic process..and leaving room for that is very important....
have not seen you around? Where you been you still working for the local? I haven't been working at all, just trying to find work and all that Jazz my friend!!! I been keeping up with you and all your gigs..Wish you would do the same ole friend..hint hint..lol
Thanks for the message Paul. I am really going to try and make it to the Drunken Monkey Fri nite! I have to see Die Momma Die this weekend too but hopefully I can swing both!
