Past Bands, Performances, and/or Recording Sessions include: Concussion Ensemble Rich Gilbert Mark Sandman Morphine Bad Saints The Bentmen Common Ailments of Maturity Randy Black Bad Art Ensemble Boston Rock Opera Birdsongs of the Mesozoic Revolutionary Snake Ensemble Jimmy Ryan Monique Ortiz Natalie Flanagan Supergroup John Lombardo and Mary Ramsey (10,000 Maniacs) Reeves Gabrels (Bowie) Chris Belew (Presidents o/t US) Steve Westfield Bill T. Miller's Drum Army Adam Sherman Tarbox Ramblers Brain Ticket Trojan Ponies Pis Tiny Tim (I'm not kidding...) and others...
Former Morphine saxophonist Dana Colley collaborates with Bourbon Princess’ front woman / bassist Monique Ortiz and Larry Dersch of Binary System on A.K.A.C.O.D’s debut record, Happiness. Creating a darkly psychedelic sound that is sensual, cinematic and otherworldly, Colley & Co pay homage to the “low rock” sound created by his former band while pushing musical boundaries and forging new ground.
Fusing Colley’s unique electric guitar influenced baritone saxophone playing with experimental percussion and an unforgiving voice that compares to such greats as Jim Morrison, Nico and Patti Smith, A.K.A.C.O.D, have been packing rooms and garnering rave reviews in their native Boston for their mesmerizing live shows.
“Her smoky, velvet voice entwines naturally with Colley's legendary saxophone. Ortiz and the band grooved through a low, driving set of rolling deep bass, a ghostly Morphine-like essence inevitably discussed by those who were there to see.” -Boston Noise
"The comparisons of A.K.A.C.O.D with Morphine are obvious: the "low rock" groove of sax, slide bass, and drums, the presence of Morphine saxman Dana Colley as player, producer, and songwriter. But that would discount singer/bassist Monique Ortiz's own distinctive songwriting chops, macho-woman deep alto vocals, and frank sexuality. With Larry Dersch on drums, A.K.A.C.O.D. ("also known as Colley/Ortiz/Dersch") are working their new Happiness, which mixes Morphine sexbeat and Sabbathy distorted stomps."-Boston Phoenix
Ortiz met Colley in May of 1996 at the Trocadero in Philadelphia, when he was touring with Morphine. After a brief but fateful conversation with front man Mark Sandman, she decided to pack her bags and move to Morphine's home base of Cambridge, MA, in search of a better creative environment. Within a few months of moving to Cambridge she began performing solo, and within a year she formed Bourbon Princess. In 2003 Dana agreed to record, co-produce, and perform on the second Bourbon Princess LP Black Feather Wings.
Monique and Dana knew Larry through the "Morphine circle" (he played on the Morphine LP Like Swimming), and last fall when they began writing and recording material together they invited him in to complete the line-up of what is Also Known As Colley, Ortiz, and Dersch. The trio are packing rooms and garnering rave reviews for their live performances as well as their debut c.d.HAPPINESS. They will be bringing their unforgettable sound to stages around the world in the coming months.
WHAT FANS ARE SAYING...
Lowrock Lives
"Came across AKACOD on Morphine's MySpace page of all places, and was blown away. The CD does not disappoint on any level. The combination of Colley's sax and Ortiz' sultry contralto is incredible. Long story short, lowrock has a future, and it's looking pretty damn bright."-Chris Lindhorst
It's About Time
"Woohoo! The Low Rock sound lives on and grows new wings- Combining Monique's vocals, bass, textures and absolutely fearless lyric style with Dana's briiliant wall of sound, experimentation and effects rig and Larry's spot-on, rock solid drumming was a f-ing brilliant idea and I'm glad I was on the planet to hear it. I think that Mark would have gotten a big grin out of Happiness and Cheer You On. Excellent work, guys! See you at the show-" -Clint Gordon
Binary System is the piano/drum duo I have with Roger Miller...Mission of Burma guitarist, Alloy Orchestra keyboardist, and the most prolific composer I know. Binary System is "out there", but grounded in the rock and pop we both grew up with. Experimentation with roots, I guess.
"Roger writes complicated music - they learn it, they internalize it, and then they play it like they're playing 'Louie Louie'."
(Russ Gershon, founder of The Either Orchestra: on NPR's All Things Considered, Aug.2001)
"For Binary System, rhythm and melody are so tightly intertwined that they become one. Keyboard player Roger Miller offers a pulsing, throbbing counterpoint to drummer Larry Dersch's insistent beats. Yet he also manages to achieve a rare balance with forward-looking, constantly evolving, thematic development. Based on Invention Box, it's clear that these two players have spent enough time together to develop a signature musical voice and speak as one."
"The musical range of Invention Box spans diverse territory. At times the duo draws from free jazz (as on the loosely metallic piece "Texas"); at others it explores progressive improvised rock a la Can (as on "Rogue Wave"). The counter-intuitive ways Binary System connect different sounds offers plenty of intrigue and fascination. But somehow, with just two voices, they manage to travel from rock to funk to jazz (and back) without any unneccessary stops along the way."
"The greater organizing force on Invention Box defines itself quite early on as the beat. Occasional hiccups (performed in perfect synchrony) leave no doubt that portions of this music are clearly pre-arranaged. Yet frequent periods of discovery and evolution also establish a prime role for improvisation."
"Binary System offers a unique approach to groove-based improv on Invention Box--far enough off the beaten track to offer general interest, yet so thoroughly rooted in its rhythmic foundations that listeners will never find themselves lost in its swirl."
Invention Box - Binary System ( atavistic) By Nils Jacobson "allaboutjazz.com", Aug.2001
Bad Art Ensemble is my Wednesday night hobby, and in permanent residency at the Plough and Stars in Cambridge...right across the street from me! Sometimes I play drums, but most of the time I play my percussion toys...bongo's, cowbells, maraca's, washboard...whatever. The best drinking band around, and that includes the audience too! 13 years at the Plough now, and every week is still different! - Bad Art Ensemble -
I've also known to fill in, and occasionally join with, my good friends... the Scissormen, Jimmy Ryan, and Angeline.
Thanks so much for the add, Larry! I'm not giving up hope of an A.K.A.C.O.D. tour before winter! I hope you liked my review of Happiness at Amazon.com. Best of luck on all of your projects & have a great week. Michael:}
My beautiful Larr!!! Right back at you babe...you make us all feel happy and strong...thank you so so much for your love and talent and energy and time... Enjoy this gorgeous day! xoxoxxoxo much love Linda
We missed you tonight. There was quite a bit of old school reunionization going on at the Middle East. But don't worry - we only said nice things about you. MmmmmWAH!
Thanks sooo much for hanging out with me last night Larry! It was so comforting to be with you. And I learned stuff too! Have a beautiful day hon/// tons' o love, Linda
larry.....it was great meeting you, dana, and monique. you 3 are an amazing band and i hope to see you all again. i hope you all had a safe trip home. talk to you soon.
What have you been doing? Just wanted to see how you are! By the way, my boy started talking!! He tried to say zerbert and said sure'dirt. How cute of him!
Dude, we missed you last night. But based on your updated status, it sounds like you made the right choice. Hope you're having a freaking AWESOME time!
Was hoping to swing by tonight and catch you though it doesn't look like that's going to work out for me. Luckily schedule says you'll be back at the end of the month. Happy New Year!
