Phil McKenna - Guitars, Bass, some keys PLUS guest drummers, like Clint Eastwood said, "A good man knows his limitations."
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Influences
Magma. King Crimson, early Genesis, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, Ravel, Stravinsky, Frank Zappa, ECM-label jazz, music from old Saturday morning cartoons.
Sounds Like
Someone who listened to too much prog rock, fusion and watched a few too many episodes of Batman and Saturday morning cartoons
This project had its beginnings while I was playing in another band, the ecclectic Tony Island based out of Boston MA. While we were working on a Tony Island CD in 2000, I started to do THE OWL WATCHES simultaneously. Inspired by working with a multi-faceted artist like Tony gave me tons of impetus to try something of my own, which he wholeheartedly supported and encouraged.
I have two releases so far, "Tales From The Inflatable Forest" that came out in 2002. It was me (Phil McKenna) playing ALL instruments (guitars, bass, keyboards/fake Mellotron, drum programs) and wrote the whole thing. I self-produced it and sold/marketed it through Big Balloon Music ( www.bigballoonmusic.com ). Even though doing everything on it, I am primarily a guitarist who doubles on bass.
The second disc, "Ghost of A Train" (released in January 2006) included 2 guest drummers and other contributors to the melee.
My biggest influences would definitely be MILES DAVIS, KING CRIMSON, GABRIEL-period GENESIS, MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA, guitarist Bill Connors, RAVEL, STRAVINSKY, HENDRIX, CREAM, stuff on the ECM label and the Canterbury Prog thing in general.
To date, I am now constructing my next disc, to be called Guaranteed To Be 100% Free Of Hit Singles, which may well be complete by late September at my currnt rate of progress, to be released BEFORE Christmas. In the meantime, there are two tracks called "Sign With Disappearing Ink" and ""A Village to Raise--" (which is actually called "It Takes A Village to Raise An Idiot") above to whet your appetite.
Thank you so much for the add and for the kind words! I have so much to learn but it's getting there :) Enjoyed your music a lot, I feel at home there...if we only only lived near each other the sparks would really fly :) But then, they are already....best wishes, I'll be listening often :)
