Ahleuchatistas and Ashes in Order.
March 30, 2008
For a long time I’ve heard the name Ahleuchatistas and that is contributed to my friend jonathan’s very strange taste in record collecting. At first listen a while ago I didn’t really pay attention or appreciate the music as much as I did seeing them at the Hunter Gatherer on Friday. I was completely blown away.
I was most impressed with their timing and ability to play so incredibly fast for so long. I got the impression that everyone in the bar was really excited as well. I thought I’d share some pics and post their myspace as well. This was my first time really listening to them and I’d encourage others to do so as well. Here is their music page.
Oh yeah! by the way I was surfing around this morning and I came across this band as well. They are called Ashes in Order. The guitarist from Ahleuchatistas pairs up with an accordian player. Their names are Shane Perlowin and August Hoerr. Shane being the one in Ahleu…
Asheville has really got it goin on with music in the recent years. I wish Columbia would band together as a town and be proud of what we have and the talent that Columbia offers.
“one band can start a scene”
au revoir.
G.C.S.P.S. and Straighten Up!
March 28, 2008
I was first introduced to these guys and gal(s) when they let me play with them at the whig a while back. It was a bit intimidating but after a few words I was relaxed because in reality these are super nice people that play some really great music. They come together and play various events around Columbia, mainly at the whig for the bi weekly G.C.S.P.S. meeting which consists of several hours on a sunday nite playing their records, whichever theme it may be. This sunday they are playing Rock pre 1962.
Did I mention G.C.S.P.S. meant “Greater Columbia Society (for the) preservation of Soul.”
hm.
Straighten Up! Is part of this group as well, I believe his name is Marcus. Matt Bradley “Sindoolah” the most recognizeable DJ around town is also part of this group.
I think this is a really good direction for Columbia and for aspiring Dj’s. Mostly because the music is always great and it breaks most negative stereotypes on what a DJ should be.
Columbia needs this sort of thing because our venues around town don’t have the best reputation of getting the best shows more than every once and a while. Although Local brewery Hunter Gather is really picking up the slack where the old Art Garage (RIP) left off.
Speaking of Hunter Gatherer tomorrow nite:
AHLEUCHATISTAS are playing around 11.
Here is the link to their site if anyone is interested in checking it out before they go to the shoe, or if.
okay, I think i’ve gotten enough out for the evening.
au revoir.
Good idea William.
March 27, 2008
OKAY okay, so I‘ve decided to create a blog to organize and make progress of different projects I inherently start working on and new things that I’d like to make. “Au sous sol,” means in the basement en francais. Most of my projects and things that I do I try and keep really low key and mostly DIY-esque. Lately I’ve been making mix tapes for people by recording a set of songs I play on my turntables. I like sticking with analog because digital music seems to be frustrating me. The mix tapes (so far I’ve given out 5) are called sonic disturbance and eventually this idea fused with another idea idea of creating a strictly Audio Zine.
This leads us to where we are now.
The zine is a project I’m going to be working on and producing it from normal cassette tapes. Throughout this process I’m going to be talking about recent additions to my record collections and exploring the bands/groups and hopefully having it shared through this blog as well.
Okay cool, I’m glad I got all of that over with and off my chest. Awsum.
Okay so moving right along, I found my first record I’m going to share. Chico Mann’s (pronounced “maeng”) Manifest Vol. 1 has been one of the best finds in music I’ve ever found.
the album cover. 
When I purchased this album I was getting really into Fela Kuti and those Afro Funk, Afro Beat comps that are either really good or sort of okay. I didn’t realize until later, I don’t know if most people know this either, but the guitarist from Antibalas is the main guy in Chico Mann. Marcos J. Garcia is his name to exact.
Whenever I’ve played this record it’s gotten a lot of well deserved attention. I think the beauty of chico mann is that you have two elements that are seamlessly brought together.
1. Electronic, dance-able music that is well recieved
2. Funky, Afro style is one in it’s own mixed with latin roots that mix together
It is a bit frustrating playing Fela, or even antibalas because people for some reason don’t, at first listen, think HEY! I can dance to this just as well. I don’t know if its because most Fela songs are 3 and 4 times the normal song length as mosts or what.
If you have not checked this out by now you really need too, I think this band will be getting a lot of attention as they progress.
au revoir
