Improv

So I'm in this improv noise band that plays a few times a year. In theory it consists of all six members of both bands I'm in, plus another friend of ours. Our policy is that anyone may join the band when we play. All people on the planet are, by default, members of the group. They simply "opt out" by not joining us onstage.

The band was born of a few separate happenings: a TMWSD extended jam on CKDU late one night (BB before we were BB); a GS extended jam (with guests) at a party; and assorted group noodling with with my newly bought spacebeam device on tour last year. We grafted a jam onto GS's set at DMC's art opening last summer. We played an open mic once, to a room that was shall we say, a little divided on the subject of our musical merit. We also played a house party and a gig in October, but nothing since then. We are, however getting together to do an all ages show in early February.

I like to think about all the grandiose things this band could do. I imagine organizing a network of improv noise bands using the same name, with one such band in every major city in North America. Then, once a year, all of the bands get together in some huge field and meet each other, and share stories of things that have happened to them, been thrown at them, etc. Then, this large group of people (presumably hundreds) engages in a massive noise freakout. Imagine a noise band so big, it takes up an entire football field. It would take you a couple of minutes to walk from one end of the playing area to the other. Presumably, the sound would not be pure mush as each band would have by that time honed their particular style into something cohesive; as you walked through the field you would hear one unit gradually blend into another in various combinations depending on where exactly you were standing. I got this idea from a sound art exhibit I took in last week, where walking through a small room triggers different nature sounds in different parts of the room.

But back to reality for a moment. At the February show we're aiming to have at least four drummers; probably two guitar players; possibly one keyboard; Ian P playing electronic sounds; myself playing the spacebeam; possibly a trombonist; possibly a saxophonist; and Ube on vocals. He has the ability to really take the band on his shoulders when the music gets a little dense. It will be a "shock and awe" approach. We may need a conductor to keep people from noodling too much. If there's one thing I don't want this to become, it's sheer aimless noise.

I like the unpredictability of this band. We don't jam, but we do try and meet to formulate a loose gameplan before we get going.

It's also nice to be in a band rarely plays. It feels special in a different way.