Highlights
A New Thread
String Cheese Incident’s Michael Travis and Jason Hann have embarked on a new project, EOTO, and they’ll be headed to George’s for a show on March 13. The duo is touring to promote their second album, “Razed.”
EOTO’s live shows are 100 percent improv. Drawing from DJ’s and computer artists, EOTO uses cutting edge technology to create original and melodic dance music and adds live drums. The music is created on the spot, recorded, then mixed and remixed live to create an ever-evolving musical experience. Since the project is completely improvised, every night is an experience, unique to each town and show.
Travis is in charge of the tonal elements, playing bass, guitar, keyboards, as well as hand percussion and live mixing. Hann handles drums, percussion and sampler. EOTO puts out a sound that bridges the gap between a live music show and the danceable power surge of DJ club music, hitting the groove with their own brand of live breakbeat, house, drum n’ bass, and trip-hop.
In order to cement themselves on the “musician” side of electronica, EOTO is less about the gadgets and all about the dance party.
“We use gear as a way of being able to do all of this live with just the two of us and no pre-recorded tracks, but our goal is to be able to create new club music on the spot and put it down as quickly as if you were dropping a needle on the latest new track – without stopping the dance flow all set or all night” Hann said.
EOTO has collaborated with Umphrey’s McGee, Steve Kimock, Jacob Jazz Odyssey, the cast of STOMP, Vinx, Bassnectar, Jamie Janover and Aaron Holstein (Zilla), and Ooah.
An 18 and up show. Tickets $10.
New Monsoon
San Francisco rock quintet, New Monsoon, best known for marrying acoustic and electric instruments will be in town Friday night to play a double bill with Fayetteville’s Mountain of Venus.
New Monsoon recently released a new CD, “New Monsoon V.” which was produced, mixed and engineered by John Cutler, best known for his production work on The Grateful Dead’s “Dark” and “Without a Net.” The band’s influences range from Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd and Santana, to Mississippi John Hurt, Tito Puente, Shakti and Peter Gabriel.
A night at the OPO
Some 30 years ago, the biggest scene in Fayetteville was taking place in the basement of the Old Post Office on the Fayetteville Square. After going through many owners over the years, no one has ever been able to bring the club back to its glory days…until now. Now known as the OPO, which sits below the Urban Table in the Old Post Office building, the spot is hopping again. The OPO stage has been burning with top local talents and also the occasional touring act. A number of touring groups are playing there this week. Sunday night Chicago’s Catfish Haven will join American Princes, The Good Fear and Pattern Is Movement. On March 13, the OPO will bring in three indie post-punk bands. Two band from Little Rock will join the Sun Valley, Idaho experimental indie rock trio Finn Riggins.
Finn Riggins is stopping in Fayetteville as part of a 10-week, 31 state tour to promote their album, A Soldier, A Saint, An Ocean Explorer.” that was released in November.
Sharing the bill with Finn Riggins will be Max Recording artists, The Moving Front, which is made up of Mark Lewis, Micah Fitzhugh, Jeremy Brasher and Brian Rodgers, along with Smoke Up Johnny with Alan Disaster, Jon Rice, Corey Bacon and Matt Floyd.
Shout Lulu
The old-time stringband Shout Lulu will play a free show the Ozark Mountain Smokehouse on Dickson Street Wednesday night for a night of good time fun for the entire family. You may have heard them last year at the Fayetteville Farmers Market, where they were regulars.
After helping build a lively old-time scene in Seattle, Paul and Skye McGowen packed up for Fayetteville and teamed up with Pete Howard to form Shout Lulu.
In Seattle, Paul was a member of The Tallboys, which played The NW String Summit, Seattle Folklife Festival, KBOO Pickathon, Portland Old Time Gathering and the San Francisco Old Time and Bluegrass Festival.
Skye’s flatfoot clogging has made her a popular guest with many groups and performers including Clarke Buehling, The Old 78s, Squirrel Butter and The Tallboys.
Pete is a popular Midwest dance fiddler. In the early ‘90s, he played fiddle, banjo, and bowed bass with The Skirtlifters. More recently, he played in a duet with Allison Williams of The Forge Mountain Diggers. Currently, he plays dances with The Scrap Hounds. He also judged the 2006 Arkansas State Fiddle Championship and performed at the Ozark Folk Center with Kim and Jim Lansford.
