{"id":1795,"date":"2012-06-20T20:12:17","date_gmt":"2012-06-20T20:12:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/skylight.gr\/administrator_wordpress\/index.php\/2012\/06\/20\/avant-prog-ensemble-mirthkon-to-release-new-live-dvd\/"},"modified":"2012-06-20T20:12:17","modified_gmt":"2012-06-20T20:12:17","slug":"avant-prog-ensemble-mirthkon-to-release-new-live-dvd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/skylight.gr\/index.php\/2012\/06\/20\/avant-prog-ensemble-mirthkon-to-release-new-live-dvd\/","title":{"rendered":"Avant Prog Ensemble miRthkon to Release New Live DVD"},"content":{"rendered":"


The prog world is buzzing with excitement about the forthcoming DVD release by miRthkon; Oakland, CA based amplified chamber ensemble masquerading as a rock band. This illusion is well maintained by the fact that from time to time they do indeed rock. Maintaining a passionate aesthetic stance that they are (quite happily) ‘beneath everything’, their music \u2013 whether evoking the direct or indirect influence of progressive rock, contemporary classical abstraction, avant-garde jazz, catchy hook-laden pop, or thrash metal \u2013 is held to a simple but firm standard: Does it sound good? miRthkon’s forthcoming live DVD titled (Format) is a testament to the group’s innovative approach to live performance and music in general.<\/p>\n

“The DVD was somewhat of an accident,” explains band leader and guitarist Wally Scharold. “It was not planned. We had incorporated live and pre-recorded video projection in our shows since mid-2008. These were originally introduced as short interludes between songs to keep the audience engaged during long song breaks due to required technical changes to perform the next song. By the time we played CalProg in October 2010, our multimedia approach was at its most ambitious, including nearly 30 of these videos. It was very well rehearsed and we performed it beautifully, all captured in a free 32-track recording, provided by the festival. I had filmed our set from a single angle in the hall’s light booth for archival purposes, which was hardly enough to justify a legit concert film. But after reaching out to the fans, we managed to track down a couple more angles \u2013 one very close to the stage \u2013 and suddenly we had the raw footage to cut together something. However, the lack of any real planning (and professional videographers) made for less than ideal footage, so we had to get really creative with the editing when we just didn\u2019t have the shot we wanted. One and 1\/2 years later, it’s finally done.” Unlike a standard concert film, (Format) integrates interviews, surrealistic documentary footage, and an underlying plot pointing to a vast conspiracy!<\/p>\n

miRthkon’s diverse musical influences range from Classical: Webern, Stravinsky, Dutilleux, Varese, Feldman, Gerhard. Metal: late 80s\/early 90s thrash, Meshuggah, Fantomas. Avant-Rock: Mr. Bungle, Albert Marcoeur, Thinking Plague, Tipographica, Magma. Jazz: Eric Dolphy, Jimmy Giuffre, Anthony Braxton, Muhal Richard Abrams, Henry Threadgill, Hermeto Pascoal, Itibere Orquestra Familia, Ben Monder, Raymond Scott. Pop\/Rock: ZZ Top, Michael Jackson, Ben Folds. “Zappa is the primary influence, on multiple levels: the approach to the music is similar how the rock band format is run much more like a chamber ensemble,” says Wally. “Players need fluency in virtually all modes of performance practice in which their instrument is or has been involved including contemporary classical, big band to avant\/free jazz, metal, prog, funk, etc. Zappa’s attitude\/philosophy\/aesthetic\/humor is also a huge influence. In a way, you could say we’ve hopped on to a similar thread of ‘Conceptual Continuity’. We employ his ‘journalistic’ approach of incorporating experiences from our own life\/environment into the content of our work. Often to an extreme, though most of that goes over peoples’ heads.”<\/p>\n

miRthkon is:
Wally Scharold \u2013 guitars, vocals, composition, sound design, conceptual design, text, video, producer
Travis Andrews \u2013 guitars
Matt Lebofsky \u2013 bass guitar, vocals
Carolyn Walter \u2013 piccolo, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
Jamison Smeltz \u2013 alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, vocals
Matt Guggemos \u2013 drums and percussion
Jarred McAdams \u2013 video, text, conceptual collaborator<\/p>\n

Here’s what the press has said about miRthkon:<\/p>\n

\u201cA big-sounding, in-your-face outfit, adopting the familiar format of RIO\/Avant ensembles (a core plus a number of guests and collaborators), they have immediately established themselves as a name to watch with one of the most impressive debut albums of the past two decades (and possibly longer).\u201d – Raffaella Berry, Progressor.net<\/p>\n

\u201cTheir brand of avant-rock with jazzy and big-band-like interludes, backed by metal-ish sounding guitars and reed instruments of sorts is a delight to listen to, as they go nuts and move progressively forward in an abstract\u2013like manner. Listening to this brought to my mind, Mr. Bungle, Frank Zappa, Miriodor and Invincible Czars, to give you a rough estimate of what to expect.\u201d – Assaf Vestin, Sonic Frontiers<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s prog rock. But there\u2019s so much more here that you won\u2019t find in typical prog circles: a rollicking sense of humor, a heavy dose of real jazz (garbled, knotted free jazz, NOT the occasional major-7th chord that rock reviewers call \u201cjazz\u201d), and amusing spoken-word segments like futuristic (yet old-world) radio announcements.\u201d – Forrest Bryant, Memory Select<\/p>\n

\u201cThe variations within the compositions are so many that trying to describe each track would make this article more like a book than a review. The music throughout is intense, sometimes dark and heavy, sometimes playful but always adventurous.\u201d – Richard Barnes, Sea of Tranquility<\/p>\n

\u201cFor those in the know, miRthkon means \u2018the illusion of joy\u201d \u2013 and for those in the know, this is a misnomer, for there is no illusion. This was pure joy.\u201d – Richard Warp, Berkeley Music Examiner<\/p>\n

In support of their new DVD release, miRthkon will tour thee US in August. Joining the band at various stops will be MoeTar, Lovely Little Ladies (Cheer Accident side project), District 97, Thinking Plague, Kayo Dot, and TBD.<\/p>\n

miRthkon Tour Dates:
8\/11 Baltimore
8\/12 NYC
8\/13 NYC
8\/14 Philly (Sellersville)
8\/15 Cleveland
8\/16 Detroit
8\/17 Chicago
8\/18 Chicago
8\/19 Kansas City
8\/20 St. Louis\/TBD
8\/21 Omaha
8\/22 Denver
8\/23 Santa Fe
8\/24 Tucson
8\/25 San Diego
8\/26 LA
8\/28 SF<\/p>\n

Release date – July 3, 2012<\/p>\n

Source: www.miRthkon.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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