Gigs We Dig

Concert Review: Mobtown Modern Presents Adam Tendler Performing John Cage's Piano Sonatas and Interludes

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Valentine's Day was this week and if you're a regular around these parts you've already seen a glimpse at what Steve was up to that night – For the Couples & For the Single People. As for myself, I spent the evening in the company of Adam Tendler and the good people of Mobtown Modern at the 2640 Space in Baltimore for a concert of John Cage's Sonatas & Interludes for prepared piano.

This wonderful program was a unique concert experience in one of those covert Baltimore concert spaces that always gives the music just a little bit more magic. Read on for the full review, upcoming concert dates from Mobtown Modern, and audio from Adam Tendler's performance. 

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Gigs We Dig

Norm Sherman CD Release Party TONIGHT!

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From the oldest epics chiseled onto tablets in the third millennium BC, to the Herculean friezes of Greece and Rome, a man's place in history has always been determined not but the strength of his character or the size of his heart, but by the smell of his fingers, and sound of his guitar. -Norm Sherman

Norm Sherman is the host of the award winning weekly flash fiction podcast The Drabblecast who also brings his spoken wit, sardonic sense of humor, and literary acumen to the stage. His previous album featured classics such as Daddy Drinks Because You Cry and everybody's favorite Everybody's Got Nipples. In celebration of the release of his second album, The Esoteric Order ofSherman, he will be hosting a record release concert with his long time stage partner Dusty Magnum (aka DaveWhoDigs). In addition to the concert, the evenings entertainment will also include variety acts by Paco Fish, Marla Meringue, and a few more surprises to add to the nights rambunctiousness.

The event will be hosted by the good people at the EMP Collective at 306 East Redwood Street in Baltimore MD at 8:00 pm tonight! The space will be also be featuring the art work of Ryan Haase with his collection entitled Night Sweats – A Thousand Ways to Die. Snacks and drinks will be provided. Furthermore, you can follow the event via twitter by way of The Drabblecast and myself, DaveWhoDigs for live updates throughout the evening. There will be burlesque, magic, music, door prizes, and a bathroom obstacle course – what's not to love? Come on out Baltimore and get your weird on with Norm and Dusty.

The Esoteric Order Of Sherman will be available via itunes January 24th.

Norm Sherman: Mongolian Deathworm ( Just Another Lonely Night)

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Gigs We Dig

hexaCollective: Winter Marathon Concert

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The hexaCollective is a relatively new project in the Balitmore/DC area. If you have not yet had the pleasure of getting to know them, let me introduce you. Dig Nation, this is the hexaCollective. hexaCollective, this is the Dig Nation. Let's be friends. You dig? 

hexaCollective is a group of singers and instrumentalists that works to fill the niche of diverse chamber and solo music programming.

The origin of the name hexaCollective draws from the six voice categories (soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass). The collective also includes instrumentalists, composers and others collaborators.

This Baltimore/DC based group's foundation is centered on the desire to explore possibilities in new works, some commissioned specifically for the ensemble or rarely performed pieces, with the intent of premiering several such works. 

This consortium of talented and adroit musicians is gathering Saturday Dec. 10th at The Mt. Vernon Music Space, 1015 N. Charles St. for their Winter Marathon Concert. Like the collective itself, it will traverse time and genre with music from Xenakis, Ravel, Vivaldi, Boulanger, and Debussy. Tickets are $5 for children/students and $10 for adults.  The concert will begin with the vocal portion of the show at 6:15 pm before yielding to the instrumental serving at 7:30.

Read on for more information about the hexaCollective as well as a video of their delightful singing from a recent performance.

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Gigs We Dig

Atlantic Guitar Quartet Concert Update

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By now I don't think it comes as a surprise that I am living multiple lives as a blogger, teacher, and performer. My classical guitar quartet the Atlantic Guitar Quartet is a major focus of my creative energy and we have done extraordinarily well in our short life span as speaker heads for contemporary classical music. Currently, we are performing the music of Ron Pearl, Roland Dyens, and Olivier Bensa. The combined language of these composers makes for a concert experience that explores different techniques, sounds, colors, and offers the audience the visual intrigue that only contemporary concerts can. A recording of the work Paroles from Bensa is attached below which was from a recent AGQ performance at Salisbury University.

Our next performance is at the Jordan Faye Contemporary Gallery in Baltimore MD this December 10th at 7:30. Advance ticket sales can be found via Ticket Leap, and more information regarding the quartet and this concert can be found over at Facebook and Twitter. The quartet will also be recording this week so give the twitter account a follow for pictures from the studio!

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