Shane Perlowin: News

We are deep in production on the next Ahleuchatistas album!  It is the first full length album of the Perlowin/Oslance duo arrangement of Ahleuchatistas.  We are working with super producer Mastin Simmons, and this is going to be the monster album that this project has been evolving towards.  It is comprised of the music performed on the April 2010 European tour.  I am super excited!!!  Also, we will be doing some Mid-West dates surrounding our appearance at Wire Magazine's Adventures in Modern Music Festival in Chicago at the Empty Bottle on September 11th.  And, a European tour is in the works for November/December.  (And a big one is in the works for March/April 2011.)  

I am doing 5 shows in New York City at the end of October, both solo guitar concerts and improv collaborations with some notable New Yorkers.  

After 2 and a half years of production and struggle, Doom Ribbons' debut album "The Violence The Violence" is finally finished recording.  Now, we just need to release it somehow...  Nice to finally move on to the next phase of getting this thing on its own two legs...  And, go figure, we are ready to record an entirely new program of music that we composed over the past 2.5.

Ahleuchatistas has just released a 10" vinyl split record on Gaffer Records, featuring the song Heraclitean.  It is the first release by the new duo lineup.

Pilgrim has self-released an EP, called The Dog's Dinner, that I play guitar on.

In April 2010 Ahleuchatistas, now a guitar/drums duet, mounted our best European tour yet!  And we are graciously humbled and overjoyed by the level of enthusiasm which has greeted the new musical directions for this long running project of mine.  As of writing, it is the eve of entering the studio to make a new album of the latest songs.  

I am lucky to have just held my 3rd recital for my guitar students, who fill me with pride and inspiration.  It is an essential part of my musical life to work with students, young and old, in learning to play, exploring our instrument, and finding our voice.

The Open Letter Music Series got off to a roaring start this year, with percussionist Tatsuya Nakatani at Static Age Records, with Villages and myself, back in March.  

Upcoming concerts in the series this year are:

The Thing + Joe McPhee at Static Age Records on Monday, June 21, 9pm. $10.  I will open with a solo guitar set.

Friction Brothers at LAB on Monday, June 28, 9pm. $10.  James Owen opens.

Aram Shelton Quartet at Static Age Records on Friday, July 30, 9pm.  $10.  Opener TBA.

Jeb Bishop Trio at Static Age Records on Monday, September 13, 9pm.  $10.  Opener TBA.

Chicago/Luzern Exchange at TBA, date TBA.  9pm.  $10.  Opener TBA.

 

Other than that, I am working tirelessly on my solo guitar compositions, hoping to record a new Pilgrim album, needing to finish the Doom Ribbons album, and looking to take on some new students.

First off, in December 2009, I finally pressed and released my first solo album on my own label! "The Vacancy in Every Verse" is now available from Open Letter Records.

www.openletterrecords.com

So, with the solo album and the Tzadik release of Ahleuchatistas "Of the Body Prone", two albums saw the light of day in 2009...  A few others are still in the works for 2010.

Here is a quick 2009 overview, then some specific high points: I released two albums, curated five Open Letter Music Series concerts, held two recitals for my guitar students, and performed over 125 gigs, inlcuding two US tours and one in Europe...

Now, in detail, just a handful of the 2009 musical events that blew my mind:

March 20th - Perlowin/Burkett opens for Bill Frisell and Greg Liesz

June 9th - Mind Vs Target opens for Sir Richard Bishop and the Freak of Araby Ensemble

June 28th - Josh Berman's Old Idea plays the Open Letter Music Series (Mind Vs Target opens)

July 25th - Tim Daisy's Vox Arcana plays the Open Letter Music Series (Perlowin/Burket opens)

August 8th - 11th - Mind Vs Target plays a series of concerts in Chicago jazz clubs

August 30th - Perlowin/Hoerr duet plays sold out TEDx conference at the Orange Peel in Asheville

September 9th - Pilgrim (duet) opens for Vic Chessnut (RIP)

September 23 - Mind Vs Target opens for A Hawk and a Hacksaw

September 29th - Ahleuchatistas releases 5th album to raves from New York Times, NPR, and more

October 1st - 15th - Ahleuchatistas tours France and Spain

November 14th - Eugene Chadbourne & Tatsuya Nakatani play the Open Letter Music Series

November 22nd - Doom Ribbons and Blues Control play Harvest Records

December 10th - Rempis/Rosaly play the Open Letter Music Series (Lulo opens)

December 17th - Aram Shelton's Fast Citizens play the Open Letter Music Series (solo guitar set opens)

On deck for 2010 are albums by Doom Ribbons, Pilgrim, and another solo album.  The CD release show for The Vacancy in Every Verse is on February 3rd at the Grey Eagle.  Ahleuchatistas and Mind Vs Target are touring the East Coast together in February, heading up to gigs at The Stone in NYC.  Ahleuchatistas has plans for touring in Italy and Austria in April.  I will do a series of solo concerts in Chicago jazz clubs in late June.  And my students and I will continue to explore the limitless possibilities of our instrument together. 

Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2010!!!!

First of all, I'd like to welcome back all of my students who were on summer break, and also extend a welcome to my new students. I am looking forward to working with each of you in achieving your musical goals and realizing your potential, and all the fun we will have exploring the limitless possibilities of our instrument.

In recording news, the new Ahleuchatistas album is complete and will be released on Sept 29th on John Zorn's Tzadik Records. We are very excited about this. It is drummer Ryan Oslance's debut album with the band.

The Doom Ribbons debut album is finally almost done. For real!!!! It has been almost 2 years in production, but we made it. Things take longer when you have no budget, but it has been worth the wait. We will be investigating release options for what is certainly the most beautiful recording I have ever been a part of.

My first solo album "The Vacancy in Every Verse" is going to be mastered by my childhood friend and first drummer, Ian Weir. This has been shelved for a while due to financial woes, but will hopefully see the light of day soon on my label Open Letter Records.

Speaking of which, the Open Letter Music Series has been going well so far. Josh Berman's Old Idea and Tim Daisy's Vox Arcana were mind blowing concerts that inspired all in attendance. It is such a pleasure to be able to curate these events. One show has been added to the series this year: Eugene Chadbourne at Bo Bo Gallery on Nov 14th. And don't forget Dave Rempis/Frank Rosaly duo on Dec 10th at Bo Bo as well.

Jaye Bartell's Pilgrim has been a large focus for me lately. We are performing together regularly and gearing up for a November tour of the Northeast and recordings.

Lulo, my collaboration with drummer Ryan Oslance, has, after a year of experimentation and searching, found its direction and we are running with it. So watch out, folks!

And, finally, after being exposed to some wonderful musics by a friend, I have been actively composing music for solo steel string acoustic guitar. Somewhat in the vein of John Fahey/Leo Kotke, but with my own harmonic/melodic/rhythmic sensibilities. Looking forward to premiering this material at a future date.

Ahleuchatistas is about to record a fifth full length album, our second for Tzadik.

"The Vacancy in Every Verse", my debut solo album is finished. I plan to master it and self-release it on Open Letter Records this summer.

James Owen, Darren Stroupe, and I are mixing the debut Doom Ribbons album. We began production in January of 2008. This is the longest I have spent producing a record in my life, but I think it will be worth the wait.

Mind Vs Target has a series of gigs coming up in May at Zambra and will open for Sir RIchard Bishop at the Grey Eagle in Asheville in June. We hope to begin production on our long overdue record shortly thereafter.

Lulo will be recording something very soon, too. We plan to begin DIY touring with this project right away.

I am excited to be learning the music of Jaye Bartell, and rehearsing with him and Patrick Kukuca, in preparations for performing with and recording Jaye's project, Pilgrim.

Finally, I have some very exciting jazz bands coming through Asheville this year as part of the Open Letter Music Series. Groups led by groundbreaking Chicago musicians Tim Daisy, Josh Berman, and Dave Rempis are all confirmed to play at Bo Bo Gallery in 2009. And more is in the works... This is top notch stuff you don't want to miss.

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