My Education / Theta Naught Sound Mass Tour at Boneshakers, Saturday Oct. 20th

In June 2010, My Education found themselves in the midst of a West Coast tour with three days to kill in Salt Lake City. Luckily, guitarist Brian Purington had been in touch via email with Ryan Stanfield, the bassist of Utah’s finest improvisational collective Theta Naught, about a possible collaboration. Studio time was quickly booked, and both bands decamped to AudioSpace Studios to document their efforts. Nine hours and five soundscapes later, the ensemble had recorded what they have now affectionately dubbed Sound Mass. Suitably inspired by their efforts in the studio, both outfits quickly agreed that their planned show the following day at SLC’s famed DIY venue Kilby Court should become an avenue for  further collaboration and experimentation. Ten musicians squeezed onto the stage of the tiny venue. An evening of noisy, exhilarating, cacophonous and yet somehow controlled joyous fun ensued.

After preliminary editing and mixing of the Sound Mass tapes was completed in SLC by Theta Naught and  engineer Hyrum Summerhays, the project was delivered to Austin and the capable hands of the Bump Boyz and Headbump Studios. The five tracks were whittled down to a single LP and thoroughly mixed with extensive harassment from the always-opinionated members of My Education. Indefatigable mastering engineer Sean  Seagler stepped in and dished out the final (vinyl) product, which is now released as part of Differential Records' Harmonic Motion series. Both bands enjoyed the whole experience so much that they performed "Sound Mass"  at a collaborative showcase for SXSW 2011 at the Hideout Theatre on Thursday March 17th, as well as at a day
party on the same date at the Blue Theatre. Subsequently, the ensemble performed at the 2011 Austin Psych Fest as the final band to appear at Seaholm Power Plant ever, closing the whole shebang down with a midnight performance after Roky Erickson and the Black Angels.

2012 finds the Sound Mass engines roaring to life again as the bands tour both Texas and Utah in support of the  vinyl issue of the collaboration. Shows are scheduled for:

Thurs. 10/18: Dallas TX – Club Dada
Fri. 10/19: Houston TX – Mango’s
Sat. 10/20: San Antonio TX – Boneshakers
Sun. 10/21: Austin TX – The ND
Fri. 11/16: Salt Lake City, UT – Bar Deluxe
Sat. 11/17: Provo, UT – TBC

Run time: 49 minutes

RIYL: Mono, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Rachel’s, Balmorhea, Explosions in the Sky, improvisation, orchestral music

Label: Differential Records


DIF.015
Formats: VINYL + Download/MP3

Track listing:
Careful With That Saw, Ryan * A Casual Shoe for
Yachting * Nonet * Communion * Salt Lake Film Society

Personnel:
James Alexander (viola) * Briawna Anderson (harp) *
Henna Chou (cello) * Darren Corey (drums) * Chris
Hackstie (pedal steel) * Josh Ogzewalla (guitar) * Brian
Purington (guitar) * Ryan Stanfield (bass, saw, banjo) *
Chris Stelly (drums) * Scott Telles (bass)



My Education on DayTrotter

Austin Chronicle Review



*Submitted by Brian

This show is 21+, $5 Cover feat. Wolverton, Christopher Noyse, Greensleeves, Andrew Delaney, Hexagramme 23 and Mikey Vibe