New Release by Stereo Creeps: Big Wet Hard Body Party Yeah!

Three years in the making, and this epic party album is finally public!

Just before we went into quarantine, the pandemic was heating up but it wasn’t clear if it was contained or going to spread. Preproduction on the album was done, and we had studio dates booked at Earwig Studio. Sad Trombone! Everything was canceled, and the album was put on ice.

As things opened up again, years later, we knew we had to go in and record the tracks asap. We started rehearsing furiously, and then of course some amazing things happened. You can’t stop the creativity. Robert had a crazy idea about adding horns. Sean discovered some ghost infested old tape recordings he had inherited, which we had to include somewhere. And then we had to add strings to back up those ghosts. And then we had an epic rehearsal sitting around a korg where we wrote all the keyboard parts in one session in a frenzy of manic collaboration. The breadth of places we were to travel had vastly expanded.

Finally, Earwig made special arrangements for us to get in. We all tested negative and wore masks, but the background pandemic context didn’t phase us. We created an epic party album anyway. What better way to release all that pent up energy after years of anticipation. You can find it as of today on bandcamp, and soon it will be released everwhere. We also have some very special limited edition merch just for this album. Come and say hi at our next show!

Ping Pong Pang

Album cover for Ping Pong Pang, with splattered paint

I’m very pleased to announce the release of this record. On one beautiful, sunny Seattle day, the three of us converged at Jack Straw Cultural Center and recorded whatever was to happen. What resulted was this surprising collection of improvisations. I find there’s a certain perfect balance that results from a triangle of improvisors. Just enough collaborators to close a circuit of inspiration. Few enough that we can easily communicate and respond to whatever transpires. In this session, you’ll hear how ideas bounced, ricocheted, collided, and vibrated as we created music together. I hope you enjoy!

Also, special thanks to Scott Schaffer for creating a felicitous environment for improv.

Check out Ping Pong Pang right now, featuring Amy Denio, James Hoskins, and myself Kai Strandskov.

Welcome to Murderville

Welcome to Murderville poster

I’m very excited to share with you that our 48 Hour Film Project submission “Welcome to Murderville”, which includes my debut original soundtrack, is available for viewing online. If you’re not familiar with the 48 Hour Film Project, this is a festival with very strict requirements for admission and judging that are centered around creating an original film within 48 hours. That short time span includes writing the script, and so necessarily even the soundtrack cannot really be fully realized until the script is significantly underway. This was my first participation, and it was a complete blast. It’s stressful, but the good kind of stress that draws out the highest creativity from everyone involved. I learned a lot, and I’m looking forward to next time!

Here is the IMDB listing where you can get all the details.

We have already submitted to a few film festivals and I have received Honorable Mention for Original Soundtrack in two festivals so far. We will also be making a director’s cut of the film where we are not constrained by the original rules of 48 Hour Film Project. The director’s cut will include an updated soundtrack by yours truly. I’ll keep you posted.

Relevant awards so far:

  • Cult Critic Movie Awards: Outstanding Achievement Award – Best Film Score
  • Virgin Spring Cinefest: Outstanding Achievement Award – Best Film Score

Video from Rumba Kings at the Triple Door

Recently I was honored to perform with the Rumba Kings at the Triple Door. Two sold out nights of emotional Mediterranean music, November 19th and 20th, 2021.

Here is one excerpt from the second night. Our rendition of Nothing Else Matters by Metallica. Enjoy!

https://fb.watch/9sRPz2Pr1f/

More videos are being added on social media and on the band website.

The Rumba Kings at the Triple Door

Please join me for an evening of Mediterranean music at the Triple Door. Two nights! This is quite a unique an expansive production, featuring dancers, a string quintet, guest singers, and other surprises. I will be performing on doumbek and tapan.

November 19 and 20, 2021 at the Triple Door

More info about the show, and tickets.

More info about The Rumba Kings.

I hope to see you there! Note: booths are about sold out, so grab those tix now to get the full experience.