Kultur Shock met up to prepare for our summer tour in Sofia Bulgaria yesterday. After a day-long rehearsal, our bassist Guy suggested that we rename the tour as the Overwhelming Positivity Tour. And so it is!
Our friend Tico made this poster a while back, and though some of the dates and places have changed (see the previous post), we ADORE the graphic ~ as always. Genius!
We’re baaack in action ~ Kultur Shock is meeting in Sofia Bulgaria in a few days to rehearse with brother Oggi Kiossovski on drums and Darko Saračević on the mixing console. Then we’ll hit the road with due fervor.
There are still some concerts to be confirmed, but this is what we know for now!
| 02.07.22. | N. Macedonia | Stari Dojran | DFestival |
| 03.07.22. | Bulgaria | Sofia airport park | Hills of Rock Sofia edition |
| 04.07.22. | Beograd | OFF | |
| 05.07.22. | Beograd | OFF | |
| 06.07.22. | Croatia | Virovitica | Horn Pub |
| 07.07.22. | Austria | Vienna | Coco Bar |
| 08.07.22. | Czech Republic | Pardubice | The Factory Bar |
| 09.07.22. | Netherlands | Wormerveer | De Groote Weiver zomerfeest |
| 10.07.22. | Germany | Munich | Import Export |
| 11.07.22. | |||
| 12.07.22. | Croatia | Rijeka | Vežica |
| 13.07.22. | Croatia | Zagreb | Vintage Industrial Bar |
| 14.07.22. | Bosnia-Hrz | Stolac | Iskre Budućnosti fest |
| 15.07.22. | Bosnia-Hrz | Lukavac | BBCC |
| 16.07.22. | Serbia | Belgrade | Zappa Barka |
| 17.07.22. | |||
| 18.07.22. | |||
| 19.07.22. | |||
| 20.07.22. | Slovenia | Ljubljana | Channel Zero |
| 21.07.22. | Slovenia | Koper | CMK |
| 22.07.22. | Croatia | Zadar | Nigdjezemska |
| 23.07.22. | Croatia | Sinj | SARS festival |
I’ve have had the honor to sing with Gino Jevdjevic in Kultur Shock since 1999. I love playing sax, clarinet, guitar, bouzouki, frula, theremin ~ and now zourna!
We play an inimitable mix of Balkan folk/metal/punk/trance/prog. Our concerts are unforgettable ~ we sail through our crazy concerts with our hearts and souls ~ sometimes body surfing, often accompanied by everyone singing along, and love circulates like magic.
After a long dark winter, we’re playing at Tractor Tavern in late May, then touring in Europe/Balkans in July!
, and is back in action, playing at Tractor Tavern in late May, then touring in Europe/Balkans in July!
Now available!
My fabulous sound score THE SEATTLE SOUND was commissioned by Italian National Radio in 1994!
Pino Saulo created a series for his program Battiti, asking composers from around the world to create a 15-minute radio play based on the place where they lived.
I walked around Seattle and made a variety of field recording. Then created and recorded chamber music on my instrumentarium to weave everything together.
Enjoy!
I took this photograph after dark in the rest room at Lincoln Park in West Seattle.
We lost Lelio Giannetto to COVID two years ago. One of the most intrepid musicians and visionaries in the international improvised music scene, he tirelessly cultivated innovation in Sicily.
Filmmaker Salvo Cuccia collaborated with many artists to create a moving visual and audio homage to Lelio called La Zona Rossa (FollowTheSilence). I was honored to participate.
My colleague Gioele Valenti tells me that the film is premiering at the Noir et Rouge cinema in Palermo today. Evviva Lelio!!!!
The trailer:
Saturday March 5 (6pm - midnight) BALKAN NIGHT NORTHWEST Featuring the world premiere of Omerića! Marchette DuBois: accordion, flute, voice Anne Matthews: electric guitar, percussion, voice Amy Denio: alto sax, clarinet, accordion, voice Kevin Stevens: electric bass Kai Strandskov: drums, voice Proof of vaccination or negative COVID test required for entry. We'll be playing our Eurovision style pan-Balkan hits on the Mezzanine around 8:45pm. =========== Sunday March 13 (7:30pm) Spoot Second Sunday Series @ Cafe Racer This month features folk music from around the world! The Lonely Coast (Anne Matthews & Valerie Holt) Dromeno (Govetas family & friends playing fabulous music from the Greek tradition!) All ages until 10pm Entrance: Sliding Scale, $5 - $15 Proof of vaccination or negative COVID test required for entry.
It’s been snowy in Seattle this week. At dusk on New Year’s Eve, I noticed icicles hanging outside Jon’s bathroom. I grabbed my phone to take a photo and perched on the edge of the bathtub to get the shot.
I couldn’t get it. The window was covered with a sheet of film for privacy, making it almost impossible to capture the icicles, plus the neighbor’s truck was in the way.
Suddenly the rod holding up the shower curtain fell with a clang. That was the second time a curtain rod lost purchase today. I laughed. Gravity must be heavier today.
When I looked out the window again, my vision had shifted. Aha! The moment was perfect in a new way. The window blur and the truck shape were part of the big picture. I embraced what I couldn’t change.
May 2022 inspire new ways of seeing old things.
I’ve started setting tongue twisters by Dr. Seuss to music.
Please enjoy Fresh Fish, from his poem “Fresh, Fresher Freshest” from ‘O Say Can You Say?’ published by Random House. Permission sought.
Thanks to Jon Davis for helping me record the alto sax and his voice.
Do you like fresh fish?
It’s just fine at Finney’s Diner
Finney also has some fresher fish, that’s fresher and much finer
But his best fish is his freshest fish
And Finney says with pride:
‘The finest fish at Finney’s is my freshest fish, French-fried.’
So, don’t order the fresh ~ or the fresher fish at Finney’s if you’re wise.
You’ll say ‘Fetch me the finest French-fried freshest fish that Finney fries.’
I’ve been asked to curate 2nd Sundays each month at Cafe Racer. Their new location on Capitol hill is gorgeous and full of love!
In January, Spoot Sessions will feature a stunning set with Chet Corpt (kora) and Brady Kish (bass), then mesmerizing music with griot & balafon master Naby Camara, Carol Olivier (balafon) and myself (alto sax & clarinet).
Then we’ll open it up for small group improvisations. Happy New Year!
Here’s Naby playing solo.
amydenio 