Why hang out in some crowded bar drinking bad beer dyed green, when you can catch this month’s Strobe Session! We’re lucky enough to have two great bands performing this month.
Photo by Brad Johnson
David Singer and the Sweet Science
David Singer is a songwriter and musician based in Chicago. His new album is called ARROWS, and it is available wherever fine recordings are sold. He has previously released four LPs, East of the Fault Line, The Stars Burn Out, Civil Wars, and The Cost of Living, as well as numerous other singles, compilations, etcetera, etcetera.
Recently, David scored Steppenwolf Theatre’s August: Osage County, winner of 5 Tony Awards including Best Play. David was previously known to dozens as the frontman of the critically adored and widely ignored band Kid Million. He has nearly thirty stitches in his head, all acquired before his fourth birthday. David also plays in a band called Doris and has been trying for years to get into The Poncey Lads. He does not own cowboy boots, nor does he intend to.
David and his band have shared the stage with such luminaries as Spoon, Robyn Hitchcock, Neko Case, Beulah, The Lemonheads, blah, blah, blah. His talented accompanists are sometimes billed as The Sweet Science. David is “classically trained”, if by “classically trained” you mean he took four guitar lessons from a hippie in the late 70s and six piano lessons in 2006.
His favorite basketball player of all time is Ron Harper. David is on the Board of Directors of the Intonation Music Workshop and is one of the directors of Chicago’s Intonation Music Festival. He once appeared on the cover of a Life cereal box, and also got three callbacks for Kramer vs. Kramer before they chose someone who looked exactly like his brother. His photo series “Traffic Cones” was shortlisted for the 2008 Whitney Biennial. David composes music for progressive candidates and causes around the U.S., including NRDC, American Cancer Society, Congresswoman Melissa Bean (D-IL) and Congressman Harry Mitchell (D-AZ). His cat, Malik, is named after Phife from A Tribe Called Quest. His fake ID in high school listed his name as Glenn Tilbrook. Only one of the above statements is false.
© 2011 Jacob Hand Photography
Eiren Caffall
Eiren’s music comes from her childhood in the wooded hills of Western Massachusetts, where her bohemian parents took her to art galleries, hash parties and Shaker Barns filled with drying herbs. Her father conducted the Church of Jazz in their living room every Sunday morning, and she spent a lot of time reading about maritime disasters. And, when they lost everything, several times, it made quite an impression.
These influences have resulted in her unusual lyricism, strong songcraft and the faint shock of surprise as the shy quiet of her lap steel guitar meets her longing voice. Underneath her narratives of loss, there is always the pull of joy. Her songs are tiny anthems for that moment when you think you might drown, and, failing to swim, you unexpectedly begin to fly.
Currently, she is lucky enough to share the stage – and the work of arranging her songs – with three incredible musicians. Ariel Bolles plays stand-up bass and sings the world’s most gorgeous harmonies; she also plays with Rachel Ries and formerly with Bakelite 78. Joshua Dumas of Notes & Scratches, Jitney and several wonderful operas, plays essential lead electric guitar and sings. Lawrence Peters, on drums, provides an indispensable and sensitive anchor, not to mention vocals; he also performs with such diverse projects as the Lawrence Peters Outfit, The Golden Horse Ranch Band, The Velcro Lewis Group, Hardscrabble, and Plastic Crimewave Sound.
Together they make quiet rocking sad songs, delicate things that are angry, plaintive harmonies that restore a sense of liftoff to a sunken heart.
Strobe Recording Studio
2631 W. Division
Chicago, IL
Doors open around 7:30, with the first act going on at 8pm, the second at 9pm. The event is BYOB. There is a $10 suggested donation which goes to the artists. Both sets will be recorded live in front of an audience for future DVD release. Please plan to arrive on time.
*THERE IS LIMITED SEATING AT THIS EVENT. IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND, YOU MUST RSVP TO: strobesessions@gmail.com
