photo by Chevy Anderson
by Ingrid Holmquist
From the ashes of Gus & Call arises the reincarnate Electric Chamber Music. Well, not exactly.
Although Electric Chamber Music features three of the same members as Gus & Call, this new project departs from its country-folk-blues-psychedelic predecessor with an aim to create thematic music. This new passion for soundtrack and more conceptual pieces sparked when ECM's four bandmates — Aaron Markley, Daniel Ocanto, Dan McCarthy and James Maakestad — decided to help produce a play by Mac Wellman running in late May.
But first, the new band will bring their music to a concert setting on April 5 at The Sydney in Omaha. They will be accompanying the Kill County album release show alongside Outlaw Con Bandana. The show starts at 9 p.m. on Friday, and cover is $5.
Read on as guitarist Maakestad tells Hear Nebraska about Electric Chamber Music and discusses the upcoming show:
Hear Nebraska: Can you tell me a bit about the original conceptualization of Electric Chamber Music?
James Maakestad: This ensemble basically consists of Aaron Markley, Daniel Ocanto, Dan McCarthy and me; we are putting it together to make thematic music. The original catalyst for the band is soundtracking a play for Metro Community College's "Great Plains Theater Conference" at the end of May.
We decided quite awhile ago to do another live soundtrack for the same playwright, director and actor as last year. So the birth of Electric Chamber Music is simply a vessel to make music for that project. Gus & Call did the soundtrack last time, and since the band has passed away, we are going to make music under this moniker.
HN: How would you describe your music?
JM: Well, that depends. For this show on April 5, it will be like a patch quilt. Some mellow droning material, some straight-up sad songs, and maybe a little country or rock ‘n’ roll. For the play Wu World Woo, the music will be a minimalist soundtrack — probably some music of our playing style mixed with Morricone-type leitmotifs.
HN: If your band had a match.com profile what would it entail?
JM: Intentional living, silence, dynamic range … maybe a cat picture or two.
HN: What sparked the switch from Gus & Call into Electric Chamber Music?
JM: This ensemble is a vessel to work with thematic music (such as a soundtrack). There was no intended switch to this from Gus & Call, save that a few of us were interested in live soundtracks and conceptual pieces (which G&C also dabbled in) and wanted to continue playing music together. Awhile after the band's cessation, Daniel, Aaron and I began chatting about a new group for Metro's Theater Conference, which we had committed to quite some time ago.
HN: You have a gig with Kill County on April 5. What's your band’s relationship with Kill County?
JM: I play bass in Dan McCarthy's McCarthy Trenching, which has performed with Kill County a handful of times. We really like all their tunes and aesthetic.
HN: Have you heard their new record yet?
JM: I have not. I'm looking forward to picking up a record at the show. I'm sure it is great. Their satellite-method of making music (spread out between Austin, Lincoln and Ann Arbor) is an interesting element to me.
HN: What are you thoughts about that upcoming show?
JM: Should be fun. I am looking forward to performing with Daniel and Aaron again — they, as well as McCarthy, are excellent musicians and some of my closest friends. I hope that our music will be received, some of it thematic and instrumental, being a little different than a band with songs.
HN: What's next for Electric Chamber Music?
JM: Like I said, we have this play by Mac Wellman that we are performing at the Blue Barn on May 26. We are also going to try to do some auxiliary showings of it in unconventional spaces, though these performances have not yet been set or confirmed.
Ingrid Holmquist is a Hear Nebraska intern. She encourages you to apply for a summer internship with Hear Nebraska. It’s stellar. Reach her at ingridh@hearnebraska.org.