In C, live at the George Tavern

On December 5th, 2010, A Little Orchestra brought some friends together to perform Terry Riley's 'In C' for a second time, this time at the historic George Tavern in east London. The line-up on this occasion was: Alex Billig (bassoon); Dan Cameron (tabla); Catherine Carr (flute); Chris Cook (sitar); Nat Davies (violin); Jill Faure (viola); Rosie French (violin); Claire Hadidjenar (violin); Jon Ludvig Hansen (mandolin); Robbie Knight (synth); Chun-Ming Celia Lu (Vocals); Richard Sanderson (accordion); Nicola Burnett Smith (bass clarinet); Gabriel Stebbing (cello); Terry T-Toe (trombone); Matthew Walker (violin); Jerry Wigens (guitar); and Monster Bobby (the pulse, played on glockenspiel). The full recording can be downloaded here.

In c live at the george, 5 12 2010

'In C' at The Lexington, Sunday July 11th.

Sunday last at The Lexington, A Little Orchestra and friends performed Terry Riley's minimalist classic 'In C' for John Jervis's delightful Hangover Lounge afternoon. The result was so entrancing that Mr. Sean "Fortuna Pop" Price assures me he was not once tempted to return to his newspaper. The full roll call on the day was (from left to right, see above), Robbie Knight on the synthesizer, Catherine Carr on the flute, Alex Billig on the bassoon, Paul Mosley on the euphonium, Kit Mason on percussion, Nicola Burnett Smith on the bass clarinet, Daniel Trilling on the Casio ToneBank, Dan Spanner also on the bass clarinet, Chris Guy on clarinet, Melanie Powell on viola, Dominic Simpson on another Casio keyboard, Chris Cook aka Same Actor on sitar, Greg Taylor aka Foxtrot Echo on a Casio Pt-30, and (regrettably, beyond the frame) Anne-Marie Kirby on melodica. Oh, and that's me in the middle relentlessly striking quavers on a C-note hanging from a wire coathanger and gaffa-taped to a bin. A complete recording can be heard below (I should point out that the "by" below is intended merely to express who uploaded the piece and by no means its author):

'In C' (live at the lexington: 11/7/2010) by monster bobby

Last Week at Special Sounds . . .

Illustrations by Steve Reed.

Next Special Sounds - Wednesday 23rd September at Oliver's, Nevada Street, Greenwich.

"The aggressive character of primitive competition leaves its mark on every type of discourse about the Little Other."

The above is a picture of David and Joachim from Montt Mardié performing 'Paraply', their Swedish language cover of Rhianna's 'Umbrella', at Little Other's evening of Special Sounds, last night at Oliver's, Greenwich. The 'cathedral' reverb setting on David's voice rendered every word a wave washing interminably through the crowd, with the piano keys like pebbles washed up in the surf. Earlier in the evening, Same Actor worked up a maelstrom of digitally manipulated sounds from his sitar and dulcimer, Moustache of Insanity charmed us with their sing-along Casio pop, and Monster Bobby belched, mid-song, into the microphone, by way of a tribute to Brian Wilson's performance at Glastonbury 2005. Interval music came in the form of mixtapes made by Steve Reed and Niklas Vestberg, later to be given away as prizes for our Dr Who-themed quiz. As only two teams entered the quiz, and one of them was disqualified for mentioning David Tennant, the cds, hispanophone sounds from Steve and a tasty cocktail of Helen Love, The Shaggs and much more from Nik, were won by a certain mr. Timothy C. Holehouse. Little Other will return to Oliver's, with more Special Sounds, on September the 23rd. I trust I will see you there. . . 

"He practises it with the help of a small bobbin, that is to say, with the LIttle Other."

Whoops! Tomorrow at Oliver's Music Bar, Nevada Street, Greenwich, Little Other presents... Special Sounds! This month there will be swoonsome balladeering from Stockholm's favourite son, Montt Mardié, Casio pop, fumbling and facial hair from Moustache of Insanity, avant-garde instrumental electronic soundscapes wrung from a sitar and MaxMSP software from Same Actor, and the usual bobbins from me, Monster Bobby. Doors open around 8, interval music will be in the form of mixtapes specially selected and segues by our special guests - this month, Mrs. Reed and Nik of Moustache of Insanity and Records Make Great Pets. There will also be a short lecture on the philosophy of Spinoza and a fiendishly difficult quiz. You know full well you'd be a fool to miss it.