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Ichneumonidae (Toby Driver related) - 04/21/12

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Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Live Performance Reviews
Forum Description: Performance Reviews by Members
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=86487
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Topic: Ichneumonidae (Toby Driver related) - 04/21/12
Posted By: Equality 7-2521
Subject: Ichneumonidae (Toby Driver related) - 04/21/12
Date Posted: April 25 2012 at 17:18

April 21st 2012 – I find myself struggling to stay awake on the NJ Transit train carrying me to New York City. I’m already sleep deprived and dreading the exacerbation to follow after what will certainly be another sleepless night. Given the occasion though, these matters seem rather trivial. For the first time in all my years of being a fan, I would finally see Toby Driver live. Deaths, cancelled shows, and mechanical failures delayed the day, but those lost opportunities just made this all the more exciting. My first show would be matched by a first from Toby: the unveiling of his new trio, Ichneumonidae. 


The Stone featured three musical acts that night, all of whom put on a performance worthy of review. Ichneumonidae unveiled itself in the middle set.  In a space which would strain to seat fifty people, on a non-descript NYC street corner, I sat mere inches from a seated, guitar wielding Toby Driver with a mass of white and purple balloons hovering above us. Timba Harris sat a few feet away with violin in hand. The performance began, serene and mysterious with an air of boding. Superficial initial observations invoked memories of Tartar Lamb II. However, I emphasize superficial. It quickly faded as the work seems to share nothing of the timing, structure, or mood of that project.

 

After a few moments, slow movement stage-left began to excite the peripheral of my vision, demanding attention.  Michelle Morinaga emerged from the corner, slowly blooming out of the darkness, as an undead figure of pure white skin and burning red eyes. Saying that Michelle demanded the viewer’s attention would do her no justice. She moved across the floor with especially superb lower body control. On the occasion that you locked eyes, she would freeze you like a gorgon and leave you powerless to look away.

 

The trio worked surprisingly well together to the point that a mere audio recording would leave me highly disappointed. The art expressed itself through all three of the creators with the stage performance and music symbiotically growing together. Michelle failed to ever disappoint, bringing to life bizarre insect behavior, removing prey from her throat, twirling manically with balloons, ritualistically stabbing out at the audience, rattling seashells, and all the while controlling her body expertly. The music maneuvered through similar sets of moods. It appeared to be a work in three movements (slow – slow – fast) to my incredibly untrained ear. Timba and Toby both performed as you would expect from their track records. A blisteringly fast exchange between the two of them served as the highlight of piece for me near its conclusion.

 

The performance ended with the trio removing themselves to the basement under a thunderstorm of applause. Ichneumonidae was a success. When the night’s music ended, I emerged from the Stone to a deluge of rain and violent wind. I had to walk three miles to Penn Station through the elements. I had to wait until 3:00am to begin by two hour journey home through Amtrak. I needed to think about getting through work the next day not having slept for two nights. But none of that mattered. For the moment, Ichneumonidae left me immune to the demanding minutia of life. What more can we ask art to do?


Ichneumonidae is Toby Driver (guitar, vocals), Timba Harris (Violin), and Michelle Morinaga (parasitomorphism). Be sure to look for future news regarding this project and more from Toby http://www.kayodot.net/toby/" rel="nofollow - here. Continue to support http://thestonenyc.com/support.html" rel="nofollow - The Stone , http://www.facebook.com/OfficialEsphere" rel="nofollow - Estradasphere , http://www.webofmimicry.com/label.php?band=sc3" rel="nofollow - Secret Chiefs 3 , and Michelle (I couldn't find a link to her work unfortunately).



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"One had to be a Newton to notice that the moon is falling, when everyone sees that it doesn't fall. "



Replies:
Posted By: colorofmoney91
Date Posted: April 25 2012 at 19:10
Cool story bro.

No, but seriously, that sounds awesome. I look forward to more news on this project.


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http://hanashukketsu.bandcamp.com" rel="nofollow - Hanashukketsu


Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: April 29 2012 at 19:28
I am once again green with envy. Would have loved to have been there, but transatlantic gig going is not an option.

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Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005



Posted By: Equality 7-2521
Date Posted: April 30 2012 at 12:30
I've found out that Toby plans to release a DVD of the band performing so keep looking for information. 

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"One had to be a Newton to notice that the moon is falling, when everyone sees that it doesn't fall. "


Posted By: stat1331
Date Posted: April 30 2012 at 13:23
Here's video I took from the show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOqDQBIc9F8&feature=colike

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXexdI5iBds&feature=colike

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEKcArfycx0&feature=colike


Posted By: Equality 7-2521
Date Posted: April 30 2012 at 13:45
^Keith Abrams?

Thanks for the video.


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"One had to be a Newton to notice that the moon is falling, when everyone sees that it doesn't fall. "


Posted By: Sleep_Within
Date Posted: May 16 2012 at 18:16
You can help fund the project here:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tdriver/toby-driver-and-michelle-morinaga-ichneumonidae" rel="nofollow - http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tdriver/toby-driver-and-michelle-morinaga-ichneumonidae


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"I decided to draw some pictures in the air, pictures of all my imaginations."


Posted By: Triceratopsoil
Date Posted: May 16 2012 at 18:21
Yep, already did


Posted By: Equality 7-2521
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 12:11
I donated that so hard that nobody else will be able to donate for weeks.


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"One had to be a Newton to notice that the moon is falling, when everyone sees that it doesn't fall. "


Posted By: tobydriver
Date Posted: May 31 2012 at 00:14
Hey guys! I just wanted to post a reminder about the fundraising campaign for the Ichneumonidae album & film. The support of progarchives.com for my work has always been strong and very greatly appreciated! I hope you guys can take a minute to check out the kickstarter page for this project and make a donation/preorder if you're so inclined. Without your support we can't make this happen! We only have a few more weeks to go on it. If we go over our goal, we'll be able to make a more grandiose album/film as well as actually being able to pay the musicians, omg!!! Thanks very much for your support - toby

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tdriver/toby-driver-and-michelle-morinaga-ichneumonidae


Posted By: Equality 7-2521
Date Posted: June 21 2012 at 14:16
Just so you know guys the project is funded, but it has basically been extended in the sense that certain benchmarks above the original goal will allow for added things - most notably taking the project on tour.

Donate up.


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"One had to be a Newton to notice that the moon is falling, when everyone sees that it doesn't fall. "



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