James Jackson Toth (better known by his nom de plume, Wooden Wand) and MAGNET go way back. We’ve been rabidly following his prolific, genre-eschewing career over the last decade: 100-plus records and counting, from short run seven-inches and handmade CD-Rs to major releases on some of the world’s most respected indie labels, including Kill Rock Stars, Ecstatic Peace and Young God, covering everything from the freakiest of folk to the most American rock ‘n’ roll money can buy. We’ve been lucky enough to have him as guest editor of magnetmagazine.com a couple of other times over the years, and he’s hooked us up with great mix tapes and been a constant source of great discussions about music. Toth will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our new Q&A with him.
Toth: This was definitely one of the more satisfying concerts I have attended. I have witnessed the dynamo Chris Corsano in various groups and configurations on several occasions, and was thus (somewhat) prepared for the octopodular hellfire that is his stock and trade, but I had yet to see ubiquitous bassist Darin Gray perform. I don’t envy any improviser who has to hold court alongside Corsano, but if there’s a perfect foil for Corsano’s singular brand of fire (napalm?) music, it is the awesomely resourceful Gray, who treats his bass less as a musical instrument than a means to an end. Saw this duo two nights in a row—the first featuring a second set wherein the duo Chiakmorachi expanded to a quartet, joined by guests Steve Good (of Sapat infamy) on reeds and the always impressive Tim Barnes on second kit—and left each night spellbound and speechless.
Video after the jump.
