Saturday, September 5, 2009

Arkestral Maneuvers in the Dark

The Ad Astra Arkestra re-envisions old songs with new friends, more drums

Saturday, September 5, 2009

The Ad Astra Arkestra is (L to R): Mike Tuley, Suzanne Hogan, Megan Williams, Anthony Piazza, Brooke Hunt, Jimmy Fitzner, Billy Speer, and Nathan Wilder.

“The sound of confusion and celebration” is how the Ad Astra Archestra describes it’s sound — and with as many as a dozen members onstage, you can bet there will be plenty of both.

Initiated by Ad Astra Per Astra's Mike Tuley and Brooke Hunt following the departure of members Kurt and Julie Lane for New York, the eclectic group has performed in many incarnations and looks to continue evolving in upcoming months. The troupe re-envisions the already ambitious compositions of AAPA, casting them as country songs or tribal “Afra-beat” numbers.

This Saturday, the Arkestra will perform a “drum line” show at the Eighth Street Taproom (an early show) — an experiment spurred on by the absence of a couple members. On Wednesday, they’ll perform a more “conventional” show at the Jackpot, though there’s really no such thing when the Arkestra cuts loose.

Tuley and Hunt joined us before a band practice along with drum line members Nathan Wilder, Anthony Piazza, and Brian Miller. Included in the podcast are three new live recordings from a recent Arkestra show.

The Ad Astra Drumline is (L to R): Brooke Hunt, Mike Tuley, Nathan Wilder, Anthony Piazza, and Brian Miller.

Source: Lawrence.com

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