David Greenberger and Prime Lens
photo by Steve Hickman
The Shaking Ray Levi Society will present David Greenberger and Prime Lens: "My Thoughts Approximately" CD release shows on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 18 and 19. For both nights the doors will open at 7:30 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m.
The events will be held at Wayne-O-Rama at 1800 Rossville Ave., #108. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door and available here.
Review for David Greenberger and Prime Lens: "My Thoughts Approximately":
David Greenberger and Prime Lens will present live performances featuring the monologues of the Duplex Planet publisher and NPR contributor combined with the musical compositions of long time collaborator Bob Stagner, double bassist Evan Lipson, and keyboardist Tyson Rogers, in celebration of the release of their new CD "My Thoughts Approximately."
Dennis Palmer of the Shaking Ray Levis died quietly in his sleep, succumbing to heart problems that had been shadowing him for a couple decades. Working with co-founder and drummer Bob Stagner, and David Greenberger, they had just completed a new album, "Tramps That Go Think in the Night" on the tenth anniversary of their first collaboration, "Mayor of the Tennessee River." As part of a two-night concert event celebrating Mr. Palmer’s life and work in 2013, David and Bob were joined by bassist Evan Lipson and keyboardist Tyson Rogers for a performance.
They debuted their new ensemble, David Greenberger and Prime Lens, at the Big Ears Festival in 2014 (festival founder Ashley Capps dedicated the three day event to the memory of Palmer and Lou Reed). Since it was Dennis who had brought them together in the first place, “and Prime Lens” is an anagram of “Dennis Palmer.” "My Thoughts Approximately" draws on four decades of conversations David Greenberger has had with elderly in various cities and circumstances, which are the starting point for the 30 emotionally, rich, character driven monologues.
For two decades artist David Greenberger (best known for 32 years of his periodical, The Duplex Planet) has been exploring the ways in which music can be wedded to spoken monologues. His conversations with old people are the basis for the text he develops. He presents characters who still find pleasure in the company of others, and who open up, sometimes in very small ways, to someone taking an interest in them. This is Greenberger’s art: eschewing oral history, abstracting dialogues by shaping them into works that resonate with shared humanity. Over the years he has worked with a range of musical collaborators, among them Terry Adams (NRBQ), David Hidalgo & Louie Perez (Los Lobos), Glenn Jones, Chris Corsano, Robyn Hitchcock, Wreckless Eric, 3 Leg Torso, Paul Cebar, and Birdsongs of the Mesozoic.
Bob Stagner has been a percussionist, teacher, speaker, and leader in arts advocacy for 30 years. He co-founded the duo the Shaking Ray Levis, as well as the Shaking Ray Levi Society, an arts education organization that supports emerging artists in performance, visual art, and film. Stagner is the Southeast director of the Rhythmic Arts Project providing music workshops for people with disabilities. He has performed and recorded with a wide range of musicians, including Derek Bailey, Rev. Howard Finster, Wayne White, Bob Dorough, Vassar Clements, June Carter Cash, Tony Oxley, Fred Frith, Amy Denio, Shelley Hirsch, Col. Bruce Hampton, John Zorn, and Roger Alan Wade (with whom he tours regularly).
Evan Lipson tours with Roughhousing (featuring Jack Wright and Zach Darrup). Past units include Normal Love, Satanized, Wrest, Dynamite Club, Psychotic Quartet, Femme Tops, and the Weasel Walter Trio. He has collaborated in performance and on recordings with, among others, Susan Alcorn, Mick Barr, Kath Bloom, Peter Evans, David Grubbs, Col. Bruce Hampton, Mary Halvorson, Konk Pack, Byard Lancaster, Pauline Oliveros, Jessica Pavone, Ruins (Yoshida Tatsuya), Shaking Ray Levis, Veryan Weston, Wolter Wierbos, Davey Williams, and Nate Wooley.
Tyson Rogers is a recording and touring musician and has toured extensively with bluesman Tony Joe White and country legend Don Williams, playing on his Grammy nominated duet with Alison Krauss, “I Just Come Here for the Music.” Tyson’s original music has been featured by National Geographic, The North Face, and Tom’s Shoes. His recordings have received critical acclaim, earning “Best CDs of the Year” by Downbeat magazine and others.
For more information visit the Facebook event page.