Friday, September 20, 2013
With heavy emphasis on swirling violins and vocal looping, Kishi Bashi creates the kind of avant-pop associated with popular groups like of Montreal and Animal Collective. A project of singer and multi-instrumentalist K. Ishibashi, Kishi Bashi's music is built up piece by piece, combining violins and vocals with beatboxing. The result is a joyous and surprisingly complex sound that leaves the listener wanting more. Ishibashi's playfulness comes through on every song, whether he's singing in English or Japanese, performing a tightly rehearsed melody or completely improvising.
Ishibashi has toured with well-known acts like singer-songwriter Regina Spektor and of Montreal, with whom he collaborated on their most recent album, 2012's Paralytic Stalks. According to Ishibashi, working with of Montreal's Kevin Barnes pushed him creatively and allowed him to experiment with his violin in ways he hadn't before. Shortly after the release of Paralytic Stalks, Ishibashi released his own debut EP, 151a, as Kishi Bashi.
He is currently in the middle of a two-month long tour of the East Coast and will be stopping in Pittsburgh this weekend. Ishibashi last performed here in February, at a concert at Carnegie Mellon's The Underground. This Sunday the violinist returns, performing at the Altar Bar with Richmond-based indie rock group My Darling Fury.
Doors for Sunday's all ages show open at 7 p.m. For more information and tickets, visit www.thealtarbar.com.
Tags: Kishi Bashi , of Montreal , My Darling Fury , FFW>>