In strictly Luddite terms, Diamond Terrifier and Michael Beharie’s remix of Jonah Parzen-Johnson’s “Never Stop Counting” is an abomination, an attempt to codify human expression in computerized approximations of Morse code; the digital bastard of an analogue synth composition. And yet by sheer will of syncopation, it maintains some shred of its maker’s makers’ makers’ humanity. It’s within the empty gaps between notes and measures, in the silence of negative space, that an atavistic reversion to Thelonious Monk’s jazz piano occurs.
Of course this comparison is as imagined and marginal as the idea that the Luddite riots could have stemmed the tide of the industrial revolution. It ain’t happening, bro. And that’s why today’s Luddites are outchea with a website that’s two years out of date. But I digress.
If you want to experience the real-deal Jonah Parzen-Johnson, the Chicago-bred, Brooklyn-based lo-fi experimental folk musician, in the flesh and on paper, you might go see him blow live on stage November 2 at 10PM for his first Trans Pecos PRACTICE show (which just so happens to be co-curated by none other than Sam Hillmer aka Diamond Terrifier; RSVP here), and read his travelogue, Three Reasons To Live Here Volume 1, which was compiled over two months’ touring in support of Remember When Things Were Better Tomorrow, the album on which “Never Stop Counting” first appeared. See how everything comes full-circle like?
Said tour continues through November at the dates listed below:
11/02 - BROOKLYN, NY - TRANS PECOS
11/07 - MONTREAL, QC - LA PASSE
11/14 - PHILADELPHIA PA - RIGBY MANSION
11/17 - LAFAYETTE, IN - SPOT TAVERN
11/19 - CHICAGO, IL - CONSTELLATION
11/20 - CLEVELAND, OH - GUIDE TO KULCHUR
11/22 - MILWAUKEE, WI - WEST END CONSERVATORY
11/23 - MINNEAPOLIS, MN - ICE HOUSE
11/24 - MADISON, WI - MICKEY’S TAVERN
• Diamond Terrifier: http://www.diamondterrifier.com
• Michael Beharie: http://michaelbeharie.com
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