Make Tuesday Magical With David Daniell
By Tankboy in Arts & Entertainment on Nov 23, 2009 5:20PM
Photo by Craig S. McKibben Jr. from Daniell's MySpace page
If you’re like us and always on the prowl for up and coming local music, then don’t miss Magical Musical Showcase. Every fourth Tuesday at 6 p.m., notable Chicago organizations present their favorite local musicians at MCA’s Puck’s Café. We think this program is aces. It not only offer patrons a no-dough performance in a comfortable and classy setting, but it gives emerging local musicians an intimate, non-commercial outlet for their original work and post-performance time to wander the crowd and join in on discussions.
This month, the Empty Bottle presents David Daniell, and we can see why: he’s got raw talent, real passion and a sweet humility you don’t see much of these days. Like most experimental musicians, Daniell is familiar with a plethora of instruments from drums to violin. But chances are he’ll arrive with only an acoustic-electro guitar, a keyboard and a suitcase full of signal-processing pedals, because instead of crowding the stage with foreign gadgets to create complex noise, he takes simple sound and electronically bends it into bizarre but harmonious compositions. His music is mostly improvised and seems to flow with the rhythm of fluid thought: a slow-moving, understated, teetering progression that pushes but does not break boundaries - that builds into near-explosive roars but then falls to complete silence. You might consider it a flaw that his music lacks huge, breakthrough moments, or you might realize that what he excludes from a piece is precisely what defines it. He probably won’t blow you away with a big-bang performance, but he’ll leave you nodding in a sort of appreciative understanding.
Museum admission is completely free on Tuesdays so come early and visit the galleries before Daniell’s performance. You might want to sacrifice a few dollars for a glass of wine from the cash bar or a cup of Joe and a tasty snack from Puck's Café before you sit back, relax and support one of Chicago’s emerging local artists. If you miss Daniell at MCA this Tuesday, you can see him perform at the Empty Bottle on December 16, or check out his new album, Sycamore, a collaboration with Tortoise’s Douglas McCombs. And don’t forget, Magical Musical Showcase continues the fourth Tuesday of each month (except December) through April 2010. Upcoming performers are still unannounced, but with beloved music moguls like Lampo, Schubas, Harold Arts and UnTwelve selecting the lineup, you won’t be disappointed. For a complete schedule and more info on free events, check out Tuesday Evenings in the Café.
Bonus: Catch Haptic and Lisa Slodki immediately after in the 12x12 gallery giving the third and final performance of their collaborative sound and video installation.
David Daniell plays MCA’s Magical Musical Showcase on November 24 at Puck’s Café, 220 E Chicago, 6 p.m., FREE