[The Deej] the deej presents the KARL STRAUB Cronyism TouResidency

[thedeej.org announcement list]

(mailing list and listings at www.thedeej.org)

ANNOUNCING: THE KARL STRAUB CRONYISM TOURESIDENCY

the deej is proud to open our home to you for your pleasure while enjoying a show in the KARL STRAUB CRONYISM TOURESIDENCY

first show: saturday july 28
at the home of the deej
rsvp at thedeej.org

THE WHO WHAT WHEN WHERE WHY HOW:

WHO--the deej, you and KARL STRAUB and musical guests
WHAT--this is a series of shows presenting DC's best songmaster with some of the best top level musical talent available to an underground venue
WHEN--starting this month (7-28, doors at 8.30, music at 9p), and continuing into the fall (www.thedeej.org)
WHERE--at the deej, an esteemed private venue for music enthusiasts gathered for a performance of unique quality
WHY--music. performance. unique quality.  have you been paying attention?
HOW--for additional details, our prospectus, and directions, we require the favor of an RSVP to rsvp at thedeej.org

how much? we function on a donation basis (performers and house). we collect a $15 doornation for the BAND on the night of the show. 
for GAURANTEED SEATS, inquire at rsvp at thedeej.org.  
seating is very limited, all others are standing room basis. 
we also provide donation opportunities in support of the HOUSE during the show. 
the deej relies on your generous support of local, organic music.

*** this is what KARL has to say about the CRONYISM TOURESIDENCY--

KARL STRAUB CRONYISM

Cult artist Karl Straub has worked for twenty years to develop a sound 
that mixes together many different styles . Straub puts music together with 
an organic and practical approach, the way a bird might build a nest from 
twigs, gum wrappers, plastic, and various discarded flotsam and jetsam. 
Straub is mostly known as a songwriter, and his songs have been recorded by 
numerous artists in many styles. His songs are eclectic enough to fit on 
albums by Last Train Home (alt country), Virginia Coalition (alternative), 
Lisa Mosciatiello (folk/chanteuse), Eugene Chadbourne (avant garde, country 
and western) and many more.
   
Straub's old band, the Graverobbers, began as a blend of 
Beatles/Dylan/Elvis Costello  influences with the trashier sounds of the New 
York Dolls and the Ramones. Over time, their sound evolved to include 
elements of jazz and country. More recently, the Karl Straub Combo has 
combined his songwriting with a growing interest in improvised guitar solos. 
Straub is working to integrate the jazz lines of Charlie Parker and 
Thelonious Monk with the D.C. guitar tradition represented by Danny Gatton, 
Evan Johns, and Link Wray.
   
Straub's favorite audience comments include: "that song sounds like it 
was written by a Nashville songwriter working in a cubicle," "that song 
sounds like something Edith Piaf could have recorded," and "I used to like 
your music a few years ago, but now it sounds like some weird Texas thing."
   
The Karl Straub Cronyism TouResidency at the Deej will feature plenty 
of music by Straub's regular group, the Karl Straub Combo. there will also 
be special guests, selected from the musicians Straub has met and worked 
with over the years. upcoming guests are top secret at presstime, but on 
September 8 the bill will include the duo of Eugene Chadbourne and Jimmy 
Carl Black. Chadbourne is  legendary so-called "avant-garde" musician who 
has recorded with the Violent Femmes, Camper Van Beethoven, Evan Johns, Hank 
Williams's steel guitar player Don Helms, John Zorn, members of the Texas 
Tornados, etc. Straub owns about 80 hours of Chadbourne recordings, and it's 
only a fraction of his output.  Chadbourne's eclectic and irreverent 
approach to blurring the line between genres was an enormous influence on 
Straub's music.

Jimmy Carl Black played drums on many classic albums with Frank Zappa's 
original Mothers of Invention. Known as "the Indian of the group," Black was 
and is a master of the backbeat, the life's blood of the blues, r&b, and 
rock and roll.  the Chadbourne/Black duo will play many styles, probably including vintage 
r&b and rock and roll as well as older traditional and folk idioms, and  
newer jazz and psychedelia. there should be a lot of cross-pollination at 
the show, with Straub sitting in with the duo, and the duo sitting in with 
the Combo. this is a unique show that you should not miss.

***this is what KARL has said about the deej, among his favorite local music venues (real or imagined)

"first, i don't like playing the deej, i love playing the deej.

generally, there are two kinds of venues to play--

LOUD, WITH DRUNKS.
at this kind of venue, you can play loud music, and the crowd will  
accept it. mainly they accept it because they're not listening to  
it-- they're talking over it. they also are happy when you play  
ballads, because the lower volume makes it easier for them to hear  
their conversations. sometimes during ballads, people actually move  
closer to the stage so they can talk more freely.

LISTENING ROOM.

at this kind of venue, people are actually listening to your music.  
you know this because they are asking you to turn down. i sometimes  
play listening room gigs, because there is a segment of my audience  
that is always carping that they can't hear the words. after a  
listening room gig, those people never complain -- mainly because  
they don't show up for these gigs.

the deej combines the best of both of these options.
at the deej, i can play any kind of music and the crowd responds  
appropriately. this means that if i play quiet music, they listen to  
it and don't talk over it. if i play loud music, they don't ask me to  
turn down. between songs, people make just as many smartass comments  
as they would at a bar, but i can understand what they're saying. i  
like this because it doesn't feel like i'm playing to a roomful of  
zombies. in short, they're respectful without being anal, and raucous  
without being annoying. since i decided years ago that i wanted to  
play a variety of musical styles (and volume levels),  it's the only  
place i've ever been able to play my music the way i want to, without  
having to compromise."

the deej--unwilling to compromise. or not, depends on the argument.