How to "Shred Violin" Michael Shulman Style

What does a subway station and a light-up electric violin have in common? (It doesn't even look like a violin. What really comes to mind is...a weapon. It looks like a weapon. What?)

You're dying to know. Michael Shulman is your answer. The man is an insane musical genius on the electronic device that is his light-up violin. So much so, that I didn't really believe it was a violin when I heard the blissful music that he emitted coming up through the subway vents of Union Square. The truth is that my suite-mate warned me of this man and his, literally, glowing music. The moment I heard it on my way home from work one night last week, I decided to stray from my path home to venture down to the subway. What I encountered was something like this:




Certainly had me interested. And it wasn't like anything I'd heard down in the subways before. I wanted to talk to him, but I didn't really have a chance to...he seemed kind of busy and wrapped up in moving from piece to piece swiftly without much of a break in between. Which was fine, because I knew that as long as I had his name written down, I'd go home and google the shit out of him.

I guess what was particularly interesting about this subway performer, was his ability to embrace his inner-crazy, (wild mane of hair, unique sense of style) and produce a truly awesome sound from an instrument that looked so bizarre. I also took to liking him because I played classical violin for 10 years before I came to New York. I've always had a soft spot for the electric violin, because in some strange weird fantastical fantasy world that I live in, I envisioned myself taking my skills with the violin to the next level. Electric violin certainly would have been a groovy path to take, no? Maybe. I don't know. Just go with me here.

I did find some cool background on Michael Shulman, through some research which can be found on his website, (previously linked) along with several other cool and interesting facts about the Russian-born heavy-metal violin king.

Surprise, surprise! He's on Facebook. And he's totally friendable. So add him if you please, (my friend has confirmed that they are now "Facebook friends" so it's definitely possible.) Go to his website too, and if you never find yourself in Union Square, then youtube him. Because you can do that too! Cool!

*Special Edition Post* - Ratatat Live at Terminal 5

Okay. So Ratatat may or may not be a very well-known band, and they definitely did not play in a subway station and/or small hip cafe, but I did see them on Saturday night at Terminal 5. I feel obligated to write about the experience, mainly because they are such a stable music force in my life, having been a favorite band of mine since the age of 15 when I first discovered them. And if it is any conciliation, they have just really started to gain the attention they truly deserve, especially with the release of their newest highly acclaimed album, LP4. Since this blog is about music above all else, I feel like it's acceptable to make one exception to my theme of small time bands with big talent. These are big-time guys, with huge talent. Ratatat is made up of guitarist Mike Stroud, and bass player/ synthesizer, Evan Mast. (Here's an interview they had with Freewilliamsburg, which sums up everything they are.)

Needless to say, I had no idea what to expect when I went to their show last night.

My friend Sarah and I journeyed to Terminal 5, and we found ourselves waiting in a surprisingly short line at around 8:30. Apparently, Ratatat was supposed to go on at 9:30. As soon as we got in, we noticed the place was already pretty packed in. There weren't as many people as there would be later, because the opening band, Bobby Birdman was on. They were alright, certainly got the audience amped up. But by the time Ratatat was supposed to come out, people began to get rowdy. Only seemed natural, because they were taking forever to come out. I want to say they went on at around 9:45, and when they did, my friend Sarah and I were 5 people away from the front, jam-packed tight as EVER dead in the middle of the crowd. We thought we'd be okay, but I felt a push, a shove, and next thing I know, we're both being pushed against our will against hundreds of underage kids with rowdy attitudes.

The first song they played was Mirando, a song off their previous album, which was a fantastic hype-up song because everyone went absolutely ballistic. The crowd swayed all together as one, (I kid you not) but it was incredibly terrifying at the same time. We managed to make our way out, to the very front but on the side, so there was somehow room to dance and actually see these men at their musical work.

I think one of the factors that made this such an unbelievable performance, was the energy these men brought to the stage. Stroud, the guitarist, with his silky long hair constantly being thrown up and down by his head thrashing, made me excited just to see how into the music he was. Mast, on the same page as his accomplice, worked the bass and synthesizer simultaneously...but the best part of the entire performance, was when they would bring out single drums and mallets, at which point they went tribal on everyone's ass. There was pounding, there was sweat, and there were insane amounts of energy. Everyone reacted as they should: raw dancing and happiness.

Behind Ratatat, there were constant projections of the weirdest images you could possibly fathom. Mostly, similar to their music videos. When they played 'Drugs,' they had the music video playing behind them. They also had two tall glass panels standing at the left and right of the stage, on which projections of astronaut string players illuminated throughout the entire performance. There was definitely something to be said about the over-stimulation of every sense, that was this show. It wasn't a negative thing at all, I think it made the show all the more worthwhile and exciting. There were at least four different things occurring on-stage at any given point, whether it was a projection of owls and parakeets, or pink smoke mixed with shiny silver explosive confetti, (saved only for the encore) the unconventional visuals combined with the remarkable energy from the musicians themselves, contributed to quite a interesting experience for the senses.

I'd say that the crowd was definitely the most interesting I've seen in a while. The show wasn't quite a rave vibe, yet there were ravers present. It also wasn't a heavy metal/screamo/punk vibe either, even though I had friends tell me the next day they were nearly trampled to death by the mosh pit. There were a lot of underage kids, a lot of older people on drugs, and some provocative attempted fight-starters. But I think we all came to agree as soon as the music started that all we needed to do was dance. Nobody really cared what happened after the music started.

Rating wise, this show was an absolute 10 out of 10 without doubt. Great energy, fantastic atmosphere and talented performers. My voice was completely gone, (it remains to be found...) and my body was entirely sore the next day, but it was completely worth it.

The first video posted was recorded on my camera, but this was one of my favorite songs they played. I couldn't find live footage from this concert, but this is great quality from another show they played in Texas.

Moo Moo MOON HOOCH

The Bedford Avenue stop on the L Train ALWAYS has something happening. No matter at what time of the day, there's always some kind of funky, (particularly, hipster...) music going on. I think my funniest experience with this was one night when I was coming home at 4am, the train station was bustling with party-goers and leavers, and of course! The band playing was just too good to be true. They were so funky! For 4am, I was rather impressed, because to entertain a crowd at that hour of the morning, must be something else.

But my post this week is not going to be about my 4am experience with a random band, because quite frankly, they didn't resonate with me as much as this band I encountered last week did. They are known as Moon Hooch, a band that consists of two saxophonists and a drummer. There are no vocalists involved in this band, and there are no string instruments. I think that's what caught my attention. These guys not only played, but entertained an audience. I mean it: they had a solid group of at least 30 people surrounding them when I walked down the stairs to encounter them. People were dancing, being all kinds of crazy, but mostly just enjoying the really groovy jam sesh these guys were having. And I didn't think they were legitimate to be perfectly honest, I thought they were just jamming in the subway. But I saw a sign in front of them written on a piece of cardboard, that said who they were, and that they were trying to raise some money for an album they wanted to record.

Maybe I'm putting too much emphasis on the crowd that was around these guys, but I feel like that really drives my point home...there was a serious crowd. It was insane! Right in the subway. Usually people acknowledge the music down there, I know I always do, (it's kind of my job though...so I can write about it,) but when a band is able to actually get people excited and dancing, without even SPEAKING or talking, it's just entirely something else. That's pure musical energy running through everyone, and it's an incredible thing to be a part of.

I was so pleasantly surprised! Mostly because I wasn't expecting to find such groovy music on my way home from Williamsburg. I was kind of curious to talk to the guys, but unfortunately I never got the chance. However, I did make sure to write down their band's name, so that I could do some research when I got home.

After my research, and some talking to friends, I found that one of the guys in the band, Mike Wilbur, (a tenor saxophonist) actually attends The New School for Jazz and just happened to be one of my good friends' roommates last year. Crazy small world, no? The other two band members, I unfortunately knew nothing about, but their names are: Wenzl McGowen (tenor saxophonist), and James Muschler (drummer).

All I can say, is that these guys made for a really pleasant L train experience, especially since all of my L train experiences lately have been rather odd or just ... not pleasant with poor trafficking, and untimeliness. This band really made it worthwhile, and is definitely a band I will remember and hopefully see again.

They have a facebook, they have a website, and they have my approval, so what else do you need? Go ahead, visit their site and download some of their tracks.