The Stone is located at 2nd Street and Avenue C. The space is small, intimate. Jazz music and chamber ensembles are normally found performing there. So it was with much delight that I saw a listing for Carla Bozulich's Evangelista to play The Stone on February 20th. It had been through the excellent free-form radio station WFMU that I first heard Carla's music. Listening to her first CD under the Evangelista name, I immediately fell in love with her musical concept. Next step was "Hello, Voyager", which would be a great starting point to new listeners. Prince Of Truth, released in 2009, its her latest, and just as intense and amazing.

Evangelista's set at The Stone was preceded by a free-form experimental improvisation set by Carla and a cellist whom, I presume, must be a local musician. The set proper really got to me. I can only describe it as a chamber music-meets sonic youth with soul-nudity cabaret, but that's only because I'm not too eloquent. I like it when a band leaves me at a loss for words. Carla strums reverberating chords that taste like P.J. Harvey's legs of desire but more often than not scream wild feedback. Twisted loops jump at you from somewhere. Bassist Tara Barnes sustains ominous notes with show-gazing fervor. Extra guitar flesh from Jherek Bischoff fills one corner. Haunting cello scrapes and slashes fill the other. The drums sometimes follow the anarchy and theatrics, and sometimes they lead it, coloring along one minute and exploding bashfully the next. Carla's voice is imposing, seasoned, always able to conjure up an image, a sensation, its delivery sometimes confrontational. "Speak the word!", she hollered, "The word is love!!!".

In the 90s, Carla fronted the Alt-Country band The Geraldine Fibbers. Other groups she has been part of include Ethyl Meatplow and Scarnella. She is also credited with having made some key introductions which led to the formation of Jane's Addiction. Given her long history of underground activity, Carla has been able to rely on a varied pool of local musicians from the cities in which she tours, as well as a strong cult following. Evangelista is signed to Constellation Records, a canadian label home to other truly alternative acts like Godspeed You! Black Empereor and Silver Mt Zion.

I approached Carla much like a meek little schoolboy. She was gracious and looked a bit weary and tired, yet was kind enough to sign my copy of Hello, Voyager and talk a bit about a gig I saw of the band Low('Weren't they amazing?' she asked). Next day the band was off to L.A., their home base. Here's hoping they return soon.

Evangelista Discography:

*Carla Bozulich/Evangelista (2005)
*Hello, Voyager (2008)
*Prince Of Truth (2009)

Website:

http://www.carlabozulich.com/

Note from the editors: Dearest readers...

I present to you the result of an evolving connection of fire and stardust. A promise to thread the waters and a farewell that has become a close, intimate conversation with a timeless memory. There is no need to mourn for the paths that choose us. We must become the warriors and face tirelessly whatever comes accross our way. Matthew is a musician, he is a leader and a collective. Matthew is not in Germany. He is in every letter that appears in the mail, in the secret songs of the steamin' pipes of Long Island City and its blurry landscape. Matthew walks with me through Vernont Blvd during no-parking Sundays, and recites Leonard Cohen poetry to the fallen leaves on the sidewalk. His story does not belong to me, and neither do his words. They are for everyone.

We have decided to share his correspondence, so that you too can be a part of his journey. Read on, and keep the flame alive.

Jen.

Title: Shadows won't go.

Artist: Terrible Eagle.

Hello jennifer.

it has been 9 months since you took me to the airport and i left the united states. so much has happened since then. we have been playing lots of shows and done a few small tours with more on the way. our records are coming along, only one is finished so far. there is so much still to do and here i sit with the time to do it. a fortunate thing indeed.

on the flipside, things are tough all over. i have been living through the hardest winter in germany in a state of poverty. i am illegal in this country and anything i do to earn money is against the law. the only way i can earn money is by taking these shit low-paying jobs where i get screwed because the people i work for know they can exploit my desperate situation. as soon as they realize i cant speak the language the attitude toward me changes. it is clearly visible in the words and actions. i find myself carrying heavy objects across a field of ice in the middle of the night and when it is time to pay me, there is always some sort of deduction for things i did wrong. i consider these conditions to be hostile acts against me and my liberty, but i know i am powerless to do anything about it. i need an army.

i had yet another run in with the police the other night. i was quite drunk when it happened and somehow managed to avoid capture. in fact, i used the opportunity to let out some of my frustration on these agents of the state. i am afraid i was not very eloquent as the final message came out as, "the work you do is complete bullshit." still, it felt give a little nudge back against the forces engaged in counteracting the effects of being alive. that is to say, the actions of the police serve the purpose of maintaining the order and control as dictated by the interests of the ruling class. this is not just the owners of giant corporations but also the pimps and organized crime bosses. these things are very real here. prostitution is legal here and there are real life slaves on the street begging for money. the pimps take it all. the cops are there to insure that nothing disturbs this operation. this fills me with hate. being full of hate destroys me and yet i am unable to control it. i feel as though i am in wartime conditions. a war that was lost long ago and only the ghosts keep fighting. it requires a great deal of energy to dodge the bullets.

i know a great many people who have devoted their time and energy to creating "communities of love" as they say but the reality of their action is that they capitalize on a different kind of misery. when the liberators are also exploiting us, where can we go? we are all alone.

i spent the winter months in our practice studio outside of town. rather primitive conditions out there. no water, no heat, no plumbing etc... but it gave me the time to work on music and art non-stop. i find my ideas are centered around self liberation and collective action. so far these ideas have not come out strongly enough to effect the world around me. but i am still working on it.
i am always on the run and right now is no different. i must leave off here, but this will be continued. i look forward to your words of wisdom. but for now, let's go!
forever your girl,

mathew.