Max Brody-all performances/production/mash-ups
The rig: Nintendo DS w/ Korg synth/sequencer 'game', Korg Elektribe EA-1, Noise mash-ups on CD via Kaos pad, Roland TD-30 v-drum module w/ mini-setup. There are occasional vocal sample nuggets from cassette tapes and snippets of me playing instruments.
---------------------------------------
In 2012, shortly before I moved away from Austin, I began a recording project with Mr. John Hawkins (CRUST) that we called SMEDLEY'S RACKET. I was not able to finish it before departing. Shortly thereafter he got together with Jeff Campbell to form the 80's-esque MASQUERADE AS ANGELS. Soon, he asked me to be a long-distance member of that, which I am.
Check us out at:
masqueradeasangels.bandcamp.com
Nevertheless, I went ahead and finished and released the Smedley's Racket LP ...I considered it a done deal -- basically a one-off.
(available on my bandcamp page, here:
maxbrodyworld.bandcamp.com/album/max-brody-smedleys-racket)
Until recently, that is. In July, my buddy Dan Dyckman asked me to perform a solo set at his club, DARRELL'S TAVERN; When he did, I was reminded of an idea that I had had several years back of creating music utilizing cheap analog synthesizers with sequencers while playing v-drums as fakey sounds...to get all boopy.
"MAX BRODY" performed at Darrell's Tavern August 10th, 2017.
Since that gig, I've felt like there was more interest for me there than I had realized at first. I decided to get a bit more into it.
So, developing the set further...one day I decided to attempt a couple songs from the Smedley's Racket LP in the set. For some reason I sensed that I was going for a similar vibe...and it worked.
Not wanting to play shows under my own name anyway, I asked John Hawkins if he would be ok with me taking over the Smedley's moniker and he said, "Totally okay!" So, that's what I'm going to do. ...and that's what I've been busy doing: getting ready for SMEDLEY'S RACKET performances (as well as slowly working on TEST APES, CREEPY STICK, MASQUERADE AS ANGELS and FRIED SMILING stuff-pfffftt!). These shows are rather like a DJ/VJ kind of thing, however, no laptop computers or turntables are allowed. That's the rule.
Its essentially live electronic drumming and noise-mashup manipulation over synthesizer sequences and visuals...with room to expand...my hope is to soon involve Austin visual artist D Kithcart as a full-on VJ/MC...we've been talkin...see what happens...
Big thanks to Dan Dyckman for his encouragement.
(c) 2017 Max Brody/Smedley's Racket
(p) YFC Musick, BMI