Brandon Conway

Brandon Conway plays guitar and feedback/no-input mixer and occasionally writes for ensembles. Brandon strives to create compelling sounds using the essential resources of the guitar and idiosyncratic systems design. Among other things, Brandon likes modal melodies, harsh noise, Gene Kelly, saxophones, and Seth Brown. Brandon currently plays with Alma Freer and Halfbird. He lives with his wife and two sons in Portland, makes web apps for a day job, and is a board member of the Creative Music Guild. In this solo set at the Outset series, Conway will be exploring a balance of structured improvisation and composed sections in an intimate piece for nylon-string guitar.

ALTO!

ALTO! is a Portland-based band consisting of Kyle Emory (drums, electronics), Steven T. Stone (drums, electronics) and Derek Monypeny (guitar). ALTO! is a strongly rhythm-oriented band; dual drummers vary between synched-up pounding and subtly shifiting polyrhythms, while the guitar often functions as another percussion instrument. ALTO! draws strong inspiration from Congotronics bands such as Konono #1, the psychedelic explorations of later-period Boredoms, and avant-garde rock bands such as Sun City Girls.