The Drifter

Ambient Sound Sculptor Greg Davis Makes His First Trip to Athens

originally published September 12, 2007

There's a reason that a droning sound is one of the oldest forms of music. A timeless blend of power, beauty and calm exists within a sustained tone that no chord or bridge could possibly contain. Many have the misconception that it's as simple as holding down a key or twisting a dial. But when done properly, as few can, the drone, a surprisingly multipurpose musical context, can create the perfect mental state as well as engage directly with the listener. This is not sonic wallpaper. This is closer to classical music than to Pure Moods.

Drone is merely one of Greg Davis' many gifts. The Vermont musician has dabbled in far too many genres and subgenres to enumerate, but the drifting textures and ebb and flow of drone are his calling cards. Unparalleled warmth and depth - complemented by a sense of actual life - nestle within his pieces. Not only is he blissing us out with his presence as opener for the Akron/Family [see Liner Notes], he's also playing in that headlining band on this tour.

Davis is known for being into an impossible number of musical styles, and there's always something to glean from what he's spinning lately. Check out http://gdfavorites.blogspot.com for a list of his current obsessions. Flagpole spoke with Davis about the state of experimental music in general, and which clouds he finds his head in these days.

Flagpole

There's far, far more interest in experimental music than there was 10 years ago, at least in the independent music world, not to mention the sheer number of fans of all the types of left-field music and so many new labels catering to them. It's the Internet that's mainly allowing for this vast expansion and a seemingly "secret" music has become widely known.

Greg Davis

The move of music culture to the Internet allowed all types of music to gain more equal footing. Almost anyone has access to almost any kind of music from any era now. So everyone, especially huge music fans, can discover every little nook and cranny of the musical universe. It's a really beautiful thing.

You don't have to pay $100 anymore to hear that super-rare Taj Mahal Travellers album, for instance. As soon as something gets digitized and gets shared on the Internet, it finds its way out to all those who are seeking it.

So it is an exciting time for experimental music, because rare, obscure, small-press music can make its way out to anyone who is willing to listen. I really wish I had had that access to so much music when I was growing up. But I also really cherish and value the time that I've spent going to record stores and buying records and discovering them on my own. Then again, I'm also really grateful to be here now.

Flagpole

You've never played in Athens before. What's your pre-impression of it?

Greg Davis

I don't know much about it except that it's a nice college town and the home of the Elephant 6 scene and the Orange Twin community and stuff. I'm excited to come down there and check it out. I get the feeling that its something like Burlington [VT, Davis' home town] or Asheville or something. Looking forward to it…

Flagpole

It would be one thing to call you a guy who can make beautiful and involving drones, but you can do ultra-minimal microsoundscapes, solo piano, raga, folk, on and on and on. Being so prolific, we never really know what you're going to sound like from release to release. What're you up to these days? What can we expect to experience at the show?

Greg Davis

As always, I'm involved in lots of different music now. I'm working on my next solo album for Kranky called Joysongs. I'm hoping to have it done this winter. It's turning out to be a collection of psychedelic Buddhist songs.

Also I have a duo project called Sun Circle with Zach Wallace, and we are working on some minimal deep-drone music. Jeph Jerman and I just finished our second CD together; it's a long percussion piece with bells and gongs. Something like ritualistic music - like a cross between gamelan, temple music and Joe Jones automatic instruments. A CD of live recordings by me and Sebastien Roux is coming out soon as well. Et cetera.

As far as my own solo sets go, these days I'm getting really deeply into drone music and long-tone/ overtone singing. I've been really interested in creating an intense three-dimensional meditation space. Peace noise. I'll be doing some version of drone music in Athens. It changes from night to night, and I'm sure it'll be well evolved by the time I get to Georgia.

Flagpole

How did you come to pair up with Akron/Family?

Greg Davis

I met the Akron/Family guys back in June when they played a show in Burlington and I opened up for them. I had met Miles [Seaton] from the band a couple weeks earlier down in Tivoli, NY. I think they had heard little bits of my music before and kinda knew what I was up to. I really became interested in what they were doing when I first heard Meek Warrior, which blew me away.

They asked me to do this tour with them and of course I said yes - they are riding a nice little wave of recognition right now, and I'm psyched to play in their band and also share my own solo music with some different types of audiences. I think my drone sets will be a good complement to the fun rocking jam sets that we'll be doing as the Akron/Family. My sets will hopefully set up a nice space and vibe before the Akron/Family set.

Michael Wehunt

WHO: Akron/Family, Greg Davis, Megafaun
WHERE: 40 Watt Club
WHEN: Saturday, September 15
HOW MUCH: $10 (advance), $12 (door)