Zs at the Whitechapel Gallery - Music & Live Words

Zs performing live at the Whitechapel Gallery - Music & Live Words

Sunday 1 August, 2010

Zs consists of musicians Sam Hillmer (tenor sax and pedals), Ben Greenberg (electric guitar and electronics), Tony Lowe (electric guitar) and Ian Antonio (percussion and electronics). While Zs' music has been variously categorized as no-wave, brutal-prog, and post-minimalist, it is primarily concerned with making music that challenges the physical and mental limitations of both performer and listener. Manipulating extended technique and unique instrumental synthesis, Zs aims to create works that envelop the listener and unfold sonically over time, evoking unspoken past, present, and future rites and ritual.

The band has performed in lofts, galleries, rock clubs, and concert halls across North America and Europe . They have played alongside artists such as The Locust, Gang Gang Dance, Animal Collective, Battles and The Dirty Projectors to name a few. They have had material put out by record labels including the Social Registry, 31G, Tzadik, Troubleman Unlimited, Planaria, Gilgongo, Sockets, Ricecontrol, and Zum. Their new full length album New Slaves has recently been released on The Social Registry.

"One of the strongest avant-garde bands in New York . The Zs' songs sputter forth in Morse code dots of percussion and saxophone..." - New York Times

"Noise is viable as a mode of expression; when that noise comes from veteran avant-garde trio Zs, then the sounds someone might easily dismiss as chaos are noise bordering on the truly sublime." - kevchino.com

Footage edited by Grant Armour.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• avant rock
• The Locust
• Gang Gang Dance
• Animal Collective
• no-wave
• brutal-prog
• and post-minimalist
• Whitechapel Gallery
• Music & Live Words

[MrNolanBruce]

Sort of makes me think of Bill Orcutt towards the beginning.

[passthecaribou]

part of my head exploded onto the screen while watching and listening to this

masterpiece

[reetpleat]

Another finely attenuated INTONARUMORON pick.

/intonarumorondotwordpressdotc­om/

[projecionista]

Freakin' awesome dude. Two thumbs up!

[DillonLEdwards]

This is really excellent audio and film but the editing deprives the performance of Zs intensity.