2010-01-12 Sungod Abscondo @ Wave

Tuesday Jan 12th 2010, Prešov, Scala

Kevin Macke, US: singer, songwriter, and guitarist
Mark Manney (Abscondo), US: singer, songwriter, and guitarist
David Latinovic, Serbia: bass and guitar
Martin Spaldon, Slovakia: drums

Now this was quite a surprise for me. I have heard about this band before, but they have quite eluded me until recently. Mark Manney (Abscondo) is a Seattleite (!) settled here in Prešov, which interestingly has been called "the Slovak Seattle" for quite some time. As far as I know, he has been creating music steadily o his own for the past two years, recorded two albums in his home and blogged about life and music here in Slovakia, but never took the stage. Until now.

Due to school and other stuff I have ignored his first solo show in support of his new (kind of) international, but strongly Prešov-based band Sungod Abscondo, but when I heard about their performance at Wave, I just couldn't miss it. Thank you Padequa for bringing me in! The songs are unbrushed, rough, same as the music. But the Jam is right on, thanks to Kevin Mackey (formerly New Jersey), and his passion for Pearl Jam (you got it right! three PJ shows on his belt), Martin Spaldon and his un-be-lie-va-ble drum work, David's playfull bass and Ascondo's wild rhytm guitar.

The original songs got the club audience really interested, but when they bursted into cover songs, the energy level passed 11 right away. The scope and combination of these songs was really unconvetional, beyond nothing I have yet experienced from Slovak bands. Kings of Leon, Rolling Stones, White Stripes' Hardest Button to Button which emerged from one of their own songs, and now hold your breath: PEARL JAM's PORCH with Jimi Hendrix's PURPLE HAZE tag!



Youtube cannot capture glimpse of the atmosphere of the night, but whatever. It made my day. Not to mention the unbelievable amount of friends present in the club. Plus new ones from Sungod. I got several offers on artwork, perhaps a photo exhibition at the club. Time to dust off the concert photos ;)



Such a nice surprise! Not the best band around by any means, but the potential is there:

DOWNLOAD/LISTEN TO THE DEBUT FOR FREE:

some links
http://galuscakova.blogspot.com/2008/07/abscondo-midnight-snow-sungod-abscondo.html
Sungod Abscondo MySpace page

Tomorrow's news: my winning photo in SME Weekend!

You've seen the photo here first! Almost two years ago, I took my first double-decker ride through central London and here's the result:

From 06-18 Babyshambles pre-party a afterparty

Ďalší autor, u ktorého nás zaujala aj druhá fotografia. V redakcii sa nám páčil najmä jej kontrast so zvyškom "pekných" záberov. Zašumená a chaotická, možno náhodná, ale jednoznačne má čosi do seba. Posúďte sami.

Nášho "čierneho koňa" potvrdil aj Filip Vančo: "Akoby náhodný záber, z množstvom chaotických detailov, avšak práve preto je plný energie a „pulzu" veľkomesta. Z tohto záberu je cítiť napätie a život nočného mesta s očakávaním niečoho, čo sa ešte len stane. Škoda len, že v druhom pláne, teda mimo priestoru autobusu, nevidíme nejakých ľudí v čitateľnejšej akcii - mám na mysli ich výrazy alebo gestá." Zaradil by ju na tretie miesto.

---

Another author who has interested us with two photographs. In the editorial board we liked foremost its contrast with the rest of the "nice" shots. Noisy and chaotic, maybe spontaneous, but it has definitely something in it. See for yourself.

Our "black horse" was also confirmed by Filip Vančo: "Sort of a spontaneous shot, with a lot of chaotic details, but that precisely why is it so full of energy and the "pulse" of the metropolis. I can sense a certain tightness and life of a city at night from the picture, with an expectation of something that has yet to happen. It's a pity that we cannot see more action in the second plan, I mean people gesturing or with expressions." He would put the picture in the third place.
From cestovanie.sme.sk

I have submitted this photo (and other pictures from my travels) to a first round of a photo contest organized by travelling section of SME, with a jury of internationally acclaimed Slovak photographers and artists (I myself was thrilled that my pictures will be seen by Andrej Bán and Tibor Huszár). I have uploaded the photos and totally forgot about the whole thing.. Until, about a month later I have found out that two of my pictures made it to a selection of 15 pictures (out of over a thousand submitted) and were up to a people´s vote. You have already seen the picture of the streets of Central London that captured the audience and got a 2nd place of the 15 pictures, but here's the picture that was most valued by the jury.

From fotky.sme.sk

Už v redakcii nás upútal tento netypický pohľad na Londýn. Anonymná postava a stopy odnikiaľ nás donútili zamyslieť sa, koľko ľudských príbehov v tomto mravenisku upadá každý deň do zabudnutia.

Pavel Pecha mal vždy slabosť pre kvalitné, čierno-biele príbehy. Nečudo, že práve túto fotografiu by zaradil na prvé miesto: "Pekná fotka v štýle subjektívneho dokumentu, navyše podporená čierno-bielym prevedením. Zaujímavá konfrontácia človeka s mestskou aglomeráciou. Bolo by dobré vidieť viac fotiek z tohto prostredia - možno by sa postava na obrázku objavila aj v lepšej pozícii."

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Already in the editorial board we have been captured by this atypical view of London. An anonymous character and footprints leading from nowhere have lead us to the thought of how many of human stories have been put to oblivion in this human anthill.

Pavel Pecha always had a thing for quality black & white stories. It is not surprising then, that he would put this picture on the first place: "Nice shot in subjective documentary style, highlighted by their black and whiteness. An interesting confrontation with a city agglomeration. It would be good to see more pictures from the same environment - maybe the character would appear in a better position on the picture"
From cestovanie.sme.sk

What I got through e-mail yesterday:

Email zo stránky http://fotky.sme.sk

Dobry den,
dovolujeme si Vam oznamit, ze vasa fotografia z fotosutaze sme.sk "Pulz metropoly" bude v sobotu 30.1.2010 uverejnena aj v tlacenej podobe dennika SME (priloha Vikend). Ak mate zaujem o honorar 10 eur, poslite prosim cislo uctu, na ktory peniaze obratom zasleme. Gratulujeme a zelame vela dalsich kvalitnych zaberov.

S pozdravom,

Michal Mironov
editor sme.sk

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Email from http://fotky.sme.sk

Good day,
We would like to inform you that your photography from a photo contest sme.s "The pulse of a metropolitan city" will be on saturday 30.1.2010 printed out in the SME daily (Weekend feature). If you're interested in a financial grant of €10, please sent us your account no and we will send you the money immediately. Congratulations and wishes for more quality shots!

Best regards,
Michal Mironov
editor sme.sk

Pretty nice, huh? ;)
Go and buy tomorrow's SME it's worth it! For the Forum section I mean;)

In the meantime, here's the link of the contest again: http://cestovanie.sme.sk/c/4965727/fotosutaz-pulz-metropoly-vysledky-hlasovania.html

OSKAR RÓZSA Partnership Unlimited @ Scala

FULL SCREEN

Thursday 21th Jan, Scala, Prešov, SK
Ondřej Štveráček - sax
Ľubo Šrámek - keyboard
Oskar Rózsa - bass
Martin Janočko - drums

Another race from spanish classes to concert at PKO.. Boy,was it worth it! My first full concert with manual focusing all the way through. At first I thought it wasn't such a swell idea but, as you can see from the pictures, there is a whole new level to the relations between the musicians. And all my gratitude goes to program manager of PKO for the white screen behind the stage and for bright changing lights - it has really made my job much easier and the compositions much more meaningful. Real vignette and real jazz make the real experience together.

As for the concert: I wasn't too surprised by Mr. Rozsa's bass performance, he's a legend. What was the real deal was the jam - it could be clearly seen how relaxed and content were the other performers, the concert was slowly building up, peaking shortly before the end and exploding creatively at the unexpected encore part. The mood was really inspiring! Highly recommended.

And Mr. Šrámek, take it easy!

UPDATE: VIDEO

2009 Place/Date

back to 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

When I compiled this list I was stunned. What a blessing 2009 was! These are just dates, places and pictures, but the stories would be enough to fill a bulk novel!

And here they are:
2009-01-04/05 Kolowrat - Slnko je vo veži recording/photo session
/ Praha,Studio Jámor (fb photos)
2009-01-29 Renton / Rzeszów

2009-02-13 Tu V Dome/ Prešov, Christiania (picasa photos)
Carnival Veneto + OASIS Dig Out Your Soul 2009
2009-02-20 Mestre, Verona (picasa photos 1, 2)
2009-02-21 Vicenza (picasa photos)
2009-02-22 Venezia Carnival Couchsurfing Meeting (picasa photos) (cs info)
2009-02-23 Padua (picasa photos)
2009-02-24 Venezia - last day of the carnival (picasa photos)
2009-02-26 OASIS / Wien, Stadthalle (picasa photos)


2009-03-07 Andrej Šeban / Prešov, Christiania (hudba.sk photos/video/review)
2009-03-10 Iné ráno - štúdio tanca v BB / Prešov, VS DAD
2009-03-18 Anjel prichádza do Babylonu / Prešov, VS DAD (info)
2009-03-20 Živé Kvety(7) 12+1 Tour / Colosseum, Košice (picasa photos)
2009-03-30 COLLEGIUM MUSICUM / Košice, Dom Umenia (hudba.sk p/v/r)

2009-04-01 COLLEGIUM MUSICUM / Prešov, PKO Čierny Orol
2009-04-02 Kolowrat (7), Lublau /Prešov, Christiania (picasa photos)
2009-04-03 Kolowrat (8), Lublau / Slovenský dom, Bardejov (picasa photos)
2009-04-04 Cirque De Ville / Prešov, Wave
2009-04-17 Vernisáž absolventov / Vranov nT, DK (picasa photos)
2009-04-25 Azyl Films, Home Made Mutant / Prešov, Christiania

2009-06-03 Chiki Liki Tu-A / Prešov, námestie (picasa photos) (fb video)
LENNY KRAVITZ LLR 2♥♥9 TOUR
2009-06-17 Lenny Kravitz / Košice, Steel Aréna
2009-06-20 Lenny Kravitz / Krakow, Wianki
2009-06-27 FESTIVAL RACHOT Korai Öröm (H), Kvety (CZ), Awariat Nato (PL) Padequa, the Vagabunds, Suprafon (SK) XMRV (UK) / Ráztoky, Hvezdáreň

AFTER-GRADUATION-PARTY
2009-07-02 Chasidic Songs / Prešov, Synagóga (fb photos)
2009-07-10 Puding Pani Elvisovej / Prešov, Wave (fb photos)
2009-07-11 VRBOVSKÉ VETRY: SLOBODNÁ EURÓPA, CHIKILIKITUA+PROJEKTY, PARA, MŇÁGA a ŽĎORP, FERMATA, STO MÚCH, KARPATSKÉ CHRBÁTY s ART MUSIC ORCHESTRA, VRBOVSKÍ VÍŤAZI, VRBOVSKÉ VŔBY, ABUSUS, ZVA 18-28 BAND,MARTIN VALIHORA so skupinou / FK Vrbové (fb photos: day,night)
2009-07-16,17,18 POHODA Festival / Trenčín, Letisko: Basement Jaxx (GB)Royal Choral Society + Zbor sv. Cecílie pri Dóme sv. Alžbety v Košiciach (GB, SK), Divadlo GUnaGU: In Da House (Žúrka v Londýne) (SK), týždeň naživo: Fedor Gál 20 rokov po...(SK), The Airborne Toxic Event (USA), Razorlight (GB/SWE), Slobodná Európa (SK), Richard Müller (SK), Patti Smith (USA), The Blind Boys of Alabama (USA), Oi Va Voi (GB), Tomáš Sloboda Sounds like this (SK), Květy (CZ), Opera Slovenského národného divadla + Maďarská štátna opera (SK, H), Para (SK), Živé kvety(8) (SK), Kosa z nosa (SK), Collegium Musicum (SK), Travis (GB), Jape (IRL), Klaxons (GB), Lay Low (ISL), Lamb (GB), Chasidské piesne (SK)
2009-07-30 Ali Ibn Rashid / Košice, Kasárne Kulturpark

Thank You, 2009
2009-08-01 Bardejov + Domaša trip (fb photos)
PEARL JAM / RADIOHEAD 2009 EURO TOUR
2009-08-06,07,08 Charleroi,Lille, Brugge
2009-08-09,10 Gent
2009-08-11 Bruxelles
2009-08-12 Rotterdam
2009-08-13 PEARL JAM / Rotterdam, Ahoy (picasa photos)
2009-08-15 PEARL JAM / Berlin, Wuhlheide (picasa photos)
2009-08-16 Couchsurfing film festival / Berlin (cs event)
2009-08-17 PEARL JAM / Manchester, MEN Arena (picasa photos)
2009-08-18 PEARL JAM / London, O2 (picasa photos)

2009-08-19 Phedre (Lyttelton Theatre) / London, National Theatre, Southbank (guardian review)
2009-08-20 Troilus & Cressida / London, Shakespeare's Globe (info)
2009-08-21 Helen / London, Shakespeare's Globe (info)
2009-08-23 RADIOHEAD / Praha, Výstaviště


2009-09-11 Rzeszów farewell meeting / Rzeszów
2009-09-30 Územie B / Prešov, VS DAD (info)

2009-10-08 Miloš Železňák / Prešov, Christiania (picasa photos)
2009-10-25 Výstup na Praporec / Slanské Vrchy
2009-10-28 Počuješ, mama... / Prešov, VS DAD (info)

2009-11-06 Buridanov osol (premiéra) / Prešov, VS DAD (info)
2009-11-13 The BackWards / Prešov, Scala (picasa photos)
2009-11-17 20 rokov slobody (debata) / Košice, Kasárne Kulturpark
2009-11-18 Krylovci / Prešov, Scala (picasa photos)
2009-11-22 Close Harmony Friends / Prešov, Scala (picasa photos)
2009-11-24 Premeny Literatúry, Millas Groove / Prešov, Christiania
2009-11-25 Deň derešový / Prešov, VS DAD (fb photos)
2009-11-26 S-T-A-A-A-R Nite / Prešov, Hviezda (fb photos)
2009-11-27 Kolowrat (9), Kvety Nikotínu / Košice, Tabačka (hudba.sk p/v/r) (picasa photos)

2009-12-04,05,06 Zakopane, Kraków, Rzeszow Trip (fb photos)
2009-12-07 The BackWards / Košice, Irish Pub (fb photos)
2009-12-11 Frank Winter, Živé Kvety (9) - krst albumu "Zlaté časy" / Bratislava, Randal (picasa photos)
2009-12-12 Roadtrip + "Angst" Exhibition / Wien, Leopold Museum (fb photos) (SME.sk info)
2009-12-16 Poľské a svetové koledy, poľské árie a piesne / Prešov, PKO Čierny Orol (picasa photos)
2009-12-17 1. Slovak Pink Floyd Revival / Prešov, Scala (picasa photos)
2009-12-21 Peter Lipa & AMC Trio / Prešov, PKO Čierny Orol (picasa photos)



Thank God, thanks to old and new friends, loved ones and all the people who have been there for me. See you all in 2010! Hope it's a good one!