Perhaps the strangest double dip of a lifetime, leaving the pop stylings of Sinead O’Connor, I had a six minute drive to a nondescript industrial building on State street to catch the hundred and second gathering of FIM. Free Improvised Music is a series run by bassist Caleb Duval and guitarist Luke Rovinsky. Part showcase for Caleb, Luke, and friends skronkability and part outsider clubhouse, the FIM sometimes acts as a honey trap for likeminded weirdos passing through. On this evening, Houston based sopranino wielder Danny Kamins stops for the middle set and Chicago based Neanderthal drummer Weasel Walter bangs and crashes the final set. The sopranino is a mini alto sax tuned to E flat. I enter the Shop, situated between a DMV and a U-Store It facility, its dimensions were that of a defunct window tinting operation. A sizable foyer had some tables with artists merch, some stuffed animals, and a mirrored window with a drawing of a pink trilobite on it. Through the foyer had an ante room with some comfy dilapidated couches a coffee table with pizza boxes, a quart of Jack, and a mammoth Pokémon price guide. The “concert” space was a hard left from the pizzas and was cramped with the dozen or so patrons and bands. I enter to Kamins primordial blowing joined by Caleb and Luke, with Mike Larocca on drums. The improv ebbs and flows, it’s amazing how people can get together and be on the same page musically. I chatted with Kamins at the set break and learn he helms the jazz program at Rice University. Weasel Walter was the evenings highlight, joined by locals James McKain on baritone sax, young female Kelly Bray on trumpet, and Evan Palmer on standup bass. I sat in front of McKain, the tight space afforded me the spray from the bari as he squeaked and belched his way through the set. Diminutive trumpeter Bray was not light on sound. Palmer bowed and stabbed to great effect. Weasel Walter is the founder of ugEXPLODE records and has been a purveyor of extreme metal and punk jazz since the 90s. He is a member of the avant outfit the Flying Luttenbachers and I have seen him play guitar backing the punk chanteuse Lydia Lunch as part of her backing band Retrovirus. Weasel’s kit is a mish mash of duct taped drums, a bag of kitchen detritus, and some plastic surfaces to strike. While he was setting up, I dared him to play the Pokémon guide. The assault was deafening but visceral. While these two concerts could not have been more different with respect to sound and venue, I was happy to be able to attend both
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