Three significant events occurred on November 1st, 2006: my beloved Rocktober came to an end, Revenge of the Sith was released on DVD, and I performed with my friend Viv Corringham at (guess where?) the Acadia Theater in Minneapolis. We built a soundscape entirely from our own voices, each looped and tweaked in real time by the mysterious Green Box of Justice. We also had some video accompaniment. It turned out quite prettily, if I might say so, and I'm proud that it's featured on the box set of live Acadia sets custom-assembled by Nathan Phillips.

1st set: Viv Corringham, Mike Halllenbeck (vocal soundscapes)
2nd set: Scott Newell and the Fessparker Project: Steve Gnitka (guitar), Alden Akita (drums), Scott Newell (tenor sax, voice)
3rd set: Kelly Rossum Quartet: Kelly Rossum (trumpet), Chris Bates (bass), JT Bates (drums), Chris Thomson (saxophones)

[ d u e t ]
Mike Hallenbeck, field recordings
Edward Schneider, saxophone
Tuesday Rocktober 4th, 2005
Acadia Theater, Minneapolis

A nice opportunity to interact with a "real" instrument in a performance setting, especially with someone as talented as Edward. Saxophone accaompanied by cathedral bells, a dripping gutter, a thunderstorm...

We did a large-ensemble a capella improvisation as well. Performers included Bryce and Krista Beverlin, Nathan Phillips, and Laurie Witzowski.

"24-hour drone" is performed by four players at a time over the course of (you guessed it) 24 hours, each quartet for an hour at a time-- in this case, from 6:30 am on the 27th to 6:30 am on the 28th. Seating arrangements were shifted incrementally from one end of the bridge to the other over the course of the piece.

24 Hour Drone Score, plus a list of performers (somewhat accurate at least)

All manner of instrumentation was employed: I witnessed and heard tell of performances on accordion, cello, cymbal, guitar, lap steel, recorder, snare drum, shovel, trumpet, violin, and voice. I played an ancient Casio VL-Tone for a couple of sets. On others I used a minidisc recorder to play back prepared loops made from samples of my voice and a concertina, as well as field recordings that either blended well with the b-flat fundamental or had been tuned to do so (cicadas, crickets, casino slot machines, an exhaust vent), treated during the performance with effects pedals hooked up to a small battery-powered amp (they don't "have electric" on the bridge).

I had the pleasure of improvising with Bryce Beverlin II (percussion), Hadija (violin), Michelle Nagai (voice, recorder), Mary Springer (cello), and Laurie Witzowski (voice).

Air Horn Squad: Six performers positioned on either side of the river blasted air horns at times determined by the score. I'm not sure who all the players were, as I couldn't see most of them, but I know they included Hadija, Michelle Nagai, and myself.

An improvisational duet using various forms of communication technology. Roaring static from walkie talkies, chiming cell phones, a baby intercom transformed into a feedback generator, digital manipulation of answering machine messages. Bryce made some prank calls to restaurants in the suburbs too. Lots of fun-- we may release the audio at some point. Stay, as it were, tuned.

A wine tasting party produced by Minnesota Public Radio, featuring more than 100 innovative wines; co-hosted by The Splendid Table's Lynne Rossetto Kasper and Randall Grahm, a vintner and an industry leader in the innovative wines movement and owner of Bonnie Doon Vineyard.

I provided a soundscape for this event, integrating field recordings, live mashups, found spoken word audio, looping and manipulation of live music boxes, a little piano, and oddities from the depths of my record collection.

At four hours (with brief breaks for toasts and performances by the live aerialist), this was the longest live session I've ever done (I left the stage once to use the restroom). It went quite well, all things considered, though I figured out some things to simplify the process for the next time I do something like this.

The event itself was a smashing success: 500 people came (a capacity crowd).

[ mike hallenbeck and michelle nagai ]
Tuesday July 19th, 2005
Acadia Cabaret Theater, Minneapolis

It was a blast to collaborate with Michelle again. She integrated assorted audio with found objects, amplified via contact mic and treated in Max/MSP, while I presented untreated and processed field recordings. A really enjoyable show.

We played after Blacki and before Kelly Rossum (trumpet), Chris Thomson (sax), JT Bates (drums), and Chris Bates (bass).

[ "a writer's view" with nick flynn ]
Thursday July 7th, 2005
An installment Minnesota Public Radio's A Writer's View series
Gorecki Theater
College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph, MN

Mr. Flynn read from a variety of literary sources (from the Book of Job to "Frankenstein" to "Huckleberry Finn") concerning the notion of societal outcasts; I provided underscoring in forms ranging from original music to field recordings. Nick is a really nice guy, and I had a lot of fun accompanying him. I've never done live accompaniment to a reading before. I hope I can do it again soon.

[ tune (out)))side ]
Monday July 4th, 2005
Collaborative performance: Mike Hallenbeck and Michelle Nagai

A live webcast on on free103point9, offering five simultaneous channels of audio intended for headphone listening. Michelle Nagai invited me to play on her set. It was great to do a headphone performance, where subtle details and changes could be heard. And I love situations where the occasion arises to say things like "Are those your cicadas or mine?"

[ photo : Matt Davignon ]

[ "keepin' it hyperreal" micro-tour ]
California 2005

San Francisco -- Thursday June 9th, 2005
Luggage Store Gallery Music Series
with Johannes Bergmark (instrument builder/improviser, from Sweden) and Bob Marsh (cello/voice)
My favorite thing about this show was that I played in front of a window through which the sun could be seen setting over the course of my set. Now that's what I'm talkin' about.

Los Angeles -- Monday June 13th
linespaceline series
Selah Artistic Giving Center, downtown L.A.
with The Kentucky Knobs: David Kendall: laptop, David Rothbaum: contralto clarinet, Jonathan Zorn: analog synthesizer

[ laptops unplugged 2 : electronic boogaloo ]
Tuesday May 31st
Acadia Cabaret Theater, Minneapolis

Back by popular demand. A group improvisation for 9 laptop performers, using only the computer's built-in speakers for amplification. An intimate electronic experience. Thanks to everyone who came to perform and/or listen!

--featuring--
Bryce Beverlin II (zipper.leather)
Logan Erickson
Datura (Matt Cisler)
Mike Hallenbeck
Cordell Klier
Nathan Larson (Samsa)
Abinadi Meza
Roger Williams
Jonathan Zorn
and introducing: some guy whose name I still don't know!

This performance was followed by a solo saxophone set by Davu Seru, and preceded a performance by Dave Krejci, playing the cleophone (an instrument of his own invention).

[ photo : Jonathan Zorn ]

[ collaborative performance ]
Viv Corringham / Mike Hallenbeck
March 29th, 2005
Acadia Cabaret Theater, Minneapolis

A live collaboration between myself and Viv Corringham at the Acadia Cabaret Theater. For the first piece, I modified her vocals while she duetted with the looped results; for the second, we layered field recordings and vocals together. On the whole, it went really well; lots of nice interactions, especially in the second piece. The recording came out well too; maybe we'll put up an mp3 at some point.

Nice performances also from Fadladder and Rachel Thompson + Jonathan Zorn, the latter two recently returned from L.A.

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