Friday night the New York Guitar Festival kicked off with "The Apollo Project," which brought together longtime multi-instrumentalists Larry Campbell and David Torn, Phish bassist Mike Gordon, the experimental NYC duo itsnotyouitsme, Tortoise guitarist Jeff Parker and Brooklyn's Noveller for a live remake of Brian Eno's 1983 album Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks.
The concert took place at the World Financial Center Winter Garden, which is an ideal venue for such spacious and ethereal music. As WNYC's John Schaefer mentioned in his introduction, it wasn't the first time that Eno's work has been recreated in the space. Back in 2007 the Bang on a Can All-Stars performed Music for Airports as part of their annual marathon. The Winter Garden has also hosted King Crimson guitarist and Eno collaborator Robert Fripp, who performed his solo Soundscapes album in 2010. M83's Anthony Gonzalez performed a solo ambient set at the garden in 2009. For its reopening in 2002 Laurie Anderson, David Byrne, Marina Rosenfeld and Ben Rubin were commissioned to create sound pieces for the space.
The New York Guitar Festival continues this week with two "Silent Film/Live Guitar" events at Merkin Concert Hall that will feature live scores for Buster Keaton films. Dan Zanes and Gyan Riley (son of Terry) play on January 10 and Kaki King, Lee Ranaldo, Buke & Gase and Twi The Humble Feather play on January 12. After that Nels Cline, Thurston Moore and other guitar masters will convene for the Alternative Guitar Summit at Rockwood Music Hall on January 13. The festival runs through January 29 with performances by My Brightest Diamond, Califone and more.
This Sunday a different Eno album, Here Come The Warm Jets, will get the remake treatment at Joe's Pub. That show is also hosted by John Schaefer and will feature the Dismemberment Plan's Travis Morrison, Joan Wasser of Joan As Police Woman, Living Colour's Vernon Reid and Obits' Sohrab Habibion, Nick Cave cohort Jim Sclavunos, Phantom Family Halo, Warm Ghost's Paul Duncan and JG Thirwell.
Check out photos and a video of "Deep Blue Day" live at the Winter Garden below.
