THE SWAY MACHINERY: Shows

Thursday, July 11th, 2013

The Paper Box

The Sway Machinery invites you to a one-night-only celebration of the secret world of folk music traditions--exploded NYC style! For this event we have pulled together a sparkling cast of local artists whose work drinks deeply from historic traditions, while keeping an eye towards the future. Heirs to centuries old traditions share center stage with punks, historical revisionists and party rockers!

11PM The Sway Machinery--Rooted in bandleader Jeremiah Lockwood's musical upbringing singing with grandfather Cantor Jacob Konigsberg and childhood apprenticeship with Piedmont bluesman Carolina Slim, The Sway Machinery is a world exploring rock band deeply situated in the ethno-geography of New York City. The band's last album, The House of Friendly Ghosts, was recorded in Mali and featured collaborations with Khaira Arby and Vieux Farka Toure. The Sway Machinery has a unique pedigree of rocking clubs and festival stages from Krakow to Timbuktu.

10PM Banning Eyre and Abdoulaye Alhassane Toure--The incredible guitarist/singer/songwriter from Niger Abdoulaye Alhassane Toure joins guitarist/writer/broadcaster Banning Eyre for a set of songs from the Sahara Desert. Toure was a founder of Niger’s preeminent roots band Mamar Kassey. Eyre, a producer for public radio’s Afropop Worldwide and author of In Griot Time: An American Guitarist in Mali, has spent decades exploring and learning the guitar styles of Africa. Over the past ten years, these two players have formed a deep musical bond, felt by all every time they join forces.

9PM Hearing Things--In his latest incarnation, saxophonist Matt Bauder delves into '70s Ethiopian sax funk and into the high spirits and groovy-ness of '50s doo wop and R&B. Hearing Things continues Bauder's project of finding creative outlets in picture postcard images of the past, as heard in his critically acclaimed explorations of classic-era modern Jazz (A Day in Pictures) or tributes to his parents' era of '50s pop (White Blue Yellow and Clouds). Hearing Things is simply a joy to hear.

8PM Francois Nnang--Hailing from Cameroon and now residing in New York City, Francois Nnang has been electrifying subway riders with his joyful performances. He is both performer and instrument maker and his relaxed and masterful style betrays complete intimacy with his craft.