Denton, 4.30.2025

Joan of Bark Presents brought three different and unique performances to the Rubber Room at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios. First set by Art Jam featured a small ensemble (trumpet, electric violin, drums) led by drummer Joseph that extemporized in a spacious, ECM-ish manner while his partner April painted live onstage. While the opening disclaimer denied any thematic intent, perhaps I was imposing my own thoughts on the piece, which seemed to me to start out with a world in flames, filled with floating spirits, engulfed by storms and cataclysms. (It's been an interesting week.)

Two stalwarts of the Denton improv scene collaborated for the second set. Paul Slavens recently played a Dallas reunion show with his '80s outfit Ten Hands, while last week I heard Sarah Jay front the evocatively named metal-with-electronics outfit Cacodemon in the very same space where we now sat. The room was darkened, with only ambient light from outside and the indicators from their electronic equipment for illumination. Sound tech extraordinaire Aubrey Seaton facilitated Jay's head-spinning stereo panning as the duo spun a dark web of psychedelic mystery, in a conversation where the musicians themselves were often unaware of who was producing what sound. Jay's haunting vocalisms included snippets like "Bring power to its knees" and "You can have a baby in a tank with a dolphin," which caused me to mentally title the piece "Dolphin Doula." Jay performs at Dallas Ambient Music Nights this weekend.

Closing set was one of the last area performances of Starfruit, an ensemble fronted by Julia Ava W. Boehme, who will soon be leaving the Metromess and whom I'd only previously seen in an improv lottery situation. Boehme plays acoustic guitar in an English folk-derived style using metal fingerpicks, and sings with great power and high range. I couldn't quite put my finger on which '70s English prog band Starfruit reminded me of -- Aubrey mentioned Gentle Giant, but that wasn't quite it; maybe Van Der Graaf Generator (albeit with a very different songwriting approach and vocal range)? The band -- electric guitar, keys, bass, drums, and visiting saxophonist Garrett Wingfield) played arrangements of daunting rhythmic complexity (at one point, Julia challenged the audience to find the one in a drum intro; only the drummer from Art Jam could do it) with tremendous energy, and Boehme is a riveting and cathartic performer. Glad I got to see 'em before they go.

Next Joan of Bark Presents will be Sunday, May 4, featuring co-curator Sarah Ruth and a trio of acts new to me: Tazer Void, Ruptured Implant, and Roaring Mass. See you there.