Thrones conjures visions of WWII & symphonies live on WFMU (mp3s)

RE: Song played Oct. 21st 2010 from about 10am-10:45am -one long epic song

On Thu, Oct 21, 2010 at 4:09 PM, Rick wrote

Hello Jason,

I was driving into Jersey this morning. At 10:20am, I turned on your show. This piece I listened to had lots of strings, cellos and stringed basses in it. It was epic. It was quite long. Yes, [the] piece was probably performed on a very expensive keyboard but it sounded like the Boston Symphony was behind it: I had visions of WWII in my head. Who is the composer and where would I find this most excellent piece of music that I've ever heard. It was something I've never heard before.

Listener Rick from Pa was pretty psyched when I passed along this link to Thrones' epic live performance on Talk's Cheap yesterday. And his description is particularly awesome because there was no Boston Symphony orchestra involved -- all sound in this recording was made my one super human: Joe Preston. You might recognize Joe Preston's name from Earth, Sunn O))), Melvins, High On Fire, Men's Recovery Project, Harvey Milk, Thor, Snakepit, and many other great bands. But if you're not already familiar with his one-man experimental sludge/doom project Thrones, then it is time to join the cult!

After this mindblowing live session (which harkens back to the Thrones set at No Fun Fest 2009), Joe talked a bit about how he founded Thrones in 1994, at the encouragement of fellow bassist Vern Rumsey (of Unwound). Joe had put aside his own bass after parting ways with the Melvins; in fact, he "didn't touch an instrument for about a year" until he set about recording the solo tape. That became the first Thrones release, on Vern Rumsey's label Punk in my Vitamins. Since then, Thrones has gone on to release a steady stream of recordings on labels like Kill Rock Stars, Vermiform, 5rc and Southern Lord. Most recently, Thrones released a DVD & LP collaboration with Daniel Menche titled Cerberic Doxology, which featured Joe Preston's vocals sans-vocoder and is inspired by nature including the recreated Stonehenge (Joe talks about this during the interview). Conspiracy Records has also released a new Thrones 7'' titled Late For Dinner with the jams "Wage War"  b/w "Trmph Lfe".

Thrones is currently on tour with Christian Mistress, a killer metal band on the 20 Buck Spin label. They're in Texas tonight making their way up the West Coast back to native Pacific NW USA. More info & tourdates. More from Rick from Pa after the jump:

Thanks for the expedient reply and link Jason. Yes, you can quote me as "Rick from Pa".

I've been a musician/guitar player, trumpet, bass, horn-chart writer almost forever.
I've got several years of Music Theory behind me. I've listened to everything under the sun.
Rock, heavy metal, jazz, blues, country, experimental, classical works, instrumental, latino music and ska

I can clearly say without reservation, this piece is something like I've never heard. Just when you think the composer's going to resolve to the root, wrong! But where the phrases do end: make sense! There's just enough echo to send chills down your spine.
 
I had vivid visions of my piloting a WWII prop plane. Flying low, over war-torn Europe. Thick, black smoke everywhere. Dead bodies, fire, collapsed buildings, chaos. My cockpit is silent. I no longer hear the engine. Scared. Am I going to be okay? Will I make it back? Back to where?
 
These visions only lasted a few minutes thankfully because I would have crashed my car on The Thruway.
 
To say that this piece was inspiring would be an understatement.
 
The composer's an f**in genius.
 
-Rick from Pa

Thank you Rick, and I agree! Big thanks to Joe Preston/Thrones for stoppin' by WFMU and blessing us with this incredible set, keep an eye out for his future label Joe Preston Solid Gold!!

Comments

[Erik Doole]

Jason, Thanks very much for posting this. It really is amazing. I was upset because I did not make it out to the show he played localy at the beginning of October. So I have this to listen to as a a backup. I have enjoyed many of Joe's projects over the years but Thrones has always been an otherworldly experience a transedence if I may say, into another atmosphere and this recording is another example that. Erik

[Ben]

This and 'Dirty Dog' by Jimmie Revard.
Two sides of the same coin.