Scotty Irving. The show is three parts consisting of Performance Art/Percussion/Noise played by one man. That's why the show is called Clang Quartet. PHOTO HISTORY! UPDATED OFTEN...
Some magazines I have appeared in OR on the covers of...
Influences
Varied! As for the Clang Quartet show itself, I would site Einsturzende Neubauten, Throbbing Gristle, Foetus, Luigi Russolo, John Cage, Merzbow, Solmania, Masonna, Swans, Z'EV, etc. of examples of artists who have helped mold this show. Some of these artists are in my friends section. My drumming, guitar, and keyboard influences are more varied. I may update this section more later...but don't hold your breath!
All below videos by: Scary Weather...
Sounds Like
Clang Quartet Live in Greensboro, NC 5/21/07 Part One
Part two of same show...
Part three of same show...
A weather phenomenon!?!?!? I try and let my influences INSPIRE me to be myself. I try not to COPY them or anyone else. If I use an object for a percussion instrument I will always wait until I have my own sound with it BEFORE I bring it out in public. I will not use any found object that is too closely associated with another performer. My reviews have suggested I do a good job of NOT copying anyone else. I have listed a few examples and quotes of different reviews and they may help give you an idea of what to expect...
REVIEWS FOR CLANG QUARTET IN GENERAL:
*"Clang Quartet is extremely radical and intriguing. As original and uncompromising as anything I've heard in quite some time."
-Parke Puterbaugh-write with Rolling Stone, Stereo Review/Sound & Vision, The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, and others
*"Amazing! Scotty Irving is an excellent drummer. I wish him much success."
-N.U. Unruh of Einsturzende Neubauten
REVIEWS FOR CLANG QUARTET LIVE:
*"Once he's in the performance his face becomes intent, his eyes intense. Irving jerks and pounds and waves his arms above the instruments like some exorcising priest. The audience is all rapt stares and silence. This is a live act with gravity and intensity, something to twist your mind about a bit, Christian or not."
-Joe Sample-Focus Newspaper (NOTE: Joe also made the statement in another review that the Clang Quartet show is "A tent revival in the age of Mad Max".
*"I went to see Boyzone, but watching Clang Quartet's Scotty Irving enact a psycho-spiritual passion play with his horrifically squealing "Armor of God" and a variety of junk percussion drove me so deeply inside myself that I couldn't talk to people anymore. I left". —BH, Independent Weekly-Favorite shows of 2006.
CLANG QUARTET RECORDED PERFORMANCES:
*Modern Drummer: Video review , Oct 2002-ARMOR OF GOD: "Fascinating...if you are not scared off by his Christ-centric performances, you are quite likely to be inspired by them.
*Modern Drummer: On The Move: May 1999-"The Demo tape that Scotty sent holds a new Modern Drummer record for the most unusual instrumentation...although one track features Scotty on standard drumkit (highly dynamic and creative). When Irving describes his playing styles as "varied", he's not kidding!"
*Outburn-Issue 21, 2003-CD review: The Separation Of Church And Hate-Irving's strongest feature is his innovation...Mad-Scientist Musicianship... Truly gifted".
*Aaron Dilloway- Hanson Records, ex-Wolf Eyes brief review for 'Revival Of The Wretch':-Fantastic! One of a kind ruler of percussive noise. RECCOMENDED!
Record Label
Silber, RRR, Turgid Animal UK (2008), more soon...
Out of state shows in 2008. More to come!
All photos below by Allen Williams 10/2007.
Clang Quartet is the one-man show of the person writing this bio, Scotty Irving ( please also see Benjomatic and The Whole World Laughing in my friends section for more on me ). I have been a drummer since September of 1979 and was a member of Geezer Lake ( see Geezer Lake here in my friends section ) when the Clang Quartet idea became a reality in January 1997.
One of the reasons I started Clang Quartet was because I am a Christian and I didn't see any outlet available for me to produce a show like mine. My show is not at all like the usual Christian Contemporary music available. I have no interest in that scene and It has no interest in me, either! Almost every Christian band or musician I have worked with says that I am TOO extreme for them. My idea of prasing Jesus with sound does not need a song structure to makes it's point.
Since the first Clang Quartet show in January 1997, the show has changed more times than I can remember. I use drums, broken cymbals, some standard percussion, and some homemade instruments such as: The Crutches. The Crutches were a series of homemade instruments that were all works-in-progress and featured a number of different sound sources that were all attached to...a crutch! These were all very different in their appearance and sounds and were staples of the show from 2001 to early 2008. I actually made the first Crutch for another band I was with at the time called Elvis X (see friends section). But recently I have also been constructing instruments without crutches so I can pack them up in suitcases suitable for air travel since I now have shows in areas I have to fly to. That said, I have plans to bring in a new Crutch in 2009.
I normally play 25-30 minutes and the shows are all somewhat different each night. Even I don't always have an exact idea of what will happen! I'm glad God is in control because I know I am not!!!
Thanks for your attention and God bless you all.
I love the pictures you take :o) Sorry I haven't had a chance to call you back. My sister had a set of twins girls (future models:o) so I've been being an Auntie. I plan to be there Tuesday for Open Call--See ya then :o)
It's Great to have you as a friend, Hope you enjoyed watching our Movie trailer of Resurrection Mary. Release date is August 26th out every where on DVD The New web site is now up www. resurrectionmarythemovie. com pre order now online also avail. Wishing you a Great 4th July Weekend, Have a Ton of Fun
