Currently, the core trio of The Why Because is Michael Henning, Gabriel Raines, and Brian Relph, but we occasionally have a few guests here and there...............
Past, Present, and Future members, guests, and collaborators: Raj Ojha (aka OKR), Ryan Miyashiro, Dave Sloves, Counterwave K, Michael Shaw, Erin Raines, Erika Hauskens, Josh Russell, Dan Wooldridge, Brian Michelson, Elisa Ferrari, Tim Wilson, Marty Dowers, Dax Pierson, Angela Hsu, Marcy Saude, Craig Detwiler, Billy Sprague (aka Galena), Jonah Tice, Juan "Wonway" Amador, Ayentee, Ben Knight, Nathan Hubbard...
Influences
Sound in general, the history of sound and music, the nature of sound, the sounds of nature, the nature of life, the lives we live... pretty much anything and everything is inspiring to us in some way...
As for music, musicians, and artists, some of our favorites include: Can, Sun Ra, Mimir, This Heat, Faust, Boredoms, Idyll Swords, Harry Partch, Codona, Gamelan music, Frequency, Alice Coltrane, King Tubby, Bird Show, Gang Gang Dance, Bayon, African drumming, John Giorno, Caetano Veloso, Art Ensemble of Chicago, James Joyce, Herbie Hancock, Conrad Schnitzler, Peter Whitehead, David Lynch, Cul De Sac, Indian Ragas, AMM, Wong Kar-Wai, Lou Harrison, Cluster, Brian Eno, Juana Molina, Flying Saucer Attack, Akron/Family, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Chris Watson, Bembeya Jazz, The Orb, Luigi Russolo, John Fahey, Mbira music, Rollerball, Os Mutantes, Black Dice, White Rainbow, Thelonious Monk, Fennesz, Italo Calvino, MEV, Amon Tobin, Harry Bertoia, John Cage, Tom Waits, Georges Braque, No-Neck Blues Band, Bobby Hutcherson, Alexander Jodorowsky, Califone, Neu!, Lee Perry, My Bloody Valentine, the Secret Museum of Makind series, OOIOO, Duke Ellington, Cosmic Jokers, Glenn Kotche, Talk Talk, Morton Feldman, Physics, The Books, Orchestra Baobab, Public Enemy, The Band, Stan Brakhage, Gastr Del Sol, Miles Davis, Tortoise, The Fall, Tim Hecker, Creation Rebel, Annie Gosfield, George Russell, Harmonia, Don Cherry, Animal Collective, Gilberto Gil, Mountains, Edgar Varese, Noam Chomsky, Cerberus Shoal, Talking Heads, Valet, Erkin Koray, Dorothy Ashby, Climax Golden Twins, Richard Delaunay, Mouse on Mars, Fela Kuti, Thuja, Chris Marker, Clogs, Timet, Seefeel, 23 Skidoo, Charles Mingus, Sun City Girls, Neil Young, Richard Brautigan, Erik Satie, Curtis Mayfield, Toru Takemitsu, Sublime Frequencies collections, Godspeed You Black Emperor!, and lots of other weird psychedelic stuff, world music, exotica, field recordings, recordings of early 78rpm records, sound collages, musique concrete, tape music, noise... etc.
The ever-changing roster of the impressive ensemble known as The Why Because is graced with numerous music luminaries from around the Bay Area. The line-up for Music shapes, their third release, is a six member crew including folks from Anticon/Lex avant-hoppers Subtle and Themselves. The disc's five lengthy improvised tracks (recorded live back in 2004) explore the far reaches of jazz, postrock, psych/space rock and ambient experimentation. And they incorporate an even broader array of instruments with trumpet, saxophone and percussion taking prominence amid the Fender Rhodes, other keyboards, bass clarinet, guitar, bass and melodica. Music shapes commences with "Fenced Bird Takes Flight" a barren landscape of faintly blown horns and Spartan drumming. This gradually blossoms into a more fleshed out and sprawling journey with many mesmerizing and meditative stretches as well as more kinetic cyclical passages. - Aquarius Records
Bringing to mind the spacious explorations of electric Miles Davis, the oddball structures and sounds of Gang Gang Dance, the repetition of Can, and even some funk and hip-hop influences as well. Their long list of influences may have played some part in the long run, but in reality, there is very little quite like The Why Because. Though only five tracks long, Musicshapes is a lengthy release, carrying each song with loose structures into unforeseen horizons. Truly captivating stuff. - Treblezine.com
It takes a terribly large amount of talent to pull off what The Why Because has done together on this album. It would take a group of average musicians years to fine tune the work that this collective created in one evening together. This is definitely a scene to keep an eye on. "8 out of 10" - The Silent Ballet
A musical collective of an amorphous nature, The Why Because are improvisers, explorers, alchemists, and seekers of new realms... Group personnel has evolved over time since their inception in 2002, allowing for consistently variable interactivity with each new recording or live show. The improvising skills of key members have been honed through several years of playing together in various contexts stretching back as far as the mid-1990's.
Live performances by the group have been called "an immersive and psychedelic experience." No two shows are ever alike, and they have performed with a number of diverse artists, including Valet, Climax Golden Twins, Glenn Jones (Cul De Sac), The Drift, MV/EE (ex-Tower Recordings), Wobbly, Inca Ore, Odd Nosdam, O-Type, Eats Tapes, Moodring, irr. app. (ext)., VxPxC, Bunky, Triangle, Painted Cakes, Flying, Voices, Bulbs, Capillary Action, The Loyd Family Players, Nathan Hubbard, and Sean Smith.
Inspired by everything from avant-rock, jazz, dub, and traditional world musics to ambient and electronic music, cinematic scores, found sounds, noise, and experimental sound art, The Why Because utilize various improvisational and compositional approaches and an eclectic array of instrumentation (including some homemade percussive devices) to create an unusually textured and imaginative form of music which defies easy classification. Ultimately interested in fusing elements from various existing genres of music together in order to create new hybrid musical forms, they aim to create an organic, cosmic soundworld which exists at the crossroads of the ancient past and the distant future.
The Why Because have released 3 CDs on their own Musicshapes label, with a few more releases currently being prepared. Please feel free to contact the band regarding booking inquiries, to purchase recordings, to network for touring/releases/compilations, or anything else here on myspace or at thewhybecause (at) gmail (dot) com
Discography:
003 - 'Musicshapes' is a 55 minute long set of improvisations recorded by a sextet featuring Marty Dowers and Dax Pierson from Subtle, with no overdubs. Surprisingly cohesive for being completely improvised, people are always saying that they can't believe we didn't plan this all out or write the "songs" in advance. Recorded summer of 2004 during the first meeting of this particular incarnation of the group, about 6 months before the accident which left Dax paralyzed. A portion of the sales from this CD go to the Dax Recovery Fund. CD in jewel case with hand glued cover photo fragment (each one is unique). 2006 release. $10 postpaid in the US.
002 - 'Impermanent Alloys' is an eclectic album (about 54 minutes of music total) culled from a series of improvisations during the period of 2002-2004, with some slight studio touches added in a few places. Features contributions from members of several notable Bay Area artists, including Birds & Batteries, The Yellow Press, OKR, The Mothballs, Conspiracy of Beards, and Flimsy Vessels... Limited CD-r in black cardboard jacket w/sticker and hand-glued individual nature photo clippings. Released in 2005. $5 postpaid in the US.
001 - 'Universal Evolution' has a 32 minute live recording from 2003 featuring a 10-piece version of the group, plus another 13 minute ambient piano and electronics track from the duo of Michael Henning and Josh Russell. As an added note, the old piano that was used on this track is now in Cuba (via the Send A Piano To Havana program)! Limited CD-r in black cardboard jacket w/sticker and unique pen art covers. 2004 Release. $5 Postpaid in the US.
Yeah, that's such a great place. I am indeed the chick who bought your cd, good stuff. sadly, i wish there was more on there to hear. Let me know the next time you're in town, I'd love to hear you guys play again. much love and good luck.
I love you guys. Thanks, I would love nothing more than to be play wonderful music with all of you. I looked at my trumpet yesterday and got a teary eyed. We must jam soon.
Thank you for coming up and playing a live set! We loved it... especially the jam at the end!
James and I do have a band, but we haven't released anything yet. We're working on recording and as soon as that's done we'll send it your way.
Sorry about not making it to the Part time Punks show, but a whole mess of things came up. I was really bummed and I know James was too. Hopefully you'll come play L.A. again! If so, you need to come back on air!
hey guys! i really enjoyed your set!! i'll fill you in on my show coming up this fall in SF ~ furthermore, i recommend checking out THE HIVE and the ECHO CURIO in LA for gigs ~ they are art gallery spaces that book bands (i know the guy that books at the hive).
