Autumnal Haunt (Gypsy Rock Monkeys)

A couple of weeks ago I took part in recording with a collective called the Gypsy Rock Monkeys in the The Battery Steele Tunnel on Peaks Island in Maine.  The collective is lead by the prolific Tom Fahey (AKA Sound Shaman) - who this year dropped the magnificent full length record "Black Feathers", which is one of my favorite records that has come out so far this year - and just dropped another record, "Voyage" yesterday) and includes many other musicians based out of the Boston area.

(photograph by Olive Tree)

The group has been playing and recording for 5 years and the Battery is the primary spot where they meet and do so.  This was my first time recording with this ensemble - as well as my first time in the Battery - and it was truly an experience unlike any I've ever had before.



The space itself is absolutely surreal.  The absence of light plays tricks on your eyes - and the way sound travels in the tunnel and in the different rooms in the battery and the reverb in these spaces gives the place a very unique sonic character.  But in addition to this - I had been warned by multiple people that there was a lot of dark spiritual energy in the Battery.  I am usually not one to believe in the supernatural - but I have to admit - when playing in this space it definitely seemed to stir something up.













(photograph by Olive Tree)

We recorded for two days in the tunnel - and recordings from both of these "haunts" have been uploaded on soundcloud.

CREDITS 
 -Totem Fahey (Sound Shaman) - Drums, Shakers, Vox
-Adam Blake (Kar'Nam) - Flute, Vox
-Adam Canvas Giangregorio  - Fire Axe, Vox
-Mike Simonelli - Guitar, Vox, Stones/Bricks
-Patrick Chaney (Solid State Entity) - Vox
-Woody (W00dy) - Vox
-Jaid Nellie Moonflower - Drums
-Vanessa Daring Kiwiface - Drums
-Patrick Campbell - Vox
-Donny Gervais - Vox, Drums