SFR Picks

Get Wove

Musician Andrew Tumason has a bit of a wanderlust thing going on. Fresh back from New Zealand (his third trip in recent years), he tells SFR that "travel is a huge part of my life—I'm fortunate to make it a priority." Tumason has also visited Australia and Iceland of late; he says these places, plus his homeland of New Mexico, find their way to becoming major inspirations for his music.

This has been apparent in his original music project, Evarusnik, which had no shortage of elements from the music of the world snuck into its songs. Now Woven Talon, an outfit that began as a solo project and expanded to a quartet, remains Tumason's current main focus. He's hard at work on a four-album series as we speak, a series of songs and stories inspired by his travels. He's preparing them for recording alongside Woven Talon percussionist Jackson Mathey, who is also an audio engineer.

The first release is to be called Kahu, which he says is the Maori word for hawk. Tumason still plays solo, most notably during his travels—but, he says, "while it's something I can do alone to keep the name alive, it ultimately sounds best and has the best delivery when there's percussion." He's hesitant to identify one particular sound, but with elements of rock, older blues, Indian percussion and various bits and pieces picked up in his travels and collaborations, Woven Talon seems an obvious, if not worldly, evolution of the work Tumason created with Evarusnik.

There is weirdness to be found, and a deliberate rawness of emotion. "When I'm out traveling, I'm constantly blown away by the people I meet and end up playing music with," Tumason explains. "You share stories about your cultures or what you dream your cultures could be, and people are brilliant; it's easy to connect if you let yourself."

Thus, new Woven Talon material and the band's first appearance at Zephyr Community Art Studio. Tumason will have the backup band, including Mathey, percussionist Gregory Gutin and Berklee College of Music grad (and all-around bass champion) Jaco Foster. "Friends have mentioned when I share my music that they almost feel these landscapes and other places," Tumason continues. "I've learned firsthand what the world is rather than an illusion from media or TV."

This concept of learning comes up repeatedly during our conversation, which suggests he's ready to consistently evolve his practices and output—something that all musicians should hold dear. For now, though, Woven Talon might just be the Santa Fe band to watch. (Alex De Vore)

Woven Talon with Bodies and Regulus
8 pm Tuesday Dec. 5. $5-$10.
Zephyr Community Art Studio,
1520 Center Drive, Ste. 2

 Kids ‘n’ Words ‘n’ Stuff

Whitney Houston famously believed that children are our future, and now you can too, thanks to the young fifth-grade scribes of El Camino Real Academy and their upcoming event Writers on the Loose: Imaginations On the Loose. Think of it like a tall tales club wherein young writers go nuts on any and all topics, from fantasy and love to politics, fables and beyond. Did we mention it's in both English and Spanish? "The way these kids go from English to Spanish with the speed of lightning will knock your socks off," organizer Carl Aubrey says. "The confidence in self-expression and joy in creating these kids' show is heartwarming."(ADV)

Storytellers and Writers: Imaginations On the Loose
7 pm Wednesday and Thursday Nov. 29 and 30. Free.
Teatro Paraguas,
3205 Calle Marie,
424-1601

Oh, Puke

The hits just keep on coming at midtown DIY venue Ghost, this time in the form of a fearsome trio of weirdo bands from near and far. New-ish Santa Fe act Rusa continues their post-album-release domination in funky, jazzy, dreamy pop style. It's in great contrast to California's Poppet, an exciting melding of post-pop and electro compositions of classically trained musician Molly Raney—this is the stuff for people who wanted to like Lana del Rey but and found it wanting in the more bohemian aspects. Albuquerque's Glitter Vomit rounds things out nicely with lo-fi guitar-and-vocals shoegazey songs like an emo-adjacent version of One Foot in the Grave-era Beck. Be there or be sad. (ADV)

Rusa, Poppet and Glitter Vomit
8 pm Friday Dec. 1. $5-$10.
Ghost,
2899 Trades West Road

Merry Yaksmas

The town of Madrid has changed a lot since it was a General Electric company town in the '20s, but the tradition of going all-out with Christmas lights remains. December's weekends of open houses and holiday displays kicks off Saturday with the eclectic, festive, friendly, sometimes strange and always fun parade. Arrive early, visit galleries and shops for refreshments, line your chairs up along Highway 14. Afterward, head to the Old Coal Mine Museum at the Mine Shaft Tavern for a meet-and-greet with Santa and his yak. You may ask, "Why does Santa have a yak?"—but don't ask. This is Madrid. Let it marinate; let it slide. (Charlotte Jusinski)

Madrid Christmas Parade
4 pm Saturday Dec. 2. Free.
Town of Madrid, Hwy. 14