Recording: No Record

Artist: No Record

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at The Great Hall (Long Winter 4.5 – Night 1), March 18, 2016.

No Record - unknown

You can't fault Long Winter for being ambitious and for wanting to close out the season by cramming in as much music and art into the Great Hall as possible, but their plan to close the year out with a two-night stand didn't entirely pay off. Giving patrons the choice of two nights (and holding them at the end of Spring Break) seemed to especially cut into the younger crowd and both nights (especially Friday) lacked that "about to burst" feeling that makes LW unique. But even if the crowd was at less than maximum strength, there was no certainly no lack of music spread throughout the building.

This project from frequent Long Winter guest artist Ben Kamino saw him joined EJ Smith (guitar) and Tura Cousins Wilson (drums) — plus 800 feet of paper. I'd caught a bit of this at the previous month's instalment up from the balcony while I was to-ing and fro-ing, but to be down on the floor at the edge of it was something else entirely. That this was, at one level, a "band" was tangential to the whole roiling experience of it, with Kamino pushing furniture, climbing to the balcony and generally dashing about while the audience was encouraged to unfurl the giant rolls of paper, leading to massive, floor-filling tangles. On the other hand, though, it turns out that the multi-talented Kamino is a better singer while running in circles and swinging a chair than many a would-be frontman that I've seen rooted to one spot on a stage — I'm sure that has something to do with the joyful fearlessness that he brings to all his work. The songs were based on circular groove-riffs and repeated mantras, ending with the in-the-moment anthemic cries of "No more waiting!" Totally bracing and a wonderful way to end the night.

^* Does anyone know the title to this one? Please leave a comment!