Underground isn’t just a metaphor when it comes to The Outer Circle’s upcoming show/holiday party. This Friday night, the locally owned and operated avant-garde improv collective will literally perform underground i.e., in the basement of Kerrith Livengood’s home. Concert begins at 8 p.m. and festivities go into the early morning hours. Suggested donation is three French hens for general admission and two turtle doves for students and seniors, which should make for a fine soup. Alright, I made that last part up. Check out Kerrith’s post about the show for the actual details.

Short notice, but there’s a fascinating event happening next Friday (the 17th) at 1107 Greenfield Ave. — a festive holiday party/experimental music show. If you’re a fan of food, beer, the end of the semester, Christmas, creepy basements, apples, and awesome improvisatory music, or even just some of the aforementioned things, you don’t want to miss this one. Music starts at 8:00, party continues, all are invited to stay and partake. A modest donation ($3) to help defray refreshment costs is requested, beverages and food welcomed.

Modern Formations Gallery
4919 Penn Ave.
Pittsburgh

$5 at the door (cash only)

Eclectic Laboratory Chamber Orchestra presents “B-Sides”, an evening of chamber music and improvised music, featuring solos and small ensembles comprising members of the Eclectic Laboratory Chamber Orchestra including special guests, The Outer Circle. The evening features composed music by Philip Glass, Paul Arma, and Elliott Sharp, as well as improvised music by members of the ensembles.

Join us to see what members of ELCO are up to and enjoy complimentary light fare. Libations available to those age 21+

We have a tremendously diverse array of contemporary music taking place over the next week. It all starts on Monday, April 19 with Dave Bernabo’s DJ Responsibility installation at Carnegie Library Main (the installation runs through May 31st), continues with a performance by The Outer Circle at Morning Glory Coffee House on Friday, April 23, and will finish off with Eclectic Laboratory Chamber Orchestra’s Das Uber-Kabarett at the Grey Box Theater on Sunday, April 25. All the details are in the Events Calendar, so check it out.

Morning Glory Coffee House

Pittsburgh experimental music collective The Outer Circle play pieces by David Bernabo, Aaron Brooks, Elliott Sharp, and Steve Reich, plus free improvisation.

The Eclectic Laboratory Chamber Orchestra in rehearsal…we think…

So it’s shaped up to be a really interesting week for new music in the Burgh. Patrick Burke will make his debut as director of Duquesne’s Contemporary Ensemble this Thursday at PNC Recital Hall, The Outer Circle, a group formed by veterans of the local avant-garde improv scene, gives their debut concert on Friday at The Nerve, and Eclectic Laboratory Chamber Orchestra returns with another program that lives up to that band’s name on Sunday at Grey Box Theatre. Check out all the details on the Events Calendar, and as always, shoot me an e-mail if you have, or know of, something interesting going on.