Since the late ‘90s, drummer Charlie Hall has been gathering with friends every year or so to mount a daunting hill — to replicate, as best any group of humans can, the “electric” music of Miles Davis. It’s clear that Hall — who also plays in The War On Drugs and with lots of other folks, also leading up the men’s vocal group The Silver Ages — looks to this project, called Get Up With It, to stay sane. But as Get Up With It somehow channels In A Silent Way and Bitches’ Brew, really pulling in some of those mind-bending sounds and truly evocative tones, the project only really illustrates what an insanely talented musician he and his crew are. (You can read Hall talk a little more extensively on the project here.)
About that crew: When they play Johnny Brenda’s this Wednesday night, Get Up With It will include Kevin Hanson and Ross Bellenoit on guitars, saxophonist/keyboardist Mitch Marcus (Donovan) and bassist Ezra Gale (Super Hi-Fi), and others — a lot of them. (They’ll be sharing the bill with Brooklyn synth wizard Frank Locrasto, whom Hall and WOD’s Dave Hartley just produced for Weathervane’s Shaking Through series.) To whet the whistle, we asked Hall to pull together a playlist of his favorite Electric Miles tracks, and we kindly obliged. Do enjoy it on this fine summer’s day.
Get Up With It plays Johnny Brenda’s, August 24th, at 8pm, with Frank Locrasto. Tickets available here.
