New Hampshire native Nat Baldwin plays the upright bass and sings, and takes both of those things to their limit, perfecting a sound that he can call entirely his own. His approach to the bass is experimental and endlessly creative, though never showy or overdone. He is an ex-member of Dirty Projectors, and has studied under legendary composer and multi-instrumentalist Anthony Braxton. Initially courted by myriad colleges for basketball scholarships, Baldwin instead pursued music and has since recorded several albums. His latest, Most Valuable Player, was released on Broken Sparrow Records in late April of 2008 and has received accolades for Baldwin’s melismatic vocals and unconventional compositions.
Extra Life is a New York-based band led by guitarist/vocalist/composer Charlie Looker. Formed in 2007, Extra Life combines elements of Medieval vocal music, technical metal, romantic pop song and modern classical composition. For years Looker was a core member of brutal chamber group Zs, and has also worked with diverse bands and artists such as Dirty Projectors, Seductive Sprigs, Period, William Parker, and the S.E.M. Ensemble. Extra Life also includes various combinations of the following musicians: violinist Caley Monahon-Ward (Snowblink), bassist Tony Gedrich (STATS), drummer Nicholas Podgurski (Yukon), saxophonist/keyboardist Travis Laplante (Little Women). Extra Life’s debut full-length CD, Secular Works, was released in 2008 on Planaria Recordings. A split twelve-inch vinyl EP with Nat Baldwin was also released in 2008 on the Shatter Your Leaves label.
Angel Deradoorian sings and plays bass in Dirty Projectors as well as several other projects. Tonight she will perform a solo set.