Stick Men (prog band)

Stick Men is a progressive rock band founded in 2007 by Pat Mastelotto, Tony Levin, and Michael Bernier. Since 2010, the lineup stabilized around Mastelotto, Levin, and Markus Reuter. The band was formed as a vehicle for progressive rock music performed almost exclusively with Chapman Sticks and drums.

Stick Men
Stick Men in 2008: Michael Bernier, Pat Mastelotto, Tony Levin
Background information
OriginBoston, Massachusetts, United States
GenresProgressive rock
Years active2007–present
LabelsMoonjune
Associated actsKing Crimson
MembersTony Levin
Pat Mastelotto
Markus Reuter
Past membersMichael Bernier

History

In 2007, Levin released a solo album entitled Stick Man, consisting of pieces recorded on the Chapman Stick, featuring his King Crimson bandmate Pat Mastelotto on drums. This then led to the formation of the band Stick Men by Mastelotto, Levin and Chapman Stick player Michael Bernier. The band released its first album Soup in 2010.[1] Bernier left shortly after the release of Soup, to be replaced by Markus Reuter in early August 2010.

The new lineup released the CD Absalom, in 2011, and an album of improvisations, Open, in June 2012. A studio album titled Deep was released in February 2013. There is a special edition including a DVD. The album features heavy rock pieces that are mostly instrumental with exceptions like Horatio featuring Pat Mastelotto on vocals. The album also includes 11 minute tone poem Whale Watch based on Tony Levin's experiences taking whale watching trips out of Boston.[2]

In January 2014, the band released their first live album called Power Play.

In October 2014, Stick Men released their first retrospective album. A double album, the first disc featured studio recordings, while the second was a compilation of various recorded live improvisations the band performed on tour. Also included on the album are remixes and remakes of various other Stick Men songs.

Two collaborative live albums with King Crimson members were subsequently recorded in Tokyo, Japan. The first one, Midori, featuring David Cross on violin and keyboards, was recorded in 2015. The second one, Roppongi, with Mel Collins on sax, was recorded in 2017. Eventually, a 2018 tour of Latin American countries featuring David Cross on violin became the multi-disc boxed set Panamerica, released in 2019. In the same spirit of collaborations with prog legends, their sole 2020 concert in Japan with keyboardist Gary Husband became their album Nagoya, recorded in its namesake Japanese city on February the 28th.

Their fourth studio album with Markus Reuter, Prog Noir, was recorded and released in 2016. This album featured several vocal pieces. Tony Levin sang the title track, Markus Reuter sang Plutonium, and they shared vocals on the promotional single, The Tempest.

Style

Stylistically, Stick Men's sound is quite unique. Touting the fact that their lead musicians are "playing instruments unlike any other," their music has evolved to be somewhere between Art Rock, Progressive Rock, and in some cases Progressive Metal. There is a heavy influence of free music and improvisation during their live shows, as the musicians will often showcase their prowess on their respective instruments in extended free music jams. Most notably, the band honors their connection and tenure with King Crimson by performing songs by the band as well as songs by Robert Fripp, King Crimson's lead member and guitarist. Stick Men has also composed an abridged version of Stravinsky's "Firebird Suite", a staple of their live shows.

Most of their compositions are instrumental, with very few songs featuring vocals, mostly by Levin, but occasionally by Reuter and Mastelotto as well. During his time with the band following the release of "Soup", Bernier provided vocals on some songs.

Discography

Studio albums
  • Stick Men (2009), A special edition release with preview material from the band's next CD
  • Soup (2010)
  • Absalom (2011)
  • Open (2012)
  • Deep (2013)
  • Prog Noir (2016)

Live albums
  • Power Play (2014)
  • Unleashed: Live Improvs 2013 (2014) (standalone release; also released as disc two of the Supercollider anthology)
  • Midori: Live in Tokyo (Featuring David Cross) (2016), Physical and digital release by Moonjune Records
  • Roppongi - Live in Tokyo 2017 (Featuring Mel Collins) (2017)

Digital Release live albums
  • Live in Montevideo 2011 (2011)
  • Live in Buenos Aires 2011 (2011)
  • Midori - Live in Tokyo 2015, First Show (Featuring David Cross) (2015)
  • Midori - Live in Tokyo 2015, Second Show (Featuring David Cross) (2015)
  • Roppongi - Live in Tokyo 2017, Show 1 (Featuring Mel Collins) (2017)
  • Roppongi - Live in Tokyo 2017, Show 2 (Featuring Mel Collins) (2017)

Compilations
  • Supercollider: An Anthology 2010-2014 (2014)
  • KONNEKTED (2017), Digital Release
  • KOLLEKTED (2017), A promotional-only CD given away for free during King Crimson shows in 2017
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References
  1. "Tonylevin.Com". Tonylevin.Com. Retrieved 2011-07-16.
  2. "Pat Mastelotto 2013 interview on Outsight Radio Hours". Archive.org. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
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