As one of the members of Gastr Del Sol and the much-loved Squirrel Bait, David Grubbs’ influence has been felt across several of rock’s stylings in the last two decades. It was in Gastr Del Sol, initially with Tortoise’s Jim McEntire and Bundy K Brown, and then later with Jim O’Rourke, that Grubbs and friends dismantled rock’s bluster and earnest narratives with atonal arrangements, unusual instruments and surreal lyrics. Grubbs and O’Rourke bemused rock fans with several albums of unconventional music, such as Crookt, Crackt, or Fly and Camoufleur. Grubbs has also delved into more avant circles, playing with Tony Conrad and Pauline Oliveros, as well as macabre Americana songwriter Will Oldham and sound conceptualist duo Matmos. With his own label Blue Chopsticks, Grubbs has also released music by free guitarist Derek Bailey and sax-player Mats Gustafsson among others, and has also spent many years in academia, teaching and studying English and Music.
David Grubbs at ISSUE Project Room, October 25, 2013
(photo: Bradley Buehring)