High Wire Gallery

For me it was a High Wire weekend.
On the Saturday of the Trenton Ave. Arts Festival I attended the High Wire Music Fest in the lot next to the High Wire Gallery. Unfortunately or fortunately, can’t decide which, I caught the tail end of the Arts Festival. Not a big deal as my primary purpose was to attend the music performances. Luckily for me, the High Wire show extended a little farther into the twilight hours. It was an all day affair and featured many local bands of the new music/​jazz/​avant/​noise/​punk/​improv/​indie/​folk scene. The lineup included Birds of Maya, Bad News Bats, Split Red and Chris Forsyth, among others. These were the later bands on the bill and the only ones I had a chance to see. I would have liked to have seen the whole thing, but was unwilling to spend the entire day there. So, I missed a great deal of music. What I did see was great.
The following evening I went to a concert inside the gallery proper. On the bill were Jooklo Trio (Jooklo Duo & Arrington de Dionyso), Arrington de Dionyso’s Malaikat Dan Singa and local faves Hermit Thrushes. Amazing performances from all, they all killed. The night began with Jooklo Trio who played a brief but high energy set. They were followed by Arrington’s own band with him proclaiming, «We’re the only rock band from Olympia (, WA)… to sing completely in Indonesian.» High concept to be sure, but it didn’t really matter what language he was singing in, as the man’s intense. Closing out the evening was none other than Philly’s own raucous Hermit Thrushes. «Best band in Philadelphia», Arrington shouted out towards the end of their set.
The physical space of the gallery itself is nothing special, it’s what takes place within which sets it apart. I didn’t really pay that much attention to the art hanging on the walls, but I’ll be back. I’ll be attending many events here in days to come.
Inspired by and with all due respect to Arrington de Dionyso’s Malaikat Dan Singa, I’m going to be starting a band soon. No choice, I have to. I’ve got the name all picked out. Crusty Dudes w/​Smooth Moves. Maybe we’ll even get a show at High Wire?