Thinking Plague * The Wheel Workers * Helton, Wozny, Weston

Rudyard’s presents Thinking Plague * The Wheel Workers * Helton, Wozny, Weston.

Thinking Plague (Boulder-Denver, CO)
http://www.generalrubric.com/thinkingplague

Alternative Press placed Thinking Plague, in the vanguard of groups riding the crest of a largely unheralded avant-progressive tsunami, an idiom responsible for some of the 20th century’s most significant musical achievements. The manner in which Thinking Plague have condensed only the most fertile (and often the most pulverizing) aspect of the last 30 years of progressive exploration into an nth-degree endgame is nothing short of awe-inspiring.

THINKING PLAGUE explores the frontiers where rock, folk, jazz and modern symphonic music meet. THINKING PLAGUE has established itself as the logical successor to HENRY COW and ART BEARS…  – Progarchives.com

“…Thinking Plague stand out as a shining example of avant-garde music blended with just enough rock for it to be called progressive rock…” – Music.com

“Every now and then a landmark group emerges. Thinking Plague in my opinion belongs in that category.” – Chris Cutler ­ ReR

The Wheel Workers (Houston, TX)
http://www.thewheelworkers.com/

Since late 2010, The Wheel Workers’ crisp sound and intelligent lyrics have earned them growing recognition in Houston’s active indie rock scene. Recently, they were nominated in numerous categories in the prestigious 2014 Houston Press Music Awards, including Best Songwriter (Steven Higginbotham), Best Keyboardist (Allison McPhail) and Best Pop Act.

The Wheel Workers have played regularly around Texas, performing at SXSW in Austin, enjoying the honor of playing on the same stage as The Flaming Lips at Free Press Summerfest in Houston, and opening for national touring acts such as Miniature Tigers, Elf Power, The Coathangers and Thao & The Get Down Stay Down.

The band is currently promoting its second full-length album, Past to Present, recorded at SugarHill Studios with producer Dan Workman and released by ZenHill Records.

“The Wheel Workers’ “Past to Present” was one of the best albums made in Houston last year, the kind of dense and thoughtful recording that offers new rewards during repeated playings.”  – Houston Chronicle

 “…I feel like this is the kind of music that could break through to people and get them to start asking questions, to start thinking about the choices they make in their lives.” – Free Press Houston

“They’ve managed to craft a dozen tracks that are thoughtful, warm, friendly, melodic, and addictive as all hell (it’s seriously impossible to not sing along to “Chemicals,” for one)….” – Space City Rock

“I’m enraptured by the deftness with which The Wheel Workers have brought together the sounds of Radiohead, ELO, Pink Floyd, The Flaming Lips, twothirtyeight, and The Rentals with such fantastic aplomb. Past to Present is packed to the gills with crazy-good pop music that also manages to be insightful, dense, and heartfelt art-rock.” – Dryvetyme Online

Thomas Helton, Joe Wozny, Ryan Weston (Houston, TX)
http://www.thomashelton.org/

Thomas Helton is a composer and bassist who writes and performs music in both solo and ensemble settings. As a composer Mr. Helton was awarded a Houston Arts Alliance Individual Artist Fellowship Grant in 2007 for the commission and premiere of a new work for fifteen-piece ensemble, the Torture Chamber Ensemble. He was awarded an artist residency for the commission and premiere of Pride from DiverseWorks ArtSpace in Houston in October 2004, a work for ten-piece ensemble and video projection created in collaboration with video artist Maria del Carmen Montoya.

Other new music commissions include 5 works for the Michele Brangwen Dance Ensemble. Desesperados (2005), a suite of tangos, is featured on Houston Public Radio’s CD The Best of the Front Row. Black Rain (2005), a work for saxophone, guitar, string bass, percussion and dancers, was chosen to be performed as part of FotoFest’s 2006 Biennial dedicated to the themes of The Earth and Artists Responding to Violence. As a bassist, Thomas Helton performs with his own ensemble, The Core Trio, as well as with many celebrated jazz and free improv artists including Tim Hagans, Milt Jackson, Daniel Carter, Monty Alexander, Frank Gratowski and Ernie Watts, William Parker, Weasel Walter and Steve Swell. He recently performed the music of Tim Hagans as a guest artist with Sweden’s Norrbotten Big Band.

He was also featured at the 2009 ISB Bass Convention curated by Mark Dresser. Thomas has released three CD’s: Doublebass; Experimentations in Minimalism; and Saga. All three have received positive reviews in the press in both in the U.S. and Europe.

In the spring of 2010 he spent 3 month a the TAKT Artist residency in Berlin, Germany. While there he performed at many of the cities avant-garde venues with local musicians, Simon Rose, Matthias Mueller, Klaus Kuervers, Chris Heenan and bassist Clayton Thomas. Upon returning to the USA, Thomas completed a very successful west coast tour. Among some of the performances were NORCAL Noisefest, USC Bakersfield, UNT and a special performance with bassist Damon Smith at Tex Gallery in Denton,TX.

He recently released a new solo, DVD collaboration with videographer Jonathan Jindra. The film was featured at the International Society of Improvised Music Conference during a recent  east coast. He plans to continue a US tour in 2012 and a potential tour of Europe is in the works.

In 2013 Thomas took over the non-profit group, The Houston Composers Alliance. THe organization presents original work by modern composers. 2013 also saw the release of his group, The Core Trio. The recording was a live improvisation with New York piano great, Robert Boston.

A new release by The Core Trio featuring Matthew Shipp is now available.