Greetings all,

Just a quickie:

Many of you know that I build the TogaMan GuitarViols (official instruments of 2 GuitarViols). What you may not know is that there are several film composrs using these instruments as well. If you go to the theatre (or DVD depending upon when you read this) and see "300", you will hear the GuitarViol during many ques in the score. Tyler Bates (composer for 300) bought one of these from me back in late 2005. Check out http://www.warnerbrosrecords.com/300soundtrack/ and play the last tune "XERXES' TENT" and you'll hear the guitarViol quite clearly.

I should point out, also, that Loga Torkian from Niyaz plays a TogaMan GuitarViol. http://niyazmusic.com/

So, the family is growing!

Drop us a line!

Cheers;

JW

Hello everybody,

I know that we are long overdue for a blog. It has been an eventful summer. Back in June we released our debut CD "2GV" and have spent the summer of '06 promoting it at Universal Citywalk and Borders. It has been tremendous fun.

Many of you have asked about the curious instruments we play. They are called GuitarViols and are bow-playable guitars that I also build. www.togamanguitars.com . I also have a posting community about the topic of bowed guitars @ www.bowedguitar.com These instruments are also played by several artists and film composers. You may have heard Kevin Kiner use it on CSI Miami. Heitor Pereria used it for Curious George and Madagascar. Tyler Bates has it "all over the score" of a Warner Brothers Epic called "300" (due out in '07). Darin Schaffer www.myspace.com/darinschaffer Just recieved his this weekend. Chapman Stick virtuoso Don Schiff www.myspace.com/donschiff1 has been putting his GuitarViol to work on some recent sessions. I am also building one for my dear friend Julio Revueltas who is already known for his ground-breaking bow-guitar work on several Opcion Sonica albums in Mexico/Latin America. Here is some footage of Julio when he was in town back in '05 pre-NAMM http://www.togamanguitars.com/downloads/julio-house-of-brews.html 

Back to 2GV, we will be playing a few more shows this year--probably @ Borders Santa Barbara/Thousand Oaks Ca. We have been featuring a killer Flamenco Guitarist named Anthony Gabrial. What a combo with the GuitarViols!

Stay tuned and Have a great Thanksgiving!

Jonathan - 2GV

Hey folks,

Had a great time Playing BB Kings yesterday.....yeah, it rocked!

I have modified the operating title of "Deux GuitarViols" to                        "2 GuitarViols" (same thing, but the french was causing confusion and people were walking around and going "Duh" for reasons that are not too hard to understand). There you have it!

Cheers!  Vive Le 2 GuitarViols!

Hello, Hello, Hello,

Quick note here: I have added a video to this MySpace page. Check it out and let me know what you think. This is raw footage from one of our Monday night fireside jams last December.

We are doing a live set at BB Kings Sunday April 30th 12:00 PM noon, check calander for more details.

If you are interested in these unusual instruments we play, check out www.togamanguitars.com. They have been making more and more appearances on the film industry. A couple of ques in "Curious George" by Heitor Pereria. Also, Heitor informs me that he used it on Nelly Furtado's next release. Kevin Kiner has been playing his TogaMan GuitarViol on CSI Miami. I hope to have a clip posted soon on the TogaMan site. Tyler Bates is another composer who plays a TogaMan. My understanding is that he is using his TogaMan (All over the score!) on the upcoming major motion picture "The 300".

Spread the word!

Cheers!

Jonathan-Deux GuitarViols

Greetings,

Well, here goes: First blog. What to say.........

Deux GuitarViols is an unusual project involving unusual guitars (TogaMan GuitarViols-Basically bow and pluck played guitars) www.bowedguitar.com. The music is played exclusively on these instruments drums/percussion  and bass and whatever the sonic sculpture at hand calls for. Oscar, Pablo and I gather together on Monday nights to rehearse and develop new musical streams of thought. This project is meant to be fun and an outlet for pure inspired music. We are in mid-production of what is meant to be our first CD. Ultimately, we plan on playing out and gathering video footage of the shows because what we do (with bowed guitars) needs to be seen to be fully understood. I can speak for Pablo and Oscar in saying that we experience much joy playing and believe that others will enjoy it too. We live for our monday night fireside musical gatherings. In fact if you would like to view/hear some of it, go here: www.sonicbids.com/DeuxGuitarViols

In any event, let us know what you think! I'll most likely post blogs (when time and mood merge) on music as well as some rants on how the educational system needs a thorough re-design. away with the "No child escapes the cube" act. (Okay, I'll save that blog for when I am in a pissy mood!)

Cheers!

Jonathan (One of the 2 GuitarViols)