right now a lot of stuff is happening. it's hard to keep up with it all . . .

xbxrx is mixing our new album right now. it's the best thing we've ever done and it progresses on the approaches of the various recordings we've made since i joined the band in 2003. there will be some improvised tracks as well as songs and it's sonically rich and varied. totally intense, as usual. every few months some dumb kid on the internet says we've "broken up" - the only time xbxrx has "broken up" since forming in 1998 was the year long period around 2002 after their european tour and before i came into the band. the other things dumb kids on the internet say about xbxrx is "i liked xbxrx better when ____." they usually try to figure out what we did on our previous releases and act like we're washed up or losing it. it cracks us up. what it really makes me think is that we're totally ahead of everybody by at least an album. i'd rather be ahead than behind. we're not 16 year old kids anymore. sorry about that.

burmese will have a killer new 10" out on rock is hell records in feb or march that features 12 all-new and totally powerful studio tracks. this could be the best Burmese record yet. we are currently not playing any shows so we can concentrate on writing a new set of music.

i started a few new bands recently that i'm excited about. one of them is an instrumental trio with me on drums, ava mendoza (of mute socialite, ex-evangelista) on guitar and devin hoff (of nels cline singers, ex-xiu xiu) on bass. i suppose the music we're doing right now would remind folks of late instrumental black flag or early massacre with a little prime time and grind in it. i'm looking forward to see how it progresses. everybody is writing compositions for the band - the music is varied and succinct.

i've recently revamped my "jazz" group (whatever that means, ha ha ha). basically i've gotten to the point to where i believe that taking my improvised efforts to a higher level is going to involve composition and regular rehearsal with a set group. i believe that completely free improvisation is very powerful medium - i have had the good graces to have played with many players of very high caliber and i will continue to do so - but i am seeking to differentiate my vision from the glut of improvised music by creating frameworks to maximize intent. we debuted a longform composition several months back and we are currently working on an arrangement of "infektion" (which some of you might remember as a luttenbachers composition). hopefully i can keep this group together over the long term and we can cultivate our group sound fully. it's a great band of great musicians.

in mid-january, i'm recording a large group for a release on a notorious free jazz label featuring henry kaiser, vinny golia, john lindberg, liz allbee, william winant and damon smith. this thing is going to totally slay and the recording will be absolutely top notch. i'll reveal more information when it is prudent.

march will see the following ugEXPLODE releases:

Henry Kaiser/Damon Smith/Weasel Walter CD - this is the most extreme, outrageous guitar playing by Henry Kaiser in decades. people won't believe it. this record is half Sharrock/Last Exit/Takayanagi/Fushitsusha and half Incus/SME acoustic bug music. totally intense, totally alien. a killer studio recording.

Marc Edwards/Weasel Walter Group CD-R: this ongoing pursuit seeks to make the most extreme and articulate energy music possible. i will reveal the personnel after i get okays from everybody on this project. the music is done and it's stunning.

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next year i'll do some gigs on the east coast/midwest in march and may, and then some stuff in europe in duo with Sheik Anorak, and possibly some stuff with Mary Halvorson and Peter Evans. i'm toying with the idea of putting out some stuff of that trio from our previous gigs, but haven't discussed it with them formally yet. there was a lot of video shot of two of the sept. shows, and we may release some of that as well. there's been some light talk with a label about releasing a recording of my duo with marshall allen, but that's very tentative.

my goal for 2009 is to play with evan parker. my goal for 2010 is to play with keiji heino.

ww