A musical collective of an amorphous nature, The Why Because are improvisers, explorers, alchemists, and seekers of new realms... Group personnel has evolved over time since their inception in 2002, allowing for consistently variable interactivity with each new recording or live show. The improvising skills of key members have been honed through several years of playing together in various contexts stretching back as far as the mid-1990's.
Inspired by everything from avant-rock, jazz, dub, and traditional world musics to ambient and electronic music, cinematic scores, found sounds, noise, and experimental sound art, The Why Because utilize various improvisational and compositional approaches and an eclectic array of instrumentation (including some homemade percussive devices) to create an unusually textured and imaginative form of music which defies easy classification. Ultimately interested in fusing elements from various existing genres of music together in order to create new hybrid musical forms, they aim to create an organic, cosmic soundworld which exists at the crossroads of the ancient past and the distant future.
Due to the improvised nature of their live sets, no two performances are ever alike. They have shared the stage with a number of diverse artists, including Valet, Climax Golden Twins, Glenn Jones (Cul De Sac), The Drift, MV/EE (ex-Tower Recordings), Silver Summit, Good For Cows, Inca Ore, Odd Nosdam, O-Type, Eats Tapes, Moodring, irr. app. (ext)., Bunky, Triangle, Painted Cakes, Flying, (VxPxC), Voices, Bulbs, Wobbly, Father Murphy, Sean Smith, Capillary Action, The Loyd Family Players, and Nathan Hubbard.
The Why Because have released 4 CDs on their own Musicshapes label, with a few more releases currently being prepared. Please feel free to contact the band regarding booking inquiries, to purchase recordings, to network for touring/releases/compilations, or anything else here on myspace or at thewhybecause (at) gmail (dot) com
Discography:
004 - 'The Maze Changes' was finished in October of 2008 on the eve of an East Coast Tour. Clocking in at roughly 48 minutes, it features the core trio and contains three recent tracks created at home in the studio and four excerpts from live performances.
Spray-painted CD-r housed in a plastic sleeve with printed color insert. 2008 release. $6 postpaid in the US.
003 - 'Musicshapes' is a 55 minute long set of improvisations recorded by a sextet featuring Marty Dowers and Dax Pierson from Subtle, with no overdubs. Recorded summer of 2004 during the first meeting of this particular incarnation of the group, about 6 months before the accident which left Dax paralyzed. A portion of the sales from this CD go to the Dax Recovery Fund.
CD in jewel case with hand glued cover photo fragment (each one is unique). 2006 release. $10 postpaid in the US.
002 - 'Impermanent Alloys' is an eclectic album (about 54 minutes of music total) culled from a series of improvisations during the period of 2002-2004, with some slight studio touches added in a few places. Features contributions from members of several notable Bay Area artists, including Birds & Batteries, The Yellow Press, OKR, The Mothballs, Conspiracy of Beards, and Flimsy Vessels...
Limited CD-r in black cardboard jacket w/sticker and hand-glued individual nature photo clippings. Released in 2005. $6 postpaid in the US.
001 - 'Universal Evolution' has a 32 minute live recording from 2003 featuring a 10-piece version of the group, plus another 13 minute ambient piano and electronics track from the duo of Michael Henning and Josh Russell.
Limited CD-r in black cardboard jacket w/sticker and unique pen art covers. 2004 Release. $6 Postpaid in the US.
