Another Tuvan Throat-singing Bluesman
Since Tuvan throat-singing seems to be a popular topic around here, I wanted to shine a little light on another throat-singing bluesman from the Bay Area, Seth Augustus. That's Seth on the right in the photo above, way out in the Tiaga in Tuva. Seth studied under Tuvan throat-singing master Paul Pena, and you can check out music from his latest CD on his music site (warning, flash-based interface ahead). From Seth's bio:
Soon after hearing Tuvan music, Augustus met the legendary Bluesman and self-taught throatsinger, Paul Pena (Ghenghis Blues), who mentored him in throatsinging, as well as vocals and Blues guitar. The two became close friends during the last 6 years of Paul's life. In 2000, Seth traveled to Tuva, began to study with throatsinging masters from the group Chirgilchin, and learned to play the Igil (Tuvan 2-stringed fiddle). All of this has colored and lodged itself into his sound.
Seth is playing a free gig this Friday in San Francisco, so if you live in the Bay Area and like this kind of music, head over to the Mission this Friday night. Here's the details from Seth:
I'm doing a free show in San Francisco this Friday, January 2nd at the Socha Cafe, 3225 Mission Street (@ Valencia), from 8 - 11 pm. It's usually pretty quiet there so we'd love it if you come out and help us fill up the place. They have great food/beer/wine and joining me will be Ricky Garrett on drums and possibly Lemon Degeorge on harmonica.
I think the Spider Robinson quote on Seth's site sums things up nicely: "This is the music God hears in His sleep when he has a high fever." (Thanks, Howard!)
-Bruce
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If being a Tuvan throat-singer means sounding like a younger Tom Waits, then I will admit this person is doing it fairly well.
Not sure what I expected, but I liked his sample music.
Glad to see Seth getting some BoingBoing love!
As far as the whole throatsinging thing goes, as far as I can tell Seth mainly uses the "khoomei" or "Khorekteer" style. It's a chest voice that produces a metallic quality to the note being sung. He goes for full-blown gutbusting kargyraa on "Slim Sam" and "Tiny Little Head", and does some sygyt on "Buffalo Eight". I bought a copy of "To The Pouring Rain" directly from Seth a few months ago, and I've been touting it right and left ever since. t's really hard to classify the music, but it's all good stuff. I'm trying to get my local community radio station interested in it; just gotta keep pushing.