Stomp Out Loud

I suppose some of you saw this coming ~ I didn't. It seems inevitable, though, to end a set of clips featuring percussion with a few clips from a production dedicated entirely to percussion.

The original set was just intended to feature Habib Koite & Bamada and some Uakti, and then Bamboo Orchestra was pointed out to me. As I collected those clips and lined them up, I realized some daiko ~ something I've liked for over a dozen years ~ would do nicely in this set. While searching and gathering for some great Japanese percussion, I couldn't help but notice the links for clips to Stomp [stomponline.com], which bills itself as a "Combination of percussion, movement, and visual comedy" and if only one third of that really fits the theme, it was enough to get me to watch. Of course, they also bill the show as "the international percussion sensation" ~ and that is, exactly, the theme.

Where the folks in Bamada and the daiko ensembles use traditional instruments of Mali and Japan, respectively, and Uakti combines traditional instruments of Brazil and elsewhere with engineered creations of PVC and other materials, Stomp uses anything and everything as an instrument. Although there is design behind it, there is much more of an improvisational feel to the bits of flotsam and jetsam that make up their instruments. More than that, they make use of their whole environment ~ anything within reach of a drumstick, hand, or whatever becomes a percussion instrument.

Here's the opening from their DVD, Stomp Out Loud:

Bucking the Trend

Normally, when those hooved Hoovers, those rats-with-long-legs, otherwise known as white-tailed deer, run through our yard, that is exactly what they do. Sometimes, when I curse them the loudest, they are strolling through casually, eating everything I've planted, and generally just taking their time and enjoying themselves.

Not this particular buck.

This guy, he runs right, coming down almost to the house. Then he runs back towards the path. Then he runs left. Then right. Then left.

And when he runs, this bucko looks more like a bucking bronco wannabe then a serene stag, majestically in command of the woods.

Other than odd behavior, he looked hale and hearty, but I expect he took one too many musketballs to the head (I believe muzzle loading is now in season, but I may be wrong on that point) or some other equally unfortunate incident, which outside of the normal hunting season would mean muzzle loading season, archery season, or, the year round motor vehicle season.

It could be he was just wild n' crazy for the doe of his dreams (or whatever else might resemble her and strut by), but I was under the impression that sort of season took place in the Spring.