Midway through the Gametones performance at Lovesphere 11. Left to right: Michael Natale, Citizen One, Kid Lucky, M, and Marianna Fuchs. Kid and M are two vocal treasures, performing their own music that night, hijacked to be guest Gametones. - View Large

Me and Citizen One. - View Large

I heard from Marianna the Thursday before the Saturday performance. If I’d known she was available I would not have relied so much on pretaped background music, and just gone live. Using a pre-recorded background track was a first for a Gametones gig. The tracks were created using samples of Citizen One vocals specifically recorded for this purpose.

The Gametones have been strictly improvisational from the get go. In that spirit, this time no one other than me heard the tracks or played the instruments before the show. This sort of nonsense lets us routinely skid between inspirations and disaster. But amazingly it usually works. I think we did OK this time, the audience seemed to like us. I won’t really know until I hear the recording. I think the performers had a hard time hearing the backing track.

When I get the chance I’ll put up some bits of the show mp3s. - View Large

Me and Citizen One before the show. Citizen curated this year’s LoveSphere. He did a great job of recruiting and organizing the performers and creating the concept for the whole day. LoveSphere has had a longstanding relationship with the Museum of Sound Recording. We thank the Museum for hosting us once again. The event took place in The Culture Center. - View Large

Me on Gamechimes, Marianna Fuchs vocals. The Gametones in the 1997 LoveSphere. - View Large