Event

Banyan

On March 27, two days before Banyanâs originally scheduled gig at Hodiâs Half Note, Banyan founder and drummer Stephen Perkins had an unfortunate accident and âput a bolt through his foot,â according to his press agent. Perkins was subsequently forced to cancel his entire tour. With his foot healed and boot replaced with tougher soles, Perkins finally brings Banyan to Hodiâs on Friday June 1 for a special night of improvisational music.

Perkins is the former drummer for Janeâs Addiction and Porno For Pyros. Banyan is his art rock, punk-meets-jazz band, and features a revolving cast of amazing musicians. Artists as diverse as Sonic Youthâs Thurston Moore, Red Hot Chili Peppersâ Flea and Jon Fruscainte, avant-guitarist Buckethead, Wilcoâs Nels Cline, firehose (and current Stooges) bassist Mike Watt, DJ Logic, and others have performed in the band and helped push Banyan beyond itâs basic punk/alt-rock roots. The current line up includes Perkins, Willie Waldman (Memphis Horns, Snoop Dogg) on trumpet and Rob Wasserman (Lou Reed, Rat Dog) on bass for a set of improvised jamming and recurring themes, plus songs from Banyanâs three albums. Another Banyan member is Norton Wisdom who uses the paintbrush as his instrument. Heâs not making any noise, per se, but though his watercolors, an artistic interpretation of each Banyan show comes to life.