It’s been over four years since the guys first got together, thanks to a blizzard that hit Denver, CO in 2006. Jamie Janover pulled the stranded musicians together and they played their first impromptu show at Cervante’s Masterpiece Ballroom. “It feels like an annual event at this point,” says Hann, “and if our schedules are cleared around this time of the year we really try to make it happen.”

Formed by a force of nature seems fitting for these four musicians. And according to Hann, Colorado is the perfect place to carry out PRAANG’s fusion of sounds. “Out in Colorado [live music] is so all over the place. Everyone comes through here [and] it’s really crazy the way people here mobilize for a show. That’s one of the amazing parts about Colorado.” These words could not be truer as I watch Quixote’s True Blue, in Denver, CO, fill up with a variety of fans. From deadheads to WOMP seekers, the room becomes a microcosm to Colorado’s live music scene.

Both Hann and Travis are masterminds when it comes to laying the foundation down. Providing this support allows Kimock and Janover to take us on an incredible voyage through their instruments. “It’s really different than Eoto ,” says Hann, “with Steve and Jamie it’s more we’ve set up this song, this sort of texture area and if one of those guys are going to solo or play a melody now you listen for the journey and the story that they’re telling and follow that wherever it goes.”

Janover starts the show off, quickly transporting the crowd with his famed sound that pings off his dulcimer. Bodies are instantly grooving. Soon after, Kimock loops his guitar in and the sounds generated by these four begin to blend effortlessly together.
Soon, Kimock leads the musical excursion with a mesmerizing guitar solo. The other three get quiet, the crowd simmers and we all recognize the legendary talent playing right before us. Steve gets down low, closes his eyes and it’s almost as if he is transporting himself, and us, to the next level. As usual, Kimock’s guitar does all the talking.

PRAANG debunks any myth that electro house sounds cannot incorporate organic instruments. During PRAANG’s performance on Saturday night, Hann keeps the beat while looping a gargoylesque sound (freshly recorded from earlier in the show) made from the most primitive instrument – his vocal cords. Travis lends his support through bass, guitar, keyboards, and live mixing. Both Hann and Travis work damn hard throughout the show, building multiple layers of sound, while still maintaining the foundation for Kimock and Janover. Both Hann and Travis have a confidence that is only learned from improving live relentlessly. When it’s time to move on Hann says, “You recognize it and try to make something happen.”

The beautiful thing about PRAANG is the collaboration and respect these guys have for one another. They recognize each other’s strengths and are able to react with one another, along with the crowd, to bring a night full of movement and dance. Hann and Travis possess a magical ability to support the variety of sounds that incorporate Kimock’s psychedelic rock along with the rich, animated sounds that vibrate from Janover’s hammered dulcimer. These collective rhythms morph into the sound that is PRAANG. It’s about coming together to create a journey from their differences. “We’ve never done a three night show; we’ve done two nights before . . . we’ll see come Monday where we’re at.” From the crowd’s reaction on Saturday night, it seems they want this journey to be everlasting.

As for what the rest of 2011 looks like for Hann and Travis, “it’s already getting really busy.” EOTO starts their spring tour, which kicks off out west in Lake Tahoe, CA in February and runs through June 2 at the Wakarusa Music Festival. And what about summer plans for Cheese? “String Cheese is trying to do, you know, some different things, as [yet], to be revealed”, Hann offers out with a large grin. One thing is for sure, Hann doesn’t mind the busy schedule, and after all, “that’s what we do.”

Photos and Words by: Ashley Sawtelle

Photos and Words by: Ashley Sawtelle

January 22, 2011 – Quixotes Cafe – Denver, CO

Ever wonder what those electronic mad scientists Michael Travis and Jason Hann of EOTO are working with up on stage? The guys have recently spilled the beans and it’s quite a lengthy list:

EOTO GEAR:

• 2 MacBook Pro computers MIDI synched together
• Ableton Live running on each computer
• Propellerhead Reason software
• Jazz Mutant Lemur Multi Touch pad
• 2 Behringer BCR 2000 MIDI controllers
• Juno 106 keyboard
• Nord lead keyboard
• Korg MS 2000 keyboard
• Korg Kaos pad
• Korg Pad Kontrol
• 5 string P Bass
• Les Paul Custom Guitar
• ONYX 12 Channel mixing board
• 2 Behringer Xenyx 502 mixing boards
• Netgear ethernet hub
• Paiste Cymbals
• Pearl Drums

Want more juicy EOTO info? Check out these interviews I’ve done with them in the past couple years:

May 8, 2010 – Paradise Rock Club – Boston, MA
October 17, 2009 – Harper’s Ferry – Boston, MA
April 1, 2009 – Bill’s Bar – Boston, MA

After the Heavy Pets got done playing an incredible set of music, we were all ready for the debut performance of Holy Kimoto. They started with an interesting groove, and early on I recall thinking I had not heard anything that sounded like this. Michael Travis (EOTO, The String Cheese Incident, Zilla, PRAANG) began on bass and switched from bass, to keys, hand percussion, computers. It was clear that Travis was the mastermind behind the operation and obviously the band leader. This was an interesting surprise to me, given this band has Steve Kimock (Steve Kimock Crazy Engine, PRAANG, and Zero to name a few), Kyle Hollingsworth (The String Cheese Incident, Kyle Hollingsworth Band), and Jason Hann (EOTO and The String Cheese Incident).

The first set provided many danceable grooves and by the end of the first set, we were all ready for some fresh air and water. Everyone in my group was very pleased to ecstatic about the music they had heard. The second set began very strongly, with Hollingsworth setting a nice tone with his organ work. As the set wore on, I started to get somewhat bored with it. Instead of progressing and getting deeper in their grooves, it seemed to me that they were hardly slowing down the music at all and were remaining in that familiar electronic, EOTO sounding groove for too long. I wished that they had taken more chances and stepped outside of this familiar zone. The music picked back up when Kimock was allowed to take over with a mellow, yet powerfully psychedelic groove. The encore built more off that beauty. It was relatively down tempo and Kyle really shone with some nice organ work.

It seemed to me that the band has not gelled together yet. Travis and Hann seemed to be very high energy, while Kimock and Kyle were rather subdued and had a more laid back energy, just sharing in the groove (mostly Travis’ grooves) and waiting for their turn. This show had moments of brilliance on more than one occasion, but there were also several lulls in the action when it was just constantly fast electro grooves. If they learned to ground the music more, taking flight again in that electro space would be much more impactful and meaningful. With Kyle and Kimock’s backgrounds, some jazzier styles would have been a great fit— at least to my ears. It was only their first show, So I would assume they can only get better.

If I had my way, I would subdue Travis’ dominant personality a little bit and let Kimock and Kyle soar and have more interplay between them, because Kyle and Kimock are truly among the best at what they do. Hann is always steady. Travis is very skilled at what he does, but he hasn’t been a master of this electronic landscape he tries to create nearly as long as Kimock has been a master of the 6 string guitar or Kyle has been a master of the ivories. All in all a good show, but I would just like them to slow it down a bit more, find space and psychedelia outside of a “techno” place, play some more jazz styles, and just let Kyle and Kimock do what they do best.