(Naked City, live in NYC, 1992)

Join us next Saturday for an exciting performance of Naked City’s influential album of hardcore miniatures – Torture Garden – recorded in 1989  with John Zorn (sax), Bill Frisell (guitar), Wayne Horvitz (keyboards), Fred Frith (bass), Joey Baron (drums) and Yamatsuka Eye (vocals).

Saturday’s lineup will feature Reed Wallsmith (of the evening’s opening act, Portland ensemble Blue Cranes), Tristan Gianola, Wayne Horvitz, Keith Lowe, Mike Stone, and Brad Mowen.

Over two decades later, we asked some of Naked City’s original members for brief reflections on the album – what it was like to play the music, and what some of their favorite  pieces were:

Joey Baron: “Blood is Thin (Prestidigitator a close second). I love that opening line in Blood is Thin. More than any one piece, I most enjoyed being part of an ongoing team. We gave each other confidence in times where we, individually, may have felt incompetent .”

Wayne Horvitz: “It’s hard to pick one. Speedfreaks was the most fun to play. I think Obeah Man is the most incredible as a piece of music – I love how the ending seems like an incomplete thought, sort of like those weird moments just before you fall asleep…and of course Perfume of a Critc’s Burning Flesh wins best song title award.”

Bill Frisell: “We were at the right place at the right time.  John brought together good friends to play some music. Torture Garden. Wayne, Joey, Fred, Patton, Eye. Wow. What a trip. I’d never played music like that before…and don’t imagine I ever will again. I learned so much. We had a beautiful experience together. ”

Tickets are $10 advance/ $13 at the door, available now from Stranger Tickets. All ages until 10 PM. Not to miss!