10.6 A wknd w/ HNRY FLWR
The artist on doing, being and celebrating 'Visions of the Daytime Moon' with two album-release shows —this Saturday and Sunday at Sleepwalk
What would New-Age Bruce Springsteen do?
That’s the creative mantra, taped to the wall of his home studio, that guided David Van Witt (the man behind the musical alter-ego we know as HNRY FLWR) throughout the writing process of Visions of the Daytime Moon — a beautiful, groovy, frequently surprising and deeply spiritual stunner of an album, six years in the making, that is out everywhere TODAY!
David is, above all, an artist with intention. One who attends to every detail, seeks out ways to appeal to every sense and considers every dimension of both the live and listening experience. (Not to mention the merch — there is a black HNRY FLWR prayer candle located on the windowsill of the very room in which this newsletter is being written.)
And with every song, every show, every video, every post, every actual paper pamphlet, he isn’t simply establishing a ~*~*~vibe~*~*~. What the artist has been working on, with and towards could be more accurately likened to a religion. Or, as he puts it, an anti-religion. Perhaps a creative cult. An alternative way of looking at the world and considering the universe—a life philosophy expressed in the most musical of means.
Enter: THE INFINITE VOID—the centerpiece of this enlightened crooner’s creed.
“While institutional religions promise answers and sure paths to enlightenment, the Void promises only nothingness,” David (as HNRY FLWR) (we think) explains. “Instead of searching desperately for answers that do not exist, the Void teaches us to find beauty and peace in accepting what is unknown. It is the anti-religion, a path out of the institutional spiritual cycle of desperation and exploitation. With the Void, we are unchained from our desire to know the universe wholly, and instead enjoy what simply is.”
And given this sharp spiritual slant, it’s no surprise that HNRY FLWR shows feel almost like services, the artist not just singing but preaching from the stage, backed by a loyal and loving seven-piece band composed of well-known members of the Brooklyn music community (including Melanie Chambers, Mattie Safer, Rosie Slater, Abdon Valdez and Henry Raker).
And this weekend, in honor of the release, CHURCH IS IN SESSION, BABY —
Both Saturday AND Sunday at Sleepwalk.
Grab your tickets for Saturday (w/ DJing by Lydia Gammill of Gustaf) here!
Grab your tickets for Sunday (w/ DJing by Anna Fox) here!
There’s much more that could be said about David’s actual history and the real experiences that led to the formation of HNRY FLWR (a childhood moving around the US with a single, clairvoyant mother; leaving home at 16 and traveling the US playing bar rooms, cafes, teen centers and anywhere that would pay; living in a psychedelic new-age community in Brooklyn), but—a la the teachings of The Void—in this case, you’ll have to embrace some ~mystery~. And not just because we’ve almost reached our word-count limit.
But hey, before we go, here’s a music video:
ALRIGHT! Please go forth and listen to the album—a “musical manifesto” that incorporates elements of meditation, drone music, improvisation and more—ASAP, grab your ticket(s) to the show(s) and then go forth and have a beautiful weekend courtesy of David/HNRY, who hath provided the suggestions below.
It’s going to be a very fun n deep n dreamy one. Let us dive in~
[BUT FIRST: PRESS PLAY]
Here are my thoughts on this weekend.
First, remember that not doing is as important as doing. As New Yorkers, we like to pack it in — we're the most ambitious of all cities, but for every task you complete, event you attend, remember to take a moment and just be:
List of Being
1. Take yourself to the beach (Riis is nice in the off season) on a weekday in October and just listen to the waves.
2. Central Park is one of the greatest parks in the world but if you want more wilderness, and less people, try going to Forest Park in Queens-- it is almost the same size.
3. Sometimes when i have time between things and I'm in Manhattan, I'll drop a few bucks in the donation bucket at Dream House and lay on the plush white carpet while La Monte Young's drone compositions pour over you .
4. Or if you want to feel far away, take a stroll through the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Once you've taken some time to be still, to breathe, to connect with yourself, then you're read to do, to accomplish, to see and be seen. And then I would suggest these three activities over the next three days:
List of Doing
FRIDAY
Nick Cave at King's Theater
SATURDAY
HNRY FLWR'S Visions of the Daytime Moon (Night 1)
SUNDAY
HNRY FLWR'S Visions of the Daytime Moon (Night 2)
Itinerary above written + submitted by HNRY FLWR. Follow the artist at @HNRYFLWR, add the songs to your Spotify playlists and find all things HNRY FLWR at hnryflwr.com!
Feature image (provided by the band): Kevin Condon
MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS
It’s BANDCAMP FRIDAY bb! Go treat your fave artists (and yourself) and buy some tunez n teez!
Did you hear the newssss?! The OWL fam is opening another bar! Give a warm and boozy welcome to Medusa, located at 618 Grand Street. Grand opening is coming soon. Follow @medusabrooklyn to keep up with the action.
Reminder that THIS TUESDAY (10/10) is the next STRONG LITTLE SONGS living-room show ft. Go Home, Justin Buschardt (of Sharkswimmer), Samkae and co-host Arlo Indigo—all raising money for Trans Lifeline, “a peer support & crisis hotline for the #trans community.” BYOB & donation-based, with BdBK matching the first $100 in donations.. DM @bandsdobk 4 address.
RELEASE RADAR
New(ish) stuff from local (+ occasionally, once-local) artists we love, listed in no order whatsoever:
Serenity // Sharkswimmer
Obsession // Tea Eater
“breakdown” // Phantom Signals
“Drowzy” // Papi Shiitake
The Liquid Self // Pons
Big Deal // Bummer Camp
IT’S HAPPENIN’
10.10 STRONG LITTLE SONGS living-room show w/ Go Home, Justin Buschardt (of Sharkswimmer), Samkae and Arlo Indigo @ BdBK HQ aka Sam’s apt — BYOB, donation based, DM @bandsdobk 4 address
10.29 BdBK. presents Halloween at Arlene’s - Tix here
11.11 BdBK presents TURKEY SLAMDOWN w/ Bodega, My Son The Doctor, Work Wife, Mary Shelley, SQORE benefitting Make the Road NY @ Rubulad - Tix here
ICYMI
Around the blog and from the archives
Video Premiere: “Obsession” from Tea Eater
THE SETLIST by Bands do BK is a reader-supported publication that’s freeeee. BUT! If you want to become a paid subscriber to show some love and support the work BdBK is doing… well, hey. That’d be pretty rad of you. <3
Thx 4 reading! Find more fun stuff at bandsdobk.com and @bandsdobk. <3
Order the Bands do BK BOOK (!) (out now via Lit Riot Press) here.