The first apartment I ever had, in downtown Salt Lake City, was in an old 1908 brick building.  Across the street was a fine dining Italian restaurant called Al Forno’s, and I got a job there bussing tables.  It shared a wall with a music venue – Urban Lounge.  At night, after we counted our tips, the street came alive with wild crowds, ready to hear local bands.  I’d run home, get cleaned up, and head inside.  Every noteworthy music act played there, and over the years I got to know so many creative people, party with them, and get inspired by them.  

The performance you are about to watch, Drodna, is historically important to me.  It’s the night I met Wallace, and recorded his show.  We’ve worked together on roughly 17 projects over the last 20 years – culminating in our magnum opus ‘El Tormento de Pablo Pastoral’.  

I’m very proud of this cleaned up and restored version.  It brings me back.  

I asked Wallace to do a write-up of his band, and he sent me this:

‘I started Drodna as a solo multi instrument, live loop sampling project, to launch new ideas and open for acts when other bands couldn’t. Quickly, solo Drodna started doing joint improv sessions with various individuals from local affiliated bands such as Either, The Furs, Kid Medusa, Redemption, Muses of Bedlam, Oh’ Wild birds, & many hand drummers from the belly dancing  community. Almost every gig had a different line up mix, from solo to 3 or 4 people for small gigs, and up to 9 people…stage permitting.

Drodna:

Topher Dalton

Wallace Mecham

Lindsay Heath

Eric Olson

Tony Semerad

Ross Boss

Tracklist:

00:00 – 3:30:08 Dirge Harmony

3:30:08 – 7:37:16 Eastern Knights

7:37:16 – 13:15:26 Dragon Fly Dusk

13:15:26 – 20:15:00 Olson Blues

20:15:00 – 25:29:10 Sister Sarah

25:29:10 – 29:30:00 Floor Sweep