The most exciting outdoor event in rock has today been launched: LIVE IN THE MOJAVE DESERT is a livestream concert film series, deep in the heart of the California wilderness, with performances from Earthless, Nebula, Spirit Mother, Mountain Tamer, and Stoner.
Tickets are available to purchase now: http://cdwa.tixr.comIndividual concert tickets will be available as well as discounted series passes.
Watch the teaser here.
Schedule:
EARTHLESS: Saturday 23rd January, 2021
NEBULA: Saturday 6th February, 2021
SPIRIT MOTHER: Saturday 20th February, 2021
MOUNTAIN TAMER: Saturday 6th March, 2021
STONER (Brant Bjork + Ryan Gut + Nick Oliveri): Saturday 20th March, 2021
Inspired by Pink Floyd's iconic Live At Pompeii film, each of the concert films will be premiered online, and presented in a two-hour long live, hosted program. Some of the biggest desert rock legends will be on set attending and hosting, and the bands themselves will join the stream.
Each film will be released as a live album, with LP, CD, and DVD pre-orders to be announced soon. The project is presented by CDWA Records (California Desert Wizards Association) who have strived to present the best in the desert rock scene, and introduce some of the most exciting new talent.
The project includes new band STONER, a trio of Nick Oliveri and Brant Bjork (Kyuss), with Ryan Gut on drums.
Brant Bjork comments: "CDWA once again commits to the ultimate Rock n Roll experience for the fans and the bands regardless of what might stand in the way. Covid literally shut down live performance around the world... what do you do? You use your imagination and you go all in. Congrats to CDWA and all the bands and crew involved in this Rock n Roll response of light in this year of concert stage darkness."
On the formation of STONER and playing with Nick once again: "I remember playing Ramones songs with Nick in his mom’s living room in Palm Desert when we were kids. Nick and I have roots that go deep. Together again as the appropriately named STONER. A testament to our collective and individual dedication to our past, our present and our future Rock n Roll."
Nick Oliveri comments: "Well I think that California Desert Wizards Association is doing a great thing and a new thing under the circumstances of COVID-19, because what I do for a living stopped cold, dead in its tracks. I feel the powers that be are trying to stop and kill music or live music and I believe Dr. Jones is doing a great thing by keeping it alive. We need more people like him coming forward. Let me add, what a cool original idea - live stream while releasing a live record. For a collector like myself this is a great thing! Big cigars and cold beers to CDWA records. RnR will never die."
CDWA have implemented a custom link program which gives a portion of sales to their affiliates who sell tickets to the shows. They're creating a network of clubs, promoters, record stores and venues across the globe to help support the musical scene in this more desperate of years.
If you're interested in joining, please get in touch here.
To support your local participating venue, buy through their link. More information to follow.
There is no overestimating the level of undertaking on show in the LIVE IN THE MOJAVE DESERT series. Driving tonnes of gear 30 miles out into the desert to film five bands in four days, with 25 people onsite daily - the level of effort shows in a stunning range of unique musical experiences.
In the words of Earthless' Mario Rubalcaba: "Setting up and playing our jams loudly out in the Mojave desert at night with Mad Alchemy's lightshow all around us will forever be a really great memory. I wonder how many animals were listening? Happy it was documented."
CDWA's Ryan Jones' statement: "This was a major undertaking to bring this many people and this much gear out to a very remote desert location. Including the bands we had 25 people onsite daily. Generators. Meals. Tacos. Burgers. Vegan food. Water. Coffee. Weed, Beer & Booze. Camping gear. Handwashing. Covid prevention plans. Portapots. Stage lights. Liquid light show. Full Sound System. So much cable to bury. Backline. Pro Tools Recording System. Computers. Cameras. Drones. Bands. Backline. Everything that came in had to go out, of course. With only one road in, all of these people and all of this stuff had to come up a half mile long hill of deep desert sand; 30 miles from nowhere. We had to hire local desert guys with huge 4x4 pickups to tow things up, tow things down, shuttle the bands, shuttle their gear, guitars, drums, and occasionally to rescue our vehicles. It was insane, but we did it for the love of the project and we really wanted to see our favorite bands play again!"
CDWA Links:
Website
YouTube
Email List
