(NEWTON, NJ) -- Power trio Stick Men will bring their unique sound to The Newton Theatre on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 at 8:00pm. Stick Men is a rock trio like no other. Playing instruments not usually seen or heard, and writing captivating and challenging music, they embody the tradition of progressive rock.
Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto, the powerhouse bass and drums of the group King Crimson for some years, bring that tradition to all their playing. Levin plays the Chapman Stick, from which the band takes it’s name. Having bass and guitar strings, the Chapman Stick functions at times like two instruments. Markus Reuter plays his self-designed touch style guitar – again covering much more ground than a guitar or a bass. And Mastelotto’s drumming encompasses not just the acoustic kit, but a unique electronic setup too, allowing him to add loops, samples, percussion, and more.
The result; audiences are fascinated by watching just three musicians onstage perform pieces like Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite, King Crimson’s Red and Lark’s Tongues, as well as wild improvs and their own catalog of unique music.
The group formed in 2008, originally with two Chapman Stick players. In 2010 Markus, already in a duo group with Pat, was brought in, utilizing his familiarity with King Crimson music and his unique instrument and sense of composition, to become an invaluable third member of the group.
Tony Levin started out in classical music, playing bass in the Rochester Philharmonic. Then moving into jazz and rock, he has had a notable career, recording with John Lennon, Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel, Yes, Alice Cooper, and many more. He has also released 5 solo CDs and three books. In addition to touring with Stick Men, he is currently a member of King Crimson, of the Peter Gabriel Band, and of the jazz band L’Image. Pat Mastelottohas spent a lifetime jumping genres from pop, to prog, to electronica to world music with – among others – Mr. Mister, XTC, David Sylvian, The Rembrandts, Kimmo Pohjonen, and for the last 20 years with King Crimson. Markus Reuter is a composer, guitarist, and producer. Initially trained as a pianist, he subsequently studied Robert Fripp’s Guitar Craft and learned to play the Chapman Stick, later moving onto the U8 Touch Guitar. Reuter has released several solo recordings and worked extensively with other musicians.
Stick Men have released 4 studio albums; Soup, Absalom, DEEP, and Prog Noir. They have toured extensively, and are continuing to do so, with upcoming tour legs in U.S, South America, Russia, England, and Europe.
Tickets for the Stick Men range from $19.00 to $34.00. Purchase tickets by visiting www.thenewtontheatre.com or contact the Box Office at 973-383-3700.
The historic Newton Theatre, located at 234 Spring Street in Newton, NJ, was founded in 1924. Revitalized and fully renovated, Sussex County’s premier entertainment venue reopened in 2011 as a 605 seat capacity live performing arts center. With it’s rich history and diverse programming The Newton Theatre is essential to the buoyancy of New Jersey’s Skylands region.
