SLOW TRAVEL BERLIN
Joan of Arc, Schokoladen, 8pm
If you come from the Midwest and have any interest in the independent scene, then “Kinsella” is already a household name. But for those not in the know, brothers Tim and Mike Kinsella, along with their cousin Nate Kinsella, are some of the better-known champions of obscure indie rock, boasting membership in bands such as Cap’n Jazz, Make Believe, Friend/Enemy, Owls, Everyoned, Mata Hari, Ghosts and Vodka, Birthmark, The Sky Corvair, American Football and many more.
Their paths cross in many of these projects, but perhaps the most famous group to feature all three as members is Joan of Arc, a bit of a supergroup that has had more than a dozen members and collaborators over the years (although Tim has been the only constant). Since its formation in 1995, JoA has released 22 albums, two EPs, five singles and one split.
The most recent release, this year’s Testimonium Songs, is about as avant-garde as long-time followers of Joan of Arc would expect. The album features a collaboration with musical performance group Every House Has a Door, who created a theatre piece based on Objectivist poet Charles Reznikoff’s Testimony, a found poem with origins in transcripts of court records.
True, the music isn’t for everyone, but whatever you do, you can’t accuse JoA of being unimaginative. Natalye Childress
Schokoladen, Ackerstraße 169, 10115 Berlin; 030 28 26 527; U: Rosenthaler Platz; admission €???.