Darkside have announced Live at Spiral House, a collection of tracks from weeks of rehearsals in Los Angeles last summer. Joined by drummer and longtime collaborator Tlacael Esparza, the band took residence rehearsing and jamming after an 8-year hiatus.

When we decided to get the band back together, says Nicolás Jaar: with Tlac, we knew we needed a space where we could explore what that meant. After a couple of months of rehearsals, we started inviting friends and family to the space and many of these recordings share the fun and cozy spirit of that time.” Dave Harrington adds: “I probably played every Jerry Garcia riff I know in every key over the course of Spiral House. You’d be surprised how good China Cat Sunflower sounds on ‘Narrow Road’!” Jed DeMoss – the artist and photographer behind both DARKSIDE album covers –documented the summer spent at Spiral House, making the sound recordings on this collection, alongside artist and videographer Will Carrà. They both collaborated on this video, which shows the band setting up Spiral House and rehearsing.

The band is currently on tour in Europe and will perform the first of two sold out shows tonight in Paris. Gigs in London and Brussels have also sold out. In the 8 years since Psychic touring ended… Harrington has been an active part of improvisational jazz communities in NYC and LA, jammed with everyone from Joe Russo to the Master Musicians of Jajouka, released many solo and collaborative records, scored films, and has written and produced albums for multiple other artists, including an ambient album with Alanis Morissette.

Tlacael Esparza, drummer and co-founder of Sunhouse, created Sensory Percussion to bridge the gap between physical expressivity of drums and the sonic power of electronic production. Using innovative sensors and algorithms, Sensory Percussion allows computers to capture timbre nuances, revolutionizing drumming and computer communication. Esparza integrates Sensory Percussion into his drum set while jamming in DARKSIDE.

In recent years, Nicolás Jaar has focused on teaching electronic music software to non-music makers and sharing creative processes with aspiring artists, teaching at the Museum of Memory in Chile, at free.wav in Kerela, India, and his label’s grant programs Ladridos (for aspiring musicians in South America) and Overtones in Los Angeles, USA. In 2019, Nicolás established a community music studio at Dar Jacir in Bethlehem, Palestine, where his father’s family originates and conducted various music workshops there and also at the Al-Rowwad Center in the Aida Refugee Camp.

Darkside
Live at Spiral House
Tracklisting

1. Liberty bell
2. Golden Arrow / The Limit
3. Freak, Go Home
4. Dream (interlude)
5. Heart Jam
6. Question is to see it all
7. Lero

Darkside 2023 Tour Dates

Mon June 5 – Paris, France @ Trianon SOLD OUT
Mon June 6 – Paris, France @ Trianon SOLD OUT
Thu June 8 – Madrid, Spain @ Primavera Sound
Fri June 9 – Porto, Portugal @ Primavera Sound
Sun June 11 – Toulouse, France @ Bikini
Mon June 12 – Lausanne, Switzerland @ Les Docks
Wed June 14 – Brussels, Belgium @ Cirque Royale SOLD OUT
Thu June 16 Manchester, UK @ New Century Hall
Sun June 18, London, UK @ Koko SOLD OUT
Mon June 19, London, UK @ Koko SOLD OUT

Follow the band members Telegraph Channel: DARKSIDE DISPATCH