Artist description When this trio formed we agreed that we were tired of listening to singers and guitarists. We sought a unique sound that does not readily submit to a specific category or genre. Our style oscillates across a spectrum from a driving wall of screeching distortion on the brink of discontrol, to an eerie electronic montage of fanatical ranting. We seek to write exciting music with a high level of energy that maintains the interest of the listener from the fast and loud to the soft and intricate. The sound of the ensemble is made up of more instruments then there are players. Ben Shirley adds melodic overtones with sax, flute, keyboards, and theremin. Justin Whitlow plays drums and adds other various special effects. Adon Wallace provides structural substance with bass and keyboards. Electronic percussion is also played by each member. In lieu of vocals, samples are triggered and manipulated in real time.

Music Style send us suggestions

Musical Influences Jethro Tull, Skinny Puppy, ELP, John Zorn, Naked City, Mr. Bungle, John Coltrane, Fugazi, Heavy Vegetable, Fishbone, Dismemberment Plan, Sam I Am, Entombed, Neutral Milk Hotel, Front 242

Similar Artists Jethro Tull, ELP, John Zorn, Naked City, Mr. Bungle, John Coltrane, Dismemberment Plan, Neutral Milk Hotel, Brian Eno, Front 242

Artist History Ben and Justin have played together in various musical situations for over 8 years, Justin and Adon for over 5. (Aside from the Ska Band fiasco) we've all been playing together since summer 2001.

Group Members Justin Whitlow, Adon Wallace, Ben Shirley

Instruments Drums, Keyboards, Electric Bass, Tenor Sax, Flute, Theremin, Samplers, Electronic Percussion,

Albums Reductio ad Absurdum

Press Reviews "It's like crazy robot music!" - Sharon Baggett - Historian . . . "The audience stood around with their mouths open like they were watching a baby dinosaur hatch." - Guy at the 12/28/02 freakinasheville.com show . . . "Needless to say, it was something different. Elements of Chaos are added, with sax melodies and crunchy basslines, a beat that is kept instead of mocked as with other experimental bands, and samples of hypocritical evangelism parsed over everything to tie it all together. Everyone was shocked. The people who moved to the lobby will die soon anyway, and people who stayed raved about it for the rest of the night. Pretty impressive." - 1/17/02 Grant Henry of stemmage.com . . . "By mixing equal parts wildly improvisational jazz and heavy rhythmic emphasis over a background layer of recorded fire-and-brimstone preaching, Reductio Ad Absurdum have virtually patented their own kind of music. There were moments when the Asheville-based trio had no less than seven instruments going full-bore. Even more stunning was that they managed to keep the music listenable for their entire set, holding the full attention of the small audience." - 4/14/02 Steve Shanafelt of MountainXpress . . . "Reductio Ad Absurdum - Eclectic, wild and weird. Found bits of spoken word (usually televangelists) playing under groovy, sax-oriented jazz, with some very nice moments of heavy metal, techno, and funk thrown in to keep it interesting. Definitely brainy, if a little inaccessible to the casual listener. 4 out of 5." - 6/12/02 Steve Shanafelt of MountainXpress (CD Review) . . . "The songs in their set ranged in their influence from the Morphine-like "Screaming on the Inside," with its crazy double time ending of Coltrane-esque jazz, to "Limbo Ride to McDonalds," which sounded like Mr. Bungle playing the soundtrack to your worst nightmare... Reductio ad Absurdum aims to make everything they do ridiculous and serious all at the same time... Reductio ad Absurdum doesn't fit the category of "weakly organized local band," but rather fits its own category of "super-genius jazz musicians who just broke into a Radio Shack." Go see them if you can." - 9/12/2002 Corbie Hill - Staff Writer for The Blue Banner

Location Asheville, NC - USA

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