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Jul 8 2022

GONG FIGHT armor – principal build test

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The sound inside the kit is kind of glorious, but I think during a fight it will be hellaciously loud. Might need to hand out earplugs to the fighters. I’ll be working on arm protection next. And maybe some smaller noisemaking items.


Jul 8 2022

GONG FIGHTS – helmet test

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It works. More to come.


Feb 4 2019

Veering off into left field – to build a marimbula

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This is a long way from xylophones and propane-tank drums, but I’ve really enjoyed building cajóns and – for the first time – a marimbula.

Quick demo and walkaround

The marimbula is a Caribbean instrument, descended from the African kalimba, and generally functions as a bass. As you’ll see in the video at the bottom of the post, I first experimented with a 6-key marimbula built onto the back of one of my cajons, just to figure out the basics of construction.

This one is a 16-key marimbula – which I’ve decided has about three too many bottom-end keys and perhaps one too many high-end keys, as the sound quality falls off quite a bit at the ends of its scale. Next, I might try building one like a piano keyboard (with two layers of keys in white and black) centered in the middle of this scale.

The tuning has been kinda challenging – I finally settled on D – but I’m tuning it slowly by ear because the digital tuning apps can’t handle all the overtones it puts out. Anyway, it’s a helluva lot of fun to play – particularly on a nice, resonant wood floor – because it’s easy to play, and the notes send vibrations through your butt and up your spine. I take great satisfaction in building instruments that create physical joy along with pleasant music.



Jan 25 2015

Video: XyloVan at Burning Man 2014

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A little sampler of the hundreds of people who played XyloVan at Burning Man, 2014.


Oct 15 2012

XyloVan walkaround – L.A. Decom 2012

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Oct 15 2012

XyloVan in full voice – L.A. Decom 2012

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Be warned – it’s LOUD. And that makes us happy.


Oct 15 2012

Drumming on XyloVan at L.A. Decom 2012

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Oct 15 2012

Contemplative jam at L.A. Decom 2012

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Sep 11 2012

Burning Man 2012: Burn Wall Street – and torch that Egyptian god while you’re at it

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At some point – say, doctor next year – we’ll probably quit aiming a camera at the same damn spectacle that everyone else is videoing and actually absorb a burn face to face with open soul, information pills unfiltered by a 2-inch screen.

Until then, we’re happy to share these videos of Burn Wall Street and the Anubis burn:

Word from a friend in the Rangers was that the Anubis pyro show originally belonged to Burn Wall Street – but that the Burning Man Organization (BMORG or, simply, the Borg) reaappropriated it because of unspecified unreadiness on the part of the BWS crew.

It was a fine show:


Sep 11 2012

Contemplative Laura

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Laura – a multiinstrumentalist who dropped by to discuss XyloVan mallet technology found a mood: