Tubular alarm bells

That 1 Guy endeavours to explain
his “magic pipe”

SOUND-SHAPING GADGETRY: That 1 Guy

by RUPERT BOTTENBERG

Berkeley, California’s Mike Silverman, aka That 1 Guy, is loathe to have his music pigeonholed, and with good reason. A former jazz session bassist known for his percussive technique, he now concocts a unique blend of funk, jazz, techno, pop and leftfield comedy on his homemade “magic pipe.” That only begs further explanation, so I suggest the following scenario—he’s arrived in Lower Absurdistan for his first gig there, and I’m the customs dude at the airport. I’m at my desk, on which sit a live chicken and a loaded revolver, and I’m asking him, “What do you do and what’s that thing in your suitcase?”

“I explain that I play an instrument of my own design,” Silverman replies. “It’s made of stainless steel pipes, orchestra strings, magnetic pick-ups and trigger sensors. It’s all run through my self-designed routing matrix of sound-shaping gadgets. Bowed, plucked, strummed, and slapped. It’s played with my hands, feet and teeth. All with maximum intensity.”

My hypothetical customs hassles hit closer to home than you’d think, Silverman notes. “The scene that you’ve described is all too real and very common, right down to the chicken! I travel 11 months out of the year so I end up doing lots of explaining. I’ve discovered that little half-truths make things go smoother. For example, I don’t tell them that the instrument is called ‘the magic pipe.’ This only seems to make things more complicated.

“It’s already tough convincing them that I play music with this stuff. Metal pipes, wires, duct tape, saws, the electric cowboy boot—it all looks and sounds suspect. One time, I got pulled off the airplane just before takeoff because they x-rayed my cases and saw the cowboy boot with all the crazy wires and gizmos built into it. Ten SWAT-team-looking folks were waiting for me at the counter with the x-ray printout and lots of questions. That was a fun time.”

Even if he isn’t taken for a terrorist, Silverman could conceivably come off as a 21st-century toke technician, which wouldn’t endear him to airport security either. He’s had a tune of his, “Buttmachine” (off his recent album, The Moon Is Disgusting), on the soundtrack of the TV show Weeds, and, well, he does travel around with a magic pipe…

“I get the bong reference from some folks, usually many times a day. Also, the name of the instrument has the alternative connotations. Funny thing is, I’m actually pretty square. I don’t really smoke or drink and I’m not into drugs. It’s not that I think drugs are bad, it’s just never worked for me. Plus, I don’t have time for another hobby.”

One country he’s clearly welcome in is Australia, where he’s a bona fide star. “There’s an overlap with the didgeridoo as far as the low frequencies and rhythmic chaos go, but it’s more than that. Australians have a very quirky sense of humour. They don’t seem too concerned about what’s hot everywhere else. They are so isolated as a country that I feel that they pride themselves on being themselves.”

Silverman, meanwhile, prefers playing by himself. “I’m trying to be an entire orchestra by myself, and so what I do with the magic pipe has become a big presence, both sonically and physically. When I play with other folks, I get self-conscious about stepping on toes and I have a hard time letting go. That’s why I love playing alone.”

At Pavillon Heineken (De Maisonneuve and Bleury),
Thursday to Sunday, June 26-30, 8 p.m., $16.50