Here’s another piece from the body installation at the 2009 Sound Scene. Tina’s niece and nephew consider the guts.

> Listen to Cheerios by Tina Tennessen (1:15)

You’re Hot played at the 2009 Sound Scene installation — here is dj bent’s artist statement: This piece by dj bent documents the first visit to a gun range by her 14 year old god daughter. Guns are controversial, but they exist, and knowledge of their use will be crucial to survive the coming/present apocalypse, whether it includes zombies or not; dj bent and her goddaughter are set on survival. Guns that we shot included two rifles (Savage Arms 64F and Yugo SKS), five semi automatic hand guns (Ruger MK II, Walther P1, Makarov, CZ52 and Colt 1911), and one fully automatic machine gun (NFA HK 416) to cap off the day at Blue Ridge Arsenal in Chantilly, Virginia, where they even have zombie posters for target practice. With thanks to our teacher Dexter and help from dj mothersheister and dj rAt.

>Listen to You’re Hot by dj bent (3:02)

Credit: dj bent

This is a recording of the call to prayer and rush hour at sunset in July 2007, recorded by DC Listening Lounge member Maureen Loughran. She writes,”This picture was taken by my sister Kate. It is a view of the mosques across the Nile at sunset, when the recording was done. The squiggly lines in the sky are kites that were flown at this time of day everyday, while the call to prayer was happening.”

> Listen to Cairo by Maureen Loughran (4:20)

There was much recent hubbub over Obama’s first 100 days but nothing compares to the first. Listen to a collection of inaugural sounds, from the festive to the entrepreneurial, with a celebrity appearance by Denzel Washington, and more…all for only $40.99.

>Listen to Ohhh-ba-ma! by Ben Bloom (8:53)

In this audio piece, DC Listening Lounge member Vige Millington stumbles across a story of summer love and icy fruit flavors. It was recorded at an elusive snow cone stand in Northwest DC.

>Listen to Ice by Vige Millington (1:40)

This audio piece comes from DC’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, recorded by DC Listening Lounge members Ben Bloom and Tina Tennessen. “Beer and milk were never more convenient than the three years we had a grocery store in our basement. In that time we struck up a friendship with the store owner, Shital Patel. Every once in a while, we’d find him in a deep slumber behind the counter – but that’s excusable; the man works harder than anyone we know. In this recording we discover his musical tastes.”

> Listen to Lincoln Park Market (2:08), by Ben Bloom and Tina Tennessen

The Third Coast International Audio Festival will be at the SILVERDOCS film fest in Silver Spring for a listening event on Thursday, June 19, 2:15pm. A great excuse to escape the office during the work day, and how often to you get a chance to go to a movie theater and just listen? From the SILVERDOCS website:

“On radio, the pictures are better.” So goes the old broadcast cliché, and for the most talented contemporary audio producers, it’s no joke. For the second straight year, SILVERDOCS partners with the Third Coast International Audio Festival to present a program of remarkable feature and short documentary work in a dedicated listening session. With the best sound available, you can marvel at the textured sonic world inhabited by audio storytellers. More information available here.

AIR (The Association of Independents in Radio) is offering two upcoming intensive workshops on unconventional and creative approaches to sound and storytelling. You will need to apply, and the application deadline is this Friday, June 20. From the AIR website:

AIR, with Harvestworks Digital Media Arts Center in New York City, offers two week-long intensives for mid to advance level producers. You do not have to be a member of AIR to participate. This opportunity may be especially appealing to those working in traditional radio formats eager to experiment with unconventional approaches to sound and telling story. Read more and apply here

While you’re on the AIR website, see the recent article by independent producer Neenah Ellis in the online publication Air Blast. She writes about homegrown audio and listening groups that have popped-up across the country. You’ll see that DC Listening Lounge gets a nice mention.

Missed Sound Scene II: Cartographies and Confessionals? Good news - you have another chance to check out our audio map of DC! We’re installing the map for one night only at Artomatic this Friday, May 30. Stop by the SpeakEasy Lounge on the 8th floor of Artomatic (located at 1200 First St., NE) between 7pm and midnight for another evening of sounds so rich, your other senses will be jealous.

Re-discover your city in a new dimension. Our audio map of Washington, DC features site-specific vignettes and postcards from around the area and beyond. Some of the audio pins on the map include:

Saturday Afternoon: Explore the DC Open Air Farmers Market - amidst the sounds of local farmers and the rumbling of the Metro train, one customer gets schooled on the types of local fish for sale.

Killing Is the Easy Part: A couple of city kids decide to cut the middle-man out of their food chain and kill their own dinner–five fresh Maryland chickens–themselves.

Anacostia Park: Bodies and Bald Eagles: A National Park Service employee shares some of his more extreme sightings in the park.
The audio map was a huge hit at Sound Scene, so don’t miss this chance to check it out again. While you’re at it, spend some time exploring the ten floors of art and music at Artomatic - more information about this awesome event can be found here.