Vinyl Shock Records

Victor Vieira-Branco, vibraphonist. Pictured here performing in the Rob Mazurek Chimera Quartet at Big Ears Music Fest. This was a Sunday "Secret Show" at the UT Downtown Gallery in Knoxville. I was so happy to see this photo on the Big Ears Fest page. You can see & I seated on the floor, mouths open! I can't remember ever feeling so connected to a performance. Being up that close to those four amazing musicians was so cool. I was holding my knees so I didn't get in the way of Vieira-Branco when he would switch from bow to mallets, we were that close. Afterwards, Jess and I were taking in Mazurek's artwork that was showcased at the gallery, still reeling from the music, when Mazurek approached us and offered his hand. "I don't know what that was, but I felt it," he said. It felt like we were receiving props from Mazurek for feeling it too.

John Moran was on bass, Joey Sullivan on drums. Along with Victor Vieira-Branco the three make up Bark Culture. I'm anxiously awaiting my copy of their new LP, "The Giant Is Awkward" featuring Sam Yulsman on piano. It comes out 6/5/26.