Archer Spade Kickstarting the New Year at The Rotunda Jan. 14

As Archer Spade, Daniel Blacksberg and Nick Millevoi twist their contemporary classical repertoire into avant-garde doctrines of minimalists rhythms and ethereal space noise. It’s rough in the best way – an always-unwinding tape of eccentric textural experiments and idiosyncratic art-house overtures that seem to manifest right in the moment. But it seems apposite of these visionary local composer/performers who, while only a year old as Archer Spade, have more than a decade of experience as both collaborators and individual artists. They put this empiricism to positive use – not only have the pair journeyed to California early this month for a collaboration with famous jazz instrumentalist/educator/composer and Art Ensemble of Chicago co-founder Roscoe Mitchell on a Thomas Buckner-commissioned trio composition with saxophonist Drew Cecatto, they also launched a Kickstarter campaign for their Archer Spade Commissioning Series, which closes on Monday and premieres in April, that will fund an inspiring project with bassist Johnny DeBlase (of Many Arms and Zevious), dynamic composer Dave Soldier, and local composer/musician/director Gene Coleman. And, as a bonus, the West Philly-based duo will debut a new long-form electric guitar/amplified trombone piece, "So Timid Persons Can Kill Their Own Fowl," in addition to performing a Johnny Deblase-composed piece, "Sound Matrix," as well as original compositions, at their gig tonight at The Rotunda, which comes on the heels of their return from the West. The best way to understand Archer Spade is to watch them live. The magic is always apparent. The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St., 8pm, Free, All Ages – Annamarya Scaccia