MWE: they may be Oakland-based, but within three seconds of hearing overlapping scaling clarinet squeals (they use three clarinets!), the listener is transported to the Middle East. The six-piece group also uses instruments not-often featured here on the Deli SF, like the zurna, davul and riqq. My living room is feeling pretty international with the sounds from MWE’s demo, which you can stream or download below.
And, bonus, MWE performs in skeleton costumes (see picture above). Hope they dress the same for their next Bay Area show. I wanna see me some zurna live!
-Justine Fields