Paul Metzger

The high and lonesome cosmic hobo from the USA. Since way back when Paul Metzger has been experimenting, playing his art-guitar complete with a crash cymbal mounted to its bottom and his distinct heavily modified 23 string banjo. In 2003 he went public playing out sets of his own music, part old time strung out blues and raga’s and part deep listening compositions that wind their way through you inner ear. This is not however the limit... what he can do with his instruments live also includes clangorous, rapidly punctuated percussive workouts that blow audiences away. He pulls the listener inwards and then takes them out the backdoor to experience the other.

Tombeaux (2013) attains a new high-water mark in the career of Paul Metzger, one of North America’s greatest instrumentalists. Recorded in the dead of Minnesota winter, at home and alone, it’s the eighth Metzger release to feature his self-modified, 23-string banjo. [...] Metzger summons the spirits of his musical Appalachian forefathers, guitarist Django Reinhardt and classical sitarist Nikhil Banerjee, among others, weaving a peerless, highly individualistic style that sounds unlike anyone but himself. Metzger’s playing doesn’t imitate raga structures so much as use those modal figures as his starting point. He employs dazzling, breviloquent string plucks on the main banjo strings, whilst producing rhythmic, droning textures on the cross strings of an added bridge. Some have suggested similarities to the works of John Fahey or Sandy Bull, but Metzger’s modus operandi doesn’t constitute a mirroring of those styles; rather, he composes and operates apart from their music, in an insular and altogether separate universe. In the process, Metzger transcends and expands the lexicon in a wholly organic manner.

Past Shows


Sep
15
th
2024
Turf Club
Sep
15
th
2024
Turf Club

Six Organs of Admittance

with The Quaking Bogge and Paul Metzger
Dec
13
th
2019
Turf Club
Dec
13
th
2019
Turf Club

Fareed Haque

with Paul Metzger and Krissy Bergmark
Oct
30
th
2018
Turf Club
Oct
30
th
2018
Turf Club

Ty Segall

with Paul Metzger
Aug
12
th
2018
Turf Club
Aug
12
th
2018
Turf Club

Wino

with Xasthur and Paul Metzger
Jul
6
th
2015
Clown Lounge
Jul
6
th
2015
Clown Lounge
May
17
th
2015
Indeed Brewery
May
17
th
2015
Indeed Brewery

ART-A-WHIRL

with Grant Hart, Paul Metzger, Ben Weaver and more!
Jan
12
th
2015
Clown Lounge
Jan
12
th
2015
Clown Lounge

Paul Metzger

FREE SHOW in the CLOWN LOUNGE (Turf Club basement)
with Steve Palmer and MATT HELGESON
Sep
28
th
2014
Turf Club
Sep
28
th
2014
Turf Club
Mar
4
th
2014
The Assembly at the Woman’s Club
Mar
4
th
2014
The Assembly at the Woman’s Club

Bob Mould

with Paul Metzger
Aug
14
th
2013
The Assembly at the Woman’s Club
Aug
14
th
2013
The Assembly at the Woman’s Club

Laura Marling

with Paul Metzger
Oct
17
th
2012
7th St Entry
Oct
17
th
2012
7th St Entry

Balmorhea

with Paul Metzger
Oct
2
nd
2012
7th St Entry
Oct
2
nd
2012
7th St Entry

R. Stevie Moore

with Paul Metzger and Housepet
Aug
3
rd
2011
7th St Entry
Aug
3
rd
2011
7th St Entry

Six Organs of Admittance

with Mother of Fire and Paul Metzger

More Shows

Mar
7
th
First Avenue

Morgan Wade

with SPECIAL GUEST
Mar
6
th
Fine Line

Jack Kays

Nov
27
th
7th St Entry

Afro Rave

Dec
22
nd
Turf Club

Trailer Trash