Oakland (RSVP for address)
Andrew Barnes Jamieson: AndrewBarnesJam@gmail.com

RSVP for the address!
AndrewBarnesJam@gmail.com

Bring a snack to share! This is also our February All Ears Interfaith Sangha gathering!!!

Experience this "beloved" sporting event in a whole new way: with a radical musical score, improvised by bay area experimental musicians.

There will be a different ensemble for every quarter/half-time show.

Schedule: 3:15 -- gather in silence
1st quarter (3:30) -- Aaron Oppenheim, Patrick Talesfore Jr.
2nd quarter (~4:15) -- Jordan Glenn, Rent Romus, Amanda Chaudhary
Half-time show (~5:00pm) -- Tom Bickley, Anita Chandavarkar
Third quarter (~5:30) -- Bill Wolter, Alison Niedbalski
Fourth quarter (~6:15) -- Charles Peoples III, Maureen Spranza, Andrew Barnes Jamieson

https://www.facebook.com/events/114223543264915/

"Every year at the beginning of February, I find my world even more bewildering than usual. Large groups of people seem to gather in front of a screen, as images of well known popular musicians, sports commentators, a large stadium crowd, sports announcers, a wide variety of corporate products, displayed in attention-grabbing ways, and helmeted men on a large field with a not-quite-fully-round ball. I've never figured out what made any of these things really worth watching.

In some ways, the Super Bowl was just never that interesting to me. I could never really decipher the rules to American football. No team had ever captured my interest enough to follow. The narration gets monotonous. They never pick any of my own favorite musicians to perform at half-time (and the performances don't get close to my preferred polytonal cacophony). And that's before I even get to the commercials...

In other ways, the Super Bowl raises real concerns. I always heard that domestic violence rates are higher on Super Bowl Sunday than any other time of year, as men somehow feel emboldened to aggression and abuse. Revelations continue to emerge about disregard for players' health, and the frequency of concussions, simply from playing the game as intended. And I'm frustrated with the NFL for failing to stand up for justice as players were attacked for protesting racial injustice by kneeling as the national anthem was played.

So how do we respond? Most years, I just ignore the event, and stay focused on the things that bring me more hope and joy (and yes, polytonal cacophony.) But this year, instead of ignoring the Super Bowl, I thought I'd try to confront and examine the occasion more directly.

The All Ears Interfaith Sangha meets on the first Sunday of most months, to use new ways of listening and sounding to enhance our connection with the Divine, our community, our world, and our own selves. This month, All Ears will be dedicating some time for gathering, discussion, and sound as we examine the absurdity of the Super Bowl.

As we watch the video projected on the wall through the duration of the game, we will feature a variety of musicians to improvise their own sounds. These sounds are designed to expand our listening and awareness, and move away from the traditional experience of watching the Super Bowl. Hopefully, we will never see the game the same way again, and will be better prepared to confront some of the problems and eccentricities in our culture that the game represents.

Come be a part of the most unique Super Bowl party I've ever heard of!"

- Andrew Barnes Jamieson

Game starts at 3:30, but you can come early!

Cost: Free (bring a snack to share!)

Audio samples in which musicians at this event play:

Videos featuring musicians playing at this event