Endoscope

Unique groove
Warrnambool Standard 16th Sept. 1999 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1999.
By GLYNN COULSON
Warrnambool band Endoscope came into existence just five weeks ago, but the innovative four-piece is already turning heads around town. The band recently competed in the National Campus Battle of the Bands, where it stood out on an entirely different plane to its competitors, and has also performed at Brown Dog nights at the Criterion Hotel and private parties. Endoscope comprises some well-known local faces, including Ruben Shannon on double bass, Jon Emry on drums and percussion, Richard Tankard on keyboards and driving force Jason Nelson on trombone. One of the aims of the band members is producing an emotional landscape with their instruments. Nelson plays his trombone through various digital and multi-effect pedals, commonly used by guitarists, to help create sound layering and ambience.The trombonist describes the band’s sound as a “visual and interactive crass-discipline performance”. Nelson, who has been working on the concept for 15 years, says Endoscope’s sound is based on “tension and release”, the slow build up of spontaneous grooves and patterns improvised by the band members. Each instrument compliments the next as the sounds unite, drift in and out of togetherness, then unite again. Finally, the sound climaxes in a release — the end of a musical voyage. Without a formal structure, the musicians in Endoscope have the opportunity for free and textual expression. “There is no solid rhythm or beat,” says Emry, who uses mallets, brushes, sticks and hands while playing the drums and percussion. “We just shut our eyes and feel the way.” You can catch the band’s unique sound tonight at the Hotel Warrnambool from 9 pm. Featuring Ian Barton on guitar, Endoscope will play jazz standards, closing the show with a 20-minute journey of free jamming emotion soundscape.

Scope for performance
Warrnambool Standard 14th Sept. 2000 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard  2000
Warrnambool band Endoscope will be a highlight of the state final of the campus band competition Melbourne tonight. Endoscope spokesman Jason Nelson said organisers of the campus band competition were expecting big things from Endoscope’s multi-media performance. "Basically organisers are talking like this is the most exciting thing they’ve got on their books," Nelson said. Endoscope, who wear white paper overalls while presenting their musical, artistic and visual performance, are tipped to make a big impression at the state final. However, Nelson said the performance would depend on how things went on the night. "I think if we can get it together musically we have got a good chance. The hard thing is we are making it up we go along, it’s a bit hit and miss," Nelson said. Endoscope won its way through to a state final berth after winning Warrnambool and regional heats. For the band’s regional heat, Nelson performed from Byron Bay through a telephone hook-up with the rest of the band at Deakin University. He said the band couldn’t hear him with his audio coming out of front-of-house speakers but not through the fold back. Despite these problems, they were judged the most impressive band on the night as Nelson said one-third of the judging criteria for the competition was originality.