Budget cuts have finally trickled their way down to the music scene in State College.
Deep Water Acres -- a one-man band of sorts that functions as an online music E-zine, booking agency and uses its own makeshift record label -- might put on its last show at Schlow Centre Region Library tonight.
"Unfortunately, the recent statewide budget for libraries is not going have as much to pay musicians," said Schlow employee and Deep Water Acres representative Nathaniel Rasmussen. "This is kind of our last hurrah for 2009."
All the way from Scotland, performer Ben Reynolds will stop in State College during his tour with Pittsburgh native Mike Tamburo tonight at the 211 S. Allen St. library. The night will open with Deep Water Acres founders Rasmussen and Kevin Moist's band Evening Fires.
"We're huge fans of Ben Reynolds," Moist said. "He's done everything from avant-garde electronic music to loud improvised rock music to folk finger-picking."
Reynolds is a Scottish solo steel-string guitarist and is one example of the type of underground artist Deep Water Acres brings into town. Deep Water Acres started in the early '90s as a print publication and was brought back to life in 2003 as an online publication. The organization not only takes on the roles of a music magazine and booking agent, but has its own makeshift record label.
"It's a pretty common way of working in underground music," Moist said. He sees himself as part of a worldwide underground network of record labels that helps artists put out CDs and book shows around the globe.
"We try to avoid all the rigmarole that goes with being a real record label," Moist said."
The underground network gives Deep Water Acres the ability to keep in contact with artists around the world, and many see State College as an in-between point during tours. Reynolds is touring with Mike Tamburo, who is the master of the hammered dulcimer, Rasmussen said.
"Think about the inside of a piano, how there are hammers striking the strings," Rasmussen said. "Now expect a person strikes those strings."
