I can't believe I missed this before. The Ambient Ping is just about to celebrate its 2nd anniversary. Mara's Torment played as part of the 3rd evening of this season's Ambient Ping series of FREE live ambient performances. Performances are scheduled all the way through October. They usually take place on Tuesdays, always at Club Nia in C'est What (Church & Front). The doors open at 9pm - the first set is at 9:30pm.

I went there on July 31 to see Mara's Torment. I've seen Rick play before - at one point I was a regular groupie, but I hadn't seen him perform in a while. I'm happy I went. I got to see Mara's Torment, and I stumbled across another 'band' to like - AKUMU.

I went out hoping to calm my nerves. And Rick's music does that. Us die-hards were up front drifting to Mara's Torment's contemplative beauty and peaceful sorrow. And while Rick's dangling action figures & dolls were gone, a very nice sock puppet named Sovaak perched on the keyboard. Rick managed to play without the puppet jumping off despite threats of playing a Black Sabbath/Britney Spears medley.

My inner peace was briefly interrupted by some loud cavorting voices behind me. I held myself back from yelling shut-the-fuck-up. They were just enjoying themselves (ah beer) but I would have thrown Rick's sock puppet at them. An ambient concert is not usually the place you start thinking about anti-gun control or performance rage. Rick has some Zen qualities in his monk-like shaven head. His performance was excellent as usual. He exhibited some new skills as well - he can now twirl around on the spot while one finger keeps the music flowing!!! And I managed not to kill any members of the audience.

Mara's Torment was opening for AKUMU. I don't know much about AKUMU at all. Although the friend beside me at the concert was saying, "oh ya, they're around, they know this person & that person". So I've been out of it for a while. So you're not getting any background from me. But they were good. They play darker, heavier ambient music than Mara's Torment. They have a Techno/Rave sound too - I got some good exercise pulsing to the beat.

For more info about the Ambient Ping presentations, check out www.theambientping.com. To play or download free mp3s by artists performing at the Ping, visit www.mp3.com/stations/theambientping

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