Tone Glow

Bruce Wood in 1977. All photos courtesy of the artist. Bruce Wood (b. 1951) is a Massachusetts-based filmmaker and painter who became interested in avant-garde film while studying at MassArt. Even though he went to school for painting, seeing Stan Brakhage’s Window Water Baby Moving (1959) and Mothlight (1963) led to him moving out of state for grad school, intent on studying under Brakhage at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Tone Glow is excited to present a concert featuring the singular Nirosta Steel in light of his tremendous new album, My Skyscraper. The show takes place on Friday, September 18th in Chicago at The Hideout (1354 W. Wabansia Ave). Support comes from Kinsella & Pulse, LLC (aka Tim Kinsella and Jenny Pulse) and Tasha’s Hideous Laughter (Cocojoey and Mukqs). Tickets can be purchased here. Revisit Tone Glow’s interview with Nirosta Steel here.

Even the most deeply-attuned ears of this new digital millennium would be forgiven for never having come across the name and musical world of Amy Sheffer, who until recently existed mostly as a featured-singer footnote in the discography of free-jazzer Marzette Watts. Those who clicked further to find out about Sheffer’s solo discography, a colorful trio of alluringly self-painted William-Blake-looking ’80s art-jazz albums—Sanctuary Mine (1980), Where’s Your Home?

Tone Glow is excited to present “Perceptual Ambiguity,” a two-part screening highlighting four works on 16mm by Pat O’Neill (b. 1939). O’Neill is an American artist and pioneering figure in LA’s experimental film scene. As a teenager, he became enamored with the mechanic and pinstriper Von Dutch, eventually becoming involved with car culture himself through building automobiles.

Nirosta Steel is the artist name for Steven Hall (b. 1957), a musician born in Scotland who moved to America when he was 15. Attending high school in Delaware, he’d eventually head to New York where he’d meet a slew of artists, most notable of which was the late Arthur Russell.

Photo courtesy of Laced Music Akira Yamaoka (b. 1968) is a Japanese composer and sound designer born in Niigata, Japan. He’s widely considered among the greatest living video game composers, scoring and designing for the medium since 1991. He joined Konami in 1993, where his early composition credits included flagship franchises like Sparkster and acclaimed installments like Hideo Kojima’s Snatcher, which he adapted the score for on its 1994 ports.

Tone Glow is excited to announce “Hitching a Ride with the Devil,” a showcase of four works on 16mm by filmmaker Michael Wallin (1948-2016). A longtime Bay Area resident and key figure in Canyon Cinema’s history, Wallin’s mentor and primary inspiration was Bruce Baillie. One of Wallin’s early films in this screening, TALL GRASS (1980), exhibits that influence through its home-movie charm and nostalgic remembrances of Mendocino, California.

Clockwise from top left: Zeca Assumpção, Zé Eduardo Nazário, Lelo Nazário, Roberto Sion, Carlinhos Gonçalves. Photos courtesy of Far Out Recordings. Grupo Um is a legendary Brazilian avant-garde jazz group started in 1975 by brothers Lelo Nazário and Zé Eduardo Nazário. The Nazário brothers’ unique music was a result of Lelo’s interest in musique concrète—an extreme rarity at the time in Brazil—combined with Zé Eduardo’s jazz chops, exemplified by his stint in Hermeto Pascoal’s band.

Tone Glow An interview with the Italian musician about his childhood in Venice, his love for the radio, and his new album 'Movement' (2026) Photo courtesy of the artist Gigi Masin (b. 1955) is an Italian musician who got his start composing from experiences at his local theater. Through his interest in composers like Krzysztof Penderecki and György Ligeti, he eventually began using a synthesizer to create his own musical language. His debut album is the cult classic Wind (1986).

Tone Glow An interview with YoshimiO of OOIOO about field recordings, her ventures in tapestry and fashion, and their new split LP with Lightning Bolt, 'THE HORIZON SPIRALS / THE HORIZON VIRAL' (2026) Photo by Takashi Homma OOIOO is a Japanese experimental rock band spearheaded by YoshimiO (b. 1968), who had already been in the bands UFO or Die and Boredoms by the time of its creation.