Music
Press
“For me, Captain Lazerblast is the best of both worlds- acoustic enough to be real but electronic enough to be unpredictable. Captain Lazerblast stands out as a truly unique act; finally someone around here is doing something original.” - Chris Nagorka, organ technician, composer, electronic musician
“As West Virginia's premiere atmospheric and experimental music outfit, the Captain Lazerblast Band takes the listener on a cosmic journey to places heretofore unknown. The band mixes virtuosic musicianship with wild sonic exploration and leaves audiences mesmerized and hooked for life.” - Chris McLaughlin, Tamarack Events Director (Beckley, WV)
“A fresh new sound that is fun and accessible!”
- Evan Mack, D.M.A., composer, pianist, Lewisburg, WV
Discography
Journey to Flootopia
2007
Elves on the Moon
in production
Photos
Bio
Tim is a Composer. After many years of composing for various venues he found a special attraction to electronic music. He spent several years pulling from his original analog training, experimenting with every aspect of contemporary electronic sounds at his disposal. After his students nick-named him "Captain Lazerblast", he began making CD's under that name to keep a record of his compositions and sell them locally.
Maggie is a flautist. She spent many years performing folk music, primarily Irish folk, with occasional art music opportunities.
In 2002, Tim and Maggie started performing together as an acoustic wind and strings duo. They performed both art and folk music, adding more of Tim's original compositions as time went on. Tim continued working on "Captain Lazerblast" on his own, but found electronic music run by a computer lacking much of the expression and spontaneity he and Maggie were creating acoustically. Finally, he decided the human element was too necessary to leave out of electronic music. He got a MIDI wind controller for Maggie and a MIDI attachment for his electric guitar. Adding several tone generators and effects boxes created "The Captain Lazerblast Band".
Tim's and Maggie's goal is not to become instrumental virtuosos, but to create something new. The beginning of this path has a strong foundation in the music of their pasts, including those labeled art, pop, folk, and electronic.
Whether or not they eventually reach this goal, they hope others will share in their excitement of the music they create along the way.
MORE BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Tim Mainland was educated at the University of California at Santa Barbara, the Université de Bordeaux, and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He studied composition with Peter Fricker, Lukas Foss, Scott Huston and Paul Palombo. He became Professor of Music at Concord University in 1978, where he has been a prolific composer and teaches music theory, composition, classical guitar, and classic banjo. His compositions include works for symphony orchestra, string quartet, wind ensemble, piano, flute, guitar, and banjo, but he has focused on electronic music for the past 6 years. Tim is a member of the American Banjo Fraternity, and the College Music Society.
Maggie Jusiel began her education at the University of South Florida, and completed her Bachelors degree in music education at Concord University in 1998. She taught in the WV public school system from 1999 to 2003, and has taught private lessons in winds and strings since 1990. She also tunes pianos in Southern WV and parts of VA. Maggie is a member of the Piano Technicians Guild, the American Banjo Fraternity, and the Music Educators National Conference.
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