The Knitting Factory will once again host the first appearance by a union of familiar faces on January 1. Marc Brownstein (The Disco Biscuits, who figures in his second news story of the day), Jamie Shields (The New Deal), Joe Russo (The Benevento-Russo Duo) and Scott Metzger (RANA) will team together for their first appearance as The Insane Luchadors, ensuring a set of improvisational music scheduled to stretch late into the night. A day earlier, both Brownstein and Shields will host Manhattan New Year’s performances of their own, while Russo will perform with Marco Benevento and Mike Gordon in St. Petersberg, FL. As for Metzger, he is free to roam, since he will perform at the Knitting Factory with RANA on December 30.
Over the past three years, Brownstein and Shields have used New Year’s Day as a chance to perform in a series of unique configurations. In 2004, the longtime friends launched JM2, while last year the pair formed The L. Cool Trio with Russo. For those keeping score at home, Metzger, Brownstein and Russo also comprise 3/5ths of Flying Circus, while Brownstein, Shields and Russo have played as Laverneus Cool with Al Schnier. Finally, Metzger will also join The Duo for a set of Led Zeppelin covers tonight at New York’s Tribeca as Bustle in Your Hedgerow. While Metzger and Shields have never performed together in a formal setting, word is the former Wetlands dwellers both like to give Brownstein a headache about his cockeyed hat.