Music fans, like voters, tend to love a “uniter,” not a divider. For practically the entirety of his career, Californian Ben Chasny, under the nom de plume of Six Organs of Admittance, has brought together the disparate strains of his musical obsessions into a distinct and engrossing catalog of music. Drawing on the intricate acoustic finger-picking style of luminaries such as Bert Jansch and John Fahey, as well as jagged noise rock, drone, raga, free improv, and hairy psychedelia, Chasny has dabbled in everything from midnight folk ballads to ephemeral, oceans of feedback. His albums often straddle these genres as songs balance upon the remarkable intersections of seemingly distinct styles. His live performances are equally diverse. During a solo acoustic show, the droning rattle of a low-strung bass string might provide the only accompaniment to intricate, melodic workouts. Sometimes a raucous full-band excursion can ascend from free noise into magisterial, electric rock. He’s equally adept at both modes of performance. Eclectic music fans hungry for change might consider catching the show after casting their vote.
Six Organs of Admittance plays tonight at The Canopy Club, 708 S. Goodwin Ave. in Urbana, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $8.