The hose blasts of Simon’s fuzzed-out voice and Tsai’s warped kick drum, which sounds more like a bogful of frogs, slowly segues into the start of Soft Circle’s set.

Percussionist Paul Hawkins played this conga drum for Melvin Deal’s African Dance and Drumming classes at The New Thing Art and Architecture Center. The community-based arts center thrived in ...

He says this drum circle has helped him as much as anyone. It’s led him to his calling. “God gave me a gift. This is who I’m supposed to reach.