IDM Mailing Archive

OK, with reference to "dont try to be what you are not on stage," this would seem to be a matter of taste. Some people like to be theatrical. Some people prefer technical skill. When going to the theatre, you can choose the ballet or kabuki or noh theatre, where the focus is more on the refined ability of the performers to do certain characters or movements. You go to these performances to admire a skill. Then there's the type of theatre where the point is to do everything you can to become or at least represent something else; your goal is to be something which you are not. In reality, most of what anyone "really is" is just more theatre anyway. We are constantly representing ourselves to ourselves and others; our identity is no more than a personal theatre through which we manipulate ourselves and the world around us to get what we need or want. I'm not talking evolutionary psychology here, I'm talking theatre. If anyone's interested, I suggest looking into Agusto Boal, this Brazil guy who I think lives in France now; he's written some interesting stuff. But I didn't want to get into that. My point is just that we all like different things; Swamay, if you prefer to just pay attention to the music, you seem to be more interested in the technical skill of the art, which would include, as far as I'm concerned, the sounds of the music, their sequence, the way they interact, etc. etc. This follows a long tradition of composers throughout history who were concerned more with trying to create different, new, or perfect music. The math of the music is more important than the cathartic result it might provoke. Other people are more interested in what music can bring to their human experience. Sometimes we like a show; we like entertainment. I like both from time to time. I have tickets to They Might Be Giants on April 30, which I expect to be a rocking concert. I expect entertainment in the company of other like-minded people. However, I also have tickets to Autechre the following week. I don't know what to expect; it could be either a showcase of technical skill or a hot dance party. But I'm kind of figuring on the former, and that's why I bought the tickets. It doesn't really matter, just stop trying to shove your view on others as if your idea of music for the sake of music was the only real, right-minded idea anyone could have. Others think differently, and they're no more wrong than you.

quoted 29 lines -----Original Message-----

> -----Original Message----- > From: swamay [mailto:swamay@home.com] > Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2001 1:29 PM > To: Josh Brown; b. fagan > Cc: idm@hyperreal.org > Subject: Re: [idm] Re: What do you expect from IDM musicians on stage? > > > It takes musician/programmer (they are the same thing in > electronic music) > to make these sequences and tones. It may be automated upon > transmission, > but had to be "made" or "programmed" Some lean more toward > the programming > side, step sequencing, and arpeggiators. But I am assuming > there are alot > of electronic "musicians" that actually play their synths > like myself. I do > not agree that musicianship is performance art. It is about > making music, > not being a performer. If you want to throw in a show, > great! but be > yourself, dont try to be what you are not on stage. Put your > musician foot > forward, play the synths, and edit your parameters live (you > know who you > are), and put your performance act on the shelf. :) > > ~swamay~

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---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: "::dtnl::" <dtnl@digitonal.com>

quoted 1 line this shit is always about the vibe of the place. our best shows

>this shit is always about the vibe of the place. our best shows

have been

quoted 1 line in places receptive to what we're doing, and suitable for our

>in places receptive to what we're doing, and suitable for our

music, with a

quoted 1 line clear sound system and an up for it audience. and this goes for

>clear sound system and an up for it audience. and this goes for

whether we

quoted 1 line were a full band or just me and a laptop playing off traktor. no

>were a full band or just me and a laptop playing off traktor. no

amount of

quoted 1 line gimmiks, visuals, costumes, cute singers or otherwise is going

>gimmiks, visuals, costumes, cute singers or otherwise is going

to make a

quoted 1 line damn bit of difference.

>damn bit of difference.

i agree that no performer should rely on those things to make up for lack of good music. that sounds like a very overboard interpretation of "putting on a show", and not really what i was getting at personally (i don't know if anyone else meant that). ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: bobule <bobule@partyvibe.com>

quoted 1 line i think this is partly what makes kraked (www.kraked.co.uk

>i think this is partly what makes kraked (www.kraked.co.uk

reading, uk)

quoted 2 lines work so well, as a

>work so well, as a >showcase of crazy electronica its really nice to be able to sit on

comfy

quoted 1 line beanbags, watch random images on multiple projectors and

>beanbags, watch random images on multiple projectors and

really listen to

quoted 1 line the act thats playing..

>the act thats playing..

that kind of situation i could go for.

quoted 1 line as for the live laptop thing, im hoping to enhance my live shows

>as for the live laptop thing, im hoping to enhance my live shows

by taking

quoted 1 line my modular synth and a few other bits of kit to aid the live

>my modular synth and a few other bits of kit to aid the live

element

quoted 1 line whilst mixing my tracks in ableton..

>whilst mixing my tracks in ableton..

sounds like something i'd enjoy! ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: Andrew Jones <liminal18@mac.com>

quoted 3 lines if only people would actually

>if only people would actually >come out to those unique spaces. >it's always bars they flock too.

which is one of my points really. a bare-bones rock club is not necessarily the place to hold some kind of multimedia event or genre-busting happening. unfortunately, those are the places readily available, and they have stages, and bars, and loud people and expectations. performers have to accept that in that situation, there's going to be a bunch of people standing and watching them, expecting to be impressed in some fashion. or maybe that's just new york city (LOL). ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: "Nelson, Mark" <Mark.Nelson@zlbusa.com> Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2003 15:32:53 -0800

quoted 2 lines the skill of the performers on stage is equally important.

>the skill of the performers on stage is equally important. >Great sound can make up for a lack of talent and crappy sound

can rob

quoted 1 line great talent - but the conversation between the artist and the

>great talent - but the conversation between the artist and the

listener

quoted 1 line is paramount.

>is paramount.

maybe because i'm a musician i'm not easily impressed by great sound in and of itself. i don't think it disguises a lack of musical substance. but i saw an indie rock band called the velvet teen a few weeks ago. they played a crappy basement of a club with no monitors and an overloading vocal PA. their energy, performance, and sheer musicality conquered all and the audience went home happy. this is just a recent example. i'm not biased towards bands with guitars. there are loads of horrid bands with guitars who are boring on every level. i want to see that kind of transcendence happen with electronics too. one such moment was watching bjork do "all is full of love" at radio city in 2001. of course it wasn't a pure electro show. not every electronic artist can afford to hire a harpist, 11-voice choir, and orchestra. in fact most won't even be singing, which is of course bjork's main attraction. but this type of sensation should be able to be translated into electronic music and other ways to augment the sonic experience. the point that chris henry made in his post about apples and oranges is in fact what i'm talking about. recordings and performances are two different animals, and i think just bringing a laptop is ignoring that fact. d. --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org