Re: [microsound] laptop (performance) ethics...

[zimbette <tofu@xxxxxxx>]

i am glad folks are talking about the live performance aspect of the more
computer based music.

i have been to many shows where the main "attraction" is a fellow sitting
behind a laptop.  and i think it is wonderful.  i love to go and hear the
music on a system louder then my boombox with the artist present , even if
the music is mostly (or all) pre-programmed.

but i also love it when the artist takes things a little further.  one of
the BEST laptop type performances i have seen was by jim o'rourke when he
played with oval, electric company (not quite the laptop rocker :), and
lexaunculpt (laptop rocker)... 

mr o'rourke worked his way out of oval's set (oval, by the way, was pretty
cool, but quite the boring fellow to watch, and he looked like he was
going to puke the whole time).  bits of audio abstraction, and slowly
o'rourke moved his way into very well done pop songs.  it was very warm,
and the audience was very much drawn into it (or so it seemed to me).

now, the audience.. that is something that usually DOES bum me out at
laptop type shows.  and i really do think thats where the difference lies
between a dance environment (read: rave or party) and a performance where
the audience is barely alive enough to even clap (and thats NOT to say
that an audience at a abstract/mellow performance has to be so dead and
cold -- i have great memories of robert rich's sleep concerts of more
recent years and windy and carl).

but again, there is something about hearing good music with the producing
artists in attendance.. even if they are burried behind a laptop (or even
a dat.. though i know thats a whole different argument).

when i went to see autechre at coachella, i was bummed they were only
djing.. but when they came out with a pair of laptops.. well, i was
tickled to death.. did they do anything interesting (aside from the
music)?  not really.  but the music was grand and diverse, the audience
was receptive, appreciative, responsive.. and really, it was fun as well
as nice to the ears.

maybe thats what im getting at -- laptop performances are groovy, but
often i wish they were a little more fun and lively.  


or something.

chris.


ps - saw jim o'rourke again the other night.. mostly folk, some abstract
electronic stuff.. all good.  i just wish he would take the step to
integrate the sounds more.. when i asked him if he ever did such a thing,
he replied: not yet.. here's hoping!


On Tue, 16 Nov 1999 MilkAlive@xxxxxxx wrote:

> a powerbook is an electric guitar. 
> power book in 2000 = electric guitar in 1955.
> the cliched gestures of performance are being formed now. create yours today, 
> be considered a pioneer tomorrow !
> whats wrong with sweaty rock styled performance? even if feigned?
> Don't fear your genitalia, they are good fuel. If you create something 
> spontaneous with your laptop in a public place through a  p. a.,the audience 
> may perceive the risk.
> Then again I've seen an audience of nerdyboys transfixed by one of their own  
> playing a CD in his g3 powerbook, complete with decoy peak files on the 
> screen 
>  (lexaunculpt at any given gig, that chickenshit).
> nevermind, nobody ever notices anything except the price of beer.
> carry on, brains
> 
> brad laner
> 
> p.s. my good friend rick potts (lafms) says that in the 70's if you did 
> anything electronic or collage-y, people would say, "number 9, number 9" 
> because they had a pop culture reference to music concret via the 
> beatles..isn't that funny?
> 
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music for lunchpails . wednesdays 6-9pm . kuci 88.9fm . www.kuci.org
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