Minimalist Jukebox

[€uroMeinke]

I just got a mailing today about the LA Phil' minimalist music festival (http://wdch.laphil.com/minimalism/). There are a number of events, but a few stood out for me as possible swankings:

The first is a performance by the Orb and other electronic artists (details (http://wdch.laphil.com/tix/performance_detail.cfm?id=2634)) on March 18, which starts at 11:59 Saturday night and goes till 6:00 AM the next day - a sort of minimalist rave at Wlat Disney Hall.

The other is a performance of works by John Adams and Philip Glass conducted by John Adams himself (details (http://wdch.laphil.com/tix/performance_detail.cfm?id=2380)) on March 31, and April 1 & 2.

If you're a KCRW member you can get a 20% discount on tickets

[€uroMeinke]

okay we got tickets to the overnight Orb thing - now to pick out something minimal to wear

[FEJ]

I already have tickets for The Sisters of Mercy that night. :( Too many cool things to do on MArch 18th :)

[€uroMeinke]

Just a reminder to those of you who find yourselves with insomnia tonight - doors open at 11:59 PM

According to KCRW Boom Bip will come on somewhere around 2:00AM with the Orb taking the stage at 3:00 taking us to the end at dawn (6:00 AM)

Now to have some nap time

:cool:

[€uroMeinke]

Cross-posted from my Live Journal:

*****

Last night, or should I say this morning, Lisa and I went to the Minimalist Jukebox (http://wdch.laphil.com/tix/performance_detail.cfm?id=2634) show at the LA Phil. This was the first time we've been inside the new Disney Hall, and I have to say I was impressed. To some extent I'm kind of Frank Geary-ed out. I mean it seems every major city has it's Frank Geary building so that the whole thing struck me a bit pretentious - "ah yes now LA gets one too..." But now that I've been in it, I have to say I love it.

It seemed well suited for a night of chill-electronica, all these hidden curvilinear spaces sporting projections from various video artists - and the music just filled the space. We could hear the DJ from the parking garage underneath as the shows grew from base-lines to melodies as we ascended the escalator into the lobby.

We got there a little before 1:00 AM just before Boom Bip took the stage. We were in the upper terrace which is perched right above the side of the stage. The set up puts the bands in the center, and for the kind of music we were seeing it was a cool vantage point. Boom Bip pretty much played facing each other so that it was you were looking in to a jam session. They were unique for the night as they had actual traditional instruments along with all the electronic equipment - of course they had effects on everything so even the drum was a sort of polyphonic rythym machine.

In contrast John Tejada's set up was 4 electronic boxes - God only knows how he got those sounds, but he was fascinating to watch essentially pulling out a sound, adding effects, looping it and building another layer - quite mesmerizing, I'd never think I'd find watching musicians like this so entertaining.

We got a chance to wander the facility, which was great. My KCRW membership got us access to the "VIP Room" AKA Founders Hall - or whatever it really is. Which was a really cool set up - again a tall curvilinear space with a skylight looking into the building's infrastructure. This was more a bar/dinning space and was quite swanky by all rights - again this event was perfect with an eclectic mix of patrons, cool projections, and ever present sound. There was also a dance area set up in the main hall, and the café remained open through-out. We stopped there between sets for some fuzzy water and a snack.

The Orb took the stage at 3:00AM and the crowd was still full of energy. They had a more traditional DJ set up sampling LPs from his magic bag of vinyl - but the overall effect was likewise mesmerizing. The biggest audience reaction was probably to a version of Little Fluffy Clouds. Overall it was fun to see the stamina of the audience. We left a little after 5:00 as we both were sort of drifting into and out of consciousness. It's amazing how this loud wall of rhythmic sound can just feel so comforting and well - trance inducing. We were among the last to clear out of the Terrace level on our side, so I really have no regrets no staying till the bitter end - we caught the sampled essence of Minnie Riperton as we descended into the garage - Loving You lyrics cutting through the beat.

We pulled out of Disney Hall just as dawn was breaking - so cool to see LA at this time of day - illuminated and empty. It was just beautiful. Of course leaving when we did we got home in about 24 minutes - unprecedented. Makes me wonder if all concerts should go from Midnight to 6:00 AM - of course there's the rest of our lives to consider.

Naturally we slept in - a good satisfying slumber. I'd do this again in a heart beat.

[Not Afraid]

I'm not sure that I can add much to €'s complete account other than I woke up singing "Singing in the Rain".

I find that I LOVE watching DJs work their magic. On paper, I would believe it to be the most mind numbing voyeuristic activity, but it is quite the opposite. I'm fascinated with the busy activity of pushing buttons and prepping discs all while dancing away on stage.

I also have to mention that Disney Hall was the PERFECT place for this type of event. It is very comfortable but industrial and architectural and lends itself to "new" music just as well - or better - than it must do for the classics. I can't think of any other "classic" facility that would make that type of transition with such ease. There was nothing stodgy about Disney Hall last evening, er, this morning.

I also was amused by the diverse audience. Men in full make-up, bunny ears and furry fandom regalia, furs, hippy chic and not so chic, beatnik black, neon orange pants, suits, khakis, sports jerseys......all there. The two people I watched the most were in the front row. One guy was a raver who seemed not to age too well: tie dye T, red baggy shorts, scruffy full beard, white bucket hat a la Gilligan, put belly. He never stopped dancing. His companion couldve been in a SNL "The Bears" skit. BIG belly, baseball cap, full moustache, ever present beer in hand (even at 4 am!). He was voted most likely to have a heart attack screaming POLISH SAUSAGE while dancing. They were both great fun to watch and their joy was infectious.

I loved our perch. We had such a great view of things but yet people were dancing in the aisles of our section. But, we were also comfortable just chilling to the beats. I dozed in a trance and felt the music in my soul. Great stuff.