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While I certainly enjoy the studio sessions that we've done with
looping
and our other experiments, I really feel that (for us, at least...) live
performance is where it's at. Our music is so in the moment (complete
improvisation...) and our playing style so violent at times (frightening
some audience members...oh well, what can one do?) that the live situation
is too fun to give up.
I wonder about what venues are better for improvising and
experimental
groups and individuals. The bar scene has definitely been less that
wonderful for us, while fesitvals and more intimate settings have been
great. No matter what, however, there's always someone there who enjoys it
and makes a point to say so. That always makes it worthwhile--even if most
folks seem to be preoccupied with other things during the performance.
Jeff McLeod
http://members.xoom.com/Gezoleen/
At 08:34 PM 1/19/99 -0500, you wrote:
> Thanks for the many responses regarding my recent post about audience
>applause during loop performance. I guess my main concern is that the
>subtlety of quiet passages is often lost in live performance. It seems
>easy to hold an audiences attention when the sonics are dramatic and bold
>but when the piece turns towards nuance and minimalism things tend to get
>sticky. Its almost as if a live audience is uncomfortable with spacial
>loops to the point of nervous applause. Our greatest successes are when
>we
>are playing to an extremely attentive group focused on the sound. This is
>rare as chatter and external influences always seem to contribute to the
>sonic landscape. I don't want to come across as a demanding performer but
>I know the power of our music lies in its wide dynamic range-- delicate
>textures to corse bold blasts. Is looping too intimate for live settings?
>Are we too boring visually? I too wish everyone in the audience was
>wearing headphones. Too much seems to be sacrificed. Perhaps recording is
>our best direction. Feedback?