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Re: "Dragging Instruments Around" meets "laptop live"...



Kid Loco is cool all of the musicians have laptops
running but none of them is sittng down with them and
yes, they are palying live music with live
instruments!




--- Jesse Ray Lucas <jlucas@neoprimitive.net> wrote:
>     So, here's an idea, folks: Hook up your laptop
> screen to a projector are
> project what you are seeing -- or, at the very
> least, get some kind of audio
> visualizer program and project the output of that on
> a big screen behind
> you.  If you intend to connect with the widest
> possible audience, you must
> include some kind of visual element in your
> performance.  Tim Reynolds
> projects slides behind himself when he plays.
> 
>     And stand up.  How much energy can you be
> putting into your performance
> if you're sitting down?  I know I would rather sit
> down and play all the
> time, and I probably play better sitting down
> (because I always practice
> sitting down), but you will get over more often if
> you stand up.  Ah, the
> harsh realities of presenting to the public.
> 
> 
> ***DANGER***:  HERE FOLLOWS AN EXTENSIVE RANT ABOUT
> JOE AVERAGE'S PERCEPTION
> OF MUSIC.
> 
>     It seems to me that most people who aren't
> musicians don't actually
> *listen* to music.  They *watch* music.  If music is
> on at home or in the
> car, they are usually not aware of anything other
> than the words.  If the
> music is such that it asserts itself into the
> forefront of the environment,
> demanding attention, (e.g. Meshuggah, Squarepusher,
> or basically anything
> with above-average musical density in any respect
> [harmonically,
> rhythmically, melodically]) the average joe or joan
> will feel uneasy
> (translates into "dislike").  The negative effects
> of higher-than-normal
> compositional density seem to be circumventable by
> adding plenty of humor
> (e.g. Frank Zappa), or at the very least lots of
> very easily understandable
> lyrics presented in familiar melodic patterns (e.g.
> Dave Matthews).  But, in
> general, the whole idea of music without words
> doesn't make sense to the
> vast majority of people who grow up on MTV and
> commercial radio.
> 
>     I see this all the time when I play an opening
> instrumental set with a
> jazz quartet, then a singer joins us for the second
> set.  All of a sudden
> people look up and start to pay attention because
> there is someone singing
> words.  The minute she sits down and we play an
> instrumental, eyes are back
> to the beer glasses and soup bowls and the talking
> resumes.  And it's not
> because the singers I play with are really great and
> we suck.  No words = no
> music.  It's just the way some [the majority?]
> people are.
> 
>     I guess it comes down to giving people something
> that they can relate
> to.  People can relate to someone singing, because
> everyone has tried it at
> some point.  People can relate to someone who looks
> like they're working
> really hard (the "fuck face" as Jimmy George put it
> -- hahahahah), because
> most people have worked hard at something before. 
> Most people can't relate
> to John Coltrane's playing on Interstellar Space,
> because it doesn't
> obviously relate to tonal music, which is the extent
> of most people's
> experience of music.  Most people can't relate to a
> guy standing there with
> a laptop "making" music, because, if anything, maybe
> they've picked up a
> guitar, or banged on a drum one or twice in their
> lives, so this is how they
> understand music is made (hence the benefit of
> dragging around and playing a
> bunch of instruments).  Only someone who knows
> something about what is
> involved in the creation of music on a computer will
> be interested in what's
> happening.  But, as we only see the plastic shell of
> the laptop and not the
> screen there's not really much point to getting
> really interested, because
> you will never get the pay off.
> 
>     But, it all depends on who your target audience
> is.  Music geeks have a
> higher tolerance for musical density, and lack of
> "show."  Just like
> authors, when reading, have a higher tolerance for
> literary references and
> focus on character development, rather than plot
> development and action.
> 
> -J
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mark Sottilaro" <sine@zerocrossing.net>
> To: <Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com>
> Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2003 9:47 PM
> Subject: Re: Dragging Instruments Around
> 
> 
> > Another aspect of the Laptop is the performance
> issue.  BORING.  I once
> > went to a big new music fest and my wife and I
> walked out when a guy
> > sat down with a laptop and began to produce what
> seemed like slightly
> > edgy techno.  (IDM).  We looked at each other and
> said, "Would it
> > matter if that was all coming from the CD player
> in is Laptop?"  The
> > answer was: NO.
> >
> > Look at Hans.  That wall of gear is part of the
> show. So fun to watch
> > him tame COLUSSUS: THE FORBIN PROJECT.   Coupled
> with a sequence of
> > wardrobe changes that would make Cher jealous,
> you've got one hell of a
> > show... even if all his gear fails!  (Sorry to rub
> it in Hans, I love
> > you and your music!)
> >
> > However, I feel that often I'm not that far away
> from the laptop guy.
> > At the ascension show we were in the dark in a
> corner.  I'm positive
> > that most people weren't aware the music was live.
>  Didn't really
> > matter on some level.  A lot of people were there
> and seemed to be
> > having fun.  We were the "ambient" reception
> music, so that's OK.  BUT:
> > What if I had recorded a really killer set in
> Digital Performer the
> > night before, burned it to discs and showed up
> with a DJ setup. One of
> > those Pioneer CD players an iBook and a mixer. 
> Would there have been
> > any difference?  I'm not sure I think so.  Should
> I become a DJ of my
> > own music?  I think people are doing this.  Anyone
> here doing this?
> > Could be a good way to go for this type of event. 
> (where dancing and
> > socializing are the focus)  When it's more of a
> show (like Loopstock)
> > then you go for performance mode.  What do people
> think?
> >
> > I saw Bjork live where she had someone who looked
> like he was
> > "performing" ProTools while she sung.  OK, there
> was a string orchestra
> > too.  Anyway, it worked for me.
> >
> > Mark Sottilaro
> >
> > On Sunday, March 16, 2003, at 01:41 AM, Rick
> Walker/Loop.pooL wrote:
> > >
> > > I'm still not completely sold on buying a
> laptop.
> > >
> >
> 


=====
www.labalou.com

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