Re: so cal gig spam--Review of Performance

[Steve Lawson <steve@steve-lawson.co.uk>]

Gary, 

I can see that you obviously didn't enjoy watching Stuart's band. the
problem as I see it with a review like this is that it's without context -
I've not seen any posts from you that spell out what you do like, which
would help us to evaluate what you don't, if you see what I mean. For those
of us reading this, we could interpret your review as 1) the informed
opinion of a critic well versed in the musical currency of Stuart's band, 
2)
the rather common experience of many people when encountering aggressive
free improv not based on melody or conventional harmony, 3)somewhere 
between
the two... 

This is not intended to invalidate your opinions, just to suggest that we
are all careful that there is context in our critique, and I would usually
recommend as a course of action giving the artist the benefit of the doubt 
-
I tend to be reticent to write off a particular performance or artist 
unless
there appears to be a wealth of information in favour of my opinion from
other people who are knowledgeable about what the artist is 'trying' to do
and are able to critique their ability to reach those goals. Of course, 
this
is art not science so even then there are things that I like that get
villified everywhere and vice versa things I hate that lots of people I
respect love. 

I've not heard Stuart's music, so I'm certainly not trying to suggest that
your opinion is ill-informed, but I very much doubt that a bunch of 
bluffers
with no idea would get regular repeat booking at the Knitting Factory, so
they must be doing something right.

I went to see Derek Bailey play recently (very free noise guitarist)  - I
hated it, I've heard other things he's done and liked them, but this was as
far as I could tell, shite. I had a couple of friends there who really
enjoyed it, so I'm more than happy to concede that it's just that I didn't
get it on that night...

harsh critique of independant musicians should be handled with care - you
can drastically affect their career without even knowing it, if you're not
careful. I would tend to reserve such moments for people who are actually
doing something that was anti-art rather than those who's music was
inaccessable to me. To write off their performance as 'the emperors new 
art'
could be incredibly hurtful if they are drastically trying to chase their
muse and not bow to commercial pressure, so such critique is quite 
vitriolic
and powerful prosaic ammunition...

cheers

Steve 
www.steve-lawson.co.uk

> From: "Gary Lehmann" <relayonemanband@cts.com>
> Reply-To: Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com
> Date: Sun, 14 Jan 2001 21:55:31 -0800
> To: <Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com>
> Subject: Re: so cal gig spam--Review of Performance
> Resent-From: Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com
> Resent-Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2001 00:56:16 -0500
> 
> so cal gig spamHello--
> It's me again.  Well, I said I'd go see the people who were playing in 
>the
> area, so I went to see Steuart at the Knitting Factory.
> I expected music.  I heard nothing but self indulgent noise.  Self
> congratulatory posturing.  I spent good money to be entertained, and 
>check
> out a fellow looper.  Now, I believe Steuart can play.  I just didn't 
>get a
> chance to hear any music.
> The bad part was, we went to the Getty Museum earlier in the day, and saw
> art.  Real art.  The art we experienced at the Knitting Factory was
> basically crap.
> I noodle.  Hey loopers--we all noodle.  This was crap.
> I stayed until near what I certainly hope was the end.  No time, no 
>melody
> (although there was some singing--gotta give credit where credit is
> due--both female vocalists were capable of singing--but except for Ann's
> song about her cat and Anna's glossolalia--no melody) and, hey Steuart,
> virtually no looping.
> Very much the Emperor's new art.
> Gary
> Original Message -----
> From: Liebig, Steuart A.
> To: 'Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com'
> Sent: Friday, January 12, 2001 10:03 AM
> Subject: so cal gig spam
> howdy, mo' gig spam . . .
> Sunday, Jan. 14th 7:30 p.m. (doors open 7)
> Alterknit Lounge at the Knitting Factory
> 7021 Hollywood Blvd., $10.00
> in order of appearance:
> Joseph Hammer (of Solid Eye) solo electronics/synth (?).
> Ann Perich (performance artist who plays in Guitar Boy)
> Anna Homler (voice, toys, loopage)/Steuart Liebig (basses, applied
> tools/technology/loopage)
> [We go on at around 9]
> 
>