Mixed feelings on the ol' electronic producers playing live schtick. I
kinda feel that studio music should be left there... that it is created for
the head and feet in a recorded format, and should possibly not leave that
format. The atmospheres, effects, and general vibe of an electronic
composition can rarely be reproduced on stage and more often than not
should not even be tried. I know I'd be scared to try.
Can you imagine someone like Photek attempting their complex atmospheres in
a live setting? With more often than not shitty sound? With a crowd of
onlookers who mostly may not understand? And Mr. Rupert sitting behind a
console hitting buttons? I don't think dancers or a light show could save
this scene.
However, all that said, I have seen some pretty amazing 'producer' shows.
The most memorable, believe it or not, was Moby back in 1989-90. No light
show, nothing extraordinary... just Mr. Moby, one small keyboard, and a
sequencer. Moby would announce the song with yelling enthusiasm ("This one
is called VOODOO CHILE!!!!"), hit a button on the sequencer, and then start
dancing and jumping all over the stage like he just drank seven cafe
mochas. He did this for 45 minutes. The audience, so drawn in the artist's
simple excitement and love for the music, couldn't help but dance and go
nuts themselves. A great show, and unbelievably simple. And I don't
remember Moby even touching that keyboard.
I'm sure many of you out there have seen some of those awe-inspiring Meat
Beat Manifesto shows of years past, too...
Its pretty much accepted not in the electronic dance scene that a DJ set is
a live show... even if the most exciting thing the artist is doing is
playing acetates of unreleased new tracks. I'm not so sure what to think of
this either... its a weird proposition, an artists live show consisting of
playing recorded music. And the audience watching said artist dig through
his crate, pull out a record, and play it. How exciting. Of course, if the
artist can 'rock it on the one twos', this could be just as good as a real
live show. Maybe.
PEACE
michael donaldson
Q-BURNS ABSTRACT MESSAGE
P.O. Box 1909
Orlando FL 32802 USA
PH: (407) 420-4669
FX: (407) 246-0580