OK, so I usually just post lengthy descriptions and let the reader decide if they want to see this psych show or that experimental band or whatever, but this time, I have to prod: Legendary -- and legendarily offensive -- French performance artist Jean-Louis Costes is in town with his new play/concept/freakout. Don't bother if you're squeamish or easily offended, but if you have a sense of adventure, a warped sense of humor, and a love of the truly bizarre, this is a can't-miss event, especially since Costes hasn't played in DC in years. This is also Kohoutek's first show in town since November. Clavius Productions proudly presents:
Friday, March 23
Velvet Lounge
915 U St NW WDC
http://www.velvetloungedc.com $10, 21+
doors at 9:30, show at 10
Costes (from France!)
Kohoutek (DC improv psych, Music Fellowship/Sockets)
Mr. Natural (Nashville improv noise)
Ca$h $lave Clique (DC improv, mem. of Nimrod/36/Sikhara/Acid Mothers Temple/Steve Mackay & the Radon Ensemble/Nik Turner)
Costes http://www.costes.org/ Costes presents "Les Petits Oiseaux Chient"/"Little Birds Shit"
The return of infamous French performance artist Jean-Louis Costes to the USA is certainly one of the most highly anticipated tours of the year. His 2003 presentation of the "Holy Virgin Cult" both thrilled his long-time fans and earned him a legion of new listeners. After surviving malaria, the Paris riots and the authoring of his first book, this historic cult figure tours the US in Spring 2007.
"Little Birds Shit" is the story of an ordinary couple. They meet...they flirt...they fuck. They make a baby. Gradually they find themselves falling into the trappings of normal existance. Working to make money becomes their new focus. As they grow weary from the struggles of life, they find solace in bizarre acts of S&M sex.
Yet cruel, earthly fates conspire to keep them down. The couple must finally come to the logical conclusion of this journey, finishing in
Hell...
High resolution press photo from "Little Birds Shit":
http://radoncollective.org/artists/costes/Little%20Birds.jpg Kohoutek http://claviusproductions.org/kohoutek/index.html Improvised psychedelia ranging from harsh noise to delicate melodies, inspired by the likes of Can/Amon Duul 2/Krautrock, Acid Mothers Temple/Ghost/Japanese psych, Bardo Pond, Dead C, Skullflower, Trad Gras Och Stenar, Sun Ra/Art Ensemble/free jazz, Sonic Youth, MBV/shoegaze, drone, doom/sludge metal, etc. Textures and mood over technical proficiency.
"Recorded live in Philadelphia last year, Kohoutek's
Hair on the Sidewalk is not exactly representative of the D.C. quartet. No one release could be, as the band's music is improvised. But this package, which pairs a CD with a DVD, captures a particularly uncharacteristic performance, since it's one that includes a vocalist. Jim Brophy talks and occasionally sings, sometimes inspired by the projections (which can seen on the DVD version). The music burbles or throbs during the vocal parts, but the group -- especially guitarist Luke Wyatt -- periodically asserts itself. Though the result is sufficiently free-form to be termed jazz-rock, the rhythms, timbres and aesthetic are decidedly punk." (Mark Jenkins, Washington Post)
Volcanic Tongue on the new Kohoutek/Soil Sing Through Me collab CD-R
New Milk:
"New installment of Wabana's limited to 200 CD-R series is a big band collaborative shot from these two North American psych/drug units, with Kohoutek go up against a Soil Sing Through Me line-up that features Ron Schneiderman of Sunburned Hand Of The Man. Some of the backwoods garage style of the attack has a nice Crazy Horse/Savage Sons Of Ya Ho Wha meets ballroom Kosmiche feel, with plenty of serpentine string action and upper atmosphere analogue tweaking. There's even some shots of Miles 70s electro/brass confusion, albeit transmuted in a similar style to Sunburned Hand's acid funk. All laid down with a great recorded-through-a-cheap-stereo feel."
Mr. Natural http://www.glkweb.com/?page_id=2 John Sharp has been performing as Mr. Natural since 1999, combining simple handmade instruments with electronic effects. The instruments are made from unworked wooden branches, with structures of steel wire and springs placed about the surface. Concerts have taken place throughout Europe, the USA, and Japan. Mr. Natural only uses American wood.
John began working with electronic music in l990, mostly working with sampling and tape cut-ups of found sounds. A few hand-copied cassettes document the works of early groups such as 9R3RO23 and Disciples of Lo-Tech. John was introduced to the concept of instrument design in late '93 by Chris Blasen, a founding member of Lab Report. The group Blazen y Sharp quickly formed around their instrument duets, with frequent assistance from multi-instrumentalist John Gladwell.
The early instruments, first built in l994, were simple planks of wood with crudely attached guitar pickups and hardware. Further refinements of the plank design continue to this day.
In l997, the first of a series of tree branch instruments was constructed. The natural form of the branches defines the placement of the hardware structures, giving each instrument a unique range of possibilities and limitations. Each instrument typically undergoes several revisions, exploring the different possibilities found within its form.
In 200l, John began using living plants with attached microphones, to create a further dialog between the natural world and musical technology. Despite the pleasing sounds of the Draecaena Palm in a studio context, the realities of touring proved to be very taxing on the health of the plants. Traveling with live plants has been discontinued, but single-use performances still occur.
Besides his solo work, John has collaborated with several members of the electronic music community in the studio and onstage, including MSBR, The Haters, Joe Colley, Skin Crime, and others. Currently, he also performs as a member of the Radon Ensemble, an ever-changing lineup led by Steve Mackay of The Stooges, and with the international percussion collective Sikhara. A collection of bluegrass songs written over several years are finally being recorded.
Ca$h $lave Clique http://www.soundsfromthepocket.com/csc.htm CASH $LAVE CLIQUE, hailing from D.C., have debut release on the sounds from the pocket label brand,
Let There Be Cash, LE CLIQUE feature Fantasti (a living, plush, singing hamster) as coordinator of sonic suicide bombings -- and we cannot forget to name drop either that this group holds in its ranks ex-members of organizations like SHEER TERROR, 36, NIMROD, SIKHARA, STEVE MACKAY & THE RADON ENSEMBLE, ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE, NIK TURNER, SPACESHIPS PANIC ORBIT.
