[NewMusic] breathtakingly bad 21Grand

[David Slusser]

On Jun 27, 2007, at 10:34 AM, Jacob Lindsay wrote:
> The overlap between free improvised music and
> hipsterism is interesting.  For some it's the road in,
> which is fine, as long as you move on from there. I
> often wonder why some hipster groups doing mediocre
> work in the "out-jazz" genre get audiences that are
> much larger than other groups that are far better than
> them.  Well...I don't wonder, I know.  As Hajdu says,
> it's all about the status, making the scene, etc.  Oh
> well...there's my rant for today.  Later.

Pardon more verbiage, but there are still points out there to be
made.  Tuesday's show @ 21Grand (7/26) may be an example.
I missed the write-up in the Express, and don't know precisely
what drew the nice size audience (besides the kids from Oregon
traveling with their boy/girl friends).  The auslanders certainly
resemble Jacob's description - I found them predictable with
barely tolerable technique, but actually enjoyed the energy when
they would finally build up a head of steam (and le Gruntfest's
guest turn certainly elevated the proceedings).  Hopefully they will
develop.  I think the WWCC was exceptionally good, but doubt the
audience was attracted to the prospect of "too much gloom for one
room" (in other words, a clarinet ensemble).

Perhaps it was the appeal of the Amendola/Bossi duo that graced us
with their audience.  I certainly won't look a gift horse in the mouth
for putting butts in seats for a night of improvised music.  I don't
think the percussionists were being disingenuous about trying to
play a totally free music set.  Why do I view them with a jaundiced
eye?  Because they don't play free music all the time?  Because they
may be more calculating or aggressive about making it in the music
business?  That there's an audience willing to hear them do just
about anything?  Are these the hipsters Jacob mentioned?  We
should thank the duo for bringing the hipsters in and hope our best
efforts rubbed off on them.

For those that split before the headliners - there were bits that were
predictable and cute, but those are also elements that widen the net
for audience.  I liked their counterpoint and textures, and how they
morphed.  Good listening is not so hard in a duo, but I felt they
used it more to just keep an implied time going - almost desperate
some times.  Perhaps that makes them visitors to the scene - they
didn't really let go of time...maybe that's too much to expect of
drummers.  Otherwise, their imaginativeness and taste were quite
enjoyable.  They could use a few lessons from Moe and Gino about
playing the floor and other off-set surfaces/objects - but at least
they tried the concept.

  Hipsters welcomed?