Breaking the Bar-Gig Paradigm...alternative way to see music

[louderthangod]

I've had this formless, detail-less idea in my head for a year or so but I'm just getting a bit stuck. I'd like to break the paradigm of bands playing in bars...not because I hate drinking or anything but I'd like to play music (and see music) in an environment that immerses the listener and enhances the experience. Bars are great for rowdy, lively, social music but if you're playing instrumental, ambient doom that's more about losing yourself in the sound then a bar is just distracting. I know of a few places where I can rent their basements (both bars but the basements feel pretty removed and there's nothing wrong with having a beer or cocktail to get you in the mood) but I don't really have a strong idea what to do in them. I've also had ideas for renting a generator and playing shows in inspiring areas, most that are probably not so permitted. Not fully on generator shows but more like set up, record for 20 minutes, get kicked out and then record again somewhere else like on a bluff on Highway 1. When doing improvised music, I think your environment and headspace play a major impact on what you come up with.

Anyways...back to the alternative venue. The only idea I've had was setting up a room where instead of having a band all crammed into one spot of the room...the band is in different parts of the room, all spread out. Since we do improvised stuff I was thinking that people could come and go at their instrument throughout the long piece. So, two people like guitar and violin (we have a violinist), we could start the piece off on one side of the room and then 20 minutes in the drums could come in from across the room and then in another part of the room a synth or bass, or maybe the drums are in the middle of the room. I figure taking away the central focus and spreading around the focus to different spots would be interesting and add dynamics and allow people to choose their own focus, like constructing their own mix. It would also be cool to collaborate with other similar minded bands this way. Parts or all of both bands could be playing at once. Again, for lots of high energy bands this sort of thing probably wouldn't work that well. I just don't see why we need a one size fits all approach to listening to live music.

I'd like to add visual art as well, multiple video feeds, video that is connected to mics that is manipulated by the sound in the room but I'm especially stuck here.

So, what are some good alternatives venues or methods you've seen live music or what are some ideas you've had? I remember years ago hearing that Om (I think but it might have been someone else) was going to play a show on a flatbed truck that followed the sunset to the coast on the summer solstice. This could have been a joke or just a rumor, I don't really know but I thought it was a cool, if not impractical and absurd idea. I know they have played in a museum in front of an Egyptian exhibit and Isis has played in a museum. I just feel like pushing things a little further and I'm willing to swing and miss at some novel ideas that at least seem promising.

[jfrey]

OM playing "At Giza" in front of Egyptian ruins at the Met's Temple of Dendur

http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2 ... es_sh.html

[darthbatman]

yeah this sounds really cool man i love playing improv outside or in spaces where people come and go.. that's why i loved playing house parties
i'm sure there's something that would catch on, just start tossing ideas on the walls and see what sticks imo

[retinal orbita]

if you're playing instrumental, ambient doom that's more about losing yourself in the sound

Are you? Pls post a link thank you

There was a thread here just the other day, one guy wanted to play an "alternative venue" there were some good suggestions. It's probably on page 3 by now.

This is something I want to do too. I hate bar shows. But I love drinking. It's a dilemna. Do people go to house parties any more? I don't, because I am not in college. I'd play an art gallery too. That would be hella great. How do you book it? I don't know. My band is not bar rock, even in hip Toronto. Where do we go?

[jfrey]

if you're playing instrumental, ambient doom that's more about losing yourself in the sound

Are you? Pls post a link thank you

There was a thread here just the other day, one guy wanted to play an "alternative venue" there were some good suggestions. It's probably on page 3 by now.

This is something I want to do too. I hate bar shows. But I love drinking. It's a dilemna. Do people go to house parties any more? I don't, because I am not in college. I'd play an art gallery too. That would be hella great. How do you book it? I don't know. My band is not bar rock, even in hip Toronto. Where do we go?

I don't know about Toronto, but there are usually some small city art galleries around that might be interested.

[D.o.S.]

My favorite venue of all time is an art gallery.

[jfrey]

My favorite venue of all time is an art gallery.

Check out the F Lot gallery next time you're in Boston. They do parties for new openings, beer, music, etc.

[louderthangod]

if you're playing instrumental, ambient doom that's more about losing yourself in the sound

Are you? Pls post a link thank you

There was a thread here just the other day, one guy wanted to play an "alternative venue" there were some good suggestions. It's probably on page 3 by now.

This is something I want to do too. I hate bar shows. But I love drinking. It's a dilemna. Do people go to house parties any more? I don't, because I am not in college. I'd play an art gallery too. That would be hella great. How do you book it? I don't know. My band is not bar rock, even in hip Toronto. Where do we go?

We're going to be release a bunch of material on Bandcamp soon. We've got a few hours of material but we're trying to mix and master it and decide if we're going to go under one band name or two since we have some revolving members and some permanent ones.

We have a thing here in Oakland called First Friday's where a bunch of art galleries pop up and there are bands and 1,000,000 hipsters of various types but it seems like an "in crowd" sort of scene. I'm not against playing it but we might need to do our own thing for a few rounds and hopefully getting a little attention as something interesting and then get a few connections because I don't know any of these folks.

Just out of curiosity, when did Canadians start using "Hella"?

[retinal orbita]

We're going to be release a bunch of material on Bandcamp soon. We've got a few hours of material but we're trying to mix and master it and decide if we're going to go under one band name or two since we have some revolving members and some permanent ones.

Ah, the delicate balance of balancing band politics of a band with supposedly no politics? I feel you, bro

Just out of curiosity, when did Canadians start using "Hella"?

We use it constantly, now, always and forever..... anyone that tells you otherwise is a stinkin' commie traitor spy.......

[retinal orbita]

I don't know about Toronto, but there are usually some small city art galleries around that might be interested.

Oh you're loud? No thanks. It's supposed to be about the art

My experience is everyone wants a gentle jazz trio, not a bunch of loud assholes with loud amps.....

[D.o.S.]

You need to go to better art galleries.

[louderthangod]

Stephen O' Malley seems to do a fair number of gigs in art galleries and places like that...often solo. I'd be down for that. I can do a 4 hour Brian EnO ))) type set of ambient/drone.

[retinal orbita]

You need to go to better art galleries.

I guess the problem is I just like the aesthetic of a gallery. I just want to play a room painted white. I wouldn't go to one unless there was a cool band playing.

[D.o.S.]

Yeah. I'm just saying, there's lots of cool alternative art galleries out there.

[GlitteryChunks]

So, what are some good alternatives venues or methods you've seen live music or what are some ideas you've had? I remember years ago hearing that Om (I think but it might have been someone else) was going to play a show on a flatbed truck that followed the sunset to the coast on the summer solstice. This could have been a joke or just a rumor, I don't really know but I thought it was a cool, if not impractical and absurd idea. I know they have played in a museum in front of an Egyptian exhibit and Isis has played in a museum. I just feel like pushing things a little further and I'm willing to swing and miss at some novel ideas that at least seem promising.

This was a thought I had at one point (flatbed, guerilla-esque, generator) but never followed through.

What if you started offering your services as a party band but you just brought your own music instead of "party" music? Like show up to a place and say "this isn't a show, this isn't about us as a group, go about your business, but we're creating a mood here."

I feel like every musician has this same question on their minds. This seems like the most sensible thing to me as far as alternative venues go.