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EPIC PERFORMANCE CRITIQUE: EVENT WRITE-UP #2

speakersynth.jpg

I had never been to monkey town, before I went to see Lesley perform withher beautiful speaker sytnh. The setting was really interesting, the 4 wall projection screens were lit with a slightly blueish tone. Lots of microphones towered over the performer and her instrument.
This is what I answered to some of Lesley's questions:

1. overall summary of the show (ie, someone asks you, "have you ever seen this random chick Lesley Flanigan perform with her speakersynth. you have? what's it like? should i go see it? what can i expect?"

First of all, i loved the show. This random chick Lesley Flanigan, i think i remember some weird project of hers a few years ago in wired blog... something like rave-zooka.... maybe.... oh well, anyways, i have been a big fan of hers so i went to see this show show she did at monkeytown, she played an incredible musical instrument that seemed to have a lot of speakers hooked up that she could play almost as if they were knobs.

2. what were your favorite moments? why?

I loved the fact that even if improvised it seemed to have a beginning and an end, which allowed for us to be taken places and back. I liked the surprise moments, like the loudness and softness contrast and that element of chance that you could guess from some of your own reactions.

3. what things didn't work for you and why?

i don't really think that there were things that didn't work for me, more than that, i thought that maybe just where i was located was sort of awkward because i had your back and i couldn't see too much of what was going on, but the audio filled in that void.

4. general "feelings" you had during the performance (happy, sad, zoned-out, scared, lovely, confused, bored, inspired, engaged, curious).

Zoned out maybe, but at the same time the sounds kept the attention alert, especially those surprising sounds that would come up at times kept the concentration up and focused on you while performing. I wasn't sad, nor happy, i was more peaceful and engaged.

5. something you would like to have seen that you didn't? (ie, another instrument? more performers? video?)

While i think that not having screens on, actually had a very magical effect because it created a very nice light situation and also it made it so you were the focal point which made perfect sense. Maybe some of the screens could have showed close ups of your hands on the speaker synth so we could all see up close what you were doing, i would have liked that!

6. any thoughts/ideas you had about the performance in terms of any concepts/meaning.

honestly, i didn't need a concept or a meaning, it worked for me without any extra reasoning necessary.

7. how was the length?

ideal. beginning, end, it had a good rhythm to it.

8. how did i look? any awkwardness about me i need to be aware of?

well, i really don't think so. i kept thinking that it would have been great if you had been at least sitting on a cushion, or kneeling down on it the way you were, meditative and nice.

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