Jason Ajemian and the HighLife: Episode 07 'No HighLife?'

Wishgift on Contraphonic

Contraphonic has released the Wishgift 7" "Pretty Jenny/Cream Acres." Listen, browse and buy here!

Now It's Dark: Reflections

Last night was the first in a series of experimental film/video and improvised music concerts that I am producing at Green Lantern Gallery. We screened a selection of works by six film and video makers, five from Chicago and one from New York. An ensemble of six players, positioned throughout the room on the periphery of the audience, interpreted the films, in small and large group configurations.

The performance was interesting on several levels. It was fascinating to hear each musician negotiate their own interpretation of the projections with the interpretations of others. And equally so to watch the movies re-imagined in real time, acquiring additional layers of meaning through the spontaneous soundtracks. As curator of the event, one of the six performers, and a contributing moviemaker, some questions that arose for me were: Is everybody playing in service to the movies? To each other? Or are the movies being screened in service to the music? To the performers? This ambiguity was in part the intent of this first performance, and reflects a central issue in improvised music, and one that comes up less in traditional filmmaking: how do we judge the success of a collaborative piece? The answer, of course, will vary depending on which collaborator you ask. But for me, as the curator, the answer might be posed as another question: was it interesting?

YES.

The broader idea behind these productions is to bring experimental moviemakers together with experimental music makers in Chicago and . . . see what happens. As someone with a great interest in both areas, but far more professional experience in music, there is a selfish aspect to this series as well -- I want more filmmaker friends!

Cropped Out in Louisville October 1/2/3

Lineup announced for the Cropped Out Festival in Kentucky!

NOW IT'S DARK

an evening of film and video projections accompanied by improvisational music

curated by Marc Riordan

works by

Michelle Harris

Catherine Pancake

Ben Kolak

Laurence Vannicelli

performances by

Jeff Kimmel

Matt Schneider

David More

Brian Labycz

Marc Riordan

Jason Roebke

Jaimie Branch

Saturday September 18th, 7pm

Green Lantern Gallery

2542 W. Chicago Ave

60622

Chicago, IL

official listing here

Rereading The Shining

I have been rereading The Shining by Stephen King. It is a difficult task because I have seen the movie so many times. Picturing a blonde-haired Wendy doesn't come easily. I think the film is a lot better and more terrifying because of the way it deals with abstractions. But for a movie that is the greatest movie of all time, I guess you would expect it to be better than the book upon which it's based. Above is one of my favorite images from the movie. A birds eye view of Danny playing with his toy trucks, when out of nowhere a ball rolls in a straight line up the center of the frame and stops right in front of him. He gets up and walks toward Rm. 237, saying "Mom? Mom?"

Wishgift Week

Wishgift is linking up with some cool buddy bands and playing four shows in the midwest this week!

Tuesday, September 7th at the Empty Bottle, Chicago (w/ MEAH! / Maribelle)

Thursday, September 9th at the Bishop Bar, Bloomington, IN (w/ Learner Dancer / Dreamers of the Ghetto / Tim Smiley)

Friday, September 10th at Earth House, Indianapolis (w/ Learner Dancer, more)

Saturday, September 11th at Shithole Dayfest Two - Surf Style, Columbus, OH (w/ Social Abortion / War Elephant, more)