Luke is a very tall and striking individual. He started on the floor, sitting on his knees hovering over one of the receptors passing the signals of his body movements to alter the sound frequencies. We watched him personally and physically submit to becoming an integral part of the sound. Experiencing the music through him is the ultimate form of conduction. The set continued and his body contortions became convoluted as he ran microphone wire up, around, under his torso, through his legs, and then up to his mouth. Never looking up at the audience, he unabashedly was consumed in his personal ecstasies. I was a willing voyeur.
Suddenly the interaction with the audience began in a strange and unsettling way. He crawled and undulated forward to various people in the crowd still in his private cocoon rocking and darting blindly forward. Then he connected and unwound the colorful wires that were vibration sensitive and brought various audience members to touch the receptors and collaborate in creating a new music dynamic. The unexpected nature of participation is what informs the music at that point.
Lucky Dragon uses contemporary technologies that are generally removed from human contact to awaken pathways that touch the spirit through sound. If you're daring you will stay. If you're open to new ideas, you will be inspired. I was.
The Dirty Projectors played an eight-song set and one encore featuring five songs from Rise Above and three songs from their release New Attitude. The four member outfit are Dave Longsteth the lead guitarist, vocalist, and musical director; Amber Coffman vocals and guitar; Angel Deradoorian vocals and bass; and Brian Mcomber on drums.
The dynamic sound that this group creates is mainly the result of original and daring harmonies mixed with extraordinary guitar patterns and vigorous drumming. The electric guitar flutters with atypical leads and is coordinated with one note picking of the alternate guitar. Dave Longsteth's voice reminds me of Prince and has the range of Rufus Wainwright. Sometimes it borders on soulful pop affectations and that alone could be cheesy, but mixed with the other vocals it becomes original. Even without the aid of chord progression, the vocals remain on target. Their astute registers and informed pitch explore melody without boundaries, creating harmonic levels that astound.
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