About five years ago, I made my way through a crowded venue to score a good viewing spot at the Tortoise show. Being that the band had somewhat of an eclectic following, I expected the opening act to fall far from what would be considered mainstream. But during this particular show, the openers took the stage with only a fold-out table and two laptops.
I am a geek for the evolution of live music, but watching two people sit in sedation in front of a crowd of thousands seemed near criminal for a live setting. As much as I tried to focus my attention of the abstract sounds that took over the venue’s sound system, I couldn’t stop wondering if the duo was simply pressing the “play” button and nodding their heads in unison while sharing a online game of solitaire. Even if they were actually queuing up sampled loops, was that really a performance? Needless to say, I wasn’t very impressed. From that point forward my perception of the laptop performance would forever be skewed.
Flash forward to five years later and you’ll find a slew of software applications that make the laptop one of the most versatile instruments available on the market. Programs like Abelton Live, Reason, Traktor Scratch, and Serato Itch provide artists with live performance tools that rival the now seemingly antiquated two turntables and a microphone set-up.
Five years after first witnessing the awkward laptop performance during the Tortoise show, the evolution of digital music has found itself seated on the stage of New York’s famed Carnegie Hall. Eight students of Princeton University’s Princeton Laptop Orchestra (aka PLOrk) recently joined the American Composers Orchetra for a debut demonstration of a laptop performance that works.
Check out the PLOrk rehearsal footage, lead by composer Dan Trueman:
Filed under: Industry News, Songwriting, Special Events | Tags: Austin, conference, Industry Events, Songwriting, Texas Music Office
The Texas Music Office will be holdin songwriters’ conference from January 4th thru Jan 6th in Austin, TX featuring panel discussions with artists and publishers including Bob Cheevers, Kimmie Rhodes, Brandi Warden, Ruth Ellsworth, and Cash Edwards. For more information visit www.austinsongwritersgroup.com.
From the Texas Music Office:
I thought you might be interested to know that there is a songwriters conference on Jan 4 thru 6. There will be classes on writing, rewriting, cowriting and every aspect of the business we can think of. There are panels with Bob Cheevers on connecting with Europe, a panel of artists and publishers on publishing, a panel on “women in the arts” with Kimmie Rhodes, Brandi Warden, Ruth Ellsworth,and Cash Edwards. We are supported by BMI and the Nashville Songwriting Assn. this year and they have sent publishers, pitchers, record company exec. and artists for us. We will have show cases in the evening on Friday and Sat night and there will be places to pitch to buyers all day Sat and Sun. We have mini concerts with the songwriter/instructors like Allen Shamblin, Sonny throckmorton, Monte Warden, Bill Carter, Kimmie Rhodes and more. We have picking rooms open at night that are hosted by the instructors who will be playing and singing along with your songs. …and networking of all kinds. We have publishers, song pitchers, record company owners and execs. , house concert owners, venue owners, bookers, media, and more there to see you and hear your songs. The whole event is 150 dollars for everything…plus 35 dollars if you want to have a twenty minute showcase. Please check out www.austinsongwritersgroup.com for more information. If you have any questions you can call 512-203-1972.
Filed under: Industry News | Tags: Artist, Austin, Music Foundation, Music Industry
The Austin Music Foundation has developed a survey for music industry professionals in the area to identify gaps in the music infrastructure of the City.
From the Texas Music Office:
Austin Music Foundation is working with a group of UT business students to conduct a research project focusing on the local music industry infrastructure.
The study will seek to identify existing gaps in the infrastructure, potential business opportunities, areas that need community support, and ways that the City of Austin and other institutions and businesses could assist in music industry growth.
Please fill out the survey and give us your thoughts on this important research project that could potentially be a catalyst for growth in the local music industry.
CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=DPh51pBxscfdKDZVJPwhgg_3d_3dAMF greatly appreciates your assistance!
