We Are The World choreographer Ryan Heffington connects the underground to the mainstream pop circuit, the sewing machine to the street and the studio to the wilderness to the screen. Between touring to Mexico City and finalizing Ke$ha’s “thug dance,” Ryan took a minute to relay a manifesto that outlines dance for the people and drags performers from the stage to public space while scoffing at outdated notions of gender and sexuality—the only concepts this artist can’t choreograph. This interview by Drew Denny.
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RYAN HEFFINGTON: ONE INFINITE TWISTED DANCE PARTY
August 12th, 2010 · No Comments
WE ARE THE WORLD: CLAY STONES
April 8th, 2010 · 1 Comment
Now this is music I can masturbate to! As danceable as it is disturbing, Clay Stones squirms me right from the get-go: “Foot Follows Foot” and “Clay Stones” are coming-of-age ritual music for the last pagan rave.
RAY WYLIE HUBBARD: DRUNKEN POETS AND OPIUM
February 20th, 2010 · No Comments
Ray Wylie Hubbard helped put the warhead on Jerry Jeff Walker’s heat-seeking missile and put the phrase ‘redneck mother’ into the English language. He is heading west with a new record put out by a record company whose president he knows very very well. This interview by Drew Denny.
FEB. 23: AN EPIC READING UNDER THE AQUARIUM
February 19th, 2010 · No Comments
Experience Drew Denny & Kyoung Kim’s AQUARIUM exhibit at Sea & Space while enjoying a reading curated by Daiana Feuer. FEB 23 7:30pm sharp Sea & Space Explorations 4755 York Blvd, 90042 They wanted something special. We’ll give ya…something! Be blown away by the following mix of word, song, noise, and video by…… The poet [...]
EMILY LACY: STEP AWAY FROM THE ROBE
January 26th, 2010 · 1 Comment
Singer/songwriter/filmmaker/etceterator Emily Lacy is currently crashing the Japanese Pavilion at LACMA and creating “Temples of the Mind,” a loop-heavy soundscape that feels like Linda Perhacs broadcasting over a secret shortwave station. She speaks now about shape-shifting, pedals and the origin of “Temples.” This interview by Drew Denny.
PORCH FEST @ GIRLHOUSE
December 13th, 2009 · No Comments
Girlhouse looks a lot like Women across town, and apparently the home was designed by the same architect, says inhabitant and L.A. Record writer Drew Denny. Go figure! Porch Fest II took place on Dec 5 with performances by Kevin Greenspon, Geoff Geis, Nicole Kidman, Brother Mitya, Voice On Tape, Whitman, Interlude in, Drew Denny, [...]
I NYOMAN WENTEN: MAKE A MASK ABOUT YOU!
November 7th, 2009 · 2 Comments
I Nyoman Wenten can be anybody! Born in a small Balinese village, Wenten studied traditional Indonesian culture with his master-puppeteer grandfather. He now holds an MFA from Cal Arts, a doctorate from UCLA and is chair of the World Music Program at Cal Arts. He and his ensemble Gamelan Burat Wangi will perform the Indian epic Ramayana tonight and tomorrow at REDCAT. This interview by Drew Denny.
DIRTY PROJECTORS: THE END OF CIVILIZATION
October 30th, 2009 · No Comments
The New York Times called him “indie rock’s workaholic mad genius,” but L.A. RECORD finds the measure of Dirty Projectors’ David Longstreth somewhere between the most subtle implications of Philip Glass’ Music In Fifths and the sudden desire for a sandwich. This interview by Drew Denny.
DANIEL JOHNSTON: I JUST FEEL JUST FINE
October 23rd, 2009 · 2 Comments
“Daniel’s got his marbles in a row right now so I guess that’d be all right,” Daniel’s dad, Bill, told me. “Daniel’s a regular person, you know, like you and me.” “That might be so,” I said, “but Daniel’s done some things I’ve never done that I’m real curious about—plus I think we might have a fun time talkin’ to each other.” We did. This interview by Drew Denny and Chris Ziegler.
MANIMAL FESTIVAL BY DREW DENNY @ PAPPY & HARRIET'S
October 12th, 2009 · 41 Comments
Finding the teepee involved receiving intentionally vague directions from two groups of kids, navigating a sudden neighborhood with way too many lawn ornaments, and sneaking into someone’s backyard via a labyrinthine system of wooden gates I opened by tugging on bits of fishing wire tied into little loops. Inside the teepee we found Matt as well as Ed Sharpe (“Has anyone seen my metal flute?!! Who took my magical flute?!”) and a pack of orgasmic chickies in face paint.
