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Sep 25
0

Bones Records

By | Blog | No Comments

OK, so I’m not actually sure what my website is yet… is it just a showreel, or is it a blog? Well today i feel like blogging so here goes.

I’m doing some research for my film school application today, and happened upon “Bone Records”. How cool is this: some young  rebellious rock n roll types in the late 1950s in the Soviet Union wanted to start pressing illegal bootleg records of rock n roll that was seeping into the USSR despite a ban on this booty-shakin, and potentially state-shakin, music by the Kremlin. Not having other materials available to them, they started recycling old medical x-rays – scratching the grooves into x-rays of peoples broken bones and ailing lungs, and distributing them via underground networks. The discs sure do look sweet:

X-Ray Record

Apparently some of these unfortunate music fans were subsequently arrested and spent years in the Gulag for their crimes. Other daredevil activities that young folk engaged in for the sake of music, truly embracing the spirit of defiance inherent in rock n roll, included ripping off public telephone boxes and using the parts to construct makeshift pickups for electric guitars.

Check out the info, some more pix and comments over here

This thread reminds me of many of the themes we were examining in “Electric Dreams”, and of some of the footage I saw of state-sponsored rock’n’roll manufactured by the socialist governments of Eastern Europe in the 70s to try to co-opt this phenomenon for their own propagandistic purposes, ala Christian rock (though much more entertaining I thought). I’ll have to get hold of some of the documentaries that are mentioned here, I’m still fascinated with the cultural battles of the Cold War. Meantime I should write up some more about the Electric Dreams show…

Aug 28
0

Spoole Flyers

By | Art Projects | No Comments

In addition to the Glitch Western series Spoole did a bunch of other shows around the traps… here’s some of our old dates n flyers..

FABRIQUE.12
presented by Brisbane Powerhouse in association with ::ROOM40:: and SOOB
Straight Out of Brisbane 2004

A mix of electronics, abstract beats, experimental music and improvisation – fun for all the family, even the kids!

Featuring performances from:
Frost (launching Steelwound)
Spoole & Future Eater (live AV set)
Joel Stern & Anthony Guerra (from Sydney, London)
Fenella Kernebone (Triple J’s Sound Lab)
+ other guests

Spinach7 Magazine Launch

Electrofringe Panel Discussion and Performance
Title: PoliticKunstVideo
Description: How artists use video in different ways to reveal the political sublime.
Feat: Spoole : Live Popglitch humour
EmileZile-(Video munch)
Angelica mesiti :Serial
7’s-The Kings Pins.

Scratch Cinema – fri nite / Jul 11th – Loop

With pixels as easily sampled & mutated as sound, an emerging breed of audiovisualists
are busy carving up the territories that lay between cinematic storytelling and the dancefloor bootylicious.

Using loops, layers, live processing, FX and editing, tonight showcases some of the approaches possible for ‘Improvised cinema’.

Spoole – aka Spanna (Anna) & Poole (Jean ) – live AV mash-up
Future Eater – live soundtrack 2 Schwarzenegger
Cicada (video) vs AI Yamamoto & QUOCKENZOCKER (audio)
Slimy (Tas) – downtempo glitchery with homemade VCR-Turntable~!!

@ LOOP

23 Meyers Place, melbourne city

Scratch Cinema Flyer

WHATS UP KUNT???
MELB: Sun 20 April @ Rob Roy Hotel, Fitzroy
+ Antideluvian Rockinghorse, Barrage, the Go’s, Future Eater, Sol, SelfHelp, Spoole (live AV set) & Casionova

Spoole at the Rob Roy

dLux Dataterra Interalia Closing Party
9pm till late, Sat 7th Dec 2002 $5.

The Chocolate Factory
Level 2, 144 Cleveland St, Chippendale
accelerate into osmotic overdrive – a maze of image, sound and text resonating for one night as an oscillating narrative

InterAlia [definition: among other things] is dLux media arts research laboratory of experimental media art collaborations and live audio / visual data processing. InterAlia is the last event of the futurescreen02 : data terra program and will metamorphose into our Closing PartyŠ

InterAlia:: media lab for the construction of experimental situations, rendering as an audio/visual/performative environment whereby an oscillating narrative of image, sound and text will be hacked, patched and re/screened for live contexts. Audience and party goers alike are invited to embrace an accelerating drive of content and concern mediated digitally.

InterAlia situates itself within our information saturated reality and focuses on artists’ creative manipulation and subversion of data using new technologies and their own specially modified digital tools.

A stellar line-up of Sydney AV + performance artists have been invited to engage with the fs02::data terra thematic. Lalila, Cicada, Ciindi, Jason Gee, Spanna, Wade Marynowskj, Alex Davies, Ian Andrews, Peggy Wallach and Veren Grigorev will compose discreet sets of audio / visual or performative / textual material with following timeframes; / 1 x 5 min / 1 x 10 min /1 x 20 min.

These sets will be mixed live resulting in a site-specific choreography…

enter the INTERALIA mist…

and then – party on with the ‘DIFFERENCE ENGINE’

Interalia

VIDEOBLITZ
Straight Out Of Brisbane 2002
Time: 08.00 PM till 12.00 AM
Date: 23.11.2002
Cost: $12
Venue: ArtCom warehouse New Farm (corner Commercial Rd and Arthur Tce)
Our massive Saturday night party fresh from a gorgeous warehouse
space, SOOB brings you the audio/visual extravaganza of VIDEO BLITZ.
An audio/visual extravaganza! Beat benders and visualisers unite to
create wide-screen, surround sound sensory treats. Way too many
projectors!

Featuring:
DeF 1 (strudel – sydney), KID KAY FERRIS (nine09 records), JAMIE
WHITESIDE (Love & Roxy), PONYLOAF, J ORCHESTRA, DVOID, TEAM
PLASTIQUE, SPANKY, SPOOLE – ANNA SPANNA +JEAN POOLE, PLUM V’S PAUL ABAD, PIXEL SLUT
9000, KITTYMECHS (HARD GARBAGE + AISU KURIMU + MITOCHONDRION),
SIMULCAST, RYE BARRY, GEOMETRICK, PULSE SUGGESTION

De-mystifying the technical aura of vjamming
Time: 04.00 PM till 06.00 PM
Date: 24.11.2002
Cost: $0
Venue: Secuumb Space, 5 Wynn St the Valley
De-mystifying the technical aura of vjamming – an exploration of
different approaches, software and hardware for creating live
audiovisual vjamming techniques. This inludes mac and PC software, as
well as max/nato and director applications.

Featuring:
Jean Poole, Anna Spanna and Spanky

Aug 09
0

www.piratetv.net

By | Art Projects, Audiovisual Performance | No Comments

In late 1999 and 2000 I hung out with the PirateTV.net crew at the Ninjatune studios in South London, for weekly netcast live audiovisual jams. The PirateTV slogan was “DIY psychedelic political interactive streaming zentertainment with quality content from top selectors”. The lineup would change from week to week, the mainstayers being Mike (VJ Juxta), Bongo and Matt Black (Coldcut). Sometimes live musicians would come in, I’d often do live camera for those. We netcast from Matt’s studio “Spacelab” behind the record label offices, crammed with records, instruments, decks and audiovisual gear. There was even a couple of old early synthesizers that the Doctor Who theme song was played on, I’m not sure how often they got dusted off and plugged in. The Fairlight Computer Video Instrument got a fair bit of play, as did PCs running Vjamm (running early versions of Vjamm 2 at that stage) and the Panasonic MX50 video mixers. We used Real Producer to stream out to a varying audience, encouraging folks to hop into the IRC channel to chat while we jammed.
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Aug 09
0

Revolting in Prague

By | Social Change Media, Viewable Videos | No Comments

Revolting in Prague (26mins 23sec, 2000). Riots, pink fairies, corporate men and money. An insight into the IMF/World Bank summit which activists shut down in 2000. 50,000 people traveled to Prague to stop the money men destroying our planet. Produced and Directed by Paul O’Connor of Undercurrents Productions.

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Jul 29
0

Climate On The Linec

By | Social Change Media, Viewable Videos | No Comments

Climate On The Line (1min 53sec, 2008) is a brief clip showing brave young protestors laying themselves on the line (literally – the train line), as part of a series of peaceful direct action blocking the coal trains in Newcastle. Many groups of activists prevented the coal trains from running all day, in one of Australia’s biggest displays of direct action against the destructive export of coal which is fueling climate change.

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Jun 12
0

Suzanne Grae and the Katies

By | Bands, Music | No Comments

Inspired by their namesake fashion icons responsible for bringing shoulder padded style and geometric glamour to the suburbs of eighties Australia, Suzanne Grae and the Katies are a 6 piece all gal sleaze rock band based in Melbourne, Australia.

It was just this spring season of 2008 that Suzanne Grae met the Katies at a discount outlet over the 50% off rack. The Katies all had their nails into the one peach power suit, and things were getting hairier than a Poison after party. However Suzanne stepped in to suggest the divvying up of the garment between the ladies, shoulder pad by pleat by precious polka dot, and the Katies could not help but come to their fashion senses. They offered to Suzanne both the peach power suit and a promise – To together form a band that would let no obstacle, not broken heels nor lack of musical ability, stand in the way.

Suzanne Grae and the Katies are…
Texta as Suzanne Grae: ‘singer’, tamborinist, stylist
Lou as Katie Tutti Frutti Pan Flutti: keys, back up vocals
Anna as Katie Ramone Bomb: guitar, back up vocals
Marian as Katie G: saxophone, drums, guitar, back up vocals
Bec as Katie Kaos: bass, trianglist, back up vocals
Alex as Katie uber Alles: drums, bass

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=37836002939

We’re also covering cult shitcore band from the 60s The Shaggs’ “Philosophy of The World”, which is proving a real challenge to actually work that shit out given their singularly unmusical compositions.

The Shaggs Album Cover

From the Shaggs website:

The Shaggs Philosophy Of Life:

Never judge others until you’ve walked a mile in their footsteps.

Do as Thumper’s parents say: If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.

People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.

Live by the golden rule: Do unto others as you would like others to do unto you.

The Shaggs Pet Peeves:

Dot : Double standards; someone looking over my shoulder; tapping shoulder to get attention.

Helen : Rumors; Gossip; Snapping bubble gum.

Betty : Talking about and picking on others.

I like that the Shaggs’ publish a band Philosophy and Pet Peeves, as do Spam on our old website. Let’s compare:

“…A mere glance at any of Spams lyrics will convey their concern for world issues and other very important things, while seeming crude on a surface level, the lyrics are in fact loaded with messages and layers of meaning on all kinds of philosophies. Unfortunately, however many less informed types do not appreciate the subtlities of Spams words, mistaking their insights and observations of the world around them for meaningless utterances about pretty much nothing. Or is it the other way around? gosh, I can never remember…”

HATES

  • Early Mornings

  • Swimwear Shoots in Winter

  • Swimwear Calenders (the making of)

  • Being constanly recognised as past School Legends

  • 3 Day Benders

  • Playing with bands that we are far superior to.

So what can we make of this analysis? These bands were both teenagers at the time of releasing these manifestos. It seems to me that between the 60s and the 90s a marked loss of innocence has occurred, and a jaded cynicism has creased the pimply brow of youth. Seinfeld and other assorted pop cultural phenomena in the intervening period appear to have engendered a deeply ingrained narcissism, nihilism and disregard for both truth and meaning. Hmm.

However I suppose on closer examination of “Philosophy of the World” we can find the thread of cynicism beginning to unravel those hopeful times…

Oh, the girls with short hair want long hair
And the girls with long hair want short hair
Oh, the boys with cars want motorcycles
And the boys with motorcycles want cars

You can never please anybody in this world

Anyways, back to Suzanne Grae and the Katies. Here’s a set list, given that we’ve decided to do covers from some of our previous lady bands from our variously chequered musical pasts in addition to the Shaggs cover:

  • Get the Cake Out (Undercover Butch), [original]
  • Philosophy of The World, [The Shaggs]
  • I’m Off Chops So How Bout It, [Spam]
  • I Thought I Hated You (But I Was Right), [Fish Faced Moles]
  • Moist Anus, [The Beef Curtains]

To this list we can shortly add (once we have composed music to accompany them): Moccasin Man, Dirt Bike Diva and ode to the lecherous leech Down Down Below.

Apr 27
0

Bushranger’s Gospel Update

By | Books, Photography

We just got the photos back from our shoot with Hunter. They turned out! Here is Hunter studiously reading Ned in his impromptu bush schoolroom.

hunter-book-sml.jpg

Now we just need to work out which shots to use, and place the text around it. Jennie will be making and hand-binding the books with Marta in the next couple of months.

Apr 14
0

Spam

By | Art Projects, Bands, Music

I just uploaded the archive of Spam’s website which was part of the Octapod/Loud Evolver project here: spam.sagaponic.org

Spam was an all-girl band we started in 1994 when we were but 16 years old. Spam was Mantis on keyboards, Yensher on vocals, Megsy on bass, Philthy on drums and myself on guitar. We were more of a concept than a band, none of us really knowing how to play our instruments particularly well. As a result we considered ourselves punk, though our music was more lopsided and melodic, with a bit of jangliness and shoutiness thrown in. One of my favourite heckles of the band was “PLAY SOME ROCK N ROLL!!!” from an aged drunk from the back the Lass O’Gowrie, so I guess we weren’t a rock’n’roll band :{).

spam-biker.gif

Spam played shows at hallowed Newcastle rock venues such as the Hunter on Hunter, Tattersalls Club, Islington Bowling Club and the Lass O’Gowrie (many of which we played underage, sneaking in with our fake ID). We played with bands such as The Hanged Man, Loose and 8-bit breakcore band Nasenbluten.

This photo’s from a show at Islington bowling club. We are wearing the band outfits “a la inconspique”, wardrobe chosen by mantis and yensher.

Spam

Stewart was our usual band wardrobe designer however, Megsy can be seen in one of his creations here, pink vinyl seemed to feature a lot. But actually my favourite was when we all dressed as Robert Smith, with a video of Standby Me projected onto us as we played..

We recorded a few of our songs, had tracks on a couple of cassette compilations and a couple of tracks on a tape put out by H records. There are a few video recordings of our shows floating about which I’ll try to put up online at some stage.

Spam played our last show sometime in 1997.