BloodLust!

04 September 2005
The Empty Bottle
Chicago, IL
Alternate Currents: Art by, for, and about music, featuring:
John Olson of Wolf Eye, Dead Machines, etc.
Live music:
Birth Refusal
Mark Solotroff

A cool night, even if everyone was a bit burned out by the epic night before. Things started off with a two-hour, low key reception for Olson and his well-known art, which graces countless (well, almost) American Tapes and Wolf Eyes-related releases. He had a number of multimedia works, on canvas and on paper, hanging across from the bar. I was spinning a mix of old school industrial, minimal synth, death rock, etc. (link to FSTW...? at left, for my play list) until it was time for me to play. I worked my way through a quick set (11 minutes, approximately) of multiple microphone screaming and feedback, similar to the other two solo shows in Detroit and Champaign. As always, doing it through the Empty Bottle sound system makes a nice difference. After a brief change over, Birth Refusal came on, putting their recently acquired organ to work, creating a totally depressing, funereal sound. It was an amazing downer. Deep bass strings created a gut-churning effect, and light horn accents added contrast to the sick, black stew. I DJ'd for another hour, or so, while Olson and Connelly beat a hasty retreat back to Michigan. Major thanks to Olson for asking me to play on his night, and to both him and Connelly, for the much-appreciated ongoing support and enthusiasm. Thanks to Ray Harmon for his help and interest. Thanks to everyone at the Empty Bottle for great hospitality. Thanks to Jessica, Ed, Chris, Baby, and everyone else that showed up. Thanks to Marlene for videotaping and for letting me weasel out of our anniversary celebration for a day (second year in a row).