The Evovlving State of Live Streaming Shows

I’m sure we’ve all seen a streaming performance by this point, right?  Mostly it’s been an artist in front of a camera in their living room (I’m thinking Ben Gibbard here).   There have been a few others that have a been a little more planned/produced as well (I’m thinking like  Robyn’s DJ Set and the Pitchfork Listening Club with Perfume Genius.)  What’s expected with all these performances is that they're all free (though tipping is always encouraged).  Something we come to expect with content on the internet.

These past couple (many) months, I’ve been supporting Bandcamp Fridays, buying artists merch, contributing to Kickstarters, etc. etc.  However, I’ve not yet purchased a ticket for a live streaming show.  It looks like that is about to change.  Here are two upcoming performances, by artists that I respect and enjoy, that are putting together online performances that I’m happy to pay for (and feel like I’m getting my money’s worth).  You should check them both out, as they’re both artists you’ve seen on TZA before.

"The Little Red Barn Show premiers November 12th with two special screenings that include a LIVE Q&A session with Kristian at 20:00 Central European Time and 8:00PM US Central Time. The film will be available beginning November 12th through November 21st

Tickets to view are on a sliding 'pay what you want' pricing scale, beginning at $5.00 USD."

(Via (9) The Tallest Man On Earth: The Little Red Barn Show (Trailer) - YouTube.)

 

"Lipa is finally taking the stage on November 27 — exactly eight months after Future Nostalgia's release — for a virtual concert. She's taking the 'future' and 'nostalgia' part of her disco-inspired album seriously and is dubbing the event 'Studio 2054,' a clear nod to the legendary New York City disco nightclub Studio 54. 

The virtual concert will feature tracks from the record, as well as the remix album, Club Future Nostalgia, and promises to turn the warehouse location where it'll be filmed into a bonafide disco heaven. ‘Dua will move through custom built sets; surreal tv shows, roller discos, ecstatic raves, trashy rocker hang outs, voguing ballrooms and diva style dressing rooms,' teases the press release.

Tickets for 'Studio 2054' go on sale October 30, with ticket bundles offering options for exclusive pre-show behind the scenes footage as well as After Show Party access — though it's unclear what the 'party' portion will look like."

(Via Dua Lipa Announces "Studio 2054," A Disco-Themed Virtual Concert.)

PS: Before I put this post together, Ezra Furman had her pay-to-play performance at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.  Here’s a clip of that performance.

 

Perfume Genius / Streaming (5/15/20)

If you haven’t listened to the new Perfume Genius album, you should. Recently, Pitchfork announced their new Listening Club series with their first live stream happening this past Friday night.  More on that below, but once you got past some awkward live banter and Q&A (I give them credit, it was a first), Perfume Genius took to what I assume was his living room and played a wonderful set.  Almost as wonderful as his cat playing with this mic cord throughout the performance.

"On the first episode of ‘Listening Club,’ special guest Perfume Genius discusses and performs songs from his new album Set My Heart on Fire Immediately, the follow-up to his excellent 2018 album No Shape. The episode will be hosted by Pitchfork’s Editor-in-Chief Puja Patel, Reviews Editor Jeremy Larson, and Senior Editor Jillian Mapes. Set My Heart on Fire is out today via Matador."

(Via Watch Perfume Genius on the Premiere of Pitchfork’s “Listening Club” | Pitchfork.)

Righteous Babe Radio!

Well this is interesting.  Ani DiFranco is starting up a new online radio format!  As big of a fan as I am, I’m not sure I see myself logging on to never-ending Righteous stream often - but I can imagine popping in here and there!  I’ll let them provide the explanation...

"Righteous babe radio will feature some previously unreleased live ani shows from the archives. Many of these will come straight off the board tapes and have not been edited/mixed at all. They are simply, As Is! These shows will air Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights at 9pm CDT and a new show will be added every week. Some live singles from these shows will be mixed into the daily broadcast too, including new and unreleased songs, so you never know when you’re going to hear something brand new. Before these live shows, at 8pm CDT, to really set the mood, we will feature an hour of music from the many wonderful artists whom I’ve had the privilege of sharing the stage with. We will also be featuring an interview series airing Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at Noon and again at 5pm CDT."

(Via Radio – righteousbabe.)

The Get Down (3/20/20)

Last Friday, I participated in a streaming dance party hosted by DJ Tasha Blank.  This is a party that is usually hosted at The Get Down in NYC, and is pretty popular on SoundCloud as well.  A friend pointed me to this now happening via Zoom, so I threw in a couple bucks and signed up!   I’m so glad I did.  Tasha is known for having these moments where she pauses the music and has moments of reflection and liberation, encouraging everyone to just dance it out.  That message couldn’t have been more needed.

Sure it was a little strange dancing by yourself in the living room, especially if you’re also trying to flip through the videos of over 400 people who also attended!  It was fascinating to see the environments that everyone was in - and just about everyone was dancing!  Some shots of what I saw...

 

By the way, the next party is this Friday!  From Tasha’s most recent email:

people of planet earth!
 
We are born to move.
We are built to run around, sweat, scream, hug, get loose, get messy, get outside.

These times are weird AF.
They require quick adaptation to massive change.
They demand deep presence, clear thinking, and huge courage.
 
These times require furious dancing. 

In less than a week, our long-distance dances have become the soul-saving magicsaucethat revives our heads + hearts.

Over 1000 of you have joined us on the virtual dance floor so far — 
and we do it again tomorrow at 6pm EST!

Wherever you're at,
we will dance it out.

Dress up
Wear pajamas
Break out the spandex
Pretend it's 80s night
Turn off your video + get nekkid!
WE DON'T GIVE AF

Just. Come. Dance.

Join us here.