DJ/rupture & Owen Weaver @ the Southern Theater Recap

Last night, the Southern Theater proved an ideal venue for a unique pairing of forward thinking and technically gifted sonic explorers. Owen Weaver performed four pieces, three of which involved electroacoustics. The first, The Anvil Chorus, was a purely acoustic percussion work by David Lang involving a kick drum and various idiophones. This composition and the last, Temazcal by Javier Alvarez, allowed the artist to display his wealth of manual dexterity and rhythmic independence at various tempi. The other two compositions (one involving a computer, metal bowls, marbles, a tea kettle and a whistle; the other featuring one-bit tones and a vibraphone) were equally quirky and masterfully executed.

In obeisance to the wishes of the house, I refrained from using my camera during the first set. During the next set, however, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to get some pictures and videos of the legendary DJ/rupture in action. Impeccable acoustics and an overhead projection of the work at hand enhanced his already engaging and comprehensive scan of musical possibilities spanning numerous cultural, temporal and geographical origins. This offering, one of many music events tastefully curated by Kate Nordstrum, heralds adventures abound on the Southern's vast sonic horizon!