Lap Dancing

http://www.redeyechicago.com/


It's been a hard drive's night
Some say computer musicians are the future
of sound, but can digital ever replace live bands?

By Kyra Kyles
RedEye

Some hail it as a revolution in live music.

Others say it gives one performer an entire band at his fingertips.

But some local musicians see laptop performers as uncreative—and a threat.

As computer musicians—armed with laptops, piano keyboards and sound files—gain popularity in Chicago and across the country, live bands worry they may be pushed offstage.

"This is truly a movement that is gaining, and musicians are appearing in different cities," said Markkus Rovito, technology editor of California-based Remix magazine. "I think that the amount of people that will be performing with a computer on the stage is going to increase until it's almost not unusual anymore."

The performances are increasingly popular with the under-30 crowd, say a number of laptop musicians who perform in Chicago.

"It's different," said Matthew Dear, a laptop musician who recently appeared at Smart Bar. "It's almost like younger people are trained to enjoy this kind of music. They're more into the experience of music and can take more notice of things that they hear."

The music industry also is taking notice.

"There are more and more labels popping up featuring electronic musicians," said Kate Simko, a 26-year-old laptop musician who lives in the Ukrainian Village. "There's more democratization of it because of the development of technology."


[ Get the complete story in Monday's RedEye ]

 

Wasn't Matthew Dear supposed to appear at one or more Traktor Night(s)?

Don't know him as a DJ, but as an artist he is pretty amazing (in terms of minimal electro).

Check out the Idol Tryouts comps, they have some really neat stuff on them.

 

Look at the UK & Europe. They've had "computer musicians" & several strong labels (Warp, Skam, City Centre Offices, etc) going strong for quite sometime now. There are lots of shows on any given weekend. There's still no shortage of "live band" shows either though. Even with a 10 year head start the Euro scene is still small beans when compaired to Rock or Pop.

 

Music to the people!!!