This event contributes to the dialogue about Sounds of the City performatively, with a live, low-tech concert performance of “El Parque,” a half-hour episode from Vidas Perfectas, the Spanish-language version of Robert Ashley’s landmark work Perfect Lives (1977-1983). This all-new version features Ned Sublette, Elio Villafranca, Peter Gordon, Elisa Santiago, and Abraham Gómez Delgado, in the roles originally performed by Robert Ashley, “Blue” Gene Tyranny, Peter Gordon, Jill Kroesen and David van Tieghem, respectively.
With: Ned Sublette, Elio Villafranca, Peter Gordon, Elisa Santiago, and Abraham Gómez Delgado
Whitney Houston’s engrossing “homegoing” funeral service was a potent reminder of her local New Jersey roots and instantiation in traditional black Baptist gospel ritual, even as the service itself drove home how global, hybrid and ubiquitous her cross-over approach to superstardom had been. This roundtable considers the impact of Whitney Houston on singing, on music styles and formats, and on the business itself; and her contribution to the way we think about race, gender, class, and post-civil rights / post-soul politics.
With: Nelson George, Michael A. Gonzales, Margo Jefferson,
Scott Poulson-Bryant, and Danyel Smith
Moderator: Jason King
Jody Rosen, “‘Darktown Strutters’ Ball’: Shelton Brooks’ Chocolate City”
Greil Marcus, “‘Maybe Someday Your Name Will Be in Lights’: Robert Johnson Takes the City”
Ann Powers, “‘Free Your Head’: Psychedelic Rock’s Erotic Cities”
Rob Sheffield, “Gold Scenes Inside The Weirdmine: The Doors and LA”
Moderator: Eric Weisbard
The general membership meeting of IASPM-US is the organization’s opportunity to gather together and discuss the accomplishments of the past year, any concerns or issues that have arisen, and plans for the coming year. All IASPM members are welcome. We would also like to invite any interested regular EMP Pop Conference participants who might be interested in joining IASPM. Beyond our normal business, the general meeting this year will feature the announcement of the first winner of the Charles Hamm Memorial Award in recognition of lifetime contribution to Popular Music Studies. In addition, the David Sanjek Award for best paper by a graduate student at the meeting will be announced.
(image credit: Kai Regan/Alldayeveryday)
In 1995 GZA released Liquid Swords, the first of the solo Wu Tang Clan efforts. The album is constantly referenced among artists in the indie, electronic, and of course hip hop world as an inspiration for its eclecticism and challenge to standard ways of writing music. Pitchfork media, for example, invited GZA to perform the classic album in full at their summer festival. The GZA will discuss the album within the framework of a discussion of his career as an MC, his creative process, and the global state of an artform that began right here in New York City.
Moderator: Jon Caramanica
A select group of sounds familiar only to a small group of folks within a few square miles in the Bronx of the mid-1970s became the rhythmic foundation of global pop music for the next two decades. How and why did this convergence of urban geography and music history happen? And what were the consequences?
With: Kool DJ Red Alert, Nick deKreshewo, Bill Stephney, and Brian Coleman
Moderator: Dan Charnas
Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson loves his many jobs, from leading the Roots band on late-night TV to producing a hot list of current and heritage artists, not to mention his regular DJ gig at Brooklyn Bowl and drumming on stage for Jay-Z. But there’s one thing that really lights up his days and nights: talking about his favorite records. Known for his copious vinyl collection, ?uestlove can geek out with the best of ’em. On a weekend full of geek-outs, we’re gonna geek out with ?uestlove, and talk records, talk collecting: special vinyl moments, our first, our best, our ones that got away.
Moderator: Harry Weinger
