Arthur Loves Plastic

CD Release: Give It

2009-10-09T15:25:00.002-04:00

Below are details about the listening party/laser light show under the stars being held Saturday November 14.

WHAT: Arthur Loves Plastic Listening Party
WHERE: Montgomery College Planetarium, 7651 Fenton St., Takoma Park, MD [see map]
WHEN: Saturday night, November 14, 2009 8pm

THE EVENT IS FREE

Refreshments will not be provided but consumption is recommended before the show. ; )

For more info on Give It, click here.

Crappy is the New Lo-Fi

2009-08-05T20:47:00.029-04:00

I have always wanted to have video accompaniment at my gigs, but considered this an unattainable dream. Even though projectors have come down in price considerably, the replacement bulbs are exorbitantly priced (seemingly in accordance with the cheap printer/expensive toner cartridge economic model). However, woot.com recently sold the Torpedo for $69, an item that Gizmodo, the gadget blog, characterized as "The World's Crappiest Projector." The projector is marketed primarily for kids to project video games. Demos posted by helpful YouTubers convinced me that despite the bad reviews, $69 might be a worthwhile expenditure provided I managed my expectations.

Would you want to use this projector for a mission critical Power Point presentation in a semi-lit room? No. But it performed much better than expected given the cheap price tag and even cheaper replacement bulb costs. In fact the projector uses halogen track lighting bulbs that can be found at the supermarket or on ebay for under $10. They aren't the brightest bulbs, but they are affordable and readily attainable. I was able to score a cheap DVD player at Radio Shack in time for my first multimedia gig. Unfortunately a skylight initially interfered with my video debut, but once night fell, the Torpedo did a great job of projecting my lo-fi stream of consciousness mashups on the wall behind me. I recommend this for multimedia on a shoestring budget!

Exciting New Gear Part 1

2009-07-29T20:57:00.007-04:00

An evening of hunching over my laptop during a gig sent me on a search for a computer stand to help my posture, which led to one of the most practical yet exciting gear expenditures I have made this decade. Although the name itself was reason enough to justify its purchase, the Stanton Uberstand has become an indispensable part of my rig. It elevates the laptop to eye level, provides a shelf for an audio interface, and makes room for a midi controller below. With the resulting tabletop space I can monitor my Petcam via my netbook. The Uberstand folds into its own nylon bag for easy transport. The only drawback is that a cable tie is required to keep the shelf from toppling over. The solid metal construction nevertheless conveys stability. I consider the Uberstand a must-have for the laptop musician--the $79 price tag is much less than a bill from the chiropractor!

Stop Kiss!

2009-07-12T21:42:00.004-04:00

If you are in LA check out the premiere of the award-winning play "Stop Kiss," put on by Rogue Machine at Theatre Theater.

Christopher Moscatiello did the sound design and used one of my tracks, "Yeah Baby," in a lesbian club scene, accompanied by samples of a drunk woman at a party.

Crazy Quilt 2009

2009-07-03T16:01:00.002-04:00

Here is some video from Crazy Quilt 2009, held in the New Deal city of Greenbelt. Members of Playa Del Fuego are fire dancing for the grand finale. Hope to see you next year!!!

Save The Date: Crazy Quilt Festival

2009-06-15T19:58:00.005-04:00

On Saturday June 27th I will be DJing between live musical sets as part of the Crazy Quilt Festival held at Roosevelt Center in Greenbelt Maryland. Last year was a blast, with fire dancers and falafel.

I am on around noon until dark! Schedule and directions here.

Hope to see you there!

Meet the Artist Night - and ARTHUR LOVES PLASTIC - at Artomatic

2009-06-09T12:21:00.002-04:00

Saturday June 13th, 4th floor/east
Host: Rita Elsner (courtesy of Artomatic.org)
Start Time: Saturday, June 13, 2009 at 7:30pm (ALP spins 9pm until 11pm)
End Time: Sunday, June 14, 2009 at 12:00am
Location: Artomatic 2009 - 4th floor/east
Street: 55 M St. S.E.
City/Town: Washington, DC

Description:
You are invited to Artomatic's MEET THE ARTIST NIGHT Sat. June 13. There are over 1000 artists showing, so this is a great opportunity to meet the people behind the work. I'll be hovering within the 48 sq. ft. allotted me at my exhibit on the 4TH FLOOR/EAST SIDE, from 7:30 to 12. BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE ... ARTHUR LOVES PLASTIC will be there from 9 to 11p - providing the sounds that you. want. to. hear.

Getting There: Artomatic is right above Navy Yard Metro (green line). So makes things easy - take metro. Or drive... but its easier to metro.

Is this an opportunity to buy original art and CDs?: Yes, though the 2D art must stay on the wall for the duration of Artomatic.

Is this an opportunity to buy lovely and affordable reprints?: Yes - cash and carry, or place an order. There will be snacks!!!

(Can't make it on the 13th? Hang in there - Artist's Social Night is Sunday, June 21. Same venue, with the return of ARTHUR LOVES PLASTIC. And Snacks. Stay tuned.)

Live in Silver Spring: Queering Sound 09

2009-04-30T20:56:00.005-04:00

I will be spinning Arthur Loves Plastic tracks and playing bass with the Window Shoppers on June 7:

QUEERING SOUND 09 [ Q U I X ]
Sunday 07 June : 7 PM
Pyramid Atlantic : 8230 Georgia Avenue : Silver Spring MD 20910

Doors open at 6:30

The ninth installment of Queering Sound again gathers together local, national and international artists - with a non-exclusive curatorial focus towards gay, lesbian and post-gender-identified participants - who explore alternative avenues of expression through sound, the digital arts, noise and spoken word; two nights of both established and upcoming local talents as well as serve to introduce Washington audiences to new sounds and visions from across the globe through digital contributions.

Compact discs, recordings, and other merchandise from contributors and performers will also be available for sale. ALP will have an EP preview of the upcoming CD Give It for sale.

Admission is $5.00 and available at the door.
Metro : Red Line - Silver Spring

LIVE PERFORMERS + DIGITAL CONTRIBUTORS

# Arthur Loves Plastic [ DEEJAY SET _ 07 June ]
# Regie Cabico [ SPOKEN WORD _ 07 June ]
# Danielle Evennou [ SPOKEN WORD _ 07 June ]
# The Grapefruit Experiment : Charlottesville VA [ LIVE PERFORMANCE _ 07 June ]
# Eryca Kasse [ SPOKEN WORD _ 07 June ]
# Dan Vera [ SPOKEN WORD _ 07 June ]
# The Window Shoppers : Baltimore MD [ LIVE PERFORMANCE _ 07 June ]

Click here to read the Metro Weekly piece on last year's Queering Sound.

WAMMIES

2009-02-16T10:54:00.007-05:00

Last night I got to perform at the Washington Area Music Awards. One of my favourite production clients, Cletus and Lori, invited me to play live on one of their tracks for which I had done loops and programs. The laptop and midi controller shtick went over really well considering that just less than two decades ago my synth pop band was routinely heckled for using a drum machine. The ALP CD Brief Episodes of Joy got the WAMMIE for electronica recording. You can get it on iTunes here.

New CD: King Shag

2008-12-21T13:47:00.000-05:00

Yes, it's that time of year again!! King Shag is the latest CD from Arthur Loves Plastic. This one is more instrumental and aggressive than previous efforts, though I will leave the effusive musical description to reviewer Dead Earnest. Retail links are pasted below.

CD Baby

I will be having the CD release party at Lucky Bar in Dupont Circle, Washington, DC. They serve the best fish and chips I have had this side of the Atlantic as well as Guinness on tap. Here is the info:

Arthur Loves Plastic CD Release: King Shag
1221 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, DC

Date: Sunday, January 25, 2009
Time: 8pm to 11pm

NO COVER!!

To Mock the Purists in Their Rabidity

2008-12-21T12:47:00.001-05:00

Filmaker Shawn Postoff has just released the third episode of his queer erotica series "Sir Richard Wadd" and it features Arthur Loves Plastic's track Klondyke 5. I am going to paste the code for the non-explicit version here for all you "work and surf" office stiffs:

The ALP track starts around 7:43. And for those who can surf the web without inhibition, the uncut version is here.

To Suffer is to Slip Unnoticed

2008-11-01T18:22:00.001-04:00

The mega-talented Canadian filmmaker Shawn Postoff features the ALP track "Afterglow" in "To Suffer is to Slip Unnoticed," the latest episode in his series of smart, funny, non-mainstream gay erotica film-poems inspired by the Psalms. "Afterglow" starts in at around seven minutes, but you need to watch this clip from the beginning for full effect!!

Who Are You?

2008-10-20T15:09:00.001-04:00

ALP is going to be a featured artist on Free Radio Jackson tonight, October 20th along with The Who. Check it out around 5 pm.

Upcoming Gig: September 27, 2008

2008-09-22T07:01:00.002-04:00

Below are details about the listening party/laser light show under the stars being held Saturday September 27.

WHAT: Arthur Loves Plastic Listening Party
WHERE: Montgomery College Planetarium, 7651 Fenton St., Takoma Park, MD
WHEN: Saturday night, September 27, 2006 8pm

THE EVENT IS FREE

Refreshments will not be provided but consumption is recommended before the show. ; )

Here is a map.

The Silver Spring penguin gives the gig a plug here.

(photo credit: Jane Buscher)

Autumnal Equinox Celebration

2008-09-14T13:35:00.005-04:00

I will be spinning between sets from 4-7 PM Sunday September 21st at Roosevelt Center in Greenbelt MD. This event is a project of The Stone Soup Conspiracy, a group of musicians, sound techs and artists who create events to promote environmental issues. Hope to see you there! (photo by Lori Thiele)

THE "RBR" House Party to Support Basic Rights Montgomery!

2008-07-11T20:50:00.008-04:00

I will be spinning at a benefit on Thursday for Basic Rights Montgomery:

Location: The Fabulous Home of Robert Raben
Washington, DC 20002
When: Thursday, July 17, 6:00PM

Come enjoy music, fun, and a great cause! Basic Rights Montgomery is a broad-based coalition of community leaders and organizations formed in response to the efforts to repeal Montgomery County's recently passed transgender anti-discrimination law.

VIEW THE EVITE

Genre Hopping

2008-06-21T23:14:00.002-04:00

Here is video of the Capital Country Dance Club dancing during my set at Capital Pride's arts stage last weekend. I am so glad this was archived! And Chris the engineer ran great sound!! The dancing starts around a minute into the clip.

ALP on YouTube

2008-06-12T07:31:00.004-04:00

Here is a video from DC filmmaker Isaiah Headen. This was shot at Thayer Avenue, just before Montgomery County kicked me out of my apartment.

ALP at Capital Pride

2008-06-08T20:21:00.005-04:00

Arthur Loves Plastic will be spinning at the Arts Corner on Sunday, June 15th at 1:30 at DC's Capital Pride.

The stage is located on 6th St. just off Pennsylvania Ave NW. Hope to see you there!

Queering Sound in Metro Weekly

2008-05-29T19:20:00.003-04:00

Click here to read the Metro Weekly piece on Queering Sound.

Queering Sound 08 [Pix el a tion] happens Saturday, June 7, at 8 p.m. at:

Warehouse Second Stage
1021 Seventh St. NW
Washington DC
(near Mt. Vernon Square Metro)

Tickets are $10, available at the door.

Hope to see you there!

As Seen on TV

2008-05-26T09:42:00.004-04:00

A snippet of Arthur Loves Plastic's "Hold Me" from Fixed Star is being used as the intro theme for the documentary series "Lesbian Sex & Sexuality" being shown on Here! TV. Below is a clip from the episode on erotic dancers.

Queering Sound 08

2008-05-08T22:06:00.001-04:00

2008 . pix el a tion
...we are all part of the pixel nation

BLK w/ BEAR [loops + turntables + prepared vinyl] . Arthur Loves Plastic [audio/video] . VJ Poppins [live video mix] . *V*I*R*G*O* + Charles Cohen [audio] . Building Castles Out of Matchsticks : Anne Sulikowski [audio/video] . Nick Lopata [video] . Doug Poplin [cello + effects] . PD Sexton [bass + laptop + effects] . Dan Vera [words] . RH Bear [bass + effects] . Mansard [audio] . Long Division with Remainders [audio] . Helen Watson [audio] . Joseph Dress [tech] . Melissa Mullins [video tech] ... additional contributors and performers TBA

Warehouse . 1021 7th Street NW . Washington DC USA
Saturday 07 June 2008

8:00 pm

Next Gig--Greenbelt

2008-04-09T22:52:00.008-04:00

I will be spinning between live band sets at the Crazy Quilt Festival 2008 in Roosevelt Center, Greenbelt MD Greenbelt, Maryland on April 19th between 12:50 pm and 6:50 pm. Please stop by!

Sponsored by Friends of New Deal Cafe Arts (FONDCA) with support from the City of Greenbelt

New CD: Brief Episodes of Joy

2008-03-15T19:53:00.001-04:00

I just finished Brief Episodes of Joy. You can get the CD at CDBaby and Amazon. It features a bonus remix of a Techno Squirrels track and brightly-coloured packaging. The tracks are available at iTunes as well.

Here is the CD release party info:

ALP CD Release Party: Brief Episodes of Joy
Saturday, April 5, 2008
7:30 until 9:00pm
Sligo Urban Community Center
500 Sligo Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20910

The event is FREE. There is no booze allowed (this is the nanny state of Montgomery county after all) but I will make this up to you at the after-party. I have a few videos of tracks off the cd up at my YouTube channel.

Amazon: Cockfighting Okay; Other Activities Not So Much

2008-03-13T21:37:00.011-04:00

Recently one of my online vendors switched business models which forced me to move my back-catalog to another service. Fortunately an Amazon company called CreateSpace has come along with the ability to fulfill CD orders on-demand. I also have the option of making them available at Amazon.com, which is a godsend if you want to be on the radar of social networking sites and Pandora, etc.

I noticed that the CD Pursuit of Happiness (which won the 2006 Washington Area Music Award for electronica album of the year and is sold on CDBaby and iTunes without a problem) seemed to be stuck in purgatory with an "in process" designation. When I sent an e-mail to follow up I received this response:

Thank you for your inquiry. It appears that your cover art goes beyond what Amazon is willing to accept. Amazon guidelines are as follows:

"Pornography. Pornography; X-rated movies; home porn; hard-core material, including magazines, that depict graphic sexual acts; amateur porn; soiled undergarments; sexual aid devices; and "adult-only" novelty items that are primarily sold through adult-only novelty stores and erotic boutiques are not permitted. Unrated erotic videos and DVDs and properly censored erotic artwork and magazines of the type you'd find at a typical bookstore are permitted. Nudity, graphic titles, and descriptions must be sufficiently concealed with censor strips on all items containing such content."

We ask that you please correct your cover art and re-upload it. Once you have done this, please let us know and we will continue to process your title. Thank you.

I have no problem with a private company having editorial guidelines, but isn't it a little odd for Amazon to take this position when they use the first amendment as an excuse in defending the sale of cockfighting publications? (read about Amazon's response to the Human Society's recent lawsuit here).

Odder still, is the fact that the digital version displays the cover art in all its glory (probably not safe for the typical work environment). Amazon mp3 rocks! But if you want the physical (so to speak) CD, CDBaby has it here.

UPDATE: Wal-Mart is also selling Pursuit of Happiness. With the cover. This is in spite of their established practice of censoring albums "with cover art or lyrics deemed overtly sexual or dealing with topics such as abortion, homosexuality or Satanism."