My second (or third?) visit to The Broad museum downtown, and this time, it was totally worth going to for the musical performances and free cake! I’ve seen A Place to Bury Strangers a few times before, the last time was at LEVITATION (formerly known as Austin Psych Fest). They are always earsplittingly loud, but in a way that you can enjoy – if you enjoy the industrial wall of sound that they make, of course. I’m kind of used to loud shows by now, possibly due to partial hearing loss. Alexander (Portable Infinite) introduced me to Oliver shortly after they arrived, and I’d mentioned seeing this photo of his guitar in the air during that show. Though I was at APTBS’s set, it conflicted with one of the other main headliners so I’d missed the actual guitar launching.
Here’s a nice version of it from their Facebook page:
I saw the guitar being lifted, but not sure if it got that high. I like to think it had some sort of wires assisting it, considering the festival was called LEVITATION. And the bassist and drummer had left the stage shortly after the guitar may have been tossed up. It looked like they might have destroyed a bass, but there was too much fog for me to tell. Xiu Xiu were pretty cool, and even covered a New Order song. They sounded good for what looked like just two people playing on stage (I couldn’t see anyone else). There was a big cake being shared for Mother Theresa’s 107th birthday and it went with an indoor performance from Linda Mary Montano, who was dressed up as Mother Theresa. It was odd, but seemed accurate enough.
Here are some of my photos on Flickr:
The Infinity Room (Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room—The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away) was closed that night, but it’s a great experience to stand in. It’s so popular they are even giving it its own exhibition! Looking forward to that!
Here’s what else was happening at the Broad that night:
August’s Summer Happening is inspired by themes of globalization, surveillance and the underlying systems and forces at work in the world that make up the current exhibition Oracle. Oracle the Happening strives to reclaim that heightened experience and anxiety as artists pick up abundant stereotypes and play prophet, sage, historian and cheerleader. A Place to Bury Strangers performs what could be a soundtrack for the apocalypse, while Xiu Xiu make music for people opposed to and opposed by the horror and disquiet of life. Transformative performance artist Linda Mary Montano offers healings and blessings, and Keijaun Thomas will perform his work, “Distance is not Separation”. The third-floor galleries will feature a Xenolalia room – the Christian missionary spirit gift or ability to speak in an unlearned language – with poets Raquel Gutiérrez, Elliot Reed and Lisa Teasley, and musicians Gabie Strong, Pauline Gloss and David Harrow.
Set Times + Locations
- 8 – 8:50 p.m. | Arshia Haq + Amy Alexander on the Plaza Stage
- 8:45 – 9:15 p.m. | Linda Mary Montano + Ron Athey in the Plaza
- 9 – 9:50 p.m. | Xiu Xiu on the Plaza Stage
- 9:15 – 11:45 p.m. | Linda Mary Montano + Kae Whalen in the Lobby
- 9:30 – 11:30 p.m. | The Xenolalia Room: Lisa Teasley + David Harrow, Raquel Gutierrez + Gabie Strong, and Elliot Reed + Pauline Gloss in Gallery 303
- 10:10 – 11 p.m. | A Place to Bury Strangers on the Plaza Stage
- 10:15 – 11:45 p.m. | Keijaun Thomas in the Oculus Hall
