Meat Beat Manifesto presents aural visual extravaganza at the Knitting Factory

When trying to put down words to describe a Meat Beat Manifesto Concert, I couldn't help but think of the Elvis Costello quote, "writing about music is like dancing about architecture." But of course, MBM is not just about music. In fact, In the beginning of the concert, there was a booming voice coming over the PA that declared, "Only 11% of what we learn comes from what we hear." The group, led by Jack Dangers, a man originally from the U.K. who now presides in San Francisco, has been active for over 2 decades. He has developed a very strong stage show that I enjoyed immensely.
The visual in an Electronic Music performance, particularly a Meat Beat Manifesto concert, is essential. In the very first song there was a collage of Moogs and a clip of Marshall Applewhite of the notoriously suicidal Heavens Gate cult saying 'surivive,' over and over again. MBM's music provided an angsty backbeat as further clips of George Bush Sr., Jimi Hendrix, and footage from old movies entertained us on a double screen. There were pics of Old school microphones, typewriters, buttons, fractal patterns, and a whole myriad of memes to check out. Some people were dancing as they took in the spectacle. I had to just sit and stare to process it. At the end of the first song there was MSNBC footage of a man being restrained by cops and than cutting back and forth between that and Captain Kirk. When the song ended, everyone cheered and awaited for what was next, transfixed.
I must admit for me it was different experience. I'm used to your standard rock shows. But I've always thought having dynamic visuals to go along with music was a wonderful enhancement. Having a live drummer, Lynn Farmer, to Jam along with the tracks was also a plus.
The bassy beats and rhythms of "Children of Earth" treated us to a paranormal array of shots of UFO's dangling from the sky, an old shot of the LAX Encounter building, and footage of the golden gate bridge. There was A feeling that we were being looked upon, doted on as it were, from Space Beings in the sky. There was subtitles over comedic looking Aliens who were trying to figure us out, mixed in with large Yamaha keyboards and infomericals.
So basically, it was a blueprint of Jack Danger's creative brain, his obsessions and possessions, fears and joys. A lot of sacred and profane, yin and yang energy, showing us the absurdity of life on earth, taking us through a safe acid trip. There was also a clip of Obama repeating the words, 'Turn off the television," alongside A Televangelist, Gregory Peck, someone in a rubber mask, Dr. No, and of course Marshall Applewhite kept popping up over and over. I was mesmerized, I must admit. The staples of our society had been chewed up and spit out for all to see, and there was never a second to look away. We didn't want to miss Woody Allen, Charles Manson, and Charleton Heston all acting out Jack Danger's script, while Obama repeatedly told us to chuck our idiot box.
A few songs in, a televangelist is heard telling us about the evils of rock music and marijuana, and we're suddenly transported to Monterey Pop watching Jimi Hendrix destroying his guitar, as the televangelist quotes another "victim" of rock and roll, who says, "I didn't know what I was doing, and my clothes came off," as if the force of Rock and Roll could cause you to become that disoriented.
One of the last songs was a montage of drum solos, a simulated collage of drummers sped up and slowed down. Photos of Chris Walken, muppets playing drums, etc. I felt so overwhelmed by the footage. I was glad that before the show, I’d had a chance to catch up with Jack Danger to see how he was doing- I believe our conversation enhanced my overall concert experience, and led to a greater understanding of the show.