Chattanooga Pulse

Subterranean Circle is presenting “Dystopia” for those who savor unusual and intense performance art. This post-apocalyptic dance party at JJ’s Bohemia on Friday night will feature a mighty experiment in sideshow performance, along with the return of Chattanooga favorite Emotron and the startling Mose Giganticus.

“Z” and “Pinky”, featured performers of the Sadistic Scenic City Sideshow, will engage in a live collaboration with Neon Viking Funeral and Secret Guilt to present sideshow acts with a dynamic, improvisational, electronic ambience. Having seen these acts individually, I greatly anticipate their interactive combination. This seems a natural melding of unnatural performance sure to propel the whole presentation into new levels of the weird.

Additionally, Emotron will bring his own improvisational music and performance mix to this party. Hard to define, but stunning in its impact, Emotron works within an “anti-beauty” concept that mixes his original music, performed with a sequencer, with a vulgar regard for “fierce theatrics” songs combined with rants and strange stories, often other people’s stories told in his own way, combining verbal weirdness with raw music into memorable bits.

According to Z, the emphasis of this whole show will involve an exploration of the unusual, delving into negative energy and transforming it into positive energy. The interaction of the audience, whose imagination will be provoked by unconventional acts, will contribute to performative renewal. Audience members are encouraged to come in costume and to bring an open attitude.

Mose Giganticus will bring their keyboard-driven, futuristic post-punk sound. Their minimalist approach produces a larger sound than might be expected, moving the audience into motion. Their approach will add another dimension to the complex musical range of this show.

I spoke with Jerry Reed Jr., who along with Chris Griffin, makes up Neon Viking Funeral. They will combine with Tony Levi, who is Secret Guilt, to provide an interactive soundtrack to the Sideshow performance. I’ve been very impressed with Neon Viking Funeral’s ability to rip away mundane mystical expectations and to lead listeners into unfamiliar aural territory.

There remains some confusion regarding the term “noise” with respect to music. “Noise” as a communication term designates anything that interferes with communication. However, the aesthetic of electronic music is founded on the range of sound, and that range includes noise; for example, white and pink noise generators form a part of electronic instrumentation. Further, electronic music itself maybe shorthanded as “noise.” Jerry Reed doesn’t mind that appellation, but he would remind listeners that noise is just a part of “valid electronic music expression.”

Although some avant-garde musical strategies predate electronic music, the explicit lack of scales and melodies in electronic music’s arrangements of sounds has caused it to be derided as “noise.” Jerry considers this label just slang for the strange freedom and complex discipline of electronic composition.  Sometimes this music has a scary effect, because the familiar conventions of ordinary music are absent. The interactive electronics that will improvise with the Sideshow performances should provide great enhancement.

Be sure to look for other Subterranean Circus events at the upcoming Chattacon and ConNooga events.

“Dystopia”
$7
10 p.m.
Friday, November 6
JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E. MLK Blvd.
(423) 266-1400. www.myspace.com/jjsbohemia