This video depicts the first version of a pneumatic drum kit that I designed and fabricated for use within my “Bull and Wounded Horse” performance piece. As with most of my work, I also see these drums as sculptural objects. So while the drums find a use on stage, they are also intended to create music for the rest of the objects within the gallery setting. In the performance piece there are actually three drum kits, a robotic drum kit stage left and stage right, and a human drummer in the middle. In composing the music for Bull and Wounded Horse, I established a few moments within the performance where the robotic drum kit would establish a two measure beat then drop it. The human drummer, would then seamlessly pick up the same beat for two measures and drop it. The robotic drum kit would then pickup the beat for two measures. This robot / human / robot rhythmic sequence would establish a looping bed over which the rest of the band would vamp.
Selected Recent Performance Related Posts
Footage From The Archive of Elliott Earls Performing At The Wooster Group
In 1999 I was awarded an Emerging Artist grant by the Wooster Group in Manhattan. I spent a week working with director Richard Kimmel and the Wooster Group’s production team before a weekend of shows. The video posted here is a super short time-lapse I recently found on an old hard drive of mine. Elliott Earls performing […]
Songs from Catfish Re-Released
In 2001 Emigre released Catfish a film by Elliott Earls. Catfish is a 55 minute film on DVD that documents Elliott Earls performance work. Over the course of the next fifteen days, one song from the Catfish soundtrack will be posted each day. For a limited time, the songs will be available for free download. The songs are […]
Original Footage from Catfish Posted
“Catfish” a film by Elliott Earls. Was released on DVD by Emigre inc. in 2001. This film is equal parts B- Movie and performance documentary. The piece chronicles the performance work of Elliott Earls as it moves from the lab to the stage. “Catfish, a Film by Elliott Earls.” Originally Released by Emigre inc. in 2001 […]