The Luminary Arts welcomed Van Dyke Parks and Rats & People Motion Picture Orchestra for a special evening of monologues, movies and musicianship. Take a seat. Let’s get started.
Previously, I only knew Rats & People Motion Picture Orchestra as that band with a really strange name. Now after seeing them and understanding what they’re all about, I’m totally on board. In case you’re where I was a week ago, R&P MPO creates scores for silent films and this evening they treated us to Buster Keaton’s The Balloonatic. I’m not necessarily a huge old movie buff, but the band’s direction and execution is definitely unique and pretty awesome to experience.
Further Listening: MP3 demos on the band’s website.
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“I will ride a bronco nude with you after the show, but please don’t take a fuzzy picture of a sharp object.”
- Van Dyke Parks
The no-pictures mandate came after a few songs (hopefully I wasn’t the offender, but if I do I apologize), so there’s not much to show. Christian Schaeffer wrote a pretty rad review over at RFT Music and there’s not much else to add.
But the night was also summed up by my wife who was dancing along in her seat the whole night and scouring Rdio the entire ride home trying to find her favorite song of the night (“Danza”). Mr. Parks succeeded where others (Mates of State, Girl Talk and an entire Pitchfork Festival) failed. She loved this concert.
Shot for The Luminary Arts
Further Listening: Arrangements Volume I
Full photo set | Facebook | Email musicvsman@gmail.com for image use
