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03.09.02 Person 1
Crowe T. Brooks Gallery

Words by Joshua Levi
Pix by Jason Potter

Who: Skarekrau Radio, ...There's A Killer Among Us, Phallus Challis, Chris Deckard, Grandpa's Ghost, and The Conformists
What: Everywhen presents Person 1, where the worlds of acting and music collide. Person 1 also is a benefit for the Everywhen compilation, Don¹t Name It.
When: March 9, 2002
Where: Crowe T. Brooks Gallery, Saint Louis, Missouri

john shepherd, brian hyde, chris deckard, ben davis, jason rook - act #4

When entering the Crowe T. Brookes Gallery, you get a sense of a very comfortable atmosphere. While walking through the gallery, you are introduced to several pieces of "art" by various artists. Once people get settled, Tom O'Neil of the Conformists introduces all the bands and explains what is about to happen. O'Neil explains, "You, the actors, and the bands do not know what's gonna happen, until it does happen." Let's let the show begin!

SkR- As the crowd gazes upon the almighty Skarekrau Radio, the group of 6 people stand as if introduced to a new habitat. Wearing what to some "awkward" and to others "normal", SkR start the noize flow. While producing their "irritainment", the stage is fronted by a girl with a doll. Soon others begin to arrive onstage. The scene appears to be an abstract view at a childhood scene. SkR, providing the soundtrack, bust out a plethora of instruments: a flute, clarinet, dijeridoo, cinder block, trash can, bull whip and an insane instrument called the "infeffectron." The collaboration of fuzzy static and what can only be described as "Serial Killer-Circus Music" is only a glimpse of the madness to come. "That¹s it!" exclaims Rainbow Wilson. Their ten minutes is up.

the conformists rock act #6

TAKAU- ...There's A Killer Among Us starts their set off with an appropriate melody for the scene. A little boy sits in the middle of the floor, drawing. The sounds of a frightened lullaby seem to accelerate as the boy furiously illustrates his emotion onto the paper. The drunken moaning has now elevated to a shriek as TAKAU's cacophonous song heightens. As the boy continues to draw, a father figure appears. The father soon realizes his son has been drawing on paperwork and bursts into a rage. TAKAU are now reaching their chaotic climax as the father stumbles into a fury. The exhilarating sounds slowly come down from their peak as the father takes notice of his son's drawings to be for him. The set is now over.

PC- Looking ahead, O'Neil introduces Phallus Challis. Only two members front PC. With one on guitar and the other on keyboard, the possibilities are endless for the next ten minutes. While the two feeds off each other, a young woman in her apartment is greeted by what appears to be an annoying friend. While a member of PC hops onto the mic for some improv-spoken word, the crowd takes notice of their apparel. Both members sport a severed "Doors" poster, hiding their faces. While PC continue to spew their chaos and throw rocks and bottles around, the two actresses try not to notice. As one girl nervously sits, the other continues to annoy her with childish antics. PC's sound at this moment sounds like murder music with an unknown array of words. Appropriately the woman onstage ends up killing herself. Delightful.

CD- Chris Deckard and friends. Hmmm. What to say? This set bursts into a song with a steady rock groove; the trio all communicate well and roll along. The actors in this skit are two guys partying. What's the harm in a little drinking and toking? Well soon one of the actors will find out. Chris Deckard and friends buzz through the song with some mild singing and continue to provide a fitting tune. In this skit the actors quarrel until one kills the other. Almost jokingly the actor takes a picture of the deceased. CD end on a good note. Next?

GG- Once Grandpa's Ghost gives birth to its improv noise, the skit begins. Picture an ordinary scene, an artist and her young model. Wearing jeans and a scarf, the model sits nervously as each drawing is not good enough in the eyes of the artist. In the back, GG continue to take their drowsy take on music into what some may call crude white noise. The artist continues drawing her now scared and unknowing model. Suddenly she rips the scarf off and Grandpa's Ghost explodes like a confused volcano. Somehow the artist persuades the girl to wear the scarf once again. GG repetitious pattern slowly cool down as the artist tries to kiss the young model. The scene ends with an abrupt absence of the girl, leaving GG and their fragmented product.

the conformists, brian hyde, john shepherd, traci eichhorst, and pamela banning - act#6

TC- The Conformists...simple yet unbelievable. The "song" starts off with a steady beat by Tom and Jim taking hold of his duties. Chris joins along and the band is now in unison. The lead singer, Mike, seems to portray a role in the scene and production of music. Shortly after their beginning, a group of four clubgoers bust onto the dancefloor and bar scene. The actors are soon accompanied by Mike as he shouts the only lyrics of the song in a monotone voice, "DANCE, DANCE, DANCE, DANCE..." The interaction with the actors and audience seem to give birth to a delightful stupor. Out of nowhere the infectious repetition stops and then is reassured by a count off, breaking into another rendition of "Dance." Soon one of the couple leaves and the 2 is left alone on the dancefloor. As the show nears an end, the last clubgoer continues his funky movements, as if unstoppable even after there is no music. The music stops and Mike ends the show with an unforgettable saying. "I bet a lot of you wear hats, Maybe some of you. Maybe not all of you, but some of you wear hats, and that¹s for certain."

Although some of the band's sounds differ from a "regular" show of theirs, they are still worth checking out. To hear all 6 of the bands and then some, check out the everywhen compilation, Don't Name It. For more info check out these bands online. All 6 bands provide a wonderful show and variety of music. An orgasm of the eyes and ears, for family and friends.

BONUS: Jason's Online-Only write-up!

on this fateful evening brian, jeff, shaun and i treked downtowm st. louie through the warzone that is present day washington ave. we were given a treat this particular evening. we witnessed a truly unique event in st. louie music history. sure things happen like this daily in swanky towns like san francisco and new york city, but this event was a fresh surprise for our urban-sprawling community.

i fully expected the place to be empty. in fact, it was quite packed. person 1 was a wonderful combination of art, music, theater, and performance art. it was a "play" for lack of better term that had 6 acts. directed by richard stelinger and written by shauna kapica, its acts saw a theatrical performance accompanied by a musical performance. being the slacker late bunch of folks we are, we walked in sluggishly during act #3.

i missed my friends skarekrau radio's performance. (when will i learn to show up fashionably early?) act #4 (picture this) featured john shepherd and brian hyde in a scene where a pair of guys who are hanging out in a bar's antics turn violent. eventually, one man kills the other and takes a picture of his dead body.

my favorite part of the evening, however, was act #6 (child's play too). the conformists provided the musical landscape for this act. another bar scene, this one depics a pair of men and women who engage in the dance game..."wanna dance? who me? yeah you. ok" and so on. the conformists performance made this act so effective with their droning one-note poundings whilst singer mike benker screamed, uttered, and moaned "dance" as if he were commanding the viewer to dance.

supposedly there is an accompanying cd to be released soon.

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