1. "The Roller Coaster Effect". We purposely attempted to structure our sets, though improvised, by adhering to a simple rule: try to make your rotation texturally, dynamically and conceptually contrast the previous rotation. This was easy to forget in the heat of performance, and difficult to live up to consistently even when one did remember it. But when it worked it gave the set a lot of variety and showed the band's range. It was done primarily to prevent the audience from getting bored, and hopefully to shock them on occassion. Sometimes it worked all too well, in which case hostile and rude comments abounded. But for me, the level of variety the band reached with this format was one of its greatest achievments.
Paper Bag on stage, 1/10/89. This was Kenny's last performance with the band. This is one of the rare times all 4 members appeared in a single photo performing at once. The strange looking device in Kenny's hand is the Vacuumette, which can be heard (very loudly) on "Splattmandoo", on the "Music To Trash" CD. It is a length of vacuum hose with the bell and mouthpiece of a clarinet taped on to the ends. The pitch was then varied by stretching the hose to different lengths. Photo: Chris Gruenwedel.
2. Band Colors. The band colors were red and black, and all clothing worn at shows, onstage, was to reflect this motif. It was a strict rule. This was done in pursuit of a unified image, which hopefully could be used as a selling tool or for the audience to identify with. While I initially agreed with this, I soon came to sympathize with those who had been taught in parochial schools.
Red and black were chosen at first because we thought they looked cool; later, someone, I think it was Kenny or Michelle, maybe both of them, pointed out that black and red were the colors of anarchy, which of course suited us quite well. This later led me to formulate a bit of band philosophy- another story for another time.
Here's a good shot to illustrate the band colors and how they were flown- kindly ignore my colored beads and silver. Photo: Naomi Peterson, 4/87.
3. One of the band's favorite jokes: when the soundperson would say at soundcheck, "OK guys, let's hear your first song."
