On a random note (or two or three)...
1. System of a Grimm
Music does interesting things to people. Last night I went to a concert at Jones Beach with my brother to see the band, System of a Down. Now, my brother is the type of person that, whenever we're in the car together, feels the need to compulsively hijack my iPod to plug in his instead.
“Sarah, you hear the double bass in this song?” Or “This bridge is so catchy.” Or “I know you don't like screaming but...”
In addition to expanding (or perhaps callusing is the better word?) my musical palette, the tradition has always doubled as a bonding experience.
My brother been a fan of SoD for a while, and the band had been a go-to choice whenever we had to drive somewhere. It's the underlying music that plays during our travel montages, in addition to the map and little silver car chugging along from A to B.
That being said, I learned to appreciate SoD. There'd always been an element of eccentricity, a tinge of the theatrics to their music.
And to their fans.
My brother caught me staring a few times at head-bopping, tattoo-laden lads, at girls who carried more fishnets than an old, crusty boat and bore more neon than a periodic table.
“Clearly this is your first hardcore rock concert.”
Yes, brother. Yes. But as my eyes scanned the crowds, I started to think. Everyone was singing as one, everyone was moving as one. Everyone knew when to bop their heads, everyone knew when to clap their hands or pump their fists.
Anyone could follow along, even if they didn't know what was being said (which happens quite a lot during this kind of music). But there’s still a hardwired response to music that our bodies just naturally seem to have. Just watch any one of the millions of videos on Youtube that feature babies wiggling their diapered asses to Single Ladies.
Music is moving because it quite literally, gets us to move. What I’m saying is nothing new or revelatory. But still, it baffles me.
This is why I have extremely high hopes for how audiences will respond to Kenny’s music in Grimm. This morning, No Wait! (Reprise) came on my iPod as I rode the train. The chord progression about a minute in hit my body like a wave. My arms were covered in goosebumps. My foot tapped, my body swayed. There are many moments like this in the score, which I think is a wonderful testament to Kenny’s gift. It's not the kind of music that will cause everyone in Hot Topic to drop their baskets of studded belts and Invader Zim tees and start wind-milling, but I do believe it’ll make them drop their baskets of studded belts and Invader Zim tees and buy a ticket to our show.
2. I also couldn't help but wonder what GRIMM would be like if we got to perform at Jones Beach. Things are looking awfully... honey, why does the opening number feature a giant strobe light?
3. Grimm has officially infiltrated my life. Today at work, a kid asked me what a “cauldron” was. Then a second kid, three hours later, read the word “germ” as “Grimm.” Same difference.
4. Today was venue prep. Vikki, Joe, and Mike (as well as the reps from the other shows we share the space with) have been working all day at the HERE Mainstage Theatre, preparing the space for the Fringe-vasion next weekend.
5. Tomorrow is our tech rehearsal, i.e. the one chance we have to rehearse in our venue with all the lighting cues, set pieces, microphones, and costumes. Literally every second will count: we have fifty minutes to cue the show, fifteen minutes to set up, fifty minutes to run the show, then fifteen minutes to strike. It will be like our own personal Olympics. The O-Grimmpics. This is what our cast and crew have been training for.
In the words of Kevin McAllister as he cocks his BB gun, “This is it. Don’t get scared now.”
6. Be sure to check out more videos from our FringeCENTRAL showcase:
Watch Grant and Sierra tear up My Sister the Queen:
Gettin' boney with it:
Kids always love a good dance party:
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| Just like the entire show is pulled from a trunk, all our lives are pulled from suitcases. Hey, art imitates life. Or perhaps more fittingly, it's the other way around. |
Happy tech week, everyone.
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