Ten years ago, Bay Area experimental weirdos Rubber (() Cement (a.k.a. Rubber-O-Cement and Rubber-0-Cement) performed at the first edition of No Fun Fest, and it was one of the greatest, life-changing performances I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing. Led by the enigmatic artist — an American noise/experimental music staple since the 1980s — Rubber (() Cement played an incredibly breathtaking, violent set, the processed thrift-store effect, guitar skronk, and exquisite costumes blasting through the homogeneity of the noise scene at the time and welcomingly ushering it toward the chaos, surrealism, and confusion that was all but absent by the time noise reached its inevitable apex/downfall. It was refreshing, but few gave a shit — people seemed more interested in waiting for industrial beat drops and high-profile improv collaborations than the bizarre assemblage of cardboard, foam, and tin foil that was Rubber (() Cement.
Of course, I’m dramatizing here. Many a noise artist (members of Wolf Eyes, Nautical Almanac, etc.) still cite and his related projects ( , ) as a huge influence on their work, which is why it’ll be quite a reunion this week for noise lovers when Rubber (() Cement perform in New York a little over 10 years since that No Fun Fest set (and eight years since their last NY performance). The first is a gallery show tonight for “Insider Art Fair,” which was set up by Mark Flood; the second is Wednesday at Coco66 with Spiritual Recess; the third is in Queens at The Red Light District with Newton and Toe Ring (final show!); and the fourth is on Saturday with Robbie McDonald Growth System at Darren Ho’s release party for this beautiful lathe-cut record.
As one might say, “You will not want to miss this rare Errth opportunity to encounter the true electronic cardboard mental wisdom of Ape Canaveral ignorance & future cargo cult outlines.”
05.13.14 - New York, NY - Zach Feuer Gallery @ Center548 (Insider Art Fair)
05.14.14 - Brooklyn, NY - Coco66 *
05.15.14 - Queens, NY - The Red Light District #
05.17.14 - Brooklyn, NY - Navy Yard loft (50 Taaffe Pl, 3rd Floor) %
* Spiritual Recess
# Newton, Toe Ring
% Darren Ho, Robbie McDonald Growth Systems
• Rubber (() Cement: https://myspace.com/rubber0cement
More about: Rubber (() Cement, Rubber-0-Cement, Rubber-O-Cement
