Press Release for John Carpenter Tribute Show
The Magic Pumpkin Presents:
“In ‘E’: John Carpenter Suite
Friday, October 28th, Tonic Lounge, Portland OR
The music of John Carpenter gets the trance-minimalist treatment this October at the Tonic Lounge. Musician, film composer, author and horror soundtrack DJ Willy Greer has arranged tracks from The Fog, Escape From New York, Christine, Halloween III, They Live and Prince Of Darkness into one continuous piece in the same tempo and key. The ensemble The Magic Pumpkin will bring it to throbbing life with a blend of analog and digital synths, rock instruments, and strobing visuals.
“In ‘E’” explores the similarities Carpenter’s music shares with 1970s American “minimalism” and Krautrock, as well as modern day artists like Glenn Branca and Stereolab. Repetition is one of the most effective tools a musician or composer has to alter the consciousness of the listener. Carpenter used it to great effect creating mood in his films, but taken on its own, the music can do the same funny things to the brain as a piece like Music For Eighteen Musicians. We look giddily forward to doing these funny things to the brains of everyone at the Tonic on the 28th. Horror fanboys and music snobs should feel equally well served.
The Magic Pumpkin will share the stage with Bowie tributers The Band Who Fell To Earth and Joy Division tribute band Unknown Pleasures.
