Video from the Pop-Up Concert
On June 30, 2012 the Popwagon made a stop in Culver City to put on an impromptu pop-up concert featuring the acoustic stylings of Hard Sun and the melodious twangings of the way-down-lows.
Catch The Popwagon at TEDxSocal
The Popwagon has been invited to be a part of the TEDxSoCal Conference on Saturday, July 14. We’ll be presenting a new work by puppeteer-miniaturist-storytellers Miriam Jones and DanRae Wilson.
In L.A. SameWay, DanRae and Miriam frame a day in Los Angeles. Mixing cantastoria with miniatures and live performers, DanRae and Miriam will reflect on the minutea and routine that make up daily living. Stop by and we’ll give you 24 hours in just a couple minutes!
We’ll be parked outside the Center Theater located at 300 E. Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, 90802.
Performances will take place during registration from 8:00AM – 9:00AM and during the lunch break from 12:30-2:30PM.
(Special thanks to: Matt Barbier, Julia Hiser, Zoe Gopnik McManus, Nick Shoob, and Kris Swick)
Photos from the Pop-Up Concert
Pop-Up Concert Recap
On Saturday, June 30, the Popwagon made an appearance in Culver City at Higuera and Lindblade. This was the first time we took it out and just parked without making prior arrangements. We knew we had some music to play, and a fine stage to play it on, but we didn’t know where exactly we’d be or who would be there to watch.
The plan was to play somewhere near Royal/T on Washington Blvd. since we knew there’d be a crowd gathered for their farewell party, and because it was close to the new Culver City metro stop. At around 6, Jerry Flanagan (bassist for Hard Sun) took a drive around the general vicinity and found that the lots we had originally scoped out were being used by valets for some other event. Not wanting to mess with valets (who are known to be vicious about parking spots), we went around the corner and found an empty lot where we could park without a lot of trouble.
At 7:30, the rest of the musicians arrived, we started the generator and did a quick sound check. By 8:00 the lights were on and the show began. As our two bands, Hard Sun and The Way-Down-Lows played along to the sunset, fans gathered around, passers-by stopped to listen, and drivers stopped their cars to see what was going on.
By the end of the evening, we had made quite a few new friends, entertained a curious crowd, and learned that you can indeed hold a concert in a parking spot. Thanks to everyone who participated!
Upcoming Pop-Up Concert
The Way-Down-Lows rehearsing on the Popwagon
On Saturday, June 3 at 8PM, the Popwagon will be making an impromptu appearance with our first-ever pop-up concert. We’ll be parked somewhere on the 8800 block of Washington in Culver City. Listen for the acoustic stylings of Hard Sun and the melodious twangings of The-Way-Down-Lows.
Here’s an idea: Hop on the Expo Line and take it to the brand new Culver City stop. Head West on Washington and enjoy some spontaneous music under the streetlights.
For updates on this fancy event, follow along on Twitter @TradeCityLA.
Royal/T is Closing
Sad to say, one of our favorite art spaces is closing its doors next month. For five years, Royal/T Café in Culver City served up tasty food, and colorful art events in its hybrid café-gallery-performance-retail space. The curators presented work by prestigious artists in a casual, playful setting, offering an alternative to the typical white-walled, somber gallery.
If you’ve never paid a visit, there’s still time. Stop in for lunch, or come to their Greatest Hits Party on Saturday, June 30.
Press Pause Play
For those of you who haven’t been paying attention for the last ten years, here’s a documentary that gives a nice bird’s-eye view of how technological changes have impacted the arts. Underscoring a main theme of the film is the fact that you can watch the whole thing here. For free.
Let’s Go Solar
At the Popwagon ribbon cutting, we had the pleasure of working with solar-powered DJ Chris Gee of the Sycons (the DJs of the Sun). When he took a look at the loud, gas-drenched generator we were using to power our sound system, he immediately suggested a few ways we could outfit the Popwagon for a sustainable future.
The thought of using solar power had crossed my mind at one point a while back. However, as an unwitting victim of the massive anti-solar disinformation conspiracy, I had assumed that any alternative to fossil fuel consumption was a hippie pipe-dream affordable only to Ed Begley, Jr.
As it turns out, we’ll be able to power an events-worth of lights, sound, and media equipment using a couple of portable power packs charged by two solar panels. And it’ll only cost $2500. Pretty stellar. Now if we can just dig up $2500…
The Radically Open Museum
Arts blogger and museumist Sue Bell Yank wrote a great post about some strategies museums are using to keep up with the changing times.
The winds are shifting, and museums of all kinds are reacting—sometimes fundamentally shifting their missions and structures in response, calling into question what comprises the boundaries of the institution.
Later on, she mentions the Popwagon as an example of a “decentralized museum.” I never quite thought of it that way, but maybe it’s time to start.
Check out the article and other thought-provoking museum-musings at Social Practice – writings about the social in contemporary art.
On the Radio
Just as I was about to raise the stage after our grand opening downtown, I was approached by a jolly woman saying “Wait wait!” The woman turned out to be Shirley Jahad – KPCC reporter and host of Weekend Edition. She had heard about the Popwagon from board member Reza Safai and was intrigued enough to chase us down to get the story. She proceeded to ask some interesting questions about the Popwagon and its role in society, then went on her merry way.
A few weeks later, a friend called to tell us he heard us on the radio. You can play the audio here, or get the full story at the KPCC website.
On an odd side note , the story aired on the same day that Donna Summer died. All day, stations were playing her song “On the Radio.”