Duet for Theremin and Lap Steel

This unique evening will feature an astounding variety of sensory explorations, including the mesmerizing sounds of Duet for Theremin and Lap Steel accompanied by dancers Ann Law and Beth Markham Herring along with stunning new work from Atlanta filmmaker Robbie Land, the improvisational guitarist Todd Rush, highlights from the 30-year-old Shaking Ray Levi Society/WUTC radio show “Outside Pleasures” archives introduced by storyteller Tom Landis, and a Theremin demonstration/Q&A.

7 pm: Inside 'Outside Pleasures' (in the lounge)

8 pm: Music/Film/Dance (in the theater)

Duet for Theremin and Lap Steel creates a combination of sounds from two non-fixed-pitch instruments and laptops in an improv environment with a disregard for traditional styles and a penchant for creating rich, compelling textures. Over the duo's twelve-year existence, they've toured extensively in the U.S. and also in Europe, released four CDs and have played notable events including the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN, EtherFest in Asheville, NC, the Electro-Music Festival, WhoFest, the City Skies Festival and the Improvisor Festival.

"The name of this Atlanta duo implies a proper classical recital, a rigid formality. But Scott Burland (Theremin) and Frank Schultz (lap steel) don't do scripted, improvising not so much distinct sounds as evolving eddies of sound, vapors of tones that develop and transform gracefully. Hypnotic pulses and dreamy drones weave together to form a kaleidoscope of sounds and moods, ambient clouds and swooning collages that are as much about texture as they are timbre, like a long-lost soundtrack to a deep-sea documentary." - P. Wall, Columbia Free Times

Guitarist and visual artist Todd Rush is a recent transplant to Chattanooga, who also performs under the moniker Deathrushsoundz. He creates evocative solo electric guitar pieces in the realm of sound collage, with elements of drone, American primitive, found-sound, noise and prepared guitar.

Thirty years ago, the Shaking Ray Levi Society and WUTC unleashed the weekly live radio show "Outside Pleasures," featuring an overflowing bounty of adventurous and unusual music rarely heard on Chattanooga airwaves. Combined with instant storytelling and sonic improvisations performed on the air, Outside Pleasures expressed an offbeat sense of humor and a thirst for new sounds.

With its name taking inspiration from guitarist Henry Kaiser's album "Outside Pleasure," the show's 8-year run ended in 1995. While many episodes are lost, some of them were archived to cassette tape, and a project is underway to preserve these archives with new digital transfers. In an event (included with admission) we're calling "Inside 'Outside Pleasures,'" some of these priceless moments of improvisation, often featuring the late Shaking Ray Levis member Dennis Palmer and storyteller extraordinaire Tom Landis, will be heard publicly for the first time in nearly three decades.

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