On Friday, Feb 6, there was a local show at Worcester’s own Firehouse. Named after the old firehouse it once was, Firehouse has been ingrained in Massachusetts music culture, but also in the general arts. The DIY atmosphere of the venue promotes individuality with its eccentric and creative decorations in the showroom, which is off the side of the main room. As a student new to Worcester, I took it upon myself to explore my interests in this new environment. Throughout my journey, I have never experienced a show like this one. Jaap (pronounced Yaap) Blonk, a sound poet from the Netherlands, worked with Blink, an avant-garde jazz band from Massachusetts. The show consisted of a solo set by Jaap, followed by a later set with an infusion of Jaap’s work and Blink’s work. Blink consists of two guitarists, one bassist, one drummer, and one saxophonist. They were all incredible.
During the first set, Blonk recited a series of poems, giving a little background with each. The poems consisted of multiple different themes, but there were a few that stood out to me. There were poems about fish, numbers, sneezing, and so many other themes. Blonk went through the history of the pieces and how the poets of the time took their influences. For the last few poems, he incorporated electronics into the performance by using glitchy static that played out of nearby speakers. Blonk is a talented artist who achieves both the performance of his art and the history of it.
The second set was where things got even more interesting; Blink and Blonk worked together to create a beautiful soundscape of avant-garde jazz that led to Blonk’s sound poetry. The syncopation and chemistry between the two acts seemed natural, as if they were one act, even though they were together for just one show. Blonk implemented his own work throughout and used a controller to adjust static and distortion, adding more atmospheric elements to the mix. The last song had Jaap act as a conductor for the group; he stood up and used a board as a conductor’s wand for the band. Although I don’t know the exact system used for this, it was a great closing to an incredible showing of art that showcased different eccentric elements that come together to connect art mediums.
