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The Big Takeover > reviews

Glenn Branca - Alexander Kasser Theater (Montclair, NJ) - Saturday, February 4, 2006

by Matthew Berlyant
22 February 2006

The billing for this show is a bit deceiving, since GLENN BRANCA himself wasn’t actually playing. Rather, this was a performance of his Symphony No. 13 for 100 Guitars, which first debuted at the former site of the World Trade Center back in 2001. However, the performance on this evening was the first of the revised symphony. Having not seen it beforehand, I’m not sure what the changes were. But they obviously worked, as I was blown away.

Branca is a respected composer best known for his stint in late ‘70s no-wave stalwarts STATIC and THEORETICAL GIRLS, and for such works as Lesson No. 1 and The Ascension. Those are his best-known works, partly because they served as the launching pad for the careers of THURSTON MOORE and LEE RANALDO, who would later wind up forming SONIC YOUTH.

Although it’s been almost a quarter of a century since that time, Branca is still at it, creating some of the noisiest and loudest pieces that can still carry the tag of ‘symphony.’ Conducted by JOHN MYERS and featuring drumming by longtime Branca associate WHARTON TIERS, alongside the 100 guitars, the piece built throughout the course of each of its four movements, pulling the listeners into a hypnotic trance of brutal, repetitive rhythms.

As the name of the symphony implies, this is loud, punishing, brutal and repetitive music which left some concertgoers (no doubt including those that had season passes to the theater and are used to quieter fare) stunned at what they saw. It was not for the faint of heart. Mostly, however, the crowd was appreciative, giving the players the requisite standing ovation between each of the symphony’s four movements and again at the end, when the shy Branca finally came out after lots of cheering and yelling.

Filed under concerts classical

Comments

i have been reading about this performance..even getting the email requests from branca for guitar players that can read sheet music to fill out the 100 guitars….i am sooooo jealous…i wonder if there will be a recording of this piece as i would love to hear it…and with tiers on drums…what a performance…..the only time i have “seen” a performance is this DVd of symp no 8/no 9 from the knitting factory (i think) from late 80’s (i really should get up and check…to lazy) and that was only 7 guitarists and it is really neat…..some day i will see one of his pieces in real life…till then…

np radio birdman – living eyes


— cinchel    2006-02-22 23:48    #

I read on Branca’s site that they recorded his most recent symphony (#13 for 100 guitars) within the last few years at a studio really close to where I live here in Astoria, so hopefully there will be a commercial release of it at some point, though there are no plans to release it as of yet.

Also, it’s nice to see that you’re playing Living Eyes. The version of “I-94” on there is the definitive one and smokes the one on their Burn My Eye ep. Great stuff.


— Matthew Berlyant    2006-02-23 05:30    #

i was privileged to be part of the 2001 debut at the WTC. unforgettable! if you think that piece is punishing for the listener, trust me, it’s just as hard on the musicians. strumming like a maniac for 60 minutes, whew! my wrist hurt for a week.

regarding a recording, the Astoria sessions in october ‘04 did not produce usable tracks and will not be released. however, the show at the Kasser was supposed to have recorded, and according to Branca in an e-mail to players before the show, “The recording will be released on Cantaloupe Records (the bangoncan guys)”

and just for the record, we didn’t have 100 guitars at the WTC in 2001. i believe the total was more like 68, plus about a dozen bass players, but who’s counting?


— jim santo    2006-02-23 13:44    #

I’m pretty sure the guy sitting next to me recorded the show, at the very least for himself. On the other hand, I’d be more than happy to wait for a mastered release as well. And Matt, I’m waiting for my shout-out. At least a photographer credit? C’mon!


— Anne    2006-02-23 14:32    #

hey Anne I was really thankful for the picture being here although then I was like even more envious because I could tell it was taken from very close the the stage.


— Kirstie    2006-02-24 10:44    #

Well we were close to the stage but not THAT close, though the tickets were great. Regardless, though, the Kasser Theater is a small venue and the sound was great, too.


— Matthew Berlyant    2006-02-24 16:41    #

Thanks Kirstie!


— Anne    2006-02-27 13:31    #