Dear Los Angeles area musicians, artists, poets, etc (as well as lovers and connoisseurs of all such things),
This may get a bit long winded, but if you fall into any of the above categories, we hope you'll take the time to read it (and hopefully forward it on to others as well). We two lads from ELEMENOPY want to inform you about something we are very excited and proud to be a part of, and we'd like to invite you to come be involved as well. That being our 2007 THURSDAY NIGHT RESIDENCY at the greatest place for ambitious expression in Southern California: UNKNOWN THEATER. Hopefully in the coming weeks when we've gotten a little more sleep we'll come up with a name a bit more inspired than "Thursday's With ELEMENOPY," but we just returned from spending the holidays in NY, and we're a bit out of it, so it'll just have to do for now.
Anyway, here's the deal: We have been given free reign over Thursday evenings at Unknown Theater, and we are hoping to do some very special things with this honor. As both musicians and frequent patrons of various live music venues ourselves, we've become fed up and frustrated with the state of the local music scene. Most venues (especially those evil Sunset Strip joints), charge way to much for admission and parking, only to herd a half dozen or so acts on and off the stage for sets that only last a half hour, while making no real effort to book quality acts or form a cohesive night of good music. We know you've all dealt with this.. you go to see a band you like, shell out $10 or $20 for parking, then sit through 3 or 4 mediocre bands until the band you actually came to see finally gets to squeeze out six or seven songs before the sound man says "five more minutes guys!" Then before you know it, another lame band takes the stage and belts out the same half baked tunes you swear you already heard earlier in the night, so you go settle your $38 bar tab for the four drinks you bought, and retreat home feeling like a little piece of your soul was just date-raped by the money-hungry, insincere and apathetic LA music machine. No wonder no one wants to go see live music anymore! And for the artists it's just as soul crushing if not more so. Between all the pay to play nonsense, minimum draw requirements, lack of respect or support from promoters, crappy stages with poor sound, and that annoying "five more minutes" just when you're getting warmed up... it's a wonder we all don't hang up our respective instruments et al. and go become accountants or something.
Well, for those of you who already know about Unknown Theater, you know what a unique and exceptional place it is. For the rest of you, we hope you will come be a part of our Thursday night residency as patrons and/or performers, to express yourself and/or to support local artists with a sincere desire to so something different, and to help us try and change the face of the local music scene, if only in this one small place. Of course there will never be a cover charge on Thursday's, parking will always be free and plentiful, beer and wine will always be cheaper than you'll pay at other Los Angeles bars, and you will be treated to a night of music that we guarantee will always be fun, engaging, and unpredictable. We plan to try a lot of new things this year as we continue to evolve and push the limits of our own talent and sanity, and we hope to share the stage each week with our favorite bands and other like-minded artists who want to shake up the traditional notions of what live music and art can or should be.
So please come join us January 11th and every Thursday thereafter, and spread the word to everyone you know who you think might care. If you are a musician or performer of any kind and you want to come on board (and if we are sending you this directly it's probably because we love you and want you to be involved), please just let us know which Thursday in the coming weeks and months you might want to play, and we will start building the schedule. There will be no ticket selling requirements, you will be allotted approximately an hour-long set (longer if you want, shorter if you so choose.. we're flexible), and we won't ever ask, "What's your draw?" Plus you will play on a giant stage with great sound and lighting and a series of changing backgrounds depending on the play that is currently in production at Unknown. It is a great place to record a performance.. just check out our video for "One Act Tragedy" below and see for yourself!
Also, Unknown Theater's mission statement, as well as our own for these Thursday evenings, is to bring together ALL forms of art and expression in daring and exciting ways. So we are hoping to gather not only musicians, but also anyone with a passion for the arts to consider being a part of this movement. Poets, painters, dancers, filmmakers, actors, comedians, circus freaks, and more! If you are interested and sincere, we will make it happen and together create some very memorable nights!
Okay, I think that's everything for now. If you made it all the way to the end of this letter, then we want to thank you so much for taking the time to do so. It proves that you indeed care about art, music, and expression, and therefore you are our kind of people. Either that or it just proves you are bored. In any case we will now award you for making it all the way to the end by revealing this little known secret that only those with the patience and diligence to see this letter through will ever get to know. Ready? Here goes: The hokey pokey really IS what it's all about.
Love,
Joel and Nick
ELEMENOPYTHURSDAYS WITH ELEMENOPY (soon to be called something cooler)
Every Thursday at 10pm beginning January 11th, 2007
Unknown Theater1110 Seward St
Los Angeles, CA 90038
FREE
