MIKE COOPER
MIKE COOPER RESONATES IN KRAKOW
MIKE COOPER
MANGGHA MUSEUM
KRAKOW, OCTOBER 11, 2017
Well, times are hard and life is difficult and busy, but when I heard that Mike Cooper was going to play a solo gig in Krakow, I knew I had to be there. The concert was delayed by about half an hour, which normally is a common practice here, especially at indie and DIY gigs, and often annoys me a lot . But this time it was OK as our unreliable city transport system brought me to the venue a bit late.
So I had some time to calm down and prepare for the gig. Mike Cooper appeared on the stage sporting a hat and a dark Hawaiian shirt, which I am told he collects. He sat behind a colourful box with lots of guitar effects. Started with telling some joking remarks, one of them about the need for change and the necessity for a new thing when the old one does not work anymore. Very timely.
Then he proceeded to the proper performance. It was a combination of different bits of music, instrumental compositions, songs, pieces that sounded like instant composing, which is quite possible as he is also a good improviser, a jazz musician and an ardent player of all sorts of experimental music.
This time he presented a long set of trancelike playing of great, beautiful and mesmerizing music. He is a specialist in playing a resophonic acoustic guitars in lap steel guitar style. All of this was combined with live electronics, you might say, as he uses a lot of effects but also transforms the sound and sounds constantly, in real time. He uses preparations and extended guitar techniques on his acoustic instrument which is the main source of sounds but also altering and transforming them on the way.
The compositions that use words sound like a cross between spoken word and sung poetry, lazy, relaxed style, which only add more flavour to the overall trance impression.
October 11, 2017
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