CLL-PHN-LCKN @ The MoMACLL-PHN-LCKN @ The MoMA
New York City - On November 7th, 2006 a group of scenesters, art-kids, and yuppies gathered at The Museum of Modern Art for a special event from LVHRD (a vowel-fearing organization powered by Happy Corp that puts on random, avant garde events around the city). I showed up partly because I was intrigued by the whole "CLL-PHN-LCKN" aspect and mostly because Les Savy Fav were not-so-secretly performing (the organizers played it up as if this wasn't even the main attraction).
The sold-out event (an open bar for an $11 ticket in NYC seems like it would go pretty fast) began at 8 p.m. First I had to stand in line and pick up my packet (a numbered plastic bag for your phone and a matching numbered wrist band) and then promptly hand over my phone to the kind folks in contamination suits who assured me that I would feel healthier after relieving myself of Severe Micro-Cellulotamination.
Now that I was free from my connected-to-the-world device, I did the open-bar line carousel a few times -- sipping my apple cider & Dewar's and smiling at the thought of a concert taking place in an art museum. After wandering around, chatting it up and a possibly Mareen sighting (Man I love her photos) Les Savy Fav rolled onto the "stage" (more like an opening with less artwork and room for instruments) as masked bandits.
Les Savy Fav then proceeded to perform one of the most in-your-face, fantastically rocking and entertaining live shows of 2006 (and beyond?). I saw them once before at 2005's Pitchfork Intonation Festival in Chicago, but that was outside on a big stage and wasn't nearly as intimate. Lead-singer Tim Harrington was connected to the audience as he danced and wailed through the crowd. While a photographer kneeled in front of him snapping away, he grabbed the camera and started taking photos of the audience and the scared-out-of-his-wits photographer reaching for his camera. I don't think Tim was trying to be mean at all, but as if to say, "Just enjoy the show...get into the show...get involved instead of being a mere observer."
His antics didn't stop there as he pulled one of the more amazing stunts I had ever seen when he ran up to an audience member in the back of the room, stuck his head under the guy's shirt and came up-and-out with his arms and head wearing the T-shirt (while the original owner was still in it). He then proceeded to remove the shirt from the good-sported fan and ran back on stage, leaving one random guy bare-chested in the MoMA. I don't think anybody looked away the entire set for fear of missing something exciting.
After the set everybody turned to the cell phone wall, where the suited helpers had been tying up our precious cell phone bags for all to see (but not touch). Almost a tease to those who saw their phones blinking, with missed text messages and voicemails pending. I was expecting this to be the main event. With the whole arty buildup (the websites, the silly literature in the baggy we picked up) and the fact that you gave your phone number when registering for the event, I was expecting some kind of cell phone symphony, or a cell phone wave where each number was called and a wave of ring tones and lights overtook the attendees.
I was sorely disappointed when all that was left was to pick up your phone. All that trouble just to take your phone away from you, which I'm not saying wasn't rewarding (sometimes it's good to..you know..let go, disconnect). I'm just saying I expected more from LVHRD. With those resources you could've done so much more.
That said, I will still attend (and look forward to) the next CLL-PHN-LCKN, hoping for a bit more creative oomph.
