Best noise gigs, without remembering the sound?

[FreakAnimalFinland]

I was listening to the new WCN episode, with Blood Ties interviews, and Macronympha interview as well as Bloodyminded interview, and made me realize few things. When they were talking how previous Macro show was sonically good, but No Fun was chaotic and full of energy. Or how Solotroff complimented Deathpile live and so on.

Both shows ruled, but how exactly was the NOISE? In Macronympha, almost nothing was plugged in at the end, hah! Most of it was physical chaos and very little to do with sound. Deathpile was strong vocals and the noise was just Connelly doing mixer feedback. There was feedback loop in tiny mixer and he would just push mute between tracks and rest of it was just mixer noise. Violent and broken for sure. But how it really was? Who knows. Too busy in the pit!

Most of the time, I am watching or listening noise. That's why I am there. Or sometimes I am there also meet the people. Eventually it might not be very accurate memories of how the noise was exactly, but the experience overall.

Macronympha and Deathpile at No Fun are indeed some of the best noise gigs where I have been, even when I have no more actual memories how it sounded like and if it was any good. Atmosphere, energy and action made so long lasting impact that it is sort of beyond technical or compositional aspects.

I am sure there are former topics of noise gigs... but was there topic of memorable gigs that made impact even when you really don't know was it "objectively" good noise - in terms of sound or playing?

[John Cagefight]

I'm reminded of a Peter B set where he had one of his Ciat Lonbarde synthesizers - a big wooden skateboard deck-looking device with a series of two dozen or so contact point metal prongs that attenuated the sound coming out from the top of the synth. He pulled out a large container of earthworms and poured them onto the synthesizer allowing the worms to "play" the synthesizer as they wriggled their way against all the metal prongs.

Couldn't remember what it sounded like worth a damn but was an ingenious / memorable set.

[FreakAnimalFinland]

Hazy memories, as opposed to clear facts! My clear recollection is seeing Connelly with small mixer and pushing mute between tracks, turns out that he actually did play each song. Not mixer feedback, but sound generated from loops made of each particular song. Well, regardless of hazy memories of sound of tech, otherwise memorable show. It must have been wildest show at the fest plus I remember some veterans of PE scene compliment that this particular show displayed Deathpile "how he really was". Despite dark topics of songs, vibe of gig wasn't trying to look "dark" and aggressive, but it was almost like pure energy. Smile on his face watching chairs crowd surfing etc. I don't think that takes anything away, but perhaps even fits many songs better that topics are indeed something you do not need to keep emotionless face.

In Finland, many of the old Bizarre Bunker shows were memorable. Pogrom was cutting his arm with razorblade, and it wasn't some neat little scratches, but more like "holy fuck!" -level cut and man clearly noticed that it was more than it was supposed to be. He continued playing, plus fingering his open large hole in arm and fingerpainting rusty dirty sheet of metal and I had borrowed him. All sorts Pogrom blood drawn symbols are still on that piece of metal. There is live recording, so one could memorize how it really sounded, but it was memorable most of all due all these things happening. Man didn't want to go, but was taken to hospital to be stitched up so nobody else has to deal with him getting blood poisoning or losing arm over this, hah.. They were not amused at the clinic.