The ultimate Michael Jackson cover band, Who’s Bad, played on the Bryan Center plaza of Duke’s campus yesterday. Here’s a video of the band playing “Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough.”
Lots of news about Durham’s celebrated Branch Gallery. First, Branch Outpost, a satellite space located at 111 Orange Street in Durham, now has a blog.
The blog’s first post concerns an exciting event announcement featuring Casey Cook, the artist behind Branch’s current exhibition “Boom Boom Crash,” and Branch co-founder and Les Savy Fav drummer Harrison Haynes. The two artists/drummers will perform “LRLL RLRR” at Branch Outpost. From the press release:
Two drummers (Cook and Haynes), each seemingly unaware of the other and of whoever might be watching, each behind a drum set, each located in one of the two window bays of the Branch Outpost space, will play the same drum beat continuously for 2 hours.
Casey Cook is certainly less famous as a drummer, but her drumsticks from the multimedia piece “Circle Triangle Army” featured in her current Branch exhibition are on display in the gallery. Also interesting is that “Circle Crash Army” uses a mash-up of a Germs track and Michael Jackson’s “Billy Jean” for its audio element. At a recent visit to the gallery, Branch co-owner Chloë Seymore told me that the drum part from “Billy Jean” was one of the first beats that both Haynes and Cook learned.
The event is this Friday, Dec. 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Branch Outpost on 111 Orange Street. Check back to the Playground Friday for our coverage.
Recess music editor Jordan Axt’s article on the Michael Jackson tribute band, Who’s Bad, found its way on the news section of the Michael Jackson News Network, somewhere between the rumors of a reunion tour with the Jackson 5 and Michael’s next album. It states here:
In a recent article by dukechronicle.com Jordan Axt says; “Four years (and five singers) later Who’s Bad has perfected its act into a high-energy, non-stop celebration of pop music’s most productive and enigmatic figure. In a performance that lasted more than two hours this weekend, the band impressed audience members with their mastery of Jackson’s music and elaborate choreographed dance sessions.
Who’s Bad returns to the Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, NC on Jan. 17th.