Paying tribute to Highways' 25 years of LA performance
The "Life in the Fast Lane" line-up, May 3, 2014.
It was an honor to be a fly on the green room wall last night at the legendary Highways' 25th anniversary "silver" jubilee event "LIFE IN THE FAST LANE: Doing Performance Art in the Big 80’s." Organized by The Dark Bob, the evening featured 5-minute performances by some of the legends who graced the space's stage in its infancy.
Gregory Barnett and I were invited by Marcus Kuiland-Nazario (who was in Puerto Vallarta opening the new contemporary art space Oficina de Proyectos Culturales) to perform on Marcus' behalf, following instructions that we were sent the day before the performance.
Marcus asked us to (1) ask the audience members for their favorite memories from Highways' infamous past, then (2) solicit audience members to join us in (3) re-creating or evoking some of these memories onstage.
Some of these memories included:
- Curtis York hanging from a ladder singing "Happy Birthday" (possibly with sparklers)
- Rachel Rosenthal Company performing with dogs onstage
- Guns in performance
- Kristina Wong auctioning off her bad memories
- Asher Hartman slow dancing with audience members to 80's hits...
Gregory and I were fortunate to be joined by six very capable volunteers, and accompaniment by Fat & Fucked Up members Michael Intriere (cello) and Josie Roth (viola). In true Highways style, the performance ended with Gregory and myself stripped nude, surrounded by general good-natured insanity.
The performance was dedicated to the late and very great Cindy "Pop" de Santis and Curtis York.
