SFUAD DIY

Posted by Luke Henley in Music

There’s a fire going outside and people huddle together, laughing and otherwise going on excitedly about “have you heard this band? And this band?” There’s even a trampoline, one of those big ones. Inside, past the front door that never seems to be locked, a band sets up in a large warehouse space. The energy is buzzing, people are smiling and, best of all, there’s no cover at the door. This is all a very regular sight for Radical Abacus, a warehouse in one of Santa Fe’s more business-oriented areas that has become one of the city’s more prominent independent performance venues in the past few years.

Contemporary Music Program major Angelo Harmsworth, who recently became one of Radical Abacus’ residents, has been increasing his involvement in booking shows for local musicians as well as touring acts from around the US.

Angelo Harmsworth performs at Radical Abacus. Photograph by Marco Perez

“Nicholas Chiarella [former SFUAD Studio Arts administrative assistant/contributing faculty] was responsible for the current incarnation of the space…,” Harmsworth said in an e-mail interview, “He made the space available to the local and larger DIY community for art shows, little happenings, and concerts.”

Following that legacy, Harmsworth’s role is simply that of a host/curator; he and his housemates do not take money for hosting these shows. Donations are often requested to be given to touring bands, mostly for gas money, but other than that the focus is on music. This model differs greatly from that of a more traditional venue, such as a bar that features live music. This use of non-traditional performance spaces has become a more frequently seen phenomenon in Santa Fe as well as cities across the country as a larger DIY-based musical community grows. Why do some gravitate toward DIY over a bar or another more established business? Harmsworth feels the primary difference is “the lack of boundaries… this can allow some of the most amazing things to happen.”

Another primary player in booking these shows is Caitlin Brothers, also a Contemporary Music major, who books several shows in her house as well as O’Shaughnessy Performance Space here on campus. For Brothers, the drive to put the work into these shows without a financial motive comes from an enthusiasm for the music and the people who make it.

“I love seeing what different people from other parts of the country/various music scenes are doing…,” Brothers said in an e-mail interview, “I’ve been turned on to so many cool bands and made so many instantaneous and fantastic friendships with other musicians.”

That connection to a broadening nationwide community with musicians resonates with Harmsworth as well.

“The networking… is pretty valuable and creates a beautiful web” he says, “DIY venues have traditionally been able to spawn very large communities of artists and perhaps even define entire cities.” Harmsworth says his personal hope is to see Radical Abacus become “a strong New Mexico base in the nationwide circuit.” Brothers also says musicians are becoming increasingly more community-minded and hopes that this trend can affect positive change on the music industry as a whole.

Roz and the Rice Cakes, from Providence, RI, perform at Radical Abacus. Photograph by Marco Perez

Not that there aren’t sometimes complications, especially when balancing between a space being both a home and a venue. While Harmsworth speaks to the respect he feels audiences and bands show DIY spaces, describing Radical Abacus as “a good example of functioning anarchy,” Brothers feels differently. “No matter how chill people are, things go missing here and there, and there’s always a big mess to clean up in the morning.” She has been focusing more on providing shows on campus for this reason, “I love hosting the events but it can be a bit stressful, especially while trying to have a life.”

SFUAD faculty and students have played a huge role in the success of many of these shows, particularly those taking place in O’Shaughnessy Performance Space. CMP Chairman Steve Paxton and other faculty have been “extremely supportive,” according to Brothers. “All we really need is the time, space, and audience to make some magic. All of that is pretty easy to access in an art school environment.”

The next scheduled concert in O’Shaughnessy Performance Space is this Sunday, Oct. 5, at 8 p.m. Brothers will be performing as part of Luke Carr’s band Storming the Beaches With Logos in Hand along with Florida noise-rockers Teach Me Equals and SFUAD’s own Venus and the Lion. Radical Abacus frequently hosts shows and can be “liked” on Facebook for up-to-date details on upcoming events.