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ACROBATICS EVERYDAY A N I N T E R V I E W W I T H S A M FA R Z I N B Y K R I S T I N E L I R I O L AYO U T BY R O B E R T V E R B A R G
PHOTO BY KRISTINE LIRIO HIGHPLACES
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perating within the UCI campus, Acrobatics Everyday provides an energizing and eclectic experience for the music-hungry souls of the area. They pack lineups in classrooms, halls, or food courts showcasing underground artists and local bands. If you’re stuck in the Irvine area, there’s no need to dig for the obscure gems of the music scene; Acrobatics Everyday provides them, and more!
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W H O C A M E U P W I T H H E N A M E CR O B ATICS V E R Y D A Y N D W H Y ?
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H OW DID THISB E G IN ?
saw a flyer on campus for an “underground” show featuring bands that I knew. I got stoked, found out who was doing this magic and met up with Mr Jeff Kile. I said “let’s do shows, always,” he said “Yes,” and then I thought “let’s get Dan Deacon to come, and see
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I S T H E R E A PA R T I C U L A R GOAL , CO N CEPT , O R A G E N D A T O A C R O B AT I C S E V E R Y D A Y ?
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picked up the name after seeing a documentary in a film class about a series of early silent film shorts. The narrator was an extremely charming and witty Frenchman whose commentary seemed more in line with the thoughts of an (albeit well-learned) audience member than a real serious critic-type. At some point during a short depicting the most amazing acrobatics I have ever seen, performed by a family of some six or seven, he said “acrobatics everyday!” I don’t remember why or to what, but I thought that sounded interesting and neat so I wrote it down.
if people come.” ASUCI helped pay for it, 400 people came and since then (January 2008) we have done more than 50 shows spanning all genres and many country borders. Jeff graduated (sort-of) in June 2008, so since then I have done mostly everything (booking/promoting/organiz-
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ing) with a lot of help from Jeff, Emily Hsiao, Paul McEldowney, Zhubin Parsi and a host of others. So it was founded by Jeff and I, and I run it, basically.
rvine and Orange County lack two things: an all ages venue for high-caliber and alternative music, and a music scene. The first begets the second, I think. There’s really nowhere other than Chain Reaction that kids can go and see music, and that venue, though it fulfills an important community role, is very narrow-minded in the artists that grace its stage night after night. Though, let me reiterate that it stands as a testament to the need of a place for musical education; I just thought more variety was
“I FOCUS ON TOURING ARTISTS THAT I LOVE, AND THEN BUILD SHOWS AROUND THEM.” needed. Irvine just needs more going on, right? Why not start by attempting to introduce wonderful, palatable sounds to a whole new audience that would never otherwise know they existed? The alternative to mainstream would shock a lot of people, but only briefly, I think. Anyone can “get” music.
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H O W D OYO U GETBANDS TOCOMEANDPLAY?
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ost of the time, I just ask. I focus on touring artists that I love, and then build shows around them. The other half of the time, an artist or agent writes me and asks if I can do a show for them— given the logistical constraints of being a student and not having a proper venue, I am limited by time in the number of shows I can do. I get many many more requests than I can handle, though.
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D O Y O U P L AY M U S I C Y O U R S E L F ?
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es, in a band called MOON PEARL. I play guitar and drums with my friends Paul (keyboard/ drums) and Jake (trumpet/drums). We don’t practice very often.
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A N Y LO C A L O R U N D E R GR O UNDBANDS YO UADM IR E ?
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admire every band that has played at Acrobatics Everyday. Ponytail and Dan deacon are my biggest loves, but also Dan Friel, Captain Ahab, Adventure, ugh everyone!
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W H AT Y E A R A R E YO U ? W H O ’ S G O I N GTO R U N T H I S G I G W H E N Y O U G R A D U A T E ?
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’m graduating on June 13. I am going to place a puppet president in charge and operate from behind the scenes as long as I am in Irvine. Just kidding, but not really. In actuality, I hope to spread the control and activities of AE over a couple of people. I’d love to make it more of a “democratic” thing but it is a BIG commitment.
PHOTO BY NALINI SAIRSINGH PARENTHETICALGIRLS
HIGHPLACES PHOTO BY KRISTINE LIRIO
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W E R E T H E S H O W S S T O O D O Y O U T H I S Y
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eck yes! Astronautalis/ Bleubird/Animental with live art by La Mano Fria on April 14th was INCREDIBLE. Possibly one of my favorite shows we’ve ever done. The first two are MCs that absolutely DESTROY and are incredibly inventive and unique. Anyone that missed
R E A N T H A U T T E A R
Y T O ?
that show (a lot of people) missed out BIG TIME. Blank Dogs at the end of March at the OCCCA in Santa Ana was incredible, huge turn out and a lot of fun. Lucky Dragons and a lot of other people in February, High Places in January. So good!
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W ER ETHER EAN YSH OWS T H AT D ID N ’ T T U R N O U T A S YO U E X P E C T E DT H E MTO ? O R D O Y O U N O T H AV E A S P E C IF I C E X P E CTATI O N ?
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ope! I come into a show with no expectations. The only thing that’s ever a bummer is the sometimes small turnout for incredible shows.
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0 W H AT ’ S YO U R WAY OFFINDING NEWMUSIC ? M U S I C B LO G S ? WA N D E R I N G A R O U N D A M O E B A ? WORD O’ MOUTH?
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am the music director at a radio station (KUCI) and I have 0 life.
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1 I G O T A STICKERFROM O NEO F YO UR SHOWS.WHO DESIGNEDIT ? I T ’ S C O O L
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n AWESOME artist from Costa Mesa named ASHKAHN. Here is his website: www.ashkahn.com
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3 B ESTL INE UPYO U ’ V E H A D SO FA R , I N Y O U R O P I N I O N ?
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2 W H A T PROBLEMS D OYO UR UN I N TO W H E N P R E PA R I N G O R PLANNIN G A S H O W ?
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one really. I have a small PA system and sometimes that can be a little stressful but otherwise...ain’t a thing. Just get-
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an’t answer that. Last time I felt REALLY REALLY good about a show, like oh god this is beautiful see the light kind of way was after that aforementioned Lucky Dragons show in February. But there are
at least 10 bills I’d consider “best.” Oh wait you know what? The show on June 16th, captain ahab/ hawnay troof/ear pwr/adventure? That is going to kill people.
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lso I did a festival last June that was poorly planned and incredibly overwhelming and in retrospect I would have done a lot of things differently BUT it had a FRESH lineup of bands a lot of people have not heard of: BRIGHT TOMORROW FESTIVAL FEAT. DEVON WILLIAMS / RED PONY CLOCK / ANNA OXYGEN / INFINITE BODY / GLASSER / RAFTER / THE GREAT WHITE JENKINS / THE ENDLESS BUMMER / VOICE ON TAPE / LLOYD AND MICHAEL / PALMS / TALKDEMONIC @ PHOENIX GRILLE Almost no one came and it was a huuuuuuge bummer but holy fuck the music was so good ALL day. With more planning and promotion it could have been the best thing ever.
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