Bash Compactor: Then It’s the Bomb
The last time that [BOMB Magazine] had a party with live music, the bands were DNA and The Erasers. It was also the early 1980s. Walking into Sunday nights BOMB Summer Bash at Glasslands, you could say that my hopes were high.
The nights entertainment included sets by [La Big Vic], [Noveller](http://www.myspace.com/noveller) and Title TK, a new band featuring Alan Licht. Crowded into the room, which was stocked with paintings by [Steve Keene](http://stevekeene.com/) of vintage Bomb covers, the magazines fans and subjects, including Brooklyns Own Cory Arcangel, took in the show. Some drank Rolling Rock to keep cool.
La Big Vic, the first act up, played its ambient and droney brand of electronica with a dab of pop. The three-piece featured a guitarist, keyboards and violinist. After the bands set, I asked keyboardist Toshio Masuda how he felt about celebrating the 29-year-old art rag.
I totally appreciate Bomb, he said. But do you read it? Uh no, not really, but I know that it is very serious for the experimental art world.
Next up was Noveller, the noisy solo project of guitarist and filmmaker Sarah Lipstate. With Glasslands fluffy white cloud decorations hanging over her head and the low light barely illuminating the venue, Novellers dark guitar-scapes contributed well to the existing atmosphere. The fact that I think Lipstate looks like adult film star Sasha Grey also added to the experience.
I describe [my sound] as textural guitar soundcapes with melody, and some improvisation, but with structure, Lipstate, whose new album Desert Fires came out this summer, told me when she got off stage. It sounded pretty arty to me, and other partygoers agreed.
In another context her sound might be a little difficult for me but with the light, heat and the clouds floating above her I dont know, something about it is really working for me, said guest Sarah Volmer.
One of the reasons the energy at Bomb has stayed is because we are always bringing in younger artists and writers, said Lena Valencia, the magazines web editor. The main idea behind Bomb is interdisciplinary conversation between artists.
When I pointed out that other magazines have picked up on a similar format, Stop Smiling for instance, Valencia pointed out that Bomb came first. Its still really a magazine thats run by artists.
[BOMB Summer Bash!!!] from [BOMB Magazine](http://vimeo.com/bombmagazine) on [Vimeo](http://vimeo.com).