Merry Swankster: Girl Talk, Live @ Fox Theatre, Boulder 07.11.2008

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July 15, 2008

Girl Talk, Live @ Fox Theatre, Boulder 07.11.2008

This was my first time seeing the much lauded Girl Talk in person. I had a distant glimpse of the Girl Talk party a few Coachella's ago, and I knew from the ubiquitous photo coverage to expect a lively crowd. This should be further qualified however. For a few hours on a Boulder, CO Friday night, a sweaty mess of people in vibrant colors looked to be a few obliterated inhibitions short of some wicked, PG-13 rated orgy. Though for all the suggestive dancing and provocative fashion, Girl Talk’s perspiring sideshow crowd was fairly innocent. From the extensive color selections and exposed flesh, it is quite obvious which demographic is keeping American Apparel in business. For reasons of practicality amidst the July heat, I cannot with good conscious fault anyone’s style choices.

Girl Talk's show felt like an underground tour through radio hits of the last twenty-five years, and then some. With the guidance of Gillis as pop music ranger, the audience embraced each and every unlikely mash-up with a mixture of honest nostalgia, and sheer joy as the party train rolled into a frenzy. Tag Team's amusing, and somehow strangely legendary, "Whoomp! (There It Is)" blasted from its origin inside the Girl Talk control board (duct taped macbook) until I couldn't indicate any particular bent towards ironic enjoyment of the ‘93 (1993!) hit. I have no choice but to conclude people were genuinely moved to dance in a whirled frenzy, as mentioned, without any notion of satirical statement. These days, I find it refreshing for this to even be possible.

The biggest blowouts of the night, based on reciprocated elation had to be the sped up loop of Michael Jackson’s ’mamma say mamakusa’ portion of "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin" with a Stardust rhythmic heartbeat and later, M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes". Both killed, but the M.I.A. clip simply destroyed. Proving the song's staying power is surpassing even the most ambitious predictions, or making the case for how hypnotically intoxicating effects of amplified gunshots can really be.

Speaking of staying power, I don't think I ever fully experienced the true force that is Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone". The enormous positive reception and immediate singalong gave away glimpses of arena rock ambition. Even if this was not the actual artists performing live, the collective familiarity with the songs is what gave this party its energy. Gillis harnesses that power with a staggering ability to create new directions with well known songs while never quite unleashing himself from the duties of a traditional DJ/re-mixer/whatever. In other words he doesn’t overwhelm the parts in order to create a new sum.

There is poetic justice worth noting when a guy who, to put bluntly, must feed off other artists' work in order to exist in the presented model, while similarly offering the spotlight customarily enjoyed by performers to party people on the flanks. It creates an altogether new, organic spectacle. No mash up required.

Other notes:

If someone had told me that I would experience communal moments with hundreds of strangers while "Whoomp!" was playing I would’ve called that person a dope who is completely out of touch with the acceptability standards of hip dance shows. By gathering these words neatly on a plate, I take bites and chew reflectively and ponder the funny ways wisdom creeps up on you.
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