Concert Review: The People’s Liberation Big Band at the Record Bar, 7/6/08
The People’s Liberation Big Band of Greater Kansas City
Date: July 6, 2008
Venue: The Record Bar
Better Than: Band Camp
By LORNA PERRY
There was many a folding chair onstage at the Record Bar last night. The People’s Liberation Big Band was in the hizz-ouse, and when they’re around, something in the order of a dozen chairs are needed. Not that the band consists of only a dozen members – last night’s show had 17 musicians total packed onstage, with sheet music and various instruments in/on/under hand.
“This whole People’s Liberation thing stemmed out of Brad Cox’s weird musical mind,” explains Sam Wiseman, percussionist and member of PLBB. “He wanted to develop a kind of musician’s collective, for the purpose of creating new music.”
New in the sense that well-known musical scores are re-arranged by whichever PLBB musician wants to bring something to the table. Musician, composer and People’s Liberation mastermind Brad Cox rearranged the Beach Boys’ “Don’t Talk”, for example. On the setlist and ready for delivery, PLBB-style.
“We get paid in Pale Ale,” adds singer Shay Estes. “Sometimes we actually get paid, but most of the time it’s beer-for-play. It’s truly a case of musicians coming together for the sake and love of music.”
