First off, we have the Diagram of Suburban Chaos/N-Grava/Dampkrane show on Thursday, Feb 7, at Blackbird. DOSC is one man named William Collin Snavely who programs chasm-like beats to cut through lonely keyboard voices and convey a sense of isolation and beauty. Because of the feeling of misery in Diagram's songs, any dance you might make up should reflect alienation.
One good move would be the Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation -inspired facial cuts, in which your hand makes two sweeping motions on the side of your face, and then two underneath your chin, in a flat, spiky motion. Be sure to stand still! This will convey your separation from humanity in a culture that is increasingly dependent upon technology. The side of your face that is not bisected by your hand will signify hope that technology will, ultimately, connect us. It is at these enigmatic crossroads where the music of DOSC lies. Joining him are N-Grava, aka Portland's Gavin Beals, who makes the dope-ass beats for the mean castle level on video games (all fire, cobwebs, and rocky shores), and Dampkrane, another local artist well-versed in the inner-workings of circuit boards. The Janet Jackson Rhythm Nation dance will work for these bands, too, but be sure to change it up a bit by gyrating your hips and feet.
by Julianne Shepherd