What happens when you bring together 25 New York-based musicians for one day of improvised songwriting and then get them to perform the day’s output live onstage later that evening? Well, you may get to see a train wreck, but hopefully you’ll get sets of inspired creative musical experimentation. Either way it’s worth gambling on the inaugural New York installment of the Rock Lottery at the Knitting Factory on December 18.
The Rock Lottery was conceived by Chris Weber and the first event was held in 1997 and featured members of the Denton and Dallas, Texas music scene. As the popularity of the event and a list of outstanding alumni grew, Weber decided to expand to Seattle, Washington in 2006. Recently, the New York via Texas transplant Tierney Stout decided that Brooklyn was the perfect breeding ground for next lottery.
The premise is simple; 25 musicians meet at 10am on the morning of December 18. Much like a pickup game of football, the quarterbacks – in the Lottery’s case, the drummers – pick four musicians to join them on a day long musical odyssey. Once teams, or bands, are decided, the musicians head to designated practice spaces to construct a three to five song set of original songs and one cover to be performed later that evening for a public as curious to hear the outcome as the bands themselves.
The show is only $10 and all like all the Rock Lottery’s that have preceded the upcoming Brooklyn event, all the proceeds will be donated to a local charity. This time the Rock Lottery will benefit World Savvy which is a global education organization that, “Prepares the next generation of leaders to learn, work and live as responsible global citizens in the 21st century.”
So whether you’re coming out to be inspired, rubberneck or support a good cause; the Rock Lottery is one event that will have something for everyone.
Here is a complete list of participating musicians with more to be announced as the event approaches:
Alix Brown (Golden Triangle)
Brad Oberhober (Oberhofer)
Bradford Reed (King Missile III)
Elea Logan (Adult Themes / Happy New Year)
Eric Biondo (Antibalas / Beyondo / Superhuman Happiness)
Greg Fox (Liturgy / Dan Deacon / GDFX)
Jeff Moore (Dead Stars)
Johnny Sierra (Death Set)
Jon Philpot (Bear In Heaven)
Jonny Ollsin (Children / Family Band)
Juile Potash (Hesta Prynn / Northern State)
Liam Andrew (Dinowalrus)
Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson
Nara Tiang
Pan (Suckers)
Sean Adams (Your Youth / Elks)
Seth Jabour (Les Savy Fav)
Stephen Patterson (White Rabbits)
Tanya Horo (Sherlock's Daughter)
Tlaceal Esparza (ARMS/ Frances/ El Topo)
