Freakin' Catalytic! :: Chicago NYE 2012
presented by: Psymbolic hosted by: Catalyst Collective
stages curated by: The Freakeasy & The Chilluminati

Progressing & Evolving the tradition...
Psymbolic presents Freakin' Catalytic! a 2012 New Years Eve celebration in Chicago.

Featuring: 2 Stages curated by The Freakeasy & The Chilluminati, a catered Luminous Lounge, multiple rooms of Incredible Art & Installations, Turbosound System, Momentous Music, Immersive Visual Environments, Projection Mapping, Hacked Kinect Interactions, New Media Art, Circus Spectacle, Visionary Healing Arts, Live Painting, Performance Art + much more!

Celebrate the New Year at an incredible space with friends and amazing talent! Freakin' Catalytic provides environmental design in multiple rooms and brings together a wide spectrum of talents to create a Catalyst for positive activation, inspiration, and transformation. Sound stages are programmed to showcase contemporary & electronic music featuring: Global Bass, Dubstep, Experimental, House, IDM, Progressive, Psychedelic, Psytrance and Techno. Multimedia & Video installs are created to showcase cultural symbols, themes, ideas & inspiration in realtime while additionally being open to interactive audience participation through: motion tracking, live camera feeds, hacked gaming & midi devices, and smartphone sms txt to screen technology.

(performance times are posted next to each artist)

FREAKEASY MUSIC:
Gene Hunt -- (dj) - (Rush Hour Records) (3:00-4:00)
Striz -- (dj) - (illmeasures) (1:00-1:55)
Radiohiro -- (dj) - (Hookahdome BRC / The Freakeasy) (2:00-2:55)
Carla Starla -- (dj w/ live vocals) (11:00-11:50)
Justin Reed -- (dj) - (illmeasures) (12:00-12:50)
DJ Warp -- (dj) - (People Of Rhythm) (10:00-10:55)
Brad Miner -- (live) - (illmeasures) (4:00-4:45)
Mark Lerro / Uncharted Reality -- (live) - (Urban Lotus) (9:00-10:00)
Evol -- (dj) (4:45-5:30)
Good Evening -- (live) (5:30-6:00)

FREAKEASY PERFORMANCE:
Shorty -- (aerial acrobat) (1:55-2:00)
Peachfuzz -- (fire performance / countdown) (11:50-12:00)
Tatiana -- (bellydance) (12:55-1:00)
Feral Minette -- (burlesque) (12:50-12:55)
Prabvi Gualoa -- (world fusion dance) (10:55-11:00)
Ellie Sorokin & Kyle Ford -- (flag dance) (2:55-3:00)

FREAKEASY VISUALS, SOUND & LIGHTING:
Merkaba visuals -- (live vj / visual performance / countdown) - (Psymbolic) (all-night)
Nathan Peck / ROOKtv -- (live vj / visual performance / countdown) (all-night)
GravityMax -- (live vj / visual performance) (9:00-11:30)
Antoine Kattar -- (turbosound system) (all-night)
Steve Casica -- (intelligent lighting) (all-night)

CHILLUMINATI MUSIC:
The Flashbulb -- (live / countdown) - (Alphabasic / Psymbolic) (11:15-12:10)
Primordial Ooze -- (live) - (Chilluminati) (2:00-2:45)
The Abominable Twitch -- (dj) - (Alphabasic / Psymbolic) (10:30-11:15)
Derby -- (dj) - (Psymbolic / Chilluminati / Touch Samadhi) (12:10-1:00)
Lokua -- (live) - (Moment Sound / podval crew) (9:00-9:45)
Energon & Koru -- (dj) - (Chilluminati) (3:30-4:30)
Machi & ProPsyLes -- (dj) - (Chilluminati) (1:00-2:00)
Robyo -- (dj) - (Audiognomes) (5:30-6:00)
Scatter -- (dj) - (Chilluminati / Audiognomes) (4:30-5:00)
Psychohazzard - (dj) - (Chilluminati) (5:00-5:30)
Protman -- (live a/v) - (fakebeat) (2:45-3:30)
Polyfuse -- (live) (9:45-10:30)

CHILLUMINATI VISUALS, SOUND & DECOR:
The Machinist -- (live vj / visual performance) (all-night)
Midwest Visuals -- (live vj / visual performance) (all-night)
Sigi Mueller -- (live hackteractive a/v) - (fm2084) (all-night)
Energon & Koru -- (environmental stretch fabric decor) (all-night)

LUMINOUS LOUNGE:
JB -- (dj mashups) (9:00-11:00)
Noleian Reusse -- (dj / countdown) - (Black Tekno / Transamoeba / Mathematics) (11:00-12:00)
Dj Romance -- (dj) - (Dance Squad Next Level Galactivation and Ninja Training) (12:00-2:00)
Data FLOW -- (dj) (2:00-3:30)
The B.E.A.T -- (hip hop live band) (3:30-5:00)
ChipChop / Brobot -- (live) - (Cobra Cabaret) (5:00-6:00)

FREAKIN' CATALYTIC MULTIMEDIA INSTALLATIONS:
Global Village Productions -- (environmental stretch fabric & led decor) (all-night)
Gordon Kummel / mindfield -- (interactive new media portal) (all-night)
Chicago Art Department -- (live art documentation) (all-night)
beebop -- (environmental engineer) (all-night)
Shorty -- (lounge decor) (all-night)
Yva Neal -- (lounge decor) (all-night)

LIVE PAINTING:
Chris Berg (10:00-3:00)
Ian Bennett -- (anode design) (10:00-3:00)
Slang (10:00-3:00)
Misha Esterkin (10:00-3:00)
Patrick Miller (10:00-3:00)
Gary Reed (10:00-3:00)

BrilliantlyMad Magazine 2o11 edition releases (all-night)

Bar by Whiskey Alliance: mobile mixolgy featuring:
Select Beer & Specialty Cocktails
Complimentary New Year Champagne Toast

Happening @ Catalyst Collective Chicago in a beautiful artist loft around the North & Pulaski neighborhood. Complete event info will be emailed to ticket purchasers the week of the event.

Advanced Tickets are $50 online / $75 day of event (if available)
Luminary Tickets will increase upwards to $200 (includes 10 drinks, access to a catered Luminous Lounge, plus a music & media package from artists involved w/ Freakin' Catalytic)

Tickets have Sold Out Fast in previous years!
All Profits go towards supporting the Arts & Artists.

Event Info + Advanced Tickets >> http://www.Psymbolic.com/events

Realtime Visual Workshop + Sudden Sound Concert
Thursday, March 10, 2011 :: FREE
Krannert Art Museum - East Gallery
500 East Peabody Drive, Champaign, IL

1-5pm :: Drop-In Workshops :: Realtime Visual Performance with Psymbolic

This interactive, hands-on workshop will provide a tour through the art of creating motion graphics for realtime performance using various timeline, code based and node based technology. Drop in to learn how to edit, composite, encode, and program visual content for concerts and live performances. Contact Psymbolic to receive relative software links and tutorials.

7:30-9:30pm :: Sudden Sound Concert w/ Rozanne Levine and Chakra Tuning plus Ferrocene3, featuring Live Interactive Visual Performances by Psymbolic & ROOKtv

Chakra Tuning is an East Coast-based extended clarinet ensemble led by Rozanne Levine (clarinets, bamboo flute), with acclaimed composers/bandleaders Mark Whitecage (saxophone, clarinet), Perry Robinson (clarinets), and Rosi Hertlein (violin, voice). Chakra Tuning will perform with custom collaborative visual environments by Psymbolic and in collaboration with Urbana-based improvising ensemble Ferrocene3.

PSYMBOLIC >> This catalytic duo (Julee & Troy) are Audio / Visual Event Engineers that create Live Interactive Visual Environments in which they project evolving expression through their video compositions and the realtime surrounding spectacles. Psymbolic always aims to provide a customized thematic performance with synchronous moments of meaning and inspiration.

Psymbolic's theme orientated visuals are composed of customized video modules, in which they have been personally creating and producing by means of animation, compositing and programming since 99. During a live performance they use customized code-based and node-based visual software along with hardware to synch video loops, camera inputs and effects to the mood of the momentous music.

Solar Maximum :: Chicago New Years Celebration @ Catalyst
NYE 2011 :: Friday, December 31st
http://www.Psymbolic.com/events

Celebrate the New Year at an incredible space with friends and amazing talent! Experience a full integration of music, vision and movement. Solar Maximum provides environmental design in multiple rooms and brings together a wide spectrum of talents to create a Catalyst for positive activation, inspiration, and transformation.

Sound stage lineups are listed in order by performance showcasing contemporary & electronic music featuring: Global Bass, Dubstep, Experimental, Folk, House, IDM, Jazz, Progressive, Psychedelic, Psytrance and Techno.

Catalyst Sound Stage:
hosted by MC Zulu (Perception 2020 / Ninja Tune :: Chicago / Panama)
*) Matthew Santos -- [live acoustic set]
*) Carla Starla -- [dj w/ live instrumentation]
*) Bartel -- [live] - (Alphabasic :: Vancouver)
*) Environmental Encroachment -- [live] - (Magic Circus Band)
*) Maga Bo -- [live] - (Soot Records / Tru Thoughts :: Rio De Janiero)
*) Searchl1te -- [dj] - (Dubfront / WNUR / Part Time Suckers)
*) Jeekoos w/ Ammunition -- [dj] - (Dubfront / WNUR / Part Time Suckers)
*) The Flashbulb -- [dj] - (Alphabasic / Psymbolic)
*) Justin Reed -- [dj] - (Illmeasures / Freakeasy)
*) Chris Widman -- [dj] - (Abstract Science)

Chilluminati Stage:
*) Sin Nombre -- [dj]
*) Mark Lerro / Delerrio / Uncharted Reality - [live w/ Mateo + Stu Stizzle]
*) CarO -- [dj]
*) Noleian Reusse -- [dj] - (Black Tekno / Transamoeba / Mathematics)
*) Aktif -- [dj] - (Mindoutpsyde / Chilluminati)
*) Derby -- [dj] - (Psymbolic / Chilluminati / Touch Samadhi)
*) Klimax vs Machi -- [dj] - (Chilluminati)
*) S.O.T -- [dj] - (Chilluminati)
*) Kaiser Soze -- [dj] - (Chilluminati)
*) Scatter -- [dj] - (Audiognomes)

Featuring multiple rooms of visual art and performances including: hacked kinect interactions, immersive visual environments, projection mapping, live painting and fire performances.

Synchronistic Visual Art & Performance:
*) PakaPaka Lightshow -- [live vj / visual performance] - (Psymbolic)
*) VJ Mason Dixon presenting "Penchant Apotheosis" -- [live vj / visual performance] - (Psymbolic / MGFest)
*) Merkaba visuals -- [live vj / visual performance] - (Psymbolic)
*) Chicago Art Department - [live vj / visual performance]
*) Edyta Stepien -- [live vj / visual performance]
*) Midwest Visuals -- [live vj / visual performance]
*) The Machinist -- [live vj / visual performance]
*) Pyrotechniq -- [fire performance]
*) Chris Berg -- [live painting]
*) Zac Franzoni -- [live painting]

Multimedia Installations:
*) Galina Shevchenko -- [multimedia visual installations] - (Psymbolic)
*) Gordon Kummel / mindfield -- [interactive visual stations]
*) Chilluminati -- [environmental decor]
*) Chelsea Ross -- [environmental decor]

Reflection & Transformation:
*) John Sacelli -- [readings] - (angeLynx)

Bar by Whiskey Alliance: mobile mixolgy featuring:
Beer & Specialty Cocktails
Complimentary New Year Champagne Toast

Registration & advance ticketing for Solar Maximum has officially come to an end. This invite only, RSVP mandatory, private NYE Celebration has reached a comfortable capacity. We wish everyone a very positive, inspiring, and transformative transition from the past into the future!

Event Info >> http://www.Psymbolic.com/events

DecaDance :: a Chicago New Years Celebration
NYE2010 :: Thursday, December 31st
http://www.Psymbolic.com/events

Celebrate the New Year at an incredible space with friends and
amazing talent! Experience a full integration of music, vision
and movement. Providing full-scale environmental design in
multiple rooms, bringing together a wide range of creative
talents to inspire, awe, and activate your mind.
This Event will only happen once.

Catalyst Stage:
*) 1000 Vertical Feet / 1kvf --- [Live Jam / DJ / Rock]
*) Environmental Encroachment / EE --- [Magic Circus Band]
*) Estesombelo --- [Live Instrumental Ambient / Experimental]
*) Searchl1te / Dubfront --- [DJ / IDM / Dubstep / Experimental]
*) Carla Starla --- [DJ w/ Live Vocals / House / Electronica]
*) Duke --- [DJ / Electro / Techno]
*) Dominic Johnson / New Millennium Orchestra --- [Live Viola w/ DJ set]
*) Weston Rose --- [Ukulele]
*) Jason Seed --- [Live Guitar / Nu-Jazz]

Chilluminati Stage:
*) Primordial Ooze --- [Live Psychedelic / Trance / Downtempo]
*) Alberto / Cosmic Traveler --- [DJ / Minimal Techno]
*) Chris Widman / Abstract Science --- [DJ / IDM / Dubstep]
*) M50 --- [DJ / IDM / Techno]
*) Jeekoos / Dubfront --- [DJ / Dubstep / Experimental]
*) S.O.T --- [DJ / Psymbient]
*) Kaiser Soze --- [DJ / Psymbient]
*) Aktif --- [DJ / Minimal Techno]

Synchronistic VJing Visuals:
*) Merkaba visuals --- [Live VJ / Visual Performance]
*) Audrey Sica / Stoptime341 --- [Live VJ / Visual Performance]
*) Nathan Peck / RookTV --- [Live VJ / Visual Performance]
*) Nat Soti / Chicago Art Department --- [Live VJ / Visual Performance]

Multimedia Visual Installations:
*) Galina Shevchenko --- [Floating Visual Orbs]
*) Edyta Stepien --- [Suspended Self / Video Installation]
*) Gordon Kummel / mindfield --- [Interactive Visual Stations]

Cocktail and Beer Bar
Complimentary New Year Champagne Toast

Happening @ Catalyst Collective in Chicago
Held in a beautiful artist loft in the North & Pulaski neighborhood.
Complete Event Info emailed after ticket purchase, week of event.

All Profits go towards supporting the Arts and Artists.

Very Limited amount of $20 Advanced Tickets
then $25 / $35 day of event

Advanced Tickets + Event Info:
http://www.Psymbolic.com/events

Merkaba visuals performed to a live set by The Great Mundane on November 21, 2009 at Living Sundays in Chicago.

A fine night it was, we came ready to record hours of original material. These are strong 4 minute segments, suitable for online viewing. Performance visuals are a challenging form to document, as they are embedded in the vibe and momentum of the night, the chemistry between the artists and the crowd, the scale of the live projection and the mass of a big sound system. The fluidity and indefinite duration of a performance is also impossible to convey in web videos, compressed in scale and klipped out of time. But, like photographic documentation of sculpture or dance, you can hopefully get a sense of what we were up to.

I was playing SD downsamples of my 1600x800 8:3 klips, and SinR8 was digitizing the mix via a DAC into his hackintosh.

VDMX beta 7.4.5 gave off a little weirdness, when an interface window refused to update itself, but playout was unaffected. Very few gremlins for such a deep, expandable performance software, but they do like to appear at the venue for some reason.

These A/V segments are all straight, no realtime effects or audio reactive inputs, just like I used to do it in GRID.

After only 3 years, I've finally ripped, re-encoded and uploaded some choice sets from 2006 to my merkabaVJ YouTube page.

It was after 2 years of the Abstract Science residency at Sonotheque, and we all were really steady in the groove. Chris Widman and Dave Siska were bringing great artists every month: I really enjoyed the set with Atomly especially. The thing with Future Music is, it can be 3 years later, and the stuff still sounds fresh, even if it is more familiar now to more people.

Here's a nicely synched visual mix to a DJ set by Chris Widman

This visual mix to the music by Dave Siska was all done with Grid from Vidvox, 2 DVD players, mediated by a V4 from Edirol. No realtime effects at this time, all basically edits, cuts, with a fair bit of luma-key overlays.

We have now reached cruising altitude with this visual mix to the music of Atomly

Hearing this stuff massive on Sonotheque's Funktion 1 system is incredible: the bass can vibrate the clothes on your body, the high end is incredibly crisp and present, yet you can converse without yelling.

The visual material is more accessible than the older drum-n-bass stuff I have up on my YouTube page - but Merkaba visuals is all about covering an extremely wide range of styles - there are some more wild d-n-b sets from that time that are on the way . . . in a month or three.

On the merkabaVJ YouTube page for review are a few VJ faux pas in there, but live sets are rarely flawless, and the little gremlins served as reminders not to do some of that stuff anymore.
[ahem - V4 quad-symmetry]

...and on these blogs, dubious statistics are cited, sometimes even in the title.

Like, for example, every ten minutes, the world community of live visualists, VJ's, create 159 new klips for use in their sets.

22% percent of these klips are found to kinda suck, and so are never played out, but between 5 and 9% have something about them that makes them versatile and strong, and they always get dropped.

So, thanks for checking out my very first musings on the state of performance visuals.

Let me tell you, it will get better from here, it has to. Because all the statistics above, I completely made up.

But I've been making and playing live visuals for a while now, and future posts from me will bear the stamp of some Deep Thought, allright?

Thanks in advance, as they say.

View video of Michael Una performing audio and Glen Stephani performing visuals as part of the Video Band : MGFest Performance Showcase at Chicago Cultural Center.

vote for microtakeover on Daily Motion Graphics :: http://MGFest.com/09/Online/?link=6

creating visuals of interactive memory nodes in VisualJockey the realtime animation software that's captivated our imagination since 01.