Edward Ka-Spel: Hollywood, CA 10-11-03

EDWARD KA-SPEL AT THE KNITTING FACTORY (HOLLYWOOD), 10/11/03

The Legendary Pink Dots have toured the United States countless times, but apart from occasional opening sets at Dots shows, Edward Ka-Spel has never done a solo tour here until now. Needless to say, given the rather rabid cult following the Dots and their enigmatic frontman have acquired over the years, this was an event not to be missed by Dots fans. Joined by fellow Pink Dots Silverman on keyboards and Raymond Steeg and the soundboard, as well as Coven of One’s Nicoletta Stephanz on the theremin, Ka-Spel delivered a short but energetic set of bizarre electronics, surrealistic stories, and the occasional Dots hit. Starting the set off with an eighteen-minute experimental piece called “My Captain’s Eyes” (from his recent solo album Caste O’ Graye Skreeenes), Ka-Spel mesmerized the crowd with his signature analog burblings before launching into more familiar territory by playing such crowd favorites as “Suicide Pact” and “Atomic Roses.” Perhaps the high point of the show, at least judging by audience reaction, was when the crowd recognized the opening notes of the Dots’ hit “The Third Secret” (from The Maria Dimension). While a great many “experimental” artists seem to think that avoiding eye contact with the audience while hunched over a laptop computer is all that is required for a live show, Edward Ka-Spel is a consummate showman, regaling the crowd with stories about smuggling fruit flies through the Nevada border into California, alternately whispering and shrieking his lyrics, and switching places with his theremin player for an impromptu solo. Despite what seemed an awfully short set, Ka-Spel’s show was more than worth the ticket price, and for those of us who are longtime Dots fans it was lovely to see him work his magic in such an intimate setting.