Beth Blenz-Clucas blogs about music for kids that grownups will love too
At the Time Based Art Festival here in Portland over the weekend, I laugh-cried my way through Taylor Mac’s brilliant performance,“Comparison Is Violence.” This flamboyant, fast-talking, multi-sequined performance artist riffed hilariously about being pigeonholed as a “niche artist” described often as “David Bowie meets Tiny Tim.” To truly understand an artist like this, you really have to dig back further than Ziggy Stardust and Tiny Tim’s ukulele… you pretty much have to follow the artistic links all the way back to ancient Greek comedy, as Mr. Mac instructed us to do.
It’s all too easy to fall into the habit of comparing one artist to another. We see it everywhere (um, er, even in this blog!). When you discover a new band or singer, it takes time and effort to describe the music, providing a full critique. It’s easy to fall back on the buy/don’t buy review that allows your audience to make a snap decision and move on.
