SEPTEMBER
Avant-garde electronic percussionist Amy Knoles specializes in creating “electronic musical environments” for dance and performance art; most notably, her work accompanied a 1989 Robert Longo exhibit at the LA County Museum of Art. Her solo show Interactive Percussion/Electronics, featuring both live drum music and sampling, hits the stage at N.A.M.E. Gallery, 1255 S. Wabash, at 8 tonight and tomorrow. It’s $7, $5 for members and students. Reservations are recommended. Call 554-0671.
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Sunday 2
The cable-access show This Week in Joe’s Basement began with content worthy of the title and grew to include everything from bizarre sitcomlike episodes to offerings of penetrating documentary value–as when the production team went out into Hyde Park asking blacks what they really thought about whites and vice versa. Although the last new episode aired in June of 1993, fans can still catch occasional reruns or go to see Beer and Pretzels Theater, opening tonight at the Organic Theater, 3319 N. Clark. According to host Joe Winston the show will include both video and a live ensemble of musicians and actors; new skits and music will develop over the course of the run, and creative uses will be found for videotape of audience members. Tonight’s benefit performance at 8 PM is $15 and includes food and beer. The show continues Friday and Saturday nights at 11 through December 31; tickets are $7.50 and $9. Call 327-5588 for details.
One can’t help but wonder how David Habert feels about past city policies that have allowed fly-by-night developers to displace dozens of businesses and leave the Loop spotted with gravel-filled lots. Since he’s the city’s new director of central-area planning, his opinion actually means something, and he happens to be speaking at a free Friends of Downtown brown bag lunch today at noon in the fifth floor east meeting room of the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington. His topic is Downtown at the Crossroads–Where Do We Go From Here? Call 726-4031.
