The Thousands

Musicians of late seem to be thinking long and hard about the visual aspect of their shows. It’s no longer enough to simply whip your hair back and forth over a mad guitar solo, or strut about shirtless for no apparent reason. (Depending on who you are, anyway. No thanks, J-Biebz). Yet actually melding the audio and visual is another thing altogether. Anyone can set up a projector or bring along some props. Not everyone can marry sound and image in a cohesive, emotive way.

Adelaide Cinematheque’s Silent Remasters program gives bands the opportunity to do exactly that – spend a month or so re-scoring a silent film, and then perform the composition live at the screening. While most of the score will be well-rehearsed, there is always plenty of room for improvisation and on-the-run jams. This year the acoustic-y Ben Cummings opens the season with a double header of the 1918 South Australian film The Woman Suffers and what remains of 1928′s The Menace; while Kahlo Hopper, with a degree in sound installation, picks up The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923). Last year’s mindblowers Doe take on the avant-garde Soviet classic Man With A Movie Camera (1929) and jazz-soundscapers Bestseller perform alongside a series of Charlie Chaplin shorts (1916/1917). It’s a pretty special experience, and might just find you your new favourite band. Although they probably won’t be shirtless. Sorry.