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Psychedelic light artist Joshua White got his start providing colorful, mind-expanding backdrops for performances at the short-lived, iconic Fillmore East during the hippie-rock era. While many of those gigs, from Miles Davis to the Grateful Dead, live on in live-album form, White's art can still be seen in the flesh.
This weekend presents two opportunities to experience the lysergically immersive experience for yourself. On Friday, September 8, Joshua Light show joins blues-punk band Boss Hog (which features guitarist Jon Spencer) and local space-rock crew Dave Harrington Group. Then on Saturday, September 9, Joshua Light Show celebrates its 50th anniversary with Man Forever (a.k.a. Oneida drummer John Colpitts) and his ensemble for what's sure to be a jammy improv-heavy set. Composer and analog synthesizer wiz Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith opens. Both shows are at NYU Skirball, and tickets are on sale now.
Photos from the group's 2014 shows with Wye Oak and Woods, below, will give you a sense of what to expect—but they only hint at how the experience translates live. Part of the appeal is getting a chance to see the mechanics of how White and team mix oils and colors in real time to frame the music with a compelling visual narrative. If you've been trying to remember what people did at concerts before cell phones, this is one answer (and might we add, it looks pretty cool on the 'Gram as well).
Photograph: Courtesy Ian Douglas
Photograph: Courtesy Ian Douglas
