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The Curious Universe
Friday May 04, 2001.
By Kate Schwartz
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Rock critics tend to be honest in their own sarcastic way. In 1981, Lester Bangs wrote an article on the Shaggs, the Wiggins sisters trio whose 1972 release had recently been resurrected. Bangs saw the release on a larger scale -- it wasn't just saving the Shaggs' identity -- it was saving music. "All those stupid bands were so stupid they plumb went out and learned to play their instruments," Bangs writes, "a process as ineluctable as the putrefaction of a corpse. Teach 'em a chord or two, then just watch those little bastards practice till they can switch off, back and forth between those two chords. Those records aren't shit for the reasons that you think: those records are shit because they're all too good!" That's right...Bangs saw the future of music in the hands of those who arguably couldn't play, bands who didn't know a chord from a clash, bands that made you say with certainty "hey, I could play that badly." And, after much listening to unconventional bands like the Shaggs, Hoboken record producer, writer, disc jockey and music monger Irwin Chusid is certain about one thing: it isn't all crap. He's so certain, in fact, that he coined the term "outsider music" to describe it. So certain that he's incorporated the sound into his Incorrect Music Hour radio show. So certain that he wrote a book, Songs in the Key of Z: The Curious Universe of Outsider Music to explain just what it is. And what exactly is it? Outsider music often disguises itself in sounds that come across as rather unpleasant by conventional standards. Chusid asserts that the musicians to begin with are a bit unconventional. They can be the product of "damaged DNA, alien abduction, drug fry, demonic possession, or simply sheer obliviousness." Basically, outsider musicians are self-taught, a bit in their own universe and without any concept of established musical dogma. There are no rules, techniques or standards except for those they determine. But, says Chusid, it can't just be someone playing shit. The inherent value of the music comes from two essential qualities: sincerity and a lack of self-awareness. "They have to be genuine," says Chusid. "They can't be trying to be weird, inept or funny. There's a lack of self-awareness that accompanies that. In my book I make a distinction between outsider musicians and musical outsiders. Captain Beefheart was genuinely psychotic, but he was winking the whole time. He certainly was never a true outsider." On Thursday Oct. 5, Chusid will share his knowledge at Chicago's Intuit Gallery, a gallery whose promotion is in the same vein, namely, "intuitive and outsider art." Chusid's talk will be bolstered by rare footage of outsider acts (like the Shaggs). It doesn't end there either, as the talk kicks off the "Intuitive Music Series," which begins Saturday with performances by the folk-improv bizarro Eugene Chadbourne. Psychobilly singer Hasil Adkins performs Oct. 21, capped off by the Chicago debut of Daniel Johnston. So what's the benefit of finding out more, or giving the acts a listen? "You can go see 10 bands at any major club," says Chusid, "and chances are you won't remember nine of them by the time you've left. Whether you love 'em or hate 'em, you'll go 'oh yeah, that's recognizable.' It's very often flawed, but in a unique way, the flaws become charms. The Shaggs sound like they can't keep a beat, can't play their instruments. It sounds like three songs simultaneously going on. But it's their idea of what rock and roll is. It's genuine." The Intuit Gallery is at 756 N. Milwaukee Ave. Call 312.243.9088 for more information, or visit www.keyofz.com. KATE SCHWARTZ 10/04/00
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