I’ve been busy preparing for an upcoming live performance (Nofi @ Tron1c Thursdays/ Chilled-out bleeps and techno beats: Facebook event, Myspace event). My last shows were at a house party in 2006 (mp3) and at an ‘old-school reunion’ show in 2002 (mp3), and my approach has changed significantly since then.

With a lot of electronic music, ‘live’ is a relative term. In most cases, beats, patterns and synth patches are pre-sequenced, and samples and loops are pre-recorded. A performance can be a hybrid of on-the-fly composing, arranging, conducting, DJing and mixing—depending on the artist and their tools and instruments. I used to lug a bunch of cases of equipment to a show to have my whole studio on hand. My sets left a lot to chance, as I enjoyed the pressure and spontaneity of playing in the moment.

These days my iBook, controller and wireless mouse ARE my whole studio and fit nicely in a backpack. Ableton Live blurs the lines between everything listed above. I’ve been working with a number of favorite tracks I’ve posted in podcast mixes over the years, as well as more recent, unreleased material. I’m also dropping-in interesting samples from other artists, as an homage to my musical influences (new wave, post-punk, alternative rock, hip-hop). One downside to laptronica is there isn’t much of a stage show for people to get into. I’m bringing some of my animation vids for some visual stimulation, and I think there’ll be a strobe light. Hellzyeah.

I’ve done a few practice runs over the last week, and I’m looking forward to playing. Maybe I’ll record one or two jams and post them here for your consideration. Regardless, you’re invited to join me for a drink while I kick out some original tunes. Also, there will be free buttons.