2005: PornOrchestra

The PornOrchestra is an attempt to radically reinterpret the soundtrack to pornographic film. This complicated genre has taken its share of scorn: from adult film producers who refuse to pay it any mind to legions of consumers who instinctively snap the sound off after pressing Play.

Performing live improvised and composed scores to pornographic film, the PornOrchestra invigorates the mysterious experience of the Voyeur-cum-Auditeur. The equivalent of a circus band with its collective eye on the trapeze artist: the PornOrchestra teases out the thrill, amplifying the collective gasp at pornographic triumph—and tragedy—using the most eclectic and creative musical minds working in the Bay Area today.

With representatives from every active genre of music in the Bay Area, although slightly skewed to those using cake pans in their work, this ensemble of ingenious improvisers brings exemplary musicianship and an awful case of the jitters to each pornorchestral scoring. For the benefit of the Edgetone Summit, the PornOrchestra will attempt to perform in its largest incarnation ever. Which is to say this is the one PornOrchestra where you may consider simply bringing an instrument of your own on the off-chance you'll be asked to make a sound.

We must report right here that the porn will not be shown outside. Stop, already.

And, as you might have guessed, the PornOrchestra is an official presentation of the Bayennale de Refusees.

Conducted by Moe! Staiano
alphonso alvarez (visuals)
laurie amat (voice)
alan anzalone (alto saxophone)
keith arnold (visuals)
myles boisen (electric guitar, banjo)
jol butler (visuals)
barbara crawford (drums)
matt davignon (turntable)
dina emerson voice (accordion)
jeff hobbs (brass/reeds/violin)
aaron kierbel (drums)
schlermie crenshaw [alan korn, do not publish real name] (electric bass/synare)
dave mairs (drums)
bob marsh (electric cello/violin/processed voice)
william minnozi (oboe)
kurt morgan (guitar/double cello)
peter nyboer (electronics)
rent romus (saxophones, accordion)
tom scandura (drums)
david slusser (slussomatic)
rebekah varela (cello)
vicky the bass player (electric bass)
allen whitman (voice)
theresa wong (cello, amplified bicycle)

Artist (photo by Photographer)