The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Thursday, November 8, 2012 - 3B The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Thursday, November 8, 2012 - 38 ABC Where was Elizabeth Olsen? 'Full'o mixe memories another story. -KELLYETZ Sarah Chabot, who co-founded Living Room Music, teaches private piano and cello lessons in Ann Arbor. Brin 1n concerts home Like in the salons of 17th and 18th century France, this weekly installment Couple transforms living room into performance space By KAYLA UPADHYAYA Senior Arts Editor In Jon Brown's living room, formal wear becomes t-shirts and jeans. Stuffy theater chairs trans- form into sagging couches next to a staircase where students perch, bottles of beer in hand. Since September, Brown, a graduate student studying per- cussion at the University, and his girlfriend Sarah Chabot have hosted small, in-home shows in their living room on North Cam- pus, near the School of Music, Theatre & Dance. Unlike the typi- cal party, these gatherings high- light classical music and other genres typically constrained to a more formal setting. "What we really wanted to try to do was to get people that don't come to (formal) concerts to come out and make it a more relaxed atmosphere," Brown said. "So it's not just sitting in a concert hall having to be really quiet, hav- ing to sit there with your hands crossed and not say anything and not talk to your neighbor." Chabot originally proposed the idea of hosting the series in their home, instead of renting a venue, giving way to the name "Living Room Music." The mood at their concerts is casual, Chabot explained. Attendees can enjoy a glass of beer or wine while discussing and sharing notes on performances - a marked change from the tra- ditional, stuffy atmosphere of classical music venues. "I really love having people in my living room," she said. "It's a great environment to have people ... playing in." "It changed how I view my liv- ing room," Brown said of the first concert. "It was so communal." Not only is the atmosphere of Living Room Music communal, it's welcoming. Admission is free and attendees are encouraged to bring refreshments to share. The setup is simple: A tie-dyed green tapestry hangs behind the main performance space. According to Brown, all of the sound equipment belongs to him and consists of pieces accrued through his years as a musician. In between sets at the second show the couple hosted, some- one grabs a vinyl from Brown an element of illusion to them. and Chabot's impressive collec- To achieve the relaxed, effort- tion - showcased on a bookshelf less flow of the evening, Brown that also hosts a White Album- and Chabot devote hours of work cover jigsaw puzzle - and throws and planning to make each show it on the record player. Audience a success. members mingle and wander into The first step is to create the the kitchen for refills, discussing lineup. The couple uses Facebook their favorite performances so to reach out to artists, and Brown far. spreads the word in his classes. Brown and Chabot have a long "Being in music school, every- relationship with music, meeting body plays music, so it wasn't as undergraduates in the music too hard to find people," he said. program at Central Michigan "Everybody was like 'Absolutely! University. Chabot has a music That sounds awesome, let's do education degree and teaches it!'" piano and cello in Ann Arbor. In fact, the series has had such Brown - who begged his par- a positive response amongstudent ents to let him play the drums artists that Chabot and Brown in elementary school - drifted have had to turn people down. toward rock before pursuing clas- "Usually within a few days, it's sical music. full," Chabot said. "Social media: "I just found that classical It's great." music - once you really delve into School of MT&D senior Chris- it - it's so complex and so easy at topher Sies has performed in the same time, so there's always the concerts as a part of Brown's something new there," he said. quartet. While most house shows "From the beginning, I was around campus feature electronic hooked," Sies said. "I knew it was- music or live bands, the Living going to be a good idea because Room Music scene is more eclec- ... hosting concerts in your living tic, geared toward an acoustic room is a pretty brave thing to sound. do. You're surrendering your liv- "I like electronic music, and ing space to a concert, and I just that's all very well and good," really liked that idea." Chabot said. "But in this envi- As a music student, Brown ronment, I love having that live, usually handles the artist recruit- acoustic chamber music." ment, while Chabot plans the The series has attracted a logistical side of Living Room diverse mix of artists. Some Music. have premiered original work in A regular volunteer for a week- their acts, while others take cre- end-long youth leadership semi- ative approaches to established nar, Chabot had prior knowledge arrangements. During the first of the behind-the-scenes work concert, a Fulbright scholar from that goes into a successful event. India played the tabla, an Indian She came up with the idea of live percussion instrument used com- streaming the concerts, which monly 'in Hindustani classical complicated the logistics. music. They use two rooms for the But it was Brown and his quar- concerts: the main part of their tet who kicked off the series with living room and an annex where a piece fittingly titled "Living they keep a piano. The set list is Room Music" by John Cage, an organized so that all of the piano American composer known for acts are grouped together, which his non-traditional use of instru- means switching between rooms ments. is kept to a minimum. "That was just a perfect way to Despite the careful planning, open up for the concert series," things can go wrong. At the Chabot said. "It's one of these . first two concerts, the computer pieces where (Cage) doesn't list and microphone equipment got what instruments you need to bumped and the live stream shut use. He tells you to find your own down halfway through the show, instruments. So that week before Chabot said. the concert, all the guys came Even with complications, the over, and they were just walking live stream is an essential compo- around my house, just picking up nent of making the series acces- random things and putting them sible. down into their setup." "We've been able to have peo- On the surface, the Living ple from all over the world tune Room Music concerts can feel in and watch these concerts," like a casual party, but there's Chabot said. "I had a friend in Korea watching." The pair has already begun brainstorming ideas to make upcoming shows even better, such as incorporating visual art. Chabot explained that they will feature a visual artist at each performance and have set aside a small space where artists will be able to display their artwork, whatever the medium might be. "We're going to try to get some poetry readings," Brown added. "I'd like to get some vocalists - that would be cool." The next show - to be held on Nov. 17 - already has a full set. There will be multiple Phillip Glass pieces, a contemporary bass performance and a composer vis- iting from Michigan State Univer- sity who will premiere new work. The series has garnered increasing attention since the first show. While Chabot said they're excited to expand, they're also limited by the size of their venue. The second show was so packed that some people had to sit on the floor, less than an arm's length away from the artists. And yet, Chabot said this is exactly what Living Room Music is about: intimacy and leisure. "Nothing against any other performance out there, but when you go to a concert at, say, Hill Auditorium to see a sym- phony play, you're in the audi- ence and they're on stage," Sies said. "They're dressed up in tux- edos and you're in your regular clothes, and it creates a divide between the audience and the performer. "With this Living Room Music idea, it brings everyone together on the same plane," Sies added. "No one's up on a stage. Every- one's on the same level. Everyone is really close to each other." Chabot-and Brownhope to con- tinue to break down that barrier, meaning the series will remain in their living room. But when look- ing for a new home, they will keep their growing audience in mind. "That would be the goal for expanding in the future: to be able to make it bigger and publi- cize more heavily," Chabot said. Running the series from their home keeps costs down, and as Sies explained, in the current economy, arts events are getting harder and harder to support. "The underground stuff is where the real passionate people are," Sies said. 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I was young, naive and unaware of the comic genius that was about to blaze across my TV reparing for a lot of flack set and change my world. aying this, but I hated There he was, standing in all ouse." I know, I know. It his aproned glory: Bob Saget as American staple! A lov- Danny Tanner. He was look- semble sitcom still in syn- ing at Michelle, played by both today! John Stamos! Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, what did "Full House" and attempting to reprimand the ring to the table? It wasn't four-year old for feeding vegeta- rt or as "fresh" as "The bles to the family dog, Comet. rince of Bel-Air," nor did I made it my mission to evoke the comedy of "Fraiser," a Danny Tanner-esque reac- vance of "Ally McBeal" tion from my parents: one of imelessness of "Friends." exhaustion, frustration and hen it premiered in 1987, eventual acceptance of circum- t have been exciting and stances. How often has Danny is, but why on earth did it stood, hands at his hips, shaking ough eight seasons? And his head atthe current state of his hy?) does it still air on full house? years later? Am I missing I'm not saying "Full House" nghere? is the best show ever. In fact, ldn't "Full House" be I've never watched an episode hose throw-away sitcoms and thought to myself "I found body really remembers, that educational and hilarious!" mpty Nest" or "News Because, though it's intended to 'But people still can't get be educational and some of the is "Full House" fetish, jokes are funny, the brilliance the series was popular behind "Full House" lies in its -it came off as "real" - completely absurd cast of char- ormal all-American fam- acters. ng about their business There was D.J. (Candace Cam- is that all "Full House" eron Bure), the oldest child, and ay? In a word: yes. Basi- the one who was smart, pretty e eight seasons run like and had a boyfriend. She embod- erblown, preachy after- ied everything any girl in the '90s pecial after the other. wanted to be: vaguely rebellious e it's my personal opin- in a non-committal way, secretly ing its ugly head here, but studious and outwardly caring. on't see the appeal. Sure, Michelle, the youngest and sassi- ate and Ashley were darn est daughter was just funny. Her d family dynamics are role was to exploit Danny, Jesse fun to explore, but that's (John Stamos) and Joey (Dave etting from "Full House." Coulier), and say "you got it, n't inspire re-watching; dude." y laughed the first time. And then there was Stephanie not emotionally invested (Jodie Sweetin). Poor Stepha- hing, but somebody must nie Tanner. The middle child, en to keep it going for the one forgotten by everyone, 0 years. always. If you're wondering what "Freaks and Geeks" only she contributed, it was whining. season? Whining and "how rude." uld just be the time peri- Jesse and Joey were the sta- he early '90s, when TV ple guys of the show, people you hadn't started to push could count on to make you laugh boundaries the same because their roles in the house does so well now. There made no sense, and furthermore, a bevy of shows vying to were mostly unnecessary. Espe- he envelope." But still, cially Joey - it was him and his "The Cosby Show" and puppets half the time anyway. fore that, "The Mary The family dynamic was com- Ioore Show," series that pletely crazy: Everyone always back in huge ways. But ran around like mad, trying to louse" wasn't really try- either clean, get dinner ready or d sure, that could be just bail one of the kids out of trouble. ie series was after, to be Nothing really made sense, but d fun and easy to watch. that was the best part of the show: y, does it deliver on that watching the characters interact tut if that's all it was - and make fools of themselves. ther sitcom in a culture I would spend hours trying to hem - why do we even develop a "Full House" vibe in ner? my house. I even started giving t to the point of syrupy everyone thumbs up and saying, achy in a way even "7th "Aww nuts!" Unfortunately (for- " didn't manage, "Full tunately?) it didn't pick up, but just doesn't do it, for my "Full House" obsession has on't even see the Stamos yet to fade. Bob Saget, however, is -ANNA SADOVSKAYA WE LIKE TO PARTY. FOLLOW US. @michdailyarts Unlike traditional concert venues, the intimate setting of Living Room Music lets artists connect with the audience.