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Antony, Kembra & CocoRosie @ Tokion Creativity Now | pics

“It got even worse when I did this Creativity Now conference in New York last week and I tried to get everyone to do singing exercises together. You do get embarassed, but that’s the Leigh Bowery principle, that embarassment is good, it’s a jumping off point to move through that shame. So often that’s been a part of my process, just moving through the incredible amount of shame that I’m experiencing. Especially when you’re a singer, especially when you’re falling on your face, as I so often have.” [Antony to Pitchfork]

ANTONY HAGERTY
Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

Hopefully Antony doesn’t think I’m stalking him. On Thursday October 13, 2005 I saw him at Carnegie Hall. Two days later we were both at the Nomi show. Then on Sunday (the 16th) I finished the week by catching his scheduled appearance at Tokion Magazine’s third annual Creativity Conference at the Cooper Union Great Hall in NYC.

KEMBRA PFAHLER
Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

I wasn’t sure what to expect. When the Tokion staff wheeled a piano on stage before Antony hit the stage, I thought maybe we were getting a solo performance instead of a lecture. When I saw chairs being moved around the stage, I thought maybe we were getting both. When I saw Bianca and Sierra Cassidy of CocoRosie in the lobby upstairs, I figured they were there to watch. When Antony came on stage with CocoRosie AND Kembra Pfahler from The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black I knew whatever we were about to see was going to be good. CocoRosie opened the presentation with an a capella number. Antony & Kembra watched from the couch on stage.

SIERRA CASSIDY
Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

Antony followed CocoRosie with a reading on creativity. I didn’t take notes, so exact details are a bit fuzzy at this point.

Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

He demonstrated a few ways he comes up with sounds. There was audience participation.

Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

They did sound readings on volunteers from the audience.

Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

I don’t think Kembra was expecting to do a sound reading.

Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

Kembra gave a humorous speech on creating your own art movement and various art movements throughout history. She embarrassed Antony by praising his work.

Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

Antony helped by listing the movements on the board.

Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

They put on an old “Learn Italian” record. It didn’t quite work out as planned. Regardless, there was more audience participation and song improv.

Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

Antony used the piano – just for the improv stuff though.

Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

THE END.

Antony, Kembra Pfahler and Cocorosie

Was any of what they did on stage serious? I’m not sure, but whatever it was, it was good.

Previously
The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black sing Antony
Antony Interviewed & Reviewed | Matmos
Tarantula A.D. (w/ CocoRosie) @ Webster Hall, NYC | pics
CocoRosie Noah’s Ark Album Stream, Video, Tour Dates
Video of British Antony at the Mercury Awards