Tower Hamlets Arts Band Rock Concert No. 1
1/2 inch open-reel videotape Black & White Sound 1976 33:12
Summary: Footage of rock bands and a black female vocal group as they put on a show during the first Tower Hamlets Arts Band Rock Concert.
Title number: 21157
LSA ID: LSA/27853
Description: A black and white recording of a rock concert held in 1976 in East London for the Tower Hamlets Arts Project, Maggie Pinhorn facilitates the filming as part of the Basement Project. It features live music played by young black and white people and a group of female black vocalists singing acapella. The lyrics and dialogue is mostly inaudible. The film captures a vibrant concert scene, featuring close ups of fingers on instruments, the THAP! t-shirt, crash symbols, records spinning and electric guitars strumming. The footage flickers between moments of static and concert footage, with occasional audience members cheekily interacting with the camera, all set to muffled diegetic disco and rock music. The camera pans between band members, focusing on their instruments, intense expressions, and spontaneous moments like a white guitarist pushing his long hair out of his face or a black singer in sunglasses rocking his head back and forth. Throughout, the audience's reactions — muffled cheers, clapping, and occasional conversations — provide a contrast to the energy of the performers.
As the bands jam, the scene shifts from sound checks to live performances, with several acts taking the stage. The camera captures a diverse range of musicians: some with long hair and rock 'n' roll styling, the second band features David Bowie’s “Ziggy Stardust”, others with more experimental sounds, such as a non-white group playing bongos and a saxophone player. Amidst the music, we see glimpses of the audience — mostly blurry figures drinking and dancing in the low light. Near the end of the video we can hear a person instructing someone on how to use the camera’s zoom and pan function, expressing the educational ethos of community video. As the final band finishes, the audience clap and the film ends with the lingering sound of applause and static.
Credits: Basement Project (Producer)
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