Bonfire Madigan
The
voice of Madigan Shive and her
unique articulation and style – that encompasses everything from hard punk rock
and experimentation with vocal techniques to purely ethereal song – instantly
draws the attention of the listener. Using the strings of her favourite
instrument – the cello, which in her skilled hands can create a pizzicato buzz
or echo in new dimensions – the composer, cellist and singer Madigan creates an
especially exhilarating sound, a mixture of acoustic punk, rock and folk,
so-called chamber punk. Her compositions offer the softness of imaginary
and moody acoustic journeys, accompanied by rebellious and subversive rhythms,
or transport us to (free) jazz waters. The atmosphere of music flaring on
Madigan Bonfire also extends from minimalist and subtle to more complex sound
textures or exclusively punk riffs.
Madigan, better known as Bonfire Madigan, first
surfaced at the age of 16 when she formed the duo Tattle Tale, a first generation riot grrrl bands
from Seattle. From here she established her own label, Moonpuss, and in 1995 issued the solo seven-inch Plays with Herself. Together with bassists Sheri Ozeki and
Tomas Palermo she formed Bonfire Madigan in San Francisco
in 1998, with a debut single released under the legendary Kill Rock
Stars label which also issued albums
by Erase Errata, Numbers, Stereo
Total, Xiu Xiu and Deerhoof.
Expanding with bagpipes, theremin, synthesizer, piano and a series of other
instruments – including a number that were homemade – the trio became a
quintet, and in 2000 – again under the Kill
Rock Stars label – issued Saddle the
Bridge. The line-up of the Bonfire Madigan chamber ensemble has evolved gradually, while
Madigan herself has regularly collaborated in projects involving more than a
dozen musicians, feeling at home with each of them. At the same time she has
composed film music as well as scores for documentary and feature films.
The
intro/retro-spective mix disc entitled Madigan
I Bleed: A Decade of Song, was
released in 2004. That same year she supported Laibach’s US tour, and thus appears in Sašo Podgoršek's
2005 documentary Divided States of
America (2005). In the Civil
Disobedience Handbook: A Brief History and Practical Guide for the Politically
Disenchanted, James Tracy refers to her as a “herald of changes in
the world”, and her music “the soundtrack to a thousand revolutions”. After her
San Francisco
performance at the Noise Pop Festival
some blogger dubbed her Tom Waits' and Björk's bastard child. And he wasn't all
that far from the truth, though at the same time Madigan can, without
hesitation, be attributed her own originality, imagination, musical talent and
persuasiveness by way of which she has captured many an audience. Madigan's uncompromising activism as well as
her dedication to music – and its message – raze and liberate.
Helena Božič
Organisation: City of Women
In collaboration with: Menza pri koritu/AKC
Metelkova mesto
