I was pushing my way through a drunken mob of hipsters
crowded around a dimly lit bar, in search of the music hall located at the back
of Brooklyn's "Baby's All Right" bar/venue. The group that was currently playing was
called Prima Primo, and their
aesthetic felt completely unique. They are essentially two DJ's who dance,
sing, and perform ritualistic feats that utilize lights and plenty of props to
amp up their performance.
As I entered
the venue portion of the bar, I was immediately captivated by the voice of the
female singer, Janet Castel. It was spooky, ethereal, and accentuated the moody
thumping of the bass perfectly. The music behind her was without a distinct
melody, but the variety in the sounds and tempo kept it pleasing to the ear.
Along with Castel's celestial vocal musings came performance art. Props
included a large bird with wings that were controlled by two large poles, two
giant parasols that resembled jellyfish under the neon lighting, and confetti
guns.
The lyrics
of songs were difficult to interpret, but included mostly meditations on the
Illuminati, a mysterious secret society that may or may not currently exist.
Originally founded by Adam Weishaupt in 1776, its purpose was to oppose
superstition and religious influence over the public and the state. According
to member Russ Marshalek in an article written about the Illuminati Recruitment
Ritual in Brooklyn Daily, "I was
once walked through a soup-to-nuts Freemason night where people were welcomed,
judged, and decided upon and I thought it was awesome, because so bitchy and
judgmental". This performance, however, felt anything but judgmental.
Around one hundred individuals danced freely on the floor, gyrating along with
the performers onstage. Lighting was essential to the performance; neon lights
onstage and strobe effects set off the dark room during moments of intensity. It
felt like freedom in the truest sense of the word.
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