Last night's Works was a happening night for TBA, with performance art, music and videos from Sarah Shapiro, The Gay Deceivers, Pash(ly), and BARR. There was not an accordion in sight, just a bunch of queers showing P-town how it's done.
In “Mother Mountain,” a hot video by Sarah Shapiro, a cut out cardboard mountain and a tearful “spiritual mother” pray, cry, and cuddle before collapsing into an animated mass of goo. In another video, animals and plants scuttle around to tunes by the New England Roses - a musical collaboration between Shapiro, BARR and JD Sampson that mostly just sounded like a girl, singing.
Then there was Pash(ly), performing a teen dream of dress up and song while more videos by Shapiro projected behind her. This time, the videos were spooky, showing a person caught in a net or fingers gripping bare flesh, the lushness of images on video tape. Pahs(ly) got naked, but so what? She was just changing into a moon suit…
BARR, yesterday's last act, is captivating gay boy talk-rap featuring the charismatic Brendan Fowler, and The Gay Deceivers were ladies in leggings with songs so weird I blushed. The Raincoats did it better, but kudos to these chicks for trying.
Entertainment and imagination prevail at another night of the Works! (even if talent sometimes falls behind.)