Oh, hello! Welcome to Popcorn Youth, the official arts blog of the Ithaca Times, an alternative weekly newspaper located in Ithaca, New York. Natasha Li Pickowicz is the Arts & Entertainment editor of the paper, and is also the primary contributor to this blog, which also deals with her involvement as Popcorn Youth. As Popcorn Youth, she wonders: Is there a place for a rich, exciting underground noise scene in the already prolific Ithaca music community? Are Ithacans interested in exploring sounds that reach beyond the scope of traditional music? Can Ithaca support an infrastructure that encourages sonic experimentation, whether it occurs in the realms of avant garde composition, clanging noise rock, or free folk wanderings?
Natasha Li Pickowicz, with her project Popcorn Youth, hopes so. As with many things that are driven by passion, Popcorn Youth was born out of negation. A near-complete absence of any kind of noise community drove her to book the bands herself — to bring them to her. As the founder of Popcorn Youth, an independent, DIY, not-for-profit group based in Ithaca, Natasha has been booking and promoting artists for nearly three years. Musicians have traveled from Finland, Germany, England, Spain. New York City, Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, and Baltimore to perform at Popcorn Youth shows. Eclecticism of venues is a must; private homes, rock clubs, concert halls and record stores have all housed a Popcorn Youth lineup. Since she has started Popcorn Youth, Ithaca’s relationship with the rest of the experimental New York State community has strengthened and flourished. The community is small, but tight knit, driven by a love for new music and a passion for fresh experiences.
Past Popcorn Youth programming has included:
2008
nmperign + A.P. Tate + The Cos
Slither + Evenings + NPV + American Sphinx
Tom Carter + Cyrus Gengras + American Sphinx
Michael Chapman + Jack Rose + Michael Hansen + Ascension
USAISAMONSTER + Dufus
Usurper + Nackt Insecten + Prehistoric Blackout
John Wiese + Ryan Jewell / Zac Davis duo + Tumul + The Bloody Noes
Blues Control + Aura + American Sphinx + Tyler Rodkey
Avarus + Ducktails
Zaimph + Jenny Graf Bibulah + Stone Baby
Ryan Jewell + Kimonophonic
Neptune + Sky Juice + Vodka Soap + Eskimo King + The Settlers
The Skaters + Dolphins into the Future + Monopoly Child Star Searchers + Zac Davis (Skyjuice) + Pacific Rat Temple Band
Mouthus + Axolotl + A.P. Tate
2009
Beach Fuzz + American Sphinx + Cyrus Gengras
Weirding Module + Trigal + Osman Balkan/Jarek Miller duo Ducktails + U.S. Girl + Kurt Vile + Gary War + Teengirl FantasyAwesome Color + American Sphinx + Ladderlegs
Shooting Spires + Daniel Francis Doyle + Twin Powers + Caution Children + Glad RagsWindy & Carl + Benoit Pioulard + Lambs Laughter + Chris Knight
Mountains + Hank Roberts + Why the Wires
Sudden Oak + Swanox + American Sphinx + Keir Neuringer
Tom Carter + Steve Gunn + Shawn David McMillen
Magik Markers + Mouthus + American Sphinx
Metalux + Bill Nace + Amen Dunes
Caboladies + Stone Baby + American Sphinx
Normal Love + Orbiting Art Ensemble
Fyoelk + Eats Tapes + No Radio Productions
Eli Keszler + Ashley Paul + American Sphinx
Sick Llama + Cotton Museum + Jarek/Jason duo
Mountains + Duane Pitre + Desolation Wilderness + Tzar + Keir Neuringer’s Other People
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Upcoming Popcorn Youth concerts will include:
DIANE CLUCK + BEN MILLER + AUTUMN IN HALIFAX
BLUES CONTROL + AMERICAN SPHINX + EXPO 70 + BRIAN!
HEAVY WINGED + CRUSH THE JUNTA + JAREK MILLER/JASON ZORN DUO + CYRUS GENGRAS
MV/EE + ANDREW PAINE + TBA
CHRIS SEEDS + MARC ORLEAN + DAVID LERNER