Japanese pop art and electro beats were rocking the Meatpacking District last week where music producer Rob Fusari (a.k.a. 8 Bit of Cary Nokey) collaborated with artist Zane Fix to present “Hanging from the Chandelier” at the Stray Kat gallery (459 W. 14th Street).
If there had been any chandeliers in the garage-turned-art space, the crowd would certainly have been hanging from them. This was a wild night where sweet treats from Konfections by Karrah were consumed alongside cocktails, a retrospective of Fix’s work from the last decade and an unplugged performance from pop progenitor 8 Bit/Rob Fusari and his crew went down.
The walls were dotted with prints by Fix, who transforms a range of pop culture subjects – from Marilyn Monroe to David Bowie – using the traditional Japanese woodblock – or Ukiyo-e – technique. The result is a wacky but likable style that could sit just as comfortably on a nightclub’s wall as above an executive trendster’s desk.
After an hour of gazing at the art and mingling, the crowd was treated to the full glory of Cary Nokey, the brainchild of Fusari, a songwriter known for his work with Lady Gaga (he’s credited with coming up with her name and he co-wrote “Paparazzi”), Destiny’s Child and many other pop major-players.
Just like Gaga and any songwriter worth his or her salt, this guy knows his way around a piano. Dressed in the bling and lace of his 8 Bit persona, he led electro-pop group Cary Nokey on the keys, performing a range of familiar hits – like Gaga’s “Paparazzi” and Destiny Child’s “No, No, No”(which he also wrote) – as well as the band’s debut single “B Who U R” and a range of unreleased Lady Gaga collaborations. The whole thing felt very Depeche Mode meets the Harajuku Girls meets Elton John at his most eccentric. Whatever it was, the crowd (myself included) dug it.
Interested in a bit of Cary Nokey? The debut single “B Who U R” is available to download on iTunes. Give it a listen and reach for that chandelier.
Twisted Talk: Will you be giving Cary Nokey a whirl? How do you think they compare to Lady Gaga? Would you buy Zane Fix’s prints? Discuss below!
