Abasement (concert series)
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Abasement is a monthly concert series that takes place in downtown Manhattan, focused on experimental music.[1] It started in 2015 at Max Fish, a bar which held connections to various avant-garde communities. Founder and proprietor of Max Fish, Ulli Remkus, was involved in the Colab scene, and was known for employing artists and musicians.[2][3] When Max Fish closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the concert series relocated to Artists Space, where it has taken place since 2022.[4] Artists Space is known for a history of engagement with experimental music and performance in downtown New York, having hosted early performances by bands such as Sonic Youth, DNA, and James Chance & the Contortions.[5] At Artists Space in 1978, Brian Eno recorded No New York, a compilation of the No Wave scene of the time.[6]
Abasement has been curated by Joe Frivaldi and Rob Mayson since 2015.[7] Frivaldi is a member of experimental rock band Electroputas.[8] Mayson DJs Italo-Disco under the name Roboto's Gang on East Village Radio.[9][10]
Since the concert series began, Abasement has always been structured by four performing artists, a guest DJ, and a projectionist. Media artist Bradley Eros is known for projecting from his slide-film collection. Performing artists are enaged in genres such as free improvisation, jazz, noise, minimalism, avant-folk, and experimental composition.[11][12]
