Cecil Puhrin has been a longtime contributor to the Downtown Las Vegas Arts scene, whether by way of his breakdancing group, Culturegeist, or his 3 piece electronic project, Chocolate Jesus. He was also a longtime staff member of the now defunct Bunkhouse Saloon, placing him at the epicenter of Vegas’ music scene before COVID had its say.
Hardly a new face in town, his music and demeanor in the few live performances I’ve seen him play always seem to deliver something “out of left field”, which is nice, especially in a time that it feels sorely needed.
I recall asking Cecil to perform at a show I had booked at Double Down Saloon (w/Headgore & OG Singer Songwriter; Wyatt McKenzie) where he was the opening act. His performance consisted of sitting down, center stage, cross legged and silent. Ultimately he oddly enough resonated with the crowd and made something so odd and low brow something beautiful & accessible. Perhaps most importantly, his performance felt peaceful; a sentiment only amplified by the venues usually wild crowd all under the spell of Cecil & his Roland 404.
That night I saw him command a room with a demeanor entirely void of any effort to be liked or understood. His performance set the tone wonderfully, steering the bar patrons/attendants towards a more open minded standard for the night. Something we can never have enough of.
Here are a few labels/show promoters/venues that are doing interesting things and encouraging community in our creative scenes, no matter the medium;
Asteroid M Records
(https://asteroidmrecords.bandcamp.com/)
or
An equally prolific & unabashed collective, Hellhouse Productions (https://www.facebook.com/hellhouseLV/).
Though it is also worth noting that there are a few new local acts doing interesting things, such as
Luxury Furniture Store :,
(https://luxuryfurniturestore.bandcamp.com/),
Evelyn Scythe,
(https://www.facebook.com/evelynscythe),
and of course,
Headgore
(https://headgore.bandcamp.com/)
These are all currently active bands bringing the weird in a very confrontational/noisy way; both physically and metaphorically. Even subtly, at times. Which is my personal favorite. Sort of a passive aggressive punk rock, haha.
Though when one puts Cecil Puhrin’s newest release, “Vacancy”, in contrast to the other active artists in DTLV’s Music/Art scene, no matter the genre; I’d have to say it stands out in one small but very articulate & significant way; no where in the half hour of this release is the listener drawn in by traditional means or devices or asked to endure the integration of some lengthy conceptual perspective into the music and how it’s “supposed” to be heard!
Now Available @ https://www.cecilpurihin.com/
Photo Credit : Sarai Diaz
The release serves as the artist’s “interpretation of empty space”.
“I took one long dark ambient song, that I have been working on running it through my samplers and effects, then I recorded it onto tape. I cut and stitched pieces of that together, and made several loops from that single recording. The 29 minute song is compromised of 1 loop that slowly melts into another halfway through the track.“
– Cecil Puhrin on the concept/creative approach to creating “VACANCY”
Inspired by Contemporary Sound/Ambient artists such as William Basinski & Andrea Porcu (AKA Music For Sleep), we see Cecil dive head first into taking an impressive metaphorical stab at a release comprised entirely of two hand-made & recorded tape loops that slowly dissolve into one another over the course of 30 minutes.
…And not once does it demand a thing of the listener. I highly recommend accepting this invitation to immerse yourself into this experience the artist has spent time and energy creating; all whilst free of judgement or expectations.
I thoroughly enjoy how much room there is to project my own thoughts and feelings onto the possible meaning (personally or in general) of this release. Though I would say what I enjoy most about this release is it’s pure/unadulterated simplicity. It is experimentation on full, voyeuristic display; fully effective in it’s objective of just being. By doing so, passing that same feeling onto the listener. The subtle maintenance of the sense of curiosity that seems to linger throughout the release is also something I am personally drawn to. The ambiguity & conviction it exudes is a highly welcomed retreat in my world.
I highly recommend putting this release on and quieting your mind; if only just a bit. &&& Of course, if you enjoy it, consider supporting him via merch on his website;