IAmMeshing with us? | Live Performance Review
The Gorilla Gallery launch at the Fringe festival 2017 led me to witness the trippiest gig of my life. Enter The Biscuit Factory, Edinburgh, IAmEsh, and his collective of ever-changing musicians…
Who is this guy?
IAmEsh is an alter ego of Hal Malkovich, a.k.a. Hal Samples (photographer, documentarian, performance artist, and an all-round living piece of art).
“IAmEsh Malkovich, the Man of Mesh, appeared one fateful day from sunny Hollywoodland to share his magical meshtical powers with everyone! I hear what you’re saying, ‘what the heck does this mean? Mesh? Powers? Who on earth is this guy? Why should we listen to HIM?’
Iamesh is the result of a bizarre and not so rare medical accident. Or was it malpractice? The jury’s out. He might explain it to you. Then again, he might not. The accident did create a very rare outcome: a walking-talking piece of performance art, combining visual displays with dramatic expression that defies almost any definition.”
To understand more about the alter ego that is IAmEsh, check out Gorilla Arthouse’s article, ‘Hey, #IAmEshing with me?’
Whether the IAmEsh Collective was messing with us or not will forever remain unclear; what is evident is that they have little desire to be ‘understood’ in any particular way — it’s all down to individual interpretation. Their unique and imperfect style of performance art is visceral and startling, in a glorious way.
Vocalist, Max Poscente
On my way to catch the performance I passed lead singer Hal Samples fumbling into an IAmEsh onesie… I left him to it, the stern look of focus on his face being a clear indication that he was in some sort of transitionary mindspace. I opened the door to be engulfed by a dreamlike sea of rougey illumination, and vocalist Max Poscente’s unique rendition of Queen’s ‘Flash’. The lyrics had been altered, so the Texan instead belted out ‘Mesh, ah-ah, saviour of the universe!’. IAmEsh strode in moments later, and bent down provocatively in front of a cat costume-clad chap in the first row. He peeled off his onesie, to emerge anew in a Texas baseball jersey and American flag leggings. The United States is where IAmEsh was born — he likes to pay homage to his roots.
It all escalated from here; the Collective took us on a multi-sensory journey. We travelled on IAmEsh-ified covers of The Blues Brothers’, Everybody Needs Somebody, David Bowie’s Heroes and Africa’s, Toto. A definite highlight was watching The Rocky Horror Picture Show’s, Sweet Transvestite, being performed with gusto by Gorilla Arthouse shop assistant John Boyle. This film’s soundtrack gets everybody moving, but any involuntary dancing was overwhelmed by awe at the fervour I witnessed. Merely an hour before the show Hal had approached John and asked him to join the band for this racy number… in an oversized dog costume. A few forgotten words made no difference — it was pure, gyrating entertainment and a lesson in itself. Forego fear to embrace opportunities that come to you, no matter how absurd; be more Boyle.
John Boyle
At the hands of Arthur lis of No Art Visuals, the show continued if front of a cascading barrage of psychedelic visuals, shadow puppetry and hypnotic animations. Cells multiplying, beautiful, dancing fat bodies and symmetrical line play flooded from the stage and into the eyes of those watching. It’s impossible not to find some hilarity in watching a guitar wielding Scotsman, winsome man in a questionable onesie and hannibal-lookalike drumming covers out in this preposterous manner. With a certain softness of the mind this performance could have been received as trans-dimensional, one that coaxes complete presence from those indulging in it.
There was a definite energy shift in the crowd from when we arrived and when we left. Perhaps it was the voltaic notes from IAmEsh’s self esteem machine, or maybe it was the humid scent of sweat and Gorilla fragrances in the air that left us feeling electrified. It’s impossible not to catch a certain amount of confidence, an air of ‘not giving a fuck’ when in the company of people like the IAmEsh Collective. I can’t speak for everyone in the room, but I’m certain that my bolstered sense of self after the encore placed me in the majority that night. Shamelessness is our born state. Despite years of being conditioned to forget what it feels like, we will always crave this mindset.
Unabashedness is moreish, and so is the muchness of the IAmEsh Collective.
IAmEsh drummer