Members: Todd Bracik, Scott Hall, Matt Hale, Kipp Normand, John Clark, Tom Burris and Jim Walker
Indianapolis, Indiana

In contrast to the fanciful costumes, big band music, and pomp and circumstance that we typically associate with parades today, Big Car Collective offers a decidedly different take on pageantry and performance. Outfitted in matching blue work suits, the men in the collective appeared more like a labor crew than parade performers. Their float, decorated with giant foam board ears, was equipped with microphones and Theremins that captured the real-time sounds of the street. As the group moved along the Virginia Avenue, sampled sounds were processed and combined the live accompaniment. By embracing the notions of spontaneity and chance – two principles of Minimalist music – Big Car Collective defies spectators’ typical expectations of a live performance within the context of a parade.

Image Credit:
Listen, 2008
Courtesy of Shauta Marsh.