*,,'covElR, sroRY =oz oztan Eo . o cDavid Bowie and the High Line Festival help elevate New YorkByMrcHAELcrl,r ew York is bursting with arts festivals, including events from BAM and Lincoln Center to the Tribeca Film Festi- val.</p><p> But theater producer David Binder and nightlife im- oresario Josh Wood wanted to create an event that an- swered one simple question. "There's too much information in the world - and how do you sort through that?" asks Binder. "But ... ifyou could spend 10 days with one amazing icon in NewYork, what would that person take you to see?" Their answer to that question is the i festival in yens to come, helping to choose High Line Festival, ruming May 9-19 The i a guest curator mong other duties ) icon they speak of is the Thin White Duke i New Yorkers Binder and Wood are himself, David Bowie, who, in his role as i clearly taking a page from the UK Melt- the High Line fest's debut "curator," was i dom Festival, which celebrates its l.lth askedtoselectthelineup Asyou'dex- i yearinJune It,too,usesaguestcurator pect, it's an eclectic list: Bowie's choices i (this year, musician Jarvis Cocker of Pulp rangefromtheU.S.standupdebutofbril- loversawMeltdown)tochoosethelineup- liant Brit comic Ricky Geruais C'The Of- i "Absolutely," says Binder about using fice," "Extras") to the French electr on- i Meltdom as a stafiing-oti point "And ic-pop duo Air, an exhibition of works by i David, as you know, curated that- We're photographer/'artist Claude Cahun, a Lat- inspired by Meltdown, but we want to be in and Spanish film festival, the unclassifi- I more multidisciplinary. able perlor mance-aftist Meow Meow, and i "\Ve're interested in not iust David mor e (Bowie will stay partnered wjth the Bou'ie's favorite music, but also his favor-ite comics and movies and artists " Binder and Wood met about seven years ago in the headphone section of a Circuit City, and they've been looking for something to collaborate on ever since Wood has organized political concert events, and has been a notable nightlife fixture who hosts weekly parties Binder is a theatrical producer whose credits in- clude the current "Frost,/Nixon" and "Le- gally Blonde," as well as "De La Guarda," the recent "A Raisin in the Sun" and the original "Hedwig and the Angry Inch " Both men Live near the High Line, the I 45 mileJong !\'est Side elevated train track that runs from Gansevoort St north to w 32nd St,, parallel to 1 1th Ave Out of sewice since 1980, the structure, first built in 1929, was almost demolished sev- eral times but is now being turned into a unique park, set to open next year. "With any festival, you want to central- ize it," says Bindef, who mentions that a portion of the proceeds will go to the non- profit gt oup Friends of the High Line "The area that High Line runs through is really exciting because you have lhe girlIeries and the nightclubs, You have the aters and the waterfront to do outdoor things lt's really growing and changin and it's great to be a part of it " The puryose of the festival is to refl( the particulil tastes of the aftist curat- ing it and to introduce people to new a Even though Binder is overseeing it, H Line will be doing that for him: He's es cially looking foruard to Ken Nordine, 87-year-old "word jzz" innoyator whc be perfoming his beatnik-style spoker word pieces at the Kitchen May I6-17 Next year, they hope to do a lot mor events outdoors, which is one reason t chose the mid-May dates for the fest I sides, for producer-entrepreneurs, an i nual event they can depend on would I nice change of pace '\ve aspire to be part of the New Yor Ciff calendar every spring," says Bind eL Picking some names he'd love to s( involved, he says, "Imagine what Jay 2 {estival would Iook like compar ed to P dro Almodovar's festival, or comparec Bjork's festival We'll get to stalt anew have a lvhole nes'festival ',)6=Uz - roo N @ o 5 aNW Even at 60, David Bowh keeps his good taste intact - and his Rolodex up to date.</p><p> Or his BlackBeny, to be more currerrL For proot scan the list of musicians he chose to perform at the inaugural High Line Festival.</p><p> Below we offer the 411 on the€venfs six headlining musical acts- > AIR Honns: Thursday, May 10, at The Theater at N,4adison Square carden Hails from: Paris Fomed: 1995 Sounds like: The score of a '60s French film wedded to the '70s sounds of synth acts Tomita and Deodato.</p><p> Call it "retro-futurism." M6t rsent rclse: "Pocket Symphony," though the best release remains the 1998 debut, "Moon Safari." Fast fact: The duo has written a real-life movie score, for Sofia Coppolas "The Virgin Suicides." DEERHOOF P€rtomrs: Tuesday, May 15, at lrving Plaza Hails from: San Francisco Fomed:1994 Sil|tds lile The revenge of a No Wave noise band from New York, with lots of melodic flourishes tossed in iust to show they adually hail frcm the other coasL Most receil relea*: 2007's "Friend Opportunity" Fast lhc{ Along with its own albums, Deerhoof has bmnched out by collaborating 0n a soundtrack forthe Justin Theroux ltlm'Dedication," starring Billy Crudup.</p><p> A THE POLYPHONIC SPREE Perfoms: Friday, May 11, at Hammerstein Ballroom Hails from: Dallas Fomed: 1999 Somds like: "Up With People" singing the "Haii'score.</p><p> Most rmt release: 2004's "Together We're Heavy" Fast fact: They look like a gigantic doomsday cult, all decked out in robes Butthey're actually as harmless 6 hippies.</p><p> THE SECRET MACHINES Pcrfofins: Saturday, May 19, at Highline Ballroom Hails lrom: Dallas, but they now call New York home.</p><p> Fonned: 2000 Sounds like: Pink Floyd for a new generation.</p><p> Terrifically trippy, while also being as teEe as today's scene requires.</p><p> Most leetrt release: 2006's "Ten Silver Drops" Fast fac't The band likes to play in the round as often as posible.</p><p> Why? lt's trippierthat way.A THE ARCADE FIRE Perfoms: Wednesday, May 9, at Radio City Music Hall Haib Aom: Montreal Fonned: 2003 Sounds like: Panicky and grand indie rock.</p><p> The group, led by jumpy lead singer Win gutlel delivers apocalyptjc lyrics yelped over orchestrally huge rock choros, Some pieces feature a pipe organ for maximum goth effecl M6t ffit relece: "Neon Bible." the bands second CD.</p><p> Fast fact (or a slow rumor, in this case): Bowie himself may show up to sing a song with the band.</p><p> OTHER EVENTS \i]i LAURIE MCLEOD WATERHAVEN UNDERWATER FILMS May 9-19, sunset to mtunrbht, prcjected onto a water tower at the corner of 14th St. and Washington St .T PANEL DISCUSSION ON CI.AUDE CAHUN May 11,6:30 p-m., Aperture callery, 547 W. 27th St.,4th floor iS DAVID BOWIFS IO FAVORITE IANN AMERICAII AND SPANISH FILMS May ll-17 Quad Cinema, 34 W. 13th St. $i f(EN NORDfNE May 16 ild 17,I p.m., The Kitchen, 512 W 19th St.</p><p> DANIEL JOHNSTON, BAitG ON A CAN ATI.STANS, I.EGENDARY STARDUST G(,wBoY May 16, I p m.</p><p> Highline Ballroom, 431 W. 16th St. il\ LAURIE AI{DEnSON (above), May 1/ and 18, 8 p-m., Highline Ballroom N RfcKY GERVATS (righi May 17 and I8, 8 p.m.</p><p> Tribeca Perfoming Arts Center, 199 Chambers St.: May 19, 8 p.m., Theater at Madison Souare Garden \.CI.AUDE CAHUN ART EXHIBMON May 17-20, dusk to midnight ceneral Theological Seminny of the Episcopal Chufch,. 175 Ninth Ave . s MEOW MEOW tNCmD BY TOHN CAMERON MITCHELL May 18, 7:j0 p m-, Hiro Ballroom, 371 w 16th st.ss: DANIEL JOHNSTON Perfoms: Wednesday, N,lay 16, at HighLine Ballroom Hails ftom: Sacramento Formed: Johnston started putting out records back in 1980.</p><p> Sourds like: Childlike pop songs, full of eeriness and wonder.</p><p> Most recent rdee: 2006's compilation "Lost and Found " Fct fact Johnston is a paranoid schizophrenic, which has made his life both trcubled and rare.</p><p> He's also a well-regarded "outsider" visual artist and the subject of the riveting documentary "The Devil and Daniel Johnston."
