Written by Mackenzie Manley, Content Specialist, Downtown Main Library
This post is part of a larger series that spotlights local music acts performing at the Meet Me at Main Music Festival. Check out our website for more interviews with performers leading up to Saturday, July 11.
Nine music acts will take over the Downtown Main Library on Saturday, July 11 for the inaugural Meet Me at Main Music Festival: a family-friendly, multi-stage, multi-genre showcase of local music, including two after-hours performances.
The event coincides with the second anniversary of Downtown Main Library’s reopening. Come out, kick back, and take in music all day and into the night. See the full lineup,
We caught up with Andy Erb ahead of the fest to chat about what drew him to experimental music, prior performances at the Downtown Main Library, and more.
Catching Up with Andy Erb
Andy Erb’s music operates within the realm of synthesized music, bringing elements from eclectic sources of inspiration to his modular synth setup. Along with performing solo, Andy is one half of the Blood Puppet Band and is a part of Innerspace Collective, an improv experimental ambient music collective.
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Mackenzie: What first drew you to experimental music?
Andy: From a very early age, I've had a passion for music, and for the past decade I've deepened that passion by broadening my horizons into specific genres. I started listening to bands like Natural Snow Buildings and Boards of Canada, which inspires the music I create today. I stumbled upon my first modular synthesizer in 2023, and my life has pivoted ever since.
Mackenzie: You've performed at the Downtown Main Library with Innerspace Collective. Can you speak about that experience?
Andy: We scored the 1922 silent film Häxan [in real time]! I played percussion instruments alongside my bandmates in Innerspace Collective. The film itself explores witchcraft, the devil, and a surprising amount of progressive social commentary for the time it was made. The experience was unique in creating soundscapes for a film that otherwise didn't have one before. It was intense at times, and light-hearted in others.
Häxan
Mackenzie: In your bio, it says your goal is to create a unique experience for each performance space. How do you work to bring that vision to fruition?
Andy: I think there's a level of reading the room that has to be addressed. Each performance is an opportunity to connect with the audience. I like to crossfade my tracks between found sounds and break the barrier of abstraction in the actual music I'm playing. Because my music is abstract and instrumental, commanding a stage presence is critical. In doing so, I also acknowledge that addressing the listener is important.
Mackenzie: What does it mean to you to be able to play music in a public space like the Library?
Andy: The Main Library branch is a cornerstone of Downtown Cincinnati. That said, it's my great privilege to be asked to perform here. It's not the first time, but it is just as special each time. It's a rare opportunity to put myself out there, especially in a space that celebrates learning and creativity.
Mackenzie: To you, what part does the Library play in the larger local music scene?
Andy: The shows that happen on the Social Stairs are a key component of our music scene, where the space itself has curated an identity that magnifies our local talent... It is only the beginning, but it is a space for us to share our DIY spirit.
Catch Andy’s performance on the South Plaza on July 11, at 5:30 p.m. Andy also appeared on the CHPL’s podcast, Checked Out, to chat about the fest with South Building Supervisor Fritz Pape and host Jessica Rinaudo.
Meet Me at Main Music Festival is made possible by The Johnson Foundation and The Thomas W. Jones Fund of the Library Foundation.
Mackenzie Manley is currently reading "Fantasticland" by Mike Bockoven.
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