Uploaded July 2023 | Updated September 2026, 5 days ago
On Saturday, July 22 2023 we proudly hosted our first ever Cassette Culture Celebration microfestival at the Columbus Performing Arts Center. This event celebrated Cassette Culture and the spirit of DIY from the early 1980’s and beyond, included a who’s who of DIY cassette culture and noise, and was organized by Columbus music historian Jeff Chenault.
Jeff kicked off the festival with a seminar on the history of Columbus electronic music, titled "Attack and Decay: The History of Columbus Electronic Music". Festival performers included Chris Phinney (Harsh Reality Music, Mental Anguish), Hal McGee, certified guru of HalTapes and multiple other labels, Jeff Chenault (ITN/Exoteque Music), Knox Mitchell (Green Tapes, Easy Listening), Gates of Janus (Detroit), Envenomist (Columbus), Full Load of King (Cuyahoga Falls), with a special surprise appearance by Michael Thomas Jackson (Winston-Salem, NC).
In addition, Jerry Kranitz, author of the book Cassette Culture – Homemade Music and the Creative Spirit in the Pre-Internet-Age lead a panel discussion and Q&A with Hal, Chris, and Jeff. During the performances and presentations, we also screened two films, which ran continuously throughout the day: The Great American Cassette Masters by William Davenport and Grindstone Redux by Andrew Szava-Kovats. To top everything off, vendors sold cassettes, books, and other cassette culture memorabilia. along with displays of vintage tapes and artwork by the festival performers.
Video credits: Rachel Rew Wagner.
About Envenomist: Some people equate David Reed's solo project Envenomist (CMH) with science fiction film scores; others envision solitary nocturnal travels through bleak urban settings. A fundamental strength of Envenomist is that these illusory backdrops remain open to interpretation. Taking inspiration from industrial, ambient, and the kosmische scenes along with altered states of consciousness, the oceanic abyss, and deep space, Reed has been producing desolate soundscapes under the Envenomist moniker since 2005.
On Saturday, July 22 2023 we proudly hosted our first ever Cassette Culture Celebration microfestival at the Columbus Performing Arts Center. This event celebrated Cassette Culture and the spirit of DIY from the early 1980’s and beyond, included a who’s who of DIY cassette culture and noise, and was organized by Columbus music historian Jeff Chenault.
Jeff kicked off the festival with a seminar on the history of Columbus electronic music, titled "Attack and Decay: The History of Columbus Electronic Music". Festival performers included Chris Phinney (Harsh Reality Music, Mental Anguish), Hal McGee, certified guru of HalTapes and multiple other labels, Jeff Chenault (ITN/Exoteque Music), Knox Mitchell (Green Tapes, Easy Listening), Gates of Janus (Detroit), Envenomist (Columbus), Full Load of King (Cuyahoga Falls), with a special surprise appearance by Michael Thomas Jackson (Winston-Salem, NC).
In addition, Jerry Kranitz, author of the book Cassette Culture – Homemade Music and the Creative Spirit in the Pre-Internet-Age lead a panel discussion and Q&A with Hal, Chris, and Jeff. During the performances and presentations, we also screened two films, which ran continuously throughout the day: The Great American Cassette Masters by William Davenport and Grindstone Redux by Andrew Szava-Kovats. To top everything off, vendors sold cassettes, books, and other cassette culture memorabilia. along with displays of vintage tapes and artwork by the festival performers.
Video credits: Rachel Rew Wagner.
About Envenomist: Some people equate David Reed's solo project Envenomist (CMH) with science fiction film scores; others envision solitary nocturnal travels through bleak urban settings. A fundamental strength of Envenomist is that these illusory backdrops remain open to interpretation. Taking inspiration from industrial, ambient, and the kosmische scenes along with altered states of consciousness, the oceanic abyss, and deep space, Reed has been producing desolate soundscapes under the Envenomist moniker since 2005.
