'IT HAS TO BE OVERPOWERING VOLUME' PERFORMER CREATES UNUSUAL SOUNDS FROM USUAL OBJECTS.

Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer

NEWHALL - Liam Mooney has a long resume: composer and performer of experimental music, designer of noisy sounds and inventor of unwieldy instruments.

Tonight at 7:30, the California Institute of the Arts graduate will be working the room at the Santa Clarita Repertory Theater with several things you'd never think of as musical instruments.

Popcorn, drinking straws, plastic bottles, rubber bands, PVC pipes, dry ice, toy instruments, yogurt, balloons, drums, electric fans, foam, music boxes and vacuum cleaners all have a harmonious life when he's conducting the orchestra.

Watching him operate a squid - not the sea-dwelling creature, but a loud conglomeration of vacuum cleaners, plastic tubing, light fixtures, rubber bands and drums - it is obvious he is in his element.

``I started out in electronic music, but I got frustrated,'' he said. ``It left me with no performing to do. I experimented around and found ways to perform directly with the instrument instead of manipulating a recording.''

Featured pieces in tonight's performance will be ``Styrophony'' for Styrofoam, ``Floortet'' for objects dropped on the floor and ``Fand'' for electric fans, rubber bands and microphones.

He has a CD, but doesn't push it. ``It's tough because this music has such a strong visual presentation. With a recording, you would lose that.

``There's also the autocratic composer in me that doesn't want people playing this on a small system,'' he said, smiling. ``It has to be overpowering volume.''

Mooney, 24, has performed his eclectic repertoire in places like Beyond Baroque in Los Angeles and is scheduled to play soon the Salvation Theater in Silverlake.

After powering down the wall of music from the squid, he picked up a wooden dowel and polished it, much like a billiard player would ready a pool cue. He then started sawing at a Styrofoam cooler, changing angles and textures to make different sounds.

``This piece is usually played with an ensemble of about 20 or 25 people playing,'' he said as a chunk of Styrofoam flew over his shoulder. ``All the instruments are pretty much destroyed in the course of the performance.

``Of course, there's less stuff to take home,'' he concluded.

As audiences get involved with the music, many participants learn for themselves the physical properties of sound and the sonic possibilities of items found at Home Depot and 7-Eleven instead of the music store.

``This is a wonderful opportunity for the community to experience music by their own hands,'' said Zach Behrens, music director for the Santa Clarita Repertory Theatre. Mooney's program is launching the music series that Behrens plans to put on Tuesday nights, but he cautioned this group is starting slow and hopes to build as the series grows in popularity.

``We're hoping to have the Bulgarian group the Baksheesh Boys next month,'' he said.

Carol Rock, [phone]

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com

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Tickets are $5 for students and seniors, $7 for adults. Reservations may be made by calling [phone].

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Photo:

(color) Liam Mooney of North Hollywood plays drums with a vacuum hose at the Santa Clarita Repertory Theater in Newhall. Mooney uses everyday objects to create unusual sounds.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer

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