When Ken Butler travels, the TSA rummages through his collection of hockey sticks, tennis rackets, umbrellas, golf clubs and more. But he’s not an athlete. He’s a hybrid musician, crafting unique guitars, basses, cellos, violins and percussive instruments out of found objects. He’s called a bricolage artist, or someone who constructs from what’s available. Butler came to USC for a live performance as part of a Visions & Voices event, and Ampersand got an inside look at his process.
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Butler drums on his shovel guitar to serve as a background for soloing -
Butler's instrument made of a tennis racket, hockey stick and spring door jam, among other gizmos
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Ken Butler is a Bricolage artist, combining music and art
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Butler adjusts standard guitar pedals and loops his sound to create his distinctive music.
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Butler's case full of his "hybrid" instruments
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Inside his guitar case, Butler leaves a message for TSA
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Some of Butler's instruments can be played as a guitar, bass and violin together.
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Butler tuning an umbrella outfitted with a single string
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Butler places the head of a hockey stick in his pocket while playing
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Butler speaking with fans after his Monday night Visions & Voices performance
Rehearsing with Ken Butler
In this video, Butler performs first on a shovel while looping a percussion rhythm. He then picks up an instrument constructed out of a tennis racket and hockey stick, creating buzzing, distorted sounds via a drink swizzle stick. This instrument can be performed as a guitar, bass or as a violin. Finally Butler creates numerous sounds on a golf club 3-wood outfitted with a single string. All of his instruments are amplified via contact microphones and through a Fender amp.
Audio segment produced, written and edited by Jonathan Shifflett with writer and editor, Brian Welk.
Photos and video by Brian Welk