Intuition Festival: Night 2
Overview
Intuition Festival: Night 2 of 2
Through live music and short films, Intuition Festival touches on themes in The Broad’s collection exhibition, Joseph Beuys: In Defense of Nature. On the outdoor stage, German guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Michael Rother and his band perform from his repertoire of works by Harmonia and NEU!, both of which he co-founded in the early 1970s. Shabazz Palaces simultaneously melds and abstracts jazz, hip hop, and African percussion influences while paying tribute to artists such as Can, Kraftwerk, and Tangerine Dream in a combination DJ set and live performance. Both Rother and Shabazz Palaces integrate custom-projected visuals into their sets. Alejandro (Ale) Cohen, Music Director at KCRW, will be playing vinyl from his personal collection to open the event, representing the genre known as "Krautrock" and related contemporary music. His DJ set will trace the lineage sparked by artists such as Michael Rother and Kraftwerk and contextualize their work with those they have influenced over the decades.
On the indoor stage, local punk band Sage Against the Machine deliver a raucous set of songs paying homage to California’s native plant species. Composer, musician, and builder Money Mark demonstrates his innovation and experimentation on keyboard and self-made instruments, and queer musician Saturn Risin9 shares their journey of perseverance with a short film centering self-discovery, healing, and creative expansion through documentary, dance, visual narrative, and performance.
Over the course of two nights, the combined artist lineups of Intuition Festival delve into the impact of our collective experiences and the healing of body and mind, environmental consciousness, political activism, and social change. Connecting it all is an acknowledgment of the lasting influence of the highly experimental Krautrock movement, which emerged in post-World War II Germany when Beuys was active as both an artist and a professor at Kunstakademie Düsseldorf. Intuition Festival takes its name from Beuys’s most widely distributed multiple, Intuition (1968). Empty wooden boxes with the word “Intuition” penciled inside were sold inexpensively to thousands of people, illustrating both a democratization of art and the potential for viewers to imbue such artworks with their own personal meanings.
Michael Rother performing live, courtesy of the artist
Tickets include same-day access to The Broad, including Joseph Beuys: In Defense of Nature and our third-floor collection galleries during the event.
Tickets to this event do not include access to Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Room—The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away (2013), and must be booked separately.
For information on our current visitor policies, visit Know Before You Go & FAQ. Visitor policies are subject to change.
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Bios
Michael Rother
For many fans, musicians, and critics alike, the guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Michael Rother is a key figure in the innovative music scene originating from Germany in the early 1970s. His music has inspired generations of musicians—from David Bowie, Brian Eno, Iggy Pop, DEVO, Sonic Youth, Stereolab, U2, Radiohead, Primal Scream, and beyond. Rother was a member of Kraftwerk in 1971 and formed the legendary bands NEU! (with Klaus Dinger) and Harmonia (with Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius of Cluster) before releasing 10 solo albums and creating music for theatre and films (e.g., Houston and The Robbers). He has collaborated with numerous musicians and bands like Brian Eno, John Frusciante, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dieter Moebius, Paul Weller, Yann Tiersen, Iggy Pop, Stephen Morris (New Order/Joy Division), and Steve Shelley and Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth). Since the official re-release of the NEU! albums in 2001, Rother has been continuously playing live internationally. In 2019 and 2020, Grönland Records released two box sets, Michael Rother—Solo and Michael Rother—Solo 2, featuring all his solo records, including his latest solo album, Dreaming. 2022 saw the release of the album As Long As The Light, Rother's first collaboration with Italian musician Vittoria Maccabruni, who now joins Rother for live appearances. 2022 also marked the 50th anniversary of the first NEU! album for which Grönland Records released a boxset containing the first three NEU! albums plus two tribute albums with reworks and remixes inspired by NEU! Artists including The National, Mogwai, Idles, Stephen Morris (New Order/Joy Division), Yann Tiersen, Man Man, They Hate Change, Alexis Taylor (Hot Chip), Fink, and Guerilla Toss contributed new recordings. In 2024, the first Harmonia album, Musik von Harmonia (1974), was released by Grönland Records in a special edition as double vinyl and CD, celebrating its 50th anniversary. Musicians like David Pajo, SQÜRL (Jim Jarmusch and Carter Logan), Matthew Herbert, Marta Salogni, Dextro, Kaleema, and Stuart Braithwaite (Mogwai) contributed remixes and works inspired by Harmonia. Michael Rother and Vittoria Maccabruni recorded two new tracks for this release. Rother's current live line-up includes Hans Lampe (La Düsseldorf) on drums, Franz Bargmann (ex-Camera) on guitar, and Vittoria Maccabruni on electronics and occasional vocals. On their US tour in 2025, they will play a selection of favorite tracks from Michael Rother's long career, including fast-forward tracks from NEU! and Harmonia and his solo works. More info at www.michaelrother.de.
Michael Rother and band courtesy of the artist
Shabazz Palaces
Shabazz Palaces is an American hip hop group from Seattle led by Ishmael Butler a.k.a. Palaceer Lazaro, formerly Butterfly of jazz rap group Digable Planets. Two self-released EPs titled Shabazz Palaces and Of Light in 2009 led to Shabazz Palaces becoming the first hip hop act to be signed to Sub Pop. Their debut full-length album, Black Up, was released in 2011 to widespread critical acclaim. Their sophomore album, Lese Majesty, was released in 2014. In 2017, Shabazz Palaces released its third and fourth full-length records concurrently. Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star and Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines were accompanied by a short film directed by Nep Sidhu and a limited-run comic book illustrated by Joshua Ray Stephens. In 2018, Shabazz Palaces joined up with frequent collaborator Erik Blood to release a full-length LP titled 1 Time Mirage under the moniker Knife Knights, originally a moniker used by Butler for his collaborative production work with Blood on previous Shabazz Palaces records. Shabazz Palaces' fifth full-length record, The Don of Diamond Dreams, was released in 2020. In 2023, the EP Illusions Ago was released on Glass Cane Records. Shabazz Palaces' collaborations include guest features from Flying Lotus, Thundercat, Theesatisfaction, Stas THEE Boss, Erik Blood, clipping., Battles, The Helio Sequence, Porter Ray, Sunny Levine, and Carlos Overall. One notable collaboration is the supergroup WOKE, formed with Flying Lotus and Thundercat, which released one single, "The Lavishments of Light Looking," featuring George Clinton.
Photo courtesy of the artist
Money Mark
Money Mark (Mark Ramos Nishita), 65, is a composer, film composer, musician, inventor, and builder. Mark has built recording studios, the musical instruments, and recording gear used in the recording process. With Robert Fripp as his original guitar and music teacher, he borrows techniques and ideas from John Cage, Suzanne Ciani, Dr. Robert Moog, and Krautrock pioneer Simeon Coxe, merging electronic sound/noise/music with other non-human objects and elements to create art, sonic landscapes, functional music, and songs. Money Mark is the moniker given to him by the New York Hip Hop/Rock group The Beastie Boys, with whom he collaborated as a writer/producer and performer. He has also collaborated with Yoko Ono, David Byrne, Damo, Yuka Honda, Bello Lewitsky, Karen O and the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, Gary Baseman, Devo, Beck, Cornelius, De La Soul, Dave Sitek, Sam Spiegel, Raymond Pettibone, Cypress Hill, Sinkane, Tunde Adebimpe, and others. Mark works globally and has recently written and produced work of J-Pop phenomenon, Atarashii Gakko!, from Japan. Born in Detroit and now residing primarily in SoCal, Mark’s concern for the environment has resulted in being the first recording artist in Universal Music history to demand the use of non-toxic materials for his album releases on Jack Johnson’s record label, Brushfire; creating a California flora, fauna, and funga stamp collection for The Smithsonian with Beatie Wolfe; and contributing music to For the Birds: The Birdsong Project, proceeds of which benefit The National Audubon Society. He has been featured on NPR with his ‘Timeless Reminder’ and on NPR Science Friday as an archivist of piano music in the form of piano rolls. Next up is a solo touring show using mechanical music elements that interact with humans.
Still from The Sound of Toys, courtesy of the artist
Sage Against the Machine
Sage Against the Machine (SATM) is a dynamic band of native-plant enthusiasts who blend their love for California's native flora with electrifying music. SATM originated in a spontaneous performance by Antonio Sanchez (vocals/guitar) and Evan Meyer (keyboard/backing vocals) at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden in 2013. The band was soon joined by lead guitarist Rico Ramirez, and later expanded to include bassist Nicole Calhoun, drummer Hector Cervantes, and rhythm guitarist Jason Suddith. SATM has been carving out a unique niche in the California native plant world ever since. The band's members all work in the field of landscaping, and their music reflects a deep commitment to ecological awareness. The band's lyrics have been described as "sly [and] salty" by LA Times reporter Jeanette Marantos. Their message resonates with fans at performances across native plant nurseries, gardens, and gatherings, including at Artemisia Nursery, Audubon Center at Debs Park, and Southern California Botanists Symposium/California Botanic Garden. With a mission to advocate for native plants while rocking the stage, Sage Against the Machine delivers an inspiring and cathartic performance. Be sure to catch them at their next show!
Photo courtesy of the artists
Alejandro (Ale) Cohen
Alejandro (Ale) Cohen is the Music Director at KCRW and has been part of the music and cultural fabric of Los Angeles for over 25 years. A musician at heart, Alejandro has played in many local bands over the years, including Languis and Pharaohs. Ale is also a Film and television composer, and Emmy® Award-winning producer that has collaborated with countless artists, cultural institutions, events, and multimedia projects. His role as the Executive Director at dublab, a non-profit community radio station based in Los Angeles, has shaped his vision and approach to programming for public radio. As the Music Director at KCRW, Ale oversees the general direction of the station's music programming. Photo by Sam Lee
Saturn Risin9
I am champion of androgynous self-expression, a vibrant dancer, and a self-styled fashion icon who makes music, film, and performance. My name is a spell that I cast with the audience every night. I continually rise and that has been the story of my career. It is also my life mission to grow, and my music is an expression of that growth. My Darkest Dream EP from 2017 is a moody R&B experience turned upside down and inside out and outlines the pains of love, life, and my pursuit of artistic growth, all set to an atmospheric and intimate club aesthetic. After two distribution deals, I went independent and released the cathartic Venus Virgo EP in 2020, followed by the Venus Virgo Expansion Pack in 2023. Now I’m more confident, vulnerable, and gracious, which sharpens my vision as an avant-soul artist. My first ticketed headlining show was at Golddiggers in LA in April 2023 and I subsequently performed at The Broad’s Club 57 Society: Psychedelic Dada Day-Glo Happening at Zebulon in LA.
Still from Saturn Risin9, courtesy of the artist
