Too Pure

Tracy + the Plastics is a part-virtual band invented and performed by a lesbian feminist video artist, Wynne Greenwood (aka Tracy). Fellow 'members' include keyboard player Nikki and drummer Cola, both of whom represent different aspects of Greenwood's personality. It's an alternative, post-modern dimension in which various parts of a woman can exist separately and simultaneously.

In live performance Greenwood takes the form of all three of the band members, live on stage and in pre-recorded video projections. She sings live as Tracy, while interacting with the other band members (Cola and NIkki) on the video screen behind her.

Greenwood uses a stationary camera and records homemade productions. It's D.I.Y art where domestic spaces are used as stages and everyday objects and actions become performers in a band or parts of a song. The shake of the nail polish bottle in the video becomes the tick of the high hat cymbal in the song. These elements create an imagined world that Tracy guides you through with her hopeful vocals. Her interaction with the projected video uses pauses, interruptions, and slow dialogue to create spaces for the audience to step into. It is Brectian-esq, aiming to engage the audience. "I hope that the art that I make, or have made thus far, has been communicating not just on a wordy level, but on a really gut level and emotionally." (Greenwood).

Tracy + the Plastics represent the inevitable marriage of art and music. "In the sound and image process, which one comes first? And what makes what happen, the image or the sound? The process of attaching a sound to an image and seeing where it goes and seeing what kind of story that creates (is) so exciting to me" (Greenwood).

Despite the stark, minimalist stage set-ups, Tracy + the Plastics use of video art is indicative of a progressive, visionary drive. This is mirrored in the music that is heavily keyboard led, something considered integral to a futuristic electronic artist, yet the vocals are stripped down and stark, reminiscent of early PJ Harvey. In music, as in performance, Tracy + the Plastics offer something undeniably engaging and emotive.

Tracy + the Plastics were born after Greenwood played in various bands and made short videos whose stories were told through their soundtracks, it was a logical next step. After studying video production at Rutgers University in NJ 1995-1997, Greenwood returned to her hometown Washington State in 1998 and a few years on, Tracy + the Plastics started performing in basements, living rooms, and punk clubs in the Pacific Northwest.

By 2001 Tracy + the Plastics was a familiar name on the US touring circuit, performing with respected acts such as Le Tigre (with this meeting later leading to Greenwood making the band's videos for 'Hot Topic' in 2004 and 'After Dark' in 2005). A year later, in 2002, Tracy + the Plastics was part of the influential Electroclash Tour of the US, alongside artists like Peaches and Chicks on Speed. This year Tracy + the Plastics released a split single with The Gossip.

Additionally, Tracy + the Plastics was invited to perform in the 2004 Whitney Biennial, for which they were asked to create 3 new performances for 3 different spaces. Touring often, Tracy and the Plastics have, over the year, performed at a variety of venues, including the Walker Art Centre, Harvard University, the Plains Art Museum in Fargo, ND, queer discos and many other alternative art spaces.

In ethics, Tracy + the Plastics is a pure punk. It's about doing what the hell you want and not just blurring but breaking out and running from any confines. It's part band but one that lives in the realms of fine art as much as it does music, resulting in Greenwood's growing reputation as a respected contemporary multi-media performance artist.

In 2002 Tracy + the Plastics released their debut album 'Muscler's Guide To Videonics' and the EP 'Forever Sucks' on Chainsaw Records.

On the 26th of September Tracy + the Plastics release the album with accompanying DVD 'Culture for Pigeon' on Too Pure as a dual-disc CD/DVD (Pure170DD).

Tracy + the Plastics Video performances and recordings (wrote, acted, camera, edited):

2005 ROOM, video performance, 45:00 min 2004 Culture For Pigeon, CD/DVD 2004 Garden, video performance, 23:00 min 2004 FIRST SHOW/PUNK SHOW, video performance, 42:00 min 2004 Practice, video performance, 20:00 min 2004 World, video performance, 30:00 min 2003 Bed, video performance, 18:00 min 2003 Can You Pause that for a Second, video performance, 24:00 min 2002 Forever Sucks, EP, Chainsaw Records 2002 Nights, video performance, 20:00 min 2002 Gut Tracer, video performance, 30:00 min 2002 Muscler's Guide to Videonics with remixes, LP, Chainsaw Records 2001 Fall tour video, video performance, with JD Samson, 28:00 min 2001 Summer tour video, video performance, with K8 Hardy, 25:00 min 2001 She Tips the Wicked FIt, video performance, 25:00 min 2000 Muscler's Guide to Videonics, CD, Chainsaw Records 2000 Oh Maria, Calling All Kings and Queens, Mr. Lady Records 2000 Tracy + the Plastics, music videos, self-released, 16:00 min 2000 Turn Video, CS, Heartcore Records