Terrible Spaceship
Science fiction dance music from Chicago. Cinematic electronic scores, live instrumentation and synchronized video.
Retro futures. Rewired.
Terrible Spaceship is a Chicago band that transforms classic science-fiction films, broadcasts and animation into original cinematic dance music. The band's projects have drawn source material from Orson Welles' 1938 War of the Worlds broadcast, the 1966 B-movie Zontar, the Thing from Venus, Fleischer Studios' 1940s Superman cartoons and the electronic world of 1982's TRON.
The live show pairs electronic beats and live instrumentation with synchronized projected video, turning the source imagery into part of the performance rather than background decoration.
What they've said
“A mash-up of down-beat drums, radio static and electronic noise that sounds like DJ Shadow remixing an episode of ‘The Twilight Zone.’”
“Equally influenced by Danny Elfman, Portishead and Orson and H.G. Welles.”
Four albums
Invaders 1938 retells the story of War of the Worlds as famously presented by Orson Welles and the Mercury Theatre, set to an original cinematic score.
Zontar, the Thing from Venus adapts a 1966 science-fiction B-movie into an electronic dance party.
Mechanical Monsters rebuilds the Fleischer Studios Superman cartoons as epic-scale instrumental hip-hop.
End of Line is a synthesizer-infused, upbeat retelling of 1982's TRON.
Live at Lincoln Hall
The projection is an integral part of Terrible Spaceship's live set. Venues should have the ability to accommodate video projection, or discuss projection options with the band when booking.
Live show requirements
Terrible Spaceship's performance is designed around synchronized video projection. When considering the band for a show, please include information about the venue's projector, screen/surface and video-input options. If projection is not installed in-house, the band can discuss alternatives.