Alt-jazz/rocker/trumpet player and The Comet blogger Matt Von Roderick talks about prepping his new music and stage show, “A Technicolor Experience,” premiering at King King in Hollywood, August 2. The innovative production is directed by Tony nominee Kristin Hanggi.

I’ve been prepping for my first fully-produced stage show.  It’s a total blast, and I am so grateful for the talented people who are bringing my music alive – from the band and singers to the choreographer and dancers to the projectionist and the show’s director. It’s an amazing thing, to make art of your life.  That’s what we’re doing, essentially, is creating a modern visual piece from my songs, which contain my beliefs, perspective and experiences – the bright and shiny parts, and the dark edgy parts too.

Of course, there are a few challenges along the way, but good things can come from adversity. My regular bassist had to bail right before rehearsals started – she got put on retainer by Ryan Adams.  But, I was able to secure a sub who plays great and has a rapport with my drummer from when they toured with Hillary Duff, so that worked out nicely.  Also, this is my first time doing a show in LA with all live instrumentation – previously my producers and I were running tracks, to faithfully re-create the sound of my forthcoming album from the stage. Working with tracks was ultra slick, and virtually all of the major pop-rock acts today do it, but I must say there’s something satisfying and organic about creating the whole thing in real-time, and letting the show be its own living, breathing animal. It pushes me to come up with something fresh every time I play, and there’s something untamable and utterly gratifying in that.

We’ll be doing the show at King King, in the heart of Hollywood.  The team is stellar – director Kristin Hanggi (who launched her Broadway hit “Rock of Ages” at the same venue, as well as the Pussycat Dolls at the Roxy) hooked-up a costumer who just styled a killer Black Eyed Peas cover shoot and Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” video.  Combine that with the visceral choreography of Kelleia Sheerin who’ll be giving a pithy nod to the ‘20s—when bold trumpet players led the sound of prohibition-era rebellion in dark clubs, with mind-enhancing substances and a lot of physical intermingling.  King King is a very theatrically capable space, complete with a balcony and a T-shaped stage that extends into the audience. I’ll be rocking my trumpet and vocals with a wireless mic, so don’t be surprised if I wind up next to you. I could even jump onto the bar, where a girl (or four) might be getting into something slightly, dangerous.

Check out this video of a Matt ‘dangerous’ performance: