The Musician Playing Actual Trash

Ken Butler is a Brooklyn-based artist and musician who has built over 400 musical instruments. But these aren't just any custom-built instruments. Butler builds his pieces from discarded items he finds on the streets of New York City. Hockey sticks, tennis rackets, brooms, golf clubs, pieces of furniture, styrofoam, toothbrushes: all are fair game for his masterpieces. It's musique concrète... jungle.
SUBSCRIBE: goo.gl/vR6Acb
This story is a part of our Human Condition series. Come along and let us connect you to some of the most peculiar, stirring, extraordinary, and distinctive people in the world.
Follow us behind the scenes on Instagram: goo.gl/2KABeX
Make our acquaintance on Facebook: goo.gl/Vn0XIZ
Give us a shout on Twitter: goo.gl/sY1GLY
Come hang with us on Vimeo: goo.gl/T0OzjV
Visit our world directly: www.greatbigsto...

[@ruven3703]

You can't call something trash if you can still create something with it....

[@dramadestroyer825]

@Hillary Sanderson thats not how the saying goes but good try

[@dramadestroyer825]

@Hillary Sanderson no i'm just saying it's "One man's trash is another man's treasure

[@songyani3992]

Then I can rightfully call Trump trash.

[@jhondoe8728]

Those gun violins are fucking awesome.

[@m4rwah]

jhon doe ikr

[@kimberlychungluo778]

Ikr!!

[@Squirrels310]

This guy needs to set up his own channel and showcase all his instruments.

[@nightlife9907]

he has a channel but all his videos are from his albums from the 80s and 90s so there's no showcases

[@t4c4q4]

kzbin.info

[@grapejuice3943]

person: ok so what do you play? me: i play the spoon person: What? me: *pulls out a a spoon with strings and starts playing it*

[@Crawkid]

also legit, a couple of spoons are used as a sort of clacking instrument

[@happym.4644]

Why do I have a feeling it will sound like the banjo??

[@RosieLuna]

I play the snow shoe

[@ganaverageyoutubecomment.79]

Remember, it’s garbage can, not garbage cannot.

[@ISuckOffCops]

gan average youtube comment. Made me smile :)

[@Krackerlack]

Me: pass the aux cord Friend: you better not play *trash* This guy: *L E T M E S T O P Y O U R I G H T T H E R E*

[@leviwrigley5260]

lmao

[@georgea.567]

Modern art I can actually get behind.

[@EseCuate562]

Amazing.... some people are born with gifted minds

[@nandocordeiro5853]

It’s a shame that most millennials don’t believe in hard work.

[@cornelioussandersapickleho8312]

Interviewer: so whats so great about you? Him: well, music is the key Interviewer: care to elaborate? Him: *pulls out key and starts playing it

[@mikkosaariniemi5779]

Hes favourite genre is probably trash metal

[@Coastephoto]

HAHAHAHAHA

[@hyperrr5528]

Garage rock bois

[@c.e.f4916]

Yes. What are some thrash bands that can be turned into trash puns?

[@GoodKevin111]

ba dum *TSS*

[@catharticchills_]

*GENIUS AT WORK*

[@davemcgrace3096]

I want this man to make me a human foot flute

[@aidencoxmusicguy5097]

jhepoy what is wrong with you

[@gewibit7919]

Mom: *sees him* hey hon wanna go to the other side of the world?

[@mitechko]

Foot bones are pretty small. You might be better off with a leg bone, tibia or fibula.

[@cw4608]

Jeffrey Dahmer go to your room!

[@someguyusingyt9091]

This should be called as grunge rock

[@hyperrr5528]

Mendel Chow garage rock lol

[@malvoliomaximillian2001]

Trash metal?

[@witchbitchgirl]

Ken: "I'm attracted to trash". Me: :))))))))

[@SuperBustyEva]

see people even garbage can be beautiful. now he can make an electric guitar out of a real axe.

[@Engusgames]

oh I read the title as "musician playing viola"

[@needatissue9273]

When he pulled that goddamn pencil out that's where I drew the line. I get of if your bored in class but this guy does this for a living

[@somosgenel]

I like this dude's creative way to look at the world.... We need more DUDETTES und DUDES like him around.. RECYCLING TO THE Nth Degree.. Good for him..

[@OmkarG88]

Person: you are crazy. Me: keeps an axe head over my neck and starts playing with the strings.

[@AZoe-mb6nl]

I died when he started playing the pencil 😂

[@googoogagapeepeepoopoo1783]

*Gets a triple kill* "That was sick" *Starts playing pizza time*

[@jemzomaclain]

**makes guitar out of brass instruments**

[@kpooperthings1613]

This is literally what my grandpa did when he was a 7 year old kid, he had a rich uncle. Once my grandpa saw his uncle eating crabs and other Yu stuff and he was standing in the doorway stomach growling but his uncle threw a rock at him and shooed him away. My grandpa was really really really poor back then. He wanted to play instruments but didnt have money, his mom couldn’t afford instruments or lessons so he made some out of random junk. Mainly string and woodwind instrument s

[@AndrewBrethourMusic]

No one: This guy: you know, I always thought a snowshoe would make a GREAT cello.

[@jennymk01]

I would absolutely love to meet this man. Absolutely fantastic

[@bernadettepowell337]

how about the metro orchestra performing a whole concert with his instruments? i would pay to see that!

[@irenemay0]

One man's garbage is another man's instrument, from one musician to the next

[@izzylee1252]

I want fish cello

[@muki2309]

Izzy Lee nah man it's a bass

[@ChaseYamsPage]

Bass bass.

[@UncleMerlin]

Me: gimme the speaker cable Friend: you better not play trash dude Me:

[@buddysalinas2508]

if I'm the one who find the axe!! I might be in prison playing the prison bars as bass strings hahahah

[@mohammednajem9902]

person: what do you play? me: i use the plastic cup person: Huh? me: *grabs plastic cup with holes and strings on it and starts playing* person: ...

[@GrumpyTy34er]

I almost couldn't find this video again. I am so glad I did.

[@abigailvenable3379]

This is why electrical instruments have basically nothing on them. All you need is the neck, strings, scroll, and tuners.

[@mayahilten6020]

“what can i say, i’m attracted to trash, idk why” *same*

[@mimisezlol]

If a hatchet can be a violin I can survive college

[@RetroPlus]

I love that, it's so awesome. I'm right on board with this.

[@reidrogers-ho3141]

0:52 that gun instrument is something I want to play

[@RosieLuna]

“Musician plays actual trash” Me:damn dont call him out like that

[@Webical]

Was expecting to see Jinbao horns. But still wasn't disappointed.

[@blink0r]

I really want to play thunderstruck on a shovel guitar

[@Crawkid]

tbh that shovel guitar is pretty nice sounding, with interesting percussion sort of added potential

[@madeatta6684]

nice

[@imranazimviolinist]

orang Indonesia orang malaysia orang thailand org gila

[@kjell159]

You don't need a headstock for stringed instruments, look up headless instruments. (Steinberger, Hohner, Strandberg, Zon...)

[@pbarsamian526]

fabulous!

[@Road_Rash]

Misread the title...I thought it said 'thrash'...Lol!

[@meditationtime300]

MAN YOU ARE AMAZING

[@GreenLeaf5656]

I am fascinated by his craftsmanship.

[@chrisshittyboy2467]

great salute to Mr.Butler

[@lonelyboi5706]

Why am I not one of the instruments in this video! I’m trash!

[@jah3zzz]

GREAT!!!

[@goldentrout4811]

Wow, incredible!

[@nblackhart]

Of course you are from portland! Lol love it

[@laurahuynh8333]

Creative man right here!

[@Neontronique]

This was an amazing video. Unfortunately I will never be as clever as this man, not only can he create but he can play.

[@DaretoDreamChildrensFoundation]

7:25 pm Amazing talent!!

[@Kapybaraaa]

Awesome video! Is there any channel or videos that show the process of making instruments from random objects, specifically guitar?

[@howlinhobbit]

check out Nicolas Bras. he does a lot of flute stuff with PVC but also does other instruments including guitar related ones.

[@emmanuellehyazanandri762]

SMG Violin??!! SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!!

[@gulle8536]

The lost Remains are a wonder .

[@caitlinhumphries9069]

Bro I want the gun violin

[@nihlhinz488]

On a totally unrelated note. Don't smoke LSD and pixey dust together, friends. This man has done things to a Vw van that would make you blush.

[@rameshwarkharwa8105]

One day all this instruments will be kept in museum

[@thefunhauszooscea253]

Amazing I wish I was this creative

[@spyspacetr4518]

Ken Butler : you fam pass the aux Friend : you better not play trash Ken Butler :

[@gregtheunstoppable4487]

You are a genius

[@antmilklover1241]

Did anyone noticed that shovel sounds like only lovers left alive

[@willboese980]

If I wanna hear somebody play trash I just go to an open mic night

[@WouldURatherThink]

I pick old lighters just for the flint I’m a weird kid

[@vianeyboruel504]

that was beautiful

[@rhomaios298]

Where's the viola?

[@Minimum_Chow]

Him: yo, pass the aux cord, Me: you better not play trash. Him:

[@uhmuhwha]

Gun parts?

[@jklrcreations8900]

1:09 well that seems a little dangerous.

[@franko9322]

what musikstyle is he playing on the shuffle?

[@daluckygit8019]

0:11 when you do a drive by with your boy paganini

[@hcn6708]

This is not trash,this is art.

[@ipgd69]

Look at 0:07 on the left you will see an instrument that is a sniper rifle

[@seablackh4wk145]

Nope, it's based off MP5SD which is a submachine gun

[@izucc3543]

Ah yes the 9mm sniper rifle

[@kathydoyle183]

Just get a instrument from the garbage😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@eeshsinger]

he's super creative i like him

[@devensky00]

Coooool

[@tanmaydas5221]

Please, I want to buy anyone violin , send me legal process and the purchase link.

[@LolitsAir]

That is sooI cool!

[@DavidBerquist334]

The swamp drivers are alike home made insyerments

[@dawnmariondehaviland6922]

I made a drumkit from an army regulation bootlace 2 bandages and a glass of tapwater

[@Aigsup]

I love him.

[@Evannith]

Ha ha literally me

[@charlest1121]

His instruments represent my mixtape

[@LiamKeary]

One mans trash is another mans treasure

[@irischen7958]

I thought the title meant that he plays horribly not with actual trash

[@mk_rexx]

He should play thrash metal with it

[@LouisVDon]

MAKES METAL DOUBLE REED

[@tomatotom984]

GUN-OLIN guys GUN-OLIN

[@gavinlamp5426]

Imagine someone pulling out a violin case, then pulling out a Tommy Gun, then starts playing it like a violin

[@adrianvazquez4633]

But the real question is, do they Djent?

[@SeafireM]

And they don't talk about the MP5 guitar

[@obliderator13]

lol just give me attention, i plick strings to a pencil

[@wasabijoe323]

IT'S ME!!! MR. MUSIC!!!!

[@anti607]

most savage title i’ve ever seen

[@TheAkaluna]

Guitar from machine gun. He can play and shoot at the same time. Thats cool.

[@noangles1564]

See this. This is modern art, not the toilet on display in the middle of a museum

[@MrStarry86]

he reminds me of Fallout

[@johnehrhardt02]

It's not surprising I found this video looking for viola jokes

[@theali8oras274]

A guitar-ish gun would rock like nothing else

[@ivantzuoo5261]

I like how there is a gun violin