Dancing In The Street
by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas | Van Halen
Callin’ out around the world
Are you ready for a brand new beat?
Summer’s here and the time is right
For dancin’ in the streets
They’re dancin’ in Chicago
Down in New Orleans
Up in New York City

Happy Summer from Portland Oregon where I am a shady panelist at The Platform International Animation Festival. I am part of two group discussions, one about entertainment for cell phones and another about how to get a job coming out of college – of course I am the representative of someone who didn’t get a job after college, so that should be interesting. I am also just back from The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, so its not surprising that I am humming along to the song Dancing In The Streets during this June that has certainly been busting out all over. Thanks to everyone who sent kind words after CRAPtv’s recent relaunch with the “Back in Black” Tribute to Timmy The Woodsman posted last month. We recently got word that Timmy is happily resting in peace with James Brown.

Of course these last few months have brought on an ongoing hullabaloo about the first CRAP literary work to hit the scene. I recently looked at a copy of Glasgow’s Royal Nonesuch and noticed that it had a picture of a bear drinking turpentine, which is of course a depiction of Timmy’s very first suicide attempt. I thought to myself “Is that in really bad taste by the book’s publisher Grove Atlantic? Or is it just plain sweet marketing for a story about a guy who was known to dress up like a bear and had also attempted suicide by drinking Turpentine? I still can’t decide, but naturally since The Bear was a really good friend of mine I am really too close to the situation to have any type of reasonable perspective on the big picture, but regardless I feel backed into a corner where I feel I must dutifully proclaim that the Nonesuch cover is total “faggotry!” – Fortunately the book is better than its cover. Reflecting on winter it seems like perhaps somehow Timmy hoisted his finger to the whole situation by finally, successfully, killing himself in nearly the same month as The Royal Nonesuch was released. Timmy had no idea when the book was going to be released, but he was a poet at heart and his timing was certainly poetic in the scheme of events. And of course, I should certainly not forget the old formula: Tragedy + Time = Comedy. Just like the fact that it’s now okay to make 9/11 jokes – I know that it somehow has to be totally dope, sweet and tight that we have a party bear that drinks paint thinner on the scene and I just need to catch up to that fact… Other than that I am still in disbelief that I haven’t received a free copy yet. Starring in books certainly doesn’t compare to starring in movies. There are no royalties and no complimentary copies after what I feel was an amazing and heartfelt starring performance by yours truly…

Bonnaroo was a blast and it was a pleasure to screen Electric Apricot: Quest For Festeroo at the original and mighty Roo to an enthusiastic crowd on Friday night. The Bonnaroo musical line up was amazing no matter what kind of music you like. Our movie screening was scheduled against The Roots, Manu Chao, Lily Allen, and The Black Keys, so we were happy to have as strong as a turn out as we did. Thanks to everyone who made it! As the producer of the film, it is always a joy to watch the movie with an attentive and stoked audience – so needless to say, I had lots of fun hanging out and dropping swag on new friends in Tennessee! The rest of the weekend was too much fun and musical highlights included Ween, The White Stripes, The North Mississippi All Stars, The Super Jam with Ben Harper, Quest-Love and John Paul Jones from that little band called Led Zeppelin – they rocked Dazed and Confused for so long I am not sure, but it was amazing indeed!! The hero of the modern Jam scene, Warren Haynes with his band Gov’t Mule hammered Bonnaroo with the Hot List of special guests including Michael Franti, Bob Weir, John Paul Jones, Hot Tuna and more while the super funksters from New Orleans – Galactic - brought a platoon of freestylers who got the party jumping through the tent. This was of course while The Flaming Lips attacked from the back with an extended mystery sound check show that featured a space ship landing and a cast of hundreds. I am tired just thinking about it, but we had to go check out Sasha and Digweed, who were still thumping the bass at that Other Tent. Oh yeah and that band The Police played too, but I was far away and it seemed like a Police cover band even though it was the real thing, and I could hear 80,000 other people singing over that Sting guy, fortunately I am lucky enough to say I caught their Synchronicity tour back in the 80’s.

More news soon on the upcoming theatrical release for Electric Apricot: Quest For Festeroo, which will be presented by none other than one of America’s favorite comedy brands, National Lampoon. Check out the new Trailer here: www.electricapricot.com

The summer also brings another year of Mindfield, the text messaging prankster game that is part of the Perry Farrell experience of Lollapalooza, which will be happening once again August 3rd, 4th and 5th in Chicago’s Grant Park. This year we will be returning with a Monster Vaudeville Theme and amazing comics from The Second City and Mission Improvable improv troupes, who will deliver unique sets of interactive group comedy before we embark into all sorts of bizarre competitions called Battle Royales that will send many lucky winners to the VIP section. Lots is in the works this summer -> more news soon!