Degenerate Press (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} degeneratepress) wrote,@ 2008-05-16 10:11:00 |
|
I will survive in my Mach 5
Can you tell it was slow at work this week? Yeah, a two-fer Electric Degeneration!
FILM FLAM
I expected Speed Racer to be a horrific nightmare based on what critics had been saying and my own love for the original source material.
One of my earliest memories is of being 4 or 5 years old and hopping out of bed before my parents on Saturday mornings and rushing to the TV. Ultraman and Speed Racer were my coffee - hyperkinetic action, machinegun dialogue, surreal creatures and fantastic machines - what more could a boy want?
Afterward, I ran around in my socks, sliding across the floor and waking my parents up by imitating Ultraman or Speed Racer. They had no idea what I was doing because they had slept through the hour of Japanese power.
It was probably close to 30 years before I caught Speed Racer on TV again.
The cable network Speed starting rerunning episodes around 5:30PM, right when I'd get home from work. I was shocked at how much I remembered - I must've seen every episode several times as a kid. I had also forgotten how violent the cartoon was - a race car flies off the track and explodes *in the opening credits.* The animation was poor, but not as poor as other shows I had once enjoyed and have seen as an adult with complete dismay. And the cars were still cooler than anything else on TV.
So I feared what the live action movie would do to my precious memories of Speed Racer. Look at what Lucas had done to the closest thing I had to religion with the Star Wars remakes and prequals. But I knew I couldn't skip Speed Racer. Curiosity would grind me down.
So Wednesday EM and tailgated at Starlight Drive In with sushi and Japanese beer, just to make a night of it. I even dragged out a few of my embarrassing “40 Year Old Virgin” style collection of Speed Racer toys to show off. Our weekly drive invasion organizer SG was also a huge fan as a kid, so we settled into our lawn chairs with anticipatory grins, even if mine was a bit fearful.
I was not heartbroken. In fact, there were long stretches of the film I really enjoyed. It may be the closest thing possible to recreating the experience of being a child and watching something completely out of this world, then going to your back yard and living the dream through your imagination, aided by piles of Hot Wheels cars and tracks. Yes, the film is cartoonish and over the top, but if there had been even a hint of believability the whole thing would've sunk. It's somewhere between the remake of Willy Wonka, The Matrix, and Edward Scissorhands with obvious influences from drift racing, Hot Wheels tracks, and most of all the original cartoon (I half expected the backgrounds rushing by during some racing sequences to repeat themselves.) The acting leaves something to be desired but if it's the subtle interplay of human emotions you're after, this is the wrong film for you.
In fact, unless you grew up adoring the cartoon, I'm not sure this film is for you. A review on The AV Club says it well. "The Wachowskis may be guilty of being too far ahead of the curve: Maybe children one or two generations down the road will be able to process 135 minutes of manic, kitschy inanity, but for now, it goes down in one big, indigestible lump."
Well, I'm a child of a couple of generations up the road and I enjoyed the mania for 90% of the film. I found the only indigestible lumps to be the non-action scenes where the kid playing Spritle can't act as well as the monkey playing Chim Chim, or when John Goodman delivers lines like he's reading them from cue cards. But once the engines revved up and the cars started chasing through loops and jumps, sprouting crazy weapons with even crazier characters behind the wheel - suddenly I was 5 years old again and the only thing going through my mind was "Cooooool…."
The metaphorical sugar high crashed before the credits even finished rolling (thanks, in part, to some terrible rapping over the Speed Racer them featuring Ali Dee & The Deekompressors) but 90 minutes of spectacle is all I ask from a drive in movie.
EYE PATCHES
Steve, one of the old guys you see at every show, handed me a flyer for this shindig, then I got some email from WRFG about it too:
Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD Atlanta's Radical, Freaky Underground Newspaper of the 60’s and 70's Saturday, May 24, 2-10 p.m.
B Complex, 1272 Murphy Avenue SE, Atlanta
$7 Admission - Food and Drink at Proletarian Prices!
Proceeds benefit Atlanta Progressive News and WRFG Radio Photo and graphic exhibits of Bird covers and themes; music; speakers; jugglers; fire sculpture and more. Speakers from 4 to 6 include Amy Goodman of Democracy Now!, State Sen. Nan Orrock, and other former Bird staffers.
Live music beginning at 7, including Sparky & Rhonda Rucker and the ex-PAND Band.
As an appetizer for the main event on May 24, a Great Speckled Bird exhibit is now on display at the central Fulton County library in downtown Atlanta, fourth floor, thru May 18.
For 8+ years, The Bird provided a progressive alternative voice to existing Atlanta media, supporting civil rights, free speech, draft resistance, women ’s and gay liberation, youth culture and the struggles of workers, African Americans, students and antiwar GIs. It was an unwavering foe of the Vietnam war, US militarism, and repressive mainstream culture. Its pages also provided space for local artists, photographers, cartoonists and poets, local theatre and concert reviews, and interviews with Georgia musicians like the Allman Brothers and the Hampton Grease Band.
You are invited to join the celebration! More info:
www.greatspeckledbird.org.
CLASSIFIED
It's a deal! It's a steal! It's the sale of the effing century! Hell, if I had the money I'd keep it all for myself, but I don't so I ain't. What am I talking about? Glad you asked. I'm talking about Sweet Suffering Studio's all original art and design on t-shirts, posters, stickers, buttons -- you name it, we got it, * OR IT'S COMING SOON *. No clip art or stolen image crap here. New art added weekly. So, whether your tastes are lowbrow, highbrow, no brow; whether you like fine art, punk, indie, graphitti, or retro pin-up art, I've got your pop art fix, cheap. Check it:
http://www.cafepress.com/sweetsuffe
1 bedroom apartment in a duplex, washer/dryer, central heat/air, hardwood floors, big front porch, yard. $600/month, 1 month deposit. You pay electric, gas, water. Cable for ½ price. Immune to tornados! Bathroom decorated by former owner Hollis Gillespie! Next door to the headquarters of world famous Degenerate Press!! Email me for more info. Pictures coming soon.
1426 Gault St. SE, 30315
CLASSIFIEDS
Cleaned this out again. Send us somethin’.
INFRASTRUCTURE
In case you're new to our broadcast, welcome. We broadcast weekly, more or less. We encourage you to send in your own reviews, classifieds, poems, prose, perverse pictures, whatever you want in print. If you want it kept "off the record" please specify! We NEVER open attachments. If it's that important, post it on the web somewhere and send us a URL.
The unsubscribe command for this publication is “Campaign.”
PROPHESY
May 16, Friday
Eraserhead opens at The Plaza tonight. Shows daily at 7:45 and 9:45.
Sovus Radio CD release show at the Star Bar, with The Clutters, All the Saints.
The Hiss, The Howlies, Chainestereo at Lennys. The Friday night shows usually go on about 9:30 and wrap by midnight so the DJ's can take over, so get there early.
May 17, Saturday
97 Estoria hosts a festival this afternoon with a mess o’ live local music, kicking off around 2.
The Quadrajets reunite to play Emo’s in Austin, TX, with The New Bomb Turks, Space Cookie.
May 20, Tuesday
The Plaza is showing Barbarella tonight at 9:30.
May 21, Wednesday
The Earl has Can Can, Northern State (NYC queer hip hop). Supposedly Can Can goes on at 9:30.
May 22, Thursday
Bubbapalooza day 1: Redneck Greece Deluxe, The Thrillhammers, Slim Chance & The Convicts, Caroline & The Ramblers, Chickens & Pigs. Doors 8pm, $10
May 23-26, Memorial Day Weekend
MondHomo, a queer fest, happens all over town, including places like Lenny’
s. www.mondohomo.com
May 23, Friday
Bubbapalooza day 2: Robin Dean Salmon, Cletis & His City Cousins, The Blacktop Rockets, The Downer Brothers, Ghostrider Car Club, J.J. & The Hustlers, Rat Rod & The Rusty Rebels. Doors 6pm, Show Starts @ 7pm, $12.
May 24, Saturday
Bubbapalooza day 3: Rocket 350, The Psychodevilles, Dex Romweber Duo, Anna Kramer & The Lost Cause, Jimmy & The Teasers, Billie Joe Winghead, El Capitan & The Scallywags, The Georgia Fireflies. Doors 5pm, Show Starts @6pm, $15 The Booze, The Holland Dutch, Double Dynamite at The Earl.
Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of The Great Speckled Bird, 2-10 p.m. B Complex, 1272 Murphy Avenue SE, Atlanta, $7 Admission - Food and Drink at Proletarian Prices! www.greatspeckledbird.org.
May 29, Thursday
X, Detroit Cobras at Variety Playhouse.
May 31, Saturday
NEC is opening for Flowers Forever (members of Tilly & The Wall and Jet By
Day) at the Drunken Unicorn.
June 1, Sunday
Monster Bash at Starlight Drive In with bands, burlesque, skits and old horror flicks. This year’s movies are Godzilla Vs. Mechagodzilla, and The Werewolf Vs. Vampire Women. “Bands include Van Heineken,Black Mona Lisa,Los Rudos,Uncle Daddy,The Spectremen and a very special Super X 13 reunion {they will go on early so get there when the doors open!} YOU will SEE giant monsters battle masked wrestlers LIVE ON STAGE! Those ghoulish guys n gals from Blast Off Burlesque have some extra spooky stuff planned for you too!”
Gates at noon, bands at 2, movies at dark.
Season 3 of The Venture Brothers supposedly begins tonight on Adult Swim!
June 6, Friday
The Star Bar has Reverend Andy's Psychobilly Freakout Revival with The Creeping Cruds, The Tremors, The Psycho DeVilles, and The Liabilities.
June 7, Saturday
The NEC, All the Saints, Dead Confederate at The Earl.
June 12-15
Hukilau in Ft. Lauderdale, a tiki fest to beat all other tiki events, at the Mai-Kai and other locales. www.thehukilau.com I’ve red that this is the final Hukilau so you should be there!
June 13, Friday
The Gallery at East Atlanta Tattoo is having an art opening tonight, “Monster Mayhem,” with a mess of local artists showing monster-related works. Their openings are more like party than arty.
June 14, Saturday
Atlanta Rollergirls at the new locale, the Shrine Center on Ponce, with a double header. First match at 5, second match at 7, $13 in advance, $15 at the door. www.atlantarollergirls.com
June 17, Tuesday
The Plaza is showing Some Like it Hot with Marilyn Monroe tonight at 9:30.
The Fox has Casablanca, 7:30 with a pre-show organ sing-a-long.
June 18, Wednesday
The Fox is showing No Country for Old Men at 7:30 with a pre-show organ sing-a-long.
June 21, Saturday
Modey Lemon at The Earl, with The Liverhearts, Vera Fang.
The Howlies, The N.E.C., The Barberries at The Star Bar.
June 26-29
Corndogorama at Lenny’s.
July 12, Saturday
Atlanta Rollergirls at the new locale, the Shrine Center on Ponce, with a double header. First match at 5, second match at 7, $13 in advance, $15 at the door. www.atlantarollergirls.com The Everybodyfields, Hope for Agoldensummer at The Earl.
July 13, Sunday
The Fox is showing Ben Hur at 7 with a pre-show organ sing-a-long.
July 22, Tuesday
The Plaza is showing Xanadu tonight at 9:30 with a live appearance by Ruby Redd.
August 9, Saturday
Atlanta Rollergirls at the new locale, the Shrine Center on Ponce, with a double header. First match at 5, second match at 7, $13 in advance, $15 at the door. www.atlantarollergirls.com
August 11-17, 2008
International Thunderbird Club convention in Nashville, TN.
www.intl-tbirdclub.com
August 16, Saturday
Elvis Death Day celebration with Kingsized at Variety.
September 30, Saturday
Atlanta Rollergirls season championship at Shrine Center on Ponce, with a double header. First match at 5, second match at 7, $13 in advance, $15 at the door. www.atlantarollergirls.com
November 8, Saturday
Downhill Challenge, the soapbox derby at Starlight Drive In.
2014
World Cup Soccer in Brazil.
>Electric Degeneration has been brought to you by Degenerate Press:
www.degeneratepress.com
www.myspace.com/degeneratepress
www.livejournal.com/users/degeneratepres
Can you tell it was slow at work this week? Yeah, a two-fer Electric Degeneration!
FILM FLAM
I expected Speed Racer to be a horrific nightmare based on what critics had been saying and my own love for the original source material.
One of my earliest memories is of being 4 or 5 years old and hopping out of bed before my parents on Saturday mornings and rushing to the TV. Ultraman and Speed Racer were my coffee - hyperkinetic action, machinegun dialogue, surreal creatures and fantastic machines - what more could a boy want?
Afterward, I ran around in my socks, sliding across the floor and waking my parents up by imitating Ultraman or Speed Racer. They had no idea what I was doing because they had slept through the hour of Japanese power.
It was probably close to 30 years before I caught Speed Racer on TV again.
The cable network Speed starting rerunning episodes around 5:30PM, right when I'd get home from work. I was shocked at how much I remembered - I must've seen every episode several times as a kid. I had also forgotten how violent the cartoon was - a race car flies off the track and explodes *in the opening credits.* The animation was poor, but not as poor as other shows I had once enjoyed and have seen as an adult with complete dismay. And the cars were still cooler than anything else on TV.
So I feared what the live action movie would do to my precious memories of Speed Racer. Look at what Lucas had done to the closest thing I had to religion with the Star Wars remakes and prequals. But I knew I couldn't skip Speed Racer. Curiosity would grind me down.
So Wednesday EM and tailgated at Starlight Drive In with sushi and Japanese beer, just to make a night of it. I even dragged out a few of my embarrassing “40 Year Old Virgin” style collection of Speed Racer toys to show off. Our weekly drive invasion organizer SG was also a huge fan as a kid, so we settled into our lawn chairs with anticipatory grins, even if mine was a bit fearful.
I was not heartbroken. In fact, there were long stretches of the film I really enjoyed. It may be the closest thing possible to recreating the experience of being a child and watching something completely out of this world, then going to your back yard and living the dream through your imagination, aided by piles of Hot Wheels cars and tracks. Yes, the film is cartoonish and over the top, but if there had been even a hint of believability the whole thing would've sunk. It's somewhere between the remake of Willy Wonka, The Matrix, and Edward Scissorhands with obvious influences from drift racing, Hot Wheels tracks, and most of all the original cartoon (I half expected the backgrounds rushing by during some racing sequences to repeat themselves.) The acting leaves something to be desired but if it's the subtle interplay of human emotions you're after, this is the wrong film for you.
In fact, unless you grew up adoring the cartoon, I'm not sure this film is for you. A review on The AV Club says it well. "The Wachowskis may be guilty of being too far ahead of the curve: Maybe children one or two generations down the road will be able to process 135 minutes of manic, kitschy inanity, but for now, it goes down in one big, indigestible lump."
Well, I'm a child of a couple of generations up the road and I enjoyed the mania for 90% of the film. I found the only indigestible lumps to be the non-action scenes where the kid playing Spritle can't act as well as the monkey playing Chim Chim, or when John Goodman delivers lines like he's reading them from cue cards. But once the engines revved up and the cars started chasing through loops and jumps, sprouting crazy weapons with even crazier characters behind the wheel - suddenly I was 5 years old again and the only thing going through my mind was "Cooooool…."
The metaphorical sugar high crashed before the credits even finished rolling (thanks, in part, to some terrible rapping over the Speed Racer them featuring Ali Dee & The Deekompressors) but 90 minutes of spectacle is all I ask from a drive in movie.
EYE PATCHES
Steve, one of the old guys you see at every show, handed me a flyer for this shindig, then I got some email from WRFG about it too:
Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD Atlanta's Radical, Freaky Underground Newspaper of the 60’s and 70's Saturday, May 24, 2-10 p.m.
B Complex, 1272 Murphy Avenue SE, Atlanta
$7 Admission - Food and Drink at Proletarian Prices!
Proceeds benefit Atlanta Progressive News and WRFG Radio Photo and graphic exhibits of Bird covers and themes; music; speakers; jugglers; fire sculpture and more. Speakers from 4 to 6 include Amy Goodman of Democracy Now!, State Sen. Nan Orrock, and other former Bird staffers.
Live music beginning at 7, including Sparky & Rhonda Rucker and the ex-PAND Band.
As an appetizer for the main event on May 24, a Great Speckled Bird exhibit is now on display at the central Fulton County library in downtown Atlanta, fourth floor, thru May 18.
For 8+ years, The Bird provided a progressive alternative voice to existing Atlanta media, supporting civil rights, free speech, draft resistance, women ’s and gay liberation, youth culture and the struggles of workers, African Americans, students and antiwar GIs. It was an unwavering foe of the Vietnam war, US militarism, and repressive mainstream culture. Its pages also provided space for local artists, photographers, cartoonists and poets, local theatre and concert reviews, and interviews with Georgia musicians like the Allman Brothers and the Hampton Grease Band.
You are invited to join the celebration! More info:
www.greatspeckledbird.org.
CLASSIFIED
It's a deal! It's a steal! It's the sale of the effing century! Hell, if I had the money I'd keep it all for myself, but I don't so I ain't. What am I talking about? Glad you asked. I'm talking about Sweet Suffering Studio's all original art and design on t-shirts, posters, stickers, buttons -- you name it, we got it, * OR IT'S COMING SOON *. No clip art or stolen image crap here. New art added weekly. So, whether your tastes are lowbrow, highbrow, no brow; whether you like fine art, punk, indie, graphitti, or retro pin-up art, I've got your pop art fix, cheap. Check it:
http://www.cafepress.com/sweetsuffe
1 bedroom apartment in a duplex, washer/dryer, central heat/air, hardwood floors, big front porch, yard. $600/month, 1 month deposit. You pay electric, gas, water. Cable for ½ price. Immune to tornados! Bathroom decorated by former owner Hollis Gillespie! Next door to the headquarters of world famous Degenerate Press!! Email me for more info. Pictures coming soon.
1426 Gault St. SE, 30315
CLASSIFIEDS
Cleaned this out again. Send us somethin’.
INFRASTRUCTURE
In case you're new to our broadcast, welcome. We broadcast weekly, more or less. We encourage you to send in your own reviews, classifieds, poems, prose, perverse pictures, whatever you want in print. If you want it kept "off the record" please specify! We NEVER open attachments. If it's that important, post it on the web somewhere and send us a URL.
The unsubscribe command for this publication is “Campaign.”
PROPHESY
May 16, Friday
Eraserhead opens at The Plaza tonight. Shows daily at 7:45 and 9:45.
Sovus Radio CD release show at the Star Bar, with The Clutters, All the Saints.
The Hiss, The Howlies, Chainestereo at Lennys. The Friday night shows usually go on about 9:30 and wrap by midnight so the DJ's can take over, so get there early.
May 17, Saturday
97 Estoria hosts a festival this afternoon with a mess o’ live local music, kicking off around 2.
The Quadrajets reunite to play Emo’s in Austin, TX, with The New Bomb Turks, Space Cookie.
May 20, Tuesday
The Plaza is showing Barbarella tonight at 9:30.
May 21, Wednesday
The Earl has Can Can, Northern State (NYC queer hip hop). Supposedly Can Can goes on at 9:30.
May 22, Thursday
Bubbapalooza day 1: Redneck Greece Deluxe, The Thrillhammers, Slim Chance & The Convicts, Caroline & The Ramblers, Chickens & Pigs. Doors 8pm, $10
May 23-26, Memorial Day Weekend
MondHomo, a queer fest, happens all over town, including places like Lenny’
s. www.mondohomo.com
May 23, Friday
Bubbapalooza day 2: Robin Dean Salmon, Cletis & His City Cousins, The Blacktop Rockets, The Downer Brothers, Ghostrider Car Club, J.J. & The Hustlers, Rat Rod & The Rusty Rebels. Doors 6pm, Show Starts @ 7pm, $12.
May 24, Saturday
Bubbapalooza day 3: Rocket 350, The Psychodevilles, Dex Romweber Duo, Anna Kramer & The Lost Cause, Jimmy & The Teasers, Billie Joe Winghead, El Capitan & The Scallywags, The Georgia Fireflies. Doors 5pm, Show Starts @6pm, $15 The Booze, The Holland Dutch, Double Dynamite at The Earl.
Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of The Great Speckled Bird, 2-10 p.m. B Complex, 1272 Murphy Avenue SE, Atlanta, $7 Admission - Food and Drink at Proletarian Prices! www.greatspeckledbird.org.
May 29, Thursday
X, Detroit Cobras at Variety Playhouse.
May 31, Saturday
NEC is opening for Flowers Forever (members of Tilly & The Wall and Jet By
Day) at the Drunken Unicorn.
June 1, Sunday
Monster Bash at Starlight Drive In with bands, burlesque, skits and old horror flicks. This year’s movies are Godzilla Vs. Mechagodzilla, and The Werewolf Vs. Vampire Women. “Bands include Van Heineken,Black Mona Lisa,Los Rudos,Uncle Daddy,The Spectremen and a very special Super X 13 reunion {they will go on early so get there when the doors open!} YOU will SEE giant monsters battle masked wrestlers LIVE ON STAGE! Those ghoulish guys n gals from Blast Off Burlesque have some extra spooky stuff planned for you too!”
Gates at noon, bands at 2, movies at dark.
Season 3 of The Venture Brothers supposedly begins tonight on Adult Swim!
June 6, Friday
The Star Bar has Reverend Andy's Psychobilly Freakout Revival with The Creeping Cruds, The Tremors, The Psycho DeVilles, and The Liabilities.
June 7, Saturday
The NEC, All the Saints, Dead Confederate at The Earl.
June 12-15
Hukilau in Ft. Lauderdale, a tiki fest to beat all other tiki events, at the Mai-Kai and other locales. www.thehukilau.com I’ve red that this is the final Hukilau so you should be there!
June 13, Friday
The Gallery at East Atlanta Tattoo is having an art opening tonight, “Monster Mayhem,” with a mess of local artists showing monster-related works. Their openings are more like party than arty.
June 14, Saturday
Atlanta Rollergirls at the new locale, the Shrine Center on Ponce, with a double header. First match at 5, second match at 7, $13 in advance, $15 at the door. www.atlantarollergirls.com
June 17, Tuesday
The Plaza is showing Some Like it Hot with Marilyn Monroe tonight at 9:30.
The Fox has Casablanca, 7:30 with a pre-show organ sing-a-long.
June 18, Wednesday
The Fox is showing No Country for Old Men at 7:30 with a pre-show organ sing-a-long.
June 21, Saturday
Modey Lemon at The Earl, with The Liverhearts, Vera Fang.
The Howlies, The N.E.C., The Barberries at The Star Bar.
June 26-29
Corndogorama at Lenny’s.
July 12, Saturday
Atlanta Rollergirls at the new locale, the Shrine Center on Ponce, with a double header. First match at 5, second match at 7, $13 in advance, $15 at the door. www.atlantarollergirls.com The Everybodyfields, Hope for Agoldensummer at The Earl.
July 13, Sunday
The Fox is showing Ben Hur at 7 with a pre-show organ sing-a-long.
July 22, Tuesday
The Plaza is showing Xanadu tonight at 9:30 with a live appearance by Ruby Redd.
August 9, Saturday
Atlanta Rollergirls at the new locale, the Shrine Center on Ponce, with a double header. First match at 5, second match at 7, $13 in advance, $15 at the door. www.atlantarollergirls.com
August 11-17, 2008
International Thunderbird Club convention in Nashville, TN.
www.intl-tbirdclub.com
August 16, Saturday
Elvis Death Day celebration with Kingsized at Variety.
September 30, Saturday
Atlanta Rollergirls season championship at Shrine Center on Ponce, with a double header. First match at 5, second match at 7, $13 in advance, $15 at the door. www.atlantarollergirls.com
November 8, Saturday
Downhill Challenge, the soapbox derby at Starlight Drive In.
2014
World Cup Soccer in Brazil.
>Electric Degeneration has been brought to you by Degenerate Press:
www.degeneratepress.com
www.myspace.com/degeneratepress
www.livejournal.com/users/degeneratepres
