Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Psychedelic Faves

Since the first film I ever saw, Sisters (by Brian DePalma)I have always loved psychedelic films. The swirling colors and music stimulate my brain in such a way that my mind feels relaxed. Everything shuts down and I am just a gorilla on tranquilizers drooling at all the funny colors and sounds. Having had little success with drugs, I suppose I had to turn to other stimuli to carbonate my cranial fluids. It wasn't until recently I realized films were my mescaline.
I'm thinking of films like PetuliaHead, Yellow Submarine, Performance, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Spirits of the Dead,

The Holy Mountain,
Lizard in Woman's Skin, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls,

...even 2001: A Space Odyssey.


Films by Mario Bava (I'm looking in the direction of Planet of the Vampires, Diabolik, Blood and Black Lace and Lisa and the Devil to name but a few; I loved Bava's film since childhood because of their colors...):



Sunday, July 6, 2008

4th of July Capper


This weekend was a work sandwich as I had to be at the office on Saturday for a few hours between being off on Friday and Sunday. Friday was exciting. Part of it spent by the pool, part of it spent watching...The Fugitive Kind, starring Marlon Brando and Joanne Woodward, with a script based on a Tennessee Williams play. There was music and relaxation as well. Some reading, some writing on what threatens to be my next novel. But after a short 30 minute nap I was woken by the sounds of Sonic Youth playing at Battery Park in Manhattan for a free concert they put on for WFMU.
I heard the loud bashing chords of "She is Not Alone" and turned over. By the time they were rocking "Bull and the Heather" I was up and awake, filled with immense excitement and a little nostalgia. Having seen the Youths only once I can attest to their ability to rock as great as they ever did, sometimes better than most contemporary bands. They threw out one great song after another. I was in awe of how many albums they touched on: Daydream Nation, Experimental, Jetset, Trash and No Star, Dirty, etc. also playing lots of songs I never thought I'd hear live.
After a dozen songs they returned two encores later, no "Expressway to Yr Skull" but a surprising "Making the Nature Scene"!


Well, wish I'd been there. But even just listening over the internet I felt transported to that little park at the south east tip of Manhattan. Not even the rain could deter the 7,000 who'd gathered. There will be another WFMU concert in August, also free. Check out the station's website for more info (Extra Golden will play; they're an American/Kenyan band who play some amazing guitar based African music-- New Yorkers, check it out!).