Magic Lantern - "Monster In A Box"

It was like watching a human trainwreck...

I just stumbled on Monster In A Box, the second of two films staring actor/screenwriter/playwright Spalding Gray, while flipping around channels this evening. Spalding's first movie, Swimming to Cambodia, was sprung on me by my friend Karl some years ago. At the time I was at the peak of my martial arts and action phase, but here I was riveted by a man seated at a desk on stage and talking for nearly and hour-and-a-half. Again tonigh, I sat relaxed and happy that we've finally gotten things organized a little after our move, and couldn't switch the channel or look away. I knew how it turned out, knew how Spalding tamed his boxed "monster", but had to finish watching all the same.

Oh, the fact that both movies used creative and dramatic stage lighting, were shot and edited well by directors smart enough to let the camera be an eye rather than an interprerative device, and were scored impeccably by Laurie Anderson all certainly helped...but thanks to Spalding's quick wit, keen ear and pseudo-jewish frantic paranoia, I felt like I was with Spalding on every leg of his trip. It was amazing.

Watching Monster In A Box tonight reminds me of why I felt Spalding was so amazing. Why, when I heard about his death some time ago (has it really been three years?) was I profoundly sad - Spalding had an insight in to patterns.

I can't help but find themes or patterns in things - it help keeps me sane at night, maybe. Or maybe I'm just overly romantic and hopeful that the world just isn't random bits of things that happen. Listening to Spalding talk about his novel, the struggle to finish it, and his adventures along the way (taking Hollywood meetings, traveling Russia, starring in a Broadway revival of "Our Town"), makes me think that for all his hypocondriac tendancies and depression that he was very zen at heart. I like to think we'd have gotten along, and frankly I'm sorry that I never got a chance to meet the man.

And like Douglas Adams, the world is poorer for his not being in it. Like Cambodia before it, Monster emulates the same reporter-at-his-desk livingroom conversation theatrics that made Spalding internationally famous. It's just as personal, raw, funny, and thought provoking as the original, and it made me glad to know that somewhere in the midst of politcians who play for the TV cameras, or actors with delusions of political punditry, there was an honest-to-God human being that partied, drank, loved, feared, and had simple adventures that most of us will never share.

Thank you for having the courage to let us in to your life, Spalding. We miss you.

Magic Lantern - The Aquabats in "Fashion Zombies"

* note - The magic lantern or Lanterna Magica was the ancestor of the modern slide projector, which in turn begat the motion picture projector, and so forth. I've therefore chosen this subtitle for all reviews and comments of movies, video and television.

It seems we're still on the subject of The Aquabats. I invited members of the official Aquabats forum to critique my recent entries and the blog as a whole. I've gotten nice responses, but one member commented I should've made mention of "the new stuff".

The Aquabats Charge was released in 2005 and was the group's first full studio album release since 1999's The Aquabats vs. The Floating Eye of Death. Skimming the track listing on Charge, I can honestly say every song on it is excellent.

Really. It's a solid album in the same way Devo's New Traditionalists was solid. But if I had to pick a favorite it'd probably be "Tiger Rider Vs. The Time Sprinkler".

So, in deference to "Robert's" comment from my previous post here is The Aquabats' latest video adventure - "Fashion Zombies!":

The Return of The Aquabats

(continued from the previous post...)

Frankly I'm surprised that I'd never heard of these guys before a couple of years ago. By that time, The Aquabats had already gained and lost former Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker (aka Baron Von Tito) and had already begun ambitious video projects. But I mean really...if there was ever a band I was genetically disposed to be a fan of (aside from The Beatles of course) it'd be these guys.

Once I got used to their humor and style it was clear...not only were these tight, talented musicians, but these were the guys who grew up watching Batman, Speed Racer and The Monkees. Who played "secret agent" with their friends, collected Adventure Team- era G.I. Joe toys, knew the thrill of those first Kenner "Star Wars" toys, and stayed glued to Saturday morning during the golden era of live-action kids shows and superheroic cartoons.

It's easy to dismiss The Aquabats as a gimmicky stage act, but over the course of their four albums they've created a blend of ska, punk and new wave that's uniquely their own. Sharp lyrics combined with geek pathos and a constant ability to laugh at themselves ensures that they'll likely never achieve a mainstream success...but that's not what it's about really.

For wherever there is the threat of lackluster music, corporate-produced pop, and hipster wannabees, they will be there. Wherever good times are lacking, and there is no rocking, they will be there. Who are they?

THE AQUABATS!

The Aquabats Official Website: http://www.theaquabats.com

The Aquabats MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/theaquabats

Finally a little up close and personal Aquabats action with..."Super Rad!"

Three-Ring Circus: Triple-Threat Contact!

Quick - look to your right! See those three links there? They're NEW!

I should've done this when I first started the blog, but I've finally added all three of my major online contact points. Now in addition to enjoying my emeralds of wisdom, Lantern's Light is a single contact page for all of my interests. You can now reach me live via Keen.com for professional advice through my one-man shop Action Marketing, browse Action Marketing's latest eBay sales, and check out my latest contacts via MySpace.com.

Hey GL! I thought you were going to talk about The Aquabats, not your own self-promotion!

You're right. I was. Well I've got to keep this quick but there's lot to tell. Let's get started:

Though my friend Karl is responsible for a lot of my recent musical interests, I can thank my friend Steve for cluing me in to The Aquabats. I used to put in a few hours a week at his store More Fun Comics for him from time to time so I was used to having the run of the place. I noticed the jewel box for "The Aquabats! vs. the Floating Eye of Death!". I was intrigued by the kitchy graphics which reminded me more of the 1960's Batman TV series than anything else. Almost as an afterthought I found the disk and swapped it out for whatever was in the player.

The first song didn't grab me much, but I couldn't quite believe what I was hearing in the second song. It sounded for all the world like I was hearing a Devo-influenced pop song about defeating the Floating Eye of Death with a war machine dubbed "Giant Robot Birdhead".

Say wha?

Instantly I was transported back to...oh maybe it was 6th grade. My parents bought me a three-foot Raydeen action figure from the Shogun Warriors collection as a conformation present. The Devo-esque influcences took me back to 8th grade and my first concert - Devo in support of their "Oh No! It's Devo!" album.

Once I learned more about them and their superhero leanings, I instantly had a new favorite band. A group of superheroic action wannabes that play rock n' roll and fight monsters?

Aquabats...where have you BEEN all my life?

(more later...)

Three-Ring Circus - MySpace, Loki and Dinner Time

It's actually happening...

1. MySpace.com - You gotta be kidding! Not only am I building and maintaining a MySpace.com page, but I've begun creating a Friends network. In doing so, I'm amazed that I actually knew more people than I thought...and I've only scratched the surface! Hey, as of today I can count The Aquabats as my MySpace friends! Beat THAT, evildoers!
2. I just got some email from my friend Loki. It seems there was some question about him moving out of the New Orleans area. I forget how many generations of New Orleanians Loki comes from - I think it's 15. I realize the events of Hurricanes Katrina/Rita were tough on everyone involved. Hell the wife and I still have issues and I count us lucky! Yet for our remaining friends that know Loki and his new bride as well as I to think that he'd leave the area...wow. Maybe there's even more recovery yet needed. Anyway, Loki's been running his own blog since the whole Katrina shebang started. Visit him at The Humid City and tell 'im GL sent you!
3. A lousy day at work ended with a few minutes in the company of my family and spaghetti dinner. After dinner, I was treated to a guided tour of our newly cleaned home. Princess ToughStuff sure deserves a lot of credit! Nice job, Toughie. Thank you.

Next Time - Lantern's Spotlight on "The Aquabats"!

Lantern's Spotlight - MySpace.com

It had to happen sooner or later...

I was drug kicking and screaming to MySpace.com and I was trying to think about why. I'm a first-generation netgeek, fer cryin' out loud! I should've had one of the first MySpace pages out there, right? RIGHT?!

FEH! Actually I HAD a MySpace.com account some years ago back when it was an MP3-only storage site. 10MB of free space, I think it was. I remember I had a handful of tracks including William Shatner's version of "Rocket Man"...then one day I couldn't play it.

I probably never got the whole "MySpace" thing 'cause it was trendy. Sorta like Seinfield. I liked Jerry Seinfield as a comedian, but I never watched Seinfield the show...though I did recognize the passing of a cultural icon and DID watch the final episode. I think it's cause EVERYONE watched Seinfield just like everyone watched Friends and Everyone Loves Raymond.

Everyone does NOT love Raymond.

Just as I recognized the cultural impact of Seinfield, and can admit to watching a few episodes of both Friends and Raymond, that same spirit finally allows me to open up my own MySpace.com page. No, I won't be tweaking it constantly or blogging there constantly, but I realize that it's a big networking channel. Lantern's Light is still my home...albeit dusty from disuse. Well that's changing too...

Visit my NEW MySpace.com page at http://www.myspace.com/greenlantern68

Back From The Darkness...Again

A Three-Ring Circus Performance

1. Hey GL! Good to see you back! Where have you been?
1. Well after the missus and I got settled, I started spending most of my online time in Paragon City.
2. So what brings you back?
1. Let's just say that while being a virtual superhero is great, it's not really payin' the bills.
3. Is that all?
1. Heck no. Frankly I got the idea after my younger stepdaughter got her sister and the missus into making MySpace.com pages as a "family project-bonding" thing. I figure if I'm going to do something like that I'd better breathe some life back into everything else I'm doing online. Besides, the wife's been on me to start selling some of our eBay merchandise so our upcoming move will be easier. More on that later...
4. I thought this was only a Three-Ring Circus, GL?
1. Yeah, it is. Go listen to some music. I'll be back later.