Meat Puppets - 1985 - Phoenix, Arizona

Meat Puppets

14 February 1985 

The Mason Jar 

Phoenix, Arizona

03:07 Magic Toy Missing
04:40 Enchanted Pork Fist
07:00 The Whistling Song
08:58 Maiden's Milk
12:17 Away
15:58 Oh, Me
18:30 Too Real
20:35 Buckethead
23:00 Up On The Sun
26:45 Lake Of Fire
28:28 Creator
30:42 Swimming Ground
33:47 Hot Pink
37:20 Plateau
39:46 Seal Whales
42:16 Animal Kingdom
44:44 Good Golly Miss Molly
48:44 Lost
52:00 Two Rivers

Sonic Youth - 1983 - Milan, Italy

8 November 1983

Odissea 2001

Milan, Italy 

The World Looks Red

She's in a Bad Mood

Early American

Burning Spear

Confusion is Next

Brother James 

Kill Yr Idols

Making the Nature Scene

Shaking Hell

The Good and the Bad

Inhuman 

B.J. Lang Presents (1971) aka The Manipulator

The truly bizarre film B.J. Lang Presents (aka The Manipulator) was directed by Yabo Yablonsky and first came to my attention via a review in the outstanding publication Shock Cinema.

The film plays out with only three characters and for the most part tight and limited staging. As a counterpoint tons of camera effects, hyper editing, even strobe lights are used to add a crazed rush to the entire movie.

Mickey Rooney stars as a completely non compos mentis thespian who is operating under the false assumption that adoring folks are pestering him to perform the leading role in a staging of Cyrano de Bergerac. As he stumbles and growls through a set comprised of a warehouse of aging props and assorted debris we soon discover he is holding a woman he refers to as Carlotta (played by Easy Rider's Luana Anders) captive. Rooney chews the scenery with hardcore zeal as he forces her to act in his mini-productions while growing increasingly troubled. The only other character is a homeless man who wanders into the building looking for shelter and is played by Keenan Wynn.

The Christian Licorice Store (1971)

Director James Frawley gained my attention and interest for his involvement with two outstanding films: The Muppet Movie as well as the oddball U.S. filmed Western Kid Blue, starring Dennis Hopper, Warren Oates, and Peter Boyle. Prior to Kid Blue, Frawley directed this feature following a rising tennis star navigating life and games both on and off the court. The film's title The Christian Licorice Store is never mentioned or referenced in the film.

Beau Bridges stars as Los Angeles based budding tennis ace Franklin Cane with Maud Adams as his steady girlfriend. Allan Arbus and director Jean Renoir also appear as do many familiar faces in smaller roles. Lalo Schifrin delivers a soundtrack worthy of his storied reputation and Tim Buckley provides some songs too.