First of all, I hate festivals! I think it stems from my mom taking me to see Donovan at the Hollywood Bowl in 1970. I was 8 and to this day the smell of patchouli gives me petit mal seizures. Hippies were filthy earth monkeys! But Don’t Knock the Rock festivals are different–they aren’t like Lollypopalooza or Chimichanga; for one, you’re not sweatin’ your ass off in some God-forsaken wasteland and you’re not bombarded by hundreds of sub-par acts on eight different stages with only two bands that you actually want to see, which are playing simultaneously at the opposite ends of the uninhabitable badlands. Thank God that DKTR festivals are broken up over a period of time at different, comfortable venues with nobody walking around playing hacky sack. The opening night’s show could not have been better; tonight was very different than most nights due to a very high concentration of blue
“Orgone energy” fuzz in the atmosphere. (Orgone energy is the life force discovered by Wilhelm Reich in the ’40s.) But don’t write me off as some New Ager yet; I know whence I speak and there was universal Jungian consciousness occurring. Also the kid assured me it was “Kind Bud” and not “Train-wreck.”
Allison and Tiffany Anders at Don’t Knock The Rock couldn’t have picked a better venue or film. I have been to several of the films shown at Hollywood Forever and this vibe was totally different. There was a lack of the cheese and wine crowd, for one, but there were also far fewer cinephiles–this was more like the crowd you see at Amoeba and the kids were here to rock!
And rock they did! The T.A.M.I. Show stood for both Teenage Awards Music International and Teen Age Music International, so don’t ask. But what it really was about is the USA going toe to toe with England! And we spanked some royal limey ass! Even Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones claimed that following James Brown & The Famous Flames was the biggest mistake of their careers, because no matter how well they performed, they could not top him. He was on fire! Lesley Gore sang her little heart out! The Supremes and the Beach Boys were Amazing. The Wrecking Crew (which you can see a documentary about on Thursday at the Silent Movie Theater, also part of DKTR fest) was the house band! The film quality was superb, borrowed from Quentin T’s archive. It was one hell of an opening night!
Those that know me know I could go on and on about the Silent Actors buried there, I’m only gunna mention one, cause it’s his grass you’re parking your asses on, and that’s the original swashbuckler Douglas Fairbanks. That’s his grave that the long moat goes up to, and that’s his
memorial lawn that the films are shown on (please see The Gaucho or The Mask Of Zorro). As his epitaph says, “Goodnight sweet prince and may The Supremes and Lesley Gore, sing thee to thy rest”
– Malibu Mike Murphy
1 E. P // Jul 1, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Know what youmean about festivals, I hate em’.
I also know what you mean about the snobby cinafiles that usually go to hollywood/forever,haha the wine and cheese crowd. Sunday was fun!
peace-out,
Mauricio
2 Damu // Jul 1, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Great review; that was an awesome night!
-Damu
3 Malibu Mike Murphy // Jul 2, 2008 at 12:08 pm
I know Mauricio I once had to listen to some lame ass rap about Haskell Wexler’s “Medium Cool” for an hour and a half!! I thought the sun would never go down. The sick thing about it is he has a star on Hollywood Blvd. and the guy he apprenticed for, and learned everything from, and is a million times more important, James Wong Howe doesn’t have diddley! Now I’m guilty of the same hubris. Speaking of which why hasn’t there been much noise about Bo Diddley passing? I can’t believe it. Maybe I’m just out of the loop. To me Bo Diddley is equally as important as Elvis or The Beatles! And ten times more important then Johnny Cash, who people are still boohooing! Speaking of Boohooing ever notice how much baby talk is in A Clockwork Orange? And the “Milk” emphasis? Infantilism! It all goes back to Original Sin!
Mauricio, Haskell Wexler, James Wong Howe, Bo Diddley, Elvis, The Beatles and Johnny Cash yep, you can trace it all back to Original Sin! Am I wrong?
Fragile. Do not drop,
Mmm
P.S. My Girlfriend just got an awesome Bo Diddley Tatto!
4 Mitra Mau Mau // Jul 3, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Mike stop commenting on your own articles as an excuse to brag about all the other stuff you know about! We all know you border on idiot savant-ism already.
5 luftwaffle // Jul 3, 2008 at 12:19 pm
“I like turtles!”
6 Malibu Mike Murphy // Jul 3, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Idiot Savant syndrome, sometimes abbreviated as savantism, is not a recognized medical diagnosis, savant syndrome is simply “hearsay, uncorroborated by independent scrutiny”. This just sounds like more anti-catholic tactics by a known member of Mensa to discredit the Jesuits pursuit of excellence in knowlage and learning and life-long spiritual and intellectual growth. Also Brat, you’re getting your ass spanked when I get home.
“Iesum Habemus Socium”
~Mmm
PS. I like turtles too!
7 Malibu Mike Murphy // Jul 3, 2008 at 5:22 pm
In fact, “Mau Mau” if anybody wants to see fireworks tomorrow were just gunna show em’ yer ass! Wanna hear braggin’? Gurl, It’s gunna look like it belongs in von Hagens’ “Body Worlds” exhibit at the Science Center!
8 Sugar Love // Jul 9, 2008 at 7:53 am
I never would have wanted to see this festival until I read your review. Crowds can put me off, but I don’t mind the cinefiles, the cheese and wine crowd, the chess and weeny crowd, everyone’s alright. I’m gonna check out The Gaucho tonight. I love reading your reviews, they suck me in and spit me out somewhere totally different.
9 Malibu Mike Murphy // Jul 9, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Hee Hee! You said, “Chest and Weeny Crowd!”
PS I’m not alright!
I’m not alright
Yeah I’m not alright
Het him In
Het him In
Hey bring It down
I’m calling from the fun house with my song
We have been separated Sugar Love far to long
Calling all you women to do many things
Shining in your cradle calling be my race!
Hold me tight! I’m calling from the fun house!
Hold me tight! I’m calling from the fun house!
Yes yeah I came to play and I need to play with you
Yeah I came to play!
Stay, hey hey you
In one more time
Down take it down take it down
Been separated
Been separated
Too long
I’m not alright! I’m not alright!I’m not alright!
I’m not alright! I’m not alright!I’m not alright!
I came To play!
Ok Ok
Jeez,You people don’t deserve the restraint I show you by not going into complete delirium right in front of you. To hell with them!
The Gaucho! God what a movie! Fairbanks wrote it after returning from Lourdes, lying in the foothills of the Pyrenees, Basqe Country of which I am half, and Half Irish. “Sugar Love” These are just the type of Comments that my girlfriend accusses me of inventing. I would love to prove that little brat wrong! The Gaucho is a great movie based on the story of Saint Bernadette, It’s awesome and action packed!
Also see his “Mystery of the leaping Fish” written by Todd Browning of Freaks fame, about a Sherlock Holmes type detective hopped up on Coke and Smack! His name is Coke Anyday!
Fairbanks also did As clouds roll by, one of the First filmed “Dreams of a Rarebit Fiend” undertakings.
Yeah I came to play,
Mmm
Leave a Comment