"I've got a beverage here."
Last weekend I attended LebowskiFest West, two evenings of events dedicated exclusively to The Big Lebowski.My level of movie fandom extends to:
1. Going to the LebowskiFest
2. Wanting to have gone to JawsFest (but not making it) on Martha's Vineyard (but writing a musical about it)
3. Asking a San Fernando Valley Congressman where the Martini's New House scene from It's A Wonderful Life was shot.
The first night of LebowskiFest was a concert at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood, and the second night was a bowling event in Torrance or somewhere south. I didn't make the second evening, but one night of fans of anything was enough.
Several bands played, including a takeoff on Autobahn, who were three guys dressed like the album cover in the movie, equipped with large scissors and playing Kraftwerk-style loops while repeating lines from the movie, unsynchronized. The concept was better than the execution but they were pretty funny.
Songs included "Cut off Your Johnson" and "We Believe in Nothing".
Another band was like the B-52s-meets-X with a blond siren frontwoman and a bass player dresssed as Hitler. I liked them a lot. They were called the Neu Tickles ("a force that emerges when people come together & take off their metaphorical pants of imprisonment") and said they were from Germany, but I doubt it. I think I will follow this band.
I ordered some food and drinks and around that time, somewhere in the world or perhaps right there, my credit card number was stolen and about $800 in debits began accruing on my bank account from locations in Moscow. I didn't find this out until the following Monday. I had a good time otherwise.
One of the interesting parts of the show was the appearance of Jeff Dowd, who was the inspiration for The Dude. He was a little more Hollywood than I would have liked. He did a lot of name dropping. I wondered later if I was just disappointed that he wasn't sympathetic like Jeff Bridges' character or if I would not have liked him anyway. Alas, I think it is Option 2.Other celebrities in attendance were the guy who played Liam, Jesus' bowling partner, the checkout clerk who accepted Lebowski's check for a buck and change for half and half at Ralph's on September 11, the waitress who counseled Walter to keep his voice down in the "I can get you a toe" scene, and the guy whose new Corvette Walter smashed.
Each said a few words to the audience and each had to deal with some guy in the balcony screaming at them to say "their line".
I am sad to say this, but the geek in me was embarrassed.
Finally, the move started playing at 11:30. Everyone cheered and it was great to see it with 500 people. But I was a little sick so I left early and went to the House of Pies.
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by Marty Barrett at Monday, March 13, 2006
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