I Need That Record! I really do!

Music is so important to me, and how I work.  When I'm making puppet, or writing, or drawing, I always have music going.  In the car, when I'm in bed, whatever, there is music.

Some people come home from work and watch TV.  Not me.  I come home and turn on the turntable, the iPod, or a CD...

Right now I'm drinking my morning coffee with Cee-Lo, I know you wish you were here hanging with me enjoying my awesome coffee and Cee-Lo saying "Fuck You", hahaha...

I spent most of my 20's working in music shops of some sort.  My love of music got me there.

My first music shop job was in 1996 at Strawberries (RIP), then I went on to Media Play (RIP), and then Record Express (RIP), and my time in music shops ended in 2004 when I left Borders (Living On The Edge or RIP).  So when I first heard about "I Need That Record!" I was jazzed to see it.  And I have, and it's awesome.

I didn't know much about what stores would be featured so when the whole movie starts at the last remaining Record Express in Middletown (RIP) I got all nostalgic about my time at the Record Express shops in West Hartford Center and East Hartford.  Then I remembered those shops were both dumps and didn't feel so bad, hahaha...  But it is sad to see most people are losing the local small shop to get all the weird cool stuff along with the biggest hits.

Recently Books and Music in Plainville CT closed it's doors.  Which was even sadder for me since we filmed some of "Josh and Todd" there.

This Saturday nite at Paris In Plantsville I'll be hosting our Monthly Film Screening and we'll be showing "I Need That Record!" and the director, Brandon Toller, is set to attend and do a Q&A after.  I'm really excited to share the film with people, so I hope if you're in CT you come out!

And I can bribe you to come!  Anyone who comes and makes a donation of 5 bucks or more will be entered into a raffle to win a bag full of music!  Over a dozen CDs of independent and national music (even some Marvin Gaye!) and a few LPs!

www.ineedthatrecord.com

Down with O.P.P. (Other Peoples Puppets)

These sock skits crack me up every time...

Monday Song - Car Crash

I'm wide awake and so alive
Ringing like a bell
Tell me this is paradise
And not someplace I fell
'Cause I keep on fallin' down

I wanna feel the car crash
I wanna feel the capsize
I wanna feel the bomb drop, the earth stop
'Til I'm satisfied
I wanna feel the car crash
'Cause I'm dyin' on the inside
I wanna let go and know
That I'll be alright, alright

Just push me 'til I have to fly
I've shed my skin, my scars
Take me deep out past the lights
Where nothing dims these stars
Nothing dims these stars

I wanna feel the car crash
I wanna feel the capsize
I wanna feel the bomb drop, the earth stop
'Til I'm satisfied
I wanna feel the car crash
'Cause I'm dyin' on the inside
I wanna let go and know
That I'll be alright, alright

So right
It's all wrong

I'm wide awake and so alive

I wanna feel the car crash
I wanna feel the capsize
I wanna feel the bomb drop, the earth stop
'Til I'm satisfied
I wanna feel the car crash
'Cause I'm dyin' on the inside
I wanna let go and know
That I'll be alright, alright
(Matt Nathanson)

Ouch

So I get home from Brie's last nite around 11:30 (held up by a DUI checkpoint on the end of my street!) and I hit the kitchen.  I don't turn any lights on, and I get out a can of cat food for the boys, a late nite treat of wet food.

So I open it and they come running.

And I should have put the light on.

I misjudged how close I was to the phone on the wall.

The phone an my head got into a fight.

And I got laid out on my ass.  Hahahaha.

Yes, I hit it so hard with my melon that I landed on the floor on my back.  So I'm there laughing and I open my eyes to see to cats looking at me like "Dude, you're a mess."

What a way to end the day...

Butter Monster

Butter Monster

Mouth Puppet

Butter was made using the same pattern/concept as Bad Monster, as a commission.

O.P.P. - Other Peoples Puppets

Can't wait for this movie...  Been a long time since the Muppets were on the big screen!

Monday Song - Slowly Rising

She don't need an introduction

She ain't gonna stop production

She's gonna make you feel a suction

She's got the weapons of mass destruction
She's solar-powered

She's never saying anything

And the sun shines out of her everywhere

She sees best without her glasses

She does well in all her classes

A cheek for your lips and a cheek for the masses
She's got weapons

It's so strange

You don't change

It's so strange

You don't change
Slowly rising

She's solar-powered

She's never saying anything

And the sun shines out of her everywhere

He's got the money and you can't have it

She's got the power and he's got the habit

She's gonna make you feel her posture

She's got weapons

It's so strange

You don't change

It's so strange

You don't change
Slowly rising
She's solar powered

She's never saying anything

And the sun shines off her everywhere

(Soul Asylum)

Monday Song - I Chose To Sing The Blues

I could have been a gambler

'coz I'm good with the cards

I could have been a lover

breakin' other's hearts

and I feel so silly

bettin' on the dice

and a lover seldom sees

the same girl twice

and that is why, 

that's why I chose,

I chose to sing the blues, yes I did

Now, I could have been a doctor

helping the sick

and I could have been a lawyer

but you know that ain't my stick

'coz I feel so bad

if a patient didn't do well

and I feel just as bad

to leave a client in jail

and that is why,

that's why I chose,

I chose to sing the blues

Now a man has a lot

that he could present

just to think I could have been

president

but I can't understand

what politicians say

so I wanna talk to you

in my own little way

and that is why,

that's why I chose,

I chose to sing the blues

That's what I'm talkin' 'bout when I sing

(Ray Charles)

Happy Star Wars Day~

Monday Song - Birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRIE!!!

It's in the way she often calls me out

It's in the cut of your pretty gown

Your come-on legs and your pantyhose

You look so precious with your bloody nose

We're gonna come together, we're gonna celebrate

We're gonna gather around like it's your birthday

I don't wanna know just what I'm gonna do

I don't care where you're going

I'm coming home with you

Walking her home with the grassy field

Falling and laughing at the drinks we spill

Just one of those nights that I have to share

Chasing the death without a care

We're gonna come together, we're gonna celebrate

We're gonna gather around like it's your birthday

I don't wanna know just what I'm gonna do

I don't care where you're going

I'm coming home with you

You know I love the way you curve

We're gonna come together, we're gonna celebrate

We're gonna get around like it's your birthday

I don't wanna know just what I'm gonna do

I don't care where you're going

I'm coming home with you

(Kings of Leon)

Monday Song - Walking After You

Tonight I'm tangled in my blanket of clouds

Dreaming aloud 

Things just won't do without you, matter of fact 

I'm on your back, 

If you walk out on me, I'm walking after you 

If you'd accept surrender, I'll give up some more 

Weren't you adored 

I cannot be without you, matter of fact 

I'm on your back, 

If you walk out on me, I'm walking after you 

Another heart is cracked in two, I'm on your back 

I cannot be without you, matter of fact 

I'm on your back, I'm on your back, I'm on your back 

If you walk out on me, I'm walking after you 

If you walk out on me, I'm walking after you 

If you walk out on me, I'm walking after you 

Another heart is cracked in two, I'm on your back

(Foo Fighters)

JOSH AND TODD! Tonite! And Tomorrow!

BE THERE IF YOU LIKE GOOD MOVIES!

At Paris In Plantsville, doors open at 7 PM, and the movie starts at 8!

More info here

Saturday is also the National Day of Puppets, and the gallery will be running puppet films from 1-6, and there will be puppets to play with there!

Josh and Todd! This Weekend!

We had so much fun showing it at Paris In Plantsville back in February that we're doing an encore this weekend!

Friday and Saturday at 8 PM!  The doors open at 7, so get there early!

5 buck donation to the gallery to get in, and everyone who donate will be entered in a raffle to win a one of a kind Elmwood Puppet made by yours truly!

Click the link above for more info!

Paris In Plantsville

15 West Main Street, Plantsville, CT

Shiney

Sometimes it's the little things that inspire me to do something creative.

For example...
My friend Josh gave me a Sharpie Marker two days ago. A cool refillable metal one, black ink.
I haven't done much drawing in the past couple years outside of puppet designs.
Since I've had this marker though I've been drawing for fun, just to do it. And it feels good to be doodling again.

Thanks Josh!

Monday Song - I Would Be Your Slave

Walking in the snowy street
Let me understand
Drifting down a silent park
Stumbling over land
Open up your heart to me
Show me who you are
And I would be your slave

Do you sleep in quietude?
Do you walk in peace?
Do you laugh out loud at me?
No one else that is free
Open up your heart to me
Show me all you are
And I would be your slave

I don't sit around and wait
I don't give a damn
I don't see the point at all
No footprints in the sand

I bet you laugh out loud at me
A chance to strike me down
Give me peace of mind at last
Show me all you are
Open up your heart to me
And I would be your slave

I don't sit and wait
I don't give a damn
I don't see the point at all
No footprints in the sand
I would give you all my love
Nothing else is free
Open up your heart to me
And I would be your slave
(David Bowie)

40

Today would have been my brother Michael's 40th Birthday.

Wow.  40.

Not a day goes by where I don't think of him in some way.  A random memory, or I hear a song, or I wonder what he would have thought about what I've been doing, or if he would have liked Revenge of the Sith.  

I'm pretty sure he would love it and be part of this puppet madness!

Here's a goofy little hand puppet of him I made for an upcoming short film...

And I'm pretty sure he would have loved Revenge of the Sith

"Cat and Mouse"

Animated film by Jim Henson

More proof the man was a genius.

Mondy Song - Rock Crown

Well I haven't seen a doctor
since I can't remember when
But she tells me I've been a talker
since 1976
We went up to the lake and I, I remember
this: my family secret

Pits in my skin where I let you in
This Rock Crown never let you down

I'm a season in Hell- 20 years
from showing up, down on your scene
without a semblance of what I've seen
Tell me what I've seen
Tell me what I've seen
Enough to make this young man
Filthy. Filthy. Clean...

Pits in my skin where I let you in
This Rock Crown never let you down
(7 Mary 3)

Monday Song - The Luckiest

I don't get many things right the first time
In fact, I am told that a lot
Now I know all the wrong turns, the stumbles and falls
Brought me here

And where was I before the day
That I first saw your lovely face?
Now I see it everyday
And I know

That I am
I am
I am
The luckiest

What if I'd been born fifty years before you
In a house on a street where you lived?
Maybe I'd be outside as you passed on your bike
Would I know?

And in a white sea of eyes
I see one pair that I recognize
And I know

That I am
I am
I am
The luckiest

I love you more than I have ever found a way to say to you

Next door there's an old man who lived to his nineties
And one day passed away in his sleep
And his wife; she stayed for a couple of days
And passed away

I'm sorry, I know that's a strange way to tell you that I know we belong
That I know

That I am
I am
I am
The luckiest
(Ben Folds)

Down with O.P.P. (Other Peoples Puppets)

Duck Walks Into A Bar

Funny stuff!

I Have Some Bon Jovi CDs for Sale...

Tricky and I were thinking about going to see the Poison/Motley Crue/New York Dolls tour this summer... Then we saw tickets were 90ish bucks.
No thanks. Nikki Sixx and Bret Micheals already have enough money, not gonna pay them that much to hear the same songs they played in 1988, 1991, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, and so on...

So it got me looking at other tickets.
And BITE ME BON JOVI.
Bon Jovi sings songs about the working man. "Tommy" from Livin' on A Prayer, guys like that. Tickets for the bands concerts are now 200-500 dollars (even over $1,000.00 for the show in CT). So much for Tommy taking Gina out for a nite. So much for a band that cares about fans.
I culd see if some of the money was going to charity. But it's not.


Tommy used to work on the docks
Unions been on strike, he's down on his luck
It's tough, so tough
Bon Jovi's coming to town
He wants to take his girl
But the tickets cost more than his rent
So he'll just settle for beer and a shot and find a
New favorite band that cares
About fans
And not just money

There so many bands out there, playing, that are amazing. You can see one every nite. And not break the bank, look around, and try something new. Or you can finance Jon Bon Jovi's next mansion, and Richie Sambora's next trip to rehab.

Reruns!

We're showing "Josh and Todd" at Paris In Plantsville on 

4/22 and 4/23!!!

Be there!!!!

Finally relaxed enough to blog!

OK....

So we had the "Josh and Todd" screenings at Paris In Plantsville and it was amazing.

My (our) first feature film showed two nites in a row to packed houses. And it got lots of laughs.

"So what's next?"

I got asked that a lot those nites.

For "Josh and Todd" it's going to be some tweaking, and more screenings before the DVD release. And we're going to finish up "Steve the Vampire" and "Animal Behavior" this spring. And then start shooting this awesome series Gabe came up with called "Grimrod". And then hopefully by summer we'll be shooting a second feature film. A horror flick without puppets. Just to stretch a bit and do something different.

Another question I kept getting:

"Are you going to do a Johnnie Sojive movie?"

Short answer is YES.

Heheheheh....

Unintended Results...

I got a phone call last nite at the gallery from a dear old friend Rich.
We've been friends since high school.  Over the year we've managed to loose touch, get back in touch, loose touch, get back in touch...  And so on.  But we can always pick right up where we left off, and it's like going home.
Anyway, he and his wife and son came to see "Josh and Todd" on 2/19.  I'm not going to get into details, but apparently seeing this film help his family through a crisis.
Something wonderfully positive came out of the movie.  Sure, we got tons of laughs, and people really loved the flick, but I never expected the film to make a difference in a person's life.
That's an amazing feeling, and I thank you Rich for sharing with me.

Monday Song, on a Tuesday Nite...

Before the lyrics of the day I wanna babble here for a bit.

About Tricky Rock.

I met Pete (AKA Tricky) in the 1980's, in elementary school. We became friends quickly (being outcasts it was pretty east, we already had that in common!) and we've been friends ever since.

Earlier today he posted a Poison video of "Something To Believe In" on his Facebook page and said 'For my homie" and I knew it was me. In return I posted Poison's "Ride The Wind".

I know "Ride" makes him think of my brother who he got to know pretty well over the years too. And I know he misses him too.

Pete did something great for me back in 1993 when my brother died. He just hung out. Never asked if I was OK, never asked what I was thinking, never even asked if I wanted to hang out. He just did. And man, we did a lot.

In the first four years after he died Pete and I went everywhere and did everything, all the time.

We partied, we were in bands, we worked on movies, listened to Prince endlessly, and saw all of New England, we did whatever the Hell we wanted. We rode the wind.

We went from friends to brothers. And now, to this day he's still my brother.

Our lives have gone in drastically different directions in the past five years, and we don't hang out every day anymore. But not a day goes by without an email, a call, a text, something... Something between us.

He's always kept me in check. He'll always be my brother.

And now the Monday Song.... or songs

Late at night when the world's a-sleepin'

U are frightened cuz the power's creepin'

In your room, it's something U're afraid of

Life of doom is what this feeling's made of

Power fantastic is in your life at last

U're a little apprehensive

Cuz what it is, is what U want and need

Minor G is the chord of pleasure

It will be played 11 measures

U will see fire, but U're cool as ice

U are a liar, huh, if U say this isn't nice

Power fantastic is in your life at last

U're a little apprehensive

What it is, is what U want and need

(Prince)

We all carry the cross and speak what we're taught

Lies and money become the white man's god

We've burned all our bridges one too many times

The time has come now to draw the line

You know you've got to

Stand, stand, stand for what you believe

Express yourself in the face of change

Repress yourself, you surely seal your fate

You got to look inside, the answer lies in wait

Resurrect before it's too late

You know you've got to

Stand, stand, stand for what you believe

Somebody rescue me, come down and rescue me

I know the soul of a good man has got to be free

When you stand, stand for what you believe

(Poison)

What a weekend

Killed it Friday.

Owned it Saturday.

Felt at home Sunday.

I love my crews.

Elmwood and Paris.

Nuff said for now.

That went well!

Wow.  Wow...

So the screening went over great...  

A huge chunk of cast, crew, and more came out to see the preview.  

And they laughed.

And then we drank.  

Ok, I'll admit, we drank even before the show!  

Then  we really drank!

Here's Jim, Russ, and I after we got it all set up...

Here's Jordan, Sean, and I just before people started coming in...

Here's Brie (I love this picture)...  She's the best.  She made a peanut butter and chocolate cheesecake to celebrate my birthday and brought it to the show!

I'll be posting more pictures on Elmwood's Facebook by Monday

Josh and Todd...

Todd and Josh

Tonite's a big deal.

Yes, tomorrow is the big premiere of the movie for the public to see...  And you better come see it!

But tonite.

Tonite...

We screen the film for the cast and crew.  It'll be the first time we all see the film together. 

Eric, Jim, Russ, and I have seen several different cuts as we've gone on.  But this will be the big one.  All the cast will finally see what they worked so hard on, all our girlfriends, boyfriends, husbands, wives, parents, kids, etc, will see what we missed birthday party's and holidays for...

Russ and I started this flick in spring 2003.  We had an idea with a buddy Josh Leder.  We cast Jim and Josh in it, and we started it.  

And it was bad...  So we let it sit.  

Josh and Jim stuck around for the next project.  Josh faded away when he got a girl...  But we couldn't get rid of Jim (we tried!  Just kidding Jim!) and he kept wanting to go back and do "Josh and Todd".  In 2004 or 2005 we tried again, but never even got it cast...  Then in 2008 Jim and I polished up the short film into a feature length flick...  and we were filming by the fall...  

Wow.  Seven years total on this flick, Hell, almost eight!  And now in a few hours we'll be watching it.  I have to admit I'm nervous.

I know it's good.  I've seen it.  

But will anyone else agree?

I'll let you know tomorrow!

And thank you Eric...

For being a true friend.  And honest human.  And for saying yes to being in the flick.

Without you I really don't think it would have been this good!

 Jon and Eric

Monday Song - Come On Get Higher

Happy Valentine's Day!

I miss the sound of your voice

And I miss the rush of your skin

And I miss the still of the silence

As you breathe out and I breathe in

If I could walk on water

If I could tell you what's next

I'd make you believe

I'd make you forget

So come on, get higher, loosen my lips

Faith and desire and the swing of your hips

Just pull me down hard

And drown me in love

So come on, get higher, loosen my lips

Faith and desire and the swing of your hips

Just pull me down hard

And drown me in love

I miss the sound of your voice

Loudest thing in my head

And I ache to remember

All the violent, sweet

Perfect words that you said

If I could walk on water

If I could tell you what's next

I'd make you believe

I'd make you forget

So come on, get higher, loosen my lips

Faith and desire and the swing of your hips

Just pull me down hard

And drown me in love

So come on, get higher, loosen my lips

Faith and desire and the swing of your hips

Just pull me down hard

And drown me in love

I miss the pull of your heart

I taste the sparks on your tongue

I see angels and devils

And God, when you come on

Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on

So come on, get higher, loosen my lips

Faith and desire and the swing of your hips

Just pull me down hard

And drown me in love

So come on, get higher, loosen my lips

Faith and desire and the swing of your hips

Just pull me down hard

And drown me, drown me in love

It's all wrong, it's all wrong

It's all wrong, it's so right

So come on, get higher

So come on and get higher

'Cause everything works, love

Everything works in your arms. 

(Matt Nathanson)

Snow Is Now A Four Letter Word.

So it's snowing.

Again.

I live in New England, Connecticut to be specific, so I hear all the time "you should be used to this".  And I am.  I'm used to snow.  It doesn't mean I have like it.

I did like it this season.  At first it was refreshing to see it and hear Jingle Bells on the radio.   Then New Years came, and then there's been a storm pretty much every week since.  

And now it's just getting old.

I don't ski, my winter sports are drinking coffee and watching movies, so I have been doing a ton of that (thank you Netflix) but even that is running thin.

Anyway...  back to puppets for a second...

JOSH AND TODD: THE STORY OF A MAN AND HIS PUPPET

PREMIERE SCREENING 2/19/11

AT PARIS IN PLANTSVILLE

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS!

Monday Song - Dead Horse

Sick of this life

Not that you'd care

I'm not the only one with

whom these feelings I share

Nobody understands,

quite why we're here

We're searchin' for answers

That never appear

But maybe if I looked real hard I'd

I'd see your tryin' too

To understand this life,

That we're all goin' through

(Then when she said she was gonna like wreck my car...  I didn't know what to do)

Sometimes I feel like I'm beatin' a dead horse

An I don't know why you'd be bringin' me down

I'd like to think that our love's worth a tad more

It may sound funny but you'd think by now

I'd be smilin'

I guess some things never change

Never change

I met an old cowboy

I saw the look in his eyes

Somethin' tells me he's been here before

'Cause experience makes you wise

I was only a small child

When the thought first came to me

That I'm a son of a gun and the gun of a son

That brought back the devil in me

Sometimes I feel like I'm beatin' a dead horse

An I don't know why you'd be bringin' me down

I'd like to think that our love's worth a tad more

It may sound funny but you'd think by now

I'd be smilin'

I guess some things never change

Never change

I ain't quite what you'd call an old soul

Still wet behind the ears

I been around this track a couple o' times

But now the dust is startin' to clear

Sometimes I feel like I'm beatin' a dead horse

An I don't know why you'd be bringin' me down

I'd like to think that our love's worth a tad more

It may sound funny but you'd think by now

I'd be smilin'

Sick of this life,

Not that you'd care...

(Guns N' Roses)