PAWNEE, OKLAHOMA – There’s what it’s worth and then there’s how much somebody is willing to pay for it. The History Channel’s Pawn Stars doesn’t merely give pie in the sky appraisals to people for their heirlooms like the Antiques Roadshow. The Harrison family of Las Vegas’ The Gold and Silver Pawn Shop tells dreamers how much grandma’s wedding ring is worth in cash from the register.
Richard Harrison is the patriarch of the family who founded the store. His son Rick is has grown up in the business. Decades ago he hustled counterfeit designer bags. Now he has to break it to people that their antiques are worthless. Son Corey is learning the ropes while his buddy Chumlee gets tangled up in them.
In anticipation of the new season starting Nov. 30 on the History Channel, Rick Harrison called up the Party Favors to chat about life at the Pawn Shop, breaking bad news and why people can’t pawn their timeshares. We disclose the source of Chumlee’s nickname. Also I get the harsh news about my Hedge Fund that invested heavily in Pokemon cards.
Here’s our conversation:
DOWNLOAD: (right click to save)
Party Favors: Joe Corey Chats With PAWN STARS (MP3 format)
[audio:http://www.smodcast.net/partyfavors/party_favors-pawn_shop.mp3]
Remember to tune in and watch people cry when they discover grandpa lied to grandma about her solid gold wedding ring.
YES WE DID IT!
People often wonder how much power is there in the Party Favors. We’ve put Amish curses on Blockbuster and Yahoo for screwing us. Can an entertainment column on the internet make positive things happen? We’re proud to announce that the Party Favors Campaign to Get Gordon Willis A Life Achievement Oscar has been shut down. Remember the column when Chuck McCann promised to get the ball rolling at the Academy?
It happened! Willis now has his little golden man. We can proclaim victory in Hollywood.
Willis was the cinematographer on The Godfather, The Godfather, Part II, Annie Hall and Manhattan. What do those four films have in common? Amazing cinematography that wasn’t even nominated for an Oscar. Are we really supposed to believe the cinematography of Earthquake, The Towering Inferno and Murder on the Orient Express was better than his Prince of Darkness’ signature work on The Godfather, Part II? Manhattan was bumped for 1941 and The Black Hole. Remember that you are nominated by your peer group. Thus Willis was the victim of West Coast cameramen bias. This slighting needed to be fixed. Which is why Chuck McCann was begged to put in the good word for Willis.
We don’t know how much Chuck McCann’s effort led to Gordon Willis getting his due, but we at the Party Favors are eternally grateful to him for his help.
They presented the lifetime Oscars at a non-televised ceremony last weekend. This made me feel like Willis had once more been screwed along with fellow honorees Roger Corman and Lauren Bacall. The Academy posted video of the dinner and ceremony on the internet and I was wrong. It was the perfect night. It was about enjoying the company of the trio and not merely the crowd wanting the ceremony to go faster so they can discover if they’re winners. We would have been denied Caleb Deschanel’s tribute with the time constraints of Oscar night. This new ceremony was an evening for careers and fine food to be savored.
http://www.oscars.org/video/watch/ga_2009_08_bridges_willis.html
If only it was this easy to get Todd Rundgren into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
BACKSEAT BIKER
On the recent Sons of Anarchy where the guys ended up in jail, they were all so nervous about getting sodomized by other inmates. The bikers should have been more worried about one of their own. Jax (Charlie Hunnam) has a history from when he was a 15 year old having rump ranger action with the mayor of Baltimore (Aidan Gillen) back in Manchester, England. Shocking? Underneath that blond beard lurks the babyface hero of the original Queer As Folk.
In case your curious on seeing the early days of Jax, episodes of his Queer As Folk are now on Hulu at
http://www.imdb.com/video/hulu/vi3150774809/
You might not want to watch it with your Hog in the room.
GAMESHOW LEGEND PASSES
We send our condolences to the friends and family of Ken Ober, the host of MTV’s Remote Control. He was ringleader of the last great TV quiz show. There in his parent’s basement he hosted a show with Colin Quinn and Marisol Massey (replaced by three other gals over the years). I truly wanted to be a contestant, but they mainly pulled people out of New York colleges. Spurting out pop culture trivia while sitting in a recliner and flicking a remote is my natural state. In case you need to remember the sheer coolness of the show and Ober’s wit, here’s a clip:
Back in ’87, I had dreams of Marisol caressing my fridge and promising cool CDs inside. I also had nightmares of Colin Quinn stealing my Trans Am. Mostly I had daydreams of Ober shocked as I dominate the dial with my TV knowledge.
Ken Ober will be missed by those who enjoyed a great gameshow. His headshot deserves to be enshrined with the other legendary quizmasters that were on the wall behind him on the wall. Was he buried in a Craftmatic Casket?
DOUBLE THE OFFER!
Because of his money troubles, I’m willing to double by offer to $40 if Nic Cage will play me in my Christmas video. Granted I need to jack up the rate since he’ll have to work opposite a baby. So drop us a line, Nic Cage if you want the tempting gig. There will be turkey and you can work without a toupee to match me. If you’re really good playing me, I’ll toss in the Elvis Trivia Game. Nic, this will look better on your resume than Bangkok Dangerous.
BLU-RAY HEAVEN
Scrubs: The Complete Eighth Season – Blu-ray brings more definition to Zach Braff’s stubble beard. After NBC canceled the show during the 7th season, ABC revived the medical comedy in hopes of transplanting the vital characters. This season would allow Braff to transition off the show and a new group of residents to learn the world of medicine at Sacred Heart. Aziz Ansari started off as the new Turk, but skipped out for Parks and Recreation. Courtney Cox took over for Ken Jenkins as Chief of Medicine. While she’s alluring, she massively cut throat. “My ABC’s” features a visit from Elmo, Grover and Oscar the Grouch. “My Finale” is a two-parter that takes us through what’s supposed to be Braff’s final day at the hospital. Will he get the big send off? The 19 episodes are spread over 2 discs. The bonus features include bloopers, deleted scenes and alternate lines. They also toss in the webisodes. The highlight is a clip show of all the nasty things John C. McGinley has called Braff over 8 seasons. The new season is slated to start Dec. 1 on ABC. Braff is set to appear in half the episodes. So it wasn’t really his finale after all. The 1080p image makes you want to sanitize your hands before pressing play.
DVD SHELF
Hogan’s Heroes: The Komplete Series, Kommadant’s Kollection brings together all six seasons of the greatest sitcom about Nazi POW camps along with a fresh bonus DVD. This is the series that launched the career of Bob Crane as Col. Hogan. Below Stalag 13 is an underground Allied operation that constantly sabotages the Nazi’s latest plans. Col. Klink (Werner Klemperer) has no idea and Sgt. Schultz (John Banner) remains in complete denial. “I see nothing!” is his mantra. Hogan’s crew includes Cpl. Newkirk (Richard Dawson), Sgt. Kinch (Ivan Dixon), Cpl LeBeau (Robert Clary) and Sgt. Carter (Larry Hovis). The 28 DVD set is loaded with fresh extras including an extended version of the pilot with the network introduction. There’s clips of Werner getting his Emmys. Ever wonder how this show played in Germany? There’s an episode with the Allied speaking like their captures. They even have the Mad Magazine spoof. For those who want to see the uncut episodes instead of the messed up versions on TVLand, this boxset is a must buy.
Mystery Science Theatre 3000: XVI (Limited Edition) brings the holidays home with a miniature Tom Servo. First off there’s the Mexican seasonal hit Santa Claus. This might be one of the few holiday flicks to have Santa battling Satan. Talk about the perfect viewing for Christmas Eve. They even include “Santa Clause Conquers The Devil: A 50-Year Retrospective” which gives amazing details about the film’s history and release. Night of the Blood Beast includes the amazing bonus feature of all the introductions of Turkey Day 95 for the MST3K marathon. You can see the movie with the original Turkey Day debut breaks or the breaks that were included with the reruns. Warrior of the Lost World is a out of control Italian action film starring the guy from The Paper Chase and the Bald Woman from Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Prepare your eyes for the glory of Megaweapon! Director David Worth contributes an interview to explain how film was birthed after he’d shot two Clint Eastwood films. The Corpse Vanishes is another first season episode with Josh Weinstein as the voice of Tom Servo and Dr. Erhardt. This Bela Lugosi classic has him as a Mad Scientist that must sacrifice young virgin women to keep his aging wife beautiful. If you want to boost your holiday spirits, get yourself a vat of egg nog and the limited edition version of MST3K: XVI. The mini-Tom Servo looks perfect on top of the Christmas tree.
The Merry Gentleman is Michael Keaton’s directorial debut after three decades of being a movie star. Luckily he used his showbiz connections to hire Michael Keaton to be the lead in his film. He’s an efficient hitman who gets the job done without being flashy. Kelly McDonald (Trainspotting) gets out of an abusive relationship and finds a new life. Their paths cross when he suspects she makes him on a hit. He wants to clean her off the slate to keep her from talking to a police sketch artist. When he puts his sights on her, he can’t quite pull a trigger. Does he aim for her head or heart? They are connected by more than just a crime angle. This is worthy addition to the hitman genre. Keaton has created film that mirrors his patient and low-key assassin. The main bonus feature is a 15 minutes behind the scenes documentary that shows Keaton making his big move behind the camera.
Is Anybody There? gives us Michael Caine without him being a servant to Batman. Edward (Bill Milner) is a young boy growing up in his parents’ retirement home. It’s a world where every few weeks he gets to find another dead tenant. Things aren’t happy. Clarence (Caine) is a magician that moves into the house, but isn’t happy at his elderly fate. He’s still got a few tricks up his sleeve. The kid gets the old man to rejuvenate his act. It’ll be interesting to see if Michael Caine gets a Best Actor nomination since he’s got that Caine charm working when he’s pulling items out of the air. He can still do more than iron the Dark Knight’s cape. Bonus feature is deleted scenes.
My One and Only is part of George Hamilton’s life. Before he achieved an amazing bronze tan and played Evel Knievel, this future icon had a messed up family life. His mom (Renee Zellweger) is a Southern debutant that’s been transplanted to New York City. She gets sick of her cheating band leader husband (Kevin Bacon). Instead of a prolonged divorce, she hits the road with George (Logan Leman) and his brother Robbie (Mark Rendall). The point of the trip is to find a new husband. She finds prospects in Chris Noth (Sex and the City) and Steven Weber (Wings). The film explains how George Hamilton found his true compass. Zellweger comes off credible as the mother of two older boys. This gets my Doug Wilson seal of approval. The DVD is only available at Target.
Humpday is a great small film. Mark Duplass has settled down with his wife, Alicia Delmore. They’re working on having a baby. His old college buddy, Joshua Leonard arrives in town and reminds him of his wild times. During a drunken party, they hear about an amateur porn festival. The blitzed Duplass swears they can win it with a video featuring him and Leonard having gay sex even though they’re not gay. When he sobers up, he still wants to make this project happen and not let it be merely talk. His wife isn’t really supportive. Can they pull off this “gay for first prize” video? Humpday is the bastard child of Patti Rocks. This film shall grow in stature over the years as a charming shaggy buddy flick.
The Canyon reminds us once again of the perils of visiting vacation spots and saving a few bucks by not going as part of a tourist package. Yvonne Strahovski (Chuck) and Eion Bailey are on their honeymoon after an elopement. He dreams of taking his new wife into the Grand Canyon on a mule ride. The thing is you have to plan ahead to get on a legit mule caravan to the bottom of the canyon. The Rangers like to know who is inside the region. Eion hooks up with a grizzled local (Will Patton) who swears he can deliver for less than the official tours. When they get to the canyon floor, the couple discover something else about their guide. This is a pure honeymoon from hell that remind all couples that they should spend those post-nuptial days ordering room service instead of adventuring in the great outdoors.
Melrose Place: Fifth Season, Volume 2 ought to include a U-Haul truck since so many of the regulars depart on these episodes. Grant Show, Marcia Cross and Laura Leighton turn in their keys. Which makes me ponder, did they get back their security deposits or did all the debauchery stain the carpet? Moving into the complex is Alyssa Miano. Still running the place is ball buster Heather Locklear. She makes sure things don’t get too normal in the 14 episodes over 3 DVDs. Actually in the final episode Laura Leighton has a bit more dramatic departure than just driving off for her honeymoon in “Who’s Afraid of Amanda Woodward?” Strangely enough, she and Heather Locklear are now on the CW’s revival of the series.
Beverly Hills, 90210: The Eighth Season is all about Kelly and Brandon’s wedding. The gang have now gotten out of college life and are into the real world. Or as real of a world that can handle Ian Ziering’s hair. The season starts with Donna dragging everyone to Hawaii. Near tragedy hits when Kelly gets shot by a drive-by shooter in the LAX parking lot. She recovers with a nasty bit of amnesia. This memory loss helps them grow as a couple cause she can enjoy his sideburns like the first time and without memories of Luke’s sideburns. The 30 episodes are spread over 7 DVDs. Only two more seasons left till the tale of the zip code is completed. Season 9 is slated for Feb. 2.
Janky Promoters reunite Friday‘s Ice Cube and Mike Epps, but instead of just hanging out and smoking weed, they’re two hustling concert promoters. After working on the low as Janky Promoters, they get their major chance at the big times when they book Young Jeezy. If they can work his concert right, they might be able to go legit or at least not be viewed as slime. It’s nice to see Ice Cube playing a character that doesn’t seem like it was originally written for an Eddie Murphy kiddie movie. You should watch this with a chilled bottle of St. Ides.
Kobe Doin’ Work: MVP Limited Edition is an extended version of Spike Lee’s documentary on the Lakers’ star point guard. He has dozens of cameras focused on the player for a single game. The concept is lifted from Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait. In that film, French soccer hero Zidane is only heard by what he says on the pitch. However Spike let Kobe narrate the video and it’s ultimately a man who is in love with his own publicity. We don’t get a fresh examination of the star who only a few years ago was fighting a rape charge (which was settled out of court) and is now sold as America’s new sweetheart. Spike allows Kobe to control the ball and the narrative. For a non-Kobe fan, this is rather annoying. Maybe because TNT cameras are always focused on Kobe during a game, there’s nothing major revealed about his style or demeanor. Bonus features include a video from Bruce Hornsby and an ESPN behind the scenes of the extensive cameras at the game. This is ultimately a sloppy wet kiss from Spike to Kobe that will please Lakers fans. It includes his trading card.
Richard Kelly does not make “normal” movies, that is, films in the style or manner of the day, and especially not the cookie cutter style of storytelling found in most studio pictures or CBS police procedurals. The better art films, on the other hand, follow either the style of, say, Terence Mallick’s Badlands, which is also the new “international” style, somewhat distanced from the action and often visually beautiful and about “real” people, or they follow the juiced up musical Scorsese style of Mean Streets. 
I admit, I went into JJ Abrams’ reboot of 
Another in the long line of comedy gems cancelled way too soon, Shout has given a nice, comprehensive special edition collection to 
Including JJ Abrams reboot, I still stand by my assessment that 
Though he’s been painted with a “grim” and “dense” brush, you’ll realize within a few pages of the 
For the 10th anniversary of Sandman – waaaaay back in 1999 – Neil Gaiman teamed with P. Craig Russell and Japanese artist Yoshitaka Amano for a unique, beautiful tale featuring the King of All Night’s Dreaming, and the result was 
The high-def brigade has struck again, delivering a trio of Kevin Smith flicks into the single, aptly-titled 
It’s not the animated Batman, but I’ve been enjoying the animated adventures of ol’ webhead, the latest collection of which is now available as 
Though some might consider the 22 shorts contained in 
It’s not as polished or memorable as his early 70’s work, but the seeds were clearly planted in the eponymous debut album 
I thought it was a pretty good gimmick flick when it first came out, but I don’t find Fincher’s 
I’d like to say that Sacha Baron Cohen does it again with 
Based on the history of the show, you know that 
Not given the love of stablemates like The Sopranos and Deadwood when it aired, 
A perfect companion piece to Wizard Of Oz‘s recent beautifully remastered anniversary release is Warner’s other gem of 1939, 
I was about to try defending Devlin/Emmerich’s 
I tried numerous times to get into Farscape, but could never get past its overly artificial, manufactured sci-fi feel, but I know it has a massive, rabid fanbase who are probably counting their pennies for the immense, comprehensive 
While it was a step up from the bewilderingly awful seventh season, the eighth season of 
With Prohibition on the way out, the final 12 episodes featured in 
It’s trickling out, but another volume of 
Yes, 
I never sparked to 
Oh no! Just when you thought it was safe to hang out at the Quick Stop…
Governing Dynamics is the name of Travis Norris’s eternal sideproject, where all the stuff written by him goes when his current band (whatever it may be) refuses to play it. The music has been favorably compared to such bands as Eels, Radiohead, The White Stripes, and other bands that cool people like. It has been unfavorably compared to the tactics used by the FBI against the Branch Dividians at Waco. If he has to describe his music by genre (and refer to himself in third person) Travis calls it “alternative/shoegazer with a liberal dose of Midwestern rock”.
I suppose I am what you could call a “Multi-Instrumentalist”. That is a nice way of saying “Jack-of-all-trades, Master-of-none”. I began playing drums as a teenager and spent a great deal of energy during my 20’s trying to “make it” in the music biz. As a drummer, I have had the opportunity to play with some pretty incredible musicians, garnering literally DOZENS of fans over the years. In 2004 I joined the band Celestial Static, and spent several years melting some face with good friends Jeremy and Julie Elzerman. Once that ran its course, I decided to spend more time locked away in my studio, writing my own songs and learning to play guitar, bass and sing. It doesn’t pay the bills, but I have a good time doing it.
Edric is a returning veteran of the Masters of Song Fu competition. He has been writing music (off and on) since the early nineties. He wrote and directed a musical, The Pushcart War, based on Jean Merrill’s wonderful novel. He has written and/or arranged a number of songs for various friends – some commissioned, some as surprises. He loves acting in community theatre, and is inspired by the music of Stephen Sondheim, Jason Robert Brown, Adam Guettel, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. Also – feel free to check out (and add to!) the “Happiness Board” on his web pages!
I’m “BucketHat” Bobby Matheson. I used to make cartoons for the internet, and sometimes still do, but mostly focus on my music right now. I write and record my songs solo, in my little make-shift studio, and when I play live, I often get some help from friends. Some of my music is funny, and some isn’t. More often than not, the humour is unintentional. My Influences range from Klezmer to folk, to punk and back again, which ends up sounding more like Zydeco than anything else (who’d have guessed?). I’ve been described as a “Cajun Buddy Holly” and an “Optimistic Elvis Costello”. It’s been said that I sound like “That guy from the Barenaked Ladies” and a “Nasaly Bob Dylan”. One of these days, I hope to have a description that is accurate.
Tyler Massey is an uncomplicated person. He likes to sip Cristal and polish his yacht collection. He enjoys the simple things in life, like stepping on snails barefoot and nude origami. He wishes that he had a proper Hobo Name, and is open to suggestions.
Legends foretell of a mighty duo, born in the frozen North. Two neighbors and friends will unite to form “Godz Poodlz” and battle the Mazters or Song Fu for glory and bragging rights! Godz Poodlz are Rüss Rogers and Rod Durre. Russ Rogers was once a member of “Kit and Kaboodle” (still available on iTunes) and currently performs in “Rusty’s Rocking Jamboree!” Rhod Durre was in the Goth Rock Band, “Sear!” Beware the Godz Poodlz Ear Worm! Godz Poodlz songs are bright, funny and tenaciously catchy. Come join Godz Poodlz Legionz of Fanz!
Bram Tant is a Belgian coputer science student with a distinct love for music. Ever since going to music school as a kid, he’s enjoyed singing and playing the guitar, and has been writing songs for some years now. While he’s still learning to play the guitar, sing and write songs better, he improves with each attempt, and he makes up for it (and the lack of proper recording equipment) with his passion and enthusiasm. He would like to become a professional musician someday, but for now he’s satisfied with writing and performing for friends, family, and strangers on the internet.
Hi, my name is Steve Chatterton, the quintessential one-man-band singer/songwriter net-based recording project. Mom always said I marched to the sound of a different drummer, but she never mentioned which one. Dad had a fondness for bagpipes. Fortunately, neither of them have any direct influence on my music. Specializing in quirky little guitar-oriented pop songs about bugs, the Scooby gang, pirates, palindromes, superheroes, old movies, infectious diseases, imaginary friends and sideshow freaks, I guess you could say I pretty much write love songs. I’m a cheesy bastard at heart. I’m a stay-at-home dad who’s looking to find more time in the studio when my youngest starts school in September. I have an ever-expanding back catalog (at least 3 albums worth & counting) I’m dying to share with the world one download at a time.
Manitcess are Susanne Wolff (Lupa) on vocals and Johannes Schult (Jutze) on guitar. The duo plays melodic song somewhere between pop, folk and rock. Melodies are more important than trends. The band has already played various gigs in Germany and Switzerland and is eager to entertain – or better to enchant their audience with their musical tales.
Although he has no formal training, Jarrett is an accomplished pianist who has been composing music for nearly twenty years. A relative newcomer to the world of online amateur competitive songwriting, he burst onto the scene earlier this year when he filled out an entry form just before the deadline. While earning his living as a graphic artist and website developer, Jarrett secretly dreams of leaving behind the glamor and prestige of internet publishing so he can focus on composing music for songwriting contests full-time.
Forged in the furnace of irony, molded with the hammer of satire, flattened on the anvil of righteousness, and cooled in the water of awesomeness, AudioMohel was thrust upon the world. Named from the lost audio transcripts of ’09, AudioMohel serves as a public-service backlash against the anti-circumcision trend sweeping the so-called “enlightened parents” crowd, AudioMohel urges their more devoted and impressionable fans to undergo the snip two or even three times. AudioMohel enjoys experimenting with new breakthrough genres like speed blues and death classical even though most of AudioMohel’s tunes reside firmly in the ethereal realm of vapor-ware.
In the far off land of Chandler, Arizona, where the rivers flow with sand and cacti, our leader and master, the Lord of Our Lady Gwynyth, guitar and microphone in hand, called for the greatest musicians in the land to assemble a rock and roll group like none other. Unfortunately, they were cut off on the road, and the Jalapeño Habañeros made it there first. With The Rogue Bohemian on saxophone and The Boxcar Bassist on bass and keyboards, the Lord was pleased. Now, they roam the streets of Chandler, playing epic songs and rocking faces, much like Bon Jovi. Unfortunately they are paid in change, and often get thrown into the street, also like Bon Jovi. Their lives have intertwined, and the era of the Jalapeño Habañeros has begun. Be prepared.
Hi, my name is Timothy. I like me. I like my school, I like my friends. I like to play the music. I very much enjoy the peoples. Thank you.
They are not some traveling country hillbilly act. They are celebrating the year of Jubilee in the form of ukulele based indie pop. They are Akiva Misto and Eliana Bartimeus and they are prepared to rock your yarmulkes!
Gorbzilla is a musician/band teacher in Mid-Michigan. He has been in a few bands over the years, most notably as the bass player/vocalist for the band “Satin Jones” and the guitarist/vocalist for the band “Jimmy Likes Pie”. The proud father of two future rock maniacs, Gorbzilla has been writing music for the past twenty years, and is currently working on his first musical Beer ““ Finally a Musical for Men based on the Haiku by Patrick “Horkmeister” Sweet entitled, “I Think I Threw Up”. He has been happily married for eight years, and is looking forward to this competition.
Peter is a person of sorts. Since his birth he has consistently occupied himself with a variety of time consuming and completely un-noteworthy activities. Despite this breadth of experience he remains untalented in the ways of writing all encompassing 600 word essays. He does, however, greatly enjoy the rare treat that is writing about oneself in the third person, especially when such a gift should be presented to him at the wonderful time of 4AM. Peter now supposes that since this a musical competition he is entering, he might want to include something about that in his bio. At the way too old age of 18, Peter first attempted to play music. His guitar teacher warned him that he was much to old to begin training, and that he would probably be an emotionally unstable musician that would eventually turn to the dark side. Peter took no heed to this warning, and indeed dropped out of guitar lessons fairly quickly, realizing that he enjoyed learning much more when done alone. In the year and a half since then, Peter has been on a steady rise and will no doubt be taking the musical world by storm in the coming year. Perhaps his greatest musical moment came in December of 2008, when his Christmas caroling band, The Sizzle, took his small hick town by storm with a door to door tour through the suburbs, melting the figurative face of listeners with a funk/rap cover of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. In 2009 Peter has become active in the youtube community, known not for his music but for his notorious use of stop-motion eating scenes and a DIY laugh track. Hoping to hone his barely existing musical skills through the pressure of competition, Peter joins Round 5 of Song Fu. He sincerely hopes that rewriting this bio at a later date will be an option. The Peter Is Competing.
At the ripe age of 19, this strapping young lad has been song writing for two years now. With his mates Meredith and Cornelius (guitar and ukulele, respectively), Craig Richie is prepared to join the ranks of the Song Fu warriors. Finding strong influences from former masters JoCo and Molly Lewis, as well as pinches of Kimya Dawson and Elvis Costello, this boy’s got a perspective on the world to share.
Josh was born in Canada, which probably explains more about him than anything else he could put in a bio. He plays the accordion, is self-taught on the piano, and highly enjoys playing and writing for both – though he rarely finishes anything without a deadline. With this grueling contest, he hopes to push himself to unleash the best Fu he possibly can… and hell, maybe even some he impossibly can. YARRR!
Many folks say that Aaron Z is a pretty cool guy. He plays too many instruments, but mostly piano & guitar. He wastes too much of his free time writing and performing music, which has been known to make people laugh, tough men cry, and ladies melt in his arms. His current projects include Orange Box: The Musical! and A Tribute to the Letter E. He likes food cooked with mushrooms and his favorite ice-creams are vanilla-based, not chocolate-based. Check out his music, including his previously-weekly but now faux-weekly music project on his website, plus his other cool music.
Spencer is trying to do things. Music is one of those things. It is painfully obvious to him, if not others, that he has absolutely no idea what he’s doing. In the past he has been musically inclined with a guitar and occasionally with a piano. He is trying to be musically active once again, but this time he is attempting to do so while on the Internets. Creating music is a large part of his 40×40 list and he thinks this competition seems like “a Super Mega Happy Fun way” to rekindle his musical desires.
I’m Joe Covenant. I’m Scottish. And never have enough time to do everything I wanna! Been singing and perfoming for over 40 years… (yes, I am 46.)… and I’ve nearly learned a 6th chord! Everything I do. I do for Song Fu. (If not for this ‘contest’ I would have never met and collaborated with so many talented people.)
Lex Vader was born to a single mother who worked as silicon tycoon’s personal assistant. When she died of poor hygiene, Lex was sent to an orphanage where he showed interest in organizing races and laser fencing. After being recruited into a religious order, he spent the next few years between several of their private schools. In his final year, Lex lost his hand in an argument with a professor over Kryptochlorians. Despite this, Lex was able to achieve a successful business career and even a knighthood. Tragedy struck, however, when a former classmate’s arctic home caught fire during a business lunch, scarring half of Lex’s face. At this point, Lex’s behavior became erratic. When he managed to buy SithCo, the cult that schooled him, he was shunned by the corporate world. No longer taken seriously, Lex started an evil empire and now moonlights with his evil emotronic alternapop band.
Caleb became a software engineer instead of a musician because the type of music he likes best went out of style at the end of the 18th century. Self-taught in music theory, he is more comfortable writing a four-part instrumental fugue than he is writing a verse-chorus-bridge song. After discovering the likes of Weird Al, Dr. Horrible, and especially Jonathan Coulton, he realized that “modern music” can be fun too. Now he is on a quest to update, expand, and diversify his musical knowledge and experience. In addition to singing, he plays a whole family of recorders, baroque flute, ukulele, melodica, pretends to play keyboard, and most recently, guitar. He also uses virtual MIDI instruments because a real orchestra costs too much.
Ian Johnson was born atop Mount Everest, was attacked by a troop of ninjas on his way out of the womb, then rode a grizzly bear down the mountain and punched Hitler’s ghost on the way down. Then he ate some mashed peas. Seriously though. Ian played piano for about six years before taking a break in music. Then he decided to play guitar, because as we all know, piano don’t get chicks. He started playing guitar about a year and a half ago. His music has been described (by himself) as garage-punk ska-esque acoustic altern-rock with just a little ukulele thrown in for good measure.
Sometimes two people get together who are destined to make history. Sometimes they are born into the same family. zer0guy is the musical/life-partnership of Jon and Dan Kelly, long time musicians looking forward to placing notes in your head.
My current project is writing A Song a Day (Rock Cookie Bottom), and my former projects include The Last Nympho Leprechaun, a rock opera, The Mario Opera, a rock opera, GameJew, a web show, and The Mushroom Singdom, singing old school video game reviews.
Sara Parsons is a twenty-year-old music composition student from northern California. She participated in Masters of Song Fu #4 and had a blast and met a ton of great people. She hopes she’s better at writing songs than she is at writing her own biography.
Chas Lilly is a man that needs introduction. He is geeky but hopefully without being boring. He has been known to write songs about Pluto, Tim Allen, funerals, and everything in between. People often describe his music as “music”.
My name is Kylie, and I’m your everyday 17-year-old girl with a passion for music. I’ve been writing my own songs since I was ten years old, and nothing is more fun for me than to sit down with my guitar and unwind. I’d like to use Masters of Song Fu to really challenge myself, and hopefully grow as a musical artist.
Jeff began playing guitar in 2003. He wrote his first comedy song in early 2004, and later that year, he wrote a song that was actually funny and in key, unlike his earlier works. He began playing shows after accidentally opening for a local band while passing through a bar. He continues to play because nobody has told him to stop.
I am a young musician who plays trombone, guitar, ukulele, piano, melodica, and a little bit of harmonica. I play everything from rock songs with distortion pedals on ukulele, to rap medleys on piano, to sappy love songs and songs about the internet crashing on guitar. This is my first time in Song Fu.
I’m just a kid with a guitar. Sometimes I even play it.
Bob Westfall (guitar, mandolin, vocals, songwriting) has studied and worked with some of the top acoustic players in the country – Darol Anger, Mike Marshall, John Hartford, and Alex DeGrassi. But, while these influences are certainly evident, Westfall’s songwriting and lyrics are uniquely his own. An award-winning mandolinist, Bob grew up in Texas and Minnesota, and his style incorporates the best elements of composing with a hybrid jazz/pop/worldbeat/bluegrass feel.
Did you ever wonder what it would be like to mix Ravishing Rick Rude and the Beatles together? Me too. Man that would be awesome. Justin Vega is a songwriter/sort of singer from Las Vegas, NV. Justin Vega thinks writing in third person is awesome.
Simmbiosis – three part band. Defies the usual type or brand. A combo bred, in this strange head. The obscene voice the unseen hand. Terpsichore and muse imbued. Perverse perhaps a little rude. Music composed, a life exposed. Giving you all I can exude. Studio C where I compose. Club Bed where I take my repose. Iniquity, safe haven for me. The rest you’ll just have to suppose. To be among this crowd, auspicious. An honor bordering on delicious. Thanks to View Askew, I’ll whip out my Song Fu. And work not to be repetitious, repetitious, repetitious.
As dense as a diamond and just as exquisite, the second volume of world knowledge written by the world’s FOREMOST EXPERT on ALL THAT IS KNOWABLE (if not factual) and the possessor of soft hands and a baby’s face (the former per our handshake, the latter per Ricky Gervais), John Hodgman, is now available for purchase from your favorite book emporium IN SOFTCOVER. 
I admit it – I was skeptical of 
It’s been a long wait, but another classic Pixar flick makes it into the realm of high-definition with the arrival of 
I was a fan of the Timm/Dini animated adventures of Batman, Superman, and even Batman Beyond, and while it doesn’t have the brilliant noir of the Dark Knight’s series or the rah-rah of the Man of Steel, I greatly enjoyed Timm’s take on the Justice League. What could have been a mess of too many characters, evolved into a brilliantly executed multi-season arc that puts shows like Lost and Heroes to shame. If you haven’t seen it, you can partake of the entire run via 
It’s the holiday season, and what that means in the UK (and for comedy fans around the globe) is that comics are dropping their stand-up DVDs just in time to help audiences pass the long winter with a bit of a laugh. First up is the latest from Russell Brand, 
The folks at Rifftrax have stepped in – just when we all feared there would be a comedy lull – with a new pair of ace DVD releases that are as equally must-have as all of the previous ones (which SHOULD all be on your shelf). So what should you be picking up? Well, there’s the baffling astronauts on pathetic dinosaur planet named, appropriately, 
If you haven’t been able to find your way there in four decades, you might want to refresh your memory with the celebratory 
And while you’re at it, pick up 
Warner’s wonderful Archive Collection strikes again, delivering unto comedy fans the long-requested 
I love a premise that is instantly brilliant and then brilliantly realized, and such is the case with Charlie Brooker’s 
Time marches on, which means a brand new release starring everyone’s favorite sqaurepanted sponge, 
What started off as a gimmicky show has evolved into one of the few procedurals I’ll actually watch, and I attribute it almost entirely to the onscreen chemistry of David Krumholtz, Rob Morrow, and the always wonderful Judd Hirsch (oh, and Peter MacNicol). See for yourself in the 5th season of 
Ah, Peep Show. If you’re a fan of The Office – or just offbeat British comedy in general (you know, the smart people) – you’ll probably dig 
Warner has opened up the vaults to release a trio of high-def catalogue releases – two if which are decent flicks, but the third of which is a genre classic. The first two are 
Long before Spenser could be hired, Robert Urich starred as private eye Dan Tanna in the TV series 
Gah! Has it really been 20 years since Cameron Crowe’s now legendary tale of awkward teenage love and proper boombox woo-ery? Well, it must be, since there’s now a 20th anniversary edition of 
Timed to capitalize on the release of Say Anything in that kind of “Do we have anything else vaguely similar we can drop on the same date?” kind of way comes a pair of Fox catalogue releases new-to-Blu-Ray – James Toback’s 
Can’t get enough of Pierce Brosnan’s golden throat? Or ABBA? Know someone who can’t get enough of either? Well, perhaps the 
Oh, 
Have an 80’s flashback (kind of like an ice cream headache) with a pair of releases from old school MTV staples Duran Duran. First up is a deluxe special edition of their hit album 
Mike Conners is back in the 3rd cooler-than-cool season of 
Yeah, 
