The Papercookie Picture Company’s Kickstarter Campaign for an Indie Feature Film in Asheville and Mt. Airy

PRESENT, an independent feature film looking to shoot in Asheville and Mt. Airy, NC this October, is currently seeking fundraising through Kickstarter, the online crowd sourcing website. The film is written and to be directed by Joe Chang and produced by the Asheville-based Papercookie Picture Company. The film is looking to raise $3,950 through Kickstarter and only has until October 14th to do so. In exchange for “backing” the film, contributors can choose from many different gifts at different levels, including Handmade Postcards from the Cast, a copy of the finished film on DVD, or a download of the Original Score among other things.

Synopsis of the film:
Daniel Crane (Nesey Gallons) is a semi-famous performance artist traveling and touring around the country, entertaining small enthralled audiences in the living rooms of houses with his awkward and sometimes alienating acts. On Halloween weekend, he finds himself with a few days off in Asheville, NC, staying with his kid sister, Dorothy (Faith Callaway) who works as a waitress at an old mom and pop Diner.

When a couple leaves a book at the Diner, Dorothy and Daniel decide to revisit the small town where they grew up. Along with Dorothy’s roommate Cassie (Mariana Templin), they set out on a trip to Mount Airy, NC, discovering the things they once remembered are vanishing, and realizing things they’ve kept inside themselves since childhood never go away.

This will be Joe Chang’s second directorial feature. His first feature, the Asheville-made Neutral, is an award winning surrealist comedy that John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch) praised as “beautifully written and bursting with sweet sympathy for its whimsical characters”. He also directed (and plays guitar with) local band Kovacs & the Polar Bear’s “Skeleton Crew” video, which won the Top Prize and Audience Award at the 2011 Music Video Asheville Festival.

Present will mark the feature film acting debuts of Faith Callaway, the adorable girl from the Skeleton Crew video, and Nesey Gallons, a musician and collaborator with the highly influential and cult Elephant 6 Music Collective.

The Papercookie Picture Company is a collection of former North Carolina School of the Arts Film School kids, who dropped out and have made a few features, including Grownups, Neutral, and Passenger Pigeons. These films have won awards and played in festivals throughout the world including South By Southwest, BAMcinemaFEST, Indie Grits, and the American Film Festival in Poland.

For more information on the film, please visit:

KICKSTARTER LINK:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/787461611/present-a-feature-film

OFFICIAL MOVIE WEBSITE:
www.ithappenedonehalloween.com

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Toubab Krewe’s Connection to Bob & The Moog Legacy

Photo by Jon Leidel

Really excited that The Bob Moog Foundation has officially released the Moog/ Toubab Krewe Documentary. It is an amazing film, and received the award for “Best Documentary” at Music Video Asheville last winter. My dearly departed friend Margaret Lauzon took a  lead role in making this film happen along with Flying Pig Studio’s David Bragg; it was the last film the she worked on before she passed; and it is fantastic. Here is what the Moog Foundation has to say about the film:

Toubab Krewe’s One-of-a-Kind Connection to Bob Moog through the Network of Creativity

“They are such damn good musicians that I just wish I could dance with Ileana to their music” ~ Bob Moog speaking about Toubab Krewe in the month before his passing

On August 21, 2005, Bob Moog succumbed to an aggressive brain tumor. His passing touched legions of people around the world. In the month prior to his passing, Bob discovered the music of Toubab Krewe, an new, local african/rock fusion band who was, at the time, managed by Bob’s longtime friend Steven Heller. One sleepless night Bob listened to the band’s new self-titled CD over and over again, and was deeply moved by the quality of the musicianship. This beautiful video, which features Drew Heller, guitarist for Toubab Krewe and Michelle Moog-Koussa, Executive Director of the Bob Moog Foundation, explores Bob’s connection to the band and the reach of the Moog Legacy as it has touched Toubab Krewe and as it is manifested in the Bob Moog Foundation.

We owe a huge thanks to many people who helped make this video a reality. The video was shot in the studio of world-class Echo Mountain Recording in Asheville, North Carolina. The owner, Steve Wilmans and their manager, Jessica Tomasin, continue to be a wonderfully supportive to the Foundation’s mission. The exceptional filmmaking team that donated their services to make this video a possibility was a collaboration between David Bragg of Flying Pig Studio (located within Echo Mountain Recording) and the late Margaret Lauzon of Studio South, among other local talents.

Music photographer phenom Jon Leidel documented the making of the video. Visit the original post of this on the Moog Foundations website to see them: http://moogfoundation.org/2010/voices-toubab-krewes-connection-to-bob-the-moog-legacy/

The dedication at the end of the film has brought tears to me: “Dedicated to Margaret Lauzon (1975-2010). Whose passion & dedication to local music was the driving force for bringing this video and many others to life. Her legacy will continue to connect lives and inspire creativity” ♥ Love.

Bob Moog will live forever in the music that he has inspired across this world. Asheville just got a little taste of that in the hugely successful Moogfest this past Halloween weekend in Asheville.

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Krekprints Action Monster Prints

…So the Mad Tea Party is just cranking out the fun new videos!

Not only is Jason Krekel in the Mad Tea Party and a one man band on the fiddle, vocals, guitar, foot percussion; but he also helps to run the HandCranked Letterpress.

Krekel is offering a special on Monster Prints on his Etsy site (www.krekprints.com). Here’s a video of them being made…

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Mad Tea Party’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Ghoul Video!

Title track off of the new EP, Rock ‘n’ Roll Ghoul, by Mad Tea Party (Krekel & Ami), produced by Greg Cartwright.

Thanks to the Asheville Zombies!

http://www.themadteaparty.com

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Mad Tea Party Releases Rock ‘n’ Roll Ghoul THIS Friday at Stella Blue in Asheville

Mad Tea Party released Rock ‘n’ Roll Ghoul a 4-song EP that is also available on 7″ vinyl this month! It was produced by Greg Cartwright (Reigning Sound, Oblivions). Visit their Bandcamp page to hear, find out more out the recording, see the great art by Gus Cutty, and to order the record (or just buy the downloads).  Start off the season with some new spooky songs!

Rock ‘n’ Roll Ghoul has already gotten a few great reviews. Read them in the Mountain Xpress, on the Sanuk D blog, and Bootleg Mag.

The Mad Tea’s big hometown show is on Friday, October 15th at Stella Blue in Asheville. They’re opening for Mark Sultan and Dr. Filth will be spinning vinyl between acts.

Photo by Michael Traister http://www.traisterphoto.com

You can also catch The Mad Tea Party on 98.1 The River in the 5:00 hour today 10/13!

They will also be in Bruisin’ Ales from 5-7pm tomorrow 10/14 (Thursday) selling records!

Stay up to the minute with The Mad Tea Party on their website, facebook, and  twitter.

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Just in time for Halloween: Mad Tea Party releases ROCK N ROLL GHOUL

Click the album art to get downloads and the vinyl~

Just in time for Halloween:
Mad Tea Party’s  ROCK N ROLL GHOUL

EP Release events:

Oct 2nd ~ The Pour House ~ Raleigh, NC
Oct 15th ~ Stella Blue (opening for Mark Sultan) ~ Asheville, NC
Oct 16th ~ The Double Door Inn~ Charlotte, NC

Asheville’s rock ‘n’ roll duo Mad Tea Party celebrate their favorite holiday again this year with ROCK N ROLL GHOUL, a follow-up to 2009’s ZOMBIE BOOGIE. With garage-rock icon Greg Cartwright (Reigning Sound, Oblivions) at the production helm, this year’s monster offering promises to make you howl at the moon.

Mad Tea Party provides their usual palate of shimmering vocal harmonies over Jason Krekel’s one-man-band juke joint guitar/percussion and Ami Worthen’s electric ukulele. Of course, ROCK N ROLL GHOUL also includes some sonic surprises.

The EP offers up 4 spooky selections for your rockin’ Halloween party. “Possessed,” a 60s-tinged psychedelic number, features Worthen’s wicked vocals and a demonic guitar solo from Mr. Cartwright. The furious screamer “Rock ‘n’ Roll Ghoul” expounds upon the theme of flesh-eating music critics while drivin’ rocker “Dr. Phibes” is an ode to the popular Vincent Price villain. The duo close with the Hollywood Flames’ song “Frankenstein’s Den” with Cartwright on drum kit and Caroline Pond (Snake Oil Medicine Show) joining Worthen on doo-wop vocals.

ROCK N ROLL GHOUL is available as a 7” vinyl record and as digital downloads. The EC horror comics inspired art for the record was hand drawn by San Francisco artist Gus Cutty.

Start off the season with some new spooky songs! If you pre-order the vinyl record before October 1, they will also give you a limited edition hand-carved Dr. Phibes poster by Mad Tea Party’s own Jason Krekel!

The Mad Tea Party on the Web

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Keep that creepy feeling

Stuff to keep you in the spirit after Halloween’s done gone

by Rebecca Sulock in Vol. 16 / Iss. 14 on 10/28/2009

Mountain Xpress

Elvis once asked why every day can’t be like Christmas. We’d like to know the same about the Halloween season. A zombie record, a zombie author, a haunting release, some wild art and a Dias De Los Muertos celebration to keep you in the spirit.

• Zombie boogie is the latest craze, indeed. Ukeabilly dynamos Mad Tea Party released the Zombie Boogie EP earlier this month, and it’s taken off. The lead track is a silly romp through zombie land, featuring fun lyrics (“Zombie, shuffling in the street / covered in blood, lost half his teeth / Doing the zombie boogie for eternity”) over top MTP’s patented uke-and-guitar rock. We dare you to listen without boogie-ing. Also awesome is the cover art, featuring a creepy-fun letterpress print. The four-track EP features two originals and two covers, plus a surprise bonus. Buy the album as a vinyl 7″ or mp3s at themadteaparty.com or local record shops. Read more at http://www.ukulelerockstar.com.

• Speaking of zombies, Haywood County-based author Eric Brown is a national expert on zombie lit and the author of several works of zombie fiction, many with a Christian theme. His most recent work is World War of the Dead. Look for the release on Amazon.

• Jason Smith of Night’s Bright Colors releases his breakaway project, the 24-track Absinthe Twilight. The hauntingly atmospheric collection represents a 24-hour period; the bittersweet nod to time’s passage accomplished by acoustic instrumentals and hushed vocals. Though Absinthe is a moody, introspective work it’s also accessible, romantic, and cozy as a fireplace on a frosty fall night. Download the full album and its companion EP, Flowers of Evil (with the seasonally-appropriate track “Edward Gorey’s Bedtime Story”), for free at http://nightsbrightcolors.com/absinthe: The site launches today (Wednesday, Oct. 28).

• Before the Screaming Js take the stage at Mo Daddy’s every Wednesday, they set up the art of frontman and piano wizard Jake Hollifield, who’s been painting skulls over found paintings, including portraits of the Kennedy brothers and more. It’s a sight to see, but be sure and stay for the manic boogie mania of the band’s free weekly show.

photo by Jonathan Welch

• Be sure and catch Push Gallery and Skateshop’s show The Arts of Darkness before it goes away on Nov. 3. Featuring the grim, wicked, dark and evil works of 22 terrifyingly awesome local artists (Alli Good, Courtney Chappell, Steve Brown and Ian Dennis among them) and a cemetery art installation in the center of it all. Push is at 25 Patton Ave. 225-5509.

 

• Follow Halloween’s revelries with something a little more meaningful: A Dias De Los Muertos celebration is to be held in the Mayfel’s Courtyard (accessible from Wall Street) on Sunday, Nov. 1. Celebrators are invited to place offerings in honor of their dearly departed on the alter between 4 and 10 p.m. Some observers will come in skull face-paint to honor the memories of loved ones, others will bring votive candles, photos or pieces of art for the alter. The event has no religious affiliation. The Mayfel’s back bar opens at 4 p.m., food serving begins at 5 p.m.

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Rockabilly Zombie Music With Ukeleles? Yes Please!!!

October 27th, 2009 Posted in Music, Zombies

Posted in Geek–tastic.com

by Patrick

News about Comics, TV, Movies, Video Games and all sorts of other Geeky Stuff

Many thanks to BoingBoing for pointing out to me the new EP from a band called Mad Tea Party.  The album is called Zombie Boogie, and it’s perfect Halloween party music.  With lyrics like this, how could you go wrong?

Zombie boogie, it’s a killer jive
Zombie boogie, it’s not alive
Zombie boogie, no one survives

Zombie boogie, it’s the latest craze
Zombie boogie, straight from the grave
Zombie boogie, puts you in a daze

Zombie boogie, it’s a solid fact
Zombies died, now they’re comin’ back
It’s the zombie boogie, and you’re a snack

To hear the EP’s songs, including Zombie Boogie and Cemetery Stomp, go here.  You can also download the tracks there as well for about a dollar a song.  If you download all of them, you get a bonus song, a cover of the 80’s classic Abba Cadabra.  Awesome!!!

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Mad Tea Party brings timely holiday tunes to Showroom

By DAN ARMONAITIS For the Herald-Journal

Published: Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 3:15 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 8:55 p.m.

Asheville, N.C.-based duo Mad Tea Party will crash The Showroom for a performance Friday night.

Much like the creatures that Mad Tea Party sings about on the title track to its new EP, “Zombie Boogie,” vinyl is back from the dead.

The wild and wacky Asheville, N.C.-based duo — consisting of guitarist Jason Krekel and ukulele player Ami Worthen — put out its new four-song, Halloween-themed release on a 7-inch, 33 RPM vinyl record.

“Putting out vinyl is as much for ourselves as it is for the public,” Krekel said. “Even though a lot more people are starting to appreciate vinyl, it still isn’t at the level where you can promote it like a CD. We still have to burn some CDs to send to radio stations because a lot of them don’t play vinyl.”

Mad Tea Party has also come up with a solution for its fans who don’t own a turntable. With the purchase of the record, a code will be provided for easy online access to digital downloads of the material plus a bonus track.

The ultra-cool picture sleeve that accompanies the EP is a Krekel creation, utilizing another old-school medium — letterpress printing.

“I kind of did that for people who might not be able to listen to records, figuring they might be inspired to have (the EP) because an original piece of art comes along with it,” Krekel said. “It’s a linoleum print. I carved it out and handset the type.”

Vinyl seems a perfect fit for a band that specializes in hillbilly-flavored, 1960s-style garage rock akin to that of cult favorites Southern Culture on the Skids.

“I’ve got some great old records from the ’50s and ’60s that still sound better than any digital CD I have of the same artist,” Krekel said. “The Beach Boys’ ‘Pet Sounds,’ to me, sounds so much better with some pops and scratches than it does remastered digitally.

“There’s just something cool about records. It feels like a time machine when you put those things on the turntable.”

Regardless of the format, the music on “Zombie Boogie” is what makes the release special.

Just in time for Halloween, Mad Tea Party has provided a revved-up collection that seems custom made for a party. The title track was written by Worthen, and Krekel provided an original song called “You Spooked Me.”

Henry Westmoreland of the Squirrel Nut Zippers plays a blistering baritone saxophone on the EP, which also includes a pair of obscure cover tunes.

“We had it in our heads for like two years that we wanted to do a Halloween record,” Krekel said. “Ami kind of capitalized on the zombie craze with her song, and I went for sort of an homage to Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and King Kahn & the Shrines with mine.”

Earlier this year, Krekel lost his father Tim, a lifelong musician who wrote songs that were recorded by such artists as Rick Nelson, Jason and the Scorchers, Delbert McClinton and Patty Loveless.

“Whenever I saw my dad, it was usually in the context of a gig,” Krekel said. “He lived his life completely for the single enjoyment of being a musician and never compromised. And, for me, that’s very inspiring.”

Want to go?

Who: Mad Tea Party
When: 9 p.m. Friday
Where: The Showroom, 149 S. Daniel Morgan Ave.
Tickets: $8 (advance), $10
Information: 582-0056 or www.hub-bub.com

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