Jack Catfish

Dispastiche 2 - Bartok Practice

2009-06-18T16:21:00.010-05:00

Pflugerville. In a hot garage. Loosely constructed rehearsal of Bartok songs with rock band instrumentation. Rough. 1,2,1,2. Participating are myself, Derrick, Aaron, and Austin.

Dispastiche 2, June 17, 2009

Bartok Practice (1:03, .mp3)

Dispastiche 1 - El Debarge Mayonnaise

2009-06-18T10:52:00.012-05:00

Consuming beer and whiskey at Shangri La on a Saturday night. Wiley had recently made mayonnaise that weekend, to the point of having blisters on his hand. Mayonnaise making is a stir-intensive sport. Plans to start an El Debarge cover band were discussed. Participants include Steph, David, Elliott, and Aidei.

Dispastiche 1, May 2009

El Debarge Mayonnaise (1:15, .mp3)

CLONES

2009-03-09T10:59:00.009-05:00

Here's the finished video I directed for The Diagonals.

Diagonals - "Clones" Directed by Nick Smith from Wiley Wiggins on Vimeo.

Took about a month to finish. Shot on 720P, edited in AVID, rotoscoped in After Effects and Discreet Inferno. No greenscreen. All lockdowns. About 25 effects shots all-together. Lots of money was spent on blowup dolls. During the screening last Saturday, the dolls were launched into the audience, never to be seen again.

Hope you enjoy the video. It was a lot of work. Speaking of, this is NSFW.

Thanks to:

Jim Eastburn (camera)

Jason DelaRosa (editor)

Drew DelaCruz (compositor)

Clint Beckwith (compositor)

Elliott French, Hung Ngyuen, Austin Schell (studio assist)

David and Nathan Zellner (P2 camera)

The Diagonals:

Steve Garcia (Guitar and Vocals)

Ryan Camarillo (Guitar, Additional Vocals)

Nate Lineback (Bass)

Todd Larson (Drums)

Wiley Wiggins (Keyboards)

Diagonals Video Shoot

2009-01-19T11:30:00.008-06:00

Finished shooting 2 full days with Steve Garcia of The Diagonals. The music video is for the song Clones. Editing it should be a lot of fun and a lot of work. We have a master shot with 9 Steves.

Best part is the performance. We used 5 male blowup dolls to represent the members of the band. Stuffing was added to represent the members' members.

Love

2008-10-30T08:39:00.002-05:00

I vote that Love's 1st album is the greatest fucking piece of 20th century pop songwriting. I'm a bit of a late bloomer here, I know, and perhaps I'm guilty of bandwagoning ye olde Forever Changes bus. I regret that.

But GOD CHRIST ALMIGHTY. I can't stop listening to this record.

If you hear My Little Red Book and you don't get half chubb, you're a lost cause.

If Can't Explain can't shake a hangover, you must hate living.

If No Matter What You Do doesn't make you pine for every old love that fucked you up, you have no soul.

This album is like therapy. Or like beating a piñata. Raining bittersweet, yet delicious treats.

Sweden, Heaven and Hell

2008-09-24T11:21:00.004-05:00

Italian Mondo documentary about liberal Swedish culture (read: softcore porn). I came across it for it's soundtrack song, Mah Na Mah Na, a song adopted in the 1970s by the Sesame Street gang. This association is especially strange as the film features biker gangs, suicide, and meter maids who pose as nude models by night. I guess the nutshell of this 60s freakshow is about the double edged sword of freedom, or rather a mondo window into good 'ole cine-depravity.

Easy Tempo reissued the Piero Umiliani soundtrack in the 90s amidst the lounge revival. One of my favorite albums.

Carpathian Forest...

2008-08-06T00:33:00.002-05:00

It's Darker Than You Think At Wacke

I have no idea why Im becoming totally engrossed with this band. Oh yeah, it's because I'm retarded.

Messness

2008-07-01T00:56:00.009-05:00

Been reading this about Teodoro Obiang, the ruler of Equatorial Guinea...

Who's Africa's Worst Dictator?

At least he has better taste than his predecessor.

From Wiki...

The incumbent president has never equalled the bloodthirsty reputation of former dictator Francisco Macías Nguema, whom he overthrew. On Christmas of 1975, Macías had 150 alleged coup plotters executed to the sound of a band playing Mary Hopkin's tune Those Were the Days in a national stadium.

The Thin White Duke

2008-06-18T10:37:00.002-05:00

I'm going through a Bowie-issance these days. Station to Station is the album of the moment for me, and I'm especially fascinated with the coke addled White Duke phase. Here's an interview from Dinah Shore, 1975. He effuses respect for Henry Winkler and the character Fonzie. Holy shit. That's some good coke.

Favorite Wiki Quote:

According to biographer David Buckley, Bowie, based in Los Angeles, fuelled by an "astronomic" cocaine habit and subsisting on a diet of peppers and milk, spent much of 1975-76 "in a state of psychic terror". Stories – mostly from one interview, pieces of which found their way into Playboy and Rolling Stone – circulated of the singer living in a house full of Egyptian artefacts, burning black candles, seeing bodies fall past his window, having his semen stolen by witches, receiving secret messages from The Rolling Stones, and living in morbid fear of fellow Aleister Crowley aficionado Jimmy Page. Bowie would later say of LA, "The fucking place should be wiped off the face of the earth".

I found this gem on Wikipedia

2007-07-08T02:01:00.000-05:00

In 1987, Sherman Hemsley met with President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Prime Minister Mikhail Gorbachev during a celebrity appearance at the Cleveland International Peace Proceedings. Hemsley spoke with the two leaders, and was quoted as saying, "This Cold War guys - it's freezing out the little guy". While it is not clear to what exactly Hemsley was referring, Mikhail Gorbachev was quoted years later as citing Mr. Hemsley as a primary catalyst for the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Romeo

2006-09-04T17:32:00.000-05:00

The year was 1992. Houston, Texas. An artist begins his elusive and short musical career. He hails from a cultural wasteland that produces geniuses like The Red Crayola, Culturecide, The Pain Teens, ZZ Top, DJ Screw, and Jandek. This artist is only known by the name of Romeo.

Ridiculously cocksure in all his delivery, Romeo brings the party. That party is a fist pumping jam in the suburbs while the parents are away for the weekend. The DJ is drunk for the first time. Not on booze, but on Top 40 radio and old school rap. It's the 1990s. Put on your Z Cavariccis and PUMP UP DA JAMZ.

It's a swirl of Vanilla Ice, Def Leppard, Cameo, and Slick Rick. There was electricity in the studio. Purple lightning ejaculated out of the equipment, to be sure. It's the musical equivalent of a 14-yr old dry hump with the drunk fat chick at the party. A voyage into a very horny dimension.

Ever the master of disguise, Romeo takes on several personnas. One being "The Mighty Boner". As you might imagine, the mighty boner is the voice of Romeo's libido. The crazy thing here is Romeo is nothing but libido. Women are objects of lust and devotion. Romeo isn't about solving the world's problems. He's about cars and pussy.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you some samples from one of the strangest and most awesomest albums ever made. Romeo's "Huggin' and Buggin'"

Hey Little Girl
I Control That Girl
Holey Moley (Featuring the Mighty Boner)

Supercar- Wonder Word

2006-04-22T17:11:00.000-05:00

Mmmmm. Mind bending fun.

The sound of SUPERCAR may not be as flashy as their as name implies, but the foursome has a knack of making something commonplace seen extraordinary. As for speed, they’ve certainly raced through the Japanese music world.Ever since their debut in 1995, SUPERCAR quickly became accepted as one of the top musicians to represent Japan. Their popularity can easily be explained. There simply is no other band that consists of the flavor and the talent of SUPERCAR.

from sony music japan

Band Website

found via Antville

Music Is Happiness

2006-04-10T14:47:00.000-05:00

Just finished my video for The Octopus Project's "Music Is Happiness".

iPod Compatible Version
320 x 240 Quicktime Version

Enjoy.

Toto the Toilet

2006-03-22T00:50:00.000-06:00

Here's a clip I made for a goodbye video of a coworker and friend, Joe. It features a talking toilet. A toilet which in fact spews cleansing sprays to one's puckery orifices. It's an electronic bidet made by a Japanese company and is well worth the price.

LINK
TOTO'S BLOG

I Am An Astronaut

2006-01-18T20:28:00.000-06:00

New Song made by Me, and Ms. Louisiana Kreutz.

I Am An Astronaut

Okay, so it's a cover. It hails from the UK bubblegum 70's classic by Ricky Wilde.

And for comparison (the original's better, surely)...

Found via this excellent compilation.

Stimpy / Mr. Giblets

2006-01-15T20:18:00.000-06:00

IMG_1301
Originally uploaded by Sir Jack Catfish.

Liz's pug, Stimpy. I called him Mr. Giblets because of his unusually large genitalia.

dead wasps

2006-01-03T22:35:00.000-06:00

dead wasps
Originally uploaded by Sir Jack Catfish.

These wasps had it comin.

2005-12-06T10:57:00.000-06:00

Imagine the French, inspired by the sounds coming out of the US and UK, taking ideas from the great girl-groups, the beat-groups and combining it with the best of the French chanteuse traditions... The result became known as the yé-yé sound; classic pop songs with a French twist.

Clothilde!

Found Via Ye Ye Girls and Some Velvet Blog

2005-11-28T11:42:00.000-06:00

New Gondry

I'm assuming it's all built with disproportionate sets, then squeezed or stretched in post. But a mindfuck nonetheless.

I can't tell if there's stitching between sets or if this is a flawless, 1-shot deal.

Wow.

2005-11-13T20:11:00.000-06:00

Joseph Byrd Interview 2004

I probably would have lived in ignorance if I had not found Broadcast...Because the aural path to USoA was quite rewarding.
There's probably more of their work worth finding, but the 1968 album is genius.

found via Clouds and Clocks

2005-11-10T10:25:00.000-06:00

Well done! Some of the best hateful writing I've seen in a while.

Die, Hipster, Die

ll the Pitchfork-addicted, soy-latte-drinking, Vice-reading, "Oh my God, my haircut's so intense and I wish I were in Williamsburg instead of NoLibs ...

Found via Philadelphia Weekly

2005-11-03T11:49:00.000-06:00

Enter the tedium of Mr. Cox's life. Things such as: "A job interview" (assumably a directing gig for a big LA studio) and uneasy coming to terms with expensive hotels. Also, a lot of info on past projects and cheerleading for the Green Party.

The Blog of Filmmaker Alex Cox found via GreenCine

2005-11-03T10:06:00.000-06:00

I'm such a sucker for irony. Be careful, she just might bedazzle your heart.

Leslie Hall's Sweater Art

2005-09-28T19:41:00.000-05:00

Do me a favor... Say a prayer!!!!

Found via Boing Boing

2005-09-15T17:32:00.000-05:00

Luc Ferrari 1929-2005

He died 1 day after Bob Moog, apparently. It's a little sad for me after having a chance to meet him and his wife, Brunhild. I've lost touch with them over the years, but expect people will continue to discover him for years to come.

My favorite recordings:

Presque Rien
Interrupteur/Tautologos 3

2005-08-26T10:58:00.000-05:00

El Crimen Perfecto, Alex de la Iglesia's new film, is out and headed to Austin soon.

Link found via IndieWire.

2005-08-02T10:55:00.000-05:00

It's about fucking time someone spoke up.

2005-07-06T22:04:00.000-05:00

One thing I've been working on. And why I don't post anymore. Blogging is for when I'm feeling gay.

A VIDEO I CUT FOR DEATHRAY DAVIES STARRING THE INDIAN GUY FROM RUSHMORE AND ROYAL TENENBAUMS

2005-06-14T21:58:00.000-05:00

Dion McGregor dreams yet again!

Here

2005-03-14T21:36:00.000-06:00

I'M WARNING ALL OF YOU.

YOU BETTER CHEW YOUR FOOD!

2005-02-22T22:00:00.000-06:00

Commercial Radio's Last Hurrah

2005-02-22T08:09:00.000-06:00

Made a move in an hour or so with the CanonPowershot.

It's a bit repetitive.

Here It Is.

2005-02-21T08:18:00.000-06:00

Never really noticed this in my old Apple //e before.

2005-02-19T20:36:00.000-06:00

New Work.

2005-01-11T01:38:00.000-06:00

Hey everybody. Just wanted to let you know how my train research is going.

Regarding:

Trains of Croatia

There you go! Enjoy!

2005-01-08T16:07:00.000-06:00

It's hard to let go of stuff. For instance, I had no idea Kool Keith "Sex Style" commanded a $75 tag at half.com. I would be happy to sell it for 10 bucks. However, I decided to sell it for 29.99. Smitty's CD emporium is in business.

Map of the enchanted forest.

It's not much. A lot of shit. But hey, people out there love crap. I've already sold an Olsen Twins CD to prove it.

2004-12-10T21:27:00.000-06:00

Mr. Pirate:

The pudding was worth honorable mention. It was a mysterious sea of pudding. Enigmatic, even. But enough about hog farmers.

I have a secret about ________.

A. pudding
B. shotgun diarrhea
C. horses
D. The French

2004-12-01T16:20:00.000-06:00

Started work on the final edit for a documentary on the Ukraine. Actually it's about a lot more. It follows students from the US who create a coproduction in Kiev following the fall of communism. The play interprets the life of a Russian poet sentenced to death by Stalin. During the production, a real coup takes place as the hard liners try to reclaim the government. It's engaging material. Good people involved. More on this as it develops.

2004-11-26T15:40:00.001-06:00

WalMart Blitz has hit the air. (Post Thanksgiving spots geared to power-purchase Republican Christian types). Shitloads of shit flying around with price points. Harpies racing to their death. Must've seen those spots play 20 times in 2 days.

Thanksgiving was pleasant. Met the folks in Waxahachie. Watched biblical amounts of Fox News and played Super Scrabble.

One Scabble moment of note: I was at a loss for a word and could have gotten a really good one had I not been playing with Ginger's parents. It could have been a triple word score. The taboo word - CUNT. Just couldn't do it. Not in front of the Christians. Maybe if they were Scottish.

Ready for the Octopus video. Must shoot and build in the next few weeks. G5 will get here next week.

2004-11-24T15:06:00.000-06:00

Counting down the ship date for my imac G5: On or before Dec. 2. Can't wait. I've been dying to get out of 1998 - I've been running the clunky beige g3 desktop since Clinton was in office.

I've been trying to follow Pleix since Wiley showed me the "Beauty Kit for Little Girls" short a few years ago. Just found a little interview with them -

PLEIX INTERVIEW

The work is technically amazing, not to mention darkly humorous. The team really works well together, meshing 3d and 2d beautifully.

2004-11-23T21:27:00.000-06:00

Bought a Komeda album years ago just because I liked the video. I sometimes buy shit just because I like the cover art. That's how it goes. Aside from having the obvious pop comparison to Stereolab, they are just about as perfect as a pop band can get. The new album Kokomemedada, which is probably a year old at this point, is making me very happy right now. I had written them off as an blue-speckled egg anomaly, but I saw a video for 'Blossom' on sputnik7 recently. It was enough to get me out to the store. Maybe it's the colder weather. The crispy air kind of lends itself to pop music.

komeda site

sputnik7

2004-10-25T22:29:00.000-05:00

Been working with Wayne Coyne this weekend on the "Psychic Wall" video for the Spongebob Squarepants movie. Mostly green screen work of the guys in a crows nest of a pirate ship. All this became more ironic as I talked with Wayne about his past experience as a cook at a Long John Silvers. He had this job from 1977-1990. This floored me. Kind of inspiring. I like them even more. What a busy fucker, too. Building sets for his film, recording, touring... Never really taking a day off. I admire that.

Another thing floored me this week. I found out Jandek palyed a show in Scotland.

2004-08-06T11:59:00.000-05:00

I have nothing to report but heat misrery on all fronts.

2004-08-01T00:35:00.000-05:00

Items purchased today:

a) French press b) 3 way lightbulb c) 4 40-watt lightbulbs d) flip-flops e) coffee f) a fine plate of enchiladas from an interior-Mexican restaurant establishment.

I can honestly say that these products have enhanced my life and will continue to do so for years to come. I would recommend them to anyone in need of life-enhancing accoutrement.

I can't seem to get the opening riffs of "Breakin the Law" out of my head. I know this makes me a loser. If I had any will power whatsoever, I would be able to erase this stain upon my mental jukebox.

Jandek albums purchased as of late!
a) Staring at the Cellophane b) Hopeless Recluse

Not much into Staring quite yet, but hopeless was a long overdue acquisition.

Purchase!

2004-06-02T10:46:00.000-05:00

Back from Las Vegas -- An extended stay of 3 days that would have sufficed at 2 days. Pictures were taken, but it will take years to post, as I live in the dark ages and am one of the few who do not own a digital camera. Won $500. Lost $500. Ate a footlong chili cheese dog as the sun came up. Drunkenly. (Goes without saying). Noone in their right mind would do that sober. The dog was the only way I could complete myself after losing money and half of my liver.

2004-05-10T23:51:00.000-05:00

We all have a French policeman inside of us

2004-05-05T11:52:00.000-05:00

Wiley, Tamara, Josh, Ginger, and I exploded 8 pounds of ground beef with M-60s and Black Cats. I know it's retarded, but I feel a sense of accomplishment. Partially because the 45 minute ride to escape the illegal use of fireworks in Austin led us to an open train track outside of Elgin. After riding around for nearly an hour, we defeated what Wiley termed, "fiasco status". This journey was best completed with a barbecue feast at Meyer's Elgin BBQ.

For some unknown reason, I ate BBQ the following day with friends at the Salt Lick. I'm surprised I haven't broken my stomach.

Saw The Fall last weekend. Mark E. Smith sat behind a desk with 2 microphones.

2004-04-27T15:52:00.000-05:00

This is either truly brilliant, or something to commit suicide to.

FAMILY AUTO MART

2004-04-27T14:05:00.000-05:00

I'm behind on the news these days.

INVASION OF THE WILD BOAR

2004-04-25T20:08:00.000-05:00

Trying to quit smoking. Again. Ever hear of a drug called Inversine? It was used originally in the mid-20th century to treat high-blood pressure. It's been adapted recently to treat Tourette Syndrome. The possiblities are growing: now it's nicotine and alcoholism. From my limited understanding, it blocks the receptors which put one on edge when craving a cigarette. This sounds great. I'd like to see if I could shut those receptors off when I walk in a bar, though.

INVERSINE LINK

2004-04-11T20:25:00.000-05:00

AHHH!
Fear!
AHHHH!
Work take soul, make fear! Run, hide, BEWARE!

2004-03-26T11:58:00.000-06:00

In the parking lot of work today, a couple, in their thirties/fourties, were approaching the entrance. The odd thing was that they both had pink shirts on. It became much worse when considering the possibilities: (one) They were brother and sister. Maybe they're creepy close, like kissing cousins, but brother and sister. Don't want to think about it. (two) They're names are Scotty and Joyce. They are still riding high from that prom night in '82 where they made out to Air Supply in the back of Dad's Chrysler LeBaron. They decided that matching pink shirts will be a symbol of their 80's love and solidarity through the years. (three) They are here to help me witness for Christ. They will touch me on my shoulder and smile telling me, the Lord REALLY does have a plan for us.

By the time I got to the door, and they were at the elevator, I caught the name tags on their shirts. At first I thought they were monograms a la Laverne and Shirley, but nay. They work for Rockin Ritas. They seemed nice. I felt bad for making shit up. I still think they were doin' it to Air Supply.

Unrelated: Mayo Thompson is a good egg:

Richie Unterberger Interview

Discography

2004-03-25T10:00:00.000-06:00

Lionel Richie is touring here soon. I still have horrifying childhood memories of that music video (Hello, Is It Me You're Looking For?) where the blind woman sculpts a bust of Lionel's head. Complete with moustache.

In other news, I no longer have a moustache. I blame Lionel Richie.

2004-03-18T19:22:00.000-06:00

Not Another Tired Parody of the Bush Administration.

This is indeed the most disturbing and brilliant rendering of our horrific Administration. We're all going to hell in a HUM-V.

LINK

2004-03-09T12:28:00.001-06:00

COCK ESP
These folks need to come back to Austin. Oh wait, they are:
APRIL 05
Church of the Friendly Ghost
w/ Static Storm System, Rotten Piece

2004-03-03T23:49:00.000-06:00

I forgot to mention that, as I was walking into the office building early today, an elderly man was following me. Not getting a good look at him, I was convinced he was perfectly capable to open the door himself. Being the polite citizen, I thought about it a few seconds, and decided to enter without providing the courtesy "hold the door open" favor. When I got to the elevators, the old man came around the corner, and to my surprise, he was missing an arm. His other hand was carrying assorted books, so he could possibly have needed "a hand" in opening the door. So much for courtesy.

2004-03-03T20:35:00.000-06:00

This is my first post.