Hey there, Austinians. Just got this email:

I'm a programmer at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Austin and we have this ongoing musical education program on Monday nights where we play a different music-related film for $1 admission.Often because we have no budget for these nights we edit together programs on our own (using proper editing equipment), with credits, narration, intertitles etc. I'd like to do one based on your Bubblegum book and wanted to know if you'd be interested in curating it, helping source some of the more rare stuff, and we could adapt the text from the book (I can contact individual writers for permission). This would only be a compilation for use in-house - although I can give you copies to do whatever you like with. We're putting together our April/May calendar right now, so ideally I'd like it to be in that program. We can edit in a matter of days if we have the source material a week or two out.

What can you tell me about the Alamao Drafthouse Cinema before I send them my rare Lancelot Link and Bay City Roller vids.

Thanks Alicia! I had heard some good things about it and it's called "The Beekeeper" -- which totally reminds me of my father -- who kept bees. I think I need to have it.

(I think I don't need the dvd or the seed packet -- so just the regular cd for me.)

I could see if Lee or Sam know anything of them, should hayden be busy (as I hear those wee people can keep you).

That's where the kid-made Indiana Jones remake was screened.

Speaking of fun music and video. I just ordered this rarity:

GO FORWARD! 1968 JPN. GS film. 1960s Japanese Group Sounds band, the Spiders star in this rare "Help" inspired rock n roll spy movie! If you like screams, shouts, whoops and hollers in your 1960s jangle rock n roll, this movie is for you! I don't understand Japanese, but here's a sample of what's going on: first there's hidden diamonds and a mysterious girl with a big nose. Then, a sinister looking man in dark sunglasses sips milk from a straw—we see him regularly. He likes milk. There's an airport briefcase mix-up. Lots of cool 60s mod op-art rooms and sitar music. Magical Mystery Tour-type "love child" fashions! The Spiders watch TV and see a cool garage beat group. During rehearsals for their big TV appearance, a dead guy falls out a speaker cabinet! The music is excellent with sounds like the Monkees, Count V, Gerry and the Pacemakers, the Kinks and the Association! Very cool Spiders performance scenes with groovy stage sets. Songs include "Here Come Spiders," "Ban Ban" and many others. "Are we not crazy cats? No, we are Spiders!" Bonus Selection: Performance footage of "The Tigers" from their 1968 movie!

From a separate source, I also ordered this collection of rarities:

LOST & FOUND VIDEO NIGHT VOL. 4 - A 5 MINUTES TO LIVE EXCLUSIVE! Shocking, hilarious and amazing music segments you've never seen before. Featuring the likes of Throbbing Gristle! The Monks! Marianne Faithfull! Butthole Surfers! Cash Crew! The Residents! The Screamers! Lightning Bolt! The Tams! The Cramps! The BBQ Killers! Black Sabbath! Hall & Oates! Forcefield! Hot Butter! Ornette Coleman! The B-52's! Small Faces! Kids of Widney High! Andy Kaufman! Van Halen! Joy Division! Scott Walker! Serge Gainsbourg! Tom Jones! Dusty Springfield! Anna Karina! Liberace! Even the Beatles and the Rolling Stones...and yes, so much more! Running Time: 1 hr. 30 min.

All those Lost & Found video collections are great. Didn't we discuss them here before?

I just forwarded your question about the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema to a friend of mine in Austin who's familiar with the film/video scene there. I'll let you know what he says.

Didn't we discuss them here before?

I think so. I picked up two at Quimby's when I was there. One is Serge Gainsbourg's full-length video for Melody Nelson.

The other is the rare sixties mod film Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush.

I'm tempted to get this one too...

LOST & FOUND VIDEO NIGHT VOL. 5 - A 5 MINUTES TO LIVE EXCLUSIVE! A veritable treasure trove of bizarre, hilarious, jaw dropping and just plain amazing video clips you will not see ANYWHERE else. Featuring a dancing Mexican midget; the worst stand up comedian ever; warped religious teachings; rare musical footage of The Clean, The Barbarians, Leslie Gore, Roland Kirk, Os Mutantes, and To Live and Shave in L.A.; insane Indian disco; found home movies; Pat Boone losing his wig on live TV; weird commercials; Ronald & Nancy Regan discussing their heroin & crack cocaine habit; and much, much more. Running at a packed 90 minutes, this brain numbing dose of certifiable weirdness is a must see for anyone interested in amazing, entertainment! 90 min.

Os Mutantes, Roland Kirk, The Clean and insane Indian Disco? It's intriguing.

I got the new Tori album. I need another listen before I can comment, but that I like it.

I have iTunes on shuffle, and I discovered a fabulous segue:

Concierto de Aranjuez (Adagio) -- from the Miles Davis [and Gil Evans, on this disc] Complete Columbia Recordings

------->

Oh Me Oh My (I'm A Fool For You) -- Aretha Franklin

I'm serious. They just *work.*