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DEMENTIA: 2001!
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In the continuing tradition of "ALCON 98", "Dementia: 1999", and "ALCON
2000", in less than 2 months, "DEMENTIA: 2001" will officially begin! This
3 day convention celebrates the genre of funny music in all it's various
forms, giving dementia and filk fans a chance to laugh and learn, spectate
and participate, spend a little and party a lot, along side their fellow
comedy loving freaks. This convention is being run by long time dementia
fan, "Blasted Bill" Putt, with some help from his right hand idea man, filk
expert Tim Ryan, and myself, "the great Luke Ski" lending a hand as best I
can as an executive producer.
The convention is being held on the weekend of Friday, March 30th;
Saturday, March 31st; and Sunday, April 1st in Southfield, Michigan at the
Holiday Inn Southfield. Our guests include: Guest of Honor - Jon "Bermuda"
Schwartz; Guest Musical Performers - Tom Smith, Larry Weaver, the great Luke
Ski, Tony Goldmark, Power Salad, Bob Ricci, Sponge Awareness Foundation,
Robin Nakkula, and Dan Hart; Demented Dance DJ - Jeff Morris. (Note:
Throwing Toasters have shown interest in showing up, but are not confirmed).
D:01 will have 3 areas where events will be happening. First, our main
room, "The Spike Jones Palladium", where all of our big shows and events
will be taking place. Second, is our merch table area, "The Stan Freberg
Commercialism Center", which will be located at the back of the main room,
so vendors and consumers won't miss any of the action. Third, is "The Tom
Lehrer Reclusion Room", a smaller room separate from the main room, where
more intimate alternatives will be featured for your comedic pleasure
(closed on Sunday).
SCHEDULE Of Events:
The following is a rundown of D:01's events, based on the current
tentative schedule. All events and guests are subject to change, consult
the D:01 website ( http://www.thelandofdementia.com ) for updates. Our 3
areas are abbreviated as SJP, SFC, and TLR. Contest's prizes will be
autographed CDs by Henry Phillips, the Hot Waffles, the Happy Schnapps
Combo, the Roto Rutor Good Time Christmas Band, and more dementia & filk
related CDs & stuff that we'll be collecting all the way up until the
convention starts. All panelists on panels are to be announced.
FRIDAY, March 30th:
3:00 PM - SJP - Registration begins
3:00 PM - SFC - Open for business
5:00 PM - SJP - Opening ceremony
6:00 PM - TLR - panel - Tales of the studio
Hear behind the scenes horror stories of grueling hours in cramped dark
mixing rooms!
7:00 PM - TLR - panel - How to release a CD
So you want to be a dementia or filk megastar? Get some tips from
people who've been there and done that.
8:00 PM - SJP - Friday Night Showcase - Sponge Awareness Foundation, Dan
Hart, Larry Weaver
Sponge Awareness Foundation is a duo: keyboardist Ed Lecuyer and
vocalist Kevin Eldridge. Their weird little songs have been heard on "the
Doctor Demento Show" since the early 90s. The SAF's biggest demented hit was
"An Axl Christmas", a holiday tune about the notorious Guns 'N' Roses
frontman. "Axl" has charted on Dr. Demento's Funny Five countdown, and also
appeared on the album "Dr. Demento's Basement Tapes: Volume 2". The SAF's
live show is a bizarre experience indeed, and in addition to their wacky
music, watch for Kevin's stupid Spam-juggling act!
Dan Hart's songs range from poignant to satiric to downright silly. And
those sillier songs have been heard on "the Doctor Demento Show" since the
early 80s. The Doctor himself describes Dan's music as "very timely... quite
amusing." A couple of Dan's songs, including "Information Superhighway",
have been featured on National Public Radio's Car Talk program.
Larry Weaver is no ordinary performer. He blends pop-culture laden
stand-up with off-the-wall songs and characters to create a unique
entertainment experience. His biggest demented hits his thus far have been
"Grampa's Gone Gangsta", "Woman To Dominos" and "Country Folks Can Survive".
He switches back and forth to several eccentric characters that all have
something funny to say about several walks of life. And, he just might come
out into the audience after you too!
10:00 PM - SJP - "UHF" Rocky Horror style
No matter what anyone says, it was my idea first. Back at ALCON '98, I
came up with the notion that it would be great if a bunch of us funny music
fans did a showing of Weird Al's feature film "UHF" in the style of the
"Rocky Horror Picture Show", in which we'd dress up as the characters and
act out the movie in front of the screen for a live audience. Well, here at
D:01, we're making it a reality! If you'd like to be a performer in the
show, contact Bill Putt for a list of which characters are taken and which
are still available. Time to drink from, the FIRE HOSE!!!
10:00 PM - TLR - Open sing
Midnight - Close
SATURDAY, March 31st:
7:00 AM - Early risers gather for breakfast
7:00 AM - SFC - Open for business
9:00 AM - SJP - Registration continues
9:00 AM - SJP - Lego contest
10:00 AM - SJP - MP3 listening party
11:00 AM - SJP - panel - How the Internet is effecting dementia
11:00 AM - TLR - Luke Ski's "Uber Geek" CD cover photo shoot
Wanna be on the cover of Luke Ski's next CD, "Uber Geek"? Here's all
you need to do. Come up with your best geek/nerd/dork costume. You can be
a traditional nerd, or you can get more elaborate and specific by dressing
as a specific type of geek: Trekkie, Klingon, Star Wars fan, Gamer, Comic &
Toy Collector, Ren-Fest person, Computer geek, Pokemon geek, Rocky Horror
cast member, scientist geek, dementia geek, etc.. Or perhaps dress as a
specific character! Girls could be Harley Quinn, Xena, Lara Croft, 7 of 9,
or Buffy, and boys could be Dr. Who, Jay & Silent Bob, Steve Urkel, or
perhaps even the infamous "COMIC BOOK GUY" from the Simpsons! All those
looking dorky enough to be deemed worthy of the cover shoot will get a free
copy of the CD when it is released some time this Fall/Winter 2001. To sign
up for this event, contact me, Luke Ski, right away by e-mailing me at
LukeSki@Juno.com , and I will send you more details.
12:00 PM - TLR - panel - D:01's The List: The Greatest Moments In Dementia
Ripping off VH-1's successful discussion show, a panel of D:01's
planners and guests will discuss and vote on the greatest moments in
demented history. Come on down and throw your two cents in!
1:00 PM - SJP - Who Wants To Be A Blasted Billionaire?
Ripping off ABC's successful Regis-palooza, our very own "Blasted Bill"
Putt will allow 3 lucky and trivia filled contestants to compete for a
billion dollars! Well, either that, or a bunch of nifty prizes.
2:00 PM - SJP - LipSync Talent Masquerade Contest
We're combining all 3 popular events into one big show! Wanna Lip-Sync
your favorite funny tune? Go for it! Wanna show off your best dementia or
filk related costume? You can do that too! Got an amazing talent you wanna
share with us, or perhaps a funny song of your own you'd like to perform for
everyone? Just jump on up there and go nuts! Each of the categories will
be judged on different criteria by our judges, and in the end we will pick 3
"Best-In-Category" winners, and from those, 1 "Best-in-Show" winner!
3:00 PM - SJP - Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz
Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz, our Guest Of Honor, has been a life long
dementia fan and musical contributor. Most fans know him as the highly
proficient drummer for "Weird Al" Yankovic, not to mention the webmaster of
weirdal.com . Here at "Dementia: 2001", the focus of Jon's discussion will
be his personal history in the world of dementia music, starting with his
introduction to it, leading to his involvement with "the Dr. Demento Show",
and ultimately, meeting "Weird Al". Chances are, he'll also talk a little
bit about what happened behind the scenes of Al's "Running With Scissors"
album & tour. He'll have a Q&A session, and he'll be showing a few home
movies, which trust me, you do NOT want to miss!
3:00 PM - TLR - panel - Filk 101
What's this filk thing everybody keeps talking about? As a dementia
fan, I want to learn more about what it is, and who the artists are behind
it! (Note: this was scheduled before we knew Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz was to
be speaking in the SJP. Because of this, we may change this panel to
another time during the convention, to give everyone a chance to see both.)
5:00 PM - SJP - Autographs with Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz
Out of courtesy to Jon, please refrain from asking him for autographs
during other times at the convention. We've set aside this time so you can
all line up and get your chance to have all your rare Bermuda and Al stuff
signed my the fastest hands in the land of dementia! After that, go get
some dinner and be back by 7:00 PM for the big Saturday Night Showcase!
6:00 PM - One hour dinner break
7:00 PM - SJP - Saturday Night Showcase - Robin Nakkula, Bob Ricci, Tom
Smith
Robin Nakkula is a filker who has had a couple songs played on Dr. D's
show, "The Android" and "Biotech Fantasy". I've never seen her perform, but
from what Tim has told me, she's great, and I'm very much looking forward to
seeing her show.
Bob Ricci is working on his soon to be released second album, "Five
Hundred & Twelve More Times", and his songs "Ode to Playboy" and "My
Girlfriend's Back" are favorites on the Dr. Demento Funny Five. He also
enjoys writing sketch comedy, which can be heard on The Bob Ricci Show, a
shoutcast radio show heard on WARP radio networks on Wednesday nights.
Tom Smith is one of the most popular filkers ever, not to mention the
fastest, and certainly one of Michigan's all-time best dementia artists.
Our very own Tim Ryan introduced Dr. Demento to Tom Smith back in 1990.
Since then Dr. D has played his songs "Domino Death", "Smurfin' Safari",
"On-Line Religion", and his Babylon 5 tribute, "Five Years". His song
"Psychic Voicemail Hotline" is featured on Dr. Demento's Basement Tapes Vol.
6, but that's just the tip of the iceberg with Tom. He does parodies and
originals on subjects from pop-culture and sub-culture that are witty and
hilarious. He has songs about beverages that defy the laws of physics, a
touching Jim Henson tribute, Superman's non-existent sex life, Edgar Allen
Poe, Wiley Coyote, John Denver impressions, and a series of songs about a
demonic sheep who plans to destroy the world. BAA!!!
9:00 PM - SJP - Dance Of The Fools - DJ Jeff Morris
Well I think this one pretty much explains itself, doesn't it? It's
our big April Fool's Eve dance! Hailed on high for having the most
extensive dementia website in the history of the planet, the mighty Jeff
Morris will be bringing his gigantic dementia arsenal to us for all of our
dancing pleasure. Will any of our artists be world premiering new danceable
tunes there? Only time will tell.
9:00 PM - TLR - Foolish refugees
Midnight - Close
SUNDAY, April 1st:
7:00 AM - SFC - Open for business
11:00 AM - SJP - The Bill And Davroz Show
12:00 PM - SJP - Pun Off featuring Davroz
1:00 PM - SJP - April Fool's Showcase - Power Salad, Tony Goldmark, the
great Luke Ski
Power Salad's front man Chris Mezzolesta wowed people at "ALCON 2000"
with his official theme song of the same name done to the tune of
"Albuquerque" by "Weird Al". Well, he's come to our convention with a theme
song for us, "Dementia 2001, Ha Ha!" done to the tune of "They're Coming To
Take Me Away, Ha Ha!" Dr. Demento has played his tunes "The Saga Of The
American Mall Family" and "Killer Resume", and his song "Co-Dependency" was
on Dr. Demento's Basement Tapes, Volume 6. He'll be performing lots of
stuff from his latest album, and perhaps other musical guests will be
joining him.
Tony Goldmark is quite possibly the only 17-year-old on his block to
have created a funny music CD. Dr. Demento has played Tony's tunes "I Know
You're A Fish" and "Disney World", but his biggest hit "Kill The Backstreet
Boys" was #9 on Dr. Demento's Funny 25 of 2000. Tony will be performing
stuff from his past 2 releases, plus some new material that hasn't been
heard before anywhere, and perhaps other musical guests will be joining him.
the great Luke Ski has had 3 songs on Dr. Demento's Funny 25 countdowns
over the past few years, in 2000 at #24 with "Fanboy", in 1998 at #6 with
"Kenny Was A Kid From South Park", and in 1997 at #7 with "Insane And The
Brain", which also made it onto "Dr. Demento's Basement Tapes, Vol. 6".
Luke has been dubbed the "Uber Geek" due to his being a Jack-of-all-trades
when it comes to anything relating to the underground fandom counterculture,
meaning that there are few in this world who are geekier than he. He'll be
doing songs in tribute to dementia itself, all his most popular fan
favorites, some new never before heard world premiere material, and perhaps
other musical guests will be joining him. .noticed the running theme here
yet?
3:00 PM - SJP - Closing Ceremony
PREREGISTRATION and other vital information:
Preregistration for a 3-day convention pass costs $35.00 per person if
postmarked by March 1st (after March 1st, $40.00 per person). Make checks or
money orders payable to "Bill Putt", and send them to:
"Dementia: 2001"
21136 Greenhill Rd.
Farmington Hills, MI 48335
Something you all should keep in mind is that with less than 2 months
to go, and only a few weeks remaining for discounted preregistration prices,
you really need to send in for your passes as soon as possible.
Procrastination is not the way to go here, people. Your promptness will be
greatly appreciated.
The Holiday Inn Southfield is located at 26555 Telegraph Rd. Their
discounted room rates for the convention are $89.00 per night for singles
and doubles. To make room reservations, call the hotel at 1-(248)-353-7700.
Note: To get discount rates, you have to tell them you are with "the funny
music convention".
Vendors - Each of our artists will their own vendor table at which they
will be selling their CDs and other nifty swag, so be prepared funny music
fans! If you have funny stuff you'd like to sell at D:01, tables are still
available $35.00 each, limit 2, price does not include con registration.
Dementia: 2001 T-shirts are available right now! They feature our logo
on white 50% cotton shirts, in L, XL, and XXL (specify size). If you'd like
to mail order yours so you can get it before the convention, just add $20
per shirt to your registration total.
Gophers wanted! - Like all conventions, we need volunteers to help the
convention run smoothly. For being a gopher, you'll get an instant
caricature by "the great Luke Ski", you'll be entered into our Gopher raffle
where you can win fabulous prizes, you can purchase D:01 T-shirts at the
discounted price of $10, and you'll get our ever lasting gratitude. If you
would like to sign up to be a gopher, contact Bill Putt.
If you have any questions concerning any aspect of "Dementia: 2001",
you can either write Bill Putt at the preregistration address, or you can
e-mail him at 2001@thelandofdementia.com . See you there!
--
Luke Collis Sienkowski, a.k.a. "the great Luke Ski!"
GNOME Productions, PO Box 259172, Madison, WI 53725-9172
LukeSki@Juno.com / http://www.lukeski.com
AOL IM handle: thegreatLukeSki / ICQ info: Luke Ski, #19122313
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