The Gangrene Film Festival: Apollo 13. (PRNewsFoto/The Gangrene Film Festival)
I know; you’re probably sick to death over all the various and sundry award shows/conferences/cabals that come around in the early part of the year. But my eyes picked out this particular one on name alone: who doesn’t want to know more about something called The Gangrene Film Festival? And would you expect something that cool sounding to come from UTAH? I know! It sounds like the kind of weird-awesome that would blend perfectly here in my beloved Baltimore.
“Space-aged bachelor pad music” sounds like a cool vibe for a film fest theme. Though I’ve gotta say that the pics of opening act Apollo 13 seem more Daft Punk. But then that was 2012…. So I tried to lift this year’s poster from their site. To no avail; they aren’t up yet. So enjoy Apollo 13 y’all.
Comedy! Vaudeville! Music! I wish I could beam myself over to this Fest. Then again I’ve got ’til August to figure out a way to get there….
Read the entire press release after the jump!
The Gangrene Film Festival, the International Vaudevillian-Style Comedy Event, Announces Cult Music Hero Esquivel as Their 2014 Theme
Adored by the cool crowd of entertainment industry, one-of-a-kind composer who helped develop exotica music genre to be honored with 20-piece big band performance
KAYSVILLE, Utah, March 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — The Gangrene Film Festival breaks the mold when it comes to traditional film fests. Over its 15-year life, the event has expanded to become a celebration of comedy in general by rolling vaudeville-style live performances—sketches, and musical acts—into an all-inclusive show. Each year, the festival takes on a new theme, changing up its look and feel to keep things fresh. For 2014, The Gangrene Film Festival will go Esquivel.
Who is Esquivel? If you can imagine leisure suits, martinis, chest hair, and silk ascots, you might be in the ballpark. Fans of Esquivel, a 60’s era big band composer, have dubbed him: “The king of space aged bachelor pad music.”
“It’s going to be our biggest show ever,” said Craig Nybo, festival board member. “We have built a 20-piece big band and we are planning to rock Esquivel tunes all night long.”
In the middle of the 19th century, Juan Garcia Esquivel left Mexico City and brought his innovative Latin grooves with him to America. With standing gigs at the Stardust in Vegas and several quirky records to his credit, his sound has become timeless. Names such as Matt Groening and Robert Rodriguez helped bring recent light to Esquivel’s work, inspiring a resurgence of his music. It seems Esquivel has posthumously gained a whole new fan base.
“Most of us grew up as kids listening to Esquivel,” said Larry Nybo, festival board member. “His music has been with me as long as I can remember. It’s like a dream to imagine that we are going to play his music live on stage.”
“Esquivel’s music should have always been the soundtrack to The Gangrene Film Festival,” said Rick Nef, festival board member. “He is quirky and funny. But at the same time, there is real virtuosity in his sound.”
Esquivel began his career as an electrical engineer. But as an accomplished pianist, he began composing at an early age. Soon, he found that he made more money from music than from his engineering. His unique background in 1950’s solid-state technology showed up regularly in his music. He employed early era synthesizers and eccentric musical instruments alongside a whaling brass section, all set to romantic Latin auxiliary percussion beats. Esquivel boasted the full package; he was a visionary in music, technology, and sound.
With Esquivel’s unique music and quirky history, it’s no surprise that organizers of The Gangrene Film Festival have made him the theme of their 2014 event.
“Even if you have never heard Esquivel,” said Ben Fuller, festival board member, “you should come to the fest and listen. You owe it to yourself to become exposed to this hidden gem in music and entertainment history.”
The Gangrene Film Festival: Esquivel will be held on August 29th, 2014 in Layton, Utah. Fans of the festival can visit www.gangreneproductions.com or www.facebook.com/GangreneFilmFestival for more information.
Atomic Fangirl 