In today's edition of the NPR program "Day to Day," I filed a report from a filk music convention. What is filk? Scifi-themed folk music performed by science fiction / fantasy fans and tech-heads.
OK, so, that was already interesting enough, but then — Rolling Stone writer and The Game (book on the science of picking up chicks) author Neil Strauss showed up with his ladyfriend, Lisa Leveridge, who is the guitarist for Courtney Love's band. During a talent show at the filkfest, the duo performed a cover of the Hole song "Doll Parts" reimagined as… wait for it… "Jabba Parts," about the Star Wars character Lisa calls her "favorite guy in sci-fi." How did the fillk folk react? Listen to the NPR segment and hear all.
Link to "Filk Music: Odd Voices for a Digital Generation". Airs nationwide at 9am and 2pm depending on station. Archived story audio, downloadable Filk songs, and photos shot by Steve Diet Goedde will be online after 12pm PT.
See also this related Wired News story: Link.
Bonus: I have about 3 dozen music CDs that the kind filk musicians and promoters provided for the purpose of this radio story. I'd love to give them to someone who digs what they hear in the NPR story, to seed a future filk music collection… email me if you're into it. First response gets the goods. We have a winner, thanks!
And if this stuff floats your boat, other big filkfests are scheduled around the country in coming months, including one at a Los Angeles scifi con in just a few weeks: Link.
