To many of us within Chicago's local
scene, he's the masked man behind some of the most incredible
psychedelic rock instrumentals that will blow your mind while producing weekly live comedy and music shows to broadcast on cable access. To the
government, he's just another rebel, rousing upstart trying to stir
things amongst the masses. But who (or what) is really Flabby
Hoffman? Well, Southside'll let the man himself answer that question -
"...The Greatest Show On Girth..." who also claims
to be Reba McIntyre, if you can be that! This was simply the
beginning of her recent interview of the man behind the mask,
blogspot readers, after receiving a copy of his 3-disc album, Coup
De Ta-Ta's which features a “must read” liner booklet. So
where did Flabby get his name? According to this masked artist, it's
from a native Cherokee tongue which literally translates to mean "the
beast with 10,000 stomachs" and it was given to him while at
drive-in theatre in Valdosta, Georgia during a test screening of
"Dude, Where's My Car". Long story, short version, he had
drawn the attention and sympathy of the audience members and
management after eating the entire concession stand. Then he went on
to state that he was forcibly detained by the members of Wal-Mart's
private security para-military outfit and how he was "softened"
up for his interrogation with a sack of grapefruits and car battery
attached to his nips. Whether it's true or not (sorry, he doesn't
remember anything after that) doesn’t really matter except for one
thing he feels obligated to fight for truth, justice and the
preservation of the creative impulse after receiving such amazing
powers when he was bitten by a radioactive duckbilled platypus.
Yes, blogspot readers, it might be
hard to decipher the inner workings and creative process that comes
from the mind of Flabby Hoffman since you may have trouble deciding
to take what he says too seriously or too literally. However, when
that creative process involves music, to Flabby it's "...a
unique means of expression because it involves a wide spectrum of
impact..." to which he added "...You can touch
someone emotionally, intellectually, and if you're really expressive
you can touch them spiritually (but never touch them physically
unless you have their permission ...especially in the undercarriage
area)..." Then, he went on to state that music "...has
a physical conveyance as well ...you can make someone groove, you can
startle them, you can create a landscape in which they can immerse
themselves in..." like for example the old Western theme song
Happy Trails. Contrary to what the mainstream minds wants us to
believe, blogspot readers, Flabby believes music can be a gateway as
well because it doesn't have to be a cheap plastic piles of cases of
he lovingly describes as "...crass and mechanical karaoke..."
that's dull and lifeless as if a passionless lounge singer's
rendering a painful and mind-numbing Andrew Lloyd Webber medley.
OUCH! Yet, when it comes to Flabby creating his music, he tends to
lean towards the “...vivid and expressive experiences...” “...I don't just like to break the '4th wall.' I look to
crawl up inside it…rat around in there for a while...” says
Flabby, “...Make you think I'm long gone and then sneak up on you
when you're not looking...” There's some truth to that last statement.
And that's basically what you will
get from his latest CD - Coup De Ta-Ta's, blogspot readers, a 3-disc
album featuring rather unique as well as interesting subjects like
Richard Nixon Killed JFK (track 2, disc 1), Sugar Coated Zombie Unit
(track 6, disc 1), Phony Balonies (track 6, disc 2), Everybodies An
Uncle Tom Sometimes (track 7, disc 2) and Our Shadow Government Takes
A Holiday (track 15, disc 3) by the Flabby Hoffman Trio. To be
honest, blogspot readers, SouthSide didn’t actually listen to all 3 disc but she did sample a wide selection of songs to get
a better understanding of Flabby’s creative mind and as well as
surf his mind-bending psychedelic rock soundwave. Giving it “thumbs
up”, she liked how tucked inside his songs you’ll most definitely
hear this artist’s political beliefs and view points mixed with a
touch of tongue and cheek lyrical satire and humor ...sometimes
sexually laced but for a good reason. For example, in Nixon Killed
JFK - he believes Nixon killed JFK and was the fifth column operative
who’s mission it was to destroy the United States from within
meanwhile in The Feudal System (track 4, disc 3) – he poses a
rather interesting question “...how come blacks in Africa never
lynch any white people...” Or in Inhuman Cruelty Society (track 17,
disc 1) – though poking some fun at Betty Crocker (who’s
poisoning us with her birthday cakes), Flabby notes that everyday
about 23,000 die from starvation in which we can save a few. Via
hidden messages and morals to his stories, Flabby does have a way of
educating the masses to what’s going on in our socio-political
world without getting too bogged down in long winded CNN details
amidst his instrumental groove. During his live performances, that
groove can last for minutes upon minutes with no end in sight
...think of it as a homage to the hippie/folk jam sessions where one
musician would add a bit or two for a continuous flow of music only to end in its own time. You
only can get that kind of retro sound with Flabby Hoffman. Now, if you’re
wondering where you can get a copy of this rebel-rousing, (probably)
politically banned CD, Flabby jokingly says you might be able to find
a copy at your local dumpster or public landfill. To those living in
the bible belt region, there’s probably one or two being burned
along with the Dixie Chicks during your weekly book burning meetings.
Seriously, blogspot readers, for those who are “...gluttons for
punishment and enjoy a little friendly torture, the best place to
grab or download our music is at
http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/FlabbyHoffman
where all three of our albums sit waiting to be unleashed upon your
tender pink brain...” It’s also listed on iTunes and Amazon. And
while listening to parts or the entire CD, check out the “must
read” 32-page booklet that comes with the physical copy of Coup De
Ta-Ta’s – chocked full of tantalizing prose, bios about the
musicians and satirical cartoons.
Here’s an interesting fact you
should know about Coup De Ta-Ta’s, there are fifty musicians
performing as Flabby Hoffman Trio (which actually did start off as a trio,
blogspot readers, with Flabby on acoustic and two conga players) and
over the course of 2 and 1/2 years making this CD – they didn’t
rehearse. Flabby credits the talents of such musicians like Baron
Rugmunchausen on drums and bassists as Quarter Paisan, Tip Top Motel
and The Duke Of Barbecued Human Ass Meat rockin’ the rhythm section
(“...without those guys…our sets would be as bland as a
mayonnaise sandwich on white bread..."). Then there’s the “inner
circle” of the Flabby Hoffman Trio which features Uncle Wakeman,
the iconic Sid Yiddish, The Lizard, the mysterious Shag, and Eddie
Sunshine as well as Ivan Russia, Blisstopher Robin, Rich Xperience,
Senorita Hottie and many more. Plus it also features the original
Flabby Hoffman Trio members – Orange Julius and Eddie the Chest.
Believe it or not, there are three versions of the Flabby Hoffman
Trio, blogspot readers. Besides the original trio version, in another
version he does gigs with 6 to 7 of the guys and gals (with cameos
from friends) while in another (to which he labels it as
“...amorphous Flabby Trio...”) any or all of the extended members
of the Flabby family are invited to join in the quest of the
“Undiscovered Groove” “...So now I have three different ways to
inflict pain and suffering on the unsuspecting townsfolk. Large,
Extra Large and Super Size versions of the Flabby Hoffman Trio...”
says the masked man before adding, “...I like to think of each of
them as a marauding band of Norsemen on the make to ravage your women
and pillage the countryside…in your mind...”
There’s another side to Flabby
Hoffman, blogspot readers. He has also invaded the local television
airwaves here in Chicago with his cable access broadcasts of The
Flabby Hoffman Cavalcade from his live shows taped around town. He
disclosed to SouthSide that he “...always wanted to create a
self-sustaining system which encourages the growth and development of
creativity as part of my version of The Revolution...which is based
on empowering what's good in people instead of ‘burn baby burn’..."
Still, his goal is to have a television show as well as live shows
and a radio station all operating like “...an organically driven
version of same type of integrated marketing you see from someone
like Ryan Seacrest...” (but without the conspicuous worship to
Satan, blogspot readers). Flabby would like to do what Ryan does yet
without “...cheap, robo-musicians like Ke$ha who are dedicated to
destroying our humanity...” instead he would like to showcase
“...artistically driven, intensely unique and powerfully expressive
artists like Hail The Black Dragons, The Embraceables, Black Umbrella
Brigade and Sons Of The Never Wrong...” This would, according to
Flabby, help the bands to amplify their music above the din and whir of “...horrid
and manipulative puke that the mainstream tries to pass off as music
every day…and where needed, help give those voices the venues and
encouragement which they need to develop...” On that note, he
credits the many thousand of creative people who have been part of
his productions over the years boasting 500+ shows (both live music
and comedy) on the Chicago circuit to which he books 8 live shows a
month thus producing between 48 and 52 original (and new) 58 minutes
of episodes on cable access every year.
Sadly, blogspot readers, the masked
man known as Flabby Hoffman had to return to his “bat” cave to plot another coup. Before leaving, he did thank SouthSide for the interview and all the
work she does promoting creativity. “....You are a blessing to us
all...” By now, you’ve met Flabby the masked man, musician, and
television host ...how about Flabby the Author?! Yep, believe the rumors. Flabby
Hoffman has released a book titled The Avant Guardian, “...it is a
satirical and frequently humorous (and always a bit insane)
collection of rants about what's wrong with this place and how we can
go about fixing it...” says Flabby, “...It is powerful and unique
and a real eye opener for those who don't mind a little revelation
and laughter once in a while...” To give you an idea, blogspot
readers, of what it really is – think of this book as the 5th
longest book in the English language. He suggests getting it in
electronic form from
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/flabbyhoffman
where it is published in two volumes and don’t worry about. the
.pdf format. It can be opened by any computer besides e-readers.
“...Come for the humor…stay for the uncompromising and vigorous
dissection of the tools of our oppressors...” Then he left with
these final words – “...In closing I'd like to say ciao-dios to
all you true believers out there and thanks for being you...”
Coup De Ta-Ta's
Flabby Hoffman
Until next time, support your local scene,
SouthSide
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