“Too Much Monkey Business” from the upcoming ‘Flicted record is out now.
The very entertaining accompanying video features John Mailander sketching J.T. Thomas (who is studying chromaticism), J.V. Collier playing board games, Chad Wright reading and playing triangle, and Gibb Droll playing whilst reading about barbecue cuisine. None of that does this video justice…
Our resident jester Vic Alvis contributed these observations to our Facebook group:
“That hip “TMMB” video created too many questions: whose cool Cali bungalove is that (the organ in the corner indicates it’s JT’s)? Is that Russell Hornsby, and is this his production? What’s in those Amazon packages in the foyer? These all led to a very special edition of the Top Ten list:
Top Ten Distractions in Too Much Monkey Business
10. JT is enthralled by “The Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization,” a 1953 jazz music theory book written by George Russell.
9. Gibb is engrossed in Jim Marks’ “The Barbecue Book: Burgers to Banquets,” a complete guide to barbecuing and outdoor grilling. Gibb’s favorite recipes are no doubt the Tandoori Fish, Jim’s Jammy Ginger Sauce, and the Spicy Nut Roast.
8. John Mailander is enjoying what appears to be an updated version of the vintage Coleco Wilt Chamberlain tabletop basketball game…
7. …Until, of course, he is distracted by a mesmerizing lifesize digital photo of John Thomas and begins stroking JT’s right eyebrow, as one does.
6. Ever the rebel, Chad Wright is reading “Steal This Book,” written by Abbie Hoffman. Published in 1971, the book exemplified the counterculture of the ’60s. The book sold more than a quarter of a million copies, mainly focused on ways to fight against the government and corporations in any way possible.
As a member of the Chicago Seven, Hoffman was charged with and tried for conspiring to use interstate commerce with the intent to incite a riot under the anti-riot provisions of Title X of the Civil Rights Act of 1968.
In an Aaron Sorkin film, “Trial of the Chicago Seven,” (available on Netflix), Mr. Hoffman is portrayed by actor Sasha Baron Cohen. Bruce mentioned the film during a recent interview.
5. Jervonny Collier magically produces an accordion-style booklet of postcard photos from his recent trip to Fiji …
4. … Before confusedly playing Hasbro’s 1959 “Leave It to Beaver Ambush Game,” a board game designed by the Beaver himself, actor Jerry Mathers. Rather than play the track game with a Wild West theme, JV eschews the board proper, preferring to move the game pieces over the Beaver’s face on the game box itself.
3. Bruce just gets down to business lip-synching the song. He doesn’t want the band’s botherations; just let him be.
2. Chad’s drum kit was set-up and assembled, dominating this living room space; all he needed was a triangle — and a tiny little maraca.
1. The cameo by Russell Hornsby (?) and a Rastafarian, who enthusiastically joins Mailander in a game of tabletop basketball. Rastafari, sometimes called Rastafarianism, is a religion that developed in Jamaica during the 1930s. It is classified as both a new religious movement and a social movement by scholars of religion.
Courtesy Victor Alvis