The trailer for Air Guitar Nation, or as it is known in Japan: "Air Guitar: Episode Zero"
エアギター エピソード ゼロ 【予告編】
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Thursday, November 01, 2007
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Air Guitar Nation Review on Ebert and Roeper
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Air Guitar Nation DVD Release!
AIR GUITAR NATION comes out on DVD August 28. Order your copy today or click here to put it in your Netflix queue.
"Genius...On a scale from 1-7 I give it an 11!" --David Ansen, NEWSWEEK
"Hilarious! Spawning a cult following." --VARIETY
"This film totally rocks!" --SALON.COM
AUDIENCE AWARD WINNER: SXSW, Traverse City
BEST DOCUMENTARY: Boulder, Whistler (Canada), and Adelaide (Australia)
OFFICIAL SELECTION: TriBeCa, Britdoc, Edinburgh, Silverdocs, Full Frame, Athens...
US Air Guitar Championships 2007 on Countdown
As if god existed (and was listening to my air prayers) my hero at large—KEITH OLBERMANN—decided to cover the 2007 US Air Guitar Championships this year. Here is the video:
Also, don't miss this post-game wrap-up by the brilliant and very tall, Willie Geist.
Congrats to winner William Ocean. May he defend America's honor at home, and abroad.
Also, don't miss this post-game wrap-up by the brilliant and very tall, Willie Geist.
Congrats to winner William Ocean. May he defend America's honor at home, and abroad.
Monday, June 18, 2007
US Air Guitar Finals: Tickets Now On Sale
US Finals date announced!
The 2007 US Air Guitar Championships National Finals will be held this August 16 in NYC at the Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza.
Regional winners from 14 cities across the nation and defending national champ Hot Lixx Hulahan will battle it out for the national title, a $1000 prize and a free trip to Finland to represent Team USA in the Air Guitar World Championships.
These shows sell out fast, so get advance tickets here.
The 2007 Regional tour is underway and the competition has been fierce. There's still time to get tickets or enter many of the remaining Regionals.
Here are dates and venues (and ticket links) for this year's tour:
June 20 • Dallas TX • Cambridge Room @ HOB (21+)
June 21 • Austin TX • The Parish (All ages)
June 22 • Houston TX • Scout Bar (18+)
June 23 • New Orleans LA • The Parish (18+)
June 27 • San Jose CA • The Blank Club (21+)
June 28 • San Francisco CA • The Independent (21+)
June 29 • Los Angeles CA • Key Club (All ages)
Visit www.usairguitar.com for the latest tour information and entry details.
If you think you have what it takes to represent your country, CLICK HERE TO ENTER.
REGIONAL CITY CHAMPS WIN A TRIP TO NYC FOR THE US FINALS IN AUGUST!
US CHAMP WINS $1000 + A TRIP TO FINLAND FOR THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS!
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Bjorn Turoque on Sirius 19 Buzzsaw All This Week
Hey kids...
Bjorn Turoque will be guest DJ for Sirius satellite radio's show BUZZSAW all this week from 12-1 pm EST. Why? It's air guitar week of course...
Listen online for free at sirius.com
Rock on.
-Bjorn
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Why I Have Dedicated My Life to Air Guitar
It's all explained in the following email:
Dear Mr.. Crane:
Hello again. First, I'd like to remind you of that time, about a month ago now, that you aided a student in dire need. Well that student, Phil Bothun, would now like to send a very large and warm thank you. I know that it has been a long time since I have contacted you over this subject, but I can now tell you the whole story.
Alright, so I began April 24, 2007, as any day, except in my hand I held my Washburn Lyon guitar case full of a pair of black pants I altered with Sharpie marker to have the Van Halen logo and to say Scorpions down the left side, a white t-shirt with the Van Halen logo, my aviator sunglasses, a set of Ibanez stereo headphones, and several CD's including Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon, AC/DC Fly on the Wall, Rush 2112 and several others. Since my English class was last period, I had a lot of time to think about my speech, so by the time I got in class I was pretty nervous because truthfully, my air guitar routine was not practiced at all.
The girl before me in line to do her speech went and she did okay, it was on flight attendants; I found that funny, flight attendant before air guitarist, a sign from God. Then, as arranged before, that same girl went out of the classroom with me and proceeded to put on the heaviest Alice Cooper-esque make up you have ever seen, around my eyes. I mean that this stuff was so think that it was black, not the dark bags under my eyes to have a stoned effect. This stuff was solid black. But anyways, I went to the bathroom and dressed in my garb, including my Aves to hide my make up, that no one had seen yet, and just coolly strode into my classroom, as if nothing was different.
I took the stage (the front of the class), and took eight minutes to convey much of the information I gained from my interviews with you, your book, and the official websites of the US Air Guitar Championship, and the World Air Guitar Championship. I thought that my speech went well and it turns out it did. I got an A- on the speech... But then the icing on the cake came.
I was told that I had some extra time for my speech so my teacher asked if I had prepared a certain piece to play. So, of course, I said yes and I put my CD in to play the one song I felt the most comfortable with: "Take it Off" by The Donnas.
And, if I do say so myself, I literally SHREDDED! It was amazing, a blur... So much so, that I really have no clue what I did. I remember that there was a David Lee Roth signature jump, the foot on the monitor/ foot on the desk move and so on and so forth, it was just.. amazing.
So, like I said, I received an A-, one of the best grades in my class, talking about the Holy Trinity: Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n Roll. But, the most amazing thing was the day after when one of the students in the same class, only earlier in the day, came to me and said that in their English class the teacher had said, after constant nagging, that it would be alright if I did my speech again.
So like any psychedelic rock show, I, a humble air guitarist, got an encore. I was able the next week on a Friday to do my speech all over again. At eight o'clock in the morning. Except there were two new additions to my show. 1. I changed my song to an edit of Hot for Teacher, and yes, I do know that the Air Guitar potential of that song was not as high as others, but I had to do the song for the effect. 2. I was able to scope out a pair of pants that my friend owned. Not any pair of pants, mind you. A pair of genuine 80's leather pants, which are shown off in the pictures enclosed.
Sorry, but I forgot to inform you that, although I was nervous before, there was only about half the class there at the time I did my speech the first time. Now all of the kids who had missed it seventh period wanted to come and see it second period, so now I was performing in front of one and a half classes, and after the first time, the more the merrier.Well, to be frank, the second time went like a charm and I kicked some (pardon my French) ass, and took some names and numbers.
So, that is where I lay now, on the 17th of May in my chair at my computer finishing off my epic letter to an air guitarist I should bow to right about now because, if it weren't for you, I would not be passing English.
So, thank you once again. I hope you can handle having one more person who idolizes you.
Rock on Sir,
Phil B.
Student at Parker High School
Dear Mr.. Crane:
Hello again. First, I'd like to remind you of that time, about a month ago now, that you aided a student in dire need. Well that student, Phil Bothun, would now like to send a very large and warm thank you. I know that it has been a long time since I have contacted you over this subject, but I can now tell you the whole story.
Alright, so I began April 24, 2007, as any day, except in my hand I held my Washburn Lyon guitar case full of a pair of black pants I altered with Sharpie marker to have the Van Halen logo and to say Scorpions down the left side, a white t-shirt with the Van Halen logo, my aviator sunglasses, a set of Ibanez stereo headphones, and several CD's including Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon, AC/DC Fly on the Wall, Rush 2112 and several others. Since my English class was last period, I had a lot of time to think about my speech, so by the time I got in class I was pretty nervous because truthfully, my air guitar routine was not practiced at all.
The girl before me in line to do her speech went and she did okay, it was on flight attendants; I found that funny, flight attendant before air guitarist, a sign from God. Then, as arranged before, that same girl went out of the classroom with me and proceeded to put on the heaviest Alice Cooper-esque make up you have ever seen, around my eyes. I mean that this stuff was so think that it was black, not the dark bags under my eyes to have a stoned effect. This stuff was solid black. But anyways, I went to the bathroom and dressed in my garb, including my Aves to hide my make up, that no one had seen yet, and just coolly strode into my classroom, as if nothing was different.
I took the stage (the front of the class), and took eight minutes to convey much of the information I gained from my interviews with you, your book, and the official websites of the US Air Guitar Championship, and the World Air Guitar Championship. I thought that my speech went well and it turns out it did. I got an A- on the speech... But then the icing on the cake came.
I was told that I had some extra time for my speech so my teacher asked if I had prepared a certain piece to play. So, of course, I said yes and I put my CD in to play the one song I felt the most comfortable with: "Take it Off" by The Donnas.
And, if I do say so myself, I literally SHREDDED! It was amazing, a blur... So much so, that I really have no clue what I did. I remember that there was a David Lee Roth signature jump, the foot on the monitor/ foot on the desk move and so on and so forth, it was just.. amazing.
So, like I said, I received an A-, one of the best grades in my class, talking about the Holy Trinity: Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n Roll. But, the most amazing thing was the day after when one of the students in the same class, only earlier in the day, came to me and said that in their English class the teacher had said, after constant nagging, that it would be alright if I did my speech again.
So like any psychedelic rock show, I, a humble air guitarist, got an encore. I was able the next week on a Friday to do my speech all over again. At eight o'clock in the morning. Except there were two new additions to my show. 1. I changed my song to an edit of Hot for Teacher, and yes, I do know that the Air Guitar potential of that song was not as high as others, but I had to do the song for the effect. 2. I was able to scope out a pair of pants that my friend owned. Not any pair of pants, mind you. A pair of genuine 80's leather pants, which are shown off in the pictures enclosed.
Sorry, but I forgot to inform you that, although I was nervous before, there was only about half the class there at the time I did my speech the first time. Now all of the kids who had missed it seventh period wanted to come and see it second period, so now I was performing in front of one and a half classes, and after the first time, the more the merrier.Well, to be frank, the second time went like a charm and I kicked some (pardon my French) ass, and took some names and numbers.
So, that is where I lay now, on the 17th of May in my chair at my computer finishing off my epic letter to an air guitarist I should bow to right about now because, if it weren't for you, I would not be passing English.
So, thank you once again. I hope you can handle having one more person who idolizes you.
Rock on Sir,
Phil B.
Student at Parker High School
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Air Guitar Nation Theme Song Now on iTunes!
Indivisible, the Air Guitar Nation theme song as performed by yours truly, is now available for download on iTunes.
For only $.99 you can rock out in the quiet world of your own iPod. Practice your shredding. Impress your friends. Torture your parents. Rock on...
iTunes Link HERE
For only $.99 you can rock out in the quiet world of your own iPod. Practice your shredding. Impress your friends. Torture your parents. Rock on...
iTunes Link HERE
Monday, April 16, 2007
OK GOGH!
I was recently writing a piece for Guilt & Pleasure magazine about my chronic tinnitus and was mentioning Van Gogh - how some have suggested he had Meniere's Disease (with which I was once mistakenly diagosed) and that led me to make this:
OK GOGH!
OK GOGH!
Sunday, April 15, 2007
The Bjorn Identity
In news from the far right...Bjorn appeared on Fox News' morning kids program Fox & Friends (at least, it sounds like a kids program) yesterday only to be stifled immediately upon the mention of air guitar leading to world peace. The interview was supposed to last another minute, but notice how they nervously cut directly to the performance.
"Be careful, he might just suggest we try to end the Iraq war using air guitars!!"
Bjorn Turoque also went on the NBC game show IDENTITY and earned some schmuck $250,000.
Who said air guitar could not be lucrative?
"Be careful, he might just suggest we try to end the Iraq war using air guitars!!"
Bjorn Turoque also went on the NBC game show IDENTITY and earned some schmuck $250,000.
Who said air guitar could not be lucrative?
Monday, April 09, 2007
Air Guitar Nation Coming to Austin, Ft. Collins
"Air + Guitar = Genius! On a scale of zero to seven, we give it an eleven."
--David Ansen, Newsweek
Air Guitar Nation, the Citizen Kane of air guitar documentaries is coming to Austin, TX and Ft. Collins, CO this weekend.
This is a CRUCIAL weekend for the film - please get everyone you know to see it THIS WEEKEND or it will sadly disappear from theaters entirely.
Tons of critics and fans have raved about the movie...go find out why.
“****” -- TimeOut NY
"The movie's wild performances and droll humor are tough to resist. So are its obsessive yet self-mocking heroes: the Los Angeles-based actor David Jung, who performs as C-Diddy, who has a kung phooey stage persona and wears a Hello Kitty pouch like a warrior's breastplate; and the New York writer-musician Dan Crane, a k a Björn Turöque, whose parched wit and jackhammer performance style suggest Bill Murray trapped in the body of Sid Vicious. Mr. Crane also wrote and sang the closing credits theme, a garage band anthem that lodges in the brain like a fishhook."
--New York Times
"The documentary won an audience award at the South by Southwest music festival, among other film-festival accolades. But its hard-rockin' soundtrack and the energetic machinations of several dozen wannabe Eddie Van Halens provide a better reason to see "Air Guitar Nation": Judas Priest's "You Got Another Thing Comin'," Boston's "More Than a Feeling" and Mot–rhead's "Ace of Spades" all get, um, aired out in the film." -- LA Times
“It seriously rocks.” -- Salon.com
“Raucously entertaining...” --Paper
“Slick, hilarious, and at times even suspenseful...nary a dull lick in the entire 80 minutes.” -- Village Voice
"Hilarious. Equal measures of patriotism, showmanship and irony." -- Variety
"A feel-good underdog story..." --New York Magazine
"One of the most fun films you'll ever see. It's like Rocky with air guitars." -- Ain't it Cool News
"As one might expect, Air Guitar Nation is often hilarious...Perhaps even more remarkable is how readily the viewer is sucked into this surreal world." --High Times
"Air Guitar Nation is textured, well-crafted - and hilarious." --St. Louis Riverfront Times
"Ladies and Gentlemen, we have out first Oscar contender of the year." -- FirstShowing.net
Advance tix available here
More info and the trailer on the official site and on Myspace
--David Ansen, Newsweek
Air Guitar Nation, the Citizen Kane of air guitar documentaries is coming to Austin, TX and Ft. Collins, CO this weekend.
This is a CRUCIAL weekend for the film - please get everyone you know to see it THIS WEEKEND or it will sadly disappear from theaters entirely.
Tons of critics and fans have raved about the movie...go find out why.
“****” -- TimeOut NY
"The movie's wild performances and droll humor are tough to resist. So are its obsessive yet self-mocking heroes: the Los Angeles-based actor David Jung, who performs as C-Diddy, who has a kung phooey stage persona and wears a Hello Kitty pouch like a warrior's breastplate; and the New York writer-musician Dan Crane, a k a Björn Turöque, whose parched wit and jackhammer performance style suggest Bill Murray trapped in the body of Sid Vicious. Mr. Crane also wrote and sang the closing credits theme, a garage band anthem that lodges in the brain like a fishhook."
--New York Times
"The documentary won an audience award at the South by Southwest music festival, among other film-festival accolades. But its hard-rockin' soundtrack and the energetic machinations of several dozen wannabe Eddie Van Halens provide a better reason to see "Air Guitar Nation": Judas Priest's "You Got Another Thing Comin'," Boston's "More Than a Feeling" and Mot–rhead's "Ace of Spades" all get, um, aired out in the film." -- LA Times
“It seriously rocks.” -- Salon.com
“Raucously entertaining...” --Paper
“Slick, hilarious, and at times even suspenseful...nary a dull lick in the entire 80 minutes.” -- Village Voice
"Hilarious. Equal measures of patriotism, showmanship and irony." -- Variety
"A feel-good underdog story..." --New York Magazine
"One of the most fun films you'll ever see. It's like Rocky with air guitars." -- Ain't it Cool News
"As one might expect, Air Guitar Nation is often hilarious...Perhaps even more remarkable is how readily the viewer is sucked into this surreal world." --High Times
"Air Guitar Nation is textured, well-crafted - and hilarious." --St. Louis Riverfront Times
"Ladies and Gentlemen, we have out first Oscar contender of the year." -- FirstShowing.net
Advance tix available here
More info and the trailer on the official site and on Myspace
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
More Air Guitar Nation Dates/Cities Announced
More cities will have the opportunity to be enriched, and enrocked, by AIR GUITAR NATION—the film the Village Voice called, "slick, hilarious, and at times even suspenseful."
This Friday, 3/30 we move to the Village East theater on 2nd ave and 12th street in NYC.
We also open this friday in Los Angeles at the NuArt, and in Vancouver at the Empire Granville 7.
Advance tix available HERE
This next weekend is crucial for us, so please come, please tell your friends!
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
1) Spread the word! Email friends, post on your blog/myspace/etc.
2) Please feel free to help out our ratings/reviews on Metacritic.com and Moviefone.com
Also - also 5/11 is the new date for both San Francisco and Madison Sundance
Cinemas.
For more cities and information, see AIRGUITARNATION.COM
This Friday, 3/30 we move to the Village East theater on 2nd ave and 12th street in NYC.
We also open this friday in Los Angeles at the NuArt, and in Vancouver at the Empire Granville 7.
Advance tix available HERE
This next weekend is crucial for us, so please come, please tell your friends!
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
1) Spread the word! Email friends, post on your blog/myspace/etc.
2) Please feel free to help out our ratings/reviews on Metacritic.com and Moviefone.com
NEW CITIES ADDED!
4/6 Pasadena, CA One Colorado Theater
4/6 Buffalo, NY Market Arcade Theater
4/6 Wilmington, DE Theater N at Nemours
4/13 Santa Fe, NM The Screen
4/18 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Cinema Paradiso
4/19 Lake Worth. FL Duncan Theater
4/20 Hudson, NY Time and Space
4/20 Salem, OR Salem Film Festival
4/20 Pittsburgh, PA Harris Theater
4/28 Scranton, PA Endless Mountains
5/11 St. Louis, MO Webster University Film Theater
Also - also 5/11 is the new date for both San Francisco and Madison Sundance
Cinemas.
For more cities and information, see AIRGUITARNATION.COM
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Air Guitar Nation Will Blow Your Mind
Air Guitar Nation has received rave reviews from nearly every media outlet! But we still need your love!
Tickets are available here
If you’ve seen the film, you know it rocks. Please forward this info to friends in NY and LA. If you haven’t seen it, please check it out. It’s a well made, hilarious movie that will make you laugh out loud and actually get sucked in to the story, as the New York Times notes:
As did Salon.com...
We’ll be at the Angelika in NY until Thursday and then we’ll be moving to the Village East on 2nd Ave and 12th street.
We also open in Los Angeles this Friday at the NuArt in Santa Monica, with an Aireoke after party Friday night at the Westwood Brewing Company – we are hoping for a great weekend in LA! This has been a labor of love for many people for nearly five years. It’s a totally enjoyable film; sadly we don't have the marketing budget of Borat or 300, so please spread the word!!
Thanks...
-D
http://www.airguitarnation.com
http://www.myspace.com/airguitarnation
LA Aireoke invite - click to enlarge image:
Tickets are available here
If you’ve seen the film, you know it rocks. Please forward this info to friends in NY and LA. If you haven’t seen it, please check it out. It’s a well made, hilarious movie that will make you laugh out loud and actually get sucked in to the story, as the New York Times notes:
“The movie's wild performances and droll humor are tough to resist. So are its obsessive yet self-mocking heroes: the Los Angeles-based actor David Jung, who performs as C-Diddy, who has a kung phooey stage persona and wears a Hello Kitty pouch like a warrior's breastplate; and the New York writer-musician Dan Crane, a k a Björn Turöque, whose parched wit and jackhammer performance style suggest Bill Murray trapped in the body of Sid Vicious. Mr. Crane also wrote and sang the closing credits theme, a garage band anthem that lodges in the brain like a fishhook.” -- Matt Zoller Seitz, The New York Times
As did Salon.com...
“In the tradition of the finest forms of American entertainment, both "Air Guitar Nation" and the geekcraft it chronicles go way beyond shtick and self-parody into some meta-meta-ironic zone, where it's never clear from one moment to the next what is a joke and what is deadly earnest, until the two concepts finally merge into a sort of Buddhist singularity.... In some mysterious way, the level of self-awareness behind the braggadocio of air guitar made me care more, not less, about the bitter and finally respectful competition between these two air-maestros [C-Diddy and Bjorn Turoque]...I don't know whether to call it interpretive dance for dudes or performance art or just a highly developed form of wanking. Who cares? It seriously rocks. -- Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com
We’ll be at the Angelika in NY until Thursday and then we’ll be moving to the Village East on 2nd Ave and 12th street.
We also open in Los Angeles this Friday at the NuArt in Santa Monica, with an Aireoke after party Friday night at the Westwood Brewing Company – we are hoping for a great weekend in LA! This has been a labor of love for many people for nearly five years. It’s a totally enjoyable film; sadly we don't have the marketing budget of Borat or 300, so please spread the word!!
Thanks...
-D
http://www.airguitarnation.com
http://www.myspace.com/airguitarnation
LA Aireoke invite - click to enlarge image:
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Auditioning for America's Got Talent
A few weeks ago I was contacted by the producers of America’s Got Talent and asked to audition. My talent? Air guitar. I am a professional—one who’s competed in numerous air guitar competitions throughout the world and written a book on the subject. Justifying my obsession to friends, relatives, and late-night talk show hosts is an ongoing struggle; but when they called and offered me an appointment, how could I say no?
I enter the Javitz Convention Center holding a plastic grocery bag containing my alter ego. My Superman cape.
“America’s Got Talent auditions?” I ask a security guard. Without answering, he wraps a wristband on me and points me towards a table inside a cavernous hall. There, I am given a number to stick to my chest: 0903.
“Name?” asks a girl behind a folding table.
“Björn Türoque.” I answer with brio. “Or…it could be under Dan Crane.”
“Talent?”
“Air guitar,” I say. She squints, looking as if she’s misheard me.
“So, you have your guitar with you?” she asks, inspecting me to find I am not holding a guitar.
“I have my air guitar with me. I play along to a CD.” I hold up my CD.
“Wait over there and we’ll call you,” she says brusquely.
I tell the girl I first need to change into my outfit. She points me towards the bathrooms at the far end of the vast convention space. Nearby, a trio of frozen-smiled preteen girls belts Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy” a capella in front of a guy holding a large video camera.
I enter a men’s room stall, lock the door, and begin exhuming components from the plastic bag: star-spangled wristbands and headband, guitar-shaped necklace, custom-made spandex unitard, jockstrap and cup, leather boots. I remove the backing from the numbered sticker and place it on my lower abdomen. I am now Björn Türoque, Professional Air Guitarist. Upon exiting, I do a Fonzie-style check in the mirror. I look perfectly ridiculous.
Walking out of the bathroom I make eye contact with a janitor holding a mop.
“Lookin’ good man,” he says, raising one eyebrow. “Knock ‘em dead.”
I am told to wait in a chair outside “Room B” along the perimeter of the hall. A short middle-aged balding man wearing too-short khaki pants and a tucked oxford shirt twitters nervously next to me.
“What’s your talent?” I ask.
“Cawmedy,” he replies, in a squeaky high-pitched whine. “I’m a comedian.”
“What sort of jokes?”
“Oh, political stuff,” he offers. “You know, tawpical humah.”
Unprompted, he launches into a two-minute bit about Kissinger. It’s about as funny as the My Lai Massacre.
“That’s funny,” I tell him. He tells me his name is Gawy.
“I’m sorry?”
“Like Gawy Coopah,” he explains.
“Björn Türoque,” I say, shaking his hand, “perennial second-place air guitarist.” Gawy looks nonplussed. They call his number. I wish him luck.
Then a short old woman with Oreo cookie-thick glasses set in front of oddly disproportionate eyes (one wide and protruding, the other barely a slit) exits the room clutching a small notebook.
“How’d it go?” I foolishly inquire.
“Oh, it was good?” she answers. Her face is covered in strange little bumps. Her voice is reedy. Her teeth are half-rotted and covered in a pasty yellow film. I won’t even mention her outfit.
“What’s your talent?” I ask hesitantly.
“I write poetry?” she says, her emphasis rising at the end of each phrase, transposing simple statements into drawn-out questions. “This one was about, you remember that time? When we had the heat wave? And it was so hot? And you couldn’t even breeeeathe?”
She begins reading me her poem. It makes me long for Gawy’s tawpical humah.
I ask her why she wants to be on America’s Got Talent.
“I want to be famous, you know? When I’m famous, I won’t have to go to counseling every week?..”
In my four years on the international air guitar circuit, it’s the finest justification I’ve ever heard for seeking fame—and I wonder: If I make it on the show, could I finally quit therapy?
Then I look down at my silver sparkly spandex unitard held together with safety pins. Underneath, I am donning a jockstrap and cup to give myself added bulge. I am about to play an invisible guitar to “Ice Cream Man” by Van Halen. I spent hours yesterday practicing. I even injured myself, twice: once hitting myself in the nose doing an air drum solo, and the second time whacking my hand hard against my ceiling lamp in the midst of a high-velocity windmill.
I’m so never quitting therapy.
The door to Room B opens and Gawy exits, smiling awkwardly. I wave.
“0903? We’re ready for you.”
There’s a tiny boom box on a table. I hand over my CD and introduce Björn to the three-member casting jury. They hit play and I can only think: Flashdance. I strum the air and writhe around, doing my thing. At the end of the song, I collapse on the floor and die. It’s not my best air guitar performance by any means, but considering it’s before noon on a weekday and I am excruciatingly sober, it could’ve been worse. Afterwards they ask, “How long have you been playing air guitar?” Answer: “Competitively? Four years, though I am now retired.”
“But if you’ve retired, why are you here?” they counter.
You asked me to audition?
I think about Gawy and the Disturbing Poet Lady. I knew that if any of us made it on the show we wouldn’t win. At best, we’d be served up as comic relief between the real acts. Maybe that’s okay. Maybe we’re each like Dumbo, Disney’s mythical flying elephant: that which invokes ridicule (enormous floppy ears, speech impediment, skin disease, invisible guitar) is, in the end, what makes us special—what defines our talent.
“I want people to take air guitar seriously,” I finally answer. “I want to show America that air guitar is not merely a talent, it’s an art form.” They smile politely and thank me for auditioning. I pack up my air guitar and make my exit.
I’m still waiting for word from the producers, but I suspect my chances are pretty good.
I enter the Javitz Convention Center holding a plastic grocery bag containing my alter ego. My Superman cape.
“America’s Got Talent auditions?” I ask a security guard. Without answering, he wraps a wristband on me and points me towards a table inside a cavernous hall. There, I am given a number to stick to my chest: 0903.
“Name?” asks a girl behind a folding table.
“Björn Türoque.” I answer with brio. “Or…it could be under Dan Crane.”
“Talent?”
“Air guitar,” I say. She squints, looking as if she’s misheard me.
“So, you have your guitar with you?” she asks, inspecting me to find I am not holding a guitar.
“I have my air guitar with me. I play along to a CD.” I hold up my CD.
“Wait over there and we’ll call you,” she says brusquely.
I tell the girl I first need to change into my outfit. She points me towards the bathrooms at the far end of the vast convention space. Nearby, a trio of frozen-smiled preteen girls belts Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy” a capella in front of a guy holding a large video camera.
I enter a men’s room stall, lock the door, and begin exhuming components from the plastic bag: star-spangled wristbands and headband, guitar-shaped necklace, custom-made spandex unitard, jockstrap and cup, leather boots. I remove the backing from the numbered sticker and place it on my lower abdomen. I am now Björn Türoque, Professional Air Guitarist. Upon exiting, I do a Fonzie-style check in the mirror. I look perfectly ridiculous.
Walking out of the bathroom I make eye contact with a janitor holding a mop.
“Lookin’ good man,” he says, raising one eyebrow. “Knock ‘em dead.”
I am told to wait in a chair outside “Room B” along the perimeter of the hall. A short middle-aged balding man wearing too-short khaki pants and a tucked oxford shirt twitters nervously next to me.
“What’s your talent?” I ask.
“Cawmedy,” he replies, in a squeaky high-pitched whine. “I’m a comedian.”
“What sort of jokes?”
“Oh, political stuff,” he offers. “You know, tawpical humah.”
Unprompted, he launches into a two-minute bit about Kissinger. It’s about as funny as the My Lai Massacre.
“That’s funny,” I tell him. He tells me his name is Gawy.
“I’m sorry?”
“Like Gawy Coopah,” he explains.
“Björn Türoque,” I say, shaking his hand, “perennial second-place air guitarist.” Gawy looks nonplussed. They call his number. I wish him luck.
Then a short old woman with Oreo cookie-thick glasses set in front of oddly disproportionate eyes (one wide and protruding, the other barely a slit) exits the room clutching a small notebook.
“How’d it go?” I foolishly inquire.
“Oh, it was good?” she answers. Her face is covered in strange little bumps. Her voice is reedy. Her teeth are half-rotted and covered in a pasty yellow film. I won’t even mention her outfit.
“What’s your talent?” I ask hesitantly.
“I write poetry?” she says, her emphasis rising at the end of each phrase, transposing simple statements into drawn-out questions. “This one was about, you remember that time? When we had the heat wave? And it was so hot? And you couldn’t even breeeeathe?”
She begins reading me her poem. It makes me long for Gawy’s tawpical humah.
I ask her why she wants to be on America’s Got Talent.
“I want to be famous, you know? When I’m famous, I won’t have to go to counseling every week?..”
In my four years on the international air guitar circuit, it’s the finest justification I’ve ever heard for seeking fame—and I wonder: If I make it on the show, could I finally quit therapy?
Then I look down at my silver sparkly spandex unitard held together with safety pins. Underneath, I am donning a jockstrap and cup to give myself added bulge. I am about to play an invisible guitar to “Ice Cream Man” by Van Halen. I spent hours yesterday practicing. I even injured myself, twice: once hitting myself in the nose doing an air drum solo, and the second time whacking my hand hard against my ceiling lamp in the midst of a high-velocity windmill.
I’m so never quitting therapy.
The door to Room B opens and Gawy exits, smiling awkwardly. I wave.
“0903? We’re ready for you.”
There’s a tiny boom box on a table. I hand over my CD and introduce Björn to the three-member casting jury. They hit play and I can only think: Flashdance. I strum the air and writhe around, doing my thing. At the end of the song, I collapse on the floor and die. It’s not my best air guitar performance by any means, but considering it’s before noon on a weekday and I am excruciatingly sober, it could’ve been worse. Afterwards they ask, “How long have you been playing air guitar?” Answer: “Competitively? Four years, though I am now retired.”
“But if you’ve retired, why are you here?” they counter.
You asked me to audition?
I think about Gawy and the Disturbing Poet Lady. I knew that if any of us made it on the show we wouldn’t win. At best, we’d be served up as comic relief between the real acts. Maybe that’s okay. Maybe we’re each like Dumbo, Disney’s mythical flying elephant: that which invokes ridicule (enormous floppy ears, speech impediment, skin disease, invisible guitar) is, in the end, what makes us special—what defines our talent.
“I want people to take air guitar seriously,” I finally answer. “I want to show America that air guitar is not merely a talent, it’s an art form.” They smile politely and thank me for auditioning. I pack up my air guitar and make my exit.
I’m still waiting for word from the producers, but I suspect my chances are pretty good.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Air Guitar Nation Video / Interview on the Documentary Channel
Just saw this video - it's got lots of footage from the film, and some brilliant insights offered by some of the film's stars.
Enjoy...
Enjoy...
Friday, March 02, 2007
The battle for world air guitar supremacy
Friends, colleagues, countrymen,
Theatrical release of AIR GUITAR NATION is upon us -- it's opening in NYC on 3/23 at the Angelika Theater and then rolling out nationwide after that (see below).
AIR GUITAR NATION tells the story of the rise of competitive air guitar in the United States -- but it's also got something very important to say in this time of global uncertainty. Check this clip out, and you'll understand:
Please carpetbomb your contacts with this message of hope.
For more on the movie, visit www.airguitarnation.com
Winner:
Audience Award, SXSW Film Fest
Audience Award, Traverse City Film Fest
Best Documentary, Boulder International Film Fest
Best Documentary, Whistler Film Festival (Canada)
Best Documentary, Adelaide Film Festival (Australia)
Official Selection:
TriBeCa, Edinburgh, Athens, Full Frame, Silverdocs, AFI, Woodstock, True/False Film Fests
Early Reviews:
"Racously entertaining" -- Paper
"As one might expect, Air Guitar Nation is often hilarious. Yet remarkably, AGN, once you get over the “Is this really happening?” hurdle, manages to maintain a gripping narrative in spite of its subject matter. Perhaps even more remarkable is how readily the viewer is sucked into this surreal world." --High Times
"Air Guitar Nation is textured, well-crafted — and hilarious."--St. Louis Riverfront Times
Future Screenings (more to come):
3/23 NY, NY Angelika Film Center
3/30 LA, CA NuArt Theater
4/1 Orlando, FL Floroda Film Festival
4/6 Honolulu, HI Honolulu Academy of Art
4/12 Ashland, OR Ashland Film Festival
4/12 Madison, WI Wisconsin Film Festival
4/13 Austin, TX Regal Arbor THeater
4/20 Cambridge, MA Brattle Theater
4/20 San Luis Obispo, CA Palm Theater
4/28 Portland, ME Space Gallery
5/2 Portland, ME Movies on Exchange St.
5/4 or 5/11 Madison, WI Sundance Theater
5/4 San Francisco, CA Sundance Kabuki Theater
5/4 Jacksonville, FL San Marco Theater
5/4 Nashville, TN Belcourt Theater
5/11 Atlanta, GA Plaza Theater
5/18 Seattle, WA Northwest Film
Theatrical release of AIR GUITAR NATION is upon us -- it's opening in NYC on 3/23 at the Angelika Theater and then rolling out nationwide after that (see below).
AIR GUITAR NATION tells the story of the rise of competitive air guitar in the United States -- but it's also got something very important to say in this time of global uncertainty. Check this clip out, and you'll understand:
Please carpetbomb your contacts with this message of hope.
For more on the movie, visit www.airguitarnation.com
Winner:
Audience Award, SXSW Film Fest
Audience Award, Traverse City Film Fest
Best Documentary, Boulder International Film Fest
Best Documentary, Whistler Film Festival (Canada)
Best Documentary, Adelaide Film Festival (Australia)
Official Selection:
TriBeCa, Edinburgh, Athens, Full Frame, Silverdocs, AFI, Woodstock, True/False Film Fests
Early Reviews:
"Racously entertaining" -- Paper
"As one might expect, Air Guitar Nation is often hilarious. Yet remarkably, AGN, once you get over the “Is this really happening?” hurdle, manages to maintain a gripping narrative in spite of its subject matter. Perhaps even more remarkable is how readily the viewer is sucked into this surreal world." --High Times
"Air Guitar Nation is textured, well-crafted — and hilarious."--St. Louis Riverfront Times
Future Screenings (more to come):
3/23 NY, NY Angelika Film Center
3/30 LA, CA NuArt Theater
4/1 Orlando, FL Floroda Film Festival
4/6 Honolulu, HI Honolulu Academy of Art
4/12 Ashland, OR Ashland Film Festival
4/12 Madison, WI Wisconsin Film Festival
4/13 Austin, TX Regal Arbor THeater
4/20 Cambridge, MA Brattle Theater
4/20 San Luis Obispo, CA Palm Theater
4/28 Portland, ME Space Gallery
5/2 Portland, ME Movies on Exchange St.
5/4 or 5/11 Madison, WI Sundance Theater
5/4 San Francisco, CA Sundance Kabuki Theater
5/4 Jacksonville, FL San Marco Theater
5/4 Nashville, TN Belcourt Theater
5/11 Atlanta, GA Plaza Theater
5/18 Seattle, WA Northwest Film
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Air Guitar Nation Trailer is Up
Check it out:
The movie premieres in NYC on March 23 at the Angelika. Please come opening weekend. It then opens March 30 in LA at the NuArt.
The movie premieres in NYC on March 23 at the Angelika. Please come opening weekend. It then opens March 30 in LA at the NuArt.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Team Air in Vail and at the Boulder Film Fest...
Just got back from the Boulder International Film Festival, which, needless to say, completely rocked. We had an amazing Aireoke with lots of stellar contenders and people totally loved Air Guitar Nation.
Also, got to ski for 3 days in Vail with Aer Lingus, Teddy Ruckspin, The Airess, and Zac "The Magnet" Monro and his lovely lady Alex. Here's 2-time world champ Zac playing air guitar as he snowboards (click the image):
Here's me and Zac rocking the air guitar on the slopes:
Me and Aer Lingus cookin up lunch on the mountain...
Lunch...
Apres Ski...
Saturday morning I had to wake up at 6am and drive to Denver to air guitar on the morning news. Not good hours for air guitar, but I did my best.
Here's the interview and here's me playing Rocky Mountain Way...
Rock on Boulder!
Also, got to ski for 3 days in Vail with Aer Lingus, Teddy Ruckspin, The Airess, and Zac "The Magnet" Monro and his lovely lady Alex. Here's 2-time world champ Zac playing air guitar as he snowboards (click the image):
Here's me and Zac rocking the air guitar on the slopes:
Me and Aer Lingus cookin up lunch on the mountain...
Lunch...
Apres Ski...
Saturday morning I had to wake up at 6am and drive to Denver to air guitar on the morning news. Not good hours for air guitar, but I did my best.
Here's the interview and here's me playing Rocky Mountain Way...
Rock on Boulder!
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
High Times
If there's one magazine that seems qualified to review Air Guitar Nation, it's HIGH TIMES.
I was delayed in posting this as I got caught up reading about vaporizing versus bongs...it seems vaporizors are the way to go.
Here's the review...
My favorite thing about the review is that someone, a High Times online reader, commented as follows:
ganjagal21 on Wed 14, Feb 2007 09:55
This is hilarious, people seriously need to get lives.
The irony is as thick as the smoke in my bong, dude...
Air Guitar Nation at the Boulder Film Fest, Saturday Feb 17th.
The film opens nationally March 23 at the Angelika in NYC...
Friday, January 26, 2007
Hey Hey, My My, Air Guitar Will NEVER Die...
Red Octane, makers of my favorite video game, have declared air guitar dead——replaced, presumably by their air guitar simulation computer game, Guitar Hero.
They even held a mock funeral as a PR stunt:
Need I point out that air guitar will never die? Need I point out that while Guitar Hero does completely rock and is an excellent air guitar skill builder, it's no surrogate. It will never replace air guitar. How can you kill/replace something that does not exist?
Ask Nietzsche, I guess..
They even held a mock funeral as a PR stunt:
Need I point out that air guitar will never die? Need I point out that while Guitar Hero does completely rock and is an excellent air guitar skill builder, it's no surrogate. It will never replace air guitar. How can you kill/replace something that does not exist?
Ask Nietzsche, I guess..
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Björn Türoque's Next Mission
Björn Türoque's Next Mission: Beat the Air Guitar World Record.
Last weekend in the UK, Sheffield metalers SAXON led a halftime attempt to break the world record for most simultaneous air guitarists, held previously by 5,000 attendees of Guilfest, who rocked out together to 'Sweet Child of Mine' in 2006.
Apparently, the effort was a dismal failure, but was given the award anyway:
If things couldn't get any worse for the bumped Wednesday crowd inside Hillsborough - they did. The half-time entertainment revolved around Sheffield band 'Saxon' attempting to break a world record for the most people playing air guitar.
Such was the disappointment inside the ground - apart from the 6,000 or so Mackems in the Leppings Lane end - hardly anyone joined in, yet the band were still awarded the world record by officials!
So, Americans, it is up to us. We cannot continue to let our global air supremacy go unchecked like this. Mark my word, in 2007, Björn will lead a group of at least 7,000 in a massive air orgy, the likes of which Mr. Guinness has never seen...
Air-Do-Well is with me. Anyone else?
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