California’s Lightning in a Bottle Festival went digital for the first time last spring, inviting longtime talent show producers The Grand Artique to come along for the ride. I eagerly signed up for the first ever virtual version and, with production assistance from Denver video virtuoso Danny Fantastic, emerged victorious with my hydration PSA “Water is Your Friend.” On the eve of LIB’s second digital festival, remind yourself of the importance of adequate hydration via the studio version of my winning act.
Image: Mile High Sports Radio
Video: Danny Fantastic / @dannyfantastic
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Yesterday was a fantastic first. Lightning in a Bottle, a California-based gathering that’s always wowed IRL (but was forced to cancel the 2020 physical iteration because of COVID), is hosting its first virtual festival this weekend and, aside from a few expected technical glitches (and awkward transitions), is proving itself a serious contender in the virtual festival space. Western-themed interactive environment Grand Artique hosted a virtual version of its annual talent show on day two (Saturday), and I got the distinct honor of being a contestant. Denver video guru and fellow musician Danny Fantastic hooked up a beautiful set, relevant visuals and mood lighting for my acoustic performance of original hydration mantra “Water is Your Friend” - complete with gargle solo. I rarely get nervous these days, but I definitely had butterflies. Turns out there were 1600 plus viewers tuned into LIB’s Twitch stream at the time. Although there were other incredible performances, including acts from Sethward, Honeycomb, Human Fountains, Star Leopard, Sootsie and more, The Grand Artique’s panel of judges crowned your favorite singing, guitar-slinging Nemo impersonator the virtual victor. As the French-accented judge Dr. Joy put it, “In Paris, there is nothing better than sex. Actually, maybe one thing: stinky cheese. I give you stinky cheese, my friend!” I could not have been more elated with the entire experience.
Image/Set/Lighting: Danny Fantastic
Costume: Premium Aquatics
Guitar: RainSong
Like a caterpillar preparing for its radical metamorphosis, I devoured 2018 with zeal. Over four hundred twenty singing telegrams were delivered via my singing telegram agency this year, the majority of which I personally performed (though mad love to my whole roster). I entertained in China for the first time (then returned a mere six months later), visited the Indonesian island of Bali and finalized my upcoming single “Butterflies” at Colorado’s Grammy-winning Airshow Mastering. Below is a smattering of highlights (words and images) cherry-picked from a bliss-filled year of playing dress up, enabling joy through music and hopscotching around Earth's curvaceous body.
Bathing elephants at Thailand elephant sanctuary
Booking world-famous belly dancer Sadie for a holiday samba gig
Carving Godzilla-shaped “Orangami” for fellow performers in Tokyo
Celebrating ten years of performing with world-renowned music promoter Insomniac Events
Character performance at Colorado’s legendary Red Rocks Amphitheater for Seven Lions
Climbing Sticky Waterfall near Chiang Mai, Thailand
Clowning on stilts in China (twice) and Japan
Dancing on stilts at Washington state's stunning Gorge Amphitheatre for Paradiso Festival
Delivering singing resume to iHeartMedia office on behalf of creative job applicant
Driving camper van to California's Lightning in a Bottle festival with Suze Q
Experiencing Fungineers' Ice Cream Truck show with Alexandria Baker
Exploring bioluminescence exhibit at Denver Museum of Nature & Science with my nephew Kai
Filming EDC China trailer on seventh floor balcony of Shanghai's W Hotel
Facilitating 420 plus singing telegrams through my singing telegram agency:)
Finalizing my upcoming single “Butterflies” at Colorado’s Grammy-winning Airshow Mastering
Floating above the heads of Mexico City festival goers as a stilt-elevated fish
Greeting Denver Dia de los Muertos revelers - on stilts - at Los Muertos Fantasticos
Hovering six to eight feet above Bali’s Tanjung Benoa Bay on a water-propelled Flyboard
Impersonating Hunter S. Thompson at Cannabition Cannabis Museum in Vegas
Impressing Insomniac CEO Pasquale Rotella on the dance floor with Angelique
Imbibing bug bites in a cave restaurant near Mexican pyramid complex Teotihuacan
Imbibing dragonfruit in both Bali and China
Insomniac Thanksgiving banquet at China’s Chimelong Ocean Kingdom
Landing the cover of The Vail Daily as a stilt-enhanced Uncle Sam
Meeting Portland singing telegram / stilt performer / kindred spirit Jon Dutch in Aspen
Musically ambushing Fox 21 news anchors as singer Barry Manilow
Musically ambushing 9 News anchor Liz Kotalik as Cupid
Nicknaming Mexico's Chichen Itza Mayan ruins “Chicken Pizza”
Organizing nine singing telegrams in a single night for Colorado chapter of Young Presidents
Parasailing above Patong Beach in Thailand
People watching at Lefthand Brewery's voodoo-themed Nitro Fest
Playing EDM Unplugged in VIP speakeasy at Electric Daisy Carnival Las Vegas
Practicing AcroYoga with my Flight Club family
Pretending to defecate on the dance floor at Bassnectar with Michelle
Rapping Cypress Hill at AEG Live Rocky Mountain offices as a tutu-clad gorilla
Seeing both Janelle Monae and Lauryn Hill live in concert
Singing Janelle Monae's “Yoga” for Buti yoga teacher Ashton August and her class
Shooting “Butterflies” imagery with longtime photographer friend Jonathan Shoup
Snorkeling in both Bali and Mexico
Taking my four-legged stilt unicorn on the road with Unicorn Whisperer Anastasia
Terrifying Escape Halloween haunted house visitors as faceless giant Slender Man
Three person ukulele jam session on The Great Wall of China
Winning Temple Nightclub's $500 Halloween costume contest with Future
Zip-lining through the jungle at Tarzan Adventure Phuket in Thailand
Follow along with future adventures via Instagram
Dede Flemming's party instincts were evident at a young age.
“My brothers and I would jump around on the furniture like madmen anytime Quiet Riot's 'Cum on Feel the Noize' would come on,” remembers the DoLab co-founder. “It was epic and our parents hated it.”
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