Longmont Potion Castle

Infobox musical artist
Name = Longmont Potion Castle


Img_capt = The cover of "Late-Eighties-Vein"
Img_size =
Background = group_or_band
Birth_name =
Alias = Virtual Balboa, Red Brown, Fennel Cartwright, Cooter, Dirk Funk, Gomez, Levi Goulet, Buddy Gripple, Grover, Reginald Maplethorp, Kermit Neville, Nipper, The Polish Stallion, Don Savage, Rusty Savage, Sissy, Dr. Slap, Bonecrusher Smith, Bo "Bobo" Tucci, Nigel Zacket
Born =
Died =
Origin = Denver, Colorado
Instrument = Telephone
Digitech RDS 8000
Electric guitar
Genre = Comedy
Prank phone calls
Surrealism
Occupation =
Years_active = 1987–2008
Label = DU Records
Reptillian Records
Insides Music
Vinyl Communications
Associated_acts = Hatebeak
Implement of Prognosis
URL = [http://www.longmontpotioncastle.com longmontpotioncastle.com]
Current_members =
Past_members =
Notable_instruments = |

Longmont Potion Castle (born 1972 or 1973) [cite web | author= Prindle, Mark | title= Longmont Potion Castle - 2003 | publisher= markprindle.com | url= http://www.markprindle.com/longmont-i.htm | accessdate= 2008-07-14] is the pseudonym of an anonymous surrealist prank caller who has been active in the
Colorado area since1987. [cite web | author= Hufnagel, Kevin | title= "Longmont Potion Castle" | publisher= Dysrhythmia Official Homepage | url= http://dysrhythmiaband.com/amazing/longmontpotioncastle.htm | accessdate= 2008-05-20] Details abouthis personal life are scarce and his real name is unknown to the public. Over the years, his mostly self-released albums have gained a cult following, notably amongst musicians. [cite web | author= Ferguson, Kevin | title= LONGMONT POTION CASTLE: THEY HAD TO PLEASE ME | publisher= LA Record | url= http://larecord.com/interviews/2007/12/06/longmont-potion-castle-they-had-to-please-me/ | accessdate= 2008-05-21]

Biography

The "LA Record" describes Longmont Potion Castle's albums as unlike those which most people associate with prank telephone calls, citing that his demeanor is nothing at all like that of The Jerky Boys and Crank Yankers and is actually closer to that of the alternative comedian Neil Hamburger. [cite web | author= Kellerman, Harry | title= LONGMONT POTION CASTLE @ SAFARI SAM’S | publisher= LA Record | url= http://larecord.com/prevs/2007/10/05/longmont-potion-castle-safari-sams/ | accessdate= 2008-05-20] The magazine goes on to cite some of the topics discussed and parties dialed in the artist's calls: "peacock bowel, owl bowel, peacock meat, squid meat, gorilla ointment, Nugent, Orange Julius, biblioduwangus, the Epiphone Dolphin, pumpkin brew, GG Allin, UPS, and opportunities to engender a coalition with the Vatican." [cite web | author= Ferguson, Kevin | title= LONGMONT POTION CASTLE: THEY HAD TO PLEASE ME | publisher= LA Record | url= http://larecord.com/interviews/2007/12/06/longmont-potion-castle-they-had-to-please-me/ | accessdate= 2008-05-21] In a review from the Denver Westword, LPC's recordings are described as advancing "absurdity as an art form." [cite web | author= La Briola, John | title= Denver - Music - Sound Bites | publisher= Denver Westword | url= http://www.westword.com/2005-08-11/music/sound-bites/ | accessdate= 2008-05-20]

The anonymous artist has himself described the albums he's made as "phone work" or "absurdist" art rather than the less sophisticated label of "prank phone calls", [cite web | author= Prindle, Mark | title= Longmont Potion Castle - 2003 | publisher= markprindle.com | url= http://www.markprindle.com/longmont-i.htm | accessdate= 2008-07-14] and has also said, "They may be dumb, but they're not stupid". [cite web | author= Prindle, Mark | title= Longmont Potion Castle - 2003 | publisher= markprindle.com | url= http://www.markprindle.com/longmont-i.htm | accessdate= 2008-07-14] Those on the receiving end of a Longmont Potion Castle call are often left confused and/or extremely angry, however his calls are rarely mean-spirited in nature. His recordings combine prank calls with sound collages and his own musical compositions, the majority of which are thrash metal instrumentals. Occasionally, Longmont Potion Castle will filter his voice through a Digitech RDS 8000 rack-mounted digital delay panel in order to produce odd sound effects, thus making whoever he has called even more confused. [cite web | author= Ferguson, Kevin | title= LONGMONT POTION CASTLE: THEY HAD TO PLEASE ME | publisher= LA Record | url= http://larecord.com/interviews/2007/12/06/longmont-potion-castle-they-had-to-please-me/ | accessdate= 2008-05-21]

In 2006, Longmont Potion Castle announced his retirement. In an interview with The Nerve Magazine, he explained that the box set "Longbox Option Package" would be the final LPC release. [cite web | author= Gordon, Cameron | title= Longmont Potion Castle | publisher= The Nerve Magazine | url= http://www.thenervemagazine.com/2007/02/article_template.php?id=9 | accessdate= 2008-05-20] However, in 2008 he released a new CD, "Longmont Potion Castle Volume 6", which the caller also claimed would be his final release.

Discography

Albums

*"Longmont Potion Castle" (1988)
*"Longmont Potion Castle Volume 2" (1992)
*"Longmont Potion Castle Volume 3" (1995)
*"Longmont Potion Castle Volume 4" (2001)
*"Late-Eighties-Vein" (2003)
*"Longmont Potion Castle Volume 5" (2005)
*"Longmont Potion Castle Volume 6" (2008)

Videos

*"Live from Longmont Potion Castle" (1998)
*"Return to Longmont Potion Castle"
*"Longbox Option Package" DVD (Includes "Live from LPC" and "Return to LPC") (2006)

Compilations and singles

*"Best of Vol. 1" (1996)
*"Best of Vol. 2" (1998)
*"LPC/Hatebeak split 7" (2004)
*"Longbox Option Package" 7 CD/1 DVD box set (2006)

References

External links

* [http://www.longmontpotioncastle.com Official Website]
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll Longmont Potion Castle at allmusic]
* [http://dysrhythmiaband.com/amazing/longmontpotioncastle.htm Interview with Amazing Webzine]
* [http://www.last.fm/music/Longmont+Potion+Castle Longmont Potion Castle at last.fm]
* [http://www.westword.com/2005-08-11/music/sound-bites/ Denver Westword review of "LPC 5"]
* [http://larecord.com/prevs/2007/10/05/longmont-potion-castle-safari-sams/ LA Record LPC live show review]
* [http://larecord.com/interviews/2007/12/06/longmont-potion-castle-they-had-to-please-me/ LA Record interview with LPC]
* [http://www.thenervemagazine.com/2007/02/article_template.php?id=9 Interview with The Nerve]
* [http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/longmont_potion_castle Longmont Potion Castle at Rate Your Music]