New York’s own stalwarts, Life In A Blender, are back with a new video from their recent album Bent By The Weather, for the (standout) track, “Rowan & Martin” – and you can bet your sweet bippy this is a corker of a video.
The short story behind it comes from LIAB’s Don Rauf: “I grew up Catholic and “Rowan & Martin” is Blender’s own surreal, dreamy take on a Pontius Pilate-like character trying to convince a Jesus-ish (Jesish?) character to join his team – but ultimately doing what the crowd demands. Mel Melon, who often introduces the band at live shows, is the character trying to persuade the other fellow (Don Rauf) to join forces with him and that they will make a great team, like Rowan & Martin.”
Pilate’s pleas are to no avail! So although he can find no fault in Jesus, he naturally hires an evil wizard to get rid of him, claiming that this is what the people want! He works under the Trump logic of “If you don’t join me, I must destroy you and that’s what everyone wants any way.” The wizard leads a pack of thuggish dog men to do the job. This may be an untraditional interpretation of the Bible.
The film was directed by Don’s son, Leo, on locations in New York City on Easter Sunday, in New Orleans, and in Seattle; Leo has directed a number of independent music videos.
(A sidenote: Don and Mel met the first day of college at NYU, during a time when many future “stars” were there, including Alec Baldwin, actress Nancy Travis, and Def Jam Record founder/producer Rick Rubin.)
For those who DON’T know – Dan Rowan and Dick Martin were comedians who hosted the TV show “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In” from 1967 to 1973 – look that up in your Funk & Wagnall’s…
Bent By The Weather is currently available