Crib Notes

Monster Bash is like Drive-Invasion without the humidity and with more makeup. OK, it was already pretty warm on Sunday when hot-rodders, devil dolls, rock ’n’ rollers and ghouls of all ages got all tatted up at the Starlight Drive-In. The event sold out, with barely a parking spot available by mid-afternoon in which rockers and sci-fi/horror-movie fans could camp out, cook out and rock out. (”It’s like an inner-city version of a hippie fest,” said one Basher during the post-sundown viewing of Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (which was followed by The Werewolf vs. Vampire Woman).

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1947 Studebaker Wrecker

In a town as big as Atlanta, it is inevitable that there are going to be major events that just don’t cater to everyone in the city. But there is a strange phenomenon that occurs whenever a group of people get together and have a good time based on their shared interests — somebody feels left out and makes a fuss about it. Well, that’s just too bad, because if you couldn’t find an event in Atlanta over Labor Day weekend that fit your niche, you were not looking hard enough. Dragon*Con? Montreux Jazz Festival? Black Gay Pride? Drive-Invasion? Damn, there is something for everyone …

Since its inception, Drive-Invasion has served as a sort of “homecoming/family reunion”-type event, with many of the original supporters being the folks who were part of the Star Bar-rockabilly -Redneck Underground scene in the early ’90s. As the event expanded to include car shows, vendors, camping and bigger crowds, it has gone through a couple of different guiding hands. But for the most part, the event is a celebration of some pretty specific aspects of American culture — drive-in cult movies, country, rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll music, flashy cars, and retro fashion. It’s a visual smorgasbord for people-watching, and the loose structure of the event allows a lot of leeway in how people play.

For some it’s an excuse to drink to oblivion and raise some hell. For others it’s a forum to show off tattoo-covered skin (and plenty of it). And for some it is a chance to relax, hear cool bands, laugh at awful movies, imbibe, eat well (or poorly), and be with friends who you haven’t seen since, well, last year. (more…)

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When Drive-Invasion 2007 revs up at the Starlight Six Drive-In from Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 1-2, I probably won’t be there. I don’t have anything against it … just not my thing. Besides, I’d rather see Billy Childish at the Decatur Book Festival.

But I have to admit that the Drive-Invasion website is impressive. The launch page is a Shockwave animation that lights up Drive-Invasion’s logo like an electric billboard. Click on the music page, and then the bands’ tabs (which include rockabilly legend the Blasters as well as local heroes like Tiger! Tiger! and the Woggles), and each band name turns into a photo as a short description floats above it. The movie page is even better: As you click on the tab for each flick, a short snippet from the movie’s trailer begins to play. Neat!

Other goodies include a game where you can drive a hot rod over a bunch of cars like Evel Knievel. I’d love to know who designed the Drive-Invasion 2007 website … it’s on some next-level shit.

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