Chicagoist: CIFF: Wesley Willis's Joyrides, Terribly Happy

tsmith6

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 13:44:29 -0600

I saw the final version of this film for the first time last night and thought it was excellent. Chris & Kim did a fantastic job. "I assume Mancow is all over the Willis documentary?" -- Thankfully, no. "playing his casio keyboard" -- Wes actually played expensive Technics KN series keyboards and sometimes other brands, but not the cheap Casios people tend to associate with him. You can see him negotiating with a keyboard salesperson in the film. The filmmakers are sensitive to the exploitation aspect of Wes's story. As friends of Wes they were upset at some of the conditions Wes endured, particularly on tour, and they bring up that issue in the film. I would have loved to have seen it at the Chicago Underground Film Festival, where the first Wesley documentary, Wesley Willis as Himself, debuted so many years ago. But the Chicago International Film Festival will probably expose more people to Wes who never heard of him before, so that's an up side. If Wes were alive I think he would have pissed off CIFF & CUFF by agreeing to screen it at both festivals.

The Meteorologist

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:25:56 -0600

I miss you, Wesley.

Albanyparkour

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:30:15 -0600

"Hey let's go look at the freak." Precisely. Muller was trying to make his own little "wacky bunch" back in the 90's (lo those many centuries ago). I was in high school and whenever Willis would come on screaming and playing his casio keyboard even stupid little high school me thought it was exploitive.

Stealth

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:04:06 -0600

"Outsider" are can be fascinating, but I always worried if Willis was just being used as a cheap laugh. I used to wonder this too, although I didn't think "cheap laugh", more like "freak factor". I used to see him coming into Crash Palace (later Delilah's) and watch as these demure girls would cringe in terror at the sight of this hulking black man wanting to bump heads with them, only to watch later as they fawned over him when they found out he was "somebody" (though I suppose that could be true of any underground performer). That, plus hordes of frat brodudes who used to populate some of his shows made me wonder about why they were there. Sorry, but I was pretty conflicted about the whole thing at the time. I'm sure there were fans who really loved him, but I'm also sure there were an equal number who were saying, "Hey let's go look at the freak." Any body remember Lit X book store that was in the basement under what's now starbucks? I remember seeing Chuck Perkins preform. Yes on the Lit X and yes on Chuck Perkins. Used to slam with him at Green Mill a LOONG time ago (not saying how long ago, but let's just say Reggie Gibson was just starting out and now is up for a National Book Award). And remember going to see Marvin Tate at a bar on Division when he hosted a poetry night. Forget the name of the bar but pretty sure it's been about 15 different places since then anyway.

Spook

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:34:36 -0600

"Wesley Willis's Joyrides" Man, that makes me sad. Tonight I'm gonna pour out some liqour for all the orginal denizens( including Welsey!) and old heads of the old Wicker Park. Any body remember Lit X book store that was in the basement under what's now starbucks? I remember seeing Chuck Perkins preform.

Tankboy

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:27:02 -0600

Say RAH!

Albanyparkour

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:27:00 -0600

I assume Mancow is all over the Willis documentary? "Outsider" are can be fascinating, but I always worried if Willis was just being used as a cheap laugh.

Smokes

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:24:10 -0600

I remember seeing him at Simple Simon shows in the 90's, he would randomly head butt people in the middle of a conversation. God I miss that.

Mucky Fingers

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:03:01 -0600

Jesus is the answer! Jesus is the ANSWER! Jesus is the answer! JESUS is the answer! JESUS IS THE ANSWER! Jesus is the answer!