PFFR
PFFR | |
---|---|
Origin | Brooklyn, New York, USA |
Genres | Electronic rock, experimental rock, neo-psychedelia |
Years active | 2001 - present |
Labels |
Birdman Records Birdman-A-Phone |
Associated acts |
Phiiliip Muckafurgason They Might Be Giants |
Website | Official Website |
Members |
John Lee Alyson Levy Vernon Chatman Jim Tozzi |
Past members | Dina Waxman |
PFFR Forever Ltd., traditionally known as PFFR (pronounced pea-eff-are) is a Brooklyn based production company/art collective/electronic rock band consisting of Alyson Levy, Vernon Chatman, Jim Tozzi, and John Lee. The group has been active since 2001.
Work
The group's portfolio of work includes 3 albums, a 7" EP and a download-only EP (plus a string of live performances as a band), various art exhibits such as An Attack On All Americans Or The Tyranny Of Weed shown at the LFL Galley in New York, and the script for the film Final Flesh.[1] In 2010 they held an exhibition/video screening of a selection of their work entitled PFFR Presents Legacy IIX which took place at the Synchronicity Space in Los Angeles, CA between April 3 and May 1.[2]
PFFR are also active in television comedy. They wrote, directed, produced and starred in the MTV2 variety show Wonder Showzen (2005–2006) and the Adult Swim CGI series Xavier: Renegade Angel. For both these shows, Chatman and Lee are the directors and main voice talent, whilst Tozzi and Levy are the animation/character designer and art director, respectively. Levy provides additional voices for both shows whilst Tozzi does only for 'Xavier'. PFFR are also responsible for producing, directing and co-writing Jon Glaser's Adult Swim show Delocated.
Chatman and Lee collaborated on Doggy Fizzle Televizzle, a short lived sketch show starring Snoop Dogg, although this was not an official PFFR production. Following this show, Snoop Dogg made a guest appearance on PFFR's 'United We Doth' LP as well as a second season episode of Xavier: Renegade Angel.
In 2016 PFFR produced and directed the music video for Animal Collective's song FloriDada, the first single off of their upcoming album Painting With.
Style and image
In interviews, the group have proven to be whimsical and flippant, often going off at random, nonsensical tangents to their own amusement. When asked about their inception and existence, the answer is often the same: "A shimmering gem crashed down from the heavens, black clouds exploded unto the Earth and PFFR was formed." The story's finer details are known to vary, but the basic premise is kept. In an interview given by Chatman and Lee for The Sound Of Young America radio show, host Jesse Thorn asks the duo about the beliefs behind Wonder Showzen, to which they partly reply "We believe in the power of a mythical gem that emanated from a dark cloud in the sky. 'God' queefed her light through it, and the refraction formed a dragon, a cougar and a sea beast. They together shat out a script and we printed it up and shot it." [3] The band's old website was equally outlandish, consisting of streams of garish, neon colours, a news column with such nonsense articles as "Goblins of Gob World Tour conceived. PFFR hospitalized after first grog. Hospital still under construction" and a 'cute' chipmunk that, when clicked, grows an enormous erect penis that ejaculates to display the sites menu options. The mascot is an apple-headed creature with a toothy red smile and a big nose, which is wearing a top hat and a collar and also has a large blue worm coming out the left side of his head. His lower half has his skinny little legs in a squatting position and a face on his buttocks that appears to be spitting blood.
Individual achievements
Chatman provided the voice for South Park character Towelie and worked as a staff writer/consultant on the show in 2004. He returned to the show in 2009 as a producer. He has written for Matt Stone and Trey Parker's short lived sitcom That's My Bush, Late Night with Conan O'Brien and The Chris Rock Show.
Levy directed the documentary film The Hands Of God about Christian puppeteers. She had a photography exhibition at Momenta Art, Brooklyn, in 2000 which featured a selection of photographs depicting various spoof sitcom scenes starring herself and friend Janeane Garofalo. She is also married to Lee.
Tozzi is an independent artist and has worked as a member of the production companies KanDoKid and T.H.E.M. directing a plethora of television commercials.
Lee was previously a member of the now defunct rock band Muckafurgason. He is known as a supertaster through the song John Lee Supertaster by the alternative rock band They Might Be Giants, with whom he is close friends.
Releases
Discography
- Rock, Rocker, Rocketh (2001, self released)
- Injustice Center (2003, Invasion Planete France)
- United We Doth (2004, Birdman)
- Chrome Ghost (Download only EP) (2005, Birdman-A-Phone)
Videography
- Sacajaweahhh (From Injustice Center LP)
- Our Concern (From Injustice Center LP)
- Superfine (From United We Doth LP)
- Japoney Appoe (From United We Doth LP)
Television shows
- Doggy Fizzle Televizzle (2002 - 2003, not an official PFFR production, but created by Chatman & Lee)
- Kenny the Shark (2003 - 2006, theme song only)
- Wonder Showzen (2005- 2006)
- Xavier: Renegade Angel (2007 - 2009)
- Y'All So Stupid (2007-2008; web series)
- Delocated (2009 - 2013)
- Totally for Teens (2009, unaired pilot)
- Neon Knome (2010, picked up as The Problem Solverz which PFFR was not involved in)
- The Heart, She Holler (2011 - 2014)
- Neon Joe, Werewolf Hunter (2015 - present)
- Jon Glaser Loves Gear (2016 - present)
Films
- Final Flesh (2003) (2009 DVD release)
- Hands of God (2012)
References
- ↑ "Potion Lords: Final Flesh". Potionlords.blogspot.com. 2009-06-10. Retrieved 2010-08-25.
- ↑ "PFFR presents Legacy IIX". Syncspacela.com. 2010-05-01. Retrieved 2010-08-25.
- ↑ http://media.libsyn.com/media/tsoya/tsoya040106.mp3
External links
- PFFR Website
- PFFR at Birdman Records
- PFFR at IMDb
- Audio interview with Lee & Chatman on the public radio show The Sound of Young America (also features Jim Gaffigan)
- Archived interview with PFFR by Jason Thompson shortly after the release of Rock, Rocker, Rocketh. Originally published on the Echo From Esoterica website.
- Review of Rock, Rocker, Rocketh on PopMatters by Jason Thompson.
- http://www.deadline.com/2011/05/adult-swim-announces-3-new-series/