Because of Tuesday’s We Were Wolves/Satin Hooks show (our ears are still ringing), the Mink moved its weekly movie night to 9 p.m. tonight, but it’s worth the wait. They’ll be showing the Coen brothers’ 1996 classic The Big Lebowski, with $3 White Russians and a pair of Sunny Day Real Estate tickets up for grabs.
Lebowski is an homage to White Russians, nihilism and slack – and, although Kingpin comes pretty close, probably the funniest bowling movie ever made. Rocks Off’s favorite part has always been the dream sequence/production number scored to Kenny Rogers & the First Edition’s “Just Dropped In (to See What Condition My Condition Was In).” Even if you’re not stoned when you watch it – a condition most Lebowski fans know a little something about – these five minutes or so will sure make you feel stoned.
“Condition” has been memorably covered by Willie Nelson and Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, but Rogers’ original is still our favorite. We never get tired of bringing it up whenever someone argues that all the Roaster was ever good for was treacly pop-country ballads like “Lady” and “Through the Years.”
This article appears in Aug 20-26, 2009.
