Those of you that have been following these series of posts will know exactly where we are at with the story of Avocado Chip. Those of you that haven’t been, don’t worry you have time to catch up. Just cast your eyes over to Avocado Chip Part 1 and then on to Avocado Chip Part 2, then I hope this will all start to make some sense.
Part 3 pushes the story on even further into the depths of a town called Starving Jane. I will let Ben Sommers tell you more….
In chapter three there are two more characters introduced – Mr. Arthur Squire and Biting Biff. Arthur works for Old Tall Sam at the Arms Factory. He is forced by Old Tall Sam to work there but really he hates his job and doesn’t want to be a part of Sam’s totalitarian machine. Arthur is a key figure in the story and will feature heavily in the later part of the story.
Biting Biff is a smaller part of the actual story but he will play a big role in the rest of the Avocado Chip concept, mainly over at AvocadoChip.com. Biff is the towns ‘ digital dealer’. He deals in illegal music (Old Tall Sam has outlawed all ‘real’ music and so Biff makes a living trading in black market mp3′s).
In this chapter we begin to see the story take shape, with Arthur receiving a mysterious message through the ‘Motherbigcomputer’.
And here are those next few pages in full, so feast your eyes and delve into the illustrious mind of Ben Sommers… (Click on the pics to zoom in)
Since we last mentioned Ben on these very pages, the Avocado Chip album has since been released. Now Ben’s debut solo record has been an album that I in particular have had for quite some time. A couple of years in the making and given its subject matter and grand scope, it’s one hell of an ideology that will simply blow your mind.
Each individual song telling just a small part of this vast and intricate story, Avocado Chip is no ordinary flimsy concept album, it’s a narrative and each track gets you that little bit closer to some kind of answer. A highly emotive piece of work, Ben somehow captures your imagination by getting right to the core and constructing each word and musical note to create this wonderful and prominent world. Songs like ‘Town Called Starving Jane’, ‘Saplen Express’ and ‘Digital Sunrise’ gives you fine details of Avocado Chip and the place that surrounds this ‘holy grail’. Then you have a song like ‘Elephant You’ which tugs at the heartstrings with its humility, innocence and haunting piano and certainly one of the highlights for me.
It takes someone rather special to construct something like this out of nothing. It is the prolific song writing talents of one Ben Sommers, that made Avocado Chip possible. Lyrically, one of the most interesting albums I have heard in a long time. Musically, its beautifully colourful acid folk in the style of the Incredible String Band, but if they were orchestrated by Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band. Avocado Chip is a triumph and an album that needs to be heard to be believed.
So a few days ago, you all would have seen and read Part 1 of the Avocado Chip story by Ben Sommers. Well I hope you all did, if not, you can recap simply by clicking here and that should get you up to speed. Part 2 of the story talks about a character called Hilary, a human eating lizard!
Sounds a little strange? Allow Ben to explain more clearly…
Chapter 2 tells the story of Hillary Conlint. Hillary is one of the darker characters in Starving Jane. She is half human, half reptilian. This chapter tells the story of how Hillary became the way she is (she’s also a prostitute who eats her punters).
The character Hillary was inspired by David Ickes theories that certain world leaders are from another planet. I spent a good few years researching conspiracy theories and although I’m on the fence in my opinions on whether or not some are true, I do love the idea that people such as Hillary Clinton are really half lizard.
This chapter is also depicted in the music video for the the song ‘Hillary, Oh Hillary’. (see below)
Part 2 of Avocado Chip…
And this is that epic and bizarre video that Ben was talking about…
Storytelling in music isn’t unusual. Most songwriters will usually have an idea what a song is going to be about and expand on it. Ben Sommers on the other end, took that to a whole other level.
Ben
With the release of his debut album imminent, Ben wanted to explain a bit more about this illustrious project that he has given birth to over the last year or so. The album is called Avocado Chip, of which this name will make much more sense once we go forward with the story. Now I am not going to give too much away, as I want Ben to introduce his creation to you and every so often tell you more about this wonderful world. The story of Avocado Chip comes in nine parts, so the story will unfold as time goes on. So without further ado, I will pass you over to Ben Sommers and allow him to explain….
“In chapter one of the story we meet Old Tall Sam, the ruler of a town called Starving Jane. Old Tall Sam is a major character in the story and is the focus for a lot of the plots that occur throughout. This chapter also sets the scene for what it’s like for the people who live in Starving Jane, what they’ve been through and their everyday struggle for survival.
The illustrations are by a very good friend of mine, Leaf Vigurs. It’s been a pretty exciting part of the project for me so far to have Leaf involved. He’s been turning up at my house every few weeks with new illustrations for the story and every time he shows me the work he has done it has blown me away.
There is a progression of colour throughout the nine chapters which you will begin to notice from around chapter 4, but we decided to keep to black and white illustrations for the first parts to emphasise the ‘bleakness’ of Starving Jane.
After the initial nine chapters that come with this first instalment of Avocado Chip there will be a new direction taken. Leaf and myself are discussing how the story and the illustrations can evolve.. Possibly go down the comic/graphic novel route or something else. I’m half way through the next couple of albums in the series so I think that will dictate where we go with it, we’ll see.”
Now this is Part 1 of Avocado Chip…
Now I am hoping you have got your head round that! Ben’s brand new single from the Avocado Chip album is a touching, sentimental song called ‘Elephant You’. A slightly distorted view of the world and a little taste of what can be expected from the body of work that is Avocado Chip.
Well firstly Happy New Year to you all, and what a year 2010 was for music. You would have read plenty of end of year lists I imagine, mine included I hope, and debates would have ensued and wild accusations made. I had a fun musical year and I am certainly looking forward to 2011, so going to start with one of my hot tips for the new year, Ben Sommers.
Ben Sommers
Ben is the madcap genius behind an illustrious concept album entitled ‘Avocado Chip’. A psychedelic folk, acid trip infused story revolving around a post-apocolyptic world. Centralling on just a few colorful characters, the story of the town ‘Starving Jane’ begins and as time goes on, more and more will be revealed. Avocado Chip is released sometime in February and Ben’s lead single from it is ‘Hillary, Oh Hillary’. Now I could rant on about Ben’s muse and main influence for the song, but I think she should tell you herself. I had the pleasure of talking to Hillary and finding more about who she is and what is really going on in this crazy trip called Avocado Chip.
Sourmash: So hello Hilary and thanks so much for doing this interview with me…
Hillary: It’s a pleasure Peter, I was told you were pretty tasty so I agreed to meet with you…
SM: For people who don’t know you, could you maybe tell us a bit about yourself?
H: Well, my name is Hillary Conlint and I live in a town called Starving Jane, over on the south side over looking the ocean. I’ve lived here all my life. I run an adult movie shop called ‘Hillary’s Boudoir’ during the day and early evening. Late evenings and weekends I work as an escort girl, servicing the needs of the men of Starving Jane.
SM: Now I am aware that you were a victim of an unfortunate accident, would you like to tell me more?
H: I guess it could be seen as unfortunate, yes. To be honest it’s put a smile on my face ever since. You see the ruler of Starving Jane, Old Tall Sam, had recently introduced mandatory vaccinations for the townsfolk. We were all told this was to fight a new strain of flu virus that was affecting the area (I’ve since learnt that this was just a cover for injecting people with microchips so they could be tracked and traced). Anyway, I had my appointment on a Tuesday morning. On the way to the Arms Factory, where the appointment was to take place, I’d stopped off at the supermarket and picked up some cigarettes and a bag of Lizard Kings (jelly sweets, kind of like Haribo but shaped like lizards). When I arrived at the Arms factory I finished my cigarette and went inside, completely missing the sign that read ‘NO FOOD OR DRINK ALLOWED ON THE PREMISES’. I sat myself down in the chair and as the procedure began I heard a loud bang and I was knocked unconscious. When I awoke, slightly shaken and a bit wobbly, I felt a bit strange inside. I grabbed a shard of glass to check my reflection, I thought maybe I had cut my head or something when I’d fallen. What I saw was very strange. I’d changed shape almost. I’d grown scales and developed a greenish complexion. I’d become a reptilian type creature.. and boy did I have a taste for blood!!! It turns out that the Lizard Kings had messed with the injection machine and that is what caused the accident!
SM: That sounds awful; it must have had a dramatic impact on your life?
H: It was certainly a shock, but it’s something I got use to very quickly. I’m slowly learning how to control the changing shape bit. When I was young I had a boyfriend who read a lot of comic books and he use to read them to me. One of my favourites was the Incredible Hulk. When the Hulk got angry he changed and that’s exactly what happens to me now. But instead of growing muscles and smashing down brick walls I turn into a six foot lizard and bite men’s cocks off.
Hillary, Oh Hillary
SM: Is it true you now eat men as a direct result of the accident?
H: You know, it’s not as bad as it sounds. I mean yes, I do.. but only the ones who deserve it. Because of my profession I tend to get treated pretty badly by men. Some might argue that this is what they are paying for but really there is no excuse to treat anyone like that.. and so I get to have my revenge on them. Maybe in my heart I feel like I’m doing it for all the women who have wanted to take revenge on a man for whatever reason, but can’t.
SM: Are you able to tell me more about what is going on in Starving Jane at the moment?
H: Oh darling It’s difficult to talk about it to be honest. I’m not sure what’s going on here. Times are changing very quickly. The biggest impact to our lives has been Old Tall Sam’s introduction of these machines he calls Garlics. They have camera’s as heads and they patrol the town, spying on everybody and reporting back to Sam. If anyone is out of line they have the power to detain them. It’s an abuse of power because a lot of the time, at least what I’ve seen, most people are detained without any real reason at all. For example the other week I was up in the main part of the town at the Library looking at some karma sutra books when all of a sudden I heard shouting outside. I went to the window to take a look and there were these three guys just playing Tin Tan Tommy*. They weren’t causing anybody any harm but they were arrested and taken away by a gang of Garlics. I read in the local paper that they had since been sentenced to two years in prison for breach of the peace! I’ve also heard from my friend Higgin’s that some of the food and water supply is being tampered with. Chemicals are being mixed in so the townsfolk ingest it and it makes them more prone to comply rules. But like I said, it’s difficult to talk about it all, you never know who is reading this and if Old Tall Sam knows I’ve spoken to you about this then I could be in a lot of trouble.
SM: I can’t even begin to imagine how tough it must be for all the people in the town, how are you all
coping?
H: We manage to put up with it and get on with our lives. You have to make the best of a situation I think. It is getting worse though and I think secretly the townsfolk hope and prey for a hero to stand up to Old Tall Sam and save us all.
SM: What is next for you in the future?
H: I’ve been working on a new range of super dildo’s to sell in my shop. 29 inches of reinforced titanium and a 12 speed vibration setting. I think they will be our top sellers for this year, I’m very excited about them. I’m also working with my friend Higgins on building the towns first robot sex slaves. We have the arms and legs working so far but we’re having problems with the mouths and lips – sometimes the robots get lock-jaw and obviously this has to be fixed before we test them on the public! Their names are Jezebel and Lottie and I’m very excited to have them in development!
* Tin Tan Tommy is a game played with an old tin can. After sorting out where ‘home’ was, one of the players threw the can as hard as they could down the street. Whoever was ‘it’ or ‘on it’ chased after the can, picked it up and ran backwards to the elected ‘home’ point. This was usually a small section of wall; a bollard or a lamp post. While the tin can was being retrieved the other people ran and hid themselves. The person with the can had to search out the others and when one was spied, get back to the can. He would then bash it up and down on the wall, shouting “I see Johnny behind the red lorry”, and out would come Johnny from behind the lorry moaning because he was now ‘it’. If someone managed to get to the can and bash it before the searcher, then they were ‘safe’.
So as I said before, colorful characters indeed, the Hillary inspired single is out now and a brilliant video has been produced to accompany it….
Also the single can be downloaded here, so enjoy and be amazed!
The Gallery Cafe in Bethnal Green is a peculiar little place, but the perfect setting for one Ben Sommers. Now I will have to apologise in advance for what may become a bit of a mushy love in affair for this ridiculously talented singer/songwriter, but that can’t be helped.
Ben Sommers
Now if you don’t know Ben Sommers already, he has a mind expanding project called Avocado Chip on the horizon, which is based around a kind of post apocalyptic world. It’s a conceptual piece of work that revolves around wondrous and fascinating characters in a town called ‘Starving Jane’. You have either now have just switched off or are as intrigued as I was when I was first given the album and back story. The album will be released in February next year, but until then Ben has been doing gigs up and down the country, giving people snippets of what to expect.
For this special gig at the Gallery Cafe in Bethnal Green, this is his last gig with the fantastic Pandoras Box. Ben has been doing shows with this particular band for a few months now, but the project is due to grow and so he has moved onto another backing band, to give the album a different sound altogether. Ben tells me before hand it is an emotional one for all of them tonight, but they seem to take that and get that across in their performance.
The songs are all taken from the Avocado Chip album and highlights what a creative individual Ben Sommers actually is. It is an amalgamation of Nu-Folk and 60s Psych influence in the same vein as the Incredible String Band. Dark under tones with just glimmers of light that seep through to some absolute glorious moments. When they perform ‘Digital Sunrise’ it is a special one, as he announces that it is one of their favourite songs to perform, and you can feel that come across. Laced in mesmerising, beautiful harmonies that made my hairs stand on end and became one of the finer elements of the evening. A personal favourite was ‘Elephant You’ which is a simple piano led ballad that sets the overall tone for the night for me. Touching and just driven by Ben’s emotional delivery, with a sucker punch to the soul for good measure. ‘A Town Called Starving Jane’ and ‘Devils Day’ seem to be the crowd favourites, who all seem to be transfixed on every note he played tonight. Every ounce of what I saw this evening was done with determination and belief, heart and spirit. The more people find out about Ben Sommers and his rather adept brain, the better.
It is an ambitious project that Ben has set upon, but one that deserves your attention and I believe your admiration. His album is released February next year, but to find out more head on over to www.avocadochip.com and head on over to the 360 Degree Music site for a FREE DOWNLOAD!
Since we last mentioned Ben on these very pages, the Avocado Chip album has since been released. Now Ben’s debut solo record has been an album that I in particular have had for quite some time. A couple of years in the making and given its subject matter and grand scope, it’s one hell of an ideology that will simply blow your mind.
