Longmont Potion Castle | |
---|---|
Genres |
Comedy Prank phone calls Surrealism Thrash Metal |
Instruments |
Telephone Digitech RDS 8000 Electric guitar |
Years active | 1987–present |
Labels | DU Records Reptilian Records Insides Music Post Replica Records Vinyl Communications |
Associated acts | Hatebeak |
Website | longmontpotioncastle.com |
Longmont Potion Castle (born 1972) is the pseudonym of an anonymous surrealist prank caller who has been active in the Colorado and Los Angeles areas since 1987. Details about his personal life are scarce and his real name is unknown to the public. Over the years, his mostly self-released albums have gained a cult following, notably among musicians.
The LA Record describes Longmont Potion Castle's albums as unlike those that most people associate with prank telephone calls, citing that his demeanor is nothing at all like that of The Jerky Boys and Crank Yankers and is actually closer to that of the alternative comedian Neil Hamburger. In a review from the Denver Westword, LPC's recordings are described as advancing "absurdity as an art form."
The anonymous artist has himself described the albums he has made as "phone work" or "absurdist" art rather than the less sophisticated label of "prank phone calls", and has also said, "They may be dumb, but they're not stupid". Those on the receiving end of a Longmont Potion Castle call are often left confused and/or extremely angry, as the calls frequently involve complaints about noise, requests for money or offers to "whoop" somebody. However his calls are rarely very mean-spirited in nature. His recordings combine prank calls with sound collages and his own musical compositions, the majority of which are thrash metal instrumentals. Occasionally, Longmont Potion Castle filters his voice through a Digitech RDS 8000 rack-mounted digital delay unit to produce odd sound effects, thus making whoever he has called even more confused.