Rainer Ptacek performing "Voodoo Music" in the kitchen of "The 818 Club" during a live cablecast of the local music show "Electric Window".
Hosted and Produced by Chris Wagganer
Cameras: Don Dalen, Chris Babbie, Ben Minot
Audio: David Slutes
Engineering: Roy Knappenberger, Chris Babbie
Cablecast Support: Mark Taylor
June 6, 1986
Videographer Ray Frieders recently posted on Facebook:
“37 years ago today at Gates Pass, a spectacular backdrop for Tucson’s own Giant Sandworms. “Body of Water” was directed by Tony Sotelo and was the first of many 80’s music videos that I shot and edited. I am very fortunate to have these photos and some amazing memories! I am not sure what I love most, my full head of hair or the fact that I “borrowed” a KVOA news camera for this shoot.”
“Before Giant Sand there was Giant Sandworms, Howe Gelb's first band in Tucson. Here is their debut music video from 1983.
Howe Gelb - Guitar, Vocals
Dave Seger - Guitar, Vocals
Billy Sed -Drum, Vocals
Scott Garber - Bass”
Visit Howe Gelb/Giant Sand’s official website.
Follow Giant Sand at Facebook.
Follow Howe Gelb at Facebook.
Browse all posts marked “Giant Sand” here at Holiday at the Sea.
Purchase Giant Sand music at Amazon.
By now you’re probably familiar with my love for Rainer Ptacek and his sunbaked folk blues. If not, visit this post, or this post, or this post. I’m not going to give further background information on the amazing singer/songwriter/guitarist here. Instead, enjoy this profile from Arizona Public Media (which actually does a good job profiling the story). Actually, the whole video is 28 minutes, but only the first 15 (or just shy thereof) minutes is about Rainer even if the segments about “healing art” and “Tucson trains” are interesting.
The video profile features interviews with Rainer’s widow Patti Keating, Howe Gelb, and Rainer himself. It includes some overlapping footage with the KUAT profile featured here but also includes some home movie segments which don’t quite feel like we should be privileged to see, adding depth to the music and weight to the loss.
And here’s grainy black and white footage of Rainer playing the song Patti mentions, ‘Don't Know Why ‘ in 1989.
“Sonoran Trance Music” from Tucson via Fuzz Club Eindhoven 2019.
Check out this live set from 23.8.19 at Fuzz Club Festival, Eindhoven.