Xingolati Adds Banyan to Bill

Xingolati (pronounced Zîng-gō-läh-ti): is it a frothy, pricey hot new liquid stimulant at Starbucks, or the Groove Cruise of the Pacific, starring the “fearless freaks” themselves, Flaming Lips?

If you voted for the latter, you are smarter than you look.

TALENT UPDATE: just added to the lush, pullulating talent bill is Banyan, an experimental alt-rock/jazz/funk/world music hydra featuring Stephen Perkins of Jane’s Addiction and Porno For Pyros, Tony Franklin (The Firm, Jimmy Page), Brian Jordan (Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe), Willie Waldman (Snoop Dog, Tupac), and Norton Wisdom, who, um, paints live with the band.

“I am excited about our music being inspired by the environment, we improvise the WHOLE show, being stimulated by our surroundings. So, there will be great unpredictable music flowing, as deep as the ocean and as fresh as the sea mist,” said Perkins.

Whoa, he’ll fit right in with this bunch.

The three day, three night excursion from Los Angeles to Ensenada, Mexico will depart on October 14, 2005 and feature the comforts of a cruise vacation aboard the Carnival Cruise Lines’ ship Paradise.

(take a virtual tour here)

In addition to performing live on the boat in one of their few scheduled performances of the year, the Flaming Lips will screen their newly released documentary, the aforementioned The Fearless Freaks onboard the ship. The documentary, directed by Bradley Beesley, is the result of over 400 hours of footage that includes a decade of home movies, personal interviews, live shows, and music videos.

Adding another dimension to the cruise, Wayne Coyne, lead singer for the Flaming Lips will be hosting the first “Pacific Ocean Zaireeka Party.” Zaireeka is an album released by the Lips on four discs in 1997. Each disc contains one element of the mix of the album. The four discs are played simultaneously on different sound systems and the blending of sounds creates a voyage that is Zaireeka.

Xingolati will feature:

-The Flaming Lips
-G. Love and Special Sauce
-Medeski Martin & Wood
-Banyan, featuring Stephen Perkins of Janes Addiction
-Slightly Stoopid
-Everyone Orchestra featuring Vince Herman, Rob Wasserman, Joe Craven, Jamie Masefield and Jamie Janover conducted by Matt Butler
-Particle
-DJ Logic
-Tea Leaf Green
-R.E.D
-DJ Greyboy
-The Mutaytor
-Lorin (Bassnectar)
-DJ Laird
-Rob Cantrell from NBC’s Last Comic Standing
-Perpetual Groove
-Delta Nove
-Al Howard and the K23 Orchestra
-Motion Potion
-That 1 Guy
-Soul Rebels Brass Band
-Lowpro Lounge
-Olospo
-Chris Cutz
-Fresh One
-Hamsa Lila

The ship has several venues that will showcase live music and DJs as well as performance art, character exaggerations and circus theatrics. In fact, the call is out for artists who want a free trip:

“We have reserved a number of spots on Xingolati for performance artists, magicians, showman, exaggerated characters or just plain gems of society. We want you to share your gifts with our community. All you have to do is send us an email with photos, videos and a short description of what you bring to the event. In return for your passage, we ask that you make a special effort to be generous with yourself and everyone aboard Xingolati.”

In addition, the Ringmaster has offered a press discount to any blogger who wishes to write about his/her experience aboard the Groove Cruise of the Pacific.

For civilians, reservations range from $599 to $2299 per person.

“The Flaming Lips take this event to the next level. They capture the excitement and creativity we want to bring onboard the ship,” said Neal Turley, co-founder of Who is Guy Grand, the company that is producing Xingolati. “This event is something entirely different and I think they see the vision and the possibilities of a circus at sea.”

And if that isn’t enough, there are optional wine tasting and poker tournament extras available.