Music / The Big Lebowski
Review: Big Lebowski Festival, The Lanes
If anywhere in Bristol were to assume the role of a dudeist temple there would be no other choice than The Lanes. Which is fitting as on Saturday night its five lanes of retro bowling filled up with gallons of white Russians in celebration of The Dude himself.
It’s now been twenty years since the Coen brother’s first brought us the infamous shorts and bathrobe combination and it’s evident that all this time later the dude still abides. Despite the slacker-chic style a lot of effort has gone in to some of the costumes on show.
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There are Walter’s who look like they practically converted to Judaism for the night, a Jesus complete with bowling glove and hair net and a Dude that’s so good you’d be mistaken for believing it was Bridges himself. Judged by cheers from the crowd it’s His Dudeness, Duder or El Duderino if you’re not into brevity that becomes the happy victor of a pitcher of white Russians.
Alongside the rugs scattered around tying the room together, Credence Clearwater Review are putting out music to thump the roof of your car to. Classic roots rock like Proud Mary and Have You Ever Seen The Rain have everyone that isn’t bowling jiving along appropriately while Lebowski plays on the screen behind.
As the live band comes to an end resident DJ’s the Junk Soul Brothers step up to spin tracks from and inspired by the film. There’s Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder and The Beach Boys but appropriately nothing from The Eagles, The Dude hates The Eagles.
While the film didn’t exactly receive rave reviews on release, nights like tonight make it clear that it’s found its own place in cult history since. If you want to relive a little bit of the dude on his anniversary year then book yourself a lane and if not, well, you know, that’s just, like, your opinion, man.
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