ROCK THAT UKE profile picture

ROCK THAT UKE

About Me



Rock That Uke is a curiously philosophical documentary that examines the near mystical allure of the ukulele and the recent surge of alternative and experimental musicians on the American mainland who have taken up the four-stringed underdog of the musical world and incorporated it not just into their art, but into their personal ethos.
Interviewing a broad range of ukuleleists of varying levels of skill but consistently enthusiastic creative spirit, Rock That Uke asks, among other probing questions: ..Is there a ukulele personality?.. and ..What compels a person to electronically distort this little instrument and play loud, aggressive music?.. The answers reveal a fascinating Zeitgeist of irony and impotent rage that transcends the subject. In Rock That Uke , the ukulele is an unexpected metaphor for the human experience.
Rock That Uke examines the big questions by asking the small ones. It's a peek at human nature through a very tiny sound hole.
Rock That Uke runs 62 minutes. It is directed by William Preston Robertson & Sean Anderson, and features introductory voice narration by Academy Award-winning actress Holly Hunter. It is unrated, but contains strong language. The Rock That Uke DVD features extras with over 80 additional minutes of performances. It is in NTSC format, Region 0 coding.
"A rollicking anagnorisis of Ukulele Truth!" --Ethan Coen, Academy Award-winning writer, director and producer.
“Subtly hysterical, in the tender, hands-off way that makes documentaries so precious!” --Marjorie Skinner, Portland Mercury
“Charming and informative!” --David Cornelius, DVD Talk
“It's nice to watch a documentary that doesn't have me placing a shotgun to my head!” --Mark Bell, Film Threat

My Interests

I'd like to meet:


Ukulele players from all cultures and all corners of the globe, including those interested in using the ukulele to explore new musical boundaries as well as those creative artists whose work suggests that they ought to play the ukulele though they themselves may not even know it.

My Blog

RTU and Ukulele Loki! July 10! In Sacto!

 HEY, ....KIDS!!On Friday, July 10, 2009, our pals at Movies on a Big Screen will present Rock That Uke at the historic Guild Theater in Sacramento, CA, along with a live performance by the Denver-b...
Posted by on Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:07:00 GMT

John King, ukulele scholar and master

John King, one of the world's great ukulele scholars and players, died in early April of a sudden heart attack at the age of 55.  He was a scholar of ukulele history and luthiery and a master ukulele ...
Posted by on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:59:00 GMT

Aussie Uke Legend Rose Turtle Ertler's Sticks and Twigs Tour!

I'm a bit late getting this out, but my friend Rose Turtle Ertler, the  E.L.E.C.T.R.I.K...U.K.U.L.E.L.E...L.A.D.Y, from Australia is in the midst of her 3 month-long Sticks & Twigs Victorian Tour 2009...
Posted by on Sun, 29 Mar 2009 18:04:00 GMT

Ukelear Meltdown II: The Second International Festival of Extreme Ukulele!

Feb. 28-Mar. 1, 2009Ukelear Meltdown II:The Second International Festival of Extreme Ukulele! For the second glorious year, the Star & Shadow celebrates the cheapest, easiest-to-play, most lo-fi, most...
Posted by on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:05:00 GMT

Feb. 7th--Denver Ukefest 2009!

The Second Annual Denver Ukefest, 2009,will be jamming this Saturday, Feb 7,with international and national talent.BUY TICKETS HERE!!Rock That Uke had the honor of appearing last year at the first Den...
Posted by on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 10:10:00 GMT

The Stretchlinks Podcast

One of the more beloved figures profiled in "Rock That Uke" is a ukulele genius/wildman from Cleveland Heights named Richard "Heinous" Rynes who, along with Robert "Uncle Wonkles" Caruso, fo...
Posted by on Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:12:00 GMT

Bad customer review on Amazon.com

Someone finally wrote a customer review about Rock That Uke on Amazon.com!  Unfortunately, it was a woman from Texas who absolutely hated the movie. She calls herself "Musical Mamaw." Lookin...
Posted by on Fri, 08 Aug 2008 23:25:00 GMT

Berkshire Fringe Festival! July 25!

ROCK THAT UKE:An Epic Evening of Tiny Music! July 25, 2008The Berkshire Fringe FestivalGreat Barrington, MAFeaturing a Screening of Rock That UkeFollowed by a Live Ukulele Concert With:OLIVER BROWN!Si...
Posted by on Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:31:00 GMT

Film Threat gives RTU 3 1/2 Stars!

Film Threat's Mark Bell has just given ROCK THAT UKE a stellar review with a rating of 3 1/2 stars and the astounding personal proclamation that he "might" have been inspired to pick up his girlf...
Posted by on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:11:00 GMT

In concert with Rose Turtle Ertler and more!

The next few weeks are going to be busy ones for "Rock That Uke," with three upcoming screenings, one on April 6 at 1 pm in New York, NY, in the Theater for the New City’s Cabaret Theater as par...
Posted by on Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:00:00 GMT