Normally, losing a job would be a bad thing, a nightmare even. But for Nick Lutsko, it freed him up to devote himself full-time to his latest musical project.
After the then-owners of Granfalloon (it has reopened under new management) closed up shop, Lutsko threw himself into putting together a live production of “Nightmare Before Halloween,” based on the 1993 animated feature “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” from writer/producer Tim Burton, with music by Danny Elfman.
Lutsko & His Puppet People will perform the soundtrack with the help of guest backing singers on Friday night, Oct. 30. UTC music professor and Chattanooga Symphony & Opera percussionist Dr. Monte Coulter has signed on to play xylophone during the show.
The band will do a full set of their own material before launching into the “Nightmare” material.
Between sets there will be a costume contest with cash prizes to the top three vote getters. The band will be dressed as characters from the movie, and scenes from the movie will play on a projection screen.
“It’s been quite the task,” Lutsko says. “I’ve pretty much done this full-time for the last two months.”
Part of the work included making demos of the arrangements for the various band members to help them learn their parts. Lutsko says people who heard the demos encouraged him to release them as a complete CD, which he did last week.
Lutsko says his love for the film as a child, and later his appreciation for Elfman’s film-scoring work led him to do the project.
“I just love it,” he says. “It sounds like this progressive-rock record. I think Elfman is insanely talented, and doing this has been like a playground figuring things out.”
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfree press.com or 423-757-6354.