Pitchfork

First, do this: Download "Sweat", "Salt", and "Juicy", three new jams from Rafter's Sweaty Magic EP, due September 9 from Asthmatic Kitty. Got 'em? Good.

Now, make a video for your favorite song.

Done? Damn, aren't we speedy.

Toss that video onto YouTube and make damn sure you add it to the Rafter Sweaty Magic YouTube channel. Now sit back, relax, and prepare to be judged.

Judged by whom, you may ask? Organizers Asthmatic Kitty and Microcinema have assembled a truly bizarre panel of celebrity (and celebrity-ish) judges for this second Rafter video contest. Should you submit an entry into the contest, know that your handiwork will be seen by none other than "Entourage" actor Adrian Grenier, Dan Deacon, Liars, the staff of wacky Nickelodeon kids' show "Yo Gabba Gabba", actress Sasha Barrese, internet sensation Leslie Hall of Leslie and the Ly's, and Christine Starkman, the curator of the Asian collection at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston.

Thanks for putting the notion of a Dan Deacon "Entourage" cameo in my head, internet! Couldn't possibly be more awkward than Kanye's.

So how did Adrian Grenier get involved in this? Well, Rafter was a musical guest on Grenier's television show "Alter-Eco" on the Planet Green network, and they hit it off.

Beyond getting their stuff looked at by that ragtag crew, entrants are putting themselves up for some fabulous prizes. First place gets a grand in cash, second gets half that, and the third gets $250. Three runners up will get an assortment of Asthmatic Kitty swag of the CD and t-shirt variety. All entries are due by November 15, and the winner will be announced on the Asthmatic Kitty site December 1.

Rafter himself seems to be staying out of all this, opting instead for a handful of West Coast dates next month.


Rafter:

09-04 Los Angeles, CA - Echoplex *
09-05 Tempe, AZ - Clubhouse *
09-06 Tucson, AZ - Solar Culture *
09-19 San Diego, CA - Whistlestop Bar

* with Why?