When film auteurs Joel and Ethan Coen were writing the script for the 1998 caper comedy The Big Lebowski, they listened to the sort of groovy artists they imagined would be adored by the main character, The Dude: Kenny Rogers and The First Edition, The Eagles, and Creedence Clearwater Revival in particular.

Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski, as played by Jeff Bridges, is a slacker with the same name as a millionaire, and this case of mistaken identity plays out across Los Angeles and a bowling alley. With his long locks and penchant for robes, The Dude looks like the sort of chilled-out guy who knows all the great tunes.

When producer T Bone Burnett was asked to suggest more artists for The Big Lebowski soundtrack, he kept one thing in mind: “Since the Dude was high all the time, he would have to have incredible taste in music," the music archivist told Rolling Stone in 1998.

Rootsy music by Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, and Nina Simone sits next to avant-garde songcraft by Meredith Monk, Captain Beefheart, and Moondog, which dances alongside exotica from Yma Sumac and Henry Mancini. Those initial inspirations of Kenny Rogers and The First Edition, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Gipsy Kings' cover of "Hotel California" also appear. Carter Burwell, who did the original soundtrack music, added his noir-inspired compositions to flesh out the ambiance, and there are many more songs in the movie that didn't make the official album by the likes of ZZ Top, Santana, Booker T. & the MGs, Eagles, The Monks, and more.

The Dude Revue is a now-annual sonic tribute to The Big Lebowski, with core members James Bourland, Jordan Otto, and Connor Otto bringing together friends to perform music featured throughout the movie as well as act out scenes. This second edition takes place on Saturday, April 26, at The Blind Pig in Ann Arbor.

I asked guitarist-singer Bourland about how The Dude Revue came together to honor this cult classic.

Q: Tell us how The Dude Revue came together and how the three core members know each other.
A: Jordan Otto and I were in the same year of high school, and Connor, Jordan’s older brother, was a couple years above us. We played together in various groups and gigs for a few years before graduating. Jordan and I pursued music after high school—me in Chicago and Jordan all over the place—and Connor started a family and followed a few different paths, including a career in the circus performance world. Then the pandemic happened, and we all ended up back here, reconnecting and getting high and jamming together again. It wasn’t uncommon for one of us to call out hits from The Big Lebowski, which usually led to the next person nerding out and calling another song from the film, then another. At some point, joking around turned into more ideas, and next thing you know, we’re planning out this tribute.

Q: Who else is in the band and were they a part of the group last year? How did you recruit musicians?
A: The band will be the same cast of characters as last year.  The three of us, along with Josef Deas on keys, Ben Green on trumpet and organ, and Joe Vasquez on bass. 

We hit up old connections and referrals from local musicians, and the caliber of those who responded is just amazing, really the cream of the crop of Southeast Michigan musicians. And they came excited about the project.

Q: What other bands do you core three guys play in?
A: I lead a blues band, James Bourland & The Staches; a country band, James Bourland & His Ex Husbands; play in duos with my cousin Lottie Mae Prenevost—who will be a guest star at The Dude Revue as Maude Lebowski—and Peter Madcat Ruth.  Jordan Otto is the drummer for Louie Lee, Dave Menzo, and recently composed original music for an EMU theatre production The Girl Who Swallowed a Cactus. Connor is getting back into performance after starting a family and is developing multiple projects currently. James, Jordan, and the Revue's bassist, Joe Vasquez, are currently developing a new hard rock band, Roxy Wolf, that will be debuting very soon.

Q: When I think about the Lebowski soundtrack, I think of the Creedence song in the trailer. But the soundtrack has a lot of classical in addition to easy listening, experimental, blues, country, etc. I get why you'd want to dress up as Lebowski characters, but what appealed to you about tackling the soundtrack?
A: Simply, the music’s great. We all have experience and appreciation for different musical genres, and we love a challenge. There’s no shortage of challenging material in this music, and we have really enjoyed understanding and learning the film on a different level through the soundtrack. This show started with the music and our love for it, and the theatrical elements grew around what we do best: put on a great rock 'n’ roll show.

Q: What are the theatrical elements of the show? Did you recruit actors, or do the musicians perform?
A: Little bit of both. We’ll be playing with bits from the movie between us while we play, and we’re working with a friend and collaborator of Connor’s, Scott Van Sice, for some more of the theatrical and dance scenes.  We also hear some nihilists might be there …

Q: Should people watch or rewatch the movie before the show, or is it the type of performance you can just come in cold and enjoy it as a rock show, even if you miss some of the inside jokes and most of the non-meme references?
A: We recommend being familiar with and/or rewatching the film, as it will certainly enhance your experience. There are some references and props that will speak to only the die-hard fans, but the show is designed to be entertaining even if you don’t catch every Easter egg. At its heart, this is a rock show built around great music and performances. There is no shortage of audience participation to latch on to, and we have had several people attend who have never seen the film say they had a great time.

Christopher Porter is a library technician and the editor of Pulp. 

The Dude Revue performs at The Blind Pig, 208 South 1st St, Ann Arbor, on Saturday, April 26. Doors open at 8 pm. Visit blindpigmusic.com for tickets and more info.