SFist has long advised friends that the only way for them to ever become good guitar players is for them 1) have their heart broken and 2) perfect their power stance. We’re less opinionated about what makes a good air guitar player, but we’re pretty sure that #2 still applies. Well, that and a rocking soundtrack. Air guitar has recently emerged as performance art in its own right (as opposed to the past time of frat boys at concerts, people stuck in traffic, and the specialty of the most famous air guitarists of time—Wayne and Garth). The upsurge in air guitar visibility is largely due to the fact that it’s become a competitive endeavor, replete with championships.

If you’re hoping to get into the competitive side of air guitar, or just prove to your partner that your moves really are totally solid, you should check out “Air Guitar Nation”, a new documentary (though, hey, we do prefer the word ROCK-umentary) directed by Alexandra Lipsitz. Think of watching the film as being akin to viewing tapes of the opponents so you can crib their best moves, sound tracks, and style (kind of like the plot of Stomp the Yard except that all things Air Guitar rock way, way harder). In order to give SFist readers a decided edge over all other comers, Alexandra Lipsitz was kind enough to give us a connoisseur and insider scoop on the air guitar scene. In addition to air guitar tips, Lipsitz reminds us that the hippies that remain in SF are so much lamer than those of yesteryear. Excellent!

Wanna become part of Air Guitar Nation? We've got passes, good for any day Monday through Thursday of next week.

Air Guitar Nation opens May 11 at the Sundance Cinemas Kabuki in San Francisco.

What inspired "Air Guitar Nation?"
The love of Music, of acting out and becoming a rock god, Cedric Devitt and Kriston Rucker's genius, The Wall St Journal, Finland, men who stuff there pants and are not ashamed to do so on camera, Bjorn Turoque and C-diddy, Brian May, Groupies and what they will do for love, making something out of nothing etc. etc.

Have you ever rocked an air guitar or other air instrument?
I am a purist on the air guitar - I rock, I love duets and dueling banjos is one of my favorite tracks to air to at weekend aireoke.

What is the MONEY move in an AG competition?
I think throwing an air guitar up in the air is hot, but if you find a way to hang upside down and air guitar- evoke some danger somehow- like rushing the judges or falling off a stack of amps- that rocks- maybe some ripping off of clothes but most importantly you have to have good facial expressions at the ready. Bjorn Turoque is famous for the "I can’t believe how much I rock "face

What should one wear to an AG competition?
Whatever suits your persona. I have seen everything from a diaper to a full body stocking to a fuzzy suit, but Cdiddy mastered it with the Hello Kitty Breast Plate!

Who are the best AG'ers out there?
Zac "the magnet" Monro, Cdiddy, Miri "Sonyk Rok" Park, Bjorn Turoque, Oshi ( the reigning world champ) The destroyer, Stan Kreich, William Ocean, Rockness Monster, Mother Rucker, Hott Lixx Hullihan, Chi Chi Rodriquez, Power...I can go on for hours. It all comes down to a moment in time anyone can have a good day. But the champions have many more good days than us normal folk.

What's the best song to AG to?
Motorhead's Ace of Spades is one of the best- I like Shook me all night long, California Uber Alles, Joker and the Thief by Wolfmother, Bohemian Rhapsody, Song #2, Take me Out, Cannonball, Stop, Hot For Teacher, Welcome to the Jungle, a 12 minute live version of Freebird can be amazing if you get 35 sweaty tired folks together in a bar at 2am after a good night of air guitaring

Name
Alexandra Lipsitz

Introduce yourself in one sentence
Hello my name is Alex.

Age and Occupation
I look good for my age and I make films right now.

Home Town
I am about to join the circus so I would say my new home town is the circus lot wherever that may be. Born in NY.

How long have you lived in the Bay Area and Where?
I lived in the Bay area once - in the Mission long time ago, with Cuba-- he is an amazing graffiti artist. Also on the Boulder bus-- it was parked on the panhandle

Favorite place to spend time online
Lately it has been Kayak.com

Favorite local business
Phil's coffee in SF. Also the Red Vic

What I'm currently Reading
SWAMI

Best Deal in San Francisco
Staying at my friend Chris's House

Favorite mode of transportation
Bicycle

Best Band or Musician to come out of the Bay Area
Dead Kennedys

Favorite Bay Area Stereotype
Tattoo sleeved, fixed gear riding, no job having hanger outer guy at the coffee shop

Favorite local hangout
Phil’s coffee shop

SF has the BEST
Burritos

You've never lived in SF until
You hang out on that beach by the golden gate bridge

Favorite Bay area politician of past or present
Harvey Milk

Now that Mayor Gavin is single, who are you going to set him up with?
Bjorn Turoque

You can tell someone is a local here IF
They are riding a fixed gear bike.

SF would be soooo much better if only
Only I could pay my rent

Best Burrito
Any answer to this question will cause a big debate. I like the taco stand at....

Best Restaurant
The taco stand

Best movie scene filmed in or about SF
Bullet

Favorite artist to come out of the bay area
Me

Favorite author to come out of the bay area
Steinbeck

Place you always tell visitors to check out
On a sunny day Tartine Bakery

Favorite Bridge in the area
Golden Gate Bridge

You have two hours and $15 bucks to kill in SF, what are you going to do?
Ritual coffee roaster, a burrito and the Red Vic (May have spare change to get into the Red Vic.)

I have found/sold/bought the following on craigslist
I tried to sell an air guitar but the guy never showed up.

I want all the SFists out there to know
I don't really live in SF and my friend Chris helped me answer these questions

Tell us a San Francisco Story
One day when I was living in SF on a school bus on the panhandle. It was the summer the DNC was having their convention, the Grateful dead were playing, the Rainbow Gathering had been just north of SF and were streaming into the city and the Rock against Regan tour had come to town. Never did I see so many freaks packed into SF at once. It was early one morning and we were sleeping and all of sudden there was a bang on the door. Bobby, one of the owners of the bus, a man who lets say spoke his mind answered what the FUC!@#$%^&*()(*&^%$^%$% do you want? There were a bunch of strangely dressed, not washed any time too soon, freakazoids outside. “Hey Rainbow Brothers and Sisters can we come on your bus and have some breakfast with you?" Bobby " get the FUC#$%^&*(*&^%$%^&*(&^%^&*^&8 away from here" slam the door of the bus " wooooohhhh Black rainbow..uncool" they slurge off as a group So for the rest of the week when we encountered freaky freaks we would hum the song "I see a rainbow and I want to paint it black." THE END

Question you'd ask if you were doing this interview
Where's the best place to take my dog and surf?