El Pulpo Mechanico

El Pulpo Mechanico (correctly El Pulpo Mecanico) is not a musical band but a monumental 26-28 foot fire-breathing mechanical octopus art car and kinetic sculpture created by Humboldt County artist Duane Flatmo with Jerry Kunkel and Will Startare (fire feature by Steve Gellman). Built in Arcata and Eureka, California from salvaged scrap metal atop a 1973 Ford 250, its tentacles undulate, eyes and mouths articulate, and flames shoot 30 feet from its arms using 200 gallons of propane. Debuted at Burning Man in 2011 and later succeeded by El Pulpo Magnifico, it has become an iconic mutant vehicle at Burning Man, Nocturnal Wonderland and Electric Daisy Carnival, and appears locally at events like Arcata Plaza.