Lords of Lightning: A group of New Zealanders who shoot lightning, or a more modest facsimile, from their limbs and heads. Using two large tesla coils, the members spin batons that send crackling bolts of electricity. Reportedly the coils deliver a heart-stopping 4 million volts at peak, which allows for bolts that can reach up to 5 meters in length. Whatever you do, don't get too close with your iPod still on.

Feuerwasser: More elemental forces, this time from across the trench in Australia. Miles and Zai Van Dorssen play with two supposedly adversarial elements, fire and water, to create "visual tempests of pure energy," whatever the hell that means. We'll assume it looks cool when you're stoned.

Joanna Peacock's Freak Circus: This performance artist is credited with inventing the attraction called "angle grinding," in which she applies industrical grinders to plates of steels strapped to her body to produce showers of sparks. Unsurprisingly, she seems to be the only performer in the world who does this. Imagine a literally fiery orgasm and you get the idea. But there's more, and it's even freakier.

photo: Jorin Sievers

Phil