I've been spending the holidays with my girlfriend and her friends and family in Northern Italy, in the city of Merano.
I went to a local book shop and picked up a few CD's, the selection is a bit limited, so I picked up a few things I probably would have skipped over in a huge record shop like Amoeba...
I have to say beforehand, that I don't know a lot about "classical" music.
I originally picked up a CD for my mom, A deluxe 50th anniversary edition of Glenn Gould playing the Goldberg Variations, recorded in 1955. Of course, it looked so nice I had to open it up and listen to it myself.
The music is intriguing, simply Gould on solo piano playing one of Bach's lesser known pieces (which, apparently, Gould made famous!) (Listening to the music, it makes me wonder if Glenn Gould's stripped down style, influenced later minimalists such as Philip Glass and Steve Reich.) There are some outtakes, and extra songs, some interesting unreleased pieces, which just add to the overall package.
But the packaging is what's so great about it.
The CD comes with a nice book, in a sturdy slipcase, and the CD itself comes in a sleeve that is a replica of the original album. The original album artwork is pretty nice, although it is classical music, the sleeve is more reminiscent of Blue Note style jazz LPs. And what's cool is the actual disc is a CD that resembles a 5" record. It has the vintage label, with grooves, and is an all black CD. Just holding it and looking at it, the cd itself is such a nice art object.
The book is a 165 page hardbound book, with EXTENSIVE notes (in English, German and French), an interview with the original producer, Columbia's original press material, relevant news articles from the era, and photos galore. Looking through the book it reminds me about the movie Twenty Two Films about Glenn Gould, I saw it a long time ago on PBS and thought it was interesting, but I barely remember it, I'm gonna have to watch it again one of these days. (It also makes me think how our neighbors up north, Canada, do such a better job at preserving their cultural legacy, but that's another subject!)
I like to see when a record label tries a little bit harder, and makes their product a little bit nicer, maybe they could get the hint and make the music come in nicer packaging, and turn the whole thing into a kind of special object, maybe people would want to buy the CD.
And the whole package cost $18, the cost of a regular CD nowadays.
I'm thinking about a few anniversary reissues that could use this treatment.
John Coltrane's Blue Train and/or A Love Supreme.
Steve Reich's Music for 18 musicians and or Drumming (although Steve Reich's gotten the Box Set treatment)
Elvis Presley's Sun sessions, Johnny Cash as well.
All the recordings by Buddy Holly (including the "Apartment" tapes, c'mon it's about time!)
The Beatles' Sargeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (I'm not even a big Beatles fan but this would be interesting)
I think the Beach Boys Pet Sounds would have been better served with this treatment, than a whole box set dedicated to one record!
Friday, December 30, 2005
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Bif! Bam! Pow!
Long overdue.
Since moving to Austria I've started reading comic books again. I am trying to learn some German by reading comics, it's much easier to follow a story with text and visual narrative. But slowly I've been picking up a few new superhero comics. Yes, superhero comics. Why? I picked up a copy of Seth's "It's a good life, if you don't weaken." And was bored silly. The protagonist (the Author) was so self-absorbed, uptight, and unlikable, I sort of gave up on "indie" comics right then and there. And the last issue of Eightball was a superhero comic, which leads me to believe that most of the people doing "indies" grew up on a steady diet of Marvel and DC.
I recently picked up DC's Jonah Hex Showcase, which reprints a bazillion stories from the 70's. There is some fantastic artwork and some great stories with a weird and almost supernatural twist. Jonah Hex is pretty closely based on the Clint Eastwood character from the Sergio Leone "Man with no name" trilogy. But Jonax Hex is mean, I mean, he's really nasty and mean. I think the basic definition of an Anti-hero is a character who's both bad and good, but the good they do outweighs the bad. (Usually the Anti hero tries to do good but has some serious personality flaws) Jonah Hex's good deeds barely overtake his bad, by a very slim margin. D.C. has recently relaunched a new Jonah Hex series that is every bit as weird and crazy as the original, from reading the first issue, it looks like a winner.
The 80's Justice League was my favorite comic book of all time. The writers turned second stringers into some really strong and compelling characters, and the artwork was always top-notch. They managed to blend humor with action, and always had smart and witty dialogue that would put Quentin Tarantino to shame. I still find myself using some of their lines in my own conversations. Recently the creative team (Keith Giffen, J.M. Dematties, and Kevin Mcguire) reunited and brought back some members of the team and made two brilliant books, "Formerly Known as the Justice League," and "I Can't Believe Its Not the Justice League." I like the fact that the characters acknowledge the fact that time has passed since their tenure in the Justice League International, and their new team (The Super-Buddies) isn't anywhere near as grand as the Justice League.
The same creative team have recently done a few other projects, a "Defenders" mini-series for Marvel, and although I am less familiar with Marvel Comics, I have to say it's pretty darn good. I was laughing out-loud reading the first issue. And they have creayed the highly-acclaimed Hero-Squared, which looks pretty interesting: a superhero meets his secret indentity in a parallel universe, a parallel universe without superheroes (I can't find this in Europe, so I'm gonna have to get in in the USA.) Bwwahahahahaha!
Of course, after the two reunion books, D.C. would then take three of the main J.L.I. characters and kill them off. First, Sue Dibney (the wife of longtime Justice second-stringer Elongated Man) was killed off in the almost-great "Identity Crisis." (Written by mystery novelist Brad Meltzer) and Blue Beetle and Max Lord both have been killed off in D.C.'s newest crossover fiasco, "Infinite Crisis."
To be fair, Infinite Crisis has started out pretty well, it's a sequel to "Crisis on Infinite Earths," and it reads like a meta-narrative about what has happened to the D.C. universe and comics in general since the mid 80's. It mentions how "dark" everything has become in comics, and how the characters have lost a lot of their heroic appeal. There is a great line; Batman tells Superman, "The last time you inspired anyone, was when you were dead!"
Which, at least to me, seems to acknowledge the way in which a lot of readers feel about how the characters have been treated (and how bad a lot of comics had gotten in the 90's.) It will be interesting to see how this plays out. And I like a lot of the dark comics that have come out since then, like The Dark Knight Returns, Batman:Year One, and Kingdom Come. And it was sad to see the Blue Beetle get killed, sure, he was a second stringer, but if you ever read the JLI you know he was the heart of the team. At least the character went out in a blaze of glory, and his last story was one of the best he ever had.
And I'm not just reading D.C. One of my new favorites is Alan Moore's TOM STRONG. Alan Moore is considered one of the best comics writers around, and he certainly has done some great work in the past. Tom Strong is Alan Moore's idea of what an archetypical superhero should be. Alan Moore borrows heavily from the very first Superman comics, and early heroes like Doc Savage to come up with an interesting and compelling hero. Tom Strong does have super-strength and some high-tech gadgetry, but (and this is what's great about Alan Moore) Tom Strong's real superpower is his incredible intellect, he usually manages to get out of a situation by using his brain but usually not before a few punches are thrown. Alan Moore has envisioned a utopian world which is filled with what he calls "Science Heroes" (and of course you would have evil geniuses which are the science-villains) and Tom Strong happens to be Millenium City's number one hero. Alan Moore uses a lot of references to comics history (who else would have a story featuring a life size Sea Monkey?), bizarre cutting edge science, and some really clever narrative techniques to keep the readers interested and on their toes.
There are many more discoveries I have made, and some new comics that I still want to read, and I wanted to talk about the mythological aspects of a lot of characters, but for now that's enough! Excelsior!
Since moving to Austria I've started reading comic books again. I am trying to learn some German by reading comics, it's much easier to follow a story with text and visual narrative. But slowly I've been picking up a few new superhero comics. Yes, superhero comics. Why? I picked up a copy of Seth's "It's a good life, if you don't weaken." And was bored silly. The protagonist (the Author) was so self-absorbed, uptight, and unlikable, I sort of gave up on "indie" comics right then and there. And the last issue of Eightball was a superhero comic, which leads me to believe that most of the people doing "indies" grew up on a steady diet of Marvel and DC.
I recently picked up DC's Jonah Hex Showcase, which reprints a bazillion stories from the 70's. There is some fantastic artwork and some great stories with a weird and almost supernatural twist. Jonah Hex is pretty closely based on the Clint Eastwood character from the Sergio Leone "Man with no name" trilogy. But Jonax Hex is mean, I mean, he's really nasty and mean. I think the basic definition of an Anti-hero is a character who's both bad and good, but the good they do outweighs the bad. (Usually the Anti hero tries to do good but has some serious personality flaws) Jonah Hex's good deeds barely overtake his bad, by a very slim margin. D.C. has recently relaunched a new Jonah Hex series that is every bit as weird and crazy as the original, from reading the first issue, it looks like a winner.
The 80's Justice League was my favorite comic book of all time. The writers turned second stringers into some really strong and compelling characters, and the artwork was always top-notch. They managed to blend humor with action, and always had smart and witty dialogue that would put Quentin Tarantino to shame. I still find myself using some of their lines in my own conversations. Recently the creative team (Keith Giffen, J.M. Dematties, and Kevin Mcguire) reunited and brought back some members of the team and made two brilliant books, "Formerly Known as the Justice League," and "I Can't Believe Its Not the Justice League." I like the fact that the characters acknowledge the fact that time has passed since their tenure in the Justice League International, and their new team (The Super-Buddies) isn't anywhere near as grand as the Justice League.
The same creative team have recently done a few other projects, a "Defenders" mini-series for Marvel, and although I am less familiar with Marvel Comics, I have to say it's pretty darn good. I was laughing out-loud reading the first issue. And they have creayed the highly-acclaimed Hero-Squared, which looks pretty interesting: a superhero meets his secret indentity in a parallel universe, a parallel universe without superheroes (I can't find this in Europe, so I'm gonna have to get in in the USA.) Bwwahahahahaha!
Of course, after the two reunion books, D.C. would then take three of the main J.L.I. characters and kill them off. First, Sue Dibney (the wife of longtime Justice second-stringer Elongated Man) was killed off in the almost-great "Identity Crisis." (Written by mystery novelist Brad Meltzer) and Blue Beetle and Max Lord both have been killed off in D.C.'s newest crossover fiasco, "Infinite Crisis."
To be fair, Infinite Crisis has started out pretty well, it's a sequel to "Crisis on Infinite Earths," and it reads like a meta-narrative about what has happened to the D.C. universe and comics in general since the mid 80's. It mentions how "dark" everything has become in comics, and how the characters have lost a lot of their heroic appeal. There is a great line; Batman tells Superman, "The last time you inspired anyone, was when you were dead!"
Which, at least to me, seems to acknowledge the way in which a lot of readers feel about how the characters have been treated (and how bad a lot of comics had gotten in the 90's.) It will be interesting to see how this plays out. And I like a lot of the dark comics that have come out since then, like The Dark Knight Returns, Batman:Year One, and Kingdom Come. And it was sad to see the Blue Beetle get killed, sure, he was a second stringer, but if you ever read the JLI you know he was the heart of the team. At least the character went out in a blaze of glory, and his last story was one of the best he ever had.
And I'm not just reading D.C. One of my new favorites is Alan Moore's TOM STRONG. Alan Moore is considered one of the best comics writers around, and he certainly has done some great work in the past. Tom Strong is Alan Moore's idea of what an archetypical superhero should be. Alan Moore borrows heavily from the very first Superman comics, and early heroes like Doc Savage to come up with an interesting and compelling hero. Tom Strong does have super-strength and some high-tech gadgetry, but (and this is what's great about Alan Moore) Tom Strong's real superpower is his incredible intellect, he usually manages to get out of a situation by using his brain but usually not before a few punches are thrown. Alan Moore has envisioned a utopian world which is filled with what he calls "Science Heroes" (and of course you would have evil geniuses which are the science-villains) and Tom Strong happens to be Millenium City's number one hero. Alan Moore uses a lot of references to comics history (who else would have a story featuring a life size Sea Monkey?), bizarre cutting edge science, and some really clever narrative techniques to keep the readers interested and on their toes.
There are many more discoveries I have made, and some new comics that I still want to read, and I wanted to talk about the mythological aspects of a lot of characters, but for now that's enough! Excelsior!
Monday, December 12, 2005
Ring a bell
I am so overdue, I am way too overdone for posting an update.
It's been so long, I've just been really busy with the MOTMOT shop, the web-store should be up and running any day now, just in time for after X-mas. I wanted to write about comics, but instead this has turned into a music entry.
I managed to catch the Constantines live and they were fantastic! They had one of the best guitar sounds I have ever heard, with rented equipment nonetheless! The triple tambourine assault! I could say that recorded their live show doesn't quite translate. But after seeing them I think their records somehow make sense.
A band that are still making good "indie" post-hardcore-whatever. They have a Jawbox/Drive Like Jehu guitar dynamic thrown in with some AC/DC and The Replacements.
Great sounds, great energy live!
Sam Prekop and Archer Prewitt of the Sea and Cake also played here recently, it was cool to see how they toured, they walked with their guitars to the club. No backing band, just two guitars. It was great to hear the simplicity, and to realize what a weird variety of sounds they can make with just two guitars. Afterwards I was talking to Archer about comics, and the current state of comic booking, and of course the big exhibition at MOCA.. All of you living in Los Angeles and surrounding areas, should go, Now!
I would do a top 10 list except that I wouldn't have a top 10 from this year, and 10 is such an arbitrary number.
Here's what I've been spinning.
1. The Harder They Come sound track. The best reggae cd, ever, hear where the Clash got their sound.
2. Later period Husker Du, stuff off of Candy Apple Grey, and Warehouse. (Which incidentally were some of the first punk records I ever heard, getting them from the Cerritos Public Library, ages ago. I remember being way too young to go see them on their farewell tour. I think I still owe the Cerritos Library something like $17 in overdue fines!)
3. The Constantines: see above. I should add that when they played, I bought a couple of Cds from them. I try to support bands when they come to town, and it's usually cheaper than the record store here.
4. The Marked Men, play some great punk rock. They have all the good things I like about punk music, and none of the bad stuff, that is now associated with "punk." I hear that Swami records is releasing their next record, and the Swami himself is recording their next long player. Should be awesome.
5. Volcano Suns. Hey the Volcano Suns are on Myspace! They're posting MP3's of some of their songs, they look like they have more myspace friends than they had fans the first time around,(just kidding, sort of!) And alot of their new fans are beautiful 19 year old girls! The Volcano Suns are a sort of missing link between early 80's punk, and later-noisy-post-hardcore-whatever.
6. Despite all the hype, and despite the fact that the singer sounds a little bit like the guy from Modest Mouse, I'm digging what I'm hearing from Wolf Parade.
7. This guy has a crazy record collection, he has some impossibly rare, obscure, and out of print punk and hardcore records. It just reveals that there is a whole other world of stuff you've never heard of.
8. Nuggets 2 Box Set. I actually bought this nearly a year ago, when I was in So-Cal. It's taken me nearly a year to digest this four disk juggernaut of a box set. Some great 60's punk, psych, and pop. But it's highly unlikely you've heard of more than a handfull of the bands on this set. You probably know about the Small Faces, and you might know about The Creation or the Pretty Things, but who's heard of the Winston's Fumbs or Q' 65? A great thing about this set is that it features bands from the U.K. and around the world, who would have thought someone was making great 60's garage punk... In New Zealand?
O.K. I only made it to 8, but I left out new books, comics, art, radio, etc... If I would have included all that stuff, I would have made it to 10 no problem, maybe even 11!
Rock on folks!
It's been so long, I've just been really busy with the MOTMOT shop, the web-store should be up and running any day now, just in time for after X-mas. I wanted to write about comics, but instead this has turned into a music entry.
I managed to catch the Constantines live and they were fantastic! They had one of the best guitar sounds I have ever heard, with rented equipment nonetheless! The triple tambourine assault! I could say that recorded their live show doesn't quite translate. But after seeing them I think their records somehow make sense.
A band that are still making good "indie" post-hardcore-whatever. They have a Jawbox/Drive Like Jehu guitar dynamic thrown in with some AC/DC and The Replacements.
Great sounds, great energy live!
Sam Prekop and Archer Prewitt of the Sea and Cake also played here recently, it was cool to see how they toured, they walked with their guitars to the club. No backing band, just two guitars. It was great to hear the simplicity, and to realize what a weird variety of sounds they can make with just two guitars. Afterwards I was talking to Archer about comics, and the current state of comic booking, and of course the big exhibition at MOCA.. All of you living in Los Angeles and surrounding areas, should go, Now!
I would do a top 10 list except that I wouldn't have a top 10 from this year, and 10 is such an arbitrary number.
Here's what I've been spinning.
1. The Harder They Come sound track. The best reggae cd, ever, hear where the Clash got their sound.
2. Later period Husker Du, stuff off of Candy Apple Grey, and Warehouse. (Which incidentally were some of the first punk records I ever heard, getting them from the Cerritos Public Library, ages ago. I remember being way too young to go see them on their farewell tour. I think I still owe the Cerritos Library something like $17 in overdue fines!)
3. The Constantines: see above. I should add that when they played, I bought a couple of Cds from them. I try to support bands when they come to town, and it's usually cheaper than the record store here.
4. The Marked Men, play some great punk rock. They have all the good things I like about punk music, and none of the bad stuff, that is now associated with "punk." I hear that Swami records is releasing their next record, and the Swami himself is recording their next long player. Should be awesome.
5. Volcano Suns. Hey the Volcano Suns are on Myspace! They're posting MP3's of some of their songs, they look like they have more myspace friends than they had fans the first time around,(just kidding, sort of!) And alot of their new fans are beautiful 19 year old girls! The Volcano Suns are a sort of missing link between early 80's punk, and later-noisy-post-hardcore-whatever.
6. Despite all the hype, and despite the fact that the singer sounds a little bit like the guy from Modest Mouse, I'm digging what I'm hearing from Wolf Parade.
7. This guy has a crazy record collection, he has some impossibly rare, obscure, and out of print punk and hardcore records. It just reveals that there is a whole other world of stuff you've never heard of.
8. Nuggets 2 Box Set. I actually bought this nearly a year ago, when I was in So-Cal. It's taken me nearly a year to digest this four disk juggernaut of a box set. Some great 60's punk, psych, and pop. But it's highly unlikely you've heard of more than a handfull of the bands on this set. You probably know about the Small Faces, and you might know about The Creation or the Pretty Things, but who's heard of the Winston's Fumbs or Q' 65? A great thing about this set is that it features bands from the U.K. and around the world, who would have thought someone was making great 60's garage punk... In New Zealand?
O.K. I only made it to 8, but I left out new books, comics, art, radio, etc... If I would have included all that stuff, I would have made it to 10 no problem, maybe even 11!
Rock on folks!
Friday, November 11, 2005
Pat Robertson warns town of God's wrath
I think Pat Robertson is a hypocritical and corrupt douchebag. And he makes crazy statements like this all the time (like the time he called for Hugo Chavez' assassination, or when he said the ERA would turn women into witches and lesbians!) For the last few years I have been paying close attention to this whole intelligent design "debate," and I am glad to see the people of Dover stood up for common sense. In light of the recent horrific disasters that have struck the USA, I am shocked, but not surprised by this religious zealot's reaction.
It's really sad because intelligent design is, basically, creationism in a pseudo-scientific guise. It's an attempt to indoctrinate children into a certain religious worldview. Furthermore, it's really bad and shoddy theology, look up and carefully read Genesis 1 and 2, they tell the creation story differently!
The Bible is a sacred book, but it is NOT a biology textbook! This kind of strict literalist thinking shuts off any kind of critical biblical scholarship.
But still, if they teach Intelligent Design,
I'll be supporting THIS designer.
(I've edited the article for brevity, but you get the idea-Steve)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Conservative Christian televangelist Pat Robertson told citizens of a Pennsylvania town that they had rejected God by voting their school board out of office for supporting "intelligent design" and warned them on Thursday not to be surprised if disaster struck.
"I'd like to say to the good citizens of Dover: if there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God, you just rejected Him from your city," Robertson said on his daily television show broadcast from Virginia, "The 700 Club."
"And don't wonder why He hasn't helped you when problems begin, if they begin. I'm not saying they will, but if they do, just remember, you just voted God out of your city. And if that's the case, don't ask for His help because he might not be there," he said.
In voting on Tuesday, all eight Dover, Pennsylvania, school board members up for re-election lost their seats after trying to introduce "intelligent design" to high school science students as an alternative to the theory of evolution.
It's really sad because intelligent design is, basically, creationism in a pseudo-scientific guise. It's an attempt to indoctrinate children into a certain religious worldview. Furthermore, it's really bad and shoddy theology, look up and carefully read Genesis 1 and 2, they tell the creation story differently!
The Bible is a sacred book, but it is NOT a biology textbook! This kind of strict literalist thinking shuts off any kind of critical biblical scholarship.
But still, if they teach Intelligent Design,
I'll be supporting THIS designer.
(I've edited the article for brevity, but you get the idea-Steve)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Conservative Christian televangelist Pat Robertson told citizens of a Pennsylvania town that they had rejected God by voting their school board out of office for supporting "intelligent design" and warned them on Thursday not to be surprised if disaster struck.
"I'd like to say to the good citizens of Dover: if there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God, you just rejected Him from your city," Robertson said on his daily television show broadcast from Virginia, "The 700 Club."
"And don't wonder why He hasn't helped you when problems begin, if they begin. I'm not saying they will, but if they do, just remember, you just voted God out of your city. And if that's the case, don't ask for His help because he might not be there," he said.
In voting on Tuesday, all eight Dover, Pennsylvania, school board members up for re-election lost their seats after trying to introduce "intelligent design" to high school science students as an alternative to the theory of evolution.
Friday, October 21, 2005
seven rings for Saturn
O.K. in these chaotic days I realize that not very much science is being discussed. And whatever science is being discussed is this ridiculous notion of "Intelligent Design." Ugggh, get over it people, get your detention outta my recess, and get your religion outta my science class.
But I digress, the real point of this post is to point out some of the amazing pictures being taken by the Cassini probe that has been sent to Saturn. Some of these images are so amazing that they seem almost unreal. Especially the recent images taken of Saturn's moon Dione. Dig that picture with Saturn huge in the background.
ciclops.org
But I digress, the real point of this post is to point out some of the amazing pictures being taken by the Cassini probe that has been sent to Saturn. Some of these images are so amazing that they seem almost unreal. Especially the recent images taken of Saturn's moon Dione. Dig that picture with Saturn huge in the background.
ciclops.org
Thursday, October 20, 2005
battered old bird
To anyone reading this, my irregular readers, I apologize for being so late on any type of update.
The month of October, is really the beginning of Autumn, which means it's cold. This may seem obvious, but when I think of Southern California, I think it's still wildfire season. The burning days of perpetual indian summer that is Southern California.
With that in mind it's slow at the MOTMOT shop. But that doesn't mean we're not busy, in fact we have more work than we can handle. And that's why I've been so bad about making any updates. (Today I spoke with a Japanese tourist, who told me that MOTMOT means original in Japanese, which I think is a nice bit of serependity.)
I've got a few topics that I've been mulling over for a while, especially COMICS, and the Viennale film festival, and I plan on writing a long entry, as soon as I get the chance. (I guess those serious bloggers do this for a living or something, but I am really just a journal keeper.)
The month of October, is really the beginning of Autumn, which means it's cold. This may seem obvious, but when I think of Southern California, I think it's still wildfire season. The burning days of perpetual indian summer that is Southern California.
With that in mind it's slow at the MOTMOT shop. But that doesn't mean we're not busy, in fact we have more work than we can handle. And that's why I've been so bad about making any updates. (Today I spoke with a Japanese tourist, who told me that MOTMOT means original in Japanese, which I think is a nice bit of serependity.)
I've got a few topics that I've been mulling over for a while, especially COMICS, and the Viennale film festival, and I plan on writing a long entry, as soon as I get the chance. (I guess those serious bloggers do this for a living or something, but I am really just a journal keeper.)
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Delivering The Goods
Since opening up our shop, I have been busy busy busy. We're not even raking in the dough, but it's kind of cool coming into the shop, if you're running the place.
I heads up to the nice people at Apple computer, after a little more than a week, I am rocking out with a brand new ipod, you can't fault them for their quick and speedy customer service. Seriously, all I had to do was fill out a form on the internet, and then a few days later they picked it up, and then a few days after that I received my new ipod. I suppose that's one of the reasons I've been a loyal Mac person for so long, customer service.
I heads up to the nice people at Apple computer, after a little more than a week, I am rocking out with a brand new ipod, you can't fault them for their quick and speedy customer service. Seriously, all I had to do was fill out a form on the internet, and then a few days later they picked it up, and then a few days after that I received my new ipod. I suppose that's one of the reasons I've been a loyal Mac person for so long, customer service.
Thursday, September 08, 2005
so messed up
I was reading a friend's blog and she really manages to effortlessly do what I have really tried to do, talk about her experiences, while living overseas. I guess I have lived in Vienna long enough that the place seems normal, and less exotic.
I just sort of report of things that I have come across via the internet, oh well.
My poor ipod died today, it's got some weird error, and all the ipod/apple boards said to just send the thing in. I wasted a whole day trying to get this lil' fucker working and still no dice, so I'm gonna have to send it in. And last night I talked to some friends about how cool the ipod was, and now the poor thing went belly up.
Although, the new ipod nano looks pretty sexy...
I downloaded a few episodes of Penn & Teller's "BULLSHIT!"
Man, what a great show, makes me want to get cable and pay for Showtime. I think it's a pretty interesting premise, two comedian-magicians tackle some really serious topics that are rarely discussed. I like the fact that they approach with a skeptic's keen eye. I liked the episode on profanity and obscenity, I thought they really brought the point home. Despite all the political rhetoric about a "nanny state" right wing conservatives really do want to tell you what you can watch on T.V, or listen to on the radio. For all my friends in California, who could care less about what happens in the rest of the country (You know who you are) just wait until the MAN tries to regulate cable television.
The episodes about conspiracies was good, and the episode about the factuality of the Bible was particularly good. Although I am fairly well-verse in some of the absurdities in the Good Book, they really drove the point home.
Good for tuning up the ol' uhhh... bullshit detector.
OK that's it, back to work.
I just sort of report of things that I have come across via the internet, oh well.
My poor ipod died today, it's got some weird error, and all the ipod/apple boards said to just send the thing in. I wasted a whole day trying to get this lil' fucker working and still no dice, so I'm gonna have to send it in. And last night I talked to some friends about how cool the ipod was, and now the poor thing went belly up.
Although, the new ipod nano looks pretty sexy...
I downloaded a few episodes of Penn & Teller's "BULLSHIT!"
Man, what a great show, makes me want to get cable and pay for Showtime. I think it's a pretty interesting premise, two comedian-magicians tackle some really serious topics that are rarely discussed. I like the fact that they approach with a skeptic's keen eye. I liked the episode on profanity and obscenity, I thought they really brought the point home. Despite all the political rhetoric about a "nanny state" right wing conservatives really do want to tell you what you can watch on T.V, or listen to on the radio. For all my friends in California, who could care less about what happens in the rest of the country (You know who you are) just wait until the MAN tries to regulate cable television.
The episodes about conspiracies was good, and the episode about the factuality of the Bible was particularly good. Although I am fairly well-verse in some of the absurdities in the Good Book, they really drove the point home.
Good for tuning up the ol' uhhh... bullshit detector.
OK that's it, back to work.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Sometimes Happy...
Here's a mixed jumble of ideas, coming at you at 2:40 A.M. Keep in mind I am at the office/shop doing this.
This entry definitely falls into the "journal entry" category. Split into two divergent entries. Sorry folks.
The shop is really taking up a lot of time. AND I keep goofing off more than I should, I have somehow kept the attitude of goofing off/useless websurfing/for one or two hours a day, as I used to do at previous employers. However, I am (sort of) the boss, and I need to crack to it. To my own credit, I have been pretty good about opening the shop up on time, anyone who knows me knows how notoriously late I usually am. It's one of my major faults. Sorry if I've ever made you wait, if you come by the shop I'll be here on time, promise.
I talked to Todd St. John, at Hunter Gatherer who was kind enough to offer some advice regarding this crazy tee-shirt biz. He's one of my graphic design heroes, and I hope someone publishes one of those big fat coffee table books of his work. So yeah, I like his design work and he's a cool guy. I'm glad that there are genuinely cool people out there.
I was going to start an all time favorites list. I'm still working on that. I wanted to write a top-as-many-numbers-as-I-need list, but I just don't seem to have to time.
I've been listening to a lot of Ted Leo, and Judas Priest lately, neither of which would qualify for any type of all time favorite list of mine. And one of my all time favorites is calling it quits this Halloween. The mighty Rocket From the Crypt are playing their last show this Halloween. What a great fucking band, always an amazing live show, the last time I saw them I sang along the whole time, pogoed, and was hoarse by the end of the night. I talked to some girl from Chicago afterward, and she said "Wow! You must really like this band!" I am considering the insane notion of flying from Austria to the USA to see them for the last shindig! See you in the pit!
Hunter Gatherer
This entry definitely falls into the "journal entry" category. Split into two divergent entries. Sorry folks.
The shop is really taking up a lot of time. AND I keep goofing off more than I should, I have somehow kept the attitude of goofing off/useless websurfing/for one or two hours a day, as I used to do at previous employers. However, I am (sort of) the boss, and I need to crack to it. To my own credit, I have been pretty good about opening the shop up on time, anyone who knows me knows how notoriously late I usually am. It's one of my major faults. Sorry if I've ever made you wait, if you come by the shop I'll be here on time, promise.
I talked to Todd St. John, at Hunter Gatherer who was kind enough to offer some advice regarding this crazy tee-shirt biz. He's one of my graphic design heroes, and I hope someone publishes one of those big fat coffee table books of his work. So yeah, I like his design work and he's a cool guy. I'm glad that there are genuinely cool people out there.
I was going to start an all time favorites list. I'm still working on that. I wanted to write a top-as-many-numbers-as-I-need list, but I just don't seem to have to time.
I've been listening to a lot of Ted Leo, and Judas Priest lately, neither of which would qualify for any type of all time favorite list of mine. And one of my all time favorites is calling it quits this Halloween. The mighty Rocket From the Crypt are playing their last show this Halloween. What a great fucking band, always an amazing live show, the last time I saw them I sang along the whole time, pogoed, and was hoarse by the end of the night. I talked to some girl from Chicago afterward, and she said "Wow! You must really like this band!" I am considering the insane notion of flying from Austria to the USA to see them for the last shindig! See you in the pit!
Hunter Gatherer
Sometimes Not Happy...
Here's a mixed jumble of ideas, coming at you at 2:40 A.M. I'm that person that starts talking about politics and the dire situation of the world, while everyone is having a good time at a party. Sorry Kids, beneath my jovial exterior, my internal dialogue is pretty serious. Really, I'm not joking, no seriously, I'm not kidding.
Not happy:
It's impossible NOT to say anything about the disaster in New Orleans. I dunno, the world is weird and turning really ugly. I read another news story that would seem to point in the direction that we are ALSO losing war in Iraq. Perhaps we are suffering the wrath of Allah, after all. As Americans we never ask ourselves the question, "what if God is rooting for the other side?"
But really I didn't want to turn this into a political blog, there is enough of that already.
All three of my regular readers aren't going to learn anything new here.
I had the opportunity to see Black Hawn Down on Austrian TV the other night. When it came out it was heralded as some kind of ultra-realistic-you-are-there war movie. But with all the destruction and chaos going on in the real world, the whole thing just seemed kind of phoney.
Not happy:
It's impossible NOT to say anything about the disaster in New Orleans. I dunno, the world is weird and turning really ugly. I read another news story that would seem to point in the direction that we are ALSO losing war in Iraq. Perhaps we are suffering the wrath of Allah, after all. As Americans we never ask ourselves the question, "what if God is rooting for the other side?"
But really I didn't want to turn this into a political blog, there is enough of that already.
All three of my regular readers aren't going to learn anything new here.
I had the opportunity to see Black Hawn Down on Austrian TV the other night. When it came out it was heralded as some kind of ultra-realistic-you-are-there war movie. But with all the destruction and chaos going on in the real world, the whole thing just seemed kind of phoney.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
What Could I Say To That?
How do you respond to something like the nassive destruction in the South?
Here in Europe people are amazed at the amazingly incompetent response to Hurricane Katrina. I am also amazed, refugees in the US of A.
I am hoping that some good can come out of this, I hope people will realize that things like Global Warming are real, and will affect EVERYONE, even people in the good 'ol USA. Somehow living with two massive oceans on either side has made us feel insulated from the rest of the world.
I hope people will realize the sheer INCOMPETENCE of the current administration, placing a man, who could barely organize a horse club , as the head of FEMA. This naural disaster has brought more destruction than any terrorist group could ever even hope to accomplish.
I hope we're all donating that $300 tax break we got a few years ago, to the Red Cross, or some other relief organization. Even if we all gave $20 or $50, that would make a big difference
Here in Europe people are amazed at the amazingly incompetent response to Hurricane Katrina. I am also amazed, refugees in the US of A.
I am hoping that some good can come out of this, I hope people will realize that things like Global Warming are real, and will affect EVERYONE, even people in the good 'ol USA. Somehow living with two massive oceans on either side has made us feel insulated from the rest of the world.
I hope people will realize the sheer INCOMPETENCE of the current administration, placing a man, who could barely organize a horse club , as the head of FEMA. This naural disaster has brought more destruction than any terrorist group could ever even hope to accomplish.
I hope we're all donating that $300 tax break we got a few years ago, to the Red Cross, or some other relief organization. Even if we all gave $20 or $50, that would make a big difference
Saturday, August 20, 2005
Go Start Your Own Band
I've heard the sad news that Big Boys singer Randy "Biscuit" Turner has recently passed away.
My friend Richard turned me on to the Big Boys way back in high school, I liked their weird funky brand of punk rock, they were the oddballs of the 80's American punk scene and are still one of the most original hardcore/punk bands of all time.
After the Big Boys called it quits, Biscuit sang in Cargo Cult (also worth checking out) and pursued a career in art.
Here's a link to an article about him, written shortly before he passed away, from the Austin Chronicle.
Randy "Biscuit" Turner R.I.P.
Monday, August 15, 2005
The Theory of Everything
Well, well, well, We're back in Vienna and things seem to get back to normal pretty quickly, the shop is open again, and we have a few design gigs here and there, and I'm back to procrastinating. Amazing what a vacation does for the spirit!
Anyway, I have discovered a great radio show, which in due part to the popularity of podcasting, has itself become fairly popular.
It's called Benjamin Walker's Theory of Everything, and think of it as an alternate-universe version of "This American Life" (Which is always excellent.) Picture T.A.L.'s host Ira Glass as a weird and paranoid freak, and you're getting an idea of what The Theory of Everything show is about.
Benjamin Walker is a radio artist in the vein of Joe Frank, The Theory of Everything a great narrative that blends fact and fiction, which is part radio drama and part documentary.
It' s available in streaming and MP3 download, so you can download it and rock it on your ipod.
Benjamin Walker's Theory of Everything
Anyway, I have discovered a great radio show, which in due part to the popularity of podcasting, has itself become fairly popular.
It's called Benjamin Walker's Theory of Everything, and think of it as an alternate-universe version of "This American Life" (Which is always excellent.) Picture T.A.L.'s host Ira Glass as a weird and paranoid freak, and you're getting an idea of what The Theory of Everything show is about.
Benjamin Walker is a radio artist in the vein of Joe Frank, The Theory of Everything a great narrative that blends fact and fiction, which is part radio drama and part documentary.
It' s available in streaming and MP3 download, so you can download it and rock it on your ipod.
Benjamin Walker's Theory of Everything
Saturday, August 13, 2005
(M)eagerly anticipated Venice Biennale Review
Wow, I have been really late on this update.
Sorry folks, all 3 of you who read this.
My girlfriend and I have been on vacation in the Italian alps, and not spending too much time in front of a computer.
We really are in the mountains, there's a bat flying around outside, I can hear it's sonar go, "squeak squeak."
I kept planning to write a review of the Venice Biennale, but I kept putting it off.
But I had to eventually do it, and here it is, finally.
Venice was so hot and humid, and in the International Pavilion, I got attacked by mosquitos. I had 10 bites on my legs and they didn't heal very fast, I think I may have been allergic to this particular breed of mosquito. They must like my high blood sugar, I need to eat more garlic or something.
And Venice is really crowded with tourists in the summer. Imagine being stuck in a crowded bus-boat with a lot of other sweaty and stinky tourists, and you're starting to get the picture.
As a result, it was difficult to really appreciate any art, when it was 90+ degrees in the gallery space.
My friend Glenn Zucman used to rate gallery openings by the quality of the food and drinks, and not on the quality of the artwork itself. In the case of the Venice Biennale, I am rating the exhibits by the quality of the air conditioning. So...
Gilbert & George recieve extremely high marks, thanks to the great A/C in the British Pavilion. Likewise for Ed Ruscha and the great air conditioning in the U.S.A.'s Pavilion.
Good marks go to the artists representing Denmark, Korea, and Isreal, and their well-conditioned national pavilions.
Poor marks go to Gabriela Fridriksdottir representing Iceland, and their pavilion, which was a grass hut, outside, in the heat and humidity. (To be fair, Fridriksdottir's artwork was interesting: a multi-media exploration and updating of Icelandic myth and legend, but it was too fucking hot!)
The worst was Jeroen de Rijke & Willem de Rooy, who represented the Netherlands. They had a boring hour-long-art-movie, in a big pavilion with NO air conditioning or ventilation at all! Video art with no A/C. Two thumbs down, and the middle finger!
While there WAS some great work in the Arsenal, it was just too hot... to...think... about ...anything...except...air...conditioning.
And there were some great pieces, particularily by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and Argentinian artist Sergio Vega. But there was NO A/C in the whole Arsenal. So forget it!
(O.K one serious thought) There were some giant banners by the Guerilla Girls, and while I generally agree with what they say, I feel as if their statements are supposed to be posters and billboards, and not works of art unto themselves. I wonder why curators don't take the space they give to the Guerilla Girls and simply put in more women and minority artists?
Regardless, it was too hot in the Arsenal section of the Biennale. It was just too hot and crowded in Venice altogether, and I don't want to go back there for a long time!
Sorry folks, all 3 of you who read this.
My girlfriend and I have been on vacation in the Italian alps, and not spending too much time in front of a computer.
We really are in the mountains, there's a bat flying around outside, I can hear it's sonar go, "squeak squeak."
I kept planning to write a review of the Venice Biennale, but I kept putting it off.
But I had to eventually do it, and here it is, finally.
Venice was so hot and humid, and in the International Pavilion, I got attacked by mosquitos. I had 10 bites on my legs and they didn't heal very fast, I think I may have been allergic to this particular breed of mosquito. They must like my high blood sugar, I need to eat more garlic or something.
And Venice is really crowded with tourists in the summer. Imagine being stuck in a crowded bus-boat with a lot of other sweaty and stinky tourists, and you're starting to get the picture.
As a result, it was difficult to really appreciate any art, when it was 90+ degrees in the gallery space.
My friend Glenn Zucman used to rate gallery openings by the quality of the food and drinks, and not on the quality of the artwork itself. In the case of the Venice Biennale, I am rating the exhibits by the quality of the air conditioning. So...
Gilbert & George recieve extremely high marks, thanks to the great A/C in the British Pavilion. Likewise for Ed Ruscha and the great air conditioning in the U.S.A.'s Pavilion.
Good marks go to the artists representing Denmark, Korea, and Isreal, and their well-conditioned national pavilions.
Poor marks go to Gabriela Fridriksdottir representing Iceland, and their pavilion, which was a grass hut, outside, in the heat and humidity. (To be fair, Fridriksdottir's artwork was interesting: a multi-media exploration and updating of Icelandic myth and legend, but it was too fucking hot!)
The worst was Jeroen de Rijke & Willem de Rooy, who represented the Netherlands. They had a boring hour-long-art-movie, in a big pavilion with NO air conditioning or ventilation at all! Video art with no A/C. Two thumbs down, and the middle finger!
While there WAS some great work in the Arsenal, it was just too hot... to...think... about ...anything...except...air...conditioning.
And there were some great pieces, particularily by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and Argentinian artist Sergio Vega. But there was NO A/C in the whole Arsenal. So forget it!
(O.K one serious thought) There were some giant banners by the Guerilla Girls, and while I generally agree with what they say, I feel as if their statements are supposed to be posters and billboards, and not works of art unto themselves. I wonder why curators don't take the space they give to the Guerilla Girls and simply put in more women and minority artists?
Regardless, it was too hot in the Arsenal section of the Biennale. It was just too hot and crowded in Venice altogether, and I don't want to go back there for a long time!
Monday, July 25, 2005
Don't make plans this friday...
Hi, I am a bit late for my semi-weekly update.
A few things going on lately, some good, and some of the most terrible news I have heard in a while.
Let's start at the top, we had some visitors from home, and everyone had a good time. I am glad I could show some friends around, and they enjoyed the city. We managed to catch an open air movie. The open air cinema is a great thing, you get to watch a movie for free, outside, on a huge screen.
We have been taking advantage of the movies in the park. The selection is usually eclectic and slightly offbeat. We managed to catch "The Devil-Doll" which is a strange type of suspense/horror movie, featuring minature dogs and people, doing evil. And it also features Lionel Barrymore in drag.
The week before was Alfred Hitchcock's "Strangers on a Train," and later we watched "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" which also had a live band playing the soundtrack. Very cool. Getting caught up on all those movies that people seem to have heard of, but never actually seen. (Everyone seems to know the "SHE'S ALIVE!" Scene from Bride of Frankenstien, but no one seems to have actually seen the movie all the way through, likewise for the "Merry Go-Round" scene in Strangers on a Train.
Lastly, I've heard the terrible news that Michael Dahlquist, drummer for Silkworm, was killed in a car accident last week. I have enjoyed Silkworm's unique style of rock and roll for a long time. Silkworm played a really raw and stripped-down kind of rock music, yet, their music was surprisingly hummable.
I never really knew Michael, I met him a few times, and he seemed to be a really nice guy, and he was a fantastic drummer. The last time I saw Silkworm, he was just going off, I've never seen a drummer break so many sticks. I think he broke four sticks in the first song alone.
He was also the band's web-honcho, and he handled all the band's updates, as well as their thouroughly enjoyable tour diaries. You can really tell that he just enjoyed playing music in strange and foreign places, no complaining about the accomodations or lack of red m&m's in their rider.
Most recently, Michael was the editor on a very interesting ducumentary, "Why Should The Devil Have All The Good Music?" Which was an objective look at the Christian Music Scene. I haven't had the opportunity to see the film, but ALL the reviews are glowing. Apparently, he took to the task of editing a documentary with great gusto, much like he played drums.
Goodbye, Michael.
silkworm
Why Does the Devil Have all the Good Music?
A few things going on lately, some good, and some of the most terrible news I have heard in a while.
Let's start at the top, we had some visitors from home, and everyone had a good time. I am glad I could show some friends around, and they enjoyed the city. We managed to catch an open air movie. The open air cinema is a great thing, you get to watch a movie for free, outside, on a huge screen.
We have been taking advantage of the movies in the park. The selection is usually eclectic and slightly offbeat. We managed to catch "The Devil-Doll" which is a strange type of suspense/horror movie, featuring minature dogs and people, doing evil. And it also features Lionel Barrymore in drag.
The week before was Alfred Hitchcock's "Strangers on a Train," and later we watched "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" which also had a live band playing the soundtrack. Very cool. Getting caught up on all those movies that people seem to have heard of, but never actually seen. (Everyone seems to know the "SHE'S ALIVE!" Scene from Bride of Frankenstien, but no one seems to have actually seen the movie all the way through, likewise for the "Merry Go-Round" scene in Strangers on a Train.
Lastly, I've heard the terrible news that Michael Dahlquist, drummer for Silkworm, was killed in a car accident last week. I have enjoyed Silkworm's unique style of rock and roll for a long time. Silkworm played a really raw and stripped-down kind of rock music, yet, their music was surprisingly hummable.
I never really knew Michael, I met him a few times, and he seemed to be a really nice guy, and he was a fantastic drummer. The last time I saw Silkworm, he was just going off, I've never seen a drummer break so many sticks. I think he broke four sticks in the first song alone.
He was also the band's web-honcho, and he handled all the band's updates, as well as their thouroughly enjoyable tour diaries. You can really tell that he just enjoyed playing music in strange and foreign places, no complaining about the accomodations or lack of red m&m's in their rider.
Most recently, Michael was the editor on a very interesting ducumentary, "Why Should The Devil Have All The Good Music?" Which was an objective look at the Christian Music Scene. I haven't had the opportunity to see the film, but ALL the reviews are glowing. Apparently, he took to the task of editing a documentary with great gusto, much like he played drums.
Goodbye, Michael.
silkworm
Why Does the Devil Have all the Good Music?
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
rotten rotten rotten
One thing the interent taught us is that there are some fucked up people out there.
I have put up a link to Rotten.com, I have a link to the Rotten library, on my sidebar, because it's THAT interesting.
If you go to the Rotten.com homepage, you get links to all kinds of fucked up shit, and I mean fucked up. Some of you may have seen the motorcycle guy picture, the guy with half of his face missing. Yeuccch.
I'm not really a fan of suicide pictures, autopsy photos, faces of death, etc...
BUT, the Rotten library is a pretty amazing hyper-text. Detailing all kinds of information about all kinds of interesting stuff, you can waste all day at work.
Here is a link to rotten.com, my sidebar is a link to the rotten library.
You have been warned.
rotten.com
I have put up a link to Rotten.com, I have a link to the Rotten library, on my sidebar, because it's THAT interesting.
If you go to the Rotten.com homepage, you get links to all kinds of fucked up shit, and I mean fucked up. Some of you may have seen the motorcycle guy picture, the guy with half of his face missing. Yeuccch.
I'm not really a fan of suicide pictures, autopsy photos, faces of death, etc...
BUT, the Rotten library is a pretty amazing hyper-text. Detailing all kinds of information about all kinds of interesting stuff, you can waste all day at work.
Here is a link to rotten.com, my sidebar is a link to the rotten library.
You have been warned.
rotten.com
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
weiners
This is just a quick update, not too much to report.
The last week was just overtaken by events, big and small.
We did a quick trip to Northern Italy, to Merano in South Tyrol. I was shocked and bummed out at how much neo-nazi graffitti there was, yeucch. I saw a few swastikas, but I saw a lot of celtic crosses, which looks like a target and crosshairs, and is more popular with the skinheads, because the swastika is illegal in most of Europe.
I think most people don't realize what's going on in their own back yard, whether it's in Northern Italy or Elohim City, Oklahoma. Welcome to the 21st century.
Lately, I am becoming really put off by a certain type of Viennese rudeness. It's bumming me out.
First: Our building manager, wouldn't let a friend of ours take some granite siding, because of some lame reason, but then he had the construction workers haul it off! (WTF?, maybe the guy is just a dick, I don't know.)
Second: A while ago I found someone's wallet, while we were moving into our new studio/shop, the wallet got lost in the shuffle, and then after we got settled, the wallet turned up again. So I stopped by the police station, and the cop was so rude and asked me a million questions, and took down my information, like I did something wrong. Geez, no good deed goes unpunished.
The last week was just overtaken by events, big and small.
We did a quick trip to Northern Italy, to Merano in South Tyrol. I was shocked and bummed out at how much neo-nazi graffitti there was, yeucch. I saw a few swastikas, but I saw a lot of celtic crosses, which looks like a target and crosshairs, and is more popular with the skinheads, because the swastika is illegal in most of Europe.
I think most people don't realize what's going on in their own back yard, whether it's in Northern Italy or Elohim City, Oklahoma. Welcome to the 21st century.
Lately, I am becoming really put off by a certain type of Viennese rudeness. It's bumming me out.
First: Our building manager, wouldn't let a friend of ours take some granite siding, because of some lame reason, but then he had the construction workers haul it off! (WTF?, maybe the guy is just a dick, I don't know.)
Second: A while ago I found someone's wallet, while we were moving into our new studio/shop, the wallet got lost in the shuffle, and then after we got settled, the wallet turned up again. So I stopped by the police station, and the cop was so rude and asked me a million questions, and took down my information, like I did something wrong. Geez, no good deed goes unpunished.
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Oh Canaduh
Nomeansno, holy !@$#!! Oh my god!
I was a huge Nomeansno fan when their masterpiece "Wrong" came out in 1990, it's become a sort of cult* punk classic, but it's just a classic punk record, period. I'm sure Nomeansno's twisted existential punk sensibilities had an effect during my formative years. They were wildly experimental, they played jazz-prog-funk-hyphenated-punk (in a good way, I swear!) and even did a few acapella numbers, yes, punk-acapella.
They could play the hell out of their instruments, and their lyrics read like some sort of twisted existential poetry, and they were punk as hell. If you have any interest in (good) punk rock, go get WRONG, now!
Well, time passes, tastes change, bands put out mediocre records, etc.. Then, more time passes, tastes change back, bands start putting out good records again, etc...
Nomeansno have had a renaissance of sorts in the last few years, their newer material fit seamlessly with their old songs, and what I've heard of their last two records is pretty damn good.
I remember missing them last year, and regretting it. Then I talked to a friend at home and he mentioned that he saw them and they were as good as always. And then I got an e-mail from another friend who was driving from L.A. to S.F. to see them. SO, something must be going on, and I was not going to miss them this time around, no way. I was happy to see that a good number of people showed up to see them, I had always heard that they were (relatively) popular in Europe, and I guess that's true.
How Fucken old are Nomeansno, anyway? I guess because they were always noticably older, (Rob Wright, had grey hair back in their early days, he's 51 now!) the subject of their age has always seemed to come up. First it was how much older and wise they were, then, that they were old geezers, and now a new image has come up, the idea that one can rock well into their 40's and 50's and NOT age gracefully. They look as old and crusty as you could imagine and they rock out even harder than you could imagine, a fine example of the old guys putting the young whippersnappers in their place. They put their years of experience to good use, and John Wright has just gotten better and better as a drummer, he was just going off, some of the most incredible drumming I have seen in a long time.
Yes, they rocked out, totally.
Here's a link to a newer song of theirs at epitonic.com. There's a lot of other good music at epitonic.
Graveyard Shift
*I've always wondered about the concept of the "cult" band, apparently, when a band refuses to stop playing past their peak in popularity, e.g, Nomeansno, Camper Van Beethoven, The Go-Betweens, Shellac, Wedding Present, etc..they get labeled a "cult" band. I've always found this term somewhat puzzling, and a bit offensive. If one's taste in music falls out of the mainstream, or is not trendy, hip, or up-to-date, then you have joined a cult of fellow musical obscurists. For a band to be labeled a "cult" band is also pretty bad, i.e., you are a cult band, and you will not make any new fans you will only have your old fans who are too old to count and do not fit in our marketing demographic blah blah blah.
I was a huge Nomeansno fan when their masterpiece "Wrong" came out in 1990, it's become a sort of cult* punk classic, but it's just a classic punk record, period. I'm sure Nomeansno's twisted existential punk sensibilities had an effect during my formative years. They were wildly experimental, they played jazz-prog-funk-hyphenated-punk (in a good way, I swear!) and even did a few acapella numbers, yes, punk-acapella.
They could play the hell out of their instruments, and their lyrics read like some sort of twisted existential poetry, and they were punk as hell. If you have any interest in (good) punk rock, go get WRONG, now!
Well, time passes, tastes change, bands put out mediocre records, etc.. Then, more time passes, tastes change back, bands start putting out good records again, etc...
Nomeansno have had a renaissance of sorts in the last few years, their newer material fit seamlessly with their old songs, and what I've heard of their last two records is pretty damn good.
I remember missing them last year, and regretting it. Then I talked to a friend at home and he mentioned that he saw them and they were as good as always. And then I got an e-mail from another friend who was driving from L.A. to S.F. to see them. SO, something must be going on, and I was not going to miss them this time around, no way. I was happy to see that a good number of people showed up to see them, I had always heard that they were (relatively) popular in Europe, and I guess that's true.
How Fucken old are Nomeansno, anyway? I guess because they were always noticably older, (Rob Wright, had grey hair back in their early days, he's 51 now!) the subject of their age has always seemed to come up. First it was how much older and wise they were, then, that they were old geezers, and now a new image has come up, the idea that one can rock well into their 40's and 50's and NOT age gracefully. They look as old and crusty as you could imagine and they rock out even harder than you could imagine, a fine example of the old guys putting the young whippersnappers in their place. They put their years of experience to good use, and John Wright has just gotten better and better as a drummer, he was just going off, some of the most incredible drumming I have seen in a long time.
Yes, they rocked out, totally.
Here's a link to a newer song of theirs at epitonic.com. There's a lot of other good music at epitonic.
Graveyard Shift
*I've always wondered about the concept of the "cult" band, apparently, when a band refuses to stop playing past their peak in popularity, e.g, Nomeansno, Camper Van Beethoven, The Go-Betweens, Shellac, Wedding Present, etc..they get labeled a "cult" band. I've always found this term somewhat puzzling, and a bit offensive. If one's taste in music falls out of the mainstream, or is not trendy, hip, or up-to-date, then you have joined a cult of fellow musical obscurists. For a band to be labeled a "cult" band is also pretty bad, i.e., you are a cult band, and you will not make any new fans you will only have your old fans who are too old to count and do not fit in our marketing demographic blah blah blah.
some holiday reading
Here's an update of a few things.
There is a great series of articles about Scientology at Salon.com. They ran a series as part of their summer of Scientology. I have always found Scientology strangely fascinating, I suppose driving past the L.Ron Hubbard museum on Hollywood Blvd. at 2:00 AM and seeing a group of their "navy" recruits getting into a bus is what sparked my interest. The group of people were all dressed in a similar manner; white shirts, with blue pants for the boys, and blue skirts for the girls. And they were all getting into a bus to who knows where. I do find it interesting that a "religion" would sue anybody that publishes anything critical of them, and the amount of secrecy they employ is somewhat distubing.
I suppose it really just coincides with my interest in religious weirdness, but Scientology is pretty fucked up, and seems to have few redeeming qualities, unlike more respectable religions, such as Satanism, Voodoo, or Lawsonomy.
salon.com's gonna get sued fer sure
And in the bad news department, my favorite band, the best band rocking the free world, THE HOT SNAKES, have decided to call it a day. It's too bad because they're too fucking good. I'm glad I was able to see them many times, and perform my melodica duties on those rare occasions. I wonder if they are really calling it quits or are taking an extended hiatus? But technically, Drive Like Jehu, never called it quits, they just went on a hiatus, that got longer and longer and longer and longer (and longer!) But I will really be looking forward to whatever those crazy guys do next.
I will always hate the kids
There is a great series of articles about Scientology at Salon.com. They ran a series as part of their summer of Scientology. I have always found Scientology strangely fascinating, I suppose driving past the L.Ron Hubbard museum on Hollywood Blvd. at 2:00 AM and seeing a group of their "navy" recruits getting into a bus is what sparked my interest. The group of people were all dressed in a similar manner; white shirts, with blue pants for the boys, and blue skirts for the girls. And they were all getting into a bus to who knows where. I do find it interesting that a "religion" would sue anybody that publishes anything critical of them, and the amount of secrecy they employ is somewhat distubing.
I suppose it really just coincides with my interest in religious weirdness, but Scientology is pretty fucked up, and seems to have few redeeming qualities, unlike more respectable religions, such as Satanism, Voodoo, or Lawsonomy.
salon.com's gonna get sued fer sure
And in the bad news department, my favorite band, the best band rocking the free world, THE HOT SNAKES, have decided to call it a day. It's too bad because they're too fucking good. I'm glad I was able to see them many times, and perform my melodica duties on those rare occasions. I wonder if they are really calling it quits or are taking an extended hiatus? But technically, Drive Like Jehu, never called it quits, they just went on a hiatus, that got longer and longer and longer and longer (and longer!) But I will really be looking forward to whatever those crazy guys do next.
I will always hate the kids
Thursday, June 30, 2005
The Last Day of June
I'm just doing a simple update with no real profound insight.
I see that NIKE has pulled the Major Threat campaign, which is, more or less, a good thing. I would have liked to see NIKE get more flack for it, but I guess the uproar it's caused through the indie/punk community was unexpected. Good going people.
One thing I miss about the myspace blog, is the little feature that you could tell people what you were listening to, watching, or reading. O.K. I mean it was probably some marketing scam cooked up by the people at Amazon. But it was kind of cool.
With that in mind, I'll just add that I went out and actually bought some CDs. Remember that? Laying down money for music?
After seeing them in Berlin, I was pretty blown away by WEIRD WAR. WW is an indie/punk supergroup of sorts, featuring members of The Make Up, Nation of Ulysses, Six Finger Satellite, and Trans Am. That said, they sound nothing like any of the previous bands (O.K. there is a passing similarity to The Make Up) They play a sort of politico funk psychedelic, and I mean that in a good way! I purchased their newest CD "Illuminated By the Light," while I was in the record shop, I noticed that someone was listening to it at one of the listening stations. One thing I've noticed is that on the recorded versions you can really hear Alex Minoff's guitar slashing and shredding, (guitar terminology folks!) and it becomes apparent that he's the guitar player from Six Finger Satellite, and recorded it has some of that six finger weirdness. The rhythm section is pretty solid, and Ian Svenonious is in top form as always.
They seem to be on a trip that few bands are on nowadays. Dig it!
weird war
I see that NIKE has pulled the Major Threat campaign, which is, more or less, a good thing. I would have liked to see NIKE get more flack for it, but I guess the uproar it's caused through the indie/punk community was unexpected. Good going people.
One thing I miss about the myspace blog, is the little feature that you could tell people what you were listening to, watching, or reading. O.K. I mean it was probably some marketing scam cooked up by the people at Amazon. But it was kind of cool.
With that in mind, I'll just add that I went out and actually bought some CDs. Remember that? Laying down money for music?
After seeing them in Berlin, I was pretty blown away by WEIRD WAR. WW is an indie/punk supergroup of sorts, featuring members of The Make Up, Nation of Ulysses, Six Finger Satellite, and Trans Am. That said, they sound nothing like any of the previous bands (O.K. there is a passing similarity to The Make Up) They play a sort of politico funk psychedelic, and I mean that in a good way! I purchased their newest CD "Illuminated By the Light," while I was in the record shop, I noticed that someone was listening to it at one of the listening stations. One thing I've noticed is that on the recorded versions you can really hear Alex Minoff's guitar slashing and shredding, (guitar terminology folks!) and it becomes apparent that he's the guitar player from Six Finger Satellite, and recorded it has some of that six finger weirdness. The rhythm section is pretty solid, and Ian Svenonious is in top form as always.
They seem to be on a trip that few bands are on nowadays. Dig it!
weird war
Monday, June 27, 2005
Inappropriate Appropriation (Seeing Red)
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/news/05-06/23.shtml
First read this link.
I've been involved with the skate and punk subcultures for nearly 20 years now, and I can say, while this is not first time I've seen mainstrean Madison Ave. try to break into or exploit the punk and skate subcultures, this is one of the worst and most blatant examples of corporate hubris I have ever seen.
Nike has been trying to get into the skate market for who knows how long, and this is another pathetic attempt by them to gain "street cred." Sadly, the Kids nowadays are not as anti-corporate as they used to be, so what chance does David have against Goliath nowadays? And last year I was talking to a friend of mine who has also been a longtime skater/punker, and he actually thought Nike's new shoes were kinda cool, and that they were making inroads into the world of skating. Uggggh, and this is from someone who should have known better.
Will it work? I have no idea. I hope Dischord sues the shit out of them, but really, what's a jury going to reward them? And honestly, anything Dischord receives is going to be a drop in the bucket for a corporate giant like Nike. Like I said earlier what chance doea David have against Goliath in our times?
But of course indie and punk bands (not to mention famous artists) have done the same to big companies. Skate companies have done the same, I mean the Minor Threat graphic itself has even been appropriated by a skateboard company, and sold as a skateboard graphic! So, what's the difference?
Usually this is done in a different context other than making pure profit, this type of approrpiation is done with the idea of putting the original (idea, ad campaign, logo, etc..) in a different context, and putting a new twist on it's meaning. But this is usually done with the idea of creating something new, parody and satire, paying homage, or at least creating a controversy.
Nike's skate campaign, does none of the above, because we all know Nike is not about promoting culture (or subculture) but about taking whatever they can and making a profit. They clearly are not making an artistic statement, and are not even making a parody or satire. Something like this might actually damage Dischord/Minor Threat's image as a staunchly anti-corporate DIY outfit. Dischord has been a true pioneer in independent and DIY music for nearly 25 years, and what if some of the young skaters might mistakenly think that there is some kind of connection between Nike and Minor Threat? It's ironic, because this is always the argument that big companies make in cases of copyright and trademark infringement. I wonder how many people NIKE has sued because of copyright/trademark infringement?
Let's just hope some of the young kids skating don't fall for it. Maybe if a few pro skaters would point this out, it would really resonate with the kids.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Six Million Years Beyond Believeability
Thanks to Cory for sending me the link to this crazy, hot shit, unbelieveable, INFRAMAN trailer. I used to collect a lot of Japanese live action-adventure superhero stuff. Mostly Ultraman and Kamen Rider, but I learned about others, like Kikada and INFRAMAN, but I had never seen a clip of him in action, and it looks pretty groovy and far-out.
dig it here. INFRAMAAAAAAAN
I have just recently discovered the Films of Satyajit Ray, who is difficult to describe, he's sort of like this 50's nouveau realist film-maker, but not really. Satyajit Ray, was a Bengali director, who worked in advertising, and ended up working in England for a short while and completely absorbed what was going on in the world of cinema. Yet somehow he turned this influence, into something profoundly different, and profoundly Indian, Bengali Indian to be precise. In case you only think of Bollywood when you think of Indian cinema, think again.
http://www.satyajitray.org/
After hearing the title referred to over and over, I finally saw "Arsenic and Old Lace," which is one of the most fucked up-black comedies I have ever seen. I am beginning to appreciate Cary Grant as a classic leading man, there really isn't anyone like him around nowadays, the totally normal guy who ends up in a bizarre situation, yet handles it with grace and just a touch of anxiety. But "Arsenic and Old Lace" is a weird, weird, black comedy (a little bit like Hitchcock's, The Trouble With Harry,) in which the corpses won't go away and keep piling up, directed by Frank Capra who brought you "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington."
Hey we're almost-nearly-completely finished moving into our new studio and shop, more on this as it evolves. We're waiting for our new counter, and we're nearly done!
dig it here. INFRAMAAAAAAAN
I have just recently discovered the Films of Satyajit Ray, who is difficult to describe, he's sort of like this 50's nouveau realist film-maker, but not really. Satyajit Ray, was a Bengali director, who worked in advertising, and ended up working in England for a short while and completely absorbed what was going on in the world of cinema. Yet somehow he turned this influence, into something profoundly different, and profoundly Indian, Bengali Indian to be precise. In case you only think of Bollywood when you think of Indian cinema, think again.
http://www.satyajitray.org/
After hearing the title referred to over and over, I finally saw "Arsenic and Old Lace," which is one of the most fucked up-black comedies I have ever seen. I am beginning to appreciate Cary Grant as a classic leading man, there really isn't anyone like him around nowadays, the totally normal guy who ends up in a bizarre situation, yet handles it with grace and just a touch of anxiety. But "Arsenic and Old Lace" is a weird, weird, black comedy (a little bit like Hitchcock's, The Trouble With Harry,) in which the corpses won't go away and keep piling up, directed by Frank Capra who brought you "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington."
Hey we're almost-nearly-completely finished moving into our new studio and shop, more on this as it evolves. We're waiting for our new counter, and we're nearly done!
Thursday, June 16, 2005
We've Moved
Hey I just want to mention that we have moved into a new studio. Around the corner from our old studio. But at least this studio shouldn't be freezing in the winter. Oh yeah and we have a shop space, from which we will peddle our goods. Let's hope people are into buying our stuff!
Been digging Ted Leo and the Pharmacists lately. And the Wedding Present.
Oh yeah I've heard that Bob Mould is touring again, and he's playing some of his oldies, (i.e) Husker Du and Sugar. Oh Yeah and Brendan Canty is playing drums with him! He's touring Europe, but of course skipping out on Vienna.
Been digging Ted Leo and the Pharmacists lately. And the Wedding Present.
Oh yeah I've heard that Bob Mould is touring again, and he's playing some of his oldies, (i.e) Husker Du and Sugar. Oh Yeah and Brendan Canty is playing drums with him! He's touring Europe, but of course skipping out on Vienna.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Reurn of the Rat
On my old blog at myspace, I had gotten in the habit of writing down some of my stranger dreams, or just dreams that I happened to remember, I am now contemplating if I should do such a thing on this new blog. It is funny though because I end up dreaming about music, and the people who make music. I had a dream about going to a Slint reunion in Spain ( I was lost in Barcelona, in that dream and never made it to the show!)
I most recently dreamed about a murder plot, in which Greg Sage, the Wipers singer/guitarist/head honcho was the prime suspect! And the evidence was pretty incriminating!
Fortunately that's about all I remember. But when the Wipers came up on (ipod) shuffle play, I remembered my dream.
Weird.
I most recently dreamed about a murder plot, in which Greg Sage, the Wipers singer/guitarist/head honcho was the prime suspect! And the evidence was pretty incriminating!
Fortunately that's about all I remember. But when the Wipers came up on (ipod) shuffle play, I remembered my dream.
Weird.
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Who is the Drizzle?
Let's see....
We're painting our new studio/shop this week. So not much to report.
The weather is horrible, terrible, this week, if you thought you've experienced June Gloom, come to Vienna. It's cold and rainy this week. Yeuccchhh.
Let's see what's new in my life.
Read Paul Auster's "Book of Illusions" which I highly recommend. Great book about tragedy and loss done in Mr. Auster's unique style. I heard an interview with him on NPR, and I was relieved when he said that his work was not based on theory, but just came from the gut. He tried to read Derrida, and gave up after about 3 pages (Wow, he got that far!)
I picked up, but haven't finished Terry Eagleton's "After Theory" Which seems to ask some important questions, about (in regard to cultural studies) where we are, and where we are going. He manages to explain Post-modernism in one simple chapter, which is funny because there was a total cottage industry based on explaing the POMO. More on this when I actually finish the damn book.
I've been reading some new/old comics. That crazy Sergio Arragones is really great, and you should treasure him, he's pretty freakin' hilarious, and even better because he doesn't use any words. If you aren't familiar with him, he's the guy who did those funny little comics in the margins of Mad magazine, as well as A LOT more. He draws his comics with a normal fountain pen, no pencils just straight outta the pen, which is amazing in itself.
Some Serious Sergio
And I have also picked up what was always my favorite Superhero comic the Dematties/Giffen version of the Justice league. It's like a comic with superheroes, but then it's not. It's probably the best written comic book featuring superheroes ever written. It's like what would a group of superheroes be like around each other? Insulting and obnoxious! They have made two sequel series, "Formerly Known As the Justice League" and "I Can't Believe It's Not the Justice League!" The sequels are even better, they have our former heroes (and I mean former!) get into all kinds of meta-human mayhem, and it's all very readable with great artwork.
Finally, I read the DaVinci Code, not sure what to think actaully, I mean it's a fast paced thriller, it's an easy read, it goes fast, and all. But I have no clue why this book has been a runaway best seller. But it actually does raise some intersting points, about early Christianity (even if it's off a bit) and the roots of a lot of our common symbols, (the Cornucopia, Star of David, and the Pentagram!)
But for someone who reads the Fortean Times on a regular basis, the whole Katholic Kchurch Konspiracy, is, like, old hat.
A friend of mine described it this way, and I quote, "DaVinci Code, because it's so well researched and totally like truth but like fiction too."
It's probably the first novel I have ever read, with product placement in the actual text of the novel. When they make the movie, expect to see lots of Smart Cars and Audis.
We're painting our new studio/shop this week. So not much to report.
The weather is horrible, terrible, this week, if you thought you've experienced June Gloom, come to Vienna. It's cold and rainy this week. Yeuccchhh.
Let's see what's new in my life.
Read Paul Auster's "Book of Illusions" which I highly recommend. Great book about tragedy and loss done in Mr. Auster's unique style. I heard an interview with him on NPR, and I was relieved when he said that his work was not based on theory, but just came from the gut. He tried to read Derrida, and gave up after about 3 pages (Wow, he got that far!)
I picked up, but haven't finished Terry Eagleton's "After Theory" Which seems to ask some important questions, about (in regard to cultural studies) where we are, and where we are going. He manages to explain Post-modernism in one simple chapter, which is funny because there was a total cottage industry based on explaing the POMO. More on this when I actually finish the damn book.
I've been reading some new/old comics. That crazy Sergio Arragones is really great, and you should treasure him, he's pretty freakin' hilarious, and even better because he doesn't use any words. If you aren't familiar with him, he's the guy who did those funny little comics in the margins of Mad magazine, as well as A LOT more. He draws his comics with a normal fountain pen, no pencils just straight outta the pen, which is amazing in itself.
Some Serious Sergio
And I have also picked up what was always my favorite Superhero comic the Dematties/Giffen version of the Justice league. It's like a comic with superheroes, but then it's not. It's probably the best written comic book featuring superheroes ever written. It's like what would a group of superheroes be like around each other? Insulting and obnoxious! They have made two sequel series, "Formerly Known As the Justice League" and "I Can't Believe It's Not the Justice League!" The sequels are even better, they have our former heroes (and I mean former!) get into all kinds of meta-human mayhem, and it's all very readable with great artwork.
Finally, I read the DaVinci Code, not sure what to think actaully, I mean it's a fast paced thriller, it's an easy read, it goes fast, and all. But I have no clue why this book has been a runaway best seller. But it actually does raise some intersting points, about early Christianity (even if it's off a bit) and the roots of a lot of our common symbols, (the Cornucopia, Star of David, and the Pentagram!)
But for someone who reads the Fortean Times on a regular basis, the whole Katholic Kchurch Konspiracy, is, like, old hat.
A friend of mine described it this way, and I quote, "DaVinci Code, because it's so well researched and totally like truth but like fiction too."
It's probably the first novel I have ever read, with product placement in the actual text of the novel. When they make the movie, expect to see lots of Smart Cars and Audis.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Oh my god nobody is reading this
Well it's no surprise, really, O.K. so no one cares about my blog. But man NO visits?
Shiiiiii
It's sad.
But it's one of those things, y'know if a tree falls in a forest and nobody is there to see it, did it really happen?
Shiiiiii
It's sad.
But it's one of those things, y'know if a tree falls in a forest and nobody is there to see it, did it really happen?
Sunday, May 29, 2005
What am I doing here?
So, here I am in front of my computer, at 2:45 am.
O.K. I was out earlier, but still...
I had a late night bike cruise through the city. Vienna on a summer night is hard to describe, it's like people are out with a vengeance, I'm sure they're still out there. After being cooped up all winter, and most of spring, people know there are only three months to enjoy the outdoors. That's why, on Sundays, they serve breakfast until 3:00 pm.
The MQ (Museum Quarter) is this immense public hangout. It's a huge courtyard, with these big brightly colored benches. And people go there to see the museums, resaurants, and just hang out. So on my way home I go through MQ, and there are, like, at least a thousand people, I'm not exaggerating. I'm probably underestimating. It's more crowded then I have ever seen it in the day.
I see two things of interest.
A group of people dancing to no music!
An party/exhibition of retooled videogame cabinets.
The people dancing were taking part in a headphone party, where everyone is wearing cordless headphones, and listening to the same music. It's just a bizarre sight, to see people dancing with no music. As I was leaving I watched a group of people enter the "dance zone." As soon as they saw what was going on, they all started laughing.
Next was a party/exhibition/arcade. The art-tech-party-geeks put together a pretty interesting display here. They presented, arcade style, a bunch of custom computer games. But they're custom programs. Like, their own games, that do something, packaged in old-school arcade game cabinets. Sorry, the text for the website is all in German. But you get the idea, welcome to my world.
http://www.insertcoin.biz
O.K. I was out earlier, but still...
I had a late night bike cruise through the city. Vienna on a summer night is hard to describe, it's like people are out with a vengeance, I'm sure they're still out there. After being cooped up all winter, and most of spring, people know there are only three months to enjoy the outdoors. That's why, on Sundays, they serve breakfast until 3:00 pm.
The MQ (Museum Quarter) is this immense public hangout. It's a huge courtyard, with these big brightly colored benches. And people go there to see the museums, resaurants, and just hang out. So on my way home I go through MQ, and there are, like, at least a thousand people, I'm not exaggerating. I'm probably underestimating. It's more crowded then I have ever seen it in the day.
I see two things of interest.
A group of people dancing to no music!
An party/exhibition of retooled videogame cabinets.
The people dancing were taking part in a headphone party, where everyone is wearing cordless headphones, and listening to the same music. It's just a bizarre sight, to see people dancing with no music. As I was leaving I watched a group of people enter the "dance zone." As soon as they saw what was going on, they all started laughing.
Next was a party/exhibition/arcade. The art-tech-party-geeks put together a pretty interesting display here. They presented, arcade style, a bunch of custom computer games. But they're custom programs. Like, their own games, that do something, packaged in old-school arcade game cabinets. Sorry, the text for the website is all in German. But you get the idea, welcome to my world.
http://www.insertcoin.biz
Saturday, May 28, 2005
Go Padres! (San Diego punk rock, and the National City Sluggers)
O.K. so like any new blogger I am bursting with blog energy, and am posting like a madman. But I promise it will tail off, one of these days, huh, wait, that's not a good thing. I would like to post maybe once or twice a week, it's like band practice, too little and your band will suck, too much and your girlfriend will leave you!
I was clicking around the Swami Records board and I found a link to this live concert featuring the Hot Snakes, live at the Paradiso, in Amsterdam. The same Paradiso, in Amsterdam, that the live Joy Division record was recorded.
The Hot Snakes concert sounds pretty damn good, way above par, sounds like a soundboard recording, this would be a helluva bootleg, rock out.
Live SSSSSSnakes
Also coming from San Diego, is icon of conceptual art, John Baldessari. I always thought he would make a good Santa Claus, no really, I think someone needs to make an art piece about him, John Baldessari as Santa Claus.
Anyway, John Baldessari has a big exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MUMOK) here, in Vienna. It's a major retrospective, of one of the pillars of contemporary art. The exhibition is roughly divided into three sections: Paintings and photos, conceptual and documented work, and film based work.
One treat featured in this exhibition is, some of his early paintings, that survived his cremation project, are on display. Some of the artwork is really showing signs of age, and maybe need to be re-stored or even re-made. Interestingly enough, in this particular exhibition space, his paintings display really well, while some of his more famous photo based works, are looking pretty beat up, and seem to work better in reproduction (they're photos after all.)
In Typical Viennese fashion, the exhibition is presented with complete earnestness and seriousness. Maybe it's just the art world that takes itself too seriously, but there is a certain silliness to Baldessari's work, and with the work serenely displayed on pristine walls, the humor gets sucked out of the room. But still it's great to see his work presented together in this manner. And on top of that the Museum is free this month, so lots of people are flooding the museum, checking out his work.
MUMOK Wien John Baldessari
I was clicking around the Swami Records board and I found a link to this live concert featuring the Hot Snakes, live at the Paradiso, in Amsterdam. The same Paradiso, in Amsterdam, that the live Joy Division record was recorded.
The Hot Snakes concert sounds pretty damn good, way above par, sounds like a soundboard recording, this would be a helluva bootleg, rock out.
Live SSSSSSnakes
Also coming from San Diego, is icon of conceptual art, John Baldessari. I always thought he would make a good Santa Claus, no really, I think someone needs to make an art piece about him, John Baldessari as Santa Claus.
Anyway, John Baldessari has a big exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MUMOK) here, in Vienna. It's a major retrospective, of one of the pillars of contemporary art. The exhibition is roughly divided into three sections: Paintings and photos, conceptual and documented work, and film based work.
One treat featured in this exhibition is, some of his early paintings, that survived his cremation project, are on display. Some of the artwork is really showing signs of age, and maybe need to be re-stored or even re-made. Interestingly enough, in this particular exhibition space, his paintings display really well, while some of his more famous photo based works, are looking pretty beat up, and seem to work better in reproduction (they're photos after all.)
In Typical Viennese fashion, the exhibition is presented with complete earnestness and seriousness. Maybe it's just the art world that takes itself too seriously, but there is a certain silliness to Baldessari's work, and with the work serenely displayed on pristine walls, the humor gets sucked out of the room. But still it's great to see his work presented together in this manner. And on top of that the Museum is free this month, so lots of people are flooding the museum, checking out his work.
MUMOK Wien John Baldessari
typography redux
I am re-posting this post from myspace blog thingy.
It's, like, what I aim to do with this blog-thing.
Anyway last week I found myself attending a typography seminar with the great English type designer, Jeremy Tankard. If you aren't familiar with him check him out at, www.typography.net
He does some really great stuff, he seems to be on the leading edge of British typography, he has a good sense of history, but isn't afraid to break with old traditions.
The seminar was crazy because half of the class were students, a quarter of the class of the class was Anna and I, and the last quarter were really serious type designers, who made some really great work. One guy flew from London, to Vienna to attend the seminar. I felt like a clown, or at least a philistine, with my Hot Snakes font, and my silly animal icon font, but it was really cool, nontheless. So I happened to stumple upon a really great thing.
The big discovery was the FONTLAB program, which, besides being much easier than Fontographer, is a great drawing program. And I am considering using it to do illustrations, instead of Adobe Illustrator. It's really that good.
Then, later that night, we saw the amazing swiss designer, Urs Lehni, who has done some amazing stuff. The funny thing is that Anna and I thought he was the mastermind behind "OUR MAGAZINE" but he was also the designer who made the stuff for the ShauspielHaus in Zurich. (The Shauspielhaus in Zurich, had made some really cool catalogs and programs, that we had long admired. Very cool formats, done on a low budget.)
"Our Magazine" is a great topical magazine that examines some pretty banal topics, and gives them new light. The first issue was about Dogs, the second was Landscapes. But they manage to find some pretty offbeat stuff, and make you reexamine the subject. And it's done in an interesting way, that makes it much more than a piece of eye-candy. Afterwards, I talked to Urs about Wesley Willis, who was well known in indie rock circles, but relatively unknown here in Europe. Wesley Willis' brilliant Chicago landscapes are one of the features in the latest issue of "Our Magazine." check it out:
http://www.our-magazine.ch/
It's, like, what I aim to do with this blog-thing.
Anyway last week I found myself attending a typography seminar with the great English type designer, Jeremy Tankard. If you aren't familiar with him check him out at, www.typography.net
He does some really great stuff, he seems to be on the leading edge of British typography, he has a good sense of history, but isn't afraid to break with old traditions.
The seminar was crazy because half of the class were students, a quarter of the class of the class was Anna and I, and the last quarter were really serious type designers, who made some really great work. One guy flew from London, to Vienna to attend the seminar. I felt like a clown, or at least a philistine, with my Hot Snakes font, and my silly animal icon font, but it was really cool, nontheless. So I happened to stumple upon a really great thing.
The big discovery was the FONTLAB program, which, besides being much easier than Fontographer, is a great drawing program. And I am considering using it to do illustrations, instead of Adobe Illustrator. It's really that good.
Then, later that night, we saw the amazing swiss designer, Urs Lehni, who has done some amazing stuff. The funny thing is that Anna and I thought he was the mastermind behind "OUR MAGAZINE" but he was also the designer who made the stuff for the ShauspielHaus in Zurich. (The Shauspielhaus in Zurich, had made some really cool catalogs and programs, that we had long admired. Very cool formats, done on a low budget.)
"Our Magazine" is a great topical magazine that examines some pretty banal topics, and gives them new light. The first issue was about Dogs, the second was Landscapes. But they manage to find some pretty offbeat stuff, and make you reexamine the subject. And it's done in an interesting way, that makes it much more than a piece of eye-candy. Afterwards, I talked to Urs about Wesley Willis, who was well known in indie rock circles, but relatively unknown here in Europe. Wesley Willis' brilliant Chicago landscapes are one of the features in the latest issue of "Our Magazine." check it out:
http://www.our-magazine.ch/
The Numero Group
So, all new music sucks huh?
The folks at the Numero group seem to have a great appreciation for re-releasing some of the best music no one has ever heard. A friend brought me the "Yellow Pills: prefill" comp and it's pretty close to what an ideal compilation should be. I mean I have NEVER heard of any of these bands. It's a real treasure.
What's great about it is that the label seems to put a lot of time and care into their whole package, the Music is great, and the accompanying package is so well done and well made. The liner notes seem to go on and on, which I can't get enough of. I mean in this day and age the CD has become something strange, it's like a capsule, that contains music, then once emptied, is rarely heard from again. Maybe if more labels would try a little harder, people would still go out and buy music. But, I digress.
It's good to see that there are people out there willing to pay close attention to detail. It's nice to see deserving bands, being treated like royalty, or at least being packaged like royalty.
Their other releases include an obscure french band called ANTENA, who sound like Stereolab, but this record was originally released when the members of Stereolab were still in high school. And other releases are Eccentric Soul, featuring songs from different obscure soul labels (Capsoul and Bandit, yeah that's right, huh? Never heard of them either.) Their newest is a reissue of an impossibly obscure rockabilly record.
Dig it.
www.numerogroup.com
The folks at the Numero group seem to have a great appreciation for re-releasing some of the best music no one has ever heard. A friend brought me the "Yellow Pills: prefill" comp and it's pretty close to what an ideal compilation should be. I mean I have NEVER heard of any of these bands. It's a real treasure.
What's great about it is that the label seems to put a lot of time and care into their whole package, the Music is great, and the accompanying package is so well done and well made. The liner notes seem to go on and on, which I can't get enough of. I mean in this day and age the CD has become something strange, it's like a capsule, that contains music, then once emptied, is rarely heard from again. Maybe if more labels would try a little harder, people would still go out and buy music. But, I digress.
It's good to see that there are people out there willing to pay close attention to detail. It's nice to see deserving bands, being treated like royalty, or at least being packaged like royalty.
Their other releases include an obscure french band called ANTENA, who sound like Stereolab, but this record was originally released when the members of Stereolab were still in high school. And other releases are Eccentric Soul, featuring songs from different obscure soul labels (Capsoul and Bandit, yeah that's right, huh? Never heard of them either.) Their newest is a reissue of an impossibly obscure rockabilly record.
Dig it.
www.numerogroup.com
a few things
Yeah, well, see, I guess, I got sick of bloggin' on myspace, after seeing that OASIS had a profile there. How indie can it be? It's good to keep tabs on everybody back home, and I've been re-acquainted with a few people I had lost track of, but besides that, I dunno, it's like hanging out at the mall. Plus that Tom guy bugs, big time.
I though I should get situated properly, ala promocopy
I have been kicking around the idea of making a blog, that focuses on graphic arts, but fine arts, folk art, music, radio, comic books, culture in general, anything is fair game. I would like to get some participation, from you fine folks out there. I would really like this to serve as a forum, and a place for anyone concerned to find out about new things.
Please, be patient as I figure out how the hell to work this thing, post links and pictures, etc...
I though I should get situated properly, ala promocopy
I have been kicking around the idea of making a blog, that focuses on graphic arts, but fine arts, folk art, music, radio, comic books, culture in general, anything is fair game. I would like to get some participation, from you fine folks out there. I would really like this to serve as a forum, and a place for anyone concerned to find out about new things.
Please, be patient as I figure out how the hell to work this thing, post links and pictures, etc...
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