The Moldy Doily

Free!

Music update!  Just discovered that Chelan remastered their last album (I painted the cover, shown below) and it's available as a free download HERE!  The EP to this album received 2008 album of the year on Next Music.  

NKOTB

This past Friday ORIGAMI Records opened on sunset (next to the ECHO and TWO boots pizza)

They had a huge party with music in the loft, and tons of folks pouring out into the streets.  We ended up going back the next day to see the cool records on the walls.  The store is a great edition to a hopping block.  There's a great selection of new music to choose from and they plan on having more musical acts perform.  Did I mention that Mr. H's band Chelan is on the Origami label too?  

this sweet picture disc by COCO ROSIE is rad

Neil the owner is pictured below with his girl

Two boots next door has the best slices and a psychedelic juke box!

This is the smug look of a true hipster who wears vintage, eats slices on a saturday afternoon, & wanders echo park carrying a brand new Nirvana Bleach record 

it's tough, but you can handle it

The keeper of the craft- georgie boy has been loving all the time I've spent at home making stuff.  He also has been playing with his new stepbro- running around and tearing through my art.  

In between making my paintings and art for this up coming show, I've been coloring in these SUGAR SHARKS inserts for our electronic dance EP.  I think that Britney would be jazzed.  

that's right, these babies are hand painted and decorated and my fingers ache from making them, so if I can sell 5 of them to pay for the band aids to cover my wounds that would be rad.

We linked them to my etsy  site so it's easy to score one.

in creating, the hardest part is to begin

I recently relocated my book "The Procrastinator's Handbook", which funny enough was bookmarked around page 16.  Pretty much says it all.  I especially liked the quote in chapter 4 that states "The person who never makes a mistake probably isn't doing anything"

It's been a slight push in right direction-

I've been working on all kinds of little paintings lately, some of them will be included for an up and coming show at gallery 1520 in Hollywood.  For those of you who are in L.A. the show is coming up fast- MArch 6th.  I will post the flyer and details when I get them.  

In the meantime- I've also been working on another dance song for the Sugar Sharks which you can listen to here: SUGAR SHARKS myspace

If you are on myspace you should become our friend, since we only have like 12 at the moment, haha.

XO

hope you are all being creative productive little bees.

sugar attack

I thought I would let you guys be the first to hear a super secret song from my fun project called the  "Sugar Sharks".  It's sort of started out as the musical collaboration of two neighbors in L.A.   One of them a talented musical wizard with instruments and electronics, and the other a rhythm-less hyper muppet who watches a bit too many ghost shows on tv. 

We turned my back room into a musical studio (instead of a flair closet) and found out the acoustics in the vanity hall can make anyone sound pretty good.

It's sort of dance pop for these rainy L.A. days

So listen if you want, just for fun here: sugar sharks 

The whole thing has made me want to make weird paintings with funny faces like these...

Perfect Valentine for yourself

Guess what!?

The CHELAN album is out today on Origami records, with my artwork as the cover.  That means you can finally buy it here! Also available on itunes, emusic and most major sites.

The record is excellent, and if you like all the music I normally mention- then you should love this stuff too.  The album is sort of an electro-acoustic hybrid with soaring female vocals.  Perfect for making art, sewing things, daydreaming while driving (maybe that's not a good idea) or dancing by yourself.

The EP to this album received album of the year on Nextmusic.com.  

Support new music! and the artists

GIVE UP!

Sure it seems harsh, but the sentiment is gearing up for the Valentines day heartbreak.  My good pals at dublab are once again planning a "Give Up" sad music night in February.  This one is happening the day after Valentines Day Feb. 15th, perfect timing for you to have a crying fit after the letdown.  There sad night motto is "Stop dancing and just cry"

Sweet sobbing begins at 9 and goes on til bar closing.  This time they selected the small spot "Hyperion Tavern" Perfect for a snug sob fest.

I will be in a corner, reminiscing my past year and how far I have come since last Feb.  (this FEB 10th it's been a year folks, a whole year solo, me on my own.)  And I have to say it has shaped me into a stronger more bionic being.  

I've made some art for the GIVE UP posters again, so come and check that out too. 

here's the details:

THE HYPERION TAVERN
1941 Hyperion Ave
Los Angeles CA 90027

 

picture this

The past few days I have been super sick.  And as you all should know by now, sick and me do not mix well.  I am a restless spirit and have a hard time staying down in a bed and remaining calm.  I tried, really I did.  I actually spent 15 hours watching 2009 videos for 2009 countdown on classic VH1.  I laid there and took a trip down memory mtv lane practically in tears from laughing or nostalgia.  Who knew that people actually really cared enough to make videos in the 80's.  How in the hell they have been sadly replaced by reality crap on MTV is a mystery to me.  

I mean BLUR, and Psychedelic Furs, The English Beat, Berlin, the Dead Milkmen, Aha, whoa...and who can forget all of the guilty pleasures. 

Anyway.  This sort of got me excited (let me remind you that I have a fever and am pretty loopy on cold meds)  

So what's a girl to do held captive with only chicken broth in her apartment for days?

Make a music video of course.  Sure it's my first real attempt, and I have no idea how to use my camera (let alone lights). 

The song is "No Better Than We" from that soon to be released album by Chelan, SUMMER MACHINES.

Click on the right rectangle box if you want to watch it full screen!

  

I really like this song so I chose it to make my big video debut.

let me know what you think, their album is coming out feb. 09!

Go and listen to the two song free download here:Chelan MUSIC

scroll down to find it!  I also heart song number 2 "warmth"

ghost in you

brilliant day

I'm coming up only to hold you under I'm coming up only to show you wrong And to know you is hard and we wonder To know you all wrong, we were Really too late to call, so we wait for Morning to wake you; it's all we got To know me as hardly golden Is to know me all wrong, they were At every occasion I'll be ready for a funeral At every occasion once more is called a funeral Every occasion I'm ready for the funeral At every occasion one brilliant day funeral I'm coming up only to show you down for I'm coming up only to show you wrong To the outside, the dead leaves, they all blow (alive is very poetic) For'e (before) they died had trees to hang their hope At every occasion I'll be ready for the funeral At every occasion once more is called the funeral At every occasion I'm ready for the funeral At every occasion one brilliant day funeral ** not sure why this song keeps going through my head today. I've been sitting all day at the shop- slightly bored but loving this warm pleasant weather. I'm beginning to surrender to the notion that there is never FALL in Los Angeles. And I suppose on a beautiful day like today (where I can sit outside in a sun dress reading books) it's pretty much bliss.

chelan

I made these paintings recently for the new January album release by band CHELAN.  (you have to click on the images to see the entire picture) The songs are really dreamy- and the singer's voice is super lovely. They list their musical influences as:The Waxfire, Lani Puna, Dungen, Hawkwind, Os Mutantes, The Rachels, Cold War Kids, Roy Orbison, The Birds, Camera Obscura, The New Year, Andrew Bird, Mates of State, Lou Reed, Low, Helga, Do Make Say Think, Beirut, Piano, Xiu Xiu, Nico, Pulp, The Magnetc Fields.  They have a myspace page if you want to hear some of it before the 2009 Jan release. CHELAN music here

all shallow deep

The new Blank Blue video (band is Elvin a.k.a. d.J. nobody and Nik-alotta has just come out.  The psychedelic sounds of Blank-blue make them a nice dreamy soundtrack for Cali living.  There video also features some of my artwork towards the end!  I'm so  excited to be a part of it.  My friends Hashim and Akiko created the pretty video.   Here's a lil synopsis for the concept:

blank blue is the surreal story of an armageddon born out of a massive earthquake off the west coast of the united states and set sometime in the future. the quake triggers a separation of the west from the rest of the country, creating a whirlpool of devastation in its wake. millions die. thousands survive. those that survive eventually sink and drown from the buckling lands, only to have scores of poison mushrooms waiting for them underneath the earth's masses, loosened from centuries old trees. the poisoned water gives them their first gasp, and miraculously they are able to and breathe and live underwater. the confusion and sadness is balanced by the fascination of having to start everything all over again. 

The magazine XLR8R has posted the new video on their site here:

http://xlr8r.com/videos/blank-blue/all-shallow-deep-0

backstage pass

Sunset Junction looks a whole lot better when you a.) start drinking sangria at Malo from 1 p.m. and escalate to tequila shots b.) get a backstage wristband from pals in the industry and never actually have to venture out into the crowd. I will say that I had a pretty good time, regardless of all the politics surrounding the new venue. I got to eat eggplant tacos and hang out with my friends and pretend that I don't have an apartment to paint, remodel and organize. I also got to hang out with David on a mega tour bus and see what he really does for a living. I was pretty impressed. He is not just a band babysitter. He really has some stage presence. Cruising around with authority while still being able to wear a shredded armpit-less rock shirt. His current job has him managing BSS (broken social scene) Pretty cute Canadians, considering I must admit I've never heard their music before. Don't get on me, for the record I don't even utilize I-tunes, an I-pod, or venture out to see new music unless dragged out. Which is probably why I was pretty impressed with the musical acts as a whole. The kids of !!! (CHK CHK CHK) were packed with energy. A whole troop on stage giving off more kicks and jumps than Richard Simmons. And of course the Ohio band- THE BLACK KEYS were RAD. I had no idea they were a 2-piece operation. And not since the dynamic duo of the Hairy Patt Band, have I witnessed a Captain Beefheart explosive power punch LIVE. It was gritty and good and made me miss Ohio bars like BERNIE's. I'm not gonna post any of my band pics cause they are blurry this seemed to be the uniform of the kids that day. The American Apparel + headband Pre-drinks me and ladies Guess what Scheid was saying at this moment: a) I coulda had a V-8! b.) Calgon take me away c.) Why do people ask such dumb questions? I have a splitting headache and need to get a ride to my place and take a dump I really have no clue why we were fanning dollar bills. This was about 4 sangria in and a shot of tequila? day two: we ended up keeping an eye on Mitchell's kids. They were rushing the stage and climbing around the sound man like monkeys. But, damn they are cute. and you guys said my eyebrows were like GROUCHO! before the Beachwood Sparks played, mom and daughter got a spot onstage to watch dad play drums tallest family in silverlake: AAA farmer D and Jimmy hey Mr. TYDE and cynthia look at my terrifying large hand. (you know what that means) AFter Fran and I both got out of our miserable previous relationships and saw how we literally "dodged bullets"...it was heard in a gossip circle "god, they hang out so much, are they dating!?" This was met with laughter...and of course when she went with me to get my new car, the sales clerk insinuated that we were a first time car buying "couple." But looking at this pic from Sunset Junction, we do in fact look like a sweet team. Let the rumors fly. truth was, we were getting our flirt on with every boy west of alvarado The night ended at the Brite Spot with Grilled Cheese. Check out the link in my comments to taylor's sunset junction pics. She mastered the angles from backstage to photographing the band without blur.

REunited

Well, Friday night kicked off the Sunset Junction shenanigans at the ECHOplex.  It was a jam packed music fest- boasting a line up of :BLankBLue, Mia Doi Todd, The Winter Flowers, The TYDE, Midnight movies and the Beachwood Sparks.  The B. Sparks are freshly reunited.  They were one of the first bands I saw play when I moved to L.A. and they have a nice nostalgic cinematic BYRDS/Southern Cali soundtrack vibe. Cynthia and I joked that you're officially getting older, when you are around long enough to start seeing one of your ex-boyfriend's perform in a "reunion" tour.  

Backstage, we hung out with the band- and ran into Gavin and Astrid of the Winter Flowers. Whenever I see them it gives me hope. (I also sometimes hear a faint melody of "today" by jefferson airplane in the distance) 

These two are the real deal, a true "team". backstage the Beachwood Sparks have a pre-show pow wow. Or as Farmer Dave stated, "have to go and get our head's together in the right place" we joked around that the dressing room lighting made it look sort of like heavenly "light" here's cynthia raising hands up to praise the woman behind the scenes: Liz Garo new sound man? or James Bond spy artist E.J., John, and Christoph (winter flowers) Eric Ernest Johnson & Mega Farmer D britzy, mid shout out earlier in the evening Cynthia had an armful of calico kittens

electro-cuties

(photo jeaneenlund.com)

This past Tuesday my friend Jeaneen asked me to be in a music video that she was going to shoot featuring the band Electrocute. If you haven't heard of ELECTROCUTE yet, you will. It's a Los Angeles based electronic rock 'n' roll band. Nicole Morier from Albuquerque and Mindy aka Legs Le Brock from Sydney, Australia.
They are the hottest little duo and just finished putting out a new album that can be found on the new "21" movie soundtrack. They've been playing their new song on 103.1 here in L.A.

My pal Jeaneen normally takes photographs, so this was her big debut into filming. Knowing what an incredible eye she has, I contemplated helping out... but then she informed me I would have to be topless with glitter pasties and a giant fabric shrimp on my head. Considering the lovely ladies in the band are like super models, I would hate to upstage them with my scar and muffin top (and a giant shrimp head)

So Of course my pal Annakim got dolled up for the video. She said it's going to be amazing when it's done being edited.
Mindy "Legs" LeBrock one of the band members lives practically next door and makes clothes for SHOW PONY. They are under her rad label Legs PALACE. Look at how stylish and amazing they are: (p.s. notice the word cute after electro)

buy the new EP here:

ELECTROCUTE EP

I'm not no limburger

When I was in junior high someone gave me the B52-s album Whammy for my birthday. After that I went and bought the WILD PLANET record, and would sit in my room and play them over and over. I know it's not for everybody. But I would dance this mess around in my room and drive my dad crazy. I think it was always their strange choice of lyrics that made me like them. "Come here you little butterbean" and in the song Give me Back my man...
I'll give you fish,
I'll give you candy,
I'll give you everything I have in my hand.

(WHAT? I'll give you fish and candy? Since when was that a surefire man trap)
I had no idea that they were actually playing in the late 70's, I had always thought of them as a new wave 80's band. Anyway, in my nostalgia week of cleaning my space and digging through my records, I thought I would share these.

Click on this awesome link to DANCE This MESS AROUND in BLACK and WHITE from 1978! The user disabled the embedded content, but you must watch this version, PLEASE:

b52-sfrom78

Bizarre lyrics for Dance this mess around include:

Remember when you held my hand
Remember when you were my man
Walk talk in the name of love
Before you break my heart
Think it over, think it over
Roll it over in your mind
Why don't you dance with me
I'm not no Limburger

(that's right... Limburger cheese stinky)

do you still cry about...

GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS

(photo credit VERONIQUE MESSIER)

I have been lucky to be asked to help create an art image of sexy singer/songwriter Eleni Mandell. She will be touring around Quebec and other fab places. It's always hard for me to draw people I know. I think it has something to do with the fact that they are no longer two dimensional, and I can imagine them smiling and laughing and it's hard to pinpoint the single features that embody their essence.

here's some cool pics that photographer Dan Monick shot of her

check out her amazing songs and website here:

eleni mandell

on a side note, this dress would be perfect for a stage performance- don't you think?

Little Tiny Faces

This morning I was asked to face paint a bunch of kids at the Echoplex for a music event they were having.  Kutmah couldn't swing the early call time and bailed, so I had to wake up Viv and beg her to help me out.  To be honest, I've never painted someone's face before, so I make a preliminary chart of the things I thought I could do successfully.

By the time I arrived I realized that this event wasn't for 8 year olds, this was for the lil lil lil tinies.  We are talking sweet 2-5 year olds.  My brushes were bigger than their features!  I had to improvise a little- as kiddies this age move fast and speak soft if at all.

The chart, although ambitious, was not always effective.  Like when one little girl came up and said, "I would like a sleeping moon on a puffy cloud with a sleeping cap on his head."
Um- yeah that's not on the chart.  So I said "Anything else?" She swiftly replied "a sunshine on this hand"
I had a lot of boys request the rainbow on the cheek.  Not on the chart as well.  Then of course there was the girl who requested a trail of ANTS.  That was a tough one.

By the way, the music show is a new gig at the Echoplex- where kids are entertained by bands and tables of crayons. Did I mention that the parents were into their bloody marys? 

the above kid was wearing a rad puffy muscle Spider man suit while eating a small sandwich with the crusts cut off here's Viv's first Butterfly girl my first lightning bolt eye! this little darling below is my friend Jen's daughter HARLOW.  She had that name before Nicole Ritchie's baby. the touching of the face was a common blunder at the event   this little princess asked Viv to make her look like Snow White.  here was my ANT girl with her family This cute kid had the coolest plaid pants, he wanted to be a blue dog

Viv had this little girl with striped rainbow tights this little girl walked up at the very end and buried her little fingers into piles of loose glitter and then looked at them like they were magic If kids are in your future, this is what you can expect your tables to look like... here's the original flyer for the event, I recommend parents look for future shows- it was a good time for all

sad sack

You know it's ok to cry. So try to get your sad sack self downtown to La Cita and grab a hankie.

this TUESDAY, January 15th

DUBLAB & PART TIME PUNKS present…

GIVE UP meets A SAD, SLOW DANCE PARTY

sink into sorrow again with your selectors…

Ale
BennyShambles
frosty
J.Mendez
Michael Stock
Jimmy Tamborello
Ben Barnes
Anh Do
+ other sad sounding souls

inside = tear soaked slow dancing, all-night long
patio = a deeply depressing sound session

FREE / 21+ / 9pm-2am

La Cita
336 S Hill St, Downtown
Los Angeles, CA 90013

dublab.com
parttimepunks.com

...stop dancing & cry then start slowly dancing again...

BUNNY

While lounging at the SPA over the holidays, I decided to buy myself a fancy fashion magazine to read. I decided to get 10 magazine because of the cool colorful editorials photos. My favorite in particular were the ones of Tennesee Jane Bunny Thomas (of the band THE LIKE) shot by Melodie McDaniel and styled by Christopher Niquet. She is such a great fashion muse and perfect for modeling capes and feathers

These scans from unipine at Fashion Spot

this next batch of pics are of Tennessee and her bandmates on tour in London and celebrating her birthday
as shot by mark (Cobrasnake)

R.I.P. Ike

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I adore my Ike and Tina Turner Albums. I play them around my house and in my shop all the time. I have taken a lot of heat for my loyalty to these albums, due to the nature of Tina's turbulant relationship with Ike. I do not condone domestic violence, but have always seen the unfortunate demise of their partnership as tragic- and a direct result of an insecure man, a combo of powerful drugs and losing control. Ike was an early influential musical player to the R & B scene way back, and sadly is known more for his temper and abuse. I saw Tina play when I was in the 8th grade with my mom. We sat on the lawn waiting to see Lionel Ritchie. The opening act was the comeback girl TINA Turner. I 'll never forget "What's Love Got to Do with it?" and her fantastic legs.

Later when I discovered her earlier work I was astouded by the great 60's energy of the Ike and Tina act. I played "Contact High" and "Proud Mary" countless times. Ike and the Family Vibes (his other band) is a record worth about $75 bucks now and has the awesome song "I Am Your Garbage Man". When I found out that their amazing sound was ceased by his abuse I immediately tried to understand WHY?

Of course he was a perfectionist, someone who discovered his muse only to see her career take off without him. Combine a drug abuse problem with all of this and you have a real disaster. The fear of losing her to bigger things and getting left behind seemed to fuel this. I have never thought of him as innocent, but rather a man clinging to his past.

According to MTV:

Ike Turner, the musician, bandleader, talent scout and record producer best known for his work with former wife Tina Turner, died at his home on Wednesday (December 12), according to The Associated Press. He was 76.

Turner's death was confirmed by his manager, Scott Hanover. "He did pass away this morning," Hanover said. There has been no official announcement of the cause of his death, but TMZ.com reports that Turner died in his sleep at his San Marcos, California, home.

"There is no doubt that Ike Turner was one of rock and roll's great architects with his genre-defying sound as an instrumentalist and bandleader," Neil Portnow, president and CEO of the Recording Academy, said in a statement issued Wedneday. "His innovative musicality helped lay the foundation for rock and roll and R&B more than 50 years ago. As a bandleader, his well-rehearsed ensembles were some of the most exciting live groups the world had ever heard. As a two-time Grammy Award winner and recipient of the Recording Academy's 2004 Heroes Award, Ike's legacy as a groundbreaking pioneer in the music industry will never be forgotten."

While his contributions to the world of music have been largely overshadowed by his personal turmoil (documented in the 1993 Tina Turner biopic, "What's Love Got to Do With It"), Turner was a true rock and roll pioneer, having released what many consider to be the first rock and roll song, "Rocket 88" (albeit under the name of his band's singer, Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats), in 1951.

Izear Luster Turner Jr. was born in 1931, in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He formed his first band while still in high school, and by the late '40s had assembled an outfit dubbed the Kings of Rhythm — the group recorded "Rocket 88," although authorship of the song has been disputed. The song became a hit and the Kings went on to work with such legendary blues musicians as Howlin' Wolf, Elmore James, Otis Rush, Buddy Guy and many others.

Turner and the group continued performing and recording throughout the 1950s, with Tina joining the group late in the decade and ultimately marrying Turner in 1958. In the ensuing years the Ike & Tina Turner Revue built up a strong following, scoring several hits in the 1960s and becoming a top live draw. Tina's voice caught the attention of producer Phil Spector, who cut "River Deep - Mountain High" with them in 1966; a huge hit internationally (although not in the United States), the song has since attained classic status.

In 1969, the group was invited to open the Rolling Stones' American tour (documented in the film "Gimme Shelter"), which broke them out of genre status and led to a series of hit covers of rock songs, including Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Proud Mary," which won them a Grammy. However, Turner's problems — including substance and spousal abuse — soon became untenable and Tina left him in the middle of a tour in 1975; they divorced in 1978.

Reflecting the distance that had grown between the ex-spouses over the years — and the bitter feelings that allegedly still existed between them — Tina Turner's publicist reportedly told TMZ.com on Wednesday, "Tina is aware that Ike passed away earlier today. She has not had any contact with him in 35 years. No further comment will be made."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Whatever demons Ike created down here, he will have to contend with upstairs with the big guy. In the meantime I can still appreciate the times when their music still radiated positive vibes.

hocus pocus

When I first moved to L.A. in 1998, my car was packed to the roof with all of my belongings. It was the season of El Nino Storms and everything was grey and grim. I had no apartment (nor job) lined up, but moved here anyway. I had an old friend who lived at the top of Laurel Canyon who was kind enough to let me stay there for a few days. While driving up to the place one night my friend pointed to a house and said "that's Harry Houdini's mansion over there, I think that it's for sale for 7 million, it's haunted." I'm not sure if it was the magic or the wicked rain, but I became entranced by the mansion. I wondered if all the stories about the secret tunnels and catacombs was true or folklore. I had heard that Harry Houdini's first appearance before an audience as a contortionist and trapeze performer, was on October 28 (my birthday), in 1883.

According to Laurel Canyon the book--Some of the FOLKLORE surrounding the mysterious mansion can be found at this link:
HoudiniMansion

According to wikipedia:

The Mansion is owned by famed music producer Rick Rubin in Los Angeles, built in 1918. After recording the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Blood Sugar Sex Magik with considerable ease and comfortablility, Rubin decided to record many of the albums he has produced here, including; the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Stadium Arcadium, Audioslave's Out of Exile, The Mars Volta's De-Loused in the Comatorium, and Linkin Park's Minutes To Midnight .

In the 1960s and 70s many famous artists such as Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix and The Beatles also stayed there. Many of the musicians who have recorded there have confessed that strange ghostly encounters have happened while residing there.

My favorite of all of the stories about HOUDINI are linked here:
Houdinistory

This article states the taboo history behind the first owners and their departure from the home. Plus all of the magical seances and spiritual encounters that may or may not have occcured while HH was there as well as the rumored pools that existed for Houdini to practice his magic escape acts.

So according to the facts- Harry Houdini's death occured on Oct 31st. This past Wedneday on the eve of Halloween I was lucky enough to attend a huge PARTY at the Mansion. Even though I'm still supposed to be taking it easy- I HAD to go.
The house was truly amazing, complete with waterfalls, cobblestone narrow steps winding around curved wooden bridges and magical balconies. The band lineup included WINTER FLOWERS, Devendra Banhart, and ENTRANCE- along with vaudeville acts, magicians, and fire eaters.
There was even a psychedelic wooden yewt tent out back with handpainted opium beds. WOW

the following Black and White dreamy photographs are by my friend Lauren Dukoff-

this was the competing party across the street. Rumor has it that this home was built for Houdini's mistress and that there was an underground tunnel from one house to the other under Laurel Canyon

paranormal activity prevails...

speaking of halloween...look who ventured out in his Cobain Rave gear- D.J. Kutmah!!

look at the tiniest LION on his 2nd official trick or treat too- Super cuddly

best turn out ever

Well, my first real adventure out & yet not much mobility-to take pictures. So until all of my friends email me their snap-shots of the evening...I can only offer you the lowdown details and the few I have.

Words really cannot do it justice. Seriously, nothing can prepare you for seeing an entire venue at capacity-with a line down the block and around the corner, all to help you out. I wasn't sure what it would be like, but knew that I should rent a wheelchair just so that people wouldn't accidently hug me or bump into my stitches. You would think that the wheelchair would provide protection enough, but alas- I still had my share of purses bump me-cameras land in my lap- big beers spilled on me-. I wanted to walk around so bad and take pictures and check out the scenery out back. In the courtyard of the ECHO, the HIT and RUN silkscreening crew were busy creating one of a kind t-shirts with my art for people to buy. The biggest hit seemed to be the georgie boy screen-oodles and oodles of Persian faces.

My agorophobic mother chose to not attend- but Mr. P was not having that. He went back to the place and forced her to come out. Good thing he did because she hugged the stage and fell in love with Lavender Diamond, and kept muttering that ENTRANCE was phenomenal.

The amount of people surrounding me with love was overwhelming. It created this anxious happy stutter to my heartbeat, almost as if I had run around the block 10 times. I could feel my stomach pulling with every longwinded conversation, which after a week of solitude was exhilarating...yet tiring. Straining to talk over the crowd and music forced me to use muscles buried someplace down near that injury. Eventually I had to retreat to a bathroom stall for a moment to catch my breath.

The night got more crazy as great friends were turned away at the door due to over capacity! David Cross, the comedian, was escorted out by security guards simply because he said to the waiting crowd- IT's not that crowded in there, there's still room- it's a benefit- let them in" maybe they thought he would incite a riot.
I had no idea that so many awesome friends would come out for this event! The energy in the room surrounded me like the warmest hug.
I can't wait to see the cool photo shots by my friend EMMA- who snuck in on a school night prepared to tell the doorman that she was my sister.
The evening was a success- and left me depleted of all energy- which is why I slept most of Friday away in my room.

I was bummed that I didn't get any pics of ANIMAL MAgik- they were amazing on stage! First time playing out and they were like a perfect record!

The band the LONG LOST- check out Laura's lovely hair!

miss Becky Stark arrived looking fab like Jackie O- she gave my mother a fairie buttercup hat

here's my pal Danny- who makes masterful guitars for musicians- and lovely Illeana- who you have to start watching on Ugly Betty- she plays a cool Anna Wintour type character!

the back area featured an art auction!

the crew: responsible for holding it all down back there

Hoseh and D.J. Nobody (a.k.a. Elvin from BLANK BLUE)

The master of all --DUBLAB soundsystem president FROSTY

blank blue --blowing minds out there

super surprise guests! Mia Doi Todd and Andreas

looks like Glinda the Good Witch came through

ENTRANCE

here's the film link from MIKE BENSON
http://www.grenadeartist.com/videos/kime.mov

B-B-B Bjork

Some outfits aren't for everybody. When that's the case, Bjork steps in and saves the day. She can take a sack, a cape and a cluster of pom poms and make magic. In the new issue of DAZED & CONFUSED magazine-the queen of Whimsy let's her freak flag fly. She also adorns the cover.

Here's a sneak peek at her fashion spread and images from her latest stage flair.

if anyone can pull off the Gareth Pugh spring designs...(giant cube face?) it's BJORK! Just don't try driving to the venue in this get-up

Another MAGAZINE Delivers

Leave it to the all new remodeled ANOTHER MAGAZINE to feature 10 of the hottest females performers. The exclusive photos by DAVID Sims are lovely. GO and get the new issue and see all of the interviews and images!

MOLDY DOILY favorite Natasha Khan : who is playing in L.A. OCt 9th!

"Performance becomes a world you can fall into… When I look out at the audience, I visualise a forest of dark emerald green trees beyond and a midnight sky above. I want to take the audience to a fantastical, but raw and animalistic place. Sometimes people in the audience cry and sometimes they howl… My sound is really dark and nocturnal, there is a huge connection to the spirit and the unknown. It's ethereal, textural, sensual, and when you take it live, it bursts out into 3D – all the power and rawness really comes through. Whenever you're doing something from the heart, you're on a spiritual journey… If you keep doing the same thing, you're not developing and not moving forward. I'm getting much more confident now, what you see onstage is a concentrated version of myself. Sometimes when I perform, I bang a big stick on stage - it's a bit Fleetwood Mac meets tribal. It's a shamanistic, Native American thing to do I guess…

It's almost as though I'm summoning the spirits. I really like the idea of theatricality and stage personas – of metamorphosing and transforming visually and musically into something else. I have quite a distinctive look, it's really a visual extension of who I am. I wear head-dresses and crazy make-up, and I like to wear a lot of gold, it's quite Egyptian… My music and style really work together, it's a two way relationship where they're always helping each other out. My lyrics are cinematic and really strong in symbolism, Halloween and forests and films by David Lynch are huge influences, the song 'Horse and I' actually came from a haunting dream of mine. My new video ('What's a girl to do') is based on what I call the 'hoody' films, like ET and Donnie Darko - wearing costumes and riding bikes at night through woodland against moonbeams and dark skies."

Lyrics from 'Horse and I' - "Got woken in the night, by a mystic golden light, my head soaked in river water, I had been dressed in a coat of armour, they called a horse out of the woodland, take her there through the desert shores…"

Caroline Martial

"Sometimes when I'm in a bad mood, I put on clothing that gives me power and I'm ready for war - because that's life, every day is a war. I wear my headband all the time, it's an ornament I love - it's a black, gold and pearl belt from a charity shop I changed to wear on my head. I wear no jewels - my headband is my ornament to give me power and protect me. Every day I wear a costume – my style is freaky. I make a dangerous mix of streetwear, cabaret and flea-market pieces. My music has no connection with my style, I'm really natural and wear the same clothing on and offstage. I put into Kap Bambino everything that's in my brain and sensibility…

I like glamour and 50s pin-ups because it's important to be a real woman. I don't have idols, but the amazing French punk band, 'Lu Crate Milk', from the early 80s is really inspiring to me. This band was so freaky punk - you can't describe their style, I hate it when you can describe a look because it's common. It's important for me to create a personal image with my music and the clothing I wear. Our music is different, intense and dance-floor, it's really violent and our performances are cathartic experiences. I connect with the audience over savage dance and everyone goes crazy, it's a release like therapy. Kap Bambino are a live band, we are all about performance - we are impulsive and spontaneous. I hate art school. I hate art gallery. I hate theatre. I hate comedians. I hate the normal code of stage and music – Kap Bambino is about creating something new. It's really dangerous to say this, but it's true. We want everyone to listen to us for the music, not for my face or my ass on stage."

Dandi Wind

"Performing is almost primal for me.. I run on adrenalin and go into a sort of trance, my show is so high energy it's like a work out. We wanted to create one of the most high-energy albums around – it's fast, aggressive, punky, electronic and industrial, it's almost exhausting. I wear outrageous outfits on stage like stretchy dance suits I've made myself on a sewing machine – and because I'm not the best sewer they fall apart by the end of each show. My stage style is inspired by modern Japanese Butoh theatre, the performers wear white on their face and are very physical and intense, I also love 70s androgyny - the outrageous bold colours and layering.

I was always really interested in fashion and would look at magazines growing up… but I was pretty removed from that world. I grew up in a remote part of Canada, in a cabin in the middle of a forest. We were raised in a totally non-commercial environment by hippy artist parents. I was really outdoors, built treehouses, spent a lot of time on my own. As a teenager I got into fashion and discovered heavy goth and punk music, Nina Hagen and Lene Lovich were really big influences on my sound and image… Nina Hagen is amazing because she's just so powerful. I've found I feel more powerful as a performer if I wear certain items – when I'm on stage that's very important, it's my number one concern that I command attention from the audience. When I perform I want to be 100 percent confident and completely aware of my body, I never do anything half-ass – I'm always full of energy, everything I do is done with conviction. I really shock the crowd, sometimes they're just staring buggle-eyed… they really don't know how to react."

Lovefoxxx

telling stories with songs

"A My Barbarian catharsis is that of seeing the sun rise after a night at the disco theatrical, glamorous, and poignant." Flash Art, Jan-Feb 2006

Echo Park's magical performer Jade Gordon is part of the storytelling troupe MY BARBARIAN. For those of you new to my neighborhood, check out their site/shows and style. She also has a blog linked to the moldy doily called LAVENDER UTOPIA. Ms Gordon has a silent movie stare and wild mane of hair that can stir envy, especially when she is on stage!

My Barbarian is a collection of performers, musicians and songwriters based in Echo Park mostly. Malik Gaines (vocals, Rhodes, synths), Jade Gordon (vocals, dance), and Alex Segade (vocals, dance, glockenspiel, Micro-Korg) sing dramatic harmonies, propelled by the beats of Norwood Cheek (bass guitar, Mini Korg) and Andy Ouchi (drums). "They tell lyrical stories, airbrushing a style spectrum from Broadway disco to new wave prog, dancing out unicorn fantasy and urban memoir, in an opera-inflected improv performance style known as Showcore."

according to REDCAT-

"Incorporating epic storytelling with harmonious, hook-filled tunes, along with jazz-hands choreography, wild costumes and oversize props, a My Barbarian show will put a goofy smile on your face faster than a bong hit." Ann Magnuson, Paper Magazine, April 2006

The Los Angeles-based performance art band combines music, theater, dance and visual art in sublime sexy songs, surreal scene-stealing and phantasmagorical feats of pure fantasy fun. My Barbarian presents a radically inventive double bill of musical adventures: Silver Minds, a sci-fi, new-wave pop fable of time-travel, ghost stories, and eco-tourism, and the Los Angeles debut of You Were Born Poor & Poor You Will Die, a mini-epic rock opera set in an ancient world of masked dancers, High Priestesses and Bull God worship.
They play Halloween OCt 31st, 07 at the Silverlake Lounge
for more scoop on the group: http://www.mybarbarian.com/

when the thrill is gone

fellow pal blogger Scheid has introduced me to the latest BAT FOR LASHES video!

I love this song because it reminds me of all those talky SHANGRI LAS songs from back in the day.

here's my favorite Shangri La's song and video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOdP_VvPKHU

the moment you meet her...

you may forget your name.

The other night at Spaceland, we all ventured out to see BAT for LASHES. The night proved to be more magical than any of us had anticipated. The Brighton England lasses wore glitter rays across their faces and hypnotized the crowd with their fine musical skills. Dueling Violins and pretty harmonies collided with tribal drum beats and haunting dangling bells to create the best sound around. It felt like everyone was holding their breath and falling in love. I wanted to take a thousand pictures as proof that the moment really existed. The vocals echoed the past -a collage of the best of Bjork (circa Sugarcubes) Kate Bush and women from the forest.
I took a lot of videos for my underage pals who couldn't attend the show and will try to post them to Youtube soon.
After the show we huddled around and complimented the performers...gushing about how mesmerizing it all was.

these are by the far the best of the night...Viv embracing Natasha

annakim & erica from Mountain Party

doesn't annakim look little like Edie?

Laurel...

Lizzie from Bat for Lashes

me and lovely Caroline

abigail and Paul (who produced the record)

the blissful face of a girl who just heard the best sounds

the pouty-puss face of a Glam Rock Georgie boy who was stuck at home missing the show

Put a Feather in your hair...

and get ready for BAT for LASHES tonight. Only a few select performances in the U.S. so don't miss it.
Spaceland- Tues the 31st. Show starts at 9.

marnie

I recently had the priveledge of creating an illustration for the cool music zine L.A. RECORD. My piece is of singer Marnie Stern. Check out her interview here:

http://larecord.com/blog/?p=488

MARNIE STERN PLAYS THURS., AUGUST 2, AT THE ECHO, 1822 W. SUNSET BLVD., ECHO PARK. 7:30 PM / $12 / ALL AGES. WWW.ATTHEECHO.COM.

The Cult of Becky Stark

It takes a lot to drag me from the comfort of my home (and my georgie boy). But of course I will venture outside of my door for a Lavender Diamond show at the Echo. Becky Stark and gang were playing the show for OUTFEST. The Cult of Becky Stark has expanded. She has the power to make people dance in the streets to choreographed sequences
Annakim and I decided to represent Echo Park Style.

We escorted Becky to the secret room upstairs where she tried on new costumes for the show. We advised that this purple confectionary delight was the best choice. She feared the pompom rose straps were too much. What would Alexander McQueen do? Of course take it to the next level. Attach a stuffed bird to the waist and add glitter.

How could she not see that this dress was perfect for her show...

tis best to slather on ruby red lipstick when attempting to downplay the lavender poof dress

"Why Becky, who on Earth made that fab frock you are wearing?"
It's a bonafide FLIRATIONS!?? only the best for Becky

this picture I took of Annakim looks like a Carlo Mollino original!

opening act :Emily with magical lights in her hair

When Becky raises her arms the crowd follows as if in a church service. I'm telling you the girl has a heavenly voice like an angel. So high it's almost shattering glass and injuring pets. Her in between song banter about Earth being so sexy and such add to the charm.

After the show, her fans flocked towards her with pen and paper in hand.

animal magic came to support the songbird

annakim made sure to represent for Georgie Boy

Don't fret, I returned home and ran into the arms of Georgie boy. reunited and it feels so good.

Pose per second

the ever fascinating Miranda July is in the new Blonde Redhead video (directed by her boyfriend mike mills)
Notice she is wearing her vinnyandvernelle hair clip from the show pony shop.

If you want to make your hairdoo happy, get a new fancy clip on their etsy site or at the show pony.

CLOSE to YOU: superstar

Are you a fan of the Carpenters? Did you ever own their 8-tracks? My parents did. In fact they were obsessed with them...and played their music enough times to stick in. Once while our babysitter talked to her boyfriend on the phone for hours, I sat and explained the cover of their CLOSE TO YOU album to my little sister. I told her that they were a married couple and that they sang songs together and that the cover was from their Honeymoon. (I also told her Peter Paul and Mary were orphans)
Anyway...years later I heard the Carpenters were brother and sister. Who knew?

If you are in fact a true Carpenters FAN...this SAturday is your day to get a piece of them.
On L.A. 's CRAIGSLIST their Estate Sale pawns off all the goods.
So if you wanna record on their awesome system...sleep on KAren's original bed, or just drink from her old margarita glasses- go here:

9828 Newville Ave.
Downey, CA 90240

This Sale will start Saturday June 9 and end June 10th. 10am - 4pm.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/gms/345958659.html

The all day record affair...

This past Sunday...the ladies of SHOW PONY decided to participate in the DUBLAB Record Collecting event. Sure, we don't sell records but we do have everything else. The event started at 2 and ended at 2 a.m. We bailed around 11:30 admitting defeat. The boys from HIT 'N' Run were silkscreening live on the patio, while the Dublab D.J.'s were spinning music inside.

The guys from FAMILY- brought along rad books and films

Britt rocking out in her new GREy ANT overalls!!

D.J. Kutmah wearing one of his new super awesome tshirts

these will be available at www.kutmah.etsy.com later this week!!

meet my new pal Stella Rose

another satisfied show pony

Taylor looking amazing in her new Show Pony doily neck piece

Check out my new video clip of Kutmah... spinning MY KoKo taylor record

freak out

Strawberry Morning

The new video release from my friends in the L.A. band -The WINTER Flowers is finally here!
Check out "Strawberry Morning" in all it's baroque/medieval kind of sound glory. These kids are the real deal, gypsies, caravans, and folklore suit their style.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4348580154066715028

Also look forward to seeing their new twosided picture disc album shared with the lovely Chapin Sisters. Both sides feature dreamy drawings

www.manimalvinyl.com

Open Your HEART

When neighborhood pal Becky Stark of Lavender Diamond told me she was shooting her video in Angelino Hts- I was so excited for her. Recently signed to Matador, Miss Stark has the voice of an angel and the chutzpah of a true punk rebel. I have known her now for almost 8 years. Our first strange encounter occured on the set of CAmeron Crowe's film "Almost Famous". We were both standing around in our groupie attire mumbling silently as extras behind KAte Hudson. I told her she looked like Dana Plato, and she took it kindly. Over the years we have played dress up at my shop, made elaborate ideas for our future plays, and discussed funny little things while at the corner cafe.
So, when she asked me if I would come down and actually be in the music video- AND do choreographed dance...as a friend I knew best to decline. She insisted that the dancing would be loose and carefree and not to worry about my rhythm challenge.
I showed up with Britz ( a former dance instructor in another life) and after a quick craft service- we were called over by the "choreographer" to learn "the moves".
Yes, counting two steps and then followed up with arm movements and a shimmy. A shimmy, I've learned is not my friend.
Britz had the thing down in minutes, maybe even seconds. While I struggled to figure out how to lead into the thing. All of those driveway dances from the 8th grade and failed talent show moments appeared in my mind. I was going to embarrass my mother again.
I opted for plan B...be in the video, but hide behind Britz and the rest of the dream dancers- try to stay out of the camera shot.
It just takes one glance at the FADER -behind the scenes- photos of the day long shoot- to find me in the crowd- LOOK FOR the only girl with arms stretched upward while all others are at the sides.
WOW.

(all photos from the FADER magazine site)

go to the band's website to listen to the song OPEN YOUR HEART!
www.lavenderdiamond.com

My Generation

Well I just awoke from a long overdue nap- and found this in my email.
In honor of Uncle Lou's 98th birthday this weekend I thought it was only fitting to post this rad video clip!
May we all live so long and healthy.

Give UP : the Frown Turned round

Well, the ladies had the best of intentions on Sunday to be super sad. We showed up for DUB LAB boys Give Up music night ready for some tears. But then we ordered bowls of french fries and Susie took over the camera and the laughter came on strong.

Susie can pick up any camera- and figure out every possible feature it offers without a manual and use your camera better than you in 4 minutes.

Give Up for those of you not in L.A.-- is a music night hosted at a nautical bar downtown- the theme is sad music, sad movies and tear filled activities. You are not supposed to want to dance- but supposed to breakdown and cry uncontrollably. This may sound awful, but every now and then it's good to listen to music that breaks your heart all over again- so that you can see the good in your life the next day. The HIT n RUN posse came through with their massive screen machine, and printed totes and tshirts for all. Mr. Brandy Flower was rocking my new art screens on a wide headband- WHOA- that look is making friends.

for the record here are some people that don't look like they are giving up.

Tinkerbell screening one of my girls on her dress.

We used to work at Wasteland together. She once offered me a PB sandwich while I was stuck at Dressing Room duty. I ate it and then awhile later noticed all the sunglasses had a psychedelic movement to them. I made a comment about it and she said-- oh did I mention that there were mushrooms in that? I should have known about the magic- cause her name is Tinkerbell after all.

You're so Cool

All that goes through my head the entire time she is receiving her induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is "you're so cool, you're so cool, you are so cool." I felt anxious for her waiting in the wings to come out on stage. All the build up of her rebellion, her sweet face- passion- politics- waiting to receive her audience. She seemed so nervous speaking to the crowd. This brave woman who has put her fist in the air and protested-this ridiculous war-- seems almost shy and delicate. I remember being young and listening to her record, the song with kimberly, excited that my name was a part of it. I imagine it must feel really good to know you have created a legacy such as hers. "Because the night" her most radio friendly tune is really such a beautiful song. Congrats to her- and hopefully she influences a whole new wave of passionate songwriters

(image from lynngoldsmith.com)

earlier today Mr. P went down to Hollywood for the Pro-Peace rally- carrying this sign he made at kinkos.

Bardot- a.k.a. Bonnie

One of my all time favorite scenes in a movie is from the film "And God Created Woman" where Brigitte Bardot is dancing feverishly on a table top. Considered to be one of the most erotic films, especially in 1956, where she sunbathes nude, rides bicycles with dresses, and seduces every man in her way. I love when one of the older men on the boat turns to a woman his own age and says...(about Bardot) She has the courage to do whatever she wants, whenever she pleases..."
Her beauty is so unique. Even with her raven dark hair in "Spirits of the Dead" she is striking as she rides on horses and eventually is tied to a stake and whipped.
Today I spotted these strange and amazing videos of the screen siren with Mr. Sensuality Serge Gainsbourg. I also found this shocking little nudie pic of his wife Jane Birken lounging around with Bardot.

Fancy 'Prescilla'

Remember my blog post about the lovely BAT FOR LASHES? Well, she has just completed the video for her new song Prescilla. Not only does she embrace glitter and sparkly headbands- she appears from a delicate fort. Not since my crush on Kate Bush, has a woman singer made me happy with envy.
When asked who inspired her style she is quoted as saying:

"Sun Ra, who was a crazy jazz musician. He told everyone that he came from Saturn and he used to wear cloaks, too. Also, I'm quite into this band called the Cockettes: they were bearded men who used to dress up in glamorous drag with glitter on their faces and they wore headdresses. I loved the way my mum used to dress in the late 70s and early 80s, though unfortunately she hasn't kept any of those clothes. My dad used to bring me gold jewellery and sequinned shalwar kameez back from Pakistan - I'm not into that tacky Bollywood thing, but I think that influence has helped me to be a bit more exploratory."

Looks like A.F. Vandevorst's new 2007 line may have had BAT FOR LASHES in mind while creating...

could she be the long lost magical daughter of Kate Bush?

Give-Up...Again

This past Sunday...Frosty and his pals from DUB LAB hosted another sad affair-- GIVE- Up.
His motto for the event...

- stop dancing and cry -

a boo hoo be-in with tear draped djs...

Dntel-( Jimmy from Postal Service)
frosty
TimKoh
Maximilla Lukacs -

(unfortunately Devendra Banhart didn't make this round. he's
hopping in the studio to make some new songs for you. keep an eye out for
our furry friend at a future sad music session.)

Here's Maximilla getting some good D.J. advice from Jimmy

Farmer Dave & friends sat by the tugboat patio and colored hearts- while two speakers played taped voice-overs of break up stories. One speaker- played female versions- the other had the male perspective

sorrowful scenes were shown on video screens by the Masses/Labrat Matinee
cry-inducing combo- including Women on the Verge- Sid and Nancy...and other gut wrenchers.
I chose not to walk the plank of my heart at the pirate-themed bar

(here's me and Tom doing our best acting "sad")

Masquerading in Paradise

You do not want to miss this. The Citizen's Band are coming all the way to L.A. to perform at the Avalon Jan 25th. You may remember my blog about them - and the exciting photos from their DEITCH Gallery shows. If you like all the magical things I post about (costumes, glitter, performers, the cockettes- flappers etc...) you will L O V E everything about the Citizen's Band.

For fabulous trapeze photos and show stopping scenes take a peek here on there darling website:

http://www.thecitizensband.net/

Fellow Citizens,

The Citizens Band
performing
Masquerading in Pardise

January 25th, 2007
Doors at 8

Avalon Theatre
Hollywood, CA
It is with great delight that we announce that The Citizens Band shall perform in the city of Los Angeles on January 25th, 2007. Our very first Los Angeles show shall take place at 9 PM at The Avalon Theatre in Hollywood. The Avalon Theatre is located at 1735 Vine Street, on the corner of Hollywood Boulevard. They may be telephoned on 323.462.8900. Tickets for this unique performance are available for the decidedly reasonable price of fifteen dollars and may be procured from the good people at The Avalon.

Our Los Angeles debut shall feature the marvelous talents of such Citizens as Chelsea Bacon, Duke Bojadziev, Ian Buchanan, Paul Cantelone, Michael Cavadias, Aaron Conte, Zooey Deschanel, Jorjee Douglass, Karen Elson, Sarah Sophie Flicker, Rachelle Garniez, Mike Jackson, Mark McAdam, Angela McCluskey, Amy Miles, Jon Natchez, Eric Newton, Rain Phoenix, Ronin and Craig Wedren.

Arthur Nights Folk CAMP

Arthur Nights was like a four day music camp. Britt and I provided the fans with some Show Pony costume changes. The Hit and Run boys silkscreened like madmen next door, and Ivory read peoples fortunes. Did we mention that seeing Heath Ledger two nights in a row (looking like Randy in Valley Girl) reinforced our desire to come back to work? First of all the PALACE is stunning. Art deco windows and elaborate black rickety elevators- seemed to really bring the haunting ghosts some life. (Britt heard the place has 21 ghosts that feed off your energy like vampires) It did seem to suck the life force right out of us. On the positive side--We saw some great performances by Devendra, Sun Ra Arkestra, The Living Sisters, and others.
One of our favorites was the Brooklyn band Effi Briest. They are a 7 piece band of lovely ladies who are sort of like the Manson Family revival. I guess that doesn't sound as good as it really is- so here's a desciption from their myspace page:
"there's a reference point for what EFFI BRIEST does it lies somewhere in a twilight zone between the exploratory abandon of early D.I.Y. & a sort of visionary macabre, like the sound of a ghost band at a seance. Not to say that the sounds they make are strictly ethereal or morose; group vocals, guitars, accordion & an ocarina form a free-leaning haze over a backbone of shaker-garage. The communal aspect is key. You can see it's the convergence of seven distinct personalities, pulling from as many sources as are vital to them without standing in anyone's shadow. In a sense they're writing their own rules, & that comes across in the originals. An EFFI BRIEST song may start out in one sonic terrain & wind up after a few scenic asides in another realm entirely, but there's an underlying unity that can only come from a keen group aesthetic. "

To top is off the band came by the Show Pony and bought some stuff and were very nice.

Here's the ghost of Britt in our booth

This is what happens when you drink a $10 dollar margarita at Arthur Fest and a ghost rides your back

This is the ever so red Frosty- after hearing his voice projected on the speakers

Mr. Lichtenberg shopping at the booth

doesn't it seem like Joaquin is digging ticklish fingers into Britts side?

the proof that my hair resembles a cross between Jennifer Aniston and Avril with the help of a flat iron.
yikes, huh?

Team silkscreen gearing up for a few days of ink press

the HIT N RUN crew in full effect

Artist ...Miss Utter- making a pillow case over there

Tsoler in her Hit N Run dress

DAy three outfit change- Notice that I have taken on the Paris Hilton pose- insert friend here

and here...

Rodney is back in town and making trouble

doesn't this look like some old wedding photo?

the Palace bathroom was the best photo spot

Here's my run in with some of Emma's pals- future heart breakers at Arthur Nights

one of the handpainted sad girl totes

Nina on vacation in L.A.

gang pose-straight hair

the packing up picture. We survived

Batty for Big Lashes

Sometimes things happen in such a strange way that I think they must be linked by fate. I discovered an article in the new I.D. magazine on the band BAT FOR LASHES. The magical picture has a girl in the corner of a boxing ring in a ballet leotard, fur fur vest (looks like human hair!), a suede headband, painted native cheeks, and a giant peacock feather fan spilling from behind her. Turns out this 26 year old beauty is Natasha Khan- aka Bat for Lashes. Styled like my legendary icon Kate Bush- and according to the article she is channeling the voice of CAt Power and Bjork-
OK-
cut to a day later-I walk into the ShowPony and Britt is showing me an amazing photo spread on this singer and has downloaded her music. She looked familiar- then she says--Bat For Lashes.
Although the music is enchanting and sprung from trees and fairie lore- there is something modern about the hip hop beats and regal medieval elements that take it the next level of folk.
Although she hails from England- this cosmic wonder is part Pakistani with Mongolian roots. Her debut album FUR and GOLD-- has references to her childhood-(growing up with drum prayer circles etc...)
If it's not enough that she has a whispering melodic voice and a gorgeous face- she is also an artist who plans on creating artwork for the album. She has referenced "David Lynch- Elvis films and summoning up bleached out desert vibes." She says it's not just about making music but "about taking flight into the night and decorating it with magic totems of her childhood dreams and nightmares."
WOW. I could have a new girl crush today.
She concludes her interview by saying..." It's all about magic and believing in powers beyond what you can actually see." This new album is out now--

the BAt for Lashes website is : http://www.batforlashes.co.uk/

After all that Lash action-I stumbled onto pictures from the 1980 movie HEY BABE! by Rafal Zielinski. I couldn't believe how similar Natasha and young Yasmine Bleeth look, especially their long dark hair and giant eyelashes. Zielinski has said that he attempted to capture energy, dazzle, color and explosive music in his film. He wanted to make a film that captures childhood-and the moment when you enter adulthood- like a fairy tale with fantasy elements. Yasmine Bleeth was only 12 years old and starring in her first movie- ( how did she end up on Baywatch)

I added this last one-because I'd like to make this my new uniform

DreamScene

DUBLAB turns 7!! LA's underground music kids have been providing an online radio station for music heads of all styles to listen and sample the latest music. Last night Frosty (Dublab's happy leader)- secured the ultimate party location...the GHOSTBUSTERS firehouse. Everyone ventured downtown L.A. to celebrate seven years of great music with DJ sets and live performances by Mia Doi Todd- Devendra Banhart, Daedulus, D.J. Nobody, Jimmy Tamborello and many more. Entertainment also included Motion graphics, live screenprinting, and the Mochilla Magic Photo Booth. Upstairs Frosty curated a DreamScene music Poster show. Artists were asked to create a "dream" music venue poster including favorite artists (living or dead) and make magic.
Here was the evening's maestro

artist Albert Reyes and designer Matteah getting lively

Brittzy getting shy

Carlos Nino and Farmer Dave share a hug

DubLAB D.J Joseh and Devendra Banhart get the turntables ready --

Gaby and Caro

THE POSTER ART

this one is mine...

this is the one everyone else thought was mine-

I love this picture cause it looks like a Pilsbury Dough Boy commercial- look at that giant finger in the belly

Mr. Dave Cooley and his lovely lady

although D.J. Kutmah was ill- this picture represented him nicely.

singer Mia Doi Todd gets barefoot while she and Andreas make beautiful music

Happy 7 years DUBLAB- thanks again

Weekend Update

I survived another lackluster sweaty Sunset Junction street fair. Did I mention this one should have been called the Gentrification Festival? Looks like Myspace hosted a rave dance party full of hip white kids. Sure the margaritas helped dull the $15 entrance fee- but it did nothing to assist with the awkward encounters with people from my past. I had fun hanging out with my girl friends and watching the VICE fashion don'ts parade by.
This is Britt showing off her awesome big rip- after one margarita

this guy was taking the hard earned allowance of kids --Could be worse I suppose - he could be taking their lives on rickety wobble carnie rides that were being propped up with 2X4's nearby

Ran into these good looking kids from the Delmore

witnessed Redd Kross hit the stage- something I haven't seen since 1994-

here's proof of the fashion Don'ts

somehow I wandered into the teddybear clan- shirtless and powerful

this is where you may find a lost Britzy-the reggae truck

here's the zipper in it's swirling lights of glory. This ride, no matter where it may be found- from Ohio to Calif- has some sketchy memories. My favorite story of the Zipper however is GP's Chicago version- where some girl offered to do anything he wanted (8th grade) as long as he would ride it with her- he declined and remained virginal til many years later.

This snaggle toothed cactus plant is in Britt's front yard waiting like a giant octupus.

this morning I went with Gaby to visit Fifi- for her birthday.

Later- I went to get Viv at the airport and then to hang out with Uncle Lou on the west side. He invited us up for a glass of "burgandy" which we discovered translates to vinegar sugar water warm in a glass. He told us great stories and treated us to a fine meal at NORMS family diner. I guess it's true what they say about 97 year old men knowing how to win the ladies over.

did I mention that the hair wizard Nina gave me a new hair-do today?

Hillbilly Holiday

One of my all time favorite female folk singers is Karen Dalton. She has an angelic moon face like Winnie Cooper from the Wonder years and a voice to rival Billie Holiday. She sings with such a strength that you imagine her to be a soulful woman in her 70's from a Southern Church choir. You never doubt her experience with the blues and wonder why she is the best kept secret of vinyl. Then someone shows you the picture of her strumming along side Bob Dylan and you nearly die. She is a hippie darling folk singer- the kind with hair that swings back and forth when she sings- She was a single mom and a life long dumpster diver too. Then you find out she died way too young and your heart aches. This entire week I've been coveting my computer to bid on her original LP -- It's so hard to tell who's Gonna Love you the Best-. I've had dreams that it actually once existed on vinyl. It was around forty dollars with 6 hours left. I was full of hope. Then later with four hours it was at $90. I still imagined it arriving in my mail box. Then tonight when it sky rocketed to $147 dollars and out of my reach-I was somehow happy for Miss Dalton- somewhere in heaven she must be smiling with her banjo.

In case you still have not fallen madly in love with Miss Dalton- or are hearing about her for the first time- I found this sweet history on her folk/blues legacy:

A cult singer, twelve-string guitarist, and banjo player of the New York 1960s folk revival, Karen Dalton still remains known to very few, despite counting the likes of Bob Dylan and Fred Neil among her acquaintances. This was partly because she seldom recorded, only making one album in the 1960s--and that didn't come out until 1969, although she had been known on the Greenwich Village circuit since the beginning of the decade. It was also partly because, unlike other folk singers of the era, she was an interpreter who did not record original material. And it was also because her voice--often compared to Billie Holiday, but with a rural twang--was too strange and inaccessible to pop audiences. Nik Venet, producer of her debut album, went as far as to remark in Goldmine, "She was very much like Billie Holiday. Let me say this, she wasn't Billie Holiday but she had that phrasing Holiday had and she was a remarkable one-of-a-kind type of thing...Unfortunately, it's an acquired taste, you really have to look for the music." Dalton grew up in Oklahoma, moving to New York around 1960. Peter Stampfel of the Holy Modal Rounders, who was in her backup band in the early 1970s, points out in his liner notes to the CD reissue of her first album that "she was the only folk singer I ever met with an authentic 'folk' background. She came to the folk music scene under her own steam, as opposed to being 'discovered' and introduced to it by people already involved in it." There is a photograph from February 1961 (now printed on the back cover of the It's So Hard to Tell Who's Going to Love You the Best reissue) of Dalton singing and playing with Fred Neil and Bob Dylan, the latter of whom was barely known at the time. Unlike her friends she was unable to even capture a recording contract, spending much of the next few years roaming around North America. Dalton was not comfortable in the studio, and her Capitol album It's So Hard to Tell Who's Going to Love You the Best came about when Nik Venet, who had tried unsuccessfully to record her several times, invited her to a Fred Neil session. He asked her to cut a Neil composition, "Little Bit of Rain," as a personal favor so he could have it in his private collection; that led to an entire album, recorded in one session, most of the tracks done in one take. Dalton recorded one more album in the early 1970s, produced by Harvey Brooks (who had played on some sixties Dylan sessions). Done in Bearsville studios in Woodstock, it, like her debut, had an eclectic assortment of traditional folk tunes, blues, covers of soul hits ("When a Man Loves a Woman," "How Sweet It Is"), and contemporary numbers by singer-songwriters (Dino Valente, the Band's Richard Manuel). The Band's "Katie's Been Gone," included on The Basement Tapes, is rumored to be about Dalton. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

What we do know is she posessed a voice that can only be described as that of a white 'Hillbillie Holiday' if one can imagine such a thing, a rural, twangy, Okie timbre that polarised audiences, and scuppered any chances of commercial success on the level of a Dylan or even a Fred Neil: however, as she was more reclusive then even Neil himself, rarely even thinking about public performance, one suspects this is how she would have wanted it. She also only recorded two albums in her lifetime: this is the first, released in 1969 (allegedly she was TRICKED into recording it) by which time she had been on the Greenwich Village cicuit for some ten years!! Never a composer, these are highly stylised and personal renditions of traditional material, Neil, Jelly Roll Morton, Leadbelly, Tim Hardin and Julie London that, once familiar, can be some of the most rewarding listening experiences one could ever have. Extremely recommended.

WOW-I just found this next bit of info and was amazed that the writer also compared her lovely face to that of Winnie Cooper-
Karen Dalton should have been a national treasure. She should be a household name, but unfortunately she is not. She’s so underground she makes Nico look like Britney Spears.

I think this quote by musician Steve Ritchey said it best, “Karen Dalton’s voice sounds like the moment before you start to cry”.

Dalton was a strikingly beautiful girl, by way of Oklahoma, who became a fixture of the late fifties/early sixties Greenwich Village music scene. This was back when “the Village” was a magnetic sanctuary for artistic bohemians looking to live cheaply and start a cultral revolution.

Karen eventually found herself in the circle of beat standouts like Allen Ginsburg, Bob Dylan and Fred Neil. She is often referred to as the “white” Billie Holiday because well, she was white and kind of sounded like Billie Holiday. But that’s not really an accurate comparison.

I believe a better comparison for Karen Dalton is Nick Drake. The way the lyrics fall out of her mouth, the way she sounds in every song as a bird slowly dying from a broken heart; you could imagine her to be the saddest, most brutally beatiful thing to ever come out of the world. But there is that little wink of hope just like Nick had in his songs, that let’s you know in the end things might be cool.

Karen was known for playing the twelve string Gibson guitar and the long neck banjo. She released two albums during her time, It’s Hard To Tell Who’s Going To Love You The Best (1969; re-released in 1996), and In My Own Time (1971). The former album is said to be the better, more representative album of the two.

Karen predominantly sang cover songs, because she generally lacked the confidence to write original material (she was apparently tricked into recording one of her albums by a friend). However her versions are so good, many are considered the standard. She also performed live rarely with the exception of small coffee shops and dive bars in The Village.

As I mentioned earlier, Karen Dalton was strikingly beautiful. I can’t speak for her appearence in person, I can only estimate based on what I hear in her voice. Her voice reflects inner beauty. It sounds as beautiful as you could imagine your dream women to be. Beautiful like Winnie Cooper, beautiful like the first girl you kissed at camp. Amazing, poetic, quiet, dreamy, romantic, you know her well.

A voice so beautiful it should have changed the world, but instead it made only a tiny roar. Karen Dalton never recorded another album after 1971.

To this day Karen Dalton remains one of the most mysterious artists in folk history. Very little is known of her later years. She suffered through problems with drug and alcohol addiction all her life and possibly died from AIDS related symptoms in 1993, but few know for sure.

Unlike John Lennon, Karen Dalton wasn’t assassinated, but her story seems nearly as romantic and tragic. Perhaps it’s the mystery and astounding lack of information surrounding her life, or maybe it’s the haunting texture of her voice.

Karen Dalton draws you into every song with your mouth wide open, wondering how humanity let someone so precious wither away without knowing how special she really was.
(Michael Harris -- found at http://www.freshoutmedia.com/category/folk/)
Go take a small listen-- my favorite song is "a little bit of rain"
http://www.dotshop.se/ds/browse.php?aid=1639

Hippie Hypnorituals

Last night we closed up Ladies Night early (considering GAby is still on a master cleanse)
and the folk free spirit Devandra Banhart- was hosting his music festival titled "Hypnorituals and Mesmemusical Miracles Hanging in the Sky: 5 Nights of Soleros and Bandoleros at El Cid!!!!!!!"

(images by DB found at www.chrisbuck.com)

While he was only supposed to be curating the event- he did make some nice appearances on stage playing guitar along side Eric johnson as he read naughty clever poetry. The outside festive patio had the boys of DUB LAB holding down the D.J. booth- Kutmah, Joseh, Frosty and Jimmy from Postal Service. Julia was playing my favorite film DAISIES on the side of the building- and the minty mojitos were stronger than a punch in the face. I didn't bring my camera- but stole these images from my pal Taylor. Britt was looking fine in her new jeans and Sad Show Pony T-shirt. Farmer Dave was in the house playing on stage with the Mystic Chords of Memory.

Speaking of FREAK folk music--
This Sunday if you can score tickets you should try to attend the Hollywood Bowl show OS MUTANTES/Flaming Lips. Os Mutantes were best known for their Brazilian Tropicalia movement- magic capes- bridal veils, crazy costumes and controversy.

Hey-- found this online under info at the Hollywood Bowl-- to help describe the band and maybe get you more interested:

In late '60s Brazil, people wondered if OS MUTANTES (Portuguese for "The Mutants") hadn't come from another planet. Rita Lee and brothers Sérgio and Arnaldo Baptista not only dressed as freaky characters onstage, but their psychedelic, electric, and wacky music was light-years ahead of any music coming out of Brazil at the time.

Rita Lee Jones and Arnaldo Baptista met when they were 16 in 1964 in São Paulo. Rita was a member of an all-female vocal group that covered Beatles songs, and Arnaldo was the bass player in a band cloning the instrumental rock of the Ventures. Arnaldo's younger brother Sérgio, a 15-year-old guitar wizard, was recruited and the trio made it official in 1966 with their first TV performance as Os Mutantes.

Considered daring, strange, and provocative, the band recorded their first album in 1968, with a wildly imaginative sense of spirit. They chose, for example, to substitute a can of bug spray for the hi-hat, which was just the first in a series of outlandish inventions that the band developed in the studio amid giggles and guffaws.

The trio was introduced to singer/songwriter Gilberto Gil at 1967's Festival of Brazilian Popular Music, where Os Mutantes made a tremendous impact. The fact that the band used electric guitars - a first at an event traditionally dedicated to Brazilian popular music - shocked and irritated the leftist university crowd. Booed, the Mutantes were accused of having sold themselves to North American imperialists.

Soon after, the Mutantes, along with other Brazilian musicians, poets, and artists, became part of a feisty art movement, Tropicália, which questioned not only Brazilian music of the time, but Brazilian culture as a whole. Besides Gil, Caetano Veloso, Tom Zé, and Gal Costa were part of this group that eventually changed Brazilian music. And Os Mutantes had an edge - they sampled invented instruments and electronic effects, including oddly distorted guitar; on the 1969 song "Babe," Sérgio distorted his voice through a rubber hose connected to a hot chocolate can with a tiny speaker inside. This ingenious object was later baptized the now famous Voice Box.

In 1971 Jardim Elétrico was made but unfortunately never released. The album, the group's fifth, was a sign of a radical turn in the band's trajectory, and after Rita Lee's departure in 1972, the band immersed themselves in progressive rock. Through several lineups, Os Mutantes recorded three more albums before finally dissolving in 1978.

Since then, all three original members have remained active in music - but not together. So after nearly 30 years, the reunion "was kind of magic," says Sérgio. "It is an act of God…." In truth, Luaka Bop's Yale Evelev, David Byrne, and booking agent Tom Windish held the candle and got the first live shows booked - beginning with a May 24 show at the Barbican in London, part of the Barbican's "Tropicalia" festival.

The band, which has never before played in the United States, no longer includes Rita Lee, but is the original brothers Baptista (with female vocalist Zélia Duncan featured on the Rita parts), along with seven auxiliary musicians and their signature outrageous costumes. They come to the Hollywood Bowl as only their second show in the States (they play New York's Webster Hall on July 21), and then continue with four more American dates before deciding their next move.

In conjunction with the tour and the re-release of all the band's albums, the influence of Os Mutantes is being championed as never before. Having emerged as über-fans are indie-credsters including the Flaming Lips, Beck, Stereolab, Belle & Sebastian, L7, Fiery Furnaces, and Redd Kross. Earlier, Kurt Cobain had requested (to no avail) Os Mutantes to support Nirvana on tour.

THE YARDBIRDS

Sunday BBQs are always more exciting when the dueling guitars are brought out to the lawn. This past Sunday I saw the reunited duo Mr P. and Mike -- perform for a lawn full of fans. These two have been music mates since the days of Temple and Star Wars. They know how to play any song the crowd demands, although you will be scolded for requesting any Mamas and Papas or Jefferson Airplane. The Hippie Magic was at an all time high as we sang from blankets on the grass.

Jan the fan-

A face only a mother could love...oh Stu. Doesn't this look like Carol Channing as a doggy?

This would definitely be the record cover shot- The FAB Four may have some competition.

Before all the back yard music we enjoyed some amazing food and game playing. You can learn a lot from the sleep with game. That's the one where the men pick two people that the women must choose who they would rather sleep with- and vice versa (can be that celebrity in their prime young or old dead or alive) for example: Would you choose Mia Farrow or Twiggy? Would you choose Crispin Glover or Christopher Walken? Would you take George Harrison or Paul McCartney? This game provided us with at least an hour of good fun. After the homemade Mixed wild berry pie was served- the fat lady had sung.