January 31, 2008
At Night I Wake Up With The Sheets Soaking Wet And A Freight Train Running Through The Middle Of My Head.
I'm on fire.
Hey Little Girl Is Your Daddy Home, Did He Go And Leave You All Alone?
The healing properties in the food at Pie 'N Burger are astounding.
Also, the first two shows at the gallery are confirmed, but a secret still.
And it's going to be a busy weekend.
And also, Mud Cake.
January 30, 2008
January 29, 2008
The 4 Seasons In The Abyss.
My little brother Nick wrote drum parts to Vivaldi's '4 Seasons' and performed it in a gallery in Ballard, Washington in a period costume. Holy crap.
January 28, 2008
Written That Time That Our Love Was In Its Prime.
Oh has it ever been raining this weekend. Real live rain.
Who will be the lucky person to employ Reggie?
Dance the night away.
I'm totally sick right now. I have been fighting it, and it is winning.
Disaster.
Also, the gallery and making records have left me broke. This is an open offer to rich benefactors. If you give me money, I will take it.
High Places from NYC . Excellent.
Luke / Lucky Dragons. A seer. Bringing you a beautiful future, today.
Abe Babes.
And good news for North America, AV will be embarking on an extensive six week tour come summertime.
And these guys, these are the guys.
January 27, 2008
People Can Handle It.
A break in the storm and Dan Monick's studio.
Lucky bunny hat is getting real dirty.
Reggie making it happen. Oh, Reggie needs a job. If you have an excellent high paying job for Reggie, let me know. He is upper management material.
David doesn't need a job. He just TAKES what he needs.
Yes, there was a break in the storm.
But it came back hard last night.
January 26, 2008
I Wasn't Dressed Right, I Rarely Am.
Aska and Leona cooked nobe mono for dinner. Pronounced 'nah bay mah no'.
Say it, it's fun to say.
Babel was in rare form.
She was telling me about a farmland that she visits that is inhabited by ghosts. She says it's real, NOT imagined, and that she can access it through any mirror.
She also grabbed Camille's face and growled "God is real!". Wow!
Nah Bay Mah No!
January 25, 2008
And I Remember The Day It Broke.
Cloverfield left us feeling like we had taken bad acid two days before and still hadn't slept. That's not what I look for in a movie, though the night was fun anyway in a freaked out cheap speed Twin Peaks kind of way.
January 24, 2008
January 23, 2008
I Don't Even Know How To Hear It.
Good morning Babel.
Hello Weiss Family.
Why a church?
And what is all this about?
Ummm.
Why am I a priest?
Yes Babel, I see your shoes.
Nicole and Aska in next season's hot hairstyle.
Even Curtis Washington is doing it.
A lot of unanswered questions here.
January 22, 2008
More Will Be Seen Than Will Be Understood.
Jenna and I went to the gun club last night, and decided to go as if we were in a Raymond Chandler book.
The big gun.
We got there with less than an hour until closing. Had to move fast!
As happy as a king!
Shootin' shoes.
A natural marksman.
Shoot from the hip. I was copying our target, as I was already in his outfit.
Arsenal.
The big gun, the 500, blows hot wind at your face when you shoot it.
Buddies.
The happiest armed robber.
And afterward of course, it was creampie city.
January 21, 2008
I Would Be, I Should Be, Through and Through.
The long lonely Sunday.
The beginning of the two hour brunch.
The end of the two hour brunch. Kevin looks like a gunfighter.
We went and skated the Bronson Ditch.
Reggie made his shoulder bag out of scraps of trash.
It was good to be up there. Bright and clean.
California via Washington.
Shredders.
Sweet dragon guarding the ditch.
I got the blues. I am over thinking everything. I'm on a why when how trip. These guys cheer me up. Thanks guys!
And how come when you feel that way, you feel like you've ALWAYS felt that way?
Post sesh glow.
Getting whatevered in the Golden State.
Later, later, later.
White Lightning, no radio.
Daddy I'm in love with a thug.
Daddy I'm in love with a gangster.
Atonement. Late night.
Late.
On the way home, Keith Sweat and Mary J. Blige.
January 20, 2008
And Nothing Could Make Me Feel Better Than A Wet Kiss On The Mouth.
Not Not Fun, one of the greater labels existing right now, had a fest at the Echo Curio in Echo Park called Neon Commune. This is a picture of Antique Brothers.
The lighting guy was so good he needed a helmet.
Barn Owl played next. I was McLovin it.
Britt and Manda, the overlords of Not Not Fun. Congratulations you guys! They are also in Pocahaunted, who have definitely become one of my favorite LA bands of late.
Bethany. Internet lurker.
Pocahaunted really knocked my socks off last night. Knocked them clean off my feet. If you get a chance, see them and prepare to be transported. Serious.
Aska.
Matzah.
So then we went to a party. I am not real crazy about parties, but whatever, we went to this house on the hill in Eagle Rock, and there's Nate Harrington commanding the dancefloor.
There were new rave light projectors.
And Randy Randall brought himself a fine malt beverage.
David Kramer and Jim Smith.
Bext rapper Jamz F. Kennedy.
Boozehounds.
Later on I heard someone stole these light projectors. People sure are weird.
If you ever get the chance to dance with Camille, do it.
Lambada.
Seperated at birth. BFF time.
Life. It goes and goes and goes. Doesn't it?
January 19, 2008
I Hear A Smile And A Tear In Your Voice.
Jesse's show was incredible.
Ha ha oh shit!
It felt great in the heart of this little room.
It also felt huge in the heart of this little room. There's those bill monsters again.
This one sold almost immediately.
And so did these boobs.
The babe.
The show was packed for the entire 5 hours.
LA's best dancer, Clare, brought her Mom. Cute!
And Jena attached her hat to her coat with a homespun clip on apparatus.
Jesse's Father and Brother, Brent and Dylan. The Spears Family.
Everyone's inner critic, Nate Harringbone, doing what he does best. Vibing.
Dan Monick and his beautiful beard.
Mystery beer.
The Reveron Family.
My old friend Dann Gallucci was down from Seattle. Many years ago in an act of platonic love, we got each others last names tattooed on our lips. Really.
Jex said this was my eyes and nose. As if I couldn't figure that out. The likeness is uncanny.
Great Hall.
It was a great night. An LA winter night.
Congratulations buddy. I am so proud of you.
January 18, 2008
Random Rules.
This is just a small preview of Jesse's show tonight. I went and previewed it last night and I am so proud of my friend. Not to be missed. Tonight!
Berdhouse Gallery. Friday Jan. 18th. 7 - 11 pm. 1505 1/2 Echo Park Ave.
January 17, 2008
Inside The Golden Days Of Missing You.
A couple in a painting class both attempt the same dog, I think.
That wind last night blew Camille's window right out of it's frame.
So she came over.
And we watched the 'Pit And The Pendulum', in glorious technicoler.
January 16, 2008
BOXY
Jesse's show on Friday. You will be sooo bummed if you miss this. I know. I've seen the work. It is so BOXY.
January 15, 2008
January 14, 2008
The More It Tells You The Less You Know.
These are pictures my Mother, Susan deWitt, took in Mexico and developed at home. Aren't they incredible? Mom, whatever you're doing, keep doing it.
January 13, 2008
The Good And Perfect Gift.
Take those unpaid bills and make them into the monsters they already are. So, the empty space. What is it? I will tell you. Teenage Teardrops and The Family Store have secured the lease on a gallery space! This is some kind of dream come true. Today was the first big hang there, looking around trying to figure out things like what to rip out, what to keep, what kind of lights to get.
Robert Live Long showed up.
David and his tech deck.
David's shoes showed up.
We decided to start drawing, and whatever everyone did we would tape on the wall for the first show that very night.
Aaron came to get in on the action.
And Juanny Marr.
And Spanky came and brought Jesse some shoes.
Everyone was hard at work. There was a quiet celebration in the air. We, this community, have a gallery and a clubhouse. This is amazing.
How many more incredible nights will go down in this room this year? This is a lucky, lucky thing.
Mama Jenna came.
And Spears got to work on her show that happens next Friday.
Oh and there's Camille. The birthday girl. Happy birthday Baby C!
Oh dear God now Reggie and Kate Hall are in the mix.
Yeah, you get the picture. A huge pile of fine and good people all bringing their own special brand of energy into the room. In an effort to erase all past vibes from the room, and to start with a fresh and positive vibe, we all wrote 'old bad vibes' down, and threw it into the middle of the room.
And we burned them. Cleansing by fire. A blessing.
Watch what came before burn, say goodbye to it and open the door to what comes next.
Ashes.
Of course I don't know the first thing about running a gallery. I do know what I don't like though, so we'll have none of that uptight shit. No, this will be a home to the people who get it.
If the rest of the year is anything like today was, I may die of a combination of satisfaction, inspiration and hope.
In fact that might be a good name for our little Echo Park gallery.
HOPE.
January 12, 2008
Strange Things Happen Everyday.
What is going on with this empty gallery space?
January 10, 2008
An Act Of Connection.
Here is Dean hard at work filling orders for his label, PPM. If you ever wondered what it looks like to have a label, this is it. Boxes of records and crap everywhere, and a lot of labeling and stickering and stuffing. This is a look beyond the glamour, and into the eye of the label owners personal storm. This work space doubles as your bedroom.
The new ramp is almost done.
Nice form.
Later on, Jesse bought the "Colossal Universal Remote'.
And I bought a new box of 'Bald Guyz', because there's nothing better than a nice head wiping.
January 09, 2008
Tell The Stories That Matter To You Most.
The final night of The Smell's 10 year anniversary was a truimph. On a very rainy Sunday night, it was at capacity from the get go.
DSS delivered one of the finest sets I have ever heard him do. Setting the tone for my evening.
I am proud to call this man my friend.
Spunt and Hall.
Brendan's new band Disaster!
I am going to keep it a secret what it was like, but I am backing it. It made me feel good and happy and it made me inspired and I laughed too. Feelings.
Tekken Tile / Dottie Randall.
Jenna's sister and sister's friend. She had never seen Jenna play. Same family / different universe.
Sylvie et Aaron.
And Aaron's new tattoo! Nice boobs!
Kramer.
Silver Daggers!
They were great. It was so stormy outside and inside it was just non-stop.
Fast Forward, as a marching band, played a brief [45 second] set. They marched through the front door, through the crowd, out the back door. Sudden, short, and sweet.
Abe Babes played. They will be a major force in 200gr8. You know where I stand with this amazing band.
Nice shirt Clare!
Michael Vidal, post show smoker.
Though you may think that there is light hitting Cundo on the face, that is actually light coming out of his face.
Mama.
Oh shit! Mika Miko!
Sylvie made a lot of memories to bring home to Paris on this night.
Great big energy.
And a 99cent beach ball.
Subtitle! I haven't seen him in forever!
Here comes No Age.
Nice shirt Randy!
They were ripping, completely. The new songs are masterpieces, and beyond what they've done so far. Shredding.
It was the end of a marathon show, the end of a show celebrating ten years of The Smell. An endurance that leaves you satisfied, a total celebration.
And new at The Smell, on your way out, be sure and visit Nate Walton's bookstore. He has excellent taste, and can answer all your questions about fine literature.
New Smell bathroom, still white! Jesse and I are going to change that next week.
No Cage this year.
200gr8 is officially here.
January 08, 2008
Jackpot!
To help pump you up for the release of 'Honk Honk Bonk', the latest 12" from Soiled Mattress & The Springs, here is their latest video offering. I am listening to the test pressing as I type, and it will be finished and ready to order very soon. Are you ready?
What Was I Thinking When I Said It Didn't Hurt.
Crazy stuff going down today. Good crazy, all year long craxy. Nervous crazy.
Once I have all of the pieces in hand, I will give a full report. In the meantime, here are a couple of late top ten listers.
Bryan Ray-
1. Baby's Being Born
2. Punk Is Dead Punk Is Everything Finished
3. Help Yourself Help Yourself being perfect
4. More Mathew Thurber Art
5. No Age!
6. Gorlitzer 1 Collage On Paper
7. Kambucha To Make Me Feel Good
8. Brooks Brothers No Iron Shirts
9. Turning 40
10. Starting A Two Piece Band at 40
And good old Jessica Hopper-
Some things I really appreciated about 2007, in vague Order.
1. The continued health, safety, sobriety and being aliveness of
friends and family and myself and even some people who aren't my
friends. And my cats too.
2. Getting a book deal .
3. summer night solo bike rides through the meat market.
4. The disguised blessing of Matt moving to St. Louis, and not just
because I love talking the Lincoln Service train there and seeing the
rural sights.
5. Seeing Peter Brotzmann and Mats Gustafsson play several times,
being moved to tears by saxophone bluster.
6. David Mamet's book Bambi vs. Godzilla
7. Seeing Abe Vigoda, Screaming Females, Mika Miko, Matt Clark solo,
Fiest and No Age for the first times.
8. Learning to make pottery on the wheel.
9. My night out with the moped gang (tied w.) my night in the
haunted corn maze.
10. Managing to stretch the reading of Blue Highways out over several
months and finally finishing.
January 07, 2008
It's A Wishing Well.
Sneak peek at the show Jesse is busy making!
Get BOXY in 200gr8.
The Blizzard Of Tube Top.
I am not even scratching the surface. This show is going to KILL IT.
I'm with this guy.
Who will win the inevitable fight that will go down to own this list?
Haha holy crap!
Babes on Boxy.
Dottie Randall.
It's secret, it's safe, and it leads to the hole in The Smell.
This is the front yard of her Dad's house.
It is a wild and untamed place.
Out there looking for four leaf clovers.
Just out there looking around.
January 06, 2008
Il Pleut Conne Si Tu Pleurais.
It's actually raining in Los Angeles. I went to Choke and Jeff made me one of those special coffees that he makes.
And I met up with Aaron and my new friend from France, Sylvie.
We we're getting pumped up to take in a rainy day matinee. The Orphanage!
Little Tornado. It was a fun movie with the always scary child ghosts.
Later on it was time for Alexis to tattoo a beautiful lady on Aaron.
Light reading during the set up.
I have a funny story about the first time I met Alexis, but I will save that for some other time.
This drawing lives forever on Aaron's arm now.
But I will have to show you that later as well, because by midnight I drove home and turned into a pumpkin.
January 05, 2008
It's Hard To Do Right In This Filthy Night.
David Kramer modeling the first ever Teardrops shirt! Designed by the great Matthew Thurber! Avilable NOW.
I have smalls and mediums. If you want large or XL, email me. I will make more.
$15 ppd or $20 international. Cheap, and very attractive.
Desperation Is The Devils Work.
This is going to be a total meltdown, brain fry, endurance, marathon. Rest up, arrive early.
January 04, 2008
There Will Be Blood.
As happy as a King.
There Will Be Blood is incredible. It contains what is maybe my all time favorite fight seen, which I won't spoil for you. It happens in a mud puddle. Mud eater.
There Will Be Blod.
January 03, 2008
It Shines, It Flashes.
The Baby Vigo with Anton at the 6th annual New Years Day breakfast.
Baby C and I cooked lentils for everyone, because lentils in the new year brings $$$$$$$$$$$.
With dog.
With hand.
First hoging of the year.
There was love in the house.
We all ate a thumb. The good luck thumb. Thumbs up!
The ghost of Anna Karina was there.
Let this handsome and innocent little fellow be your spirit guide. Enough craziness went down this year to fill three books. Everyone take a breath, take a step back, and remind yourself what's most important. We are all imperfect humans, just doing our best.
If you don't believe me, just ask Sage.
January 02, 2008
How Often Do You Fall In Love?
Here's something special. Something fine and beautiful to look at for you. An engaged couple, deeply feeling it.
Let this engagement ring be a symbol of all that we should hope for in the new year. More of this, less of that. Long live innocence. Here are some top favorite lists from various pals. What inspired you in 2007?
Young Nate Harringbone -
In no order-
10. 77 boadrum
9. free trips to ny in february and july
8. dub club
7. panda bear
6. my friends
5. the field - from here we go sublime
4. soberly makeing* out with girls
3. working on being positive
2. planet earth DVDS
1. accepting myself
*i know i spelled making wrong, but i think the way i spelled it is more aesthetically pleasing, to my eyes anyways.
Jen Bucken -
Top Ten for 2007
•Getting engaged & my amazing fiancé
•Seeing Morrissey on my birthday
•Cat Power live & new album "Jukebox"
•Trying XXXX & being into it
•Purple satin Vans
•Getting paid to write about fashion
•New Kills album "Midnight Boom"
•"I'm Not There" Bob Dylan film
•Lots of Motorcycle rides
•Becoming friends with Max Schaaf
This is off the top of my head and while there were lots of good times all year, these stuck with me.
Leslie and Gustavo deWitt -
of course wanted to do my top 10 movies so I looked back in my
netflix files and realized I watch 80% french films because I've seen
every thing else and because they are my favorite favorites. So here
are my top 10 french films (hope this don't come off as too hardwood
snooty!)
1. Le Samourai (Melville)
2. Masculin Feminin (Godard)
3. Le Jour Se Leve (Carne')
4. Le Corbeau (Clouzot)
5. Le Cercle Rouge (Melville)
6. 400 Blows (Truffaut)
7. Au Revoir Les Enfants (Malle)
8. Band of Outsiders (Godard)
9. Rules of the Game (Renoir)
10. Rififi (Dassin)
*** (Blue is one of my favorite films in French but I think of it as a
Polish film....)
Hans Munk -
Hello friend.
I made my list for you. It's not in any kind of order though - I couldn't make up my mind.
2007 top ten:
-going to california with my girlfriend and meeting new friends
-going to finland and staying in the woods in early autumn
-starting bands again
-watching gorilla biscuits for some hardcore nostalgia
-watching the boredoms perform at the radio koncert hall
-watching gang gang dance perform in a movie theatre
-the sads, no age and everything else on teenage teardrops
-the helvetica documentary
-the new repo man records store in copenhagen
-fixing our apartment
Corey Brewer -
Movies I saw this year (predictable, no?) not in order:
Hour of the Wolf (1968)
When the Levees Broke (2006)
Superbad (2007)
Millers Crossing (1990)
children of men (2006)
Pans Labyrinth (2006)
Zodiac (2007)
Darjeeling Limited (2007)
Swimming Pool (2003)
Aguirre: the Wrath of God (1973)
Jexxe Judy Spears -
top 7 feelings
1. happy
2. great
3. adventurous
4. excited
5. busy
6. hungry and about to eat
7. full
top 7 shoes
1. cortezezz
2. fart shoes
3. dirty high top whatevers
4. those high top winos
5. plaid vans
6. red vans
7. the target shoes
top 7 color combinations for poms
1. black, neon speckles
2. pink, red
3. thrift store orange, brown, yellow, black
4. white, little bits of color
5. grey, light grey, black, red
6. pink, grey
7. blue, light blue, white, with gold string
top 7 shows i went to
1. 6th and alamedo warehouse after the echo....mika miko, abe babes...who else? did no age play again?
2. dash snow after party!
3. breakfast show at the smell
4. crazy show at the smell where guy got kicked out
5. black dice at the echoplex....because i met kevin spanky <3
6. lavender diamond at family
7. wait i need to do this list with you....i am forgetting an aawesome abe babes show and a dss show...and i just can't remember them right now
ohhh fuck mika miko at the fucking glass house a couple weeks ago!! that was the bexxxxt after party....how could i forget?
the hole?
i have to touch up this list....its not finished yet.
And my own favorite things that happened this year,in no order, and I will surely forget something -
ANP Quarterly.
Boadrum 77 on 7/7/7.
Barr 'Summary'.
Finishing my year of Interferon and being free of hepatitis C.
La Vie En Rose.
Sex/Vid 'Tania'.
Brother Reade 'Rap Music'.
The Cinefamily curating the Silent Movie Theater.
Bone Awl 'Meaningless Leaning Mess'.
My therapist, Marty.
Pocahaunted / Robedoor split cd.
Getting to contribute to Bryan Ray Turcotte's amazing book, 'Punk Is Dead, Punk Is Everything'.
The Sads 'Silent Show' at the Journal Gallery in Brooklyn.
Meeting all kinds of new friends through blodding/labeling who are amazing and inspiring and living in the future now.
'Help Yourself Help Yourself' by Patrick deWitt.
Eating at Flore, Fatty's and Soul Veg.
Night hikes.
The Mountain.
Soiled Mattress and the Springs 'Honk Honk Bonk'.
Etc..
And mostly, most of all, this year for me belonged to Los Angeles, and the insanely non stop positive and excellent arts and spirit coming out of this city. Too name but a few things/peoples - The Smell, Abe Vigoda, PPM, Mika Miko, Sir DSS, The Sads, No Age, Ooga Booga, Smashing bottles with Jexxe, Family, Mosher Hall,Tiny Creatures, countless shows, countless openings, and the most spirited and active community that I have ever seen. It was truly a stunning time just to be alive, and all signs point to yes for it continuing this year.
Total Crazed Naxos. Let's go!
[BTW-The pics don't coincide with list makers. Duh.]
January 01, 2008
Sharing Life, Unable To Be Alone.
Aaron has been busy beautifying everything he owns.
Baby C and Juanny Marr.
Blog raver.
You should know, The Smell turns 10 this week. All week long, every night, there is an incredible show/celebration. If you're in LA, go down, pay tribute, get involved. 10 years for a place this magic is a miracle. The Smell is the heartbeat breathing life into everything I love most in this era. Jim Smith deserves the key to the City.
Just ask Juan where he might be today without The Smell.
Ask Robert. Ask David. Ask around. You get the picture.
This is where I will be the first week of the new year.
Divine Inspiration.
2008 is going to be the most hectic year yet. Happy new year.