Fever Ray

Fever Ray is Karin DreijerAndersson of The Knife.

The Knife is the aforementioned Karin and her brother and/or husband Olof Dreijer. There is an air of confusion, due mainly to lack of interviews granted by the Swedish duo, of their true relationship ~ I think it's now confirmed they're siblings ~ These are a bit dated Knife tracks, but the Fever Ray album was just released in March and if you have the chance to see them perform, do eet. They have a knack for the smoke and mirrors. And rad neon glow.

A Secret?

If you've never, you really should...

really check out the origins of this and many a more video from LA BLOGO. I may loose your frequency but Vincent Moon shoots the best bands in the best places ~ live and with the people. I picked Menomena on a whim, but be prepared to spend many many many an unadulterated and blissful hour here. See you laters.

Cinco de of the Day

Don't get me wrong, Hanna Barbara is okay and everything, but Warner Bros. did it the bestesterest. Mel Blanc and Friz Freleng are the kings of cartoons. The End.

Err, let me go on to say that Slo Poke Rodriguez is my favoritest character. He's lethargic as shit but when it's time to fuck with the gato, bingo.

SPEEDE GONZÁLEZ - MEXICAN BOARDERS
Uploaded by SUMMUMDESIDERATUM

Brooklyn Film Scene. So be seeing it.

Presented by Brooklyn Arts Council and curated by the Deirdre Corley.

Tonight May 5th @ Galapagos Art Space in DUMBO...

7pm: Brooklyn, and the issues you need to be should knowing.

"... a trio of short docs about issues facing Brooklynites. They touch on the subprime mortgage crisis in East New York, the displacement of residents due to the still unbuilt Brooklyn Yards project, and the firing of the principal of the Kahlil Gibran Arabic School. You know, things you should probably maybe care about but don't. Yet."

9pm: Crossing Borders: Flying on One Engine

"... about the fastest surgeon in the world. Each year he performs hundreds of surgeries on deformed children in India. He happens to live in Brooklyn, and hes also a really crazy interesting character. Seriously, its much funnier movie than it sounds. The film went to SXSW and a couple of other big festivals to good reviews, check it out on the big screen while you can. Its preceeded by a film called Sanza Hanza which is about insane train surfing kids in South Africa. Its beautiful and terrifying and you should come see it."

Wednesday May 6th @ Galapagos Art Space in DUMBO...

7pm: Living the Independent Dream: Brooklyn Filmmakers Panel

"... filmmaker panel featuring Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden (Sugar, Half Nelson), Tia Lessin who was nominated for an Oscar for Trouble the Water, Ramin Bahrani (Chop Shop, Goodbye Solo) and Sundance sensation Cruz Angeles. If you have any interest in filmmaking, this is a ridiculous all star line up, and you could learn a lot. Also, there will be free food."

Broadcast : Broadcast

From their 2005 release, Tender Buttons (audio only).



Young Marble Giants. UK band about 25 years before Tender Buttons was released.



From 1984:



And Broadcast.




* bonus Laurie Anderson:

Yanni of the Day

I Yanni'd! And it was fucking beautiful.
Last Friday night I saw Yanni live at the Radio CIty Music Hall.



Here he is now ~ sans signature moustache. Which is a pretty big deal as Yanni has no upper lip. He's got a funky muzzle.

A muzzle that I believe he shares with Lion-O. As you can clearly see.

Are you in London?

The Doves need extras. Kinda damn short notice if you ask me, Doves. They just released an album last month and start US/Canadian tour on May 14th. City near you?

And because it's so damn entertaining to listen to artists known as Prince complain about the record companies for stealing his dollars... he's smooth:

Celebrate Brooklyn! 2009

Celebrate Brooklyn! is performed at the bandshell in Prospect Park ~ in the evenings ~ throughout the summer. There is a suggested donation of $3 and here is an abbreviated sked of the shows that are not to be missed.

~Opening Night ~
JUNE 8th : David Byrne (check out his blog)

JUNE 25th : Femi Kuti & Positive Force

JUNE 26th : Blonde Redhead - myspace'd - video'd

JUNE 27th : Dr. Dog

JULY 1st : MGMT (Benefit Show ~ sold out)

JULY 9th : STREB (a Brooklyn dance troupe)

JULY 11th : They Might Be Giants For Kids! (It's a family show)


They Might Be Giants - Instanbul (Not Constantinople)
Uploaded by jpdc11

JULY 21st : Jackson Browne [Benefit Show, get tix]

JULY 23rd : Stephen Petrino Co. (dance, score by Nico Muhly)

August 1st : Dean & Britta; 13 Most Beautiful... Songs for Andy Warhol Screen Tests

~ NY Times "The music unabashedly translates the ominous drone of early Velvet Underground songs like I’m Waiting for the Man and Venus in Furs into a more modern electronic mode reminiscent of Giorgio Moroder’s chic torture-chamber disco." Uh, cool.

Britta sang the opening sequence to Jem! Truly outrageous.



August 6th : Purple Rain ( screening and sing-a-long)

August 7th : Deer Tick

August 11th : TV on the Radio [Benefit Show, get tix]

August 12th : Bonnie Rait & Taj Mahal [Benefit Show, get tix]

August 14th : Animal Collective [Benefit Show, sold out ~ second date below]

Still obsessed with this song/vid:



August 15th : Animal Collective [Benefit Show, get tix]

~ ~ You can find the complete lineup here. Celebrate! bitches.

Nick Cave of the Day

Nick Cave belongs to a secret society that goes by the not-so-secret name The Sons of Lee Marvin. Naturally, to gain entry you must possess a similar cut of jib to the late, great Mr. Marvin. Members include:

Jim Jarmusch: Founding Member ~ The Limits of Control ~ released today, May 1st, in selected theatres

John Lurie
Tom Waits
Iggy Pop
Richard Boes

They reportedly get together to watch Lee Marvin flicks. And I would like to believe that Lee Marvin would have totally been in a movie by the name of this Nick Cave song. If only it were made by someone. Which it should be. Someday.

Happy May Day.

In the Heart of the Beast: a puppet and mask theatre group.

These Minneapolians parade, ceremony and festivalize the unity of pagan and labor traditions. Perhaps you just have to be there... 35,000 people can't be wrong. Well, they probably could be but I love me a puppet show.


Prince Rogers Nelson is from Minneapolis. I bet he goes to the festival. He seems like a puppet kind of guy. Although he is a Jehovah's Witness. Not sure how that plays out.

Punk Puppets:


Electronica Puppet:


Supergrass Puppets:

Supergrass - Pumping On Your Stereo
Uploaded by fhouste

Stoned, masterbating Puppet:

Lily Allen - Alfie full
Uploaded by zuzana256

Artist of the Day

Rodriguez ~ Sugar Man.

Born in Detroit, Michigan in 1942, Rodriguez recorded and released Cold Fact in 1970. Unfortunately at the time, no one cared. At least in America.

Some Aussie's at Blue Goose Music bought the Australian rights to his back catalogue in the mid 70's ~ re-releasing his two studio albums and putting together a compilation album ~ so Rodriguez toured Australia in '79 and '81. Then, poof, he was gone.

But his music wasn't. That reissue in 1976 went platinum in South Africa... but Rodriguez had no clue until the late 90's ~ he was doing construction work at the time ~ when his daughter discovered his fame on a fan website. Then he began to do stuff again. And tour. Go see him.

*Playing in NYC on May 15th @ Bowery Ballroom.

Happy fuckin birthday, Willie.

Although he is reportedly born in 1933, I've never seen a picture of young Willie Nelson. Perhaps he popped out with that silver fox beard and braids. He is about as 'merican as you can get; a notorious red-white-n'-blue Texan, his daddy's name's Myrle, and he is defined by a genre he created. With some other rednecks.









Outlaw Country.

Down under. And slightly south east.

Flying Nun Records was founded in 1981 in Christchurch, New Zealand to release the bounty of kiwi punk and indie rock onto the world. They're now owned by Warner Music Group.

A DVD was released in 2004 with over 40 videos, paying tribute to the nearly three decades of operation for the indie-kiwi hit factory. Buy it here, or somewhere. Below are three of the featured bands.

~ painting info @ redbubble.com ~


The Clean:


Tall Dwarfs:


The Sneaky Feelings:


From 2009 release, The Guilty Office, The Bats:

Artist of the Day

Emily Haines of Metric.
Here's a single from Fantasies, released earlier this month. Tour Dates

I think honesty is the best things about art.

it's Nudie country music day!

Nudie Cohn was born in 1902, as Nuta Kotlyarenko, in Kiev and immigrated to the states and eventually NYC ~ via California and Minnesota ~ where he and his wife designed, crafted and sold G-String's to fancy ladies of Times Square, taking sole responsiblity for the first whale-tail sightings in America. A legend is born.

Returning to LA in the late 40's, Nudie roped 'ol Tex Williams into buying him a sewing machine, which was the traditional first anniversary present for manly marriages in California at the time. Nudie then set up shop designing and selling Hollywood western wear ~ as featured in photo above ~ until his death in 1984. He donned eccentricities on his feet as well, wearing two different boots to remind himself that he was color blind for most of his life and what did he care.

So began Nudie's Rodeo Tailors of North Hollywood. Nudie's original use of extensive rhinestones on his garments would forever enshrine him in the sparkly acrylic accouterment hall of fame. Unfortunately for him, his SP.A.A.H.O.F. induction ceremony was posthumously held. He would have loved it.

However, while alive, he outfitted some of the biggest names in country and western entertainment and a single suit would fetch upwards of $20,000. The gold lame number worn by Elvis on his 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't be Wrong album, which was mysteriously produced sans rhinestones... personally, I see room for more decadence. Nope? Well, it's one of his more famous concoctions.

From the 1950's to the mid 70's Nudie also donated time and money to the less fortunate of the greater LA area. He would drive to slums and ghettos in his self designed cars ~ he also worked with GM at the time designing and customizing many a moto ~ and hand out dollar bills with a sticker of himself over Washington's famous profile.

These autos were fashioned with silver-dollar-studded dashboards, pistol doorhandles, longhorn steer horns on the hood and were equipped with hand tooled leather saddles for the young cowpokes to ride on. Nader would have frowned.

Nudie's protege and former son-in-law, Manuel Cuevas designed the suits for The Beatles’ Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, Johnny Cash’s black suits, and the roses and skeletons logo for The Grateful Dead. Manuel worked with Nudie for fourteen years in LA. He's since moved to Nashville, continuing to outfit the country folk, opened Manuel's Exclusive Clothier's and apparently attends the tents in Bryant Park. Here he is:

A wee bit hobbitty... a long way from 'ol Nudie. I'll take the Nudie suit anyday. Any. Day.

Oh. That's him with Gram Parsons of The Flying Burrito Brothers. Enjoy.