House for sale

Wanna buy Mike Giant's house in Albuquerque? It's for sale.

Youtube is my DJ

One of my favorites The National have a new song called "The Runaway" on youtube that is amazing. These guys just seem to get better and better. They are able to put out great, more mature, thought provoking songs while retaining that quirky wordplay that make me double take every time. If they were making movies they would be Caddyshack quotable.



Another one of my all time favorites, Iron & Wine, here doing the song Godless brother in Love as part of the promotion for his new album of rarities Around the Well even though this song isn't on it!! It's amazing none the less. The only problem I have with Iron & Wine is that i compare everything he does against the Trapeze Swinger, probably my favorite song of all time(or at least top 5).

The Simpsons

Everyone loves the Simpsons. From Kevin Carpio's site.

Tom Beil, throw in a fish

Tom Beil, my wife's cousin, has some sweet art on sale at YoWangdu along with a pretty cool interview.

Ryan Adams Hello Sunshine

Ryan's second book Hello Sunshine is available for preorder in Hardcover. Preorders include a signed chapbook, his first book sold out quick so if you want one get on it.

Anyone who read Adam's blog posts last year when he was blogging daily will be familiar with the choppy, illustrative style. I was able to buy his first book and it made for a strange but enjoyable read. It looks like I won't be able to afford this one and it sounds pretty good, blurbs here.

Lionel

I stumbled across this French tattooist named Lionel. That's pretty much all i know besides the fact that he is an awesome artist and is booked for months. Is there anywhere on me that this style would fit? He has a site with more work here.

Loser Goes 1st Love

I got some love from Scot over at Loser Goes 1st. Check out this latest series he's working on, it's amazing. I've never had the experience of intimately following one artists development over years and it is absolutely fascinating to see how far an artist can come and still retain that thing that makes their work instantly recognizable.
Check in on Loser Goes 1st on a regular basis, he's doing a monthly free art giveaway!!

Artist Milk

This work is really cool check it here. via neatorama

Marianne Dissard

This video is pretty brilliant. My wife really likes this girl and keeps telling me the Calexico dude did most of the heavy lifting.

Word

The Portland Mercury

My brother(pictured above in what must be a rock stance) sent me a care package and included a copy of the Portland Mercury that I've had a great time reading. Part of the fun, besides the ads, was looking through the concert schedule. If I were in Portland here are some of the shows i'd try to see.

LadyTron and The Faint May 1st Roseland $20
Ben Lee May 4th Berbati's Pan $14
The Shins/ Delta Spirit May 6th Crystal Ballroom $35
Destroyer May 7th Mississippi Studios $18.50
Flight of the Conchords May 14th $38.50
Ben Folds May 15th Roseland $30
The Kills/ The Horrors May 17th Wonder Ballroom $16
Sun Kil Moon/ Matt Costa May 21st Wonder Ballroom $20
M. Ward May 22nd
The Avvet Brothers May 23rd Crystal Ballroom $20
The Melvins May 24th Roseland
Animal Collective May 25th Roseland Ballroom $20
Peaches June 2nd Wonder Ballroom $20
Neko Case/ Jason Lytle June 5th Crystal Ballroom $25
The Lemonheads June 13th Mission Theatre
Ben Kweller June 16th
David Byrne June 23rd $39.50

Wow, that adds up quick.

Mike Giant/ Dalek Opening

Gretchen and I had a great time at the Mike Giant/ Dalek opening last night at the Magda Danysz Gallery. The art was absolutely amazing! Dalek's work ranged from small pieces to almost wall size pieces that he had done earlier in the week, they all had his intricate geometric thing going on. It was really easy to get lost in the lines. Mike's work was amazing, his precise work is even more impressive up close. Several of his pieces were Paris inspired and needless to say I've got some new tattoo ideas. I picked up a copy of Coup D'Etat which covers some of Mike Giant's recent work and travels. Many thinks to the Magda Danysz gallery for putting on the show and Drago for the free absinthe.
Slam X Hype has a great write up of the show on their site.

Mike Giant Opening

The Mike Giant/Dalek opening is this weekend down the street at the Magda Danysz Gallery. Interestingly the evite to the opening says that they will be launching the book Muerte but the book pictured has a different cover and a different name(Coup d'etat), could this be a new book?

edit- He's not coming. There must be more to it then this. I am bummed.

SE Racing

I remember back in my BMX days when SE Racings P.K. Ripper was the shit, they were rare in Tulsa but there was a nice all chrome one that was at the riverside track from time to time. Well the Ripper is back and not only that but SE has jumped into the fixed gear pool. They have some pretty sweet bikes at some really good prices.

One Dead Milkmen show

The Dead milkmen are such a huge park of my childhood(and I still listen to them a bunch) that I still can't fathom why they aren't huge. Anyway about three people will care about this post(phil, Main and Pat) but the milkmen(who appear to be playing with Johnny Knoxville if the above picture is any indication) have a show in NYC and their officaial site reports that THEY ARE REHEARSING NEW MATERIAL!!! It's been way too long.

Bikes, Zombies, Wolfmen

Someone tell Tom Neely that this would make a totally bad ass t-shirt.
I wonder if G would let me get a Zombie tattoo, awesome work from Thomas Hooper.
Check out this Cinelli Mike Giant traded a picture for, how many bikes does he have at this point? I'm jealous.

Osheaga

Pretty decent lineup at Osheaga this year.

Lisa Hannigan Sea Sew

I listened to the unbelievably cute Lisa Hannigan's latest album Sea Sew on the metro today. The challenge to listening to something on the metro is that it has to be pretty engaging to compete with a group of Hare Krishnas or a crazy eyed Frenchwoman eyeing the seat next to one of your kids.
I only know Hannigan from her amazingly beautiful work with Damian Rice and was expecting the same sort of sound from this solo album. I was pleasently surprised to find that this album isn't simply a one note production capitulizing on her work with Rice. While the album has its slow and delicate parts she quickly reveals a real heartfelt, playful sound. At several points in the album she brought to mind Edie Brickell(I mean that as a compliment). I've gotta say it held up very well on a chaotic metro ride.





You gotta love an Iron & Wine cover.

Hooper's Electric

Those of you who know me know that I love tattoos. If I had more money I'd probably be covered.
I recently came across Thomas Hooper, a tattooist from England now working in NYC. His work is phenomenal, I spent the last two days working my way through his blog Hooper's Electric it is full of amazing pictures of his work. He also has some amazing t shirts that you can buy here.
Check out that zombie crow.

Borderline

Check out this Flaming Lips cover of Madonna's Borderline. Pretty amazing work, It reminds me of the Tortoise/Bonnie "Prince" Billy covers album from a few years ago.

Vic Chesnutt and Elf Power

Last week Phil and I went to the Vic Chesnutt show at Cafe De la Danse. Teitur opened the show followed by Elf Power who also acted as Vic's backing band.
Teitur played amazingly beautiful singer songwriter fare. He explained that he didn't usually play these songs on a guitar(It was just him and a guitar) instead he was a piano guy. Regardless, it sounded great.
Elf Power was next and they sounded great.
Finally Vic Chesnutt took the stage and put on a great show. He and Elf Power made a record together and the majority of the set was from the ew album but he did dip into his back catalog a few times. Vic was very candid and chatty between songs covering subjects from Micheal Stipe and the recording of his first album to Independence day.



Vic and Elf Power Performing I'm Mean.



Independence Day

Todays Selection

As I've said before I love the shuffle feature on the ipod and if I'm not listening to a podcast or a French lesson I'm shuffling. No one but me will find this interesting(I know, my wife told me so) but these are the songs my Ipod played for me today.
Moon Sailing on the Water - Mason Jennings
Song for Today - Pete and the Pirates
Campus - Vampire Weekend
Hold onto your friends - Morrissey
Just Saying Hi - Ryan Adams
Easy - Faith No More
Sleeping In - Postal Service
The Skin of my yellow country teeth - Clap your hands say yeah
Sweet Illusions - Ryan Adams
History of Lovers - Iron & Wine
Death take your fiddle - Spiritualized
Yesterday - Atmosphere
Somebody Remembers the Rose - Whiskeytown
Talet Show - The Replacements
Fuel for Fire - M. Ward
The Absence of God - RiloKiley
Tramp the Dirt Down - Elvis Costello
We All Lose One Another - Jason Collett
If You've Got the Money Honey - Willie Nelson
Of Angels and Angles - The Decemberists
Way Over Yonder In the Minor Key - Billy Bragg and Wilco
Reason To Lie - Whiskeytown
Catapult - R.E.M.
Rastabilly - The Dead Milkmen
Hank - Jay Bennett
Instant Pleasure - Rufus Wainwright
Thunderbolts - A.C. Newman
9 Crimes - Damien Rice
For Whom The Bell Tolls - Metallica
Everybody Hurts - The Meat Puppets
Rhythm & Soul - Spoon
Drummer - Coconut Records
The Good Times Are Killing Me - Modest Mouse
Fake Empire - The NAtional
Devil's Johnson - Ethyl Meatplow
Marduk T-Shirt Men's Room - Mountain Goats
Blue Flower/Blue Flame - Destroyer
Etienne D'Aout - Malajube
Fix - Pedro the Lion
Parental Discretion Iz Advised - NWA
Avalanche - Ryan Adams
From Me to You - Ryan Adams
I am part of a large family - Great Lake Swimmers
I turn my camera on - Spoon
Ceiling fan in my spoon - The Lemoneads
Be the One - Ting Tings
Joyful Girls - Ani Difranco
More Adventurous - Rilo Kiley
Please Forgive Me - David Gray
Manniquin Republic - At the Drive -In
Aftenoons and Coffeespoons - Crashtest Dummies
Saint Jerome - Coconut Records
Dirt On Your New Shoes - Bishop Allen
Hand In Glove - The Smiths
Superman - R.E.M.
In the Aeroplane over the Sea - Neutral Milk Hotel
The Idea of Growing Old - The Features
One Armed Scissor - At the Drive In
Pink Night - Jason Collett
Scorpio - Grandmaster FLash
Boomboxes and Dictionaries - The Gaslight Anthem

Stipes Digs

I'm a little behind on this but The Selby(an awesome site that photography creative people in their work/home environment) has pictures of Michael Stipe and Thomas Dozol's place in NYC. Pretty cool digs. Check it here.

The Switch

Phil got me a great Chrome messenger bag so I had to do a switch, I was a little amazed at how much stuff I had in there. Here's the rundown, clockwise :
1. Baby wipes (my kids attracted dirt before we moved to a city where they could touch things that 4 million other people had touched)
2. Lemon wipes (anytime I'm offered these at a restaurant I take them).
3. Emergency scarf (It seems like it's 10 degrees cooler in the 15th)
4. The Ghost of Abraham Lincoln (He haunts me).
5. Tissues and Handkerchief (We are a snotty bunch)
6. Plastic bag (There is no such thing as a doggy bag in France and with my kids ordering trackrecord...)
7. Green squishy thing (Dylan needs this from time to time)
8. Tickets to the Miro/Picasso exhibit (That's cool right?)
9. I.D. for Dylan
10. Metro tickets and my Navgo card (because you've gotta get around)
11. Sunglasses
12. Water
13. Moleskine (I have two because one is full but has addresses and stuff that I need)
14. Paris map (even Parisians carry these.)
15. A tiny compass (this thing comes in handy)

Ryan and Mandy sittin in a tree

Well several semi credible sources are reporting that Ryan Adams and Mandy Moore are engaged. I for one think that's great, he's awesome, she's wicked hot and i assume they are both happy so more power to them. It isn't a shock, they've been seen together off and on for at least a year and if she is part of the reason that he's cleaned up and seemingly got his shit together then god bless her.
Now the important thing is what does this mean for his music career that was (possibly) being put on hold? I'd guess that this will have a positive effect on his desire to make music although we may not see him on the road as much as in the past. Mandy seems like a very centered, level headed woman and that is just what he needs. I'm also a little excited about what this means for her music career, she has a great voice and his influence could really push her in a direction that RA fans would appreciate. Now about getting an invite to the wedding...