Thursday, April 30, 2009

FUTURE ANIMAL COSTUME DANCE PARTY

WITNESS
It's all happening at Robinson House this Friday! DJ Blake Brandon, SIMIAN GIBBONS, and special guest DJ CHINK CHONG CHINA (of Leopard/Dog and formerly Hey La La) will be banging out the future animal sounds of Austin til the wee hours of the morning. Are you ready? Be ready. Are you excited? You should be excited. I have seen the costumes people are making, and let me just say, wow. Let's make this futuriffic. That's right, I said it

BONUS NOSTALGIA VIDEO

MUCH MUCH TO DO

and that means much much to talk about. Let's start with some things happening today that slipped my mind
The fine folks at parts and labor are celebrating their reopening with beer, vodka, and clothes/various artifacts created by local designers/artists. I was never aware that they were closed, but it's a good thing they're back. I'm a big fan of the New Bohemia and Parts & Labor family, so go out and give them some love from me while I'm at work
And all the way from the exotic landscape of Oklahoma City, WILDLIFE brings you Kids at the Bar! As always, it's happening at Barcelona. WILDLIFE is everywhere these day, no? Good for them
No idea what this is really, but it's $5 for some live music and all the really tasty coffee you can afford. And Anglophilia abounds at Elysium:
I wonder if anyone will have the nerve to play Elastica. Prepare to hear music from Manchester

FRIDAY COMES LIKE A LION
My good pals in the Eastern Sea are doing a live recording! That's cool! I remember back in the day when Matt was playing by himself, with just a guitar, a tape recorder, and a dream - er talent. You get the idea. It's always goo to see an old friend doing well. If you're interested, facebook event page is here
And back with a new color scheme, it's the weekly TGIF party. Looks like a familiar slew of talented gentlemen will be providing the musics

SATURDAY
The White White Lights are opening for UME at La Zona Rosa. Highly recommended! More people I know making music. I'm hugely biased, but whatever. The WWLs are only getting better. I hear tell there's a $5 cover, but you can dodge it if you RSVP. Lots of house parties on Saturday, but for the sake of preserving friendships, I can't say more. Text me if you know me

More to come! Happy birthday to everyone! Congratulations!

BONUS

more where that came from here

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

ALL FOR SHITAR

It is too humid to feel human. Oh spring, why do you taunt me with sunshine only to soak me with mist all day. Well, don't let that bum you out. I mean, the ACL line up is coming out soon and, oh wait -WHY? There are maybe, ok 8ish bands on there I don't actively dislike for some petty reason. Looks like I will have to keep begging ACL to let me justify the price of admission. I got some items of interest for ya, though. Might help dull the pain. Free air conditioning with ever purchase!

TONIGHT














VULCAN VIDEO presents the seminal horror comedy, "Blood Diner" in supa rare 35mm format! It's got all the tell tale signs of a fine film: sleazy policemen, cannibalism, unlicensed surgery, Egyptian goddesses that need to be appeased, and the list goes on. Every time you've found yourself laughing at a scary movie, you've really been wishing that, somewhere in the twisted tubes of your black heart, that it was this one. Missed this one a few years ago and ended up watching a VHS copy that broke about 3/4 through. I am correcting that mistake tonight. Screening starts at 10:15. Show up early!

And for those of you who like your escapism to involve less gore/blood and more dancing
Details and DJ Blake Brandon are bringing the music to Back Alley Social tonight. Be sure to check it out! And then there's always the new standard for Tuesday nights.
And it looks like Kary Kadaver is up this week. Wild! Life! does like to bring in those awesome out of towners

WEDNESDAY

Moth! Fight! are playing as part of the "late night" aspect of the Fuse Box Festival. I've been remiss in covering Fuse Box events, but there's such a wide variety of things going on, not all of which are so clearly associated with the festival, which itself is an extremely broad interdisciplinary showcase. It's ongoing until May 2, so I'm going to try to catch events when I can. For tomorrow, you need to know that the show is at the Art Authority for $5, doors at 7:30.
I honestly know next to nothing about this. I'm pretty sure it's their first Creekside show. Digging the unicorn horse thing though. I think triangular mountains are a new flier standard. Look out, robot heads and naked ladies

On to THURSDAY
It's a monthly Learning Secrets party LANAI, and this time they're bringing cheap Red Stripes and $3/Sex on the Beach. That's an easy way to get your daily dose of fruit juice, sugar, and booze in one easy dose
If you're down for venturing a few blocks south to Copa, Grant C Dull, Whats Up Buenos Aires, Peligrosa allstars with Zizek, and Richard Henry will be doing their thing. I've heard really good stuff about these guys. They're really blowing up in Argentine, which is cool. I generally trust Argentina. More info about Whats up Buenos Aires and what it's all about (here)

Monday, April 27, 2009

EARTH FOR THE EARTHLINGS

This post is dedicated to the interplanetary disco of SPACE




(I can't imagine how, but skip to 3:00 if you get bored)

Wonderful, no? Their music and videos have such a simple concept, but play out so well. I even got you an MP3. You know who loves you
Space - Magic Fly

Wow, what a weekend! I'm glad I didn't let the terrible weather stop me. I think you will agree, however, this is very sad:

RIP
Bea Arthur

"After being in the business for such a long time, I've done everything but rodeo and porn." Said by a woman who made a career of turning shit bricks into shimmering ice diamonds of sarcasm.

Friday, April 24, 2009

ZOMBIE PARTY

You heard right. Wear that zombie stuff with the goo and the make-up and the moaning and the dancing

FILMY RESIDUE

Looks like I will be in town this weekend, after all. Weeeeeee! So much stuff to do!

Anyways, I was surfing the internet at work yester- no, I mean I was researching upcoming events in the film industry at work yesterday and guess what? No, it's not more ceaseless Batman casting rumors, documentation of the insane cross promotion for the Wolverine movie, or on set gossip from "Iron Man II." It's actually movie news that has nothing to do with comic books. Yes, some people still make movies that are not, in fact, based on comic books. Shocking, no?

WITNESS

The official lineup for the Cannes Film Festival

OPENER
"Up," U.S., Pete Docter, Bob Peterson

CLOSER
"Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky," France, Jan Kounen

IN COMPETITION
"Bright Star," Australia-U.K.-France, Jane Campion
"Spring Fever," China-France, Lou Ye
"Antichrist," Denmark-Sweden-France-Italy, Lars von Trier
"Enter the Void," France, Gaspar Noe
"Face," France-Taiwan-Netherlands-Belgium, Tsai Ming-liang
"Les Herbes folles," France-Italy, Alain Resnais
"In the Beginning," France, Xavier Giannoli
"A Prophet," France, Jacques Audiard
"The White Ribbon," Germany-Austria-France, Michael Haneke
"Vengeance," Hong Kong-France-U.S., Johnnie To
"The Time That Remains," Israel-France-Belgium-Italy, Elia Suleiman
"Vincere," Italy-France, Marco Bellocchio
"Kinatay," Philippines, Brillante Mendoza
"Thirst," South Korea-U.S., Park Chan-wook
"Broken Embraces," Spain, Pedro Almodovar
"Map of the Sounds of Tokyo," Spain, Isabel Coixet
"Fish Tank," U.K.-Netherlands, Andrea Arnold
"Looking for Eric," U.K.-France-Belgium-Italy, Ken Loach
"Inglourious Basterds," U.S., Quentin Tarantino
"Taking Woodstock," U.S., Ang Lee

OUT OF COMPETITION
"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus," Canada-France, Terry Gilliam
"The Army of Crime," France, Robert Guediguian
"Agora," Spain, Alejandro Amenabar

MIDNIGHT SCREENINGS
"A Town Called Panic," Belgium, Stephane Aubier, Vincent Patar
"Ne te retourne pas," France-Belgium-Luxembourg-Italy, Marina de Van
"Drag Me to Hell," U.S., Sam Raimi

SPECIAL SCREENINGS
"Petition," China, Zhao Liang
"L'epine dans le coeur," France, Michel Gondry
"Min ye," France-Mali, Souleyumane Cisse
"Jaffa," Israel-France-Germany, Keren Yedaya
"Manila," Philippines, Adolfo Alix Jr., Raya Martin
"My Neighbor, My Killer," U.S., Anne Aghion

UN CERTAIN REGARD
"Samson & Delilah," Australia, Warwick Thornton
"Adrift," Brazil, Heitor Dhalia
"The Wind Journeys," Colombia, Ciro Guerra
"Demain des l'aube," France, Denis Dercourt
"Irene," France, Alain Cavalier
"Air Doll," Japan, Hirokazu Kore-eda
"Independance," Philippines-France-Germany, Raya Martin
"Le Pere de mes enfants," France-Germany, Mia Hansen-Love
"Dogtooth," Greece, Yorgos Lanthimos
"Nobody Knows About the Persian Cats," Iran, Bahman Ghobadi
"Eyes Wide Open," Israel, Haim Tabakman
"Mother," South Korea, Bong Joon-ho
"The Silent Army," Netherlands, Jean van de Velde
"To Die Like a Man," Portugal, Joao Pedro Rodrigues
"Police, Adjective," Romania, Corneliu Porumboiu
"Tales from the Golden Age," Romania, Hanno Hofer, Razvan Marculescu, Cristian Mungiu, Constantin Popescu, Ioana Uricaru
"Tale in the Darkness," Russia, Nikolay Khomeriki
"Tzar," Russia-France, Pavel Lounguine
"Nymph," Thailand, Pen-ek Ratanaruang
"Precious," U.S., Lee Daniels
Looks like a good year to me. So many big directors in the competition, too. Lots to talk about, but the thing that immediately popped out at me was Lars von Trier's "Antichrist." During its initial filming, von Trier issued a press release claiming he was too depressed to continue making movies and was considering retiring altogether.
Many began to label "Antichrist" as a lost film, while an equal number thought it was one of his trademark publicity stunts. Whether it was legit or not, I had a feeling he'd be back. And how we are excited about Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg getting scared shitless

TRAILER


DISTURBING PHOTO
Sorry, it had to be shared. Speaking of odd, mind scarring portrayals of sex, if you have somehow missed Isabella Rossellini's "Green Porno," you have not been taking advantage of having eyeballs
No, it's not Isabella Rossellini having sex, per se. "Green Porno" is a series of reenactments/explanations of how different animals have sex, made using the supplies/budget of a grade school drama teacher. It's exactly as interesting and hilarious as it sounds. Watch it! (HERE)

If you have made it through this post, you should do something to celebrate: listen to the rain fall softly, take a nap, and then wake up at 8:30 tomorrow and eat some free ice cream
There is also rumored to be art by lovely people, giant chess, music (the good kind), and a see saw. If you're going to ignore the day-long nap part of that advice, don't forget VEGA's EP release party is tonight at Beauty Bar.

If you're looking for something fun to do before that, a friend of mine (whose DJ name I don't know, eek) will be spinning and clicking and mixing up some "synthpop√ italoelectro√ darkdisco√" at Back Alley Social at 10 in the PM. He claims this is a flier:
Either way, it is fine listenings to make the dance with. Happy birthday to Charlene, too!

BONUZ

Thursday, April 23, 2009

WORLD OF TOMORROW


Hey you, it's ART WEEK AUSTIN! Highlights here, full listing (hHeErReE)

AND TODAY
Lots of art shows this time of year. The sunlight must make people want to look at things.Like this thing. Look at this thing. This looks interesting. Check out the artist's rather sparse site for more and then come out to the show
And KVRX wants dollars. More specifically, they kindly request 7 of yours in exchange for a show by Car Stereo (Wars) and some other local bands I have yet to become familiar with. We must investigate
Irresponsible Voltron is coming at you with a flier that looks like a Voltron. It doesn't look too irresponsible here, but that's OK. I don't really want to see Voltron driving drunk, forgetting to pick up its kids from daycare, or paying its gas bill 3 months late. Just like every Thursday, it's all going down at Barcelona

FRIDAY THE 24TH
VEGA VEGA VEGA
VEGA + PRINCE KLASSEN + DONESKI, wow. You're sure to find something you like in there. Hell, you might even like all of it. Fresh from exposing Crystal Castles as whiny narc babies, VEGA is celebrating the release of a new EP. For free! Do it! Simian's Friday pick. Period.
In case Booty Bar gets too crowded for you, there's this. Lot's of potential here. Still haven't made it out to Back Alley Social, but they seem to be getting their act together fast, no? Also free! And for those who prefer more rocking and less rolling, Mohawk has got your back.

SATYRDEI
Come eat cheap pizza, drink cheap beer, and watch people eat alot of pizza and drink alot of beer. That's right, it's a pizza eating contest. I think team registration is closed, but don't let that stop you. It's tasty pizza, too. The action happens 3-7 Chris Riley wants you to come eat free vegan ice cream from Nada Moo! That's theirs exclamation mark, not mine, but I'd put it there anyway. Alot of great bands here; bands that are not just great "local" bands, but great in general. If Cry Blood Apache was from New Zealand, they would still be cool. Yes, even New Zealand. They're just that good. DJing action in between sets provided courtesy of DJ MSCLVZ. He will be likely just have flown in from Berlin, but Rome is also a possibility. In other news, Chris Riley just got an endorsement from the Chronicle, but that shouldn't stop you from continuing your support and involvement. Actually voting is also important. Caring is also nice. If you haven't been paying attention to local politics, this is a good chance to start getting involved via eating, listening to music, and drinking. Perfect? Yes This looks great, too. On any other weekend, I'd be screaming at you to go to this. Track down the RSVP, if you want to dodge the cover Local art, music, and free beer are coming to the Blackerby Violin Shop. There's no real flier, so I'll just tell you it's from 6-12 at 1111 W. Anderson Ln. It's a good thing

I wasn't kidding about there being alot of art shows. UT's graduating design class is exhibiting for one night only, 6-9 at the Flatbed World Headquarters. Maybe I will meet someone to redesign my blog. Oh joy

NO SHIRT NO SHOES NO SUNDAY
The Austin Video Bee will be doing its thing 1-8 at the Art Authority. If you didn't sign up, it's too late now, but don't forget to check out the results at the premier, May 2nd. Count on hearing more about that
I don't remember what I wore to my 8th grade dance. I think we had a sock hop, actually. Could be fun.

This weekend looks like it's going to be a storm of niceness! Almost makes me wish I wasn't going to the coast. Almost. FYI My Bloody Valentine was great. I will spare you the awful pictures I took with my cell phone. If you get the chance to see them, do. And make sure and get close. And bring earplugs.

BONUZ MVSCLZ VIDEO

Monday, April 20, 2009

WAG TEAM

I've just had the good fortune to re-discover a 1997 action epic that, if I'd had the good fortune to have watched it when it premiered, I'm pretty confident would have made me break out in hives. I mean that in the best way. No, I'm not talking about "Men In Black," "Air Force One," or "Face/Off." If you guessed "Titanic," you would also be wrong

WITNESS

Hark Tsui's "Double Team"

Wow. This movie chock full of the pre-Matrix action movie isms that defined the
Hong Kong influenced big budget action of the 80s and 90s. Take that style, throw in some crazy (a fist fight with a tiger, cyber monks, scuba go go dancers, and some elements that reek of martinis shaken, not stirred), and you get something like "Double Team." It's an action flick trying to wear an epic's suit. The result is ill-fitting, but endearing nonetheless. Of course, my next thoughts were "Is there a seguel?", "Is it possible they will make one?", and "Where are those talented gentlemen now?" I found answers to my first two questions relatively quickly (no, NO), but the third requires a more complex answer

Jean-Claude Van Damme
The years that followed "Double Team" found Van Damme starring in increasingly obscure, foreign release only vehicles. This process occurred gradually, but Van Damme has continued to work steadily. Most of you reading this will already be familiar with the film many have categorized as a comeback for the aging action star, 2008's "JCVD."
This film is an endearing, intensely personal depiction of the interplay between Van Damme as a person with very real problems and the fading image of himself as an international martial arts action star. All in all a total surprise. I will not ruin it by trying to describe it. I will, however, tell you it's out on DVD next week, so check it out!
It's unclear at this point what impact this foray into post-modern drama will have on Van Damme's career. So far, he's continued to make films much in the pattern he has for the last decade, one exciting exception being the announcement of the long awaited third, oh:
technically fourth film in the Universal Soldier series. Ok, not a huge departure, BUT it will have Dolph Lundgren in it. Nostalgia-driven dorky excitement abounds. After all, maybe returning to an old school, big budget action formula is what JCVD needs. NOBODY needs more of this

Dennis "The Worm" Rodman
Rodman's flirtation with Hollywood has remained
sporadic. His most notable forays into film following double team have been the 1999 action "comedy" "Simon Sez" and the 2008 Itailian super hit, "The Minis." You have got to see this
I can say from personal experience that "The Minis" will make you question all that is music, sports, short, and possibly real. It also features the best blue screen effect ever. No joke. Italy loved it, though. They had Happy Meal toys and cross promotions out the hey-ho.
Rodman's shown up on foreign TV and a few episodes of "Celebrity Apprentice," but the movie gods have not granted him any further full-length film projects. Yet.

So, who does this leave us now? You'd barely know it from the trailer, but Mickey Rourke was in "Double Team," too. By "in," I mean he was actually the main villain of the film! He actually has more screen time than Rodman does! The fact his mention was excluded in promos for the film is an amazing sign of how far Rourke's star had fallen by this point. This photo is from two years prior.

The sections of the story/film that directly concerns Rourke reeks of cut scenes and extensive re-writes. I'd go so far as to say the story seems to have been completely reinvented to avoid the character. In fact, Rourke and Van Damme are rarely ever in the same frame, with Rourke's presence often reduced to a disembodied voice issuing from a loudspeaker or walkie talky. When he does physically appear, his dialog has been re-dubbed extremely badly. Always a good sign the actor was having some trouble saying lines clearly and generally making his mouth the right shape when he spoke. Adding chemicals to your brain will do this. Although still in amazing physical shape, this is clearly Rourke on the descendant. Thanks, drugs!
You don't need me to tell you about Mickey Rourke's return to glory this last year: "The Wrestler," his Golden Globe win, Oscar nomination, and the more general recognition of his talent. If you have been alive and in contact with other humans, I'm sure you're aware of that. What's to come is what's interesting

Rourke has worked consistently through his personal problems, usually in second tier crime thrillers; usually wearing sunglasses; usually in a supporting role as an "ultimate badass" or a villain. In some respects, that's not likely to change. As with JCVD, he may have reached a renewed level of public acclaim, but still has a certain lingering public image, and a niche market that, if anything, would welcome his continued badassery more warmly than ever. The long-delayed release of "The Informers," his role in Stallone's "The Expendables," and his rumored casting in "Sin City 2" and "Rambo V" fit this pattern. Admittedly, I haven't seen those movies yet, so I'm making educated guesses here. Unlike JCVD's role in "JCVD", however, Rourke's performance in "The Wrestler" was NOT a reinvention of himself as an actor, but rather a
renaissance, a return of something that had been muffled, but never smothered. Rourke seems to have duly returned to Hollywood's good graces, giving him starring roles in more serious Oscar bait type projects, as well as a confirmed role as a villain in "Iron Man 2," opposite Robert Downey Jr. On a special note: And yay for Robert Downey Jr.'s comeback, too. Yay for that! If it were possible, I would want those two to make a baby, so it could grow up to be my new favorite actor: Miwney Rouret Jr. Also, what a perfect name for NPR.

Admittedly, I will continue to watch Rourke and JCVD's movies, regardless of whether they continue to crush my heart (gently within their strong, strong hands) and simultaneously give me a renewed appreciation for life, or just blow things up and act like it ain't no thing. Either way, I think they are awesome with what they do. That makes me hopeful -- hopeful that maybe, in time, the world will even give Dennis Rodman another chance. There has never been a "Space Jam" sequel, just sayin'.

In unrelated, but more timely news, My Bloody Valentine is playing tonight! Who's excited? More importantly, who else is going? Ladytron and the Faint are playing at Stubbs tonight, too. Try as I might, I can't get excited about that. I've never been big on the Faint, but I will admit there was a time I listened to Ladytron like it was the only thing keeping me alive. Both times I've seen them live have left me kinda flat. Their demure, too cool to move thing that's so cool in their photos can come across as awkward and stiff on stage. Maybe this time will be different. If you check it out, let me know how it goes down, because I'sa curious.

AND AND this weekend is shaping up to be pretty epic, so expect an events post soon

BONUS


Friday, April 17, 2009

MAGIC WEATHER

Thanks, rain. Guess I'm NOT starting my pepper garden today. But! I have goodies for you. Firstly, this portion of today's post is dedicated entirely to the majesty of

The internets have been aglow with their ear candy magic for a month or so now, but I can't let that stop me from telling you how much I'm digging this stuff. I could go on hyping them up, but I'll let these tracks speak for themselves. I've got an original for you, and an absolutely tits remix of a classic track by Newcleus (so near and dear to my little black heart)

Phone Tag - Timing

Newcleus - Jam On It (Phone Tag RMX)

Wonderful, no? Perfect music for when the sun returns. Show them love on the myspace (herez)

ART TONIGHT
UAHA and My Kid Could Paint That want you to come check out student artwork, eat cupcakes, and listen to tunes provided by KVRX DJs tonight @ the Art Authority 8-Midnight. Art prices range from $5 to $150, so you can even take some of the magic home with you

Art this SUNDAY
Oh look, an art show. One day only! 7-10pm @ Co-Lab (613 Allen on the East Side). I will steal the words the artists chose to describe it (insert deep breath here): "Drawing from the collections of Warren Aldrich and Lillian Gerson, comes a frantic onslaught of visual information reminiscent of the cluttered energy of a packed flea market stall or an overcrowded garage sale. Both artists work with a strong collage mentality handling every medium with a process of accumulation, from the paintings composed of minuscule dots and dense layering to the assemblages of found objects. Just as each individual piece is essential to the series, so too is the crowded context crucial to the singular, thus leading the viewer to seriously consider the possibility that quantity can truly dictate quality." Sounds cool.

I went there for AWTHUMFETHT a few weeks ago. They have a cool thing going on

And Beauty Bar wants to give you a chance to buy things! Bless 'em
Musical equipment, clothes, and booze? Oh neat. Do have a good weekend and do brave the rain to do things

Thursday, April 16, 2009

FFRRURRSSDDAYY

Quick update before I head off to work. So tired, so spacey, so glad to be writing something that isn't 12 pages pages long and lacks a clearly stated thesis in the first paragraph. Mercy

What's with this rain on the weekends business? Let's hope the sky cuts us a break. If any sky gods owe you a favor, now's the time to call it in

BUT TUNITE
Richard.Gear's weekly spot at Barcelona. That's the bar on 6th, not the city. Maybe someday, but not today.
Zee perennial noise makers known as the Hype Headz present MOM&DAD at Elysium tonight. Haven't heard too much M+D, but what I did sounded really interesting, un-average, and not at all what I was expecting
No, that's not just any guy in a pink tank top, it's so-and-so of the Pillow Queens! He and whats-his-face and that-guy-yeah-him are playing with Dikes of Holland, Over the Hill, and Alright Tonight @ Red 7. Monofonus Press will be giving out door prizes to the first 50 people to walk in the door, so get there early!

FRIDAY SEEMS SO FAR AWAY (but it's just tomorrow, after all)
DAN "MOTHERFUCKIN" DEACON @ EMO'S. This guy is kinda popular, so ya know, show up early if you don't have tickets already. His live setup seems pretty crazy this time around. From the pics I've seen, there's ALOT of live instrumentation. THAT'S CITIN' TO ME

SATURDAY

Hey, it's world wide Record Store Day and BACKSPIN RECORDS is having real live DJs, a record sale, and what's this? FREE BEER? Can it be? Sweet. In case you've never been to this little prize of a wax shop, it's located on 4631 Airport, just down the street from some shitty video store, whose name escapes me right now. Go buy records before I get them all

More to come. I might even throw some MP3s at you, who knows. Stay sleep deprived, Austin

BONUS (CUZ I'M FEELIN IT)