Jesus ok, know I haven’t updated for a second but man this has been kind of a crazy 2 weeks filled with mucho ROCK. First of all, last last Friday we threw a really fun show for BLUES CONTROL at Studio 1510 in West Oakland. Super great lineup that included WORK (Sarah from 16bitchpileup and Erin from Child Pornography), JAWS (one man band, white pants and a knife) SIC ALPS (the same band you know and love now with noel from comets on fire playing drums) and of course Blues Control from NYC. (Terry Riley was playing up the street, but Blues Control is basically the modern equivalent, dig?) The only bad part was that I forgot my damn camera so I have no video or pictures of it. BUT the good news is that since the show was in a studio we got a really nice recording of all the bands, which I will post now for your benefit. You can thank me later. Or thank LEIF from Studio 1510 (aka “East Nile”). Send him a postcard.

SIC ALPS

BLUES CONTROL

JAWS

WORK

Right after that Ezra was here and we practiced and wrote a new piece and then went down to LA to play it.  We played at the ECHO with 60 WATT KID, BEST COAST and TEARIST, all totally sweet bands that represent a cool cross-section of what is going on in LA, (and 3 out of us 4 were female-fronted, so howabout that?)  Which is part of the reason it was especially flattering to get this really nice write up in the LA WEEKLY…  The picture choice is a little funny, as it shows the old European tour lineup from 2 years ago, but I guess the one with 4 people really does look the most like a real “band” and nothing says “lead singer” like a miniskirt!  But all kidding aside, it was a very nice surprise and a great review. 

Another great thing was playing this new piece that I really like.  It’s huge and epic with swirling strident viola exploding into industrial guitar feedback.  It’s also about 15-20 minutes long, which I feel like is a really good length for a song.  We got a chance to track it in a little back shed in Claremont, and the question now of course is how to put it out.  Do we try to record more and make it part of a “full-length” album?  Does it make any sense to release “full-length” albums anymore?  Is one 20 minute piece the same as an EP?  What if we put track breaks in it?  Does a work that long still cost 99¢ on iTunes?  Please weigh in with comments if you’ve got any advice.  In some ways it seems so baroque!  having to wait for a physical object.  But on the other hand, something that never makes it out of ones and zeroes is kind of like the puppet that never becomes the real boy…  

me and lil sis, funny face

Right after I got home from that lil sis showed up to practice for our new grunge band WHEEL.  I had been wanting to make music with her again since she played with me in Some Dark Holler when we opened up for Throbbing Gristle.  She is an all-around excellent player, but in many ways the part I like best is harmonizing vocals with her.  It’s a total old-timey/Carter Family style pleasure, the sister vocals relating and overlapping, weaving around each other.  Our first show was a little shaky but overall really rewarding.  Here’s a short video of the show we played at 21 GRAND in Oakland:

That night’s show was especially fun as I got to reconnect with some old and new friends.  

TALK NORMAL at 21 GRAND

We played with TALK NORMAL again, who have a new record out on Rare Book Room Records.  Here is a video of them from when we played together in Brooklyn.  WET HAIR also played that night, which is Shawn Reed from Racoooon’s new band.  Someone described it as the Doors playing Can, which I liked, cuz there is lots of nice tranced out Manzerik-sounding keys, and also singing that is kind of a Morrison/Suzuki hybrid.  But that’s a stretch so don’t quote me!

colin's black eye

jeff and darren cuddle up on the couch

WET HAIR at 21 GRAND

Another good thing is that I finally got to give Shawn a master of some solo material that will be coming out as a tape on his label NIGHT PEOPLE.  It’s all little song-y things that were improvised straight to tape late at night mostly in my bedroom, using the voice function on the tape player to create a weird whirling atmosphere, really using the tape as another instrument.  It’s going to be called Little Sketches On Tape, and I’ll post more info as the release date nears…

Sorry this post was so scene-y but these coupla weeks were crazy!  Next post will include roasted kale recipes and outfit ideas that utilize blaze orange.

Mark Lanegan, American musician of Screaming Trees

Dimanche 22 Novembre 2009 avait lieu à Quelneuc une partie d’airsoft (loisir semblable au paintball).  La journée avait pour thème le post-apocalyptique.

–> (définition du post-apocalyptique dans wikipédia).

Afin de plonger les joueurs dans cet univers, j’ai réalisé divers éléments :

- Un livret leur rappelant les règles de jeu et les différents aspects de la journée.

- Divers objets utilisés pour le jeu (râtelier, stimpaks…)

- Un décors de BAR style post-apocalyptique.

- Des retouches sur les photos de la journée.

Mother Love Bone

I en tid da musikken var viktigere enn musikkvideoen. Et pittelite utvalg klassikere!

Temple of The dog

Alice In Chains

01 – Disbelief
02 – Take It
03 – Written Apology
04 – Super Monkey
05 – Get On
06 – Course
07 – What’s an Epidemic
08 – Mr. Teacher Dad
09 – It’s Expected I’m Gone
10 – Frozen
11 – Sheepshit
12 – Rob Hates

Download Here!! // Bajar de Acá

Este álbum, editado en el año 1993, tiene un sonido de grunge bastante crudo y simple. No fue una banda muy popular pero se llegaron a relacionar con bandas como Jesus Lizard, Fugazi y Rollins Band. La banda tenía dentro de todo un punto de vista crítico y con un mensaje político aunque no se apreciaba del todo en sus letras.

El 2009 nos trajo de vuelta a varios emblemas de los años 90s, entre ellos Alice in Chains. La banda ha regresado en gloria y majestad, desafiando a todos los que pensaron que no podrían sacarse de encima la figura del difunto Layne Staley.

Antes de la muerte de su vocalista Layne Staley en 2002, Alice in Chains ya llevaba un buen tiempo de receso. Una vez ocurrida tal tragedia, la confirmación de la separación de la banda no fue una gran sorpresa. Desde entonces comenzó a erigirse el nombre “Alice in Chains” como una verdadera leyenda del rock de los 90s, en particular de lo que los medios llamaron “grunge”. Y como leyenda, nada parecía presagiar un renacer, un nuevo disco, y menos un nuevo cantante. Esto último sobre todo, tras constatar que la figura de Staley fue y será demasiado intensa como para que alguien ocupe su lugar.

Pero de la esencia del vivir son las sorpresas, y los restantes miembros de AIC no hicieron sino confirmarnos aquello en 2005, cuando decidieron reunirse para un par de recitales en beneficio de las víctimas del tsunami de Nueva Orleans, ocurrido en 2004.

Se especuló mucho sobre quién sería el reemplazante de Staley. Finalmente, y para sorpresa de muchos, el elegido fue William DuVall. Se trataba de un desconocido para la abrumante mayoría de los fans. No así para Jerry Cantrell, quien había trabajado ya con el cantante en el contexto de su carrera solista.

Tras un buen tiempo girando con este nuevo Miembro, Jerry Cantrell, Mike Inez y Sean Kinney, decidieron que había que revivir a Alice in Chains a lo grande, esto es, no sólo para seguir girando. Entonces, el desafío sería volver al estudio, grabar un nuevos temas con DuVall, hacer una obra a la altura del prestigio de la banda, y rendir un merecido homenaje a Layne Staley.

Así fue como este 2009 llegó a nuestras manos lo que hace un par de años nadie hubiera creido posible, un álbum inédito de Alice in Chains: Black Gives Way To Blue.

¿Qué se podía esperar de este renacer? Para la mayoría siempre fue una incógnita. A priori, el desafío para los músicos era enorme. Primero, lidiar con quienes sostenían -y muchos aún sostienen, para precisar- que no deberían haber retomado el nombre “Alice in Chains”. Segundo, lograr canciones que no decepcionaran ni mancharan el enorme legado que dejaron en los 90s. Y finalmente, lo más difícil quizás, llenar adecuadamente el espacio dejado por la muerte de Staley.

De esta manera, tras la primera oída, Black Gives Way To Blue deja en claro que AIC era, y es, mucho más que un solo integrante. La primera impresión, más que impresión fue una sorpresa, pues todos los desafíos ya nombrados fueron vencidos de la mejor manera.

Abre el disco ‘All My Secrets Known’. Inicio con el ritmo cadencioso y lúgubre al que siempre nos tuvo acostumbrados Cantrell y los suyos. Lleno de simbolismos, como el estribillo “a new begging”, es la ideal apertura para la obra.

Sin pausa continúa ‘Check My Brain’, uno de los temas liberados por la banda antes del lanzamiento del álbum. Se trata de un tema más “radial”, pero siempre con la guitarra en su tono característico y el sólido Sean Kinney en lo rítmico. En los coros notamos el excelente complemento entre las voces de Cantrell y DuVall, encajando a la perfección tal como cuando el dúo era entre el guitarrista y Staley.

A pesar de lo anterior, a lo largo del disco DuVall no adquiere mayor protagonismo en lo vocal. Salvo excepciones, como en ‘Last Of My Kind’, el nuevo vocalista no fue demasiado beneficiado al momento de “asignar” una voz a cada canción. La mezcla tampoco lo ayudó mucho, pues cuando canta a la par de Cantrell, la voz de este último se oye mucho más sólida y fuerte.

Con ‘Your Decision’ y ‘When The Sun Rose Again’ se da un descanso a los clásicos riffs eléctricos, y es posible rememorar las clásicos temas lentos de la banda. El primero me recordó el disco homónimo de 1995, y no se queda chico ante los temas tradicionales en esa clave. El segundo es más oscuro y melancólico, aproximándose más a lo que podíamos oir en ‘Dirt’, con esos pequeños momentos de protagonismo del bajo de Inez.

‘A Looking In View’, ‘Acid Bubble’ y ‘Lesson Learned’ confirman que Alice in Chains no está muerto, y que cualquier tema que compongan -por paradójico que parezca- efectivamente sonará a Alice in Chains. No se trata de un grupo nuevo, pues se rescata la esencia clásica sin parecer un mero tributo a lo que alguna vez fueron.

Cierran ‘Private Hell’ y ‘Black Gives Way To Blue’. Describir más sería repetir lo ya dicho. La banda ha regresado y lo ha hecho con un disco 100% recomendable, tanto para los viejos fans como para las nuevas generaciones. Junto con lo nuevo de Pearl Jam, en este 2009 hemos podido revivir lo mejor de los 90s, y sólo nos queda esperar con entusiasmo que estos emblemas del grunge visiten nuestro país el 2010.

A topic debated for decades now. Personally, I’d give the edge to Pearl Jam. They just keep producing albums and never seem to sell out. Nirvana, on the other hand, is overrated. Granted they pretty much helped kick open the doors publicly to grunge, their music isn’t as good as PJ’s. The overall consensus leans towards Nirvana however. I guess another poll for another time would be “Would Nirvana be considered the Top Grunge Band if Kurt Cobain Never blew his brains out??????”   Think about it. Anyways, it would have been nice to see a dangerous performance lastnight at the American Music Awards, but I was let down again of yet another year of lackluster hip-hop lip sync acts. I’m wearing my worn down flannel shirt right now…peace out….

I lördags var jag och såg Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars med Vän. Efteråt stod vi stjärnögda utanför bion och fattade inte riktigt vad som träffade oss.

Jag har lyssnat en del på David Bowie, men jag har aldrig sett en filmupptagning från någon spelning. Och… nu förstår jag liksom vad hela grejen handlade om!

Filmen är alltså en upptagning från Bowies sista konsert som Ziggy Stardust på Hammersmith Odeon 1973, och från det att han äntrar scenen tills bandet går av igen sitter jag som klistrad. Bowie byter kläder typ fyra gånger under spelningen och varje gång blir jag lika andlös över hur fantastiskt snygg han är. Men fast det är så pass mycket yta och teater känns det helt självklart och äkta. Han ger intryck av både pondus och självdistans.

Jag blev väldigt nyfiken på hur fansen tog övergången från färgexploderande, kontroversiella Ziggy Stardust till den slätstrukna kostymman jag upplever att Bowie blev på 80-talet. Hade jag varit med (ja, alltså, medveten) på den tiden hade jag gråtit blod: min besvikelse hade antagligen inte känt några gränser. Kände folk så, eller var de bara glada att han fortsatte göra musik över huvud taget? Finns nån David Bowie-fantast som kan fylla i luckorna?

Ungefär så här lät min och Väns konversation efter filmen:

Vän: Fan… androgynitet är det som gäller nu.
Jag: Ja eller hur. Jag fattar inte vad du håller på med. Du har ju ialla fall chansen!
Vän: Men jag måste bli lite mera skinny.
Jag: Äh du är väl skinny?
Vän: Ja men… inte så där.
Jag: Undrar om David Bowie var tvungen att sluta vara Ziggy Stardust för att han inte orkade svälta längre? (funderar)
Jag: Vi måste ha en Bowie-fest.
Vän: Ja.. där vi lyssnar på låtarna i precis den ordningen de var på spelningen. Och så måste jag be (annan väns namn) att sy upp några Bowie-kostymer åt mig! (drömmer)
Vän: Jävla åttiotal som förstörde androgyniteten. Eller förresten, åttiotalet var kanske ganska androgynt det med.
Jag: I alla fall till mitten, slutet… sen kom grungen och dödade den. Fan! Om jag hade fattat det då hade jag kanske inte gillat Nirvana så mycket! (aggressiv)
Jag: Men alltså… de där sista kläderna… med den genomskinliga tröjan…
Vän: Och de där tajta brallorna som slutar här (pekar på ankeln)… och platåträskor…
(båda himlar med ögonen och dör)

Sebelum aku tukau template blog ni dan tajuk besau blog ni; aku ada buat satu entri yang aku taip bahawa blog aku akan bertambah kurang ajar dan biadap. Jadi, aku tukau template ke warna hitam, aku buboh gambar kepala di lilit bandage. Nah; siap dah semua ciri-ciri blog yang bakal bercerita secara kurang ajar dan biadap… masa tu, aku nekad… yearghhh… sikap rebel pemuda awal 20-an akan kembali aku nyalakan… yearghhh!!!

tetapi…

2 minggu sudah berlalu, masih lagi tiada entri kurang ajar dan biadap. Apa dah jadi? tanya Pak cik S.M Salim. Where did all goes wrong? tanya Liam gallagher. Entah lah; naluri aku menjawap. Mungkin faktor usia; segala rampage dan rage yang berlaku di contain dan di pagari dengan cermat dalam kepala hotak. Aku bukan pemuda rebellious di awal usia 20-an lagi. Aku secara tak sedar atau sedar telah mengawal rage itu setakat di minda dan tidak diterjemahkan ke dalam perbuatan. Saban malam aku duduk depan kompiter; nekad mau taip satu entri paling durjana dalam blog meraban ni… sudahnya sejam kemudian yang terhasil adalah entri yang sopan belaka. Umpama anak bujang yang first time tengok anak dara berjalan sopan menunduk tika melintas depan orang tua.. begitulah gamaknya sopan aku ni.

Mana perginya N.H.M yang dulunya selalu aje melempar henpon ke dinding jika ada perkara yang mencabar kesabarannya? Mana perginya N.H.M yang dulunya selalu cukup tak sabar untuk jack rusuk mamat yang kurang ajar?

Tapi tu lah, ianya umpama sleeping volcano… masih berasap dan sunyi tapi bebila aje boleh meletus. Aku ni semakin baik agaknya; mungkin sebab itulah aku akan upah orang lain untuk buat kerja jahat aku… mueheheheehehehe.

Wokay jabronies; MatBURN mau tido.

And I forget just why I taste
Oh yeah I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard it’s hard to find
Oh well whatever nevermind….. [Nirvana - Smells like teen spirit]

salud!

She has a role in one of my favourite TV programmes, got off with Chace Crawford, has an amazing wardrobe, and is still only 16…is it any wonder I’m a little bit jealous of Taylor Momsen?!

With her unique, edgy sense of style, Taylor regularly makes the best dressed lists, and from the looks of it Wardrobe readers are keen to replicate her look too. Thankfully, with the grunge/ rock trend all over the high street it’s easier than ever to look like Miss Momsen on a budget. Take a look at Taylor’s latest red carpet looks along with some wardrobe essentials to steal her style!

The Whitney Museum of American Art Versace Party

Taylor even manages to make a full length Versace gown look edgy with fishnet tights and heavy kohl eye make-up.

Whitney Museum of American Art after party

At the after party Taylor reverts to her usual grunge glamour in a black mini-dress, stockings and metallic heels.

Twilight New Moon screening in New York

Miss J embraced vampire chic for a screening of New Moon in New York city, with a long black lacy dress and blood red lips. If only she could put on a smile for the cameras!

CW Network 2009 Upfront dinner

Taylor pairs a cute feather skirt with a leather waistcoat for the CW Network 2009 Upfront dinner for a fun, young look. Replicate her style with this feather skirt from ASOS for £65.

ASOS £65

Other essentials for Miss J wannabes include a leather jacket, fishnet or lacy tights and chunky heels. Team with red lipstick and lots of attitude!

Faux Leather jacket - New Look £40

Fishnet and Lace tights - Topshop

Peep toe chunky heels with chain detail - Miss Selfridge £50

Mac Lipstick £12

 Oh, and if you needed any more reason to be envious of Taylor Momsen, she’s also the lead singer of rock band ‘The Pretty Reckless’, who have just been signed to Interscope Records. Check out one of their songs below…

She’s come a long way from Cindy Lou Who, non?

What do you think of Taylor’s style?

Chloe

Images courtesy of Taylor-Momsen.net

Virtual Riot New Releases!!!!!!!!!!! Highly detailed Combat Stomper Boots (Sculpted with Resize Scripts!) Plus 12 Grungy National Flag T Shirts!! Come Check them out for yourself! Just Click The Following Link and Teleport to Virtual Riot! http://wp.me/pvWT2-ax Enjoy and Have a Great Weekend! – Bravo Nishi

!]Virtual Riot[! Combat Stomper Boots:

• Sculpted
• Resize Scripted

![Virtual Riot[! Grungy National Flag Tees:

• 12 different grungy national flag t shirts in total

More at Virtual Riot Mainstore! http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dark%20Tranquility/118/85/22

Magic Box – Christmas Grunge

I had one more request to hold a magic box class at Simple Pleasures – my local independent stamp store. I held my first Christmas Magic Box class in July 2009, but a few students missed it. The paper I used for the summer class was discountinued, so I had to create a new box for my fall class. So here it is for all to see.

I call it Christams Grunge because I distressed all the decorative paper with a razor blade. One could use the blade of a pair of scissors, or heck, they make special distressing tools. That’s on my wish list. I originally chose this paper because it allowed me to make a red box – which seems more traditional for christmas. It didn’t meet my mom’s approval, however, because it’s not elegent. So, I guess there’s no compromize – you can’t dress up grunge!

Magic Box – Christmas Grunge Outside

Lid of the Magic Box Christmas Gruge

The lid top is deocrated with a square gift tag.

Magic Box Christmas Grunge Inside

Of course, the magic happens when the lid is removed from the box. The sides spring open and lay flat revealing a christmas scene in the middle. I have a gift card holder surrounded by christmas grunge floating shapes.

Believe it or not, I only used three piece of 12×12 to make the box. One piece of decorative paper and two pieces of red cardstock (one for the lid and one for the box). I used accents of blue and green paper here and there. No stamping on this one.

Check out all the other Magic Boxes on my blog!

Have you heard your first Christmas song of the year yet?

I heard one being played on the radio in the last week, so surely that means its time to get festive!!

And I was thinking, what colour nail polish would go nicely with the dress I’m going to wear to my Christmas party?!? Well, you may ask what my dress looks like, and it’s going to be the same answer again. A trusty LBD.

This year, mine is a gorgeous one from New Look, complete with small studs, to add that bit of Grunge Glam I’ve been obsessing over. It’s a bargain at a beautiful £30, and you can re-use it to all the other parties you’ll be seen at too, and make it look different each time.

I have many different ways of wearing this gorgeous dress, but here is my favourite:

- The LBD, of course!

- Black patent heels, about 2 – 3 inches.

- A cute feather bolero.

- Opaque tights

- Silver jewellery

Hmm, and the makeup is also very exciting!!

- Berry coloured nails will stand out from your sexy black dress, get them shaped nicely too!

- A subtle brown smokey eye and some berry gloss on your lips.

Have a Berry Merry Christmas Guys!

“Meu sucesso até hoje prova com todas as letras que o grunge era passageiro, mas o verdadeiro rock ‘n’ roll é eterno.”

Jon Bon Jovi

13th November 2009 at 02 Academy, Birmingham

Headliners: Alice in Chains
Support: Little Fish

I thought that we were going to miss the support band and wasn’t too fussed about seeing them, but we got to the venue in time and I was pleasantly surprised by them. Little Fish are a two-piece female fronted rock band, and I think they were very brave to open for Alice in Chains with their kind of music! I think the crowd warmed to them a little bit towards the end, but I really enjoyed them throughout and tried to make as much noise as I could for them after each song. I really liked Julia’s bluesy voice and punky/angry attitude, and I thought the drummer was amazing! I will be looking out for their debut album.

I was so excited about seeing Alice in Chains and I felt so happy when I saw them all come onto the stage. I liked that they did that pretty much at the same time, it annoys me when bands stagger it to get a bigger cheer for the lead vocalist or whoever’s supposedly the most popular. They launched straight into ‘It Ain’t Like That’ and the crowd went nuts. They didn’t give us any time to settle down either, as they played ‘Again’ immediately after.

After a couple of songs (it may have been after ‘Again’) they had to stop for a while because the mics kept cutting out. Jerry started messing with his guitar and joked with the crowd: “This is a new one, it’s called ‘Technical Difficulties’”, with Mike chiming in: “Yeah, we made it up on the spot!” They kept apologising for the sound all the way through the set, but I thought they sounded great! The only thing that bugged me were the people chanting for ‘Rooster’ all the way through (although it took me until Jerry said “you guys really f*cking want that song, don’t ya?” to work it out, I thought they were either chanting ‘new stuff’ or ‘you suck’ haha). It was obvious they would play ‘Rooster’… but maybe it was the only song they knew?!

They played a fair amount from the new album; six in total. I would have loved to have heard ‘Last of My Kind’, ‘When the Sun Rose Again’ and ‘Private Hell’, but the setlist was amazing, so I can’t complain!

Halfway through the set, they got out some stools, lit cigarettes and played a mini-acoustic set, which was so awesome. I’d had my heart set on them playing ‘Down in a Hole’ and I was SO happy that it was the first song of the acoustic part! The emotion I felt was overwhelming and I welled up, as well as singing my heart out. It was just amazing. As part of the acoustic set, they also played ‘Heaven Beside You’ and ‘Got Me Wrong’ – which were nice surprises – and they ended with the heartwrenching ‘Black Gives Way to Blue’ with a picture of Layne in the background.

Right after they finished the acoustic set, they played ‘God Am’ which was a massive surprise, I had no idea that they would play that song! William put a nice twist on it. In fact, I thought he was brilliant all the way through; I thought he was great with the crowd and also an awesome guitarist.

The encore began with the amazing ‘Lesson Learned’, followed by ‘Would?’ – another song I couldn’t wait to hear live. It was just fantastic. The last song was ‘Rooster’, much to the delight of the people who were chanting it all night! They played the video in the background, which added to the intensity of the song. I had chills when they sang ‘you know he ain’t gonna die!’.

It was one of the best gigs (if not THE best) I’ve ever been to. They all had amazing stage presence and were definitely one of the coolest bands I’ve ever seen; they just seem like genuinely nice guys. It was the first gig in a long time where I’ve just been totally into it, going crazy, smiling a lot and singing every word. I think it was probably the only gig I’ve been to where I’ve actually known every song and every word. I’m so glad I got to see them and hear songs I never thought I would live.

Setlist under the cut, courtesy of Setlist.FM.

Setlist

It Ain’t Like That
Again
Them Bones
Dam That River
Your Decision
No Excuses
Check My Brain
A Looking In View
Rain When I Die
Down In a Hole
Heaven Beside You
Got Me Wrong
Black Gives Way To Blue
God Am
Acid Bubble
Angry Chair
Man in the Box
Lesson Learned
Would?
Rooster

Heyall!

As we’re working on a bigger store to welcome yall to shop in a fresh environment, we would like to offer yall the opportunity to leave a mark on …
We’ve seen many awesome picks on profiles and blogs, with people wearing  our creations and we wanna share it …
From now, you’re all invited,if you wish, to send to Def Lean or Al Ogee the best pick(s) of you wearing DEF! creations
Your picks will be shown both on our DEF! Wall Of Fame and on DEF! Blog.
Yall look so Fresh 2 DEF! it’s time to show your swag!
You’re free to let your imagination and creativity fly on this/these pick(s) which can be raw, taken in-world, or redesigned, you’re only asked to wear DEF! Creations
Just name it “Pic for DEF! Wall of Fame” and, if you’re ok for us to make it appear under your pick, add your sl identity or nickname.

Have fun!