When you’re all wrapped up in the threads you’ll be wearing on the first day of work, sipping on the first day’s cup of cafecito, munchin’ on an abnormally slimy and cold banana, the only thing missing is the first track I’ll obsess over for the rest of the day. Inspired by every Flytunes freak, and all them other hiptasticators pop and lockin’ to this fun bag of tunes, “Discovery” takes the Song Of The Day gem for making me boogie-woogie on my first day of StoryCorps-ing.
Vampire Weekend’s Rostam Batmanglij and Ra Ra Riot’s Wes Miles collaborated to create and release (July 7) this self-entitled LP. It’s fun, spunky, electro-madness you should enjoy before everyone says “OMG Have YOU Heard Discovery!?” “Um, yes. Yes I have.”
I’m destined for humidity and rainy weather in New York City this weekend after a year-long (on and off) stint in Mexico City with my lovely fiancee. I have been selected by the world-renowned verbal history archive StoryCorps to hold one of their cherished Mobile Booth facilitator positions for 2009-2010. Yes. This means I have one of the greatest jobs in the world. But, I’ve been packing for five days, juggling between taking my 11X14 portfolio, my portable gym rubber band thingies and which pairs of shoes I should take with me. I’m only a few hours from take-off and I’m still emptying my suitcase, axing some items, and reshuffling my chonies. Ugh. I have, however, found the time to catch up on my Late Night w/Jimmy Fallon clips and Questlove made my day with his world record breaking afro pick in hair video. Continue Reading »
I’ve owned my Holga 120 S since 1999, but it took its first tour since 2004 this week throughout the streets of Mexico City. Three prints made it out alive, which leads me to believe I need a little more practice. The photo above illustrates my ineptness to confine light leaks. I also suck at loading this film! Either the black tape I embalmed the camera with came loose, or light leaks are simply unstoppable with this thing. Continue Reading »
I may not devote an entire month to this topic, but there are few things I will miss about the city that aggravated me more than inspired me over the course of a year. My hobbies include photography, and one of my favorite weekly activities in Mexico included traveling down Reforma on a pesero, getting off near Avenida Juarez and walking to Foto Regis to print 11X14 copies of my favorite photographs. Continue Reading »
Hailing from the fine bourrough of Brooklyn, Mouchette released their first studio album May of 2009. Their Myspace cites their influences as Radiohead, Fleetwood Mac, Kate Bush and Boards Of Canada, but all I can hear is a concoction of waves, piano keys and melodies all its own. “Dusk” comes off of their May release “Orchids To Ashes” and it was sent to me by my childhood friend “Theets.” Enjoy.
I was left exhausted after a festive weekend consisting of dinners, champagne, friends, photos and a rather astounding family turnout at the Gay Pride Parade in Mexico City. I’ve always associated Gay Pride Parades with a tinge of glamour because, well, I lived in West Hollywood for two years and that’s how they roll around those parts. Mexico City’s pride parade exhibited strange costumes, tributes to S&M and — at some points — a salute to Prince purple nipples and a fascination with wickedly drawn-in eyebrows inciting sheer terror for some of the tiny onlookers. Yet, curiosity and acceptance reigned supreme. While “Piensa Libre” was out in full force, with red flags saluting “Free Thinking”, “La Homofobia Esta Out!” (Homophobia Is Out!) volunteers were branding everyone wanting to show their support for the vibrant Gay community in DF. The theme apparent in any part of the world during these exhibitons of tolerance and community is love…and long, colorful dresses. Continue Reading »
Is it me or are Grizzly Bear member’s eyes really huge in this video? After a sudden dose of multiple viewings of Grizzly Bear’s newest video from their recent album “Veckatimest”, I couldn’t help but try to close my eyelids one at a time and sweat profusely. Didn’t really work. The Fader points out that Patrick Daughters directed this video. The same directors are responsible for Feist’s “1234” video and Yeah Yeah Yeah’s “Maps.” I’d be up for a “Veckatimest” series a la “Flying Club Cup.“
Passion Pit released “Matters” this week and are soaring to new Indie heights with a tour throughout the US and Europe all summer. Since I’m currently based in Los Angeles until June 15th, I’ll be hitting up their Echoplex gig Friday May 29th. Continue Reading »
I left New York City last week with immense confidence, joy and energy. Joyrides around Manhattan will do that to anyone, que no? Most of you know why I was traveling to the Big Apple, but even I didn’t know my return flight to Mexico City would take a detour to the West Coast after that wretched piglet pox flared fears in D.F. Continue Reading »
Expecting only to see my lovely Berlin friend play her first LA show, I was surprised to find out around 7pm this evening from Anna Rosenthal that John Mayer would be playing a “secret” show at The Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles and I had front row seats to check it out. I only had to sit through four bands, drink two diet cokes, two beers, eat French Fries and sit under an air conditioning vent for four hours to see it! Continue Reading »
Expecting only to see my lovely