CIRQUE: IRIS

Thanks to Jon Monastero of Ten West, in just an hour or so, I will be seeing a sneak preview of the new Cirque performance at the Kodak Theatre, three blocks from home. This should lift the spirits. It was a productive day of work. Have a good evening!

CIRQUE: IRIS

SLEEPMASK & Video Premiere tonight @ Cinespace

Firstly,

Happy Egg n Bunny Day! Happy Keester!

I hit the farmers market (selma & ivar) then instead of the usual hike, visited mi madre for a lil and walked to the local park. I am now home and will work on finishing some music.

What are you doing on Easter? Did you have green eggs n ham, Sam I Am?



Secondly, this evening, my ole friend, Ming and his band, SLEEPMASK, will perform @ Cinespace for the premiere of their video, "Choose That Girl", directed by Justin Coloma.

Several of us had the pleasure of viewing an early cut of this a few weeks ago in my apartment. I look forward to seeing this on the "relatively" big screen. See you there!!!



Powered by

SLEEPMASK & Video Premiere tonight @ Cinespace

VOTD: Sabres Of Paradise & Maurice Chevalier & EVIL NINE review

Today's videos come a bit later in the day as I type at 3:33pm

More soundcard snafus, more chaos, which I am certain will be ironed by tomorrow.
Sometimes everything goes smoothly..... (we can leave it at that)

Btw,...................


Sorry for the long pause... well, short for you, long for me.
I had gotten a call and had to take care of other tasks.

So it is now, 4:40pm... heading to the studio in Granada Hills in a bit to grab drums and such for tomorrow's performance @ Ruin's Black Heart Mask Ball with Red Light District. A bit stressed as there most likely will not be an accordion player on stage with us and the possibilities of no vibraphone playes is growing. But the show will be fine otherwise... we have played without both.



Before we get to the videos.... last night, I went to see EVIL NINE @ The Viper Room. I highly dislike that venue, but I very much enjoy the music of EVIL NINE. I met up with Adam Freeland at the venue and ran into some other friends there and finally met Tom & Pat aka EVIL NINE. Their set was fantastic... This was a DJ set, not a live show. They are returning soon with the live show that combines ZOMBIES, Dark Hard Bass, Sinister Drums and electrofunk. Everything was excellent; people were dancing and having a good time... but about three quarters of the way of their set, this wacko woman turns toward some of us and throws her jacket and bag down on the ground like she is angry and then rolls straight into a dance as if Satan and a Stripper had taken over her soul. She started grinding on the floor and eventually all clothes were off apart from boots... she starting grabbing any fellow she could to dance with her.... SCARY!

Ok.... now the videos!

This first one comes from a very influential crew who existed nearly twenty years ago. They have since gone on to do some amazing productions... but let's focus on this early track from Sabres Of Paradise


This next video is a lovely number and I hope you enjoy!

Maurice Chevalier and Claudette Colbert sing a duet in this song from 1930.
You Brought A New Kind Of Love To Me


Here is an invitation for tomorrow
This is for Red Light District's performance and album release party @ Ruin

See ya later, ciao!

VOTD: Sabres Of Paradise & Maurice Chevalier & EVIL NINE review

VOTD: Fever Ray & Hell & Friday the 13th performance

Today's videos oddly enough, go well together.

The timing of this posting actually just fell into place.


I have been recently corresponding with my old pal and band mate, Matthew Sims aka Mount Sims who relocated to Berlin, Germany to unleash his work yonder! As, Mt Sims, he has actually released a great album that I have been recently playing more and more. In one of our latest emails, he wrote about a project in which he is involved with Olof Dreijer, one half of the band, The Knife.

The other half of The Knife, the sister, Karin Dreijer Andersson, is responsible for the video below.

Her solo project, which is rather interesting, is called, Fever Ray.



If I Had A Heart from Fever Ray on Vimeo.

Now if the similarity of the video imagery for these two is not enough... what really got me after I was set to post this, is that Matt, mentioned above, was previously signed to Gigolo Records, which was owned by DJ HELL, who is responsible for the following video which was already slated for today.

Before we enter the music of The Twilight Zone, I..... (pause)
The crazy folks from the cable company came and interrupted my thoughts!!!

I was actually called in to work today at Universal, so I must depart.
at the bottom of this post is another reminder for Friday.

And now for the other video.

DJ Hell - Angst (a dark but soothing, mello groove) from his forthcoming release, "Teufelswerk"


Have a great day!

This Friday, Red Light District, my baby, is performing to celebrate our Debut Album release at The Black Heart Masque Ball at RUIN. Hopefully you can make this!!!

We are quite excited to say the least!

More information on myspace.com/redlightdistrictx

VOTD: Fever Ray & Hell & Friday the 13th performance

Coachella line up and first thoughts

Click flyer to enlarge
Well... the preliminary list has arrived as of yesterday and I am not overly keen on what I see. Having McCartney on board as the first night headliner is an odd choice, however if you have been keeping up with his recent work, you will know his Fireman project is a collaboration with Youth from Killing Joke and this is certainly a more forward thinking outlet than previous efforts.

download THE FIREMAN - Nothing Too Much Just Out Of Sight

Leonard Cohen will be interesting as what looks like a main attraction. I am interested to see this reaction. While I was a fan of The Smith and Morrissey... I suppose it is good he will return to Coachella since he was of the original performers.

Silversun pickups are fine but we already have My Bloody Valentine, the real band, on the bill.

Ghostland Observatory are decent and A Place To Bury Strangers is a surprise. White Lies are doing very well and I am not surprised to see them on the bill.
I am very happy for both The Presets and Crystal Castles

Odd Picks: Why the crystal method?


Day Two
I am not a fan of The Killers and why Amy winehouse?
Very surprised to see Thievery Corporation on the big stage ... .I had them come to a Fluid back in PA and they were both very kind but their DJ skills reminded me of a pair of sneakers in a dryer or a broken train about to derail. They do, however write some decent tunes :)

I am also happy to see TV on The Radio and Mstrkrft on the bill. Surkin and Para One will be good as well Calexico... and hurray for The Bloody Beetroots... I am only into a few of their mixes, but good for them. I am glad to have seen Amanda Palmer continue with her music successfully in such an underground way. I remember being on the phone with David J. years ago and he was staying with Amanda in Boston and telling me about her band, The Dresdon Dolls, and that I would like them.


Mastodon will wreck some people... and the Travis Barker team up with DJ AM is odd... Adam (AM) was in my class and I still have crazy VHS taped videos of us when we were young.. I have a video of him dressed up as a Ninja and I overdubbed this with audio from the scene in National Lampoon's Vacation where Chevy Chase is working his best magic to pickup Christie Brinkley.

Odd picks: Booker T, Michael Franti and Henry Rollins.... let's also not forget Bob Mould!

OK so
Day Three

Cmon..... The Cure? Again? I was such a huge fan of this band.. they are tired and DONE. If they give a good show, I will be pleasantly surprised.... the last several times I have seen them... all by chance... they have been subpar at best. I recently had the odd experience where I was in a room with no more than two handfuls of people and watched a private taping of The Cure and I turned to my friend, who is their publisher and said "Can we leave now?"..... They played Coachella just a few years ago... let it rest!!!


I am certainly happy to see My Bloody Valentine again. Only several months ago, did I see the show in Santa Monica... the sound was horrendous, but it was a good experience... maybe the younger crowd will be educated to this a bit... I am wondering.. where will everyone go for an escape from the loud last song they play? When you entered the concert, you got free ear plugs and during the last song, I left the building, walked around the outside, and it was still ridiculous! Paul Weller is an odd choice, but it is another good flashback selection.

I will be happy to see Public Enemy, Roni Size (who has been doing what?), Perry Farrell, Sebastian Tellier (hurray!!!), The Horrors, Late Of The Pier, and of course, Friendly Fires.

Lykke Li will be a tough act to see from up close.... the buzz is nuts on her... it took a long time. Another tough act to see from up close will most likely bee Brian Jonestown Massacre... then again it has been some time.

Odd PicksWhy on earth is Throbbing Gristle on the bill? I am all for seeing this... but what an odd choice.... Also... X had some decent tunes.. but after seeing them a few times and the last time at Sunset Junction... I was nearly thinking I would rather see The Cure again ;)

Shepard Fairey also falls under the why? category. He is the artist known for the ANDRE THE GIANT art all over the USA during the late 90s and turn of this century. He has become a DJ.

I am sure the official line up will change a bit... I would check this for errors... however I have to run to Universal Studios to update a sticker on my ID... it is like FORT KNOXXXXXX up in there... mhhm.


Also.... if you are in Los Angeles... you may want to consider hitting The Edwardian Ball this evening... Check the link and check yourself!

Coachella line up and first thoughts

Please listen: Handcuff King - Death Defying Acts

You can now listen to "Handcuff King (Death Defying Acts)" from the forthcoming Red Light District debut, "Smoke & Mirrors"

Combine, ragtime, pop, 20s, 30s, cabaret, circus tunes and time machines.

Listen now

Catch the seven-piece live band on Saturday, the 21st of February @ Wonderland in Los Angeles

Please listen: Handcuff King - Death Defying Acts