I teach teenagers how to do figure drawings twice a week - this takes place in LA, La Crescenta, Fullerton, and Cerritos. Pretty much covers LA right? Well we end up talking about music every now and then and it still amazes me the reactions I get from the kids. I’m 27 but apparently that’s ancient to some - when one of my students found that I like the Arctic Monkeys, he was like, “Woah! I didn’t know people your age liked music like that!” (so what do people my age like? “I don’t know, 2Pac?”) This of course led me to probe about “old music”. When I mentioned Kriss Kross (along with Cross Colours) the whole class went blank. “You guys have never heard of Kriss Kross?” I was pretty shocked. Guess what? They also never heard of New Kids on the Block!!! (these old school acts are too awesome to mention w/out showcasing some video!)

It was interesting though because one of my students (who is in 9th grade) loves the Red Hot Chili Peppers… and they started before New Kids on the Block… makes you realize that there’s a whole other level of fame - When you first saw this: did you think they would still be as popular 17 years later? So what do the kids like? Well my La Crescenta kids LOVE Metro Station Funny enough, when I first heard the music playing in class I was like, “who is this? Kind of sounds like a contemporary Duran Duran”. I looked around and all the kids just gave me a blank stare - “Duran who?”

AN EVIL MONITO FILM SCREENING.
JON PHENOM PRESENTS - HAY FAM/A DOCUMENTARY SERIES

Jon Phenom is a self taught clothing designer. He has worked for several action sports brands ranging from Osiris, Ezekiel, to Matix. Currently he is the Creative Director of his own line, Jon Phenom - a full apparel collection noted from the denim capsule collection.

In the early months of 2007, Jon decided to begin a project which entailed documenting the lives of various personalities whom he drew inspiration from. The result is HAY FAM, a documentary series that is the first of many to come. For the debut of the HAY FAM project, Jon interviewed Raymond Roker - Founder of URB Magazine, Rickey Kim aka Mr. Kim - Founder/Creative Director of Evil Monito, Rich Confico aka RichOne - Co-founder and Head Designer of the Cr8tive Recreation footwear line, and Josh Madden - NYC based Stylist. This special screening will be held at the Evil Monito Studio in Echo Park.

FRIDAY / JANUARY 18TH, 2008
TIME: 7 PM - 12 AM | SCREENING AT 10:30 PM

EVIL MONITO STUDIO
1830 ECHO PARK AVE
LOS ANGELES, CA 90026

RSVP - rsvp@evilmonito.com

For further info:
http://www.jonphenom.com
http://www.hayfamshow.com

I’m a huge fan of Paul Thomas Anderson ever since i first saw “Magnolia.” Although I wouldn’t consider myself an expert on the man’s life (I still haven’t seen Boogie Nights), i’m still a avid viewer and an excited one at that. He tends to tackle pretty dark subject matter (porn, death, etc) and has a very distinct style to his movies. He’s like Kevin Smith with well thought out dialouge or Bahz Luhrman with kick ass imagery.

In either case, although not a real rockstar, and not quite fitting the term “Future,” PT Anderson’s new film “There will be blood” still needs to be hyped as much as possible. Set at the turn of the century when oil prospectors roamed the country, his film focuses on Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) as he goes from town to town in search of oil. Much of the movie centers on the Plainview character and the developments that he goes through.

For the sake of FR*A, MUSIC alert! Jonny Greenwood (The guitarist for Radiohead) is the composer for the film bringing eerie horror film like scores throughout the movie.

It’s only out in limited release right now, so those in the LA area should take a first crack at the movie while you have the chance. Don’t know when it’s opening up in more theaters, so if you happen to know, do us all a favor and leave a comment!

(LAST NOTE- the poster up above is very bad ass. Very)

Went to see the opening screening for Tamar Halpern’s movie, Your Name Here last Saturday. It’s a semi-fictional movie about her son’s garage band as captured in their teenage years. It was a great experience because it took me back to when I first tried making music in my friend’s garage.

( left) Here we are at the reception! (right) Tamar - the director, and friend.

Tamar truly captured a genuine duo in Jordan and Michael by simply filming them at what they were doing (to a fictionalized script). The music sounds like a more straight forward rock version of old Weezer stuff. You can take a listen here: myspace.com/yournamehereband
(left) screen shot from the website. (right) Dawn Dunbar and Michael Mctaggart taking a “serious” pose.
After the screening Jordan’s band got on stage and put on a show… to my disappointment Michael and Jordan had since split ways. The new sound is metal - I gotta really sit down and listen to a recording to see if I like it or not, but I can’t help but feel a little let down. After watching the movie I was totally looking forward to seeing the duo play live.

Either way, go to Tamar’s website for the trailer: tamarolandpictures.com
I had a blast watching it.

“Well, Americans:
What, nothing better to do?
Why don’t you kick yourself out?
You’re an immigrant too.”
–The White Stripes, Icky Thump

I admire how Jack and Meg are making a point to oppose the status quo and Abercrombie & Fitch by proclaiming, “Hey, white isn’t always right. And American doesn’t mean white. Minorities aren’t any less American than any of you hypocritical blockheads.”

The above lyrics remind me of a scene in The Godfather: Part II, when Senator Pat Geary of Nevada vituperates Michael Corleone, an American citizen by birth (unbeknownst to him, Michael is the scariest thing to come around since squalid public restrooms to a germaphobe like myself):

“I don’t like your kind of people. I don’t like to see you come out to this clean country in your oily hair, dressed up in those silk suits and try to pass yourselves off as decent Americans. I’ll do business with you, but the fact is I despise your masquerade, the dishonest way you pose yourself, yourself and your whole fucking family.”

Being the offspring of immigrants, you can just imagine the warm fuzzies that that scene invokes within my soul.

Just 2 weeks after Columbus Day, 2007 music and 1974 film remind me of American imperialism and the emotional and physical carnage that Ol’ Glory inflicts upon countless people. How appropriate. Because God knows Columbus didn’t just sail the ocean blue in 1492. He also managed to completely miss America and squeeze in the decimation of the American Indian population. Watch out, we have a triple threat on our hands.

End scene.

As many of you may know, the “Rock for Darfur” concerts are happening this November 10th. More info here: myspace.com/rockfordarfur.

And check this out. DARFUR NOW. A documentary that explores the Darfur conflict through the first-hand experiences of six people from inside Darfur and around the world. It’s out in theaters this November 2nd.

DARFUR NOW Official Site: myspace.com/darfurnow

Mixed reviews have not quenched my excitement for The Darjeeling Limited, Wes Anderson’s newest film. Unfortunately, it’s not yet showing in San Diego, but otherwise opened around the country last Friday.

Starring Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, and Adrien Brody as estranged brothers traveling through India to build trust in each other, it’s got to have Anderson’s trademark visual aesthetics, vibrant colours, quirky characters, awkward silences, and impeccable soundtrack, regardless of what the critics say. It’s also preceded by a short starring Natalie Portman, Hotel Chevalier.

The Darjeeling Limited

courtesy of rawbee9000