WFMU's Beware of the Blog

Summer Reading: Picture Books

Since I gave up buying books, it seems like I have more books than ever. For years, my little hoarding problem expressed itself as a compulsion to collect all kinds of paper: books, magazines (remember those?), clippings from newspapers (ditto), random health pamphlets from the dermatologist’s office, Jack Chick comics, 10-year-old bank statements…  . And by “collect,” I mean stuff into boxes and bags and make a big pile in every room in the house. But when I saw a documentary about the people who are paid to go in and clean out hoarders’ homes, I got scared straight and I have been slowly dealing with the mess.

Although I’ve stopped buying books (sort of), I haven’t stopped reading. I do go to the library, which not only is free but they make me give the books back after a few weeks, so I figure it doesn’t do any harm. A senior boss at my dayjob gave me her old Kindle, which had about a hundred books on it (many of which I deleted because I really do not need to read dozens of novels about the modern-day grandchildren of World War II survivors); I really like the Kindle, because it takes up a lot less space than seven boxes of books in the middle of the dining room. But there are still a lot of actual, physical books coming into the house, because my good friend A. sends me boxes of discarded review copies from her job.

Friend A. has a good idea of my taste in reading material, so she sends me lots of nonfiction science-y books, and books about food and cooking, and photo and art books. It’s fun to open the packages from her, because I never know what’s going to be inside and sometimes there’s something pretty amazing. The last box was the most amazing of all, because it contained both Talking Heads: The Vent Haven Portraits, by Matthew Rolston, and Dulce Pinzon’s The Real Story of The Superheroes.

 

More Rogue Taxidermy

Someone said that cat videos are the new internet porn, and it's not a far fetched concept for anyone on social networks.  Those with pet owners on their friend list often find themselves with pictures of pets (and breakfast) in their feed, along with the corresponding complaints from the more curmudgeonly among us.  

Somehow, over time, I've gradually become privy to perhaps the less pleasant (but no less cute) side effect of this phenomenon; odd taxidermy.  It was probably when I went to the Buckhorn Exchange in Denver, where the walls are filled with taxidermy; one or two of the animals mounted on the wall had anamolies, like three eyes for instance, and everything on the wall had once been on the menu (I only drank there).  I've got a collection of photographs of dead birds.  I was concerned that I'd offend people here if I posted about this, but there is a precedent here on WFMU's Beware of The Blog, so I decided to add to its legacy.  The foregoing is a veritable coluratura of creepitude. 

I knew that people made alligator handbags, but I admit, I had no idea that there were people making a deer's rump into a bottle opener, or packaging ale into the corpse of a squirrel.  I'd say with no shame that I'm not terribly surprised.  I am surprised, however, that a man took the corpse of his beloved cat, Orville, and made it into an "Orville-copter".  All that aside, I'm more interested in the botched taxidermy, the critters who are forever immortalized with crooked, constipated facial expressions, or the guy who may have gone to jail for fusing the parts of different endangered animals together (all of this is undeniably striking by the way) to make two headed geese, or a squirrel crab, etc.   Whether they are intended as memento mori or fashion statements or surrealistic heirlooms, is for the viewer to decide. I am not sure if I'd do these things to my cat Chollie (he'd make a good bear skin rug), nor am I sure if I'd consent to be some kind of human paraglider corpse, but I do find it fascinating. The range varies from profoundly artistic to childish and mean spirited. A whole slew of selected odd taxidermy below. 

Related: Human Doll Clones in Japan (you can't "unsee" this), and Robotic Beastiality Sculpture decomissioned after 20 years due to broken goat motor.

Deathly Stills: The Dark Dark World of Guy Bourdin

by Jessie Brown - The Films Of Guy Bourdin

Part of Network Awesome's Fashion Week, Sept 14-18th!

Flick through any glossy fashion magazine today and more-than-likely, you’ll be faced with the legacy of Guy Bourdin. This maverick French photographer was no stranger to controversy both in his work and private life, and he singlehandedly changed the face of fashion advertising due to his uncompromising and highly innovative style.

Way-Out Ideas for FMU-ers

Tony Coulter here, with some fun activity suggestions for WFMU listeners, taken from the book Way-Out Ideas for Youth Groups, published by Zondervan in 1968. Why not get started right away by studying the photos beyond the fold? These illustrate some of the many exciting games you and your friends could be enjoying right now. And be sure not to miss the groovy bonus pics at the end of the post!

Jayne and Jackie!

I had the pleasure of speaking with Jayne County on my program on Thursday; she hit the stage at Bowery Electric on Thursday for the Max's Kansas City Alumni Reunion shows (which goes on through Sunday). Check the archive for the interview. I heard that Jayne might be at La Mama before her much anticipated Max's reunion performance, so it was off to the Ellen Stewart Theatre first! The La Mama show was- Jukebox Jackie: Snatches of Jackie Curtis -an exhilarating collage performance containing elements of the Warhol star's life; poetry, film snippets, songs and great vignettes. The final performance is on June 10th. With a killer cast: Justin Vivian Bond, Bridget Everett, Cole Escola and Steel Burkhardt, the production was a huge pleasure to take in. Jayne County did indeed grace the theatre-goers with her rendition of Max's Kansas City, as seen here as an encore to the show. She was gone in the blink of an eye (aye aye!) as soon as the show was done, and was soon to get onstage with her alma mater, so to speak, the Max's Kansas City Alumni Reunion show. The shows run all weekend at Bowery Electric, check their site for scheduled shows!

 

 

Hardly Any Bruising: Webster Hall's Black And Blue Bowl

The Black and Blue Bowl at Webster Hall annually features a variety of hardcore bands. Considering my hardcore roots, I thought I would know more people at the show, but the bill was mostly mid-period bands.  I did see some great metal shirts throughout, which made me immediatley comfy- Behemoth, Sodom, Gorguts..and at some point I did hear some Celtic Frost over the PA. The sold out crowd surfed, dove, piled-on and stared in awe at the slew of bands presented in this 9 hour day. There were no barriers in front of the stage, what a welcome touch. When the dancing actions of the hardcore genre were misconstrued as 100% aggression years ago, the barriers were born in almost all mid- to large-size clubs. It was nice to see more interaction with the bands. One of the bands on the bill early was Holland's Born From Pain, their new release: The New Future is available as a free download on their Facebook page; recommended. The Dave Smalley led DYS were a band I was really looking forward to seeing; full of fury, the Dag Nasty, Down By Law, and former ALL singer was all heart as usual, punchy as hell; most of my photos of him were blurry -running around on the stage like it means everything to his survival, he always brings all he's got to a live performance. Here is a shot of Dave with guest vocalist Drew Stone of NYC's Antidote. Drew will be a guest on the Peer Pressure segment of my program June 21st; he's the director of ALL AGES, The Boston Hardcore Film. The NY debut of this film will be June 29th-July 1st at Brooklyn's Nitehawk Cinema.  From the west coast, the crowd was treated to a swift kick in the butt by Rotting Out from LA, who mixed their hardcore with thrash, in a super-infectious manner. The Mob, who debuted their soon to be released 45, Back To Queens to the sold out crowd, probably goes back furthest in NYHC history than anyone else featured at the BnB Bowl. With a few demos recorded previously, their first release: Upset the System came out in 1982, and they helped push initial recordings from Urban Waste and Agnostic Front in the early 80s as well. Vocalist Ralphie G was a featured guest on the Peer Pressure of DKFM in December; listen here. They were laser tight, heavy, and frenzied revealing their seasoned confidence. Paul Bearer's guillotine edged wit was center stage when Sheer Terror took over, taking out the audience with his barbs and his vocal braun.

A New Venue in New Jersey

Venues: Central New Jersey has had it's abundance of home venues/ house shows/locations for some time, changing from address to address in a moment's notice, but a fairly active scene. We recently lost New Brunswick's Court Tavern, a club that booked original music for decades, through many genres. It was a huge loss to the patrons of the bar, as well as bands needing a venue in that area to play, who were from all corners of the country, and to anyone just needing that live music fix.

Two days ago I went to the grand opening show at the Warehouse Motor Club, a new venue in Middlesex, NJ. It's a team-run, decent sized space in a cement walled warehouse. The venue capacity looks to be well over 400 people; I didn't see an occupancy sign. Initial impressions: they're gonna have to move the slot car track in the back if they have bigger shows; more people in it may make it sound a little less reverberant, but there is a need for more sound absorption material in the venue's future. It's an all-ages venue, so there is no alcohol, which will bring loyal youngsters, maybe alienate the heavy drinkers; matinees may be the way to go; there is a snack bar. There was a bit of record distro action as well as a space for band merch. I didn't check the bathrooms, so no latrine report today! It's got the racing flag motif and signs all over the place, they've got branding going on, light trusses, what looks to be a sturdy stage, and an arm wrestling station! All a great way to start, and time will tell how everything goes; they'll figure out what works and what doesn't. I certainly wish them the best of luck! Sunday's show featured Night Birds, Altered Boys and Real Cops.  If they can get people to migrate to and venture from further areas, we may have a great new energetic spot in New Jersey, which is sorely needed. Clip on those jumper cables!

Roadburn Recap 2012 Companion to Diane's Kamikaze Fun Machine

Tilburg, Netherlands was the place to be this weekend if you appreciate heavy music AT ALL. It's my 2nd trip to Roadburn, and not likely to be my last. This is the festival that screams community in all the right ways. The festival's head, Walter, crafts a lineup from the roots of doom, rock and riff heavy original rock to the latest avant garde satanic acoustic bands, and it all works! This is the companion post to go with my program airing today, April 19th from Noon-3pm (if you're reading this late, well go check out the archive!!). I hope listening to the music creates the feeling of what goes on at the fest; not likely though, as good as it may sound! There is just a sense of overwhelming appreciation at Roadburn, this year with one day curated by Voivod, and featuring a one man art show by drummer Away who has illustrated many album covers for Voivod and others, who also designed the main festival poster. The banners for Roadburn were waving at me when I walked out of the train station and I was happy to wave back to Away's artwork! Note the little flying saucers on the top corner of the banners! Feast your eyes on 200 photos below...and the rest of the experiences after the jump!

 

Live Room, Live Shows, Live Shots

A quick check-in from your kamikaze reporter... Since the marathon ended I've gotten out to check out a few bands: shots are in this order: Magic Circle from Boston, Windhand from Richmond, VA, Rhode Island's Pilgrim, a shot of Brooklyn's own Natur and then live in the WFMU studio on this past edition of My Castle of Quiet: Wretched Worst! This Thursday at noon, the PEER PRESSURE guest on my Kamikaze Fun Machine program will be Mike Hill, guitarist and songwriter/vocalist of TOMBS to DJ a set of music that's sure to be killer! Final photo in this bit is of TOMBS from last year's SXSW performance at Lovejoy's. Enjoy!

FOOD (1972) – Gordon Matta-Clark's Restaurant – Directed by Robert Frank

FOOD is a short film directed by aritst/photographer Robert Frank about Gordon Matta-Clark and Carol Goodden's conceptual restaurant. Founded in 1972 in the SoHo neighborhood of New York City, FOOD brought together many factors of the local community, artists and otherwise, becoming a space for dialogue and conversation as well as a living piece in it of itself. 

70,000 Tons: Metal Mutiny 2012 Edition

1 cruise ship, 4 days, 42 bands, 2,000 fans! Yes, I had to do it again! 70,000 Tons of Metal, 2012! I had such a great time last year that I had to go for a reprise and see what would happen! I've got a photo album here with many more photos, and this entry is the companion to my radio show, airing Thursday Feb 2nd at noon. When the archive is posted, it will be linked here.

It's true, I had a lot of prior experience, so I had already been on the same ship, Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas, and knew my way around. The weather I was leaving was not nearly as horrendous as it was last year, but I was still looking forward to punishing my ears and my body for a possible 84 sets of music in 4 days. I arrived in Miami a day early to trek up to Ft. Lauderdale with one of my partners in crime for a Cannibal Corpse show, and to also pick up another partner in crime to head back to Miami. Why not get an early start on bludgeoning my senses? I have to admit we did find time to view a certain sporting event involving a NY team that day also. On to the cruise! Last year I never noticed how much was loaded onto the boat via crane; the pool stage was composed mostly of large items, let alone all the rigging, backline, etc. I watched the crane pluck pieces off the ground and onto Deck 11 for hours on Monday morning.

Ship Shaping 2012 In Shots So Far

I haven't gone to as many shows as I'd like yet this year, but I will be heading off on the 70,000 Tons of Metal Cruise next week; expect a special and enough photos to get you seasick! Here are a some shots from some shows I did manage to get out to!  

The three below = Night Birds at Lulu's in Brooklyn. I didn't get any pix of Nuclear Santa Claust, but should have; they're a great band as well who were also on the bill along with the Livids, Foster Care and Pampers. Night Birds were frantically nonstop with their faster-than-Southern-California hardcore and surf mix. It was guitarist Mike Hunchback's last gig with the band; fear not, folks, a replacement has already been working out with them, and he landed on the floor and played his heart out on his back for the fans' sneakers and boots.

Many more pics and commentary below!

Masters of Communication: Charles and Ray Eames

By Robert Ham

The Films Of Ray & Charles Eames (part 2)

Watch Part 1 of The Films of Charles and Ray Eames

The spare beauty and narrative economy of the film work of Charles & Ray Eames should really come as no surprise to anyone who has seen the couple's design work. Their fabric patterns, chairs, buildings...everything they did was approached with an eye for combining simplicity, functionality, and beauty.

Applying those principles to films is a much trickier prospect than one might realize. Just take a look at any Hollywood creation from the last 15 years and you'll see what I'm talking about. In comparison, the Eames films are almost meditative to watch. They unfold slowly and patiently, getting the subject matter across using simple narrations and augmenting it all with a bouncy jazz score. It is impressively easy to drink in and absorb everything they are trying to accomplish and, yes, communicate.

Because for as much as scholars like to point to their 1968 documentary Powers of Ten as being their

Storytelling In Japanese Art at the MET

Up through May 6th at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is an exhibit entitled "Storytelling In Japanese Art" with a main focus on the Emaki, or Emakimono hand scrolls; some dating as far back as the 12th century. What's interesting about these pieces is that they are physically lengthy, so only certain portions of the scrolls are available for viewing at a time. The scrolls will be advanced during the length of the exhibition, so if you visit more than once, chances are you'll see different sections of the scrolls, which contain illustrations as well as japanese character text. Some are faded and reflective of their age, and some are in phenomenal shape considering the fragility of the medium. The exhibition also includes full views of some of the handscrolls on iPad displays in the beautifully crafted reading room. The current of the presentation of the pieces is very fluid - literally, with a fountain by Isamu Noguchi in the center of the route and a study/bamboo mat room.

When visiting the exhibition, we learn narrative was not only told on the medium of the scroll; visitors will see illustrations on screens, fans, cards, hanging banners, books, kimonos and porcelain as well. Some are showing one or two ideas as a story, and other pieces have multiple scenes and many utilize the stylized cloud formations to separate panels or sections of the stories that is present in Japanese art through the years. Take a look at some of the details of this show in the photos after the jump and see if it doesn't pique your interest!

Thunk Tank Listener Meet-Up Tomorrow

Join Bronwyn Carlton & Jay Bachhuber of WFMU's Thunk Tank for a Meet-Up celebrating the opening of their first ever photography show at the Dino Eli Gallery (81 Hester St, Manhattan) on Saturday, December 3rd, 6-9pm.

The show is titled Thunk Tank: Corpus Absurdum, and runs through December 8th.

Details and RSVP for the Meet-Up here. All proceeds from the show benefit WFMU.

Vintage Photos of a Herculean-Proportioned Record Store

Some of you may be aware of an era where vinyl just wasn't sought after by fetishists, but when it was THE way to hear music.  Voices of East Anglia has posted two great photosets (see one and two) of the "His Master's Voice" record store in the '60s.  A far cry from dusty dollar bins in the hole-in-the-wall record stores of today.  Thanks to Fabio for the tipoff.

The Atomization of The Image

May you live in meme-ingful times.

Gallery: "Casually Pepper-Spray Everything Cop" meme. Endless pics. (Well, as of last count, 502.)

This collection of images is noteworthy for a number of reasons. Let's get the obvious ones out of the way first — sort of clear the quad of the passive resisters, as it were:

1. Holy Hell! There must be a LOTTA people out of work, or slagging off while AT work! (Duh.)

2. Humans are creative things, once given a fun theme to riff on.

3. Humans demonstrate a persistent need to distance themselves from the heinous.

4. Gee, that cop's had his share of donuts.

5. Lotta art majors among the out-of-work creatives mashing photos up...

Meet Me In St. Louis? Only If You're A Giant Praying Mantis!

I went to St Louis for the Old School Tattoo Expo, where world renowned tattooer Lyle Tuttle celebrated his 80th birthday; here's a photo of his cake (it's the Frisco Flyer tattoo machine that he made and made famous). The highlight of the weekend, aside from reconnecting with Lyle and other great friends in the business for me- was the visit a few of us made to the 10 story City Museum there. A cross between the works of Antoni Gaudi and Mad Max, it's an amazing playground created for the most part, from junk! There was a ferris wheel on the roof, alongside the praying mantis dome, and on the same level was a schoolbus that was perched precariously with 2 wheels hanging off the roof for patrons to explore. There were slides on every floor; nope, not visual slides; the kind you plant your ass on and tumble down! One was a 10 story spiral slide, not unlike the style that comes to mind when referring to water parks. All types of sculpture and found object placement that was delightful, including an area with discarded architectural features - lions and gargoyles and lampposts, oh my! There is a section called the Enchanted Caves, which looked just like it sounded. Part of the museum had an aquarium within it; stocked with turtles and catfish, completely accessible if you wanted to pluck a turtle out of the water and walk around with him, you could! The aquarium (pictured left) was part of the maze of walk through/get lost in sculpture that made up the majority of the ground floor. I may not be describing it accurately, mostly because that's a difficult task; The City Museum defies categorization, which is a breath of fresh air this day and age. There's also a couple of bars, a smoothie joint and a thrift store within the museum's expanse, not to mention the fuselage of an airplane, a series of monkey bars that stretches countless yards, animal sculptures made of gears, a castle turret and more.

No words can really convey what goes on there; the photos featured after the jump will do some of the inventiveness and beauty of it justice, and the real experience can only be yours if you visit. Yes. It's an experiential kind of place. Show up in sneakers!

Lady DJs Rocking Headphones

And now, some Friday cheesecake served up by one of WFMU's esteemed lady DJs, Monica, who rocks the headphones every Sunday evening 7-9pm. Monica says: Stock photos and publicity shots of Lady DJs rocking headphones and other gear while in various states of ecstasy and undress. Watermarks and all. (Some images NSFW).

These images are the result of a Google image search using "lady dj" and "female dj."

Lucas Blalock