“The really hopeless victims of mental illness are to be found among those who appear to be most normal…they are normal only in relation to a profoundly abnormal society.” Aldous Huxley, Brave New World Revisited

Look. Listen. The (western) world is a strange place filled with, in no particular order or scope, the music of Vietnam, broken circuses, moving pictures, heroin substitutes, mistrust, danger, mediums and messages, misbegotten love, gross spiritual malfeasance and manufactured, infatuated titillation. It is a world in which all is revealed and nothing is known. It is a world of codified information. Signs with no signification at all. Knowledge without a cure. Perfectly adjustable, layered, beautiful, endless propaganda, after the cynical. Post-humour. Post-artificial, post-artifice, post-art. A culture with a buried sense of acute failure—shifting footing, or, insecurity without preparation—willing an ethos that is delusional at best. Invention without need. Poison without antidote. Sickness without cure. Culture without art.

Now. I know…The death of art? Nothing, instead of something? –Baudrillard.

But I am artistic. I love art. I know what I’m saying. Art is more important than ever. You say it, but it ain’t so. This is just some weird bullshit that can be countered. With proof, decimated. With anecdotal evidence, dismantled. With the personal, assuaged. With the real, disappeared. I know. A million, a billion, six billion individual experiences—Art and me: We, connected.

Sure we are. But do a million points of light make a city? Do single points make a line? Do the parts make the sum? Can individual mental illnesses cure conformity? Bear with me, I have a point.

In the face of society and aggregate human being, the truly artistic has become an isolated experience, a splinter of icy cool direct observation—of personal value, but only precisely commiserate with the self. Virtuous, sure, but weighed against the amassed purple and gold art, courtesan art, cold thin rail art that imposes itself like a new language, the authentic is globally stomped, intrinsically branded, irrevocably curbed. In a migration from production to reproduction. Birth to facsimile. Facsimile to fascism.

And every day there is a war outside our minds. On the airwaves, via the Internet, and in nearly every image/word/sound/circumstance we encounter. Verbally out manoeuvred, politically excised, socially disenfranchised by new art muscle. The art of smiling suppression. Happy-to-take-your-money art. Happy to be your meaning, never your anti-meaning, art. Art as a state of being. The art of misdirection. The art of irrelevance. The art of belonging. No more unreal, no more contrast, no more definition by opposition, no more artifice. No more sacrifice—only one art, one commodity, one language, one endless design. A career gig—

Deviants and the mentally ill need not apply.

The Beatles – Revolution 9

Posted by Matt

We don’t normally post theater events BUT Victoria’s Atomic Vaudeville theater troop have set up shop in Vancouver for their latest production, the musical, Ride The Cyclone.  We can’t say enough good things, and highly recommend seeing it.

It is in it’s final week in Vancouver before heading to Whitehorse then Toronto.

Full details at their website.

“The Road Trip and the Trip” Chapter 1 of 2

Lifetime and Salazar traveled over 3000 miles via van, boat, and foot. This is the first in a two part video made from our adventure.

Part 1: We made a road trip video
Part 2: Shit got weird in the desert

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/24070932[/vimeo]

WARNING: The following feature is best experienced when you can turn up your speakers, loud.

After you have finished viewing, report to Officer Murphy here.

March 18, 2010

Projection show yo! The lineup for the Vancouver edition of BYOB was announced today which officially means that this will be the best thing to happen at W2 since, well, the thing that’s happening the week before. They’re still accepting submissions until the end of the month- so if you are dying to play Call of Duty with a big audience, you can download the submission form here.

Animal Bodies

Channels 3×4

Magneticring

Holzkoft

++++ Guests

Afterhours with
Jason Lev
and
Love Dancing

Magneticring live set @ Guilt and Co Feb 13, 2011

More info available on Drop Out Video Arts tumblr: dropoutvideo.com. RSVP to event here.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBNbP9_XIhE[/youtube]
You may know Jonathan Caouette from his film work:
Tarnation (2003)
All Tomorrow’s Parties (2009)
All Flowers in Time (short) (2010)

:::::::  SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW JONATHAN CAOUETTE ::::::

Where are you right now and how has your day been so far? “I am in my living room slash home office in post production for a new film with a crew of about 7 … It’s perfect timing to be doing this, because I can literally lock myself inside away from winter, which I am not too much a fan of.”

You grew up in Houston, Texas – can you tell us 3 things that you are fond of about Houston, Texas that you think those visiting should acknowledge? “Houston is one of those rare amazing places..When I grew up there it was fairly repressed and super bible-beltish in a lot of ways, so whenever people there wanted to think outside the belt and repression they did, and they did it in really amazing BIG ways..I am so glad I grew up in Houston, because it really makes you appreciate other major cities like NYC, where I have now lived for 13 years.  Despite some of Houston’s quirks and flaws, I really like and miss the friendliness and open-ness of people. I miss cars culture a bit, and I miss cheap music and movie thirsting. Houston has an extraordinary art scene and coffee shop culture that I really miss and like. I had such an array of great friends down there. I think I might want to live there one month a year. There is no place like the nest you cam from sometimes, no matter where it was.”

What song have you most recently had in your head? “Outer Space by John Grant. He is this amazing singer-songwriter that I am going to see here in NYC this week.”

When I google “All Flowers In Time” I learned that there is a Jeff Buckley song with the same title. Tell me what that song has to do with the film, if anything at all? And where the name for your short came from? “Not a thing. I DO DO love Jeff Buckley and Liz Fraser … and I love the song and yes I was inspired to use the same title, but they have nothing to do with each other. Just in the way that The Cure song ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ had nothing to do with the film titled Boys Don’t Cry.”

Who are the 2 current musicians that would be honored to make a music video for and do you have a song of theirs in mind you would like to direct the music video for? “What a great question! I would love to do a Arcade Fire video or Antony video anytime!”

How did you get Chloë Sevigny for the film? And how and where did you two meet? “I met Chloe at a film festival in Canada once, then at a club in downtown NYC and we exchanged info and were fans of each other and knew a lot of the same people and had similar music/film tastes. It was very comfortable. A year after I saw her at the club, I texted her about coming to my place to shoot the film. It was a one day shoot. We did the whole correspondence by text. She was a blast to work with. I adore her and would work with her again in a heartbeat.”

What is your favorite role Chloë Sevigny has played in a film other then your own?
“Lana in Boys Don’t Cry always gets me … she is one convincing southerner being she is from CT.”

Did you enjoy getting your picture taken as a child? “Yes, and sometimes as a teen too … but not as an adult.”

What was something that haunted you as a child, in your dreams or in real life?
“Going to see my Uncle Buddy who was dying from emphysema in a hospital and then wandering around the hospital and accidentally going into a morgue..When your a kid, your invisible and people always think that where there is a kid, an adult must be nearby etc..But I was a wanderer as a kid..always getting into strange places and situations..Although, I had a pretty tumultuous upbringing, at the same time, i wouldn’t have traded my childhood experiences for anything. I love facing all my fears full on.”

Were you scared by Paranormal Activity? If not what is a film that really freaked you out? “No. But, Dancer In The Dark freaks me out still … in all the good ways.”

I found it really unique that the film has a “chorus” to it where you repeat a message a few times.

What is a chorus of a song you love, that you think has a really strong and/or interesting message? “Fotzepolitic by Cocteau Twins.”

Cocteau Twins – ‘Fotzepolitic’

It’s the end of the year, so everyone starts to make their best of lists. What are your  3 favorite films that released in 2010? “Mind you I have not seen a lot of films this year, but …

1. Catfish
2. Trash Humpers
3. The Social Network

… those are the films.”

What was a song or image that someone recommended to you recently, that you now want to recommend to us? “Simon Scott’s 2009 album titled Navigare. Recommended to me by my friend Jared Hutchinson.”

Simon Scott – ‘Ashma’

If you want everyone who watches “All Flowers In Time” to walk away with one thing what might that be? “Feeling like they have a first hand POV of someone’s nightmare.”

Who is someone that you recommend we interview and get to know? “Laurie Anderson … she is internally fascinating to me.”

:::::::::::::: SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW, JONATHAN CAOUETTE :::::::::::::::::::::

Familiarize yourself with Jonathan’s work, by watching Tarnation and the documentary All Tomorrow’s Parties.

And if you haven’t had enough of these interviews, be sure you get the read on Alex of the band Lemonade, he had a lot to share.

In the two years of touring since releasing their debut album, Insomnia, The Racoons have received accolades from multiple music magazines and radio stations, including “Best New Artist” by CBC Radio 3. Their songs are lavish with catchy hooks and have been played for the crowds of Rifflandia, Sled Island, and Big Time Out festivals, as well as used for episodes of MTV’s The Hills and 16 and Pregnant.

Dbl Dragon want to save the world through partying. Two drummers pulsate this five-piece dance act, resulting in a rich, layered sound. This summer they played for Olio and Fringe Festival, and have since been busy circulating Vancouver stages.

All of these artists will be at part 4 of the Heebeegeebees music and art series at Chapel Arts, Thursday 8pm-11pm.

Buy tickets now for the Finale Halloween party Saturday October 30th with live music from local favorites Love and Electrik (who have shared the stage with Chromeo, La Roux and the Very Best) as well as the Winnie Cooper djs and exciting new Vancouver pop act Peter Breeze…

Ryan Walter Wagner’s photos have been featured in such major publications as Ad Busters, the Georgia Straight, and the Vancouver Sun.

Ben Jacques’ artwork is derived from a mix of 80s cartoons, 60s psychedelic posters and Steven Spielberg films. It will leave the taste of acid in your mouth for weeks.

Steve Louie is a Vancouver based photographer whose mission is to document the local independent and underground music scene.

Myths are an electro dance music duo who elevate their performances with a combination of face paint, percussive vocals, and strobe lights to leave you doused in sweat wondering if what just happened was real.

Haunted Beard are a noisy three piece experimental electro outfit whose influences include star wars, goblin masks, toilet microphones, and being massaged.

All of these artists will be showing thier work at this week’s instalment of Heebeegeebees the Halloween inspired music and art series at Chapel Arts (304 Dunlevy) 7-11pm, Thursday October 21st.. in the DTES.  Along with Dj sets from Heebeegeebees organizers,  Tristan Orchard (Hunk the Drunk) of winniecooper.net and Glenn Alderson of Beatroute Magazine.  Admission is by donation, which also gets you two for one admission to the after party at Honey Lounge (455 Abbott).

Buy your $10 early bird tickets tickets at the door or online for the Heebeegeebees Finale Party Saturday Oct 30th featuring djs and live sets from Love and Electrik and Peter Breeze.

Dave Ko is a Vancouver based graffiti inspired painter.

Ronan Boyle is a Vancouver based artist.  He has been drawing and painting since childhood, he is a self-taught artist; his main inspirations stem from the Pop movement of the 60’s and the Do-It-Yourself movement of New York’s punk scene in the late 70’s and early 80’s.

Sanda Sanchez was born in Mexico city but now resides in Vancouver.  She was part of the Cheaper show No. 9 and 100 Amigos Numero Dos at
El Kartel.

White Lung are a Vancouver based punk four piece headed by singer Mish Way, who writes for Vice Magazine.

Koban are a guitar, bass and drum machine duo that make haunting post punk music.

Along with dj Tyler Fedchuk (Radiozero / Ice Cream Social) all of these artists will be at the second installment of Heebeegeebees Halloween Music and Art series at Chapel (304 Dunlevy) 7-11pm. Bands are on at 9:15 and 10:15pm. Admission is by donation which also gets you two for one admission to the after party at Honey Lounge (455 Abbott).

Vancouver, we have something special planned for you for Octoberrrrr.  Winniecooper / No More Strangers curated the music.  xox.

BeatRoute Magazine, WinnieCooper.net, 101.9 CiTR, Red Bull, Steam Whistle, VancouverIsAwesome.com, Nudie Jeans, No More Strangers & ClubVibes.com present:

HEEBEEGEEBEES

A “Halloween” inspired art and music event series at Chapel Arts.
…

Thursday October 7th
Featured artists, Jen Osbourne + Jesse Corcoran.
With bands: Babe Rainbow, Tassels
http://www.myspace.com/bbrnbw
http://www.myspace.com/tasselstassels.
+Hyenas Djs (Basketball)
7-11pm. Cover by donation.

Thursday October 14th
Featured artists: Dave Ko + Ronin Boyle + Sandra Sanchez
With bands: White Lung, Koban
http://www.myspace.com/whitelungwhitelung
http://www.myspace.com/mantaraygunband
+ Dj Tyler Fedchuk
7-11pm. Cover by donation.

Thursday October 21st
Artists: Ben Jacques + Ryan Walter Wagner
With bands: Myths, Haunted Beard
http://www.myspace.com/mythsband
http://www.myspace.com/hauntedbeardextreme
Djs Hunk The Drunk (winniecooper.net) + Glenn Alderson (Beatroute Magazine)
7-11pm. Cover by donation.

Thursday October 28th
Artist: Crums, Kaput
With bands: Raccoons, DBL Dragon
http://www.myspace.com/theracoonsmusic
http://myspace.com/dbldragonband
+ DJ Bobby Siadat (MT-40)
7-11pm. Cover by donation.

FINALE PARTY
Saturday October 30th
With bands: Love and Electrik, Peter Breeze
http://www.myspace.com/loveandelectrik
http://radio3.cbc.ca/#/bands/Peter-Breeze-Maxwell-Maxwell
+ Winniecooper.net djs Hunk The Drunk, Christian Flores & Maxwell Maxwell.
9pm-2am. Tickets $10 available online at Clubvibes.com and at prior events.

Artists CURATED BY RYAN QUAST
Music CURATED BY NO MORE STRANGERS

Reasons you may know Todd Slater:

• He has designed limited edition tour posters for artists such as; Morrissey, The Strokes, Muse, Mars Volta, The Beastie Boys, Modest Mouse and Radiohead.
• If you have been to a Dead Weather or Ween show in the last few years, you have probably seen his posters for sale.

Why might someone think they know Todd Slater? “People know me from my concert posters. That sort defines who I am. ”

What was the first concert you remember going to? “It was in Austin, I was 12 or 13 years old and it was NOFX at Liberty Lunch, a venue that is no longer around. I remember being excited to see people with green and purple mo-hawks. I am 31 now. Clubs seemed to be really relaxed with ages at that time.”

What was your favorite concert your saw this year? “It would probably have to be – Ween at Stubbs in Austin, TX. I also liked Meat Puppets at Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle. I was there for a poster convention. Almost all the shows I ever see are in Texas, so it was nice to see one outside of Texas.”

What is your favorite thing on the menu at Stubbs Bbq in Austin? “I like their brisket. I like their sauce. They sell it at the grocery store.”

What was the most intimidating artist you designed a poster for? “It was the White Stripes. Rob Jones does pretty much all their stuff. It was about 2004, I graduated from college about 2 years before. I was working in a t-shirt shop in Nacogdoches. I was learning screenprinting and was doing these unsolicited White Stripes posters. I would make an unsolicited poster, with no approval,  would print it out Kinkos, I would mail it to the tour mgr to the next date on the tour, didn’t even know the tour manager’s name. Then he called me and said he didn’t like it. (Todd starts laughing.) The tour manager was nice, said he already had someone doing work, but that he would give me a shot. It was really exciting to even get the phone call. Then in the coming years, I met Rob Jones in Austin and he sort of became a mentor. I started to build a relationship with Jack White related projects. But, still that talent is intimidating.”

(pictured above is the unsolicited print that got Todd essentially on Jack White’s radar)

Have you ever branched into album art? “I did 6 vinyl singles for the Dead Weather in 2009, they printed about 100 of each of them. I would like to do album art, but it really isn’t something I have pursued or that has pursued me.”

What day or situation would you say to yourself “I have made it”? “Oh okay. I really still don’t feel like I have made it. Because I feel like, I almost laugh when I say this, but I feel like art careers are so finicky, that I will never feel my safety zone and I can say that I have made it. I think consistently getting work with bands you like (Ween, White Stripes) that is rewarding, I feel lucky. I never really felt like I have made it.”

What are a few of your favorite books as a child? “My parents made me read a lot. My dad writes for a newspaper in Texas. My mother is an English teacher. So as a result I had to read a lot. I hated most books back then, but looking back some of them had an impact on me. Like Atlas Shrugged, Trouble In Bugland. I would say Hunter Thompson had an impact on me in my early 20′s, Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas, a lot of my imagery is guided by that now.”

Were you the kid in class that sketched all over your notebooks? (Todd laughs, so I take it he knows what I am talking about.) “Yes, I sketched all over my notebooks. All the way through college, through Art History. I keep sketchbooks now, I am insecure about showing them to people. I never post anything online from a sketchbook.”

What is your process for choosing colors? “If you listen long enough to a band’s music you get a gut instinct or a vibe or a feeling that is like, oh I think I am going to use blues and silvers. Kind of like listening to the music, is what pieces together scraps and parts of the poster.”

Do you collect posters and if so what do you look for? “I trade a lot of posters with other artists. I would say just someone that has the craftsmanship and takes care in their work. Someone that has a good sense of design. Good draftsman. Showing me something I haven’t seen before. Layered colors in an interesting way or split fountains in print.”

What is something you geek out over? “Well, umm lots of things. Star Wars miniatures. There is basically game like Dungeons And Dragons but with Star Wars characters, my friends and I played that for many years. There is that. I also collect vintage basketball cards from the 70′s. I have a lot of e-bay alerts for stuff. You told me to geek out.”

(Todd’s collection of Star Wars minis pictured above)

How do you celebrate when you finish a poster design? “Oh my god. I go to sleep. All the posters I have done, I don’t really have a formula for making for them. I approach of them pretty differently. I am trying to make new ways to make new posters. I am concerned with not doing one the same way. Which leads to taking a bit longer for things. If I have a deadline of 9 am I pretty much go straight to the deadline. My printer in Seattle hates it, he has so many quick turn around for me.”

Do you have a specific place you go to when you want to be inspired? “That is a good question. I mean I don’t go a certain place. My office is where I work, its a converted garage int he suburbs. There is just piles around my desk of stuff I like, magazine clippings, books, just anything that I think might be inspirational. I sort of live around these piles, if I need to be inspired.”

What is the closest thing to you now? “Well lets see, there are couple of art books. There is a book by a Chicago painter named Ed Paschke. There is a book on retrospective by William T. Wiley. There is a book by Westermann another Chicago artist.”

If you could pick the brain of any artist whose would you choose? “I mean, I would say that Picasso is probably the most important artist in what I do, because at the time he was so inventive and radical. He stylized things in a way no one was seen. If I could talk to him, I would try to tap into that. I would want to see how I could see things in a new way.”

What music have you had on constant rotation? “I had ‘Congratulations’ on running, cause I just did a new MGMT poster. It was for a single date at the Borgata in Atlantic City on August 21st. I have had some older Mogwai playing. I was just listening to Yo La Tengo’s Summer Sun, I really like that album.”

MGMT – ‘Congratulations’ mp3

If you could travel to any 3 places in the world where would you want to go?
“NYC would be my number one. I want to live there one day. I have been there twice for vacation. I would say New Zealand, along the trails of Mordor. I would say doing some kind of visit to Japan, if I had to choose a city I would say Tokyo.”

Where is one place you recommend someone go eat in your hometown?
“Oh okay. I am in a suburb 10 minutes or so outside of Austin. Round Rock. There is a little town called Driftwood that has a place called Salt Lick BBQ. In Round Rock there is a well known bakery called Lonestar Donuts, grew up eating their stuff. Gotta get a Mexican food place too. Umm. Okay, in Austin Juan In A Million for breakfast tacos. The owner greets you with a hardy handshake and the food.”

Lastly, what print do you get the most people contacting you about? “Neil Young print.”

:::::::: So, You Think You Know Todd Slater? :::::::::::

Familiarize yourself with more of Todd’s amazing work on his website.

Check back each week for a new So, You Think You Know Me interview. In case you missed last weeks you can click here to get to know Rusko.

Reasons you may know Molly Schiot:

• Molly was listed in this years 40 under 40 for The Advocate (1 of only 13 women).
• Molly made the out100 list for out.com, alongside people like Wanda Sykes and Cyndi Lauper.
• She directed a music video for The Raveonettes with Cass Bird for a Dr. Martens 50 year anniversary series.

Why might someone know Molly Schiot? “You saw me on the Megatron at a GNR concert at The Boston Garden.”

Where are you as you are answering these questions? “In the cleanest and neatest apartment in Soho that belongs to an old Japanese man.”

What is the most unique thing about your dog Maddy? “She has the need to engage in certain rituals and repetitive behaviors to reduce her anxiety.”

If you could bring back any celebrity from the dead to photograph them, who would it be and what would the concept be for the shoot? “I think Shirley Chisholm. She is a huge inspiration to me and the concept would have to just grow organically.”

How many tattoos do you have? What is your favorite one? “I have 5. It’s my family tree through portraits.”

Photo Credit: Cass Bird

What are three artists that you think we should look out for in 2011? “Cass Bird. Warpaint. Pieter Hugo.”

Warpaint – Billie Holiday

What is overrated right now? What is underrated? “Overrated, those guys that wear blazers and no socks and weird flat pointy shoes and shorts that are too tight and unflattering. Underrated would have to be Light Asylum. The woman sings like Ian Curtis and Joan Armatrading.”

What is your go-to snack of inspiration? What is your go-to song for inspiration? “Snack would be coffee. Go-to song ‘In The Air Tonight’ by Phil Collins.”

What is a painful noise to you? “A bus that makes that painful SSSSSS noise. I think it’s air being released from breaks. It hurts me.”

What do you have hanging on the walls of your bedroom? “Nothing.”

What commercial was released this year that you were like “damn, I wish I could take credit for that”? “Cadbury EYEBROWS by Tom Kuntz.”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVblWq3tDwY[/youtube]

What piece of your work would you say best represents who you are? “I love the new Doc Martens piece. It’s romantic and vague.”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv_rQ2c3Fa8[/youtube]

For Dr. Martens 50th Anniversary, The Raveonettes cover The Stone Roses ‘I Wanna Be Adored’. The music video is directed by Cass Bird & Molly Schiot. You can download the track FREE here.

What is something you want the internet to know about you? “It doesn’t need to know any more then it already does!”

::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Molly Schiot ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

To get your full dosage of Molly Schiot visit her website for more of her creative work.

Check back each week for a new So, You Think You Know Me interview. In case you missed last weeks you can click here to get to know Twin Shadow.

This via: Vancouver Is Awesome!

The DOXA documentary film festival is happening from May 7th-16th and this year’s lineup is a beast! Sitting on the top of the heap for a lot of people I know is the world premiere of Susanne Tabata’s latest film, Bloodied But Unbowed, about the Vancouver punk rock music scene in the late 70’s and early 80’s. The trailer is below, the synopsis is below it and we will be bringing you more information about this film in the coming days.

I was incredibly fortunate to be shown a rough cut of the film last week and I was going to tell you that it’s the best documentary about Vancouver music I’ve ever seen but I can’t even think of any other docs about the history of our music scene so I’ll just say that you pretty much have to see it. This screening will sell out quick so you should buy tickets today. Like go-out-right-now-and-buy-them today.

Check out the trailer @ VIA

*****THERE IS A SECOND SCREENING OF THE FILM BEING HELD MAY 17th GO SEE THIS IT’S AMAZING******

Music Waste is coming!!! If you were anywhere near it last year you’ll know, this is one of the best events in Vancouver.

The Music, Art & Comedy fest now has it’s schedule up!

Passes for all 4 days are $15!!! Get your bikes tuned up as all venues are within walking distance.

This year they also have a 3 on 3 basketball tournament.

Winnie Cooper and No More Strangers are suuper excited to be a part of it!!! wooop.

Music Waste, Vancouver’s grass roots independent music, art and comedy festival is fast approaching.  Excited? we are. Let’s keep Vancouver awesome and make this years something worth of rioting over.  Locals and out of towners, this is the shizz, apply. come and party with us.

Here’s a message from our Music Waste friendz!

Hi Friends,

Love you,
MW Team

DOITDOITDOITDOIT