Nike now has a shirt dedicated to the one and only Leroy Smith a.k.a. Charlie Murphy, who claims that he was the one who motivated Michael Jordan… who would’ve ever guessed? The front of the shirt has a black and white graphic of Charlie Murphy with his beautiful ear-to-ear grin pasted on his face, standing aside Michael Jordan who has  a “Leroy Smith” logo above his head. →

Handcrafting beautiful leather pieces with the hand of a traditionalist, Renata Koch’s Renush designs are true artisan accessories. A graduate of Cordwainers College at the London College of Fashion, Koch formulates each piece based on the contours of the human body as well as the natural attributes of the fabrics themselves. Subtly avant garde yet simple in design, Koch’s handmade pieces can be ordered directly from the designer or through a number of store in the UK. For more information and to see more of Koch’s pieces check out Renush.com.

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Photo from True/Slant-Licensed Under Creative Commons

Evil Monito contributor, Matthew Newton, presents candid and  provocative commentaries in his personal essays entitled “Fear & Self-Loathing in America’s Rust Belt.” Some of these narratives include the break down of mental health and job loss in America, ” the undying pursuit of art,” and alternative accounts of some of America’s most forgotten heroes, including former astronaut Buzz Aldrin. →

The dublab 10th Anniversary Exploration
Multiple Venues – Los Angeles, CA
10/1 – 10/10
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To celebrate 10 years of innovative music and city events, the dublab will organize ten days of performances, film screenings and DJ sets in venues across Los Angeles. The Cinefamily, Echo, Eagle Rock Music Fest, REDCAT and Downtown Art Walk will encompass the celebrations during the month of October. →

Strut’s Information Inspiration series has established itself as a reliable source of globe-trotting, genre-bending sounds; the product of spontaneous collaborations between two musical forces.  Hot on the heels of volumes from Mulatu Astatke & The Heliocentrics, Horace Andy & Ashley Beedle and Sly & Robbie & Amp Fiddler, Strut is pleased to announce that the latest volume will feature legendary Fela Kuti drummer and Afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen along side Finnish electronic / jazz maverick Jimi Tenor.  The is a raw and forward-thinking take on Afrobeat which will thrill fans looking for the next evolution in worldly future funk. →

The Other Self
Exhibita Gallery- Los Angeles, CA
08/29/09

Tony Alva and Richard Villa III  present an Exhibita Gallery event “Bipolar.” Featuring artists include Sas Christian, Nate Frizzell, Melissa Haslan, Jenn Porreca and many more. Live music will be accompanied by Black Veil Brides, Nick Alexander Mini and DJ Howie Pyro. Transphusion will be hosting an open bar, along with food by Sandwich Shop L.A. Get there early because the first 50 get a free gift bag. And if things could not get better, attendees are eligible to win a BVB signed Fender Strat enclosed in a coffin. Whoah! →

Since working with The Church’s Steve Kilbey (of the eighties Australian New Wave), Pocket has kept busy with this budget web-cam video that features some adept lip-syncing and makeshift graphics. As perplexing the video is, Mr. Kilbey’s blog entry on the matter gives some details on its creation.

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To purchase a download of “Hear In Noiseville,” visit http://music-by-pocket.com/

http://www.myspace.com/pocketmix

Book Signing of Noted Velvet Underground Historian
Book Soup – Los Angeles, CA
8/17/09
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By turns fiercely confrontational, literate, primitive, and heartbreakingly melodic, The Velvet Underground remain one of the most influential bands in the history of rock, inspiring everyone from David Bowie to The Jesus and Mary Chain. Surprisingly, the group was unsuccessful in its day, selling small numbers of records, largely because its monochrome look and photo-realist lyrics were at odds with the garish colors and peace fantasies of the hippie era. →

Neville Mars’ Solar Forest design provides a solution to charging electric vehicles by generating solar energy in a charging station resembling huge parking lots. The trees’ trunks are made to plug-in electric cars while the photovoltaic leaves collect solar power by rotating throughout the day to absorb light as well as providing shade for the vehicles. →

Jeremy Sole’s New Musical Venture
Continental Room – Fullerton, CA
8/18/09
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Next Tuesday, come celebrate the opening night of “BRANCHES,” a monthly event every 3rd Tuesday starting at August 18th.  Since the inception of Afro Funke’, Jeremy Sole prided himself on focusing solely on this event. Now after six years he is excited to start a new monthly event in Fullerton. Expect rarities and remixes of Afrobeat, Funk, Samba, Salsa, Cumbia, Disco, Reggae, Afro-Latin House and more dancefloor heat.  →