Ice Sculpture in Kongens Nytory Square (Copenhagen, Denmark)

Lasting Impression of 2009
As we anticipate 2010 with all its unsettling uncertainties and the tenuous promises of fortune, I’d like to reflect on the past year during the eve of the New Year.  I chose this ice polar bear sculpture as the memorable image of 2009.  A bit of irony, to say the least, that the lasting image is a transitory piece of art that melted in front of the recent Copenhagen Conference.  Mark Coreth, a master sculptor of animals in motion →

Photo Credit: Kristy Cameron

Inspired by the Minutemen song, Evil Monito’s “Tour Spiel” highlights the musician’s life on the road. Each week, we’ll check in with some of our favorite artists touring stateside or abroad. We’ll provide an intimate look into what it’s like to be packed in a van or waiting for a flight with the same people for hours on end. It takes a certain state of mind to survive any lengthy tour. Yet it’s the memorable experiences that make life on the road ultimately rewarding, if not interesting. This week we decided to highlight Rachel Flotard of Visqueen, who flew out to Laos with a philanthropic purpose.  She set out with a few thousand dollars to pave the school’s floors and twenty suitcases full of school and medical supplies for her return trip to aid Ban Na Mouang.  →

Photo Credit: Jason Nocito

HELP DEACON (ANIMAL COLLECTIVE) MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN MALI AFRICA! DONATIONS MUST BE IN BY DEC 31ST FOR CHARITY TO REACH THE GOAL OF $25,000!!!
Joshua Dibb, aka Deacon of Animal Collective, has been invited to perform at 2010’s Festival in the Desert. The Festival takes place in Essakane, Mali, in the middle of the Sahara on January 7-9.  Originally Josh had started a project on kickstarter.com to fund his trip, and make a CD and book that he would not make a cent from, but would bring awareness to Mali.  Now something even better is happening! Due to some conversations and great people the trip will be funded by Paw Tracks (a record label Animal Collective has been using for many years) and all the money raised can go to help Africa. →

To herald in the new year, I decided to revisit this visually stunning, animated short by Gaëlle Denis.  The filmmaker uses saturated hues reminiscent of colorful koi to punctuate the stygian, grey backdrop of London’s urban sprawl. Assimilating in a foreign culture can be a daunting task–and in the case of Tomoko, a young Japanese girl who comes to the city to learn English–it can be a frightening and alienating experience. But things change radically for her when, quite by accident, she discovers a vibrant, subterranean world beneath the urban bustle →

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – “Ain’t No Chimneys in the Projects”

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Nobody understands the true meaning of Christmas, quite like the incredibly gifted Sharon Jones.  The critically acclaimed artist gives us her perspective of this holiday in a song featuring her airtight band, the Dap-Kings.  She even threw in some strings from the Bushwick Philharmonic.  “There Ain’t No Chimneys In The Projects” recounts her childhood concept of Santa →

The Bloggomist: My Celluloid Fix
Love and Death (1975)

‘Tis the season for mass consumption and Hallmark-packaged nostalgia.  On this most celebrated of holidays, family members reunite after long stretches of silence and revel in merrymaking.  For some, Christmas poses a genuine test of true compassion or complete intolerance (depending on how dysfunctional their family has been the other 364 days.) For me, however, the colder holidays mean languorous days of feel-good movies, because gosh darn it, we deserve a bit of self-indulgence. →

The Last Root Down Session Featuring Breakestra
El Cid – Silverlake, CA
12/17/09

Many who looked beyond the mainstream are well aware of the Rootdown Club’s impact on LA’s music scene. This underground spot has been part of LA’s rich and diverse musical tableaux; exploring and connecting the dots between hip-hop, soul, funk, roots reggae, and latin.  Now 12 years strong, the Rootdown club has made the decision of taking a brief hiatus from the scene.  To celebrate their final night on December 17th, the Rootdown founder, Music Man Miles will be bringing his band, Breakestra live onstage →

Inspired by the Minutemen song, Evil Monito’s “Tour Spiel” provides an intimate look into the musician’s tumultuous life on the road. Each week, we’ll check in with some of our favorite artists touring stateside or abroad and find out what it’s like to be packed in a van or waiting at the baggage claim for hours on end.  It’s ultimately the memorable experiences with friends that make life on the road rewarding, or at the very least interesting.  This week it’s the band, Grooms who rely upon literary sources of comfort during the long and emotionally draining tours. →

Inspired by the Minutemen song, Evil Monito’s “Tour Spiel” provides an intimate look into the musician’s tumultuous life on the road. Each week, we’ll check in with some of our favorite artists touring stateside or abroad and find out what it’s like to be packed in a van or waiting at the baggage claim for hours on end.  It’s ultimately the memorable experiences with friends that make life on the road rewarding, or at the very least interesting.  This week it’s the L.A. indie-rock outfit, Cryptacize who caught up with us after a successful fall tour with Sufjan Stevens and The Fiery Furnaces. →

Inspired by the Minutemen song, Evil Monito’s “Tour Spiel” provides an intimate look into the musician’s tumultuous life on the road. Each week, we’ll check in with some of our favorite artists touring stateside or abroad and find out what it’s like to be packed in a van or waiting at the baggage claim for hours on end.  It’s ultimately the memorable experiences with friends that make life on the road rewarding, or at the very least interesting.  This week it’s Phil Elverum of Mount Eerie confiding his intense distaste of Florida’s culture and the band’s relentless work ethics during their past stateside tour.  →