Dead Kennedys – A Warning
I saw a poster last night advertising the Dead Kennedys playing at Rio’s in Leeds next week. It sounded too good to be true (especially since I’ve seen Jello Biafra playing in larger venues than that doing his spoken word stuff). I’ve checked it out and, yes, it’s the Kennedys-lite version with a stand-in vocalist (who’s now Biafra’s replacement’s replacement’s replacement) – even D.H. Peligro will be absent so please, don’t dignify their memory by going, just dig out your old records and remember them that way.
All together now, ‘Those dumb punk kids will buy anything‘.
Oddstruments
I’ve just stumbled across a new instrument on Oddstrument.com – the HANG is a custom made instrument that is somewhere between a tibetan singing bowl and a steel pan which makes beautiful music. Unfortunately, they’re very expensive and you can only get one by writing the makers a hand-written letter explaining your desire for one which is a bit too elitist for me but I’d still love to hear what a band like Massive Attack could do with one.
Also check out the Fire Stick flaming Didgeridoo and the tension guitar too.
BoobShelves
From where else but a shop called Sexy Furniture, obviously in Holland, comes the BoobShelf.
Chronotron
Beat Chronotron by helping yourself to help yourself. Same idea as a game we featured a few months ago and if it’s half as much fun then I’ll be losing a lot of time playing this game.
Viral Advertising and rude things
Please stop sending me links to the guys backflipping into jeans and the guy surfing behind a shark. Yes, they are very good indeed but they’re advertising virals which I try not to post (but normally fail) If you haven’t seen them then the illegaladvertising website collects them all in one place but I’ll start you off with a far better one featuring nekkid people (NSFW – duh!).
The Lost Nintendo Sex Ed. Tape
Was this really shown to kids? The 80′s were pretty f*%ked up for sex ed as you can see by the Lost Nintendo Sex Ed. Tape. I’m thinking this is a spoof but a very well done one (apart from Luigi’s voice).
Tron Guy @ ROFLCON
You can’t deny that Jay Maynard aka Tron Guy rocks. Such a nice guy and what a lunchbox!
Muto – Ambiguous Animation
We’ve featured his work before (I assume it’s a he at least) but I’m still astounded by the scale of Blu’s work – as you can see in Muto. Beautiful, disturbing and provoking, just what ‘art’ should be.
Evolution Graffiti
A stunning piece of graffiti – anyone know/guess where this is and who did it?
Refacing Government Tender
Joe D’s collection of Refaced Money is worthy of an art gallery exhibition. I know it used to be illegal in the UK to deface the Queen’s head (which covered writing on money and putting stamps on letters upside down – an old favourite of Irish republicans) but I don’t think this law is one of those ones that isn’t imposed but has never been repealed – it used to be classed as treason and was a hanging offence!
Self-important and irritating
‘Fascinating, beautiful, self-important and irritating’ – the new Rough Guide to Britain certainly has me banged to rights! Except they then ruin it by also saying, overweight, binge-drinking, reality tv-addicts – none of which include me.
cheers Kim
Additives in Cigarettes
Turns out that cigarettes are better value than I previously thought – just look at all the extra, free additives in cigarettes that you don’t have to pay any more for. Compare that to American Spirit‘s brand which is supposed to be 100% additive free. Interestingly, Reynolds American own American Spirit but are listed as a contributor to the list of additives so does that mean the advertised 100% additive free statement is no longer true?
Boat vs. Wave
I know lifeboats are designed to self-right but it’s still damn impressive when they do.
Go Home Does it Again
I just wrote a lengthy post about how good the new Spliced Krispies mashup bootleg album from Mark Vidler’s Go Home Productions is and why it’s a welcome return to the good quality, innovative bootlegs of old, before every man and his dog stuck an Eminem acapella track over the nearest mp3 to hand. Unfortunately the post got swallowed up by blogger so just trust me and go grab it while you can – it’s free, and worth every second of download time – there are even matching videos for your iPoo.
Frustration
The definition of Frustration (possibly NSFW).
Steve – you’re evil!
The Good Die Young on TV
My good mate Wolf has just let me know that his band, The Good Die Young, who we’ve featured a few times before, have just had their recent tv interview put up on the web. They’ve also put up a solo song by Chris, the singer and their video for Cut From. Enjoy and if they ever play near you, go and see them, they’re superb live.
TimeTube
TimeTube is a damn fine youtube mashup. The different views are cool although I couldn’t actually play the videos in all views but I’m happy because it found me a cool collection of Karen Carpenter drumming (say what you like about their music, she was a fine drummer and one of the few who could actually play and sing at the same time). It’s getting hit quite hard at the moment so be patient.
Pat Boone, Debbie Boone
Yay! I’ve just won another internet bet! I was having a conversation the other day with a friend about the pet names that drummers have for the standard drum fills. Having worked with a fair few bands in my time, I’ve heard certain fills being described phonetically with phrases such as ‘Pat Boone, Debbie Boone’ (think November Rain by Guns ‘n’ Roses), ‘Packet of Crisps’ (to finish a song), and ‘chapati, chapati, chicken madras’ (this one is always English bands, normally drummers from Birmingham). He looked at me with pretty much the same expression that you’ve got as you’re reading this but I’m not alone – This post and this one prove I’m not making this up. There’s even a mention of it (along with a great description of ‘gorilla grip’ in this Buck Nelson: Lifting the Cloak Of Mystery Off Rock Drumming video. Any drummers out there should make their own proper youtube video demonstrating these fills. Please?
If it ain’t broke…
…don’t fix it. The people who put together the trailer forBatman – The Dark Knight certainly follow this proverb pretty much to the letter.
cheers Steve
Ethnically Challenged Casting Choices
For once, I don’t think Keanu wins the worst accent award out of the top 11 Bizarre Ethnically Challenged Casting Choices. I can’t watch the Highlander clip with a straight face – a Scot playing a Spaniard and a Frenchman playing a Scot.
cheers Kim (yet again!)
Tom Waits’ Surreal Press Conference
We all know Tom Waits is a certified nutter/genius and the latest proof is his press conference to announce his PEHDSTCKJMBA tour.
cheers KD
Bettie Page 1950
I’ve said it (many, many) times before but you just can’t beat Bettie Page – the ultimate in Burlesque.
You can hear her talk in one of her only interviews here but to see more, well there’s a big internet out there and there have images of Betty on it since the very beginning, you don’t need my help to find any.
Nantendo
Old people using the Nintendo Wii (I could be very cruel and suggest watching with the volume down is both very amusing and a little disturbing).
If Pink Floyd did A Clockwork Orange
A little piece of trivia I didn’t know, apparently Stanley Kubrick asked Roger Waters if he could use music from Pink Floyd’s ‘Atom Heart Mother’ for Clockwork Orange. Someone’s re-imagined what the opening sequence would have looked like if he’d said yes and this is the result.
Ricky Gervais in GTA4
GTA4 is an astounding game on many levels, I’ve met some of the developers and they have an almost cult-like devotion to the product and an obsession with trying to squeeze as much into one game as possible. One of the many hidden features that has recently surfaced is the virtual Ricky Gervais appearing in the comedy club (videos keep getting removed from youtube – just search and you’ll find one if these go down).
National Geographic strikes again
Another collection of mind-blowing images from National Geographic.
Recycled cameras
Recycling old items to make jewellery is nothing new but I do liek these camera bracelets. Makes me want to get the dremel out.
Undecipherable Engrish
Extreme Undecipherable Engrish. I clue not have.
The World’s Hardest Game
I was expecting a little more from the self-aggrandisingly titled The World’s Hardest Game to be honest. I only got 2 levels into it before the phone rang and I had to concentrate on other things but it’ll fill 5 minutes of your lunchbreak.
cheers Dan – loved your post on the Most Musical City
