Screaming Urge in the New Age
On the occasion of Sing-Sing Records’ reissue of Screaming Urge’s 1980 “Homework” single earlier this year, I touched base with Myke Rock and Michael Ravage about the Screaming Urge days and the beginnings of Columbus Punk. Since I spent a decent chunk of my 20′s in the Columbus music scene, I wanted to hear their... [ Read More → ]
Recent NZ Gems Uploaded in Youtube-Land
‘Slammerworm’ has been uploading more NZ gems and segments from the Onset-Offset VHS compilation. Hopefully he will be uploading the rest of the tape soon. (Yes, I asked.) The Policy in their practice room, 1984. Original video filmed and edited by Campbell McLay and Ritchie Venus for the Onset-Offset video compilatiion ‘Get Up and Go’.... [ Read More → ]
Artprojx Cinema presents Luke Fowler and “Mystery Show” at SVA Theatre NYC
In association with The Modern Institute, David Gryn’s London-based ArtProjx Cinema will present recent works by Luke Fowler and “Mystery Show,” a selection of work by four Finnish artists. (Liisa Lounila, Erkka Nissinen, Pilvi Takala, Timo Vaittinen) at SVA Theatre in New York. Each program will be screened twice: Friday March 9, 2012 at... [ Read More → ]
Velvet Underground: Under Review and Recently Released Super 8 films
The Velvet Underground Under Review is a documentary reviewing the influential collective, a band that Lester Bangs claims started modern music. It features performances as well as “obscure footage,” interviews and photographs of and with Lou Reed, Andy Warhol, Sterling Morrison and John Cale. I keep falling asleep watching it, personally–but maybe someone out... [ Read More → ]
Fugazi: Instrument
Someone recently recommended I revisit Jem Cohen’s documentary on FugaziInstrument. Released by Dischord Records on VHS in 1999, the film documents the band, its followers and also traces Cohen’s personal relationship with Ian MacKaye back to the 1970s DC, where the two met in high school. Shot between 1987 through 1998 on super 8, 16mm... [ Read More → ]
TV Party Documentary
In true democratic spirit of cable access TV and DIY ethics so associated with the revolutionary NYC show TV Party, some excellent person has shared the recent documentary of the show on Youtube. Much has been written on the now iconic show, so we’ll leave that at bay for now–but check this well-executed documentary out!... [ Read More → ]
Pre-Order Eric Erlandson’s book, “Letters to Kurt”
There are a lot of paths the narrative in this book could potentially go. Comprised of 52 prose poems, each a mini elegy for Kurt Cobain, the book will most likely be an explaination/apology to a friend who’s demise was largely caused by Erlandson’s long term bandmate combined with a general assessment of that whole... [ Read More → ]
FG.Ft: Three Part Project Series, A Tribute to Fad Gadget and Frank Tovey
FGFt
March 1st - April 8th
FGFt commemorates the late Frank Tovey's musical and artistic endeavours with a multi-part exhibition including an art exhibition, a screening of Morgan Tovey-Frost's 'Fad Gadget By Frank Tovey' and musical performances by Xeno and Oaklander and Ike Yard(amongst others). [ Read More → ]
Sympathetic Materialism: An Evening with Allan Sekula
Sunday – 02.12.12 – Sympathetic Materialism – An Evening with Allan Sekula Contents: 1. Introduction to Sunday 2. A note on sympathetic materialism 3. Untitled preface to Waiting for Tear Gas 4. Lottery of the Sea: Prologue and Ending 5. The Forgotten Space – screening at MoMA, Monday, 02.13.11 6. Related readings/viewings 7. Filmography 8.... [ Read More → ]
We Are Cinema: 50 Years of the Film-makers’ Co-op at Microscope Gallery
2/11/12 to 3/5/12 Opening Reception Saturday 2/11, 7-9PM preceded by special 5PM screening of rare shorts by Jack Smith MICROSCOPE Gallery, 4 Charles Place, Bushwick We Are Cinema is a month-long exhibit and screening series celebrating 50 years of the Film-Makers’ Co-op in NYC. It was in January of 1962 that filmmaker Jonas Mekas called... [ Read More → ]
Happenings: New York, 1958-1963
2/10/2012-3/17/2012 Opening: Friday 2/10/2012 534 W 25th St, New York The first exhibition to document the origins and historical development of the transient, yet pivotal “Happenings” movement from its inception in 1958 through 1963 will be presented at the Pace Gallery this month. The experimental performances forever changed the definition of art and the possibilities... [ Read More → ]
Some like it both ways
The first openly gay American popstar– and one of the first AIDS casualties in the music business, Jobraith (who like many glam musicians at the time, went through a bevy of stage names) was working as a prostitute in LA until he David Geffen signed him to Elekra in 1972. Managed by Jerry Brandt, his... [ Read More → ]
Purple Pilgrims Video and Spring Tour Info
Purple Pilgrims.- s/t 8″ It has been said that ex-Christchurch now Hong Kong based sister duo of Clementine and Valentine Nixon is really a live act, with their haunting, heartfelt, carefully layered drone; pure enough to summon goosebumps. This outsider marble-fuzz project has reproduced the same wide eyed simple magic in these recordings. Songs of... [ Read More → ]
Royal Trux- Live Footage ca. Accellerator
Taped in 1998 at The Point in Atlanta. The set ends with a cover of their now legendary rendition of “Money For Nothin.” Shout out to Marc Masters for this one! [ Read More → ]
Lillian Schwartz
*Note the excellent Hippie hangover burnout rock ca. 1974 Lillian Schwartz is best known for her pioneering work in the use of computers for what has since become known as computer-generated art and computer-aided art analysis, including graphics, film, video, animation, special effects, Virtual Reality and Multimedia. Schwartz began her computer art career as... [ Read More → ]
Sacred Bones Records at Spectacle
Thursday, January 26th, 8pm Brooklyn-based label Sacred Bones Records will present a selection of material and a rare-screening of Jacqueline Castel’s Twelve Dark Noons at Spectacle Theater. Expect an unearthed collection of underground weirdness, music videos, short films, works-in-progress. The evening will conclude with the presentation of a secret feature film. The secret feature film... [ Read More → ]
Charles Atlas at Judson Church and Light Industry
“New York City 1988. Raging homophobia. A killer on the loose. Disco dancing till dawn. Performers struggle to survive. Delilah seduces Samson in song. Gender illusionists go shopping.” Samson and Delilah, 1991. Charles Atlas at Judson Church January 25th, 8:30 – 10:30 PM -Filmmaker in Person- Dirty Looks presents an evening of video work by... [ Read More → ]
Artist Book/ Not Artist Book
Boo-Hooray Gallery 265 Canal St. 6th Fl. 1/18/12-2/12/12 Opening Night: 1/18 6pm-9pm Boo-Hooray presents an exhibition featuring books that are, and/or, are not, artists’ books. The exhibition (entitled ARTISTS’ BOOK NOT ARTISTS’ BOOK) was conceptualized by Johan Kugelberg and Jeremy Sanders. ARTISTS’ BOOK NOT ARTISTS’ BOOK will incorporate work by Chris Burden, Ira Cohen, Richard... [ Read More → ]
Trust-TRST
Trust’s first two singles “Candy Walls” and “Bulbforms” on Sacred Bones were among my favorites from last year. Their debut LP entitled TRST, is slated for release at the end of February on the Canadian label Arts & Crafts. Trust will tour this spring in support of the record, stopping in NYC March 8th at... [ Read More → ]
Organs of Love
Glasgow duo James McKinven (organs, love) and Alicia Matthews (vocals, love) comprise the band Organs of Love. “Organs of Love is a veritable behemoth of lo-fi weirdness that sounds like it’s come oozing straight out of some seedy swamp dive on Saturn.” –the band Optimo Music will release the “Bone EP” next week. Listen: Face... [ Read More → ]
Burning Star Core practice tapes from 2008 Uploaded
Burning Star Core ‘Practice April 4th 2008′ at the Art Damage Lodge, Cincinnati OH Burning Star Core ‘Practice April 4th 2008′ by Dronedisco for Burning Star Core: C. Spencer Yeh – violin, voice, electronics, objects Robert Beatty – electronics, objects Mike Shiflet – bass, electronics, objects Trevor Tremaine – percussion, voice, objects Official recordings featuring... [ Read More → ]
Finissage and video screening with Boris Groys at e-flux
Boris Groys, Religion as Medium, 2006. Still from video. Boris Groys Religion and Medium and Iconoclastic Delight January 14, 2012, 4–6 PM e-flux 311 East Broadway 2nd Floor New York NY 10002 212 619 3356 Boris Groys will introduce a screening of his video essays Religion and Medium (2006) and Iconoclastic Delights (2002) this Saturday,... [ Read More → ]
Mute to Release ‘Transverse’
Transverse is an experimental collaboration between Chris Carter, Cosey Fanni Tutti (TG) and Nik Void (Factory Floor) created especially for the Mute festival at the Roundhouse in 2011. Late last week, Mute Records announced they will release the recordings of the project this March. The tracks were prepared in the studio and then performed and... [ Read More → ]
Graham Lambkin’s new improvisation recorded in a Honda Civic
For nearly two decades, Graham Lambkin has been redefining our concept of domestic disturbance. From his time in The Shadow Ring to his solo ventures (2003’s Poem for Voice and Tape and Salomon Run, from 2007) to his collaboration with Jason Lescalleet (2008’s The Breadwinner), he has continually transformed everyday atmospheres and the mundane into... [ Read More → ]
‘TG’s Desertshore- The Final Report’
The New Year finds Chris and Cosey in the studio working on TG’s ‘final’ studio album ‘Desertshore’ a reinterpretation of Nico’s third solo album from 1970, produced by John Cale and Joe Boyd. The front and back cover of Nico’s Desertshore feature stills from Phillippe Garrell’s 1972 film, La Cicatrice Intérieure (The Inner Scar) which... [ Read More → ]
What’s Up Matador, 1997 VHS
The beloved video comp. Come on collectors out there, I know you’re harboring some gems. Digitize this stuff or send it to me, and I’ll run the transfers for you! Released in VHS format in 1997 as “A Matador Records Instructional Film & Music Video Compilation”, What’s Up Matador has found its way to the... [ Read More → ]
Music Vids 2011
Class Actress- Weekend 10. Unknown Mortal Orchestra- “Ffunny Ffrends” 9. Anika- “Terry” 8. Grimes- “Vanessa” 7. Austra- “Beat and the Pulse” 6. Badd Energy- “Third Eye” 5. HTRK- “Synthetik” 4. Young Boys- “Bring Em Down” 3. Street Chant- “Less Chat More Sewing” 2. Throwing Up- “Mother Knows Best” 1. Friends- “I’m His Girl” [ Read More → ]
The Unsinkable GBV
By now, most GBV fans are probably tired of all the chatter on the interwebs about how Greg Demos fell on his ass on Letterman. The Dayton vets played a track from their forthcoming post reunion LP, Let’s Go Eat the Factory. Another LP by the “classic” lineup is slated to be released this May.... [ Read More → ]
Exhibitions 2011
Takahiko Iimura: Between the Frames- Microscope Gallery Per-son-age-Famous Accountants Chris Kraus: Films- Real Fine Arts Laurel Nakadate: Only the Lonely- PS1MoMAB. Wurtz-Works 1971-2011- Metro Pictures Dara Birnbaum: Arabesque- Marian Goodman Irving Feller: Monochrome Drawings- Cleopatra’s Gary Hill: of surf, death, tropes & tableaux: The Psychedelic Gedankenexperiment-Gladstone Christian Marclay: The Clock- Paula Cooper Paul Sharits- Greene... [ Read More → ]