Vampire Weekend

Apparently i have no desire to work on my digital project. Photoshop and I aren't getting along however that means two posts in one day! Who knew I could be unproductively productive! I saw Vampire Weekend at the Mezzanine in San Francisco, one of my favorite venues. Medium in size makes for good standing view all around. I believe this was Live 105's pre- NSSN which was a first for them. I was surprised and ecstatic to have VW play! (Tangent: Mezzanine ...for reals.... you check my old ass ID with eagle eyes, how then did SO many babies get in and score MORE alcohol they obviously did not need.... Really.) I was surprised at how good they sounded as they pretty much performed their whole album! They walked out to hip-hops own Jay-Z which was pretty cute considering it was unexpected. I love when artists surround themselves in all genres. These guys have such a unique sound it was so fun to watch them. I know they are young but it was nice to see them so into the music. Ezra's foot I don't believe stopped taping once. They CD in my opinion was 5 stars hands down! It was great to see the quality hold live as well. There is nothing worse then finding out a great band can't perform. Enjoy a NEW Vampire Weekend Song "White Sky" they previewed for us... let your anticipation for the new album begin!

Ting Tings

Well I'm sorry to say it has been so long since my last post for those that actually read this thing..... I don't have to tell you how the economy has dwindled my concert list. However luckily I'm a procrastinator which means I can catch up on all that I have done... including the Ting Tings which I caught at 330 Ritch in San Francisco. It was a pretty fun show, although a rather short set. 330 Ritch has its pros and cons. Its great for being such a small venue I like the positioning of the bars, always a factor in a venue. However it is an 18 and up establishment so that being said there are too many babies who can't hold their liquor and just don't respect common concert etiquette. That being said these UK popsters have some battery powered energy. They can rock like there is no tomorrow. Ms. Katie White is flawlessly fabulously beautiful in person. Jules De Martino is just so witty, he was taking video of every one photographing them. Another plus of 330 Ritch, CAMERAS galore! no power zealous bouncers regulating. When video is rocking they are out of the way, but when drunk girls are trying to mosh during pop music they step in and lay the smack down. It was a packed show but the video still holds some memory enjoy!

Kings of Leon's sex is SO on fire

Well it finally happened, I saw KINGS OF LEON!!!!!! And it was every bit of amazing as I thought it would be and then some. They walked out of the pitch-black hall to a classical requiem that haunted the venue with anxious screams from the Warfield in San Francisco, CA. Then one by one we could catch glimpses of them as the ushers led them in with flashlights and fans flashed their digital cameras; as the screams elevated the lights flooded the stage as they opened with “Crawl” off their new album “Only by the Night”. Their drummer Nathan Followhill commands your body to feel him through every pounding he’s that talented. Then Caleb Followhill lead (yes if you didn’t know they’re familia) lends his raspy southern vocals to the sweet guitar and bass of Matthew and Jared Followhill. Every member has such a specific roll that you can hear in the sound of each song. There are only a few artists that I can listen to their entire discography and not either play out or get bored. These favorites ranging from Led Zeppelin, to Tom Petty, Faithless to Bjork or Radiohead to Andrew bird. The genre of each artist is irrelevant it is their ability to transcend time and grow as musicians. Kings of Leon has done that through their career. There concert was a reflection of that growth, they played their hit songs from their earlier albums such as “Four Kicks”, “Knocked Up” and “King of the Rodeo”. As amazing as they were on CD they mixed it in with their newer gems like “Manhattan”, “Revelry” and “Milk”. Caleb was phenomenal despite the fact he said he was sick which I didn’t notice when he belted “Cold Desert” however when he back tracked and wailed in “Charmer” the sexy high howls weren’t achieved but it didn’t matter because the audience filled in for him (for the worse), which I think he appreciated because he gave us a little smile for each scream we attempted. When ever I see videos of them playing overseas you can barely hear them because the sea of fans over power them almost Beatle status, I think KOL was proud to finally be respected for their music and be able to see it here in their USA. In every article/interview you hear the guys talk about their struggles with respect, the personal battles and the relentless limelight; I hate to break it to them but after this album I’m not sure those are going away anytime soon. I can go on and on about the songs they played but let’s not forget their new single “Sex on Fire” (also one of my new ringtones) which gets every girl I talk to hot and bothered. As if their physical attraction wasn’t enough they’ve grown as longhaired young kids in skinny jeans and anorexic vibes into hot men with tones muscles and (sadly) shorter hair but the skinny jeans still stand. With their southern rockin sexiness Jared’s bass lines strummed inside “hot as fever rattling bones”. I was attempting to video them as they sang but the crowd was jumping and I decided to drop the camera and belt out with the rest of the maniacal fans who came to see KOL’s sex on fire…. literally. My only disappointments would be 1. That they didn’t play an everlasting set including their discography and 2. That I didn’t get to meet them in person and 3. That I didn’t see them in the UK who seems to love them almost as much! I know all of these requests are out of the question and asking a lot so I will keep my pictures, videos, and memories of this kick ass show letting me smile at the thought that I WAS THERE!

I'm back

I have been swept in a tsunami in this sea of life..... yet have lived to tell the tale. I survived surgery, a dysfunctional family and numerous loveless jobs/relationships. It's all of these that make me the jaded yet positively peaceful character I am today. So Instead of neglecting my blog,.... which I now realize no one reads (and i still don't care), I've decided to make a solid effort in making daily if not weekly blogs. Of course that's today... who know what will really happen. But regardless, the effort stands in effect. First order of business is to catch up on where I've been venturing. Starting with SF Outside Lands, the past three shows and museum visits.
Go... live... experience... be...

The Wonderful World of Disney

Well, been a while since I wrote bout the beauty of anything artistic. I am mostly a photography commentator or mixed media because it is what I do. However I extremely enjoy architecture. It has always been a passion of mine. Ever since I was little I was always found starring out the window at various edifices. I love the materials, the hands on process, and just the brilliance of the finished product. It doesn't matter if it’s a quaint cottage or magnificent performance space. Speaking on the subject I recently was visiting family in socal and was able to visit Disney's own piece of art; the Walt Disney's Concert Hall. Designed by Frank Gehry, its brilliance lies in the form and material. It is extraordinary presence. You could stare at any piece of the structure and just be in awe of how it changes as shades of the day pass each hour. I believe that to be the most beautiful aspect of this piece of wonder. I remember watching a PBS special in one of my art classes’ ages ago. Anyhow I found it amazing how this maddening artist came up with unstructured piece of art that in the end had a complete sense of structure.

Social Distortion

I captured Social Distortion while holding down the front and center at their show in San Diego at the very eclectic Street Scene. It was an amazing show. Some bands will transcend not only genres but time itself. This fact enabled this amazing punk band to have a following likened, to TOOL, Led Zeppelin, Tom Petty, U2... etc etc. Some bands have these fans that take the term die hard with the utmost passion. It was sadly my first Social D concert and I heard it wasn't their best. Since I have no comparison I am biased when I say they rocked because he sings with such an like summer's breeze, just chill kick back as if he was just singing and having a beer with some friends. Friends of say over a good thousand! The singing every line, belting as if they were on stage fans know how to rock. And I am proud to say not only I am a fan but I held it down.

JENNIFER STEINKAMP

JENNIFER STEINKAMP is one of the current artists at San Jose Museum of Art. She was featured in this years first zero one art festival showcasing the digital artists of today. The question everyone had in critiquing this new art was whether or not it was in fact considered to be art. Just because something is new does that warrant authentic "art". The festival along with two of the newest exhibitions were all digital media based, somehow done with computer programs in any way. Many visitors felt that this diluted its credibility as art. In JENNIFER STEINKAMP's art she uses digital projections on to a blank white wall. The images are moving and consist of things ranging from flowers to just color. The images are meant to exemplify space, time and movement. In its first encounter you get a feel for a bit of surrealism and impressionism. But as you walk through these digital paintings you can't help, as one viewer put it, that it is "a sick hippy trip". Is technology the new tool for art or merely just a form of media eye candy? JENNIFER STEINKAMP has been featured both nationally and internationally so her art is no parlor trick. She is well respected in her craft...Whether you deem it art or not.

Liars-Drums not dead

My most inspiring instrument to listen to is the drum. It evokes something spiritual, savage, human. Something so tribal and raw creates a mood so tangible compared to the screaming and pounding of say death metal. (nothing against) The liars have captured the eerie melodic sound to perfection. I could listen to one of their strongest songs "A visit from a drum" endlessly. The whole CD has great beats and Angus' vocals are reminiscent of Thom Yorke with a more raw quality. The newly released album like all of theirs prior are original and utterly addiction!

Monsters are Waiting

Shows are great and I consider them the greatest form of art. Its a great combination of music and performance art. I enjoy going to be apart of shows because it gives me a chance to join in the art. I am a part of the movement. The movement this weekend came in the form of a plethora of shows, Monsters are waiting , amazed me. They are still young in the game opening for the Editors and Stellastarr but they still put on an amazing show nonetheless. I was actually impressed.

J luvs illuminated glass

J luvs illuminated glass
Originally uploaded by photokitten.

Its amazing how talented arists are. I sometimes wallow in self pity for at least the first 5 minutes or so just in awe of the creaitvity and original talent that some people have. I went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium recently and was amazed at the jelly inspired art by Dale Chiuly. The most incredible to me was the glass blown creatures. They weren't meant to be replicas but yet interpretations and omages to the wonderous form, shape, illumination, and movement that these translucent cratures evoke. We should all be inspired to create if not through imagination through the everyday wonders that surround us.

J the photo phoenix

Everyone in life would like to consider themselves great at whatever craft they have chosen in life. Against my parents wishes and my own personal lack of skill I had decided to go into photography. I have had a personal trial I have been under going which has hindered my personal and artistic life. I consider myself a phoenix as defined as: A person or thing of unsurpassed excellence or beauty in some respect; a paragon. Like the mythological creature we know so well , when something tragic happens it burns us inside and we either die like so many people or like the beautiful bird are reborn into something great. I am on fire transitioning every day. This blog is hopefully is an expression and appreciation of all things beautiful and horrible in art ; may it inspire.