Jay Howell is Rad

Picture courtesy of www.booooooom.com

Picture courtesy of www.booooooom.com

picture courtesy of punksgitcut.blogspot.com

San Francisco based artist Jay Howell has done a lot of cool shit. I have been a fan of his artwork for a while, but never knew about anything else outside of his drawings. When I started to do some research, I found out this guy likes boobs, pizza, beer and he lived in Sacramento for a while (awesome!).

In all seriousness, he’s an eclectic guy. He has a web only animated variety show called Forest City Rockers Motorcycle Club which has featured music and live clips from Mayyors, Thee Oh Sees, and Crash Normal (some of my favorite bands!). He’s done several zines, which include Punks Git Cut and Sanji & Craig. Jay runs an art and recording project with Mark Kaiser called Mt. St. Mtn. that specializes in limited vinyl runs of exclusive material from the artists, and all packaging and artwork is done by them. He also works with a clothing company called Lifetime Collective.

Jay has been working on character development for an animated series called Bob’s Burgers by Loren Bouchard (Dr. Katz, Adult Swim’s Home Movies). It has been picked up by Fox for 13 episodes and will air during Sunday’s “Animation Domination” lineup. Another exciting project to add to his list of achievements!

Mr. Howell is one busy dude, and it’s great. The more he contributes to the art and music scene, the happier we all will be. If you can, you should check out his exhibit Alligator Fuck House at the A440 Gallery in San Francisco. He’s also featured in the June 2010 issue of Juxtapoz magazine.

Find out more about Jay Howell at jayhowellart.blogspot.com

KDVS Operation Restore Maximum Freedom IX 5/23/2010

X (Australia)

A Frames

Moon Duo - Sanae

Moon Duo - Ripley

Jacuzzi Boys

Foot Village


Chelsea Wolfe


Robedoor


Rank/Xerox



Mucky the Ducky

English Singles

Delorean

UC Davis Gamelan Ensemble

All photos courtesy of Anne Halo except Robedoor by Robert Khoury seetheleaves.blogspot.com

KDVS freeform radio 90.3 fm in Davis, CA presented us with some outstanding bands this last Sunday at the Plainfield Station in Woodland, CA. This semi-biannual event was the ninth of it's kind. Past line-ups have included: Thee Oh Sees, Mayyors, G. Green, Nothing People, and MOM. For $10 we got 12 acts and lots of fun. Be sure to check out the next one which will possibly be held in October.
you can visit the ORMF page or the KDVS website for more info.

***To see video footage of Delorean, English Singles, Rank/Xerox, Robedoor, and Moon Duo visit the See the Leaves youtube channel.

The Babies live at The Hub in Sacramento 5/18/10

Photos courtesy of Anne Halo

The Babies graced us with their presence on 5/18/10 in Sacramento, CA at The Hub. The tunes were fast and catchy and some of us were even singing along! I was so pleased that they played such a small venue for half the price of what they were charging elsewhere.

They played the four songs from the two 7" releases, as well as "Breakin' the Law" and a few more originals I hadn't heard before. This show was a lot of fun and the two opening bands did a

great job of getting us amped up (World Wide and The Four Eyes).

I will post some video footage a bit later. Stay tuned...

KDVS 90.3 fm presents Operation Restore Maximum Freedom Festival

poster courtesy of Anne Halo

poster courtesy of artforspastics.blogspot.com
artwork done by Steven Sessler

*Dak & Ras G. canceled after the poster was made*

Sunday May 23rd marks the ninth Operation Restore Maximum Freedom music festival put on by the UC Davis freeform radio station KDVS 90.3 fm. This is an all day event from 2 to 10 pm taking place at the Plainfield Station in Woodland, CA. Plainfield Station is located at 23944 County Road 98, just across the bridge at the intersection of road 98 & 29. From Davis, take 5th street/Russell blvd West, then turn right on Road 98 and travel North. From I-80, take 113 North, then Road 29 West. Turn right at the 2nd stop sign and find plentiful parking across the street or along the road.

The following bands will be playing:

you can click the band names to be directed to their website or myspace page

X (Australia)

A Frames

Moon Duo

Jacuzzi Boys

Foot Village

Robedoor

Chelsea Wolfe

Rank/Xerox

Delorean

Mucky the Ducky

UC Davis Gamelan Ensemble

English Singles

Tickets are $8 presale from myspace.com/maximumfreedom or $10 at Armadillo Music in Davis or at the door.

There will be a bike caravan to and from the festival from the Delta of Venus cafe in Davis. For more info you can visit myspace.com/maximumfreedom. There will be a special treat for the bikers after the show ends.

Hope to see you there!

Whatsa Matter Le Merde Exhibition @ Super 7 SF

Le Merde is an artist from Seattle named Mike Kelly. He is best known for his hand-made resin figures and the slogan "Let's get Turdical". May 15th marked the release of his new collaboration with Super 7 for his "Le Turd" figure as well as a new figure he created for the show "Matter Cruncher". This was his fourth solo exhibition with Super 7.

photo courtesy of Fiends Ain't Family more photos listed here -that's me on the left hanging out while Gabe was interviewing Le Merde for his upcoming designer toy documentary


Contact Super 7 for more info on the Le Merde figures & artwork as well as other custom figures and Kaiju toys


Check out these awesome customized Iron Man helmets

photo courtesy of Anne Halo

Le Turd figure

photo courtesy of Fiends Ain't Family

Matter Cruncher figure

photo courtesy of Fiends Ain't Family

Blek Le Rat & ABOVE Duo Exhibition

Blek Le Rat- The Faces in the Mirror

pictures taken in the alley of White Walls Gallery courtesy of Anne Halo

Blek Le Rat is sometimes referred to as the godfather of stencil graffiti art and has been heavily influential on the guerrilla street art scene. This French based artist started his artwork in Paris in the early 80’s. His socially conscious and sometimes provocative work has influenced other great stencil artists, such as Shepard Fairey (US) and * Banksy (UK). Banksy’s style is so heavily influenced by Blek that sometimes it’s hard to tell at a glance whose work it may be. The Faces in the Mirror exhibition showcases his trademark work of rats, sheep, beggars, and the never before seen image of Mona Lisa.



ABOVE - Transitions

Installation photo provided courtesy of Anne Halo

This is the debut indoor exhibition of the street artist ABOVE. This show would not have happened if Blek Le Rat had not insisted on having a duo exhibition with the young artist, who keeps his identity concealed. ABOVE has been creating art since 1995 and has left his mark on streets in over 45 countries around the world. Transitions consists of his widely known style of “arrow” mobiles, wordplay murals, and socio-political stencil work. The artist has been quoted as saying that the images he creates are to inspire people to “rise above”.

Blek Le Rat and ABOVE are showing their art from May 1 - June 5, 2010 at the White Walls Gallery San Francisco. For more information, click here.

*

Banksy’s new film Exit Through the Gift Shop will be opening May 28th 2010 at the Tower Theater in Sacramento. For show times and more info about showings in other cities, click here.

Naked on the Vague

Heaps of Nothing is the sophomore effort from the Australian band Naked on the Vague. Lucy Phelan and Matthew Hopkins recently added a bassist and a live drummer to round out the group. If compared their first record The Blood Pressure Sessions, this album is just as good if not better. They have taken some other elements of the post-punk, goth, industrial, no wave genre and created a different animal. There are countless moments enveloped in the tell-tale guitar sounds of The Cure (Pornography era), Joy Division beats, and the conjured spirit of Throbbing Gristle. I think I even heard some sound effects from The Matrix, which gave me goose bumps. This record reminds me of listening to Clan of Xymox or X-Mal Deutschland in my room as a kid. Track 8 Blank Minds inspired a daydream of Robert Smith jamming with Justin K. Broadrick of Godflesh, but with Justin as a chick. Yum!
I can’t seem to listen to this record enough.

You can listen by clicking here

Heaps of Nothing is out now on Siltbreeze Records

The Babies

Cassie Ramone of Vivian Girls
Kevin Morby, bassist for Woods
Justin Sullivan, drummer for Brooklyn band Bossy
Nathanael Stark from Bent Outta Shape

Their debut single, All Things Come to Pass came out in March on Wild World Records


All Things Come to Pass seems to be the sum of two great bands not quite melting together. It’s good, but not great. The song is solid, what you would expect a Vivian Girls song to sound like with some Woods shavings. It seems catchy enough on the outside and I always like hearing the slightly distant vocal sound that trademarks a Vivian Girls song, but it doesn’t seem to really go anywhere. However, see the clip of this song live, I think it sounds more fun and upbeat.

On the B side, Caroline is pretty much a Woods sounding endeavor garnished with a Vivian Girl. It starts out with beautiful indie pop guitar playing that seems to swell and build until Cassie comes in swooning “Caroline”. I expected greatness, but I felt the song ended while it was just reaching its peak. I expect this song will really come to life when played live.

The second 7" release, Meet Me in the City is currently out on Make a Mess Records:

Meet Me in the City is what I was hoping The Babies would sound like! This tune is catchy, indie pop with a slight edge. I kept imagining Frank Black/Black Francis singing this song. Cassie’s haunting backing vocals add just the perfect touch to this Pixies inspired tune. It sounds as though they finally started cooking in the same kitchen. You can download the song for free, click here.

Somebody Else is Woods + Vivian Girls + Pixies + a splash of Slippery Slopes = Fantastic! I cannot wait to hear more from this band. I’ve heard they have enough songs for an entire album and if they keep the songwriting in this vein, they will be one of my favorite bands.

You can catch them on tour May 18th in Sacramento, check undietacos.org for more information. For dates in other cities visit their myspace page.

Male Bonding - Nothing Hurts

This is the London trio’s debut album. Nothing Hurts has just the right combination of all the influences I love. Male Bonding delivers Jesus & Mary Chain feedback, but it’s not so drenched in it that you lose the pop-punk hooks and the Andy Bell (of Ride) tinged vocals on some songs. The bass lines and guitar hooks remind me of the CBGB scene of the late 70’s. This is NOT a dreamy album. Each song has its own sound, yet blends into a deliciously coherent indulgence that clocks in at about a half an hour. These songs are fast and catchy; you may find yourself dancing while singing along! This record gets better and better each time I listen to it. This is highly recommended.

Nothing Hurts is out now on Sub Pop records. Buy the record and you get a digital download as well. Order here: http://www.subpop.com/releases/male_bonding/full_lengths/nothing_hurts