Eternal Damnation and Powdered Doughnuts

Out of all the places I might think to find the evangelical shock treatment that is Hell House, Dumbo would be the last place I would look. Yet, lo and behold, Les Freres Corbusier, the same folks that brought you A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant, has staged a production straight from the Hell House kit.

I attended last night and it was surprisingly good fun. I won't go into the head trip about the elephant in the room named irony. I think the New York Times theater review sums it up pretty well.

To me it felt like a grand experiment where two worlds collide. And what it yielded is hard for me to articulate. Which is unfortunate for a blog.

So on that note. Get tickets if you can. You'll have all the fire and brimstone without the painful conversion pressure at the end. Bonus = free powdered doughnuts.

p.s. If you do attend, don't pass by "Pin the Sin on Jesus" without taking a gander. It's a cut out of Jesus that you affix your confessed sins to via push pin and paper.
My favorite sin posted that night was, "I like to stick Jesus with pins".

Eat your heart out screamo pansies

Check out these kids playing a Sepultura cover. They are going to kick your ass when they turn 15. Link via Josh

Dear Technorati Spiders

I just got word from Nick Butcher. He will be playing a show at the Trash Bar in Williamsburg for CMJ.

Ever see his screen printed book, The Complicated Bicycle? You should. Comes with fabulous lo fi music. Check it out at Placetapes

Technorati Profile

Apollo Up on Woxy

Download Apollo Up's performance at Woxy. Chariots of Fire is a real solid album. But don't take my word for it. Visit their site and check it out for yourself. Almost makes me regret being a Tennesee expat.

Track Listing:
Walking The Plank
Situation: Hot!
- interview -
Even If You Don't Die
Custom Critical
The Job's A Game

New Hold Steady Video

Unless you've been hiding under a moon rock, you've surely heard of The Hold Steady. As a public service I've posted their new video. I was impressed, I'm sure you will be too. Tad, you're hillarious.

The Hold Steady - "Chips Ahoy!"

Net Neutrality is Everyone's F'n Problem.

So let's deal with it.

Bill Moyers had another great show tonight on PBS, this time dealing with the issue of net neutrality as well as the problem of media conglomeration. I find these to be very important topics for any nation declaring itself a democracy.

Here's a host of links to get you started if you haven't a clue what I'm talking about. Look at them now before the FCC makes it too hard.

From Wikipedia
Center for Digital Democracy
Save the Internet
We Are the Web
Free Press
Robert McChesney
Media Access Project
They Rule

The Day the Factory Died

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the book launch for Andy Warhol, The Day the Factory Died,published by Empire Editions.

I'll make it quick:
The book itself is a great collection of photographs taken by Christophe Von Hohenberg ( a very personable and incredibly modest guy) along with an essay by Charlie Schieps. The photos are of society folks, artists, and celebrities as they make their way to the memorial service for Andy. Sprinkled inside the pages are notes addressed to the departed. The book is beautifully produced, 170 pages, feels like the most expensive journal you've ever owned, and is decently priced.

The party was what you might expect - society folks, artists, and celebrities. Lot's of champagne was consumed. I certainly did my damage at the open bar. The highlight of the night was meeting Zelda Kaplan. She's a trip - very nice. I wish I had the opportunity to talk to her more.

If you are an Andy Warhol freak you should definitely check out the book. While you're at it, check out Empire Editions. Anthony is hard working guy producing some real quality books.

I taught god how to play guitar!

Thanks to my friend Josh for the heads up. I'm apparently the last to know about such hillarity at YouTube.

Blood Oath

Yet another post with a mordbid title. Way back, when I was still living in the fine state of Tennessee, my girlfriend (now wife) landed a role in a horror flick. It was a low budget, homegrown B movie made by some very ambitious folks at Albatross Films. The synopsis:

"A group of friends on a weekend camping trip decide to investigate a local urban legend. The trip will change the lives of everyone in the group. They will have to fight to stay alive, but will soon pray for death."

Ha! My wife and I never saw it, although we often teased our friends with the trailer.

Fast forward five years later. The movie is now having it's "world premier" at the Belcourt Theater in Nashville and has actually recieved some pretty decent press and shout outs on the web:

Nashville Scene Best Of 2006
Mondo Schlocko
The Film Asylum


I'm can't tell you how excited I am that my wife is a B movie star.

o'death dot net

Finally, o'death, has put up a site. After seeing them in Bushwick many moons ago I began to spread the gospel but sadly could only refer to a myspace page. Now they have a place on the internets to call their own. Yeah, it's still under construction but it beats having to look at ads and listen to poor compression.

I strongly suggest going to their shows.