Harlan - midnight review ( 2 days later)

Thursday night The Satellite (formerly known as Spaceland) had a free night with MAOI favorite Rumspringa headlining. Considering my stock in show going excursion has plummeted in the past few months, I had to put on my dancing shoes and go to a free show for a good band. I had no excuse. Currently, I work in BH, so I arrived at The Satellite before doors even opened. Chilling in my car reading a book, I killed time until about 9pm when I could not hold my bladder anymore and had to urinate. This was all documented on Twitter, night of.
Well, after peeing and getting a tonic water with lime, I was pleasantly introduced to the funky fresh awesomeness of Harlan. Completely unexpected this great band was on stage with songs that inspired thoughts like Sesame Street funk and Wonder Years prom.

Harlan, the name of the lead singer (and of the band), had enthusiastic energy that was up beat and really genuine. Given I have a feeling half the crowd at the time of when they were playing were friends, he still could get them to move to the middle of the dance floor and away from the wall(flowers).

Even I was compelled to move closer to snap some bad camera shots and bask in the light of the funkedelic beats that were grooven from the stage. Song “do yourself a favor” (which I think was a song name but very well could have been a statement) would be perfect on a hot summer day stop at the ice cream truck or roller disco date.

By the end of their set, I was dying to know the name of the band, but it was never mentioned, or at least I thought it wasn’t. Band mates thanked Harlan, the singer, but never made it clear the band name was Harlan. Not until I asked the very nice keyboardist what the band name was, did I get a bit of clarification. I suggest the band be Harlan and the Harlem Fresh Picked Honeys, or something cause that was confusing.

In the end, I didn’t even stay for Rumspringa as in my old age and bad health, I was exhausted and had to head home. However, catching the one opener, Harlan was well worth the trip. Think I might become the queen of opening band reviews, as I only have the energy to stay for the first act.

Harlan Website

Correatown: Loves Teal

Name: Jenni Tarma
Nickname: Bean Head
Sign: Aries


Favorite:
Month: October
Color: teal
Cookie: triple chocolate espresso

Q1. Are you superstitious?
A1.I always cross my fingers on plane rides during take-off and landing.

Q2. Best show you've ever been too?
A2. This summer- Muse. Whether or not you like their music, the power of their shred cannot be denied.

Q3. What have you said you would never do, but have ended up doing?
A3.Rollercoasters.

Q4. Bathroom read?
A4. Nylon.

Q5. Most Embarrassing Moment?
A5. Traditionally, I cringe every day when I wake up. Oh God, this can't be happening, this is so embarrassing.

Q6. If your music was ice cream, what flavor would it be?
A6. Correatown: mint chocolate chip, with a side of salted caramel. Mine: didn't turn out right, looks kind of gross.

Q7. What was your favorite cartoon when you were a kid?
A7.Moomin.

Q8. What’s your vice?
A8. Cocktails. The more elaborate, the better.

Q9. When are you most creative morning, mid day, or evening?
A9. I get my best ideas when I'm about to fall asleep, which is incredibly unhelpful in terms of remembering any of them.

Q10. You were slipped a radioactive roofie by an evil scientist and now have mutated, what’s your superpower?
A10. I have the power to run errands without being seen, talked to, or intercepted by anyone I know, am vaguely acquainted with, or even complete strangers.


Name: Angela
Nickname: Hungeeee/ Momsies/ Angiepants
Sign: Libra

Favorite:
Month: October 
Color: Teal 
Cookie: Chocolate Crackle

Q1. Are you superstitious?
A1. Just about fortune cookies.

Q2. Best show you've ever been too?
A2. Hall and Oates at the Hollywood Bowl. Wow. And the champagne and *pot brownies* didn't hurt.

Q3. What have you said you would never do, but have ended up doing?
A3.Taking life really seriously. Yikes.


Q4. Bathroom read? 
A4.Not my thing, really. Someone told me sitting on the toilet and reading will give you hemorrhoids and I've been freaked about it ever since.


Q5. Most Embarrassing Moment?
A5.A bird once dropped a giant shit bomb on my head while I was sitting in the sun in the Jardin de Luxembourg in Paris. It was truly awful. My friend was pouring water from a huge Evian bottle over my head trying to rinse it, and scandalized passersby were snickering and pointing.

Q6. If your music was ice cream, what flavor would it be?
A6. Mint Chocolate Chip, or Fig with Salted Caramel and Balsamic Swirl

Q7. What was your favorite cartoon when you were a kid?
A7. Gem, she was truly outrageous. Close second: GI Joe- I had a huge crush on the silent bearded Bazooka guy. And part of me also thought Cobra was sort of hot- all masked, whiney, and wearing a skin tight war-outfit.


Q8. What’s your vice?
A8.Staying up really late at night reading... and/or drinking too many cups of coffee. Which may be mutually related (I now realize).


Q9. When are you most creative morning, mid day, or evening?
A9.From 4pm - 12 midnight. It's like a gong goes off and all my best ideas arrive with trumpets, but I'm usually unable to capture them for later because I'm making dinner, or out and about.

Q10. You were slipped a radioactive roofie by an evil scientist and now have mutated, what’s yoursuperpower?
A10.I can magically transport myself to and from places in an eye blink, and I can also bring my friends along if they are touching some part of my body. This is extremely useful when I have late night cravings for nutella crepes in Paris, whilst sitting on the couch in LA.

I couldn’t think of a better time or day to sit and listen to Correatown, trying to figure out how to explain the sound of their music. Drinking green tea with honey and watching the sun break through the rain clouds on a Sunday afternoon while “Shine Right Through” is playing, it’s kind of perfect. Correatown has a sweet indie sound,  singer Angela Correa’s voice carried on the melody like a whisper of the wind.  There is something in the songs that gives a sense that there is a very me looking at me scenario, a self realization notion, yet that self realization is in observation. Like as if hearing the inner thoughts of the girl drinking coffee by themselves, the man walking down the street with a gentle smile, or your lover right before they wake; you’re seeing yourself.  I might sound completely insane or make no sense at all, but you can listen to their latest release Pleiades on Bandcamp and decide for yourself. 

Song of The Day: How Can U Luv Me

Yesterday I was invited to go see So Many Wizards play The Echo. Flying solo I really didn't want to go but since Unknown Mortal Orchestra was playing as well and I really didn't have any other plans, there really was no reason to say no. UMO was really good and the energy of the crowd seemed to be really positive. But it was my epic dance moves that new friend, Byron, and I were doing that really took it up a notch. The jump-rope, lawnmower, light bulb, shopping cart and the list can go on. During UMO's last song, during the last minute, we busted out an amazing 6-piece dance sequence of moves! Song of the day, How U Can Luv Me by Unknown Mortal Orchestra.

Elvira Is Epic!

The Elvira movie came out when I was 9mo old. But fast forward a few years and it became my favorite Halloween staple. The demonic casserole haunts me till this day, pot lucks beware!

Hope you are having a happy and safe Halloween weekend...

David Bray: A Snake with your Tea?

(image courtesy of David's facebook profile picture)


Name: DAVID BRAY

Nickname: Tragically I guess it would be DAVE. If i type it like this D.A.V.E it looks a little more interesting?
Sign: Pisces (if that's what you meant? Or is it some kind of masonic thing I'm missing out on? Went for dinner the other night opposite the huge masonic building in Great Queen St in London. There are a LOT of masons. They all had a sign.)

Favorite:
Book. 'Jesus' Son' Denis Johnson
Season. Winter
Beverage. Morning coffee, evening wine.

Q1. What is something you hate doing, but must do anyways?
A1. Anything involving arithmetic. I'm number blind. I tell myself that to cover up stupidity. I need numbers to count pens, measure pieces of paper, sugar in coffee, get on the right bus. All that.

Q2. If you had to give up one of your 5 senses, which one would you abandon?
A2.I think I've already lost my sense of smell. My girlfriend constantly tells me she can smell cat's piss. I can't. At all. Which either means she is a cat. Or I stink of piss.Tell me if I stink of piss.

Q3. Most rewarding moment of your life thus far?
A3. Every day alive brings its own rewards.

Q4. If you owned a parrot, what would you teach it to say?
A4. 'He's not here.'

Q5. How old were you the first time you got drunk? How was the experience?
A5. I was 13 or 14. Went through the contents of my parent's drinks cabinet with a friend. We had a small window of opportunity when my mother went out. About 10.00 a.m.- 12ish. On a Thursday morning in the school holidays. I remember laughing. A lot. And barely able to stand. It was difficult to get it together to disappear from the house before discovery. It was a very methodical, measured approach.

Q6. Whats the most interesting thing you found lying on the street/sidewalk/ground/random place?
A6. A half eaten snake in Anerley, London. If you know it, then you will know that is no place to find a snake. I'm not talking grass snake, it was a hefty looking thing. Cobra size. It looked tragic. We left it. An hour later it had moved up the street by a mile or so.

Q7. How many car accidents have you been in?
A7. Four happened in the space of 6 weeks, culminating in me totally writing off my car. A slow impact, 5mph head-on collision. Really mundane. I think I prefer the slow crashes.

Q8. Do you have a phobia?
A8. Moths. I scream. Proper screaming. Embarrassing.

Q9. If you could morph into any animal what would it be?
A9. Bear. So I could see if I really do shit in the woods. What an unpleasant answer. Should have said unicorn. I don't shit in the woods. Not that I could smell it. Going to stop typing about shit now.

Q10. If you knew when the world was going to freeze for ten minutes, what would you plan to do in those 10mins?
A10. Check out what's really going on in that masonic building.

*I have held on to this survey for WAY to long now and it needs to get out into the universe damn it. Unfortunately I don't have the time to do a proper write up on the work except for the fact that its mysterious,  sultry, and seduces you to look a little bit closer. Please check out more of David Bray's work on his website and check back later for a better write up. 

Artist of The Day: Cory Benhatzel

I saw the progress of her Labyrinth piece on facebook and bookmarked her page to remind myself to go back and check out the final piece. I love the Labyrinth and immediately knew when I saw the two owls what this piece was inspired by. The rest of her work pocesses a beautiful balance of dark and light, an innocence amongst a hint of death.


Check out more of her work on her site.

Song of The Day: Aluminum by Mahjongg

Occupy Wall Street...with yarn?

I have a few friends very passionate about Occupy Wall Street and have been following a few news stories (after they actually started covering it). I don't totally know how the movement started but I am fully behind the fact there is no really one goal, just the same motivating anger of feeling of injustice that the 1% Wall Street has inflicted. Like I said I am not fully aware or know all the facts, but I do know there is corruption in the bail outs, the banks, and just a lot going wrong right now.

So you might ask why I am bringing up "politics" on an art and music blog. Well artist Agata Oleksiak aka Olek has worked her magic on some significant NY Landmark in support of the movement. Here a few photos and please visit, Arrested Motion, for the original story.

Burn Baby Burn

Artist Alex Schaefer has been getting A LOT of media attention about his burning bank paintings. His burning Chase bank painting went for $25,000 to a German collector. Yesterday I saw on his facebook a lot of people congratulating him and encouraging him, i felt completely out of the loop until today when countless links had been posted on his page with the story. Here are two news stories I found informative. I think his work holds strong symbolism and it's terrible how our country has been crippled by the banking corporation.

Pictionary or Minimalism

Artist Christian Jackson has told classic stories through minimalist poster art. I love minimalism. Which I find to be ironic as I am not very minimalist in my own life, but maybe that why I can appreciate it's beauty, it's exotic to me. Here are a few of my favorite posters. Check out the original post and more posters on Juxtapoz.

Artist Of The Day: Nicoz Balboa

I really love the compositions and the stories they are telling, but to be honest I'm a little on the fence about the boobs. 

Check out more of Nicoz Balboa's work on his website

Song of The Day: Gonna Get Myself Into It

My best friend and I were on our way back from Salvation Mountain when we were walking down nostalgia lane and she put The Rapture on her ipod. We used to work at Urban Outfitters together and their album used to be on repeat. Add insult to injury that Sunday was the precedented religious crazy christian rapture.
So in listening to this song and putting two and two together we were picking up on the religious subtext of the song Gonna Get Myself Into It...heaven (are you following me?). Anyways when we came to this revelation it was like listening to Black Sabbath backward for the first time, an unveiling of the hidden messages.

Title in French...

The  music blog I found this on is in French or the name of the different pages are in French. But the second I saw a Ron Jeremy gif with flashing hair on his chest, I didn't need to know French to know one thing this blog is... awesome! Check out Le Musicasette and if you know French tell me what is says. (Sorry the gif quality isn't working, just more reason to visit the site)

20 EPIC Street Art Pieces....one

I said I would attempt to make a list of 20 EPIC street art piece. It just may actually be in pieces. And the eventually combined into one post.

Here is epic piece #1: Sharktoof

Here is epic piece #2: Retna and Mac

Here is epic piece #3: Elbow Toe

Take BekkaBeats to the next level...

I always said if I was a DJ my name would be Bekkabeats, unfortunately I am not that talented at beat boxing or spinning or wicky wicking. But for those that are musically inclined especially in the beats making department, Stussy has launched their "Make Beats" contest. The winner will receive a paid trip to LA to perform at the Low End Theory event, a release of their EP, a Teenage Engineering OP-1 portable synthesizer, and lots of sweet Stussy gear! You have 14 days start September off right.

Flippn cool promotional video:

Stussy - Make Beats Contest from Stussy on Vimeo.


Some rules and other stuff.
 All beats must be submitted by 9/14/11 for consideration. A Stussy committee, Low End Theory, and Tennage Engineering will be selecting the winner and be announce six days later on 9/20/11. (that's good the torturous anticipation won't last to long). One entry per artist, and you can us anything to create an original  beat at least 2 minutes long.

Original Story found on Booooooom

Official Contest Information

Street Art- A Bit of Dark Whimsy

Here are a few of my favorite pieces of street art from this post 20 Awesome Examples of Street Art on an outside blog. Maybe I might attempt to make my own list of 20 EPIC examples of street art!

New Site to Steal From- (Evil Laugh)

It's no secret that blogs take information from other blogs to provide content on their blogs. I am one of these blogs. Because I am a one wo-man band here at My Favorite MAOI and I don't want to seem like my head is completely stuck in the LA music scene sand, I really try and find other music sites (aside from the majors) to guide me in the direction of great music from around the globe. I just found another site, Indie Rock Cafe. You can download MP3 and read album reviews etc. I really need to jump on the "Hey download MP3's from my blog" train. But I JUST figured out how to put itunes music files on a usbdrive, yes this is true and slightly embrassing, baby steps baby steps.

Here a few of the albums that were on the front page. Can't wait to play more on this site, Indie Rock Cafe

Water & Ink

A Women & Her Scarf

James Jean, an insanely talented artist that very much is a modern day Dali in his surrealist paintings, has partenered with scarf company OVM. The scarf is BEAUTIFUL to say the least. I just want to touch one to say that I have, but at $400 a piece I doubt I will even get close. Each scarf comes with a copy of James Jean's book REBUS, 256 pages full color monograph. Check out more images on his blog.

Beautiful Decay

Chocolate Bunny from Blink on Vimeo.

There is something very tragic about watching a chocolate bunny melt, but it is fascinating.
The makers of this little video are brilliant!