Twilight Concert Series

{ July 14, 2009 @ 3:58 pm } · { Music }
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Twilight1

If you call Salt Lake City (or any surrounding town or area) home, you might be familiar with the Twilight Concert Series started by the Salt Lake City Arts council, held on Thursday nights at the Gallivan Center with the added benefit of FREE admission.

Well, the Series is celebrating its twenty-second season in 2009 and there is a lot to look forward to so I thought I might try posting the up and coming shows to those of you who will be in the area.
If you’ve never been, I recommend checking it out for some great music and even greater fun.

This Thursday (July 16th) introduces The Black Keys and Human highway. If you don’t have any plans and can get away, head on down to check it out.

The Black Keyes “Rock & roll duo The Black Keys is praised by critics, fans, and musicians alike.
Dan and Patrick still live in Akron, Ohio and Magic Potion, in addition to being a pure
rock and roll record, serves as a raised glass to the band’s home town. As Dan says,
“The idea was for people to be able to sit on a porch in Akron with a can of beer and
blast the record through a boom box . . . people can depend on Pat and me to play
music and be around for life. We have to–it’s the only job skill we have.“

Human Highway “Sharing their name with a 1982 comedy film starring Neil Young, the Ontario, Canadabased
indie pop duo Human Highway formed in the early 2000s. Comprised of Nick
Thorburn (frontman for the eclectic indie pop group Islands) and Jim Guthrie (formerly
of Islands and Royal City), the band started while Guthrie was on tour with Islands, and
Thorburn asked him for help with a song called “My Beach.” Their style is influenced by
1960s and 1970s AM radio pop music — Guthrie has cited The Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison and The Kinks as
influences on the band’s sound. Human Highway released their debut album, Moody Motorcycle, in 2008,
showcasing the duo’s whimsical, doo-wop-infused, folky sound.“

The series opened on July 9 and continues through August 27 at the Gallivan Center in downtown Salt Lake City. The concerts are free and begin at 7:00 p.m. Have Fun.

Here’s a link to get more info on what’s coming up and other little tidbits…2009 Twilight Concert Series

Ciao.

New Music Tuesday #15

{ July 14, 2009 @ 2:13 pm } · { Music }
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Hey all, sorry for the late New Music Tuesday, I’ve had a busy morning.
As you notice, I’ve decided to start numbering the music posts to make them easier to find and navigate…YAAAYYYY!
I would also like take some time today and apologize for the brief introduction to these artists that I recommend each week. I have a limited time allotted for posting each day and therefore I have to make my posts short, sweet and to the point. I figure…if you enjoy the songs enough, you can easily follow the artists links to gather more info or investigate further. I hope this is, at least, satisfactory for now.
So…let’s get to it.

PJ Pacifico

I just started getting some of my music from a new site that I’m excited about and I found this album while browsing around. It’s by Norwalk, Connecticut’s P.J. Pacifico from his sophmore effort…”Always & Everywhere”. This is a great album full of warm and inviting tracks, that in many ways remind me of “Iron and Wine“. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking it up.
Have a listen to this song titled…”I Can’t Say No”.

Myspace…PJ Pacifico

Ed Tullett

Maybe I’m feeling a little quiet and mellow today but here is another recommendation in the Folk-indie vein of music. This is Ed Tullett from the UK with his album “With Love, My Lust, In Debt”.
The track is titled “With Love and Squalor”, simple, brilliant. Have a listen.

Myspace…Ed Tullett

Axel

I love this song from the new UK band Axel and the Farmers off their recently released EP “Dream #7″.
Now I can look forward to hearing their full length release. I hope it’s soon.
Here’s the title track from the 4 song ep.

Myspace…Axel and the Farmers

That’s all folks! Catch you next week for more great sounds.
Thanks for visiting.

Ciao.

20 in the Key of Bb

{ July 13, 2009 @ 9:28 am } · { Film or Video, Music }
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Mix

Darren Soloman asked 20 musicians to each record themselves playing a track in the key of Bb.
He then took each track and put them all together on one page to allow a user to mix their own tune by playing multiple tracks simultaniously, however they want. It totally addicting and fun.
Give it a try here…www.inbflat.net
Found via…lostateminor

Elevator Life

{ July 13, 2009 @ 9:14 am } · { Photography }
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Bill

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Photographer/Artist Bill Sullivan, whom I’ve posted before people I know, came up with a unique way to get some great group portraits by using an elevator door to capture some really candid shots of life. He says…

“I developed a situation in order to manufacture group portraits. The scenario consisted of elevator doors opening and closing. At the moment the doors opened, unknown to the riders, I took their picture stationed at a distance of ten feet. I stood looking lost either next to a shopping cart or with my back facing the elevator doors, quietly taking frame after frame as the doors opened and closed.”

To see more of his work, go here…Bill Sullivan

Ciao.

The Seed

{ July 10, 2009 @ 6:53 am } · { Film or Video, Illustration }
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Take a look at this two-minute animated voyage through nature’s life cycle created by Johnny Kelly, a splendid artist from Dublin, Ireland.
It’s done using a mixture of stop motion papercraft and 2D drawn animation…very cool.

Ciao.

Bunnywax

{ July 9, 2009 @ 10:13 am } · { Art, Drawings and doodles }
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John

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Have a look at these drawings I came across from artist John Casey, I love them.
He says of his creativity…

“In my work I see beings that are both powerful and powerless. They struggle with their ugliness and debilitation but are also somewhat at peace with it. I see a tension within these characters, and when two or more are juxtaposed together that tension only increases. The result may evoke a burst of laughter or yelp of fright.”

Follow this link to see more fantastic drawings and even some great sculpture…John Casey

Ciao.

Eric Yahnker

{ July 8, 2009 @ 1:48 pm } · { Art, Drawings and doodles }
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Light Reading

LA

rutledge

Eric Yahnker’s work is hard to describe, fascinating, funny, simple, complex, unique, weird, beautiful, great…ummmm yeah, all of those.
I recommend checking out more of his work here…ericyahnker.com.

Ciao.

Julia Fullerton-Batten

{ July 8, 2009 @ 9:19 am } · { Photography }
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Julia2

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I’m loving the really great photography work of Julia Fullerton-Batten. The mood that she conveys in much of her work is quiet or somber, though the images and subjects seem full of life and emotion. Visit her website to check out much more of her work. I recommend the perusing the “projects” and “personal” work sections here…
…Julia Fullerton-Batten

Ciao.

New Music Tuesday

{ July 7, 2009 @ 1:45 pm } · { Music }
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Well here it is another week gone by, they go so fast these days.
I’m going to keep it light as always, for the hours pass much too quickly for me these days.
So…here are this weeks picks…

Meese
Meese

This is Meese, four young chaps from Denver Colorado with their recently released album “Broadcast”.
This is the first I’ve heard of this band but the album had enough catchy tracks for me to want to throw a shout out for them. Admittedly they’re a touch of indie-pop, a pinch of alternative-pop and a little…well…pop-pop., but they pull it off very well, and so they deserve recognition in my book.

This track is titled “Forward Motion” and it seems to have a touch of a Bloc Party taste to it. Have a listen.

Myspace…Meese

The Republic Tigers
The Republic Tigers

Well…itunes (it turns out) has chosen a few select musicians to record exclusive versions of songs that Frank Sinatra made famous, which happen to also include greats such as A Fine Frenzy, The Kooks, Maroon 5 and The Kills to mention a few.
This track in particular is by The Republic Tigers with their rendition of old blue eyes “The Impossible Dream”.

This group of great songs are unfortunately only available (so far) through itunes so if your hankerin to check out the others and don’t happen to have itunes (what!?) then…I’m affraid you might be SOL. Sorry.
If your lucky, they’ll throw all the tracks together and sell it in a more wide release later.
For now, listen to this…

Myspace…The Republic Tigers

Stardeath and White Dwarfs
Stardeath

This next band is a little hard to classify, but that’s what I think you’ll like about them. Each song on this album is different from the next but similar enough to keep your interest.
This album “The Birth” is their freshmen effort after the release of two singles and so far their on the right path in my book. Have a listen to my favorite track so far titled “Country Ballad”

Myspace…Stardeath and White Dwarfs

See you next week for more music. Thanks for droppin by.
Ciao.

Refreshing MTV

{ July 2, 2009 @ 7:55 am } · { Film or Video, Music }
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If your a MTV fan than you may now know that yesterday was the first day of their big rebranding (or “refreshing”) campaign.
Check out 4 of the 6 new idents commisioned by Matt Pyke with UK based Universaleverything.com from filmmakers he admires. Also, Matt’s brother Simon worked on the soundtrack for each ident. Notice how each of them has exactly the same 2/2 time signature – a heartbeat-like rhythm to which the MTV logo always pulsates. Cool.

Get more info and see the other two idents via Creative Review…Here.

House of Cards

{ July 1, 2009 @ 10:29 am } · { Film or Video }
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Check out this very well done commercial done for the Homeless and Housing Charity in ther UK. Visuals these days…sheeeesh.

“Leo Burnett has created a campaign for the Homeless and Housing charity, Shelter. The ‘House of Cards’ campaign is designed to raise awareness of the fragility of the UK housing situation which sees millions of people being pushed to breaking point by high housing costs, which are trapping people in bad housing and causing homelessness.

Multi award winning band Radiohead has donated one of its tracks, ‘Videotape’ from the In Rainbows album.”

Ciao.

Nicola Vertalo

{ July 1, 2009 @ 10:13 am } · { Art }
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Born in Verona, Italy in 1965 – Nicola Verlato lives in Brooklyn New York while producing some truly amazing oil paintings and sculpture. Click on the pics above to see them in a larger format.

All I can say is…I would love the opportunity to see Nicola’s work in person. Intense.
Check out much more of his fascinating work here…Nicolas Vertalo

New Music Tuesday

{ June 30, 2009 @ 10:39 am } · { Music }
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Hey guys and gals!
Welcome to new music Tuesday.
This weeks additions include another update on the much anticipated new Stellastarr* album “Civilized” which comes out in the U.S. July 7th. I happened to get a hold of the album via a European connection and thought I would give you folks another taste of it’s greatness. There are also a couple of “Up and Coming” albums I’ve included in the mix as well, so let’s get started.

Deastro
Deastro

To be honest, I can’t believe I missed this one.
This is the latest release from Detroit’s own Deastro, a four member troop lead creativily by one Randolph Chabot (22) whom I have mentioned here before…New Music Tuesday 4.
This new album “Daggers” (with the addition of a full band) was released June 2nd, and Its slightly heavier electro-pop sound to the 08′ released “Keepers” is certainly not something to be missed…if your a fan.

This track is titled “Day of Wonder”

Myspace…Deastro

Blind Man’s Colour
Blind Man's Colour

Blind Man’s Colour are a couple of college students from St. Petersburg, Florida who are very good at making your ears happy.
This next track is from their upcoming (August 18th) release “Season Dreaming”, which I wish I had in my hand right now, and is chalked full of dreamy synth and vocals that I love to take in on those special de-stress days.
I learned of these two just a few day’s ago via mysecretplaylist.com and have had this song playing on my ipod ever since. If you do a simple google search for these two you can snag a few older tracks as well as this one from various sites.

This song is titled “The Warm Current’s Pull”

Myspace…Blind Man’s Colour
Blog…BMCblog

Stellastarr*
Stellastarr

Well, my intention is certainly not to jam this band down your throats (my previous posts Here and Here) but as I said before…I got my hands on the new Stellastarr* album “Civilized” and (in my opinion) this is their best effort yet.
I went out for a run yesterday to take in the album (as I do) and found myself playing back many of the songs while I was out because of thier sheer goodness, so I HAD to once again spotlight this talented New York group.

Simply put…the album comes out July 7th and I highly recommend picking it up.

Have a listen to another preview track titled “Sonja Cries”

Myspace…Stellastarr*

Thanks Folks, Come back next week for more great music.
Have a happy 4th!

Her Morning Elegance

{ June 29, 2009 @ 9:35 am } · { Misc }
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This may be old news to some of you but…I came across this video while hunting around the web and I loved it! It’s a music video for Oren Lavie’s song “Her Morning Elegance” directed by Oren himself with Yuval & Merav Nathan off the album “The Opposite Side of the Sea”

It’s very similar to a video I previously posted Corey Raising the Wedding Bar but with a slightly higher sheen to it. It makes me wonder if this is where Corey nabbed the idea. (?)
If you’ve got 3 minutes and 37 seconds on hand, I recommend watching it.

Ciao.

Wayne’s World…of Art

{ June 29, 2009 @ 9:16 am } · { Art }
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Wayne White4

Wayne White2

Wayne White

It’s been some time since I’ve come across an artist (or should I say art) that truly hits a “that’s great” chord with me until I came across this work from Wayne White.
Wayne takes old thrift store landscape lithographs and paints over them with words or phrases that usually make you smile, laugh or at the very least…scratch your head. As the story goes in his words…

“”…I decided to start painting traditional romantic American landscapes. I’d do historical scenes, giant Civil War battles, or a steamboat coming down a river. I taught myself traditional oil-painting techniques. The paintings started getting just a little weirder and a little weirder. I started putting monsters and stuff into them, but I kept the same realistic technique. And then one day I wanted to put a giant phrase in. I had one of those thrift-store landscape reproductions in the studio. I was going to take the picture out and just use the frame. But right before I did that, I looked at it and thought, Well, what would happen if I just used this ready-made landscape? It was kind of just an experiment.”

Much of his work can be seen by simply scouring the web (as I did) for info as a website seems non-existent, but you can see some more of his work by clicking his name above.

Ciao.

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