Life In A Bungalo

A little over two years ago, Paul Fresno and his partners in crime stormed the art toy world, resurrecting a staple of carnival culture—the knockdown doll—and offering it up to the rising stars of the lowbrow scene to modify it as they please. Art giants like Tim Biskup, Gary Baseman, and Frank Kozik joined new blood like Andrew Bell and Ness customizing these Circus Punks with kick ass designs. For just under a hundred bucks, art fans could own a silkscreen on canvas print, signed and numbered, and framed in fur. No other platform toy could beat that. Read more »

Jonathan LeVine Gallery is proud to announce the opening of Andrew Brandou’s first New York solo exhibition, Everyone’s Happier Now That You’re Gone. Brandou has created a series of thirty large scale and multiple panel paintings for his solo show. Painting from the perspective of a Southern California artist influenced as a child growing up in the 1970’s in a society fascinated with Charles Manson culture, cult mentality and murder, Andrew Brandou integrates both pop culture and personal references for his latest narrative. Read more »

AFI at the Roseland Ballroom: New York, NY (June 22, 2006) Photos by Miss Modernage

Nearly 11 years ago, AFI tore through New York City opening up for seminal New Jersey hardcore heroes Ensign, playing anywhere they could, including the singer from Heckle’s garage and the legendary Coney Island High. Every year they would come back, opening for bigger bands (The Offspring, Sick of It All, Snapcase), and every time they hit the city (or the Jersey shore) their sound would get tighter and their shows would get crazier. Watching singer Davey Havok storm the stage Roxy’s stage in 1997 wearing a Refused shirt, mascara, and bleached blonde hair, while hundreds of fans sang along to “Wake-Up Call,” you knew this band was going to be big—the question was just how big?

Two nights, sold out, Roseland Ballroom—That’s how big. Read more »

The Misfats with Love Cinema Vol. 6 at Maxwells: Hoboken, NJ (June 11, 2006)

Missed the Danzig/Doyle reunion? Sick of the circus sideshow that’s calling itself The Misfits nowadays? Osaka Popstar doing nothing for you? Then check out the fourth best thing next to seeing a Misfits reunion—Introducing The Misfats. Read more »

How do you follow up an awesome collaboration with Pushead? If you’re Kaws, you make really big boobies. Kaws and Reas have teamed up for a vinyl double pack featuring some well-endowed hooters women. This picture of the grey set is featured on www.kawsone.com with a July 2006 date, and it looks like there’s also a pink colorway coming. No other information has been revealed, but it looks like a few have already made their way onto Ebay Japan.

If you want to get a major toy manufacturer to take notice of your work, you make a custom figure. If you want to blow the playing field away, you start by making an entire custom line of Dunnys and follow that with an endless flow of custom paintings and platform toys. Shan Michael Evans, better known as Squidboy has built a name for himself in the vinyl art/toy underground by customizing everything from Labbit to Qees with his dreamy world teeming with clouds and robots. Life In A Bungalo chatted with Squidboy shortly after receiving our own stellar custom Mad*L. Read more »

Versus the Mirror
“Home”
Equal Vision

Versus the Mirror have basically punched me in the face for the review I gave their rotten EP a couple months ago. “Home” is a 180 degree turn for this band. The vocals are brutal, but cleaned up. And the best part is that they recorded all the guitars without ANY distortion AND onto 2” analog tape. I like it.

“Birthed by Architecture” is stunning. The band’s new sound does wonders for them. “Out of Context” is one of the more complex jams on the record. Davey Seybold’s vocals no longer drown out everything else. Siebold’s lyrics are emotional without being emo! The sound is raw, edgy and exciting. GET THIS.

Doesn’t Rock l Kinda Rocks l Rocks l Really Rocks

EROTIC OPENING RECEPTION:
June 24th - 6:30-9:30pm

Orbit Gallery is proud to host its first Erotic Show. “Erotic” will showcase 20+ artists from around the globe representing all flavours and colors of EROTICA in all media. Come get your eyes wet with a healthy dose of sexy artwork, sexy cocktailsand more! 21 and over for this special opening. Curated by Evan Pazol.

Please RSVP by June 22, 2006 to 201.945.8900 or email to OrbitGallery@aol.com

Artists include: Vera Akotuah, Glenn Barr, Gary Baseman, Michael Berkowitz, James Bidgood, Joe Borzotta, Newton Burcham, Michael Caines, Joseph Cavalieri, Alexis Covato, Mark Ensslin, Jefferson Hayman, Ryan Heshka, John Hendriks, Robert Kramer, Marcus Leatherdale, Niagara, Alfonso Nieto, Shag, Frank Sheehan, Rupert Jasen Smith, DK Stone, Brian Viveros, Carolyn Weltman.

* Mescal Cocktails courtesy of SPHERIA Importers.

** For this special event Orbit Gallery will provide complimentary transportation via limousine to and from the Hoboken, NJ PATH train and West New York, NJ Port Imperial Ferry stops to the gallery. Transportation is free and will be continuous from 6:30pm - 9:30pm.