The Deadly Snakes
“Porcella, or A Bird in the Hand is Worthless”
In the Red Records

“Exile-era Stones”

Eye-catchin’ description, ain’t it? I mean, if it can get an old curmudgeon like BTD excited, then it has to have some kinda power. And I’m not the first person to say the Deadly Snakes sound(ed) something like this, so maybe you know what I’m talking about. It’s what I was expecting, but didn’t get. See, I’ve only got their first album, Love Undone, and that’s got heaps of Exile. Shame on me for not having the next two, but I’m going to change that quick. This new-ish album hasn’t left my turntable in weeks.

I bought the 2xLP of Porcella, or A Bird in the Hand is Worthless months ago, but I’ve moved a few times and haven’t had much time to sit with my record player. The LP advertised seven extra songs, so that was the obvious purchase. On top of that, four of the seven bonus songs (B1-4) are the best on the album. I don’t know why they would have been left off the major CD release, but it’s a welcome reward for the vinyl hound. Side C kinda drags for me a little (on account of how much I dig side B) but a tune like “She’s Going Home with Him” is the kind of song that makes you go, “This is, like, the GREATEST ALBUM EVER!” and your friends, who aren’t as insightful as yourself will get stuck on the length (20 songs!) or maybe the longer tunes. At least the CD version has “So Young and So Cruel” and “Oh Lord, My Heart” (man, dig that frantic drum beat!) Read the rest of this entry »

Johnathan LeVine gave art fans, press, and VIPs a sneak peak at Doze Green and Andrew Schoultz’s exhibit “The Left Hand Path” and “Cataclysmic Mayhem,” respectively. The artists’ styles are quite different, but neither clash, even with Green’s exhibit sandwiching Schoultz’s with pieces scattered on both sides of the vast gallery. Read the rest of this entry »

Kid Robot New York took over a massive gallery Thursday, Sept. 7 both to celebrate the release of their latest platform toy the Fatcap and to raise money for charity. Dozens of customized 20″ Fatcaps and Dunnys were lined up through the gallery designed by companies, up and coming, and pretty major league artists. The place was packed even before they opened the gallery to the public. Artists mingled with press and VIPs as video crews wiggled through the cramped crowd. Andrew Bell showed off his decapitated Dunny as Heatherette’s Richie Rich glammed it up while glomming the spotlight in the front of the showroom. Read the rest of this entry »

Hundreds of design fans gathered in droves on Thursday night at Heidi Cho Gallery on 23rd St. to see the opening of A to Z and Back Again, an exhibit that focuses on amazing designs of every day items such as beds, lighting and toys. The highlight was the unveiling of Kaws’ latest production piece the Dissected Companion. Other interesting items included cookies with edible nutrition labels, superbly designed glass creatures and crazy lighting rig that took up most of the room. Read the rest of this entry »

Jonathan LeVine Gallery will be hosting Doze Green “The Left Hand Path” and Andrew Schoultz “Cataclysmic Mayhem” from Sept. 9 to Oct. 7. An opening reception will be held on Sept. 9 from 7 to 9pm.

Gorilla Biscuits/Leeway at B.B. Kings, New York City—Sept. 2, 2006

It sure isn’t 1992 anymore, but you couldn’t tell what year it was at B.B. Kings last Saturday night as two of the biggest New York hardcore bands of the ‘90s gathered for an evening of nostalgia-core that could bring the biggest tattooed gangsta to tears. Read the rest of this entry »

Merry Karnowsky Gallery presents “RISE ABOVE” Shepard Fairey Solo Exhibition–starting Sept. 16.

The title “Rise Above” is inspired by the lyrics of one of Shepard Fairey’s favorite punk bands, Black Flag. “Jealous cowards try to control… rise above, we’re gonna rise above”. Beyond just a Black Flag reference, “Rise Above” is both an attempt to reveal and skewer abuses of power, governmental hypocrisy, and loss of civil liberties, as well as a call for people to rise above these problems. Fairey’s work encourages people who don’t like the system to change it or work outside of it. Peace advocacy and the questioning of power and authority are dominant themes. Shepard Fairey’s new body of work contains politically-charged screenprint, stencil, and collage mixed media pieces which use metaphor, humor, and seductive decorative elements to deliver provocative but beautiful results. These works blur the perceived barriers between propaganda and escapist decoration, political responsibility and humor with the intent of stimulating brain and heart/viscerally and intellectually.

Opening Reception: September 16th, 8-11pm
September 16th through October 14th, 2006

Merry Karnowsky Gallery
Solo Exhibition
170 South La Brea Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90036
www.mkgallery.com

Rancid/H2O at B.B. King’s, New York, NY–August, 24, 2006
photos by Steven J. Messina

With singer Tim Armstrong’s sudden departure from The Transplants’ tour, bassist Matt Freeman’s battle with cancer, and the success of guitarist Lar’s Frederiksen’s side project The Bastards, it might have been to safe to think that Rancid had called it a day and retired. Hell, they’ve done it all–released hit records, toured the world, banged Madonna, and helped elevate Epitaph Records to major indie status.

It’s safe to say we were all wrong. Read the rest of this entry »