The 5th Member

Man oh man...theres a lot of good music playing this summer. Earlier this week I watched Calexico kill it in Williamsburgh, horns blazin, accordion crankin, while I noshed on pierogis and drank beers I couldnt pronounce.

But I have to say, in spite of the high that left me on, the photo I ripped off of Pitchfork's Bonnaroo review today made me wish I'd trekked down to Manchester for what is quickly becoming the preeminent music festival in the US. Above, see a frozade moment of what was surely a feedback fuck fest with Stephen Malkmus joining the newly svelt Sonic Youth. Steve O did his own thing too, which is like a 1x a year deal now that hes old.

Alas, Tennessee was not in the cards...and who knows how long I'll have to wait to see Malkmus again. Nevertheless, Chicago will be fun. It always is.

while on the subject of art...it doesnt hurt to check ray ray, raymond pettibon...

Steady Rockin' Doin' The Do

I absoultely love Ralph Steadman's work...there is surely an audience out there for the critially grotesque, socially obeservant, and viosually bombastic depictions of everyday life...but in my mind he is still an underappreciated artist and I itend to turn my readers on. Starting here and now.

You may be asking..."why here and now?" "Why here and why this moment?"

Well, it has much to do with the George Grosz below piece, which I recently saw at MoMA:

When coming upon the above drawing last weekend I immediately thought of Ralph Steadman's twisted "Lobby Lizards" from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Their are various parallels to be drawn.

Pun intened... unfortunately all I could find on google was this image of the "Lounge Lizards" not those of the lobby.
Nevertheless...you get the picture(s).

HOBBYHORSE*

"Freedom: DADA DADA DADA, the howl of clashing colors, the intertwining of all contradictions, grotesqueries, trivialities: LIFE." [T. Tzara, "Dada Manifesto," 1918]

The DADA exhibit openend up at the MoMA last weekend and was a nice escape from the increasing humidity.

During a weekday cab ride between sales calls this week I heard a a personality on NPR saying how American it was to bring together the artists associated with DADA in one comprehensive exhibit.

Who cares? There's alot of interesting stuff to look at. And without sounding compeltely ignorant, whats art without being entertaining.

*dada: 1920, from Fr. dada "hobbyhorse," child's nonsense word, selected 1916 by Romanian poet Tristan Tzara, leader of the movement, for its resemblance to meaningless babble.

Art Is A...

Ed Ruscha, 2001

I rarely take advantage of my membership privileges, but today I went to an early viewing of the dada exhibit that opens tomorrow at MoMA. Ed Ruscha is not featured, nor is he a dada artist...most consider him a pop artist. I just thought his piece above summed up the healing qualities of fine art.

A full report on the dada show will follow. In the meantime, learn a little about EZ Ed. Boy is nice.

ALL LOVE

At this magic moment, the NY Mets possess the best record in the National League and are tied for second best record in all of baseball. Things are good.

You could see it last night in Arizona, where Orlando Hernandez looked like El Duque again. Willie was having flashbacks to their days in the Bronx. I dont know about you, but Im having flashbacks to 1986.

The Metropolitans return to Shea next Friday night for some interleague action against the Orioles. However, before the Amazin's make it back to NY, they stop in Philadelphia for three ultra important divisional games vs the Phils (who they dont see again until mid-August).

With the Stitch To Keep The Cut Sewn...

It may seem like I'm sweating the way I cover aNYthing(s), it's jst that Im proud of my boy from Bergen Beach.

Seems like I'm not the only one riding though. Cliquenmove does a nice job getting under the freckled skin of the most rotten don, Browntown Ron. "She Watch Channel Zero"...you watch channel 9...

Plus, stay up with the Glob

Low Post

Not a basketball reference, just a play on the NY Post, really outdoing themselves with this morning's headline.

It's not like Im mad that we killed this shitbag, but can The Post be any less classy in their reporting. Please see inside for "Evil Zarqawi Blown to Hell" story, replete with "ninja outfit" headshot caption.

Priceless.

DOOM!

It's been a couple of weeks since Daniel Dumile dropped some golden lyrical nugs over hot waxed platters, and thats weird, cause the man behind the mask puts out album after album after album.

Well, wait no more. With the freeness off of Adult Swim dot cizzom, arrives the Occult Hymn EP.

"Check me outMy name is Brak and that's a factI got a mom and a dad and they are out backWe sit by the pool and we nibble on snacksThen we eat a big lunch and we all take naps!Why'd the beat stop? Hey!Heyyyyy... I got a mask too so gimme the mic!"