Giant Robot Store and GR2 News

  You saw her for too short of a moment as Psylocke. She was the jilted “Hello Moto” bride. Recently she was Jamie Chen on The L Word. In numerous commercials and assorted roles alongside of her modeling career, I catch up with Mei Melancon at Giant Robot 2 on a recent morning for a podcast. We cover topics that begin with her appearances in high profile commercials, X-Men, L-Word, relationships, and her little known upbringing in a commune in Japan. Mei’s days are busy: ranging from modeling, acting, auditions and she’s even producing a film project. Listen to her podcast. The link is here.      
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T-SHIRTS + ME

T-shirts with Logos.

T-shirts with sayings.

T-shirts with designs on them.

How do we each choose what we put on?

I admit, I can be a t-shirt snob. It has nothing to do with sticker price or brand. It’s more about an originality factor. And I’m not gonna lie, I kinda like a person 5% more if the t-shirt they are wearing is an interesting one; a good t-shirt and good socks (but the socks are for another story.)

Actually, my first introduction to Giant Robot was from a t-shirt. Around 8 years ago, I saw a guy walking around 3rd Street promenade in Santa Monica with a Giant Robot shirt on. I went up to him and asked,

“Who is this Giant Robot?”

That led me to search out the magazine.

Even now when I wander into the store on Sawtelle, I usually rifle through the t-shirts. I am guaranteed to find a fun selection of unique art designs I know I won’t see anywhere else.

So—it’s been a long time since I bought a t-shirt at a concert but Battles were just in town. In my life, inspiration often comes from a jolt of the unfamiliar. Hearing Battles for the first time did this to me.  For anyone who isn’t familiar with their music –I would describe them as an energetic type of meditation—heavy instrumental perhaps. Their unique sound has creatively stirred me when some of my favorite tunes distract with heavy lyrics. That being said, I was pretty excited to finally see them live.

I asked my friend Zuleikha Robinson to come down with to The Mayan theatre downtown to see the show. When I got there, my excitement was heightened even more by the glowing t-shirt stand to the right of the stage.

“I have to get a Battles T-shirt!”

Well—I had 13 bucks in my pocket. Darn! Of course not having the full $25 on me turned getting that shirt into a mission.  Z lent me $11 and as I was about to start bargaining for that last buck, a kind stranger saved the day.

Thanks guy wearing the black flannel.

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