Biennale closing party pics and more

Last night, I arrived at JANM just in time to catch The Binges' sound check. The front room's acoustics were actually really fitting, with a deep, arena-rock vibe that goes with the band's sound. It was nice to see a number of staffers and volunteers pause to nod their heads to the supremely heavy, technically brilliant, and totally honest brand of rock, and although the sporadically heavy rain made it difficult for people to get to Little Tokyo, it provided a gorgeous backdrop.


I wound up watching the group's merch (and even sold some lighters and CDs). That meant I never saw the artwork, but I didn't mind. I already said my goodbyes to the art and photography on Sunday, and just about everyone I wanted to see walked by to say hi. Above, participating artist Albert Reyes +1. He gave me an Elvira print!


Here's Cate with Chip Brown, the namesake of Big Man Bakes, who supplied a ton of delicious cupcakes for the event. When the boxes were brought out, the treats vanished in minutes. I got to try the red velvet, chocolate, and vanilla.


Awesome to see my award-winning architect friends Ali and Poonam with their 1-year-old little girl who is as big as Eloise (she turns 2 next month).


Dora from the Chinese American Museum came by to say hi.


Carlos and Angelyn flank their friend Mark Trombino (of Night Soil Man, Drive Like Jehu, and music production fame).


Souther Salazar re-introduced me to his friend Monica. (Hope I didn't mishear/mangle her name.) I've seen him in that Dead Moon shirt before.


On rainy day, skater dudes are free to partake of museums and other options. Here's skate photographer, filmmaker, and multi-tasker Mikendo from Torrance.


I got to introduce two of my favorite people, participating artist Stella Lai and style ronin Thy Mai, to each other.


GR Minister of Color Pryor's protege took this picture of him with filmmaking colleague/softball ninja Michael Aki


GR intern hall-of-famer Yuki +1. You might remember Yuki (right) from the videogame review pictures.


Steve Reeder came all the way from Vienna to personally hand me the new issue of Cheetahs Never Win!


Back to the Binges. While the Okai sisters and the drummers they use live in L.A., singer Dylan lives in San Jose. He left home at 11:00 a.m. only to discover I-5 was shut down. So he took the 101... At 7:30 p.m., when the band was supposed to play, he still hadn't arrived. At 8:00, I went to the green room and suggested they jam out for a while for the crowd. They did, and it was cool (below).


They barely worked through their first segment when Dylan waded the crowd, got onstage, and grabbed the mic. A total rock 'n' roll moment.


You could sense the band's energy peaking when everything came together... Very rad.


Below, Mayuko rips it up on the axe. She told me she saw many legends at NAMM over the weekend, and perhaps she was channeling them.


Usually, you can't even see Tsuzumi's face when she's focused on her bass...


...but when her hair parts, look! No guitar face. She's in total control.


Because the set started late, it had to end early. To the great honor of introducing the band, JANM curator (and artist in his own right) Clement was given the difficult task of ending the evening. Another rock 'n' roll moment.


On the way out, I saw that contributing artists James Jean, David Choe, and Rob Sato were at the front desk, holding down the fort/keeping out the riffraff.


The steps outside JANM provided a picturesque view of Little Tokyo in between storms. Out goes Biennale 2 at JANM, next comes what?