Giant Robot Store and GR2 News
Last week, I went to see an in-store/record-release show by The Muffs at Amoeba. They played most of the great new LP and were as aweseome as ever–combining ultra-catchy girl group melodies with no-holds-barred punk rock attitude and out-of-this-world musicianship. So it was an honor to see one of my pictures printed full-bleed on the insert. Kim and Ronnie had asked me for the file but I wasn’t sure how it would be used or if it wound up on the cutting-room floor. My photography is far from great but the photo looks pretty damn good printed 12″ by 12″ and there is some poetry in the situation.
You might recall that Giant Robot mag was spawned in the era of punk rock zines. Before starting it, Eric Nakamura and I had both contributed to publications like Fear of Grown-Ups, Flipside, and Fiz, and he actually has had photos printed on Muffs 7″ singles. (So did early GR contributor Vicki Berndt.) The print version of GR has run its course but I still go to shows and take and share photos, so it’s very cool that one of them would be used by one of my favorite bands and I would join the esteemed ranks of Eric and Vicki. Thanks, Muffs!
I went to some other shows, too… I think it was Pabst that sponsored a night of heavy music at The Echoplex. Deep Six band To The Point opened, featuring members of Fetus Eaters and Spazz. I only caught a few songs but their powerful brand of hardcore was straight-up, filler-free, and a perfect way to fire up the evening.
Next up was one of my favorite bands and the new-school kings of skate rock, The Shrine. Does anyone rip harder or have more fun onstage than the trio from Venice? And are there nicer dudes anywhere? So what could be better than having the homies practically in my backyard at a six-dollar show. No, they didn’t play “Symptom of the Universe” (Sabbath, of course). Yes, they sang, “The Duke” (by friend and supporter Chuck Dukowski). Friends on the East Coast and in Japan, don’t miss them when they head your way.
I’ve been a fan of Jack Long’s since he moved from Providence to Los Angeles. First of his art, as seen in pages of Giant Robot magazine as well as on the walls of its galleries. And now of his music, with the band White Dove. The group’s songs are dreamy, dark, and one-hundred percent Californian–the musical equivalent of Joan Didion’s essay on the Santa Ana winds. Before you stream a song on PopMatters and then buy the debut LP when it drops on Tuesday, July 16th, here’s the scoop from my friend Jack.
I’ve been a fan of Jack Long’s since he moved from Providence to Los Angeles. First of his art, as seen in pages of Giant Robot magazine as well as on the walls of its galleries. And now of his music, with the band White Dove. The group’s songs are dreamy, dark, and one-hundred percent Californian–the musical equivalent of Joan Didion’s essay on the Santa Ana winds. Before you stream a song on PopMatters and then buy the debut LP when it drops on Tuesday, July 16th, here’s the scoop from my friend Jack.
Holy crap! I got to see Bad Religion at The Echo. And Quicksand back together. And FIDLAR for free. But first things first. Last week was the closing of the Giant Robot Biennale 3 at JANM, where I got to see my friend (and rad artist) Jack Long play with his band, White Dove.