you're never fully dressed without a S-M-I-L-E

what a pair

like mother, like daughter

love always

rainy days

thanks to keely for her beautiful face! [rough scan]

La Blogotheque

i've been watching videos off La Blogotheque's website through YouTube and Dailymotion for some time now. It's a super rad concept where artists pass through Paris [although now they have US correspondents as well] for an impromptu sort of performance...Most of the videos are the musicians playing on the street, milling around and confusing the pedestrians/tourists. Occasionally, they'll go into a cafe or store and really freak people out. They're intimate yet public performances. The sound quality is also quite impressive.
It's always been my fantasy to experience people just randomly breaking out into song [although i have a sick feeling it has something to do with my ahem, musical-theatre upbringing].
Alas, you will find no jazz hands or ball changes here...only unique experiences that make you wish even more that you were in France.
For a complete catalog of performances go here.

Some of my favourites:

LYKEE LI:




BEIRUT:




BOWERBIRDS:




BON IVER:




ST. VINCENT:

#67.2 - St Vincent - Marry Me
by lablogotheque


ALELA DIANE:

trading the forest for the city

border patrol, pilsen, 2008
tropical popsicle, pilsen, 2008
canopy, nashota, 2008

WEEK for Eric

This is New York-based photographer Eric Week's work. The photographs are taken from his series "world was in the face of the beloved." He has also made this into a fine art book. The woman is his wife. i really love the concept of photographing the same subject over and over again. There's beauty in subtle transformation. Check him out: http://www.ericweeksphoto.com

for ruj

hope we can drink lots more of this together soon!

te hecho de menos

we're not in kansas anymore

MAP OF SEOUL'S SUBWAY SYSTEM


i thought Paris was intimidating. Aw, shit...

WANTED

old journals are so fun to find. i've had the best boyfriends.
but maybe not always the best hair.

seeing green

very very rough scan

playing in the shadows

rough scans of pretty little sara.

vintage

found this while cleaning out yet another closet. my close and beautiful pal, eve.

so long skinny

could it really be the end of this trend? [those of us with thighs rejoice]

and it begins

suggestions/partners in crime welcome.

get in line toots.

blueberry haze

j

Hope you have a wonderful birthday. Thank you for your friendship.

i'm with the band

well, not really. but sorta. everyone is friends with someone who is in a band or is a friend of a friend with someone who is... i have been lucky enough to be exposed to some great local [and promising!] bands. The musicians with whom i've kept company are not only some of the most talented individuals, they are also some of the most genuine and good natured.
Generally speaking, these folks show solid support for one another and an open mind. Perhaps it's that music is usually a collaborative experience and looking, or rather sounding good also rests in other's hands.
That being said, i'm here to plug a favourite friend's band. i've known Nick, the guitarist, for some scary-sounding long chunk of time. They're called The Box Social. A four-piece from Madison, WI. They evoke a mid-nineties, garage-y variety of pop rock [Nick, did i totally just kill that description?] with catchy hooks and strong melody lines. They're tight where they should be but still manage to sound a bit gritty and unrefined. They've honed their skills in basement shows all over Milwaukee and Madison. They play regular gigs now in both cities, occasionally grace us with their presence in Chicago, and have done several tours around the country.
The best thing about this band is there is hardly a trace of pretense. Mostly, due to the group's gestation in the Midwest. i really admire independent bands of any sort and The Box Social does not disappoint. Sure, there are perks of the biz: babes, free booze,... and well, free booze- but rarely do people take into consideration all of the sweat, [literally,Nick] lack of sleep, disappointing show-turn outs, and bottom line drive these people have to march onward and get their music out there. To simply play for the love of something you enjoy doing is growing to be more and more of a rarity. They're four dudes who play with conviction and truly look like they are having loads of fun doing it.
So please, check them out. Go to a show. Move around a little [you'll still LOOK cool, i promise]. Drink a PBR. And rock on. Yeeeeeeeah, i said it.
Over and out.

theboxsocial.net