Minneapolis Time

I recently was blessed to spend some time out in my beloved Minneapolis. I have started chemotherapy again and this was just the perfect end to a supreme Summer. Now its back to hair and weight loss with flu like afternoons spent lounging around the living room.

Noah and Wendy. My old housemates.

There was one afternoon where the sun shone beautifully. I spent the time drinking a great saison-brett and talking with old friends. It was exactly what I came out there to do. That and try to bring back as much of my vinyl, dvds, and books that I have been severely missing in California.

Isaac.

For some of us it was the first time that we had seen each other since Europe. And we had a great time sharing stories about events that have since transpired. I took a road trip to see an amazing music festival in Anacortes, WA and Isaac and Christa got engaged. Many congratulations are sent their way. I can't wait to to go back there for their wedding. Whenever that may be.

Matt Lammers

My good friend Matt Lammers had since moved into the Bonnie Doon. We spent some good time catching up on things. Matt had taken my place in Breaksea on an occasion, but I think does his best work in a band with many of my friends called Lake Baikal. They are doing a score for a film by another dear friend of mine named Allen Keating-Moore.

Breaksea had a wonderful reunion show that even included the great Gilbert on bass. Who regrettably was not able to join us on our European escapades. The show was in the barn/carriage house of the Bonnie Doon. It was a cold night, but we kept things lively with fire and good tunes.


A lot of good pictures including the two above were taken by my good friends Paul Jerome. The rest of them can be seen here. The rest of my time was spent eating at my favorite places and spending time with some of my favorite people. Right when I got back I had a portocath put in and got another dose of poison added to my veins. Luckily, I am on some new meds that make the experience slightly less horrible than before.

When I made my travels back I fit as many books as I could in a checked bag and a selection of vinyl in my carry-ons. My checked bag actually weighed too much and I had to remove a copy of the collected works of E.E. Cummings and add that to my personal luggage to avoid extra fees. If they only knew that the weight of what I was carrying in hand far out weighed that checked bag. My arms were quite sore after the flight from carrying around all that extra weight, but there was no way I was going to trust the baggage throwers with my vinyl. No way no how.

While in Minneapolis my hair fell out again. But instead of putting it in a box and leaving it for birds in the Spring to make nests I decided to put it to better use. My first idea was to go to the Aveda training school and ask for a trim. Then just see how the person reacted, but I determined that would be a little too mean. So instead I offered it up to my film making friend Allen to film the experience of me pulling my hair out of my head like tissues from a box. I haven't seen the footage, but I look forward to seeing whatever he does with it. I trust his artistic genius.

All in all it was an amazing trip. I may have not had the chance to see everyone I wanted to see and I regret that. I look forward to seeing them sometime soon. I may have not had the chance to do all that I wanted to do, but I still had a great time. It just left something to be desired when I go back.

Writer's Block

I spent the morning flipping
records like crepes on the LP
machine waiting or there to be
something for me to write to
you about. I watched two petals
fall from the fully bloomed
geranium on the window sill.
They flew down like baby blue
jays leaving their mother's nest.
I listened to the whistles and
chirps outside and imagined
they were part of the music coming
through the speaker by the door,
for they are already part of the
music of life. And I stared at the
blank page in front of me, a letter
addressed to you, and I waited for
there to be something for me to write
to you about. The overwhelming smell
of mint in the garden, the twins
practicing violin in the apartment
building next door. Even the scratching
sound of rope against concrete as a
little girl skipped and her way
down the sidewalk to the nearest park.
The sound startled me and raised me
from my seat. I thought maybe the
record was stuck, but it was just me
listening to the music of life
waiting for there to be something

for me to write to you about.

Webisodes

I love webisodes. Online video series remind me of the old school days of cable and lite night UHF. Back before the FCC got all uppity and censored all the good stuff. But with podcasts and webisodes we now have a new media output for quirky visual aficionados.

When Dr. Horrible's Sing-along Blog hit the digital screen I was eagerly awaiting each new part. Other great series like Felicia Day's The Guild or the great Zelda parody Legend of Neil are ones that I watch regularly for my own entertainment. Anyone who does not know Sweet Tea Film's Tavin Dillard needs him in their life. Even Zach Galifianakis has Between Two Ferns. There is the 'Bu, the Michael Showalter Showalter(before he had issues and after Stella), and loads of others that in no way reflect lonelygirl15. Sites like Channel 101 and Waverly Films host some great series and so does College Humor and Funny or Die.

Many of these are to be considered NSFW but that is part of their charm and one of the reasons I love them. I think that many shows on Adult Swim would never make it there without the help of the internet based venues like the ones listed above. And the Lonely Island boys have made their fame this way and still do.

Maybe someday UHF will make a comeback or cable and local television will get the creative freedom and notice that it deserves, but until then... thank you internet. Thank you very much.

Nuevo Pantalones

New Pants

So I got some new pants. They are almost the same as the old ones just a different color. In no way am I retiring the old ones. I just thought it would be good to have some variety.

Buying new pants reminds me of the last time I made a new purchase for which to cover my lower appendages. My housemate Noah sat me down and told me a story. He said that every morning when a man wakes up and gets dressed that man makes a decision. That decision is whether to go right or to go left. Then he told me, "This decision should be known to that man and that man alone. When the pants that he wears announces the decision that he made that morning, then those pants are too tight." That is when he paused and looks me right in the face and says, "Levi, those pants are too tight."

Considering these new pants are the same size. They too might be too tight. But I find them comfortable. So, I think that I will keep them.

Old Pants

The Vastness/The Voice

It should be no surprise that I love Pablo Neruda. I first fell in love with his posthumous work The Sea and Bells (El mar y las campanas). One of my favorite musical groups, Rachel's, did an album based off this work. I fell in love this book of poems as I read them on the sands of the Pacific Northwest. Neruda was writing five books of poetry to be released on his seventieth birthday. He died before any of them were completed. William O'Daly has translated the unfinished works and they are published by Copper Creek along with a few of his late works.

Although, there has been some dispute over the quality of O'Daly's translations all the books are bi-lingual. So if one was interested, one can always do some research and find the meaning oneself. I do not mind the translations, but I am by no means fluent in Spanish. I understand that part of translation is interpretation. Daniel Ladinsky explores this concept quite well with his translations of Hafiz.

Whether you speak Spanish or not I highly recommend reading some Neruda. He was one of the world's greatest poets, and he achieved a voice most poets only dream about having. And while you are at it listen to some of Rachel's' music. The Systems/Layers album never left my stereo for about a year. It still carries a heavy rotation in my musical library.

Zach Attach

This whole Summer Zach Galifiankis has been almost ever present in the realm of film and comedy. Who knew that him playing himself on the Hangover would finally lead to people noticing him. But the fun is not over yet.

Zach is due to appear in a couple of new great productions. The first will be an HBO series called Bored to Death with Ted Danson, Jason Schwartzman, and a slew of other hilarious actors doing cameos. Then he comes out in a new movie in October with Michael Cera sporting a mustache entitled Youth in Revolt.

It makes me wonder if someone will give him another Late World opportunity only to see him go crazy under Network restrictions or thrive in a situation where he has full control like his stand-up DVD Live at the Purple Onion. Maybe he will just sink back under the radar like when he did his Dog Bites Man venture. No matter what I know he is sure to do another Between Two Ferns.





Oh his comedy has grown leaps and bounds. This shows the prowess of his physical comedy.

NCFF

This last weekend was the Nevada City Film Festival. I had a great time watching short films, long films, and even a comedy show. I volunteered and helped out cleaning up and ushering. Of the films I had a few favorites: I Am So Proud Of You by Don Hertfeldt, Goldfish by Joe Wein, and Somewhere in Time by Chris Streng which featured a collection of Troll dolls acting out a fantastic adventure. Being pleasantly surprised by the local films as well as the amount of international and higher production films I will definitely be looking forward to next year's Film Fest.

Git Down Dance Remix

A while ago one of my friends Caleb Coppock made some videos mashing up clips from a movie called Talking Feet with some 50 cent songs. The result was pure hilarity. The video below explores the idea a bit further. The rest of the videos are Caleb's. Enjoy.













The great thing is I actually found a VHS tape of the last guy doing an instructional video on how to dance like this in a thrift store. And it is awesome.

Film Fascination

A while ago I made a list of movies that I looked forward to seeing in 2009. Most of them are still yet to come out. And there are others like G.I. Joe that were not worthy. But I think that it is time for me to put in my two cents about those movies that have come out and are, deservingly, on the list.

The Hangover was hilarious. The whole thing coming off to me as an homage to Zach Galifinakis' stand up routines. Public Enemies was good, but it wasn't The Untouchables. However Sam Mendes' Away We Go was funny, charming, emotional, and extremely true to life. It also hosted some great tunes by the likes of the Stranglers, Bob Dylan, and The Velvet Underground.

I don't know how good Wild Things will be, but Dave Eggers seems to be doing pretty well in the screenwriting world as well as holding his own as a writer/novelist and editor of McSweeney's. I loved Away We Go and highly recommend it.

Some other movies that will be watched this year and should have made the list are Duncan Jones' Moon, Woody Allen's Whatever Works, and Jim Jarmusch's Limits of Control.

A Fist Full Of Pennies

Last Tuesday I took a drive down the hill to go see a band called Dead Western play in Sacramento. The performance was great. I happen to very much appreciate music that has different aspects that set it apart. And Troy Mighty's vocals sound almost like he is singing a whale's lament out of water. The music was slow, minimalist, and fit the vocal styles perfectly. It was all together enjoyable.



The other bands to play were Freebasers and Barn Owl. Each had their own defined style and were great to see. I suggest going to a show featuring any of these bands if they come your way.

Playfull Placemats

I was out with my parents and my 3 year old nephew, Campbell, eating breakfast. When the server brought us some crayons for Campbell to draw. I think I took more interest in them than my nephew and doodled this on the back of the placemat while we waited for our food.

Alex Kanevsky

I heard someone once say that Francis Bacon has had more of impact on the contemporary art scene than Pablo Picasso. Although, I don't believe this, it is interesting to see his impact on art today. Alex Kanevsky's paintings definitely make me think of Francis Bacon. While these figure studies layer skeletal, shadow, and contour, his paintings mix thick brush stokes and almost pixelated texture. With an added bonus, I will not only post how and why this artist inspires me, but also what inspires him.

In an interview Kanevsky said this,

"Everything. All first-hand experiences. John Adams wrote a beautiful composition titled "Naive and Sentimental Music". He took this title from a Friedrich Schiller essay "On Naive and Sentimental Poetry". Schiller decided that there are really just two kinds of artists: naive and sentimental. Naive artist works with the first-hand experiences, uncompromised by self-analysis. Sentimental are works that are self-aware of their place in history, theory, etc. One usually sees this kind of work accompanied by an artist statement. I think I am more naive than sentimental in the things that inspire me."

And it is people like this who inspire me.

Where the Wild Things Are

1980s Moishe
Dude, he is so awesome!

It is no secret to my friends that I have a slight obsession with stuffed animals from the 1980s. I own a few E.T.s, Multiple Alf dolls as well as a few others I deemed rad enough to keep the others company.

For a long time I have coveted a certain series of stuffed animals. They are the ones based off of Maurice Sendak's childhood masterpiece Where The Wild Things Are. One of the rare finds can be seen above. As rare as they are they also fetch a pretty penny when they are sold. Hence, my hesitation in collecting them. Luckily, fate has given me a second chance.

Due to the upcoming release of the Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers film based on the legendary book the toys are being released as well. Although they are not as awesome as the vintage ones. (Rarely things ever are) Crocodile Creek is releasing the line in seven, twelve, and fourteen inch sizes. Some are puppets and some are just stuffed. All I am saying is that I can't wait for these to flood the market and then drop in price so I can buy these things. I mean they are not vintage, but at least I could have them without breaking the bank.

What the Heck? Fest

An Exquisite Corpse done by Josh and Myself

Well, I have been away for the past couple of weeks. Some of my friends from Minneapolis came out and visited me. We then drove up to Anacortes, WA to attend the What the Heck? Fest. WTH? is a music festival put on by musicians local to Anacortes and all of their friends and fellow musicians/artists/film makers. Some of the people that played were Mt. Eerie, Mirah, Karl Blau, Calvin Johnson, LAKE, Grouper, Earth, and many others.

Many of us attended the event two years ago. So this was a sort of reunion road trip. We made sure to drive through a tree in the redwoods, visit the amazing Crater Lake, Umpqua Hot Springs, the Pacific Ocean, and Orcas Island while we were on our way up there.

Kyle at Crater Lake

The trip was amazing. So much laughter, love, and lightness. We spent a great amount of time together catching up on the last year. We shared our future goals and dreams of what is to come. We promised to see each other soon in a less transient setting. We made all back to our perspective homes all in one peace and possibly more whole than we were before the trip.

Tina in the Drive-Thru Tree

The music was good too. I especially loved seeing Grouper and Mt. Eerie. Anacortes offers some great attractions from Cranberry Lake, to Adrift restaurant, and, if you are lucky enough to be there on the third Saturday of July, Shipwreck Day.

Sunset on Orcas Island

The trip was amazing. I accrued great memories and a lot of stuff that, in the moment, I could not go without. I will be updating more as the Summer turns Indian. Until then, you can see more pics of the trip on my flickr.

Double Dose

So this one is kind of a double dose of inspiration. Its a married illustration duo. Both of them hold their own under their own namesake.

Jillian Takmaki has work that you would probably gaze over in any magazine or newspaper and not think twice, but what impresses me is the line work that is done before all the digital touch ups. She also does some very nice comic work.

Alice in Wonderland

Even many of her finished products keep the eye bouncing around with the composition while being entertained the pseudo story line already contained within the peace.

Totoro Forest Project

Sam Weber's work shows the same promise in it's raw state. His work is a little harder to miss though. Striking contrast and bold use of color really catch the eye. He has a series of work that makes it seem that he has a facination with falling.

Chrysanthemum

Sam's work has much more texture to it. He also seems to have much darker themes. But his work strikes me the most when the brush strokes naturally imitate clouds or tree branches, hair or feathers.

Robot

And on top of all that they are Canadian. Who would have known. To note, when it comes to illustrators I have to mention Tomer and Asaf Hanuka, Sean Morris, Matthew Woodson, Jason Thielke, and many others hosted on Booooooom!, Lost At E Minor, and Fecal Face.