NIMH



For me lately there is nothing better than a nice mix a dj or friend has made as I tend to work for long periods of time and get tired of my itunes library. Lucky for me there are many people that share my sentiments, one of them being shop-friend Michael Kucyk. I first met Michael two years ago when he was here in LA visiting from Melbourne, Australia where he lives and does his radio show and runs his label Nervous Jerk (he put out the ALWAYS & FABULOUS DIAMONDS releases we carry). Michael recently put up a website where he has archived past shows as well as the new shows after they air, almost all of which feature some pretty great guest mixes. Please check it out if you're feeling like you need some new jams as there is a wealth of it and it all rules I promise. A bonus for Australians: you can listen live every sunday from 10pm-midnight on Triple R radio (102.7 fm).

http://www.noiseinmyhead.com.au/
http://www.noiseinmyhead.com.au/
http://www.noiseinmyhead.com.au/


posted by NATE at 3:47 PM
2 comments

Preview of a Preview


From The Slimpsons by CF.

posted by sammy at 11:11 AM
6 comments

Treehouse of Horror! #15!


On September 23rd, the annual Simpsons Halloween comic, Treehouse of Horror, comes out from Bongo Comics. They somehow let me guest edit this year's issue. I know, it's totally retarded.
It's 48 pages and features these dudes:
Tim Hensley
Matthew Thurber
Kevin Huizenga
Jordan Crane
Ted May
Ben Jones
Jon Vermilyea (see below)
John Kerschbaum
Will Sweeney
Jeffrey Brown
C.F.
and Myself.
And Dan Zettwoch did the cover (see above).


It was a terrifying and exciting thing to put together, for many obvious reasons, and really, a part of me still can't believe this comic actually exists, and that they let me make it. I am super proud of it, and I hope you pick it up when you see it at Rite-Aid, or at least read it while in your dentist's office. I think you will like it.
This Thursday, I will be at the San Diego Comic Convention sitting in on the bongo preview panel (with Sergio Aragones. Sergio aragones!), where we will show a preview of the book. So if you are at the convention, come check it out. You won't want to miss it.
I will also be loitering around on both Thursday and Friday at the Drawn & Quarterly and Buenaventura Press tables for a couple hours with (non-simpsons) drawings and comics, but mainly being a creep digging around old horror fanzine tables, so dont talk to me, I am busy.


posted by sammy at 3:28 AM
8 comments

"Bricks are in castles, ghettos, and video games"


A new excellent interview with Ben jones at the Fecal Face website you should read.

P.S. Did you notice Ben's neon dog in our window? He's cute right? Not for sale!

posted by sammy at 5:37 AM
4 comments

Old Abe V Shots









I just found these on my computer. If you know who took them, let me know so I can credit the fine photographer.

posted by kramer at 5:17 PM
0 comments

Golden Hits instore Monday




Please join us this coming Monday, July 13 at 7:30pm for a performance by Golden Hits, a group comprised of a four or five real sweethearts who run Dublab, which if you're not familiar is an amazing online radio station here in LA that hosts a large amount of djs / bands from all over playing some really great diverse jams. They also have a real radio show here in LA on KPFK (90.7 fm) every friday night from 10pm—1am. Here is an mp3 of Golden Hits live @ Tonalism remixed by Jimmy Tamborello aka Dntel aka one of the dudes in Golden Hits, oh wow.

Bonus photo of me dj'ing when the Dublab guys broadcasted live from the shop February of last year;

I don't wear this jacket anymore

posted by NATE at 6:30 PM
11 comments

To continue with the new records we have vibe, here's some info on the Omar Souleyman compilation we have on gatefold vinyl and CD from Sublime Frequencies. These won't last!





From Sublime Frequencies (Be sure to read the third paragraph about the amazing dude who stands next to Souleyman and whispers poetry into his ear every once in a while):

Omar Souleyman is a Syrian musical legend. Since 1994, he and his musicians have emerged as a staple of folk-pop throughout Syria, but until now they have remained little known outside of the country. To date, they have issued more than five-hundred studio and live- recorded cassette albums which are easily spotted in the shops of any Syrian city.

Born in rural Northeastern Syria, he began his musical career in 1994 with a small group of local collaborators that remain with him today. The myriad musical traditions of the region are evident in their music. Here, classical Arabic mawal-style vocalization gives way to high-octane Syrian Dabke (the regional folkloric dance and party music), Iraqi Choubi and a host of Arabic, Kurdish and Turkish styles, among others. This amalgamation is truly the sound of Syria. The music often has an overdriven sound consisting of phase-shifted Arabic keyboard solos and frantic rhythms. At breakneck speeds, these shrill Syrian electronics play out like forbidden morse-code, but the moods swing from coarse and urgent to dirgy and contemplative in the rugged anthems that comprise Souleyman's repertoire.

Oud, reeds, baglama saz, accompanying vocals and percussion fill out the sound from track to track. Mahmoud Harbi is a long-time collaborator and the man responsible for much of the poetry sung by Souleyman. Together, they commonly perform the Ataba, a traditional form of folk poetry used in Dabke. On stage, Harbi chain smokes cigarettes while standing shoulder to shoulder with Souleyman, periodically leaning over to whisper the material into his ear. Acting as a conduit, Souleyman struts into the audience with urgency, vocalizing the prose in song before returning for the next verse.

Souleyman's first hit in Syria was "Jani" (1996) which gained cassette-kiosk infamy and brought him recognition throughout the country. Over the years, his popularity has risen steadily and the group tirelessly performs concerts throughout Syria and has accepted invitations to perform abroad in Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Lebanon. Omar Souleyman is a man of hospitality and striking integrity who describes his style as his own and prides himself on not being an imitator or a sellout.

Sublime Frequencies is honored to present the Western debut of Omar Souleyman with this retrospective disc of studio and live recordings spanning 12 years of his career, culled from cassettes recorded between 1994 and 2006. This collection offers a rare glimpse into Syrian street-level folk-pop and Dabke-- a phenomena seldom heard in the West, not previously deemed serious enough for export by the Syrians and rarely, if ever, included on the import agenda of worldwide academic musical committees.

posted by kramer at 6:39 PM
0 comments

New Records - July 2009







We've received a ton of new records in the shop this week, all of them beautiful looking and sounding including new 12"s from berlin-based house / techno label DIAL records (my personal favorite) & their sister label SMALLVILLE, unearthed / reissued CDs and LPs from 80s New York reggae label WACKIE'S, SUBLIME FREQUENCIES CDs / LPs / DVDS, and much more like the debut CD from NY's SILK FLOWERS on PPM, and the CD version of the Nite Jewel full length! Click the covers above for samples / more info and come check them out as they do not disappoint!

posted by NATE at 5:23 PM
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Family Books and Aaron Rose present: Three Films About Sister Corita


We'll be hosting another of our monthly nights at the Silent Movie Theatre, where we bring in one of our favorite people to curate and introduce a night of films. This time around, it's artist/filmmaker/writer/musician/curator Aaron Rose, founder of NYC's Alleged Gallery, co-editor of the art mag ANP Quarterly, player in The Sads, and director of the documentary short Become A Microscope, based on the life of Sister Corita (1918-1986), a teacher, political activist and possibly one of the most innovative and unusual pop artists of the 1960s. Become A Microscope, shot on location in 2009 on the campus of Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles, serves as a living document of the inspiration she spread to the many people throughout her life--and, as the title suggests, the importance of looking at the world "small pieces at a time". The screening of Become A Microscope will be followed other two archival films on Sister Corita: Mary’s Day (1964) by Baylis Glascock, and Survival With Style (1966) by Cal Bernstein, Alex Singer and Haskell Wexler. Both of these rare films will be screened from their original 16mm prints, and Mary's Day will feature a live score by special musical guests!
Co-presented by The Corita Art Center

posted by kramer at 12:37 AM
0 comments

RIP


posted by sammy at 11:51 PM
0 comments