tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52596312160746534172009-06-12T12:54:39.013-07:00Free Press Blog HomeFree Press Houstonnoreply@blogger.comBlogger650125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259631216074653417.post-44086243827965294972009-06-12T09:52:00.001-07:002009-06-12T09:52:45.362-07:00Out-Zoning Houston<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/anapeandadolphin-774781.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 231px; height: 320px;" src="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/anapeandadolphin-774758.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Buffalo Sean </span><br /><br />Perhaps there is a cabal out there who would like to edit our Wild West urban landscape into a cohesive order. It is possible that the acceleration of Houston’s growth demands a stronger hand to guide the city’s coursing veins of concrete and commerce-pumping engines of steel and glass. Wild, unwieldy burgs have been tamed before and tempered into hardened tools of self-organization, and we’re unlikely to be an exception. The Contemporary Arts Museum’s current exhibit No Zoning: Artists Engage Houston may be a talisman of this emerging meme, but a cultural uproar threatens to derail this celebration of the city’s mélange. <br /><a href="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/blog_art.html"><br />READ ON>>></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5259631216074653417-4408624382796529497?l=www.freepresshouston.com%2Farchive%2Fblog_home.html'/></div>Free Press Houstonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259631216074653417.post-9334667703344399992009-06-12T07:22:00.000-07:002009-06-12T12:54:39.031-07:00Hot indie rock action with Andrew LeeOh Damn, the temperature is supposed to be in the mid-90s today but thanks to <strong><a href="http://indiehouston.org/" target="blank">Indie Houston</a>,</strong> baby, it's gonna get hotter - much hotter.<br /><br />No, you're <em>not</em> dreaming, the video for "Trash Town" has all you'd ever want: shirtless indie rockers, Andrew Lee doing some lip syncing on par with the finest Shaw Brothers film, and Andrew himself in his skivvies scratching his business! YESSS!!! Check it....<br /><br /><br /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5120446&Amp" width="400" height="220" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" server="vimeo.com&show_title=" show_byline="1&show_portrait=" color="&fullscreen=" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed><br /><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/5120446">Trash Town Andrew Lee of the Wild Moccasins</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1708431">Christopher Patterson</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5259631216074653417-933466770334439999?l=www.freepresshouston.com%2Farchive%2Fblog_home.html'/></div>Ramon Medina - LP4http://www.blogger.com/profile/08979678988689232694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259631216074653417.post-35554982060860302622009-06-10T08:57:00.000-07:002009-06-10T09:02:01.928-07:00Interview: Room 101<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/room101-707876.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 394px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/room101-707614.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">By Omar Afra </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />(7-Inch artwork by Winston Smith who is famous for album artwork for the Dead Kennedys)</span><br /><br />Chicago-native Roburt Reynolds of Room 101 has been on the Houston music scene for a short time now but has quickly made waves with his dramatic performances and recent release of a stellar 7 inch record. Armed with just a guitar, mic, and backing tracks, this one man band has stirred local audiences with his performance arts shows, visceral elctro-punk (for lack of a better term), on stage projections, and quick tempo songs. Singing about topics ranging from privatized military to Orwellian humor, Room 101 is pushing the local envelope and definitely has a story to tell. He elaborated on this story for us recently:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">You are a 'one man band' but your 7 inch sounds like a band co-operation rather than a singular execution. Any outside help? What kind of recording protocol? </span><br /><br />No outside help whatsoever. I write all the songs. I play all the instruments. I dig up all the samples from various mediums. I program, sequence, and arrange all the drums, I record it all. I mix it all. I master it all. I didn't personally press the records. I designed the packaging layout (other than the artwork by Winston Smith). Then I put them all together by hand. I've been playing instruments since I was a little kid. Maybe that's why I hit the deck so much. Recording protocol is patience, spontaneity, precision, mic placement, ears, and heart...in that order.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What is the earliest influence you had on your performance laden shows? </span><br /><br />They have all been significant in someway. Iggy Pop and the Stooges was the most incredible thing I've ever experienced in a concert setting. But earliest was realizing how many bands stand around onstage and are afraid to really delve into their subconscious expression, no matter how ugly it may be. I was probably 7 or 8 when that one happened. Got lucky.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">So you are from Chicago and relatively new to Houston. Tell me what you miss about the prior and tell me what you love about the latter. </span><br /><br />I miss Chicago architecture, the trains, the grime, the relentlessness and unforgiving nature of 'the metropolis', the urban decay, the graffiti, the history, the corruption, and the anonymity. You can get lost up there in the best ways-even when they are bad news. I almost got shot for knocking over a trash can once after a show.<br /><br />Houston has been great to me. There are a vast array of hidden corners and freakish, secret enigmatic spots that make this place very intriguing and very fresh coming from such a different environment. It too is intensely grimy, which I love. The first night I was here I saw a car flip over. And the urban decay is still there, you never have to go looking too far to find that anywhere-except our gentrifying neighborhoods (and they won't be too far behind).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">If Room 101 was a medieval weapon, what would it be? </span><br /><br />Inquisition.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What are you listening to lately? Anything local? </span><br /><br />Bellini's got a new record out, US Maple, Os Mutantes, Curtis Mayfield, OOIOO, BDP, MC Lyte. Localwise...Geto Boys, Anarchitex, Really Red, Verbal Abuse, DRI, The Delta Block, Cop Warmth, Happy Fingers Institute, and Jade Simmons has a dope new record out, too.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">In 3 words, what is next for you and your music? </span><br /><br />Be like water.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">In 2 words, what is next for human civilization? </span><br /><br />Kool Aid. Like Jim Jones. Sorry, is that more than two, now?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">In 1 word, what are your 2 favorite words? </span><br /><br />Dichotomy.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Room 101 plays at the Rat’s Nest June 13th for Gulf Coast Hardcore Fest at T.M.M.C. </span> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">www.myspace.com/roburtreynoldswrap </span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5259631216074653417-3555498206086030262?l=www.freepresshouston.com%2Farchive%2Fblog_home.html'/></div>Free Press Houstonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259631216074653417.post-83431284569701275222009-06-09T23:36:00.000-07:002009-06-10T09:27:54.124-07:00Animal Collective in Austin, TX at Stubbs June 5th<a href="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/brigandmary-764727.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/brigandmary-764724.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Steven Walker (bassist of American Sharks) and I jokingly said that we should sell the tickets<br />for $60 each and review the show on celphone cameras on<br />Youtube. We didn't. We went inside and it felt like another hurricane<br />Houston evacuation. Houston left it's body for the night and drove to<br />Austin. Some of Riff Tiffs were there. Buxton was there. Mary Ocean (Houston's x-American Apparel employee)<br />was there along with everyone else in the 713. It was rather difficult<br />to pay attention to the band due to many "Excuse me's. and<br />"Hey Dudes!". It was a decent set with "Chores" being an encore<br />along with the Happy Birthday song to Reverend Green the sound guy. The highlight<br />of the night was "Daily Routine" and me finding a beer on a picnic table<br />while Steven was peeing. I told him I bought him a beer and he drank it.<br />"This is good beer.", Steven said. So if you're reading this Steven, HA!<br />Animal Collective - good band. People talking and asking you for a<br />lighter - bad. Next time come to Houston please. Thankyou Kara at<br />Motor Mouth Media for the tickets.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5259631216074653417-8343128456970127522?l=www.freepresshouston.com%2Farchive%2Fblog_home.html'/></div>Free Press Houstonnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259631216074653417.post-88565771312992121702009-06-09T10:07:00.001-07:002009-06-09T10:07:40.408-07:00Why it's OK to steal from Central Market and Whole Foods<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/produce-745674.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/produce-745671.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">by Belligerent Me</span><br /><br />" We throw away an obscene amount of food every day" says the adamantly unnamed employeee at Central Market. " They watch us like hawks when we dispose of food and it is a very regimented process." Despite their friendly facades of 'organic foods' , earth conciousness, and vegetarian friendly items, grocers like Whole Foods and Central Market make a large part of their revenue by serving prepared foods in a deli style atmosphere. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/blog_features.html">READ ON>>></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5259631216074653417-8856577131299212170?l=www.freepresshouston.com%2Farchive%2Fblog_home.html'/></div>Free Press Houstonnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259631216074653417.post-71800968362762321452009-06-07T09:25:00.000-07:002009-06-07T09:27:02.414-07:00Mika Miko, Strange Boys at Mango's Tonight<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nQ9GXY6oB8E&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nQ9GXY6oB8E&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5259631216074653417-7180096836276232145?l=www.freepresshouston.com%2Farchive%2Fblog_home.html'/></div>Free Press Houstonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259631216074653417.post-72734632772614831502009-06-05T15:04:00.000-07:002009-06-05T15:08:55.580-07:00Cru Jones Vs. Bill Allen : The worst dream interview ever<a href="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/bill_allen-746811.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 248px;" src="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/bill_allen-746809.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Growing up kids watched TMNT and afterwards would go raid their dad’s garage and paint there selves green and tie colored bandanas around their eyes and fight. I know I did at least. I also watched the movie Rad and afterwards create my own Rad Team and race on our bicycles until our lungs had the equivalent amount of air as a chain smoker. <br /><br />Cru Jones is the lead character in the cult classic BMX movie Rad. He was my idol. At the age of 10 it was destined that my child would be named Cru regardless if the child had a penis or vagina. Meeting your heroes was a kid’s dream. Imagine meeting fucking Jean Claude Van Damn! or Bart Simpson. That would be amazing. I had the opportunity to interview Bill Allen (Cru Jones), the star of Rad. I thought to myself, this is going to be the most amazing interview ever! Wrong I was. This was the most disappointing interview that I’ve ever encountered. Bill<br />Allen isn’t Cru Jones. No one is. Cru is a fictional dream character that all BMXers from the 80’s dreamt of. He had the<br />Talent, the girl, the money, his own BMX company, and everything else had they created Rad 2. Perhaps it’d be called Too Rad! And Bill Allen…just an actor <br />in his 40’s.<br /><br /><br /><br />J: Hands down it is a fact that Rad is BMXer's Rocky Horror Picture Show. Do you still get attention from the cult classic movie.<br />B: Quite a bit. I get more fan mail now from more places than ever.<br /><br />J: The movie Rad was based on pro BMX rider Eddie Fiola. Even though he was in the movie playing your<br />"girl friend" as a stunt double do you feel that the movie would have been more or less of a success had<br />Eddie played himself instead of you?<br />B: No it wasn’t. He didn't double for my girlfriend and Eddie acting would have worked as about as well as if I'd done all the stunts.<br />(Yes it was ya dumb dick! From your website it reads “The character of "Cru" was loosely based on the life story of "The King" Eddie Fiola.” “Eddie Fiola stunt doubles for "Christian". Christian was Cru’s girlfriend. So quit the horse shit and answer my questions correctly.)<br /><br />J: In the movie your character's real name is Christopher. What's the story behind the nickname Cru?<br />B: The writer got it from the original THE LONGEST YARD, with Burt Reynolds, I believe.<br /><br />J: Your movie mom was Talia Shire which is the mother of Jason Schwartzman. Was he on the set a lot during<br /> shoots? <br />B: He was there the whole shoot, probably about 8 years old at the time. We used to ride bikes on weekends together.<br /><br />J: And Laurie Laughlin as well. By any chance was John Stamos aka Uncle Jesse there? <br />B: No, neither was the Olsen twins. <br /><br />J: Was Hell Track an actual track or was it built in sections? <br />B: It was built as one piece.<br /><br />J: After people watching this movie do you know of anyone recreating Hell Track? <br />B: I believe at a recent X Games there was a track dubbed Hell track.<br /><br />J: Bart Taylor's arrogance got the best of him when he waited for you on the final lap. Had he not done<br />that you would have placed 2nd place and the movie would have had a different ending. Even though Bart pretty much gave that last lap to you do you still feel full victory? <br />B: I gave him a lead to make it more exiting<br />(You did not give him the lead. You did not fall off your bike on purpose and let everyone pass you up. Quit blowing<br />Smoke up your ass BILL!)<br /><br />J: These riders in Hell Track are real BMXers racing. To my knowledge these are planned<br />"stunt" crashes. Were there any serious injuries? <br />B: A couple of broken bones.Nothing fatal.<br />(Cool, thanks for being specific Dick Meat.)<br /><br />J: What about the racer who landed on his head/neck while jumping out of the cereal bowl. I know for a fact that that was not scripted. He's okay right? <br />B: I think he was fine<br /><br />J: Last question about Rad before we move on. I know that you and Bart had stunt riders, but on a normal track who do you think would win between the two of you in a real race?<br />B: At the time he could barely walk due to injuries, so I'd bet on me.<br />(Note: Bart Taylor is a professional world champion gymnast. I’m sure without that injury he would cream Bill.)<br /><br />J: You’re an actor, fake bmx rider, comedian, an expert on weapons and jungle warfare, and now I<br />learn that you a musician! What can't you not do? <br />B: I'm not sure.<br />(I know what you can’t do and that’s give good answers to my awesome questions!)<br /><br />J: You played a role in Astronaut Farmer. Do you feel that you will be playing in mainstream films in the future? <br />B: I worked recently on BROTHERS with Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllanhal and MY ONE AND ONLY with Renee Zelwegger<br /><br />(Good one name dropper. Never heard of these movies. Did they go straight to DVD?)<br /><br />J: What's next for Bill Allen? <br />B: sleep.<br /><br />(note: Well it definitely isn’t another rad film!...Get it.)<br /><br />J: Anything you'd like to shout out to your fans. <br />B: Keep an eye out for a sequel to Rad and get the official DVD from Netflix.<br /><br />(BULLSHIT BILL! You know that what you said was a lie! Rad will always be bootleg and Too Rad will<br />never be created! So quit trickin’ us and go watch the special features to Astronaut Farmer!)<br /><br />J: By the way, do you find it sickening or admire the fact that I have watched the movie Rad over 400 times. <br />B: You'll be fine with a little bed rest.<br />(Yeh, and I’d been fine without your shitty answers too!)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5259631216074653417-7273463277261483150?l=www.freepresshouston.com%2Farchive%2Fblog_home.html'/></div>Free Press Houstonnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259631216074653417.post-1400222243556139302009-06-05T09:24:00.000-07:002009-06-05T09:41:07.778-07:00You can have whatever you liiiiiiiiike!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/TI-757591.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 140px;" src="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/TI-757519.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Glasnost (CD release)/Motel Aviv/The Watermarks (CD release) @ Rudyard's<br />Belaire/The McKenzies/Ceeplus Badknives @ Mango's <br />Ryan Scroggins & the Trench Town Texans/Channel One/Trian Woodburns/Molly and the Ringwalds @ The Continental Club<br />Patrice Pike/Skyblue72/The Handshake @ Warehouse Live<br />Belaire/The McKenzies/Ceeplus Badknives @ Mango's <br />Au Revoir Simone/Oh No Oh My/The Antlers @ Walter's on Washington<br />Hafaza (album release)/Mic Skills/DJ Gonz/Krackernuttz @ The Mink (10PM; free!)<br />Robin Trower/Gary Clark Jr. @ House of Blues<br />Sir Richard Bishop And His Freak Of Arraby Ensemble/Oaxacan/Doggebi/Ether @ Notsuoh<br />Picardy Birds/Papercut/Better Off Dead @ Fitzgerald's<br />Flawlessly Inadequate/Antarctica/Ghosts of Rome/Monkeys Beat Jesus/The Red Waltz/ScoriaKnight Mare @ Javajazz Coffee House (16300 Kuykendahl)<br />Dirty Fist @ Super Happy Fun Land<br />Plump @ Last Concert Cafe<br />Sun Machine/SoulBound/Set Adrift @ Crazy Frog's (Spring)<br />Bachelorette/Springfield Riots/Benjamin Wesley @ Walter's on Washington<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/a6-6TSeqYQ8&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/a6-6TSeqYQ8&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5259631216074653417-140022224355613930?l=www.freepresshouston.com%2Farchive%2Fblog_home.html'/></div>Free Press Houstonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259631216074653417.post-58506822007330994082009-06-03T11:59:00.001-07:002009-06-03T12:00:25.801-07:00Free Press Summer Fest August 8th and 9th!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/FP-Summerfest---9in---WEB-713154.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 296px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/FP-Summerfest---9in---WEB-713140.png" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />FREE PRESS SUMMER FEST<br />AUGUST 8TH AND 9TH AT ELEANOR TINSLEY PARK<br />12PM TO 10PM<br /><br />Free Press Houston is proud to announce the 2009 Free Press Summer Fest. This music and arts festival will be held August 8th and 9th at Buffalo Bayou's Eleanor Tinsley Park and will feature more than 40+ national and local musical performers, visual arts, and games. Confirmed to headline are BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE, OF MONTREAL, EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY, THE SWORD, WHAT MADE MILWAUKEE FAMOUS, OCTOPUS PROJECT. The park will host 2 stages, dozens of local artist booths, a craft beer garden, games, and several 'cooling elements' such as a misting tent to help attendees stage cool in the hot sun. Free Press Houston intends to make this greener than your average festival with a recycling program, carbon off-set credits, and a partnership with the Texas Campaign for the Environment. Participants are encouraged to wear bathing suits and loose fitting clothing. Free water will be available on site. Additionally, a portion of proceeds will go to Project Row Houses which is a community non-profit that is responsible for restoration restoration, art, and social activism in Houston's Third Ward since 1991. Entry cost for the event is only 7 dollars per day via advanced ticket sales at www.freepresssummerfest.com. For more info contact Omar Afra at editors@freepresshouston.com. For vending info contact Don Schwarzkopf at EWMedia@swbell.net. <br /><br />Tickets available at www.freepresssummerfest.com and www.pegstar.net<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5259631216074653417-5850682200733099408?l=www.freepresshouston.com%2Farchive%2Fblog_home.html'/></div>Free Press Houstonnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259631216074653417.post-50094407561930517592009-06-02T11:17:00.000-07:002009-06-02T11:38:10.654-07:00White Lies Black Sheep<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/5393-775562.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/5393-775517.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />White Lies Black Sheep is the second film from James Spooner, the mulatto punk rock documentarian behind 2003's Afro Punk, and will soon be shown in Houston on June 19th (better known as Juneteenth to us Texans; how appropriate) at the indiehouston.org house (1816 Calumet in Third Ward). The film tells the tale of A.J., a Black club promoter running rampant in the early 2000's era New York indie rock scene, and the tensions he faces amongst his peers. Soon as he begins to discover more about his own heritage, embracing it fully, he finds out his new interests aren't so accepted by his friends and co-workers who begin to think he's becoming “too black.” Self questioning, tight pants, unemotional sex with an average looking stranger, and lots of drinking ensue. A must see for all those who have shared A.J.'s dilemma and all those curious about the only Black guy at the indie rock show.<br /><br />Organized by local chainsaw pop rap artist Fat Tony, the film screening will also feature performances by himself, the founder of U.S. Grime B L A C K I E, the soulful bedroom pop sounds of Austin's The Cocker Spaniels, and new Houstonian by way of D.C. Love Field.<br /><br />Love Field is a solo project by Ryan Grimes, formerly of Cutlery and Downtown Singapore, which combines the lush sounds of ambience and electronics, with all the guitarmanship, whispers that shake buildings, and beautifully woeful bellowing of post-hardcore rock 'n' roll. Set your phasers on dream pop, Houston. Leave the kill mode for the next jerk off. Ryan sat down with me for a few a moments and graciously took some questions about the film, Love Field, Afro Punk, and the Houston scene.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />How did you first get involved with WLBS? Tell us a little about the film</span>.<br /><br />White Lies/Black Sheep is a “documentary” about a young black party/concert promoter in the New York punk scene and his journey to essentially find himself. He feels betrayed by his desire to enjoy the scene when he starts to realize that not everything around him is clear cut and black and white. I first got involved with the film when James Spooner asked my old band Cutlery to do the score. We had been playing Afro Punk shows and the annual festival for a few years and we grew to be friends. Our music fit the overall feel of the movie and it was just natural for us to work on it with him.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What's your background with film? Have you composed for films prior to WLBS? </span><br /><br />My experience in film amounts to that of simply having a Netflix account. I had never scored a film before and neither had Branden [Funkhouser, Cutlery guitarist and producer] but we just at down and remixed our songs and came up with new material for the film after watching it probably around 45 or 50 times. One of the other guys in the band Chris Marrow had a background in television production so that helped.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Have you performed as a solo artist or in bands outside of composing? </span><br /><br />Yeah, I before Cutlery I was in a band called Downtown Singapore which was also a blast. Right now I’m writing and performing under the name Love Field.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Were there any outside influences that inspired the sounds presented in WLBS? Were you aiming for a particular tone for the film? </span><br /><br />Yeah, we were always a cinematic, like, almost epic sounding kind of band. Everybody knows about teen angst and heart break but a lot of the stuff I was writing at the time mirrored the main character’s dealings with punk scenes and being black and feeling at home yet still detached.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What's the importance of WLBS as social commentary? Do you feel Houston's indie audience will appreciate it? </span><br /><br />I think any community can appreciate the film. I’m from Washington D.C. and, like, it’s weird how seemingly the rest of the country really overlooks Houston and what this city has to contribute to art, punk rock, etc. Houston is home to some of the coolest, most innovative bands and artists I’ve ever heard so there’s defenitly a place for this film. A culture and audience for it. But the thing is, I hope not just the Montrose/Poison Girl crowd checks out the movie. Ideally, I’d like to see 3rd ward come out to experience a kind of scene that’s, in theory, open to all people.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How connected are you to the Afro Punk movement? What does it's growth and expansion mean to you? </span><br /><br />Um, I suppose I’m just connected to it through the shows I was able to play and the film. But I guess like, on a deeper level I’m connected to it in the sense that it means the world to me. You know. I’m incredibly proud of the movement that James and Matthew [Morgan, Afro Punk producer] have built from the ground up. From Brooklyn to Chicago to L.A., there’s an afropunk crowd and now Houston is going to be a part of it. Actually, I shouldn’t say that – in all honesty any city or town with two black kids blasting Bad Brains from a car stereo like it’s Jay-Z has an afropunk scene.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Musically, what are you presently preparing? Do you have any projects in the works? </span><br /><br />Yeah, I’ve only played a handful of shows under the Love Field moniker, so I’m working on expanding that to a full band. Some friends of mine are interested so we’ll see. Doing the solo act is tough for me because I’m used to having like, at least four other people on stage with me but it’s been fun. The songs are pretty cool thus far, so I’m excited about it.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Would you consider during any future film work? </span><br /><br />Oh, of course. It was so much fun and a lot of things we didn’t get to try because of our budget and everything so yeah. I’d love to give it another go. Any chance to create something is a good one right? I think so, especially if the project fits.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I'm a Spike Lee fan and I've always taken note of the soundtracks associated with his movies. They've always been powerful and totally intertwined with the themes presented in his films, such as Public Enemy's socio-rap-noise-bomb "Fight the Power" as the theme of Do The Right Thing; or the bellowing horns that portrayed the lustful indecisiveness of a jazz musician in Mo' Better Blues. </span><br /><br />With WLBS being a film quite rooted in depictions of Black social commentary, are there any films along the line of WLBS' content that inspired your work on the score?<br /><br />Certainly, yeah. You’re 100% right about Spike Lee’s careful protection of the score and soundtracks to his films. Like he seems like a really meticulous type dude so I suppose you could say that we just wanted to be as sure as possible that everything fit, especially with the last scene in the movie.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you see any similarities between your experiences and the character A.J. from WLBS? Might you have friends that relate to it? </span><br /><br />Of course, of course. Everything from dating and relationships with women both white and of color to getting stared at because of how you’re dressed on the train to being told that I “speak so well”. It’s all there you know. And yeah, the vast majority of my friends are black or a member of another minority group so they’ve spoken to me about similar situations they’ve had that are also represented in the film. Honestly, I even think that white kids will see things in this movie they can identify with and learn from. Though I’m not going to lie – if you’ve ever touched a black person’s hair with out at least asking first – things might get a little awkward for you during the screening. [laughs]<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Have you come across any artists or bands here in Houston that embody the Afro Punk aesthetic or experience? </span><br /><br />That’s easy, yeah. The TonTons come to mind first. Those kids are easy people to hang out with and love making just, like some of the most bad ass, heart felt rock and roll out there. B L A C K I E is another artist that’s got it down. I was riding around with Matthew Morgan before the afropunk SXSW show with Big Boi and had B L A C K I E’s record in my car and Matthew was like, “who is this?! I love it!!”. I’m pretty sure B L A C K I E will be playing at this years AP festival in Brooklyn as a result. And Fat Tony embodies it too. He’s probably the best EmCee I’ve heard here in Houston – easily. You wouldn’t think Tony would be like, “afropunk” or whatever since his show is for sure hip-hop through and through but he gets it. Like, his hustle is totally DIY you know? He transcends like the whole notion that the rest of the country has about Houston hip-hop as being only UGK and nothing else which is cool. I feel like it would have been real easy for him to just rip off Bun B, one of the people I know Tony looks up to, but he didn’t which is rad. Plus, I know for a fact that next to his UGK, records are a stack of My Bloody Valentine and Ramones CDs.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How did you get involved with the organizer, Fat Tony, of the Juneteenth showing of WLBS at the indiehouston.org house? Did he approach you? Did you approach him? </span><br /><br />I’ve known Tony for a while – first online like most black punk kids meet each other. There was this Livejournal community called negroclash where I’ve met a ton of cool people. When I moved here to Houston he came to see the first Love Field show at Notsuoh and told me he and Chanelle were trying to bring WL/BS to the H and I told him I’d love to help and be a part of it.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Screens Friday June 19th 6-8PM at IndieHouston House 1816 Calumet</span></span><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AIUNr_aMazc&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AIUNr_aMazc&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5259631216074653417-5009440756193051759?l=www.freepresshouston.com%2Farchive%2Fblog_home.html'/></div>Free Press Houstonnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259631216074653417.post-85682371279819695082009-06-01T15:01:00.001-07:002009-06-01T15:02:55.148-07:00Battle Royale: Seger vs. Cocker: Round 1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/bob-seger-vs-joe-cocker-738551.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/bob-seger-vs-joe-cocker-738536.png" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Recently, we at the Free Press held one of our weekly, quasi-hypothetical, death match, musical, face-offs in the form of Mr. Bob Seger aka "The Silver Bullet" aka "Mr. Jet Airliner" vs. Mr. Joe Cocker aka "WhaaaaatwouldzuudooifIsannn....attitu?" aka "Youahhhhhsoooobeautifoooo".<br />The debate raged on for many fearless nights, pitting Shelby Hohl against Omar Afra in an endless quest for knowledge that would drive a stake through the heart of the endless question: Bob Seger vs. Joe Cocker -- Who's Better?<br />Omar pulled out the big guns almost immediately in the form "Unchain My Heart" and the classic, Beatles cover, "A Little Help From My Friends". However Shelby was quick to dare Omar to find anymore singles, thus giving him the footing he would need in his argument. We should probably note that Omar voted Cocker and Shelby voted "Like a Rock". So, after endless hours in front of pie charts and venn diagrams, Shelby and Omar started calling out to friends both international and local to reinforce either positions enough to verify who actually is, better.<br />Here are the results:<br /><br />Shelby Hohl - Bob Seger. More accessibility through his vocals.<br /><br />Omar Afra - Joe Cocker<br /><br />Tyler Barber - Joe Cocker. Seger is the obvious answer<br /><br />Jody Worthington - Joe Cocker. Wonder Years. <br /><br />Brian Jackson (Black Congress, Cop Warmth) - Seger. Cuz he's got nightmoves<br /><br />Christian Larson (Hell City Kings) - I would have a preference towards Joe Cocker since his music has been revamped through hip hop so its like a double thing.<br /><br />John (HEALTH) - Shit thats hard. Seger. Way more hits<br /><br />Shelby's Mom - Bob Seger.. by FAR!! Bob actually sings.. no grunting<br /><br />Eddie (An Albatross) - Seger. By far, check out the albums, "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man", "Noah", "Mongrel" and "Smokin OP's". It's late 60's & 70's Detroit Blue-eyed Soul Rock. I feel he is equally as good as The Stooges, The MC5 and the like..<br /><br />Roky Moon (Roky Moon & Bolt) - Bob Seger! Silver Bullet band 4 life!!!<br /><br />There you have it folks, at 4 votes to 6, King Seger takes the throne and sends Cocker off to the pigs! In the event that you feel your opinion would weigh heavily on this debate, we will honor a "Round 2" of sorts, and actually encourage folks to jump on this. This decision will determine who headlines the next Block Party....<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5259631216074653417-8568237127981969508?l=www.freepresshouston.com%2Farchive%2Fblog_home.html'/></div>Free Press Houstonnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259631216074653417.post-78901147901071090802009-06-01T08:37:00.000-07:002009-06-01T08:40:45.539-07:00Harptalicca at SHFL<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xppNIBGzxYs&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xppNIBGzxYs&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Tonight at Super Happy Fun Land<br />1308 Polk<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5259631216074653417-7890114790107109080?l=www.freepresshouston.com%2Farchive%2Fblog_home.html'/></div>Free Press Houstonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259631216074653417.post-90492198809294964792009-06-01T08:01:00.000-07:002009-06-01T08:03:59.136-07:00The Swappiest Swap of Them All<div style="text-align: center;"><o:p><a href="http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/JohnMorrissey/?action=view&current=289819639_46167b05ed_o.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="width: 250px; height: 231px;" src="http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/JohnMorrissey/289819639_46167b05ed_o.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a></o:p><br /><o:p></o:p></div><o:p><br /></o:p><br /><p class="MsoNormal">By Jacob Mustafa<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Everyone can appreciate a little distortion, the need for chaos.<span style=""> </span>Turmoil lends itself to the breeding ground for peculiarity that is the annual <a href="http://theavswap.com/">A/V Swap</a>, Houston’s very own <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exquisite_corpse">Exquisite Corpse</a>. In a flurry of creation that leaves behind the usual anxiety of collaboration, the A/V Swap allows talented filmmakers, regardless of practice or method, to work with musicians who want to score their films-- albeit in a roundabout manner. Essentially, the swap fosters strangeness for whoever wants a little.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">...<br /></p> If you’re wandering this gigantic, grey stew of a city and wondering who the hell all of these people were, the A/V Swap would not be a bad place to start.<span style=""> </span>Represented by a small group of people using their fantastically particular skills to do such different things, it’s a special event that weirdly yet accurately portrays the beautifully mixed bag Houston can be.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/blog_art.html">READ MORE</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5259631216074653417-9049219880929496479?l=www.freepresshouston.com%2Farchive%2Fblog_home.html'/></div>b.s.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00388023677187238908noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259631216074653417.post-39484528389956414132009-05-29T11:46:00.000-07:002009-05-29T11:48:40.719-07:00Several days of FREE BEER....and music at Cactus Records<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/freebeer-711314.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/freebeer-711294.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Non-stop in-store greatness at Cactus to close out May<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Thursday 5/28 - The Belleville Outfit @ 5PM (sharp)</span><br />Austin's fave acoustic band swings by to celebrate a brand new record before their two shows at the Duck.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday 5/29 - Cordero @ 5:30PM</span><br />Puerto-Rican Americana punk rock awesomeness that will turn our store into a party.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday 5/30 - The Magpies @ 1PM</span><br />Groovy rootsy piano driven rock band from Ohio have been playing Texas frequently of late. We're having them back just six weeks or so after their last in-store cuz we like them that much. Maybe the best band you've never heard of?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday 5/30 - Dex Romweber Duo @ 3:30PM</span><br />We're honored to have the man who began this whole "we're a trio, but don't need a drummer thing." The Flat Duo Jets we're a hoot in their day and Dex's in-store is gonna rock. His new Bloodshot disc is reeeeeaaal nice and includes guest appearances by Cat Power, Neko Case and Exene.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Refreshments provided by the St Arnold Brewing co.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">and Rolling Roc</span>k <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5259631216074653417-3948452838995641413?l=www.freepresshouston.com%2Farchive%2Fblog_home.html'/></div>Free Press Houstonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259631216074653417.post-47104758880844331462009-05-28T15:44:00.000-07:002009-05-28T15:46:49.907-07:00Just How Rigged is the NBA?Clearly, Nike has a marketing campaign hellbent on Kobe and Lebron meeting in the NBA Finals. Is this the result of the NBA whispering in the ear of NIKE?<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre; "><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HsG5uq9xOKo&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HsG5uq9xOKo&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object></span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre;"><a href="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/blog_sportsdesk.html">Click to Find out?</a></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5259631216074653417-4710475888084433146?l=www.freepresshouston.com%2Farchive%2Fblog_home.html'/></div>Mills-McCoinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10024137970431161765millsmccoin@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259631216074653417.post-40638790557498546002009-05-28T12:11:00.000-07:002009-05-28T13:03:19.526-07:00Thurs night dome & metal<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/astrodome-colt-stadium-2-large-744257.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 217px;" src="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/astrodome-colt-stadium-2-large-744254.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Once nicknamed the "Eighth Wonder of the World" the Astrodome was the first domed sports stadium when it opened in 1965. Join us at the Contemporary Art Museum (CAM, Bissonette @ Montrose) for a special screening of the Astrodome as portrayed in documentaries and films, curated by artist/curator Andrea Grover.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span></b></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Thursday, May 28, 2009 at </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span">6:30 p.m.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span">“The Pleasures of this Stately Dome,” 1975, Geoff Winningham, 54:00, 16mm on video, color, sound</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">A study of the Houston Astrodome as a folk theater, created on the 10th anniversary of the opening of the dome. The film includes vintage footage from the construction and grand opening of the Astrodome in 1965, plus footage from ten years of diverse and memorable shows.</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">“The Lord of the Universe,” 58:00, 1974, TVTV (Top Value Television), color, sound, vide</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">o</span></span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Sixteen-year-old guru Marahaj Ji attempts to levitate the Houston Astrodome in this 1973 DuPont award winning documentary. Follow the guru from his New York mansion to limousines in Houston and listen to his followers celebrities and non-celebrities alike extol his virtues.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div> </div></span><br />AND FOR FANS OF HEAVY METAL ...<br><br />Canadian heavy metal band Anvil will play a live music set immediately following the special 9:45 p.m. show of ANVIL! THE STORY OF ANVIL at the Angelika Film Center, Thursday, May 28, 2009.<br /><br><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sv1sRa35Zr8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sv1sRa35Zr8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br><br><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5259631216074653417-4063879055749854600?l=www.freepresshouston.com%2Farchive%2Fblog_home.html'/></div>Free Press Houstonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259631216074653417.post-34896654776865811632009-05-28T08:54:00.000-07:002009-05-28T08:56:53.518-07:00Finally, Can I Get a Break?<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/MakingPlansAndGoingPlaces-730636.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Alright, so finally some free time to actually say things about music. I love music. I love saying things about them. I do not love having that taken away by busy-ness.<br /><br />So tonight, be good, go to Elaine Greer, get that CD and then read about the rest of the weekend <a href="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/2009/05/how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and.html">here.</a><br /></div></div><br><Br><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5259631216074653417-3489665477686581163?l=www.freepresshouston.com%2Farchive%2Fblog_home.html'/></div>april5khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08886291063512298588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259631216074653417.post-50728691934088566782009-05-28T00:01:00.000-07:002009-05-27T16:43:02.876-07:00Black Metal Priestess Elaine Greer discusses her new EP with The Free Press<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/Black-Greer-753832.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 258px; height: 320px;" src="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/Black-Greer-753829.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><strong>Elaine Greer</strong> has long been one of Black Metal's most engaging performers. Her ferocious 8 octave range and blazing fast solos are only matched by her bloody and vicious stage performances - performances that usually end in riots and have been banned in 7 EU countries. Be it burning churches in Scandinavia or murdering bandmates for falling short of Black Metal's ideals, Greer is not to be taken lightly. We spoke with Greer in her Fortress of Solitude in Oulu, Finland about her new CD.<br /><br /><em><strong>FPH:</strong> Your new album cover "Making Plans and Going Places" is very dark. What are you trying to convey with such violent and disturbing imagery?</em><br /><em></em><br /><strong>EG:</strong> Death, mostly.<br /><br /><em><strong>FPH:</strong> Is it true that for Austin, Travis,and Andrew to join your band that they had to drink goat's blood and participate in a Black Mass? </em><br /><em><br /></em><em></em><strong>EG:</strong> Yes. they didn't mind much though.<br /><br /><em><strong>FPH:</strong> How many Churches have you burned down in the name of Odin?</em><br /><br /><strong>EG:</strong> 86<br /><br />If you are metal enough for the rest of the interview follow the link to the music section (<a href="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/2009/05/talking-cd-release-with-elaine-greer.html">Link</a>)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5259631216074653417-5072869193408856678?l=www.freepresshouston.com%2Farchive%2Fblog_home.html'/></div>Ramon Medina - LP4http://www.blogger.com/profile/08979678988689232694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259631216074653417.post-404727020307118272009-05-27T12:13:00.000-07:002009-05-27T12:19:09.899-07:00A/V Swap Houston Info Session Tonight<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/avswap-poster_resize-735859.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 207px; height: 320px;" src="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/avswap-poster_resize-735817.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />The AV Swap is an annual event that brings together the creative minds of musicians and filmmakers in an experimental collaborative event.<br /><br />The concept is creative: filmmakers submit a short movie without a soundtrack and composers submit a soundtrack without a movie. Then the curators play matchmaker and assign each filmmaker a soundtrack for which he or she creates a NEW movie, and composers receive a movie for which they create a NEW soundtrack.<br /><br />Want to learn more about the A/V Swap? To learn more about digital filmmaking, digital audio recording and NTSC to MOV conversion? Want to see some of Sharad Patel's sweet films?<br /><br />Come to the Info Session sponsored by Spactaker, where you can relax with a glass of wine and ask all your questions!<br /><br /><table style="font-weight: bold;" id="Time and Place" class="profileTable info_table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="label"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></td> <td class="data"><div class="datawrap"><span style="font-size:130%;">Wednesday, May 27, 2009</span></div></td></tr> <tr><td class="label"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></td> <td class="data"><div class="datawrap"><span style="font-size:130%;">6:30pm - 8:30pm</span></div></td></tr> <tr><td class="label"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></td> <td class="data"><div class="datawrap"><span style="font-size:130%;">Spacetaker @ Winter Street Studios</span></div></td></tr> <tr><td class="label"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></td> <td class="data"><div class="datawrap"><span style="font-size:130%;">2101 Winter Street (off Sawyer Street)</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Gsv_HTYj49k&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Gsv_HTYj49k&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5259631216074653417-40472702030711827?l=www.freepresshouston.com%2Farchive%2Fblog_home.html'/></div>Free Press Houstonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259631216074653417.post-40220665815445629232009-05-27T08:53:00.000-07:002009-05-27T08:55:36.320-07:00Leisure Sexism<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/4571-2-727797.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 352px;" src="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/4571-2-727794.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />"DESPITE changing attitudes and even laws to promote equality between the sexes, it appears that women still have their work cut out. Men enjoy more leisure time than women in every one of 18 countries examined by the OECD. Italian men have it easiest in comparison with women, lazing around for nearly 80 minutes more each than women who, apparently, clean the house. Other staunch Catholic countries also see big gaps between the sexes, and even in egalitarian Norway men manage to sneak an extra four minutes more to themselves." Thanks Asad...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5259631216074653417-4022066581544562923?l=www.freepresshouston.com%2Farchive%2Fblog_home.html'/></div>Free Press Houstonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259631216074653417.post-84186852490351060622009-05-26T15:35:00.001-07:002009-05-26T15:40:17.497-07:00Summer Hours<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/summerhours-755040.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/summerhours-755037.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Director Oliver Assayas (Demonlover, Irma Vep) was the subject of a retrospective about five-years ago at the Rice Media Center. The RMC showed select films of his from the 80s and 90s. For the program Assayas had sent a list of music to be played before each film, different songs reflecting his state of mind when doing each film.<br />You have to admire any director that took the time to write down a discography of mostly new wave and post-punk songs to accompany showings of his earlier works. At the end of Summer Hours (L'Heure d'été), currently unwinding at the River Oaks Three, the credits roll with a similar fresh sound. Although I consider late 60s psychedelic folksters The Incredible String Band obscure by American standards those in the know accept it (the song is off their second LP The 5000 Spirits or The Layers of the Onion) as one of the core LPs from that era. Films by Oliver Assayas mean something.<br /><a href="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/blog_film.html">Summer Hours imparts as much character into non-animate objects like designer armoires and desks, late 19th century vases and famous paintings as it does .... (continued)</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5259631216074653417-8418685249035106062?l=www.freepresshouston.com%2Farchive%2Fblog_home.html'/></div>Free Press Houstonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259631216074653417.post-87765351207607030292009-05-26T08:54:00.001-07:002009-05-26T08:54:24.245-07:00The Virgins Tonight at Rudz<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/V_Oe4pA6yrU&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/V_Oe4pA6yrU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5259631216074653417-8776535120760703029?l=www.freepresshouston.com%2Farchive%2Fblog_home.html'/></div>Free Press Houstonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259631216074653417.post-4834052018923196672009-05-26T08:49:00.001-07:002009-05-26T08:49:38.530-07:00Too Bored catches up with Homie Robert Ellis as he Releases his new Record<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9sHDB9I2KBw&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9sHDB9I2KBw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5259631216074653417-483405201892319667?l=www.freepresshouston.com%2Farchive%2Fblog_home.html'/></div>Free Press Houstonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259631216074653417.post-67250676444371939582009-05-24T14:23:00.000-07:002009-05-24T14:38:56.601-07:00Things to ponder..<span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >by Omar</span><br /><br />The other day I went to Whole Foods and ate: Chicken Chile Verde, 2 cups of soup, Celebration Veggie Roast, bottle of electrolyte enhanced water, Chocolate Croissant, and Tofu Rice yet only paid for the water. Tell us of your near-free grandiose meals there or at Central Market.<br /><br />Details of the FPH SummerFest to be released June 1st. It's gonna make you doubt your own sexuality.<br /><br />El Rey is prob one of the best, cheapest spots in town. Their Cuban-Mexican hybrid is feresh, reasonably priced, and tasty like non other. I tried the Ceviche today. For breakfast. Heartburn: yes. Delicious: Absolutely.<br /><br />Remember: There is NO TEA in a Long Island Iced Tea.<br /><br />There always seems to be periods in which people harken back to as a golden period in the local music scene. Are we not in one of those right now?<br /><br />What will happen when Willie Nelson dies? Fuck.<br /><br />Sorta-New local bands to watch out for(to name a few): Grandfather Child, The Brood, Ghormeh Sabzi, JuzCoz...<br /><br />I saw birds flying inside of Costco the other day. It nearly brought tears to my eyes for many reasons.<br /><br />The image below says it all...( know who did this? I can't seem to find):<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/l_40122c85b29ecf252b0ffa21d9f03b0e-779989.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 48px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/uploaded_images/l_40122c85b29ecf252b0ffa21d9f03b0e-779917.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5259631216074653417-6725067644437193958?l=www.freepresshouston.com%2Farchive%2Fblog_home.html'/></div>Free Press Houstonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5259631216074653417.post-19211863513851620602009-05-22T14:14:00.000-07:002009-05-22T14:24:50.442-07:00Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you SPORTS.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; "><div style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; width: auto; font: normal normal normal 100%/normal Georgia, serif; text-align: left; ">This is NOT ESPN or SportsRadio 610. Or the new hot girl, 1560 The Game.<div>This is FPH. Expect sarcasm, cynicism and cutthroat analysis. There's no crying in baseball and you can be for damn sure there's no cotton candy here at the Free Press Houston Sportsdesk. My name is Mills-McCoin, let's just get started.</div><div>In the video below, you will recognize Phil Jackson "The Zen Master", he's the head coach of the LA Lakers. The woman riding shotgun is Phil's boss's daughter, Jeanie Buss.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre; "><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HdWCO46zZOc&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HdWCO46zZOc&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object></span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.freepresshouston.com/archive/blog_sportsdesk.html">Click for more</a></span></span></div></div></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5259631216074653417-1921186351385162060?l=www.freepresshouston.com%2Farchive%2Fblog_home.html'/></div>Mills-McCoinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10024137970431161765millsmccoin@gmail.com0