Pondering Mazzuchelli...

Waiting for the full podcast/transcript of Mazzuchelli's MoCCA talk yesterday. One observation he made-that the work which is embedded in our collective cortex (Ditko, Kirby, Toth, Steranko etc etc) always looked so fresh and unlabored because it was done on deadline and with plenty of hustle.

There's always that paradox when artists of my generation labor to print on "just the right" degraded cardboard stock to begin to approximate the pulpy marks which seem more real to us than the so called "real" world.

Whenever I succumb to the temptation to add an additional color plate I am reminded that the masters did it with the most limited means, on the shittiest paper stock possible. (See the Neal Adams interview for more on this) But they brought to bear such intense sensibilities and such killer chops...

Think of Alex Toth working actual size on a kitchen cutting board as his drafting table.

Another great gem in passing was when D.M was asked if he preferred the "real" NY (where, alas, getting across town by webslinging or billy club rope is an insane fantasy) or the Ditko/Kirby one. He answered as we all answer. Of course the early Marvel universe is the one we prefer. The quiet understated amused tone of his matter of fact answer just underlines how much Jules Feiffer was onto years ago.

Vic Chestnutt's Minimalist Bio, Jonathan Q&A

Vic Chestnutt's minimalist bio is cool. He opened for Jonathan Richman last night at Bowery Ballroom. His crooning & acoustic guitar rock harder than most bands. Tommy Larkins (AKA Tah-mee LAH-kins) backed him on a few songs, adding quite a bit in a pretty minimalist way himself.

JR gets better & better. Though I want to see him do an electric show again sometime (he went though a fuzz-box period in the mid-90's that was never captured properly on any recording) he played a hot non air-conditioned (at his request--"You can blame ME") he did a killer version of Modern World with updated lyrics to open and a perfect version of Springtime in NY as a last encore.

Jonathan still embodies Precise Modern Lovers Order.

Skip the intros on this video, at about 2:42 it turns into an amusing interview with Richman & Larkins

Josh Kornbluth Video

The creator of Haiku Tunnel & Red Diaper Baby gets a Flip HD & fulfills the promise of low tech video. We Don't Need No Steeking Production Values! This is as good as it gets.

One More Video: Ramones, MENTAL

"Men like the same item the same way over and over again. I wear mine until they’re finished, and then I want the same exact pair."The same applies for every piece of clothing I own. Justin R. Saunders, fashion person, NYT.

Yeah. Let's take that one step further. Men like the same 3 min song...

After Party Schmafterparty

Have I reposted this recently? The scene in Hannah & Her Sisters where Woody slips into a theatre and regains his will to live via The Marx Bros rings true. "The Management Requests Absolute Silence During The Following Presentation..."




It also seems reminiscent of the royal afterparty held in my honor the other night at Terroir.

I Want To Bite The Hand That Feeds Me

THIS is the shit, Elvis C. at the point of maximum impact. Anyone potentially doing a public presentation, say, at an awards ceremony or something, should study this carefully.

"Here I Am To Save The Day!"

Although my preference was for Obama to show up on stage singing the Mighty Mouse theme song a la Andy Kaufman with a record player next to him the HERE I AM TO SAVE THE DAY message was delivered loud and clear.

President. Obama.

More Documentary Footage of Union Square Obama Victory

I am sure I am not the only one posting this documentary video of the celebrations in NYC following Obama's decisive victory, but it's worth looking at in the calm of Sunday morning.

Yes.

Just joking around about choosing a family dog, here is the next President of The United States.

Merlin Mann, He's My Mann

From 43Folders:

The power of connecting with people in an authentic way (no, not in that cheesy, half-assed, internet “friends” way) falls apart at the point where its resource consumption curtails your ability to keep making new stuff. It’s a twisted paradox, for sure. But, in essence, it’d be a little like the Beatles skipping the writing and recording of Rubber Soul in order to catch up on 1964’s fan mail.

Put plainer, my sense is that western culture would be a damn sight poorer today if John Lennon had been forced to carry a goddamn BlackBerry.

Also, this.

Breeders New Album Coming Soon

There is just too much good stuff and bad stuff out there. It makes me question the whole idea of having a blog. I mean, if I am having a good day I might as well just have a webcam attached to my bike's handlebars and when things suck... Anyhow there is nothing like hearing new Breeders songs, here is the extended record release party:



Mountain Battles Record Release Party from The Breeders