Artist Profile: David Smith

I recently went over to David's rad apartment in Greenpoint, Brooklyn to learn more about him and talk about art and things like that. He made me a cup of coffee and we sat down and had a thoughtful conversation. Artist's stop frontin'! Let's get together and encourage each others work! Stuff like that. He has been working as a photographer, musician, visual artist, and most recently, an art teacher at SUNY college and he is just really nice to spend time with. His apartment is currently in the works to become more of an open space for projects and collaborations, I certainly look forward to seeing what comes into fruition there as it is such an inviting place to be. I remember well the first time I ever saw David play under the 2nd best band name ever, Doom Trumpet. I was like "WTF." Yeah, it was so awesome to see a solo performance with so much sound and layers...just one man, a microphone, an amp and a looping pedal. I was so inspired by the fact that you can rock out by yourself, which he certainly does (ummmm Space is the Place). It was an honor then to have a live performance right in David's apartment just for us, the debut of his new song (officially named in my presence) Waterfalls. The more I watch this video the more I realize what a bad ass song it is, he is so humble and generous in his performance.........



But there was still so much important information to be uncovered about David.....so without further ado, I bring you a glimpse into the mind of David Smith in this shocking and controversial interview............



Please do yourself a favor and check out David's work here as well as listen to some Doom Trumpet originals....(ummmmmmm, Space is the Place)!

How Did I Not Know.....

....about Chet Baker?

Dad, you dropped the ball on this one! How dare people who know me well not know to inform me that I just might be into this guy? I was working in the bar last night and this song came on and I was hooked. I woke up this morning and bought three of his albums and they are gorgeous. His playing is like his singing, so soft, light handed, but certainly not weak......and he is sexy.



He did a bunch of drugs, got his teeth knocked out and couldn't play for a while then got dentures and played again. Moved to Europe in his later years then apparently died falling out of a hotel window.

Typical.

Mugen Hoso in NYC

A couple weeks back Bug and I played an open mic at Spike Hill in Brooklyn. Mugen Hoso was the first band to play the open mic and we were like "WTF" "OMG". This two piece group from Japan is electric, their energy together is so tight and while they shred and offer genuine rock n' roll as well as punk and new wave timings, they are overwhelmingly happy and you can just feel their love for playing to an audience and sharing their music. We were instant fans and went to see them last night at Fontana's in the city. We hung out with Igaki (guitar and vocals) and Taro (drums) after the show for a bit and made a little video outside the club. I sound like such a dork, "say some words about love..." (seriously?) and the language barrier is apparent, but more importantly so is their personality which totally comes through and if you don't try to go see them if you're here in New York this week, well, that's a god damn shame. Here's some of what went down:





My video's were uploaded wide screen, so the format is kind of annoying to look at, please watch them in their proper aesthetic if you are so inclined here on YouTube

They will be playing tonight, Sunday 3/6 at Piano's
Friday 3/11 at the Delancey bar
Saturday 3/12 Otto's Shrunken Head
Tuesday 3/15 Lit Lounge

Then they are back to Japan....! Visit their website here for more information and muzak

New Music Wednesday with Guitars!

I woke up this morning and checked ye ol' book of face. To discover that Guitars have released a 4 song EP available now for free download! I just downloaded it and have only listened through once so cannot give my super educated, timely thoughts on it, but it sounds super clean and offers more straight forward song structures and a certain sense of humor (OMG the cover!!! you must see!) that could be the ticket to get their sound out there to those "other people" without losing the integrity of meaning and harnessing of the Universe so apparent in Soundtrack For Your Future Nostalgia, which you should also make sure to listen to if you haven't already. Yay! New music. Right now, my favorite song on the EP is Them Mysterious Places...which is yours?

Download the New album here
Check out their blog here for other stuff and more music

Mr. Miller

"Death has no meaning. All is change, vibration, creation and re-creation. The song of the world, registered in every particle of that specious substance called matter, issues forth in an inequable harmony which filters through the angelic being lying dormant in the shell of the physical creature called man. Once the angel assumes dominion, the physical being flowers. Throughout all realms a quiet, persistent blossoming takes place."

- Henry Miller, The Rosy Crucifixion, Plexus

...And it only gets better from there and before there

This is from page 317 in my copy, not even halfway through. Henry Miller is slowly becoming my favorite author, though this is only the third book of his I have read. For all his reputation as a drinking, sex obsessed, filthy mouthed man; I find none of this relevant or even all that apparent in his writing as a whole. He is both in awe of the Universe and the beings who dwell in it and in complete disgust of it at times. I feel the same sentiment. A lonely, quiet observer who connects with his reader to connect with himself to connect with everything. Or nothing? Special inspiration for me at the moment.

Ariel Pink

Ariel Pink. You heard of them (him)? Lo-fi. LA. Dude. likes to star in his own videos. Surprised? The music is kind of epically awesome though. You can hear such a crazy amount of layers...70's disco, 80's new wave pop, like Hall and Oates meets David Bowie and the Bee-Gee's and a little Itali-disco....I don't know. I like it though. Especially when he sings high. The videos make me like him less.... or more? Does he want to be funny? Is he funny? Ah, god, I don't know! I just don't. He is singing with a muppet sometimes? yes? I hope so.

Winter Brooklyn Dead Fish Arthur Russell

She sat on the edge of her bed
the orchestra held the note for almost too long
or not long enough
absorbed in the sound
stray tobacco and
strands of hair around the legs of her bureau
caught her eye
The winter sun brightened,
lit up her room
so suddenly.
it was so bright. so suddenly.
She couldn't stand it.
Fuck you.
And the song ends,
the sun passes.
sweeping to do.

Was listening to this. It's good. Very good. Gus, my black goldfish who is still a goldfish died this morning.