David Byrne Office Tour

Here are the first two parts of a three part series from The FADER where multi-creative/Talking Heads guru David Byrne gives a tour of his studio! rad!

In our current issue, along with all of its other David Byrne-related wonder, you can see regular FADER contributor Jason Nocito's intimate photos of Byrne in his massive office at the Todo Mundo headquarters. Because of the natural constraints of paper magazines, we were neither able to fit every photo in the issue nor have Byrne explain what you were looking at. Fortunately, we have the internet, and Byrne was generous enough to record this guided audio tour of all the peculiar objects and ephemera photographed by Nocito that otherwise would've never been seen. We had so much material, and Byrne had so much to say, we've decided to split it into three parts.

Weekender 5.29-5.31

FRIDAY
Belongings Opening (Brooklyn)
New York Tropical 6 (Brooklyn)

SATURDAY
Maluca Debut at A+R (London)
Carmina Soul (Brooklyn)
Black Star Reunion Concert (NYC)

SUNDAY
Galaxie (Brooklyn)

FRIDAY
Belongings: A Visual Poetry Experience
With photos by Luke Abiol and poetry by Marina Garcia-Vasquez

+KRIS GRAVES PROJECTS
111 Front St. #224, Brooklyn
Opening Night catered by Mexican eatery La Superior and sponsored by Milagro tequila and Jarritos. Afterparty at B.East!

New York it’s time to get tropical again. This time Uproot Andy and Matt Shadetek will be joined by The Fader’s own Eddie Stats, Lamin Fofana of Recession Rap fame will be making his DJ debut early and DA extended family 77Klash will be live on-stage bringing that BK heat. Those who know me definitely know Klash from our songs together “Brooklyn Anthem” with Jahdan Blakkamoore, “Mad Again (Whoa!)” featuring Johnny Osbourne and the newest “Pressure” which you can download below.

Glasslands Gallery
289 Kent Ave.
BROOKLYN
10PM - 4AM

$5 b4 11PM, $7 after

DJs:
Uproot Andy
Matt Shadetek
Eddie Stats (The Fader / Ghetto Palms)
Lamin Fofana

Special live guest:
77Klash (Klashcity Records)

SATURDAY
MALUCA's London Debut

with
Martelo
Isa GT
Work It Girls

CARGO
83 Rivington Street
Shoreditch, London

AplusR is the newest adventure by the people who brought you the groundbreaking parties NYC/LDN and MAP, i.e the same people who brought to the UK the likes of BLK JKS and Theophilus London for the very first time.

It is with this same spirit of discovery, the most recently signed Maluca of Mad Decent Records comes over from NYC for the hottest party at Cargo. Maluca draws inspiration form her Nuyorican roots but makes uncompromising dance music aimed squarely at the dance floor. Following in the footsteps of Buraka Som Sistema or M.I.A., Maluca embraces the rhythms and a melody ingrained in her cultural heritage and adds an unhealthy dose of BASS to create an intoxicating musical cocktail that is both heavy and refreshing at the same time. Already singled out by the Midas-like Diplo, who will be producing her first 12" on Mad Decent, Maluca only has one way to go: UP; and if you happen to cross her path here is only one thing to do: SHAKE IT!

DJ Martelo will be turning up more Heat at Cargo, having just toured with Toddla-T & Oneman, He also has worked/Produced/Remixed for the likes of Santogold, Riva Starr, Mumdance or Hervé and that’s just naming a few. Martelo has a proven record as a Bassline specialist of the highest order, and his sets flow seamlessly from dancehall to b-more to fidget via Hip Hop and Dubstep and anything else in between. Dope ish!!

Isa GT is a Colombian born member of Girlcore, the all-girl DJ collective that has been destroying London's East End with their riotous mashup parties. A budding producer, Isa GT has been championing the Funketa sound, a fierce mix of the Colombian dance Champeta and Brazil's percussion heavy Baile Funk. Her first release - Pela'o - has been remixed by Crookers, and she is now working on a track with the Zombie Disco Squad so she clearly knows what she's doing!

Last but not least, the in-demand Work It! DJs will be warming hips and toes from the DJ booth with their Boom-Bap-a-licious 90's hip hop selections that have earned them coveted invitations to play at Q-Tip's after-party and to host their own Bloc Party at the ICA and not to mention the Shoreditch is Shit Vs PLAIN JANES night at 333. Boom Bap yo!

AplusR is powered by PEGGY UNLTD in proud association with the PLAIN JANES Collective.
Carmina Soul
with DJ Spinna
11PM - 4AM
Old American Can Factory
232 3rd Street
btwn 3rd + 4th Ave Brooklyn

Residents Chris Annibell and percussionist Amon welcome Brooklyns own favorite son, DJ SPINNA to the stage. Together, they will infuse Brooklyn's dance community with West London Broken Beats, Latin Grooves, Global House, Philly Soul, Jazz and African Polyrhythms; a night geared towards honoring the cultural landscape of Gowanus, Brooklyn and to transcend the confines of traditional clubs.


SUNDAY
Join us to celebrate the dawn of a new GALAXIE. Akin to its sister party, Donuts (founded by DJ Pickpocket & video artist Alison Childs), GALAXIE welcomes bands, DJs, sound and video artists, filmmakers, designers and artists of all kinds who break through intergalactic boundaries of art, sound, space, synths, technology and visual perception to perform together in one space while providing fun dance-party entertainment to the local community.

GALAXIE PRESENTS............
SOFT CIRCLE live (PPM, BOADRUM-ambassador)
DJ DANCEPARTY featuring
LOVEFINGERS (Black Disco, RVNG)
JUSTIN MILLER (DFA)
JACQUES RENAULT (Runaway)
Video Installation by AC (DONUTS, The Juan MacLean)
GALAXIE OPENING PREMIERE PARTY!
All Nite Space Disco Dance Party!!

Plus FREE VEGAN SPACECAKES!

Doors 9PM
$5

Befriend us on myspace and hear an exclusive Soft Circle track remixed by Eric Broucek!

Suite Orchard x Gargyle Sample Sale

Suite Orchard & Gargyle invite you to shop!

Also Featuring:
Andrea Brueckner
Bliss Lau
Elissa Dunlop
H Fredriksson
Saya Hibino
Yegang Yoo


May 28, 29, 30
Thurs, Fri, Sat: 12 - 7pm

Suite Orchard
145a Orchard Street
(corner of Rivington Street)
Lower Level

Cash and Credit Card (Visa, MC, Amex) only

Ashkahn does BBBOOORRRIIINNNGGG

My good friend, the illustrator/evil genius behind shopA and the artwork for Ubiquity Records launched a great new product today, the BORING sticker. Perfect for telling the world what you really think, the sticker measures 1x4 and can be bought directly from his online store here! See some more of Ashkahn's amazing work here!

Changing the Art on the White House Walls

Alma Thomas Evening Glow, 1972

By AMY CHOZICK and KELLY CROW

The Obamas are sending ripples through the art world as they put the call out to museums, galleries and private collectors that they’d like to borrow modern art by African-American, Asian, Hispanic and female artists for the White House. In a sharp departure from the 19th-century still lifes, pastorals and portraits that dominate the White House’s public rooms, they are choosing bold, abstract art works.

The overhaul is an important event for the art market. The Obamas’ art choices could affect the market values of the works and artists they decide to display. Museums and collectors have been moving quickly to offer up works for inclusion in the iconic space.

Last week the first family installed seven works on loan from the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington in the White House’s private residence, including “Sky Light” and “Watusi (Hard Edge),” a pair of blue and yellow abstracts by lesser-known African-American abstract artist Alma Thomas, acclaimed for her post-war paintings of geometric shapes in cheery colors.

The National Gallery of Art has loaned the family at least five works this year, including “Numerals, 0 through 9,” a lead relief sculpture by Jasper Johns, “Berkeley No. 52,” a splashy large-scale painting by Richard Diebenkorn, and a blood-red Edward Ruscha canvas featuring the words, “I think maybe I’ll…,” fitting for a president known for lengthy bouts of contemplation. The Jasper Johns sculpture was installed in the residence on Inauguration Day, along with modern works by Robert Rauschenberg and Louise Nevelson, also on loan from the National Gallery.

Collectors say the art picks by the Obamas will likely affect the artists’ market values—or at least raise their profiles. After George W. Bush displayed El Paso, Texas-born artist Tom Lea’s “Rio Grande,” a photorealistic view of a cactus set against gray clouds, in the Oval Office, the price of the artist’s paintings shot up roughly 300%, says Adair Margo, owner of an El Paso gallery that sells Mr. Lea’s work. (Mr. Lea passed away in 2001, which also boosted the value of his work.)

The Obamas’ interest in modern art began before they moved to Washington. The couple’s Hyde Park home featured modern art and black-and-white photographs, according to several Chicago friends. On one of their first dates, Mr. Obama took Michelle Robinson to the Art Institute of Chicago.

Read the full article from the Wall Street Journal.

Major Lazer f/Baby Cham (Dave Kelly Hold The Line Remix)

Another killer remix from the Mad Decent guys for Major Lazer (Diplo and Switch's new future dancehall collab). What could be better than Baby Cham and Santigold rhyming over horses neigh-ing, phone rings and a wikked beat. The LP drops June 16th with a full North American tour. Check it here! (Right Click-DL Linked File As)

Tour Dates:
6/13/09 NEW YORK, NY SOBs
6/18/09 BOSTON, MA HOUSE OF BLUES
6/19/09 PHILADELPHIA, PA ELECTRIC FACTORY
6/20/09 WASHINGTON, DC ROCK AND ROLL HOTEL
6/24/09 VANCOUVER, BC COMMODORE BALLROOM
6/25/09 SEATTLE, WA NEUMOS
6/26/09 SAN FRANCISCO, CA THE GRAND BALLROOM @ REGENCY
6/27/09 LOS ANGELES, CA LA MEMORIAL COLISEUM & EXPO
7/10/09 AUSTIN, TX STUBB'S
7/11/09 DALLAS, TX HOUSE OF BLUES
8/07/09 CHICAGO, IL CONGRESS THEATER
10/31/09 INGLEWOOD, CA THE FORUM

Slum Village x Paradjanov

Edited scenes from the Armenian-Russian director Sergei Paradjanov's film, Sayat Nova (Color of Pomegranates) set to Slum Village's "Climax (Girl Sh$%)!" If you're unfamiliar with Paradjanov's work, you've gotta check Sayat Nova or Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors. Bananas.

Party like it's 1999...

That's right, you read that correctly. BLACK STAR is getting back together for a one-night, two-performance reunion show that will be sure to bring out the backpackers and head nodders to the newly greened Times Square Nokia Theater this Saturday. I did some behind the scenes handshaking and connected good people Peter Oasis from LiveNDirect and the homies from Rocksmith to create a limited edition tee for this reunion concert, 10 years in the making.

Cop tickets from the evil Ticketmaster but don't sleep...it'll sell out soon!

Kombucha - Detox Summer

After a phenomenal weekend of backyard barbecue birthday blowouts, chicago house house parties, and rooftop sunsets you might feel the need for a little detox in your life...I know my Tuesday morning haze was enough indication that my liver might need a little break. What better time than to start a kombucha regiment than the first of summer?

Kombucha has seen a huge resurgence in the last couple of years but the fermented tea has been consumed for centuries by Chinese, Russian, and Eastern Europeans for its healing and digestive properties. Those in the new age/hippie dippy set are familiar with the beautifully packaged versions sold at high-end delis for $4.50 a bottle with names like Synergy and Wonder Drink but a quick google reveals that you can easily make and bottle this fizzy jam in the comfort of your own home! I started the process today with this quick recipe to make the "mother" culture and will be on my way to making my first batch of tea by next week! Check the starter recipe from Food Renegade below:
1 bottle of Organic, Raw Kombucha
1 glass jar
1 kitchen towel
1 cup of room temperature black tea sweetened with 1 tbsp sugar

Pour the bottle of kombucha and sweetened tea into a glass jar. Cover it with a towel so it can breathe but be protected from insects and other contaminants. Let it sit. With time, a new "mother" culture called a SCOBY will start to form on top of the liquid. It will appear first as a thin film, then slowly fill in and thicken up. Once it’s about 1/4 inch thick, it’s ready to go. You can let it sit longer and get even thicker. Should take 1.5-3 weeks depending on room temperature!

Check full directions on how to brew your own kombucha once you've cultured the mother here and here!

1st Asian American Comic Book

I found The Four Immigrants Manga on the sale rack of a Berkeley, CA bookstore. Published by Stone Bridge Press (specializing in "Quality Books about Asia"), the book is a translation of the first copyrighted Japanese-American comic book.

Henry Kiyama modeled his four characters on his own group of friends: Henry, an art student; Charlie, man-about-town; Frank, an entrepreneur; and Fred, a farmer. Kiyama covers "A Japanese Experience in San Francisco, 1904-1924" over 52 episodes consisting of 12 cells each. His fresh-off-the-boat heroes chase ambition, money and women...when they're not getting fired or drinking away their wages, they make fun of Chinese people and shoot the breeze about life.

Check out the cheeky Henry (above), during an ill-fated stint as a houseboy: "Wow! White folks really are white!"