…I.must.see.this.documentary.right.now!

The video below is a series of clips from a 1994 documentary called Wildwood. The documentary examines the lives, thoughts, and desires of the women and girls who live in the coastal town of Wildwood N.J. When I was a teenager I lived a short drive from Wildwood and it’s trashily festive boardwalks. In fact they were one of the favorite hangouts for me and my friends. Though my time spent there was a few years after this documentary was filmed (1998-ish), watching this video still brings back (admittedly humbling) memories of my youth. Personally though, I don’t really remember there being any actual girl fights.

 If anyone has a copy of this, let me know. I would LOVE to see the whole thing.

p.s.: I actually kind of love that shoulder-less chambray oxford.

The shows at Blue Sky, one of my favorite Portland galleries, have been a little *meh* the past few months. It’s unfortunate too, because as a non-profit they are one of the few major galleries in Portland with curators who are willing to take risks and not simply rely on easy-to-sell decorative art.

This month however, Blue Sky is back on top of their game. The two shows they currently have up for the month of July are both excellent. While I am not shocked to find how much I liked photographer Amy Stein’s highly choreographed images of taxidermied animals invading suburbia (more on her in a later post), it was the Chinese city scape photographs of Ferit Kuyas’  City of Ambition series that I found the most surprisingly alluring.

As a theme, I generally find architectural still life kind of un-dynamic. It usually falls into the trap of becoming either overly precious and decorative (sunsets over San Fran) or hard and documentative (spreads in Surface magazine). While both styles of architectural photography hold a certain level of importance, neither does much to actually inspire a viewer to experience the image at a deeper level.

However, Turkish photographer Ferit Kuyas refreshingly creates a style all his own. Kuyas’ images of the Chinese city of Chongqing feel immediately noir-like and full of secrets.  Paradoxically, where noir style art examines the hidden truths lying in the shadows, Kuyas manages to create a similar intrigue in the overcast vast expanses of nearly empty white space that occupies most of his photographs. It is not hard to imagine the hidden underbelly and tragic stories lurking in the mist of Kuyas’ vision of Chongqing.

I highly recommend heading down to Blue Sky this month to experience theCity of Ambition in person. The large scale of the images as well as the sense of immersion experienced by being physically surrounded by these photographs is well worth the trip. You can also check out most of the images from the show at Ferit Kuyas’ website.

Bangs- “Maggie the Cat” (1997)

Bangs appeared at the tail end of the post riot girl music movement of the mid 90’s. Releasing the majority of their recordings (this 7″ being the only exception) on Olympia power label Kill Rock Stars, they quickly became a national mainstay on the indie music circuit. Interestingly, they built their sound around a niche that was largely unseen in the feminist minded 90’s indie rock scene: butt rock twinged power-pop. When looking for the evolutionary origin for Bangs, you won’t find it in people like Patti Smith,The Raincoats, or Heaven’s to Betsy. Instead, they seem to be taking there cues from party rock mainstays such as Cheap Trick or (dare I say it) Kiss.

The Maggie the Cat 7″ was the first recording they ever did, and is the only to feature vocals from original drummer Jesse Fox (on Lights Out,one of my favorites from their catalog of songs). I don’t know how long ago this went out of print, but I remember feeling incredibly lucky to have found it in a store when I did, and that was way back in 1999.

Maggie the Cat

Get Electric

Lights Out

I am currently loving the men’s swimwear pictorial over at fashion156.com. This is so impractical yet so me!

Scooped from Men’s Rag

Hey it’s Monday and that means it’s time for music videos and for most – day 1 of work! BOO!

Here is a tune for you by New Mexico band, Fast Heart Mart, to ease your woes:

… Sonic Youth – Mildred Pierce

I forgot I’d bookmarked this old Michael Jackson Pepsi commercial a few months ago, and it seems pretty apropos to post it now. I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love this ad. The style is so good, and I love the little kids dancing! Anyway, enjoy.

Paul and I recently bought a new record player, our first in quite some time. This has encouraged a swelling of nostalgia in us. We’ve been listening to all our old records, a lot of which are queer punk/ riot girl/ 90’s indie 7″s. Some are as amazing as remembered, others have fallen a bit flat over time. All of them are worthy of praise though because each was responsible in part for us developing us into the adults which we are today.

Sadly though, for each awesome record we have their are 5 more out of print ones we only remember hearing at teenage friends houses and on long lost mix tapes. Amazingly, most of these appear to be completely un-findable anywhere on the internet. This is potentially a great loss of creative intellectual value. This music must not be lost to time!

We here at Gaycondo have decided to take our part in digitizing and documenting these recordings.  The plan is to post one 7″ every Saturday from here on out!

The first 7″ to be featured will be “The New Team Dresch V 6.0″ by Team Dresch

Released in 1998 on Outpunk records, the two songs featured on this record would be two of the last original songs to be recorded by (arguably the most important queercore band of all time) Team Dresch. Recently however, the band has reformed and murmurs of a new album have been traveling feverishly through the queer music community. Hopefully we won’t have to wait long. In the meantime, enjoy these two (almost lost forever) Team Dresch tracks.

Venus Lacy

Deattached

photo scooped from my new favorite blog, Sissydude

…and so far it’s kind of *meh*…

The only collections worth a dime so far are from Prada and Marni, and even those aren’t inspiring enough to convince me to post a picture here. Instead, here is a collage of pictures I made of a random  douche-y guy wh0 was in the backround of every GianFranco Ferre runway photograph.  He seems about as bored as I am about the whole thing…

 Enjoy.

Hopefully I will find something good eough to actually be worth reviewing soon!

Doesn’t she totally remind you of your high school best friend’s fucked up mom who was totally on prescription mood stabilizers?

Come see Em/Jon in the flesh!

When I was 20 years old, I wrote a short book called Ugly glass. A couple of land masses. I don’t know which one is real. It was probably the most exhaustive creative effort I have ever undertaken (which includes two other books, and 10 cds),  and maybe my favorite thing I have done so far in my life. It’s weird because I don’t think that anyone I currently know has ever read it besides Paul and my oldest friend Nickey. At this point, I only have one copy of it (I sold the rest) and no digital records. I keep meaning to do something about that, but then not doing it instead. The book is experimental literature that largely relies on heavy computer formatting, which makes it really easy to be lazy and not type up. Honestly, I don’t even know if I could at this point.

When I was 22 I made an audio representation of a part of the book. I say “representation” because the way the book is written, most of it can’t really be read out loud in a natural way. I wanted to make a recording of the way I always imagined it being experienced in the head of a reader. The recording was done on a Tascam 4-track using my voice and Em’s keyboard. I didn’t really know what I was doing, so it took me a long time to complete, but I am really happy with the way it turned out.

The following recording was part of a long out of print E.P. my band Swallows put out years ago.

As Swallows (Jon/Em’s band) gears up for our upcoming full length album, Betwen The Sea And Sky, I have given our website a MAJOR FACE LIFT… Featuring an extended bio, new summer photos, free music downloads (including 3 tracks off our new record), all of our glorified press clippings, over a dozen music videos, etc.

www.songsofswallows.com

…Frumpies – Be Good.

I CAN’T TAKE THE SUSPENSE!!!!!!

OK. I’ve been trying to post this late 40’s (!) short film by Kenneth Anger on the blog for about a year now, but it always get’s removed from youtube right away! I think this time it may stick around for a bit longer than usual (fingers crossed), but my advice would be to enjoy it while you can.
My favorite part comes at the 1:40 mark…

I am currently loving the work of New York photographer Ryan McGinley. In an area of photography bloated with a lot of uninspired fluff, his nude portraits stand out. Much like the youthful exuberance documented by the images, McGinley’s adept use of lighting and motion feels fresh, dynamic, and full of life. His several photographs involving fireworks (bottom image) are especially memorable. I love the use of lo-fi methods to create art that feels anything but. Make sure to visit his website for many more images, including behind the scenes photos of his often impressive gallery set-ups.

Beth and I are down in LA and just made our announcement to my parents that we are enGAYged! YAY!

For all of the unlucky lovers out there here is a song you can jam to…

“Suffering” by Hecuba. This tune is definitely more poppy than some of their other avant-guard electro and has a 50’s greaser vibe to it…plus there are appearances by Devendra Banhart and members of Pit Er Pat.