How A Brain Works and Dr. Demento

by Carmelita Morales

My man was just telling me how he is going to play a gig in Istanbul.
That got me thinking of that old song by They Might be Giants "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)"
That got me thinking about where I first heard They Might be Giants, on Dr. Demento's radio show.
That got me thinking about how RAD Dr. Demento was when I was growing up.
That got me thinking how long ago I use to listen to him and how old I'm getting.
That got me thinking how much I wish my brain would just shut the eff up.

Anyway, the one good thing that did come out of all those thoughts was remembering Dr. Demento. He was this wacky weirdo of a radio dj who had a syndicated show called Dr. Demento. I guess I shouldn't talk about him in the past tense because apparently he is still around and still has a radio show, though it is much less popular than it once was.

His show was always something to look forward to. I mean, I was about 13 when I first discovered him and the stuff he played was wayyyy out there as far as I was concerned. He specialized in comedic, weirdo music and is best known for 'breaking' Weird Al Yankovich even appearing in a few of his videos. Dr Demento also played a big role in the success of the 1979 Christmas song "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" and the best monster song ever, Bobby "Boris" Pickett's "Monster Mash".

He released lots of Dr. Demento compilations, his radio show was syndicated all over America, and he even had a video show for a few years which is where I first saw the awesome videos below.

The first one is a hilarious, kind of stomach-turning film from the 80's which has been edited into video format. It's called 'Fish Heads' and is about a lonely man who has a fish head for a best friend.



This is the first video from a solo Fred Shneider effort which features his bandmates in the B-52's. It's about the 'monster in his pants that does a funny dance' complete with cute animated dancing penis.

Hot Craft by Hot Chicks

By Carmelita Morales

The colder it gets the craftier I get. I guess it's just good ol' hibernational fun. Last year I picked up knitting, this summer I started embroidery and managed to create a pretty good replication of my surly cat despite his attempts to sabatoge my creation every step of the way.

This month at Sesame Art Gallery a few amazing crafty ladies have put together a show called Wild Styles: Hot Craft, a new exhibit of work from seven women who give traditional, hand-made pieces an exciting, punked-up revival. These emerging and established stars of craft reject the hippie label of their domestic skills and are quickly supplanting graffiti as the latest art collectable. Watch out for Bill Hicks and Iggy Pop embroideries, 70s porn emblazoned rugs, 'Get Ur Freak On' needlepoint samplers, and Danielle Proud's gothic, bejewelled gargoyle heads.

Speaking of Danielle Proud, I bought her book 'House Proud' last year because it has all kinds of DIY and crafty projects but I haven't made anything from the book. To be honest it was a tad lame and a lot of the stuff was 70's fugly - but thats getting off subject. I still respect her passion for craft and glad she's leading the way bringing together other forward thinking craft masters.

The point is, crafts are awesome. Girls are awesome.

Sesame Art Space
354 Upper Street
Islington
London
N1 0PD
Tel: 020 7226 3300
Email: info@sesameart.com

Kaiju Big Battel returns to NY - Flux up, look sharp.

By Carmelita Morales

Last week I posted the new Bloc Party video for "Flux" which features cute, japanese-y battling monsters. Well, upon more investigation I found that they are real fighters in the Kaiju Battles which happen all over the US as far as I can tell. Imagine WWF mixed with Godzilla and you have an idea. They have a new DVD out called "More Better Fighto".

In honor of the release the battle is headed to NYC in November. I may have to take advantage of super cheap flights to NY on my beloved Virgin Airlines for this one. To read more about Kaiju Battles go to www.kaiju.com

Here's just one live video I found on youtube.
ARRRRRE You REady to rrrRRRRRRRRRRRRRRuuuuuuuuumble????!!!!!!



About Kaiju Big Battel

Kaiju Big Battel is a modern conflict of epic proportions. Planet Earth is under threat: scattered throughout the galaxy is a monstrous mob of maniacal villains, menacing alien beasts, and giant, city-crushing monsters that are waging war against one another. Presiding over this mayhem is the Kaiju Commissioner, an enigmatic human-arbiter appointed by a clandestine cadre of world leaders to regulate Kaiju rage. If the Kaiju Commissioner doesn’t do his job perfectly the entire world could get caught in the crossfire.

Currently, the Kaiju Universe maintains an active roster of approximately 50 monsters, including a factory-worker-turned-soup-can called Kung-Fu Chicken Noodle, a dirty hare-sage dubbed Dusto Bunny, a loser sea beast known as Call-Me-Kevin, and a despicable, square-headed mad scientist known as Dr. Cube.

Blog Party

Bloc Party have a new song and video. Yes, it's quite different than their previous stuff but don't think about it too much. Just have fun and go with it...you can't beat robot love.
xxx

Killer Snake Sake

by Carmelita Morales

Anyone care for a shot? I found these jars of Habu snake sake while I was on the island of Okinawa in Japan. I really wanted to bring one home but then I thought of the scene I'd make at customs coming home and thought a photo might be best.

Bottles of (very expensive) "Habu sake" are sold in almost any alcohol store on the big island of Okinawa prefecture; the habu venom present in the sake (along with a dead snake on the bottom) is reputed to increase male virility. Some less expensive bottles have the venom but no snake in the bottom.

Tiger penis soup, snake sake, and viagra - all for 'increasing men's virility'. Aren't we happy to be girls? Just give me a vodka and red bull and vroom vroom, I'm virile!

More thunda from down unda - MIDNIGHT JUGGERNAUTS

by Carmelita Morales


The Midnight Juggernauts are three nice boys from Melbourne and I met them because they opened up for Bloc Party on their recent Australian tour. After the show in Sydney they decided to take us to a club that I can't remember the name of. Go figure. But the thing I DO remember is that the club is run by this dude who has no arms or legs. And he DJs with his awesome metal arms like something out of Mad Max. Why didn't I have my camera?! Arrrrgh.

But anyway, when I watched them on stage the lead singers voice reminded me of Sisters of Mercy but on the record it comes across as more David Bowie. Justice named the track "Into The Galaxy" as one of their top 5 fave songs of 2007. It's pretty far out man. Like stoney, electro spiders from mars. Check it
HERE

"Rocking" the cradle...

by Carmelita Morales

Because GIRLCORE consists of only hot teenage girls (in our minds anyway), I for one am very happy to finally hear some music from our 15 year old peers. All the way from Australia it's Operator Please!

I saw their video on a flight from Sydney to Brisbane and at first I thought it was a show on Nickelodeon or "Barney Gone Wild" - but no. They are for real and doing pretty well in Oz. Maybe because its filled with munchkins?