Cover Song: Air "Playground Love"

Here's a cool video of Thomas Mars and Christian Mazzalai from Phoenix covering Air's "Playground Love". Thomas originally did vocals for the song on the Virgin Suicide soundtrack, so it's kind of only a half cover. Right?

Artist: Simon Schubert

German artist Simon Schubert is making art with paper, but neglecting the use of pen or ink. He's creating beautiful architecturally based pieces with nothing but folding.




Photos via crowded.fr

Gig: Francis and the Lights

If you aren't staying in to watch the season finale of LOST. I'd suggest hitting up the Drake Underground for Francis and the Lights first show of their 3 night residency there.

Here's their video for "The Top" so you can prepare yourself for the funky hipshaking:

The Top (Music Video) from Francis and the Lights on Vimeo.

Artist: La Roux

Although La Roux may appear like a solo act, they are actually a duo made up of singer and synth player Eleanor Jackson, known as Elly, and co-writer and co-producer Ben Langmaid. Based in London and making synth electropop that the hipster kids are eating up.

Embedding on there video for "In The Kill" has been disabled, but you can watch here.

Music Video: The Maccabees

The Maccabees - Love You Better

They've got a lot of cool techniques going on here.

Animation

Quimby The Mouse from This American Life on Vimeo.

Story and drawings by the amazing, Chris Ware, and animation by John Kuramoto. This was created for a live stage performance of This American Life radio show. The music is Eugene by Andrew Bird.

(Via Booooooom)

Tonight in Toronto: Chuck Palahniuk

Fight Club author Chuck Palahniuk will be appearing at the Isabel Bader Theatre this evening to promote his latest release, Pygmy. Palahniuk will read from the novel, followed by an audience Q&A, and a book signing for the first 150 people to pick up a wristband. Wristbands can be picked up on a first-come-first-serve basis from 5 p.m. onward at the theatre, and anyone who gets one is required to buy a copy of the book. Those who don't get wristbands in time will still be able to buy pre-signed copies of the book (Mr. Palahniuk is very generous). Isabel Bader Theatre (93 Charles Street West), 7 p.m., $10.

(via Torontoist)

Music: Knightlife

Knightlife is an electro dance artist from Melbourne, Australia. He's toured North America opening for Cut Copy but other than that likes to remain anonymous. And he's remixed Cut Copy, Midnight Juggernauts, Bag Raiders. Speaking of which, when did it become that you gauged the caliber of an artist by who they've remixed??




www.myspace.com/dancewithknightlife

From the other end of the world: Japan

Audrey Kawasaki’s show “Watching Shadows” or “Kageboushi” opened last night at the Space Yui Gallery in Japan. The exhibition included some of her signature paintings of dreamy-eyed girls, who have a sense of innocence, yet paradoxically possess a touch of sensuality as well. However, it seems that in this body of work, although subtle, her characters are maturing in front of our eyes, perhaps with a hint of what’s to come. No canvas pieces in this show, but Audrey explores her lasercut technique further with two beautiful and intricate pieces.

Via Arrested Motion

Artist: Cultural Urge

"Cutural Urge was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and he migrated to Sydney, Australia at a young age, his love for drawing consumed most of his time. Growing up, Cartoons and fictitious worlds were key inspirations that sculpted his interests through out the years. Having been exposed and actively involved in various rebellious, anti-social subcultures as it was once termed, and considered an outcast his future held nothing more than to co-exist with civilized society and the "Higher Authority". Heavy Metal Music, Hip Hop, Graffiti, Tattoos, Skateboarding and too many comic books where to blame for his disorder... by examination of the symptoms the diagnosis was complete."

via Cultural Urge

Music: Collections of Colonies of Bees

I realize that I post lots of electro, dance rock music on here. So this one is for those who like to chill out a bit. Collections of Colonies of Bees are from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and doing the post-rock thing in lines of early Broken Social Scene with a bit of Caribou. And the rumor on the street is that they are doing some collaborating with Bon Iver.



www.myspace.com/collectionsofcoloniesofbees

Artist: Veronique Meignaud

Veronique Meignaud aka Marmotte, is a Paris based freelance illustrator. She works mainly as a concept artist on characters as well as environments for the video games industry.

Papergirl: Aisha Ronniger

This video shows a great project initiated by Aisha Ronniger which is bringing art back to the people on the streets of Berlin. Aisha and her crew bike around dropping off "presents" containing 10-15 pieces of hand drawn art to anyone and everyone. Aisha likes to keep the art original and non digital (for the craft). It's a really great concept that clearly leaves everyone involved a little happier by the end of the day.

Papergirl #3 from Papergirl on Vimeo.

Via Sezio

Music: Kids of 88

Auckland, New Zealand created these boys. Dance rock that anyone can enjoy. That is if you like having a GOOD TIME!! They only have one song on their myspace. But I'm sure it'd fit nicely in a mix tape in between The Rapture and Green Go.

http://www.myspace.com/kidsof88

Juliana Neufeld display!

Juliana Neufeld just recently created and installed this amazingly wonderful display for Element Skateboards Power To The Planet campaign in the window Underworld Skate store on Rue St. Catherines in Montreal. She's currently also displaying pieces at our art gallery at 483 Eastern Ave. in Toronto. Please stop by and see in either cities! Or both!!

Where The Wild Things Are Kubrick Set

The much anticipated release of director Spike Jonze’s live-action adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s classic children’s book, Where The Wild Things Are, is just around the corner. To commemorate the movie, Medicom Toy will be releasing the “Where The Wild Things Are” Kubrick set, featuring overall 6 characters from the movie. Due to come out in October 2009, the Kubrick Set can already be pre-ordered at many toy stores around the globe.


Via High Snobiety

Gig: The Kills

I don't think I'm breaking any ground here by saying that The Kills are definitely one of the coolest bands today. They'll be hitting up a Toronto stop on their tour this week. So if you don't have tickets yet, I suggest you start looking into that ASAP.



They'll be at Phoenix this Thursday, May 7th.
Myspace. www.myspace.com/thekills

Artist: Alex Pardee

Illustrator Alex Pardee.
He's worked with Hurley international, Kid Robot, and Twenty Twenty Skateboards. His illustrations are colourful but have a nice edge to them. I really enjoy the balance he brings to his detailed work. Please check out his website and blog as well: http://eyesuckink.com/




via Booooooom!

NIN iPhone App Drama

Nine Inch Nail's new iPhone application has apparently been denied by the 'censorship board' at Apple because the inclusion of the track "The Downward Spiral" on the app. I actually had this same problem with my mom and she threw out my copy of the album. I guess much hasn't changed in 15 years.

Check out the whole story on P4k.

Diplo's iPhone App

Everyone is coming out with an iPhone app. Now Diplo has.

Mad Decent iPhone App from Mad Decent on Vimeo.

3D Design

I've been interested by 3-D lately, and this table called "Stereovision" by John Nouanesing really caught my eye. Great design!

Gig: Green Go CD Release

Green Go 'Borders' CD Release Party
w/ special guests
The Magic
Everything All the Time
OPOPO DJs
Thursday, April 30th
Wrongbar
1279 Queen Street West
$5

Artist: Sachiko Kanaizumi

Drawings from Sachiko Kanaizumi





Via Booooooom!

Working with Cardboard

Some amazing artistic talent utilized in these ads for UPS. Here's a couple screenshots.


Image via Computerlove

Agency: Doner
Director: Psyop
See the video at http://www.psyop.tv/

Follow Up: Stories!

I feel it's really important to the completeness of the blog to follow up the last post with video of the interview that Wavves did for Stories! with Cierra and Tierra. These two will most likely be famous one day.