LATL – Homeboy Sandman & Fresh Daily “Table Cloth”
Our Friends at Live At The Loft are at it again with an electric performance of “Table Cloth” from Homeboy Sandman and Fresh Daily. This invite only event just continues to grow.
Enjoy
TrVZ
Brooklyn Boheme Premiers
This past Thursday Brooklyn Boheme which I have been co-editing and animating for the past two years had it’s red carpet premier. It opened the 15th annual Urban World Film Festival at the AMC 34th street theatre’s. Guests included Spike Lee, Chris Rock, Mario Van Peebles & Maxwell. There was such a buzz of anticipation for this film that they had to book another theatre because the premier sold out in hours.
As a person who edits primarily for the internet, there is an unfamiliar natural high that you can’t duplicate online. Knowing that all these people are judging and reacting to your work on the big screen in real time is both humiliating and exhilarating. You can see me in the slideshow below (2nd pic) anxiously waiting for the film to start with Spike Lee and Chris Rock sitting a couple of rows back. As it turned out mistakes notwithstanding the premier was amazing! The audience laughed, applauded, and nodded in all the right places.
After the screening directors Nelson George, and Diane Paragas had a Q & A session where the audience showed allot of love. After two years of countless hours editing, re-editing, arguing, and wishing for it to be all over, seeing it play even if only for that one night made it all worth it. Support this film, it’s a great story about an art movement in one Brooklyn neighborhood that transcends race.
TrVZ
Photos courtesy of themoviesthatshouldbemade.com
Wayback Thursday’s 2008 – Electric Punnany
This week we take the Wayback machine to August of 2008 and Electric Punanny at Sway. For a couple of years Sway was the place to be on a Monday night. Roxy Cottontail who was the personality behind Sway hired my former partner Tone as the in house photographer. During Tone’s residency Sway went from being a nice mellow place to hang out on Monday’s, to a booze and drug filled affair with some of the dirtiest dancing ever documented on camera. Eventually Tone partnered with Jasmine Salano and Melo-X to form their own Sway party and called it Electric Punanny. Spinning a combination of Electro and Reggae that turned up the dial up on grit and grind scale past 11.
Now all this time despite many invites from Tone I had yet to head out to Sway myself. I just assumed that Sway would always be there and I would get around to it. Plus after years of seeing this amazing world through Tone’s eyes, I wanted to make sure that if I go I would be ready to tell the story the way I thought it needed to be told. The resulting video was one in which I captured the dark, grinding, heartbeat that existed inside the walls of Sway, as well as the colorful lively energy that took place right outside it’s doors. To this date it is one the best event portraits produced on this site.
Enjoy
TrVZ
Wayback Trivia: In the months following the Electric Punanny video Tone started a video series titled Sway Kids. It is a brilliant series that captures the world outside of Sway in a non sequitur staccato stream of thought style. He probably didn’t know it then but this series documents the last days of the golden years (and I do mean years) of that legendary weekly party.
Zach Cordner Photography – The Hundreds Gallery Opening
Here is a video recap from the Zach Cordner opening night reception at the Hundreds Gallery for his book Zach Cordner photography. The show runs through Labor Day so if your in LA check it out. Shot & Edited by Danny Lee
Enjoy
TrVZ
The Palms : The Experience
Here is an updated version of the video flyer (Shot and Edited by yours truly) for this new event in L.I.C. just a few blocks from PS1 called The Palms. It’s taking place every weekend until Labour Day. Several art/event producers took over an abandoned bank building to create a living ode to the Boca Raton resorts of the 1940′s and infused it with music, spectacle and thoughtful hedonism. I had allot of fun last weekend. Here is a link to the Facebook Page and The Palms website.
TrVZ
*as of yet, untitled. | Kickstarter Video
In this day of Social Media overload where almost everything interesting is documented and posted online virtually before it happens (pun intended), there is a new project by William Etundi (founder of The Danger), where artists can express themselves in a non blogging, non tweeting, non shooting environment. The Social Media phenomenon has so shaped our collective conversation that I am intrigued as to how the dialogue will change in the absence of it. As Will describes this event…
“You are invited to be involved in the creation of something simple, gorgeous and potentially profound.”
I describe it as TED meets Eyes Wide Shut. This event *as of yet, untitled will take place in a large but unfinished raw space in DUMBO and they need additional funding to build out the space. I was asked to shoot the video posted below to help raise money for this project. Log onto the Kickstarter page to contribute.
TrVZ
TrVZ
Wayback Thursday – Fanny Pack Crew
This week on Wayback Thursday, we rewind to sometime around February of 2007 and an event called Back 2 Basics. This event really epitomizes what was happening at the dawn of the social media revolution in Brooklyn and the LES. Myspace was the dominating social networking site in 2007, and both artist and promoters relied heavily on it as a medium of expression and promotion. It was generally understood that if your event was not documented that it did not happen. A point of view that is even more prevalent today. As a result the Photo/video artists became the vanguards of online documentation and The New Pop found it’s legs.
This particular event took place at Fat Baby’s in the Lower East Side. Looking at it now brings back some great memories for sure. This DIY event was organized by a couple of cuties and dear old friends Jen Pop and Ladi Dotie AKA The Fanny Pack Crew. The only sponsor was another old friend photographer Jason Lewis and his Tinpod Ipod case. Jason’s a great guy and those cases were great art (I still have 2 of mine), but you had to keep opening the damn things to access your Ipod. And then there are the artist interviews which apparently are strikingly similar in content to the ones I do now. Until I watched this I forgot that this recent Anthony Michael Sneed profile I did was not the first piece on 8 Bit art. Mikel featured in this video was doing it in 2007. Also forgot that Kanye was not the first guy to play the MPC drum machine on stage. Also seeing DJ Yamez, Holy Smokes, Cicely, 2 Hungry Bros and of course Jen and Ladi who were all (and probably still are (lol)) myspace friends is priceless.
Enjoy
TrVZ
Wayback Trivia: When Tone and I first started shooting events in 2006 we would say to each other (with great childlike enthusiasm I might add) how great it would be if we could gain free admission and get free drinks at events in exchange for documenting them! Oh how times have changed.
Artists Wanted | Scope NY 2011 – “The Night Event”
As a part of Armory Arts Week Artists Wanted recently held an opening night party for Scope NY 2011. The event was held at the Angel Orensanz building on the Lower East Side, a Gothic-revival synagogue built in 1849. I only recently discovered Artists Wanted while doing one of my recent blog postings. Upon my discovery I loved their mission so much that I had to reach out to them. When they in turn reached out to me to document this event I was pretty excited to be involved. As I mentioned when I posted the photos, there was an eclectic mix of artists and celebs alike including Chloe Sevigny, Nick Zinner, & AndrewAndrew, and performances by Le Reitman, and Gang Gang Dance. Everyone had big fun. Thanks to Will and Suzie for putting me on, and to Rachel Hornaday for video assisting!
Enjoy the show
TrVZ
Artists Wanted | The Night Event – Photos
Thursday night Artists Wanted held their opening night event for the Scope Art Show/Armory Week. The event was held at the Angel Orensanz building on the Lower East Side. It is a gothic-revival synagogue built in 1849, which makes it one of the oldest synagogues in the United States. For those of you who care about this stuff, Sarah Jessica Parker & Matthew Broderick were married there.
Thursday night there were performances by Le Reitman, and Gang Gang Dance who blew me away! As expected the venue was filled with an eclectic mix of artists, musicians, and celebrities alike including Chloe Sevigny, Nick Zinner, & AndrewAndrew. The Artists Wanted video I shot will be released shortly, in the meantime enjoy these photos.
TreVZ
IHMDJ! – The Brooklyn Artist Project
Best known for his Polaroid’s documenting anyone who was anyone in the New York downtown Art & Music scene, Antoine of “I Hate My Day Job!” fame has been laying low for the past few years. Recently he announced his return to the scene with an art show titled “The Brooklyn Artist Project” at Rouge 58. We were there to talk to “Mr Day Job” himself about his return and his latest project.
Enjoy
TreVZ
The Video Geek Out – Facebook Show
If you ever had one of those youtube vintage music video sessions with friends or by yourself then you already know what VideoGeekOut is about – Join our fan page and log on starting tonight at 10 to see some of our favorite videos from the 80′s to ’05 along with interesting facts like:
- Which MC featured an unknown backup dancer named Sean “Puffy” Combs in his early 90′s music video? Hint: This MC was a fatherly figure of sorts.
- Which music video had a young Jayzee playing backup to an unknown Jazzy rapper? Hint: In one scene Jigga came from the sky.
- Which Jackson sibling featured an unknown dancer named Jennifer Lopez in a background role? Hint: It wasn’t Michael.
All this and more tonight at 10 on the Facebook VideoGeekOut show.
New Pop Vintage 2008 – Art Basel Miami
With the start of Art Basel 2010 tomorrow, I thought I would revisit my first visit to Art Basel in 2008. 2009 wasn’t as good as the year before. I won’t be attending this year and I can only hope that its growing popularity doesn’t ruin the vibe. Here is the 3 part series from 2008 Art Basel Miami. Included are interviews and performances from Jose Parla, Ellis G, A.R.E Weapons and Adult.
Enjoy
TreVZ
Photo Nerd Alert! – Leica S System/Photo Plus East
I was recently asked to document a demonstration of the Leica S Systems at Production Central Daylight Studios for Photo Plus East 2010. Ever since I switched from my Panasonic DVX camcorder (With a Leica Lens) to my DSLR camera I have become a bit of a photography nerd myself. I got to meet and interview some pretty smart folks in the field including renowned photographer Chiun-Kai Shih. I learned allot talking to these folks and will post a couple of those interviews in the upcoming days. For now here is a general overview of the days events posted by the good folks at Leica.
Enjoy
TreVz
2010 NYC Marathon – My Photo/Video Recap
Watching the NYC marathon on TV has been something I have been doing all my life. This Sunday it suddenly occurred to me that for the past 5 years I only live a couple of blocks away from the Williamsburg part of the course. I grabbed my camera and thought I would check it out in person for the first time. The footage I got was pretty random with no real narrative so I decided to edit it with a monologue about Marathons by Craig Ferguson. I also posted some photos below.
Enjoy
TreVz
.Brooklyn Loves Michael Jackson
Here is my video from the Brooklyn Loves Michael Jackson event at Prospect park. I really don’t remember a day where there was so much love in one place. I have referenced MJ in more of my video’s than any other artist for a reason. He just speaks to the love inside of you in a way that no other artist ever has.
Enjoy
TrevZ
Desigual – “Undie Party” Video
At two separate events over the past week the Barcelona based clothing line Desigual gave away free clothes to the first 100 people that showed up in their Skivvies at their SoHo and 34th street stores. Over 500 folks showed up to the two events some as early as 1:00 am. It got tons of press and I was there to capture all the fun for the Desigual blog. So check out the video and go to the Desigual website for more info on their brand. Also props to the production team that put together two great events.
Man-Lai – Event Planning & Production
Spin Control – Event PR
Icube-newyork – Digital & Social Media Strategy
Thenewpop – Video Production
Enjoy
Trevz
A Cold Splash of MiMA
A much needed cold front is headed to the city, and its coming from the Caribbean. MiMA (Yarimir Cabán) lived on and off in New York until five years ago, when she released her folk-bossa self-titled debut at a packed Joe’s Pub and then headed off to the Basque Country, Texas, and elsewhere. When she landed back home in Puerto Rico, she pretty much tossed all of her beautiful, singer-songwriter crowd- pleasing material and started from scratch. And off she went, on to a winding road of her own, turning down countless record deals along the way and becoming a powerful voice, always stubborn in her DIY approach. MiMA has been constantly playing and experimenting live, but a proper second coming has not released or even finished due to evolving ideas, lack of funds, and her trademark perfectionism when it comes to recording.
Now, MiMA’s second coming will manifest itself in the flesh in Brooklyn, at Public Assembly on Sunday, July 25th. She brings along Macha Colón y Los Okapi, for their first foray outside the island. MiMA will also open for Bomba Estéreo at SOB’s on Tuesday, July 27th. Expect other shows and subway jamming sessions to be announced as well. She says the new album is in the works, due out this fall (for real!). Even if it is, one thing is certain: it won’t be the same as the magic we’ll be fortunate to witness this week.
Let these moving images telltale a glimpse of her potential.
Nuria Net
Styles of the Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit event
So I hit up that event for the Need For Speed - Hot Pursuit game premier with Trevz the other night for The New Pop. I was in hot pursuit of some great fashion, and of course, this being NYC, I found it. I couldn’t help but notice that style was out in droves. I felt inspired by what I saw at the Classic Car Club – the dope fashions ranged from a vintage couture look to empire-shouldered frocks in the vein of pop starlets like Rihanna and Lady Gaga.
Enjoy.
M
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- From left: Angela, Stephanie and Alina smile pretty at the Classic Car Club.
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- From left: Bryan Arenas and Luiza Solano looking ultra fly.
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- From left: Models Melanie Tillbrook and Vanessa James pose at the Need For Speed premier event.
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- From left: Terry Kosic and Amina rock ubercute frocks.
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- Hiraku Morilla dons a vintage couture style.
Need For Speed Hot Pursuit – Video
Here is the video from the EA Sports gamer event that took place at the Classic Car Club NY this past Wednesday. It was a hands on VIP sneak peak at the yet to be released game Need For Speed Hot Pursuit which looked pretty cool. The last game console I owned was ColecoVision, so take whatever praises I give out with a grain of salt. If you missed this event there is going to be a 7 city tour, next stop Lollapalooza (Chicago).
Enjoy
Trevz
Need For Speed – Hot Pursuit
Last night I covered the release for the new EA Sport video game Need For Speed – Hot Pursuit. Saw a few old faces and got to hang out with some fabulous people once again. I thought it would be cool to take my summer intern Mickey out to see how the pro’s cover the scene. Haha. After being away from nightlife action for so long I thought I would be as jaded as I was when I left, but it wasn’t like that at all, in fact I think I had some fun. Mickey ceartainly did.
Enjoy
TrevZ
ArtErotica
So after the Need For Speed event, we walked across to Arterotica which is the best kept secret in town. It’s a monthly event held at Madame X on Houston that gets pretty erotic but keeps it classy. By the time we got there all the events were over and most of the folks had already left, but it was still great just sitting chatting and taking in the vibe.
Enjoy
Trevz
Light Asylum, Asa Ransom, These Are Powers (and more!) @ Cameo Gallery!
Yo kids,
So I had a great time last night and I’m here to fill you in. My girl Amber filled me in on another show happening in good ol’ BK, so I had to hit it up. This time, we, and a new friend, an indie artist named Lelia Broussard from LA, hopped the L to Cameo Gallery. (Check out her tunes, by the way!)
I’d never been, but was immediately impressed by the sort of cocktail lounge feel in the front, and the standing room only stage part in the back. We sipped a couple $4 Miller High Lifes and (FREE!) shots of bourbon, and headed to the dance floor.
In the back, the room was lit up with strobes and stage lights of every color imaginable. People were dancing and the energy was perfect.
The first group I caught was Light Asylum, which is fronted by Shannon, whom I met after the set. We caught the last song, but I want to hear more. There was something vaguely Crystal Castles meets Yeasayer about them. Shannon announced a (FREE!) show Wednesday on 12th and Bedford, I believe…. you guys should check them out. Whatever it was, it was hot!
I only caught one hot track, but I still got a decent pic! 
As the speakers boomed hood joints all night long (Soulja Boy and Ciara club mixes), I was meeting people. This hot couple below, Marie and Joe, head the band Hexa-Whorra. Their mashup of electronica and acoustic music would’ve suit them well for the venue.
YES.
Next up was Asa Ransom – Amber had heard them before and told me great things, so I went in with high expectations. They were exceeded. They had a very dark, Bowie-glam vs. She Wants Revenge stomp to it. The guitars crunched and buzzed and the bass driven beats evoked something delightfully evil.
I ran into The Loneliest Monk’s Michelle and Miles, from the last post, who were still in town, heading to Providence, Rhode Island for a show. Michelle and Miles played in Chicago with Asa Ransom a few times.
This is how I officially decided they were good.
Check the guitar! Hot, right?
Dark harmonies accentuate bitchin' rock dance tracks.
Finally, I saw These Are Powers. Before and during the show, lead singer Anna Barie was handing out popcorn and candy. When I interned at Secretly Canadian in Bloomington, I remember they were a band signed to SC’s sister label, Dead Oceans. My, has their sound (and look!) evolved.
They hit the stage with what I’d like to call “electro-hood.” Anna caught my attention with her Karen O-isms. She squealed and squawked and purred and harmonized (while breakin’ it down) over some of the hottest beats I’ve ever heard. I hadn’t heard much of their new material til now. Check out their MySpace for more. My fave is “Candyman,” naturally. I’d love to catch up with them for an interview.
THESE. ARE. POWERS!
It was also during this time that I met a “chocolate Marilyn Monroe,” in the form of a man in drag. His explanation?
“Marilyn’s been sleeping.” Marilyn did go onstage during These Are Powers to sing “Happy Birthday” Mr. President-style to a friend.
Tomorrow, I head to an EA Sports event with Trevz- should be loads of fun. In the meantime check out the hot pics after the jump.
The "Chocolate" Marilyn.
Can anyone else say FIERCE? Check out Becca's fly hair.
Amber in her cut up Misfits tee. <3 I. Love.
And yours truly.
XO,
M
PaperFleet, Jenny and the Holzers, Hollows and The Loneliest Monk @ Bruar Falls!!
Hey kids,
So yours truly, Mickey, is back after a week’s hiatus. The week has been filled with Gaga craziness, which I’ll fill you in on in a bit.
Until then, here’s a recap of last night’s festivities. I headed to good ol’ Billyburg with some friends for what I thought was a diverse and interesting concert at Bruar Falls. I had only been once, and was in love with the fact that they had $3 Rolling Rocks (!!!!). Oh, and yummy tap water to battle the heat. Plus, it’s just a chill bar in general, which I guess is a word to describe many bars in Billyburg. HA
Merch.
First up: Jenny and the Holzers. They had an aggressive, punk-driven sound, and were lead by vocalist Sarah Liller. Many of their songs were two minutes tops. I got a 90s garage feel, like a girl-power Less than Jake or Barenaked Ladies, even.
I told Sarah afterward that I could have easily been watching MTV’s ol’ skool classic, “Daria” and listening to their music. Songs like “Abuse of Power” and “Go All Out” definitely made me feel like a hard-headed teenager, in the best way. Check out their music here.
Jenny and the Holzers bring the punk to Bruar Falls.
PaperFleet was up next. The quartet brought something that was much louder and rockier. It reminded me of something distinctly Southern, motorcycles and chain-smoking.
Three words I’d use to describe them are acceleration, power and heart (3 of the 4 members were on guitar). The venue got more packed as the band’s meaty sound powered the crowd.
“Jailbreak” was a favorite of mine, with its youthful lyrics, and hard-edged sound. I caught up with singer and guitarist Jim afterward and he gave me a copy of their new CD, “Hi Sailor.” If you’re looking for something to toss ur hair to, their a good listen. Check ‘em out on their website.
PaperFleet take flight at Bruar Falls.
Now for the Chicago half of the post. Maybe I’m partial because that’s my hometown (WHAT UP CHI-CITY!!!!!), but these next two bands were amazer-lazers.
Hollows rocked my (white) sox. The crowd was smiling and bobbing their heads to cute songs powered by keyboard, guitar, drums and seamless harmonies.
The mostly girl-powered band (minus the male drummer) all raced together like one of those artfully fucked up kindergarten finger paintings. The ladies sounded like schoolchildren (from the 50′s!) playing at recess.
It’s all quite delightful, actually. The band even played a song called “Muncie, Indiana,” what up MIDWEST?! It was refreshing to see them play. Here’s their music.
Hollows mix 50's malt shop pop and trouble in the best way.
Finally, it was time for The Loneliest Monk (born from the time that MTV VJ Tabitha Soren messed up the pronunciation of Thelonious Monk.
Also hailing from Chicago, this band, comprised of 4.5 year partners Miles and Michelle, are friends of Amber’s from her days in Chi-City.
Their music was just as passionate as I’m sure the relationship is. Michelle plugged in her cello to give it an electrified sound. It was nothing short of breathtaking and beautiful.
Miles got his Gothic Gaga on, as he took to the stage in a masquerade mask and drummed his heart out to their haunting, well-balanced songs musing on love, lust, loneliness and heartache. I hope they move to New York and bring that ferocious talent with them. Music. HERE.
The Loneliest Monk KILL IT. 'Nuff said.
After the show, I told them how great I thought they were. Michelle told me that “Music is therapy.” While many artists say this, I believed her.
It was awesome to see such a diverse range of talent do their thing.
Headed to The Roots!
Peace & Love,
M
NYC Pride Overview: The fierce, the fab, the fantasy
Hey kids,
So I checked out NYC Pride the other day. My first time experiencing it was nothing short of incredible.
The only thing I did mind was the heat. I must have walked approximately five miles. I showered three times yesterday.
Things got started with the Pride parade, which was the most interesting mix of crazy, hot, sickly fierce and original fashion, politics, art, expression, and love.
Check out some of these pics from the festivities. Me and my friends got front row at the barricades!
My voice went hoarse from yelling “WORK!” to those deserving of such a catcall.
Candy Land Couture
This was during the Puerto Rican portion of the parade
Bubbles came out the back 
Navy uniforms, rainbow flags
I like that she posed when she saw cameras flashing. FIERCE!!
Sidenote, speaking of “workin’ it,” I loved the way the New Yorkers booed the new mayor when he was announced on the float. They keep it real all day, everyday.
PrideFest (the annual street fair of sorts) was next – over on Hudson. There was a slew of local and up-coming national performers, including headliner Antigone Rising. I only saw two acts. One’s name is fuzzy but his song /dance moves was hot.
The other was Lex Z. Check out her website at lexzoutloud.com. I’ll just leave it at that.
Anyway, after a wonderful $10 dinner at Cafe Tasia (appetizer, Merlot AND entree), I slept, showered and recharged before hitting up Phoenix on 13th and Ave A. It was like a hipster version of gay pride, if you will. There, I met up with Carolina and Jason, whom you will remember from The Scene’s Episode 3.
We watched as the band Little Victory revved up their guitars and cruised through sociopolitical songs bashing bitchy gays and homophobes.
They had a fabulous, radiant energy. The bar was dark and packed body to body, and surprisingly, it was cooler inside than it was outside! I only had room to sip my ($5!) Long Island.
After that, we went back to Carolina’s to get dolled up for Greenhouse Sundays, which is notable for its guests in costume.
Time for more sweat. The club was packed.
Me and the crew got on top of a booth adjacent to the DJ booth and danced like it was 1999. We had a great time, but my camera died in the midst of grinding and droppin’ it like it was hot (because it was hot, in the club, I mean). 
So no pictures from that…
But check these out:
Little Victory score big win with crowd @ Phoenix
From left: Jessie (KITE!) and Jason (CAPE!) before the Greenhouse sweatshow.
Getcha stunna shades on
Overall, NYC Pride gets an A+ for being the most diverse, intense, saturated, and expressionist event I’ve seen since I’ve been here. Can’t wait for next year.
XO,
M