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22:48:30 05/17/12
It's Casual - Live in Studio B - Part 1 - The New Los Angeles
[LESS INFO] 2 VIEWS | ADDED 22:48:30 05/17/12
Part 1 of It's Casual performing live at Mevio Studios in San Francisco
For the entire performance CLICK HERE
WEBSITE FACEBOOK TWITTER MYSPACE YOUTUBE
BIO:
Like most Angelenos, Eddie Solis is pissed about the traffic on the 101. Unlike most Angelenos, Eddie Solis writes songs about being pissed about the traffic on the 101.
Solis’ band, an impossibly loud punk/hardcore duo called It’s Casual, addresses transit issues with an urgency hitherto unmatched in the realm of urban planning. Imagine Henry Rollins at a City Council Transportation Committee meeting, all neck veins and municipal outrage, and you get the picture.
Onstage, Solis’ eyes bulge amid a shock of curly hair, his throat emitting the collective war cry of a million frustrated commuters: “Los Angeles! There’s too many people! I want them to go away!”
His isn’t the Los Angeles of Priuses, Pilates and brunch, but the L.A. of undocumented immigrants, hardcore music and bus-stop delays. After nearly 10 years of ceaseless yelling, It’s Casual have a busy year ahead of them, what with slots on Fu Manchu’s North American tour, a forthcoming sequel to their ’08 ode to the city, The New Los Angeles, and, maybe, a European tour.
“We’ve been working at it and believing in this kind of music — which I call L.A. hardcore or L.A. skate rock — every day,” says Solis. His gaze is unflinching, and his voice is smog-raspened. He calls It’s Casual “L.A.’s only two-piece hardcore band” and is serious about his art. “I don’t take it lightly. It all comes from deep within.”
It’s Casual formed in 2001, the name inspired by a line in Cameron Crowe’s obscure follow-up to Fast Times at Ridgemont High, called The Wild Life. In it, a character played by the late Christopher Penn replies with “It’s casual” every time he is asked a question. Solis currently has a similar relationship with drummers — he’s between them. As far as a third member? “We kept trying to find a bassist, and they kept flaking,” Solis says.
The band’s sonic boom is amazing, considering there are only two of them. The secret to their sound is a unique pedal and mic’ing system. Solis’ guitar is actually wired to two amps for added punch. The results are so thunderous that fellow musicians have been known to come early to shows to watch him set up. (“There is a special formula with different pedals,” he explains of his sound. He’s trying to register it as intellectual property.)
It’s Casual’s first record, The New Los Angeles, came out in fall 2007, and was inspired by Solis’ commute from Pico Rivera to Hollywood. Tracks include “EZ Pass,” about the public transit ticket, and “The Red Line” (the handy subway that connects North Hollywood to Union Station). Most of It’s Casual’s songs last around two minutes and contain no more than three or four lyrics, hammering home their message with a directness most public servants and council officials have yet to master. Even Councilman Bill Rosendahl, chair of Los Angeles’ Transportation Committee, is impressed. “Music is a good way to get transportation messages across,” he says during a recent phone call, adding that he hoped It’s Casual were aware that plans for the Purple Line are afoot. “They should write a song about the Purple Line!” he enthuses, suggesting possible lyrics, singing: “The Purple Line/In my lifetime!”
It’s not all subways and off-ramps. Solis ventures into other matters. “Cholas Are Loyal,” for example, is all about the advantages of dating Latinas. And It’s Casual’s next album, The New Los Angeles II: Less Violence, More Violins, is inspired primarily by the California education budget deficit. “Do you think It’s Casual will translate in Europe?” he wonders, aware of his band’s distinctly local messages. But wherever there is a rush hour, there are people who identify with Eddie Solis.
Born and raised in East Los Angeles County, Solis is “the result of basically growing up around a gang-infested area with lots of negativity.” He turned to music and skateboarding as an escape, and was 15 when he started his first band — a Ramones cover group called Endless Vacation, which played shows in his parents’ living room. He got “the heaviness” from his father, who used to carry his young son around the house on his shoulders while listening to Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and the Who. “They weren’t handing me money to buy me instruments,” Solis says, “but they were, like, ‘Hey, listen, we know you wanna do this, so here’s our backyard and here’s our living room.’ Which is pretty punk.”
His parents let him build a halfpipe in the back, and Solis would “put Slayer on the radio superloud” and learn skateboarding tricks with his friends. “That would be Friday night, and then Saturday we would have a show on the ramp and take donations to keep it refurbished.” Skate videos informed his taste in music — the teenage Solis would grab a pen and paper and pause the VCR to jot down names of bands like Black Flag, Dinosaur Junior, Hüsker Dü, “… all the good stuff on SST.”
Fast-forward to 1993, when Solis started interning at metal record label Century Media, which gave him a taste of hardcore commuting. Taking the bus from Pico Rivera to the label’s headquarters in Santa Monica every day was a formative experience, but he only lasted about a month (“Well, you know, it was a long trek”). That job led to a position at Priority Records, down the street in the CNN building. That’s where he learned how to sell records, a job he still does today as sales manager at doom-metal label Southern Lord.
Solis also worked as a publicist for Black Flag at SST, under the label’s founder, Black Flag guitarist Greg Ginn. Basically it was the gig of Solis’ 15-year-old dreams. “I took the job because I thought it would be great to work for an icon, a legend,” he says. It was there that he learned the philosophy of DIY.
Three years ago, while strolling down the road near the Southern Lord offices in East Hollywood, Solis came upon the Relax Bar, a 150-person capacity Thai karaoke bar with an orange awning. Solis has single-handedly transformed it into a hub for L.A.’s heavy music scene. He’s booked more than 400 thrash, doom, noise and punk bands there in the last three years. “I was going to lunch, walking past the Relax Bar and the door was open. I saw a stage and it had this dark, musty kind of vibe. Kind of grim in terms of the atmosphere but real positive in terms of what you could do there. I thought, if I could get these owners on the same page and book any format — whether it’s satanic black metal or really avant-garde stuff — that would be great.”
The Relax Bar’s owners, despite not being fluent in English, supported Solis’ vision, prompting the most unlikely cultural union since Weezer recruited Kenny G. “They had a guy translating as I tried to describe the kinds of bands I wanted to book, using metal as my main focus. I said ‘Ozzfest, no — not those kinds of bands. Stuff that’s a little more creative, full of more soul, and more organic.” He played them some It’s Casual and High on Fire and a selection of punk and grindcore CDs, and they seemed to like it. Turns out the ballad-loving Thai karaoke bar owners, like Solis, possessed an unyielding passion for DIY. “They know how much work it is to bring your gear out, record your own stuff and self-release records,” says Solis. “They are all musicians themselves.” It’s been a happy union ever since, with some of the gnarliest underground bands in L.A., from Municipal Waste to Chingalera, rocking the Relax Bar’s tiny stage amid the perpetual aroma of green curry and ginger — and, when the door pops open, the faint smell of bus exhaust.
0 Views
22:39:27 05/17/12
It's Casual - Live in Studio B - Part 2 - The Red Line
[LESS INFO] 0 VIEWS | ADDED 22:39:27 05/17/12
Part 2 of It's Casual performing live at Mevio Studios in San Francisco
For the entire performance CLICK HERE
WEBSITE FACEBOOK TWITTER MYSPACE YOUTUBE
BIO:
Like most Angelenos, Eddie Solis is pissed about the traffic on the 101. Unlike most Angelenos, Eddie Solis writes songs about being pissed about the traffic on the 101.
Solis’ band, an impossibly loud punk/hardcore duo called It’s Casual, addresses transit issues with an urgency hitherto unmatched in the realm of urban planning. Imagine Henry Rollins at a City Council Transportation Committee meeting, all neck veins and municipal outrage, and you get the picture.
Onstage, Solis’ eyes bulge amid a shock of curly hair, his throat emitting the collective war cry of a million frustrated commuters: “Los Angeles! There’s too many people! I want them to go away!”
His isn’t the Los Angeles of Priuses, Pilates and brunch, but the L.A. of undocumented immigrants, hardcore music and bus-stop delays. After nearly 10 years of ceaseless yelling, It’s Casual have a busy year ahead of them, what with slots on Fu Manchu’s North American tour, a forthcoming sequel to their ’08 ode to the city, The New Los Angeles, and, maybe, a European tour.
“We’ve been working at it and believing in this kind of music — which I call L.A. hardcore or L.A. skate rock — every day,” says Solis. His gaze is unflinching, and his voice is smog-raspened. He calls It’s Casual “L.A.’s only two-piece hardcore band” and is serious about his art. “I don’t take it lightly. It all comes from deep within.”
It’s Casual formed in 2001, the name inspired by a line in Cameron Crowe’s obscure follow-up to Fast Times at Ridgemont High, called The Wild Life. In it, a character played by the late Christopher Penn replies with “It’s casual” every time he is asked a question. Solis currently has a similar relationship with drummers — he’s between them. As far as a third member? “We kept trying to find a bassist, and they kept flaking,” Solis says.
The band’s sonic boom is amazing, considering there are only two of them. The secret to their sound is a unique pedal and mic’ing system. Solis’ guitar is actually wired to two amps for added punch. The results are so thunderous that fellow musicians have been known to come early to shows to watch him set up. (“There is a special formula with different pedals,” he explains of his sound. He’s trying to register it as intellectual property.)
It’s Casual’s first record, The New Los Angeles, came out in fall 2007, and was inspired by Solis’ commute from Pico Rivera to Hollywood. Tracks include “EZ Pass,” about the public transit ticket, and “The Red Line” (the handy subway that connects North Hollywood to Union Station). Most of It’s Casual’s songs last around two minutes and contain no more than three or four lyrics, hammering home their message with a directness most public servants and council officials have yet to master. Even Councilman Bill Rosendahl, chair of Los Angeles’ Transportation Committee, is impressed. “Music is a good way to get transportation messages across,” he says during a recent phone call, adding that he hoped It’s Casual were aware that plans for the Purple Line are afoot. “They should write a song about the Purple Line!” he enthuses, suggesting possible lyrics, singing: “The Purple Line/In my lifetime!”
It’s not all subways and off-ramps. Solis ventures into other matters. “Cholas Are Loyal,” for example, is all about the advantages of dating Latinas. And It’s Casual’s next album, The New Los Angeles II: Less Violence, More Violins, is inspired primarily by the California education budget deficit. “Do you think It’s Casual will translate in Europe?” he wonders, aware of his band’s distinctly local messages. But wherever there is a rush hour, there are people who identify with Eddie Solis.
Born and raised in East Los Angeles County, Solis is “the result of basically growing up around a gang-infested area with lots of negativity.” He turned to music and skateboarding as an escape, and was 15 when he started his first band — a Ramones cover group called Endless Vacation, which played shows in his parents’ living room. He got “the heaviness” from his father, who used to carry his young son around the house on his shoulders while listening to Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and the Who. “They weren’t handing me money to buy me instruments,” Solis says, “but they were, like, ‘Hey, listen, we know you wanna do this, so here’s our backyard and here’s our living room.’ Which is pretty punk.”
His parents let him build a halfpipe in the back, and Solis would “put Slayer on the radio superloud” and learn skateboarding tricks with his friends. “That would be Friday night, and then Saturday we would have a show on the ramp and take donations to keep it refurbished.” Skate videos informed his taste in music — the teenage Solis would grab a pen and paper and pause the VCR to jot down names of bands like Black Flag, Dinosaur Junior, Hüsker Dü, “… all the good stuff on SST.”
Fast-forward to 1993, when Solis started interning at metal record label Century Media, which gave him a taste of hardcore commuting. Taking the bus from Pico Rivera to the label’s headquarters in Santa Monica every day was a formative experience, but he only lasted about a month (“Well, you know, it was a long trek”). That job led to a position at Priority Records, down the street in the CNN building. That’s where he learned how to sell records, a job he still does today as sales manager at doom-metal label Southern Lord.
Solis also worked as a publicist for Black Flag at SST, under the label’s founder, Black Flag guitarist Greg Ginn. Basically it was the gig of Solis’ 15-year-old dreams. “I took the job because I thought it would be great to work for an icon, a legend,” he says. It was there that he learned the philosophy of DIY.
Three years ago, while strolling down the road near the Southern Lord offices in East Hollywood, Solis came upon the Relax Bar, a 150-person capacity Thai karaoke bar with an orange awning. Solis has single-handedly transformed it into a hub for L.A.’s heavy music scene. He’s booked more than 400 thrash, doom, noise and punk bands there in the last three years. “I was going to lunch, walking past the Relax Bar and the door was open. I saw a stage and it had this dark, musty kind of vibe. Kind of grim in terms of the atmosphere but real positive in terms of what you could do there. I thought, if I could get these owners on the same page and book any format — whether it’s satanic black metal or really avant-garde stuff — that would be great.”
The Relax Bar’s owners, despite not being fluent in English, supported Solis’ vision, prompting the most unlikely cultural union since Weezer recruited Kenny G. “They had a guy translating as I tried to describe the kinds of bands I wanted to book, using metal as my main focus. I said ‘Ozzfest, no — not those kinds of bands. Stuff that’s a little more creative, full of more soul, and more organic.” He played them some It’s Casual and High on Fire and a selection of punk and grindcore CDs, and they seemed to like it. Turns out the ballad-loving Thai karaoke bar owners, like Solis, possessed an unyielding passion for DIY. “They know how much work it is to bring your gear out, record your own stuff and self-release records,” says Solis. “They are all musicians themselves.” It’s been a happy union ever since, with some of the gnarliest underground bands in L.A., from Municipal Waste to Chingalera, rocking the Relax Bar’s tiny stage amid the perpetual aroma of green curry and ginger — and, when the door pops open, the faint smell of bus exhaust.
0 Views
22:21:27 05/17/12
It's Casual - Live in Studio B - Part 3 - EZ Pass
[LESS INFO] 0 VIEWS | ADDED 22:21:27 05/17/12
Part 3 of It's Casual performing live at Mevio Studios in San Francisco
For the entire performance CLICK HERE
WEBSITE FACEBOOK TWITTER MYSPACE YOUTUBE
BIO:
Like most Angelenos, Eddie Solis is pissed about the traffic on the 101. Unlike most Angelenos, Eddie Solis writes songs about being pissed about the traffic on the 101.
Solis’ band, an impossibly loud punk/hardcore duo called It’s Casual, addresses transit issues with an urgency hitherto unmatched in the realm of urban planning. Imagine Henry Rollins at a City Council Transportation Committee meeting, all neck veins and municipal outrage, and you get the picture.
Onstage, Solis’ eyes bulge amid a shock of curly hair, his throat emitting the collective war cry of a million frustrated commuters: “Los Angeles! There’s too many people! I want them to go away!”
His isn’t the Los Angeles of Priuses, Pilates and brunch, but the L.A. of undocumented immigrants, hardcore music and bus-stop delays. After nearly 10 years of ceaseless yelling, It’s Casual have a busy year ahead of them, what with slots on Fu Manchu’s North American tour, a forthcoming sequel to their ’08 ode to the city, The New Los Angeles, and, maybe, a European tour.
“We’ve been working at it and believing in this kind of music — which I call L.A. hardcore or L.A. skate rock — every day,” says Solis. His gaze is unflinching, and his voice is smog-raspened. He calls It’s Casual “L.A.’s only two-piece hardcore band” and is serious about his art. “I don’t take it lightly. It all comes from deep within.”
It’s Casual formed in 2001, the name inspired by a line in Cameron Crowe’s obscure follow-up to Fast Times at Ridgemont High, called The Wild Life. In it, a character played by the late Christopher Penn replies with “It’s casual” every time he is asked a question. Solis currently has a similar relationship with drummers — he’s between them. As far as a third member? “We kept trying to find a bassist, and they kept flaking,” Solis says.
The band’s sonic boom is amazing, considering there are only two of them. The secret to their sound is a unique pedal and mic’ing system. Solis’ guitar is actually wired to two amps for added punch. The results are so thunderous that fellow musicians have been known to come early to shows to watch him set up. (“There is a special formula with different pedals,” he explains of his sound. He’s trying to register it as intellectual property.)
It’s Casual’s first record, The New Los Angeles, came out in fall 2007, and was inspired by Solis’ commute from Pico Rivera to Hollywood. Tracks include “EZ Pass,” about the public transit ticket, and “The Red Line” (the handy subway that connects North Hollywood to Union Station). Most of It’s Casual’s songs last around two minutes and contain no more than three or four lyrics, hammering home their message with a directness most public servants and council officials have yet to master. Even Councilman Bill Rosendahl, chair of Los Angeles’ Transportation Committee, is impressed. “Music is a good way to get transportation messages across,” he says during a recent phone call, adding that he hoped It’s Casual were aware that plans for the Purple Line are afoot. “They should write a song about the Purple Line!” he enthuses, suggesting possible lyrics, singing: “The Purple Line/In my lifetime!”
It’s not all subways and off-ramps. Solis ventures into other matters. “Cholas Are Loyal,” for example, is all about the advantages of dating Latinas. And It’s Casual’s next album, The New Los Angeles II: Less Violence, More Violins, is inspired primarily by the California education budget deficit. “Do you think It’s Casual will translate in Europe?” he wonders, aware of his band’s distinctly local messages. But wherever there is a rush hour, there are people who identify with Eddie Solis.
Born and raised in East Los Angeles County, Solis is “the result of basically growing up around a gang-infested area with lots of negativity.” He turned to music and skateboarding as an escape, and was 15 when he started his first band — a Ramones cover group called Endless Vacation, which played shows in his parents’ living room. He got “the heaviness” from his father, who used to carry his young son around the house on his shoulders while listening to Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and the Who. “They weren’t handing me money to buy me instruments,” Solis says, “but they were, like, ‘Hey, listen, we know you wanna do this, so here’s our backyard and here’s our living room.’ Which is pretty punk.”
His parents let him build a halfpipe in the back, and Solis would “put Slayer on the radio superloud” and learn skateboarding tricks with his friends. “That would be Friday night, and then Saturday we would have a show on the ramp and take donations to keep it refurbished.” Skate videos informed his taste in music — the teenage Solis would grab a pen and paper and pause the VCR to jot down names of bands like Black Flag, Dinosaur Junior, Hüsker Dü, “… all the good stuff on SST.”
Fast-forward to 1993, when Solis started interning at metal record label Century Media, which gave him a taste of hardcore commuting. Taking the bus from Pico Rivera to the label’s headquarters in Santa Monica every day was a formative experience, but he only lasted about a month (“Well, you know, it was a long trek”). That job led to a position at Priority Records, down the street in the CNN building. That’s where he learned how to sell records, a job he still does today as sales manager at doom-metal label Southern Lord.
Solis also worked as a publicist for Black Flag at SST, under the label’s founder, Black Flag guitarist Greg Ginn. Basically it was the gig of Solis’ 15-year-old dreams. “I took the job because I thought it would be great to work for an icon, a legend,” he says. It was there that he learned the philosophy of DIY.
Three years ago, while strolling down the road near the Southern Lord offices in East Hollywood, Solis came upon the Relax Bar, a 150-person capacity Thai karaoke bar with an orange awning. Solis has single-handedly transformed it into a hub for L.A.’s heavy music scene. He’s booked more than 400 thrash, doom, noise and punk bands there in the last three years. “I was going to lunch, walking past the Relax Bar and the door was open. I saw a stage and it had this dark, musty kind of vibe. Kind of grim in terms of the atmosphere but real positive in terms of what you could do there. I thought, if I could get these owners on the same page and book any format — whether it’s satanic black metal or really avant-garde stuff — that would be great.”
The Relax Bar’s owners, despite not being fluent in English, supported Solis’ vision, prompting the most unlikely cultural union since Weezer recruited Kenny G. “They had a guy translating as I tried to describe the kinds of bands I wanted to book, using metal as my main focus. I said ‘Ozzfest, no — not those kinds of bands. Stuff that’s a little more creative, full of more soul, and more organic.” He played them some It’s Casual and High on Fire and a selection of punk and grindcore CDs, and they seemed to like it. Turns out the ballad-loving Thai karaoke bar owners, like Solis, possessed an unyielding passion for DIY. “They know how much work it is to bring your gear out, record your own stuff and self-release records,” says Solis. “They are all musicians themselves.” It’s been a happy union ever since, with some of the gnarliest underground bands in L.A., from Municipal Waste to Chingalera, rocking the Relax Bar’s tiny stage amid the perpetual aroma of green curry and ginger — and, when the door pops open, the faint smell of bus exhaust.
0 Views
21:54:59 05/17/12
It's Casual - Live in Studio B
[LESS INFO] 0 VIEWS | ADDED 21:54:59 05/17/12
It's Casual performs live at Mevio Studios in San Francisco
BIO:
Like most Angelenos, Eddie Solis is pissed about the traffic on the 101. Unlike most Angelenos, Eddie Solis writes songs about being pissed about the traffic on the 101.
Solis’ band, an impossibly loud punk/hardcore duo called It’s Casual, addresses transit issues with an urgency hitherto unmatched in the realm of urban planning. Imagine Henry Rollins at a City Council Transportation Committee meeting, all neck veins and municipal outrage, and you get the picture.
Onstage, Solis’ eyes bulge amid a shock of curly hair, his throat emitting the collective war cry of a million frustrated commuters: “Los Angeles! There’s too many people! I want them to go away!”
His isn’t the Los Angeles of Priuses, Pilates and brunch, but the L.A. of undocumented immigrants, hardcore music and bus-stop delays. After nearly 10 years of ceaseless yelling, It’s Casual have a busy year ahead of them, what with slots on Fu Manchu’s North American tour, a forthcoming sequel to their ’08 ode to the city, The New Los Angeles, and, maybe, a European tour.
“We’ve been working at it and believing in this kind of music — which I call L.A. hardcore or L.A. skate rock — every day,” says Solis. His gaze is unflinching, and his voice is smog-raspened. He calls It’s Casual “L.A.’s only two-piece hardcore band” and is serious about his art. “I don’t take it lightly. It all comes from deep within.”
It’s Casual formed in 2001, the name inspired by a line in Cameron Crowe’s obscure follow-up to Fast Times at Ridgemont High, called The Wild Life. In it, a character played by the late Christopher Penn replies with “It’s casual” every time he is asked a question. Solis currently has a similar relationship with drummers — he’s between them. As far as a third member? “We kept trying to find a bassist, and they kept flaking,” Solis says.
The band’s sonic boom is amazing, considering there are only two of them. The secret to their sound is a unique pedal and mic’ing system. Solis’ guitar is actually wired to two amps for added punch. The results are so thunderous that fellow musicians have been known to come early to shows to watch him set up. (“There is a special formula with different pedals,” he explains of his sound. He’s trying to register it as intellectual property.)
It’s Casual’s first record, The New Los Angeles, came out in fall 2007, and was inspired by Solis’ commute from Pico Rivera to Hollywood. Tracks include “EZ Pass,” about the public transit ticket, and “The Red Line” (the handy subway that connects North Hollywood to Union Station). Most of It’s Casual’s songs last around two minutes and contain no more than three or four lyrics, hammering home their message with a directness most public servants and council officials have yet to master. Even Councilman Bill Rosendahl, chair of Los Angeles’ Transportation Committee, is impressed. “Music is a good way to get transportation messages across,” he says during a recent phone call, adding that he hoped It’s Casual were aware that plans for the Purple Line are afoot. “They should write a song about the Purple Line!” he enthuses, suggesting possible lyrics, singing: “The Purple Line/In my lifetime!”
It’s not all subways and off-ramps. Solis ventures into other matters. “Cholas Are Loyal,” for example, is all about the advantages of dating Latinas. And It’s Casual’s next album, The New Los Angeles II: Less Violence, More Violins, is inspired primarily by the California education budget deficit. “Do you think It’s Casual will translate in Europe?” he wonders, aware of his band’s distinctly local messages. But wherever there is a rush hour, there are people who identify with Eddie Solis.
Born and raised in East Los Angeles County, Solis is “the result of basically growing up around a gang-infested area with lots of negativity.” He turned to music and skateboarding as an escape, and was 15 when he started his first band — a Ramones cover group called Endless Vacation, which played shows in his parents’ living room. He got “the heaviness” from his father, who used to carry his young son around the house on his shoulders while listening to Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and the Who. “They weren’t handing me money to buy me instruments,” Solis says, “but they were, like, ‘Hey, listen, we know you wanna do this, so here’s our backyard and here’s our living room.’ Which is pretty punk.”
His parents let him build a halfpipe in the back, and Solis would “put Slayer on the radio superloud” and learn skateboarding tricks with his friends. “That would be Friday night, and then Saturday we would have a show on the ramp and take donations to keep it refurbished.” Skate videos informed his taste in music — the teenage Solis would grab a pen and paper and pause the VCR to jot down names of bands like Black Flag, Dinosaur Junior, Hüsker Dü, “… all the good stuff on SST.”
Fast-forward to 1993, when Solis started interning at metal record label Century Media, which gave him a taste of hardcore commuting. Taking the bus from Pico Rivera to the label’s headquarters in Santa Monica every day was a formative experience, but he only lasted about a month (“Well, you know, it was a long trek”). That job led to a position at Priority Records, down the street in the CNN building. That’s where he learned how to sell records, a job he still does today as sales manager at doom-metal label Southern Lord.
Solis also worked as a publicist for Black Flag at SST, under the label’s founder, Black Flag guitarist Greg Ginn. Basically it was the gig of Solis’ 15-year-old dreams. “I took the job because I thought it would be great to work for an icon, a legend,” he says. It was there that he learned the philosophy of DIY.
Three years ago, while strolling down the road near the Southern Lord offices in East Hollywood, Solis came upon the Relax Bar, a 150-person capacity Thai karaoke bar with an orange awning. Solis has single-handedly transformed it into a hub for L.A.’s heavy music scene. He’s booked more than 400 thrash, doom, noise and punk bands there in the last three years. “I was going to lunch, walking past the Relax Bar and the door was open. I saw a stage and it had this dark, musty kind of vibe. Kind of grim in terms of the atmosphere but real positive in terms of what you could do there. I thought, if I could get these owners on the same page and book any format — whether it’s satanic black metal or really avant-garde stuff — that would be great.”
The Relax Bar’s owners, despite not being fluent in English, supported Solis’ vision, prompting the most unlikely cultural union since Weezer recruited Kenny G. “They had a guy translating as I tried to describe the kinds of bands I wanted to book, using metal as my main focus. I said ‘Ozzfest, no — not those kinds of bands. Stuff that’s a little more creative, full of more soul, and more organic.” He played them some It’s Casual and High on Fire and a selection of punk and grindcore CDs, and they seemed to like it. Turns out the ballad-loving Thai karaoke bar owners, like Solis, possessed an unyielding passion for DIY. “They know how much work it is to bring your gear out, record your own stuff and self-release records,” says Solis. “They are all musicians themselves.” It’s been a happy union ever since, with some of the gnarliest underground bands in L.A., from Municipal Waste to Chingalera, rocking the Relax Bar’s tiny stage amid the perpetual aroma of green curry and ginger — and, when the door pops open, the faint smell of bus exhaust.
7 Views
19:48:13 02/03/12
Sahara Smith - "Are You Lonely": SXSW 2012 Showcasing Artist
[LESS INFO] 7 VIEWS | ADDED 19:48:13 02/03/12
Sahara Smith - "Are You Lonely": SXSW 2012 Showcasing Artist
Sahara Smith is a natural. Or as the Austin Chronicle observes, "She's the real deal all right." Don't take our word for it. Listen to her debut album on Playing in Traffic Records, Myth of the Heart, and you're bound to agree with the Dallas Morning News that "Smith is a revelation." The disc is hailed as "a gorgeous album for all lovers of carefully chosen words, rich imagery and ethereal vocals" by Texas Music magazine and "a richly impressive, intensely soulful debut album," by the Los Angeles Times. All that and more is to be savored on Myth of the Heart. It bows with the alluring "Thousand Secrets," which opens a window on the vulnerable places we all have, as Smith writes, "For every broken branch there is a mile of fallen leaves/But no one knows the river flows a thousand miles deep." Propulsive churning tracks like "Are You Lonely," "The Real Thing" and "All I Need" make feelings of longing and desire palpable, while the up-tempo title song sings about resisting the urge to love. Meditative yet kinetic auras grace Smith's reflections on being lost within love ("Tin Man Town"), empathy ("Angel"), mortality ("The World's On Fire") and life's travails (the closing cut "Twilight Red," which Smith wrote at age 13). And such songs as "Train Man," "Midnight Plane" and "Mermaid" embody the notion of poetry in motion with their evocative images of travel and places near and far. The album was cut in primarily live sessions in Los Angeles, produced by Emile Kelman, known ... From: sxsw Views: 104 3 ratings Time: 03:55 More in Entertainment
0 Views
03:23:13 10/12/11
Rocky Mountain
[LESS INFO] 0 VIEWS | ADDED 03:23:13 10/12/11
Having lived in Loveland for a year we were frequent visitors of RMNP. This was our final stop on our Colorado tour and the first time we were able to take three of our children.
Wiki:
Rocky Mountain National Park–A national park located in the north-central region of the U.S. state of Colorado. It features majestic mountain views, a variety of wildlife, varied climates and environments—from wooded forests to mountain tundra—and easy access to back-country trails and campsites. The park is located northwest of Boulder, Colorado, in the Rockies, and includes the Continental Divide and the headwaters of the Colorado River
Black Bear–The American black bear (Ursus americanus) is North America's smallest and most common species of bear. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. Black bears typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in search of food. Sometimes they become attracted to human communities because of the immediate availability of food. The American black bear is listed by the IUCN as Least Concern, due to the species' widespread distribution and a large global population estimated to be twice that of all other bear species combined. American black bears often mark trees with their claws to show dominance in an area. Dominance is determined by the highest claw mark found on the tree. This behavior is common to many species of bears found in the United States and Canada.[1]
Elk–The elk or wapiti (Cervus canadensis) is one of the largest species of deer in the world and one of the largest land mammals in North America and eastern Asia. In the deer family (Cervidae), only the larger moose (Alces alces), which is called an "elk" in Europe, and the sambar (Rusa unicolor) rival the elk in size. Elk are similar to the Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) found in Europe, of which they were long believed to be a subspecies. However, evidence from a 2004 study of the mitochondrial DNA indicates they are a distinct species.
Elk range in forest and forest-edge habitat, feeding on grasses, plants, leaves, and bark. Although native to North America and Eastern Asia, they have adapted well to countries where they have been introduced, including Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand. Their great adaptability may threaten endemic species and ecosystems into which they have been introduced.
Male elk have large antlers which are shed each year. Males also engage in ritualized mating behaviors during the rut, including posturing, antler wrestling (sparring), and bugling, a loud series of vocalizations which establishes dominance over other males and attracts females.
Elk are susceptible to a number of infectious diseases, some of which can be transmitted to livestock. Efforts to eliminate infectious diseases from elk populations, largely through vaccination, have had mixed success.
Mule Deer–(Odocoileus hemionus) a deer indigenous to western North America. The Mule Deer gets its name from its large mule-like ears. There are believed to be several subspecies, including the black-tailed deer.[2][3][4][5][6][7] Unlike its cousin, the white-tailed deer, mule deer are generally more associated with the land west of the Missouri River, or more specifically, with the Rocky Mountain region of North America. Mule deer have also been introduced to Kauai (Hawaii) and Argentina.[3] The most noticeable differences between whitetails and mule deer are the size of their ears, the color of their tails, and the configuration of their antlers. In many cases, body size is also a key difference. The mule deer's tail is black-tipped, whereas the whitetail's is not. Mule deer antlers are bifurcated; in other words, they "fork" as they grow, rather than branching from a single main beam, as is the case with whitetails. Each spring, after mating season, a buck's antlers start to regrow almost immediately after the old antlers are shed. Shedding typically takes place in mid February, with variations occurring by locale. Although capable of running, mule deer often prefer to stot, with all four feet coming down together.
The mule deer is the largest of the Odocoileus genus, standing, on the average, 40–42 inches (100–110 cm) at the shoulders and stretching 80 inches (200 cm) or so nose to tail. An adult buck will weigh from 150–300 pounds (68–140 kg) on the hoof, with does averaging 125–175 pounds (57–79 kg). The occasional trophy-sized mule deer buck may weigh in around 500 pounds (230 kg).[1] The Mule Deer does not show marked size variation across its range, as does the White-tailed Deer.
Marmot–A genus, Marmota, of squirrels. There are 14 species in this genus.
Marmots are generally large ground squirrels. Those most often referred to as marmots tend to live in mountainous areas such as the Alps, northern Apennines, Eurasian steppes, Carpathians, Tatras, and Pyrenees in Europe and northwestern Asia; the Rocky Mountains, Black Hills, Cascades, and Sierra Nevada in North America; and the Deosai Plateau in Pakistan and Ladakh in India. The groundhog, however, is also properly called a marmot, while the similarly sized but more social prairie dog is not classified in the genus Marmota but in the related genus Cynomys.
Marmots typically live in burrows (often within rockpiles, particularly in the case of the Yellow-bellied marmot), and hibernate there through the winter. Most marmots are highly social, and use loud whistles to communicate with one another, especially when alarmed.
Marmots mainly eat greens and many types of grasses, berries, lichens, mosses, roots and flowers.
Cut Throat Trout–Native to western North America. The cutthroat species has evolved through geographic isolation into many subspecies, each native to a different major drainage basin. Native cutthroat species are found along the Pacific Northwest coast, in the Cascade Range, the Great Basin, and throughout the Rocky Mountains. Some coastal populations are anadromous, living primarily in the Pacific Ocean as adults and returning to fresh water from fall through early spring to feed on insects and spawn. Most populations, however, stay in freshwater throughout their lives and are known as non-migratory, stream-resident or riverine populations. Anadromous fish may reach weights of 20 pounds (9 kg), but those fish which remain permanently in freshwater may only reach a weight of 2 pounds (1 kg). At least three subspecies are confined to isolated basins in the Great Basin and can tolerate saline or alkaline water.
Cast: Matt Brass
Tags: Mule Deer , Elk , Black Bear , Bear and Rocky Mountain National Park
35 Views
13:34:12 09/25/11
Love The Girl staring Tatyana Ali and Alphonso McAuley, Produced by Bentley Evans
[LESS INFO] 35 VIEWS | ADDED 13:34:12 09/25/11
Brought to you by www.icplaces.com
Steve Samblis’ Blog @ The Mevio Men Blog: http://meviomen.mevio.com
Check out other IC Places shows...
The Instant Movie Review: http://moviereviews.mevio.com
1st Look: http://1stLook.Mevio.com
icTrailers: http://Trailers.Mevio.com
IC Places Sports: http://icSports.Mevio.com
icMusic: http://icMusic.Mevio.com
Weekly IcNews Wrap: http://icNews.Mevio.com
Cooking For Bachelors: http://CookingForBachelors.Mevio.com
The Home Entertainment Review: http://dvdReview.Mevio.com
The Two Min Investor: http://investing.Mevio.com
Steve Samblis had a chance to talk with Bentley Evans, creator of the show and its hilarious co-star Alphonso McAuley. This is the first episode IC Places has shot at its new studios in Hollywood.
About the show:
Tatyana Ali stars as Tyana Jones in the new series Love That Girl ! Tyana is a recent young divorcee returning to Southern California in search of new independence, a new career and a brand new chapter in her life.
After settling into her new condo, located in the hip NoHo discrict of Los Angeles, Tyana gets a surprise visit from her brother Latrell Jones (Alphonso McAuley), an aspiring stand-up comedian, who insists he's just there to stay one night, even though his bags suggests a much longer stay. Tyana's tough-loving father, Delroy Jones (Phil Morris) is happy to have his daughter closer to home and ecstatic when he discovers that his "Baby Girl" is planning to follow in his professional footsteps with a career in Real Estate. That is, until he learns of her plans to work for his competition. Tyana's new move reconnects her with old friends, especially her best friend Nefertiti (Kendyl) who is happily single and ready to help her friend get her groove back.
She's smart, sexy and ready to get her life back in order. It's Tyana's world and they all Love That Girl !
About TV One:
Launched on Martin Luther King's birthday in January 2004, TV One is a fast growing cable network that now serves 54 Million households. Combining hit sitcoms, big studio movies, irrverent reality television and newsworthy specials, TV One delivers real life and entertainment programming from the African American point of view. TV One represents a connection to the authentic, rich, and diverse experience of African American life, history, and culture.
TV One is best known for its signature programming brand, Unsung . Launched in November 2008 the music biography series, that tells the untold stories of the greatest R%B and soul artists of our time, was an instant hit and helped define TV One as a trusted storyteller and voice of black culture. The 2010 debut of LisaRaye: The Real McCoy and Love That Girl , TV One's first scripted series, established TV One as a home for black hollywood stars and put the network on a new programming trajectory. TV One continues to be a unique partner for institutional African American brands such as Essence with our exclusive broadcast of TV One Night Only: Live from Essence Music Festival .
In December 2008, TV One launched TV One High Def, which now serves more than 10.3 million households. TV One is a joint venture owned by Radio One [NASDAQ: ROIA and ROIAK; www.radio-one.com ], the largest radio company that primarily targets African American and urban listeners; and Comcast Corporation [NASDAQ: CMCSA, CMCSK); www.comcast.com ], one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information and communications products and services.
The cast of Love The Girl:
Created by: Bentley Kyle Evans Full Series Cast Episode
Count Year
Range STARmeter™
Mark Adair-Rios ... Adonis 12 (2010-2011) 29,951
Tatyana Ali ... Tyana Jones 5 (2010-2011) 2,291
Kendyl Joi ... Nefertiti 5 (2010-2011) 86,269
Alphonso McAuley ... Latrell 5 (2010-2011) 16,793
Peter Oldring ... Fabian 5 (2010-2011) 18,716
Bresha Webb 5 (2010-2011) 54,360
Phil Morris ... Delroy Jones 4 (2010) 7,482
Trae Ireland ... Jason Campbell / Jason campbell 2 (2010-2011) 71,964
Jeanne Chinn ... Arthea 2 (2010) 37,042
Tabitha Taylor ... Becky 2 (2010) 11,343
Series Directors
Bentley Kyle Evans (6 episodes, 2010-2011)
Series Writers
Bentley Kyle Evans (4 episodes, 2010)
Series Producers
Jeff Clanagan ... associate producer (6 episodes, 2010)
Bentley Kyle Evans ... executive producer (5 episodes, 2010)
Anastasia N. Ali ... producer (4 episodes, 2010)
Tatyana Ali ... producer (4 episodes, 2010)
Terry Crotzer ... line producer / producer (4 episodes, 2010)
Nile Evans ... associate producer (4 episodes, 2010)
Stacey Lyn Evans ... supervising producer (4 episodes, 2010)
Jeff Franklin ... executive producer (4 episodes, 2010)
Richard Gumbs III ... producer (4 episodes, 2010)
Trenten Gumbs ... executive producer / producer (4 episodes, 2010)
Martin Lawrence ... executive producer (4 episodes, 2010)
Raphael Saadiq ... executive producer / producer (4 episodes, 2010)
Eric Upshur ... line producer / producer (4 episodes, 2010)
Lamonte Von Evans ... associate producer (4 episodes, 2010)
Kevin Columbus ... associate producer (2 episodes)
Series Cinematographers
Scott Webb (7 episodes, 2011)
Conrad Montgomery (2 episodes, 2010)
Series Editors
Josie Azzam (5 episodes, 2011)
Evan Schrodek (5 episodes, 2011)
Freddy Allen (2 episodes, 2011)
Adam Redding (2 episodes, 2011)
Series Casting Directors
Leah Daniels (9 episodes, 2010-2011)
28 Views
13:34:12 09/25/11
Love The Girl staring Tatyana Ali and Alphonso McAuley, Produced by Bentley Evans
[LESS INFO] 28 VIEWS | ADDED 13:34:12 09/25/11
Brought to you by www.icplaces.com
Steve Samblis’ Blog @ The Mevio Men Blog: http://meviomen.mevio.com
Check out other IC Places shows...
The Instant Movie Review: http://moviereviews.mevio.com
1st Look: http://1stLook.Mevio.com
icTrailers: http://Trailers.Mevio.com
IC Places Sports: http://icSports.Mevio.com
icMusic: http://icMusic.Mevio.com
Weekly IcNews Wrap: http://icNews.Mevio.com
Cooking For Bachelors: http://CookingForBachelors.Mevio.com
The Home Entertainment Review: http://dvdReview.Mevio.com
The Two Min Investor: http://investing.Mevio.com
Steve Samblis had a chance to talk with Bentley Evans, creator of the show and its hilarious co-star Alphonso McAuley. This is the first episode IC Places has shot at its new studios in Hollywood.
About the show:
Tatyana Ali stars as Tyana Jones in the new series Love That Girl ! Tyana is a recent young divorcee returning to Southern California in search of new independence, a new career and a brand new chapter in her life.
After settling into her new condo, located in the hip NoHo discrict of Los Angeles, Tyana gets a surprise visit from her brother Latrell Jones (Alphonso McAuley), an aspiring stand-up comedian, who insists he's just there to stay one night, even though his bags suggests a much longer stay. Tyana's tough-loving father, Delroy Jones (Phil Morris) is happy to have his daughter closer to home and ecstatic when he discovers that his "Baby Girl" is planning to follow in his professional footsteps with a career in Real Estate. That is, until he learns of her plans to work for his competition. Tyana's new move reconnects her with old friends, especially her best friend Nefertiti (Kendyl) who is happily single and ready to help her friend get her groove back.
She's smart, sexy and ready to get her life back in order. It's Tyana's world and they all Love That Girl !
About TV One:
Launched on Martin Luther King's birthday in January 2004, TV One is a fast growing cable network that now serves 54 Million households. Combining hit sitcoms, big studio movies, irrverent reality television and newsworthy specials, TV One delivers real life and entertainment programming from the African American point of view. TV One represents a connection to the authentic, rich, and diverse experience of African American life, history, and culture.
TV One is best known for its signature programming brand, Unsung . Launched in November 2008 the music biography series, that tells the untold stories of the greatest R%B and soul artists of our time, was an instant hit and helped define TV One as a trusted storyteller and voice of black culture. The 2010 debut of LisaRaye: The Real McCoy and Love That Girl , TV One's first scripted series, established TV One as a home for black hollywood stars and put the network on a new programming trajectory. TV One continues to be a unique partner for institutional African American brands such as Essence with our exclusive broadcast of TV One Night Only: Live from Essence Music Festival .
In December 2008, TV One launched TV One High Def, which now serves more than 10.3 million households. TV One is a joint venture owned by Radio One [NASDAQ: ROIA and ROIAK; www.radio-one.com ], the largest radio company that primarily targets African American and urban listeners; and Comcast Corporation [NASDAQ: CMCSA, CMCSK); www.comcast.com ], one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information and communications products and services.
The cast of Love The Girl:
Created by: Bentley Kyle Evans Full Series Cast Episode
Count Year
Range STARmeter™
Mark Adair-Rios ... Adonis 12 (2010-2011) 29,951
Tatyana Ali ... Tyana Jones 5 (2010-2011) 2,291
Kendyl Joi ... Nefertiti 5 (2010-2011) 86,269
Alphonso McAuley ... Latrell 5 (2010-2011) 16,793
Peter Oldring ... Fabian 5 (2010-2011) 18,716
Bresha Webb 5 (2010-2011) 54,360
Phil Morris ... Delroy Jones 4 (2010) 7,482
Trae Ireland ... Jason Campbell / Jason campbell 2 (2010-2011) 71,964
Jeanne Chinn ... Arthea 2 (2010) 37,042
Tabitha Taylor ... Becky 2 (2010) 11,343
Series Directors
Bentley Kyle Evans (6 episodes, 2010-2011)
Series Writers
Bentley Kyle Evans (4 episodes, 2010)
Series Producers
Jeff Clanagan ... associate producer (6 episodes, 2010)
Bentley Kyle Evans ... executive producer (5 episodes, 2010)
Anastasia N. Ali ... producer (4 episodes, 2010)
Tatyana Ali ... producer (4 episodes, 2010)
Terry Crotzer ... line producer / producer (4 episodes, 2010)
Nile Evans ... associate producer (4 episodes, 2010)
Stacey Lyn Evans ... supervising producer (4 episodes, 2010)
Jeff Franklin ... executive producer (4 episodes, 2010)
Richard Gumbs III ... producer (4 episodes, 2010)
Trenten Gumbs ... executive producer / producer (4 episodes, 2010)
Martin Lawrence ... executive producer (4 episodes, 2010)
Raphael Saadiq ... executive producer / producer (4 episodes, 2010)
Eric Upshur ... line producer / producer (4 episodes, 2010)
Lamonte Von Evans ... associate producer (4 episodes, 2010)
Kevin Columbus ... associate producer (2 episodes)
Series Cinematographers
Scott Webb (7 episodes, 2011)
Conrad Montgomery (2 episodes, 2010)
Series Editors
Josie Azzam (5 episodes, 2011)
Evan Schrodek (5 episodes, 2011)
Freddy Allen (2 episodes, 2011)
Adam Redding (2 episodes, 2011)
Series Casting Directors
Leah Daniels (9 episodes, 2010-2011)
1 Views
23:27:51 07/16/10
GRITtv: Jon Liss: Progressiveness and its Discontents
[LESS INFO] 1 VIEWS | ADDED 23:27:51 07/16/10
Lately, the infamous Tea Party has taken the mass media by storm. ; Despite this recent mobilization against long-awaited “liberal” reforms, we can’t help but remember how grassroots movements organized coalitions to paint red states blue and elect Barack Obama. Is it possible to remobilize progressive discontent and organize a party that crosses race, class, and labor lines to get progressive politicians elected?
Jon Liss, Executive Director of Tenants and Workers United, joins us in the studio to describe organizing in Virginia –primarily how to recycle coalition-forming tactics that made history by turning a red state blue during the last election.
0 Views
23:27:51 07/16/10
GRITtv: Jon Liss: Progressiveness and its Discontents
[LESS INFO] 0 VIEWS | ADDED 23:27:51 07/16/10
Lately, the infamous Tea Party has taken the mass media by storm. ; Despite this recent mobilization against long-awaited “liberal” reforms, we can’t help but remember how grassroots movements organized coalitions to paint red states blue and elect Barack Obama. Is it possible to remobilize progressive discontent and organize a party that crosses race, class, and labor lines to get progressive politicians elected?
Jon Liss, Executive Director of Tenants and Workers United, joins us in the studio to describe organizing in Virginia –primarily how to recycle coalition-forming tactics that made history by turning a red state blue during the last election.
0 Views
22:16:38 07/16/10
GRITtv: July 16, 2010
[LESS INFO] 0 VIEWS | ADDED 22:16:38 07/16/10
Lately, the infamous Tea Party has taken the mass media by storm. ; Despite this recent mobilization against long-awaited “liberal” reforms, we can’t help but remember how grassroots movements organized coalitions to paint red states blue and elect Barack Obama. Is it possible to remobilize progressive discontent and organize a party that crosses race, class, and labor lines to get progressive politicians elected?Jon Liss, Executive Director of Tenants and Workers United, joins us in the studio to describe organizing in Virginia –primarily how to recycle coalition-forming tactics that made history by turning a red state blue during the last election.Branch Brook Park roller rink, located in Newark, NJ, is one of the few remaining urban rinks of its kind. Serving extremely diverse subcultures within Newark, this space is a microcosm of the city that surrounds it. This film will follow three characters from distinct groups that use the space; a Skate Dancer, a Gospel Skater, and a Roller Derby Girl. Despite their differences in race, class, religion, and sexuality, these skaters are united by the rink, which serves as a refuge from the stress of their lives.Newark is currently experiencing a 'renaissance', but it is unclear who this renaissance is actually meant to benefit. The rink stands in symbolic and visual opposition to the pervasive, inflexible and false notions attached to the city of Newark. The Rink is directed and produced by GRITtv's own Sarah Friedland and Ryan Joseph, and you can contribute to finishing the film at Kickstarter.Those poor oil executives have just been working themselves to death trying to maintain their public image after that completely unfair blame they're facing for those oil spills--not just in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska, but around the world. Our friends at Greenpeace came up with a product just for them, a handy way to cover-I mean clean up the spill in record time and keep people buying those oil products! Check it out.Finally, this week, Harvey Pekar, revolutionary comics author and subject of the award-winning film American Splendor (based on his comics by that name) passed away at age 70.
0 Views
22:16:38 07/16/10
GRITtv: July 16, 2010
[LESS INFO] 0 VIEWS | ADDED 22:16:38 07/16/10
Lately, the infamous Tea Party has taken the mass media by storm. ; Despite this recent mobilization against long-awaited “liberal” reforms, we can’t help but remember how grassroots movements organized coalitions to paint red states blue and elect Barack Obama. Is it possible to remobilize progressive discontent and organize a party that crosses race, class, and labor lines to get progressive politicians elected?Jon Liss, Executive Director of Tenants and Workers United, joins us in the studio to describe organizing in Virginia –primarily how to recycle coalition-forming tactics that made history by turning a red state blue during the last election.Branch Brook Park roller rink, located in Newark, NJ, is one of the few remaining urban rinks of its kind. Serving extremely diverse subcultures within Newark, this space is a microcosm of the city that surrounds it. This film will follow three characters from distinct groups that use the space; a Skate Dancer, a Gospel Skater, and a Roller Derby Girl. Despite their differences in race, class, religion, and sexuality, these skaters are united by the rink, which serves as a refuge from the stress of their lives.Newark is currently experiencing a 'renaissance', but it is unclear who this renaissance is actually meant to benefit. The rink stands in symbolic and visual opposition to the pervasive, inflexible and false notions attached to the city of Newark. The Rink is directed and produced by GRITtv's own Sarah Friedland and Ryan Joseph, and you can contribute to finishing the film at Kickstarter.Those poor oil executives have just been working themselves to death trying to maintain their public image after that completely unfair blame they're facing for those oil spills--not just in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska, but around the world. Our friends at Greenpeace came up with a product just for them, a handy way to cover-I mean clean up the spill in record time and keep people buying those oil products! Check it out.Finally, this week, Harvey Pekar, revolutionary comics author and subject of the award-winning film American Splendor (based on his comics by that name) passed away at age 70.
