The Mind Benders: LSD and Hallucinogens. Good production values give this drug scare film from 1967 the sheen of respectability, but it’s still full of the same old bullshit. At a time when kids needed a Psychedelics For Dummies instructional manual, we got the kind of spooky propaganda that caused more bummers than strychnine-laced STP.
Today is National Coming Out Day, so here is an appropriate music video to help get the party started right, Diana Ross performing. what else, “I’m Coming Out” at the Inglewood Auditorium in 1981. Congratulations to everyone who had the courage to come out to their friends and family today, it probably wasn’t easy, but it’s going to get better.
Via Shakesville
I love me some surly Lou Reed. The interviewer is WBCN’s Bill Boggs.
Watch and discuss among yourselves.
Is Africa bigger than the combined size of America and China?
This is the kind of question that pops up in local radio ‘phone-in quizzes, leaving irate callers purple-faced arguing the toss, until bluntly presented with the facts.
Well, here it is. Hard to believe, yes, but apparently true. For according to this map the African continent is far bigger than we think, as it can contain the area of the United States of America, China, India, Japan and still have room for Europe.
Don’t believe it? Well, let’s do the maths.
The total land area of China, USA, India, Mexico, Peru, France, Spain, Papua New Guinea, Sweden, Japan, Germany, Norway, Italy, New Zealand, UK, Nepal, Bangladesh and Greece is 30.102 (x1000km2)
Africa is 30.221 (x1000km2)
When it comes to Africa, this map shows why understanding scale is important.
Via Ken Cargill
Two of the most exciting live performances by a rock band that I’ve seen were Killing Joke at New York’s Peppermint Lounge and Limelight in the 80s. Intense, powerful, transcendent, Killing Joke’s influence has been long and deep. Underrated but much loved by their fans, KJ are gods among men.
Here’s a fan-made video interview with Killing Joke’s lead singer and high priest Jaz Coleman. Plus, a live performance by Killing Joke in Munich, 1985.
Parts 2 and 3 of the interview and live performance video after the jump…
Finally! And such an ordinary chap.
Last Minutes with Oden was voted best video at the Vimeo Festival + Awards over the weekend and boy did it deserve to win. The film is a six-minute long documentary about a former addict, Jason Wood, putting down his much loved pooch, Oden. Directed by Eliot Rausch, the short sensitively portrays what it’s like to go through something like this—is there anything more wrenching than having to put a dying pet down?—as well as expertly tying in Jason’s brutal backstory. The film is tightly and economically directed and to say it’s moving is a criminall understatement (I cried my eyes out—just sobbed like a baby—watching this earlier in the year and just now).
The Vimeo awards were held at the School of Visual Arts in New York and judged by folks like David Lynch, Roman Coppola, Morgan Spurlock, and M.I.A. Another winner that I really liked is Andy Brutel’s insane music video for “Scissors” by Liars.
Dunno ‘bout you, but I love Deerhoof. It was the Apple O album that did it, back when. Since then they’ve been a reliably wonderful band sporting one of the finest, most elastic drummers around and dual guitars in the fine crocheted Magic Band tradition and always super interesting self-production. This song (and goofy-ass fan vid) is the first taste of the upcoming Deerhoof Vs. Evil LP. Love that awkward, heavily swingin’ groove and the male/female vocal trade off. Many great ideas crammed into 3:29.
This week in New York City, for three night only, Dangerous Minds pal, Ann Magnuson and Adam Dugas will be presenting their Duelling Harps show that knocked ‘em dead in Los Angeles:
A darkly elegant evening of gorgeous melodies with a theatrical flourish. Ann Magnuson and Adam Dugas face off on vocals as Alexander Rannie and Mia Theodoratus strum their harps in this twisted match of musical one-upmanship. The quartet thrusts and parries with an arsenal of tunes ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime: psychedelic calls to prayer, Henry Purcell’s Baroque art songs, Kraftwerk, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Lee Hazlewood, and Pink Floyd, as well as original songs by Magnuson and Dugas. Dueling Harps makes its New York premiere at the Abrons. The show premiered in Hollywood at the Steve Allen Theater and then ran at REDCAT in the Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles. Harps marks Magnuson’s first New York theatrical appearance in nine years.
Dugas and Magnuson meet upon the stage to resolve a grudge; a duel ensues to settle their dispute that is fought using only music. Each singer brings a second to accompany them on the harp, the only other weapon allowed in the duel. Dugas and Theodoratus represent the East Coast, Magnuson and Rannie the West, as a battle rages - with much trickery and tomfoolery. Robin Walsh adds a dash of the surreal with her puppetry, and a special Halloween encore rounds out the night. There will be blood!
The performances are on October 15, 16, and 17 and take place at the Abrons Arts Center at 8pm. You can buy tickets here.
New Yorkers take note, Ann assures me that due to the difficultly, and expense, of staging something like this, that this may be her last performance like this for quite some time on the east coast. And speaking of the costs of mounting such a show, they’ve got an online fundraiser going on where supporters can score posters, CDs, original art, a pre-performance reception and one lucky patron of the arts will receive an onstage LAP DANCE, from either Ann or Adam, their choice!
