Art is Alive, Banksy

After my whirlwind turnaround from San Diego to Coachella...10 bands later, and 105 degrees, I realized that art and music have never been so alive. More on Coachella to come, but this artist popped back into my head after forgetting about him for awhile. I went to an art show today and in one of the galleries I read a book about this artist, if you haven't heard of him...check him out, its thought-provoking and political but really he sends an intelligent message.


http://www.banksy.co.uk/

Homage to to Harry's Hallows

The time has come, the days are numbered for everyone's favorite hero, Harry Potter. Okay, maybe Harry is not everyone's favorite hero, but he is mine. It all started with that weird and wacky college dorm roommate, Jackie Hazen. If it wasn't for her incessant banter on the world of Diagon Alley and Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardy, I can honestly say I would remain the ignorant fool that I once was. Its not to say that those people that don't read about Harry are stupid, they are not, but they are perhaps missing one the most profound fantasy series of our generation and many to come. There are so many questions conjured up right now, who will die? What's going to happen with Ron and Hermione? All I can say is I am among those converted, converted to see the way of the Hogwarts Express, owl mail and talking pictures, and as the days dwindle away and that sweet but sad series comes to an end, questions will indefinately arise. For millions of people worldwide this summer's coming book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, questions will be answered. Pre-orders have broken records for Barnes & Nobles upwards of 500,000 orders so far with Borders matching that. Billions of questions will be answered on July 21, until then I think I speak for all muggles when I say "stupefy!"

Here's an AWE-gasm for you:

October 28, 2002

As a college freshman living in the dorms, I was so excited to head out with my fellow freshies to UA's McKale Center to stand in line for the coveted men's basketball tickets. It was 3 AM when I headed out, donuts in one hand, school books in the other. I was genuinely excited for one of my first college experiences! Little did I know what would happen that day. Rioting broke out for basketball tickets, the crowd was dispersed. I watched students collapse in the unruly and overbearing crowd, and I, myself decided that the riotous crowd was not safe. I consulted my parents on the phone and told them of the morning's events, and decided that basketball tickets were not worth all these troubles. A little less than an hour later, news broke of a shooting at the University of Arizona Nursing school. My whole family frequented the hospital and medical schools located at University Medical Center in Tucson, Ariz., so I was shaken up. I was able to contact my mother, father and sister and make sure that everyone was alright. Now, almost five years later, so many people are also calling their families only to realize that they are injured or dead. The news of the shootings at Virginia Tech reminds us just how fragile life is and how we should not take it for granted. Our society is one of violence and you never know which moment could be your last. I always feel that it is important to reach out to the ones that you love and let them know that they are very special.

For more information about UA's shooting click on this link:
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/US/Southwest/10/28/university.shooting/index.html

For up-to-date information on the situation in Virginia please follow this link:
http://www.cnn.com/

Shin-anigans

Last night brought with it the highlight of the youthful indie rock scene, as The Shins, made most famous from their inclusion in the acclaimed Zach Braff soundtrack for Garden State, graced the punk rock haven SOMA with their entrancing sound. Getting from one side of the venue to the other required a parting of the sea of today's edgy teeny boppers. Here I am at an all ages show with the only preconceived notion of enjoying the music, and on my mind the entire night was how fucking weird it was that the bar sold water bottles and diet cokes, no booze. It was sobering, literally, to realize that a good show doesn't require a Jack Daniel's buzz.
The festivities began with the openers for the night, Viva Voce. This Portland-based duo pleased the crowd with its interesting mix of indie sounds and a female bassist reminescent of the grunge rock era, rather than the current artisically mellow shit most females bring to their music (which I love by the way). The obvious comparison for the married couple and bandmates will no doubt be to that other famous pair the Detroit-bred White Stripes (who incidentally were married). A lot less Jack and Meg, Viva Voce consisted of a jam-band quality with a modern experimental twist. I wouldn't be surprised if much of their initial success will come from the unique combination of the hard bass sound and delicate voice that Anita Robinson emits.
What came next was almost a blur for me. The Shins played a start-to-finish show of utter greatness that had me in an almost hypnotic state (one that was constantly interrupted by those concert-goers that lack proper concert etiquette: never shove people at an indie show, this isn't Korn, kids...show some manners). The set list was a carefully crafted one that I would love to share, however lack of writing utensils prevents me from doing so (and sadly my memory isn't what it used to be). I will say that the boys began the show with the latest "Sleeping Lessons" off of this year's Wincing the Night Away, which nearly blew me away; That song must have been created for that effect because it was the perfect way to start. The Shins have an almost mesmerizing quality both melodically and visually that made this one hell of a show. The guys from the Mexico of the New (New Mexico) left their unique taste in everyone's mouth as they ended our Thursday night with the ever popular, "Caring is Creepy." The additional harmonica intro and bridge by James Mercer was genious. Needless to say, I enjoyed a lot more than my Sprite last night.

Things I hate

This is a perpetual list that usually gets logged in my mind.

-DVDs that you pay to rent (which is silly) that skip at the prime moments of your viewing pleasure
-people from ASU that always try to claim their superiority with the same reasons for their inferiority; the "how's if feel to know we are always partying and having fun" quickly rebuttaled by, "clearly you received the better education"