Amanda Jones’ October Playlist
Pixies – Doolittle
So this band, just a quaint little 4 piece, is playing at The Hollywood Palladium on November 5th. I WILL BE THERE!!!! I’m so excited, as this is my favorite Pixies album….so when you see the crying hysterical girl at the front of the stage – just wave hello – it’s me.
Jenny Lewis – Album: Acid Tongue
Over the years, I’ve grown to be especially fond of this woman. This last album of hers is really beautiful. It reminds me of the folk music I used to listen to when I was a kid.
The whole album is solid but my favorite tracks are:
“The Next Messiah”– which clocks in at 8minutes, 45seconds – and normally I would say this is way too long for one song, but it’s really fantastic.
“Acid Tongue”- the title track is a great song as well. I especially love that Chris Robinson sings back up vocals on both of the above tracks and anytime I even faintly hear that mans voice I’m happy.
Also, “Carpetbaggers” is so much fun – AND – Elvis Costello duets on this track with her. Have I mentioned I love him as well?
Definitely listen to this album…I love it and so does my daughter who is 2 – she claps at the end of her “favorite” songs.
White Rabbits – It’s Frightening.
I love this album. A friend of mine gave it to me – and I’m so glad they did.
The opening track is fantastic – “Percussion Gun”. It sort of set the mood for the entire album which is really really good. I also really like, Midnight and I.
This band is playing at The El Rey on November 2nd…and I will most definitely be there!!!
David Gray – Draw the Line
This is one of my favorite singers and this is his new album. I could tell you about how much I love this album but I won’t bore you. I don’t know anyone else that’s quite as fond of him as I am. I love all of the songs on it – but especially- “Harder”
It’s a good album and he is playing at The Orpheum on November 9th. I’ve never seen him live so I purchased one ticket. It’s the first show that I’m going to by myself and I think it’s going to be a blast. It’ll be like it’s just him and I! Xox.
Eels – Hombre Lobo: 12 Songs of Despair
Ok ok…everyone loves this band. I love this band. This album has already been talked about – but I like it so much – it’s in my purse right now. You see I keep carting it from my car, to my house, to my work…it’s that good. Every last song!!!
Notes from Vivace’s October Playlist
The Belleville Outfit – “Caroline”
The Henry Clay People – “Something in the water”
Aushua - “Tuck (How it Feels Away)”
Happy Hollows - “Tambourine”
Pity Party – “Wanting Want”
The Boxing Lesson - “Dark Side of the Moog”
The Health Club – “Fragile”
The New Hotness - “Can You Feel Me”
The New Fidelity – “Right Track”
New Maximum Donkey – “Sting”
Random comments: Saw Happy Hollows at their Spaceland CD release party. It was an awesome set. Pity Party also played with them. They’re a two piece band. The New Hotness has these awesome riffs. Six of these ten bands I saw at Spaceland. Yes, I’ve spent a lot of time at Spaceland recently.
LOS ANGELES FASHION WEEKEND
This past weekend fashion lines within Los Angeles competed for our time and attention. In particular Saturday night
Unfortunately, I had to make the decision to miss the Elmer Ave secret fashion show downtown (you can read about it here), but was able to make it to the Division E, Raw-7, Tavik Swimwear, and Urban Republic show for a little while before grudgingly having to leave to attend another event I had previously committed to. These lines were all part of the The Gallery LA produced Los Angeles Fashion Weekend, where they showed off their Spring and Summer 2010 Collections
Although there are those that are quick to write off the LA Fashion Scene, at times forgetting how much really goes on daily in the busy lives of those who keep this industry alive, it was nice to see that all of those present did not share that attitude. They all filled the courtyard playing catch up and enjoying drinks from the open bar sponsored by Skybar (hosted by Marani Vodka, Asahi Beer, 1921 Tequila, Steaz Organic Energy Drinks, Smart Water and IZZE soda) while waiting for the fashion show to get underway.
Some of the Brand Equity Showroom team were seen sporting their Division E designer client’s designs (as well as Signature Collection footwear from Sponsor Report Shoes), giving a sneak preview of what was to come later during the actual show.
A noticeable and welcome change from the typical fashion show scene at the Sunset Gower Studios was that a lot of the general public and sceney fashionista mainstays were excluded, opting for a guestlist comprised of mainly buyers, designers, agents, and media.
The Gallery LA owner/producer Mikey Koffman had this to say, “People talk incessantly about the recession and the need to cut back, but the reality is that now, more than ever, local designers need to get involved to prove their worth to buyers, media and consumers across the world.”
This statement definitely set the tone for the evening, as this show had an underlying theme of “getting down to business.”
Here are a few shots from the show (I apologize for the poor quality, you can find additional much better photos here). Click on Images to enlarge. Hair by Elle Hoppenstedt and the Aveda Planet Salon team.
Here are some better photos:
all photos courtesy of Launchpad PR
Saturday October 17, 2009
(click on images to enlarge)
CUT AND REEL PRESENTS: REEL Classics – Chick Flicks
Cut and Reel celebrates Breast Cancer Awareness Month** and Domestic Violence Awareness Month*** with a tribute to Women in Film.
This week Cut and Reel presents REEL CLASSICS: Chick Flicks
Cut and Reel Live! hosts Maureen Shampine and Jennifer Haren give you their top 20 chick flicks of all time.
Maureen’s 11 From Heaven
1. Auntie Mame
2. Sunset Boulevard
3. Mildred Pierce
4. The Philadelphia Story
5. His Girl Friday
6. The Trouble with Angels
7. How to Marry a Millionaire
8. Pillow Talk
9. Dirty Dancing
10. Pretty Woman
11. Steel Magnolias
Jennifer Haren’s Divine 9
1. Breakfast at Tiffany’s
2. Thelma & Louise
3. Pretty Woman
4. His Girl Friday
5. Sunset Boulevard
6. Pretty in Pink
7. Sixteen Candles
8. Pride and Prejudice
9. Franco Zefferelli’s Romeo & Juliet
**Join Cut and Reel Live! host Maureen Shampine on Oct 25th as she walks for the cure at City of Hope. Maureen’s team, The Pink Goo’s, is headed by Jenny Dragoo who is walking to support the cause that helps the 1 in 8 women stricken with breast cancer–like her mother and grandmother–in their time of need.
For information on joining Maureen and Jenny, or donating to the cause please visit:
http://nationalevents.cityofhope.org/goto/JennyDragoo
***Help stop the crippling mental, emotional, and physical effects of domestic abuse—join inspirational survivor, Trish Steele, help victims of domestic violence. Visit: www.safepassagehome.org to see how you can help a woman reclaim her life—mind, body, and spirit—after surviving domestic violence.
CUT AND REEL PRESENTS – Whip It!
by Adriane Hoff
Drew Barrymore makes her directoral debut in “Whip It”, a story of a small town high school girl who becomes a roller derby star. Ellen Page stars as Bliss Cavendar, or Babe Ruthless, the roller derby rookie, who takes to skates like a fish to water.
I first heard about this movie a couple years back from a friend who skates with the Los Angeles Derby Dolls. My interest in this movie was instantly piqued, as I used to play roller derby. I was excited to see what Drew Barrymore’s take on the sport would be. Needless to say, I was at the theater opening night with a most critical eye. After all, the sport I love must be paid some justice!
As far as the roller derby element of the movie, Barrymore did a pretty decent job accurately portraying the sport. She actually had all her actresses skate themselves in the movie. Score one for Drew! The hits, blocks, and heads against the bank track are all the real deal.
I felt that Barrymore really captured the dedication to the sport that most skaters have, and as I found out during my time playing, that roller derby is not a hobby. It consumes every part of your life. “Rink-rash” and black eyes are seen as honorable battle wounds. Barrymore makes the viewer realize how vital this sport is to these women. The scene that portrays this best is when Iron Maven, played by Juliette Lewis, corners Bliss when she beings to see her as a threat. Maven says to Bliss that she didn’t start skating until her early 30s and it finally took her that long to find something she was good at. She threatened to reveal to the league that Bliss was too young to skate on the league if she didn’t let Maven reap the fruit of her work.
Barrymore does a fantastic job adding a human element to all the roller derby girls. People have their perceptions of what a roller derby girl must be. Some people think they must all be inked-up, promiscuous alcoholics. What I loved about this movie is that very wrong stereotype is shattered. We see the loving mother in Maggie Mayhem; the relentlessly competitive woman in Iron Maven; the blue collar woman, whose spirit remains strong, in Smashley Simpson; and the young woman with more potential than you can shake a barbecued pig snout at, in Bliss.
Behind the awesome, butt-kicking action in the movie, there is a great coming of age story. We first meet Bliss as she is dragged into the beauty pageant circuit by her mother. Bliss is at her wit’s end with living her life for other people when she stumbles across a flyer for the Lonestar Rollergirls. She drags her best friend, Pash (played by Arrested Development’s Alia Shawkat), to the bout and becomes enamored with the entire experience. Bliss is recruited by Maggie Mayhem (played by Kristen Wiig) and manages to convince the league members that she’s 22 and legally old enough to “bout”.
Barrymore captures the spirit of being a frustrated youth who is hungry to create a life of her own. The dynamics between Bliss and her best friend, boyfriend, parents, and peers are portrayed in such a way that the viewer can empathize. Personally, I was able to relate to many of the same struggles portrayed in this movie. The relationship between Bliss and Pash even made me get sentimental and reminded me of my relationship with my best friend.
For her first crack behind the camera, Drew Barrymore does alright. “Whip It” is the next best thing to a Derby Dolls bout.
Cut and Reel says : REEL it on DVD