The stage: completely unlit, except for one halogen spotlight behind the drummer's kickdrum. No talking, no intros, no chatter, no communication between or among the band. Complete vocal silence. No eye contact, gestures or interaction with the audience except at the end. Minimalism at its most, and best. The way my concerts should be. Kinda not in tune with metal-punk inspired post-rock, however was the deep-cut v-neck with burly chest hair on the bassist, and indie-tight red pants and orange tee on the guitarist. The drummer, as usual, dresses really conservatively and looks like you could find a snapshot of him somewhere in Esquire.

Saw them in LA when they were supporting Minus the Bear, and according to their new album, which has the FIRST track that sounds almost OPTIMISTIC, I'd say Russian Circles got some cues from their time with the band. The band's skill is amazing individually, able to pull off such complexity without opening anyone's mouth. The bassist does some mad riffs, however, and the drummer is a sight to see.

So many useless shops and tourist traps in an air-conditioned warehouse with blatant signs. Way too many overpriced "vintage" booths -- which really just sold old used clothes for a very unreasonable price. Too many useless and unattractive arts and crafts booths. Belts and leather goods booths. A lot of self-promotion by wannabe designers promoting one, two or maybe three basic prints, themes or logos plastered on different hues of tees, sweaters and hoodies in both boys and girls.

The food however, is something that I'd come for if I had the cash or came with friends. A lot of ethnic and authentic-looking stuff of all varieties.

The lead singer comes on stage, wobbly, blankless stare, and smelling like belligerence: an instant, drugged-out sign that the complete opposite has come onto the stage, despite the fact that the bassist is the same. The yelling is incomprehensible, made even more impossible to pretend to understand when he throws in the vocal effects board he has at his fingertips, propped on a stand. The guy is insane: His shirt is unbuttoned, his shirt is off, his belt is off, his belt is wrapped around his neck. He's dancing around the stage, in front of the drummer, and climbs he speakers to dance on top of em. He kneels his sweat into the crowd, shaking and screaming, he jumps into the crowd to surf, he climbs the lighting rig posts. He spits in the air and catches it in his mouth, he misses, he just keeps spitting on the floor, he spills his beer everywhere. MADNESS.

So last week they were doing some construction on the street DIRECTLY OUTSIDE MY DOOR. See the sidewalk there? Yea my window is facing that. Couple this with the fact that I have a Police Station right across the street (even I wake up when they have to dispatch cars at 4am), the Rail Station (visible behind the truck in the photo) that not only you can hear while its running, but you can hear the maintenance crews grinding the rails at night. Oh yea, and the bus stop that is also right in front of my window. And general main-street traffic.

one of the first orders of business when I get my paycheck: invest in new feet covers.

Caught this in the display window at Zara on Oxford St. Seriously, I could imagine two possible favorable scenarios for this display to be effective, both disturbing:

A. Pale Middle-aged woman: "Wow my son LeDouche would look so classy and handsome and cute in that woven cardigan and charcoal khakis! Just like a little stylish freak-migit who wandered off an Osh Kosh photoshoot"
B. Pasty Spoiled little boy: "MOM! I got to have that new merino wool scarf! Look at the sequins! Its totally the rage this season! And I need new pants! Everyone at boarding school has trim, ball-hugging cuts like those emo indie tights!"

I have no idea how these creepy, ghostly-looking migit things can pull customers in. But like hell, it works apparently. Store was packed.

So, nothing much has changed regarding the holidays for me over here: They still decorate and shop here, and I don't miss or enjoy any of it, really. In my opinion, the streets would be just as interesting and more economically and ecologically friendly without the decorations, lights, and ice rinks -- I mean, it hails over here already as is, kids can pretend that its snow, cant they? (sarcasm. not really)

Also, there would be a lot more art fairs, shows and gigs going on if promoters and managers felt safe knowing that most people weren't spending most of their time AND MONEY buying stuff people dont need (and more often than not, don't want) so that people can pretend they feel cared for, wallets can be relieved of their weight, and shops and corporations can bathe and swim in money.

Well, you may ask, why does the grinch take pics of these things along with every other point-and-snap tourist on Oxford St? Because they do make a pretty picture.

Finally, a way to pay the rent, food, and hopefully enough left over to experience the city I flew to the other side of the world to explore. Its minimum wage, and a temporary holiday worker at a retail chain, but shoot, at this point, even THAT was very difficult to get.

post-rain-ride outfit and smirk. My bed has the cheapest mattress and coils (its like a cotton sheet wrapped around coils...need to pad it with a comforter and my sleeping bag) but at least the frame is twin XL....so that means my feet barely make it within the edge of the bed.

I havent shared a room in so long, nor have i felt like I've been living out of my suitcase for such a period. I have the basics and essentials: bed, desk, desklamp and an entertainment unit we use as a dresser.

The cool thing about the city is that you'll find free art lying around in stacks, or even have people handing it out to you on the streets. My wall is decorated with free stuff only -- flyers, posters, programmes and exhibition brochures. I wonder what everyone else does with this stuff...its a lot of printing and paper...

Everything about London is historic: the culture, the sites and the sights, the city and especially the buildings. So much of the city is very much classic -- sometimes crumbling, boarded up, or peeling, but it is a glimpse into the past, as evident by popular architecture walks that go on in the city (might have to do that soon). There is a HUGE amount of restoration and maintenance work going on, despite the "credit crunch/economic crisis/pre-recession." For example, you may remember my post on St. Pancras Station a while back (The photos were dark and dodgey, but I've made it a point to head over on a clear weekend day -- really a sight). Well, that monolithic palace-ish station has been undergoing an 800 million GBP redevelopment project.

And it's not uncommon to see many classical and old pieces of architecture being restored or renovated all around the city. It's like all of london is a museum, and the mayors and building managers and architects are the curators and restorers. Sure, there's some good examples of modern and post-modern and minimalist architecture here (which is all VERY easy to draw and create, apparently, in comparison to traditional styles). However, it really seems like the old stuff is always left standing or reconditioned or being reupholstered or something -- Like an architect is more of a janitor than a creator over here. Old buildings from flats to halls to churches are all ancient, and are either falling apart, taped/boarded up, or retrofitted at the first floor with the familiarity of modern shops and places of commerce and consumerism, as indicated in the photo above.

New shoes; Exfoliation/Skin bleaching; manicure; hair did.......bombshell

and I have to do acrobatics, calestheics, or ballet-poses to get them.

Just a synonym for Squash, or juice concentrate.

A gallery of acid and house flyers in the exhibit Our History: Celebrating 20 Years of Acid House and International Club Culture.

Saw this waiting for the nightbus last week, and I'm not sure who made this probably large fellow give up his sneakers, unless they just killed his feet. Because, as you all know, ADIDAS have HORRIBLE arch support and are only made for people with feet as wide as hotdog buns.

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yes, you read correctly. 22 miles. Took up the entire afternoon to 8pm, but thats with leisure time included. I was able to re-listen to Obama's Audacity of Hope, Friedman's The World is Flat, and got about a third of Colbert's I Am America and So Can You. I can't do any more reading tonight, and maybe even tomorrow. And my eyes havent even read much.

On my couple-months old, favorite jeans. Levis i scored for practically $20 in the states. That I'd hand wash and dry and iron. NOW ruined. My knee hurts too, but it doesnt irritate me as much as that hole.

As you can see in the diagram, I either need to work on my bunny-hopping skills or embrace the reality that there are some bad/stupid drivers out there. Being in London, and being a biking-commuter has really fostered a deep-seated hatred in my heart for all things diesel, gasoline and motor based -- from SUV's to trucks to passenger vehicles. That's something I don't think I'll miss in the States -- And I think its something I want for myself wherever I go next. A place, a city that promotes the use of natural transport, evident in its transportation legislation and its proximity of city offerings (unlike the miles and gallons you'll burn to go to school, work and dinner in SoCal).
In sum, I HATE CARS. People all over the world are ditching their cars for bikes, not just here in London, and not just as a response to the oil crisis. Check out this clip on the state of biking in DC:

Apparently, the UK is very clear on their stance on tobacco products, and not just beyond the wrapping -- its on every box, taking up at least half of each side. And I thought that the "Poison" and Skull&Crossbones label proposed in 'Thank You For Not Smoking' was ludicrous and unrealistic. Well, apparently its like this in Korea too.

but before my bed looked like this. Well it still does, but now the pillocase is filled with polyester fibres and not rolled-up towels and sweaters. Its not a lifestyle, its a philosophy: either urban-camping, minimal, or cheapskate.

Or what it's made of. Acid? Super-abrasive and cuts through palms? Gives you cancer?

John More (one half of ColdCut) started with some really eclectic electronic sounds, a lot of expirimental undertones.




DJ Kentaro doing superhuman stunts on 3 tables.

KENTARO - SOLID STEEL 08 from Erik H on Vimeo.

Bonobo, live in the lounge area...but they just HAD to schedule DJ Food & DK at the same time.

but it still needs tweaking. I recorded a less-congested night ride so I wouldn't make anyone nauseous.

So I'm doing some work by my computer, hearing a lot of pops and bangs starting from 4pm -- i figured they were just motorcycles, as its common for them to pop their exhaust, sometimes at a convenient opportunity when passing me up from behind...Anyway, so the pops and explosions were echoing constantly three hours later, so I sought the Google genie, who laid out the fact that it was guy fawkes day -- about some revolutionary dude who blew up a lot of gunpowder, inspiring and bolstering firecracker sales at least once a year.

I biked around, following explosions and echoes, seeing families and kids watch as dads lit mini rockets in neighborhood parks, passing small groups of adolescent males near alleys radiating proud mischief, and bigger explosions south, near the River. I parked bankside at Canary Wharf, witnessing about 5-6 fairly large fireworks displays, probably the major ones in central london. Unfortunately, all of my captures were downright horrible.