My name is David and I have an interest in all things amazing. This blog started as a means to share my San Francisco experiences, but has grown to cover "pretty much the best things ever" from my areas of interest including: music, art, film, style, design, San Francisco, Austin.
I went on a Scandinavian and German vacation with my friends Marc and Kevin this past summer. On our journey we ended up in Berlin, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, Voss and Bergen. There was something special about Copenhagen that left us all with a great respect for the city, and a little big of nostalgia for the three days there.
Recently I stumbled across Slaraffenland from Copenhagen. They are an interesting Danish band that use layered vocals, tons of interesting instruments, and are quite fun to listen to. I'd maybe compare them to a Scandinavian (and more serious) version of Beirut.
Anyways, Vincent Moon of La Blogotheque Take-Away Shows fame filmed at roughly 40 minute video of Slaraffenland performing their new LP We're On Your Side in various locations in Copenhagen. I therefore MUST recommend that you check this video out!
Hot off my easel! This is the first in a series of paintings I am doing that considers what defines an image being sexual. I've painted a woman who is in the act of sex, but with everything else from the scene removed, including the man. The lines wrapping around her body are supposed to convey the feeling of an orgasm.
Wild Beasts new record Two Dancers has been on steady repeat on my iPhone for the past couple days. Killer record. For some reason the following bands come to mind when I listen to it: David Bowie, Antony and The Johnsons, The Knife. Check out their video for "Hooting & Howling."
Hlaska has just launched a new line of nautically inspired bags. I've always been a fan of Hlaska for a few reasons: they are based in San Francisco, design great leather goods, and they have a really cool retail store on Fillmore Street. I've become a huge fan of waxwear canvas bags, and love my Jack Spade Industrial Field bag. Waxwear looks phenomenal as it ages. If I didn't already have a killer bag, I would certainly buy the Hlaska Oceanist Large Messenger, in black of course. In fact, many of the design cues on the bag come straight from Jack Spade designs, but that's a good thing. There are tons of great features in this bag:
Waxwear canvas body.
Leather accents on the flaps.
Locking metal closures.
Magazine pocket.
Most importantly, the cool little metal emblem that is inside all Hlaska bags.
My favorite song by The Walkmen, "On The Water," gets an official video. I was skeptical when I read that it was a CGI video about rabbits. Once I watched the video I was rather impressed.
Disclaimer: this video is not filmed live in South Park, Colorado. Just wanted to mention that. Awesome video for "Two" from The Antlers record Hospice.
I just recently started listening to the LP Hospice by The Antlers. It's one of those rare LPs in indy rock that falls into a special group. Records that consist of aural strata, layers of sound, that require multiple listens to digest. These type of records age over time like leather, growing with you, but always there to depend on. Records that you can't help but listen to from start to finish, in the original order. Records that must remain complete albums. I strongly feel that this is one of those epic indy rock records that will require a set aside amount of time each year to appreciate it's timelessness. To prove just how great this record is, here is a 20 minute set by The Antlers on NPR.
Since i'm on the topic of timeless indy records, full of depth, here is a list of just a few, in order of my discovering them... This could possibly be the start of a list of my all time favorite indy rock epics, but only just a start. Which would you add?
Interpol has always been one of my favorite bands, and might even warrant the "all time favorite" label. When I heard that lead singer Paul Banks was working on a solo record under the name Julian Plenti, I flipped. The LP Julian Plenti is... Skyscrapper hits stores either this week or next. Sadly, I don't think two of my favorite Julian Plenti tracks didn't make the LP. Luckily someone has uploaded them to Youtube, complete with photo montages (due to lack of video). I highly recommend giving them a listen.
I've seen various pics float around on the web of girls on bicycles. Looks like they are being aggregated by the Girls on Bicycles! blog. Here's a sample of a cute redhead on the site. Did I mention I have a thing for redheads? Especially redheads on bicycles.
