Control: Ian Curtis, Joy Division Biopic.

I’ve seen The Clash. I’ve seen The Smiths. Adam & The Ants, Echo & The Bunnymen, Blondie, Devo, Johnny Rotten. I kissed Siouxsie Sioux, talked with Malcolm McClaren and shopped with Depeche Mode. But, I would’ve given anything, ANYTHING to have seen Joy Division. They are the one band I regret not having had an opportunity to see. When I found out about Control, the Anton Corbijn motion picture about Ian Curtis and his band, Joy Division I jumped in the air.
Samantha Morton who is always great stars in it as Ian’s widow. Sam Riley stars as the troubled Ian Curtis, James Anthony Pearson as Bernard Sumner. New Order did the original soundtrack. It opens in the U.K. on October 5th U.S. on Wednesday October 10th to a limited release.

Control. 

Yahoo! Movie Page.

Lebron James & Kanye West on SNL.

If last night’s premiere was any indication of what SNL is going to be like this season, I’m going to plan more Saturday night’s at home. I thought the show was all sorts of entertaining. These are some of what I enjoyed the most. Kanye’s performances were great even though he forgot the words at one point on Good Life and then again on Everything I Am, haha.

 

Lebron James in High School Musical 3: The Return of The Seniors.

 

Adam Levine from Maroon 5 and Jake Gyllenhaal guest with Andy Samberg in “Iran (So Far Away)”.

 

Kanye West on 106 & Park.

 

So, yeah. I thought the show was fab. Didn’t catch who was on next week but, after last night’s show, I’ll be checking. It’s amazing how this show has stayed on point for so many decades. It is hard to imagine what film, television and stand up comedy would’ve been like without SNL’s impact.

Sun. Oct. 7th: Francois K. At Yellow.

 

It is hard to believe Francois K. has been around for so long. The man was remixing Depeche Mode back in the 80s. Hell, he remixed Musique’s In The Bush in the 70s. Ten years ago, his Body & Soul Party reinvigorated New York Nightlife. Today, his nightclub, Cielo, is one of the hottest nightspots in New York City. Although his musical career has spanned 4 decades, his music is as relevant as any producer on the electronic music scene and he continues to produce and present innovative tracks on his label Wave Music. He flows seamlessly between the best classics and cutting edge music in his live sets.
All of you lucky people in Tokyo get to witness that first hand on October 7th. Francois’s wife is Japanese, so going to Tokyo is like going home for him. If you are in Tokyo on October 7th, head over to Yellow and welcome Francois home. When I moved to Tokyo in the late 90s he gave me some great advice,he  even went as far as calling me from time to time to see how I was doing. He is a truly special man with great talent and his night at Space Lab Yellow should not be missed.

  

Space Lab Yellow.

 Wave Music.

Cielo. 

Bless Rosy Beige Long Hoody/Vest.

100% cotton sweat/fleece unisex zip-up reversible hooded sweatshirt with two side pockets, elastic cuffs and trim, with an attached long bottom section that can be worn up as a double layer for the body of the sweat or down as a full length piece. Daaaaaaaaaamn, that’s hot! Designed by French-German Bless duo Desiree Hess and Ines Kaag. Available at Seven New York City for $550.

Seven. 

Bless. 

日本の音楽: New Music Videos From Japan.

Ayumi Hamasaki ¦ Talkin’ 2 Myself.

 

Ken Hirai ¦ Fake Star.

 

Misono ¦ Zasetsu Chiten.

 

B’z ¦ Super Love Song.

Nano Care Hair Dryer.

I saw this on Japan Today. It’s a new hair dryer by Japanese manufacturer, National. They are touting it as “the hair dryer of the future”. While I am not entirely convinced there’s a ¥20,000 ($174.36/€122.49) hair dryer in my future, I will admit, it is different. How different? This hair dryer sprays a coat of nanoe, an electrified ion in water mixed with protein on to your hair that moisturizes your scalp and prevents dandruff while it strengthens your hair. Boy. What will they think of next?

National.

Japan Today. 

Bape: Often Imitated, Never Duplicated.

I’ve been checking out casual wear and street wear today. In shops and online. It is incredible how many clothing lines are copying the Bape look and graphics. Some are just outright stealing. Last march while I was in Tokyo, I undertook my usual ritual. I threw on some of my Bape gear and headed over to the Aoyama shop to buy some of the latest. When I got there, I was surprised to see a mob outside the store.

I checked out what was going on an when I realized there was an exclusive going on, I whipped out my camera and started shooting. A Bape exclusive is the release of a limited edition by Bape’s designer, Nigo. He’ll design a limited number of a particular item and the Bape fans go wild in Japan. camping out, lining up to scoop up the goodies.

Although I’ve liked the clothing for awhile, I didn’t really understand the Bape hysteria. The Bape staffer in the brown striped shirt eventually came over to me and told me to stop shooting. I guess he was the only one that could speak english and the only one even close to my size.

After a brief discussion/argument while I continued to shoot (hey, I was on the opposite side f the street), I put my camera away and he told me how labels are copying Bape and the extremes they go through to get images of new Bape clothing. He said “don’t worry, I won’t confiscate your camera”. I said “That’s good, because I’d hate to have to kick your ass”. We eventually made nice.

Until he broke it down to me I didn’t really see the full scope of the Bape influence, and how much their clothing line was being ripped off. I get it now. People are copying the graphics, color palette even stealing the logo or just flat out bootlegging. Next time I go there I’m going to have to apologize to that guy for being such an uncouth gaijin. To all of you out there, do not support rip-off artist, bootleggers and the sort.

You can only buy Bape clothing at a Bape Boutigue and if your not in Japan, the only one you’ll find the U.S. is in New York City, Los Angeles is coming soon and there is only one Bape website, and you have to download that one. So… if you want Bape clothing, you can only get it from the source.

Bape.

Swayzak – Some Other Mix.

Swayzak have a 70 minute mix set on Samurai.fm right now to coincide with their new release on !K7 Records entitled Some Other Country. The mix set is prototypical Swayzak, beautiful, lush, deep house bleeps, synths and drum patterns that feel techy and organic at the same time. Check it out.

Samurai.fm.

Swayzak.

!K7. 

Hummer H3x: My Must Have Car.

I’ve always hated big cars and SUVs. I absolutely despised them. They served no really purpose in my mind, they’re too big, they’re overpriced, drink gasoline like it was water and were difficult to drive. Try getting out of a parking spot at Publix on a Saturday afternoon in one. My opinion of Hummers were the lowest of all the SUVs.
I think GM made the H3 & H3x for all of us Hummer haters out there. They must have, because I absolutely love that car. I saw three of them last Friday. Two on my way to UGA. One on my way back. Because they’re smaller, they maneuver well. All three were driven by women and none seemed to have any trouble navigating through Georgia-on-a-Friday traffic.
Hmm… maybe it’s “the chick’s Hummer”? Well, whatever. I’ve seen dudes in Miatas. I’ve seen big-ass gym rats in Miatas. They looked secure in their masculinity. I don’t think they cared, so why should I? The mpg is still shitty, but it is much, much smaller than the other two – maybe even smaller than a Ford Explorer, yet looks as rock hard as a prize fighter. It drives well, looks good and the $38,000 price tag is justifiable. I think the metallic orange is HOT. Next year… oh, yeah. You will be mine. I don’t care if you are a chick’s car. You’re the coolest chick’s car ever and I love you.

Hummer.

Burberry.

Who doesn’t love Burberry? Poking around the Burberry site, I’m surprised how affordable this line is. With the exception of some of the coats, you don’t need to make a ton of cheese to sport it. The British can’t cook, but they definitely know how to dress.

Burberry.