This Is What We Do Show, Hilltap Tavern

So as I’ve said yesterday on this blog, got invited last minute via Facebook through cartoonist Sergio Zuniga. The event took place in Elmhurst, Queens, at the Hilltap Tavern. Every once in a while, Hilltap will have local Punk/Post-Punk/Hardcore bands play there. Even if that wasn’t the case, this local Irish bar scores points for having whiskey on tap, in barrels. Here’s photos from last night:

My section on the pool table, which was converted into a vending spot.

Sergio Zungia's section.

Photography by J. Rivera.

Tommy Wing's section

Hilltap Tavern has Irish Whiskey on tap.

Liquid light show visuals by Steve Pavlovsky

Liquid light show in action.

Sergio Zungia

Paul Jones doing spoken word

A band with no name. First gig.

Read Full Post »

Welcome To My Nightmare V Photos

Last night was of course, the Welcome To My Nightmare V event. If you’ve been following this blog, you might be sick of seeing the flier posted every other day.

Here’s some of the photos from last night:

My display for the Welcome To My Nightmare V show.

Part of my table display at the Nightmare show. March 26th 2011.

Part of my table display for the Nightmare V show. March 26th, 2011.

Shitty Mickey painting. Done winter 2011. Acrylic on canvas.

Psycho Bunny painting. Acrylic. Created winter 2011.

Black Rabbit painting. Acrylic. Created winter 2011.

Photographer Otto Yamamoto next to his display. March 26th, 2011.

For Sale at the Nightmare show. March 2011.

Abby's already a legendary artist in the "Alternative comics" genre. March 26th, 2011.

Abby Denson display for Welcome To My Nightmare V show.

Xtene (Christine) Kucinskis paintings. Xtene was the mastermind behind putting this show together. She's also put together the previous Nightmare gigs, 1-4. She's also the bass player for the band Skum City. She gave me a Skum City tee which I will proudly wear.

Xtene Kucinskis painting. Looks like Andy Warhol, doesn't it?

Nonlee, bass player for two bands: Highteen Boogie and Iconicide. March 26th, 2011.

All girl Japanese/NYC based punk band Highteen Boogie. I want to be thier (non-sexual) groupie. They rock. March 26th, 2011.

Highteen Boogie, March 26th, 2011.

Gangway

Gangway

Sarah B MC'ing & doing some poetry. Sat. March 26th, 2011.

Iconicide. Sat. March 26th, 2011.

Iconicide. Sat. March 26th, 2011

Iconicide. Sat. March 26th, 2011.

Skum City. Saturday March 26th, 2011.

There were some bands that I couldn’t take photos of, because it was getting crowded. All in all, a good time. Thanks goes to Christine (Xtene) Kucinskis.

Read Full Post »

NYCC 2010 Photos Part II

A week later, and here’s part two of the NYCC 2010 blog post.

During the the three-day weekend of the NYCC (New York Comic Con) 2011, I was stationed mostly behind my table. When Sunday rolled around, figured it was time for some quick explorations. Inside the Jacob Javits center, the NYCC took most of the main floor, while New York Anime Festival was downstairs.

Costumes from the NYCC/New York Anime Festival, Oct. 2010. Jacob Javits Center, NYC.

I’m not really familiar with the whole Manga/Anime/COS underworld. It’s not my thing, although I like some of Osamu Tezuka’s work. Like upstairs, the lower level where the Anime Festival was jammed packed.

Downstairs at the New York Anime Festival, Jacob Javits Center, NYC. Oct. 2010.

Upon entering the Anime section, it was crossing into a whole other world. The general age of this Anime/COS crowd was probably tweens, to early teens. Almost everyone other than the artists and vendors were sporting some kind of costume.

New York Anime Festival/NYCC 2010. NYC

Don't ask, don't tell. New York Anime Festival, downstairs at the NYCC/Jacob Javits Center, NYC. Oct. 2010.

On the mini-stage was some sort of singing contest, with a costumed female contestant warbling off-tune. I walked around the Anime section some more, when some sort of COS conga-line broke out. Half-scary, half amusing, I figured that I had my fill of this mini-Neverland. Time to go back upstairs.

COS play outfit from the New York Anime Festival. NYC, Oct. 2010.

New York Anime Festival 2010. Jacob Javits Center, NYC.

My favorites were the like the frilly Victorian-style of the “Lolita” costumes. If I could get away with it, maybe I could have one of those Lolita dresses hanging in my closet.

From the New York Anime Festival/NYCC 2010. NYC, Oct. 2010.

NYCC/New York Anime Festival 2010. NYC

NYCC/New York Anime Festival 2010. NYC

Back upstairs to the NYCC:

BuzzBuzzBuzzBuzz...or as someone said on Facebook: "Where's the bug spray?" NYCC 2010. NYC

Is it a peanut? Is it a waffle? The result of too many carbs. NYCC 2010, NYC.

The real reason why I was at the NYCC 2010; I had a table in the Artist Alley section:

The section my table was located, NYCC 2010.

My DIY sign. NYCC 2010. NYC

Jammed full of goodies at my table. Artist Alley section at the NYCC 2010. NYC

My next two appearances: Welcome To My Nightmare 5, Williamsburg Brooklyn, March 27th 2011. MoCCA Art Fest 2011, NYC, April 10-11, 2011.

Read Full Post »

Breakdown Records

Breakdown Record, used record/CD store in Queens, NY.

The last of a dying breed. A store that almost brings tears to my eyes. I was a record collector back in high school. When the CD revolution came around though, I jumped on it’s back. Why? Because I was getting disgusted with the greedy nerd mentality often found in other collectors. To my own disgust, I was discovering those qualities creep inside of me. Time to jump ship. Years later, my turntable broke down. Never bothered to get a replacement.

Imagine my surprise when a friend informed me about Breakdown’s existence. Something to investigate.

Iconic Elvis Costello. Nowadays he works better than Ambien.

The store front was a wee bit nostalgic for me. As of this posting, an over-sized poster of Elvis Costello hung in the front window. Elvis in his iconic late ’70s cool. Again, I started to get misty eyed. From the outside, this shop looks like something from an early 1980s teen flick.  Couldn’t wait to step inside.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t happy with the selection. Mostly used CDs, vinyl, cassettes, DVDs and VHS tapes. Yet even with all this variety, there wasn’t anything I would particularly like to purchase. I mean, I really tried. Came across a CD by local Hardcore band, but that’s about it.

I tried again a few months later. Almost brought a used DVD but the price was too much. I could buy a new copy on Amazon for that price. Sorry.

However, if you’re into kooky vinyl, this might be the place for you. Don’t expect pristine conditions when you buy a record for $2.00. Buyer beware, you will get what you pay for. But it is vinyl mecca indeed. Reminiscent of the music written about in the RE:Search Incredibility Strange Music series. If I still had a turntable, I might be tempted back to my record collecting days. My excuse now is the economy.

So don’t let my finickiness scare you. Breakdown also has an Ebay store. (Ebay)

Still, I hope this is a place that never goes out of business. When Tower Records went out of business, it was an end of an era. When Virgin Megastore went under, yeah, that was sad too, but it was a-comin’. Virgin had an excellent selection but overpriced. Yet both spots were chain business. It’s the mom and pop shops I worry about. I hope stores like Amoeba and Other Music never shuts its doors. Just like I just hope Breakdown never goes under.

Breakdown Records: 48-09 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY, 11373. 718-279-0040.
Ebay store: http://stores.ebay.com/Breakdown-Records

Read Full Post »

The Last Museum At The New

Went to the New Museum yesterday, to check out the Brion Gysin retrospective. For those who don’t know, Brion Gysin (1916 – 1986) was a multifaceted subversive. To define this person, imagine looking up the phase “Nothing is true, everything is permitted”; next to that phase is a photography of Brion Gysin. As an artist, he tried his hand at everything, from painting, collages, poetry, film, and musical collaborations. Gysin is best known by his collaborations with writer William Burroughs and the ‘cut-up’ method.

Personally speaking…although William Burroughs is more known, I’m more fascinated with Brion Gysin.

Since this weekend was the last of the Brion Gysin exhibit over at The New Museum, I made a mini-pilgrimage. The entire second floor was dedicated to Gysin. Prints, paintings, typed correspondence between Burroughs and Gysin. You could see various sigils and glyphs within Gyson’s work, as the artist experimented with Asemic writing. There was also book layouts, photographs, and collages. In separate rooms was two short films, a slide show, and actual dream machine. The dream machine section was dark, except for small black floor pillows for the viewer to sit on.

So I stuck in some video and tried to tape in dream machine in 23 seconds. Couldn’t click off the iPhone in time so it ends at 25.

http://www.briongysin.ca/

“Brion Gysin: Dream Machine” at The New Museum ends its run tomorrow, Oct. 3rd, 2010.

Read Full Post »

Tales Of Woe Release Party

Last night was the book release party Tales Of Woe. The event took place at The Boiler (Pierogi), located in good old Williamsburg, Brooklyn. There were copies of the book for sale at this particular party. The good news was at the party’s end, the table was sold out.

Here’s some photos taken of the event:

Book release party, Tales Of Woe. Wednesday September 8th, 2010. The Boiler, Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Book release party, Tales Of Woe. Wednesday September 8th, 2010. The Boiler, Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Pat and Daria McQuade. Pat McQuade did four illustrations for Tales Of Woe.

Author extraordinaire John Reed and artist Pat McQuade. Wed. Sept. 8th, 2010.

Me posing with Daria McQuade at the Tales book release party. Wed. Sept. 8th, 2010.

A shout out goes to everyone involved with the book, from John Reed and all the wonderful artists who contributed visual woes.
Artists: 8Pussy, Elisabeth Alba, Delia Gable, Chadwick Whitehead , Michele Witchipoo (oh wait, that’s me!), Alex Warble, Ralph Niese, Sarah Oleksyk, Stephane Blanquet, Patrick McQuade, and Kiki Jones. Walter Einenkel did the book layout.

If all that amazing art isn’t enough, there’s always the free application for your iPhone: Tales Of Woe. Also Facebook compatable.

So far this book has received awesome reviews! Not bad for abject misery.

And of course, if you haven’t done so, get your very own copy of Tales Of Woe! You can buy the book on Amazon, Borders, and Barnes and Noble. You can always go to the Powerhouse Books site, and order directly from there.

Update: Oh, forgot to add this: Photo cred to Daria McQuade.

Read Full Post »

Magic Mapped From The Grave

Well this is odd. A few weeks ago, some NYC map website connected with Flickr, emails me. Apparently it was in regards to a photograph I had taken of Harry Houdini’s grave. This pic was snapped in early November 2009, honoring Houdini on the anniversary of his death. Since 1927, the Society of American Magicians has held a broken wand ceremony at the grave site. Annually the bust, shown here with the S.A.M seal, is displayed on the grounds of Machpelah Cemetery.

Harry Houdini's Grave. Each year S.A.M members get together for the Broken Wand Ceremony. Photo by Michele Witchipoo, Nov. 2009

Tonight I received another email from the same website company. Apparently my photo had been picked to represent the NYC borough of Queens. Click here for the link.

In case you’re curious, here’s two more photos from the 2009 Broken Wand Ceremony at Machpelah Cemetery.

Society For American Magicians, Broken Wand Ceremony 2009

Houdini Bust. Displayed Only Once A Year In Machpelah Cemetery. Novemeber 2009.

Read Full Post »