When I was shown the video for Robyn’s “Hang With Me”, I had to watch it twice in a row. Read More
New York
aka The Big Apple, N.Y.C., Zoo York, Capital of the World, Gotham City
Bath-house temples and spa castles
Callan | September 1st, 2010
When I first moved to the East Village and the winter was making me want to cry, everyone was like “you gotta go to the Russian Baths.” I have never been and have no idea why because lately everyone keeps talking about other spas, mostly Korean, and it seems that the bath-house thing is a full on with almost competitive obsession. Read More
Life with Louis
Callan | August 19th, 2010
Louis is a show based on comedian Louis CK’s stand-up. Recently an acquaintance told me that he can’t deal with stand-up comedy in New York because it is brutally realistic and dark as well as openly racist and homophobic. I had no idea what he is talking about, because going to see stand-up comedy seems really depressing and I never do it. Read More
DIS magazine disses differently
Callan | August 18th, 2010
Dis is not the most popular new website just yet. Some friends of mine showed it to me and I thought to myself “so that is what you guys have been up to after all these years of being intriguing.” It’s very smart, pretentious, futuristic, hip, and is presented with a faux-corporate austerity. Read More
Enya Rap
Callan | August 5th, 2010
These songs are actually built on Imogen Heap samples, but it’s only a matter of time before tons of rap music is made with samples of Annie Lennox, Enya, Imogen Heap, Dido, Sade, etc. I love it… I should probably be trying to keep it a secret, that’s how much I love it. The term “Enya Rap” comes via the Desparrame blog which totally nails it all of the time.
All White Everything
Callan | August 3rd, 2010
All black everything is/was the look, so are people just wearing all white now that its 100 degrees in NY? Yeah, it would appear that they are. Read More
2010 Future-Punks
Callan | July 29th, 2010
Internet generated “future-punks” or “tumblr-punks” (my term) are here to stay, and they are more nihilistic and irreverent than all generations of punk put together.
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Nice Meets Queens Ghetto in Far Rockaway
Callan | July 22nd, 2010
The thing to do in NY during the summer is to go to the Hamptons every weekend, which kinda sucks because it has the exclusive “you don’t belong here” vibe that you get with rich people places. Other options include the humbler Montauk, or the gayer Fire Island. Or, if you prefer to keep it real, take the A train to Far Rockaway to sit on the beach in your coolest tank top and 90210 beach style, watch the planes take off overhead from JFK, and, if you know how, you can surf. Read More
Acid on the internet
Callan | July 21st, 2010
These people are sharing experiences that nobody should share and it is as captivating as it is unsettling – for the rest of us. Read More
S&M and Goth Summer
Callan | July 2nd, 2010
Here in NY, the whole Madonna “Justify My Love”era look is in full bloom. Sweltering temperatures have stripped back the layers but have not changed the color, bringing us “goth summer” — guys with awkward black shorts and black gladiator sandals, and girls wearing black rhinestone bras. Read More
Black Lodges
Callan | June 23rd, 2010
Satanic culture and the occult are really sexy right now. Everybody seems to be appropriating the imagery, whether it is the overuse of triangles/pyramids or the use of grainy VHS imagery. The white magic that was oh so trendy three years ago has given way to total darkness. Read More
Culinary Arts as a Party
Callan | June 17th, 2010
Food Party and Dinner With the Band are two Brooklyn shows airing on IFC that are very integrated into the nightlife and music scenes. Read More
Karaoke Bars
Callan | June 16th, 2010
Karaoke bars are really trendy these days. Perhaps it is because you can rent a room away from the public, and do kinda whatever you want in there to the soundtrack of your friends annoying singing voices. Read More
The Human Centipede
Callan | June 11th, 2010
A film that everyone keeps talking about is “The Human Centipede,” and it somehow manages to horrify me and everyone so much that almost not a day goes by where someone doesn’t reference it. I have only seen a trailer. A friend of mine downloaded it and has shown it to several people who keep talking about it. Not really my thing. New standard in horror?
Witch-House and the return of Dingbats font!
Callan | June 4th, 2010
I have posted about this before but now it is full bore and deserves another glance. Witch-house music is based on southern rap and house music, as well as dark-wave synth music and it’s dressed up in images of the occult, often with creepy distorted video footage and triangles everywhere. Read More