July 3, 2008
Green Mariah
This green-screen version of Mariah Carey's "Touch My Body" is like part of an avant-garde video installation you'd see at MOMA, and it should have been the finished product. Watch in HQ here. (via FourFour)
July 1, 2008
Sound Bite: Vampire Weekend
It's that time of day when we like to involve ourselves in some Vampire Weekend, the band that has a song about a comma. But today it's their "A-Punk" video we've chosen. We wonder if, after they all agreed that the words "vampire" and "weekend" should be in the band's name, the musicians spent an arduous amount of time arguing over whether it should be Vampire Weekend or Weekend Vampire. If so, we think the time invested was well worth it; Vampire Weekend is far more sophisticated and evocative than the sleazy Weekend Vampire would have been. But enough about us.
June 26, 2008
I Want Your Seats: George Michael in Los Angeles
Miss Navajo director Billy Luther went to see George Michael at the Great Western Forum last night and all we got were these lousy pictures. Kidding. They're great. Thanks, Billy.
June 25, 2008
The Masque: The Fire Down Below
An intern here at World of Wonder, Raven Servellon, who can sometimes be found manning the desk in the Storefront Gallery, has a blog called Darwin's Drawings, which is one of those personal blogs that weblogging was invented for, and usually it's about her and her boyfriend, artist Louis Cannizzaro (whom she met at an art reception here), hanging out in their kitchen making coffee and whatnot. But yesterday she was all about punks and the graffiti in World of Wonder's basement, which used to be The Masque, LA's fabled '70s "punkrock" club.
The punk scene has never really appealed to me; too negative and just overall bad taste. I think of rotting teeth, apathy, green (a comical puke), pimples, bloody vagina, over processed hair (and not the impressive beehive of Amy Winehouse), herpes, migraines, incest, delusion and all things that freak me out in life.
Give Hard Candy 2 Me
This is Steven Corfe's tranny version of Madonna's latest video, "Give It 2 Me." Compare with Madonna's version here. Is there really any contest?
June 24, 2008
Robot Love in This Club
Usher's "Love in This Club" performed by the Rock-afire Explosion, an animatronic robot band that toured pizza restaurants in the 1980s, and now is managed by a guy named Chris Thrash who programs it with requests.
June 20, 2008
You Can't Go Homme Again: Queens of the Stone Age Evict a Fan
"Someone needs a hug," says Steven Corfe.
June 19, 2008
And You're Not
"I'm Bo Yo" is the freshest jam from apple-cheeked, potty-mouthed white rapper Bo Burnham. (via Gorilla Mask)
That's Cold
New York band Creaky Boards is claiming that Coldplay's "Viva la Vida" was plagiarized from their now-ironically titled song, "The Songs I Didn't Write," after Chris Martin saw the Boards perform it at the CMJ festival in New York last year. And they've made this bitter comparative video to prove it. A Coldplay spokesman says, "'Viva La Vida' was written and demoed in March 2007, which is more than six months before this band claim Chris went to see them. We totally refute their claims." And now Creaky Boards are on the map. Developing. (rediffnews)
That's Jeezy, Not Jay-Z
Rapper Young Jeezy, whose "Love in This Club" collaboration with Usher is #6 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, was stopped in his Corvette at about 2:30AM on Interstate 85 in Atlanta and charged with speeding, driving with no proof of insurance or license plate, having an open container, reckless driving, and driving impaired by alcohol or drugs. He was booked and later released from the Atlanta City Detention Center after ponying up $4,100 bail. His attorney said his client was leaving a recording session when he was arrested. (CNN; mug shot from a previous arrest involving firearms in South Beach)
June 18, 2008
George Michael Tix Winner
The winner of two tickets to George Michael's 25 Live tour is Joey Dale of Chicago, Illinois, whose under-50-words reason for wanting tickets was:
Most children were taught to say "pee" when they urinated. I was taught, if we had to go #1, to say "I have to go-go." I then, of course, thought Wham's "Wake Me Up..." was about bed-wetting. Have been a fan ever since for releasing such a brutally honest song.
The five runners-up who will receive two-disc DVD sets of George Michael videos are:
Michael Apostolino, West Hollywood, California
Shiran Bar, Boca Raton, Florida
Eddie Lotts, Wichita, Kansas
Phillip Puryear, Gaithersburg, Maryland
Margot Young, Alberta, Canada
Congratulations.
June 17, 2008
Introducing PLAYback
Seeing this at the top of the WOW Report the last couple of days, you might have wondered what it is. It's a trailer for the indie music series, PLAYback, coming soon to WOW TV, and produced and directed by World of Wonder's own Leana Jones.
June 15, 2008
Echo Plex and the City
Living on LA's west side can sometimes be tough when it comes to seeing a good band perform. And with gas prices doubling every other day I try to avoid any unnecessary travels. However, the occasional trip to Echo Park is sometimes worth it. East on Sunset, right past the Glendale Boulevard overpass is The Echo, and below that lies the Echo Plex. One of the best venues in town. The long and narrow, low-lit basement isn't your typical side stage hole-in-the-wall venue, like the Knitting Factory's "Alterknit Lounge," but a place where extraordinary indie acts from all over the world come to show what they got. Its dark atmosphere, cute hipsters, and reasonable bar make the Echo Plex a must. Even the occasional "mainstream" figure will make an appearance, as did Beck last November for his only North American show of 2007. I was there. It was awesome. So if you live in LA, visit LA, or just occasionally fly in on the weekends to have sex with your mistress, you must check out the Echo Plex. Glendale Boulevard, in Echo Park, under the Echo, near Erin Hickman's house.
– Text and photo of Helio Sequence at the Echo Plex by Steven Sims
June 13, 2008
Win Two Tickets to a George Michael Concert
Perhaps you've noticed that George Michael is kinda back. It's been many years, but he's back. He just performed 80 shows in 12 European countries for way over a million fans on his 25 Live tour; has a new 29-track, 2-CD album, Twenty-Five, with six new songs and duets with Paul McCartney and Mary J Blige; performs in 40 videos in a 2-disc DVD set; made a guest appearance on American Idol, and plays himself as the singing fantasy figure on the TV comedy-drama, Eli Stone. Next week Michael launches the North American leg of his 25 Live tour, performing 22 shows over seven weeks. Though 25 Live is his first tour in 17 years, he says it will be his last. Play the exclusive clip above and watch the vast sea of waving arms as the ex-Wham! guy performs at the historic opening night of Wembley Stadium in London.
We have two tickets to give away for any show on the tour, except of course for the first couple or three and the one in Toronto, for some reason. But any of the others. Free tickets. For two people. All you have to do is send an email to georgemichaeltickets@worldofwonder.net telling us why you should win the tickets. Keep your answer under 50 words. The writer of the reason we most enjoyed will get the tickets. We also have five of those George Michael 2-disc DVD sets for the runners-up. Please include with your entry your full name, mailing address, and the concert you'd like to attend. And have faith.
See tour dates after the jump. ContinueJune 12, 2008
Jay Brannan Strips Down His Half-Boyfriend
God may strike us dead for saying this, but this guy, Short Bus star Jay Brannan, channels Joni Mitchell better than the legendary New York performance artiste John Kelly – and he's not even trying to. Listen to Brannan sing his gorgeous new version of "Half-Boyfriend" here. And thanks to Towleroad for the heads up.
June 10, 2008
Tiny Monkeys Do Santogold
Kristin: OMG! I can't believe Santogold played a free show at the Hollywood and Highland center yesterday!
Erin: SANTOGOLD!
Kristin: I LOVE me some Santogold.
Erin: "We think you're a joke, shove your hope where it don't shine..."
Kristin: "J-J-Jesus pieces. Rescue me. The more I try the mor-...."
Erin: She is awesome. Her voice is so amazing and weird.
Kristin: But be warned, you may not be able to stop listening once you start.
What Gall!
In the June 1 entry on his website, Simon Napier-Bell, Wham!'s former manager who negotiated their 1985 Beijing concert and now may or may not be involved in a Wham! biopic, talks about his very recent emergency gall-bladder operation just as he was about to leave for a weekend in Bangkok. "Last year I had my prostate removed. I'm beginning to think, if I live long enough, I shall end up as a large outer shell containing nothing much of use inside."
I've just been on the internet reading about the things I can't eat now I have no gall bladder. Top of the list is fat - no cheese, no creamy sauces, no foie gras, no deliciously buttered crusty bread, not even a dip of foccia into virgin olive oil. If I eat fat, I'm told it will run right through my body and emerge at the other end with no prior announcement. Very unpleasant, I'd have thought, for anyone in the vicinity.
(Photos: Simon Napier-Bell in an earlier year when he had a gall bladder; gall bladder surgery on someone else; Wham!)
June 9, 2008
June 6, 2008
Party at Charo's House!
Chris McKim, RuPaul, Tom Campbell, Tom Trujillo, and Randy Barbato went to a party last night at Charo's house to celebrate her new dance single "España Cani" (which is destined to be a smash club hit). Of course the "Cuchi Cuchi" girl got the "You better work" performer to dance with her (see above). Meanwhile, the joint was elsewhere jumpin.'
Photos by Randy Barbato. Captions from top: RuPaul and Frank DeCaro; Chris McKim and portrait of Charo; guess the feet; RuPaul and Charo's son, Shel; Charo and "Hot Lips" Loretta Swit; dancers; Tom Campbell at the green piano; Charo and Bai Ling; Barbato and Charo's sister, Carmen; Shel on the dancefloor.
May 30, 2008
Sigur Rós: "Gobbledigook"
The Icelandic band Sigur Rós sounds too much like Björk for our taste, but we're awfully fond of this full-frontal-naked-hippies video shot by Ryan McGinley for their new single "Gobbledigook." Probably because it reminds us a lot of last summer's World of Wonder company picnic in Elysian Park. You can watch a QuickTime of the video by clicking here. And thanks to OMGblog for bringing it to our attention. PS: It's only NSFW if you work in a fundamentalist Christian organization. (t/y Chris)
May 27, 2008
Jena Malone and the Shoe
Before the long weekend, WOW staffers Kristin Rasmussen and Erin Hickman went to see actress Jena Malone (Saved, Donnie Darko) play the instrument she created.
Kristin: Erin and I went to check out Jena Malone and her shoe rock out in my friend's living room, and I would have to say Jena's probably the craziest person I've ever met.
Erin: I wouldn't say she's crazy, Kristin, I'd say she's "eccentric."
Kristin: You can use any euphemism you want – she's crazy. The music is brilliant, but she's crazy.
Erin: Crazy is different. She hasn't lost her grip on reality, she's just a little funky.
Kristin: Funky? She sings every other line of dialogue in conversation. I think that may be a little more than funky.
Erin: I think you just have a problem with sparkly green skirts.
Kristin: Whatever. In any case people should really listen to her music. It really was one of the most amazing performances I've ever been to. Even if she is a little funky.
(More info. Photo by Kerrie "the shoe CD stealing" Scher)
Dirt Baby
Stewie Griffin's version of Dirt Nasty's "Baby Dick." Dirt Nasty and Family Guy – a match-up as deliciously inevitable as chocolate and peanut butter. (t/y David)
May 23, 2008
That Other McCartney
Young Jesse McCartney, onetime All My Children child actor, current teen heartthrob, and writer of hit songs for Leona Lewis, performed on [Neil Patrick Harris] and Kelly this morning. Couldn't understand one word of what he was singing – even the closed-captioner gave up halfway through.
May 22, 2008
Euro-Pap
ABBA, Celine Dion, Julio Iglesias, Olivia Newton-John. They've all represented their (possibly adopted) country at the Eurovision Song Contest. And while this year's edition of the annual Pan-Continental Sing-Fest (which will be compulsory Euro-viewing this Saturday) doesn't boast any stars of remotely the same calibre, here are a few highlights anyway.
Clockwise from top left: Ireland's singing turkey puppet Dustin; Latvia's inexplicably pirate-based entry; a self-confessed Estonian "comedy act," Kreisiraadio; and Spanish minimalist electro-rapper and Dennis Hopper lookalike Rodolfo Chikilicuatre.
– Will Brown
May 21, 2008
Of Interest: Fleshed-Out Edition
Creepy '90s boy-band creator, Lou Pearlman, the architect behind the Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync (who looks like he might have got himself in sync with a few boys' backstreets, wink wink), is scheduled to be sentenced today in a Florida court after pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy, money laundering, and using false statements in a bankruptcy proceeding. He faces the possibility of 25 years in prison and $1 million in fines. We hope someone in Hollywood is taking notes, because we see his story being turned into an R-rated musical starring creepy actor Philip Seymour Hoffman. (AP)
May 16, 2008
Miley Is So Busted
The Los Angeles band Lustra is claiming that Miley Cyrus' song "Rockstar" sounds uncannily similar to the "Scotty Doesn't Know" track off their Left for Dead album. The band's guitarist Nick Cloutman said, "Although we are very flattered that Ms Cyrus took this route, we would have preferred some credit," and added that Lustra is mulling over various "options to rectify this situation." Cyrus' boss, Disney, has been informed. We think the band has a strong case. Take a moment to compare.
May 15, 2008
May 14, 2008
Saban Designs
In the mid 1970s our very own Stephen Saban designed an album cover with his wife. Oddly enough, someone actually reviewed the album and the design.
Designed by Stephen Saban, Joanna Saban, and Michael Longacre for Sokoloff Associates, Inc. They did a great job. I must say, there is a very strong sense of texture on the cover, starting with the headboard on the bed, then to the pink picture frame, next the fur carpet, and finally, the texture that the wallpaper pattern creates.
-Tom
May 12, 2008
Retouch Remodel
Jackie Beat, the female Weird Al, covers Mariah Carey's "Touch My Body" with a few changes – like the title and all the lyrics. Video by Austin Young of The Worm fame.
May 7, 2008
Video
Three million two hundred forty-eight thousand five hundred fifty-four hits so far. The world is listening. (t/y James)
101 Stairways to Heaven
There are probably lots more, but 101 is exhausting if not exhaustive, and stretching as it does from Dolly Parton to Frank Zappa and beyond, you're bound to find one that's your heaven. (Beware of the Blog)
May 6, 2008
"Don't Fall in Love With a Homo"
May 3, 2008
A Row to a Kill
Music producer Marc Ronson has put the kibosh on Amy Winehouse recording the title track for the new Bond movie, Quantum of Solace, claiming the singer's current erratic behavior is not conducive to working in the studio. And he's one of her supporters, remember. Winehouse performing a Double-O-Seven song would have been wonderful for both her and us, but Ronson says it will happen now only if "by some miracle of science it gets recorded and someone sings a vocal on it." But isn't the miracle of science the root of her troubles? (Digital Spy; photo: MatrixPhotos)
Minor Details
YouTube has flagged my video mashup of RuPaul's "Free To Be (Emancipation Remix)," saying that the contents may not be suitable for minors. And though I've seen some pretty questionable material on YouTube, I just can't see why my little gay-pride video would be deemed so subversive. Can you?
– AguynamedWayne
May 2, 2008
Stars Get Together for When We Get Together
The Ones - "When We Get Together" from Karl Giant on Vimeo, featuring Debbie Harry, Jody Watley, Pat Cleveland, Scissor Sisters, Ari Gold, Ultra Nate', Colton Ford, Cazwell, Miss Guy, Johnny McGovern, Peppermint, Casey Spooner, Billy Beyond, Corey Tut, Jason Walker, Adam Joseph, Mark Nelson, Mike Ruiz, Keo Nozari, and more. (t/y Peace Bisquit)
May 1, 2008
Fit and 50
At last night's six-song performance at Roseland in New York, Madonna spent almost the entire "4 Minutes" segment thrusting her crotch into Justin Timberlake. (Photos: AP; Reuters via Daily Mail)
April 30, 2008
That'll Do, Pig
Roger Waters' floating Floyd pig, missing since the weekend, has been found in tatters, shredded like meat for a giant pork sandwich. The pieces landed in the driveways of two La Quinta, California, families, who will split the $10,000 reward and the four lifetime passes to Coachella. (Video at BBC News; photo: Getty)
April 29, 2008
And This Little Piggie Went Missing
The inflated pig the size of a city bus that floated above the crowd during Roger Waters' two-set show on the third night of Coachella has gone missing, just like that Brazilian priest with the party balloons. Festival producers are offering $10,000 and four lifetime passes to Coachella for the return of the porker. Even deflated, it's tough to hide in a dorm room. (Wired; photo: Dave Bullock/Wired.com)
April 28, 2008
LaBeouf in the Buff
Shia LaBeouf in and out of a Warhol tee in a VIP section at Coachella. (Photos via JustJared)
Festival Fashion
Dita Von Teese, Kelly Osbourne, Sienna Miller, and Melanie Griffith looked hot at Coachella. But only literally. (Photos: Splash via dlisted)
April 25, 2008
Two of Arts
Longtime lovers and pop-culture legends Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson were married in a small, non-denominational ceremony in Boulder, Colorado, on April 12. They celebrated recently in New York with director Julian Schnabel and his wife, limbo king Mike Quashie, and Law & Order's Richard Belzer.
Mariah Lights Up Manhattan
New York City's Empire State Building will be lit up in purple, pink, and white all weekend in honor of New York resident Mariah Carey's number-one album E=MC2. (We lived in New York for 25 years and never once did they flood the building in black for us, so it's a big deal.) And don't believe the hate-mongering talk of a certain blogger that a nasty catfight is ongoing between Mariah and Madonna; the charts are big enough for both of them, and they're professional enough to know to take turns. In fact, if anyone should want to scratch out Mariah's eyes, it'd be Leona Lewis, whom Carey displaced from the top of the charts. (Celebitchy)
April 24, 2008
Smell Yo Dick
Think your man's cheating on you because he's coming home at five in the morning? Riskay offers sage musical advice, with additional offerings from girlfriends Aviance and Real. (via Gorilla Mask)
April 22, 2008
April 21, 2008
The Waits Is Over
Stereogum says Scarlett Johansson's just-released album of Tom Waits covers "is barely average, with decent-to-good [Dave] Sitek production, forgettable vocals, and fabulous guest spots" and that the track "Falling Down" is "the least bad song on there... David Bowie makes his way into the swirling, swelling mix to remind you what a charismatic singing voice sounds like, and Sitek plies enough snowy white space into the latter half to please (read: distract you from Scarlett's shortcomings)." (Click here to listen)
April 17, 2008
A WOW Exclusive
Coming soon, really soon – the Madonna video remix by Brian Heinberg, starring Steven the tranny hooker. A WOW EXCLUSIVE!
April 9, 2008
A Little Bit Funny
If you thought "Johnny Are You Queer?" was an anomaly in the paltry world of straight songs about gay men, you'd be wrong. And you'd be surprised by After Elton's list of nine other ones. Not including Elton's "Don't Let the Son Go Down on Me."
Paris: From VIP to SRO
The Mirror reports that Paris Hilton and Benji Madden (with whom she's in love) booked themselves into a single $90-a-night room in the decidedly downscale Lord Nelson Hotel in the déclassé, red-light section of Liverpool while Madden's band Good Charlotte was to play in a fancier part of the town where Beatles once trod. The tabloid says that Paris passed on all the post parties at swanky Alma De Cuba and Circo and waited for her man in the Lord Nelson's "cheap and cheerful" DugOut bar, where the double vodkas are $4. (Photo: Scott Kirkland/INF)