Happy Birthday Tom Waits

Happy 62nd Birthday to Mr Waits! The king of the gravely voice, dirty guitar and scary spoken word combo. A man made to be captured in black and white.

All photos from here

It was hard to pick a song to post here, but I thought I would just go with a popular classic...

Natalie Wood & Ken Done

 I have been a fan of both Mr Done and Ms Wood for some time. Done for being an icon of kitch Australian 80's awesomeness. I admire his unrelenting push for Australian iconography in art/ commercial art and design. His bold use of colour and relaxed painting technique sum up my home town for me. So much so that when I was on the search for a new pair of togs last summer and found my self unable to find a print that appealed, I jumped on my bike and gunned it down to his shop in the Rocks and bought myself his Coral Reef one piece.


So you can imagine my delight when I saw that Natalie Wood had joined forces with Ken for the SS12 collection for her label Something Else. I love Woods interesting cuts and have admired her choice of prints in the past so I couldn't resist donning this Done (or that pun.)

I would also LOVE to get this combo, but it may be a bit over the top for my wallet...

Riikka Sormunen

Absolutely obsessed with these works by Finnish  illustrator Riikka Sormunen. Would LOVE one on my wall.....Santa?

sourced via Miss Moss

Stevie Nicks

I have a slight obsession with old Stevie, or as one house mate once put it "Nicki, I think Stevie Nicks is your power animal". Yes she is. If only I could belt out a tune like she can....sigh.  I do make up for my lack of singing ability with my enthusiastic kitchen (/any where) dancing to the Mac. Rock on  Nicks!

 This is a great little candid clip of Stevie singing along to an early version of Wild Heart. Its so natural and you can really feel what she is singing. Plus she has sweet feathers in her hair!

Manning Cartell swimmers featured in Cosmo

I meant to put this up a few weeks ago but check out the smoking hot babe in  Cosmopolitan Magazine wearing Manning Cartell togs that I did the print for while at Karolina!

Sunday Cover Time

The reason this cover is so awesome is right at the end....keep listening.

Cover Time - Cat Power doing Wonder Wall

Reasons why I love Cat Power:
- she can sing REAL good
- she can song write REAL good
- she loves doing covers and does them REAL good
- she adores Bob Dylan
- WAS an alcoholic
- her real name (Chan Marshall) is as good has her 'artist' name
- was a muse for Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
- is generally just a babe
- is The Greatest.

Imaginary America Trip

  I want to jump on this horse

and ride here....

and here.

Listening to this...

Dudes With Moves

Dance of the Week

Sam  Rockwell as Eric Knox in Charlie's Angles doing a bad ass villain groove

Tuesday Cover Time

Patti Smith covering Nirvana, covers dont get much more rockin' or awesome.  Her little 'Patti Smith' spoken word mark on it is perfect.  I love that she once told Debbie Harry to "get the fuck out of rock n' roll". She is the quintessential rock n' roll goddess.

 

I cant help but post one more Smith song, this is one of my absolute favourites...

why must we pray screaming?

 

20,000 Leagues Party!

Poster I did for The Spitpress and Rabbit Hole for their 20,000 Leagues Under Sea Party on this Saturday at the new Spectrum. Bring on the Jelly fish dancing!

Same Kind of Bad As Me

I know this song came out awhile ago, but I love Tom Waits and I love the idea of a private listening party with him in a beat up old car....

I also love old school sesame street and have often thought that Tom and Cookie monster had something in common...

Happy Sunday kids

Klimt Vs Fashion Fringe SS 12

This amazing dress just reminded me of Klimt...

Happy 20th Birthday Nevermind

Wednesday Cover Time

One of my most favourite covers ever ever.

Happy Tuesday Tune

OFF WITH YOUR HEAD

Here is the new poster I've knocked up for Off With Your Head party being put on by those crazy kids at Rabbit Hole. It was Tone's last night last night so this one will be kicking off at  Phoenix on the 1st of October. Be there or be square cats xxx

Sweet Fictional Record Stores

I wish there were a few more bad ass record stores surviving post Internet and JB Hifi invasion on the music retail world. I worked in a shitty one in Manly for a few months after leaving high school, but I quit due the horrible music I was forced to endure over and over again and my creepy boss. I wish it had been like ones in the movies, where the staff are all slightly insane nerds of varying descriptions, the music is awesome and there is lots and lots of sweet dancing.
Here are my top 3 (please watch the clips, they are inspiring)

Pretty In Pink

High Fidelity

Empire Records

Song Time: Bill Callahan

SS12 NY Imitation

At the moment at work I get to spend a bit of time each day trend spotting by going through the pictures for New York fashion week. Imitation's collection has been my favourite so far. I love the 1920's influence with all the embroidery detail, soft colours and dropped waists. Here are a few of my favourites...

New Bike?

I recently got a REAL job that i am able to ride my bike to and from every day! I love my bike (name: Gloria) so very much but she is a bit slow and rickety and held together by masking tape and hair ties, so ive been thinking about investing in a new bike. Im in love with the Bisou from Tokyo Bike and am wondering whether to get a red or blue gray...thoughts?

Im pretty sure it will take me months to make the decision and work my self up to actually buying the thing so old-girl-Gloria will be rattling around Redfern for some time to come

Hay Fever

 

Happy Hay Fever Monday

Spring Time Cover Time

SPRING!

Cover Time - M Ward doing Bowie 'Lets Dance'

Vali Myers

Vali Myers was an absolute goddess.
Reasons why I like her:
Was a dancer Australia’s Modern Ballet Company after working full time since the age of 14 to afford dance classes.
She'd catch the bus to rehearsals in her dance get up in a time when it was unacceptable to have hem line higher than a lady's knee.
She hiked it to Paris in the1950's, wondered the streets, danced in cabarets became a vagabond  with the Parisian beets.
Lived in a gypsy caravan in a valley in Italy with an Italian lover and a heap of animals.
Had a pet fox called foxy.
Tattooed a lightning bolt on Patti Smith's knee while she was staying in the Chelsea Hotel selling her paintings.
Lived with the Wodabe tribe in Niger.
She tattooed her own face!
Retained her unapologetic Australian accent and turn of phrase
Had awesome fire red hair.

Just a little collage I did awhile ago using a photo copy a beautiful picture in the May issue of French Vouge of the divine Givenachy swan dress.

Rabbit Hole Spring Garden Party

Here is the latest poster that I have knocked up for Rabbit Hole. Unfortunately we have just found out that it will be the last one held at Tone as it is being sold to be turned into a restaurant. Its is such a pity for the Sydney live music scene as it is one of the only places that has a license for late night live music. Love and Squalor will miss you Tone and we send out our condolences to Ben and every one who is involved with the venue. Rabbit Hole will live on however and is currently sorting out a new location to continue its monthly awesomeness!