6/30/2002 12:51:45 PM EST

Great show last night at the Balcony.

Thoughtstreams kicked off the show around 10:00. I’d heard of them before (mostly from them playing shows with Dysrhythmia), but this was the first time I’d seen them. Impressive. Very technical, jazzy avant-metal, kind of reminiscent of Cynic, but less focused. I have to appreciate the genre parody of such song titles as “To Devour Ovaries.”

Up next was Technician, who I’ve been digging on for several months now, but hadn’t seen before this show. Now that I’ve seen how their music translates live, I don’t plan to miss any more of their local shows, and I picked up both their discs for total of ten bucks.

Oxes headlined and put on a very entertaining show as only they can: wireless, and all the bar is a stage. How they manage to stay so tight while 2/3 of the band are mobile for most of the show (walking on the bar, strolling around in the bathroom, etc.), I’ll never know. I can’t stress enough what a fun time their shows are. Go see them now.

6/20/2002 02:42:31 PM EST

Volumes 1 and 2 of the Lost Film Fest DVD compilations are now available. I’m not sure if they’ve actually been released yet, but they’re definitely available for pre-order. Included in the first volume is the LEGO Trilogy, directed by yours truly, which comprises my first three (and so far only three) animated LEGO films, the last of which was completed about three and a half years ago (a stern reminder that I should really get back to animating). Go buy the DVD in the Lost Film Fest Merchandise section.

6/18/2002 02:30:10 PM EST

We finally got the pictures and video online from the Summer Camp Slasher Birthday Bash at Camp Naked Terror. The mini-DV wanted more light than we could give it, but the video doesn’t look too bad. Go check it out here.

6/14/2002 01:58:58 PM EST

This is a really neat idea: The 5K is a contest that challenges web designers to create a site with a combined filesize of no more than 5K. Oddly enough, it’s not the brainchild of Jakob Nielsen. I just wish I’d found out about it sooner, since the deadline for entries for this year’s contest is in two days...

6/10/2002 06:13:40 PM EST

Just got back from a weekend in New York, primarily for two nights’ worth of sold out shows at North Six in Brooklyn.

Saturday night was The Fucking Champs, Rye Coalition, and Drunk Horse, the denser of the two shows in terms of quality. The Fucking Champs were excellent as usual, Rye Coalition was significantly more entertaining than the last time I saw them (insane energy, plus the singer put on some weight and has a kind of John Belushi thing going on that really works for him), and Drunk Horse, who I hadn’t heard of before, rocked my face off.

There were five bands on the bill Sunday night, including Lightning Bolt, Deerhoof, Wolf Eyes, Thurston Moore with Carlos Giffoni, and 5ive (not the British boy band). The incomparable Lightning Bolt was the highlight of the show, opting to do their set on the floor on the right side of the club instead of the stage, actually cutting off the final song of Deerhoof’s set. Rock. Deerhoof was the only other band that really grabbed me, partly because of the singer’s vague resemblance to my friend Kim, and mostly because of their performance: song structures would slowly and suspensefully unravel to the point of totally falling apart, at which point it would snap back together into a distorted sort of indie-pop thing. That doesn’t quite sum it up, but whatever.

I’m looking forward to seeing Lightning Bolt again next month in Philly with the reunited Rorschach, The Locust, Arab on Radar, Wolf Eyes, and Orthrelm, even if I’m not looking forward to how insanely crowded, hot and uncomfortable that show is certainly destined to be.

6/5/2002 05:42:22 PM EST

There are still a couple days left to check out the Lost Film Festival 7.0 in West Philly; it is certain to satisfy any uber-DIY anarchist film cravings you may have been having. I’ll be there tomorrow and Friday.

6/5/2002 01:55:31 PM EST

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today I am learning how to use Corel KnockOut 1.5 (the new version is procreate KnockOut 2). It is my new favorite thing.

6/3/2002 10:11:49 AM EST

The Summer Camp Slasher Birthday Bash at our house this weekend was a huge, bloody success, so thanks to everyone that made it fun. We will be putting up a little site soon with pictures and video from the party; I’ll post a URL when it’s up.

Speaking of little sites, that micro-site with pictures and notes from my Ireland trip that I promised is still in the works and will actually be up very soon. I still have some color-correction and coding to do.