Archive for February, 2016

Newer Entries »

Bad Hyper Irony: The WORDS ON A STICKER Sticker.

February 8, 2016
image

WORDS ON A STICKER Sticker.

I walked into my local hip/ironic shop the other day. I saw a product that made seething anger rise up inside of me. The “WORDS ON A STICKER” sticker made my brain hurt. Are these supposed to be funny? The only thing that gets me angrier than seeing stickers like these is when I have a weak wifi signal.

Why do phrases like these make me so mad? It’s because they are trying so damn hard to be ironic that the phrases wind up being pointless and stupid. It’s like some bad attempt at hyper irony.

Who is the target market for these? Are they a hot seller? Who sees these and says, “OMG, I really need this in my life!” Would you buy the “WORDS ON A STICKER” sticker? What the hell do they even mean? You get a free brain aneurysm with purchase of this sticker.

Tags:, , ,
Posted in culture, hip, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Happy Birthday Bob Marley.

February 7, 2016
image

Bob Marley (image via Relix.com)

Happy birthday to reggae legend Bob Marley. His positive impact on music and the world cannot be understated.

In 2014, I had the great honor of interviewing Ziggy Marley.
I asked Ziggy what inspired him the most about his dad, “His toughness and leadership role. I think that really inspired me.” What a wonderful thing for a person to say about their father.

Happy birthday to the reggae king. May his music and messages forever impact generations.

Tags:, ,
Posted in music, reggae | Leave a Comment »

“The TV makes me so angry, I don’t even know what to do.”

February 6, 2016

“I’ve maybe turned on the TV twice since I’ve been home. The TV makes me so angry, I don’t even know what to do,” said the frustrated white girl seated in back of me tonight at my local coffeeshop. One day, I hope she finds a way to solve her problem. I pray that she is granted reprive from the weight of this issue that bares heavy on her soul.

Tags:, ,
Posted in culture, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Barista or Tweaker?

February 6, 2016

There is a barista competition in Kansas City this week. Lots of shaky, jittery people in town right now.

At first, I thought they were just the regular downtown tweakers and bath salt smokers. However, I then realized most were wearing flannel. “Nice ironic beard, Shaky McShakerson.”

I had also forgotten that the folk conference isn’t until the end of the month. The main difference between the barista convention and the folk conference is that the folky folks are carrying a banjo. #whitepeopleproblems #firstworldproblems

Tags:, , , ,
Posted in culture, food and drink, hip, Kansas City, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

My Favorite Photos: January 2016.

February 5, 2016

Here is a collection of my favorite photos I shot in January of 2016.

Self portrait, Crossroads Arts District.
Sculpture outside of American Century Investments.
Clouds.
YJs Snack Bar.
Downtown Kansas City skyline from the Firestone Building.
Tree in Brookside.
Sunset in the Crossroads Arts District.

Tags:, ,
Posted in art, Kansas City, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Where’s Waldo? He’s Ravin’!

February 4, 2016

In a sea of faces the other night, I finally tracked him down. I found him! Chilling in the back, he was observing the dancing masses. The strobe lights flashed off of his glassy, glistening eyes. His eyes were bigger than his face. “My mouth tastes like hairspray and the crippling emotional uncertainty that my dad must feel,” he seemed to say to himself. As the bass rolled in to the next tune, he announced to his crew, “It’s lit, fam!” He stood up and staggered off, melding back into the dancing throng.

Tags:, , , ,
Posted in culture, music | Leave a Comment »

DJ Diehard: 5 Minute House Mini Mix.

February 3, 2016

I gave myself five minutes to record a house mix. It features some of my favorite tunes. This was recorded live with no re-edits.

Tracklist:

Route 94 “My Love”

BeatauCue “Close”

Stephanie B “Back to New York”

Calvo “Need U”

Gwen “Soul Conga”

For more of my mixes, check out my Soundcloud.

Tags:, , , ,
Posted in music | Leave a Comment »

Madeon Brings the Future of French Touch to Kansas City.

February 1, 2016
Madeon1

Madeon at the Midland.

French DJ/producer Madeon smashed Kansas City hard on Saturday night with an hour and 20 minutes of diverse French dance music. He brought the Pixel Empire tour to the Midland, which showcased his skills and a stunning visual production. The 21 year-old gave the partying Midland crowd exactly what they wanted.

A lot of DJs get criticized for not playing anything live, but Madeon put the work in and beasted it live. Using track pads, he would trigger beats and samples in real time. His mixing was flawless and on point all night. His tunes drew from a wide range, from dubstep to classic French touch. Regardless of the style, his use of filters and phasing was very French. It was a beautiful thing.

Madeon2

Madeon at the Midland.

A few of the tracks fell into a category I call “beach music.” It’s the music you hear when you’re chilling on the beach in France, eating a French doughnut. It’s the sound you hear when you’re clubbing next to the sea. The songs are the perfect mix of the cheesy and the sublime. Dance anthems become popular in France every summer. Madeon dropped his remix of Martin Solveig’s “The Night Out” on Saturday in KC, it’s a quality example of beach music. He also played Daft Punk’s 1997 classic “Around the World.” Moments like these lit the crowd up.

Madeon3

Madeon at the Midland.

It was a glorious night of tunes and joyous energy. By paying homage to the past and pushing his sound forward, Madeon proves that the future of French dance music is looking bright.

Tags:, , , , ,
Posted in Kansas City, music | Leave a Comment »

Newer Entries »