Band and Album Names

MTV News has a great story called MTVNews.com: Music Geek: What, Exactly, Is Monkey Demon Music? that's all about how bands choose their names and their music.

My favorite Avenged Sevenfold even got a nod.

Then there are the names that seemed like a good idea ... at the time. Orange County, California metalcore band Avenged Sevenfold named their pubco Darkness Coats Us Music after a lyric from the song "Darkness Surrounding" on their 2001 debut album. "We always noticed that bands didn't take the publishing names too seriously, so it seemed appropriate at the time," rhythm guitarist Zacky Vengeance said. "We were young and thought we were evil as sin — and at the time we were probably serious."

My other favorite, Lou Reed, calls his company Sister Ray Enterprises...

I couldn't hit it sideways.

Holly Came from Miami, FLA

Well Lou, it appears she really came from Puerto Rico.

Something else that should be in the Bay Area but instead will be in Houston... an appearance by Holly Woodlawn, former Andy Warhol Superstar immortalized in WOTWS.

"I'm tired of straight people playing drag queens. Why can't drag queens play drag queens? They're talented, they're fabulous, they're gorgeous!" Woodlawn says. " To Wong Foo (Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar) ? I could've puked — with the exception of John Leguizamo. He's brilliant, and I adore him."

Though Woodlawn has had back problems and was recently bedridden with a broken kneecap, she says she's a survivor.

"I'm a cockroach. It's not symbolism or metaphor or whatever. I'm a cockroach because when the human race is wiped out, I'll probably be still living! I have no idea what I did.

"Me and Cher — she has plastic surgeons, and I guess I have chardonnay."

If you ever get the chance, listen to Lou's version of the song on Take No Prisoners where he tells the whole story in the way only he can.

Negativland in New York

Why couldn't this be here in the Bay Area? I would so live blog it...

---------------

Negativlandland: The Art and Noise of Negativland

September 9 - October 22, 2005
Please join us for the OPENING RECEPTION on Friday, September 9, 6-9PM
New York City

Gigantic ArtSpace [GAS] is proud to present Negativlandland, a large
exhibition by the "culture jamming" group Negativland.

In Negativlandland, you'll see a life size robot of Abraham Lincoln
doing his best to educate you, you'll peer into wrecked cars, get your
fingers in the dirt, discover the secrets of Howland Island, learn how
to make your own noises on the Booper, view many brand new video works,
hiccup with rabbits, and much, much more. Also on view will be an
unauthorized special edition of the U2 vs. Negativland iPod (version
2G), created by Francis Hwang.

In this noisy exhibition, Negativland suggests a theme park catapulting
us into deconstructed attractions of the gallery as a multi-media
entertainment destination. The exhibition will take place in
conjunction with the group's 25th anniversary and will feature the
collective's recent visual and installation work as well as their
trademark sonic work. Almost all of the members of Negativland will
attend the opening.

Gigantic ArtSpace [GAS] |
59 Franklin Street |
New York, NY 10013 |
T. 212 226-6762 |
F. 212 226-6505
http://www.giganticartspace.com
Tuesday - Saturday, 11am - 7pm, Mondays by Appointment

The Age of Aquarius

Being an Aquarian, I have always had an affinity for that song, even if the rest of "Hair" never did much for me.

But there's a fascinating article in the Observer this weekend about a revival of the groundbreaking musical in London by an American Director named Daniel Kramer updated to include modern references.

Kramer sent him (Hair's original writer) a draft of his updates, which included references to 11 September, the war in Iraq and the Kyoto Protocol, and bit-parts for Bush and Blair. The writer liked enough of it to keep talking to him, and Rado soon provided new suggestions. 'Jim said that he really didn't want me to hold back on it,' Kramer says. 'He thought that if we were going to do this at all, we may as well be as radical as we could possibly be.' Rehearsals began four days after the London bombings, which were immediately incorporated into the script.

Kramer is understandably reluctant to reveal too much detail about the transformation. The text updates I have seen are quite modest - the Hare Krishna be-in is now specifically a vigil for peace in the Middle East, while Claude's attack on his parents' interest in collecting S&H Green Stamps and King Korn coupons has been changed to Doritos stamps. But it is clear that the whole mood of the musical has shifted and darkened. The action takes place in today's New York, although Kramer talks about creating a heightened reality and a scene transformation that may remind the audience of watching MTV (and perhaps also the adverts, where 'Aquarius' now promotes the Ford Focus Zetec).