What:
Warm Slime
Who:
Thee Oh Sees
Where:
Polyester and other good stores
On:
In The Red
While they've been busy reinventing themselves the last few years, Thee Oh Sees have really blossomed. It seems that once Dwyer nailed the coffin lid down on his noisy-garage-punk outfit The Coachwhips, a lot of what made them so special has found its way into the previously folk and psych -oriented OCS, or Ohsees, or Thee Oh Sees I guess it is these days. Either way, the band's sound has matured right along with their name.
Warm Slime starts off somewhat unexpectedly with a 13-minute bass-driven odyssey that somehow never seems to get stale. It's a major achievement considering the other tracks are all clocking in at under a third of the length and, while all very good as well, not nearly as exciting.
But throughout listening to the newest in a long line of Dwyer garage greatness, one question kept coming to mind. Why do all these Brooklyn-based revivalists keep making boring copycat bands when someone else has been playing perfection for years? Not all of you have to be in a band you know, some of you could get real jobs and contribute to society or something.
What:
The Chicken Sound Stampede
Where:
Lamington Drive, 89 George Street, Fitzroy
When:
Sun May 30, 3pm sharp
How much:
Free! Get involved!
Description:
George Egerton-Warburton might have been cock-blocked by the RSPCA when he said he wanted to stampede 500 chickens down Smith Street for his Next Wave project. But that has not dampened his spirit. Join his "sound stampede" this Sunday, bombarding the streets of Collingwood with the terrifying din of 500 loose chickens. - Us
What:
Keith Haring
Who:
Written by Jeffrey Deitch and Julia Gruen, edited by Suzanne Geiss, contributions by Kenny Scharf and George Condo.
Where:
Online at Kinokuniya, or eBay
How much:
$150-$200
Related links:
Go check out his mural on Johnston Street
Whenever I think of the late Keith Haring I immediately think of the word 'riddim'. This jaunty Jamaican slang best describes the frenetic energy that Haring employed in his prolific output of paintings, drawings and murals.
This simply-titled book written by Jeffery Deitch chronicles everything that Mr Haring laid a finger on. From his arrival in New York in the late '70s and his subsequent involvement in the new wave, disco and hip-hop scenes, to his meteoric rise within the New York and global art worlds, few stones are left unturned in what is a very mossy and deep creek of a career.
Each chapter in the book begins with a personal monograph from Haring that introduces the reader's wandering eye to a plethora of photos, scanned articles and letters. Like plasticine, the book moulds a thorough documentation of Haring's style - it's interesting to see how quickly he departed from his conceptual art-school concerns (thanks Barthes!) to primal, beautifully simplified, line-based figures.
As a parting note, one of my favourite images by Haring also graces the cover of the book. His signature gaggle eyed, inanely grinning ‘Three eyed face' is the epitome of fresh. It is a painting that I'm sure will be reflected on many a Haring fan's face as they flick through this book with glee.
What:
The Daily Wave report #15 - four unmissable closing weekend shindigs
Image:
At Great Heights 2. Photo by Shivanjali Lal.
In the blink of an eye, we've reached our last Daily Wave post. But there is more than one unmissable Next Wave event happening this weekend. So suck it up, here are four mini posts for the price of one. Thanks so much for tuning in.
Great Heights 2 closing night
Fri May 28, 6-10pm. Rooftop, Melbourne Central (enter via Little Lonsdale St). Curated by Meg Hale, Floating above shadows, moored beneath clouds is a temporary sculpture garden on top of Melbourne Central. A strange dream world on a shockingly large expanse of roof just three floors above Lonsdale Street. Features works by Kay Abude, Sam George, Michael Georgetti, Tegan Lewis, Andrew Liversidge, Amy & Claire Spiers and Paul Wotherspoon.
Sports Club 2
Sat May 29 from 1pm. Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Gate 1, Ponsford Stand, Yarra Park, Jolimont. This epic project invites you behind the scenes at the hallowed turf, where 16 artists including Bindi Cole, Michael Ozone, Carl Scrase and The List Operators will challenge the myths of elite sport and do stuff like pretend they are professional coaches. If you have always intended never ever to set foot in the MCG, you are going to fucking love this.
The Chicken Stampede performance
Sun May 30, 3pm sharp. Lamington Drive, 89 George Street, Fitzroy. George Egerton-Warburton might have been cock-blocked by the RSPCA when he said he wanted to stampede 500 chickens down Smith Street to Jeff Kahn's house for his Next Wave project. But that has not dampened his feathered spirit. Join George's "sound stampede" this Sunday, bombarding the streets of Collingwood with the terrifying din of 500 loose chickens.
Shine On You Crazy Diamond closing night party
Sun May 30, 6pm. Slot 9, Fed Square (enter via the toilets corridor, off the Atrium). Remember Lauren Brincat? She of the 12-foot-high drumkit? In this installation - in a previously unseen trench underneath Fed Square - she attempts to harness the power of the sun and bathe the audience in refreshing Vitamin D using only a crash cymbal. The closing night party features a performance by Lauren with Bree van Ryk.
What:
Next Wave - Sports Club 2
Where:
Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Gate 1, Ponsford Stand, Yarra Park, Jolimont.
When:
Sat May 29, 1-8pm
How much:
Free!
Description:
This epic project invites you behind the scenes at the hallowed turf, where 16 artists including Bindi Cole, Michael Ozone, Carl Scrase and The List Operators will challenge the myths of elite sport and also pretend they are professional coaches. Details to hand: Carl Scrase will be letting off 20 red and ornage boating flares at 7.30pm (see the rehearsal here) and The List Operators will be "recalling the childhood horror of being divided into teams" in an interactive performance in the players' changerooms at 3pm, 4pm, 5pm and 6pm. If you have always intended never ever to set foot in the MCG, you are going to fucking love this.
What:
The Chicken Stampede performance
Where:
Lamington Drive, 89 George Street, Fitzroy
When:
Sun May 30, 3pm sharp
How much:
Free!
Description:
George Egerton-Warburton might have been cock-blocked by the RSPCA when he said he wanted to stampede 500 chickens down Smith Street for his Next Wave project. But that has not dampened his spirit. Join his "sound stampede" this Sunday, bombarding the streets of Collingwood with the terrifying din of 500 loose chickens. - Us
What:
Next Wave - Shine On You Crazy Diamond closing night party with performance
Where:
Slot 9, Fed Square (enter via the toilets corridor, off the Atrium)
When:
Sun May 30, 6pm
How much:
Free!
Description:
Remember Lauren Brincat? She of the 12-foot-high drumkit? In this installation - in a previously unseen trench underneath Fed Square - she attempts to harness the power of the sun and bathe the audience in refreshing Vitamin D using only a crash cymbal. The closing night party features a performance by Brincat and Bree van Ryk. - Us
What:
Next Wave - 'Great Heights 2' closing night
Where:
Rooftop, Melbourne Central (enter via Little Lonsdale St)
When:
Fri May 28, 6-10pm
How much:
Free!
Description:
Curated by Meg Hale, Floating above shadows, moored beneath clouds is a temporary sculpture garden on the roof of Melbourne Central. A strange dream world on a shockingly large expanse of roof just three floors above Lonsdale Street. Features works by Kay Abude, Sam George, Michael Georgetti, Tegan Lewis, Andrew Liversidge, Amy & Claire Spiers and Paul Wotherspoon. - Us
What:
Plane city store
Where:
16 Manchester Ln, Melbourne
When:
Mon-Sat 10.30-6pm, Sun 12-5
Contact:
9671 4789
We already featured Plane in Windsor a couple of years ago - a store that sells quality clothing and accessories unencumbered with logos and prints. It's a great concept, even if that other popular label/store from America with the ads of their semi-naked ‘employees' opened up just down the road from them. The only problem I have with the original Plane store is it's on Chapel Street. I'm downright terrified of that side of town.
So when I heard Tristan had set up another shop in the city, my relief was palpable. Stocking a good mix of designer labels like Sydney's An Ode To Noone, and local lad Ivan Budah's Jesen, the store also runs several basics lines, with everything from nice pocket tees for $20 to solid zip-up hoodies. The shoe area is also looking solid, with a good range of Melissa and desert boots imported from the UK, as well as those little kung-fu sandshoe things.
Tucked away down the now quality-fashion-heavy Manchester Lane, the new Plane is about as central as you could possibly get. Also, their online store should be up and running in the next couple of weeks, so now I have no excuse.
What:
Deaf Wish last gig
When:
Sat 29 May, 9pm
Where:
Yah Yah's, 99 Smith St, Fitzroy
How much:
$12
Description:
Breakups. So many great bands breakup after losing a member. Though this has happened repeatedly over the past 21 years of my life, the reality of just how sad breakups are was epitomised by the worst 'band leaver' of all - Gerri. So it is saddening to hear another one is upon us. Bass playing Nick Pratt is leaving Deaf Wish. Yup. He is up and leaving them to live in a paradise for criminals - Perth. Grant a deaf man's wish and honour his departure this Saturday at Yah Yah's. The Stabs and Teen Archer will play too. - MS
