Noah St. John - Storyteller

This year's NPR Snap Judgement Performance of the Year. Needless to say I shed sloppy tears on my laptop watching this.

-av
Lover of Love


A Plus1Press Publication

Guerrilla Gardening

These people think themselves a couple of bad ace green thumbs, but in all honesty they are.

Brought to you by your friends at SoulPancake. JV, you should check out the art they post; right up your alley man.

Peace & Love,
sf

A Plus1Press Publication

DING

This Is My Favorite Of The Breaking Bad Fan Art. 


-jv
fan
A Plus1Press Publication

Minimalist Disney Posters

Shout Out to Fisti, Pinterest, Izzy, Alice, Jill, Lucy, Disney, J.M., The Grimm Bros., Ariel, Peter, The Crocidile, Snow White, Apples, Rowansm and Love.

-jv
A Plus1Press Publication

A RCHP Retrospective/Love Letter

The first album I ever bought was Californication. I must have listened to it a thousand times. Its about an hour long 24 hours in a day four days is about a 100 hours 40 days? I have spent 40 days of my life listening to Californication. All Around The World, Scar Tissue, Otherside, Easily, Get On Top, Those Weird Songs in the back half about wolves and english girls. The music videos, the album cover was like the coolest thing I had ever seen. The Second Album I ever bought was Blood Sugar Sex Magik. I played Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1 on mute with Blood Sugar Sex Magik on for all of 9th Grade. Under a Bridge (they just found the bridge), Sir Psycho Sexy, GIVE IT AWAY, If You Have To Ask, Suck My Kiss. FACT ALERT Blood Sugar Sex Magik came out the same day as Nirvana's Nevermind. In the CD case with the lyrics and stuff, there were pictures of the band's tattoos. I looked at them a million times. I love One Hot Minute, Pea is the best song, and unquestionably the worst vegetable, and the whole album is good and very short. And later Cabron, Snow, Dani California, Throw Away Your Television, A Minor Thing, Can't Stop, Slow Cheetah. And before Fight Like A Brave and their version of Higher Ground. I just saw this interview with Anthony Kiedis from the set of their Look Around video, Its adorable he is trying to gently GENTLY wrangle his son while talking with a reporter, and hes got a pompadour.



-jv
fan
A Plus1Press Publication

#SummerJams

Super Hipster Edition.

This one's for the ladies; one of my favorite new bands in LA is a trio of sisters called Haim.  They're the best chick-band I've heard in a long time.  Still unsigned, they just released their first music video this morning (audio much better than video):



I've seen them 4 times in LA and had the pleasure of working with them when they opened for Portugal the Man at one of venues that I'm occasionally employed by: super humble, funny girls with a good appreciation for the art they're making and the fans they're gathering.  When I saw them in March, they had their parents (both musicians) come onstage and play a cover. In April, Ryan Adams did a guest spot.

They haven't gotten much radio play in the US yet, but they're on the charts in the UK and were Band of the Week  a few months ago in Vogue.  They received critical acclaim after appearing at South by Southwest in March.

And their EP is available for Free Download.  That's fucking sweet.

I first heard about them because the lead singer dates guitar-virtuoso Blake Mills (formerly of Dawes) and did a duet with him for the "Chimes of Freedom" album (a compilation of Bob Dylan covers that raised money for Amnesty International):



So check them out now, get on the bandwagon while they're still relatively unknown, and then you can sound like a hipster when they get signed and start popping up on traditional media.  Download their free EP: I promise they'll be stuck in your head instantly and leave you wanting more.

-DMc, West Coast Correspondent

#SummerJams

Double edition.

Summer is upon us!  I know some of you have probably heard "Anna Sun" on the radio by now, and I expect a big push leading up to Walk the Moon's major label LP release on June 19 (the day after some of you see them in Boston).

Here's another band who's EP is very promising and name is fucking awesome: Imagine Dragons.



I've heard the lead single "It's Time" getting some airplay recently, although I actually prefer a remixed version by Penguin Prison, an awesome electro-pop band that I told Rob & Mel to see back in April. You can download that remix HERE. Also, you should definitely check out Penguin Prison's album from last year, because it's fantastically fun.

Another new band that's definitely getting radio play is Of Monsters and Men:



They're like, from Iceland, which is cool.  Also, I love a band that has both male & female lead vocals.

So listen for those two #SummerJams as you hit the beach!

-DMc, West Coast Correspondent

Bambi

Bambi is a female street artist from the U.K. She does really cool things with stencils.

-jv
The Olympics are so soon.

A Plus1Press Publication

Mr. Mario T

Alice found this. I love it.

-jv
Also, Mustache-less Mario
A Plus1Press Publication

Thomas Kinkade

Thomas Kinkade died yesterday. Thomas Kinkade was the artist who painted all of the pictures of cottages in the woods on the sunniest day ever. He was famous for painting pictures that were flooded with light and selling them everywhere and on everything. Critics of Thomas Kinkade wrote off his painting as mall art and kitsch, as if selling tons of painting to all sorts of people was the worst thing in the world. Thomas Kinkade's technique of filling a painting with light is a descendant of the Hudson River School of Painting. They sold a ton of paintings too. Thomas Kinkade also painted a series of Disney paintings.

-jv
former Art History major
A Plus1Press Publication

Early #SummerJam Prediction

Prepare to hear this song everywhere.



It was originally released independently two years ago, on an excellent LP called "I Want I Want!" which you can no longer get anywhere.  Why? Because they signed to RCA, and major record labels are pricks.  RCA has re-released "Anna Sun" on EP, with a full length forthcoming.

Also thanks to RCA, "Anna Sun" is now finding it's way onto major (read: Clear Channel) radio stations.  It's a shoo-in to be massively overplayed this summer, much like "Pumped Up Kicks" last year.

I don't really mind though.  I saw Walk the Moon live a few weeks ago in LA, and they tooootally rocked. Awesome live energy.  They paint their faces for shows (like in the video) and so do many of their fans (mostly cute girls).  I think that's kinda fun.  Just sayin'.

On a personal note, the lyrical content of the song reminds me fondly of our college party houses on Main St & Grey St, of Allen Court in Boston, and of HouseHouse, where I lived for my first year in LA.

I hope you all enjoy hearing this song a million times this summer, and I hope their new album still has some of their other awesome songs, like this one:



-DMc, West Coast Correspondent

PS, Walk the Moon plays April 5 on Jimmy Fallon.

PPS, See you all soon!

Won Park Origami

Aside from AV the Origami World is ruled by Won Park.

The Squiggle Flourish makes the eye!

STEGOSAURAUS 

I would be scared if I saw this on the ground.

Theres more too.
-jv
A Plus1Press Publication

Ron Howard's "Walt"

This isn't real. But if it was, it would win every award.

This is real.

-av
A Plus1Press Publication

Boston Concert Recommendation

Two of my current favorite bands are playing together @ House of Blues in Boston on April 29.

http://www.houseofblues.com/tickets/eventdetail.php?eventid=72955

If you like indie pop/rock dance jams, you should definitely go to this show.

Penguin Prison is opening.  I saw them in LA last month: they fucking OWNED the stage.  Their album is great: check it out on Spotify. I have a feeling they could get big.  Also, I ended up partying w' the drummer & keyboard player til 6am: cool dudes.



Miike Snow is headlining.  They are a bit more well-known, are releasing a new album this Spring, and I  am excited to see them at Coachella a few weeks before they head to the East Coast.  Their previous album is on Spotify.  If you still don't have Spotify, I don't think we can be friends anymore.


Rabbit by Miike Snow


So yea, that is my Spring concert recommendation for those of you residing in the Greater Boston Area.  You will dance your face off: I promise.

-DMc, West Coast Correspondent

Painting Squirell

This is nothing like the Elephant who painted a self portrait. This is a a squirrel, named Miss Winklelhimer Smith, maybe painting maybe chewing on what it figured is a stick all the while the most crazy stage mom super enthusiastic high pitched whats wrong with parents today voice gushes over how special it is. Its only 18 seconds long.


I think this is animal cruelty, maybe?
-jv

A Plus1Press Publication

Dear Friends

I miss you all terribly and hope that you had a wonderful holiday season!

I'd like to share with you some information about a project that I am involved in, and am quite proud of:

"Limbus" is my feature-film debut and one of the most exciting things I've done since moving to Los Angeles.  I am playing one of the leading roles: the plot centers around 4 cult members who commit group-suicide and find themselves trapped somewhere in between life and death, searching for answers and a path out.  Heavy stuff, I know, but the work we've done so far has been very rewarding and the footage from the initial shoot is haunting and heart-wrenching.  We shot for several weeks in early December, and will be picking up again in February to finish the film.

We need some help fundraising though:

Kickstarter is a grassroots funding tool that was named one of the top 50 inventions of 2010 by Time Magazine.  It is an exciting new way for non-corporate creative projects to attract investors.  If you're unfamiliar, here's how it works: we set a goal ($10,000) and a time limit (1 month); if enough patrons pledge donations, and we meet our goal, our project gets funded.

If the idea of supporting independent art excites you, or if you'd like to help me take a huge step forward in my career, or if this project just sounds cool to you, I encourage you to pledge.  Even $1 and you can say honestly that you produced a Hollywood feature!

I know these are difficult economic times, but if you can't afford a donation, you can still help by spreading the word about our project.  Check out the Kickstarter page, and pass the info along to others who might be interested.  Link to us on Facebook, or Twitter, or whatever social-networking site you prefer.  Anything you can do to help will be much appreciated by myself and the other artists invested in this film.

I love you all dearly and hope that you all have a great start to 2012!

-DMc, West Coast Correspondent

Some more fun facts:

Our director, Brandon Nicholas, has 2 previous feature-films that have screened at festivals around the country and have distribution through Netflix.  I've worked with him on several music videos over the past two years.

Our producer, Courtney Salmon, recently finished working on the new Spiderman film (with Andrew Garfield & Emma Stone).

We are shooting on the newest, bestest camera in the business, the Red Epic.  The first films shot on this camera include The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Hobbit, and The Amazing Spiderman.

One of my co-stars, Alex Klein, recently played a German exchange student on an episode of "Community," (red shirt).

We needed a cheap location for the first section of the film, so we took all of the furniture out of my (large) bedroom and built a set, which I slept in during the shoot.

Eleplant Painting An Elephant

Imagine an elephant grabbing a paint brush and taking 8 minutes to paint a self portrait.


-jv
Anything's Possible
A Plus1Press Publication

Ashcan Art

Ashcan Art refers to the art created during the turn of the 20th century that depicted realistic scenes of American Life.

Robert Henri's Coal Breaker. 1902.

John Sloan's Self Portrait. 1890.

Robert Henri's Snow in New York. 1902

Theres more and its all great.
-jv
A Plus1Press Publication

Hunger Games Character Posters

Today The Hunger Games movie released 8 posters, each featuring a profile shot of a different character. They spread them accross a bunch of websites, but I've collected them all here, for your viewing pleasure. 

 Effie is my favorite, even her nostrils are pink. Also, I'm loving that Katniss is facing a different direction than everyone else.

Thoughts?

av

A Plus1Press Publication

Picasso, My Dude.

When Picasso was little his Dad was an artist who showed little Picasso the ropes. When Picasso was seven he surpassed his Dad. As he grew older Picasso took art classes and really honed his skill. Picasso had skill. Once Picasso began to get more abstract with his art other artists would occasionally insinuate that Picasso didn't have the skill to do realist art. And Picasso would challenge them to art-offs, AND ALWAYS WIN. Picasso is my dude. Today would have been his 130th birthday.

This picture is "Nude Green Leaves and Bust" and in 2010 it sold for 106.5 MILLION DOLLARS, my dude.

-jv
former art history major
A Plus1Press Publication