I like my music with a little chaos and disaster and I have always admired female fronted band. Women who stand their ground in a male dominated industry. It's just good to hear girls pick up a guitar and scream. Just like Courtney Love wants us to.
With that in mind, I'd like to introduce you to a little punk rock band called Death Koolaid based in London town. Each with their own individual style and with their pint sized front lady so wonderfully named Siren Sycho, they are a force to be reckoned with when they hit the stage. But let me tell you that size does not matter when it comes to the deranged vocals from Siren's mouth. Together with sludgy and dragged up from the gutter guitars, Siren's gravel vocals sync with almost doll like moans together Linda Blair screams which send shivers through the crowd and pull them in by the throat.
I was lucky enough to be in the video for their single 'The 2nd Rule' (you'll see me on the right side of the guitarist). As the camera continually rotates, we see each member in position on their own stage getting crazy to the music with their messed up masked military dolls parading around them all under a circus tent. Think of Marilyn Manson's mOBSECENE girls if they were dragged through the fields of a biohazard scene when the funfair left town. The song never lets up and is just enough for you to want more with the barrage of noise that suddenly cuts dead. I can definitely see people getting wild in the mosh pit to this one (if only people put their phones away at gigs!). If you like grunge and punk rock influences, definitely take a butchers at Death Koolaid. These are ones to watch!
Isabella Blow: Fashion Galore show @ Somerset House.
I went to this on Thursday and I'm so glad I caught this show (which
ends on 2nd March) as I am forever missing exhibitions and shows saying I must
go, I will go.... oh dammit it's gone!
Assiting in the curating the show was one of her closest friends and
fashion muse extraordinaire in her own right, Daphne Guinness, who bought the collection
and loaned it for this exhibition. This wonderful collection of Isabella’s clothing
and those oh so famous hats she used to wear, all housed in one spot, was a joy
to see. It started from childhood and a small history on her background through
her career as a stylist working with so many respected photographers and
designers through to her untimely death where you can see the amazing tribute
show by Alexander McQueen and Philip Treacy.
There were not so many other personal belonging; a few letters, a
lipstick kiss on a napkin, her rolodex address book. It was all about her style
and it gave a true feeling that fashion was her life and passion. There was no
real focus about her death and was more of a celebration (which I was happy
about). It was strange walking around recognising certain hats that I have seen
her wearing in magazines. It was so very tempting to touch some of the things
there, especially as the vast majority were garments designed by McQueen (who
Isabella famously bought his entire graduate collection paying him £100 a month,
receiving 1 garment at a time) and 99.9% of the hats were made by Treacy.
In her description of McQueens ‘Dante’ A/W 1996 collection, Isabella
described him as ‘...[taking] ideas from the past and sabotages them with his
cut to make them thoroughly new and in the context of today. It is the complexity and severity of his
approach to cut that makes him so modern.’
I think was a reflection in the way she dressed herself. Back to a time
when women wore hats and gloves and would always be suitably dressed for an occasion.
There is a sense of freedom and restriction her his work and the way she wore
her clothes. McQueen once said that he wanted ‘people to be afraid of the women’
he dressed. Isabella was often misunderstood within the media, often described
as bizzaire. I personally cannot stand descriptions like this. It’s not usual
so its bizzaire? Which gives a feeling that something is not right. Can it not
just be different?
The meticulous detail that went into each outfit and the references to
art and history are very obvious throughout. I think this was one of my favourite
outfits, taking inspiration from the matadors of Spain and the horns of bull.
I thought the exhibition was a great tribute to the style and the life
of Isabella Blow and a missed character within the fashion world as she bought
excitement to what can be very homogenised at times. Extremely inspirational
and I recommend you taking a sketchbook as there is too much to remember.
Ok I know I have been
away for a LONG time and there is really and truly only one post on here.
Albeit it an amazing post.... there's not much content other than that. It's
mainly due to the fact I haven't had much cash to do much and other things have
take priority. However, I want to breathe some much needed life into this blog.
So without delaying any further....
Come And See- Jake and
Dinos Chapman
@Serpentine Sackler
Gallery
Today I was lucky to
see this show as it closes tomorrow on Sunday. I remember seeing some of their
work at the Saatchi Gallery about 10 years and was always impressed their
approach in tackling subjects such as religion, mortality and politics.
It's usually quite confrontational work and I think sometimes have quite an
eerie feel to them which always leaves me with questions.
Their most famous
work, described as 'hellscapes', were the particular favourites of the crowd as
there is so much to see in it. So many stories within one scene. The Nazis, the
mutants, the skeletal zombies and the McDonald's characters all in one
apocalyptic battle field. It looks very gruesome and so disturbing and as one
of the visitors said 'you almost can't see who the bad guys are'. A definite
reflection on the state of corruption in politics and the corporate world and
how they collide and conspire together. Interesting that Ronald McDonald has
been turned into a Jesus figure. Probably more people eat Maccy D's than turn
up to church on Sunday. Who is the bigger icon? Which side are you on?
There were also four
large black flags with smiley faces which initial look quite fun until you
realise they are reminiscent of flags at a Nazi rally. The blue eyed Klu Klux
Klan figures that were dotted around the exhibition, all with very startled
expressions under their white hoods, also featured the smiley face symbol but
the surprise is that they were wearing rainbow socks and Birkenstocks. Is this
of the view point that we all take to corruption is someway when it's presented
to us in a safe and amicable way? Really we are innocent but somehow we are
held hostage to a corrupt world through politics and corporate companies? The
KKK members were also present in the room where the short filmFucking Hellwas being shown. Needless to say, I
kept standing as I found those things a bit freaky as they were so life like.
Mannequins are weird in general, let alone if they are dressed in KKK gear!
Other particular favourites were the 21 delicate pencil drawingsWhat Really Happens To Us After
We're Deadseries. These
ghostly and ethereal drawings were reminiscent of the recent research made by
scientists in regards tobrain wavesthat are omitted just before death. I would like to think that it has
been inspired by this or it's an interpretation of the spirit leaving the body.
What I like about
their work as a whole is that although it's dark and it is often highlighting
the negative, which is something that we can fall victim to or push to the back
of our minds, usually because it is uncomfortable and can raise fear or guilt within
ourselves. The use of McDonalds characters add a sense of humour poking fun at
those at the top of the financial totem pole. They are not afraid to confront
and question those that are seen to have high status. This is also seen in the
series of 8 paintingsOne Day
You Will No Longer Be Loved. Inspired by the old masters and the high
society persons at the time who would have paid artists to paint portraits to
depict their status and self importance, these remade works on canvases with
haphazardly placed rusted nails feature portraits with signs of decay and the
ultimate demise of death; a sure reminder that no matter what status, political
or religious views you may possess, the one thing in this life is the inescapable
process of death.
