Yesterday I went to the Debbie Durkin’s Eco-Oscars at the Main Event Red Carpet Lounge, an Oscars gifting tradition.  It was a fun, surreal afternoon.  The event had more of a green/philanthropic angle than the pure promotional consumerist gifting suites we read about in gossip mags, not that it lacked cupcakes or bedazzled Ed Hardy-esque clothes.  I’ll hopefully have better images soon – I’m not trying to be incognito, I swear.

I was photographed for a book whose proceeds will benefit Red Cross efforts in Haiti.  Photographer Scott Nathan shot some celebrities in attendance, and we (omg, what?) also wrote messages for the book.  I was proud to participate but was not prepared with anything that meaningful to write.  I did, however, have orange lipstick on, which is at least as inspiring as a written expression of hope.

Here I am getting touched up by a stylist from Juan Florentino:

Lights, gray seamless, action:

I learned about the P.S. I Love You Foundation, which organizes educational outreach programs for at-risk kids.  Looks like a really great organization that makes it easy to get involved.  They work with schools, sure, but they also put on pizza & ice cream socials and surf lessons at the beach.

The company that makes soap for Fresh presented its private label soaps, under the La Belle Vie brand.  They’re made in France and smell amazing:

They’re also a lot cheaper than Fresh.  I still love Fresh, though, no use talking me out of that habit, at least till I find out who makes their brown sugar scrubs.

Pure Heat brought its hair styling tools made from 50% recycled materials.  That line seems great for white people with hair that just needs drying, the hair that responds well to Kiehl’s grooming creme and tips you see in fashion magazines.  My Mediterranean hair demands full force, full heat pro blow drying that only the Elchim 2001 can deliver.  I’m excited to try their brushes, though; I was told they can hold up to my blow dryer without melting.

On the way out, I was asked to pose with a car.  I hope the pics ended up tasteful.  The car was pretty big.  I was standing by the tire, not the hood, so I think it’s all right.  I don’t know that it’s appropriate to do product shots for objects I am/am not endorsing.  One might be better than the other, not sure which.  I was not promoting the car but was okay with the event the car company supported.  Should probably draw this line ‘with a bolder stroke’ or else I risk diluting my JPGs’ resonance.

A friend of mine sent me the link to this Sartorialist post featuring my doppelgänger.  It even had me confused; I have a very similar jacket, and I recently ran around the Upper East Side.  Thing is, I don’t wear jeans tucked in boots, and I don’t have tough-chic buckled boots.

It’s about time I see some evidence of lookalikes roaming around, because one in 10 people I meet claims to know someone who “looks exactly” like me, and she “sounds like you, too.”  That sentiment was really hard to take when I was growing up since I’ve considered myself very opinionated and specific – how can anyone duplicate that?  And what for?  But I’ve come to realize that I’m also a thin, pale blond, and we do all look alike.

Check it out – I’m on Chic Intuition!  It’s a super good fashion blog, and its authors Sarah and Dahlia have been posting photos from New York fashion week.  People imagine the crowd at fashion shows to be in either all black or all crazy.  This post features three alternatives to those styles, and there I am, representing posh.

A cliché that did turn out to be true: people ask you who you’re wearing all the time.  It makes sense since they’re reporting about clothes, but it’s still weird for me to name labels.

Also weird: a crowd of photographers shooting me.  One came, and then there was a group of them, click click click flash flash.  Some girl looked at me like, “WTF are you,” and I was all, “I dunno, k?”  I felt like a freshman.

Sarah and Dahlia of Chic are so smart + positive, and they have a great eye.  Check out Chic Intuition if you havn’t yet!

From started out as my studio project, went on to include very talented members, and is now a duo: guitarist Paul Best and me.  The details span LA, San Francisco, and Stockholm.  They include people I respect a great deal.

Now we’re working on new material, which feels great.  I wrote a lot of songs over break, and I think they’re some of my best work.  Polishing this stuff for recording makes me really excited about the overall direction.  Can’t wait to get back in the studio with Paul.  Stay tuned!

From got a great feature in a cool new magazine called V&V.  V&V is from Willis, the guy behind the Vinyl & Vodka blog.  He’s got amazing taste, and I love the whole magazine.  It’s something like V x Vogue x Nylon, though it’s informed by Willis’ eye.  We’ve had fashion magazines cover music, but it’s really great to have a music blogger take on fashion.

Lots to read, so take your time to get to our piece on page 27.  You’ll read about how we’ve grown and get some details on upcoming releases.  I loved reading that we look more dressed up/classy than other bands out there.  Also check out what I wrote about Alexander McQueen’s spring 2010 collection on page 25.  It was really fun for me to write that bit, and I’m so grateful to Willis for having me on board.

Looking forward to more issues!

Links: V&V, Vinyl and Vodka

That’s a preview to a movie is called The Band From Hell, and it depicts a band that will reportedly seduce you and rock your world and then eat your flesh (a process that would kill you).  A key fact about this band is that its lineup is all werewolves.

I find this film disturbing.  It’s like someone tried to depict The Band From’s hell and burned it onto a DVD.  I don’t want From to join concepts like marriage hell, bankruptcy hell, and DMV hell.  Look, I’m not being difficult here.  I’m pro abstract concepts and sometimes even think about them.  But obvs hell is a special case, and there’s lots more my band needs to accomplish before sorting out what From hell might be like.

We played our first show last week.  Give us a chance to make our mark before proceeding with a co-brand.  This movie isn’t the best fit for From.  Our music is predominantly upbeat catchy songs under 3 minutes.  There’s no hell on Maple Drive.  Fair Isle isn’t up in flames.  I guess quick pop songs would be torture for someone who hates to be happy, but that’s not really the target demographic.  I should add that we don’t eat people.

Can’t even watch this thing more than five times.

Insanity – we had like 150 people at our first show, and there was no audience attrition.  Everyone stayed for the whole set.  We had the best time, and I can’t wait to edit the video & put it up.  Till then, we’ve got some photos.

As you can see, the venue, Daydream Republic, is a rough warehouse that’s been converted to an art space.  It’s a great setting, and we’re really grateful to have been booked for the holiday party.  Jacob Safari DJed after us and played the Curb Your Enthusiasm right after our last song.  Santa came around, pouring tequila to the guests.

I finally got to eat after the show.  Had French toast and chocolate chip pancakes from the Buttermilk Truck.  I thought it all tasted good, but damn, I was really hungry.  Couldn’t truly judge.

Big thanks to everyone who came to support us and all the people who worked hard to make the event such a success.  Vivien Killilea runs Daydream and constantly added more fun stuff to the evening, plus made it all go smoothly and promoted the hell out of it.  My brother Dan coached us a couple of weeks before and helped us refine the sound.  It really came together thanks to him.  Danielle Parsons filmed everything – and she’s a director, so she knows what she’s doing – AND she bought sparklers for the last song.  I thought we were years away from having fireworks at a show.  That was such an amazing surprise.  Photographer Mats Holmberg shot the whole thing.  I was told that my friend dismissed the writing room at The Simpsons to come see us.  Another friend came straight from the airport.  People came from Orange County.  I hope I’m not leaving out too many important details.

What a night.  Thanks!!!!!

Hey.  We’re playing tonight at Daydream Republic’s Festive Edition.  It’s going to be a fun night with cheap drinks, a great DJ (Jacob Safari!), and the Buttermilk Truck.  The whole thing is free and goes from 8 to midnight:

Daydream Republic
4500 Jefferson Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90016
310.359.2359

The event/our performance got featured on both Thrillist and LA Weekly.  We’re very grateful for the coverage!!  We’re just a little band trying to make our way, and we’re lucky to be part of an event that can get this much attention.

Read more »

I’m writing this as a friend who would write something to help you out.  Your iPod might hate you.  Let’s figure this out.  The situation may suck right now, but it’s super easy to remedy.

Some might say that inanimate objects like MP3 players can’t hate because they don’t experience feelings.  Fair enough, but hate may not be a feeling.  We leave it up to a court of law to determine whether or not offensive acts are hate crimes.  No lawyer would debate whether a crime is provably sad or happy.  Those are feelings for sure.  We keep them out of the legal system.  Hate?  A feeling?  Who can really tell.  I’m not here to discuss that.

It would be more constructive just to find out if your iPod hates you.  Let’s go.  How to tell if your iPod hates you: a flow chart I made.

Read more »

So excited to announce our first show!  It’s coming up right after Thxgiving, and it’ll be at Daydream Republic – such a great space.  We’re playing a big warehouse that’s been converted to an art space, and we’ll be doing it on a gold stage.

The Buttermilk Truck will be there all night with breakfast treats, including Hawaiian bread cinnamon French toast sticks, pancake bites, and omelets.

Of note: it’s free, drinks are cheap, and there’s street parking.

Daydream Republic
Wednesday, December 2nd
8PM
FREE

4500 W. Jefferson Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90016
map

Gonna be so fun.  See you there!