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Slowly, softly, stylistically, and now silently, The Sads have been working their way into the heart of L.A. with their off-kilter songs of loves lost and sentimental hopes. Since their last public outing at agnes b. (which is covered right here), the quartet of Aaron Rose, Aska Matsumiya, Dan Monick, and David Scott Stone have been preparing a silent show for the rest of us romantics. What’s a silent show you ask? Please allow Mr. Rose elaborate:

‘Please join us this Saturday night for a very special silent performance by The Sads. If your wondering what a silent performance consists of, the concept is this: essentially we play all electronic instruments and sing directly into a board which then feeds out to multiple sets of individual headphones for the audience. When the headphones are off, the room is quiet…when you put them on, they’re full of loud, wonderful live music. Hence, a “silent” show. We’re working on a brand new composition for the performance, so we hope you can come share this with us. We did it in New York last year and it was an amazing experience!! Also, this year, filmmaker Mike Mills has created a special video installation for the performance which will play on multiple monitors throughout the performance. It’s seriously worth coming just for that!’

Here’s the info:

ANP QUARTERLY and THE VISION and ART of SHINJO ITO present
A SILENT PERFORMANCE by THE SADS
Video Installation by MIKE MILLS

SATURDAY, JUNE 14th, 2008

Two Performances: 8:00 & 9:00 PM (doors open 7:30)
Due to limited headphones, please arrive early.

WESTWOOD ART FORUM
1028 WESTWOOD BLVD (just north of Hammer Museum)
LOS ANGELES, CA 90024

www.westwoodartforum.com
www.thesads.com

Invitation design: Mike Mills

And for those of you unfamiliar with the work of Mike Mills, he’s responsible for some of your Sonic Youth, Beastie Boys, and Air album artwork, and skateboard and t-shirt graphics. He’s also reminded us it’s ok to suck our thumbs by directing Thumbsucker as well as many other creative music videos, commercials, and graphic design endeavors.

Yesterday I ran a post on the upcoming global graffiti film Bomb It, so I thought a good follow up would be to point you in the direction towards more of the same. Specifically an interview with Barry McGee a.k.a. Twist, one of my favorite artists whose work started on the streets. Vice’s online broadcast network, VBS.TV, has a plethora of cool shows on many cultural topics one of which is Art Talk. Recently Aaron Rose did an interview, of sorts, with Barry for the show. My only problem with this genius little video is that I didn’t get to edit it.

(animations by the über talented new dad Max Erdenberger of Central Office and Viewers Like You.)

(You can check out part 2 of the interview by clicking right here.)

And if you want to see more unique videos, VBS also features shows ranging from the photographically sexy (Shot By Kern), to our polluted environment (Toxic-Garbage Island), to iconic skateboarders and their craft (Epicly Later’d), to even more garbage (Manila’s City of Garbage), to inside looks into places we’re not really allowed in (The Vice Guide To North Korea). Collect them all!

The one year anniversary group art show for the Family bookstore on Fairfax comes to a close today. The walls of the store are completely covered by new and original works from dozens of well known artists and some not so well known ones as well. At the back of the store, beyond all the rows of must have books, you’ll find Mike Mills’ music video for Barr which utilizes every single news image from a past edition of the New York Times. You can also find Will Oldham’s exorbitantly priced photos of nothing in particular in gaudy frames (one suspects the asking price was more of an experiment more than anything) as well as this gem of a suitcase painted and relined by Aaron Rose. Check it out today if you can, you’ve got until 9pm!

Family is located on 436 N. Fairfax Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90036 and is open noon to 9pm daily.

(click image to see more photos of The Sads at agnes b.)

On Friday April 11th, L.A.’s agnes b. boutique in brought together Brent Stewart’s photography from the set of writer/director Harmony Korine’s (Kids, Gummo) upcoming cinematic love story Mister Lonely, as well as the musical stylings of The Sads.

I don’t usually find myself perusing the high class fare and all too expensive goods (to me at least) of Robertson Blvd., but the night’s opening reception was an exception. On the walls amidst the chic couture you could find production photos from Harmony’s film. Some were big prints of the film’s stars, some were small snapshots of candid moments, and some were even just photocopies. The photos were nice to look at as I tried to avoid glancing at price tags, but the real buzzing excitement came from the anticipated performance by The Sads.

Almost as out of place as the bowls of Lay’s Sea Salt and Vinegar potato chips and accompanying bowl of cherry tomatoes (actually a great combo), The Sads were set up to perform right in front of one of the large store front windows giving passer byers a glimpse into a cross section of high fashion and low-fi musical creations. Aska Matsumiya (also of the Moonrats) first took the “stage” and began singing while on the keyboard, she was soon joined by guitarist/Moog/modular synth player David Scott Stone as they performed the first song of the evening. At the completion of the first song, the duo soon turned into a quartet as drummer Dan Monick and guitarist/vocalist Aaron Rose picked up their instruments and headed right into their next song, “Pas Deux”.

I’ve heard all The Sads’ songs to date, and as you may have guessed, they come from a place where sadness may dwell. But seeing them perform live and feeling the energy the band was exuding actually made me feel the opposite, quite happy. The sound was great for a clothing store; the beats were heavy, the vocals were heard, the band was tight, and the children were really into it. And when I say children I don’t mean that as a euphemism for the adult audience, I mean the children who were not even 7 years old who were performing interpretive dances when they weren’t banging along with the accompanying beats with whatever they could get their little hands on.

The Sads performed a mesmerizing set that I honestly can’t say I was fully prepared for. A set of musical economy with massive feeling that made me forget I was standing next to a rack of $7000 jeans.

Check out more of The Sads at www.thesads.com

Check out Harmony Korine’s film Mister Lonely at www.misterlonely.co.uk

*There actually were no $7000 jeans. At least to my knowledge.

Apologies for the late add.

Continuing the Being True photo exhibition, a series of 3 weekend film screenings has been added to the show starting with James Clauer’s “The Aluminum Fowl” and Ari Marcopoulos’ “Craig Kelly / A Work in Progress” tonight. The film series, as well as the photographs gracing the walls of the 144 LAB space, will continue through the next 3 weeks ending it’s run April 27th. All films are by/related to photographers in the Being True exhibition.
Most are quite rarely seen as well.

Last weeks opening reception featured a live set by Mika Miko and was completely jam packed. Be aware that the gallery space is narrowly small and seating is limited so an early arrival is suggested.

Curated by Emma Reeves and Aaron Rose, 22 Years of American Culture features the photography of Tim Barber, Angela Boatwright, Kenneth Cappello, Poppy De Villeneuve, Cheryl Dunn, Naomi Harris, Alex Hoerner, Drew Jarrett, Alain Levitt, Jeaneen Lund, Ari Marcopoulos, Dan Murphy, Jason Nocito, Patrick O’Dell, Mike Piscitelli, Ray Potes, David Ransone, Terry Richardson, Jamel Shabazz, David Perez Shadi, Brent Stewart, and Tobin Yelland.

Tonight’s opening at L.A.’s agnés b. boutique on Robertson blvd. fittingly brings together Brent Stewart’s photography from the set of writer/director Harmony Korine’s (Kids, Gummo) upcoming cinematic love story Mister Lonely, as well as the musical stylings of Aaron Rose’s band The Sads. Following failed and flowering romances between celebrity impersonators, Mister Lonely includes a cast of Michael Jackson, Marylin Monroe, Charlie Chaplin, Madonna and Abraham Lincoln among others. Or at least versions of them I should say. Mister Lonely comes to theaters May 2nd.

Reception is from 6-8pm, The Sads will be performing at 7:00 sharp followed by DJ Nathan Harrington from Family Books spinning records.