SEBASTIAN FOR PRESIDENT

We've always considered him the most arguably underrated artist on Ed Banger, but I think we have a serious contender for DGAF Winner of 2011... and World President of 2012.



This video doesn't do his show at the Avalon (Friday, September 9) any justice (pun intended); you HAD to see this in person. No spoiler alerts here, but if you missed a date on his recent Primary Tour, I can only hope for your sake that he keeps this up for the next time you're able to catch him.

No need to rig that shit, our votes are already in.

DGAF NOUVEAU

Photos by SHIMOSH

Meet Satsuki Shibuya, the mastermind and impresario behind zakka nouveau. If you haven't heard of zakka nouveau, now would be a good time to acquaint yourself. Forget buying a throw-away generic item at the mall, because zakka nouveau aims to create gifts that are both handmade and personal. The selection includes everything from tea towels, aprons, pot holders, tote bags, coasters, to even bento bags. Everything is useful and functional, but not devoid of any fun or charm... And neither is Satsuki!



We had the pleasure of meeting up with her at Coffee Cartel in Redondo Beach, and we are very honored to have had the opportunity. CMYK have known her from our days at Otis College of Art and Design, and despite her unmistakable talent in design, she's always remained very grounded and down-to-earth. (She was even nice enough to spot me for a tea because I'd forgot to bring cash!) She's now the owner of her very own business, and we're really proud of her.



But what exactly makes her so DGAF? Starting your own business from the ground up, for one thing, is pretty DGAF. (She went from learning how to use her mom's sewing machine when she was little to sewing her very own line of products!) But it's also the way she runs it. She designs all of the fabrics, sources out her own soy based inks, and is very involved with sewing and silkscreening her products. It's very DIY but not in the punk rock way you'd expect.

You'll understand why she reps DGAF to the fullest. But DGAF people aren't born, they're made. CMYK got schooled on determination, ambition, and why you should never give up, no matter where life takes you or what life takes out of you.

CMYK: Tell us who you are.

zakka nouveau: Satsuki Shibuya.

CMYK: What do you do?

zn: I'm the owner of zakka nouveau. That sounds weird! (laughs)

CMYK: Tell us a little bit about zakka nouveau.

zn: Well, zakka nouveau, the whole idea started maybe 4 years ago.

CMYK: Yeah?

zn: Yeah, during school... I realized I really do enjoy hand work and creating tactile design work. So instead of working on the computer I definitely liked printing, screen printing, letter pressing, things where I can actually see it in the process of it being created, instead of like pushing the print button and it comes out of the machine, and ding! It's done! More than that, I felt more gratified by the actual process.

So during that time I got interested in product design possibilities and how I can put the graphic not just as a print on to fabric or paper, but how can I push that even more to make things that people can use every day, so it's not wasteful. Because I don't think graphic design is wasteful, because it's communicating. But I do feel like in a way... it can be if it's overly used and abused. So a lot of printing paper that people just throw away.

CMYK: So is it the disposability of design that you just weren't into? Also I guess that brings up a more environmentally conscious/reusable kind of thing, was that conscious? Did you purposely want something that was environmentally friendly as well?

zn: Yeah. I felt like I wanted something [different] because you know graphic design—not all disciplines but in some—is very ephemeral. It's like, you produce it and bam! It's gone. I thought there must be a way to utilize graphic design so that it will be useful everyday and people will actually enjoy interacting [with it]. It's not just communicating visually, but in their tactile world. And I wanted to create something that is long-lasting.

So that's kind of where the idea started. I started kind of testing out making products... The sewing wasn't all that great but it was fun! I really enjoyed... doing stuff with my hands, whittling away at something for hours, like sewing. So I definitely enjoyed that more than sitting in front of the computer! After graduating I knew I didn't wanna go and work for a company or studio. I feel like I'm at the age where I could take a risk to start something. I've worked in the past and I felt like I had enough experience... and even if I mess up, I have enough time to mess up again.

CMYK: Do you feel you were right about that assumption?

zn: To be honest, I'm not sure yet. I'm 100% sure that I made the right decision to start my own company and not work for somebody. But, as far as if I'm successful with it, I’m not sure yet. Not to say money is a measure of success. Not only that, but are people recognizing what I'm doing is something they can relate to? Are people responding to it the way I hoped? Are they using the product how it fulfills their needs? That will be my measure of success.

CMYK: How do you plan on measuring? You can't just walk into people's homes.

zn: (laughs) For me, zakka is not about mass-production at all. It's definitely about creating one of a kind, limited edition pieces that are special to someone who wants to buy and use these products. For instance, if a customer wants a bag, a lot of times it's a one-off thing, so I'll know which bag is owned by who. So let's say that bag breaks, I want to be able to say, “Send it back, I'll fix it for you.” You know, to make that conversation continue. In that sense, I can gauge if the customer is happy with it, giving me feedback. I definitely don't want a mass product where I send out a questionnaire, because then it's not so personal.

CMYK: Would you say you're trying to create an experience, instead of a design that someone passively looks at? Are you trying to create an experience to connect people outside the internet?

zn: Definitely. That is definitely the direction I wanna go. zakka nouveau is always changing and right now it's becoming a lifestyle brand (such as Martha Stewart or Kurihara Harumi). I'm also interested in branching out to different areas, i.e. culinary, possibly a store, but as of now I'm concentrating on products and being a small goods + interior goods company.

CMYK: I think it's really funny and ironic because you started as a Digital Media major at Otis. What guided you to go in that direction? Because I know you did music before… So what made you go into digital? Was it technology?

zn: (laughs) I already knew when I entered college, I wanted to do something creative. I knew I couldn't do plain business. My body was screaming, "Nooo!" So I thought, I could go visual, or do music. I've been playing piano since I was really little. So I thought, I should go in the direction I know best. I love music and I studied music in college, and then I ended up working in the music industry and I thought I wanted to be a singer/songwriter. And I told my parents and they were like, "Whaaaat? But you'd better have a stable job!” You know, stable. [The] music business [is] not stable... totally not stable! So I would write music and sing at night, and then I would go to work during the day.

And then one day I realized, when I was writing music with my friend who is a super talented producer/songrwiter, that I don't know, something's missing... I wouldn't be 100% confident in saying I am a songwriter, knowing that there are so many others that are so awesome. I couldn't find my own voice or vision, and I knew there must be something else out there that's creative. So I started exploring, maybe it's visual that I'm really liking. I tried interior design, fashion design.

And then... I like music, I like visuals, so I thought, maybe I'll be a music video producer! That sounded great in my brain, in my head. Then I got into digital and I remember my classmate... We had to draw a character in a scene and damn, everybody put their stuff up on the wall and my character looked like an alien! The face was so jacked up! And he said to me, "Are you sure you're in the right major?" And I was like "NO!"

CMYK: (laughs) Straight up like that?

zn: (laughs) Yeah, he straight up told me, "Suki, not to be mean, but are you sure you're in the right place?" And I was like, "I dont' think so!!!" (laughs) I knew immediately from week one, it was not for me! I stuck it through but it was excruciating for me. Everyone drew at a certain level. I was not interested in drawing scenery and characters... and motion graphics. It was a whole other level of computers.

My work was looking like crap and I was feeling like I needed to quit Otis ASAP. I went halfway into Fine Arts... maybe something I would be into. I wanted to go into mixed media, but then I took a lot of the classes, which were really conceptual. I like “conceptual” but not to the point of feeling like my brain is being pushed into outer space! I was so lost and by the first year of Otis I wanted to quit. I was telling my parents that maybe I’m not cut out for anything creative.

Towards the end of the semester, my parents were like, “If you want to quit, we won't hold it against you.” They were really nice about it and said, "You can get married and have a kid!" (laughs) A big turning point was when my then fiancée (now husband!) Kevin said that, “If you start something, you gotta finish it... You gotta ride it through and find out what it is. There's a reason why you went there. You gotta find out.” So yeah, I was searching around for a major and ended up at Communication Arts... Oh this is great, you can use art to communicate with people. This is it!

CMYK: It wasn't even your first choice?

zn: No. It totally fell out of the air.

CMYK: How did you decide on that?

zn: It was immediate, when they explained to me what the major does: to use art, use design to communicate. Right there, I was like, that's great, that's what I would love to do! I was sold on the idea. I started taking classes and I loved them, and I finally felt like I was in my element... Even though classes were hell, I loved every moment of it. So I finally feel like I'm at a point where I can 100% be confident in telling someone, “This is what do, I love what I do, and even if you don't like it, I don't care because I love it!”

CMYK: That's perfect DGAF. Wow. We didn't know it was such a journey... it was a process, much of like what you do now is all about your process. It's the journey, not the destination.

zn: I think that was my biggest nightmare, is not finding what I want to do. People around me were becoming doctors, dentists, lawyers, and businesspeople, and here I am still trying to find out what I want to do with myself... This is what I truly believe, if people give themselves the time to find what they really love to do, then all that stuff will follow… because they're doing what they love. And people respect you for it regardless. Not forcing yourself, but if you do what you love... money will follow, I feel like.

CMYK: What if what you love is eating potato chips?

zn: Maybe you'll get that potato chip commercial.

CMYK: Or a professional chip eater. (laughs) Anyway, so were you always DGAF? What does DGAF mean to you? Do you have a philosophy?

zn: DGAF for me definitely means to have your own policy of who you are as person and to not let anything sway you no matter what anybody says to you or whatever happens to you... you can at least hold your own. If you are the sole person who believes in yourself, you can still hold your own and be ok with it. You're happy doing what you do.

I get it from my dad because I grew up watching my dad really work hard. I saw my dad one time, I just remember one week the car broke down. He literally woke up at 3 in the morning to bicycle through the mountains to get to work. It took him 3 hours there and back. He does motion picture catering so he has to go on set and he's cooking... It's a hardcore job but he still biked there and back… into the mountains.

CMYK: Into the mountains?

zn: Because he had to take a mountain trail to get to work. To see that determination, and to see he did it to support the family, it made me think. I always used to tell my mom, I don't care what anybody says to me, if I decide if I'm going to do something, it may take me a while to find it but if I find it, I know I can stick to it. I know it. I feel that's where I get my drive from.

CMYK: Wow, your DGAF mentor... DADGAF. DGAFather. (laughs) So what is the stupidest name you thought of for zakka nouveau?

zn: “The Green Square,” or “Gray Squares.”

CMYK: What was your thought behind that one?

zn: I don't know, I think it just sounded cool, it has no meaning behind it. (laughs)

CMYK: But zakka nouveau has a meaning.

zn: Well, my dad's a French chef, and I've always been intrigued with French cultural nuances. I'm Japanese, so I wanted to mix the two. “Zakka” means every day things to enhance your life... it could be design work that enhances your life or products or whatever to make your life a little bit happier or better. “Nouveau” is looking at things in a different perspective. I feel in society right now we're so trained to look at things as a brand or things as mass produced or as cultural status... “Nouveau” I wanted to be more of looking at your daily life in a different way, and know that not everything has to be bought that way or produced that way, there are other ways you can be making things around your life.

CMYK: Do you have any influences that people wouldn't expect?

zn: I'm really influenced by moments. For instance, if the sun is shining on the window sill in a certain way, it sparks a thought. Or if someone is laughing in a certain way, I might pick up that emotion and I somehow tie that into a visual reference... little things... spark an idea, so I guess every day little happenings tend to inspire me.

CMYK: Things from daily life? You make things for daily life.

zn: People really influence me. Like little things that people say. For instance, by meeting you guys, I'm getting so many neurological influences that when I go home I start writing it down or drawing it.

CMYK: You've always had a really positive attitude. What keeps you positive?

zn: When I was little, I had a really difficult childhood, and I think I grew up really fast and... I couldn't relate to a lot of kids. I always felt like an outcast because I couldn't talk to them about what I was going through. I am finally getting into the element where I feel like I can relate to people and they can relate to me, even if it's not by talking it could be through other means of communication.

So I keep a positive attitude, because I realize the positive attitude you exude always propels you to something more positive and it brings with it so much luck… I think that's what continues it... it's a total domino effect. It comes from my mom who always told me that even if my heart does follow, to keep moving forward and eventually your heart will catch up. So now I'm just always high, high on laughing with people and stuff...

CMYK: Any words of advice?

zn: It's so clichéd, but no matter what anybody else says around you, I would say just keep going at it because it's better than giving up, going with the norm, and being miserable. I think that's really important.


Thanks to our amazingly DGAF interviewee, Satsuki Shibuya, for giving us a little look into her brain. You can catch more glimpses at zakka nouveau. Don't forget to check out her latest collection: THE GOLDEN RABBIT, and keep a lookout for one-of-a-kind and limited edition items as well!

Who Am I To Feel So DGAF?

Who am I???

On Saturday, March 26, 2011 MEN (http://www.myspace.com/men) performed at the Echoplex. For those of you who are unaware, JD Samson & Johanna Fateman of Le Tigre collaborated on some music and that music became MEN. The performing band consists of JD Samson, guitarist Michael O'Neill, and bassist Tami Hart (who has recently replaced Ginger Brooks Takahashi). We've written before on JD Samson but haven't mentioned much about the band.

So long story short: MEN are amazing. Go see them. Now.

No, I'm kidding, finish this article first. There's pictures!

Shimosh (sportin a MEN shirt!) + Laurie

Taken by the awesomely DGAF Laurie T.

Set Times

Bass Drum of Death

Psychic Friend

The night was opened by Bass Drums of Death & Psychic Friend. I wasn't around for most of Bass Drums of Death, but I was really digging Psychic Friend—they are very cute indie pop/rock. The crowd seemed to be pretty into them, too.

MEN with connecting helmets

MEN without connecting helmets

MEN took the stage at about 11:30 and came out in helmets that connected them into a triangle. It was very cool & unexpected; they played for a few minutes with the helmets on. They did a very energetic, fun set with songs from their latest album, Talk About Body. The crowd was super into it and they were really into it.

After playing an amazing set, the crowd was cheering and clapping and drunk girls were shouting "I LOVE MEN! I LOVE MEN SO MUCH!" After a couple minutes, they came back out and played an encore song—a cover of Bikini Kill's Double Dare Ya. I was ecstatic! MEN covering Bikini Kill? Punk fuckin' rock!


MEN are coming back to Southern CA for Coachella in a couple weeks. Hope you Coachella-kids get a chance to check them out!!!

HARD NYE Mr Oizo

HARD NYE! We rang in 2011 the best way we knew how--with the weirdest, Frenchest DJ there is: Mr Oizo.


HARD NYE



This guy was on rollerblades and was carrying a light-up stick. Also, he was DJing on the patio.


And then limbo happened.


Ooh, Breakbot!


Oh, Suzanne...


DESTRUCTO


This man is extremely happy about his RUBBER vinyl.


Mr Oizo


with DJ Falcon.


Group shot! :D

2011 can only get stupider, Jupiter...

Ricky DGervaisAF

So the internet has been buzzing about Ricky Gervais's hosting of Golden Globes. Hollywood is all butt-hurt. Oh no, you can't go and make fun of our important celebrities! Who do you think you are?



I just have to say: THANK YOU, RICKY GERVAIS. Obviously, he does not give a fuck. whatsoever.

A DGAF New Year

Let's make 2011 a better, more DGAF year. We missed quite a few opportunities and free shows in 2010. We missed everything from the RZA at the Otis College of Art & Design graduation ceremony...

(But our friend Roger Tsao managed to meet him, so we're jealous but VERY grateful that he let us use this photo!)

...to the Record Makers 10th Anniversary art show (thank fuck we caught the much better promoted music show) to Michel Gondry (NOT Mitchell) doing a book signing. Hell, we even missed the Rubber premiere. I guess it was at the AFI Fest? It was the same night as Yelle, however.

Our internet stalking had failed and we can't let that happen again. We were on top of that shit in 2009.

Finances kept us from seeing the Wu-Tang performing 36 Chambers at Rock the Bells, our first ever Coachella, and countless other events, including the Red Bull Culture Clash and the Prince vs. Michael Experience! But we had no excuse to miss free shows from Peanut Butter Wolf, Hyper Crush, or Don Rimini. Except for conveniently timed colds, sicknesses, and/or physical ailments.

BUT NO REGRETS PEOPLE! NO TIME FOR THAT SHIT IN THE NEW YEAR!

CMYK got a new musical collaborator, our own DGAFriend Don aka Van Aerial. He definitely set the bar and raised our remixes up a few hundred notches.

We rang in the new year with Mr. Oizo on the decks at HARD NYE. Nothing says 2011 like a denim shirt.

We'd also like to announce our DGAFriend of 2010... Her name is Satsuki and you might know her from zakka nouveau.

You can read all about her in our long-anticipated interview, coming soon. Yes, we've been saying that for a while now... and we apologize for the delay... but another DGAF year is definitely on the way.

one of the funnier moments of 2010

don't ask.

Move over, Ghostface, there's a new Killa in town

Ummm... we need to collaborate with this guy.

Freedumb '90

We don't need to say shit like we're "married to music". We'd rather have our freedumb, so don't step on it...

Step On Freedom by cmykdgaf

...sometimes clothes do not make the man.

Vice Cooler Couleur

We were so excited to hear that DGAFavorites Yelle were returning to the Echoplex after their hilariously entertaining DJ set back in April. We were FINALLY going to see their live set as we'd missed at least one other opportunity when they'd come to LA. It was nice to see the place packed because we knew it was going to be a good show.

We'd never heard of Hawnay Troof before but we definitely won't forget him. Vice Cooler is the definition of DGAF. I mean, holy shit. I rarely see performers give it their absolute ALL like that: raw, genuine, and real as shit. While some performers are too cool for the crowd, he actually connects, interacts, and engages with the audience. He's confessional, grateful, and humble; it's his dance party and everyone really is invited. His music is fabulously fun and inspiringly energetic, and we would LOVE to catch his next show.

We couldn't find any videos of him from that night, but here's one from this past September at the Echoplex which will give you an idea:



After the rocking warm-up, Yelle all took to the stage in denim shirts and a phenomenal set of new material. This is probably the most talented and underrated band out there right now. If you can effectively play live drums to dance music, you've got some epic skills. Yes, we're talking to you, Grandmarnier. And you've got to have epic skills to play in a band with Julie and Tepr, for sure. Their new songs were as polished and catchy as ever. There were parts where all three of them played live drums, and it was a nice touch. If you want to see live pop genius, check them out. I'm waiting for them to take over the world.



For such positive vibes from the stage, the crowd certainly was a buzzkill. Fucking hell, you can be obnoxious on your own time, so if you come to see music, try to enjoy it. You're not there to start fights, feel people up, or heckle anyone... or are you? Put down that next drink unless you REALLY don't want to remember the show the next day. Try going up on stage yourself maybe and see how your audience reacts to you. Bet you can't do it. Especially in a denim shirt. You know who you are.

OH AND ONE MORE THING. IF GRANDMARNIER STAGE DIVES, YOU FUCKING CATCH HIM. I couldn't see well from where I was standing, but I didn't see him crowd surf at all after he dived off the stage. I'm thinking he just sank into that apathetic sea of douchebags. Back in April there was less than half the people, and they were all wasted and on rollerskates, and Grandmarnier still managed to crowd surf.

So we'd like to say that we're thankful for acts like Yelle and Hawnay Troof, for playing in LA and keeping it real and DGAF. Or real DGAF. We'd like to show our gratitude with a mash-up. But this is also dedicated to all the cheap garçons that night and the ones we've met throughout 2010.

Cheap Garçons by cmykdgaf

Yelle Kills! And kills it every time...

time flies when you're being DGAF

Holy shit... where has 2010 gone? I swear we were just ringing in the new year with Chromeo and Peanut Butter Wolf at Club Nokia. Our musical input has slowed down a bit, but we should be back in full force next year (which is less than 2 months away?!?!)... We're planning a special remix for New Year's, and possibly another mash-up... but we have to take a break so we can finally finish the long-awaited interview with our DGAFriend Satsuki from zakka nouveau.


Let's see, so what else will we be up to for what's left of the year? Well, first of all, we will be DJing at Pop Monster this Saturday, November 20 from 7-10. It's free and local if you're from the South Bay. We love Pop Monster because they support local artists and it's the only place like this in the area. Check this place out because we're lucky here in Torrance to have it!

We may have missed him at HARD Haunted Mansion 2010 (not our fault) and the RUBBER premiere (totally our fault), but don't worry... we're going to ring in the new year with none other than Mr. Oizo.





Is anyone else already scared about 2011?

It ain't Halloween unless it's HARD

ALL PHOTOS BY OUR FRIEND KAREN PEDROZA. THANKS GIRL!!! :)

I always thought Halloween was one of those holidays that of course reached its prime in childhood. I mean, dressing up in a costume and getting free candy? You can't top that. As an adolescent, I discovered things such as Knott's Scary Farm, to much disappointment (I found it more annoying that anything, but that's another story). I started to be at a loss every year for costume ideas. Besides, all the costumes for women were getting annoyingly "sexy". And with no Halloween parties REALLY worth going to, I just accepted that I'd outgrown the holiday.

That is, until in 2008, HARD revived the holiday for me. I can't imagine Halloween without it anymore. It's now back to being the holiday I look forward to the most! It's WAY more fun than trick-or-treating, and good music is also good for your health, unlike candy (no pun intended). I've also realized that dressing up is something you should NEVER grow out of. You're an adult, and you can come up with more ideas and more elaborate costumes. HARD Haunted Mansion, we salute you.





We arrived this year a little late, but we managed to score free street parking around the USC campus. We did miss Busy P, which was a bummer, but ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT I AM GLAD TO HAVE MADE IT IN TIME FOR CROOKERS. THEY NEVER DISAPPOINT. They played a lot of their old fidget hits, and kept the crowd relentlessly going until they ended it with a Boyz II Men song. They will always be DGAFavorites and DGAF heroes.

Rusko was dirty and heavy... fucking dope. I definitely wanna see him again. I don't give a shit, I loved the tracks he produced for M.I.A.'s latest album.

Fortunately Shimosh remembered JUST in time that SebastiAn was playing indoors, and we clamored to get back into the Harder Stage. There was understandably a huge crowd wanting to get in as well. The setup is great so that when you walk into the indoors stage, you're already up at the front by the stage so you don't have to fight your way up from the back. SebastiAn KILLED it as usual. He is DEFINITELY one of the most underrated (if not THE most) DJ out there right now. He always plays pretty flawless sets. Very DGAF.

Now, we were SUPER bummed that Mr. Oizo had to be cut from the lineup (apparently due to visa issues). He was definitely one of the acts we wanted to see most. (He was replaced by Diplo, who wasn't a bad choice at all.) Now Mr. Oizo sure didn't play... but we did see him there! In the crowd! With TWO Flat Erics!!! WTF??? We're not trying to start any internet rumors or anything...





Bloody Beetroots were a good close to Saturday night. It was a more mellow live set, but they still made you dance. You don't mess with the Bloody Beetroots or their genre-defying live shows. Ever.



We returned Sunday as Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles. 2 days of HARD is always tiring but worth it. It just feels more epic. We ended up getting there late again, but we scored free street parking for the second night in a row! We managed to get there for the start of A-Trak and Flying Lotus. It was a TOUGH decision, and a kind of painful one, but we decided to check out Flying Lotus as we hadn't given him a chance at HARD Summer. We'd seen A-Trak play a mind-blowing set at the Ed Banger 7 party back in February, and it was tough knowing we'd missed another one, but we had to make a choice. I did not regret that decision at all, because FlyLo was nothing short of sick. He killed it with his ominous, eclectic mix of tunes. I believe the hype now.

We saw a bit of the special guest, who was Miiike Snow. As much as I wanted to stay, I needed to go to the Hard stage to see the act I was looking forward to the most that night: Underworld. The last time I'd seen them was 11 years ago at the Santa Monica Civic Center! Yes, ELEVEN years!!! How time flies. 1999's "Beaucoup Fish" was one of my favorite albums when I was younger, and I was dying to see what they'd be like in 2010. I was NOT let down. They were as vital as ever. It's hard to believe they've been around for 30 years!!! Karl Hyde is super DGAF... he's got way more energy on stage than performers half his age and dances around with an undeniable presence. Their music is uplifting but with dark undertones, and doesn't sound dated a decade later. "Two Months Off" felt like a total ray of light, "King of Snake" was a glorious surprise, and "Born Slippy" was the finale that just burned down the house.

Underworld just couldn't be topped. We caught some of Boys Noize and Jack Beats, who were both tearing it up, but by that time I was too tired and blown away by Underworld. But we already can't wait for the next HARD event.

Go HARD and go DGAF.

Steppin' Up

Thanks to Anthony Dray Johnson (who rightfully got a high five from M.I.A.) for the photos!


M.I.A. is definitely one of the most DGAF people alive. She's got the most swagger, the most epic beats, and puts on a show (or more like a party) so energetic that it will melt your face off. You're guaranteed to dance your ass off and shout along to every lyric. She played a fair amount of songs from each of her 3 albums, including the "hits"... one of the things I love about her is that her music evolves with every album but remains unmistakably her.


She's a raw performer, and she was all over the stage; dancing, climbing on stuff, and constantly going up to the audience to mingle. She even gave a bottle alcohol(?) to someone in the crowd, and invited people up to the stage for the finale, "Born Free". (I also noticed that one of her dancers was one of the guys in that video. He's a HELL of a dancer too, you've got to see it to believe it.) I mean, who else can effortlessly rock hot pink and yellow sequin suits? You have to see her live to experience the badass that is Maya Arulpragasam.
















XXXO

I Think UR Stupid 2

We'd like to thank Jamaica for playing at the Echoplex last week. We definitely missed Flo, but Asian Dan totally rocked it. They played a great show but our only complaint was that their set was unfairly cut short due to time constraints (they were the last on the bill and due to play after 1 a.m.). We hope they come back to LA soon and are allowed to play a full set! In the meantime, check out our remix of "I Think I Like U 2"!

JAMAICA "I Think I Like U 2" (Over Cast Days Remix) by cmykdgaf

DGAF in Vegas

So besides going to weird French parties, what else have we been up to since lagging?



Here's a few things we learned in Vegas:

1. We hate Clarence Carter. But we think we hate our friend Brian Lee Jones even more for making that video and introducing us to that song and making it the theme song of the weekend.

2. The TI Hotel and Casino, or the Hotel and Casino Formerly Known as Treasure Island, has a pretty good buffet. I mean, I'd never seen phở at a buffet before, let alone decent phở. Their Sirens of TI show, however, is downright unacceptable. I mean, we were raised here in Southern California on a steady diet of crappy entertainment and cheesy shows at Disneyland, and we thought that show was particularly bad. It was the most awfully written and executed live soft porn we'd ever seen. It is a free show, but come on. Only watch it if you want a good laugh while completely wasting your time.

3. Now Paris Las Vegas is pretty classy. I mean, nowhere with a fake Eiffel Tower can really be that classy, but by Vegas standards, I'd say it is. Well, kind of. It would have been classier if I'd found out that they didn't allow drinks up there after buying a plastic Eiffel Tower full of frozen Piña Colada. Chugging that thing before going up the Tower is either the best or worst idea, depending on your perspective. It kind of explains why they only sell stuff like pistachio flavored soft serve ice cream at the real one in the real Paris.


5. Now last but definitely not least... I've only got 2 words for you: PURPLE REIGN. Yes, it IS a Prince tribute show, and a surprisingly LEGIT one at that. If you love Prince, there is no excuse not to see this. Trust me, it will NOT be a waste of your time or money. Honestly, can any Prince fan turn down a Prince tribute show in Vegas? I don't think I'd pay to see a tribute show anywhere else... and I'm not sure if I'll see a better tribute show anywhere else.

Ok, so the Hooters Casino and its Mad Onion restaurant are mediocre at best. In fact, thanks to the Mad Onion (and my own drunkenness) I gave up eating fried food after ordering a platter with 4 different types of fried onions. But that's another story.

I was already kind of blown away as soon as the show started. Purple Reign was pretty much flawless in its execution from the get go, even down to the little details such as costumes and stage banter. They of course played most of Prince's crowd-pleasing hits. They didn't perform "I Would Die 4 U" or "Cream", but they did make up for it by playing "Pop Life", "Erotic City", and "Gett Off", which were all very pleasant surprises.

I definitely would not have been bored if it was all Prince the whole way through, but the Morris Day segments changed the pace up a bit and certainly didn't make the show any less entertaining. It was high energy all the way. Everyone was a genuine, natural performer and/or musician who knew how to keep the crowd going. I mean to be able to pull off a Prince tribute show that effectively, you HAVE to have talent and skills. Jason Tenner, who somehow bears a pretty striking resemblance to Prince, was nothing short of mind-blowing in his ability to capture his spirit.

This is the closest I'll ever get to seeing Prince live, and definitely in that small of a venue, that close to the stage, and in that price range. I can't complain. I may be a little biased here, but you'll probably enjoy this even if you're not a Prince fan.

We even went to the shady nightclub/bar afterward and managed to meet the bass player, the guy who played Morris Day, the the guy who played Jerome, and Jason Tenner. They were all super nice and down to earth. In fact, when amy told Jason that he was "wonderful", he replied with "I'm not Prince." WOW. Probably one of the most DGAF statements ever, from one of the most DGAF people ever in the most DGAF tribute band ever. HAHAHAHA!!!

Ok, so who wants another DGAF weekend in Vegas???

DGAFrench

We HAD to return to Ooh La La Fest this year to catch Kavinsky. Shit, we at DGAF had been waiting like a year and a half to see him. He was supposed to come last November, and I was CRUSHED that he didn't make it. So I was excited when we found out he'd be at Ooh La La this year.

Of course, we worship the movie Steak so we thought it was hilarious that Sébastien Tellier would be playing that night too. We missed him last year at Ooh La La because we didn't go the night he was playing. We missed Turzi and Acid Washed, but fortunately we did make it to the El Rey in time to catch Tellier.

Obnoxious drunks in the crowd yelling during Sébastien's acoustic set

I was actually cracking up from the very start. Shimosh said he looked like a "sparkly Jesus". She was not kidding. Everything he was wearing was sparkly. In fact I swear he had some glitter in his hair too. The shit-faced audience was shouting stuff like "sexy French" at him. I can't really disagree with the guy who yelled that out, though. The whole experience was totally ridiculous. But totally entertaining.

Sébastien Tellier singing in the crowd of drunks

Sorry Tellier, but as soon as I saw Kavinsky at the side of the stage near the end of your set, I lost my mind. IT WAS ALL ABOUT KAVINSKY FOR ME. I waited anxiously for his set to start, and I was amused before he even started playing. There is just some bizarre paradox about him that I can't explain. He's sexy and goofy at the same time. He's got some major swagger but there's also something comical about him. I'm SO glad I made it to the front row, in the center.



I had as much fun watching him DJ as I did listening to his set. He has a lack of self-consciousness as well as a lack of hiding his emotions or expressions while playing. He played an eclectic, memorable set. I expected no less from him. The set started off with some technical difficulties, but luckily the volume was fixed early on. I feel sorry for all the people who decided to leave during his set. They missed out on such an undisputed badass. It was a damn shame that the place was almost empty when he did his finale with "Baba O'Riley". But someone shouted "Vive la France!" as he was walking off the stage, which was more like it. And hilarious. But I mean, REALLY?

It was a huge downer when I found out that following Monday that Record Makers actually had an exhibit the day before the show. Don't you LOVE finding out about things the week after something happens? Especially when they had ended the day before you found out about it? I was either too excited about Kavinsky playing to read any full descriptions of the Record Makers 10th Anniversary, or details of the exhibit weren't posted when I'd bought the tickets for for the El Rey show. Whatever the reason, it was major fail, and I need to be a more diligent internet stalker. But we're already excited for the next time Kavinsky comes back to LA!



If Sliimy doesn't come to LA anytime soon, he NEEDS to play Ooh La La Fest next year. Jamaica, who we saw there last year are playing this Friday, Oct 15 at the TILT 3 Year Anniversary at the Echoplex.



We'll be there. Be there of be DGAF. Or rather, be there AND be DGAF.