If a model is clever, she’ll begin planning her second career the moment she signs her first modeling contract. After all, there are a few known things with short life spans: fruit flies, worker bees, and models. While many a gaunt, leggy catwalk-thumper has disappeared into anonymity, there are a few nameable supermodels that have gone on to successful artistic or fashion pursuits – often while they’re still on top, ensuring a solid paycheck future. One example is Helena Christensen, who, along with an illustrious model career, co-founded the magazine Nylon, launched her clothing line Christensen & Sigersen, and works as a well-respected photographer for Elle, Marie Claire, and more. In addition, her exhibition, “A Quiet Story,” curated by Jim Cook, premiered in Rotterdam in 2006, and Chanel Tokyo’s NEXUS gallery is scheduled to show the exhibition next year. She’s an exemplary over-achiever who takes advantage of every opportunity that comes her way.

Others are following in Christensen’s footsteps, like Erin Wasson, who, in addition to her Maybelline endorsement deal, recently teamed up with SoCal lifestyle brand RVCA for a fashion collection to debut at stores including Opening Ceremony. Also, Alek Wek has a line of handbags called Wek 1933, sold at Selfridges; and model Sasha Pivovarova studied art at the University of Moscow, and embarks in portraiture and landscape drawing, all while being the face of Prada.

The latest to join the pack is a German blonde, Christina Kruse: she could be easily written off as another beautiful, leggy, stereotypical supermodel, but her passion to pursue art has recently paid off-- she just landed her first American solo exhibition at Steven Kasher Gallery, which closed on March 28. Her multifaceted self-portraits combine photographs, photo collages illuminated in watercolor and other media, and a series of photograms, which perhaps are the narcissistic reflection of years being in front of the lens as the center of attention. We got the word on that and more:

What is your fascination with self-portraits?
I am self-taught and I was a bit embarrassed to ask anybody to sit for me, so I figured I could start on my own. It was also a very busy modeling time for me, and since I spent a lot of time on planes and hotel rooms on my own I simply used myself. And for the ongoing book project it will remain that way. Some of the newer works are based on other people.

How do you adjust to your career as an artist, versus as a model?
You have to start and surely it brings up questions just like anything anybody starts -- the beginnings can be a bit rough. Modeling is based on looks and everything else is not… at least ideally. To be able to work half-way successfully in the modeling world is a gift, and one should take it as such.

Are you still working as a model?
I do still model from time to time, it’s a great job and I am flattered to still be asked to do it. The last shows I walked in were Zac Posen, Alexander Wang, and last season’s Marc Jacobs. As for any ad campaigns, my last one was CK Onefragrance.

Do you expect the art world to take you seriously as an ex-model?
The only expectations I have are my own on myself --everything else is somewhat out of my hands.

Best art exhibition you’ve seen recently?
I think Jasper Johns at the Museum of Art, I thought it was amazing.

What was the worst art show you've seen lately, and what made it so horrid?
I would rather not be "expected" to answer, and honestly the places I go and see shows at are usually great places with great artists, so there is not much horrid stuff to begin with.

Has the current recession affected your art?
So far I was able to pay for all of my own materials and never depended on anybody to give me money to do so, and that is a great place to be in...so, no, it has not yet affected me.

How would you like to be known in 5 years?
If I only knew...

~Liz Black

Posted by psychoPEDIA at 03:15 PM | Permalink

Dear PsychoDoc: I’ve always been quite insecure in my relationships. I don’t know why, but I just get the impression that my boyfriends find other women more attractive than me. Despite this, I always thought that my current dude was different. I’ve been with him for about 3 months now and I thought everything was going well, until I cracked the password to his computer. I looked through his e-mails and found out that he’d been mailing other women saying that he wasn’t sure if I was his’ type’ and that he doesn’t normally go for girls like me. I also found pictures of women on his hard drive who looked nothing like me. I’m a thick black woman and his computer was full of skinny white chicks! Now I feel more insecure than ever. I mean, would he rather be with a girl that looks like the ones all up on his laptop?
-Coco, NYC, 23-

Dear Thick and Pretty: OK, I’m gonna totally be honest with you, and this is far from a sweeping generalisation -- but all black guys have a thing for white girls. Remember how Clark Kent got around Kryptonite? It’s kind of like that.

Although, I really wouldn’t worry too much about the chicks on his hard drive. I’m sure you’ve got a couple of guys that look nothing like him on yours, right? Fantasy is cool -- nobody likes just one type of body shape, hairstyle, eyes etc. He’s with you and you said everything is going swell, so just give him the benefit of the doubt. Try and leave behind your past insecurities and concentrate on your current relationship. Maybe you guys could play dress up and you could actually pretend to be Marilyn Monroe or some other famous white girl? All it takes is a wig. That way he gets to fulfill his ‘Caucasian quota’ and you get to sleep peacefully because you know your man’s not on Facebook looking for a lonely white girl to bang.

Oh, and that stuff about you not being ‘his type’ doesn’t mean shit. We’ve all got with someone who wasn’t our ‘usual type’ before. Being ‘a type’ doesn’t make a relationship; it’s the way you connect after that. So, if you don’t already know what makes him tick (hobbies etc), then put aside some time to communicate and spend quality time together to find that out, instead of working out ways to hack into his shiny new laptop.

PsychoDoc is written by Donald Crunk, also known as Styleslut. He is not a medically-trained doctor or shrink, but is a highly-trained professional in life. He can be reached at psychodoc@psychopedia.com.

The Goods:
Find a selection of wigs at marilynmonroewigs.com that encompass the screen goddess’ various hairstyles. $17-45; MacBookPro 17-inch, $2,799.

Posted by psychoPEDIA at 03:11 PM | Permalink

Behold, the third week of March: The snow is thawing, birds are singing, and if you happen to be in the vicinity of Austin, Texas, chances are your ear canals are being ripped to shreds -- and we mean that in the best possible way.

Yup, it's that time of year again for the South by Southwest multimedia festival. Renowned for its film and interactive panels, the third and last part of the week is what draws people from around the world -- the music conference. This landmark event is considered the official start of the music festival season. Getting to see the next big thing alongside Metallica at the Stubb's BBQ is undeniably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. However, a festival badge -- which only guarantees admission based on capacity -- will set you back $500! Frankly, that's not very rock 'n' roll. So in the true maverick spirit of the great state of Texas, psychoPEDIA would like to present a user's guide to the UNofficial outlaw showcases. No badge? No money? No problem! Let freedom -- and free booze -- ring.

THURSDAY:
'Sup Magazine-- an underground publication that's been landing the first-ever interviews with everyone from the Arcade Fire to the The Kills and the The Rapture-- turns 10 years old this year. Come celebrate the new issue release with indie record label IAMSOUND and London management powerhouse THISISMUSIC at the "All That Sparkles Party." Brace yourself for the glitter of Telepathe, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, The Mae Shi, and a DJ set by Sebastien Grainger. Space disco princess Little Boots headlines, and the event will be hosted by Austin's classiest drag queen Rebecca Havermeyer. Complementary Red Stripe and label giveaways. Free w/ RSVP.

FRIDAY:
1) Insound Records is also celebrating their 10th birthday with the help of an indie lover's orgy of a lineup. Sub Pop darlings Handsome Furs are joined by the The Thermals and the American Analogue Set with The Hold Steady headlining.

2) If fighting for space and air with Hold Steady fans (aka boy bloggers) isn't your bag, head around the corner to Habana Calle's AAM Showcase with Glen Rock, New Jersey's finest, Titus Andronicus and Crocodiles. We are so stoked for American music in 2009, and these two bands have a lot to do with that.

3) If you feel like going for a walk, wander over to After the Jump Fest's annual BBQ. Trust us, you're going to want to see US Royalty (apparently the next Kings of Leon slash the Killers hybrid) open for ‘90s indie icons Superdrag.

SATURDAY:
Perhaps the biggest FU to the SX establishment takes shape in the Mess With Texas party in Waterloo Park, which is a swift 10-minute walk from the convention center. Now in its 3rd year, this independent day-long all-ages festival boasts 25-plus bands over 9 hours on 3 stages. Atlanta troublemakers the Black Lips (no really, they were kicked out of India for lewd behavior on live television) headline. Free, No RSVP required.

WEEKLONG:
1) Leave it to Myopenbar.com to set up 4 Square Punk Down and Derby. 4 bands will play at a time with a roller rink in the middle of the action. Stocked with free booze, killer DJs and some of the jerkiest rough-and-tumble guerilla party bands around. Free, no RSVP required, but crash helmets and kneepads are recommended.

2) Just a hop, skip and a jump up South Congress Avenue and a bit west, Urban Outfitters has compiled a stellar lineup that will camp out in its back lot over 4 days. We Have Band, Chairlift (fresh off a signing with Columbia Records thanks to their iPod Nano ad), The Chap, and B-more darling Rye Rye (recently featured on the cover of WWD) will hold court. Free, no RSVP required.

AFTER HOURS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY:
Last year IHEARTCOMIX, Mad Decent and Jelly NYC teamed up for a showcase on top of a parking garage. It's gonna be hard to top dancing to Santogold, Spank Rock and Cut Copy as the sun sets but this team is going to try their damndest with 2 late-night events. Awesome things happen when they combine super power party forces for the Texas Niteclub events, but brace yourself for the inevitable police raid. What the hell, if anything the sirens and flashing lights will sober you up enough to ensure you make your Sunday morning flight on time! Free w/ RSVP.

Posted by psychoPEDIA at 04:58 PM | Permalink

You may recall a recent road-test in which fearless Psychopedia reporter Leann Peterson exfoliated with the naughty cleansing collection from Villaness soaps. But if female body products are getting all Burning Angel on us, they’ve got nothing on the gender-role-inverting trendiness around recent male grooming.

And while the proliferation of scrubs, loofahs and all-in-one armpit deodorizers from brands like Axe and Old Spice have responded to crafty constituent research with clever ad campaigns and pandering pheromone igniters, they’ve ignored effective outreach to a male demographic truly in need. Namely, the former slacker who’s all grown up and more cognizant of his self-maintenance, but finds the marketing of metrosexuality to be a subtly apologetic, homophobic eschewing of genuine image-enhancement.

Which is where Ritch Viola comes in. Viola launched Everyman Jack in 2007, specifically unveiling his line in Target stores. And in 2009, as the recession has rendered high-end salons a moot indulgence and the glut of douchebag-directed accessories has clouded our manscaping mission, the Everyman line is a veritable bod-send. Unlike the calculated identity construction of its competitors, Jack’s shampoos, lotions, gels and soaps don’t require an uprooting of your fundamental routine. And the postmodern humor that’s pervasive throughout their packaging is less alpha-male encourager than Snapple-bottle-cap subversive irony. (The faux-FAQs on the back of each bottle make for much more entertaining reading than a standard ingredients list.)

Below, we sample five of the newest Jack products that would be the cornerstone of an Everyman’s daily rejuvenation routine, in an effort to determine whether an affordable middle ground between Head and Shoulders and Sebastian Professional:

SIGNATURE MINT 2-IN-1 DAILY SHAMPOO ($8)
Presentation: Its translucent square torso is affixed with a wooden-block-style nozzle that reflects the simplicity of the Everyman logo. Much like this year’s Oscars, a bit too cute in an effort to convey understatedness. But unlike that awards ceremony, gets extra points for sub-titling itself “Action Jackson.”
Ease Of Use: Squeezeability is lacking just a tad due to the exterior’s heavy plastic. But hey, it’s made of recyclable materials, so you can use the extra bit of exercise. Ya lazy bum.
Most Unexpected Ingredient: Coconut-derived nutrients.
Will You Finally Know Jack About Hair-Washing? You’ll likely experience growing pains on the first couple of applications, as a heavy dose can lead to a scalp-tingling adventure. But as the cool mint settles into your follicles and the shower’s rays eventually wash it through, it’s a unique sensory encounter, if not thoroughly effective as a conditioner.

SPICED PEPPER BODY WASH AND SHOWER GEL ($5)
Presentation: Like the Whooper Jr. to the shampoo’s senior rendition of the sandwich, the Body Wash is artificially identical to its cranium-scrubbing counterpart, save for a boxier, more diminutive shell and non-translucent plastic.
Ease Of Use: Tends to come out in gobs that will potentially scare away conventional epidermis latherers serially attached to their bar of Irish Spring. But from there, works itself into soapy precision with quickness, and requires minimal extra emission.
Most Unexpected Ingredient: Besides the namesake spiced pepper? Well how about sliding some citric acid across your skin in lieu of your morning glass of O.J.
Will You Finally Know Jack About Body Washing? Of all the Jack merchandise, this is by far the most lasting and invigorating, leaving you with a lingering scent that is unexpectedly manly but charmingly esoteric, and imbuing you with sexual bravado without the creepy suggestiveness of other companies’ rival (and often distractingly fluorescent) gels. Like Ben Affleck chasing Amy, this viscous hygiene healer may actually change your impenetrable reliance on the aforementioned filmy bar.

SPICED PEPPER BODY BAR WITH GLYCERIN ($5)
Presentation: Still not convinced to get off the wash rag? Then forego the ickiness of the shower gel and opt for these same-scented, wood-grain-emulating, compactly square oil-and-pepper amalgamations. Three bars are contained within each perfume-like box, and it’s kind of fun to watch the carved-in chain-link logo slowly wash away. Ditto for how it begins to look authentically weathered after a few uses.
Ease Of Use: Well, that depends on your familiarity with the general bathing procedure. Barring a personal history with natural cleansing or Tarzan-like wash-ups in a lake, this should be pretty intuitive.
Most Unexpected Ingredient: Rosemary oils.
Will You Finally Know Jack About Soap? Actually, maybe. Irish Spring still has its old-fashioned charm, but it’s pretty gratifying to stare at and sniff this aromatic gift. And your girlfriend will probably appreciate the nuanced addition to your shower’s atmosphere. (Little Psychopedia secret: Do a quick lather with the bar and then follow up with a thorough coating of gel, and you’ll feel fresher than a newly exited birth-canal baby.)

SIGNATURE MINT SKIN HYDRATING FACE WASH ($5)
Presentation: Deceptive in its simple-but-revealingly sheerm upside-down squeeze bottle, as the wash actually fizzes up into a thin-but-frothy pore-invader upon massage into the skin.
Ease Of Use: Takes a bit of getting used to, particularly awkward to negotiate around facial hair and never really feels natural when caressed into the back of the beck as recommended. This is why you ideally are in co-habitation and can seek assistance as penance for all those zipper-uppings.
Most Unexpected Ingredient: Sea Fennel. (No relation to the sausage.)
Will You Finally Know Jack About Face Washing? The Face Wash is the most prone to accusations of placebo. While it feels momentarily refreshing on account of the mint, it can be hard to accept its profound resonance or necessity as a dirt-remover, especially if about to step into a hot, peppery shower with the remainder of your Jack arsenal.

SIGNATURE POST-SHAVE FACE LOTION ($5)
Presentation: More subdued, and consistent with the shampoo as far as linear juxtaposition of neutral blues and browns, similar to the aesthetic concern of modern sports logos. And unlike the peek-a-boo packaging of the hydrating face wash, classily conceals the eggshell white of its inner contents with a complementarily muted shade.
Ease Of Use: Exceptional from a basic functionality standpoint, if lacking in the shower products’ novel reveal.
Most Unexpected Ingredient: Sunflower Seed Oil.
Will You Finally Know Jack About Aftershave? While arguably the most low-key of their shave-and-shower line, this lotion is also the most emblematic of Jack’s intent, behaving itself delicately against your skin, while distinguishing itself with its scent and texture. (And in case you were wondering, while Jack does distribute a shave gel, your standard can of Gillette or disposable razor with Aloe will probably still remain serviceable in tandem.)

~Kenny Herzog

Posted by psychoPEDIA at 05:39 PM | Permalink

Few men are as effortlessly polished as designer Carlo Brandelli, but the London-born creative director at distinguished Savile Row tailor Kilgour seems to have been born with a sixth sense of style. And luckily for his A-list clientele, which has included well-dressed figures from Jude Law to fellow designers Helmut Lang and Alexander McQueen, this taste and gentility filters into all of his work.

Having a well-balanced aesthetic mixing modern style, influenced by the music and art of London youth culture, with traditional craftsmanship-– skills he developed with Italy and London's most skilled tailors-– it's no wonder that Brandelli has gone on to redefine a timeless look for the modern British gentleman. Besides founding his own label Squire in the 1990's, Brandelli has gone on to earn accolades from the British Fashion Awards, who presented him with Menswear Designer of the Year, and GQ, who deemed him “Most Stylish Man of the Year.” PsychoPEDIA asked about the designer’s personal inspirations and words of wisdom for the well-heeled man:

How has your personal style changed over the years?
When you have a high level of knowledge gained from experience, you don’t have to try too hard anymore. If I have an idea in my mind, it isn’t so necessary to execute the final actual design. It is enough to have thought it through in my head.

Did you have any influential mentors?
Andy Warhol, Gerhard Richter, The Pope, and Peter Saville.

Are there any films or actors that inspire your work?
Death in Venice.

How can you tell the difference between someone with genuine style versus someone who's trying too hard?
I can feel it before I see them. It is in the aura.

What is your advice for a smart wardrobe?
Stick to a color palette that is right for men – like dark navy – and wear the best quality you can afford, not the brand label you can afford. Style is not a brand label, but the two can be mutually exclusive.

Which are the most important pieces of clothing you own?
Usually the hangers and the wardrobe are far more important.

What are a few must-have wardrobe staples for British gentlemen?
Dark navy 1/B suit, dark navy jean, white shirt, navy V-neck.

Do you have any grooming tips in your daily regimen that you'd personally recommend?
Water– drink it and bathe in it.

What is the ideal wardrobe for yourself?
It depends on the occasion, but to relax, I would lie in bed in crisp finest cotton V-neck T-shirt, and shorts.

How would your friends describe you?
My close friends tell me that I am a complete dichotomy of two characters, positive and negative.

What would be your alternative career if not a designer?
A priest.

Where do you see yourself three years from now?
I can’t predict things and only live in the moment.

~Leann Peterson

First & second photos by Amelia Troubridge
Third photo by Thibault Camus
Fourth photo courtesy of Kilgour

Posted by psychoPEDIA at 09:18 PM | Permalink

Dear PsychoDoc: I’ve been with my boyfriend for nearly three years now and he’s a really great guy. The only problem is, he’s never been comfortable with my male friends. He came to my house the other day and saw one of my friends leaving as he drove up. When I opened the door I was wearing my dressing gown and he totally flipped out because my cleavage was showing and he thought I was being disrespectful to him. He smashed up a photo-frame which had a picture of the two of us in it and stormed off. I didn’t even tell him the full story: the guy he saw leaving was my ex-boyfriend. Nothing happened though. Promise! How can I make him trust me and be comfortable about my male friends?
- Nicole, 26, London -


Dear Mistrust: I think you’ve got this whole ‘trust’ thing a little screwed up. You lied to him, how’s he gonna trust you? Sure he doesn’t know that’s your ex-boyfriend, but when he finds out -- you’re fucked! Men are the most territorial creatures on earth and you having male friends is like another man borrowing his toothbrush to wipe his ass. And what’s up with the exposed titties?

What you need to do is draw a big line in the sand-– beginning with putting your cleavage back in your gown-– and make sure your male ‘friends’ don’t cross it. Those guys coming over to your house when you’re semi-naked and your dude knows nothing about it is a definite ‘line-crosser.’

Another option is to let him know who your friends are, and introduce him to them at a bar, so that he can get to know them a little bit and feel more comfortable. This does not imply that he needs to approve them-– just that, if he meets them, that’ll take away the mystery element. Keeping ‘male friends’ hidden and un-named-– then just explaining, “oh, he’s a friend!” when he’s caught leaving your house and your breasts are bared-– is a major red flag.

On that note: there’s also a rule you need to abide by: you can’t have (or, at least, publicly speak of) more than four male friends. Any girl with five or more friends who aren’t females is usually fucking at least one of them. Trust me, it’s in the ‘guy manual’ that we all get given by our dads when he first tells us where babies come from.

Here’s the action you must take now: Buy him some nice cologne or a new Xbox 360 game, then take him out to dinner to apologize for the titty incident. Then you can explain to him that you’ll only be seeing your four (yes, four) male friends when he knows all about it. That will sufficiently stroke his ego. And try not to have any more booty calls at your house. Get a room, honey!

PsychoDoc is written by Donald Crunk, also known as Styleslut. He is not a medically-trained doctor or shrink, but is a highly-trained professional in life. He can be reached at psychodoc@psychopedia.com.

The Goods:
'IHMDJ X Styleslut Unisex Jewelry collection' which is available in a limited amount from ihmdjxstyleslut.bigcartel.com; No-frills, clean budget hotel, not “hourly rate” type, nonetheless perfect for affairs-– Stanley House, 19-21 Belgrave Road- SW1V 1RB London; Creed Himalaya: Sexy, classic, high-end men’s scent – a great I’m-sorry gift in a beautiful shiny silver bottle. $250, 4oz, neimanmarcus.com; Find new Xbox games at xbox.com

Posted by psychoPEDIA at 01:23 PM | Permalink

Tofer Chin is a Los Angeles-based artist and photographer, who recently finished his second photo book Vacation Standards-- the follow-up to his acclaimed book Finger Bang! His work has been exhibited worldwide, and he was recently commissioned by interior designer Kelly Wearstler to produce original paintings for the revamping of the Avalon Hotel in Beverly Hills, and Miami’s Viceroy Hotel.

Chin received the 2008 Graphis Design Annual Gold Award for Flaunt No. 79, in which he created an original painting for the issue's cover. We spoke to Tofer about the controversial content within his work, and photographers getting laid:

Hey, where are you from?
I was born in LA and raised in the San Fernando Valley. I’ve lived and worked in Hollywood since 1998.

How and when did you first get into photography?
I first got into photography when I was a kid. My first camera was a Fisher-Price Kodak.

Tell us about the inspiration behind your new book Vacation Standards…
Travelling. And lots of it. The inspiration comes from me, my crazy friends and my love for the great outdoors!

Some people have described the content as controversial. How do you feel about that and what would you say to them?
I photograph what I see and the situations I’m in. I’m fascinated with blurring the lines between what individuals consider to be beautiful and grotesque.

Is it hard to choose what images to use in a book and which to leave out?
It took years of organizing and filtering photos to put the book together. In the end it’s just like a puzzle where you have to figure out how and where all the pieces fit.

How would you describe your style of photography?
I’d describe my style as “In-The-Moment.”

Which photographers do you look up to?
Ruben Ortiz-Torres, Ryan McGinley and Andreas Gursky, to name a few.

What are the best and worst parts of being a photographer?
There is nothing I hate about being a photographer.

Describe yourself in three words…
I’m a painter, a lover, and a creator.

What do you feel have been your major accomplishments as a photographer and why?
Definitely all the experiences I’ve had shooting both of my books, Vacation Standards and Finger Bang! I’d like to say thanks to David for believing in me. Without you none of this would have been possible.

Who’s David?
David Quiles Guillo is my publisher.

Does being a photographer get you chicks?
I have a lot of girlfriends whom I love and adore.

Can you name one thing you’d like to do with your life that you haven’t done yet?
I have a really big list. One major accomplishment I need to fulfill is to have my art be a part of museum collections around the world.

When was the last time you got into a fight?
I’m a lover, not a fighter.

What’s your favorite movie ever and why?
I have so many, but three that really inspire me are: The Holy Mountain, Donnie Darko, and Let the Right One In.

Can you tell us about your upcoming projects?
I have a solo show at Cerasoli Gallery in Culver City, CA on March 14th.

~Donald Crunk

Posted by psychoPEDIA at 01:26 PM | Permalink

A long time ago, every neighborhood had a hatter, who made custom creations for genteel townsmen. Frenel Morris is keeping that tradition alive. Designer and owner of the hat line Still Life (with a celeb clientele including Lenny Kravitz), he debuted his Orchard Street boutique in 2002, and recently opened an entire factory in Red Hook, Brooklyn. With over a thousand vintage hat blocks, Morris shapes and fits each one by hand in a totally custom style. The craftsmanship may be steeped in history, but his attitude is far from antiquated. “We’re kind of recreating the hat,” he says. “I don’t think there are any rules. Be yourself, be confident, and rock it however you want.” When he’s not hard at work with millinery, he’s enjoying the perks of his new neighborhood:

What are three things required to be a gentleman?
Nice hat, nice shoes, nice jacket.

Are you part of the “dandy movement”?
Maybe, but unintentionally.

Got any celeb customers? And what’s your demographic?
It’s all different ages from a 14-year-old kid to a 90-year-old woman. We have a lot of celebrities. Tariq from the Roots, Joel Madden from Good Charlotte, and Lenny Kravitz in his video wore our hats.

Why did you choose Red Hook for the location of your new hat factory?
The main reason is probably the rent. It’s cheaper. I was initially looking in Manhattan to find something closer to the store. But for my needs, there’s a lot of serious equipment like a high-pressure boiler and it was hard to find a building that had the right regulations for my setup.

Describe Red Hook…
I love Red Hook because it’s still very industrial and still caters to artists. Any industry that’s left in New York, pretty much Red Hook’s the spot to go. It’s one of the last commercial places where they have big open warehouses and spaces like this to do the type of work I do. I also like the neighborhood because they don’t have a lot of trains in the area, so it’s kind of stayed the way it’s been. It’s off the beaten path and not a lot of people really go out there.

What’s the vibe of Red Hook in one sentence?
A lot of artists, galleries, a lot of workshop areas, more industrial—but also it’s a quaint neighborhood.

Where do you get a morning cup of joe?
There’s a coffee spot called Baked. They have really amazing brownies and snacks and stuff.

Are the local restaurants good? Where’s your favorite lunch spot?
I have my spots. My favorite spot for brunch is Tini. Then you have Fairway, which is like Whole Foods at half price. I love getting food there. In the summer, by the soccer fields they have the concession stands, with real authentic Mexican food. I haven’t been able to find Mexican food as authentic as what they have there. There’s also The Good Fork for dinner.

Is there anything in Red Hook you can’t find anywhere else?
Ikea. There’s no other Ikea around here.

Best place to catch an after-work drink?
Rocky Sullivan's Tap Room. It’s an old-school bar I like to go to. It’s named after a character in an old movie. You can go to Tini for a drink too. They have a little bar, and a decent wine list. Also, there’s Hope & Anchor: which is a bar/diner I’ve been meaning to check out.

Favorite shops?
There’s a little jewelry shop called Erie Basin that I like. There are a few good stores on Van Brunt. There was a really cool liquor store called LeNell’s, but they’re closing this month.

Your idea of a perfect weekend in Red Hook?
On the weekends in the summer, my girlfriend and I bike out there and go to Fairway and get some cheese and crackers and olives. Then we’d go to LeNell’s and get a bottle of wine and we’d hang out on the water on the promenade or at a little park they have down there. Red Hook is cool to just walk around by the water.

Does the area have a best-kept secret?
The pool. No one knows about it. They have an Olympic-sized swimming pool in the park by the soccer fields that is free. And there’s a gym there as well. It’s free and it’s pretty empty. So in the summer, it’s great. I get up early in the morning, bike out there, swim, do a couple of laps, work out at the gym, then hit the factory.

~Meredith Craig de Pietro

Posted by psychoPEDIA at 05:34 PM | Permalink

In 2003, UK mag The Wire ran an issue with improv collective Jackie-O-Motherfucker adorning the cover -- underneath them, the words “Welcome to the New Weird America.” A blanket phrase aiming to encompass an overwhelming resurgence in acid-rock and psych-folk “New Weird America,” this now applies to a much fewer number of artists than when coined in ’03. If any group of artists were to be keeping the phrase’s relevance fresh – and quite possibly, be leading the movement – it may just be the three modest gents who together comprise Akron/Family.

Releasing this May, the group’s new full-length on Dead Oceans, Set ‘em Wild, Set ‘em Free, sees Akron/Family seamlessly shifting from afro-funk to dusty ol’ folk, from doom metal to bursts of their own brand of anthemic, psychedelic get-down. The Akron/Family live experience is known to be exhausting in the best possible sense – without break, the sets wander from heavy, freewheeling jams to howling gospel stomps – almost always climaxing with the audience dancing on stage.

Before Akron/Family hits out on a month-long jaunt, culminating with a New Museum show on 3/27 and two rare Brooklyn gigs at Union Pool on 3/28 & 29 -– we sat down with drummer/multi-instrumentalist Dana Janssen, who generously shared a glimpse into the band’s evolving psyche -- and gave us a list of the artists, albums, shows and songs essential to him.

Here’s what Janssen affectionately deemed for us, his “Top 10 Most Mindblowing Experiences of Recent Recollection”:

1. Toumani Diabate - Live at the Bowery Ballroom with the Symmetric Orchestra in 2007
It was a performance that lasted over 2 hours and still had me wanting more. The effortless mastery that Toumani displays is a sight to behold. He has an extremely inviting presence and a willingness to share his song with everyone that warms my heart.

2. Miles Davis - On the Corner
An album I recently revisited that I never really connected with too much in the past, this time around, however, I felt the depth of the record. With some of the first explorations of sampling that I've heard, I love the trance-like grooves the group gets into. And when I think of it in the context of when it was released, I realize how ahead of its time this album really was. Inspiring a lot of drum and bass that I've heard.

3. Doudou N’diaye Rose – Djabote
Well, I love West African drumming. This record is great. I love when I can really hear the space of where a band, or drum troupe, is recording. They recorded this in a week on an island with fifty drummers and eighty singers. It’s amazing to hear the crickets in the tracks, and the decay of the outdoors mixed in with all of the other activity.

4. Hamid Drake and William Parker - Live at (now-closed experimental haven) Tonic, and many other venues…
Two of the best players/improvisers around today. These men are tapped into a higher power. I was fortunate enough to have played with both of them, and even record with Hamid on our album Meek Warrior, and I learned a wealth of knowledge about playing music through these experiences. It seems that the one of the best methods of teaching or learning music is through the experience of watching and sharing a space with other humans who are steeped in the tradition.

5. Megafaun – Live at Knitting Factory, late 2008.
I've known this band for a little while now and did a few tours with them. I got to see their set every night for a couple of months, so I thought when I went to see them at the Knit it was more to see my friends and hang out. However when they took the stage that night I noticed that something had changed -- they played familiar songs and new tunes but everyone of them was played with a breath of fresh air and an inspiring creativity that still sticks with me. In particular, I noticed the evolution of their drummer Joe Westerlund -- he was amazing to watch. Extremely entertaining and awesomely creative with his approach to the songs. And the dynamic the group played with was incredible -- playful and caring and generous. A really great band.

6. Tom Petty – Into the Great Wide Open
As much as I've heard this song, I never noticed that in the chorus, he drops a minor 7th. Ever since I noticed this, I've been obsessed with it, pointing it out to everyone around me every time it happens (laughs) I bet they hate it by now.

7. Do Make Say Think – “& Yet & Yet” and one of their performances at the Bowery Ballroom a couple years ago.
When I first moved to New York, I had a Discman with three cd’s that I rotated -- and left each in the player for a number of days at a time. One of the cd’s was Do Make Say Think’s “& Yet & Yet.” I fell in love with this record in a pretty major way. Especially track 4, “Chinatown”. On my first tour we stopped in Toronto, Canada, opening for the Angels of Light. After the show, a dude approached me and told me he loved the show and how he wished he had a cd of his band to give me. I asked what the name was and he said Do Make Say Think…I was so stoked. I told him I already had all of his discs!! Later they came through New York and played the Bowery in support of the album “You, You’re a History In Rust.” The live show blew me away. I was impressed with how they could pull everything off live. Amazing.

8. Prince - Coachella 2008
I’ve always loved this guy, and when I learned that he was the headliner for the day we played Coachella, I got so excited. His music seemed a bit lost on some of the crowd, mainly the deep R&B cuts, but it was exactly what I was needing. The showmanship he has is unparalleled -- and when he hit “Purple Rain,” whew, tears in the desert.

9. Funkadelic – Maggot Brain
Probably my favorite Funkadelic record. Track 2, “Can You Get To That,” is the best. The guy with the extremely low baritone voice kills it -- and obviously, the guitar solo on the title track! Deep space!

10. Phosphorescent – “Endless pt.1”
The first time I saw Matthew perform was in Atlanta, Georgia, again on my first tour. He played his song “Endless,” and ended up going into a real sweet vocal round melody into a line 6 pedal looper. It tugged on my heartstrings. Ever since, I've kept up with his work and we even did a tour with him through England and Iceland. A tremendous songwriter and an outstanding performer, I highly recommend him to everyone.

~Ben Zoltowski

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