day 19 photo show

Some of my favorite photographers, Jeremy and Claire Weiss, aka Day19 Photographers, will have a gallery show in Long Beach at the end of this month on March 29.

I first heard of Day19 through GTFU Radio, where Jeremy is one of the hosts. Their photography is outright spectacular and I've been following it for a little over a year now.

They have a blog here, and recently set up a blog for pictures of their new son, Eli. He's absolutely adorable.

One of my favorite Day19 projects has to be their Polaroid Project, which is a collection of Polaroid photos of a wide range of people, including David Lynch, Sarah Silverman, and Slash, just to name a few.

Here's what they say on their website about it:

"Day19’s Portrait Project is an epic and ever-growing collection of 4x5 Polaroids capturing young faces in an old-fashioned way.

The subjects, a cross-section of artists, writers, performers and activists, were photographed using a large format camera, which requires the subjects freeze their expressions for around 20 seconds per image. In the era of digital point-and-shoots and phone cameras, the Portrait Project takes a comparatively slow, almost lumbering approach, one that forces the subject to re-engage. There is no hair or makeup, and no special lighting, and the result is a collection of raw, unpretentious portraits reminiscent of Depression-era Farm Security Administration photography."

I love it. I've already got my RSVP in to the ISM event. Make sure you do too! See you there!

giant drag

Giant Drag, aka Annie Hardy, is my number one love in terms of music. Numero uno.

Annie, although 26 years old, can come off as a 12 year-old girl sometimes, because of her tiny frame and child-like voice. Her blunt and pirate-like comments, as a result, get people to stop and ask, what?

Regardless, Annie is simply amazing. You never know what is going to come out of her mouth, including a black tongue (which she had earlier this year).

Annie, and former bandmate-drummer-bass synthesizer expertise Micah Calabrese, who left the band in November 2006, released Hearts and Unicorns, Giant Drag's first full-length

album. Annie's first album was Lemona, a five song release.

Since then, Annie's toured all over the US and Europe playing shows and getting rave reviews.

After Micah left the band because he never was truly committed to living the life of a starving artist, Annie started working on a new album. However, she ran into a little bit of a road bump when Interscope, her label, decided to drop the band.

So, Annie's currently going on her own, recruiting new people to supplement her talents as a vocalist and guitarist.

According to Manimal Vinyl's Myspace:

"May 2008: Giant Drag: untitled EP (MANI-010) Four new songs written, performed and composed by Annie Hardy. Her first release of new material since the triumphant 2005

debut, Hearts and Unicorns."

I can't wait!

Annie, along with Aaron Farley and Jeremy Weiss, also host an online weekly radio show, GTFU Radio, and pretty much sit around and talk about whatever they feel like, playing music here and there. It's amazing.

Here's the video for her single, Kevin is Gay, which has to be one of my favorite music videos simply because of its absurdity.

You'll definitely be hearing more about Giant Drag and Annie Hardy in the future, especially because she's starting the Chilito Revolution.