Mary Van Notes

I’ve been jumping around to this (and admiring Natalie’s dress):

Mary Van Note performs live at the Dark Room Theater in San Francisco Sept 5 and 12

Buy tickets here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/77018

This week, amongst many other things, I fell in love again with the one shot music video.  I was on my MGMT Pandora channel when this super catchy song came on by Vampire Weekend.  Eeeyuuuuck… what is that?  Some teeny booper band?  What a horrid name!

Yes, it may be teeny booper and horrid, but OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!  They’re music video for Oxford Comma got me all excited:

Now, one shot music videos aren’t new to me.   I went on a youtube Michel Gondry binge months ago.  Gondry is one of my favorite directors and he had his start with some amazing music videos.  He did my favorite Bjork song btw (Hyperballad).  The video that most blew my mind of his was Kylie Minogue’s Come Into My World which is located here since it won’t let me embed in a playlist.   I still don’t know how he made it.  To me, it’s just magic!  What I love about it too, is that it reminds me so much of Jacques Tati–which makes sense since Gondry is French.  Surely Tati influenced him (long wide shots and one takes).  What attracts me so much to the one shot is the choreography and the amount of rehearsing and planning to create it, it’s so inspiring to me.  Each action and visual is so calculated like brushstrokes in a masterpiece painting.  So it’s not surprising to me that some of the most watched music videos on youtube are all one-shot: Beyoncé’s - Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) (located here) and OK Go’s Here it Goes Again (located here).

1. Gary Jules - Mad World Dir. by Michel Gondry — The last visual in this video, is so, so stunning.
2. The White Strips - Denial Twist Dir. by Michel Gondry
3. Lucas - Lucas With The Lid Off Dir. by Michel Gondry — Again Gondry blows my mind.
4. Vampire Weekend - A Punk

I guess this is becoming a web series. : )

Why does all this cool stuff have to happen while I’m gone?  Oh right, there’s always cool stuff happening here.  Well here’s the rundown of what I’ll be missing while I’m gone, and of which you should see if you live in the Bay Area.

múm

They’ll be at The Independent on Nov 5th.  I’ve been into them since I first got my hands on Finally We Are No One.  And I love, love, love their first album Yesterday Was Dramatic - Today is OK. I still haven’t seen them live, and you know those Icelandic pop experimental bands don’t come around that often. Here’s a pretty awesome stop motion animation (my favorite) recent music video of theirs:

Kristen Schaal

My gods, Kristen Schaal is headlining at the Punch Line Nov 5-7. If you don’t know this woman, get with the program. She was the recipient of the Andy Kaufman award, she’s the women’s issues correspondent on the Daily Show, and she’s Mel on Flight of the Conchords. Please, see this woman. You will fall in love with her instantly. The hilarious Kurt Braunohler is featuring so it’s a possibility that you might witness Kristen Schaal is a horse:

DEVO and Reggie Watts

Umm, FUCK. I’m too sad about this because I was lucky enough to see Devo at SXSW and Reggie at the Hemlock a month or so ago, but damn, together?!?!?!?! Devo was awesome. Watching them made me wish I was around during their hey-day, because what band is as fucking artsy as they are? I love it!

Reggie Watts is also a recipient of the Andy Kaufman award. He is incredible to watch. I have to go on youtube every now and then to get my fuck shit stack fix:

Devo and Reggie will be at the Regency Ballroom on Nov 6.

Mitch Fatel

Nov 11-14 Mitch Fatel will be at the Punch Line, who I still haven’t seen. I’ve been wanting to see him ever since someone said we were a bit similar. I suppose we both talk about sex a lot in an innocent way… and we’re both HILARIOUS ; )

DV8 Physical Theatre

And last but not least the people that brought you the following awesomeness will be performing at the YBCA Nov 12-14.

If I can’t be there, some of you should be. I expect a full report on my desk when I get back.

Just a short little commemorative video.  Unfortunately I didn’t get footage of hanging out with Susan Alexander, which was by far the highlight of this stop on the tour.  Next video to come–Seattle!