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One more picture from the To The Moons! art party last weekend.

Here’s what I was thinking at the art-opening/loft party I attended Saturday night, as the duo Magic Milk prepared to begin their first ever live performance: our economy is tanking with 10% unemployment. The Supreme Court just ruled against campaign finance limits. Ted Kennedy’s seat was lost to a GOP’er and there’s little hope for any serious health care reform bill. Tens of thousands of people just died in Haiti. For the love of god, why bring more misery into the world by forming another crap rock band?

Who knew they’d be fantastic? So much for knee-jerk cynicism.

Violet Eyes, a brand spanking new video by the fabulous duo My Gold Mask, has just been posted. I shot and directed the video, which was shot both in HD (with the trusty Canon 5DMII) as well as with a low-res toy video camera (circuit-bent Fisher Price PXL-2000, aka “Pixelvision.”) Working with Jack and Greta and their Pug Roadie was a treat.

Here’s a picture of the sensational masked rock ensemble The Goblins, not to be confused with Italian prog-rockers Goblin, the California metal band Goblin Cock, or the Serbian punk outfit Goblini. Somebody needs to start a Wikipedia page on these guys.

The Goblins photographed for their album, Missing Fits. Photo: Jim Newberry.

Awful news from Memphis.

Memphis musician Jimmy Jay Lindsey Jr., better known as Jay Reatard, was found dead in his Midtown home this morning, according to family and friends. He was 29.

Memphis police have opened a death investigation, spokesman Jennifer Robinson said. Lindsey was found around 3:30 a.m. at his home, Robinson said.

“Yeah, it’s true,” said Alicja Trout, a friend and former bandmate. “I don’t know much about it yet, because I haven’t been able to get in touch with the police.”

– Jody Callahan, Commercial Appeal

Yesterday’s Village Voice profiles aberrant musician Weasel Walter, who just moved from Oakland, California to Brooklyn (where he’s got three gigs this month).  I took this photo for the Reader in 2002, back when he was a Chicagoan. I wish more people I photographed wore antennae…

Tomorrow night Rob Mazurek will be at the Hideout performing with Matt Lux, Joshua Abrams, Jason Adasiewicz, and John Herndon (with John Corbett DJ’ing between sets). Should be quite a show. Peter Margasak previews the concert in the Reader. I shot this picture of Mazurek in 2006 for Thrill Jockey.

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