Elephants broken & screaming

It's going to be fucking hard for me to write about this, because I don't think I know enough adjectives for "fucking amazing" to keep this interesting. I have been a fan of Led Zeppelin ever since I was young, they were my gateway band into rock music and over the last few years I have been getting  into Queens of the Stone Age and Foo Fighters. So when I found out that Dave, Josh and John were forming a new band, it blew my fucking mind. I had no idea what to expect from the band, but I bought tickets to their show in New Zealand even though the album wouldn't come out for another few months. I just had immense faith that whatever they did, it would be fucking amazing. And I was right, the album was released in December of '09 and my obsession exploded exactly 2 minutes and 44 seconds into the first song. Now my life had focused like a laser towards January 30th, when they would play at Vector Arena. It was the first (of many) concerts where I lined up all day and I managed to get front row. Cairo Knife Fight were a fucking awesome opening band and they really destroyed their set (literally), then it was time for TCV. Its safe to say that night changed my life forever and whatever I type about it just couldn't possible do it justice, so I'll just leave you with some photos from that night.

Them Crooked Vultures. 30/01/2010. Vector Arena, Auckland, New Zealand 

Josh Homme & Dave Grohl

Dave Grohl

John Paul Jones

Josh Homme

Dave Grohl

Josh Homme, Dave Grohl & John Paul Jones

Them Crooked Vultures

Signed and vandalised by Josh Homme

Prepare to have your brain wrinkled

This freaked me out a bit when I read it. It really makes you rethink everything you thought you knew. It is a total paradigm shift of the reality that I was once familiar with. It reminds me of s06e17 of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, this episode was called Normal Again where the Trio summon a demon whose hallucinogenic venom makes Buffy believe that her implausible and nightmarish life as vampire slayer has actually been her own elaborate hallucination as a mental patient, catatonic in a hospital for the past six years. That episode totally fucked with my head. Read on with extreme caution for your childhood memories...

Image sourced from http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/56660775.html?page=3&cut_expand=1#cutid1

Regret won't waste my life again

Lately, I have been increasingly worried about The Rule of Three, where things tend to disappear in threes. This is not to be confused with The Three Days Rule, explained best by Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris) in s04e21 of How I Met Your Mother. It all began on February 2nd of this year when it was tragically announced that The White Stripes were breaking up and my world collapsed on top of me as I spiraled into months of mourning. It was a really devastating shock and a huge loss to the music industry, but just as I was starting to recover, I found out that Adam Copeland aka Edge is being forced to retire due to injury. Edge was my childhood hero and has been an inspiration to me throughout my life, so it was a pretty big surprise to hear he was never going to be able to compete again. At least I can remember them at their best, because both went out on the top of their games. The White Stripes had 6 hugely successful albums and Edge was the reigning World Heavyweight Champion, they were truly giants in their industries. So now I am left with the frightening concept of who will be the 3rd? I can only hope that the rule is simple a superstition, but there will always be that fear sitting in the back of my mind. For a while, I was worried that Jared Payne was the third, because during his best season ever for the Auckland Blues, he announced that he will be going overseas next season to play his rugby but I decided that the [former] Northland Taniwhas Captain and fullback/centre is simply relocating away from NZ and does not qualify to be the 3rd. Now I simply must wait and hope.

My sister brought me back this patch from Interlaken, Switzerland. It appears to be a goat of some kind but I have no idea what it is doing. So I am posting it here and hoping that everyone will comment and express their opinion about what the hell is going on there.

The options are:

a) Spitting Blood

b) Poking it's tongue out

c) Breathing fire

d) Being shot with a tranquilizer dart in the mouth

e) Exhaling a demon in spirit form

f) Other.....

All the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service

My musical world has been dominated lately by the release of The Kills 4th studio album, 'Blood Pressures'. It is a much darker and more emotional album than its predecessor 'Midnight Boom'. This new expression of dread and frustration is reminiscent of her time with The Dead Weather, it really shows an impressive level of maturity. Right from the outset, the record is filled with a unique and dark, bluesy/grunge feel. I'm counting down the days until Hotel and VV announce a New Zealand date of their tour, it will easily be the highlight of my 2011. I last saw Alison Mosshart in 2010 with The Dead Weather, it was a lethal performance from the seductive front woman with her unkempt black hair flailing everywhere and her striking yet ghoulish poses. She was beautifully dangerous and now i'm hooked.

The Dead Weather. 17/03/2010. The Powerstation, Auckland, New Zealand

Alison Mosshart & Jack White

Dean Fertita & Jack White

Jack White

Alison Mosshart & Jack White

Alison Mosshart

The Dead Weather - Cut Like A Buffalo

I think my lack of photography skills really adds to the mood and atmosphere of the pictures.

The stickiest boy in the world

The thing responsible for these doodles is called Izak (as seen by the Invader Zim-like skull design). He is the reason I am blogging in the first place and his drawings have caused me such joy in the past that it made me want to vomit. This particular drawing of a little anthropomorphic dog who is celebrating his own body is just one of the many examples I have on my walls. If only I still had the original of that 2 panel comic where an octopus tries to escape from this guys mouth, that comic was like getting tasered (because my happiness manifested itself in a way that cause involuntary peeing). 

It's so funny, I'm Lizzing (Look it up, kids).

Just to continue with the theme of other peoples work, I give you...the planet Namek, by Justin

Wear a tall hat like a druid in the old days

You watched the background being painted, now you get to see the final product. I give you...a painting for Newgirl! Those 2 people in the middle are totally awesome and they are surrounded by their pets. The tyrannosaurus represents the best band in the world, T. Rex, along with the swan from the hit single 'Ride a white swan'. The vulture represents the love affair with modern super group Them Crooked Vultures and the elephant is one of their best songs. I even slipped a subtle Arch Enemy reference in there, can you find it?

Plucked from the garden of wretched beliefs

I got pretty carried away last post writing about The West Wing amazingness, so today I will keep it much more simple...I'm sure both the people reading this blog will appreciate that.

Let there be vultures!!!

None of this would've been possible without these vultures making it totally impossible

The wrath of the... whatever, from high atop the thing

I have been away from my keyboard for a number of days now, my computer was crippled with an unfortunate virus. It infected my laptop and made normal operations nearly impossible. THANK GOD I had handed my final assignment into uni the day before, or I wouldve been screeeeewed. The sad thing was, it wasnt even one of those cool viruses that gives you free porn everytime you turn the computer on. My systems are functioning as they should be now and everything is back to the way it was meant to be, just as the holidays descend upon me once again. What will my holidays be filled with? A fuckload of nothing, headlined by hours of television and the utter domination of my new game on Pokemon HeartGold (I just started a new game with a team including an adament Trapnich, a careful Beldum, a modest Gastly, a bold Mantine and a bashful Magnemite).

I am currently in the middle of an episode of The West Wing (1999-2006) and I wish I could psychically transmit this amazingness into the minds of everyone in the world. The West Wing is a giant among television shows, it is truly the standard to which all shows should be held against. I am obsessed with the Bartlet administration and everything that comes along with it. I would even go so far as to say that President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) is one of the few people in my life I consider a hero. Yet, the cast manages to remain so relatable and just plain lovable. Bartlet is a powerfully intellegent leader with a sharp sense of humour who is supported by a pack of crazy and extremely capable misfits, including the steadfast gargolye that is his Cheif of Staff, Leo McGarry (John Spencer). Then there is Deputy CoS, Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford) whose chaotic life is a pleasure to watch, and Head of Communications, Toby Ziegler (Richard Schiff), who is the incarnation of Eeyore. Sam Seaborn (Rob Lowe) is an awkwardly adorable addition to the cast with the purest of hearts, and there is a lot to say about C.J. Cregg (Allison Janney) but my favourite is when she had the strangest of moments with Big Bird...yes, THE Big Bird. There is a myriad of other brilliant characters including Stokard Channing, Janel Moloney, Joshua Malina, Mary McCormack, Jimmy Smits and Alan Alda, so this probably goes without saying but I HIGHLY recommend you all watch it, its worth it

.

One of my favourite episodes will always be s03e15 - Hartsfield's Landing, where Bartlet plays chess with his senior staff while many events unfold including a hilarious prank war between Charlie (Dule Hill) and C.J. and in one of the best moments on televison, Bartlet tells Sam Seaborn, "Sam, you're going to run for President one day. Don't be scared. You can do it. I believe in you"....

...I'm man enough to admit, I cried like a little girl

Ever since I saw that episode, I have been a firm believer that within the universe of the West Wing it was inevitable that Sam would one day be elected to the Oval Office, along with his first lady, Ainsley Hayes (Emily Procter). No matter what anybody tells me, that will always be fact within my reality. There is noone more perfect for the job.

None of that had anything to do with a profile view of an old man. Tune in next time for some vultures!!!!!

It's raining leprosy and acid.

On the 23rd of February, I saw Amanda Palmer (The Dresden Dolls) at the Kings Arms Tavern. The KA's is one of my favourite places, it is just perfect for hosting the smaller, slightly less popular bands. It is quite an intimate venue so you always get a chance to have a drink and talk to the musicians. Ive seen quite a few shows there before, including The Black Dahlia Murder, Unearth, Cancer Bats, Cairo Knife Fight, Street Chant, Cobra Khan and The Dauntless. But on that night, I was blown away by AP's opening musician who was a man named Jason Webley, a Seattle-born singer-songwriter known for playing a mix of gypsy, folk, and punk. He is the most badass piano-accordionist I have ever seen and his performance was violently beautiful. Needless to say, I highly recommend you check this guy out. That's him down there, he loves sweaty hugs right after a show.

My favourite song of Jason's is a post-apocalyptic tale of remorse and destruction called 'Dance while the sky crashes down', it is fucking amazing. But it really got me thinking...and now it has become my life's purpose to dance while something epic is happening in the background. It is a repeating theme that occurs in the music I listen to and I've decided I can no longer ignore this message, surely it is a sign that this will be my destiny. So just as Jason Webley dances as the sky crashes down, Lamb Of God dance as the palaces burn and The Black Dahlia Murder dance by night and drink the blood of a child's broken neck, I too, will one day achieve this epic feat

It is my calling.

High-fiving a million angels

This is one of my doodles from about the middle of February, it was inspired by a character from one of my favourite comics ever, Fairy Tail. She is a young mage named Wendy Marvell who uses Sky Dragon Slayer magic, I think she was dancing or something in the comic and her body movement inspired me to draw this. Obviously it has been adapted in my recreation, she now appears to be fighting against demon possession or about to have a massive psychotic breakdown, but thats just how I roll.

In case you are wondering about the amazingly awesome title, then I'll let you in on a little secret...I stole it from Tina Fey's character, Liz Lemon on 30 Rock. It has been my latest obsession and thouroughly distracting me from all my university work. I have been devouring such copious amounts of it lately that I fear I am slowly being converted towards the slobbish ways of 'The Lizard', as I found myself 2 days ago sitting in my car in the carpark of a Burger King on the motorway eating a burger...alone and in the dark. Maybe its time to take a bit of a break from 'The Menta-Liz' but there is just something about those glasses that just make me want to keep coming back for more.

Take care not to make it angry, or it may inflate steadily

Yes, I did take the title from my Wigglytuff's pokedex entry on Pokemon Soulsilver

I got my first pokemon game when I was so young that I dont even remember what year it was. I was blesses with Blue version and a lime green Gameboy colour, I have never looked back since that day. My name is Harry, I am 20 years old and I am proud to be addicted to Pokemon. I also believe it gets more fun with age, because the level of planning and strategy becomes so much more interesting, but I always choose my pokemon based on what my heart tells me. I want my pokemon to be my friends, I love them like my family.

This is my Wigglytuff, her name is Mowgli (named after the Marina & The Diamonds song 'Mowgli's Road'). She is one of the co-leaders of my team, along with my Charmeleon, Spiral (named after the Nightrage song 'Spiral'). Spiral was my starter pokemon, but it wasnt long before my family started to expand. The next members to join were my Heracross, named Slider (after the T. Rex album and song by the same name) and Icky, my Muk (taken from The White Strpes album/song 'Icky Thump'). Then after a complex pursuit, an Abra named Wizard (a reference to the T. Rex song 'The Wizard) joned our band of friends. The final addition to my family was a Magnezone named 1000 (after the Popstrangers song '1000').

Charmeleon (Male)                                               Wigglytuff (Female)

SPIRAL                                                                MOWGLI

Abiliy - Blaze                                                         Ability - Cute Charm

Nature - Quirky                                                    Nature - Impish

Capable of taking hits                                          Often Scatters Things

Item - Dragon Fang                                              Item - Blackbelt

Smokescreen                                                        Sing

Flamethrower                                                       Hyper Voice

Dragon Claw                                                        Brick Break

Counter                                                                Bounce

Heracross (Male)                                                Muk (Male)

SLIDER                                                              ICKY

Abiliy - Guts                                                        Ability - Sticky Hold

Nature - Brave                                                    Nature - Gentle

Likes to fight                                                       Good Endurance

Item - Muscle Band                                            Item - Black Sludge

Night Slash                                                         Sludge Bomb

Earthquake                                                         Shadow Sneak

Close Combat                                                     Poison Gas

Megahorn                                                           Payback

Abra (Female)                                                 Magnezone (No Gender)

WIZARD                                                         1000

Abiliy - Synchronize                                         Ability - Magnet Pull

Nature - Calm                                                  Nature - Serious

Often lost in thought                                       Alert to sounds

Item - Focus Band                                           Item - Bright Powder                          Teleport                                                           Lock On                                            

Psychic                                                             Thunderbolt

Shadow Ball                                                     Flash Cannon

Light Screen                                                    Mirror Coat    

Welcome To The Hollow

Why the hell is everything so purple?

That was my first question too. This is my first time blogging, so i've still got a lot to learn about setting up my profile and making it actually look good. Im currently in my 3rd year of a bachelor of Design at Massey University in Auckland, New Zealand and i'm going to use every bit of that education to make this an aesthetically bitchin blog. I will mainly be posting random drawings and sketches accompanied with specific rants filled with plenty of obscure references....it should be genius.

This was drawn over a month ago now, it's just a black pen doodle done during class. The title is a reference to a Queens of the Stone Age song called 'Into The Hollow'. It was about 4 days before I was seeing them live at the Logan Cambell Centre for the first time. I met the entire band at Real Groovy before the show which was just fucking amazing. I'm one of those crazy fools who just loves lining up all day for concerts, the atmosphere is just brilliant and nothing beats the thrill of front row. I also have a pretty decent setlist collection from all the concerts I've been to.

It is barely legible due to the extreme temperature but it was a fucking amazing night. Though one of the unexpected highlights of that day was earlier in the day when I was lucky enough to meet Brody Dalle (The Distillers, Spinnerette), she was about 4 months pregnant and just so fucking cool.

So yeah.