Sean Penn in Robert Smith type role

This is intriguing.

Kristeen Young's new video!

Artist at Grumpy's Cafe

I don't know much about this artist Jo Hamilton, but I love her work. Go see her crochet pieces!

Opening April 29th 2011 5-9pm

Cafe Grumpy Greenpoint
193 Meserole Avenue
(at Diamond St)
Brooklyn, NY 11222

Recording pictures from The Julie Ruin last weekend!

http://thejulieruin.com/

Back in the recording studio this past weekend! Here's some pictures from the session. We recorded 7 new songs.

France Gall with the original "Chick Habit" 1960's

I love the April March version circa 2007.

New Business Cards!

9th Grade Student Webb's video! Listen to her play...whew!

Guitar Instruction Video

You’re watching You’ve Got Fred Armisen. See the Web's top videos on AOL Video

Take a break from the news...

Skateboarding, for Girls Only

Thanks to drum student, 11 year old Eva, for telling me about this day open FOR GIRLS ONLY to skate. Lets vote for more days like these!! Click for more info:

The Julie Ruin t-shirt

Time for a new shirt? Some of my students have asked about my band's cd, but the new one is not out yet. For now we are busy writing and recording, but you can get a shirt! This is the cute band shirt that won the design contest, check it out!

http://www.buyolympia.com/krsnew/Item=KRS297T

The Cookies

The Cookies, from Brooklyn, the 50's/60's girl group with the hit song "Chains" (how great is that song?). The Beatles later covered it.

RIP Dorothy Jones who passed away December 2010.

Christian Joy, fashion designer

I've always loved the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, but check out Karen O's designer, Christian Joy. Brilliant surrealist fashion. Her website: http://www.christianjoy.us/

Galina Vale from the Ukraine

Guitar Heroes | The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Guitar Hero exhibit, Legendary Craftsmen from Italy to New York. February 9th - July 4th, 2011. Planning a field trip soon! A few selections from their website: http://blog.metmuseum.org/guitarheroes/

Art Deco Guitar 20001994
circa 1915
circa 1900

Guitar Heroes | The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls - Ladies Weekend Camp 2011

Ladies Rock Camp February edition was this past weekend through Presidents Day. Here's some highlights from the Lunch Time performances.

"Deux Chats" formed last summer at the Girls Rock Camp. They are ages 13-15. Here they perform for the adult camp. Rocking original songs and one White Stripes cover!

Last day's lunch included a Kareoke machine and all hell broke loose. The most dancing I've ever seen, and we were all sober!

A diverse chorus line behind Emmet!

Robyn

Can't stop thinking about this song "Cobrastyle" by Robyn so thought I should post it. Her new pop album is just as addictive.

Hazel Scott

So I just left the Willie Mae Rock Camp this afternoon, after having helped teach the guitar workshop and some band coaching for the Ladies week-end edition of Rock Camp, and jumped in my truck just in time to hear a story on NPR radio about the pioneering jazz and classical pianist Hazel Scott (1920-1981). I felt like I wanted to hurry home and print out a picture of her to hang up at my studio! A new role model, this woman's technique and evident hard work is extremely inspiring.

Hazel Scott was awarded scholarships to Juilliard at the age of 8 for her piano playing. As a teen, she performed with her mother's all female jazz ensemble. She went on to play with Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Charles Mingus and others.

Here's the full NPR story.

Westminster Dog Show 2011

The Westminster Dog Show 2011 was set up a bit different this year. Because of construction at Madison Square Garden, the groomers were mixed in with the boarding area so things were a little doubled up. This winning dog makes a nice desk!

This Mastiff was really a Mastiffasaurus Rex.

Look at that face! Pampered their whole lives and these dogs still don't have "attitude".

Clown/Mardi Gras scarf. I was afraid to get closer to this one.

In the end, they were all just playful doggies!

Black Russian Terrier! The nice owner gave me a treat to give to this sweet dog but I couldn't find his mouth under all that hair.

This Bernese Mountain Dog was well over 130 lbs and playful like a little bear cub.

Wise beard and mustache.
Beauty and Brains.

"Women Who Rock" at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum

Click HERE to see all the women honored.

My Guilty Pleasure

To the horror of my teen students, Glee is my new favorite show, guilty pleasure, and real inspiration. These kids fricken rock! And how great is this song after all these years?

Selda

Selda Bacgan. Thanks to Dena for introducing me to this amazing guitarist. Selda (b 1948) is a Turkish guitarist and singer persecuted in her homeland for politically driven songs in the 1980's.

Night Club Photography

Women in nightclubs from the 60's by Photographer Billy Monk. See more pictures HERE!

Salami CD packaging

CD package design for Lithuanian musican Shidlas. The CD is vacuumed like real salami.

The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye

One of the most important living performers today.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe

For my students that have not heard of her!

Scroll half way through to hear the rockin Chuck Berry-ish guitar solo...

St. Vincent "I Dig a Pony"

St. Vincent performing a unique cover of the Beatles song. What tension....

Charo

Charo (born 1951) is an actress, comedienne, and flamenco guitarist. She studied classical and flamenco guitar with master guitarist Andres Segovia. This is the original "shredding" style of music. Many people just know her as the flamboyant 70's star, frequently showing up on Fantasy Island or Loveboat. Check out her video...SO good.

Bow Wow Wow

Aphrodisiac by Bow Wow Wow. For NBSF! I just love the guitar tones in the song. Everything about this song is great..

Plasmatics

Lead singer and animal rights activist Wendy O Williams.

Plasmatics first EP. Download it here!

Thanks No Beast So Fierce!

Little Nell

Here's a completely different "Nell" than the previous post. She is an Australian singer and over-the-top performer. This album is from 1977.

And the song from the album! Do it! Don't be shy!

Nellie Bly - 10 Important Women in History #3

Nellie Bly (1864-1922) is a fascinating women who I'm ashamed to say I knew nothing about before this week. She was an investigative journalist who wrote on controversial issues such as the plight of immigrants, women, and factory workers. She went undercover as a patient in a mental institution on Blackwell Island for 10 days, and returned to write her shocking piece chronicling the experience, which inspired reforms in New York's mental institutions. I chose her as #3 in my list of 10 Women in History Illustrated.

She was born Elizabeth Jane Cochrane but chose the new pen name based on a Stephen Foster song. She went to boarding school for only one semester and dropped out due to lack of funds. After moving to New York, she wrote for several publications and became a well known reporter. In 1889, Bly made her famous record-breaking trip around the world in 72 days, challenging the fictional hero of Jules Verne's "Around the World in 80 Days."

Her books and articles include "Around the World in 72 Days," "Ten Days in a Mad House," "Working Girls Beware," "Are You An Anarchist?" and many more which can all be downloaded here

Illustration by me. #3 colored pencil

(The list of Women in History is in no special order. It is about whoever is inspiring me this week. Also I'm behind in my goal of finishing all these illustrations by January 1st, due to being so busy last fall. I hope to do one per week from here on out in hopes of seeing drawing improvement and to get my skills up to par! )

Gladys Horton, lead singer of The Marvelettes RIP 1944-2011

Bands like this pioneered the Motown girl-group era. This song will always remind me of being a young teen addicted to the Oldies radio station, back before ipods or Sirius radio, when driving in the car through Wisconsin meant only a choice of three tolerable stations (oldies, classic rock, or current metal). The Oldies DJ had specific tunes in rotation and I remember them all....maybe thousands of songs, all under 3 minutes long! I was a sponge for this style. The Marvelettes and Gladys Horton, lead singer in the early years, exemplifies fun and strength at the same time, something I've always aimed for in my bands (including my old all girl band appropriately titled "The Chicklettes").

Gladys Horton's pure Motown voice still gives me shivers! No bells or whistles, just strong singing. Amen.

Bauhaus Inspired Dress Made From Rubber Bands

NYC architect Margarita Mileva's Bauhaus inspired dress made from thousands of rubber bands originally designed for "Wear is Art" competition in Berlin. More info and pics here!