GONER

Every time I get back home to LA or am even a day shy of traveling there, allergies attack, or a cold, or pure exhaustion. Seriously, what the hell? Screw these allergies. I'm on a cocktail binge of Orange juice, Mucinex Claritin blend. So far, so good. And I swear, if anyone as much as sniffles next to me on the plane I'm insisting I change seats.
Today kicks off the Sunset Strip Music Festival #ssmf. I've pretty much skipped out on this the past couple years but I'll be present this time around for the James Pants private party, performances by Mötley Crüe, Bush, Matt & Kim, Public Enemy and more. Not to mention, the Mad Decent LA Block party also falls this weekend. Yowsas. It's an end of summer downpour of epic parties. Rager.
And for all these end of summer parties, happy fun timers Matt & Kim just did one of those collaborative songs for Converse. Matt produced the track and asked Andrew WK and Soulja Boy to contribute. So, Converse did a photo mock up merging their feet together and the new track "I'm A Goner" was released. Thoughts? I was predominantly excited about the heavy metal Varvatos converse, but that's just me. Rock on.

ROBOT D

I hate February, therefore I wrote nothing for that entire month. But now it's March. It's nearly springtime and things have started to pick up speed again. Yes, it's SXSW season. But before I even launch myself into that onslaught of a party in the desert, I've dropped myself here back in sunny Los Angeles where I'm pretty sure I got a faint suntan from walking to the coffee shop. I'm back in LA for a bit, first doing an installation for The Standard Hollywood and then playing a Biker Daughter show at Franki Chan's CYP2 with The Deathset and Ninjasonik. This is my third installation, and the fucked up thing is as a visual artist, when it comes to full on sculptures, painting, design, I never know what I'm really doing until I start doing it. Let's just say I've spent the first half of today studying iconic robot images and getting way too immersed in robotic sciences. I also picked up a few books.

So Monday, I'll be adorning the Standard with whatever my mind sees as fit. And then the following night I'll be hanging from the rafters in front of a Los Angeles crowd. And then the party really kicks into overdrive. . . and my skin'll be bronzed by the end of the Austin blitz.

I'm not really sure what I'm getting myself into otherwise, maybe a few Hefeweizens. Perhaps a couple of burrito stands or taco trucks. Most definitely an evening with Fake Blood and the IAMSOUND family. Oh, and plenty of immersion in the Vitamin D. Now I find myself wondering how long it'll be before they have a robot that also runs off solar energy. He could be soaking up some Vita-D too. Me and Robot D, cruising the scene. I'm pretty sure this dude exists. Time will tell.

PARTY HARD

Let's start with this. Yes, my nickname is robot. And yes. I used to drink 3 sparks a day. But, I was sponsored. So I felt inclined to have at least one color serving per day. Lies. I loved the shit. But that's also why I don't get why people still drink it. It's not Sparks anymore. It's not real. It's an orange flavored malt beverage that's eating your stomach away.

My crew in 2005 helped introduce Sparks to the market, when it was only being served in NY and LA. So, every party had it for free and our fridges were stocked. Let's just say when they took it off the market, this little robot got sad and had to find a jet pack to get me all the way home each night. That being said...here are a few random selects from 2005/2006 when the party posse wouldn't function without that all too well known orange tongue. And sorry Four Loco, you ain't got shit on Sparks. Not now, not never.

Cheers to all the friends who helped me funnel my favorite battery acid beverage and fueled me for years of partying, crowd surfing, 12 hour photo shoots and endless touring. And if anyone has a real Sparks on reserve (not Steel), please, send it my way.

I selected a few photo gems to share with you. Featured photos include me & Jade at the Love Yourself warehouse in Los Angeles pre-Magnetic Zeros era, me cooling down a frothy Sparks at The Sounds after party on Vine St., my favorite zippo courtesy of Sparks that even sings to me, drinking and high-fiving outside Capitol Records (a nightly routine), and some old school crews and Sparks built towers and castles.






Can we somehow get this back by popular demand? Drats.

HARD & FUN
It's hard. It's fun. It's out of control!! Jacci Stallone has one of the raddest blogs. I love it. I love her. And I love that she asked to do a feature interview on Shadowscene which was just posted today. I made fun of some stuff (as usual), made fun of myself (typical), and explained how it is that I've been having nonstop fun for the past 6+ years.
Speaking of fun...this past year has dominated. I've been trying to top the summer of 2005 for, well, fuck...five years now. And finally, I had to spend a summer in a different city on the opposite coast to do it, but I did it! Philly = top notch over the top wild ass fun. Seriously. Remember parties where people would dance all night? Where there were no holds barred and 'anything goes' was an understatement for the evening. Well yeah. It was like Oregon trail out here for while except this time we've headed East. Pickles has an ingrown claw, Penndelton is bald and I'm thirsty as fuck...but we made it. Let the dance party full music face melting blasts ensue. And mad props to Franki Chan for bringing back CYP2. Los Angeles just got a face-lift. Again.

FADE AWAY
So another Coachella has passed...and with it the ups and downs. There were a few tragedies but nothing that can hold us back or slow us down. There was a lot of hot tubbin' and a million fake wristbands that totally worked for the entire gang. Go team, go! Our entire adventure consisted predominantly of the actual festival, Anthem Lagoon, VICE Cougars, ACE Hotel party crashing and too much Sailor Jerry rum. Let's just say there were a lot of band-aids in use by Sunday morning.
I also decided I absolutely NEED an old Airstreamer RV. Need, need, want. Need. And futhermore, in my opinion it's now summer. Even though our entire world is 20 degrees colder than it should be and we now experience UK blackouts, alien invasions, volcanic eruptions and 7.2 earthquakes on a weekly basis. 2012?
In other news, the Philly | Los Angeles bi-coastal Shadowscene bash blast is really taking off. We've got new events in both cities popping up including School Night here in Los Angeles, Tiger Beats in Philly, and a RAWK Tuesdays on the LA Eastside. It's definitely time to change things up and spice up the sauces. We're cleaning out the closets so to speak. The past 6 months have been sort of stagnant and full of theoretical assumptions and guessing games. We're ready to get back to the good life and ditch the after school specials along with every moniker and bit that goes along with it. And...for those of you who actually read this shit, I've invited a few of the crew to contribute here an there. This means you'll be reading the dazed thoughts and fucked up opinions of other robot worthy folk starting today. Yep. Oxenfree...Pink Avenger...Goo Goo Fruit and more. Bookmark this muthafucka.

TAPS WRAPS & BEATS
There's too much going on; but what's new? Now that everyone is back in reality action after Thanksgiving boozin', schmoozin and food fuelin it's the hustle of getting everything wrapped for the holidays. Literally.
I spent a few amazing weeks in LA soakin' up the sunshine, DJing, doing some fashion shoots and learning how to cook some homemade soups. I got to enjoy Club Rhonda after missing it for nearly a year and can easily say it's one of the greatest parties in that city right now. I DJ'd Hang the DJs with Valida and was literally raising the roof...not to mention banging the walls in between and during tracks. Plus, LeCastlevania and I finally ran into each other which is a feat in itself since we both switch coasts on each other on a daily basis. And now I'm back on the east coast for a bit...enjoying the...rain? Just snow already!
On the Shadowscene front, there's a ton to be excited about. I'll be in NY this Thursday for the new Shadowscene weekly with Whit Fierce, LEWD Thursdays at Orchard Bar. Tonight I'm checking out TigerBeats indie dance party at The Barbary in Philly and Awesometown is still rocking twice a month in Los Angeles. Plus, our vintage collection is in full boom and you can check out new pieces each week in the store and I'll be releasing some select limited prints from the "Fragments & Figmentations" collection in the next week! Our buddies Finger on the Pulse had a kick-ass premiere for their new weekly show, Dinner with the Band on IFC. This week check out Final Fantasy and record that bizzle if you can't catch it every week. Speaking of music...KC and I have finally locked down some deadline dates for our recordings. Get pumped! And I'm stoked on what Diplo and Robyn are up to...lock in to Mad Decent for more updates.
Of course...I had to tap into some old Robyn anthems and here's a fave. It's very Pee-Wee'esque.
All it needs is a little Chairy the Chair and Meka High Meka Highney Ho.

OH HOLLYWOOD
So I've been back in Los Angeles for a couple of days and already it's right back into the world of the bizarre. Where anything goes, all is acceptable and it's a boring day if you...well, it's never really a boring day. Spiderman was arrested today while loitering around on Hollywood Blvd. I'd like to say it was because he was spinning webs in the traffic but alas, too many outstanding warrants or something. I told you those folks in costumes were up to no good! What better place to hide than in a circus or under a mask right out in plain view!? Other than that, I realized Monkey's favorite toys are all bananas. Anne says it's cause he's Monkey. And of course, there's the ever random postings on craigslist that never get old. This guys just wants a companion. And no worries ladies...no personality or age requirements necessary. Ah, Los Angeles: the land of opportunity.
On a different note, everyone is still full from last night's soup party. Yes, SOUP Party. 6 soups, 30 bottles of wine and 20 people. I immediately went into a soup coma. I'm not kidding. After the full afternoon of prep and cooking and about five bowls of soup I laid down and past out right in the middle of everyone. I woke up this morning...still full on tater leek and brazilian beans. Oh my!

TATTOO LOO HOO
Let's be random. Here are some things I am entertained or amused by: the sounds of a jingle ball, kitty feet creaking in a wicker basket, the smell of winter, rain and snow (yes, they have scents), cotton balls, blue walls that look green, pets in windows, mismatched socks, tin robots, falling down, text written on dirty cars, insect antics, honest street folk signage ('why lie, i need a beer'), finger puppets, goofy glasses, food fights, silly putty, kool-aid mustaches, clouds, riot rock and oh...free tattoos. Free anything is pretty awesome. I mean, even if the shoe doesn't fit you know we'll wear it.
But in the terms of tattoo-ville and hoo-ville...little ellei loo hoo is getting a tattoo new.
Tomorrow I get another tattoo...and this is exciting for many reasons, one of which being I won the tattoo over a game of pool. Hustlin! Ya put the ball in the corner pocket and you turn yourself around...ok so NEXT.
In addition to that, I decided to give away a few freebies of my own. So...for the rest of this week, if you purchase any tees in the shadowscene shop, you get one of our limited edition posters for free! Kind of a great opportunity...get some gifts or just stock up on botwear and stuff.
Maybe you can put on some goofy glasses and mismatched socks, chug some kool-aid, cause a food fight and run around tagging cars with a finger puppet. Just saying, some things have yet to be done.
P.S. Los Angeles next week!

NO MORE TAT FREE
I love all of the ridiculous parties in LA and NY. Why? Because of all the free stuff! What’s insane is that half the people living in these cities can barely pay rent but it’s super simple to go get drunk every night and even snag a full meal without dropping a cent. It’s not rare that you come home with a new t-shirt or album or maybe even something you drunkenly swiped from the bar. But the YRB Magazine party I went to last night in LA takes the cake on freebies for the poor, and rich. How about free double sized drinks, Pinks Famous hot dogs and no lie, free freakin’ tattoos. Talk about an amazing party.
Up until yesterday I've been tattoo free...and all it took was the right moment and the option of "free" and I closed the deal. Other than the tattoo mania going on, there were some intense games of ping-pong, hot dog ravishing, red carpet flukes, WWE dudes and Rae and I even got to model our vintage inspired and revamped outfits for the YRB Spring collection. Of course...the fun didn't stop there. We left around midnight and plopped onto Cahuenga with C-star where we danced in giddyness at Pash with Classixx and The Sounds. I’m happy to say I woke up with a full tummy, fuzzy hangover, and a new inked adornment. Now if we can only get parties to give away free lofts or something.

WE GOT BORED
I finally made it home to LA for a couple of days this past weekend just for BLOW UP. This month's Blow Up seriously took the cake...that shit was off the wall happy slippy sloppy. Although being home, there was definitely minimal sleep being had. Even all the way up to the wee hours prior to my flight out of LA and back to the middle of the country. On a fun note, my friend RDUB has this crazy fun video series called "We Got Bored". I just spent my last few hours in LA this weekend bouncing around in a parking lot while he worked on the latest...check it out:



And in the meantime, I'm getting ill from all the nonstop plane hopping, city circling, party hop shooting, air mattress non snoozing. But it's worth it. When the hell else am I gonna rock out in the middle of Nebraska and Kansas...

** Party update: Philly still takes the cake on the most riotous midweek bash thus far. Philly you're golden.



And believe it or not...Omaha was pretty damn awesome as well! Yip Yip!!

WHIPPER SNAPPER
Well the weekend has come...and gone. And now it's back to the weekly groove. But Saturday was lovely. I spent the entire day with The Deadly Syndrome, joined them at the super hilarious Shit Show podcast and then followed them over to the Explex for their gig with The Klaxons. The sound check was a bit uncanny seeing how the venue is pretty new and doesn't really have all the kinks worked out yet. And the line around the block extended in every possible direction to the furthest degree by the time they actually got the doors opened. Their little ghosts fell down and the lights flickered but the Deadlies rocked it hard as usual. Amazing boys. Of course, then the Klaxons stepped to the stage and the rumbling crowd got nasty, spilling drinks, throwing fists. I was a bit confused because Klaxons are more electro rock than riot rock. But still, it was a great show. Dim Mak Records is releasing their album in the states so I'm sure they're thrilled! And, the Klaxon fellows are super sweet little whipper snappers.
Then at about midnight I headed to Blow Up LA which I heard was off the charts, however, I never made it inside. Parking was a bald headed brat and my tipsy friend was loitering the sidewalks so, I made it to a 3am snackage with Creeksta and then somehow home to bed before passing out along the way. Yikes!! What a crazy Case of the Deadly Klaxonitis....check out photos on Shadowscene!