>%NORTHERN LIGHTS`}

A simple georgeous looking video for an equally georgeous song

Bowerbirds "Northern Lights" from matt amato on Vimeo.

And this video for Liars' Scissors shows just how a simple idea/premise can already make for a brilliant video. And the ending is hilarious, these kids have a good sense of humour :DD

Liars "Scissor" from A Bruntel on Vimeo.

Uhhh, what the f*ck??



By Haruki Nakamura

WOW





By Tamara Lichtenstein



By Matt Taylor



By Alan Sastre

All via BOOOOOOOM! (my new best friend)

Simon Nessman, styled by Long Nguyen, photographed by Taghi Naderzad



More via The Fashionisto

"]LAUNDRY AFTERNOON NO. 3*(

Now that my parents are on a three week vacation I have to transport my laundry all by myself, which means I can only carry a small amount of clothes on my bike with the result that today is day 3 of spending an afternoon washing clothes at my parents' house. So basically I do something nice in the morning, dedicate the afternoon to washing my clothes, and then do something nice during the evening again. On Friday it was the wedding, both in the morning as well as the evening because there was a wedding party. Yesterday morning I went into town and then during the evening watched Touch Of Evil at home instead of going to see the Bowerbirds. I perhaps might have been in the mood to attend a gig, but I rather see another band perform than them and I already saw Bowerbirds live when they were supporting Bon Iver. This morning I went to Amsterdam to visit the cinema I go to almost every week, most of the time with both my parents or just one of them, depending whether they're in the mood yes/no. But this morning I came by myself. And as with the super friendly cashier who works at the supermarket downstairs where I live, today the woman who almost always sells the tickets acknowledged me and my parents' weekly presence by immediately saying 'for three, right?' when I was about to buy my ticket to see The Young Victoria, the new film by Jean-Marc Vallée, director of C.R.A.Z.Y. (I love that film). But I said, no, just for one. And then she told me that it might be time for me to buy a Cineville pass, which costs 17,50 per month and allows you to go to almost every cinema in Amsterdam, except the Pathé, for free. So you can see as many movies as you want. I really have to get one because I definitely pass the 17,50 mark. But it was nice to be addressed in a more casual way and also the guy who cuts the tickets approached me in a way that indicated he knows I'm visiting this cinema almost every week. But this cinema, it's called the Cinecenter, it's really my favourite cinema. Even if they play a movie in Amsterdam which also plays in Haarlem, the city where I live, I still frequently go and see it at the Cinecenter, as was the case with The Young Victoria, 'cause it's playing in my city as well. But I just like to go to Amsterdam on a Sunday morning and watch a movie. Today it's very warm though. Now I just have to wait until the washing machine is done, then I'll hang up my clothes to dry. Now I'll fold the clothes I washed yesterday which are hopefully dry by now. Let's have a look...

/'TO GO OR NOT TO GO[-

That is the question. Right now I'm not sure. I actually decided not to go and see the Bowerbirds tonight this afternoon. But now that I'm home I'm starting to feel kind of itchy and I'm having images of me walking through Amsterdam at night. I'll see what I do. By the way, I just ate this fantastic Japanese seaweed salad. First time I tried it and I'm immediately hooked. It's like with sun dried tomatoes. I love those things and I've been eating them a lot lately. So I guess same will happen with the seaweed. Also, there's this kid working downstairs at the supermarket, he's a cashier. But this one really likes his job, always super friendly, I really appreciate that. But he's also someone I feel has thoughts about me. I mean, sometimes when you help people you don't know, you just help, do the things you're supposed to do but don't have any thoughts about the person you're helping. You don't think something like, oh, this person dresses funny, this person has yellow hair, just random thoughts like that. But with this kid it's like when we meet he thinks something about me. Well, probably, he thinks, ah, there's that guy again, 'cause I go to the supermarket quite often and I often happen to be helped by him. Ding dong :) But he really looks. Like there's some awkwardness going on. Like we're supposed to say something more because we happen to see each other quite often, but you don't really say much 'cause I'm just out shopping and he's doing his job. It's strange 'cause when you think about it, I see this kid more often than I see some of my friends. So lately I happen to have this urge to ask him like: is something wrong? I don't know, I feel like breaking the ice or something, because it just kind of stupid you don't really say much even though you see each other a lot. I feel urged to say something more than just 'you too' when he wishes me a good weekend. And I feel his wishing me a good weekend is not the same when he says that to other people. But don't we all think that sometimes. I guess so. But no, really, he waits until I have packed my bag then he wishes me a good weekend looking at me and I look at him and say 'you too'. Then he continues helping the next customer and I leave. It's kind of like in trains and stuff, all those things. People don't talk to each other. And also, I always go to this cinema on Sunday morning in Amsterdam and the same people are working there every Sunday. And of course they recognize me and my parents, because I often go there with my parents. Especially me, 'cause I'm basically the only kid out there at 11 o'clock in the morning. All those other people are grey and old. So I stand out and not just because my hair looks different. ;) So at times when this guy who always cuts our tickets, is cutting our tickets again, I feel like saying something extra. Just to acknowledge that I know I see this person almost every week and know he sees me almost every week as well. It just so strange. At times I just want him to start speaking to me and say like, hey, you always come here on Sunday right, you enjoy the movies? I don't know, just random stuff. I guess I want some acknowledgement too. Because at many times we people, all of us here in this world, we pretend people we don't 'know' just don't exist. And I frequently think, but what if we met at university, what if we happened to be in the same course, then we probably would have ended up speaking to each other, we would have perhaps ended up being friends. That's why I feel weird we all act as strangers on the train, 'cause who knows, we might be able to become the greatest friends. That person sitting next to you might share the same interests as you do, maybe when we would have been properly introduced we would have become very close. But we don't take risks. And those little kids with their parents who start yelling in the train are told to shut up and be silent at an early age, 'cause that's what we learn, that's what we are told we are supposed to do when being on the train. Just be silent and don't disturb people. Well, often I long for some disturbance. :(

>:C'EST BON#!

So last night I witnessed Bon Iver gracing the stage of Paradiso, Justin Vernon accompanied by a band consisting of three. Supporting act were the Bowerdbirds who were pretty cool, though they didn't sound as good as on their record. Especially compared to Bon Iver's set they sounded a bit hollow and empty, whereas Bon Iver's sound was so complete and really felt to fill up every corner of the venue. Bon Iver which started with Justin Vernon who locked himself up in a cabin somehere in Wisconsin and recorded Bon Iver's debut, insisted that they are now a real band and no longer just Vernon's project. And by the sound of it, he's right. The band does really add something to the songs, resulting in such a great energy live that at times I could have even danced to some of the songs, which can be said to be far from dance tunes. Opener, just as on the album For Emma, Forever Ago was Flume. They were immediately off to a good start and proofed that adding a full band was not a bad idea at all, extending the songs with long instrumental parts which aren't that long as on the album. Especially Creature Fear turned out to be a real treat. What I like most about hearing songs played live is that I always get surprised. I know the songs, but when standing there and a song starts to build I suddenly remember that now comes a really great part and my excitement kicks up to a complete new level. Also playing a new track called Blood Bank, a really nice tune which revealed a bit of the direction Bon Iver seems to take next, and a cover sung by a very young guy Mike, who probably has not yet even entered his twenties, one of the members of the band. Great voice, though Vernon's is the one that really strikes a chord. His voice is drenched with pure emotion and sounds as good live as on the record, if not better. They ended their set by bringing back the Bowerbird to the stage and performed the song Lover's For Fools by Sarah Siskind, partly acapella that is, bringing something to the stage that was so sincere and pure I almost felt like an intruder. Overall a very warm and atmospheric concert, making for a lovely evening. My love for Bon Iver was already huge, but now has reached even greater heights. See them if you can!

I didn't take any pictures. Reason 1, because some will probably pop up on the net soon, 2, because I was enjoying the songs too much and didn't want to distract myself by taking pictures, 3, because I do feel kind of strange taking pictures of these people and I know the only reason for taking them would be to show them as proof that I really went to see them. Pictures from concerts do look incredibly cool though, there's always interesting lighting. So maybe if I had a professional camera I would have taken some, I'm sure I would have taken some actually. Yup, I really REALLY want one!

Someone made a video of last night. Justin Vernon performing what is probably my favourite song by them Re: Stacks all by himself, enjoy enjoy:



Some people did take pictures, here are some of them!

Bowerbirds:





Bon Iver:









Bon Iver + Bowerbirds: