Monday, June 22, 2009

IMIX: Children of the Night...what sweet music they make.



Okay...
so most of you know I grew up loving vampires (below is one of my favorite photos that I have ever taken).

For me it all started at a matinee watching Billy the Kid vs. Dracula, Here's a little peek of that classic.
Interesting that Dracula is impervious to bullets yet not to guns being thrown at him.

Next was after preschool episodes of Dark Shadows,
Barnabus...he da man

From there it went on and on Bram Stokers novel, the Lost Boys, Anne Rice's books and most recently HBO's True Blood.
I just finished season one. I am so hooked.

So in honor of my blood-sucker obsession, I decided to create a little IMix in honor of the Creatures of the Night.

So here is my IMix..with some explanations of my choices.
Vampiro IMix


1. Back To The Life: Spoon
I love this song....especially because of the maniacal laugh at the beginning. Perfect way to start off the mix.

2. Back to Black: Amy Winehouse
Amy might not be a vampire... but she most definitely is not human.


3. King Volcano: Bauhaus
The likely choice from Bauhaus would have been Bela Lugosi's Dead. I decided to not go for something so obvious. There is something very Romani about this song. As for the lyrics....unusual and cryptic. If you can decipher 'em let me know...I'm lost.

4. Little One: Beck
Ghostly...thats is all I have to say.

5. O Death: Camper Van Beethoven
Here's a remake of an old folk tune, you may remember it from O' Brother Where Art Thou. Camper punks it up a bit.

6. Trouble: Bitter:Sweet
I really like this song. If vampires were hipsters this would be an appropriate theme song.

7. La Llorona: Blame Sally
I know that la Llorona is more of a troubled Latin spirit than a vamp...but she is creepy and plus, I haven't come across any songs about the more vampiric chubacabras.

8. Enjoy the Ride: Morcheeba
Wandering through a graveyard has never been so enjoyable.

9. Sidi Ifni: Cracker
Not really a vampire song but certainly very tomb-ish

10. LunĂ¡tico: Gotan Project
A vampire carnival if I ever heard one.


11. Hunter's Kiss: Rasputina
Ah...Rasputina...the goth girls and there frilly dresses and red and white striped stockings. A sad tale about hunter an prey...it ends tragically...otherwise I guess it wouldn't be a sad.

12. Evil Night Together: Jill Tracy
I fell in love with Jill Tracy's music when I discovered that she composed a soundtrack to the orginal Nosferatu.

13. Black Wings: Tom Waits
If Johnny Cash was a vampire...this would be his theme song.

14. White Tooth Man: Iron & Wine
Okay, so the song is not about Dracula but I thought it seemed appropriate.

15. Twice: Little Dragon
Not sure why, but this song reminds me of the Nosferatus. I think it is all the mirror references. Look up this video on youtube...shadow puppets...nifty.

16. Hold On, Hold On: Neko Case
Haunting...with a country twang.


17. Vampire: Sinéad O'Connor
A reggae version by Sinead about vampire hunters...Ja Ja sent us here to catch vampire...

18. Is She Weird: Pixies
A Goth theme song if there ever was one...there seems to be some debate about whether this is literally about a vampire. I'm not really sure but "Is She Weird" is weird.


19. This House Is Haunted By the Echo of Your Last Goodbye: Holly Cole
And a nice jazzy number to close out the set.

Happy Listening...bwahahahaha

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Day of the Dead itinerary

Oaxaca News:
Oaxaca and deMeng de los Muertos is just around the corner. I just got this years Day of the Dead itinerary from Colleen. Should be a blast.

deMeng de los Muertos

October 25 - November 3, 2009

Calaveras y Diablos, y Santos…Oh My! click here for class description

Itinerary:

October 25 (Sunday) Arrive in Oaxaca and get settled after a long journey. Enjoy a walk to the Zocalo (town square) for dinner and sight seeing in the evening.

October 26 (Monday) Breakfast 7:30 – 10:00 A.M. Class begins at 10:A.M. We will walk to the Zocalo to explore our supply options. The market, religious store, hardware, paper store and lots of treats along the way will help us all get oriented to the variety Oaxaca has to offer. Lunch at 1:30 Return to class. Evening is free.

October 27 (Tuesday) Breakfast. Class begins at 10:00 A.M. Break for lunch. Late afternoon and evening free.

October 28 (Wednesday) Breakfast. Class begins at 10:00 A.M. Break for lunch. Late afternoon and evening free.

October 29 (Thursday) Breakfast. Class begins at 10;00 A.M. Break for lunch. Finish up projects and get ready for the critique” the good, the bad, and the ugly” Celebrate a fabulous class with a group dinner.

October 30 (Friday) Breakfast. 9:00 A.M. Tour to Ocotlan market and the Aguilar sisters, known for whimsical ceramic figures. On to San Martin Tilcajete home to some of Mexico’s finest woodcarvers. Lunch and back to Oaxaca. Evening free.

October 31 (Saturday) Breakfast. 11:00 A.M. tour to the Ethno-Botanical Garden. An amazing place even if you aren’t into plants Lots of photo opportunities. The only way to visit is with a guide. Lunch at a garden restaurant. A visit to the new textile museum for anyone interested, or just spend the day visiting the sights of Oaxaca. Lots of ofrendas and sand paintings and some parades will be going on around the zocalo. This is the first night of the Dia de los Muertos celebration. It is an amazing experience and a time to be very respectful of the people. Please ask before taking photographs.

November 1 (Sunday) Breakfast. 9:00 A.M. Tour to Mitla and the cemetery. Here the celebration begins during the day. A visit to a weaver’s home and lunch in the countryside. In the evening a visit to the city cemetery

November 2 (Monday) Breakfast. Last day in Oaxaca to spend as you wish. Shopping, eating, drinking or just sitting in the Zocalo taking it all in. Group dinner and our last night together.

November 3 (Tuesday) Breakfast. Fly away home

If you're interested contact:

Colleen Darling

950 Ballard Canyon Rd.

Solvang CA 93463

805-688-1221

colleen950@gmail.com