Reel Streets: The Offence!

Here's a remarkable post on British film location site Reel Streets, focusing on one of my fave flicks, Sidney Lumet's The Offence (1972).


Lumet made much of the deeply weird spaces of Bracknell, Berkshire's post-war 'new town', and the effect of the photographs is to make the place seem both more and less real.


Not least because there's no people in them, nor even any cars on the roads.

Deutsche Banks! Ugly Stick! Live!

So tonight I ventured out for what is, sadly for me these days, a rather rare event: a live music concert, at Rancho Relaxo on College St. in Toronto. What was so important? What did I need so desperately to see and hear?


I could not miss the return of Ugly Stick, one of my favourite local bands; their last show, back in March of 2008, was covered here. Nor did I want to miss No No Zero guitar player Zak's debut performance with baby-fresh Bush League stepchild Deutsche Banks.

Deutsche Banks had the unenviable task of starting a four-band bill to a remote Toronto crowd, but they were busting it out like it was New Years Eve or something and I was instantly hooked on this sound - a potent blur of short songs with great choruses and hooks, and even fancy double-vocal parts. Very impressive set & I hope to catch another show soon.

After Deutsche Banks was a touring trio from Regina called Hot Blood Bombers. They had nice gear and kind of reminded me of Grand Funk Railroad, but weren't really my cup of tea.

Third up was Ugly Stick who, unbeknownst to me, no longer have Mark on drums (sorry, I don't know the new guy's name). ***Note: It's Brendan of The Midways!*** The set started with "Geek U" and ended with a raging "Betray Me", and I was a very happy concert attendee. Ugly Stick have got the knack & are able to rock both fast and slow & that's no small accomplishment. I certainly hope that we won't have to wait 13 months for their next show.



I left after Ugly Stick because, well, I like to go out on a high. And I was getting tired. So I missed Endangered Ape.

Georges Pichard!

Georges Pichard (1920-2003) was not just an amazing erotic artist, but an amazing artist full stop - whose work ran the gamut from family-friendly comics to advertising illustration (including at least one album cover), superhero parody to classical adaptations, and - most famously - Pichard's erotic works, themselves ranging from whimsical, funny and fantastic to extreme S&M imagery that is still shocking all these years later.









Apparently, none other than Mr. Marvin Gaye was a fan.










From the Lambiek Comiclopedia --

"Pichard's style is immediately recognizable: he draws tall, well-endowed women, whose starry eyes with excessive make-up give them a teutonian and gothic look."

With the advent of high-speed internet, the diligent may be rewarded with volumes of Pichard's work in a single torrent; whether related or not, his art is certainly undergoing something of a resurgence of interest.

There is an "official site" up, but no content is currently available there.

Elvis Fire Hydrant!

Consider this a late addition to my Fire Hydrants of Tweed post. Our friend D_W_ of Everything Elevator sends us a pic of one hydrant we missed - the King of Hydrants, in fact.

Just the thing for a case of Burning Love?

FW Alden!

Frederick William Alden (1873-1955) was a Christian cartoonist known for illustrations appearing in the pamphlets of Rev. B.H. Shadduck - most notably Jocko-Homo Heavenbound, which was later to inspire Devo.

Alden's drawings are rich with a sense of the macabre, his disgust at evolution evident in bizarre hybrids of man and animal, modern day devils of scientific progress. Alden's use of symbolism is fascinating, and I love the metaphorical landscapes in particular.

Fire Hydrants of Tweed!

I spent the weekend visiting friends in Tweed, Ontario & was surprised to see that all the fire hydrants there have been painted over with funny designs, everything from animals to robots to rockets to cartoon characters.

Apparently the local fire chief is less than pleased, as the fire department likes their hydrants looking uniform and easy to spot. A good point I suppose but, speaking as a tourist to the town, I think they look great.













Bonus late addition! The Elvis Hydrant!