Meet Mickey Avalon, as famous for his delightfully rudimentary hip-hop tunes as he is for the debauched and tragic past he raps about. With a warts ‘n’ all attitude, Avalon and sometime cohort, photographer Mark the Cobra Snake, are bringing their unapologetic trash-chic to a town near you. Following a tumultuous upbringing involving drug abuse and prostitution, he gained an audience with his single, ‘Jane Fonda’ and has since risen in the ranks as a performer. ‘I was born under a bad sign in east Los Angeles. Some how it started to work’, he explains. ‘I was never interested in making music. I’m influenced by anyone who has the balls to speak what they mean. It’s all autographical in one way or another, whether speaking from the inside or the outside’.
Also by NATALIE LIECHTI
Current UK beat-boxing champ, Beardyman, recently kept impatient crowds entertained between sets at London’s Lovebox Weekender. We spoke to the Brighton resident about his offbeat style: ‘I’ve been doing it since I was a baby, but I never knew it was called beat-boxing. I thought it was just a habit, like biting your nails, and people were always telling me to stop. Being a good beat-boxer is a mixture between being a good DJ, a cheesy street magician and a vocal athlete’.
Sydney-based artist, James Jirat Patradoon on his career defining moment: ‘If I could trace my artistic inspiration back to one event, it would have to be the Neo Tokyo exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art in 2001. I had never seen art like that before; I didn’t know you could be so playful with it. I vividly remember the Yoshitomo Nara sculptures made out of bandages, and Kenji Yanobe’s atom suit and Godzilla/Astro Boy sculptures that blew bubbles. It was just so fun. I think because a lot of Japanese art contains references to pop culture, it’s more accessible for audiences. They aren’t so intimidated by it because it can be quite light-hearted but still have a serious undertone to it’.
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YOU'RE SAYING (10)
Ms.Anthropy said | 19 February, 2007
definite DOPE shit… love it. The Dyslexic Speedreaders also are badass, they are Mickey Avalon, Andre Legacy and Dirt Nasty.
Check ‘em out. You’ll either love it or hate it….:)
erin said | 22 February, 2007
got the man to sign my ass last month.
Andy said | 23 February, 2007
Ha nice one Erin!
anne said | 24 February, 2007
i saw you on jimmy kimmel live tonight, first time, and you were very intriguing, you were so sexy in a way i never thought of myself thinking as “my type”- keep it up, you definately have something different than anyone out there now!!!! its way over time that music starts getting over the “lets all sound the same” image , YOU WIN!!!!
Ash-lee Nightmare said | 28 February, 2007
So, I deff. Love Mickey Avalon. He makes me creamy in the panties. No doubt. I get to go see him in Austin March 17th. I’m so fucking siked about it. He’s not the cutest thing in the world…but he’s uber mmmazing. I love his voice…orgasmic.
Love,
Ash-lee Nightmare
Kaitlyn said | 6 March, 2007
His music is fantastic… I compleatly love him
Mossy Gogo said | 17 March, 2007
you bitches are about 5 years late. mickey has been wooing fans and friends in LA since back int he day. glad the rest of the world has finally woken up to this AMAZING talent. and glad that i get to see him perform on a regular basis. he and the ds crew are some of the best performers
Jennerator said | 27 September, 2007
Mickey, Mickey…F*#K me, F*#k me…Cuz there ain’t no other late nite lover. Nuf said. XOXOXOXOXO 2 the first artist who ever had me interested enuf 2 write bout him. Such a sexy voice, such a unique talent.
medusasmom said | 29 September, 2007
Mickey’s time has come! He is blowing up everywhere! The 1st artist ive felt worthy of supporting in many many years! True,you will love him or hate him,but more and more people are getting brought in to his fold. Mickey Avalon is a hero for our times.He is a survivor who has the unique ability to add humor and lair to his often traggic past.If his lyric with its catchy hooks dont get you,His live show WILL! Mickey Avalon brings the party every show and his fans are even more hardcore then his critics!
HAVE YOUR SAY
Japanese automaker Takayanagi Co. has created this steam-punk looking electric car called Miluira. It is a zero-emission vehicle 90 percent composed of Japan-made components.
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Peter Nalitch is Russia’s answer to Manu Chao. His video for the song Guitar is a Borat-like jab at low-budget, post-Soviet awkwardness — absurd English lyrics, Eurotrash earnestness, bad wipes, and cheap subtitles. But its tongue-in-cheekness is quite apparent, and the song is disarmingly catchy and romantic.
Pop artist Ron English, an occasional contributor to Lost At E Minor, sent through some photos from his latest pop-up show, which featured a brilliantly eclectic blend of his social critique artwork. Read more
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My roommate Adam and I have been playing Mark McGuire’s album, Pocket Full of Rain, all summer and some other tapes our other roommate has showed us that he did. I really like everything this guy has done. I sit and watch him play guitar on YouTube when I’m bored.
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Japanese designers Keiichi Muramatsu and Noriko Seki founded the Tokyo-based fashion label, Everlasting Sprout, in 2005, based on their mutual interest in knit design. Each intricate creation in their Spring/Summer 2009 range took up to a week for them to construct. Read more
WE'RE POSTING / SOME OF THE BEST
Pitched as ‘Ulterior Motives in Contemporary Art’, Disorder Disorder is running until November 14 at Penrith Regional Gallery. It’ll be well worth the trip out west of Sydney: the Australian, Japanese, American and European cast reads like a warriors of street art roundup and includes Mike Giant, Ed Templeton, Anthony Lister [artwork above], Ozzie Wright, and Jonathan Zawada. Read more
Christoph Niemann illustrates a nightmare flight
New York Times illustrator Christoph Niemann has created a brilliant visual diary outlining the peril and pitfalls that beset the everyday passenger based on his recent experience flying from New York to his home town of Berlin. Read more
Baltimore Mural by Josh Van Horne
My friend Josh Van Horne, a local Baltimore artist, did this amazing mural in our neighborhood that depicts the history of this warehouse-laden area.
Pencils made from recycled newspaper
The problem with awesome things like these pencils made out of recycled newspaper is that you almost don’t want to use them.
A little infectious lollipop rock anyone? Feel free to embarrass yourself singing along at the stoplight. If the other drivers give you that look, roll down the windows and spread the love.
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This Powder Necklace features a pearlized Turbo Cinereus shell with tiny holes drilled into the bottom, filled with a sparkling silver-colored powder that when gently tapped, sprinkles a light dusting on the wearer’s chest. Designed by Stephanie Simek. Read more
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mike d said | 19 February, 2007
Just heard Jane Fonda on the radio this morning. DOPE! Bought the album. Also, DOPE.