Voodoo Child Pt.1

The past few days have felt like a movie. It all started with the train to New Orleans. Even though it was 3 hours behind, it was an adventure all in itself. The people on board were just so amazing (any by amazing, I mean really strange to most people). My favourite person on the train was this man who was by himself. I called him the Aviator because he wore black aviators (even though it isn't necessary inside the train). He sat in the lounge cart looking out the window the whole time (it was a 13 hour trip- because of the delay), and he bought his drinks two at a time (he started with bloody mary's and turned to bud light). Maybe he was a satanist or something, who knows. I also encountered people from New Iberia, LA and I honestly think it was the Swamp People. There was about 12 of them and they were going to New Orleans because one of their friends had cancer. They wanted him to have one last party (aw I thought it was sweet). Gosh, I just love people.

Train people looked a lot differently in the sixties, but that's okay.

(I kept myself busy on the train by drawing people I saw, making collages, and quoting people.)

When we got into New Orleans it was about one in the morning, but the city was so lively. There were lights, people, and music everywhere. It was a movie waiting to happen. Everything was so beautiful (minus the weather) and the people were even better than the ones on the train! It was really swell, and I miss it already. There were so many fabulous vintage shops and restaurants, and they hotel we stayed at looked just like the one from The Royal Tenanbaums (there weren't any bell boys in the elevator, but there were bell boys opening the door for everyone at the entrance)!

 Unfortunately, I haven't developed the film from my disposable camera yet, so that'll be coming next! In the meantime, I made a playlist of the best (in my opinion) songs to listen to while you're on the road (well, tracks in this case).

Fleur De Lis from themadmod on 8tracks.

1. Femme Fatale - The Velvet Underground & Nico

2. Heroin - The Velvet Underground & Nico

3. Maybe You're Right - Cat Stevens

4. Some Folks - Alice Cooper

5. Tous Les Garcons Et Les Filles - Francoise Hardy

6. Searching Through The Past - Bleached

7. Love Street - The Doors

8. I Only Want To Be With You - Dusty Springfield

9. Maybe Baby - Buddy Holly

10. In The Cold, Cold Night - The White Stripes

WHAM! BAM! BOOM!

I'm not really sure how to start this post so I'll just start talking (typing actually, but you get the point). I'm putting up a post a little earlier than usual because I'm going to New Orleans in a few days (for my birthday! I'm very excited).

Anyways, I really like art, and my favourite is pop art! You know the WHAM! BAM! BOOM! stuff. Well it's not just WHAM! BAM! BOOM! stuff but that's what a lot of people know it buy, and awful pictures like this. I don't know what it is about pop art but it really pops out to me (pun intended) compared to other art styles. Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, in my opinion, are the best/most influential pop artists. They both did silk screening and it's just really cool, I'd like to learn how to do it.

Roy Lichtenstein......................................................................Andy Warhol

(sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

I always count old comic books as pop art, too. They're just so much better than modern day comics, and it's because of the art! So these random pictures below is just a collection of comic/magazine pictures that remind me of pop art, and they make me happy.

(sources: a magazine I own [1 & 2], unknown, unknown, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)

While I'm talking about Andy Warhol, David Bowie has this really great song he wrote about Andy (Bowie also played Andy Warhol in a movie; Basquiat). Who's your favourite (pop) artist?

On another note, I've always wanted to have an old fashion party with friends. (Like in the 60s/70s when you'd hang out and listen an dance to records), and one of my friends wanted to as well! So she threw a party and it was just fantastic. You know, teenagers normally have parties with alcohol and drugs, but the parties I go to has capri suns, fruit, and sodas (only before 7pm though. JUST KIDDING, i'm not that square). We listened to sooo many good records! T.Rex, Elvis Presley, Black Sabbath, The Monkees, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Motley Crue, Queen, Pink Floyd, and sooo many others. The whole party was super nostalgic and luckily the host, L.M. Strange took many pictures to capture the great event. I feel like the black and white/grainy effects make the party seem even more nostalgic.

Party preparation isn't easy.

I dance by myself a lot.

Wow this turned out to be a long post! Geez. I take up too much space, sorry guys. I'll be updating after I get back from New Orleans and worry not! I shall take pictures (I got a fancy disposable camera from UO and I'm really pumped to use it). So have a fabulous week everyone! xx

We Are the Mods!

So I realized that a lot of people don't know what "mods" are, and in my description to the right it says "an eccentric mod...blahblahblah." I assume most of you that are reading this are thinking "What the hell is that? Is it that thing next to my computer that you put dvds in?" I can assure you that a mod isn't a mod-em (as far as I know). Mods (came from the word Modernists) were the rivals of Rockers (aka Teddy Boys) in the 60's/70's. They're notorious for riding their Lambrettas/Vespas (high performance italian scooters), popping pills, being well-dressed, listen to ska/jazz, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Kinks, The Small Faces (etc.), dance to live music, and normally feel misunderstood (Mods are the epitome of teen angst). Well, besides the pill-popping non-sense I can relate to all of that. I don't really feel misunderstood either, because I understand who I am and that's all that matters but I'm a teenager. What do I know? 

While I'm on the subject of mods, one of my favourite movies is about a mod and his mod antics. Quadrophenia was originally a rock opera by The Who, and I guess they were so pleased with themselves they made it into a movie (I'm not complaining though!). The main character is Jimmy who hates his life, his parents, and his job. The only time he feels excepted is when he's with his friends who are in a mod clique. There's really not more I can say that won't give anything away about the movie, but it's truly amazing (and so is the soundtrack!)

(Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

"Look I don't wanna be the same as everybody else. That's why I'm a mod, see? I mean,  you gotta be somebody, ain't ya, or you might as well jump in the sea and drown." -Well said, Jimmy.

Have I convinced you to watch this movie yet? And if there's another movie about mods (not a documentary though) that any of you guys know about I'd love to know! 

Anyways I've been back on my busy track! A few friends and I actually took some pictures today making fun of soft grunge but they actually came out really well. And in a few days another friend is throwing a vintage/lp party (where people have to dress vintage and bring a record/45/cassette) and then I'm getting a few friends together and we're going to try to start a girl band. And after all of that happens I get to go to New Orleans for my sixteenth birthday! I'm really excited because we're going by train and I've never been on a train and my excitement level is at a asdfghjkl; right now. 

In the past week people have taken some pictures of me (not like an outfit of the day thing though) and I really liked how some turned out so take a gander.

This one's my favourites, and it was taken by Damon. The film messed up, but it just looks really great to me.

Also taken by Damon^

The other night I got really bored and I hadn't done anything productive all day. So I decided to dress up and do my make-up like the lovely Edie Sedgwick. I watched Factory Girl the other day (WHICH WAS SO GOOD. I highly recommend it if you dig the 60's.) 

It's a mod, mod world from themadmod on 8tracks.

Zoot Suit - The High Numbers

My Babe- The Remains

Tin Soldier - The Small Faces

I'm the Face - The High Numbers

Gloria - Shadows of Knight

When I Think of You - Twiggy Lawson

Elenore - The Turtles

Wooly Bully - Sam the Sham & The Pharaohs 

Sometimes - The Zombies

Jan Pehchan Ho - Mohammed Rafi Gumnaam 

I Can Tell - Johnny Kidd & The Pirates

I'm One - The Who