RIP Tim Gassen

I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of my old pal, Timothy Gassen. Tim was an integral part of the garage scene for decades with his band, The Marshmallow Overcoat, his books, films, writings and collections. If anyone has seen Thee Fourgiven's lip-sync video of "Anything" - that was Tim. His Knight Of Fuzz documents (book and video collection) did its best to be the definitive writings on the 80's (and beyond) garage scene worldwide. He worked tirelessly and relentlessly to help promote the things he loved. Rest in Fuzz, my friend.

Banksy: Genius or Vandal?

Living in LA through the 80's and 90's, i developed a particular distaste for taggers, who I saw as annoying, egotistical vandals who would ruin already iffy neighborhoods. Graffiti artists, on the other hand, have always been a bit more complicated. While I hate vandalizing private property - especially small businesses or homes - I can still appreciate the talent that goes into some artwork and I do believe that some big businesses do deserve whatever happens to them. But, for me, it is a fine line to walk.

In any case, I do appreciate Banksy's talent, his politics, his humor and the fact the he (assuming that Banksy is a "he") has remained anonymous over the years. This exhibit, apparently unauthorized, as many exhibits of his work are, explores a variety of his works through photos and video as well as prints, plates, canvas, multi-media, interactive cameras and more. His street artwork, by necessity, is relatively simplistic, but some of his prints are quite detailed and show some real artistic talent and his use of composition is apparent in all of his work.

This exhibit is relatively extensive and has a large number of works - I only took photos of a handful of them - and gives a good feel of the different types of work that he has done, from street graffiti to "Dismaland", a multi-acre sardonic take on amusement parks.

We really enjoyed this and felt it was a well rounded exhibit and appreciated the tagging wall at the end where there was a baggy-pants youngster filming himself marking the wall and giggling the entire time (we both thought he was part of the exhibit at first). Well worth a trip to a mall on Thanksgiving weekend!

recommended gigs

Friday Nov 29 - The Heiz at the Double Down with Water Landing, Dead Dolls and Eric Wilson
Friday Nov 29 - Thee Swank Bastards at Tiki di Amore

Saturday Nov 30 - The Heiz at the Double Down with Jerk!, Franks'n'Deans and Dirk Vermin and the Hostile Talent
Saturday Nov 30 - Johnny Zig and the Force at GOAT

Sunday Dec 1 - the Dickies with Jerk! at Evel Pie
Sunday Dec 1 - Burly-Q Revue with Johnny Zig and the Force at the Double Down

Wednesday Dec 4 - Franks'n'Deans Weenie Roast at the Double Down

Thursday Dec 5 - Sissy Brown and Whiskey Breath at the Double Down

Friday Dec 6 - Trevor and the Swingin' Johnsons at the Golden Tiki
Friday Dec 6 - Thee Swank Bastards at Tiki di Amore

Saturday Dec 7 - Agent Orange with The Psyatics , the Sheiks of Neptune and the Jagoffs at the Dive Bar

Sunday Dec 8 - Thee Hypnotiques at the Golden Tiki
Sunday Dec 8 - the Rhyolite Sound at Vinyl
Sunday Dec 8 - Island's one year anniversary party with Gob Patrol, Dead Dolls, Lambs to Lions, Sector 7G

Tuesday Dec 10 - the Rhyolite Sound with the Sin Eaters at Hogs and Heifers

Wednesday Dec 11 - Johnny Zig at the Force at the Double Down
Wednesday Dec 11 - Charlie Overbey, Darci Carlson, Rattle Can at the Dive Bar

Thursday Dec 12 - TV Party Tonight at the Double Down showing the movie What We Do Is Secret with live music by Gob Patrol

Friday Dec 13 - Black Sabbitch, Dinner Music for the Gods, Mad Rabbits at Count Vamp'd
Friday Dec 13 - The Unwieldies and the All Togethers at the Goldmine Tavern
Friday Dec 13 - TSOL, Lean 13, Fuckface, Across the Street at the Dive Bar

Saturday Dec 14 - The Swamp Gospel with the All Togethers at the Huntridge

Tuesday Dec 17 - the Double Whammys at the Golden Tiki

Friday Dec 27 - Teenage Goo Goi Muck at the Dive Bsr

Saturday Dec 28 - Thee Hypnotiques at Tiki di Amore

Thursday Jan 2 - Tommy and the Commies, the Cavemen, Thee Saturday Knights and the Van der Rohe at the Bunkhouse

Friday Jan 3 - the New Waves at the Golden Tiki

Saturday Jan 18 - the Swamp Gospel and the Psyatics and the Holy Smokes at the Double Down

Saturday Mar 14 - Thor at Evel Pie

What have I forgotten? Lemme know

Basstravaganza featuring Thee Swank Bastards at the Double Down, Wednesday Nov 27, 2019

 As everyone in Vegas knows, Basstravaganza isThee Swank Bastards' holiday season kick-off that coincides with the Double Down Saloon's anniversary weekend. What started as a search for someone to fill in on bass for a regular Bastards gig turned into a wild event with as many bassists as they are anniversary years. This brings together close friends as well as some people who might only see each other at this event, but it also brings together the Vegas musical scene - besides everyone that plays, friends and fans all show up to join in the festivities, making it one of the most popular nights at the DD.

27 bassists played this year and my phone's camera was acting up so I didn't get good pictures, or sometimes any pictures, of everyone, although I did shoot everyone - sometimes the photos were too blurry and sometimes the pix just disappeared from my phone. My apologies to those I did a disservice to, but that happens with wonky equipment and while playing, socializing and drinking. I'm sure there are better representations somewhere. I should hire a photographer!

In any case, thank you to Jess Del Quadro for throwing this party, thank you to all that played and attended, thank you to Moss and the Double Down for hosting and a special thanks to artist Jw Caldwell for the excellent poster artwork! Happy Thanksgiving all!