DISGRASIAN™

ROCK OF ASIAN: Ponytail’s Dustin Wong Goes Solo

If you love Baltimore’s arty-fun-experimental-rock band Ponytail, it probably has something to do with the effervescent, super-smiley guitar wielder and vocalist, Dustin Wong.

Don’t worry, Ponytail is still going strong! But over the last six years, Wong has amassed quite a number of works all on his own, and will release them as a collection called Seasons, his solo debut album, in early June.

Seasons will be available in LP form only–with download cards included, which would be totally indie pretentious if he and his album concept weren’t so adorable. Each side of the record reflects half a year: “Spring” and “Summer” make up side A, “Fall” and “Winter” fill side B. (Ah yes, and if any of you young ‘uns who have only played music off of shiny discs or computers are reading this, LPs are novel vinyl circles with music set into the grooves! Tracks on wax, as we say! If this sounds weird, ask somebody with a mortgage or NYT in their hands what I’m talking about and they’ll explain.)

Wong’s label, Wildfire Wildfire, offers a sample from each side on their site, and what’s there are two thoughtful, instrumental trips through Wong’s year. Spring_Summer offers varied bits that range from rough to rambunctious, loaded with twinkly energy and filled with promise. Fall_Winter is dreamlike and pensive, wandering and moody but not gloomy or lost.

Do not expect the poppity explosion of Ponytail with Seasons. But do expect to see yet another side of Dustin Wong that you’ll really, really like.

[Dustin Wong on MySpace]
[Wildfire Wildfire Productions: Dustin Wong]

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Filed under: Baltimore, Debuts, Dustin Wong, Indie Bands, Killer Smiles, LPs, Ponytail, Seasons, Solo Efforts, Spring Summer Fall Winter, Vinyl, Wildfire Wildfire, Youth

ROCK OF ASIAN: Yuuki Matthews

My friend Colin took a much-needed solo holiday to Mexico this summer, staying in a villa in Todos Santos a whistle away from the beach. He spent the week sharing accomodations with a lovely couple from Seattle on their honeymoon: the husband a musician, the wife “doing something or other to do with fashion” (Colin’s words).

Yuuki Matthews

The musician was actually a man named Yuuki Matthews, who cut his teeth in awesome artsy bands Crystal Skulls and Seldom. He currently plays bass for the Richard Swift band, but also just released his first solo effort, an electro-instrumental chronicle called Music For Savage Tropical Imagery.

Continue reading ROCK OF ASIAN: Yuuki Matthews

Filed under: Crystal Skulls, Debuts, Freshman Records, Friends are Nice, Holidays, Indie Rock, Lovely Circumstances, Mexico, Richard Swift, Seattle, Solo Efforts, Solo Projects, Todos Santos, Vacations, Yuuki Matthews

Golden Boyz n the Hood

We think Golden Boy, Feodor Chin’s short film debut (as creator, executive producer and star) is just dandy–and by “dandy,” we mean wry, witty, offbeat, fun, and funny.

Surely our Angeleno readers have 32 minutes to spend at Hollywood’s famed Laemmle Sunset 5 Theatres for Golden Boy‘s Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival debut, tonight at 10pm!

Oh, dear reader–If our rave review of Golden Boy isn’t enough to convince you, perhaps the film’s teaser will be:

C’mon–surely y’all can tear yourselves away momentarily from tonight’s plans of sushi or Korean BBQ or drunken karaoke. And while you’re at it, why not check out a few more of this year’s fine collection of films? You’ll be glad you did.

[Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival 2009 - Official Site]
[Golden Boy - official site]
Thanks, Feodor!

Filed under: Asian Movies, Big Yuks, Debuts, Feodor Chin, Film Festivals, Filmmakers, Golden Boy, Laemmle's Sunset 5, Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival 2009, Short Films

My Bleuberry Nights

Hong Kong director Wong Kar-Wai’s English-language debut, My Blueberry Nights, opened the 60th annual Cannes Film Festival tonight. Early reports suggest a muted reception to the film, starring Jude Law and Norah Jones. I’m stoked one way or another.

Wong Kar-Wai, Norah Jones, and the relentlessly puckish Jude Blah

I’d like to send my best wishes to homegirl Norah Jones, who’s never acted before:

(to the tune “Don’t Know Why”)

I hope you don’t wreck this for me
I don’t know why that’s what I see
I hope your acting doesn’t suck
If it does, I’m shit out of luck
If it does, I’m shit out of luck

Bon Festival!

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Filed under: Cannes, Debuts, Fun French Festivals, Jude Law, My Blueberry Nights, Norah Jones, Wong Kar-Wai