Des Temps

The only blog you’ll ever need.

  • Bang on a Can aka Thanks Mom!

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    Got tapped by Sony to produce a slate of docs about NYC rockers. The best thing about these spots is that we pick bands we like and dip into their world for a hot second. In the past few weeks, I’ve developed a whole new appreciation for the drummer. He has the unwieldy gear. He sits in the back and sweats up a storm. Yet there’s more going on there, some kind of charisma – because as a lad he convinced his parents to buy him this noise kit and like a shephard he keeps the band on track and on time.

    Below is our spot with Black Gold, the drummer Than explained to us the genius of Qunicy Jones’ drum selection and can rock a leather vest with aplomb. Also keep your ears peeled for Gunnar from the The Exit and White Rabbits – cause they double your pleasure with 2 drummers.

  • Nike and Transformers

    ss_shockblast053.jpgMy parents recently turned my old bedroom into a study, so down in DC this weekend I sifted through boxes of youth. I found cutouts of early 90’s Nike ads featuring athletes like Jerry Rice and Nolan Ryan talking about overcoming adversity to acheive goals.

    Bench press your weight.
    Master a 3rd language.
    Call Her.

    As a kid, I had stuck them on my walls for inspiration to better my sports game and likely life in general. I broke several bones along the way, but never made the starting lineup. No worries, I persevered and now run with first-team. Staring at those ads in my parents’ leafy neighborhood, I thought about a recent story by writer Dallas Penn. To get focused and redouble your efforts, check out his piece about ScatterBlast. Then head outside and call winners on the toughest court.

    (Just Do It)

  • June Bugged Out

    (1 Deft DJ + 24 bottles of Svedka + 30 cases of Newcastle) x (100s of People) = A Wild Rumpus. Here are some pics of the merry pranksters. And mark your calendars for the Elephants’ next throwdown – October 25th – send a missive to RSVP@desedo.com if you want to join the party.

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    Many more pics after The Jump.

    (more…)

  • In A Pinch

    toga party

    The following appears in the the preface to Anne Carson’s new translation of four plays by Euripides.

    “Why does tragedy exist? Because you are full of rage. Why are you full of rage? Because you are full of greif. . . . Perhaps you think this does not apply to you. Yet you recall the day your wife, driving you to your mother’s funeral, turned left instead of right at the intersection and you had to scream at her so loud other drivers turned to look. When you tore her head off and threw it out the window they nodded, changed gears, drove away.

    “Grief and rage-you need to contain that, to put a frame around it, where it can play itself out without you or your kin having to die. There is a theory that watching unbearable stories about other people lost in grief and rage is good for you-may cleanse you of your darkness. do you want to go down to the pits of yourself all alone? Not much.”

    And so on. Remarkable.

  • Krazy Kat

    In the early 20th George Herriman created Krazy Kat. You will see and learn things you’ve never seen before. A personal public master. It’s $3, but this article will open the door, if you feel like getting changed a bit.

  • Cold Snap

    gray matter

    Me and the PK monster hit the streets a few of months ago to put a long, cold winter into perspective. Since the unofficial start of Summer rolls around this weekend, I thought it would be nice to spend a moment reflecting on those chilly days. Even the wildlife was feeling a bit on edge. Peep real-life drama. A full record of our exploits to come.

  • Unquestioned Dogma

    You probably saw this… Anderson Cooper interviews Cam’ron on 60 Minutes.

    “If there’s a serial killer living next door to you, though, and you know that person is, you know, killing people, would you be a snitch if you called police and told them?” Cooper asks Cam’ron.

    “If I knew the serial killer was living next door to me?” Cam’ron asks. “No, I wouldn’t call and tell anybody on him. But I’d probably move… But I’m not gonna call and be like, you know, ‘The serial killer’s in 4E.’”

    Granted, that is kind of a dumb question (and you didn’t think there was such thing as a dumb question?) and Stop Snitching has complex roots in tough and often unfair relationships between communities and police. However, I think we can say that at this point, it’s not very productive. There is a similarity here to the testimony of Alberto Gonzalez. Are these people that stupid? Or are they protecting something they think is important? (AG = his boss, Killer Cam = his sales)
    Full 60 Minutes report