Punks Not Dead, No: The International Swingers, plus a punk Lolita coord, plus my YouTube channel...

Why do some people claim to be so punk rock if they don’t do anything to substantiate this claim?  Can someone really be punk rock all alone in the confines of their room?  In their own mind?  Some people seem to think so but I am here to set the record straight—NO!

[If you don't care about music... scroll down for cute lolita pics! >u<]

Occasionally, I’ll be ghetto and listen to music on YouTube.  The comments on any given punk song are along the lines of:

This generation sucks!  I wish I were born in the 1970’s so I could see [the Sex Pistols/Clash/Ramones]!  Nowadays everyone loves Justin Beaver!  They don’t make music like this anymore.

Really?  Reeeeally?  First of all, punk bands still exist, tour and make albums.  In fact, there’s plenty of original 1970’s punk bands that still tour or have reunited or have formed other bands.  These commenters are just lazy and out of touch.  Wahh!  Everyone listens to Justin Beaver?  Who cares?  Get off of YouTube.

Anyway, screw them.  I want to write about was The International Swingers!  I hate to use the term “super group” so I won’t, but that would be accurate.  They are a group comprised of members of other bands, including Generation X, Blondie and Sex Pistols. 

hell yes

Was the show full of young YouTube complainers?  No, it was all middle aged people who were teenagers in the 70’s and 80’s.  There was maybe three people under forty.  Oh, but maybe the show was too expensive for the whiny YouTubers?  No wait, the presale tickets were five dollars. Five dollars!  I saw the super group band Off! (with members from Redd Kross, Circle Jerks, etc.) a couple of months ago and they miraculously had a lot of young people dudes at the show.  I don't know why this show wasn't sold out but it annoys me that it wasn't!

Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols, Rich Kids)

James Stevenson (Generation X, Gene Loves Jezebel)

Clem Burke ("that disco band" Blondie)

*meow*  Gary Twinn  (SpeedTwinn)

Anyway, the International Swingers were so good.  They played some new stuff, but mainly they played songs from their respective bands and even some covers.

Everyone (myself included) was super excited to see Glen Matlock even if no one understood his speaking voice.  After he’d say something, Clem Burke said something like “I’ll translate for the Americans…” which was funny because if Clem didn’t do that, I honestly wouldn’t have understood Glen.  I wonder if English people have difficulty understanding Americans…

swag

I was pretty lucky.  I got some “memorabilia” including a set list, drum stick and guitar pick.  I also bought a button and a signed poster. The guitar pick was the only thing I wasn’t sure if I should take.  At first I thought Gary Twinn tossed it to me cuz I’m cute… but then it seemed like maybe he just dropped it.  After I picked it up, he was looking around on the ground and after a minute someone brought him another pick.  It was kinda embarrassing but I wanted to keep it!  He’s kind-of attractive so I didn’t want to be a total dork. 

Hey, does anyone remember this livejournal community… I Rock Old Man Cock!? lolol!  A word to the wise for you little barricudas—no man wants to be called an old man!  Men are vain, too!

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Because I have no recent outfit (or makeup) posts and because it is slightly relevant…  Check out my attempt at punk Lolita from last week’s meetup.

Punk Lolita often looks 'ita but *ahem* I think I kinda pulled it off ok.

I always neglect to take photos of mySELF!  Here's a candid shot with my big lion mane.

Of course the BTSSB shop staff look the best...

Instead of taking pics of the group, I was busy catching the creepy ninja photograhers!

How do you like the taste of your own medicine, lady??  BTW, you make a terrible ninja!!

JSK: BTSSB

Shoes: Black Peace Now

Wig:  Gothic Lolita

Bow:  Chantilly

Jacket:  present from my husband!

Socks: “We Support Your Socks Life”

These are the details of my outfit that you can't see in the pics....

If this were a coord post in Japanese magazine, this part would say "point."

I love my knit (hoodie material) Ramones motorcycle jacket.  Normally, I don't wear it out because it's not heavy enough to keep me warm!  I love it tho!  These socks are pretty boss, too, right?  They are otk striped with skulls on the backs of the knees.  I bought them in Japan... but they sell them (for 1/12th the price) at a shop here in SF.    

Thank you to Rachel and Brittany for letting me use their photos!!

trying to look derpy, but actually looking cute  :)

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Speaking of YouTube... I do have a YouTube channel. So far, I've only uploaded clips from rock shows.  I'll definitely do more of that, but I was thinking of uploading some gyaru stuff as well.  Who knows?  That may just attract weirdos.

Cream your jeans with Korean BB

[Edit 7/24/12:  I switched face wash and I'm no longer breaking out.  It wasn't the BB's fault, it was the soap!  Sorry I ever doubted you, you amazing Korean beauty balm!!!]


I finally got me some BB!  I love it... but don't know if my skin loves it.  :/

I like the way they spelled "ChrySanTheMum"

I bought this BB at Zen, a Korean beauty store in Japantown.  Before I went on my trip to Barcelona, I stopped by to look at BB.  The nice woman who helped me gave me some samples and told me to try them out before buying one--truly the sign of someone who believes in what they are selling!  I was impressed.  :)

[An aside:  Since BB is "Blemish Base" you don't have to call it "BB cream."  On the package, it doesn't say "cream,"  it just says "blemish base."  Referring to BB as BB cream is redundant,  like calling an ATM an "ATM machine" or calling a PC a "PC computer."  Anyway, I probably sound like a bitchy know-it-all when I actually just found out.  I'll still probably call it "BB cream" in real life so people actually know what I'm talking about!]

I tried one (Dr. Young) on the flight there and it was a dream.  I was awake from about 5:00AM California time until after midnight Barcelona time and it stayed put and didn't settle into my pores or wrinkles.  Impressive!  The other ones I tried (Dr. Jart or something--why are they all Dr. names?) were so bad.  My skin looked smooth but super shiny and plastic, like the people from the sci-fi movie "Surrogates."

with BB!  (& trying to look like a Ma*rsy Ma*rtian with my visible bra)

The best part about BB is that since it's supposed to be primer, concealer and foundation in one, it saves SO much time.  Normally, I don't wear makeup when I'm bumming around, doing errands or jogging.  It just feels like too much time+work to put on primer+concealer+foundation.  However, I do feel super ugly with my no makeup face.  I hate going into public with a red nose and blemishes.

artist's rendering

The main reason I got BB--despite the $48 price tag!--was so I could slap it on before going to the post office.  I mean, I don't want to run into someone I hate when I'm looking super ugly and red-faced.  That's what BB is for!

Maybe that's just an excuse.  I've been BB wearing it all the time since I got it, not just for errands but for going out. Getting lazy, I guess!

However, I have to admit... I've been breaking out since I started using it!  ATM, I have a zit on my chin, nose and forehead.  I refuse to believe it is the BB!  But it probably is.  Well actually, I did change face washes recently, so that may be it.  I used to use one for oily skin now I use one for "all types."  The name of this BB is "Dr. Young" so the product is probably intended for old ladies with dry skin, not greasy young things like me.  

here's that cream i mentioned!  it's vegan!

*I just heard the expression "cream your jeans" in a documentary about metal.  I think Dee Snider said something like, "The first time I heard AC/DC, I creamed my jeans."  Nasty!  

Dolly Wink eyelash glue

Dolly Wink actually made a product I like*!

That's right, it's an Instagram pic!

PinkSugarIchigo tuned me in (turned me on?) to this product.  During an evening of drinking, my lashes on one eye started coming off in the corner.  She broke the "no sharing eye products" rule and kindly let me use her Dolly Wink lash glue.  

It takes several tries to get the awkward out!

It was awesome!  It comes on a thin wand, so it's good for carrying in your purse for touch-ups.  They make a black one too, but I got the clear stuff.  And luckily, they sell Dolly Wink at the supermarket, so I don't have to order it!

No, those aren't a hand model's fabulous nails, they are mine! :B

I try (but usually fail) not to be a label whore when it comes to cosmetics; I figure once it's on your face no one knows the brand anyway.  This glue, however, is an awesome product and since I'll be carrying it around with me, I'm glad the packaging is so cute.

Me, after I realized I look better upside-down. ;)

So, there you have it!  Awesome lash glue from Dolly Wink!  

*Avoid Dolly Wink eyeliner at all costs!  It sucks!  The only people I've heard/read that like it are people who don't normally wear cosmetics and admit they've never used eyeliner before.  -_-

Poseurs

My big fat pet peeve is poseurs!! The epitome of pouserdom is wearing  the t-shirt of a band you don't actually listen to and quite possibly have never heard of before you bought the shirt!  Unfortunately, gyaru style is FULL of this phenomenon. 

I think I saw this model at a concert once...

Wearing clothes of a subculture that you don't belong to or participate in (like dressing punk when you only listen to bad mainstream pop) is just as bad but so pervasive it's pretty much unavoidable.  Complaining about it is like complaining people wear jeans and flip flops everyday!

What's your favorite ST album, Kanako?

When I see pics of cute gyaru models wearing punk clothes or--worse still!--band shirts, I have to pretend that they actually listen to the music they are pretending to listen to!

I don't want to sound like I'm territorial about rock music but in reality, I probably am!  If someone actually likes the music, then that's fine. But it's just wrong to pretend to! I'm sure cowboys feel the same way about cowboy boots and cowboy hats coming in and out of style.

Gyaruo?  No.  (From last Saturday's concert :) )

Obviously, rock bands have better, cooler t-shirts than mainstream top-40 groups.  Maybe that's why fashion stylists use them in outfits.  Also, darker imagery (like skulls, inverted crosses, etc.) are really trendy right now.  It does make sense that poseurs are running rampant... still bugs me!  D:  Pet peeve for ever!

What do you think?  Have you been annoyed when someone wore swag from a band you like?

A Vegan, Metal, Punk Rock and Architectural Visit to Beautiful Barcelona

Chillin with Eddie at HELL AWAITS, a rad Christian rock metal bar

We mainly went because my hubby wanted to see the Gaudi stuff.  I didn't know much about Barcelona or Gaudi before our trip, but I learned/saw a lot!   

What's the big deal?  Youhavetoseeitinperson, that's the big deal!

What they don't tell you ahead of time is that the building looks just as weird from the inside. 

The famous Sagrada Familia--they've been working on it 150+ years and it's still nowhere near being finished!

The inside is designed to resemble a forest.

Curiously, Jesus appears to be descending in an electric parachute??

The Beavis & Butthead hat let everyone know we're American.  People were into it!

On the crazy roof!  No one appreciated my anti-fashion sense, btw.

Hansel & Gretel houses (seriously) outside Park Guell

It's really hard to describe how cool and incredibly beautiful Barcelona is.   Walking down the street the first day, I wanted to photograph every single building, they were all so beautiful.  After a couple of days, I actually started talking photos of the ugly buildings because they were so rare!   

Even the street lamps are beautiful!

Gah!  So lovely!

Is it more beautiful than Paris?  Yes.  If you’ve been to Paris, you know that some streets are so beautiful, your eyes fill with tears? Ok, they are lovely but the buildings on that street are roughly the same style.  On any given street in Barcelona, each building on the street is super gorgeous but different.  Some have beautiful moldings, some have patterns that cover the entire building, some have gorgeous tile work.  Beautiful AND unique.   

Just for reference, this building is considered UGLY in Barcelona!  :P

This is Madame Chocolat, the lolita shop.  I reviewed it here.  :)  They flyer claims that they carry gyaru clothes but they didn't really.  :/

Oh, and there are tons of little alley ways and plazas all over.  Maybe this is common in Europe but it’s so different from the US!  In America, streets are built for cars and not designed with public places to hang out.

In George Orwell Plaza, there is a sculpture that is meant to look like a camera AND a camera that closely resembles the sculpture.  The local government fails to see the irony.  The plaza is sometimes called the "trippy" plaza because people come do drugs here at night.  A delicious vegan restaurant, Gopal, is right on the plaza.

In addition to sightseeing, we saw LOTS of live music, mainly punk and metal--but for serious, we went to like 2 shows a night, every night!  It was rad! Except... Judas Priest!  ;_; They played the first night we were there but we couldn't figure out how to get tickets, plus we were kinda zombified from the flight there (I didn't sleep at all). We stayed in a really cool area of town, there were lots of shops selling metal records and paraphernalia  I was happy to see lots of record shops! Keeping it real!

Waiting for Pentagram to open--we forgot those lazy bums take a siesta!

Flyers for punk shows

The most memorable night was going to see Hunx and his Punx at Razzmatazz.  Razzmatazz is a crazy-huge club.  I've never seen anything like it.  There are like 15 different rooms playing different music.  The club doesn't even open until--get this--1:00AM!  Hunx didn't come on until like 2:30AM, it was crazy.  I've never been to a show (besides a house party) that started that late before.  We went to two different live shows--metal at Bunker and classic rock at RockSound--to kill time before the Hunx show. 

It was fun though.  Hunx was super good.  Before and after Hunx we danced in the corny Madonna/Spice Girls room, which is something we never do.  This may surprise you, but I am a terrible dancer.  I'm do bad Paris Hilton-style dancing, which is basically standing in one place and making uncoordinated movements.

BIG fun!

Every bar and restaurant was super cool and unique.  You know when you visit someone in their city and they’re like, “Oh, there’s this really cool restaurant/bar/café/toilet I need to show you.  It’s really cute/quaint/awesome/rad and the food/drinks/coffee/whatever is awesome.”?  Ok, EVERY place in Barcelona is like that.  The only non-cool places I saw were Starbucks and Burger King.

In the basement at Juicy Jones.  Yes, even the basements are visually interesting!

Inside Sidecar lounge (downstairs has live music) they played a loop of movies about topless women warriors.

One of roughly a million beautiful shops on a road lined with beautiful shops

OT, but when I’m in a foreign land and need to use the restroom, I always look for an American fast food chain.  I feel like it’s almost like an American embassy where I have special rights—like the right to use the restroom when I’m not a customer!!  hahaha 

I know I described this as a "vegan" trip, but don't worry! I won't bore you with food photos! Food photos are the absolute worst! DX   

Ok, ONE food picture... the most delicious cake in the world--vegan hazelnut!

After eat the cake, I joined the escalator group!

There were a surprising number of vegan restaurants. We ate at a different vegan place everyday! I guess veganism is on trend in Barcelona!  I saw several instances of "Go Vegan" graffiti.  Weird, huh?

Inside our beautiful 250+ year old hotel!

I probably should have broken this post into more than one entry.  There's really too much to say and show about Barcelona!  These are all my iphone pics--I also used an actual camera during my trip.  Maybe I'll make a "real camera" post.

I will say... I don't think I'd want to live in Barcelona.  Aside from Rio De Janeiro, most place I've visited are places I'd consider staying.  I'm not sure what it was.  There weren't any very many cool clothing stores.  The street art is really generic and contrived.  People stared at us a lot.  I think a week-long visit was good enough for me!  But it was a beautiful week!

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Tips on being a vegan metalhead in Barcelona:

Some websites on veganism in Barcelona will LIE to you and say that Juicy Jones is the only 100% vegan restaurant in Barcelona.  Don't believe it!  There are a million vegan places.  Oh, but the best vegan food we ate was at vegetarian restaurants--just ask for the vegan option.

If you wanna be a vegan mama in Barcelona, check out: 

http://www.happycow.net/europe/spain/barcelona/

I literally went to every single vegan restaurant on here and they are YUM!

My hubby planned all the musical endevours but I think the site he consulted was this one:

http://www.metaltravelguide.com/europe/spain/cataluna/barcelona/

Warning to beer drinkers: Many bars served Estrella exclusively!  Yuck!

VOMIT

On the bright side, Duff is a real brand!  Can you believe?

Can't get enough of that wonderful Duff