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WGT, here I come!

May 25, 2011 by

It’s now just one week until I leave for my next travel assignment: just under 3 weeks in England and Germany.  Why? The 20th anniversary of Wave Gotik Treffen!!

WGT, as it’s known, is the oldest worldwide goth festival – and I’ve never been before! It seemed a good time to go, what with old school faves like the Damned playing. There are waaay too many artists to mention, but some I’m looking forward to especially are: Killing Joke, Misfits, Cinema Strange, Bloodsucking Zombies from Outer Space (psychobilly), Balzac (Japanese punk/deathrock), Fields of the Nephilim, Zombina and the Skeletones (horror punk),  and a few others I’ve heard are coming but are not confirmed yet.

I’m particularly pleased that there are psychobilly and punk bands there alongside more traditional gothic, deathrock, industrial and ebm bands. There’s nothing like variety! I’m also looking forward to seeing the spectacular way people will be dressing up, as well as their hair and make-up – be sure, I’ll be taking, and posting, lots of inspirational pictures for you all!

Here are some from the WGT website from last year:

 

 

 

I haven’t bought any new clothing, but am sure I will do actually at WGT, as well as in London the week before.  Boy, is packing gonna be a nightmare anyways… packing old Victorian style gear, cyber clothing, Japanese goth stuff, platform boots and shoes…

I’m seriously considering getting rid of the orange/red in my hair and going back to turquoise – and have already bought some dreads in brown and turquoise to install before I go. I wish I’d made some stunning headpieces already…look at this for example:

Apart from WGT, I’m hitting London for the weekends before and after, and definitely heading to Slimelight, Electric Ballroom, Dead & Buried (if it’s on), and whatever other alternative nights I can find. Do you know of any I should look up?

So there will most definitely be a lot of outfit shots, for those who’ve been missing those of late. If you are heading to WGT, or clubbing around Camden in June, do let me know, and maybe we can meet up!

Filed Under: Alternative Fashion, Clubs, Fashion, gothic fashion, Music Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

My first DJ gig at Cobweb Club March 2011

March 7, 2011 by

I had my first DJ gig on Saturday night at one of my fave Sydney clubs, the Cobweb Club, held at Hermann’s Bar. (I’ve written about the Cobweb Club before – and some pics are here too)

The Cobweb Club plays deathrock, goth and post-punk music..and sometimes has bands, as we did on Saturday night: “Strangers in the Dark” and “Box of Fish”.

 

As always, there were cobwebs and draped stuff hanging from the ceiling for a spooktakular effect:

 

I’d compiled a playlist of some old faves, some songs that don’t get played as much as the big hits, and some songs by new bands. After consulting with Kat, the DJ I was going head-to-head with, I decided on some hits first, as we were playing straight after the bands. Have to keep the punters dancing!

 

As for what I wore, it was a cobweb top from Topshop (not seen), t-shirt gifted from 13th Moon, jacket with safety pins and bat and cobweb motifs from GLP, striped patent Deadlygirlz corset, old black skirt, zombie leggings and platform boots from Yosuke at Marui One.

The Damned’s “New Rose” started off my set, and others I played included Siouxsie’s “Kiss Them For Me”, “Millenium” by Killing Joke, “Walk the Line” by Alien Sex Fiend, and my wild cards by newer bands, “Paper Dolls” by Christ vs Warhol and “Gravedance” by 13th Moon! Luckily, people kept dancing the whole time, and some came up to give a thumbs up, ask what a song was, or say how much they liked the music. Awesome!!

 

All in all, a fun experience for me, and one I will certainly be repeating before too long. The only thing that went wrong really, was after the set. I was walking towards Dom and there was a row of low cube footstool pouf things, but one was a little out of line with the others, a bit further forward, which I hadn’t clocked. Well, one minute I was walking, next thing – BAM! I was down on the ground, after painfully falling on my shoulder, and biting my lip and cheek inside and out. Got up with blood trickling from the corner of my mouth…and the bouncer watching. Oh, my.

I’d keep wiping it but it kept bleeding, so I realised my best bet was to cut the partying short and go home. Oh noes!! We always stay til the end.  Shoulder and puncture wounds are healing nicely now, so don’t worry. It was mainly my pride that was hurt :/

Filed Under: Blog entry, Clubs, Music Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Naoto News!

March 3, 2011 by

There are so many exciting events coming up shortly in the gothic fashion and music stakes, which I’ll be posting about in the next week. Some of them are in Tokyo and I’m getting VERY excited now, as I leave for o/s again on the 14th – a week Monday!! After 3 days in Seoul, South Korea, I head once again to Tokyo, which leads me back to the topic at hand.

Today I want to focus on fave Japanese gothic designer, Hirooka Naoto.

March 19 – h.NAOTO Frill Collection 2011

To display his latest “Sweet Frills” range, Naoto is throwing a Lolita Sweets Party! (And it’s when I’m there, muahahaha…) Gothic Lolita celebrity Aoki Misako (world ambassador for “Cute”) will be there, having returned from her jaunts round the world (read more at her website):

Naoto Creative Designer Hiroshi Oka will also be there, as well as other guests, photo sessions, and from what I can make out, a Best Co-ordinate Competition. Oh, and of course, delicious sweet cakes and tea, all in a genteel atmosphere. So Tokyo lolitas have a wonderful excuse to dress up and come along! I think I *might* just get to this for the photo opportunities, even though I myself am not at all into the sweet side of things.

  • DATE / March 19 (Sat)
  • OPEN: 15:00 START: 16:00
  • PLACE / h.NAOTO + Harajuku
  • Tickets dealer / h.NAOTO + Harajuku, Laforet Harajuku, Shinjuku Marui * Tickets are 1,575 yen (tax included) 
  • Contact / h, NAOTO + Harajuku (03-3478-6454)

March 26 –  T. KUNITOMO & gouk FASHION SHOW & PARTY

Fashion show of brand new collections, set in a party atmosphere with food and drinks

  • DATE: March 26 (Sat)
  • OPEN: 18:00 START: 19:00
  • PLACE: T.KUNITOMO Gallery
  • Contact: 03-5766-3910

There are soo many upcoming Naoto events – check this page for what’s happening in the next few months. One I definitely want to check out is the exhibition in Marui One from March 24-30:

h.Anarchy Army Collection

ANARCHY will present a punk rock and “ARMY” theme.  Expect wild and powerful camouflage fabrics in military designs. 

  • DATE:  March 24 (Thu) ~ 30 (Wed) 
  • PLACE: h.NAOTO store, Marui Shinjuku
  • Contact:  h.NAOTO + store (03-3478-6454) , h.NAOTO Marui Shinjuku (03-3358-1889)

    •  

    Pet cat 101 MINT SHOP 

    This is a pop-up store in Marui One, on the 2nd floor from 5 – 23 March, featuring the popular Sixh offshoot brand, “MINT Cats” . To commemorate this, the character “Sakurako” T-shirt has been designed, and  the first 50 people who spend over 5,250 yen,  will win a “Sakurako” badge.  See the t-shirt and badge below.

     

    Naoto has also released new items on the website for March 2011 from h.ANARCHY, Blood, and H.JELLY, Gramm, Frill,Sixh, Hangry & Angry, and Gouk.

    Just last week on Feb 26th, the Sixh 2011 Summer Collection was unveiled at Naoto HQ in Harajuku. This time there was definitely a rock and quirky/indie vibe happening, and far from being all-black, there was blue and purple in the designs, and even plaid! 

      

     

     

    Of course you want to check out the runway show, I’m sure:

    Fans will recognise IBI, Mint and Gashicon from Sixh the band – who will all be attending the Anime Matsuri convention March 18-20 in Texas, along with La Carmina! See her post on Anime Matsuri here for more details. And…the band itself will be playing only a day later, back in Tokyo, on the 21st of March!

    Sixh. Night Vol 3 in Ikebukuro BlackHole

    Of course it will be an event fusing fashion and music. Sixh is joined by God Circus Dog

     

    Sixh. Live sponsored project

    • DATE: March 21 (Mon)
    • PLACE: Ikebukuro BLACK HOLE
    • Doors open 18:00 for 18:30 start
    • Advance ticket 3,000 yen / 3,500 yen

    That’s another one to try to get to…but there’s so much else on!

    So that’s a whole lotta Naoto love for now; hope you enjoyed 🙂 Other posts you might like: Naoto at Japan Fashion Week, Naoto fukubukuro day and h.Naoto gothic lolita fashion designer extraordinaire.

    Filed Under: Alternative Fashion, Designers, Fashion, gothic fashion, Japanese Fashion, Music Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

    Sydney Industrial Club Shallow Nation; dancing in D Squared spine heel shoes

    January 31, 2011 by

    I know I’ve been a bit light-on the last week with posts; sometimes it does you good to just get away from the pc for a few day and live a little, you know?

    On Saturday night, having recovered sufficiently from the Big Day Out, it was time to have another big one. This time, the goth/industrial/hard dance club, Shallow Nation. Shallow Nation occurs once a month at Gilligans in Oxford St, Sydney. This was the club’s first time on the top floor (usually it’s in the basement) – and every punter I asked, loved it, as did I!

    It was also time to wear a few things I haven’t worn out previously: namely my fabulous D Squared spine heel shoes and my Grimoire vintage jet-beaded collar, as well as a white top encrusted with roses, and my harlequin style diamond tights. I added my harlequin design corset from Dangerous Nude, Sheike skirt, and Grimoire floral brooch worn as a hair ornament. Oh, and the blue leopard lenses, once again.  What I wasn’t 100% sure of, was whether it’d be possible to dance in the shoes…and so I had to try.

     

    You probably want to see the top of this picture, so here is me with the lovely Bec, and following is a series of shots of the lovely ladies and gents who are regular Shallow Nationers. Clothing ranged from streetwear to military, old school goth to gothic lolita, candy raver/fruitsy to fetish.

     

     

     

    And how about some of the boys? Doug on the left runs and DJ’s at goth club Die Maschine.

     

    All in all it was a great night. Music included old and new classics, industrial, electro (and tv themes!), bands such as Prodigy, Basement Jaxx, Combichrist, Rammstein, bits of Gaga and Metallica and more… Here’s a pic of the dancefloor to “Omen” by Prodigy.

    And while I admit I didn’t dance as wildly as I otherwise might have with big stompy boots, I answered my question about whether you can dance in the D Squared spine heel shoes – yes, you can!

    And if you’re looking for a place to have a stompin’ good time on a Saturday night in Sydney and are partial to industrial, hard electro and ebm, I recommend you check out Shallow Nation.

    What are your favourite looks from above? Would you wear any of them yourself?

    Shallow Nation website
    Shallow Nation Facebook
    Shallow Nation twitter

    Filed Under: Blog entry, Clubs, Fashion, gothic fashion, Music Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

    Rock n Roll Alt Markets November part 2

    November 26, 2010 by

    To pick up where I left off…

    At the November Rock N Roll Markets at Tempe, I’d already seen a few groovy stalls, but the hot pink sign on the back of this marquee really grabbed my attention.

    Atomic Jo’s sells fashion items such as lounge and bowling shirts, diner shirts, pencil skirts, belt buckles, mens & ladies t-shirts, and handbags. But also to be found are tiki mugs, dice jewellery, custom culture books, and other miscellanous products associated with the 1950’s/1960’s, trash culture, hot rods & rockabilly scenes. Even, erm, swizzle sticks?

    There was a great assortment of tin boxes, ashtrays etc from the beloved but now defunct Nook Art.

    But it’s the mugs that really take the cake!! Can you see  Magnum PI? And just LOADS of tiki ware.

    I had a chat with the owners and they’re really cool people too. If you can’t pop into the markets you can always check out the Atomic Jo’s ebay shop.

    The stalls began packing up so it was time to head inside for some beer and Rumjack action. And boy, did I get it!

    I first saw the Rumjacks in action in Jan of this year at the Annandale – you may remember the Blood Sweat & Beers post, where I wrote about them: “An irish pogues/punk kind of band with killer gritty, gravelly vocals and a real driving force. I’d not seen them before, but the music was raw and infectious, and I danced my ass off”.  They played some awesome tunes, including a few Pogues covers complete with belty-voiced chick on vocals, and finished off with a Specials cover that won me over totally. I loves my ska! A lot of people had left the markets by the end, but there were still a bunch of us getting down:

    You never know who you’re going to hear next (Backy Skank entertained me last time) – so it’s definitely worth coming for the music, as well as the market stalls and bargains to be had!

    Address
    Jets Sports Club, Holbeach Ave
    Tempe, 2044

    Opening Times
    Third Sun of the month 11am–7pm (sometimes starting and ending a bit earlier)

    The next market is on December 19th – and here’s the blurb:

    Sydney Rock ‘n Roll & Alternative Market features a fabulous array of stalls: Vintage, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Burlesque, Ska and Alternative Clothing, Jewellery and Accessories, Record’s, CD’s, Collectables, Art, Comics, Candle makers, a Jumping Castle and a whole lot more. Food is available all day. Santa will also be arriving. Absolutely the best place to do your last minute Christmas shopping.

    The December market also features live music from:

    Pat Capocci Combo – One of the most energetic and entertaining live acts in the Rockabilly genre the Pat Capocci Combo is renowned across the country. Australian Rockabilly, wielded by the hands of Satan himself!

    Mother Truckers – take you cruising down Route 66 directly towards the swamp and then head to Vegas with their stylish blend of raw rockabilly, stomping swamp and more.

    Chickenstones – Stepping straight out of a sinister B grade western Chickenstones present their brand of horror country, swamp & rock ‘n roll. If you’ve lost at cards, cheated on your partner, drank like a mother, or been chased out of town they will offer you no redemption. Dance while they shoot at your feet.

    Jarran Zen & the Blind Childrens Orchestra – will get your bones a rattlin’ and a jumpin’ with their own brand of hard hitting psychobilly.

    Plus DJ Brian & M.C.s Wolfman Dan & the Rockabilly Rhino (Liquored Up & Lacquered Down)

    Market Stalls are open from 11:00am – 4.30pm,
    Music from 12.30pm – 6.00pm.

    This is a FREE event!

    Catch the market shuttle bus departing outside the Town Hall Hotel, Newtown every hour on the hour from 11am, or catch the 422 bus from Newtown Station, or take a 10 minute stroll from Wolli Creek or Tempe Train Stations.

    See you there!
    Filed Under: Fashion, Music Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
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