You are currently browsing the monthly archive for September 2009.
While this probably isn’t that ‘new’ a thing, it was something that I never even knew existed until a co-worker casually mentioned her past experience at FAO Schwarz when everyone was discussing the fact that Toys ‘R’ Us bought them out. (And since the previously mentioned acquisition, Disney’s bought up Marvel for $4 billion and Kraft went after Cadbury, but failed despite a $16 billion bid – doorcrasher sales on various international brands in the wake of an economic downturn… but that’s off topic).
So it turns out, FAO Schwarz in New York has a whole section of the sales floor that’s devoted to making your very own Muppet! The Whatnot Workshop has all kinds of different stations that allow people to mix and match different eyes, ears, noses – right down to accessories – to create a mixmatched customized Muppet that looks, works and feels like the real thing, as if Jim Henson himself had created a new character.
There used to be both an online and in-store Whatnot experience but since the May 2009 acquisition, the online platform has been scrapped and is in redevelopment. So, for now the only way to get your own Muppet is to boot down to NYC as it’s an exclusive feature that thankfully Toys ‘R’ Us has no intentions of dropping. The store will remain an FAO Schwarz as well, good considering its icon status for children everywhere and the fact that it’s been immortalized in films ‘o plenty.
In total there’s choice between three body types, 12 eyes, 12 noses, 13 hairstyles and 14 costumes (including The Statue of Liberty and a baseball uniform resembling that of the New York Yankees). Check out the photos below to see the real deal!
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- Whatnot workshop Muppets
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- Whatnot Workshop Sign
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- Whatnot Workshop Pieces Case!
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- Whatnot Workshop Muppet Eyes!
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Care Failure performing in Germany
Toronto based punk rock group Die Mannequin is a young band of three that’s already enjoyed lots of success and attention. With the pending release of their first ‘real’ full length studio album, Fino + Bleed, there’s no sign of stopping either. Lead by now 22 year old front woman Care Failure (Caroline Kawa), she was 16 when first revving up her career in the music industry and awarded her own sub-label, How To Kill – a division of Warner Music.
The band started as The Bloody Mannequins releasing their first EP, sharing its title with the record label. Despite the genre difference, tracks were produced by Canadian electronic duo Jesse F. Keeler and AI-P, better known as MSTRKRFT. Failure briefly slipped away, joining Canadian supergroup The Big Dirty Band, featuring Rush’s Geddy Lee (bass), Alex Lifeson (guitar), Ian Thornley and Three Days Grace’s Adam Gontier (vocals/guitar). For Failure, the audition led to surprise, “it was a quick experience but a lasting one. I thought I’d get backups and got the whole song – I’m still like a pup but with them even more so. Maybe Alex just liked my voice, he’s a sweetie.”
That ‘whole song’ Failure snagged was a cover of Sonny Curtis and The Crickets’ I Fought The Law which was included on the soundtrack for The Trailer Park Boys: The Movie with a full video. The video featured fellow Die Mannequin Anthony “Useless” Bleed though he didn’t contribute to the track. Bleed who’s been with Failure for six years nicknamed her Fino, which is where the title of the new album comes from. The third Mannequin rounding out the group is drummer, Ghostwolf.
For their second EP, Slaughter Daughter, Die Mannequins turned to Billy Talent’s Ian D’Sa to produce two tracks as well as international producer/dj Junior Sanchez. “The producers we chose, we just got on the phone and asked ‘em,” Failure says. “There’s nothing bad to say about any of them,” adding the dance backgrounds of some enhance her process. “I like to shake it! I like to write heavy dance music, if you can dance around in your underwear, it works for me.”
Failure’s satisfied with not having rushed straight into a studio album, “EP’s are awesome, you get together as a band and become bulletproof.”
Aside from great producers, Die Mannequin was also invited to travel alongside Guns ‘n Roses for their Canadian tour, “it was like Guns ‘n who?” Failure said referencing the call. Shortly after, at performance of their own, Failure, who brings audience folk up on stage for any given song per show did so only to be informed afterwards that her guest was from iTunes. Another golden moment turned opportunity which saw Autumn Cannibalist become the free single of the week.
Fino + Bleed
The lead single from Fino + Bleed is Bad Medicine, which Failure had a say in. “Getting creative control is useless if the label has veto, they wanted something else and I wasn’t feelin’ it. I’m lucky I had a say; we just have to agree in the end.” Other highlights of the new album include Dead Honey and Start It Up. Written in just a month (due to the theft of Failure’s laptop), the album is also available in a deluxe edition paired with the documentary called Rawside, directed by Bruce McDonald. Failure joked, “It’s crazy, we must be the first band to have a DVD history [in an early album], we just laugh about it.”
Failure, who writes what she knows and counts The Pixies and Queens of the Stone Age amongst her inspirations, shared her writing process. “Creativity’s so strange and different for everyone; it’s a muscle too. I write something every single day, some are shit. Remind yourself it has to be fun.”
Fino + Bleed is an unquestionably fun punk rock album which hits stores September 8.
Boasting a cast of 14, the latest production from this province’s World class Wonderbolt Circus is called Tricksters. The show, unveiled for a sneak peak in St. John’s, is without disappointment. Those that grew up familiar with early Wonderbolt days have a golden opportunity to feel the magic in its purest form again and with any luck the show will eventually (and hopefully) be available on DVD. Ringmaster Beni Malone performs in his classic, beloved way; signature funny clown hips, on stilts and playing with fire – his cherished charming smile, popping out for a well timed laugh.
Beni Malone in Tricksters
Malone is joined in Tricksters by nephew Dash Malone who takes on an anime-style Zoolander appearance, living up to his name, zipping and flipping around the theatre. Also from the family clan is Anahareo White-Malone who returns home from Germany, where she’s very obviously blossomed from training and is a rising international aerialist sensation. White-Malone takes on a number of characters in the show including an uptight foreign woman milling about the audience before the show struggling to find her seat harassing ushers played by Lauren and Jeff Smyth.
That character reappears throughout the show with Champaign. For the second act, in a pencil skirt and high heals she proceeds to perform acrobatics in a hanging hula hoop dangling over the stage with white round Chinese paper lanterns floating around her.
Wonderbolt's Tricksters
Prior to that standout solo, White-Malone snuck down on white silk ribbons attached to a stage fly wearing a white mask. She was followed down by Josh Oliver in the same piece, whose aerial strength was revealed off the top of the show when he’d been lowered from a hatch in the ceiling on black canvas straps right over the audience. Both performances were beautifully executed, visually stunning and easily trigged tears for some in combination with the soundscape.
The sounds by George Morgan and Bill Brennan were nothing short of outstanding. Speaking with producers at the intermission revealed Morgan made certain percussion elements, such as a wall of more then 7 gongs. A brilliant play fight shared by Oliver and David Mercer graciously shared the spotlight with the Wonderbolt band with class when the four used plastic piping to tap familiar tunes out on their thighs.
Mercer was joined by fellow Gentleman Juggler James Burke as the main through-line characters with Beni Malone. Both attempted to lure Mercer to step away from being fixated by the formulas of a rubrics cube in lieu of their world of make-believe. The second scene featured a touching but comedic shared campfire complete with roasting marshmallows between Beni and the Gentleman Jugglers. All three strategically used vocal exclamations during times of surprise, when Oliver snuck down from a fly and grabbed Mercer by a harness made to look like the back of his shirt for example.
A number of times a big dog popped out on stage to alarm Mercer, Burke and Malone as an especially great way to draw the younger audience in. Also vaguely familiar to the youth was a character that resembled the ever-popular Mary Poppins played by Kat Finck. She impressively lowered on stage holding an umbrella by a wrist strap that was also attached to a stage fly. Finck later reappeared opening the second act with an impressive costume change and diabolo performance. The second act also heats up with an amazing two hoop performance by Allison Collins (Ali Hoops) with Smyth ushers dutifully standing by the fire exits of the Reid.
A clear audience favourite was the vignette including world champion Aboriginal hoop dancer Terrance Littletent who’s joined by Jayson Littletent for vocals and percussion. This is a particularly relevant feature as the show moves from St. John’s to the 5th Annual Kamataukatshiuht Circus Festival. After running from August 19-23rd at the Reid Theatre (matinees Aug 19/20 at 2:00pm), Wonderbolt will take Tricksters to Natuashush and Sheshatshiu before doing a cross-island tour of Arts and Culture Centres in February 2010 after becoming a part of the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympics.
For more information about Wonderbolt go to www.wonderbolt.ca. Tickets for Tricksters at the Reid Theatre are available at the Holy Heart Boxoffice or by calling 579-4424.
