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Since 1981, BOMB Magazine has been publishing conversations between artists. In the first week of December we’re launching a new website, where BOMB's 32 years of interviews, essays, literature, and portfolios will be more accessible and more sharable than ever. They'll also, like all our content, be available for free.

Today, BOMB is a quarterly print magazine and a daily online publication. Every day on BOMB's website, artists interact to expand their creative and critical practice. But we need your help to keep the conversation going. ​We’re raising money so that we can pay our online contributors and editors, whose work is crucial to bringing you the artist's voice.

We want to keep giving artists a platform for discussion, and we want to keep making their work available to you—for free. We've put together a package of rewards to show our appreciation. And remember: BOMB is a not-for-profit 501c3, so your contribution is tax deductible.

​

The first 150 people to donate $25 or more will receive a ticket to the BOMB Benefit Party at Issue Project Room on January 11th, featuring David Grubbs, Amy Sillman, Ben Lerner, and Jules Gimbrone.
 

☆ Raymond Pettibon has generously donated a work specifically for this fundraiser that will be featured on a limited edition BOMB tote bag. ☆
 

Donate in a loved one's name by December 15th, and they’ll get their rewards in the mail as a holiday gift.

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"After The Night" by Everyone Agrees (Book Works)

Book Works ISBN: 978-1-906012-47-2

If not the brother or sister of Michéle Bernstein's "The Night" then at the very least the distant British cousin.   Its a beautiful gesture to Bernstein's masterful "The Night" in that it deals with the theme and style of that book, that serves itself as both a critique and an entertaining read.  The Bernstein book is map as literature.  One could easily follow the path of the three main characters as they wonder around Paris in the nighttime.  "After The Night" does the same with similar characters, but they're British and their map is a combination of Paris and London.   So one could encounter an adventure without knowing the results of sorts.

The book is edited and written by 'Everyone Agrees' which seems to be a collective that does work through the London based Book Works.   The design of the book is incredible.  The flap opens up to an actual map, with the routes marked.   If you are going to read "The Night" I think you need to get this book as well.   Reading the Bernstein 'novel' stands on its own, but this book doesn't.  You need to read "The Night" first.   Nevertheless a remarkable journey with a map that leads one to.... somewhere.

Azio II Gruppo di improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza

The beauty of Gruppo di improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza.   With Mario Bertoncini, Walter Branchi, Franco Evangelisti, John Heineman, Roland Kayn, Egisto Macchi, Ennio Morricone, Ivan Vandor 1967-1969

http://youtu.be/P1S6WsvfI6w

Details about Tonight's event at The Velaslavasay Panorama at 1122 W. 24th St. Los Angeles 90007

http://panoramaonview.org/xyz/section-II-Investigation/

"The Night" by Michéle Bernstein (Translated by Clodagh Kinsella) Edited by Everyone Agrees

One can gather that this is memoir writing, since we think the main two characters are Guy Debord and the author of this book, Michéle Bernstein.  And the book plays with the concept of memoir and novel, but it does say 'novel' on the front cover, and I am going to go with that.  The book is very much like Bernstein's first book "All The King's Horses" except this is witty turned into a 'new novel' or Nouveau Roman.  Whatever it is a satire or a homage to that form I don't know, but either way it doesn't take away the enjoyment of going with the main couple's long walks through the Left Bank of Paris.  in fact I had to stop myself from google mapping the streets - which one can do, because their walks are deeply and specifically perfect.  There is another woman involved and in a way it is a story about seduction, power, and exploring.  I'm a Bernstein fan.

Also the production level of the publisher of this book, Book Works, is pretty great.   The book is translated by Clodagh Kinsella and edited by Everyone Else.  There is a sequel of sorts.... well review that next!

KChung Radio Interview with Tosh Berman

Photo by Wallace Berman, 1959

http://www.kchungradio.org/archive/2013-11-08/Photo_Black_Soo_Kim_Lisa_Ohlweiler-11-08-2013.mp3


I did an interview on KChung Radio with Soo Kim and Lisa Ohlwiler with respect to a photograph that my father Wallace Berman took of me. 36:20 and somewhere in that time-frame the interview starts, but the whole show is interesting. All regarding the issues of photography.

Sparks at the Fonda Theater November 11, 2013

Last night I was transformed into another space that some can call "Sparks-Land."  The beauty of the performance was pitch-perfect. And without a doubt for the Sparks' fanatic.   Their current set is deep in the catalog, and it is almost like a secret message from artist to fan.  By no means was this a causal show, but more likely a current statement on Sparks circa 2014.  

The scary thing about the Sparks unit is that they keep getting stronger and stronger.  I know this sounds like a fan's insane rave, but the beauty of their shows is the way they look back into their most obscure tunes as well as the 'hit's songs and re-invent them in a new light.   These two artists don't compromise, it is take-me-all or not-at-all, and as a fan, it is great to take the giant leap with them into new territories. 

Russell Mael, at the moment, is at his best.  Physically as well as voice-wise.  The stage belongs to him as one who takes over the personal study in a stranger's house.  The space is is, and no one else.  Ron Mael handles the keyboards, and the show is a combination of music hall via the world of Sparks and a statement of an aesthetic that can't be better. The beauty of the relationship between the brothers blossoms as an one unit, unified in presenting work that will always be challenging, yet, solid as the great American songbook.   I have seen Sparks numerous times over the past decades, and this show may have been the best.  

The illustration above (and below) is a new box-set from Sparks.   It has to be an essential must-own. 

Signed Copies of "In The Words Of Sparks... Selected Lyrics" by Ron Mael & Russell Mael at their Show tonight

For those who are going to see Sparks tonight (Monday November 11, 2013)  in Los Angeles, there will be signed copies of "In The Words Of Sparks... Selected Lyrics" for sale. Check their merchandise table somewhere in the lobby at the Fonda Theater on Sunset  Blvd.   Oh, and their show is going to be fantastic. 

Vinyl Listening Party With Tosh Berman and Joey Altruda, Anna Biller, Lawrence Gjurgevich, Kristine McKenna, & Lun*na Menoh

Joey Altruda, Musician & Disc Jockey 
Anna Biller, Filmmaker & Composer, Director of VIVA
Lawrence Gjurgevich, Founder, Promoter, & Disc Jockey at Club Underground Events
Kristine McKenna, Curator, Music & Art Journalist, Publisher
Lunna Menoh, Artist, Singer of performance band, Les Sewing Sisters, and previous Host of The XYZ
&
Tosh Berman, host of the XYZ Zenith, Publisher & Editor of TamTam Books & Writer of the recently released Sparks-Tastic

All are congregating with Members & Non-members of The XYZ to play a piece off of an LP that is of vital importance and telling the story behind what made it so.

This will be the concluding assembly of TheXyz Club until further notice.

Reservations Recommended:
http://xyz6.brownpapertickets.com/

3 a.m. Magazine interview with Tosh Berman (some years back)

Photo by Wallace Berman

http://www.3ammagazine.com/3am/american-rive-gauche-an-interview-with-tosh-berman/

L'écume des jours Manuscript (Boris Vian)

 A replica of the original manuscript of Boris Vian's "L'écume des jours (Foam of the Daze).  I found this on Amazon France, and its a pricey devil of a book or package.  But for the Vian fanatic I think it's a must-have.

Brian Jones - "A Degree Of Murder"

I always felt that Brian Jones is probably the most underrated figure in 20th Century rock music.  I think he got picked on, and wasn't encourage to do more songwriting.  Clearly he had talents that was not used, and partly it is his fault, but the image of him just being a stoned-out figure is partly a myth.    The recording down below is not a masterpiece, but one suspect that he could have done more music on his own terms.  Its a shame that he didn't live, and that he didn't leave more of 'his' music behind for us to listen, enjoy, argue, etc. and etc.

The music here is for the opening credits to a film called "A Degree Of Murder."

Brian Jones - A Degree Of Murder download free mp3

"Pierre Reverdy" by Pierre Reverdy (NYRB, Edited by Mary Ann Caws)

NYRB ISBN: 978-1-59017-769-5

Superb collection of poetry by the legendary and sort of obscure poet Pierre Reverdy.   There are poet's poets and then there is the Painter's poet, and Pierre Reverdy is famous for his relationship with Picasso and the Cubists artists of the early 20th Century. But Reverdy also had respect from his fellow poets as well, and almost every avant-poet or lyrical poet also has a great appreciation for Reverdy's poetry.  Reading the introduction, I didn't know he had a long-term relationship with Coco Chanel.   A good looking man according to the photograph on the back of the book.  He had the whole world in his hands, but the narration is quite harsh, due to the two world wars that took place in his lifetime. 

The poems are mostly mood pieces that would go well with mid '50's Miles Davis.  Romantic in despair, but never depressing due to I think his intelligence and his ability to write a perfect poem that is set like a jewel case on the top of a bedside table.  Once again the New York Review of Books (NYRB) has done a great job of publishing these collection of works by Reverdy, and translated by an all-star cast of the most interesting of the interesting.  Kenneth Rexroth, Geoffrey O'Brien, Frank O'Hara, Richard Howard, John Ashbery and edited by the great Mary Ann Caws.   Any poet that can gather the American giants of poetry and translation in one volume, you know is very much worth your time. 

"A To Z of Mod" by Paolo Hewitt and Mark Baxter

Prestel ISBN: 978-3-7913-4605-2

At first glance "A To Z of Mod"  looks just like a gift book that one would put near the register, but alas its a tad more than that.  This is actually a pretty good general introduction to the Mod aesthetic and its people.  Paolo Hewitt and Mark Baxter did a good job with the text, but even more important the images in this book is pretty great. One wished it was in a larger format, but alas the world we live in is never perfect.  But it does give the key clothing figures as well as brands that makes the everyday Mod happy, and also equally important the major figures that made this movement happen.  So as you read the book you realize that this is a well-thought out little (in size) volume of what is essential for one's knowledge about Mod culture.   A good book for the quick reference if you need, but if you are a die-haed Mod, this book is not really for you - but more for your friend or family member who thinks you are weird.    For me the Mod is perhaps the most nobel individual on this planet.   Anything dandy related is better than the non-dandy world.  

Mention of RED GRASS By Boris Vian on Three Percent Website

Much appreciation for Chad Post and his website Three Percent for his beautiful mention of Boris Vian's RED GRASS.

Read it here:  http://www.rochester.edu/College/translation/threepercent/index.php?id=8572

"Autobiography" by Morrissey (Penguin Classics, UK)

Penguin Classics ISBN: 978-0-141-39481-7

A great memoir needs a strong character who writes, and Morrissey takes that role to the maximum.  Overall each page has a quotable sentence or two, and the way he constructs his sentences is a beauty in form.  The narrative is not important but its the way he tells the tale, and that he does very well. 

A long-time fan or student of Morrissey will not learn anything new.  He does get personal in his own way regarding his love life, which is vague, but one is allowed to connect the dots.   There are people through out his life that is very important to him.  In fact he has two sets of individuals that he cares for.  The people he knows, and the people he admires, which are mostly film and music icons of sorts.  Some are more famous than others, but they're interesting because his admiration for these artists are sort of a clue to what makes Morrissey tick. 

Sadly there is no index of names in the book, because his reading and listening taste is very interesting.  He's very much a curator of taste, his taste mind you, but I consider that one of his highest talents is to both expose these artists, as well as trying to figure how they influenced him.  His great admiration for New York Dolls and Sparks makes perfect sense when you hear his music.  I think Morrissey learned a lot from those two bands with respect to lyric writing, and also the same for various British poets.  Besides his appreciation for French pop music artists, it seems he doesn't make any comments on foreign literature - meaning non-English language books.   Except perhaps Pasolini, but I am not sure if that is an appreciation for his films more than his writing. 

The only drag in this book is him writing about the trial between him and the drummer of The Smiths.  He goes on many pages in detail about this case, which was a major event for him.  But I suspect for most readers it is just a case of money disagreement.  But even that, he writes with incredible passion, almost over-the-top and its kind of amazing piece of the book in its way.   I am going to have to presume that his editor at Penguin probably wanted him to cut this section out ,but I am glad that he stuck to his principal to keep it in.  It tells more about his passion, and this book is about passion.

The first part of the book is Charles Dickens circa Manchester 1970's.  His description of the sadistic gym teachers are right on the button - because i too suffered from these goons in the 70's (Morrissey and I are roughly around the same age), so I found it fascinating that even in America, had weird sex perverted gym teachers as well.  It was an international problem!   The way he paints his school years and the early Manchester punk scene is heartfelt and picturesque.  You can smell the grayness of the landscape off the pages.  Also his commentary on various people are hysterical and sometimes mean - but it is like having Noel Coward tearing into someone.  Morrissey has a sharp tongue that brings out even sharper words to the page.

Overall the book could have used a tighter editor, but in the end of the day (or night) this is a fantastic book that i think will please the Morrissey fans, as well as anyone wanting to read about the music scene of the era of The Smiths and solo Morrissey.