my heart went bang shang a lang

7 Things That Make Me Who I Am - Part Two

2. My bangs

Though I consider my hair, and my bangs in particular, to be physically my defining characteristic, my overall attitude towards is fairly blasé. My basic policy is that as long as I have blunt bangs, what's going on with the rest of my hair is unimportant.

Logically, I used to be extremely careful with my bangs, allowing them to only be trimmed by a trained professional. Eventually, I began to allow my mother, who has had bangs her whole life and is near-professional at trimming her own, to give it the odd go when I couldn't make it (read: was to lazy to venture) to my hairdresser's. Soon, in a fit of desperation, I began to trim my own bangs.

And lately?
A couple weeks ago I trimmed my bangs in my cousin's yard without a mirror.

Check out that Bob Masse Led Zeppelin poster though - gorgeous, hey? Nicola bought it for me for no reason...I have no idea what I did to deserve such a glorious friend. And for the record? Nicola's got some badass bangs as well.

tell me something good, tell me that you like it

I had fully intended on blogging last week, but the very sudden and shocking death of one of my favourite musical artists left me simply too distraught. The irony of a day that I have dreaded for years (the day of Michael Jackson's death) coinciding with a day that I have excitedly anticipated for years (my 18th birthday) would have been comical had it not been so devastating. I don't really feel like doing a long tribute to MJ, as I can't imagine what I could possibly add to the many tributes done by casual fans.

Instead I will celebrate my birthday and graduation with an old Ashcan Rantings favourite - the songs that have been rockin' my world the hardest the past little while.

10 Songs I'm Into At the Moment

1. "If I'm In Luck, I Might Get Picked Up" by Betty Davis
Betty Davis is a bad mama-jama...I've fawned over her and her pure awesomeness before, but she continues to surprise me with her all-killer, no-filler albums. I got her self-titled debut for my birthday (thanks, Nicola!), completing my Betty Davis collection. This is the track I can't stop listening to.
"So all you lady haters, don't be cruel to me/Ah, don'tcha crush my velvet, don'tcha ruffle my feathers neither/I said I'm crazy, I'm wild/I said I'm nasty"

2. "Red Hot Mama" by Funkadelic
It's the spoken word introduction, first high-speed then screwed, that makes me turn this song on, but it's the heavy, badass guitar work (does Eddie Hazel ever let you down?) that keeps me from turning it off once the music drops.
"A luscious bitch she is, true/But it's not nice to fool Mother Nature/The proud Mother of God, like all ho's, is jealous of her own shadow"

3. "Worried Dream" by Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac
I'll emphasize once again that this is very different from Stevie Nicks' Fleetwood Mac - it's blues and this is a B.B. King cover. Anguished guitar and beautiful vocals, it's probably moved up to be one of my absolute favourite Fleetwood Mac songs. Listen to the version linked above rather than the one in the playlist - or, you know, both!

"It may sound silly to you, woman/Baby, but tell me my dream was not true"

4. "The Glamorous Life" by Sheila E.
It's no secret that I love Prince, and I love most of the music he's written for protegées, but this one in particular is a favourite. Sheila E stands out among his protegées as a strong woman who is actually talented (!) - she's a kickass drummer. Vocally, she's just mediocre, but, as with most pop music, it's all about the production.
"She said, I need a man's man, baby/Diamonds and furs/Love would only conquer my head"

5. "Respect My Conglomerate" by Busta Rhymes feat. Lil' Wayne and Jadakiss
I love Busta Rhymes, I love Lil' Wayne and I love any collaboration they make together.

"It's Bus Rhyyyymes, and I'm back/with the crack, and the thugs, and the drugs/ Nigga BLACK"

6. "If Tha Mood" by Esthero
Filthy and taunting and wicked - how could I do anything but love it?
"She won't fuck you like I do/She's not into that wild shit"

7. "Cherry Red" by Earthless
I know...I'm all over the place. But I love heavy, hard rock, and this band does not disappoint. You like Sabbath? Check 'em out.

8. "Give It to Me Right" by Melanie Fiona
You know, from the fact that it dares to sample the Zombie's immortal "Time of the Seasons", I assumed I was going to hate this song. I ended up really digging it, probably because I love this chick's voice. I think the sample was tastefully done and where I'm at right now, I'd rather be listening to this than the Zombies version! Blasphemy, yes, but I cannot tell a lie.
"I'm not, I'm not trying to run your life/That's why, that's why I'm nobody's wife/But when I want and when I want it, you gotta be ready"

9. "Tell Me Something Good" by Rufus
Not gonna lie - this song makes me think of That 70's Show, but really, that's not a bad thing. It's so purely joyful and, I must say, Kayla Hyne-esque. I can't get into most 70's funk bands because they all pale so profoundly when compared to P-Funk, but this song has definitely been sung by me on multiple occasions in the past month, often in public.
"Tell me something good!/Tell me that you like it, yeahh"

10. "My Dick" by Mickey Avalon feat. Dirt Nasty and Andre Legacy
"My dick...nuff said"

july 2/09

i ain't the type of woman who'd make your life a bed of ease, but if you just wanna go drinkin', honey, won't you invite me along please?

One of the most important things to know about me is that I have insane concert luck. Among the many acts I've seen live are Prince, George Clinton & the P-Funk Allstars, Neil Young, Arlo Guthrie, Arctic Monkeys, Bob Dylan (twice!), Crosby, Stills & Nash and many more. Anyway, Nicola and I were strolling around downtown, heading to Value Village for the usual harassment of their entire stock, when we passed by the Macpherson Theatre and saw a sign saying that Big Brother & the Holding Company were playing there that night. (I really hate to have to add this, because you should know, but if you were aware Big Brother & the Holding Company used to have a very famous frontwoman by the name of Janis Joplin)

Now, we had known that they were coming but for some reason that I can't remember had decided not to go. But we were passing right by the theatre, in high spirits, and decided on a whim to check if they still had tickets. They did and, in fact, because we were students (or, well, because I was a student) we were able to get them for only $32!
Unfortunately, original guitarist (and my favourite member, who has the honour of being one of the first people I posted a picture of on this blog ever, before I even knew how to post pictures, which is why the picture I posted ended up a mess) James Gurley would not be in attendance and neither (obviously) would Janis, three of the five incredible members were there: Sam Andrews (guitar), Peter Albin (bass) and Dave Getz (drums).
Needless to say, I was pretty stoked.

Big Brother - Janis to the left, and then clockwise from bottom: Sam Andrews, Dave Getz, Peter Albin and James Gurley

I was excited, mainly, to be in the same room as three original members of Big Brother & the Holding Company, as I wasn't really expecting them to deliver much musically. However, I was incredibly wrong. The show was phenomenal.
On a purely musical level, I would say definitely on par (if not better) than seeing them with Janis. They had a beautiful woman named Mary Bridget Davies singing lead and she was a true find. Her voice was incredible - definitely reminiscent of Janis, but not like she was trying to sound like Janis. She even looked a bit like Janis, at least from the stage.

Mary Bridget Davies

They ran through the Big Brother staples, and I was very excited that they did my favourite, "I Need a Man". They did a couple new songs which were great as well. The musicianship was on point and Mary Bridget Davies (I have to try very hard not to gush here, because she was really something) brought so much energy, emotion and pure talent to the performance that at some points I was in (very happy) tears.
Here's a clip of her with the band doing "Ball and Chain" (not from the show I was at, unfortunately):

Afterwards, they had a little table set up to sign autographs so I was actually able to meet the band and make a little chit-chat. Unfortunately, I had no cash to buy a concert shirt but I took off the shirt I was wearing (which took some clever maneuvering inside my oversized Cowichan sweater to not flash the crowd, or the band) and got them to sign that.

Peter Albin commented how much he liked my shirt and asked where I got it, and when Mary Bridget sitting next to him also asked where I got it, he answered for me ("Target" - ha). She then told me I was the luckiest girl in the world (which I knew), and all I could say was "I'm not the one singing with Big Brother & the Holding Company." She laughed and replied that she was a lucky girl too. Mary Bridget also had a selection of spectacular rings, and she showed Nicola and I where she had hurt her finger from grabbing the microphone too hard.
The moral of the story? Big Brother & the Holding Company rules, Mary Bridget Davies is a goddess and if you get the opportunity to check them out...do it! Now! What are you waiting for??

i am not of your world. hold still, baby, i wont do you no harm - i think i'll be good to you

My third tag post in a row, but I've been seeing this one around and secretly hoping someone would tag me for it. Diana to the rescue!

The rules:
With as much creativity as you can muster, show your heart in:
1 picture
1 poem
1 song or piece of music
1 phrase or quote
1 item of clothing
1 place
1 Disney princess

Picture: It took me a long time to figure this one out - and that's true for most of the parts of this fantastically deep tag - but I finally settled on this picture of Funkadelic. It's quirky, interesting, not really funny but not really serious, colourful, retro, there's a Native American headdress and pinstriped pants, and I'm now fiending to relax on that hill. Also, there's some guy climbing a tree.

Poem:
Because I'm not personally that into poetry, I'd rather use the lyrics to a George Clinton & the P-Funk Allstars song called "Because/The Last Time Zone"
The lyrics really are more like spoken word than an actual song, and I've always found this song to be so intensely beautiful. Because the song is pretty obscure, I haven't been able to find a copy of the lyrics on the Internet. Here they are, as best as I can figure them out:

the moon is quiet
and here i exist in the next phase of the final unrest
no one ever filled me in with a clue
but my mind has worked its way
at sunrise
as i awaken
into a deep dream
im free

i can see the break of day coming through my window
feel your body next to mine sends my soul away

now what was next?
was i to lay up and die? or just stalemate
in the next time zone
i slip into some cd screen player with no vision

i thought daybreak was my high
until the day i met you in the crack of dawn

is a brighter day just some old holographic insert?
i see it now that you're not really there

i have always imagined my love for you to be the displacement of my wandering mind

i stroll around in your head
lots of shit that can't be said stopping me
it's just the last time zone

mother terror, you are the world to me
and in time to come, you will discover my love for you

i thought the daybreak, i thought the daybreak
was my high

you are the only place i can put my feet
without you as a base, where can i stand?
somewhere in the last time zone, flash is the motivation
and in the midst of this awakening, i loosen the pus from my eyes to see another day
i thank god for youbut i also apologize on behalf of me and my kind
for disappointing maintenance and painful care of your beauty
for so long, i have yearned to die and again resurrect my head on your breast
my rebirth
mother earth

welcome to the last time zone

Because-The Last Time Zone - George Clinton & the P-Funk Allstars

Song:
I guess it's kind of cheating to have two songs, but the last one was really about this lyrics, and this ones more about the song in it's entirety! It's the first song from the first Funkadelic album: "Mommy, What's a Funkadelic?"

Mommy, Whats a Funkadelic? - Funkadelic
"Let me kiss your mind. Let me slide a yard of tongue down your throat; there's nothing wrong with that - merely a kiss. Or is everyone afraid to say kiss me, baby?"
"Dedicated to the feeling of good - and, baby, I'm good at being good"
"Let me play with your emotions, for nothing is good unless you play with it"
"What's so nasty about funky music? Feels good to me"
"We don't need no words, just feelings"
"I was cool but I had no groove. But now? Fly on, baby. Fly on, cause I got it"

Quote:
"There are only two ways to live. One is as though nothing is a miracle, the other is as if everything is"
-Albert Einstein

Item of clothing:
Tough call but I'll give it to this stunningly beautiful caftan I'm selling on my online vintage store. For one thing, it's my favourite colour (electric blue), it has a fantastic ethnic print and richly colourful designs.

Place:
I really love London, San Francisco and New Mexico, but I guess the place I relate to the most is my hometown: Victoria, BC. Its a fantastic mix of gorgeous natural beauty and exciting city life (I sound like a travel brochure, I know, but I am pathetically in love with Victoria).

Disney princess:
I asked Nicola to help me on this one and she suggested Princess Jasmine. This was obviously thrilling as Jasmine is the most awesome Disney princess of all. According to her Wikipedia page, she is "shown to be brave, intelligent, strong, independent, fiery, and charitable. She can also be quite cunning." I do love the word "cunning". Also Nicola said she could picture me in her outfit, and I could too.

This was the best tag ever.

its the way you flip your hair and the stylish clothes you wear, when you walk into the room all my partners stop and stare

It's time for another exciting round of plugging vintage by answering fake letters demanding help choosing clothing for obscure (also fake events). The clothes, however, are real, and being sold by myself on my online vintage store Safe as Milk Vintage or my friend Nicola on her online vintage store Nicola's Vintage Boutique.

The fast track to being cool and stylish, as everyone knows, is to let a stranger tell you how to dress. So sit back, relax and dig.

Situation:
"I enjoy taking to my boat to cruise the peninsula, but my fashion-obsessed preteen daughter is not the nautical type. She'd much rather be shopping for tank tops to show off her toned arms (she's quite the softball player, you know). Anyway, her birthday is coming up and I'd like to buy her something to encourage her to sailboat more often with us, as she is a slave to her own clothing and will do whatever it hints that she should (for this very reason, she no longer shops at Hot Topic). What do you suggest I do?"
Solution:
Your entire family seems to have issues far beyond my abilities but I can hook you and your daughter up with a very charming sailboat tank top.
This top is perfect for a smaller girl, either someone young or someone quite petite. I just love the sailboat design, and the overall 70's vibe. Find it here.

Situation:
"I am obsessed with London fashion. Specifically, the 60's mod scene and the 90's rave scene. I often dream of ways these two worlds could collide but it seems, sadly, that this could probably never be. Anyway, now that I've rambled to you for a bit about a fully unrelated topic that is definitely not foreshadowing of any sort, I will get down to my query and it is this: I am a contestant in the Banana Sunrise Leg O' The Morning To Ya beauty pagaents (it's a bit obscure). It involves dressing up in yellow and showing off one's legs (plus we get bonus points for a little cleavage). As I am known for my vintage flair, I need to take something old and make it look new and exciting (and flaunt my legs - and cleavage!)"
Solution:
How funnily coincidental that you should mention a desire for a mod/rave yellow minidress with cleavage. For Nicola happens to be a selling an extremely fetching little number of the very sort!Legs? Check. Cleavage? Check. Yellow? Check. Plus it's super mod, with a neon raver flair (you can't tell it very well in the picture, but it is, in fact, quite neon). And the cut-outs add a whole new element of excitement sure to impress the judges. Miss Banana Sunrise 2009, no need for thanks, just click here.

Situation:
"I consider myself to be something of a quirky soul. I enjoy eccentric dress and fun accessories. Recently I chopped my formerly-long-and-luxuious hair off and, though I love my new style, I have noticed a gaping space between my earlobes and my shoulders. For some reason, I find this unsettling. I need some large earrings to fill the literal void above my shoulders and the figurative void of not wearing enough cool accessories.
I also have a deep affinity for nocturnal creatures. There's just something about preying at night I find thoroughly exciting."
Solution:
If by "preying at night" you mean "wearing owl earrings", well, I can help your life get a whole lot more exciting.

Boom. Now, do you love it or do you want to sacrifice a litter of kittens to wear it on your ears? Okay, just loving it is enough for me. Give in to your own desires here.

Situation:
"I looooooooove The Who. Like, looooooooooooooove. Soo badass, with the blind pinballing and the bleeding hands and the "YOU CAN'T HAVE IT" and the mod beginnings and whatnot. ANYWHO, strangely enough, what I love most about The Who is their early 80's period. When I saw them on their '82 American tour, my brain was blown so wide open I'm still missing a small chunk of my frontal lobe. Is there anything vintage I could wear to flaunt my highly specified feelings about The Who?"
Solution:
Strangely, yes. Would an original '82 Who concert t-shirt do it for ya?
Faded to rock-star goodness, this rock tee will bring the badass to every occasion. You don't even need your frontal lobe to enjoy it - just a click here.

Situation:
"I love the 1960's and most particularly the London mod scene of the times. I work in an office and need a mod-like outfit that would be appropriate to wear to work. I also fancy one of my co-workers and would like to emphasize my blue eyes, as I saw on a Facebook survey he posted that eyes are his "favourite part of the opposite sex". I also love the look of buttons but lack the full dexterity to maneuver them. Please help."
Solution:
It's like shooting rubber duckies in a barrel. Would this mod minidress suit your needs?
Yes, yes, it would. The style = mod and appropriate for the office, the pattern = fun and original, the buttons = ornamental, the colour = very complimentary for blue eyes. You're good to go! Just click here.

hey, hey, hey, all you young girls, whatever you do, well come on by and see me, i'll make it worth it to you!

Anybody here who has visited this blog before knows I have a friend named Nicola who runs an online vintage store, which I pimp out every now and then. I have some pretty exciting (for me, at least) news: after a year of watching Nicola have all the fun with scavanging and photographing and styling and wearing and have a general vintage-flavoured good time, I've decided to start my own online vintage store!

It's called Safe as Milk Vintage, (brownie points to whoever can figure out the reference) and right now, I have but 6 items for sale. But hang on, because I've got over a dozen really awesome and exciting items coming soon - including some really wicked long 70's dresses that I'm very stoked on. I'm getting my friend Jenn, who lives in Mission (she's an exception to the general lameness that affects many Mission residents) to photograph and model the clothes for me. Because it takes so long to transport the clothes to Mission, have them get photographed and then pick them up at some point, its hard to post clothes often, but I shall do my best, and keep you readers informed. I'm really very thrilled about this, so here's what I currently have in stock:
This sweaterdress is not only very mod and flattering, but its so warm and cosy too!

At first I just liked the colours of this sweater but when I tried it on, it was so flattering and comfortable, I had to share the wealth.

You can't see them very well in this picture but these bangles are so awesome, and complement each other so well.

This Rasta poncho was an exciting find - it's actually handmade!

As soon as I saw this sweatshirt, my first thought was Cory Kennedy. It totally looks like something she'd wear!

I love this belt so much that I'm almost tempted to keep it for myself, but I don't really wear belts. Someone else could pull it off much better!

Anyway, check out my shop and add the store on Myspace, and let me know what you think!

you could say she has an individual style, she's part of a colourful time

Even though I am clearly not a fashion blog, it happens all the time* that I am often approached with this sort of thing: "Hey, I am attending an obscure event and I would like you to shamelessly plug your friend's vintage store by giving me suggestions of what to wear."
It is true that my mostly companion has an online vintage store, but the fact remains that I have no experience with fashion styling (though much experience in obscure events).
"I understand that you are not explicitly a fashion blog," the reply often** comes, "but you clearly have a most delightful taste in so many categories, I could not see how you could possibly fail."
How could I argue with that? (Though I know someone who could: One of the harpies at my friend's Catholic school ended up rushing over to me when I was visiting once, yelling "Uniform infraction!" just because my sweater had innocently slipped off my shoulder - with all the fuss she made you would've thought I was rolling around on the ground with my legs in the air, crying wantonly "I am a woman of loose morals - come get me, boys")

Situation:
"This morning I received in the mail an invitation to attend a picnic for dwarves. I am not personally a dwarf but I am of very small stature.
The picnic is to be held in a meadow that is known for its mosquitoes. I am not particularly adverse to mosquito bites, except on my arms.
The mother of my gentleman friend is also attending and she has a known passion for famous vintage labels of the 1960's and 70's. I would like to impress her with my choice.
The invitation also specified 'prairie chic' as the desired dress."
Solution:
Fear not, friend! I have the perfect outfit for you.
This is an authentic Gunne Sax (one of the most famous vintage labels of the 60's and 70's) prarie-style dress, with puffed netting arms. It is also quite small, so if you're petite and have trouble finding clothing that fits you, look no further. I've heard your anguished cries of "My bust is 29" and my waist but 24"...but my hips are freeeeeee!" Hush, you will pain no more. Just click here.

Situation:
"I am a proud Goth (by the original definiton and not the tragic popular cultural misappropriation) and refuse to wear anything but black. However, my badminton club is having a Stevie Nicks-themed party. I would like to find an outfit that combines my Gothic background with Stevie Nicks' fantastic fashion sense.
Obviously I intend this for more than a one-time use, therefore this outfit could not look out of place in a cemetary, for one of my occupations involves making bouquets for funerals and I spend a lot of time in boneyards as research.
P.S. My boyfriend has a sexual fetish for bell sleeves. Usually I ignore it, but his birthday is approaching and I thought I'd indulge him..."
Solution:
C'mon, challenge me a little! We have a clear choice.
"Gothic" and "Stevie Nicks" is an obvious overlap. Your dramatic sleeve-lovin' boyfriend will spontaneously orgasm at the sight of these bad boys. And this outfit was practically designed for the sole purpose of lurking in graveyards. Shh, you don't have to fight anymore. It's all here.


Situation:
"My lesbian lover is graduating from engineering school this spring.
She's Russian-Canadian, I'm Filipina, and we live in Arkansas, but we've both had a life-long passion for Mexican culture. Therefore her graduation party has an express Mexian theme. Also, the party is in Florida, where it will be rather toasty come time for the event.
I am enjoy lace-utilizing haberdashery, because it makes me feel like I'm covered in snow (and by snow I mean those cut-out paper snowflakes - it's all I knew of such things as child).
I've been rubbing self-tanner on my shoulders because they get sore a lot at my job loading trucks and the only lotion I could find was bronzing. Therefore I would like to showcase my shoulders but please leave my comparatively pale stomach and thighs covered."
Situation:
They don't call me Molly Miracle Worker for nothing! Er, "they" actually don't really call me that at all. But once you see what I have for you, you just might! Feast your eyes on this sexy number.
And Kayla Hyne ain't bad either! Flaunt your sunkissed shoulders in this superbly Mexican dress. The burgandy colour will look fantastic on you, I can tell, and this dress can keep the secret of your pasty (though I doubt you're that pasty; you're Filipino!) belly and thighs. Speaking of secrets, the lace-trimming just screams that you have one or two of your own up your sleeve. And at least one of those secrets has got to be "I'm not overheating like the rest of you suckers", because while this dress will surely protect you from Us Weekly's Fashion Police, it will let the breeze cool you down. Can you believe one dress can do so much? You'll believe it once you've seen it here.


Situation:
"I am a Neil Young fan.
I want everyone I encounter to be aware of this fact.
P.S. And I gotta be authentic - no poseur bullshit!"
Solution:

Done.


Situation:
"My brother's girlfriend is one of those obnoxious holier-than-thou, PETA-type vegetarians who feels the need to remind me that with each bite of meatloaf, I am personally responsible for the torture and murder of every animal ever eaten, by humans or otherwise.
Anyway, she's having a tofu barbecue next weekend, even though it's still pretty nippy out. The attire is "formal".
I really want to piss her off."
Solution:
I can relate - PETA sucks. And remember - the enemy of your enemy is your friend.
Meet this divine fur shrug.
Cosy? Check. Versatile? Check - it can be formal or semi-formal (or casual, if you're a free spirit!) Warm? Check. Real fur? Damn straight. I don't feel like making a case for fur all over again, but if you'd like to review my previous post devoted to how awesome, badass and gorgeous fur is, check it out here. And if you've realized (correctly) that you can't live another day without knowing this fur shrug is yours, click here.

Situation:
"I have a general policy of only wearing dresses and skirts. And yet, I love versatility. Any skirt I purchase must also have the bonus of being worn as a dress.

My grandmother's elderly boyfriend invited me to tea, possibly to ask my permission for her hand in marriage (I am her only living relative, besides her cousin [with whom she had a falling out a few years back due to an alarming incident involving a tea tray and a medicine ball]).
After our tea, I am attending a music festival with some of my bohemian pals.
I need a garment that is applicable to both events, as I will only be bringing a small change purse (for those temporary tattoo machines in grocery stores - I can never resist) and cannot carry a full change of clothes.
I like ethnic embroidery."
Solution:

Your needs are complex. However, with Nicola's access to fantastic clothing and my undeniable talent for problem-solving, we have your solution.

This wrap skirt conveniently doubles as a wrap dress. It is appropriate for afternoon tea with your future step-grandfather and a music festival. You like ethnic embroidery, you say? You won't be disappointed with this skirt's almost peacock feather-like design. And it allows for easy temporary tattoo flauntage. Go 'head now, girl. Love: it's just a click away.

Was your obscure event not covered?
Rest assured, there's something for everyone.

Nicola's Vintage Boutique

Because you can't find anything worth wearing anywhere else.

*In this case I am using "all the time" as a slang phrase to mean "rarely"
**Again, I'm using "often" as shorthand for "never"