Check out our new Music Balloon, a deceptively strong and cute little speaker for your Ipod, modeled by our fierce summer design intern, Alicia!

They are portable and rechargeable, with a USB, and come in pink, red, and black. Chill out with your friends at a picnic or by the pool, or wear it as a functional accessory!

Some music to get you going, lets visit Beck’s Record Club. Record Club is an informal meeting of various musicians to record an album in a day. Beck invites artists like Feist, Jeff Tweedy, Jamie Lidell, Devandra Banhart, and many others. The album chosen to be reinterpreted is used as a framework, nothing is rehearsed, their only mission is to play music and document what happens–which they do skillfully with great videos. Already, they have reinterpreted Velvet Underground, INXS, Skip Spence, Leonard Cohen, and this month, Yanni with guests Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth.

Some of my favorite are the INXS covers. INXS’ Kick was an important album for me, not only really good, but the very first compact disc (CD) I ever bought! Vinyl records were abundant in our house, but, when CD’s first came out as the “indestructible” format for music (I used to throw them like a frisbee before I soon realized that they do in fact scratch), this was my first purchase. Kick was so good then and still holds up today as a great pop album. Enjoy!

Record Club: INXS “Need You Tonight” from Beck Hansen on Vimeo.

Record Club: Yanni “Santorini” from Beck Hansen on Vimeo.

Record Club: Velvet Underground & Nico ‘Waiting for My Man’ from Beck Hansen on Vimeo.

Here’s a great behind the scenes video of the process and more about Record Club with Jamie Lidell.

Beck’s record club ft. Jamie Lidell – “Books of Moses” from Jamie Lidell on Vimeo.

Wish it were Sunday.

Haven’t thought about them in ages until I was cruising the neighborhood, spotted, and shot this spontaneously. It was lovingly scrawled on a blank wall. I wonder what she was waiting for as she wrote this. Was Tiger Trap playing a secret show? Was she bored waiting for a drink? I love having my Lomo around to capture things like this. On another note, lets bring back Tiger Trap!

I met Armen Perian on the night of the Portugal. The Man x Los Angeles, I’m Yours show. He was front row, asking me if it was cool to take photos. He was cognizant of the crowd, the band and wanted to be a fly on the wall to simply document this incredible performance. Halfway into the set, I could see he was positioning himself for some great shots. Over the blaring music, I handed him my phone and told him to type in his email so that we could reconnect after the show.

Later, I find out that Armen is a film major at Art Center with a great love for photography–you can see that clearly from these shots and a bunch more on his Flickr–moody, beautiful, cinematic.

At only 19 years old, Armen started taking photos his junior year in high school and was positive that was his career path. Up until attending his first year at Art Center he switched his focus to film, wanting to explore the narrative and collaborative aspect of filmmaking. Looking at his still photography, narrative still comes through, I look forward to seeing what he does with moving images. Here is a video he put together quickly of the Portugal. The Man performance for “Los Angeles, I’m Yours”.

Portugal. The Man x Poketo from armen perian on Vimeo.

For those that were there (seriously, what seemed like a thousand of you), that staked out their spot starting at 2pm sound check, for those that supported the band and bought tons of art-wallets-prints-music, for those that were singing out loud, for those that that held their camera phones up the entire show, for those that got their shoes signed, for those that were blown away by the art of “Los Angeles, I’m Yours”, for those that climbed on top of the roof to see the show, for those that were so cool and waited patiently for Portugal to rock your world… It was an epic night, one that will go down in Portugal history, our history…. on behalf of Poketo and Kitsune Noir… Thank you for being rad and know that on May 1, 2010, we shared a night that could only be relived in our memories, our hearts. Yes, it was that good.

These two were the first to arrive at 2pm. I made sure they knew the band wasn’t coming on until 8pm. They knew. The already toured the gallery, ate lunch, and now about to enjoy a special sound check and one on one with the band.

John Gourley and Austin Sellers hold their Portugal x Poketo wallets! Only 150 of the designs made!!

That is Martin of Poketo (middle). Martin started as an intern with Poketo and quickly became a permanent part of our team… he got “all access” to take the many incredible pictures you see here and on our flickr.

Super stoked to have this picture with frontman, John Gourley, Portugal artist Austin Sellers, me and Angie (Poketo). John and Austin collaborated on art for the show, two original one off pieces sold that night. Lucky for the collector that got these one and only.

Getting amped for the Portugal.The Man show tomorrow night, Saturday May 1st from 7-10pm. As part of “Los Angeles, I’m Yours” at Space15Twenty, Portugal will be doing some goodness before their performance, spinning records, signing and selling some limited edition merchandise. We’ll be launching the Poketo x Portugal.The Man wallets!! Three incredible designs by frontman John Gourley and artist Austin Sellers. We have gotten a few important questions over the past week, here are some answers.

FAQs:
Q: Can I bring a camera?
A: Yes

Q: Is it all ages?
A: Yes!

Q: Is it free?
A: Yes!

Q: Will there be a lineup to ensure you get in?
A: There is no official line up. The venue, Space15Twenty has a big, outdoor courtyard where the performance will take place. You can enter the courtyard and gallery from Ivar Street and Cahuenga. We expect a lot of people, so, just get there early to not miss anything.

Q: Will the “Los Angeles, I’m Yours” art show be open?
A: Yes!! If you missed last weeks reception, the show is up and running. We will also have new art pieces by Portugal.The Man in the show that you did not see at the opening.

Q: Can I meet the band?
A: Yes, if you are good.

“Los Angeles, I’m Yours”
A Poketo & Kitsune Noir Market presents a
live performance by Portugal. The Man
When: Saturday, May 1st 7-10pm
Where: Space 15 Twenty, 1520 N. Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

We had our opening night of Poketo and Kitsune Noir’s “Los Angeles, I’m Yours” show last Friday… and for those who made it out, you know it was off the hook! During the duration of the “Los Angeles, I’m Yours” show which runs until May 15th, we will be presenting specially curated events at Space15Twenty. Saturday, May 1st, we present a live performance by the band, Portugal. The Man. Coming off the heels of their Coachella set last week, the band is on fire and ready to rock Los Angeles. The show is free and all ages!

Along with the performance on May 1st will be a bunch of other stuff we have planned that we’ll reveal on Wednesday here at Poketo and Kitsune Noir blog. In the meantime, pass the info and flyer along to friends, this will be a special performance that is out of the norm of their usual set. If you aren’t familiar with Portugal. The Man yet, get ready for a really special night that will never be the same.

“Los Angeles, I’m Yours”

A Poketo & Kitsune Noir Market presents a

live performance by Portugal. The Man
When: Saturday, May 1st 7-10pm
Where: Space 15 Twenty, 1520 N. Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

More info on the show