ROAD TRIP
Howdy partners,
For today I'm not going to write about New York, although there is definitely more to be told about that city, watch this space! The second week of August I joined a fella I met this summer on part of his road trip, we drove through the South West, from Texas to Vegas watched countryside develop, met some crazy folk and got a feel for the real America.
Jack, the guy who drove, I met in my local in New York. He's a Country singer, bar man, real American guy, and he’s driven me a hell of a long way, tantrums and all. He's given me a new found love for hip hop and country music and also for America in general, this place is incredible. Starting in Austin we drove up through New Mexico, Arizona and finally reached our last stop Vegas.
Once leaving Austin we headed to Roswell, where the aliens landed, oooooooooo. We arrived late evening after a 10 hour drive; it was so long I was allowed to drive the last couple of hours, automatics suck as does trying to turn right when you’re on the wrong side of the road! Roswell was a typical southern town, everyone knew everyone and I was a total novelty, only difference being there were aliens everywhere. I was told by one woman she didn’t think “people spoke like you miss, apart from on the television” she then preceded to ask if we had potatoes in England. My only other long lasting memory of Roswell will be looking like the Elephant man and then a beaten house wife. Nobody warns you if you sleep in a truck the midges will get you, and my gosh they did, three times on the eye lid, once above and once below, I looked a mess for a day to say the least.
From Roswell we took the scenic route to El Malpais, New Mexico, finally some mountains to look at. The park is stunning; the area was initially protected to conserve the significant geological, scientific, archaeological, and scenic resources surrounding the Grants lava flow (the vegetation literally grows through the cooled lava, its quite fascinating). However I personally preferred the massive sandstone’s and the free standing arc which has formed over thousands of years, rather impressive. That night we spent in a Walmart car park, I’m not 100% but I’m pretty sure we heard somebody get murdered, if not that then hospitalized. Also discovered we could feed ourselves for the next three days of about $10 including two bottles of wine, I heart Walmart!
The Grand Canyon deserves a post on its own, everything you’ve heard is true, and it’s ten times better! The vastness, the awesomeness, this place is like nothing you will ever experience and I definitely recommend if you get a chance you have to go. Be warned though, even the easiest of hiking routes are difficult, make sure you take enough water and as silly as this sounds the hardest part is coming back up so don’t go too far down. One of the best things, to me anyway, to see here were the starts at night, you can literally see the milky way, also if you believe in making a wish on a falling star you’ll see enough that at least one should come true. Make sure you get up to watch a sunrise and take the time in the evening to watch a sunset, they are both magnificent!On route from Arizona we stopped at the Hoover Dam, bloody hell it was massive, it is also extremely picturesque, the way it was built was to encourage people to visit it. You only need a half hour or so to see it and don’t worry about paying to get in the museum they give you enough information as you walk around it.
Finally…..Vegas! Bright lights, constantly busy, grand buildings, fountains, overpriced drinks, prostitutes for your every need, pool side bars, slot machines everywhere, this place has it all, and what’s more impressive is it’s in the middle of a desert! We had a very short visit here but I will be back. See the Bellagio fountains, and walk through Paris; Caesars Palace, the Mirage and Bellagio are all next to each other and definitely worth a look. I drank stupid amounts of gin before doing this and now remember very little of what was in each resort but am sure it was all pretty impressive. Unless you’re going with tons of cash don’t eat out its ridiculous, there are some pretty cheap places you just have to do some research on where happy hours are. We went to an Italian just off the strip called “Hole in the wall” do not be put off by the name, it’s a ridiculous amount of food and unlimited wine throughout your meal, it was delicious. My only other piece of advice would be to not book an early flight out, to end this story I left the boy in the hotel room whilst I just made my flight (literally checked in at 6.25 and flight was at 7am), hair a mess, probably still drunk, not wanting to leave.Go to America, do a road trip, be warned though they are quite charming despite their rep, you'll leave wishing you were still in that truck having the time of your life.
EDINBURGH FRINGE - POST 4
Eh up! Managed to get an interview with none other than comedy guru and Free Fringe founder Peter Buckley Hill. Fascinating man, with wonderful views on comedy, critics, and the commercialism of both. Some more shows to recommend also; mainly the hidden gem that is Barry Fox (Newsroom, 4pm, Free). Barry is an artist and poet from Newcastle, though his first Edinburgh show is a peculiar mix of powerpoint presentation, excrement, poems, tramps, cardboard, pornography, and letters to national Athletic authorities. Though the material twisted and explicit in places, Barry balances this with a likable, almost nervous delivery which coaxes the audience confused into his strange world. Most of the audience left muttering the words 'Fucked up' but this simmering insanity makes for unique and brilliant hour of artistic comedy. Five star stuff for me. Secondly I'd like to talk about Matthew Highton and his show 'Shadowed Vagery' (Just The Tonic @ The Caves, 10.15pm). The 20 year old instantly appears as an accomplished stand-up comic with a style not dissimilar to master surrealist Ross Noble. Although the night I saw him was slightly marred by Matthews mouth paying the price for the heavy night before, the hour saw him telling us a series of far-out (and eventually interlinking) anecdotes which the storyteller obviously could never have been a part of. Be it stealing a magic feather from the tail of Mickey Rouke's peacock, or losing his shadow whilst trying to jump a gate, Matthew's 'observational' delivery gains the audiences trust into almost believing these daft yarns. I predict this is just the beginning for a genuinely nice lad with a confidence which even stretches to letting the audience exorcise any negative heckles at the top of the show. Wonderfully imaginative. As for us, we ended our short run on a high with the last Animals of Butter Bridge show pulling in a record 70 people! Peaks. Troughs. x
EDINBURGH FRINGE 2011: Post 3
So over a week into the fringe and my insides have been burnt out with cheap vodka and my head caved in from over expectation and crushing disappointment. The group had to pull the show last night after only one audience member turned up. That one person was Stewart Lee though so we must be doing something right. Been seeing plenty of stuff some good: Our friend DR BROWN and his show BECAVES at the Underbelly, another sublime hour of deranged clowning and quiet absurdity. Expertly delivered with a dedication and attention to detail which keeps it's audience captivated from start to finish, if you haven't already you need to get yourself an appointment with the Doctor. 9.50pm, Underbelly.
EDINBURGH FRINGE TALES - Day 3
So Edinburgh Fringe 2011 is a few days old and things are warming up. Went to see Oyster Eyes last night at Just The Tonic @ The Caves. So proud to see our friends deliver such a brilliant hour of surrealism and absurdity. These boys and girls are 4 of the good guys, beautifully off kilter and nonsensical, can't recommend it enough! As for us Animals, we are two shows into our week long run, fighting with ourselves and each other (as you might expect), and already reduced to smuggling White Lightning into VIP venues. Hoping to get out to enjoy some more of the 320 FREE shows that PBH's Free Fringe movement has to offer tonight. Speak soon. Joe Levi x
BROOKLYNITE
If you head over the water, the only advice I can give you is don’t stray too far inland, it’s not fun, it’s not pretty and it’s a bit smelly. They are trying really hard to change these areas, spending a lot of money on developing and bringing new businesses in, but, as of right now it’s not worth your time. Brooklyn does have some amazing places on offer and if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan it’s an hour subway maximum depending on where in the City you are staying.
If you walk north of Williamsburg, up Bedford Avenue you get to Greenpoint, quiet neighbourhood full of awesome sandwich shops and small food venues, definitely get yourself mac and cheese from Brooklyn mac n cheese! McCarren park on your walk up is worth taking break in, grab a smoothie from the restaurant over the road and chill in the sun before exploring the area some more. Hop on the G train to Long Island City, there holds the first neon Pepsi Cola sign, the one which inspired Times Square, and also the MoMA’s exhibition space, PS1, here you can also catch the PS1 Warm up Sessions which I will be explaining more about in my next blog (we were lucky enough to grab a chat with the organiser!!). If you can hire a bike, Brooklyn is a great place to cycle around, just remember it’s the right side of the road you want to be on and turning right is a mission!
4Q IS BACK!!!!!!!
AND THIS TIME WE'RE GOING NATIONAL!
Ladies and gentleman, if you haven't heard of us before let me introduce you to 4Q Magazine.
We've been publishing our magazine in the North West of England since 2008, but now after huge success and due to an overwhelming demand we're rolling it out to the entire country on the 11th of August (11-8-11).
In this months issue we have exclusive interviews with Ellie Goulding, Katy B, Blondie, Jon Fratelli, The Jim Jones Revue, Phill Jupitus, Stephen Lynch, and bucket loads of other stuff too!
Plus, for the first time ever in a UK publication we will also be incorporated Augmented Reality into 4Q magazine. You will now be able to view our exclusive video interviews with all the stars just by downloading the Junaio app from your iPhone or Android phone. Search for 4Q Magazine on the app and then just hover your phone over your copy of 4Q. Et voila! Magic videos! How cool is that?!!
Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Free Fringe 2011
Hello. My name is Joe Levi Hodkin off of surrealist comedy collective The Animals of Butter Bridge, we have just arrived in Edinburgh for this years Fringe and Free Fringe festivals and I have been asked by 4Q Magazine to take you with us on our journey. Over the next two weeks I will be reviewing what i've seen, telling you who I've met and giving you an insight into the trials and tribulations of being in the country's most anarchic comedy collective (we've already had a fight and its only day 1). Keep checking back for my tales.
NEW YORK SUMMER
New York has so much to offer in the summer it is hard to determine what is worth taking the time trying to find and what is not worth the effort. I am over here working, with very little money but trying to do and see as much as possible, fortunately I seem to have landed myself an awesome group of friends who have opened up this City to me in ways I could not have dreamed of. It has been an up down trip to say the least with the lows being dam low and the highs being out of this world. I love this City and honestly can’t wait to share my experiences with you all. From Shakespeare in the park to pickle back shots in dive bars I hope to be able to explain just how amazing and intense this City is. I have a back log of 2 months worth of stories and then in the upcoming month have a road trip from Austin to Las Vegas and then who knows where. The next week I hope to post at least one a day to play catch up on the past two months, also if you have any places you want me to check out let me know and I’ll be more than happy to see what the story is and whether is worth a look!!
Peace and Smiles,
Latest Issue of 4Q
Feat: Vampire weekend, Love & Disaster and Fac251 with exclusive interviews from Peter Hook, Mani, Rowetta, Howard Marks and The Whip. Also all the regulars including a special edition of ‘Fresh Meat’.Latest Issue of 4Q
View Web Version here
4Q hits New York; First stop PACHA
The place is rammed, trying to get up to the VIP area to escape the crowd proved to be a stressful experience; personally I’m not the biggest fan of navigating my way through large groups of party goers grinding off one another. The VIP area, located on the mezzanine looks over the main dance floor, one side home to the DJ booth and the opposite two dancers in all American dresses entertaining those who are lucky enough to be able to afford their own private table and waitress. The cast of the Cirque de Soleil are seated next to us on one side, and a group of business men the other, this place certainly draws in a very diverse crowd. Looking down on the main dance floor one can see someone from every walk of life raving away, having the time of their life. 
With tunes from Yolanda Be Cool ‘Americano’ to Justice ‘D A N C E’ followed by Who Da Funk ‘Shiny Disco Balls’ he certainly knows how to keep the crowd going. All these are mixed over a funky electro beat which gets more intense as the night goes on, or maybe that was the amount of vodka being consumed. The crowd are going wild and when he stops for the whole of five seconds the place erupts until the music returns. As someone who is not totally into the house scene I was quite shocked at how much I enjoyed the night, next time the converses are coming out and I’m in the middle of that dance floor. 
Hansel & Gretel - Issue 7 excerpt
I’ve been with my boyfriend for over a year now and for a long time I haven’t been happy. I want to break up with him, but every time I try to, he breaks down in tears. I just don’t have the heart to leave him until I know he’ll be alright on his own.
Vic
