Our good friend PaperMonster will be showing two new original works for the I Am 8-Show in Hollywood, California. The show will open on August 14th from 8pm-Midnight and it will host works from hundreds of artists celebrating videogame culture.  Make sure to head on down to the show to check them out. Pics Below:::
i am 8-bit
Opening Night Extravaganza
August 14, 2008
8 p.m. to Midnight

Where:
World of Wonder Storefront Gallery
6650 Hollywood Blvd
Hollywood, Cali.

Mario- The Original Banksy

Title: The Return of Samus

Meho Plaza
Self-titled
Better Looking Records

Meho Plaza’s recent self-titled album mixes a pop aesthetic with electronic punk noise. The trio, which consists of keyboardist Jennifer Hwang, drummer James Connely, and vocalist/guitarist Mike Thrasher, has garnered significant press by such reputable organizations as the Los Angeles Times and Pitchfork Media. Tracks like “I Sold My Organs”, “Lets Play Police”, “The Beach”, and “George Washington” all contain manic catchy guitar riffs, and a danceable backbeat. Interspersed at random are four or five songs out of the eleven that make me want to scratch out my eyes out. Perhaps the poppy half appeals to the people who have never heard Meho Plaza, and the five tracks of experimental synth-driven madness appeal to hardcore fans and live show attendees. Whoever the audience is, the juxtaposition of pop and noise makes for a good head scratcher. A good friend pointed out to me earlier that Radiohead is also a band that forces you listen to their albums many times, because the first time you question the experimental stuff. After thinking it over I will probably look forward to listening to this album more over time, and let it grow on me, like a weird fungus. – Jonathan Mendick, Mannerist Zine

Read the full post by Mannerist Zine

So I’ve decided that you all should meet the girls at the office. We pretty much have a bachelorette party going on most days of the week but still have Nikita USA on lock-down. The only dudes around are the mail guy and our awesome UPS guy, John, who really likes going to the tracks on Fridays. We may have to go join him one of these nights even though Big Brown has been taken out of Triple Crown history.

Here are Ella and Jessica. Ella just returned to Germany after being here for a month. It was a sad, sad departure but we’re crossing our fingers that she’ll be home soon.

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So we know Vera’s a sledneck because at dinner in Mammoth she brought up the fact that this girl is one of her favorites out there. Meet Delene Dipple, sledneck, high marking, longest snowmo’ jumping lady:

Anyway, Vera ended up in BC because of some crazy border situation coming back into the states…ask her about it. Anyway, she bought a motorhome and lived in a parking lot in BC to finish up the spring. Then she was introduced to motorcross. Gggeeezzz. Here are some shots of her first day on a 450.

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Our friend PaperMonster just gave us the heads up on a preview before his solo show for DirtyPilot.com. The preview can be seen here (CLICK HERE) and you can catch some photos of several of the pieces below. Make sure to mark down that PaperMonster’s Solo Show will take place on 9/14 until 10/17.His work is very exciting and he is an artist to stay tuned for more incredible works of art. To catch more from PaperMonster catch him on MySpace (Here)
http://www.dirtypilot.com/backroom/papermonster.html
Check out PaperMonster’s work below:

Here’s some love for our Russian fans:

http://skater.ru/news.php?id=1617

It’s a site going over the Summer’08 line for all those Russian speaking Nikita lovers out there. Have at it!

And….here’s some disco:

Read the full post by kelly@nikita

The Caribbean saw some fun swell this past spring. Now that it’s summertime and the waves are few and far between here in Jersey,  we rely on videos to get us through it. Check out Josie Graves, Alejo Marin and friends in some fun, warm, tropical surf.

Read the full post by ergophobia

Caterpillar Tracks
Scrape the Summer
Phratry Records

Caterpillar Tracks has followed up their 2004 self-titled album with an EP, Scrape the Summer. Though it’s a short five-song CD, it packs an emotional punch. A split release on both Phratry Records and Bacteria Lounge, guitarist Dave Cupp’s own record label, Scrape displays noise and rock. Four of five songs are rock; one of five is noise. The four rock tracks display layered guitars, screaming vocals, solid thumping bass, and adept drumming. My problem with the singing is that Shane Johnson ruins his otherwise talented voice by screaming, and in doing so, renders the lyrics indecipherable. Known to be a socially conscious band, their best statement is their lyric-less-ambient-noise-drum-n-bass epic, and my favorite on the album, “Midnight at the Taser Ground”. Also the last track, “Midnight” leaves you with a hopeful feeling, because after the rhythm-less first five minutes with simulated grenade explosions and other destruction, a triumphant, powerful lead guitar line floats lingeringly above the fray, signaling that you have survived a track written by some disturbed individuals. Only one minute later, the guitar drops out again. You are left with a death march. Then the snare drum becomes a flickering heartbeat. Then it dies. Thank goodness. – Jonathan Mendick, Mannerist Zine

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We just got word of an amazing book which will be released in June titled Stencil Nation by Russell Howze. We visited the website www.stencilnation.org and it is incredible. The book covers all aspects of stencil graffiti and stencil art, as it showcases over 300 artist from all over the world.  Here are some stats from the book:

192 full-color pages in an 8×8 format
More than 540 photographs
Over 300 artists from 38 countries
With an Introduction by Chris Carlsson
Cover Photo by Francis Mariani

Stay posted for information on the book release part taking place in California.  Pre-Oder the book here:

http://happyfeettravels.org/index.php/stencil-nation-book/

or http://www.amazon.com/Stencil-Nation-Graffiti-Community-Art/dp/1933149221
(click on links above)

If you are not familiar with stencil art or  stencil graffiti here are some works from PaperMonster (papermonster.wordpress.com)

PaperMonster