ModMusic: Cazwell's "Ice Cream Truck" Makes Our Mouth Water

The song is kind of crap, frankly...the kind of silly, forgettable summer fizz the radio is filled with this time of year. But the video has, well...charms of its own. Six or seven of them, actually. Barely SFW.

Announcing The Forge

Sorry for the personal plug, but today is an exciting day, and I wanted to share my good news! Today I and several of my longtime creative collaborators are launching The Forge, a new arts production company based in New York.

Our brand spanking new site has more information if you're interested; our first two projects -- SINNER TO WINNER (a one-night art party on September 10) and IMMORTAL: THE GILGAMESH VARIATIONS (opening in NYC January 2011) -- involve dozens of exciting artists. I hope you’ll plan to attend. I think you’ll enjoy both of these events, so stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks.

The Forge features some of the greatest artists I've ever worked with, and I'm incredibly excited about the group's future. If you'd like to keep up with our activities, I hope you'll:

Join The E-Forge List: http://theforgenow.com/?page_id=33

"Like" Us On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Forge/135160143180567

Follow The ForgeBlog: http://wwwtheforgenow.com/?feed=rss2

Follow Us On Twitter: http://twitter.com/theforgenyc

Coming Soon: Forge Photos on our Flickr Photostream
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/52224611@N04/) and Videos on our You
Tube Channel (http://www.youtube.com/TheForgeNYC)

And one other thing...please spread the word! Like any new endeavor, The Forge will only be as successful as those who know about it. Forward this to everyone you think might like to know about us!

Thanks for your help (and more Forgery ahead!),
Gabriel

Janelle Monae's "Many Moons"

Is there any better way to start your morning than with Janelle Monae rocking it out? While we wait for the new single and video off of The ArchAndroid, here's her 2008 short film "Many Moons." Awesome.

FabStuff: The LXD Rocks Us Hard And Deep

I'm really digging the original Hulu series The LXD, about the visionary dance-superhero troupe known as The Legion Of Extraordinary Dancers. Set in a fantastical, Matrix-meets-Cuckoo's Nest alternate reality, all of the episode -- including the current "Robot Lovestory" -- can be found at their home page, on Hulu and on iTunes.

If you've seen The LXD perform on So You Think You Can Dance or elsewhere, you know how physically dynamic they are. (A little perk -- here's the video introduction to LXD dancer and Robot Lovestory leading man Chadd Smith -- he of the amazing muscle isolations and dreamy blue eyes. Enjoy.)

Tellin' It Like It T-I-S...

Count me among those who find the actions of our national LGBT organizations, especially the Human Rights Campaign, to be woefully out of touch with the needs of everyday people. This video by Dan Choi echoes my feelings perfectly:

Swan Dive...Into The Best Night of Your Life

This really is the best commercial series in ages...and yes, I do wish my man smelled like him.

Pride, Any Which Way...

Today is Pride Day in NYC; in mere moments, I'm off to be with the beautiful people, as we stand, shoulder to shoulder, in the stifling heat, watching lesbian motorcyclists, go-go boys, minor celebrities and gay daddies (complete with stroller and baby) float down Fifth Avenue. It means something about the cause of gay equality, but for the life of me I can't remember what. Hey ho, hey ho, homophobia's got to go, and I need a cocktail.

At the risk of losing my gay license on this holiest of holy days, I have to admit a cardinal gay sin I've committed this week...

I do not love the new Scissor Sisters' record, Night Work. There, I'm out of the closet. I feel better.

My preview copy of Night Work has been on the iPod for days, and I've been giving it a number of chances to steal my heart. But try as I might, nothing captures the epic indulgence or musical genius of the record's last track (and first single), "Invisible Light"...the whole thing, in fact, sounds like some lost mediocre 70's Casablanca Records disc. I still love (the idea of) Scissor Sisters, and I think they are -- along with Gossip, Gaga, Antony and the Johnsons and Amy Winehouse -- one of the most transgressive acts of the last decade. And I'm sure it sounds better in a club. I hope so, at least.

But in keeping with the spirit of Gay Pride today, here are the Scissors live, featuring an extra special guest at Glastonbury this week. It's one of the best new songs on Night Work, called "Any Which Way," an ode to backdoor lovin'. May it fill your pride, your heart, and anything else you need filled, in as many ways as possible.