The exhibition includes the work of five artist (myself included), who illustrate though their unique vision, their personal perception of urban spaces in big cities around the world. “Miradas” reveals those spaces and objects that can be found in our city, but that our eyes may miss and wants us to observe the important contemporary changes occurring around us.

If you’re in town, make sure to drop by tonight!! The exhibit will be on from the 19th of January until the 19th of February, Tuesday to Friday 17:30-20:30 and Saturday 11:00-13:30

For more info go to: http://www.victorlope.com/exhibition03.html

SEE YOU TONIGHT!!

Artificial Intelligence is the chosen poster theme for the 44th edition of the Sitges Film Festival, a photograph of two Japanese androids; a tribute to the 10th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s ‘A.I- Artificial Intelligence’. The festival began this weekend and will be screening 270 of the world’s best fantasy and horror films and sold a record of almost 30,000 tickets within the first week. So, if you’re a fan of the genre and you happen to be in Cataluña there is no better place to be! For the complete program and list of films click here: Program

And don’t forget to join the fun, come be a Zombie! On Friday 14th the famous Sitges Zombie Walk starts at 20:30 at the Miramar building. A free beach party will follow at 22:00. I know where I’ll be this week…see you there!!

It’s London 1997, the pinnacle of the Britpop era, a time when people still buy records. Steven Stelfox is a young, ambitious and extremely greedy A&R guy at a major record label, who literally kills his way to the top, all the while fueled by an enormous quantity of cocaine, booze and sleazy sex. Disillusioned by current music, he blows astronomical amounts of company cash while chasing trends and living large.

‘Kill Your Friends’ is a satire on the music industry. If you enjoyed Bret Easton Ellis ‘American Psycho’, you’ll love John Niven’s book, especially if you’re in the music business. Explicitly grotesque, utterly insulting and morbidly hilarious, I felt almost guilty for not putting it down. So good, had to read it twice.

Every year at the end of the hare-coursing season in February, thousands of greyhounds (Galgos) are abandoned or killed by their owners. They are found all over rural Spain (but for the most part in the regions of Andalucia, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, Madrid and Extremadura) hung by the neck from trees with their paws barely touching the ground, others have their throats slashed, some burned alive or thrown down wells.

THE FOLLOWING PHOTOS ARE COURTESY OF S.O.S GALGOS

A few weeks ago, I met with S.O.S Galgos, a charity run by Manchester native Anna Clements and her Catalan husband Albert Sordé de Uralde who help rescue and re-home around 350 greyhounds a year. These dogs have gone through hell and survived, but deeply traumatized. I had the chance to meet a really sweet Galgo who had both of it’s front legs broken and skinned raw, after being dragged by a truck. Recovering well, I’m happy to hear it’s gone to a lovely new home now. If you’d like to help in any way, please visit their website for more info: http://www.sosgalgos.com/

Those that aren’t lucky enough to be rescued and somehow survive the ordeal, may end up at the municipal dog shelter in HORRIFIC conditions. According to the reports I have read and the graphic images I have seen, dogs are simply abandoned for days at a time, left in small compartments surrounded by their own excrement, with little to no food at all. Some starve to death, while others will eat each other alive. Injury and illness is left untreated, due to lack of veterinary service. And when the time comes to put the poor dogs out of their misery, instead of administering euthanasia in a dignified manner, some will be executed in a gas chamber, while others are given a cheap muscle paralyzer with no prior anesthesia causing a slow and painful death. Hopefully people will think twice before giving their pets the death sentence by dropping them off at the local shelter. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT: http://www.animalhelp.es/perrerasmunicipalesdeespana.htm

The fact that humans can committee such horrific cruelty to our fellow beings makes me sick to my stomach. Violence breeds’ violence no matter what the target is.

AH, TECHNOLOGY…Remember this?

YES!!!!! One of my favorite female artist / musician of all time, the brilliant AMANDA PALMER (who graces the front of my home page), is back with a new album AMANDA PALMER GOES DOWN UNDER. So, make sure to pick up a copy NOW!!!! I’m assuming you’re all familiar with her and if not…shame, shame, shame. It’s never too late though, she will forever change the way you listen to music

I’ve been a supporter and a fan of her work ever since I got my hands on an advance copy of The Dresden Dolls debut (self titled) album. I was instantly blown away. Over the past six years, I’ve had the chance to interview and photograph her on numerous occasions (in Europe and the U.S), both with The Dresden Dolls and after she’s gone solo. I even had the chance to document her video shoot for ‘Leeds United’. The photos are all up here on my website, you can check them out under Personal Projects, Music/Press and Music/Live.

Amanda is fearless and intense. A true breath of fresh air! Here’s her new video for MAP OF TASMANIA

Album(s): AB III by Alter Bridge + Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys by My Chemical Romance

Music Video: ‘Hurricane’ by 30 Seconds To Mars (the explicit/uncensored version…it’s actually a mini masterpiece)

Book: Hella Nation by Evan Wright

Film(s): Inception + Buried

TV Show: Dexter

Documentary: ‘Homeless: The Motel Kids Of Orange County’

Exhibit(s): ‘Who Shot Rock & Roll’ at Brooklyn Museum + Tim Burton at MoMA + ‘Never Can Say Goodbye’ at former Tower Records NYC

Gig(s): BBK Festival Bilbao + Alter Bridge at Hammersmith Apollo London / Razzmatazz Barcelona

Record Store: Looney Tunes, West Babylon NY (best place to buy music)

Restaurant: Red Bamboo NYC

Coffee Shop: Witches Brew, West Hempstead NY (been my favorite since college)

Clothing Store(s): Topshop London + Trash and Vaudeville NYC

For Good Times: Bowlmor Lanes NYC

For Drinks: Beauty Bar NYC

Social Networking Site of Choice: Twitter

Newly Discovered Band: Djerv

Guilty Pleasure: Lady Gaga

Monday 18th October: ANTI-FLAG at Razzmatazz 2, Barcelona

Got back from Portugal just in time to catch Pittsburgh’s favorite punks at ‘Vans Off The Wall Music Night’, which included The Swellers and Pulled Apart By Horses. Right before the show, Anti-Flag went beyond the traditional ‘Meet & Greet’ and invited Rock Zone magazine and a few lucky fans to join them for lunch at a vegan restaurant. Anyone who’s seen them live can testify that their shows are a tour de force, but unfortunately they weren’t able to fill the venue this time around.

Wednesday 20th October: AVENGED SEVENFOLD at Sant Jordi Club, Barcelona

On the other hand, Avenged Sevenfold sold out in less than a week and had to upgrade the venue. Their first and only concert on Spanish soil made it one of the most highly anticipated gigs of the year (I heard people camped out for three days). Great show. Moving tribute to ‘The Rev’. But honestly, for a band that’s reinventing metal and with five albums under their belts, they should have given us more than 1hr and 15min.

Thursday 21st October: THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM at the Hammersmith Apollo, London

If you’ve never seen these guys live, shame on you! Make damn sure to catch them, next time they come to a town near you. You’ll thank me No bullshit egos, just four guys from New Jersey, playing honest music, filled with heart and soul. I’ve never seen anyone so genuinely happy and grateful to be on stage every night. It was their biggest U.K show to date. Here’s their AMAZING set list:

High Lonesome

Stay Lucky

Bring It On

The Diamond Church Street Choir

Old White Lincoln

Even Cowgirls Get The Blues

Old Haunts

Wherefore Art Thou

Casanova, Baby!

I Coul’da Been A Contender

Miles Davis And The Cool

Blue Jeans & White T-Shirts

Ida Called You Woody, Joe

Angry Johnny And The radio

The Queen Of Lower Chelsea

Film Noir

The Spirit Of Jazz

Señor And The Queen

Great Expectations

The ’59 Sound

We Did It When We Were Young

Encore:

She Loves You

American Slang

The Boxer

The Patient Ferris Wheel

Here’s Lookin’ At You, Kid

The Backseat

Friday 22nd October: ALTER BRIDGE at the Hammersmith Apollo, London

How can anyone not love Alter Bridge? This is a band that has all the great qualities of an 80s hard rock band (remember Bon Jovi? Scorpions? Guns’n'Roses?), those catchy choruses, those power ballads, those heart stopping guitar solos, with the added touch of 90s alternative rock. They’ve got that EPIC arena rock sound. And so what if they’re ‘radio friendly’ or ‘commercial’, so is Incubus, Metallica, hell, even Rammstein! You can’t deny that Myles Kennedy is one of the greatest rock’n'roll singers of all time. His dynamic vocal range is unmatched! London appreciates good music, they practically sold out the Hammersmith Apollo’s 5000 capacity. STELLAR show!

Oh and lets not forget London’s SLAVES TO GRAVITY who supported them on their U.K dates. They rocked that stage like they owned it!

Saturday 23rd October: MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE at the Hammersmith Apollo, London

One of the biggest bands of the last decade are ready to contaminate the world with their new record ‘Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys’. This was the very first show of their first tour in three years and it sold out in less than 5min. You can imagine what it was like, complete insanity. Read my full review in next months Rock Zone. Here’s a pretty good recording of the first three songs:

Sunday 24th October: SICK OF IT ALL and MADBALL at Razzmatazz 2, Barcelona

No sleep in 42hrs, but it had to be done if I wanted to make it back down to Barcelona for the ‘New York United’ tour with Sick Of It All and Madball. Hardcore at it’s best!

PHOTOS WILL BE UPLOADED SOON!