I was walking through my new Silver Lake neighborhood in LA, when I stumbled upon the wall that Elliott Smith stood against in his Figure 8 album. It was shocking. I used to love that album deeply and tenderly. I listened to it so much that I feel like it is part of my DNA code somewhere.

I remember when I was in college and found out that he was dead. It was devastating. It felt as if a whole piece of my identity was gone forever. As soon as I got home from my walk, I listened to the whole thing again. It sounds different to me for some reason – maybe a bit happier or maybe that is just me. I suggest you get down on this amazingness.

“I liked the idea of a self-contained, endless pursuit of perfection. But I have a problem with perfection. I don’t think perfection is very artful. But there’s something I liked about the image of a skater going in this endless twisted circle that doesn’t have any real endpoint. So the object is not to stop or arrive anywhere; it’s just to make this thing as beautiful as they can.” -Elliott Smith on Figure 8

We’re so psyched for tomorrow night when our little brother is having his first solo art exhibition. If you’re in NYC, come by and say hello! The evening will include a 1-hr Monster Rally performance.

Check out Teddy’s art here & music here (and below).

Last weekend I had the strange pleasure of attending a live screening of the Metropolitan Opera‘s   matinee performance of Aida in Columbus, Ohio.  The whole experience was actually pretty cool.  The Metropolitan Opera does live screenings of its performances In movie theaters throughout the country. It was kind of funny to be watching the opera from a movie theatre, but the experience was truly lovely and unique. If you are interested in the Met Opera’s live screenings across the country, check it out here.

(Image found via Pinterest)

Celeste Aida

If only I were that warrior!
If only my dream might come true!
An army of brave men with me as their leader
And victory and the applause of all Memphis!
And to you, my sweet Aida,
To return crowned with laurels,
To tell you: for you I have fought,
For you I have conquered!
Heavenly Aida, divine form,
Mystical garland of light and flowers,
You are queen of my thoughts,
You are the splendour of my life.
I want to give you back your beautiful sky,
The sweet breezes of your native land,
To place a royal garland on your hair,
To raise you a throne next to the sun.

Watch Luciano Pavarotti’s performance of this song here.