♥ Artist :: LEBO

My mother is Cuban.

My Father is Jewish.

To say that I am familiar with the city of Miami is an understatement. Growing up we traveled to Miami a lot.

I had heard about Ultra Music Festival for several years, but it probably wasn’t until 2009 when I started recognizing a lot of the artists. And in 2010 I remember feeling particularly bummed about missing that year’s events.

While rummaging through photos of the event, I caught a glimpse of a live painter on stage with the Disco Biscuits, and even amongst the haze of the crowd and the bright lights of the stage, I could see what colorful bursts were blooming on his canvas. I had to find more.

The artist was David LeBatard, also known as LEBO and to this day I'm still a huge fan. As a Miami native, I (correctly) assumed LEBO was also Cuban, making me even more of a fan of his. His bursts of saturated color are contrasted by striking linear movements in his paintings. I especially love his unique style of expression through cartoonism. He may even throw in a line or two of some very inspirational phrases that help guide his creative ideas.

This first pic is the one that initially intrigued me about the artist a year and a half ago:

LEBO also made a pit stop in Austin for SXSW in 2010 for some live painting with Chico Mann. But what I love most are the INCREDIBLE Gibson Guitars he painted at the Gibson Guitar Center in Austin that several artist played while on a bus/mobile recording studio. Check it out!


LEBO+SXSW+Gibson+AOL Lifestream - 2010. from LEBO STUDIOS on Vimeo.

Here are some pics of his amazing artwork:

And last but not least, some fairly recent street artwork done by LEBO:

 A lot of times you can find LEBO painting on stage with some of your favorite artists like, previously stated Disco Biscuits, Michael Franti or Thievery Corporation, but I love that he is now contributing his amazing art to city scapes.

Hope you enjoy and find some happiness in the colors! :)
♥ Much Love,
Mellie

♥ Can't stop.. won't stop.. Naan Stop

After my regular yoga routine at Black Swan Yoga, I tend to be in what I like to call a Yoga Coma. Everything moves in slow motion and I tend to respond to people in a soft tone usually with an upward inflection in my voice. I may sound dazed and confused, but I'm more conscious and focused then ever. Hence why my yoga practice is so addictive.

Anyway, on this particular evening after Candle Sweaty Yoga, not only was I in my coma, but I was also STARVING! The only bad thing about these late classes is that Whole Foods is usually closed, which is where I usually like to re-up on my electrolytes. Tonight was different.

This night, Mike suggested we check out an Indian food trailer. He assured me not only would I love it, but hey... it will also be open late! This wasn't any food truck, this was the mack daddy of all food trailers!

Naan Stop!

I mean, I've seen quite a few shabby truck dish out phenomenal food, but this trailer was supreme with all of the finest appliances inside glistening from the street lights!

As soon as we walked up, the man who owns the truck and his wife were whipping up something that smelled beyond tasty. It took a lot to compete with the BBQ trailer billowing smoke next door. He looked at us and said 'You two look like healthy people, I'll make something good for you. How about our paneer dish, it has a lot of protein?' He was so friendly, as if we walked straight into his home and he was ready to whip up something just for us. 'Do you like it spicy?' Mmmmhmmm we nodded happily. "Good answer!" he said and began chopping.

Paneer is a type of cheese that is popular in Indian and South Asian cuisine and has a consistency similar to tofu and lightly seared, tastes divine. Our wraps were doused in a hot chili sauce that packed a big punch, but with the combination of cool mint leaves and sweet carrots, my taste buds were in heaven. The spice and the sweetness allowed for a combination that had you yearning for another bite...and another... and another. I literally couldn’t stop.

The owner saw my face, and my cheeks turn a bit pink with a big smile on my face, he smiled back.

This was the perfect post yoga meal, healthy, filling, protein packed and very tasty! I recommend it to all!

***

On another, more musical note, and going back to the topic of working out. Reader, you will soon learn that I'm a huge fan of yoga and running, and I'm also excited to start cross fit come the end of the month. When I run, I have to have my iPod. My endurance sometimes depends on it. Particularly, I like songs with motivating lyrics. This song by Flux Pavilion is just that, and I highly suggest you add it to your workout playlist and tell me what you think!

Flux Pavillion - I Can't Stop by TeeRaze

♥  Much Love,

Mellie

♥ Silence is more musical than any song... unless you got you're headphones on

'Told you so' is what my dad would love to say to me at this very moment. The moment where I sit in my office, at my job, my first real job as a 23 year old recent grad and say ‘ aww mannn, working is haaarrdd’ in the most whiney, voice. Almost instantaneously the 80’s revival song starts playing in my head… is it possible that I now have a theme song? Anyway, I'm singing to you now…

“Everybody’s working for the weekend!!!!’

No words have ever felt so true on this Friday afternoon as I yearn for the upcoming weekend and reminisce on the weekends past.

A couple weeks ago I made the 3.5 hour trek to Dallas where I attended, what I might have to describe as one of the coolest musical experiences I have encountered..so far..

Silent Disco.

Much to my surprise, this thing was sold out! 400 little headyphones bobbing to the music.

Okay, so if you’re like HUH, that sounds too oxymoronic! Lemme tell ya-- a silent disco is a great big party where everyone wears a set of headphones with a switch that plays Channel A or Channel B. On either of these channels are two different music producers giving it their all to win the crowd. Every hour, two new producers get up on stage and showcase their stuff! It was so amazing walking around, looking at everyone’s big smiles and dancing feet, you couldn’t help but want to guess which channel they were on. It also made me giggle when one DJ would drop the bass or throw on a great tune and half of the crowd would react in a great big cheer and some rad dance moves.

Me and my headyphones.

I was in musical heaven.

One thing that I found spectacular about this event, is the fact that not only could you control the volume on your headphones to your liking, but you could also walk around ANYWHERE at the bar and still hear the music crystal clear. I found myself wondering outside to see some live painting and fire dancers, still feeling like I was front row. I also walked up to the bar where I quickly forgot about the headphones and may or may not have belted my order at the bartender.

I got down to some really great DJs, Abboriginal and Skrause being two of my favs! Here’s some music by my FAVS:

June 2011- mini mix by SKRAUSE

ABBORIGINAL CAP-CITY CRUNK - BETA TEASER by Abboriginal

My boyfriend and I also made it to the Dallas World Aquarium on our trip. We especially liked the mustache monkeys; they came right up to the cage and played twig-tug-of-war with us. Here are some photos:

Mooostache Monkeys

Playing Tug-of-War

Sleeping Flamingo

Manatee

Garden Eel

Last but not least, the beautiful Jaguar

 ♥ Much Love,

Mel

♥ Holy Escargot!

With all the amazing eateries around Austin, it's sad to consider the minimal options one has when late night dining...until you go to Justine's.

Last night a few friends of mine were leaving the Livid Instruments re-opening party, in celebration of their office's new home. We all had a wonderful time drinking Texas beer and checking out all the new music production tools (like the Ohm64 and the new OhmRGB) that this fantastic establishment pumps out for well known and up-and-coming artists like Sound Tribe Sector Nine and Paper Diamond.

But let's just say the mini sandwich bites just weren't doing it.

As we mulled over some ideas, Justine's came to mind. Delicious French cuisine at 11pm? Please and thank you!

With a decadent wine list and an equally decadent menu, needless to say we were all drooling at the buttery surf and turf delights on the menu. The six of us got a table in a matter of minutes and were promptly greeted by our waitress. This dimly lit casita may be on the East side of Austin but you will feel like you are in the sexy, red light district as soon as you walk in. This place was made for me, since it caters to the night owls with fine palettes.

Thank you Justine's for staying open till 2am and not making me resort to pizza by the slice! 

If I can suggest one thing and one thing only, which is extremely difficult because.. man, I want everything on that menu. You have to try the escargot.

It comes in a plate, individually sized for six little delectable, buttery snail. Be careful though, the plate is piping hot, oozing parsley and garlic butter sauce from the edges of the perfectly cooked escargot.

Be sure to ask for some extra bread, because you just can't let that tasty butter sauce go to waste :)

♥ Hope you enjoy,
Mel

♥ In terms of survival, music and food come second, after air!

Welcome to Tastytown!

This is my first official blog post and while I should go on with an elaborate welcome and list of things to come, I will leave that for later. For now, it is 4am and a long, but pleasantly unexpected nap has kept me wide awake. 

I would like to share a song that I stumbled upon several months ago that I just cant get over, and is probably aiding in my inability to fall asleep due to my abuse of the repeat button. It is a remix of The Submarines song '1940'. While the original version of this song is soft, sultry and sloooowwww :) the remix gives it an entirely new and funkified life of its own.

The Submarines are an indie, flowery pop group from LA and their music makes you wish you were laying in a field of daisies. You gotta check them out! The lead vocalist, Blake Hazard (pictured above), is downright charming and you can't help but love her infections voice... and the xylophone sounds are cute too!

The remix is cleverly done by Amplive, who is most famous for producing several of Del the Funky Homosapiens beats, along with collaborations with many others. Another catapult, in my opinion, to Amplive's career was his controversial release of his remix to the entire Radiohead album In Rainbows called 'Rainydayz Remixes'.  Which is totally dope! Click the link to getcha some  free downloads!

So, HERE IT IS FRIENDS my favorite song at the moment:

THE SUBMARINES '1940' (AMPLIVE REMIX)

Amplive will also be tagging along with Bassnectar's Divergent Spectrum West Coast tour, with Big Gigantic starting in September! Don't miss your chance to check out this amazing producer! Here's the link for more INFO!

That's all for now, time for bed. Until more from me at Tastytown!

♥ Much love,

Mellie