Kids Up Front: Common Courtesy Vol 1

Artists from our Boutique Empire collective were involved with a very cool music compilation this summer: Common Courtesy Vol 1.  This collection of songs, from 27 different Vancouver acts, is available for downloading right now at this site.

The reason behind this sampler is to raise funds for the Kids Up Front organization. 
Kids Up Front is a charitable organization that provides access to arts, culture, sports and recreation for kids who otherwise would not have the opportunity.  The Common Courtesy music compilation supports this group with an open priced deal with all money donated going to under privileged children in Vancouver.  We are proud to be a part of it and to have added our songs to an impressive list of recording artists from our city.

Check it out, 27 songs from acts such as: Gold and Youth, Actors, Sunshine, The Belle Games, City of Glass, Girlfriends and Boyfriends, Gang Signs, Jody Glenham, Catlow, Sex With Strangers and Combine the Victorious among the extensive list!

We visited "My Secret Gallery Vancouver"

Another amazing weekend in Vancouver.  Loved Khatsalano Festival on 4th.  Well done to everybody involved with that, really fun, loads of great bands and good vibes.   Plus a lovely garden party to end the night, what a fantastic day.

Earlier, on Friday we visited Chuk Foto at his My Secret Gallery; Vancouver and had a look around.  Isabelle and I were quite taken with a few prints at the Poster Show, and got a sneak peek at From Dark to Light in the main display room.   A secretive place for sure, hidden inconspicuously in the West End, Chuk has created an underground exhibiting space for Vancouver based artists. 

I had a brief interview with him about Poster Show as well as his latest show: From Dark to Light.  

You can reach Chuk Foto thru his site: http://mysecretgalleryvancouver.wordpress.com/
or check out is his own personal blog http://blacklettuce.blogspot.ca/

We Are Local at the Chinatown Night Market

Our friends over at We Are Local will be hosting a stall at the Night Market on the last weekend of each month this summer, right up to the end of September.  We dropped by for a look and very quick chat with Dean Philp, who was so busy we only managed a few moments with him.   If you are in the Chinatown area do drop by the night market, it's quite vibrant and certainly one of the more intriguing ways of spending a Friday or Saturday evening.   Have a look!

Flash Action Films Returns! "Baby Libertine"

Good friend Stefan Sigerson of Flash Action Films has just completed his second video this month, this time for Secret Agent Records recording artists The Vampire Bats.  Having seen this one develop over that past few months it seems that S.J. Sigerson has outdone himself yet again.

In an homage to Edie Sedgwick, Stefan and Marc Godfrey (singer of the Vampire Bats, and also assistant editor on this video and well as Smoke and Choke by Combine the Victorious) have recreated several famous photos from the Andy Warhol days of Factory Studio, all cut together with some very glamorous images of the Vampire Bats performing with special guest Jordy Birch (Guilty About Girls).  Special mention must also go to Julia Mauro who is playing the Edie Sedgwick role in the video. 

I think it's safe to say that Stefan has added video director/editor to his resume: have a look! 
Baby Libertine.

Smoke and Choke video debut today!

Boutique Empire proudly presents

a Flash Action Films production of
Smoke and Choke (the Video) by Combine the Victorious





Video Directed by Stefen J. Sigerson
Edited by S.J. Sigerson with Marc Godfrey

Original recording from the Combine the Victorious "Crumbling Hearts" ep (BE12016)
(Dunlop, Henning)
Produced by Combine the Victorious with Stefan Sigerson
Recorded and mixed by M. R. Henning

Vocals: Isabelle Dunlop
Vocals and instruments: M. R. Henning
Drums: Jim Berry
Bass: Stefan Sigerson
Violin: Hugh Ellenwood


lyrics:

Well you smoke and you choke on the air
and you laugh as you say you don't care
'cause we smile as you play with your hair
'cause you're doing your best

in the car that you park in the drive
and the job that you need to survive
in the friends that you've come to rely on
but you're doing your best

in the dirt in your hair and your eyes
and the sweat on your back and your thighs
and the way you tell truth from the lies
'cause you're doing your best

and this world that you hold in your mind
on whose back will your pyramids rise
by whose god will your fortunes divide
'cause you're doing your best

everybody's trying to do their own thing
but maybe we could do it better
instead of trying to figure it out on your own
we should put out heads together

Well you smoke and you choke on the air
and you laugh as you say you don't care
'cause we smile as you play with your hair
'cause you're doing your best

©2012 combine the victorious



A massive Thank You to Stefan and Marc for putting in the many hours of work creating this dystopian masterpiece, viva Flash Action Films! 


Please have a view and share to show you care!   

Tomorrow - New Video "Smoke and Choke"

Tomorrow,  June 11-2013, we are releasing a brand new video from Combine the Victorious, the S.J. Sigerson directed "Smoke and Choke."  Without revealing too much, have a glimpse at the trailer Flash Action Productions has cut together to announce the unveiling.  (The Date reads 2031, but that is in relation to the events of the story in the video, I'm certain a long making of documentary is in order).

Here's the trailer, the video debuts tomorrow!

Zofia Astrid /Isabelle Dunlop Art and Fashion Sale - photos

Isabelle Dunlop and Zofia Astrid shared a space in Gastown this past weekend, where each displayed their respective creations to an enthusiastic crowd.  The following are just a few photos from the event.

We'd also like to give a big thank you to Hatch Benedict for letting us use his home to hold the party!  There was such a great vibe to the room all night, and much talk about doing it again in the fall. 

If you are interested in any of the paintings displayed about please contact: zofia.astrid@yahoo.ca.  If you are interested in any of the dresses pictured about please contact: isabelledunlop@gmail.com

Thanks for checking it out.  It was a blast and I know everyone would love to do it again!