Amoeba Music

During my trip to LA, my hommie Albert took me to an amazing record store, Amoeba Music, the world's largest independent record store!!! The place blew me away, its got loads of records, CDs, VHSs, DVDs, Blu-Rays, whatever you can think of relating to the music and entertainment industry, I can spend a whole day here! God bless there are still down to earth music lovers!

August 29, 2010

Taiwan Street Fashion Festival

I paid a visit to Taipei Street Fashion Festival this afternoon, visiting hommies in the same industry. It was great to see Taiwan’s top brands and the REAL industry cats showcasing their products and themes. REMIX, MANIA, OVERKILL, SAINT OF ROCK are few of the top influencers in the game, congrats on the festival and big up to the show space! I also ran into Terry from OVERDOPE, thanks always for the shout out!

Last, I got mad respect for REMIX, a true brand from Taiwan that continuously supports young talents from this island and also supports its locals, PROTON, a 30+ year Taiwanese electronics brand, this is really patriotic. YES, support your locals! (Photos taken from Eric Chen)

 

 

August 15, 2010

YAO Monster!

Thanks to June and Joe of STARFiSH!!! I got my "Yao" Monster Earphones!!! Monster Cables makes kicks ass cables and their new line of headphones really blows everyone away! I'm gonna rock this on my way to MAGIC!

August 13, 2010

Premier of Aftershock 唐山大地震

等超久的終於讓我等到了！！！My hommie Bernard 邀我去看他們公司出品的唐山大地震，Aftershock，身為男子漢，戲中天災的殘酷、親離子散的悲情，社會及內心的重建，簡單卻真情的對白，真要我不落淚也難！感恩華誼兄弟製作這麼棒的電影，也感恩世界天災中發揮大愛精神伸出援手的救援、醫療、志工團隊。身為地球上的一份子，大家要好好珍惜身命及做些對社會有意義的事！唐山大地震在中國大陸上映不到一個月已經突破五億人民幣，開幕還打破阿凡達記錄！台灣下星期正式上映，大家不要錯過！

中國的電影事業真的是讓我歎為觀止，中國第一大民營電影公司，華誼兄弟的馮小剛導演，繼前年推出集結號後，今年暑假大戲，唐山大地震一定又是一個巨作！希望台灣也會同步上映，看中國歷史上的一大災難，及人民同心的希望。如果你沒看過集結號，也快去租來看！

(唐山大地震預告）

（集結號）

August 11, 2010

Dssent x TWBEATBOX.com presents SpitFire Beatbox Battle!

Connect to www.dssent.com to see the beatbox battle "SpitFire" we had at Greyone Arsenal last saturday!

August 05, 2010

Yoyogi

There are places on Earth you will call your second home, and one of mine was in Yoyogi, Tokyo, Japan. I had a unit here when I was working for Panasonic and PLUS’s design team, and after 10 freakin' years, I finally made a trip back to my station, Yoyogi-Koen, man this really brings back a lot of good old memories!

I admire the Japanese’s city planning, on how the commercial areas are designated around the train stations, and radiates from it. And the more you go away from the station, the more residential it gets, it's a well balance between commercial and residential areas. Often close to the station are what is called the 商店街（Shotengai, Japan's aligned stores close to the station or home）. I loved my 商店街 cause it literally offers EVERYTHING I need, from household supplies, to food, restaurants, café, banking, DVD rentals, etc! And I love how they bust out all the goods with big price numbers like CostCo on streets, the overwhelming of information are just so interesting!

Spaghetti HAYASHI is an OG store that has one of the best pasta in town, the タラコとイカのスパゲティー blows everyone away!

August 03, 2010

Dssent 2010 Summer Collection

The long awaited Dssent apparel is finally here this Saturday at Greyone Arsenal Taipei.

Since 2005, as an online columnist covering the world’s movement in the distinctive underground and street scene, Dssent is launching its own apparel collection this summer. The line delivers the beliefs behind Dssent’s philosophy and manifest, to convey and alert individuals, to continuously seek for the deeper meanings of the culture that influence our daily life. Dssent is an attitude toward our lifestyle, to escape from the common trap, speak from your mind, and not settle with the ordinaries. It’s a manifesto to constantly attempt to live our life with instinct, and arm ourselves with intellectuals.

Please click here for more product shots!

In releasing this line, we also find our close hommie E-So from MJ116, a renown underground hip hop artist from the island. Battling in the underground scene for year, E-So and his crew often performs here in Taiwan as well as mainland China, and is also making appearance in performances in North America.

August 01, 2010

Openings East & West

Last week was definitely the most fascinating week this summer, three grand openings (that I know of) in two days! Its a pity that I missed the Phantaci opening, but the following day I made it to DJ Mykal's BRAINCHILD Flagship store in Taipei's East Side and TAKI in the West. Its interesting to see the great contrast between the two, from glamorous celebrity back-ups to deep down local street cats, the enegeries were great from both! Congrats to you all!

From left to right, Micky Huang, Sam from Saint of Rock, Jeff from Machi, DJ Mykal, Chen Bo Lin, 桂綸鎂 and Brandon from Greyone Arsenal/Greedy Genius.

TAKI Flagship Store in West Side （西門町）


Ran into Winston, number ONE custom chopper engineer! Rough Crafts!


Free booze!


Really cool interior!


Terry from Overdope

July 20, 2010

Fully-Packed Saturday

I don't know why but this July seems to be really packed with events here in Taipei. Inspite of the summer heat, festivals, exhibitions, openings, gatherings, friends visiting all landed in this month, we gonna kick it off with what we did last Saturday, its was a lonnnnng day!

We started the day hitting my boy Nick's debute concert. Inspite the weather hit 40 degrees, over 3000 fans gathered up to seem him!

It was crazy, without an album release, Nick started his career with a mini concert, but hell the venue was packed with fans!


Nick breakin' his steps away! Go Nick Boy!


Our next stop was the 2010 Taipei Toy Festival held in Huashang Area (Old distillery), if I'm not wrong, this is the 7th year they have this.


First off to my hommie Stan's spot from Sense Organ. Brandon my partner from Greyone Arsenal and the founder of Greedy Genius is holding a Yone toy!!!


Yone chan, this is way too cool!


Eric So x Yone's JUN-Chan is also spotted!!!
 

I am not really a big toy fan or a collector, but enjoy checking out the cool craftsmanship these artists build out, and one of the reason I am here at the Toy Festival is checking out Rockin' Jelly Bean from Japan. I first learned of him back in 2004 when he had a show at Aoyama's BAPE store, the strokes, the presentation, the orginality really blewed me away!
 


You don't need to be a big toy fan to know this, but if you are into street culture, you should know about Secret Base and Usugrow, and for some reason when I saw this so called "Rebel Angel", it reminded me of "Rebel Ink" from Secret Base, I wonder how Hiddy-san feels....


One of my favorite, Tofu Oyako


Real deal Tofu Oyako spotted....


Following are some real craftsmanshipt!!!


The crew from left to right, Ou, Rasta Dave, Reach and Iveet.


Next stop is 'Ecole Cafe, we are here for Hong Kong based design duo "Graphic Airlines" Exhibition.


After a long day of event hopping, we planned a short visit to 大隱酒食, a retro  and local and hommy dinning bar....and on the way we spotted a really retro barber...It literally means "Boston Barber"


Here it is, a hole in the wall 大隱酒食

No ideas why but the crew don't really like to reveal their real self...


Local veggie, its called "Dragon's Whisker"

Taiwan beer!!!


Ou, one of my most trusted graphic designer from Taiwan, his attire totally fits this restaurant, retro 40s Taiwan.....


After dinner, we hit Cube. I've know the Barterder/Owner Dennis for an decade, he is also one of the early generation bartender of Taipei. The joint is so hidden only the locals know about.


Berry's new book spotted!


We finished the day with a few cocktails and beer. This is how the Taipei crew roll...gotta rest up for next week, more happenings so stay tuned...

July 12, 2010

MSGR Parrrrrty!

這次為了參加 MSGR 秋季展示會（及小小忙裡偷閒去度假）再次來到有小東京之稱的福岡市！看完了展示會及開完了與 MSGR 即將在台北的祕密計畫後，接著當然是參加每次展覽會完後的趴踢～與其每次都是在夜店過，MSGR 主理 KN，決定來個哄趴！在自家 showroom，找最親密的好友們參加！有幸出差還能參加趴踢，見見福岡的人情味！ 

Dssnet dropped Fukuoka, Kyushu again for MSGR's Fall/Winter expo, and also chat about our little "secret" project that is gonna happen in Taipei soon! As always, MSGR director KN always drop parties right after his collection expo, but instead of club parties, he decided to drop a more "homie" party at his showroom. I had the chance to be there and meet with various cool people from Kyushu and they are mad dope and down to earth!

Ready to Party!

 

Pop the bottle KN!


DJ Sarasa flew from TOKYO!!!


VanQuish representing Fukuoka's own hip-hop crew Element 36


Ogawa-san from Fukuoka Walker and the super nice Baba-san
  

La Coka Nostra x MSGR!


Lady Stormtrooper at your service


Lovin' Japanese beer!


Kanpai to VanQuish and Yamaguchi-kun

Toshi-kun and Shimizu-kun


Saki, KN and Fukuoka artist Osuzaru aka O.S. aka Saru-chan!


Surprise present from Osuzaru! Hand crafted artwork!!! ありがとう！

July 05, 2010