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Robot Reportage



You never know where iRobotnik photos will turn up, like the ones featured in Tuesday's San Francisco Examiner here. Thanks to Vanessa for spotting them!

Since I'm out of town this week, I've got to live vicariously through you, my loyal robot army. So what's in store? Well, there's some great options. Tonight, May 13th at the Great American Music Hall The Rapture/Paradise Boys are putting on what promises to be a fun show. Then on Friday, Club Fake is going to be on fire as New York's A.R.E. Weapons bring their unique variety of sleaze, camp and electro-rock noise to the tiny venue and bring down the house. Don't miss it.

The Double-Deutsch Bus
Spotted in Carmel, CA 5.03

Here for no reason other than the fact that German buses look cool.

Was this supposed to be fore me? It appears to be something I'd appreciate.

Happy Birthday David Gahan.

NYC Robots, our favorite SF expats Memory Systems are playing a unique event TONIGHT at 11pm sharp. Its a post-modern caberet sort of thing at a very infamous venue. Get there before 10:30 as there is only capacity for 125 paid people. This will sell out.

"Maison du Chic"
Fez under Time Cafe
380 Lafayette at Great Jones
NOHO, NYC

More info here

Party robots looking for the place to be tonight should look no further than Re-Volt, a techno-electro dance party at Amnesia in SF's Mission District. See resident DJs battle it out, and get a live performance by Cybrid to boot.
Cybrid live @ Re-Volt
Club Amnesia
853 Valencia Street
(between 19th & 20th)
$5 21+ w/ID, 10pm-3am

If you downloaded the exclusive Miss Kittin mix last month, you can now download and print the official CD cover, courtesy of misskittin.net.

It's that time of year here in SF where the fun never stops! Hot on the heels of last week's festivities are two more you'll want to mark on your calendar.



First up is this Friday, May 2nd - it's an all night party with Holland's Disco Militia; Legowelt, Orgue Electronique, Bangkok Impact featuring Kassen and DJ TLR at the Bunker/Crème Tour. It's being hosted by Anna and Matt from Echolation + Trouble, and video artist extraordinaire girLie8.tv a.k.a. Stacey Van Buskirk. There's a limited number of tickets available, and presales are being gobbled up. It's sure to be a fun night so hurry - get your tickets here.

Then on Wednesday May 7th don't miss Adult., Magas and Ghost Orchids at Bottom of the Hill. Not only is it assured to be a blast, but our very own Cat (DJ and SF Fashionista) will be performing backup vocals for this limited SF-LA run. Don't miss out. If you don't already have tickets buy them at the Bottom of the Hill box office.

What a weekend! Of course I'm referring to last Friday's sold-out Fischerspooner show at the Fillmore, and its affiliated events. It drew San Francisco scenesters like moth to flame, young and old, everyone from 80's retro-robots to flamboyant fashion slaves to art-world denizens that included Jeffrey Deitch, whose Soho gallery helped launch Fischerspooner's career.

It started Thursday night pre-partying with Casey, Warren, Lizzie and the rest of the band, and DJ extraordinaire Tommie Sunshine and pretty much didn't end until Sunday night with a fantastic nightcap performance by Berlin duo Stereo Total. But enough of the commentary, check it out for yourself with incriminating evidence captured by yours truly here (be patient, the pop-up loads 2MB of photos).

SF Robots, are you all geared up for our triple threat weekend?



It all starts tonight, not with a bang, but with a pop. Popscene is hosting a special meet and greet party with Casey, Warren and the rest of the Fischerspooner crew. Get up close and mushy-gushy before the big concert.

Friday night of course is Fischerspooner’s sold out performance at the Fillmore. Faithful readers and fans of the band have been buzzing about this one for weeks, so it should be quite a spectacle. Rumor has it that there could be some serious audience participation for those who are brave enough to get close to the stage – I won’t say anymore except you bring the cherries, and I’ll bring the whipped cream. Afterward get your groove on at the Fake after party, where Tommy Sunshine will be spinning his unique brand of electro-ruckus. No word on where the after-after party is just yet, but you can bet I’ll have some incriminating images that’ll be posted here.

Sunday the 27th you’ve got two great options for your entertainment dollar: Our favorite Femme Digitals, Ladytron are back in town for part deux of their Light and Magic tour. If you didn’t catch them the first time around, now is your chance to catch them at the at Bimbo’s.



However, if you’ve already been you should steer your sights toward the equally dazzling Françoise Cactus and Brezel Göring, collectively known as Stereo Total. They’ll be flaunting their French-German/ male-female bilingualism, and knack for infectious electric pop melodies at Slim’s. Get tickets online, because they’re sure to sell out at the door.

This Sunday, April 20th be sure to tune in to XFM's the Hijack for a special DJ set from none other than Martin Gore of Depeche Mode. Martin will be spinning everything from personal all-time favourites to current inspirations. Don't miss it!

Ticket Macabre



I’m usually quite good about securing my own admission into events well in advance, but it seems that I, your humble and highly mechanized editor have found myself without a ticket to the upcoming The Faint show this Friday night in San Francisco. I’ve done the craigslist thing with no luck, so if anyone has an extra ticket (or even better, two), I’d be happy to take them off your hands – just e-mail me.

Create your own Fischerspooner Emerge video and you could win an Apple eMac with Superdrive and have your work prominently featured on IFILM.com, Fischerspooner.com and more. Details here.

Last night Friend and clothing designer Allison of Red Threds showed her latest line at Tactility, a tribute to San Francisco's leading local designers and fashion scene.



Her new lineup expanded on her signature dramatic detailing, asymmetrical hemlines, raw edges and layering with a fresh spring palette and innovative use of materials like clear vinyl layered over dressmaker's patterns. Makeup assistance was provided by Awny & Co., and the models looked fantastic. If you missed out, just click here for a slideshow of highlights (5.5MB, QuickTime required).

For your weekend listening pleasure, honorary robot and all around kewl dude from Portland, Mr. Ballistic has put his own spin on electro-love in the form of a 1 hr+ MP3 mix for the iRobotnik faithful. Featuring everything from electro-house to favorites including Kraftwerk, Mr. Zipper Fastener and more. Download all 73MB of it here.

I've uploaded the photographic evidence from last Friday's Electroclash II fest. Although not quite the spectacle of EC1, a fun time was had by all. The after party at Fake saw the usual set of friendly faces, and some new friends were made. Melissa from W.I.T. was a real sweetheart, and new DJ Charles was tearing up the tables with his own brand of electronic pulsations. Check out photos from the evening's debauchery here.

Buy my ex-car! If you're in the market for an amazing Saab, you can buy my ex-car. I'm not selling it, but the guy who I sold it two almost four years ago is on eBay. Check it out using this link.

No plans tonight? Stop by the Culture Cache gallery for a reception for the group exhibition, Robots Have Feelings Too. April 5th - May 18th 2003.

I'm not sure how this almost slipped by unnoticed, but thanks to Charles for the heads up. This Friday, April 4th W.I.T, Avenue D, My Robot Friend, Larry Tee (and possibly Mount Sims) will be performing in San Francisco at the Great American Music Hall.


Click here for details.

Dutch electro master I-F's site cybernetic-broadcasting is back online and streaming electronic 56k love. You can tune in using Winamp, iTunes or Real here.

SF robots, mark Wednesday, April 9th on your calendars for Tokyo Electric at the Hush Hush lounge. A bargain beyond comparison at only $3. More information here.

Seattle residents recently celebrated the life, death and creative resurrection of obsolete media formats with the Obsolete Media Weekend.



The festival included numerous exhibitions from artists and musicians performing on such classics as an Atari 2600, a Commodore C64 and a reverse-engineered re-programmed dot-matrix printer. Other hilights included a projected laser vector game for up to four players and one robot. More info and pictures are on Hans Reutter's site.

As reported by Mike at Burnlab, Will (official paparazzi for Ghostly International) has posted his definitive collection of Miami Winter Music Conference photos.

April 7th is the date for Client's debut single, Price of Love to be released on Andrew Fletcher's new Toast Hawaii/Mute Records. Our faithful network of robot spies have cracked the mystery of who at least one of the enigmatic members of Client are (the band have chosen to keep their identity a mystery, and referred the female duo so far as only "Client A" or "Client B").



A little detective work reveals one of the Clients is none other than ex-Dubstar vocalist Sarah Blackwood. She and Fletch apparently met when Dubstar opened for Depeche Mode on tour. Any ideas as to the identity of the other Client?

Because we all need a little silly news these days: Federal investigators arrest a Wall Street wiz on insider-trading charges who claims to be a time-traveler from the year 2256.

As Kubrick, always one to embrace enigma, said: "You are free to speculate about the philosophical and allegorical meaning of 2001.” Speculate in 70mm this Sunday, March 30th at San Francisco's Castro Theater.

Connecticut natives Jay and Paul are both devoted vintage electronics collectors, and the curators of the fantastic online Boombox Museum.



They've even got their own short-wave radio show, Pocket Calculator. Their site is thorough, and thoroughly entertaining - give it a click.

Mike from Burnlab has just posted his wrap-up from the Miami Winter Music Conference. The best picture in the bunch has to be this one.