A Refugee

I am very excited about this!

Kickstarter.com is a fund raising website. People put up their projects and in return for funds they give rewards to people.

You can view my project page for A.Refuge and hopefully, you see a reward you like and want to support my dream.

Even if you can’t afford to send anything you can repost the URL for the project to your twitter/facebook/myspace/blog/etc.

That would help make this a success in so many ways.

Thank you!

I am looking for a young, up and coming fashion designer.

I want some custom shirts, jackets, vest, and hats made.  Mainly military influenced.

The vest would be more of a down feather vest. I want some special pockets made for it to house a camera lens or two.

The key is to integrate the A.Refuge logos and branding into all the designs.  A.Refuge themed pieces that support the idea that I am leading a revolution.

I think of myself as a general in this war on the forces that crush innovation and dreams.  I really want to look the part.

I am completely broke at this point in my life.  However, I am more than willing to barter photographic services or to trade advertising as well as feature the designer(s) that help me.

If things work out I would love to make the pieces available for sale on my site www.aRefuge.com All profits from sales would be split three ways between the designer, aRefuge.com, and a charity.

If you are a fashion designer or if you know of a fashion designer please get into contact with me.  Let’s collaborate!

=)

gary[at]garylivingston.com

————–Here is some inspiration————–

The A.Refuge logos/branding would be these designs by Zack Custer

Zack Custer designs

Zack Custer design

Steve Sneer bringin it ©2009 Gary Livingston

This was my first time seeing the band in a real venue.  The last time I caught them they played a set on the floor of a cafe in Santa Barbara.  The show was pretty intense due to the band being mixed among the crowd.  I was kind of nervous about how the antics of singer Steve Sneer would translate from that environment to the stage of the Echoplex.  Would it feel as wild and chaotic? Well, I certainly got my answer.

These Arms Are Snakes at The Echoplex in Los Angeles ©2009 Gary Livingston

Steve Sneer is King Maniac of a group of artists that all know how to let loose in front concert goers.  He completely went wild and there was no object within 20 feet of him that he was not determined to show his domination over.  From lighting setups to barricades to folding event tables.  Guitarist Ryan Frederiksen’s back was even the object of conquest at one point in the show. The man brought the chaos and sold the anxious energy of his band’s songs through his interpretive dance.

He attempted a few times to tell jokes inbetween songs too.  Unfortunately, the mic and overall noise of the venue made it really hard to understand what he was saying.  I have a feeling more people than me were having the same issue.  Instead of laughs there was more of a “what is this mad man saying?” awkward perplexity throughout the crowd.  I do suspect the jokes were funny though. The few people I noticed that heard did laugh.

Ryan Frederiksen © 2009 Gary Livingston

The rest of the band were not as wild but, each of them were no less deserving of one’s focus.  They each played with intensity and it was fun to watch them all build off the energy of one another as the night went on.  TAAS is a really tight band and they do a great job at recreating the sound from their albums and bringing it to the stage.

Brian Cook ©2009 Gary Livingston

Brian Cook does a great job building up the texture and power of the songs, jumping from bass to guitar to korg.  Chris Common makes use of every bit of his drum kit and drives the band forward with ferocity.  Ryan Frederiksen completes the picture on guitar, shifting from moments of wistfulness to all out sonic assaults.

Chris Common © 2009 Gary Livingston

Be sure to check out These Arms Are Snakes

These Arms Are Snakes at the Echoplex in Los Angeles ©2009 Gary Livingston

Enjoy the photos.

I'm ready for the playoffs if we make it. ©2009 Gary Livingston

For the first time since 2002 the Kings could be playing in the playoffs.  This is the first time for many of our current players to actually have something to fight for during the final 25 or so games.

It is really exciting to be a fan.  The Kings are currently the youngest team in the NHL.  They have a lot of inexperienced players and no one expected much from any of them in terms of rising to the challenge in this first season of Kings being a truly new team compared to its past versions.  It is a lot of fun to watch young kids develop into true NHL players and come together to represent our city.

The Kings were also the worst team in the NHL last season and not much better the seasons before that.  They have seriously turned all their shortcomings around.  In many areas they were last in the NHL last season they are in the top 10.  It is great to have hope and be able to see the beginning of things to come for this organization and hockey in Los Angeles.  No one expected them to even be a contender for a playoff spot.   Yet, here we are.  Four points behind the 7th and  8th place teams and plenty  of time to disrupt things and take a spot away from one of them.

With the win over the Minnesota Wild tonight there is a lot to be hopeful about.  Keep an eye on the team.  Show your support. The team needs to know they are not just fighting for their pride but, the pride of LA.

I’ll do my best to make it out to some practices as soon as the team gets back from their road trip.

Be sure to jump over to Rich Hammond’s  LA KINGS blog: http://www.insidesocal.com/kings/

He does a wonderful job exposing the players as people and providing something more intimate to cheer for.

Keep www.atdhe.net bookmarked too in case a road game is not televised.  Most games are streamed there =)

The second night of Far was much like the first. The main difference was I got to spend it with two great friends that are big Far fans too. I met up with Dave Levine and Andy Ellsworth right as the first band was getting off the stage.

I forget their name but, what little I saw was pretty awesome. They were kids and maybe 17 at the oldest. They put on a wonderful show and had great interaction with the crowd. One of my favorite parts of the night was watching them scurry through the Troubadour holding their ears during Bangkok Five’s set, watching Far with HUGE smiles, and observing other people.

Far’s set changed a little bit. I wish I had photographed the set lists from each concert. I’m a little rusty and it totally slipped my mind. It felt like there were more songs from “Tin Cans With Strings to You” than the first night. I started out in the mosh pit and had to fight my way out. I never thought it would be so intense. I’ve been to metal shows plenty but, it was pretty crazy to say the least. I think I had a 200lb guy on my shoulders singing into Jonah’s face at one point haha.

The Troubadour show felt a little bit more energetic than the Glass House. That is more of an incredible feat than a dig about the first night lacking energy. Maybe it was because the Troubadour is smaller and was a lot more dense with people. In any case, it was amazing. A lot harder to photograph though. I was just as stuck in my position to photograph the concert but, no afforded a nice spot to do so like at the Glass House. I think the images came out alright non the less and I did get to play with my smaller lens a little bit.

It was a joy to watch these guys together. I dunno what happened or if there ever was any bit of animosity when the band decided to break up. It really doesn’t seem that there was. The guys all seem to be having a wonderful time on stage together and very excited to be playing to their fans again. There is not a lot of things more inspiring to me than watching people do what they love and know their heart is in it. If these first two shows are a preview of things to come I have no doubt Far will be back for long enough to create a new album and tour the states.

Now if only Sunny Day Real Estate and Underwood could follow this trend…

If you do not own a FAR CD be sure to check out “Water And Solutions.” It has influenced countless bands since its release that range from Thursday to Deftones to well probably your favorite band.