One week of the year, San Diego is host to one of the largest gatherings of its kind, Comic-Con International. Comic-Con is host to a myriad of exhibitors and professionals attracting enthusiasts of comic books, film, television, video games, anime and science fiction.
It’s no surprise Disney once again earned the spotlight this year, kicking things off with a press conference for the much anticipated film Tron: Legacy. Scored by mysterious electronic duo, Daft Punk, it will undoubtedly be the highlight of the coming holiday season.
Outside the conference, Tron fans scoured all over downtown San Diego as part of a Tron Legacy scavenger hunt via Twitter. Participants were provided with instructions and coordinates for each "mission," culminating in a rendezvous at the “End of Line Club” at Flynn’s Arcade.
Named after the arcade from the original film, Flynn’s is a unique installation created exclusively for Comic-Con weekend for fans and other members of the Tron world to converge. Inside, one can find a fully functioning video arcade with classics like Galaga and Asteroid, memorabilia from the original film and an incredible “space-station” environment populated with citizens from the Tron world.
KSCR’s own DJ Ahmar aka VFN had a chance to visit Comic-Con 2010 and enter the world of Tron at Flynn’s arcade. (Fun fact for Daft fans: Inside, we spotted Mr. Michel Gondry, director of the memorable video for “Around the World”)
Click Here to view the photos through Flickr. Photos taken the weekend of July 22-25 during Comic-Con 2010 in San Diego, California.
Big thanks to Walt Disney Pictures, Comic-Con International, KCRW and Myspace.
"The View From Nowhere" is a weekly show airing on KSCR Radio in Los Angeles
Honestly, were they unable to see that Noah Lennox, (AKA: Panda Bear) clearly does not possess any estrogen? Perhaps the captioner lacked his sense of sight, and had to rely upon his sense of hearing to communicate to those with the former and without the latter.
All joking aside, though, Animal Collective’s appearance on national television not only makes great strides in the world of independent music, but for the band themselves.
Strawberry Jam, the title of New York City-based band Animal Collective’s newest release, seems somewhat of a contradiction, for the sugary-sweet artificiality conjured up by the album’s name clashes horribly against characteristics of the group’s previous releases. Known for its revolutionary delves into uncharted areas of electronic psych-rock, Animal Collective—which consists of members David Portner, Noah Lennox, Josh Dibb, and Brian Weitz operating under the clever monikers of Avey Tare, Panda Bear, Deakin, and Geologist, respectively—push, often, into unsettling, confusing territory; sugar-coated and generic it is not.
However, despite the inherent contrasts which arise through the album’s name, Strawberry Jam, upon first listen, seems more of a delightfully fitting name than misguided misnomer. In fact, the album emerges as a collection of songs as accessible and easy to love as, well, strawberry jam.
Blending together their traditional high-register harmonies with intensely developed and intricately executed electronic instrumentation, Animal Collective seems to abandon their previous musical style—vaguely ethnic songs strongly influenced by experimental folk structures—on Strawberry Jam. The result emerges as an oddly fantastic one. Unexpectedly, the characters of Animal Collective jump from upbeat trip-pop—seen on track such as “Peacebone� and “Chores�—to mellow, reflective numbers, such as “Fireworks� at the drop of a hat. These constant shifts, however, work together perfectly, with each track building off their predecessor.
Performing on Conan may have been a public jumping point for Animal Collective, but Strawberry Jam should be seen as their long-deserved bridge between a discriminating audience and those who appreciate well-crafted music. So, pull out that white bread and peanut butter, and spread a liberal amount of Strawberry Jam onto your next afternoon snack.
Watch Animal Collective's national television debut 
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