Brvtalist Theater - “Begotten” (1990) 

Happy Halloween Week everyone! On this edition of Brvtalist Theater we are screening perhaps one of the most brvtal films ever made - E Elias Merhige’s experimental horror film, “Begotten”. With no dialogue and essentially no soundtrack (except the crickets and sound effects), Begotten shocked underground audiences upon its release and continues to do so to this day. The story is a gloriously brvtal re-telling of Genesis creationism and the film is filled with harsh images of suffering and pain. Merhige would go on to be know to mainstream audiences for his work on “Shadow of the Vampire” and “Suspect Zero” but “Begotten remains a tour de force of film making. Experimental, conceptual and horrific, “Begotten” is perhaps the perfect pick to set the tone for All Hallow’s Eve. 

-JRS

Undercover A/W 2014 - "Cold Blood"

Japanese designer Jun Takahashi’s label, Undercover, is no stranger to high concept meets high fashion. The Tokyo label began showing in Paris in the 90’s and has become synonymous with avant garde themes and looks. The A/W 2014 collection is no exception as Takahashi presents “Cold Blood”, a men’s and women’s collection that is literally layered in moods and references. On the women’s side a more decadent, romantic approach that has a feeling of royalty with a dark thirst for something more. The men’s is more pared back with some nice minimalism, mix of fabrics and Takahashi’s punk influences. I already liked what I saw from his S/S 2015 collection entitled “Pretty Hate Bird” and always look forward to more. 

For more information click here. 

-JRS

Brvtalist "Bug Out Bag"

One term that always comes up (and is debated) among survivalists is the “Bug Out Bag”. This is essentially a bag that contains enough supplies to survive for a 72-hour period in case of any sort of disaster, natural or otherwise. The bag is designed to be picked up, put on and put to use. You want something that is light enough to carry and versatile enough to withstand the elements. The contents of the bag can be debated endlessly but there are a few items that I believe are universal and essential to every bag.  It is imperative that you do your own research and evaluate your own needs, which include your local terrain, weather conditions, shelter options, etc. and determine which items are the most essential for your bag. 

I’ve enlisted the help of FEMA and Solkoa Survival Systems to help with the list. 

Food: Maintain enough nonperishable food for each person for at least 72 hours. Pro Tip: Many survivalists advocate Cliff bars. They are packed with nutrients, easy to carry and give the user a jolt of energy. 

Water: Store enough so each person has a gallon a day for 72 hours, preferably for one week. Store in airtight containers and replace it every six months. Store disinfectants such as iodine tablets or chlorine bleach, eight drops per gallon, to purify water if necessary. Pro Tip: Datrex Water Packets are a smart use of space and convenience. They take up less room and have a 5 year shelf life. 

First aid kit: Make sure it is well stocked, especially with bandages and disinfectants.

Rain Gear: Two ways to stay dry- Poncho or jacket in addition to tent or shelter. 

Fire: You need not one, but multiple ways to start a fire. Matches, lighter/firestarter, firesteel and scraper. 

Flashlights: Always with extra batteries. I like the Protac Tactical Streamlight, which has a variety of settings in a compact package. 

Cooking: A small pot to boil water. The Stainless Space Saver Cup from Survival Resources is a good option that doesn’t take up a lot of room. 

Knife: This is one of the most important items and we could go on for days on the topic. Ultimately it might be wise to carry multiple knives for multiple purposes. However, here’s a couple options survivalists can all agree on: 

Cold Steel SRK - Survival/Rescue operations demand a     versatile knife able to withstand the most extreme abuse.  The SRK® (Survival Rescue Knife) was designed specifically with this in mind. The blade is    finished with a rich Teflon® coat which helps to protect the AUS 8A Stainless steel from the elements. It  features a tremendously strong clip point that’s fine enough for delicate work, yet possesses enough belly     for efficient cutting, slashing and skinning strokes as well. At 3/16 of an inch thick, the Survival Rescue Knife® offers the sturdiest possible point and edge configuration, without sacrificing sharpness. The SRK’s® handle sports a single quillon finger guard and a deeply checkered Kraton® grip. 

KA-BAR Becker Survival Knife -   The Becker Companion by KA-BAR knives really lives up to its name: bring this bad boy along with you on your next hunting or camping trip, and you’ll be calling it your BFF in no time. Its well-balanced Grivory handle maintains your grip stability as you put this knife to work skinning wild game, slicing meat, and chopping down small trees. Like a reliable camping buddy, this knife doesn’t need a whole lot of maintenance: it’s rust-proof and needs minimal sharpening and touch-ups. Includes a custom glass-filled nylon sheath.

(Cold Steel SRK) 

Clothing: Pack extra underwear, socks even even boots if there’s room in case what you’re wearing needs a change. 

Weapon: Again, another topic worthy of endless discussion and debate. To cut to the chase, many like the Glock 19 for its versatility and resistance to torture. It’s also a great concealed carry weapon. 

Bag: Now you just need something to put everything in. There’s obviously a ton of different options here and it all depends on the user. For the purist, perhaps a more traditional military styled bag from Sandpiper of California. The Black Bug out Bag is a flagship product with over 1 million units sold. 

          For those with a more considered, sartorial approach, might I suggest the Lanvin Nylon and Leather Bag. Designed in a streamlined shape, topped with a buckle-fastening flap and reinforced with sleek leather trims, this attractively made carryall is framed by adjustable webbing straps that allow you to compress or expand it as needed. It’s an especially smart choice if you cycle or walk to work, as the slick fabrication is well-suited to withstand bad weather.

(Sandpiper Bug out Bag)

(Lanvin Nylon and Leather Bag)

Remember, these are just basic guidelines and the items listed here are only my opinions, which I have developed through extensive independent research. Every bag will probably be different and you are encouraged to take the time to conduct your own evaluations while preparing your bag. 

Good luck. 

-JRS

FILTH MIX FEATURING GODLESH, NAPALM DEATH, WHITEHOUSE, COIL, FLATS, SWANS AND MORE…

Cameron - Songs For The Witch Woman

Now on view at The Pacific Design Center, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles presents a very dark and intriguing exhibition focusing on one of L.A.’s underground occult artists. Cameron arrived in Hollywood after WWII and began working in Pasadena, where she met Jack Parsons, founder of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, noted occultist and follower of Aleister Crowley. The two would eventually marry and Cameron’s art would be forever influenced. 

This is her first solo exhibition since her passing in 1995 and the surrealist, mythical and esoteric works show how vital her role was in L.A.’s counterculture.

On view until January 11, 2015. More information at MOCA.

The Brvtalist Fall Survival Guide

Fall is here, but more importantly harsh weather conditions are approaching. With the continuing extreme patterns in climate, one must be prepared for anything and everything. We are always just one disaster away from civil unrest or full societal collapse. With that being said, it is of the utmost importance to choose your wardrobe wisely. I believe in both luxury and high performance. I’ve put together a list that will help you through the next storm or extinction level event. 

The Bellstaff Alderney Waxed Cotton Poncho is ready for anything. It has fully functioning storm flaps, a detachable hood and constructed in Italy of the finest cotton. You can always count on the Bellstaff mark of quality. Available here. 

Diesel Steel Toe Combat Boot - Rugged, raw and ready for the elements. These boots are preworn and even have a ripped toe to reveal the steel cap that might come in handy in a variety of situations. At ssense. 

Luminox Blackout Special Ops - If it’s good enough for the Navy Seals, it’s probably good enough for you. At Amazon. 

The KillSpencer Daypack is a great functional bag. It has swiss made “Aquazip” water resistant zippers, a flame retardant interior casing for your laptop and mil-spec buckles to keep everything secure. All in a beautiful black naked leather. At Killspencer. 

Alexander Plokhov Leather Holster - You always need extra storage for items that are easy to grab. This is the perfect belt. At SSENSE. 

Not only do you need protection from the sun, but your eyes also need to be guarded against any other elements that come your way. Go full protection with this exquisitely made Mykita x Bernhard Willhelm shield. At Mykita. 

The Tool Logic Firestarter is the ultimate blade. A serrated knife, high volume whistle and most importantly a firestarter function when you’re left out in the cold. Don’t leave home without it. At Tool Logic. 

Oak Funnel Neck - Layering is inevitable so give yourself some durability with full neck coverage as well. At Oak NYC. 

High quality jeans are essential and these Acne Max Coated denim gives you an added, yet subtle layer of protection. At SSENSE. 

The finishing touches are just as important and the new Alexander Wang Survival Objects hit the mark. Water bottles, key rings, flasks and more will be imperative to transporting those valuable liquids. At Alexander Wang. 

Happy Fall and good luck. 

-JRS

Dispatches from Berlin - WET Magazine at Udolpho

In 1976, a bizarre, even absurd magazine was born in Los Angeles that would improbably go on to influence an entire generation of designers, artists, filmmakers and more. The magazine was called WET and the theme was gourmet bathing. Leonard Koren was an avant garde artist who focused on bath art, that is photographing people in baths doing weird or interesting things. As a thank you to his subjects, he would throw a party at a Russian-Jewish bathhouse in LA. The idea for WET grew out of these parties and he didn’t even really know what gourmet bathing was, but just knew he wanted an absurdist magazine. He carried this ethos through all 34 issues which ran from 1976-1981. If you wanted to know how to cook fish in bath water or dress for the apocalypse, this was the magazine for you. There was a “serious” side to the magazine however, and Koren worked with countless underground artists of the time and even wound up making household names out of people like David Lynch. Koren maintained complete creative control and his art design of WET has now become a thing of legend. It was so amazingly California new wave that it can never be duplicated. Koren would go on to release a “Making of WET”, which gave some great insight into the magazine’s creation. Berlin bookstore, Udolpho, brilliantly curated a show on WET and I am lucky enough to be in the city during its limited run. I visited the small gallery space near the Tiergarten district and was blown away by all the various issues on display. They are even better in person and I loved all of the local ads of the time too. A true time capsule of art and design and I wish I owned every issue. Will see you on the internet trying to find some to buy! -JRS

[ALONE] An Existential Haunting

The dredges of summer are finally coming to a close and that can only mean one thing: Halloween season is upon us. This is a favorite time of year because there are so many traditions and rituals that are associated with the thirty first day of October. However, last year in Los Angeles, a new ritual was born and it has returned to haunt us yet again.

The Alone Experience is a fully immersive, large scale haunting that takes participants through multiple rooms (and levels) in a haunted house-like format, the likes of which you have never seen. As the name suggests, those who are brave enough, walk through completely alone and encounter all sorts of obstacles, ghouls, freaks, weirdos and sounds along the way. You never quite know what to expect and you don’t even really know where you’re going, so the disorientation makes it incredibly scary. I had the privilege of going through last year and was blown away. The venue was an industrial basement of sorts on the edge of downtown LA and the production value was amazing. Fully customized rooms, costumes and props meet you every step of the way. This is not a quick run through and the organizers pay close attention the detail and expect to even be manhandled and pushed around a little bit too (you sign a waiver of course).

This year’s experience is even bigger and better. The location has changed but we can expect a similar venue somewhere downtown (they let you know when you get your tickets), and the second incarnation will only be building upon the success of the first. To get us even more excited, the opening ritual will take place on October 17th with punk legend Lydia Lunch performing, along with Squeaky Blonde and other acts as well. I was legitimately frightened at times last year and I can’t wait to go back! Tickets are on sale now so get them while you can. I love October.

-JRS

For tickets and more information visit the Alone website here.