mykle systems labs

Finally I can say I made some robots!

I have always been fascinated by noisemaking devices, and for years I’ve been hoarding unwanted speakers, amplifiers and tape decks in my garage. Lately I’m in a closet-cleaning mood, so I conceived an art project around the idea of pushing these beautiful old machines out into the world.
Read the rest of this entry »

Freezing Greetings from the 2011 Art Shanty Projects!

This is the first moment I’ve had in six days to pause and document stuff since I landed at MSP last Tuesday and dived immediately to work on our contribution to this biannual festival of art, architecture and strange behavior on frozen Medicine Lake in Plymouth, MN.

Despite all our long-distance planning we got a severely late start on the actual construction of our shanty. By the time I arrived Brady had organized a workspace, tools, materials and a lovely recycled platform donated by members of the 2010 Vista Shanty team. The two of us worked around the clock for three days straight, and with the aid of some very helpful volunteers our Audio Adventure Shanty just barely squeaked in under the official Friday night deadline for installation on the lake.
Read the rest of this entry »

In two days I fly off to my home town of Minneapolis, Minnesota for ten days of bone-chilling, back-breaking, ear-warming good times with my pals Brady Clark and Kelly Peach. Together we are making a piece for the Art Shanty Projects, a recurring winter arts fest on Medicine Lake that I’ve been wanting to see for years.
Read the rest of this entry »

Come visit our living room for a relaxed evening of stories and songs from writers who musician, hosted by Mike Daily, Portland’s maddest word-scientist.

“Itinerant accordionist Franz Nicolay (of The Hold Steady, Guignol, World/Inferno Friendship Society, and others) will read selections from his upcoming story collection COMPLICATED GARDENING TECHNIQUES. Ivories may also be tinkled.  (Excepted on his website — scroll down for it.)

In support of Franz, trashcan-drummer Mykle Hansen (of such bands as The Golden Greats and The Bad Mintons) will read selections from his in-process story collection HOORAY FOR DEATH. Strings may also be strummed.

We will also feed you hors d’ovres, beverages, and whatever else you bring to share. And we’ll get you home before bedtime.”

I am personally tickled to be asked, since I know Franz to be a powerhouse of performance.  You already know way too much about me, so here’s more about Franz.

Mr. Nicolay is the mustachioed champion known for his work in acts such as The Hold Steady, World/Inferno Friendship Society, and Guignol.  In the winter of 2010, he will share his first work of short stories and various observations.  With its old-world outlook, Complicated Gardening Techniques is a work of Twainsian vision.  3 zines will be released over 2010, leading up to a full novel of Mr. Nicolay’s work.

Note that JSP is sold out of the first ‘zine in the series, so this will be your VERY ONLY CHANCE EVER to get a copy.

Also, this may be the only time in 2010 that you’ll spot me behind a guitar.

OFFICIAL DEETS:

Date: Thursday April 8th

Location:  5536 NE 27th Ave

Time: 6-9pm

To bring: Your Own Beverage, and something to share.

Arrrgh!  Sorry, sorry, sorry … again it’s happened that we must postpone this shot.  Sarah Palin can’t make it; something about a bowhunting appointment.  And I personally am caught with my pants down because I just got back in town.  For all of you who were able & planning to make it, please accept my apologies.

But it’s springtime, and opportunities abound!  We will do this, and soon.  Watch this space!

-mykle-

P.S.  Mrs. Palin asks that if you have a red power suit to lend, or a straight-haired red wig, or a large gage shotgun or a stars-and-stripes two piece bikini, please get in touch.

Attention volunteers, weirdos and northern soaks!

Believe it or not, folks, but Snazzy Portland is still in production.  Like a grizzly bear, it takes long naps and wakes up HUNGRY!

We are now planning our third group-shot for the video, set in scenic ALASKA!  We’re very tentatively planning this shoot for SUNDAY MARCH 7.  (At this juncture it’s hard to be sure about the weather, so we will re-confirm or reschedule later this week.)

For this shot, we need extras who resemble typical inhabitants of Alaska, such as:

LUMBERJACKS! (flannel, suspenders, boots, cap, axe, etc.)
FISHERMEN! (rubber rain gear, beards, pipes, fish, etc.)
BEARS! (believe it or not, i already have a bear costume.  want to wear it?)
other WOODLAND CREATURES (moose, crab, hockey player, etc.)
SARAH PALIN!  (stars-n-stripes bikini, shotgun, square framed glasses, etc.)

.. or any other ALASKAN you can think of.  What do Alaskans look like, anyway?  Your guess is as good as mine.  (If you’ve been there, your guess is better!)

As before, I humbly ask that if you are able to show up dressed like this, or if you own any of these prop/costume items and would lend them for the shoot, please get in touch with me so I can coordinate the madness!

Thanks for all you do!
-mykle-

Crap!  Sorry folks, we have a hospitalized cat on our hands.  I have to reschedule this for Wednesday morning, one day later than planned.

Same time, same place, different day.  Sorry to jerk you around, but it’s literally a life or death matter.  (I hope if you couldn’t make it before, you can now.)

So: WEDNESDAY, Feb 10, 2010, 10:00am is the shoot, and the location will be:

VOODOO TOO, the east-side sattelite of Voodoo Donuts!  At 1501 NE Davis St.  (NOT the one downtown!)

-mykle-

Whee!  We just had a great organizational meeting, and the weatherman says we’re ON for tomorrow morning’s shoot for SNAZZY PORTLAND!  Again I beg your wacky assistance: please come if you can.  Fun times are assured!

The shoot starts at 10am on Sunday January 10th — tomorrow morning, as I write this.  We will be shooting by the Japanese Memorial Sculpture on the West Side Esplanade, next to the Steel Bridge.  Here’s a map link:

http://bit.ly/snazzyshoot1

We need a variety of costume items in order to create the illusion of Venice Beach, which will then dissolve into the reality of Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

If you just want to be part of the pack of smiling Portland bicyclists in this shot, simply come as yourself and bring your bicycle.  So easy!

BUT, if you’re willing to be a Californian-Portlander transformer in this shot, please bring AT LEAST these things:

– dark glasses
– cell phone (does not have to work)
– beachwear, lawyerwear or moviestarwear
– proper Portland rain attire, especially a coat and hat, to fit over your other attire.
– your bicycle

In addition, it would be helpful if you wore or lent us

– a blonde wig
– a bikini
– zinc sunblock
– sweat bands and/or leggings
– a small dog in a beach outfit
– a brightly colored jogging suit
– a ponytail
– iguana boots
– board shorts
– flip flops
– spandex in any color, but the brighter the better
– a surfboard
– a skateboard or inline skates (please know how to use)
– any other obviously Californian items you have.

If you have extra of any of the above, we’d love to borrow it for this shot.

Also: please bring enough layers, books, whiskey, etc. that you will be comfortable waiting around outdoors between takes.  There will be hot coffee and snacks.  There will be mirth and hijinks.  There will not be cocaine or groupies, but I’m still looking forward to a good Hollywood-style video-making time.

Thank you a million, billion times over!

-mykle-

Okay, it’s on!  This weekend we begin shooting the WORLD’S MOST AWESOMEST MUSIC VIDEO!  Please come be a part of the weirdness that is SNAZZY PORTLAND! 

This weekend’s shooting schedule:
Read the rest of this entry »

Hello 2010, and hello to everybody who’s expressed interest in helping make the Snazzy Portland video.  If you are reading this and you’re still interested, please reply with these three important pieces of info: Read the rest of this entry »