Here at ‘The Gig, we are having a bit of a Spring Fling, as NYC transitions from one cold, wet season to a different but almost equally cold, wet season! Why is spring in this part of the country so freaking cold? I am already over it, as the kids say! As I do whatever I can to keep the fantasy of warmer weather alive in my head, please enjoy this week’s Pink Thing: a sculpture of Winnie The Pooh’s best pal of Piglet made entirely of beautiful pink floral blooms! I took this photo at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida one hot summer longer ago than I can remember.
As Bill Hader’s beloved SNL character, nightlife expert Stefon would say, “This Week’s Video Clip has Everything!” Porn Stars and Industrial Music Legends covering what is inarguably among the most iconic songs of the Disco Era is what you get when PIG (aka Raymond Watts) and Sasha Grey deliver their grind-worthy rendition of KC and the Sunshine Band’s “That’s The Way (I Like It).” Babe, oh babe, this clip is all kinds of dark, campy fun.
Directed by Gabriel Edvy, the sensually-charged black & white video is a dark disco romp, shot intimately and playfully with disco balls, light BDSM and sweat. Watts offers that, “The idea behind the video was how to bring a darker, more sinister overtone and texture to what seems to be an initially ‘upbeat’ song.” The foreboding nature of the video is is pervasive, despite the bright, shiny disco elements in the video. Watts continues, “Although we use some imagery that suggests a good time is being had . . . all is maybe not as it seems, possibly a reflection on the current situation we see when looking around at what is happening today in the world.” Well said.
“That’s The Way (I Like It)” is available for your listening pleasure via Metropolis Records, and PIG is on tour in the US right now. Tour dates are below. Enjoy!
PIG TOUR DATES
** – Opening for Killing Joke
09/02 – Portland, OR @ Star Theater **
09/04 – San Francisco, CA @ DNA Lounge **
09/05 – Los Angeles, CA @ Regent Theater **
09/07 – Denver, CO @ Oriental Theater **
09/08 – Merriam KS @ Aftershock
09/09 – Columbus, OH @ Skully’s Music Diner **
09/10 – Baltimore, MD @ Soundstage **
09/11 – Boston, MA @ The Paradise **
09/12 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza **
09/13 – Richmond, VA @ Fallout
09/14 – Louisville, KY @ Trixie’s Entertainment Center
09/15 – St. Louis, MO @ FuBar
09/16 – Tulsa, OK @ The Vanguard
09/17 – Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater **
09/18 – Austin, TX @ The Mohawk **
09/19 – Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live **
09/21 – Tampa, FL @ The Orpheum
09/22 – Spartanburg, SC @ Ground Zero
09/23 – Philadelphia, PA @ PhilaMoca
09/24 – New York, NY @ Bowery Electric
09/26 – Lancaster, PA @ Chameleon Club
09/27 – Teaneck, NJ @ Debonair Music Hall
09/28 – Detroit, MI @ Smalls
09/29 – Toronto, ON @ TBA
09/30 – Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
10/03 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
10/04 – Las Vegas, NV @ Beauty Bar
10/05 – Los Angeles, CA @ Union Nightclub
10/06 – Tustin, CA @ Mary’s on Newport
Raymond Watts of PIG with Portraits of Sasha Grey (Photo credit: Mattia Venni and Susannah Doyle; Created By Vlad McNeally)
This week’s Pink Thing, a Pink Pig in a Red Tutu with a Silver Cowboy Hat (who may or may not be related to This Guy) was spotted in a Brother Jimmy’s BBQ Restaurant on the corner of 8th Avenue and 33rd Street in Manhattan. You can see that the pig is adorned with tiny Christmas lights, which the restaurant probably turns on once night falls and the joint gets to jumping, as they say.
This Pink Old School Alarm Clock could also serve as a Bacon Thing of the Day, not only because it has a happy hog on its face, but because I snapped this photo at the Great Big Bacon Picnic, which I attended over the summer.
You are probably not surprised to hear me admit that my friends are always sending me photos of pink things, from every walk of life imaginable, to include in a Pink Thing of The Day post. This kind gesture is always inspiring, and it is very much appreciated that they think of me when they see a Pink Thing. But very often, that same thing has already been on the blog. And in other cases, I politely decline to write a post bout that pink thing, because I like to feature Pink Things which I actually see and photograph while I am out having an ass-kicking life. I feel that this keeps the blog more ‘authentic.’
But then Jamie mentioned to me that she owned Pink Pig Watering Can, so I just had to see it. I am sure you will agree that it is very deserving of the title of Pink Thing of The Day!
I had to stop and do a re-take when I spotted this little piggy — with wings, even! — on the wall in the stairwell to the downtown 4 or 5 Train at Lexington Avenue and 86th Street. You just never know what you’ll find in the Subway!
This Little Piggy is part of a set of Animal Nesting Dolls that I spotted in a cool gift store, somewhere in Los Angeles, when I was out there for the Holidays.
I was riding the M3 Bus uptown on Bowery coming home from Chinatown and I noticed a man, walking with his girlfriend, who was also carrying a very large, stuffed Pink Pig.
When the bus stopped at a light around 5th Street, the man suddenly put the pig on his head, balanced it perfectly, and his girlfriend took a photo. I also took a photo, or three. Because, NYC.
The light changed and the bus started moving again. The couple and their large stuffed pig continued on their way, as did I.
On Sunday, May 17th I attended the first annual Great Big Bacon Picnic, held out at the old Pfizer building in Williamsburg, where I ate Bacon until I wished to seen no more Bacon. It was a crazy fun time! My full report of the event complete with tons of pictures, is up now at Skulls and Bacon Dot Com. Please check it out and feel free to re-post and tweet the link to all of your Bacon Loving Friends!
This large Flying Pig measures 32 inches from tail to snout. Made from durable ripstop nylon (the same material used for sailing) so it is weather resistant. Whilst not a toy – safety eyes are used and the windsock comes complete with a fishing snap swivel to connect to a suitable pole or line, now you really can see a pig fly!
