The Particle Project

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Valley of the Dolls

It is hard to believe that Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann was published in 1966, because Anne, Neely and Jennifer's personas are still very much alive and relevant today.  The pop-culture classic novel has been called, "One of the sexiest novels ever written," by Earl Wilson and was made into a feature film in 1967 starring Patty Duke, Barbara Parkins and the late Sharon Tate.  

Anne Welles moves from her small hometown of Lawrenceville to New York seeking the excitement of city life.  She meets her closest friends, Neely and Jennifer, shortly after her move, and the book follows the three girls' life through their 20's and into their 30's.  Anne is pure class, with stunning girl-next-door features, Neely is a rising star who's used show business as an outlet to escape her hard-knocked childhood, and Jennifer has the looks of a swim-suit model, but objectification and a money-hungry mother make her believe her only value is her appearance.  All three women ride through the highs and lows of the elite world, each experiencing bouts of fame, fortune and failure. Through tragic events each girls' fatal flaws begin to shape their lives.  The "high" life of the city and Hollywood turn the girls on to "dolls," pills for sleeping, staying awake or dieting.  Their independently glamorous adventures soon turn hazed and uncontrollable as each one realizes having it all is just an illusion.   

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Start your Friday Night out right!

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Coachella: Two Successful Weekends of Chaos

As many of you may already know, this is the first year that Coachella has been extended over two weekends. That means a six whole days of pure chaotic bliss. With headliners including The Black Keys, Radiohead, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, and performances from Pulp, Refused and M83, nothing could stop music fans of all kinds from rocking out to their favorite live music. If the already long lineup of popular performers wasn’t enough, fans went bananas when surprise guests such as Rihanna, Usher and Tupac took the stage.

And although this was definitely a music festival that will go down in the books, don’t worry if you weren’t able to attend, here’s the lowdown…

The Refused, a Swedish punk-rock band made an amazing comeback at Coachella this year after the band took a fourteen-year break. The band broke-up in 1998 after the release of their last album The Shape of Punk to Come, but were able to make a relevant revival through their performance. There was some controversy surrounding the band, however, when their lead vocalist Dennis Lyxzen made anti-capitalist remarks between tracks. We like to think his heart tugging gratitude to the audience for making the reunion possible overpowered the untimely political remarks!

Photo credit: Dennis Blomberg

After a seven-year absence from the Coachella stage, M83 set the mood with flashy blue lights and an outstanding performance that left an overflowing tent full of fans begging for more. The French synthetic-pop group is known for their vibrant dance beats and their mega hit “Midnight City,” which has been featured in Victoria’s Secret commercials.

Photo credit: http://westboundndown.com/coachella-2012-m83

Even though Swedish House Mafia wasn’t a headlining band, many can agree that their performance was one of the best and most talked about from the entire festival. Swedish House Mafia set their audience into a trance with their electrifying beats, punctuated by their insane light show, leaving their fans no choice but to jump up and down to the rhythm of the beat.

Photo credit: Daniella Ciacciarelli

Saturday night could not come soon enough for Radiohead fans who enjoyed a two-hour set featuring about twenty songs from the headlining band. If you ask fans they will tell you Radiohead’s performance was well worth the wait because they put on an amazing show, which was a nice break from the electronic/dance trend that many bands seemed to follow this year. Radiohead succeeded staying true to their fan base and reminded everyone that they can put on a great show without flashy lights and guest performers.

Photo Credit: FilmMagic

Although Tupac’s hologram captured most of the media’s attention, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg put on an incredible performance for fans, diversifying the big name performers that mainly came from the rock and house genres. The duo commanded the attention of the crowd, who continued to bob their heads to old classics like “Gin and Juice,” “Still D.R.E.” and “Nuthin But a ‘G’ Thang.”

Photo credit: FilmMagic

If we were to name all of the amazing performances that Coachella had to offer this year, this blog could go on forever. So we will leave you here after two incredible weekends in the desert. See you next year Coachella!

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Tupac Performs at Coachella

For those of you who couldn’t attend Coachella this year, we’re sure you’ve heard the buzz surrounding the unexpected performances, mainly, the performance from deceased rapper Tupac. Tupac’s hologram stole the show with a shockingly lifelike image that left more than 100,000 fans in awe.

So will we be seeing more of Tupac? Dr. Dre, a friend of the late rapper, released a statement revealing that this hologram was created solely for Coachella, and that they have no intentions of bringing Tupac back on the road.

Regardless of their decision, this performance created a revolution in the industry, and has swirled rumors that other deceased legends, such as Michael Jackson, will be taking the stage on virtual tours. This technological trend could bring a whole new meaning to the philosophy of life after death.

Photo credit: Jonathan Fincher

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Sundance!

Having a ball at Sundance this weekend! Lots of love and creativity is flowing here.

At Bing with People Water. Hydrating for a cause!

Tao

Happy birthday to this one. Thank you to the Mastersons. So much love.

Story of my life.

Party at the Downstairs. Time to celebrate!

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She Went 90

Our dear friend and very talented stylist, Tara Nichols, started a new blog with Jessie Cain recently, and we are obsessed. Check it out: She Went 90

Also check out Mimi Chica. It will brighten your day!

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Almost Acoustic Christmas After Party

Last night was so much fun! With some help from Red Bull, Particle hosted a little shindig at Hemingways for the bands that performed on night 2 of Kroq's Almost Acoustic Christmas. Guests included Florence + The Machine, Mumford and Sons, The Naked and Famous, Grouplove, and Cage the Elephant. Glassnote Records came by as well, and we had a little birthday celebration for Daniel Glass. Yes, it was a good night. Here's some of our favorite photos, but you can see all of them here, at Rony's Photobooth. Happy Holidays!

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Pacific Standard Time

This is an incredible initiative by the Getty. It makes us happy to be west-coasters.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQKiWqiHi9Q[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRWatw_ZEQI[/youtube]

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Vice Magazine Party

Had a fabulous time at the Vice party at the Chateau Marmont on Wednesday, with my dear friend Katie Parfet. Click here for more pictures of the event.

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KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas

This weekend is KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas, and we are beyond excited! Night 2's line-up is going to be amazing. We're especially pumped for Florence + The Machine, as this will be her first performance in LA since the release of her new album, Ceremonials. We love that fiery red head, and it's such a treat to see her live! The Black Keys have also just released their highly anticipated new album, El Camino, and it does not disappoint. They will surely rock it on Sunday, as they always do. These songs have already become a staple on our playlist:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGH-4jQZRcc[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_426RiwST8[/youtube]

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AllSaints Spitalfields and The Not For Sale Campaign

One of our most loved fashion brands, AllSaints Spitalfields, has partnered with The Not For Sale Campaign, to bring an end to forced labor. AllSaints has designed and launched a Not For Sale capsule T-Shirt collection, with proceeds benefiting Not For Sale's global work to end human trafficking.

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The Particle Project  and AllSaints celebrated the launch of their new T-Shirt line in Los Angeles, following the MTV Music Video Awards. AllSaints hosted a star-studded after party at Harvard & Stone in Hollywood, where the new Not For Sale T-Shirts were on display. The music was exceptional, with DJ sets by Patrick Carney of The Black Keys, Foster the People, and DJ Skeet Skeet. Red Bull provided a complementary bar with beverages to keep the energy high. Click here for photos.

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Particle and TOMS at the Summer Festivals

This Summer, TOMS enlisted Particle to help get the word out about their new Eyewear, so we did it in true Particle fashion. Particle and TOMS attended Lollapalooza, Outside Lands, FYF Fest, and Austin City Limits to share the new TOMS "One for One" initiative with our friends in the music industry. Of course they were all on board and loving it! Here are some of our favorite photos of our new TOMS Eyewear supporters. You can see the full photo album here.

In related news, TOMS Founder Blake Mycoskie has also recently published a new book, titled "Start Something That Matters". To order a copy, or to learn more about Blake's novel, click here.

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TOMS Next Chapter - The Reveal

Congratulations to Blake Mycoskie and the TOMS family on your new endeavor! TOMS started with a simple concept: One for One. For every pair of TOMS shoes purchased, TOMS provides shoes for a child in need. This week, TOMS revealed a new chapter in their One for One campaign: Eyewear. Just as with their shoes, if you purchase TOMS eyewear, you are helping to bring the gift of sight to a person in need. What a beautiful thing!

TOMS Eyewear is charitable AND fashionable, and so of course we love it! You can order your new TOMS shades here.

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Favela on Blast

Mad Decent & Mosquito Project Present…

FAVELA ON BLAST

NYC Premier August 4th 2009 Tribeca Cinemas as part of the Brazilian Film Festival

Presented in 35 cities so far, plus another year to circulate the globe, the music documentary, “Favela on Blast” has been on a worldwide tour, exposing national and international audiences to the Rio de Janeiro phenomena of “funk carioca” . The musical word “Funk” resonates many different meanings and interpretations across the world, but in Rio de Janeiro, funk is the face of the city. Funk is a type of dance music out of Rio, and it is also referred to as funk Carioca (Rio funk); it is a lifestyle and a culture, which for the past 20 years has defined the music of the Rio favelas. Recycling the music of the United States, “funk carioca” is a byproduct of the Brasilian (Rio) ghetto, to which everyone can be cultuarally connected. “The first thing kids learn in the favela is funk culture” This is a straightforward, humorous, unapologetic film, which depicts Rio’s, “funk” music, (also interpreted as “baile funk”) as the most natural outlet and creative response to life in the favela, by the people of the favelas. This documentary could have easily had turned into a typical “issues” film , but that is not the case at all. It isn’t that the antagonizing degradation of the favela life and social strains of these people are ignored, but the film organically shows that there is more to life in the favela, besides struggle and strife. Rather, the filmmakers, Leandro Hbl and Wesley Pentz (Diplo), find a genuine, natural balance to these elements and stay true to their vision of exposing a musical and cultural as something that is “cool” and exciting. “Favela on Blast” not only educates audiences about the history of funk carioca, how in the past twenty years this genre of music has blossomed from its Miami Bass derivative; but it highlights the numerous funk artists telling their own personal relationship to funk and what it means to them, and how it is shaping their future. The stories of seasoned DJs , as well as emerging artists on Rio’s funk scene are featured such as: MC Deise Tigrona, Mr. Catra, Mc Duda Do Borell, Mc Colibri, Mcs Gorila and Preto and Dj Sany Pitbull plus, many more. This documentary teaches about a sound that has been created in a city of violence and oppression. Funk carioca produces a livelihood for the musicians of this movement. The filmmakers show how these funk sounds unite the people and children of the Rio favela communities who breathe and live by the beats. The music is vulgar, fast, magnetic and provocative, which to some audiences, may be disconcerting or misinterpreted. But “Favela on Blast” defends the notion that it is not violence comes from baile funk. Baile funk is an outlet from the violence of the socially marginalized. These musicians, mothers, fathers, young women and men, and children are unapologetic, and proud of the music that comes from their home. “Favela on Blast” epitomizes how, without even realizing it, the people of the Rio favelas have reinvented a sound that is crossing boundaries and borders , that has put Rio on the map, and has created a movement that will not fade away.

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Married to the Mob Exclusive

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Getting to know Nyle at S.O.B's

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Santos:Battle for the Crown