Reports are trickling in from TasteTV.com on the first ever New Media Tastemakers Summit which was held on May 2nd at Supperclub, San Francisco.

Photo of Tastemakers Congregating, Making Taste by Alicia Lin via TasteTV.com

TasteTV.com sends the enthusiastic report:

Not only were the panels great, the networking was as well. Plus, we came away with some incredible insights and buzz words, like Donna Boyer of Danoo introducing the concept of “micro-boredom” to help explain the acceptance of digital video networks at gas stations, cafes, restaurants and mobile devices (we can’t stand being bored for even 10 seconds). Also, Sylvie Gayot of Gayot.com’s insightful comment that the ‘United States was not really known as a food and wine paradise until only 20 years ago,’ helping to explain our current newfound obsession with the subject. This followed by the lively “Bottom Line” discussion on making money and raising money - a topic none of us can afford to overlook.

The tastemakers who congregated to make taste included:

Burst Media - Kelsey Scott, Chow.com - Davina Baum, Bhootan - Kristin Hawley Dossetti, LA.com - R Jason Middleton, Foodbuzz.com - Doug Collister, Like.com - Azhar Khan, Stylehive.com - Sabrina Yeung, Boulevards City Guide Network / SFStation.com - Harlow F. Newton III, Boorah.com - Boorah.com, Turnhere - Andrew Kaplan, Youtube - Sadia Harper, Gayot.com - Sophie Gayot, Sugar Publishing (FabSugar, YumSugar.com) - Danny Feekes, Fashiontribes.com - Lesley Scott-Silbergeld, Somagirls.tv / Soma Management - EC Morgan, Metromix (Tribune-Gannett) - Kara Walsh, Kickapps - Cameron Shaw, Zinio - Jeanniey Mullen, Intercasting Corp - Derrick Oien, Danoo - Donna Boyer, Fanpop - Dave Lu, Reality Digital - Cynthia Francis, FutureWorks - Brian Solis, Yelp - Sonia McFarland, Federated Media - Bernie Albers, Tilzy.tv - Jamison Tilsner, Zvents.com - Paul O’Brien, 7×7 Magazine / Hartle Media - Lindsey Shook, SF Convention & Visitors Bureau - Lynn Bruni, Smart Mobs/the Long Now Foundation - Stephanie Gershon, TasteTV - a.k. crump.

Topics discussed at the Summit ranged from panels titled:

“Influencing & Following Consumer Tastes in a Digital World: The New Players, The New Paradigms, The New Moguls,” and “Traditional Media: Embracing Digital Strategies to Viably Evolve” to “The Rise of TasteMaker Content and Distribution,” “Social Networks and Broadband Platforms,” and “Profitable Branding & Marketing: - Leveraging Influencer Buzz at the Local Level.”

And lastly, but not leastly:

Summit food included the SUPPERCLUB LUNCH prepared by Chef Guus:
*avocado mousse with eatern flavored salmon and asian chips,
*crab salad with lemongrass vinagrette and sesame chile tuile,
*belgin endive with truffled chicken and basil reduction jus,
*bruschetta with aubergine caviar, arugula salad, feta, and tomato compote

We would not have seen this coming in a million - scratch that! bajillion - years, but the Pipettes - you remember them, right? Three young girls… polka dots… the color pink… cheeky, British, 60s schtick… bad Greased Lightning acid flashback… Any of this ringing a bell? … No?… - The Pipettes have announced a major change in lineup on their myspace blog and official site. (Note: Announcement is rickroll-inclusive.) Apparently, two out of the three Pipettes are now gone and have already been replaced! RiotBecki and Rosay are out; Ani and Anna are in. (Again: RiotBecki and Rosay are out; Ani and Anna are in.) Pipettes! Alas! It seems only yesterday we saw them at South by Southwest 2007, mere moments before Pete Townshend took to the stage. It seems only yesterday I wailed, “Dammit Victor I can’t believe you actually wanted to see this bullshit.” It seems only yesterday agent Steve Ferguson was advising the world of the group’s potential longevity:

Some might dismiss the group as a novelty. Paradigm’s Steve Ferguson, the band’s agent, said anyone who’s quick to write The Pipettes off should think again.

»continue reading Pipettes Lose Two Out Of Three Pipettes; Unknown Band Member Rickrolls Everybody Else

The former Kenneth George Salon at 1914 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica has reopened under a new name, NESOU, with new management but “the same friendly staff and expertise of craftsmanship you have come to know and expect.” High speed wireless internet is also available.

From their About page:

Salon NESOU was established to provide the finest haircare available. Our mission is to create an experience as unique as our clients and as creative as our staff. Our belief is that each client has individual needs and every team member has their own individual qualities. We strive as a team to meet your needs and look forward to serving you.

We use Ultrafine Microfiber towel. Towel itself can remove internal bacteria up to 94.3%. Even if damp, the anti-bacterial ability of micorfiber cloths is unbelievably good

Yelp-er Leila T. shares:

I usually go for the first appointment of the day on weekend mornings in order to avoid the inevitable falling behind on appointment times that occurs as weekend days go on…

They use Bedhead products, along with some others, so it is not as fancy as the Aveda salon I used to frequent, but I actually like the shampoo and other products that they use on my hair - I was skeptical at first.

Services:

Hair Cut + Styling $75 to $300
Barbering $55 to $200
Child’s Hair Cut (9 and under) $45 to $150
* ALL PRICES ARE FROM AND ESTABLISHED ON CONSULTATION

Coachella Prince-inclusive poster watching. I’m in the thick of it, man. I’m waist deep in that shit. When Prince was first announced we had the gaping hole. Next, we had the hole shored up with a loaded Prince symbol pointing at the Johnson. Today, the third official Prince-inclusive Coachella poster spotted over at Coachella.com has all three headliners right up there at the top, where they belong. But wait! What’s this? Prince gets his unpronouncable-in-any-tongue symbol, Roger gets a “Dark Side of the Moon” preface, yet Jack gets diddly-squat above his name? I’m Jack Johnson, I’m laid back, no preface needed? Say it isn’t so. I would like to see a tiny pair of reversed white cartoon flip-flops above the name, please. That, or “Playing His Hit Songs from the Curious George Soundtrack” would look mighty fine up top as well. Your choice and you still have time to squeeze out one more poster before Friday, guys. Let’s do this. (BONUS TIP: Jack goes to the left. The other two headliners rotate to the right and then you have all three headliners actually under their respective performance dates…)

» DEVELOPING: Coachella Poster-Makers Shore Up Gaping Hole
» Coachella Website Unveils New Lineup Poster With Prince, Gaping Hole

My thanks to Sung, whose eagle eye found today’s iteration

The hole-in-the-poster which at one time led to rampant very little speculation as to what new headliner might fill its gap has now been officially shored up over at Coachella.com, with the unpronounceable-in-any-tongue symbol of Prince pointing menacingly now toward the surname of Friday’s headliner. (Is that thing loaded?) Behold!:

Yesterday Debbie Gibson filed for a restraining order from a Spanish man who appeared at the doorstep of her Los Angeles home…

Puigdollers left a note under Gibson’s door Thursday suggesting that the two meet in El Paso, according to the singer.

“If you like, contact me,” he said in a note that was included with the court documents. He signed it with his phone number in Barcelona and an e-mail that begins “debhead.”

Future stalkers take note, Debbie Gibson will be performing Pop Goes Broadway at Harrah’s Casino in Atlantic City the entire month of May.

VOTE AGAIN

» Deborah Gibson (The Official Myspace)
» Debbie Gibson seeks restraining order against Spanish man (AP)

Although taking place in Redmond, Washington, this show will eventually get the “Heads Up” once we get all the official details. For now, enjoy a snippet from Seattle’s The Stranger:

The SP20 Festival is happening July 12 & 13 at Marymoor Park just outside of Seattle in Redmond, WA. In addition to reunited bands, acts currently on the label’s roster, and everything in between, the festival will also host a half-pipe featuring both Nike and Girl + Chocolate sponsored skaters. While the full day-by-day line-up will be announced in the coming months, the festival will include:

Beachwood Sparks / Comets on Fire / Fleet Foxes / Flight of the Conchords / The Fluid / Foals / Grand Archives / Green River / The Helio Sequence / Iron & Wine / Kinski / Low / Mudhoney / No Age / Pissed Jeans / Red Red Meat / The Ruby Suns / Seaweed / Wolf Parade, and more to be announced.

Did You Know?
» LA’s Beachwood Sparks was the first band Losanjealous Ryan saw @ Spaceland

Benefit Rock Shows. What more can be said, really? You get the r.a.w.k, you get the strange dirty-antispetic smell of the r.a.w.k. club, you get the self-satisfaction of having spent a millisecond or two maybe thinking about someone else, and you can have fries with your Dewar’s (cuz specifically I’m talking about The Echo here, sirs).

In Brief: this coming Wednesday, the 16th of April, come have your face melted by Afternoons, The Pity Party (that’s MY band), Karin Tatoyan, and The Franks at The Echo WHILE giving back to the community. Don’t you just love phrases like “giving back to the community”? I mean, what did the community ever give you that you owe it something back, exactly, except a hard time finding parking and disgruntledment at the post office?
»continue reading WARNING: THE FOLLOWING BLOG POST IS FOR PROMOTIONAL PURPOSES ONLY; ANY AND ALL ACTUAL CONTENT CONTAINED HEREIN IS PURELY COINCIDENTAL

HEADS UP
Hall and Oates @ Troubadour Thu 5/22
Hall and Oates @ Troubadour Fri 5/23

Presale is Friday, April 4.

Daryl Hall and John Oates will “Return to the Troubadour,” performing at the legendary L.A. venue for the first time since they first played there 35 years ago.

The shows will take place on May 22-23, two days after the best-selling pop-rock duo of all time are saluted with a musical tribute as BMI Icons at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in L.A., hosted by organization President/CEO Del Bryant and VP/GM Writer/Publisher Relations Barbara Cane.

»continue reading Hall and Oates Playing Troubadour in May

Not sure if you’ve kept up with the goofy online bitching feud between Scott Weiland and Matt Sorum of late. If not, suffice it say the (velvet) gloves came off as we approached the seeming end of the Weiland-helmed Velvet Revolver years, with both parties taking to their keyboards to publicly air grievances and brag about rehab stints in a manner befitting fourth graders. Today, however, it’s no April Fool’s joke: Scott’s out. Singer needed, asap.

UPDATE, 4/2: Predictably, after the firing Scott just can’t keep his big mouth shut. (MTV News)

» Velvet Revolver Boots Scott Weiland (Billboard)
» Why Scott Weiland is truly worthless (straight.com) (via BV)

VR @ Wiltern by Brian

Van Halen may be taking a break from touring at present, but that didn’t stop Diamond Dave from inexplicably showing up in Austin and jamming with Peter Morén (of Peter, Bjorn & John) in a most unexpected turn of events. WITNESS: DAVID LEE MORÉN

Van Halen may be taking a break from touring at present, but that didn’t stop Eddie from inexplicably showing up in Austin and jamming with Lightspeed Champion in a most unexpected turn of events. WITNESS: LIGHTSPEED HALEN

Citing “high fuel prices and insufficient revenue,” Utah-based airline SkyWest will be ending its non-stop flight service from Modesto to Los Angeles. The four times daily $245 roundtrip on a 30-seat turboprop will cease to fly this June. What impact this severing of a daily connection to and from Los Angeles reaps upon the Central Valley bedroom community, home to late great Grandaddy and Gallo Wines, and its residents remains to be seen. As of press time, $51 non-refundable round trip fares on Greyhound Buslines are still available.

Be sure to check in at 209Vibe.com for the latest Modesto/Stockton scene news. Tonight, 209Vibe.com presents Indie Rock! at Valley Brewing Co. (157 Adams St., Stockton). Headlining the night will be Fainting Goats, Susurrus Rex and French Cassettes. More info here.

Did You Hear? Angry violent mobs are beating the crap out of the emo kids in Mexico in what appears to be cut-and-dried hate crimes. Blogs sounds off:

» Daniel Hernandez picked up the story last Saturday. Check his comment thread for insight from both Los Angeles and Mexico; yes, actual Mexicans weighing in on the topic at hand. (also at LA Weekly)

» Brooklyn Vegan picked up the story today; check their lengthy comment thread primarily for hipster Brooklynites talking shit about other hipster Brooklynites (and a few scattered insights) (n/b: “EmoJihad” = clever nom de plume)

Tired of comments? It’s also on Time today, comment-free.