all photos by Nate "Igor" Smith

Don't care what you say, Thurston still looks bad-ass

The Anthology Film Archives celebrated its 40th anniversary last night at the Hiro Ballroom. The scene was, by all accounts, an intimately swanky affair--reserved tables started at $500; mezzanine tickets cost $99 a piece. The steep entry fee was not only a gesture of support for the New York institution, but payment to witness a bill stocked with formative downtown-art figures. The Virgins opened, Sonic Youth appeared to make guitar-feedback noodle-pie, Philip Seymour Hoffman spoke, Julian Schnabel ascended the stage to yell at people talking. ("That was pretty amazing," our photographer Igor reports.) Avant-garde grandpa Jonas Mekas presented underground filmmaker Kenneth Anger with a lifetime achievement award; for the occasion, Anger pulled his band Technicolor Skull out of mothballs for "a rare performance." Also, there was this guy named Lou who wouldn't let anyone take pictures. We happened upon one anyway. Full Anthology Film Archives 40th Anniversary gallery here; highlights below.

all photos by Rebecca Smeyne

While you were busy shrieking at the East River stormclouds this past weekend, some of our locals were overseas for Fuji Rock, a gorgeously run three-day Japanese music festival. There were approximately 130,000 attendees, Oasis, Weezer, and Franz Ferdinand as headliners, and barely any trash left behind each day, "which is amazing for that number of people," points out photographer Rebecca Smeyne, who was there on her way back from traveling around China with These Are Powers. Certainly a better outcome than the first Fuji Rock ever, which took place in 1997 and got cancelled in the middle of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' headlining set due to an ensuing typhoon. Take that, Sunday lightning storm. Other performers this year at Fuji Rock included Major Lazer, Amazing Baby, the Virgins, Patti Smith, Conor Oberst, and Bad Brains. Sweet photos are below.

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The Virgins headline the Mercury Lounge tonight with Lissy Trullie & The Fibs, Frankpollis, and Eric Gaffney (of Sebadoh). Tickets available here.