By Eleni P. Austin

Trying to find a quick cure to combat the mid-winter blues? Call off the search, a musical elixir has arrived courtesy Sir Madam. It’s their freshly released debut, Crooked Teeth.

Following the Blues/Punk Rock paradigm pioneered by the White Stripes and Black Keys, Sir Madam is a bare-bones duo, who pack a powerful punch. But rather than hew to the monochromatic method those bands established, Sir Madam’s music feels like a sunburst of technicolor.

Officially formed in 2011, Sir Madam, is a collaboration between longtime friends, guitarist/vocalist Kishori Holiday and drummer Andrew Garza. Both had cycled through a series of Southern California bands before realizing they were musical soulmates.

The album gets off to a rollicking start with the title track. Anchored by a rattlesnake-shake rhythm and thick, fuzz-tastic power chords, the song could be a California cousin to the Stones’ epochal “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.”

On both “Gotcha Wantcha” and “Decent Man” Holiday challenges the status quo and champions authenticity. The former is a mid-tempo howler, powered by a walloping backbeat and reverb-drenched riffs. Holiday warns a lover that she won’t sacrifice her principles… “I’ll be the one who will lay my body down, I’ll be the one who will tear my hair out/I’ll be the one who will let all my veins bleed out.”

The latter is accented by bludgeoning tilt-a-whirl riffs that collide with pummeling percussion. The lyrics portray a woman who lives her life with no apologies… “She’s no hired girl, she’s no just-made, She’s no woman of the town/Not unstrung, not unmarried, a maidservant to one man.”

Not every track on Crooked Teeth is a balls to the wall (ovaries to the wall?) rocker. “My Dear My Darling” is a cracked country waltz. Over strummy guitars and a stutter cadence, Holiday sweetly croons, reassuring her true love that long absences only strengthen their bond.

Tinkling wind chimes and ominous guitar chords open “Black Moon.” As the melody locks into a crushed velvet groove, the lyrics detail a moonlight ritual…”And all the witches dance beneath the black night moon/And circled fire put out all the spirits doom.”

“Dorothy May” paints a sepia-toned portrait of an enigmatic femme fatale who had “an array of beauty.” The instrumentation, mandolin-like filigrees and subdued percussion, perfectly compliment this tender tableau.

Other stand out tracks include; the outlaw tale of “Man Down.” Here Garza pounds a triple time tattoo as Holiday unleashes tsunami-size riffs that peak, crest and crash.

“Come Around” is equally ferocious. Garza’s thundering beats take center stage as Holiday’s serpentine riffs snake through the sandblasted melody.
The album closes with the frenetic twist and shout of “Love Song.” Garza’s rumbling backbeat provides ballast, allowing Holiday to shift from Surf-guitar sonics to Spaghetti Western licks. It’s a satisfying tour de force.

This is a nearly perfect debut. Kishori Holiday’s playing is sharp and concise. Her vocals recall the take-no-prisoner style of progenitors like Patti Smith, Chrissie Hynde and Exene Cervenka. Andrew Garza isn’t content to simply keep time. He pounds his kit with economy and authority.

Crooked Teeth was produced by Scott Holiday, (Rival Sons leader and guitar-slinger extrodinaire). The album was recorded and mixed in an astonishing three days!

Crackling with intensity, Holiday and Garza have crafted an audacious debut. Sir Madam has come up with the first great album of 2014. - CV Weekly

Self-Claimed “Indie Garage Rock Band” is a whole lot more than imaginable.
Album Review of Crooked Teeth, Sir Madam’s Debut Album Release
Reviewed by Joseph Timmons of Xombiewoof Magazine

Sir Madam is composed of two very serious, talented and soon to be infamous Musicians - Kishori Holiday on Guitar and Vocals while the rhythm is kept by the formidable percussion style of Andrew Garza. Originating out of Huntington Beach, California, their sound is more back streets New Orleans meets rockabilly Sinister Swing with a hint of Blues just to take the edge off the music fix. Sir Madam is more than just a “two piece garage rock band” as they humbly state in their Facebook and Web Site biography, they have a dark and brooding sound, and as I said before, a bit “Sinister”, luring you in with a smile while hiding the club behind their waistcoat.

Sir Madam's music is reminiscent of the Pretenders, The Misfits and a bit like The Cramps. Andrew’s evenly rhythmic drumming keeps the music in perfect time and swing, while Kishori’s dark and pleasingly seductive voce in entrancing yet exciting and persuasive. Sir Madame has been compared to other leading duos like The White Stripes and The Black Keys, they look to expand on the groundwork of the bands that came before and will make a strong name for them.

Sir Madam, while being a 2 piece ensemble has surprisingly full sound, Kishori Holiday plays with a ferocity and level of energy that is seen in larger groups, but she does it all on her own. Sir Madame is an enigma, combining the avant-garde, punk-rock-metal, with pop and groove inspirations.

Crooked Teeth is the debut album release by Sir Madam was recorded and mixed and completed in only three days in a studio located in Silverlake, California. Produced by Scott Holiday (of the Rival Sons), is touted as “an honest, raw, impulsive and off the cuff album”. But to hear it, you know it is not just “Slapped Together” or “Grungy”. Nor is the music over worked or “labored”, its sound is vibrant, unique and inspiring to hear.

The track listing comprises what will be multiple favorites on the club scene and smokey pub crawlers looking for a night out of revelry. The album (as set for streaming on ReverbNation) opens with the title track Crooked Teeth, followed by titles named Black Moon, My Dear My Darling, Gotcha Wantcha, Dorothy May, Man Down and others that keep you glued to the album, which if you want my opinion is more like a live set, full of power and thrills.

You can get their album from their web site http://sirmadamband.com or stream from https://www.reverbnation.com/sirmadamband, but Buy the Album, really, they have worked hard for it and this debut album is a triumph, and if this is only the beginning, I can’t wait to see what comes around the corner next from out of the shadows. Follow Sir Madam on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sirmadamband and get into it. - Xombiewoof Magazine

THIS SATURDAY, February 7th @ 9pm
By Lisa Morgan

If you’ve been feeling a warming trend here in the desert, it is very likely that it can be blamed on the encroachment of a fresh, hot duo heading our way – Sir Madam. Riding the asphalt wave from Huntington Beach, Sir Madam, comprised of Kishori Holiday and Andrew Garza, Sir Madam will be playing in our desert for the first time. Staying in the cabin her grandfather built just outside of Joshua Tree, the weekend will serve as much as a spiritual retreat as an opportunity to do what they love, Saturday, February 7th at Schmidy’s Tavern. They will be accompanied by some of the best uniquely original bands our valley has to offer: The Hick Ups, Right On Right On, and Wicked Tongues, a great combination of expert level originality and musicianship.

It’s impossible to not compare the power-two-piece to Jack White and White Stripes. It’s even harder to not compare Holiday’s voice to the fabulous Chrissie Hynde. The similarities are an after-thought though, as their uniqueness is what tickles your ears and senses first. Perhaps it’s the pinch of metal and punk, and the rawness of Holiday’s vocals and guitar technique atop the deliciously articulate rhythms of Garza, an absolute passionate, technician on drums. The skill level that causes these two simple pieces to have the presence of four, is a special kind of magic.

Speaking with Holiday was easy. As you sit back and listen, the passion for her craft, her faith in this 2 year old adventure with Garza, and her love for her family are impossible to miss. Growing up in Huntington Beach, Holiday was the kid sister of world renowned, Joey Hawkins, the only world champion long boarder to come out of Surf City. The girl may have had more rockstar moments growing up in the surf community than she has in the music world, but she remembers them fondly, still idolizing her big brother. She could hold her own on the water, but dad had guitars laying around, and when she picked it up at age 11, her course was set.

Sir Madam’s 2014 debut album, Crooked Teeth, was recorded at the Station house in 3 days. CV Weekly music expert and columnist, Eleni P. Austin says of the album, “This is a nearly perfect debut. Kishori Holiday’s playing is sharp and concise. Her vocals recall the take-no-prisoner style of progenitors like Patti Smith, Chrissie Hynde and Exene Cervenka. Andrew Garza isn’t content to simply keep time. He pounds his kit with economy and authority.” Austin adds, “Crackling with intensity, Holiday and Garza have crafted an audacious debut. Sir Madam has come up with the first great album of 2014.”

“Just a few takes for each song,” Holiday shared. “got the fresh, hot takes and the immediacy and laid it down before it lost its lust. We recorded “Midnight Tower” together, all at once. It was an amazing way to capture the song and what we do. Scott Holiday from Rival Sons produced it, and he knows how to bring out our sound. The guitar I used was a 1960 Gibson Melody Maker P90. There was no auto-tune. We just captured the real thing. People like our shows because it sounds like the record.”

“I’m not a shredder, guitar player, or an American Idol singer, and that’s ok,” Holiday laughed. You don’t have to be Joe Satriani to make a difference in music. Imperfections are the things that speak to me the most.”

To read Eleni P. Austin’s full review of Crooked Teeth, go to coachellavalleyweekly.com/sir-madam-crooked-teeth/

Follow Sir Madam’s music at the following links:

www.sirmadamband.com

www.reverbnation.com/rpk/sirmadamband

Better yet, make sure you are at Schmidy’s Tavern, Saturday, February 7th at 9pm to hear the real deal. Schmidy’s Tavern is located on the corner of Fred Waring Drive and Highway 111, next to Men’s Warehouse.

www.schmidystavern.com - CV Weekly

Huntington Beach is not just a sleepy “surf” mecca as you may think. It has been the birthplace and inspiration for some of California’s greatest rock bands. The water of the Pacific Ocean created the angst of Avenged Sevenfold, The Offspring and (Hed) PE.

Newbie band, Sir Madam has now been handed the baton of being the future musical suffragettes. This down to earth turbo charged post amplification garage duo features the luring vocalist/guitarist.. “Madam” Kishori Holiday and drumming sharpie’ wearing master-mind, “Sir” Andrew Garza.

Ms. Kishori grew up in a family that nurtured music and at a young age there were guitars and amps that magnetically drew her to play.

Sir Madam will be lazily compared to The Black Keys and the White Stripes but their sojourn encompasses blends of metal and punk with a toy slinky pop sensibility. Andrew offered a politically correct response to comparisons, “Yeah that’s correct and intentional. We had to mention The Black Keys and White Stripes because they’re two-piece bands like us. Naturally people are going to associate us with them because we like fuzzed out riffs and we’re a two-piece. What better way to squash it than to call it out first?” They stay grounded and true within the auspices of the blues. Tormented love without easy solutions is what makes Kishori a potential diva of rock. She’s a temptress who can drink your blood and later lick your wounds. Like Chrissie Hynde and P.J. Harvey she demands respect by the frets of her guitar.. Their debut album was produced by guitar titan and Rival Sons impresario Scott Holiday. His style for the production duties were congruent to what Kishori and Garza envisioned. Andrew Garza added some insightful comments regarding Holiday’s production savvy, “Scott had a clear idea of what he wanted to come out of the recording when we went in. . More so than I did… Even though Kishori and I knew what we wanted the recording to sound like, that doesn’t mean that Scott didn’t smack it, flip it and rub it down. He absolutely made it sound better, made necessary changes and for lack of a better term…”schooled us” on the producing tip. He brought it and made the songs simply sound better.”

Together they have created a musical genetic helix of The Pretenders and Polly Jean Harvey. WOW!!!!! The sultry “Madam” Kishori. was dead -on about her mentors, “My favorite all time female idol is Chrissie Hynde. She’s the lady version of Keith Richards and even today she’s still just amazing as a vocalist, Guitar player and band leader. I didn’t discover Polly Jean Harvey until much later. When my ears first herd her it was an instant love and connection. After seeing her perform I was completely inspired and because of that I wanted to write songs that told torrid stories”.

Ms. Kishori grew up in a family that nurtured music and at a young age there were guitars and amps that magnetically drew her to play.

Sir Madam will be lazily compared to The Black Keys and the White Stripes but their sojourn encompasses blends of metal and punk with a toy slinky pop sensibility. Andrew offered a politically correct response to comparisons, “Yeah that’s correct and intentional. We had to mention The Black Keys and White Stripes because they’re two-piece bands like us. Naturally people are going to associate us with them because we like fuzzed out riffs and we’re a two-piece. What better way to squash it than to call it out first?” They stay grounded and true within the auspices of the blues. Tormented love without easy solutions is what makes Kishori a potential diva of rock. She’s a temptress who can drink your blood and later lick your wounds. Like Chrissie Hynde and P.J. Harvey she demands respect by the frets of her guitar.. Their debut album was produced by guitar titan and Rival Sons impresario Scott Holiday. His style for the production duties were congruent to what Kishori and Garza envisioned. Andrew Garza added some insightful comments regarding Holiday’s production savvy, “Scott had a clear idea of what he wanted to come out of the recording when we went in. . More so than I did… Even though Kishori and I knew what we wanted the recording to sound like, that doesn’t mean that Scott didn’t smack it, flip it and rub it down. He absolutely made it sound better, made necessary changes and for lack of a better term…”schooled us” on the producing tip. He brought it and made the songs simply sound better.”

Kishori with in her swagger dresses in outstanding costumes that are a cross between Steam Punk and Goth. Kishori told us, “As far as clothes go my wardrobe is a treasure trunk filled with loot. My mother is a gypsy witch so she sends me signs for my style.”

Crooked Teeth is Sir Madam’s debut track and its song about love and deception. Kishori doesn’t hesitate to push the envelope with its opening “I Can Get No Satisfaction” riff and a self-effacing chorus.

Andrew G. was quick to herald this song to Rock Bands of L.A. com., “Make no mistake, those lyrics are from Kishori’s heart and emotion one hundred percent. We’ve all had loves gone bad but the songs on “Crooked Teeth” are written by Kishori. I don’t mind that she wrote the lyrics because it means she feels it, for real. And that’s really important to me. It’s not contrived at all. Plus, I personally love her lyrical style so it’s easy for me to relinquish everything to her if that makes sense. It’s important to me that my bandmates aren’t faking the funk so I try not to interfere ya know?”

I thought it worthy to explore the dynamics of Sir Madam’s song writing. I liked this album more and more as I tracked through it.. While it got better and better it became more important. Importance in song writing is what makes a song worthy of a million words! The track that really drew my ear and repeated constantly in my car was “My Dear My Darling”; a song about committed devotion, love and sharing a life experience. Kishori reaches a deep cathartic state and shows great potential as a lyricist.

This album is kinetic and could enlighten the coldest heart.

I want to thank Kishori, Andrew and Scott for their time, devotion and compassion…. - Rock Bands of L.A.

Fashion creatives from around the globe gathered together at the sixth annual La Jolla International Fashion Film Festival, July 24-25 in La Jolla, Calif.

Over 11,000 films were screened, and narrowed down to be selected for the prestigious event known as The Cannes of the fashion world. 
Check out our five favorite fashion films from the 2015 festival.

"Night Fits"
Night Fits is a cutting edge, genre-defying, fashion film starring Alex Lundqvist made for British menswear magazine CLIENT. Director & Screenwriter Marcus K. Jones challenges the notion that fashion films don't contain stories. The film was nominated for five awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Creative Concept, Best Editing and Best Actor.

"Peyote Dreams"
For his Spring/Summer 2015 collection DREAMS, Mexican fashion designer Ricardo Seco found inspiration in the bright beading of the eagle, the deer, and the peyote symbols created by the Mexican Huichol tribe, also known as the Wixárikas. The Wixárikas are a very private community who honored the designer with access to their remote village. Noir Tribe Media made the movie, traveling to Mexico City, Gaudalajara, and the Sierre Madre Mountains to capture the designer's investigation into the art and culture of these unexpected fashion muses.

"Silver Girl"
Inspired by the world of Spanish bullfighting, 'Silver Girl' by Josh Brandão tells the story of a woman and a man, both equal in their own merit, and how gender and age determined their fate. The film showcases a full collection of hats by British hat designer Philip Treacy, jewelery by Adler as well as designs by Julian McDonald and Armani. The film was nominated for a whopping 10 awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Art Direction, Best Creative Concept, Best Visual Effects, Best Editing, Best Hair Styling, Best Makeup, Best Costume Design and Best Music.

"My Dear, My Darling"
Tim Cadiente's film for Barton Perreira 2015 campaign was nominated for three awards including Best Director, Best Cinematography and Best Music. The film follows a love triangle that unfolds via breathtaking vistas of Southern California and beautiful close ups of the Barton Perreira collection.
"We have all been in a situation to chase a dream. To work so hard for it and once its in reach, realize that its not what we wanted. Only to discover that what we needed was already within reach," Cadiente says above the concept.
  
Stella McCartney x ITC Ethical Fashion Initiative, Kenya, 2014
Stella McCartney and the Ethical Fashion Initiative began their partnership in Kenya in 2011. Stella McCartney produces beautiful handmade accessories with Kenyan artisans specialized in screen-printing and tailoring. The film by Mark Tinter, nominated for Best Documentary, depicts the Kenyan production of Stella McCartney Autumn/Winter 2014 Made in Africa accessories. Each item is made by human hands and the stories of each artisan are woven into each product. - Fashion Times