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Found near Taipei Main Station in Taiwan.

This is what I miss when I take on freelance gigs over the summer.

Considering that the New Hampshire demographic is fairly homogenous, one has to take their opportunities when events like these show up. At least the tiny asian graphic art exhibit is still on display until the end of the month.

If you’re in the New England Upper Valley area, try and check out this exhibit. It’s short and will give you a chance to cool off from the unusually hot weather. While you’re in the area, also check out The Center for Cartoon Studies in nearby White River Junction.

Last month, I had the chance to see Harry and the Potters play at the Main Street Museum in White River Junction, Vt. Yeah, they rocked.

Fronted by Harry Year 4 (Joe DeGeorge) and Harry Year 7 (Paul DeGeorge), Harry and the Potters play a blend of garage rock and indie-pop melodies. Their DIY attitude and enthusiasm is infectious and will have you hopping to such songs as “Voldemort Can’t Stop the Rock,” “We Gotta Save Ginny Weasley,” and “Stick It To Delores.” They also played their love ballad, “My Wizard Scar Still Burns For You,” but don’t reach for that lighter, ’cause that’s a muggle thing to do.

After the show, I chatted with the boys for bit and bought for a friend a black t-shirt with the words “My Guitar is a Horcrux” silkscreened in silver, like the stuff Dumbledore uses in his Pensive.*

Harry and the Potters have a couple of albums out, with a new one to be released within the next couple of months. Personally, they are so much better live and I prefer the Internet Archive recordings of their California shows, specifically, their show at the Westside Jewish Community Center. But I recommend getting their albums, especially their self-titled release and “Voldemort Can’t Stop the Rock!” The artwork is great and the CDs are inexpensive, even for a cheapskate like me.

As of this post, the Potters are preparing for their 2006 Summer Reading and Rocking tour. Check their website for concert dates. And while you’re at the Potters’ website, also check out their tour diary. It’s very well written and hilarious. Favorite section:

Yes, Minneapolis is a real rock city for sure, so they were ready when the Potters rolled into town. Prince gave us a good tour of the Park. He was making crazy claims about being the half-blood Prince, but I really think it was just a ploy for him to regain some relevance. Everyone knows Prince is a pure-blooded rocker.

Rock on, Harry Potter.

* – If you don’t know what a Horcrux, a Pensive, or who Dumbledore is, start reading the books already.

The launch party for the XBOX360 was on tonight in downtown Taipei around the Taipei 101 building, next to the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store. Based on what I saw, I’m guessing it went somewhat better than the Japan launch, but may have been somewhat muted due to the fact that the 360 has been available from gobs of game shops already, due to the fact that Taiwan imports most of their games from Japan anyway.

Full pictures and details after the jump.

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