Not So Hot Fuzz

While covering the 2006 Sundance Film Festival for City Weekly's Daily Festival Updates (readership: 10), I came across a fellow by the name of Jay Della Valle. The New York-based musician/filmmaker was in Park City trying to gain interest in his film, The Glorious Mustache Challenge, a documentary modeled after Super Size Me's experimental premise with men donning staches for 30 days instead of gorging on heaping portions of trans-fat. While intrigued by the challenge, recent trends have inspired me to reconsider the consquences of promoting facial hair. Don't get me wrong: if you've got it, flaunt it. But just because you were born with the ability to sprout extra fuzz doesn't mean it's a good idea to cultivate a thin strip above your upper lip. Case in point: Anthony Kiedis and Interpol's Carlos D, both photographed at this year's Coachella Music Festival. Kiedis, who changes looks like most people change underwear (if you're unclear on this comparison, please visit the nearest laundromat), more often than not succeeds at being naked, bald, grunge, whatever. But both he and Carlos D look at best like San Fernando Valley porn stars, at worst two-bit ex-cons. Let's hope this trend reverses as quickly as it came about. (Jamie Gadette)