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Let's Do This.
The time is rapidly approaching when I will bid a fond farewell to all you east coasters and then hop a JetBlue plane to Ontario, (California you idiot). My flight doesn’t leave until 8pm, but rest assured it will be a shit show since I’m traveling with Builder, Cami, Flynne, Beach, DoubleD, Mohawk Jones, Lucy and Warrior Perry. We may never get out of the terminal. So we will land at 11pm and hustle to the car rental joint. We have a long drive to the hotel, but who gives a shit when you are sucking down sweet California air. It may be a blogfest out there, and I for one wholly endorse it. Oh, and in case you are wondering, I’m less than 15 hours away from my first trip to In and Out Burger.
If you are going to be at the festival, call me so we can make out during Phantom Planet's California.
A Sweetheart Send Off.
Last night I stayed in the office for and extra hour to tie up some loose ends that will be flailing on Monday. Then I returned home to throw together a back pack of extra undies and Culkin proof shorts. Lowel, the roommates and I took the liberty of hanging on the fire escape for a last time before Builder and I hit the friendly skies.
After everything was in order at the casa, I met up with Liz Mc for a wonderful dinner at some Italian joint on 7th Street. Even though it took us three tries to find a table that wouldn’t wobble, we enjoyed a great bottle of blanco vino, (I’m trying to be classy). Our meal was good, but it was trumped by the company. I’ve said it before, but Liz and I get on great, and one day, (soon actually) she is going to meet my mom, and then I may just have to marry her. Did I mention that Liz hooked the whole dinner up as a belated birthday present? You are a rockstar, and next time, the tequila shots are on me!
We took off from the eatery and headed down 1st Avenue in search of libations. We ended up taking a seat at a downstairs booth in 2A. We marveled at the hip parade that gleefully skipped by. Liz and I were both getting a little drunk so naturally we decided to head upstairs for a better, less pauperize like view. Miki was working the bar upstairs so I shot him a quick hello, and the guy hooked me up. He is a really nice bartender so treat him well and go see his band.
Eventually Stevo, Ghor, Hawk, Vaughn and Anoush showed up, but by that time Liz and I were crunked so we said hello and goodbye in the same breath. The night was over, and my buzz was perfect.
Have A Kick Ass Weekend My Fellow New Yawker’s.
The Latest Coachella Schedule.
Tumbleweed just passed this link to me. It contains a Coachella line-up puzzle. Put it together and find me the major conflicts. Beck and Juinor Senior are on at the same time. Well fuck me! Is anyone else getting excited? We are within one day of departure.
Beach has just sent me this link with the set times.
The Best Show On Television.
Harkin back to the days of elementary school when it was perfectly normal to take a sick day and hang out with mom while she watches All My Children, (please hold the gay comments Paul). I remember watching Erica Kane and her (8th?) husband Dimitri Marick navigate through the web of gossip and desire that existed in Pine Valley. The only setback to this program was the fact that all the characters, with the exception of a few, were adults and they were dealing with adult issues. As hard as I tried, I couldn’t relate to the car accidents and lost pregnancies. Then 90210 was conceived. Even though they embodied the perfect American family, the Walsh’s did not appeal to a kid who was more interested in ska music, Natty Ice and making out. Though the bulk of the series was seen by yours truly, it was never burned into memory.
This past summer the Fox phenomena known simply as The O.C. stepped into our lives and stole our attention spans. We are facing the season finale next week, but what a year it’s been. Ryan was saved by Sandy and got into many scuffles, Seth got laid, Luke fucked his x-girlfriends mom, got shot and moved to Portland with his gay dad, Marrissa was held at gunpoint by loose cannon Oliver and almost overdosed on pills while in Mexico, Jimmy Cooper lost his family and his fortune only to score a hot x-girlfriend’s sister, Sandy left the PD office, joined a firm then quit to open a restaurant, and we lost the beautiful comic book loving, bad outfit wearing Anna. Thanks for the memories.
Last night was the second to last episode of the freshman season and it was full of fireworks. Fights were abound and hookers/stripers ran wild. To quickly recap, the boys crashed Caleb’s trip to “The Vegas” while the ladies stayed home (with the exception of summer) and had a bachelorette party. While in the desert, unbeknownst to him, Seth was making out with a whore while Ryan won a pile of cash with Seth’s Bar Mitzvah stash. Marrissa found out that Teresa has been preggers and Ryan may be the father. Sandy broke up a shady business deal that Caleb lined up. Jimmy managed to come in during desert just to knock out the old bastard. Caleb’s bride to be was about to get her bones jumped when she discovered it was a set up and decided to fight with Kristen’s little sister.
Speaking of awesomeness, last night’s episode featured music by Jonathan Rice, Franz Ferdinand (Holiday), and a new cut by the Beastie Boys. If you didn’t get a chance to hear the Bboys track, look on the back of this week’s Village Voice for a LA phone number that, if called, will play you the chorus of the same track.
We had a decent sized crew, and despite someone’s (you know who you are) comment that I’m a name dropper, I’m going to list the kids who came through for the O.C. hang. We had Hawk, Kyle, Dee, Oveis, Sivan, Karen, Elise, Noah and Christie were present at 186. Earlier in the evening, Noah and I hit up Tiny’s for a quick bite before returning to the apartment for the festivities.
Later that evening, Hawk, Christie, Dee, Kyle and I sat around the kitchen table getting drunker than anticipated. It was good to hang out with the kids before our trip out west which is rapidly approaching.
Hopefully we can get together this evening and throw together a quick hang before the long awaited rock weekend.
One more note: Mr. Mohawk has asked me to post the fact that tomorrow night, Ted Koppel will be reading the names of the fallen soldiers. Watch, respect and realize it didn't have to happen.
Today’s Ipod Mix included: Weezer, Photograph; All Night Radio, All Night Radio; The Flaming Lips, Slow Nerve Action; Girls Against Boys, Pleasurized; The Thermals, Goddamn the Light; Bouncing Souls, Dirt; Pavement, Speak, See, Remember; The Impossibles, Stand Up; Joy Division, Digital; The Impossibles, Erin with an E, The Flaming Lips, Race for the Prize.
Appease The Beach.
Beach just dropped me an email with this link to the layout and lineup of Coachella. This could get hectic.
He also reminded me, though I wasn't present, the first one man Culkin was registered by Ian "the warrior" Perry on Monday night at the Cake Bowery gig. This is a revolutionary tactic that I have been attempting to perfect. Perry has a different take on the move, but it was effective. We will compare notes in the grass.
We Come To Rock Your Face Off.
Yesterday’s administrative scramble was hell, but with the help of some practical joke by my coworker (The Fake Tell) the afternoon went by on the quick side. I’ve got to send out a big thanks to Hawkins for helping me out with some bureaucratic bullshit for my internship. Let’s make this party happen boss. After work, I returned home to finish transcribing the Thermals interview that was done earlier this month. Slap is pretty lax on deadlines, which makes it difficult to get your work done, but I digress. Here is a little blurb from the interview regarding the name for their mid-May release:
Slap: Was there any pressure to change the title of Fuckin A?
Hutch Harris: No, but then they (Sub Pop) don’t love the title and I’m sure they wish we went with something else.
S: I think it’s a fucking fantastic idea. Can you explain the meaning behind the name?
H: You can just put the record on and you are like, “Fuckin A, this is a great record.” It’s a great description of the record and it should be the reaction if you like the record. Or even if you don’t you can be like, “Fuckin A, that record sucks.”
Onward Young Warrior.
I made my way to Noah’s dorm around 7:30pm to catch a quick one with him and Kristen. Noah resides in some crazy NYU dorm that has the dumbest layout this side of the Atlantic, but he only has to deal with it for a couple more weeks. I can’t imagine how he would escape a fire in that building. At least he has a kick as security guard who said, “I’ve been tied down for years. I may be tied down, but I’m still a pllllllllayer.” We sucked down a quick bone and then hit the streets.
We parted ways with Kristen and rolled over to Shades of Green on 15th Street right by Irving Plaza. If you aren’t aware that this bar sits so close to the Plaza, check it out because they have decent pub food, though it can lean toward the pricey side, and they will poor you an Irish Car Bomb. Before we knew it, we were joined by Kristen and Hela who were both trying to fight off studying, (Kristen has her GRE’s today and Hela is preparing for he 2L finals). We had a couple of pints and talked about last names before we all had to split.
Bring It On.
Upon cruising into Irving Plaza we said hello to Josh from Circle and Square who was working the ticket window along with Noah’s boss and Andy from Arbor Day. Noah and I quickly got a beer before making our way to the middle of the room so we would have a perfect view of The Thermals power punk pop show. If you weren’t there, you missed out.
The Portland trio certainly delivered though their set sagged during the middle. They played a great mix of tracks from both of their records and even one song that may have been a new one (it was sloppy and I didn’t recognize it). If you haven’t seen these kids before, check out my post regarding their last show (April 7th Post), you maybe surprised how much you like them. They blasted through hits like An Endless Supply, How We Know, It’s Trivia, No Culture Icons and Let Your Earth Quake. Thanks to Noah for making this happen.
They will be playing the Mercury on May 27th with the Hold Steady, and I highly recommend that you pick up your tickets now. Just go to the box office and say you believe in rock.
Quick Note.
Did anyone else see that Jesse Malin is playing two dates at the Mercury in late June?
Does anyone care?
Tooling Around.
After they finished we ran upstairs to say hello to DTL before hitting the streets. I ended up stopping in at Lizzy’s house on 7th Street where she was hanging out with Jigga and Allie. We watched some Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Liz gave me a burned copy of the Fight Night video we made a few years back. Builder, I have it at the house, remind me to show it to you later!
Later that evening I met up with Becky, Kasha, Britton and Sophie at Frank on 2nd Avenue. It was great because Becky’s roommate is the bartender so we got some free drinks. They had come from some Other Music party at APT so a couple of them were tossed, especially Sophie who proceeded to puke everywhere including Kasha’s purse. It was all quite embarrassing, so Britton got her out of there. The three of us hung out for awhile before calling it an evening.
You Spoon Water Like Love.
If you can't afford housing at NYU, you can always sell drugs. A student worker in my office, who lives in Hayden, said it was a mad house. This girl was selling pot, acid, coke and shrooms. I wonder if she has a boyfriend? Julia, I'll wait for you!
Finally! Someone hit the ball!
Coachella is for suckers. Bring on Lollapalooza! Killers, Walkmen and Broken Social Scene get added to a couple of dates.
Elliot Smith's final full-length is getting set for release. Also, there will be a film showing regarding the fallen rock star at Coachella.
The Stills have a profile in the latest Guardian in which they claim that they don't hate Americans. Phew, I can cross them off my "To Kill" list.
While reading Gawker I came across this link to a site counting down to the 18th birthday of the Olsen twins.
Division of Laura Lee takes some time to hang out with Filter to explain that they don't use their brains and the gravity defying teeth of their lead singer.
I'd give this record a high rating on their cover art alone. Thanks to Mr. Bones for passing me a copy. I need to give it more time.
David Carradine, the man with the amazing cadence, is this week's feature interview in the Onion's A.V. Club. Go see Kill Bill II!
Today’s Ipod Mix included: Frank Black, Abstract Plain; Stephen Malkmus, Sheets; The Jackson 5, Sugar Daddy; The Jam, In the Crowd; Count Machuki, More Scorcha; Broken Social Scene, Pitter Patter Goes My Heart; Pulp, Dishes; Longwave, Can’t Feel A Thing; Modest Mouse, Tiny Cities Made of Ashes.
Crazy For You Baby.
What would you do if you were attacked by a bear? This kid punched it in the fucking face.
Yesterday I saw a post on Jinner's site regarding the Siren line-up. Its a bit of a ho-hum list of artists, especially since last years was so great, despite the heat, the crowds and the drugs done in the arcade bathroom. I am really excited about seeing the Fiery Furnaces and the Constantines.
If you didn't see this yet, all you bedroom DJ's get poised to be famous. David Bowie requests mash-up of his own material.
Mick Jone's is at it again. Could the Clash star's new creation be as good as the Libertines full-length. I'm guessing yes.
We all saw this debate coming. There may be some truth to it. Stranger things have happened. Open your eyes America! Stop the rednecks!
How did this record slip under my radar? Is it out domestically?
Here is a blurb and some pictures of last week's French Kicks show at the Northsix.
Catch some detail's on the new Mooney Suzuki record which is a collaboration with The Matrix.
Puff Daddy or P Diddy or Sean Combs (I wonder what he goes by in the program) gets a solid review after his opening night on Broadway.
The Ravonettes are getting set to head back to the studio and Sune believes their new songs are better than the Strokes.
If you like Mike Skinner and the Streets, you should read this Guardian article about the new record.
Franz Ferdinand has a sit down with CNN and answers the same questions all over again.
Last week's Onion has a sit down with Ricky Gervais of the hit BBC comedy, the Office. Someone read it and summarize for me... please?
Did I link this already? I believe so, but take some time and read it. It's an awesome collection of artists on artists at Rolling Stone.
Someone please give these filmmakers the rights to release End of the Century. I need my fix. I've got the shakes and I'm out of needles and pins.
Today's Ipod Mix included: The Thermals, Fucking A and More Parts Per Million on shuffle.
My Top Ten.
This list is inspired by Beach's email of the same name. This is a rundown of my Top 10 bands for each afternoon at the Coachella Festival. If I'm missing something awesome, let me know.
Saturday, May 1.
1. The Pixies
2. Junior Senior
3. Moving Units
4. LCD Soundsystem
5. The Stills
6. Q and Not U
7. Kraftwerk
8. The Rapture
9. Erase Errata
10. ... And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead
Honorable Mention: Dios, Stellastarr*, Howie Day (I kid, I kid), and I have to see Phanotm Planet play the theme song to the O.C.
Sunday, May 2.
1. The Cure
2. !!!
3. The Flaming Lips
4. Broken Social Scene
5. Muse
6. Ash
7. Le Tigre
8. The Thrills
9. Elefant
10. Dizzee Rascal
Honorable Mention: Killers, Sleepy Jackson, Danger Mouse, and Whitestarr.
Bob Has Had It Up To Here.
In some startling news, Guided By Voices has decided to call it quits after they finish a summer tour promoting what is now their final album.
The official announcement was released on GBV's web page. I wasn't kidding when I told Oveis he should see them while they are still alive and playing. And if you didn't know, Bob Pollard is the self proclaimed founder of the Strokes.
Xtra Ticket.
Just a heads up, a friend of mine has an extra ticket for Saturday's Coachella show which features the Pixies! Email me if you are interested. So you know, it has sold out.
One Massive Culkin.
The title of this post was my reply to Miriam’s question of how the party went. It was a fucking mess. Who knew it would blow up in that fashion? No one was called and the official announcement didn’t come until 8pm, but we still managed to pack 186 with drunken kids. Let me start from the beginning.
I want to start out saying thank you to all of you who wrote or called me to send birthday wishes. It was truly a fantastic 23rd and after that, I’m ready to kick the bucket. Thanks to those of you who tossed me mix tape or any other birthday schwagg. I’d like to thank Noah and Beach for the bottle of tequila, but then again, maybe I wouldn’t.
It Was A Festival!
Naturally, I wanted the evening to start out with a massive trip to my favorite restaurant, Festival. Builder, Miriam, Beach, Noah, Stevo and Kyle jumped on the train. Before we sat down, I had ordered the table a round of tequila shots so we would all have a solid base before dinner. The Guacamole flowed like cash through a casino and the margaritas were taken down at an alarming rate. Everyone in on the meal managed to get sauced before we left the restaurant. The plan was for me to put it on a credit card, but when the bill came, we realized that they don’t take card. In an effort to redeem myself, Beach, Stevo, Noah and I went to Key Foods and bought something like six cases of PBR.
We returned to the house where kids began to collect. We were taking shots of tequila like it was our job. Unfortunately for him, Lou became the first victim of the evening’s high registry of Culkin’s, (come to think of it, he got the first two). By the time 12am rolled around, our kitchen had been covered in beer. This wasn’t helped by the group shotgun we performed where kids were more concerned with spraying each other with the beer than actually consuming it.
The evening got a little crazy for me when I puked up my entire dinner and then returned to the kitchen only to be Culkined by Beach and Builder. While I laid on my back laughing, Kyle took the liberty to dump an entire beer on my head. Let me say it now. As soon as that kid’s ankle heals, he is going down. I was also Culkined by Lucy and Beach. The fucking Beach’s Culkined me! She has it coming to her now, especially after she was a part of the Culkin that took Johnny down into the drum kit in my bedroom. Chances are, she will spend a lot of time on the grass at Coachella.
My favorite Culkin of the evening was registered by Beach and I. Builder hops into the kitchen in full Mets gear. He had one of those shiny coats with the Mets emblem on the front along with his Mets hat. Before that bag of snacks realized it, Beach had dropped to his knees and I put him on his back. It was great. If you are wondering, there were girls there, and they were pleading with us to lay off, especially after Lowel freaked out and started punching people, but you know what, we never learn.
I’d also like to say thanks to the kids who put my birthday cake inside my pillowcase. You know who you are, and watch your back, the site is on you.
Around 2am I opened the fridge and to my dismay, we had run out of PBR, (though I neglected to remember the 12 pack I had stashed). At this point it was time to wrangle up the kids and send them on their way. We were lucky everyone bounced when they did, because 10 minutes later the cops showed up. They can’t do anything, but it’s still a pain in the ass.
The whole group headed over to 2A and for some reason I thought this was a good idea. All I could remember is that the bar was so fucking dark, and Saturday I realized it was because my shades were on. Eventually I had made it to the bar with Cami who turned to order us shots at which point I ducked out like a bastard and called it an evening.
Shitfest Take Two.
Saturday morning Builder, Miriam and I got up early to pick up the apartment before they headed out of town. Around 1pm Cami and I met for some breakfast at this Soul/Southern food joint on 12th Street between A & B. The food was great and the service was sweet, but catfish and sausage gravy was not what my stomach needed.
Cami and I went back to 186 to hang on the fire escape while listening to the new David Cross record. I’ve said it before, but everyone needs to hear this record because Cross is a genius. We retired to the indoors where we sat around and played Trivial Pursuit. One of us did really well, and I’ll leave it to you figure out who. Oveis stopped by on his way home from the draft, (check out the post below). We hung out for awhile before heading to Mike’s party.
Saturday was Mike’s (from Bside/Jagerbomb fame) birthday and he had a bitching party in his backyard in the LES. We arrived a bit on the early side and partook in the PBR keg he had picked up. It was a great setting to segue into the evening. Watching the sun set while sipping cold beer in a killer backyard is right next to heaven in all time awesomeness. It made me feel like I was back in San Francisco with my little sister at some random barbeque. The place was full of kids like Sivan, Josh, Stevo, Sam, Leah, Megan and a slew of new peps. Big props go out to Mike for being on the ball and picking us up a couple of Bouncing Souls tickets.
By 8pm Cami, Leah and I were on our way to Crif Dog to pick up some grub before Cami and I headed to Bowery. We ate our food while I sat and read a bunch of questions from the Simpson’s Jeopardy game that is in their box of fun. Cami and I had time to kill so we stopped at International Bar for a quick Beast.
We got to the Bowery as Seachange was ripping into their first song which is also my favorite track of theirs; Glitterball. They were so right on and as I’ve said before, a band that everyone should check out, especially if they are into weighty Brit rock. During the change over (sidenote: at this point I was gone) we said hello to Beach, Daylen, Liz, Noah, Lucy and Mohawk who had all made their way to the back and were ready for some serious GBV action. Carlos showed up so Beach, him and I headed upstairs for a quick tequila shot before heading back down to see Bob Pollard do some serious leg kicks. Their set was outstanding, and Bob was simply out of control. It made for a great fucking close to a couple of nights of hard drinking.
Sunday I woke up a bit late and had to explain to the landlord why kids were in the hall so late on Friday which was a pain in my ass. So the next time you are at 186 do not go out into the hall to use your phone, make out or puke (Stevo! But thanks for doing it into a bag). Noah and I met up over at my friend Becky’s house. Becky has recently moved to the city from the dirty Jerz and she is a welcomed addition to the hood. After escaping the mess in her hallway, (some jackass set off a fire extinguisher) we made our way to Odessa for a sub par meal from one of my favorite establishments.
After the meal, we returned to 186 to waste away the rest of the day in the living room. The three of us got into some more Pursuit battles that had Becky coming out on top. Eventually, Kasha, Beach, Kristen, Builder and Stevo showed up and we settled into a viewing of the Todd Philips classic, Old School. My intention was to head to Pianos to see Jeanie’s set along with Dennis’ but it never panned out. I was also told that Adam played a Luna show last night so I’d like to send out my apologies to everyone, but if you saw me this weekend, you would understand why a day off was necessary.
After some spooky dreams and a serious morning, I’ve slipped into my afternoon in the office and I still have a pile of work on my desk that I can barely see over. But that’s beside the point.
Live Fast, Die Young.
4 Days until I leave for Coachella! I can't wait to cuddle with Whitney and pee on Paul!
I'd also like to send a shout out to Mr. Oveis; thanks for reading.
Today’s Ipod Mix included: The Pixies, Gigantic (live); Alton Ellis, I Don’t Want to be Right; The Beatles, Every Little Thing; Led Zeppelin, Whole Lotta Love; The Postal Service, Nothing Better; Devo, Gut Feeling; Beck, New Pollution; Weezer, Falling for You; Elvis Costello, Watching the Detectives; Pavement, The Hexx.
Draft Day.
In the six round of this afternoon's NFL Draft, Alec Oveis was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles as a kicker. Check out his picture.
We Gonna Party Like It's Your Birthday.
So today marks the golden birthday. 23 on the 23rd. I'm old. I feel old. I'm hungover. I feel hungover. Are we going to party tonight? You bet. Where? You tell me.
I'd like to thank my mom's womb for having me. It was great. Don't ever change. I would also like to thank all the people from my Catholic Church. Without your gossip ring and evil tendencies, I may never have gotten out of Clearfield
Do Yourself A Favor.
Go to the new Do's and Don'ts section of this months Vice. You can get there by clicking the link of this peach. And remember to check out the Don'ts page. It's a riot.
I'm An Idiot.
Despite my massive anticipation of the Dirty On Purpose show, I fucking missed it because the bartender at Mars bar gave me huge shots of tequila. My apologies to Jin, Dj, Joe and the rest of the crew. More on this later.
Happy Birthday Kyle!
In Case You Weren't Aware.
Come to Pianos this evening to hear the progressive sounds of the Brooklyn based rock outfit, Dirty On Purpose. Check out the invite and start your weekend early.
See you at the show.
Weather Is Cool.
For those of your heading to Indio, California next week, check out what we have to look forward to. This is going to be genius.
My sunburn will be worse than John Candy's in that film Summer Rental.
Check This Out.
In my unending quest to shape your opinion, I'm posting a couple links to some jive that's been scribbled this past week. Check out my Flavorpill listing for Sunday nights Q and Not U show at the Bowery. Also, my first article for Sugarzine has been posted. It is an Under the Radar piece which was an attempt to give some exposure to some worthy bands. Just click this link for the article.
Eating Like A Cuban King.
Last night Sivan and I decided to treat ourselves to some delicious Spanish grub at Paladar which is located on Ludlow Street between Houston and Stanton. It is a favorite of Sivan’s and now it ranks high on this guy’s list. We slid in just before the end of happy hour so we scored some cheap Strawberry Daiquiri. They also hook you up with some chickpea and black bean (separate) dips along with some chips. We split a couple of huge apps which included some steamed mussels and fried calamari. The meal could have ended there, but we pressed on and split a Cuban sandwich that came with fries and a salad. We settled up and waddled our stuffed bodies down the street toward my apartment. Sivan stopped at San Loco to say hello to some friends so I took that opportunity to get a takeout Margarita from El Sombrero.
The WhOa.C.
We returned to 186 and got comfortable for a couple hours of solid programming. After watching Seth Green try to paw up Donna on That Seventies Show, we saw one of the divas get cut from the American Idol contest. But none of that mattered because the import show was still on the way.
With only 3 episodes of the O.C. left this season (that includes last night), the O.C. potluck has dwindled in numbers and conviction. We did manage to have a solid crew that included Sivan, Sean, Sarah, Stevo, Karen, Kyle, Noah and me. Though I wasn’t expecting it, last night’s episode had a lot of action. Seth totally blew it with Summer’s pops so now they are on the rocks, even after Seth said, “Your dad won’t need a menu because he will be eating out of my hand.” Marissa and Ryan are peaches and cream despite Teresa moving into the Cohen’s pool house due to Eddie’s flying fists. The show has turned to the adults for new plot lines. Jimmy has shacked up with Kristen’s little sister while Julie’s sister showed up at the shower to embarrass her. Caleb is still an old man with a wrinkly dick.
Next week a bomb will be dropped when Teresa explains that she can’t go back to Chino because she is preggers. Whose baby will it be? Sivan thinks it’s Ryan’s which could spell trouble for our super hero.
Post O.C. Rock Show.
After the TV Fever, Noah, Stevo and I skipped down the block (we didn’t actually skip; Greens are Gay) to the Mercury where DTL’s band, Circle and Square were getting ready to hit. Dan told me that he didn’t want to talk to me and said I was there out of spite, but it was in the playful “fuck you” manner that we treat each other. Hawkins, Ghory and Uncle Mike were in the joint so we moved to the backroom to catch some of the rock.
I haven’t seen Circle and Square since sophomore year which seems to be ages ago. They were playing out at the Luna and Mikey told me to make the trip to see these kids. They have come a long way since those days, and their sound has developed into a hybrid that contains equal parts Fugazi, Weezer and At the Drive In. Dan plays some interesting drum parts that would cause me to lose time faster than Paul loses it with a hot girl or any girl for that matter. They also have some angular riffs that lean toward the math side of rock, but they bring big solos too keep things light. Not a bad show, and I want to let DTL know if he needs a hug, I’m here for him.
After The Show Is The After Party.
We ran into Jin and her friend Anna who plays in Knife Skills at the show, so we (including Hawk and Ghory) decided to try the Library for a post show drink. Our time there was cut short because the place smelled like the worst dump ever. Jin took another picture of me which she must delete. Well, actually I believe it was kind of cool. Anyway, we skipped that shithole (literally) and went to 2A for a couple of beverages. Anna told me about her adventures as a Texas lady while I charmingly spilled a drink on my crotch. At that point it was time to check out and go home to listen to the new David Cross record.
If you are wondering? It’s fantastic.
Wednesday Short Stack.
Justin Hawkins to go under the knife! The Darkness front man will receive throat surgery due to some serious heartburn problems. How are they connected? I just don't know. Let me ask you this... Do we still care about this band?
Check out Pitchfork's Found Sound feature. It's a goldmine for audiophiles.
I love the Cure just as much as the next kid, but I am failing to get excited at this news. It is like an unwanted step brother who is shows up and isn't as cool as your real one. Actually, I don't have any brothers.
The Hold Steady are profiled in this weeks Village Voice.
Spin has some tidbits and photos from the Pixies show in Minneapolis.
I'm A Slave For Bones.
Do you have Windows Media Player? If so, you should click this link and listen to These Bones' cover of Britney Spears' single Toxic.
Apparantly they played it at the last Luna show, but Sean told me half of the crowd didn't know it was a cover because it was dripping with Bones rock sleeze. Check it out and realize that pop song writers should be sending their songs to rock bands.
I Like Your Mom.
Since I already sent out an email regarding my mother's 50th birthday, than you may not need to read this portion. For those of you who didn't receive the email and are New York gurus, please drop me an email if you have any ideas on what I can pick her up for the big day. She will be in the NYC from Sunday, May 9th until Tuesday, May 11th, but the only block of time I have for her is Monday morning and afternoon. Many of you have suggested a spa or massage which is what I'm leaning towards now, but if someone has something full of awesomeness that I can get my mother and her sisters into on the 10th, than pass it on and be ready for the love. Thanks so much!
Burn It Down.
As many of you know, yesterday was April 20, 2004 which means it was 4/20. The glorious day where potheads and hippies everywhere celebrate some make believe holiday. It's like Saint Patrick's Day for the drunks. It's like Christmas for the Jews. It's just another reason to get fucked up. Did I smoke the green for the holiday? Of course not, but I did do a knifer.
In other holiday news: Happy Secretary's Day to all of you who hump desks and pick up phones for a living, (keep in mind this includes me).
Get Busy Tonight.
My initial plan for this evening was to get some work done, but at this point the heavens are opening up and splashing us with a slew of options that must be exploited.
1. You must watch the O.C. Marrissa is planning to drop the bomb at her mother's wedding shower while Ryan has to deal with that ghetto fab ex of his who is getting beat up by her fiannce. Word on the street is that one more character will be leaving the show before the season is done. We have already lost Anna and Luke, but who could be next? My money is Caleb has a heartattack once he hears that Julie was sleeping with his grandson's buddy.
2. Rana will be putting on one of their solid rock shows down at Tribeca this evening. They have just returned from a few shows out west so go lend these Jersey boys some support.
They recently finished their new record, so make sure to ask them about it.
3. I haven't seen Circle and Square in quite some time so I'll probably catch their set after the show. They will be hitting at 10:30pm at the lovely Mercury Lounge. Be there or be square, (I couldn't resist).
4. There is also a listening party for the second full-length by the French Kicks titled The Trial of the Century, at HiFi this evening.
Get there around 8pm to grab an early listen and some $2 Red Stripe.
Haircuts And Super Rock.
Some people are just plain awesome. Some of those people are having a big party tomorrow night at Pianos to celebrate the upcoming release of Dirty on Purpose's (first official) Ep, Sleep Late for a Better Tomorrow. They will be playing with Qatsi and having a bitching after party featuring Miss Modernage and Jo Divestar on the decks.
Check out the crazy artwork on this one. Those kids are great.
Guess who got a haircut?
Fix Up, Look Sharp.
Even though we have lost Wilco to rehab or whatever the story is, we can rejoice in the fact that we will have the 2 steppin Brit Dizzee Rascal to look after us while we wonder through Indio.
Dizzee has confirmed the upcoming festival.
Whitney Is A Tough Guy.
So today I received an email from Whitney down in our nation's capital. He told me he got into a bike accident which is preventing him from flying to Coachella. He sustained a concussion and three broken fingers along with the bumps you see here:
He will no longer be joining us. He will be dying later. Oh and in case you are wondering, this is a joke. The bastard was doing a movie shoot.
The Hits Keep Coming!
Another big show has just been confirmed. If you are unable to see the Shins with Morrissey, maybe you will be lucky enough to score a ticket to their May 9th show at the Bowery Ballroom. I don't know when tickets go on sale, but they will go quick.
Big Show Additions!
I've just been informed of two amazing shows that have been confirmed. Check these out if you get the chance.
1. The May 7th Morrissey show @ the Apollo Theater has just confirmed the Shins as an opener. This should change the world. I'm dreaming of a ticket. Moz will also have the New York Dolls opening for him on the other dates. Can I get a collective, "Holy Shit!"
2. On May 27th the Mercury Lounge may be brought to its knees because the Thermals, the Hold Steady and the Panthers have all confirmed this show. Bring it on!
The Rundown. Part Second.
With Friday shrinking in the rear view, Saturday became a welcomed fresh start. It began with brunch at Mogador. Yes, I know this establishment has been discussed before, but I would like to reiterate that it may be the best brunch in the neighborhood despite what Sarah has to say about Clinton Street (though that place rocks, as you will read later). Lowel, Howerton, Builder, Miriam and I settled into the corner for a delicious meal. We were interrupted by some Coo’ing coming from the door. We could have sworn it was Oveis, but no one showed their face. Is it possible that kids are now Coo’ing from seeing us? Have we started a trend? I hope the answer lies in the negative.
We returned to 186 where Dee and I proceeded to fill the fridge with Jello shots. Those little party favors are trouble. Throughout the day I proceeded to eat so many and by the time the party came around, I was totaled, but we will get to that.
Sidenote: Is this blog just the ramblings of a sloppy drunk? Has my reputation been tarnished by the rants about tossing my shit all over the East Village? I hope my mom never Googles me. She may find this blog or even this picture.
After the shots were made and dinner had been ordered, Noah, Sean, Kyle, Greg and I hung low while trying to muster the strength to go big that evening. Karl, Emily, Simon and Scott showed up before we were able to pass out while watching the Mummy Returns. This is when the fall of hate began. We were tossing Jello shots around like peanut venders at Yankee Stadium. We each took somewhere in the vicinity of 10 shots before heading to Bside. It was a disgusting display of pure hedonism and I loved it.
Were You There?
Who the fuck? What the fuck?
Saturday night was a shit show. I’d like to thank all the kids that came out to help celebrate 186’s birthdays, but to be honest I can’t remember who the fuck was there. Hell, my night ended with Amen wanting to kick my ass for bouncing on the hood of a car. Who does that? It was the tequila I tell you. The tequila. Stevo and I managed to control the pool table for the first hour of the evening, but eventually that evaporated and all stability was lost. Special thanks to Sivan for letting us get fucking plowed at her bar. She said there is Jello everywhere which prompts the question; why weren’t you people putting it in your mouths? Also special thanks to Sivan and Karen for making us personalized cupcakes. Amy also brought in a cake that was top of the pops. There were many Culkins to be had that evening, and to my recollection, I was a part of all three. You can read about them below. The evening got seriously blurry and in the next moment I was waking up in my bed struggling with the realization that the party was now over, (or was it?).
Nothing Is Over Until We Say It’s Over.
Nothing could have prepared me for the battle that was done on Sunday. Upon rising, I was met in the kitchen by Gabe who was going through his early morning ritual that I have grown accustomed to after he lived on the couch during his winter break. We were joined by Rob, Builder and Alex who had received a drunken shaming by Howerton that consisted of some artistic penises drawn on his cheeks. The five of us decided to man up and finish the Jello shots that were left in the fridge. By 12:30pm I had four shots and was well on my way to wasting the day. We sat in the dark and passed a bottle of whiskey until some of the kids decided to go pick up Clinton Street Bakery breakfast. They make this dish called the Spanish Scramble that would knock your socks off. Eventually I collected myself and met Liz, Leah and Cami who were hanging out on Liz’s stoop. Leah, Cami and I made it over to the dog park, but Cami and I quickly broke out to enjoy some afternoon bevvies at Croxley Ale House on Avenue B. This place (despite being a bit out of place) is a stellar sports bar with loads of beer on tap. This didn’t matter to us because we have a fondness for Canadian Club, but it will appeal to those of you who search for the perfect beer as though it is the Holy Grail.
On our walk back to 186 we ran into Dennis Cahlo and the always lovely Audrey who were grabbing some ice cream before heading back to Dennis’ show at Pianos. Next Sunday is your last chance to see the 7th Day Residency series that has featured Dennis’ reflective acoustic song writing. He has recently picked up another guitar player, and I’m excited to see them both in action on Sunday. Did I mention the show was free and that Hightower Smith will be playing early? Fuck the Sopranos, this kid has the goods.
Cami and I made our way out to the fire escape where we continued to sip Canadian Club in the company of Kyle. Eventually Sean bones, Noah, Beach, Oveis and Christie came over before Sam Champion’s show. Christie brought me a birthday present she had purchased at the 6th Ave flea markets. It was a few acetate records that looked amazing and one was Let the Good Times Roll. Classic.
So we strolled over to the show and saddled up for a great set by Noah who was without the rest of Sam Champion. It was kind of strange watching him up on stage by his lonesome, but his charisma shinned through. He played all the hits from the upcoming (where is it!) record and even added some harmonica parts. Ms. Moon and I had some discussions about which songs we liked the best and the “cuddle song” that she mentioned was Can’t See the Stars. Sean bones joined Noah on stage for a few songs and they looked great together. At this point, drunkenness had set in, and I was ready to rock. They did a great job while keeping it loose and playful.
After the show, I ran downstairs to say good show to the boys. Jin was down there and she snapped a picture of me and proceeded to show me a picture she had from the previous evening outside of Bside. Jin please delete that picture. I would like to erase the evening from my memory.
Oveis and I went back to the house to pick up Kyle, Christie and Cami on our way to Festival. It’s been a few weeks since I’ve gone to that joint which is quite a shame. We managed to pack it in while I took more tequila shots and also spilled some down the front of me.
A Case Of The Mondays.
My stomach was a mess after the weekend, so I decided to take it easy Monday and call in. The sick day is a beautiful thing, especially when you don’t have many vacation days to spare. After taking it easy throughout the morning, I had some lunch with Builder (who is now in Chitown), Jeanie, Hawk and Adeira. Eventually I made it to the park to take in some of the day before heading back home to do some work.
The evening was great. I ran into Beach and Justin who were cleaning the last of Beacheros stuff out of Red Square. Liz met me at Beach’s new pad and we hit the streets for an evening stroll. We ran into Cami and Flynne on our way to Leah and Barb’s house. We hung out in Stytown for a bit before heading back home. It was a great weekend capped off by a solid afternoon.
Now I’m back in my cube catching up on some missed work. What does tonight hold in store for this superhero? I may check out the Prosaics at Sin-e. Does anyone have any other suggestions?
Weekend Shit Show.
Who knows how many of you crossed my path this weekend, but rest assured you probably saw me at my worst. Bender may not be the correct word, but it works. Trying to find a beginning or an end to all of it has become a daunting task for this wannabe wordsmith. What follows is a recount of the stories that have been passed on, shared and experienced by yours truly. And yes, it will be in list format.
Top Ten Drunk People of This weekend..
10. PenisFace: He got cocks drawn all over his face. He also has great stories about eating butt.
9. Miriam: She had a great puking experience outside of the bar.
8. Mikey: That kid can throw a keg party, but he should try not to drink the whole keg.
7. Leclare: Was he even there? He may have been the only kid drunker than me.
6. Dee: This fire is out of control.
5. Sean BigM: That kid was tossed. Good form.
4. Kyle: He tried to walk and broke his ankle again.
3. Karl the Rapper: For his undying persistence to eat as many Jello shots as possible and his logical discussion regarding the physics of a good bender.
2. The Hawk: And I quote “Was Xanex or Aderall that I just ate?” He also fought Oveis outside Bside.
1. Jay “Ortega” Belin: Of course I’m number one. Did you see me this weekend? Embarrassing. I should have John Williams score my weekends.
Top Five Physical Feats.
5. Sean bones going for the onstage Culkin of Chernin. Sorry I dropped the ball.
4. Builder’s Brunch skills. That kid is methodical. Keep your hands and feet inside until the ride has come to a complete stop.
3. The Culkin executed on me while I was holding a box of Jello shots. How many spilled? None.
2. Kyle hitting a homerun during Saturday’s Wiffle Ball battle. Did I mention he is on crutches and can’t put weight on his right foot.
1. Hawkins and Oveis fought outside of the bar after Alec and I Culkined Hawkins. They were on the ground, and Oveis got pretty scratched up.
Hard Dude Award.
Everyone who woke up at 186 and proceeded to get trashed before noon. Definitely best in show.
The Rundown. Part Uno.
Can anyone tell me why my ear hurts so much? Did someone punch me in the head? I’m serious here. It hurts so much.
Anyway, Friday started with a 7:15pm showing of Kill Bill Volume 2 at the Lowe’s on Third Avenue and something street. Christie organized a large group that included Hawk, Dee, Kyle, Julia and I. We got some solid seats and settled in for another fantastic effort from Quentin. His films are so spot on. That guy can write some dialog. The whole thing clicks. The story about the fish dying was amazing. The first film had more eye candy, but this one filled in all the story holes left from the earlier picture. There were some daring visual elements to Volume 2 (pitch dark screen and the scene with the monk), but they don’t rival the violence of Volume 1.
After the flick, Hawk, Christie, Julia and I caught a quick Blue 9 Burger. I saw the bass player from Surefire in the restaurant, but I don’t know the guy. Are those kids in college? They look really young, but they are doing quite well for themselves.
We hopped the L Train and headed to Mike and Katie’s party out in Williamsburg. We were greeted by Stevo, Jordan and the rest of the gang that assembled quickly when word of a free keg began to spread. The apartment was full of kids so the beer ran out on the early side so we got 99 cent 22’s and DTL even got a six pack of tall boys for under four dollars. For the life of me I can’t remember the brand, so fill me in Dan. My favorite part of the evening was talking ska with Margo and Katie. We ran down the list of ridiculous ska that we used to rock out to. Then a mix tape had an Op Ivy track along with NOFX and Less Than Jake songs. It was a trip down memory lane. All I can say is Johnny Quest knows I sold out.
Eventually the beer ran out and the surely attitude brewing was an indication for me to get myself home. Lowel and I split a car back into the LES where I met Dee to get the ingredients for the Jello fiesta. Once home, I decided to let the booze take hold, and I passed out before getting work. A couple batches were made so I had some for breakfast the next morning.
That’s just the beginning. Saturday and Sunday were crazy, but I can’t get into that right now. A four-week rule may have to be called on them.
Thanks for reading my dribble. More to come tomorrow.
Broken Record.
Since these parties will be amazing, I feel the need to post the information one more time. This is just an attempt to keep it at the top of the page, so look at it if you haven't seen it, and prepare to rock if you are already aware.
Friday (16th) Night Keg in the Burg!
This party is sponsored by Mike "Your Baby's Daddy" Rothfeld and Katie "Get Your Hands Up My Skirt" Notopolous who are splitting the duty of birthday shithead. Katie's birthday was on Tuesday while Mikey's victory day is today (Happy Birthday you sexy beast). The party is being held at Katie and Amy's apartment and will kick off around 10pm. The directions follow:
- 43 Bushwick Ave #2f, Williamsburg.
- Take the L to Grand St. Take a left when you exit the subway.
- #43 is 2 blocks down where Ainslie St would be if it went through the other side of Bushwick.
Saturday (17th) Night Shitshow in Alphabet City!
This party is being held in honor of Josh "Meat is Murder" Builder, Jay "I'm Now MIA" Belin and Kyle "The Imaginary Friend" Lawrence. If you haven't worn yourself out by this point, make sure to come by Bside where we will be sharing in the joy of cheap tequila and free Jello shots. Sivan has approved the latter and we plan to turn this place out. I know it will be packed, but what better way to make out with someone? And don't hog the bathrooms with your make out partners; some people don't like peeing in the street. So we will turn this place out around 10pm so get there early so we can get superfucked by 11pm. Did I say there will be free Jello shots? Look at how college I can be.
- Bside is on Avenue B between 12th & 13th Street.
- Come ready to be Culkined.
Kyle, Builder and I purchased a case of vodka last night, so rest assured there will be enough shots for everyone, but if you ask me for them, you will be denied!
Lost Talent.
This morning a Portland four-piece who called themselves the Exploding Hearts came up on the Ipod shuffle. If you have yet to hear their debut (and ultimately, final) record Guitar Romantic, than get down to Kim's or Other Music and pick yourself up a copy. It's prime for any late 70's punk lover, though the record was made with special attention being given to the pop elements that are embedded in the style. These boys have the leather clad look and feel of the Ramones, and though their songs have the same punch as the boys from Queens, their songs are more geared towards the sex crazed Buzzcocks. The sound is more reminiscent of the bubblegum side of the Undertones and other great early punk pop bands like the Dickies and a less bratty Replacements.
Unfortunately the Exploding Hearts careers were cut short at the end of last summer when they had an accident while driving home from a show in California. Two members died in the car accident while the lead singer, who had a preexisting heart condition, died of heart failure at the site of the accident. One member and their manager survived the crash. It is a horrible incident that cut their careers and lives short. Give them a try, you may be pleasantly surprised with the genuine nature of their punk attitude.
Hating Music Should Be Easier.
Do you know what today is? In my book, we call it a super Friday. You know what I’m talking about. That glorious bi-weekly day where your work week comes to an end and your labor is paid off in wage form. Today I received a check for my expert administrative work and at lunch time some of that hard earned scratch was dropped at Other Music in pursuit of the perfect record. To be exact, I spent $86 dollars on records, most of which I’ve never heard before (with the exception of the new Modest Mouse and some of the Seachange full length). What compels us to spend cold hard cash on these “take a chance” records? Lord knows my refrigerator could use something other than ketchup and mustard, but I refuse to drop dimes on food when there is new music to be heard. Many have told me that I’m wasting my time with this new music.
Unfortunately, I can guarantee that half of the music bought today will get no more than five spins in the stereo before making their way to the bookshelf where they will learn how to collect dust and play nice with the other long forgotten discs. So why do I waste my money? Because I’m a fucking junkie and no matter how much I rationalize my purchases the bottom line remains that my broke ass shouldn’t be spending dough on anything but loan payments and peanut butter. I fucking hate peanut butter.
Another Night In.
Thursday was met with the same excitement as the rest of the week which means none. After putting together a set of questions to send out to The Pleased, Josh picked me up and we went to the liquor store across the street from the old apartment to purchase the vodka for Saturday’s party. It is going to be very festive (stole that from a Cali girl I like). We came back downtown and I finished up some work before Liz came over to watch Kill Bill. Yeah, it was my second time this week, but I want the movie to be fresh because a group of us are taking it in before heading out to the keg party this evening. It should be great. Liz may not want this mentioned, but she fell asleep during the final fight scene. Who does that?
Forgotten Goodness.
Some bands have slid to the margins of underground music, but there is one band that I (along with Mike) would like to carry the torch for; The Impossibles from Austin Texas. Buy their records. Any emo loving Weezer fan will fall head over heals for this now defunct band. They have a couple of records, but rest assured they all are amazing, (even the Brick Bomb Ep). If you need a sampler let me know.
Today's Ipod Mix included: Led Zeppelin, Whole Lotta Love; Junior/Senior, Good Girl Bad Boy; Exploding Hearts, Modern Kicks; The Beatles, Mr. Moonlight; Creedence, Lodi; The Pleased, No Style; Minor Threat, Good Guys; Girls Against Boys, Life In Pink; The Kinks, Susannah's Still Alive; Sea Ray, Lalaland; Pavement, Rattled By the Rush.
Rock Out With The O.C.
Liz McDonald is such a huge fan of the show that every Thursday she spends her mornings googling the names of each cast member to come up with new tidbits for her O.C. Blog. Ok, so she has never seen the show and she has a hard on for hating it (think cross armed hipsters trying to keep their jaded front at a Strokes show), but she was doing some VH1 research on Mischa and she came across this article. Read the last question.
While you are rocking out to Radiohead or the Pixies, I'm going to be making out with Summer and Marissa. Maybe even Seth, (if I'm drunk enough).
Say It With Me... Party.
Now that the weekend has officially started (by the Williamsburg rule of Thursday is the new Friday) I can discuss this weekend's party plans without any guilty feelings. If you have yet to hear about the birthday parties going down this weekend, then you better listen up, take notes and tell your friends. I'll go in chronological order so no one is confused:
Friday (16th) Night Keg in the Burg!
This party is sponsored by Mike "Your Baby's Daddy" Rothfeld and Katie "Get Your Hands Up My Skirt" Notopolous who are splitting the duty of birthday shithead. Katie's birthday was on Tuesday while Mikey's victory day is today (Happy Birthday you sexy beast). The party is being held at Katie and Amy's apartment and will kick off around 10pm. The directions follow:
- 43 Bushwick Ave #2f, Williamsburg.
- Take the L to Grand St. Take a left when you exit the subway.
- #43 is 2 blocks down where Ainslie St would be if it went through the other side of Bushwick.
Saturday (17th) Night Shitshow in Alphabet City!
This party is being held in honor of Josh "Meat is Murder" Builder, Jay "I'm Now MIA" Belin and Kyle "The Imaginary Friend" Lawrence. If you haven't worn yourself out by this point, make sure to come by Bside where we will be sharing in the joy of cheap tequila and free jello shots. Sivan has approved the latter and we plan to turn this place out. I know it will be packed, but what better way to make out with someone? And don't hog the bathrooms with your make out partners, some people don't like peeing in the street. So we will turn this place out around 10pm so get there early so we can get superfucked by 11pm. Did I say there will be free Jello shots. Look at how college I am.
- Bside is on Avenue B between 12th & 13th Street.
- Come ready to be Culkined.
Holy O.C.
This show just won't quit. After all the drama last night, they have the balls to show Teressa in the upcoming episode. Why won't that girl go away? Ok, so it looks like Eddie is beating her up, but why does she have to run to Ryan? Anyway, last night's episode was shared by Kristen, Adam, Noah, D, Kyle, Puja and I. Who knew Puja was such a diehard fan? So Julie Cooper is going to be Cohen's grandma and Sandy's mother-in-law! Kaleb's black mailing of Marissa was way out of line. Poor Jimmy, if only he could have refrained from being a crook. And Luke, oh Luke. You will no longer be in our show. I can't say I'm upset, but they could have at least killed him in the car accident. C'mon...!
Another Lazy Night.
It was in fact another night of doing nothing. Burke and Amy came over for a quick hang before they head to Canada and then back to Australia. Burke gave me a cd that his band Gerling made. I'll get into that more later, but for now, I have a deadline to hit, so that's all you get.
Today's Ipod Mix included: Oasis, Shakemaker; Libertines, I Get Along; Neil Young, After the Gold Rush; Pavement, 2-Rich is Stained; Blur, For Tomorrow; Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Century City; Pixies, Bone Machine; Nirvana, Serve the Servants; Gang of Four, History is Bunk!; Minor Threat, Sob Story; Seachange, Glitterball.
Looking At Stuff Is Fun.
Today's lunch hour was spent sifting through the videos on NME. If you aren't someone who does this all too often, I suggest you add it to your web list of things to check (hopefully this blog is on there). Anyway, this is what I found.
1. My favorite Franz Ferdinand song has been made into a video. This video rocks as much as the band does.
2. One of the Killers better tracks, Somebody Told Me, has also become a killer (no pun intended) video.
3. The not so under the radar act, Dogs Die in Hot Cars, has a visually stunning video for their song God Hopping. Can I get a thumbs up for symetry!
4. I don't know what to make of this song or this band, but the 15 year old girl inside me (named Paul) wants to love it. The Ordinary Boys new single Week In Week Out.
Got Bush?
Is it me or has the rest of America gone absolutely fucking nuts? Maybe they've come back down from their moral high ground that prevented them from voting for a Democrat who served under President who enjoyed a good twirl, but I’m not keeping my hopes up. After President Bush’s ridiculous address last to the nation last night, he fielded questions from reporters who allowed the former cocaine user to avoid answering the tough questions with the use of bullshit sorrow, fear inducing statements and some divine rhetoric that was sent from his heavens. The motherfucker was so hell bent on keeping his holier than thou attitude that he never once said he felt personally responsible for the hundreds of American deaths in Iraq and when probed about his biggest mistake in office, monkey boy came up empty. What about the economy George? How about the environmental destruction? What about your negligence in taking a threat like 9/11 seriously? You are a tit. And I hope each of you get to the booths in November to vote against this monster.
I’m Losing My Edge.
No coffee has been ingested. No wake up call was received. I’m sitting behind my desk trying to figure out what happened with the last two days of my life and my inquiry is coming up empty. Some writing and piles of emails is all I have to show for these shortened evens that have been filled with knifers and whiskey. It’s making me realize exactly why I stopped smoking in the first place. The shit drawls the life right out of me. Time to clean up again. Look sharp. Get yourself back on a healthy regiment of drinking and hangovers nursed with Emergen-C. Why do the days appear to be so short? Can anyone stop this?
Does She Know?
After seeing a specialist, Muse's front man has been cleared to play the NYC show. The tequila dumptruck should be arriving around 9pm.
Could it be true? Could Interpol finally follow up their supurb debut record? Filter claims that the NYC foursome will do so in September. Do you smell those secret NYC gigs? Look out for wacky monikers in the listings, (i.e. The Shitty Beatles aka The Strokes).
David Byrne has an interview in the new Onion. Would someone please read it and tell me if its worth the time?
NME has all the goods on the Pixies first live show in a decade. Check out the set list and all those holding Coachella tickets, make sure to have napkin close. You may drull. U-Mass! Debaser! Broken Face! I need to change my underwear.
My Morning Jacket will be playing double headers on their up coming tour with M Ward. The hairy boys of MMJ will be backing up Ward.
Exclaim! provides us with a biography of the So-Cal punk forefathers, The Descendents. Mike, you will love this one.
Donkey Punch?
If you missed the boat on Snow Patrol tickets for the sold out Bowery Ballroom show, enter this contest at Filter and keep your fingers and toes crossed.
These headlines have to make you chuckle. At least in that second grade, someone just said the word pussy, way. C'mon. New Probe? If that's not a gut buster, what is? In case you care, the story is about MJ fucking more kids.
The Simpsons is life. Life is the Simpsons. Or so say's this Brooklyn College Sophomore. The voices of the Simpsons have suddenly discovered their worth and are asking for a pay increase.
The Warlocks hang out with Popmatters and fight the feeling that they are a jam band.
This is one small step against piracy; one giant leap for people who make horrible music and are in need of free publicity. Oh wait, I'm sorry. Sophie Hawkins WAS nominated for a Grammy. The real crime here is that some schmuck paid $346 for the record.
This weeks Voice shows love for Jet, tries to fight their love for Franz Ferdinand, finds beauty deep in the Vines new record and starts crushing on a young punk-pop band from Florida.
Today's Ipod Mix includes: Gang of Four, Damaged Goods; Le Tigre, Friendship Station; The Shins, Know Your Onion!; The Libertines, Mayday; Blur, There's No Other Way; Guided By Voices, Game of Pricks; David Bowie, Round and Round; The Rolling Stones, Loving Cup; Jay-Z & Dj Danger Mouse, Encore; Stephen Malkmus, Vanessa From Queens.
Big Show Update.
Attention all rock hungry show-goers: The show listing found on the side of this page has been updated and all of the new additions have been marked by that oh-so-cool asterisk (*) that has made Stellastarr* famous. My favorite new addition is the Seachange show at Pianos. Get in line early, this one will be packed.
Also, if you want me to post your bands gig on the list, drop me an email with the date and venue and I'd be glad too. Just make sure your band doesn't suck.
Kyle Makes Me Feel Like Shit.
That broken ankle bastard of a man has me rethinking my evenings. While a large group of kids were hanging out in the living room watching a film, Kyle was sitting in the lime green thrown jamming away on his laptop. After awhile I asked him if it was his colloquium that he had been working on. He has written a huge rational and is now one step ahead of me in the graduation game. This means that I may have to disappear for a couple weeks and get my shit together. Don’t be surprised if I fall off the face for a bit, but believe me, if I ever resurface (hell, if I even fall off) it will be big. So big that you may want to wear your old shoes out so the new ones don’t get scuffed up.
Anticipation Rocks.
Yesterday’s office hours were spent daydreaming about Kill Bill. The film’s official DVD release is today, but I knew some shop on St. Marks would have the title ready for purchase. Noah and I checked out FYE after a quick lunch at the Waverly Diner.
Sidenote: Have you all experienced the glory of the Waverly Diner? I have been going to that joint since way back. Credit must be given to Christine Larson for introducing me to its goodness. Christine and I spent many hours discussing absolutely nothing of terrible importance over tuna melts and toasted corn muffins. The Waverly (as it is often refered to) is located on the northwest corner of 6th Avenue and Waverly. Tell them the president sent you.
The clerk at FYE gave a hesitant, “It’s not out till tomorrow,” response when I asked whether or not it was in stock. It felt as though his pause was to give me enough time to flash him some scratch, but I wasn’t going to pay five or ten dollars extra when I knew Norm’s would have it.
After work, I barreled through the rain to Astor Place Wines and Spirits to pick up a huge bottle of Canadian Club that would help keep me indoors this week. The shit is so cheap over there right now, so if you have a strong fondness for that brand of whiskey (I’m looking at you Cami) than cruise over to Astor Place and score the cheap big bottle.
With libations in hand, I pressed on to Norm’s. The clerk had some band news for me. Apparently they have been selling the DVD for weeks, but they were now out of them. It was on to Kim’s where I found numerous copies on the second floor. The clerk in this store was talking to some dude with a British accent. When I looked up, it was this writer for Nerve named Grant whom I’ve grown to know through this photo blog.
With the new gear in hand, and some more on the way thanks to Noah Champion, I was on my way home to hang out before the crew showed up. The dudes seemed to multiply last night. First it was Hawkins who cruised into 186 followed by Kyle, Noah, Matty G, Stevo, Lowel and eventually a D who was a welcomed entrant since she lacks the Y chromosome that was prevalent in all who preceded her. We ordered some grub and settled into Tarantino’s senior directorial effort.
If you haven’t seen Kill Bill than you don’t really know what you are missing. It is for anyone who loves a good revenge story, samurai flick, action movie, spaghetti western, anime picture or Tarantino film. The film is visually stunning and the nod to grindcore gore is genius. It will make you cringe at times, but keep your eyes open because you won’t want to miss a second. This has gotten me all too pumped up for Volume II which comes out this Friday.
Also, if you are wondering the name of Uma's character, Gawker posted that it's stated in this article from the TNY.
Shut Up Jay. Give Me Rock.
In the absence of all things music, I would like to post an email that was sent by Danni Tumbleweed aka Mohawk Jones aka Needsa Culkin regarding the second Unicorn’s set last night at the Knitting Factory. It is a solid recap of what I would expect from those crazy Canadians who hate condoms and love dancing.
In case you missed the 11pm Unicorns show last night at the Knitting Factory, I thought perhaps you might like to hear the highlights. Or lowlights. Depends on how you see it, because it was hilarious yet frivolously frustrating, (Mmm...Alliteration).
"Max Groadie, the World's Best Roadie," apparently the band's roadie, came out wearing a mullet wig and motorcycle glasses. He was either wasted or tripping or, as I came to think as the night went on, just kind of a dramatic jackass. Anyway, the Unicorns' set was almost rhythmically interrupted by Max as he grabbed microphones (broke one)
and told the crowd he was going to kill them, that he was crazy, invited them to kill him, told them all that when we die it's going to be something new, something different, and we can't imagine it, but he can (prompting me to wonder, where does he get his LSD, and can he spare some?).
At the onset of the show, he took out one of those cute-as-hell honey containers shaped like Pooh and poured Honey all over himself and into his mouth and well, it was pretty hilarious, until he got honey on the guitars and one the band members, and the keyboard. Equipment was stickified and fucked up, and after taking the stage an hour and 15 minutes late, they played I'd say a total of 35 minutes of music or so, the rest spent on in-between-song-banter, trying to get Max under control, going to wash off the honey, and getting the opening band's guitar because the Unicorns' own guitar was so honeyed up. But that ever so lovable we-will-stand-here-and-not-move, remembering-instead-how-things-were-once-better crowd at the knitting factory seemed to get a kick out of it.
Nice work Mohawk. Nice work. Oh, and did you notice (I'm sure you have) but your email address is a direct threat to all those in the Washington D.C. area code? You bastard.
Business At Hand.
Go figure. As soon as I write a post concerning my need to buckle down, I remember a number of things that are going on this evening. Don’t blow your load during the week though. We have a long weekend ahead of us. Tonight’s goodies include:
1. Drinks @ Bside in Honor of Jen’s Birthday.
2. Brendan Benson @ The Mercury Lounge (playing w/Mike & Will Realistic)
3. Blonde Redhead w/ Secret Machines @ Bowery Ballroom (Soldout!)
Hopefully I can muster the strength and wherewithal to abstain from my studies and forge ahead in the name of rock and tequila.
Tuesday's News Shorts.
Muse's lead singer Matt Bellamy fucked up his own face due to rock enduced raging. As of right now, the NYC show is still in the air, but things aren't looking good as Matt was flown to NYC to see a plastic surgeon. We may have to wait until Coachella to see these kids.
In other English boy band news, Blur is busy finishing up their new Ep while Albarn plans to head to Africa to get some afrobeat action on the new Gorillaz record.
Hot Hot Heat are still at work on the new record. Get the info here.
I love the MC5 but this tour does not sound like a good idea. Are they still going to do Black Power chants? The same could be said about this tour.
As I've told you before: Go See This Band!
Way to go Karen O! If I were you, I would have dumped Angus after that second record. Karen O! is now shacking up with Spike Jones.
Is it better to burn out or fade away. Well, Debbie Harry of Blondie is hoping the former is true. She gets an interview with Rolling Stones since she is now a diva.
A little late, but not to bad. Dave Eggers of Spin figures out why he loves the Kings of Leon. Make sure to read the ending, its classic.
Yuck.
Make sure you are near a TV at 8:30 this evening. You won't want to miss this press conference.
Today’s Ipod Mix included: The Strokes, Hard to Explain; Wipers, Messenger; Constantines, Thank You for Sending an Angel; Superchunk, Never to Young to Smoke; Beehive & the Barracuda, Cooped Up Like a Slave; Wilco, War on War; Junior/Senior, White Trash; Joy Division, Leaders of Men.
Dirty Old Sod.
Elise sent me this link where MSN tries to explain the reasoning behind the usage of Bob Dylan in the new Victoria Secret ads. Can you blame him?
Big Weekend Plans.
You must think I'm an asshole for bringing up the weekend when we are barely halfway through Monday, but I don't care because there is big weekend news brewing. April is a special month. During the sweaty summer month of July the parents of Jay, Mike, Katie, Kyle and Josh had some steamy sex and produced these five super heros who share birthdays this month. There will be a house party on Friday night followed by a bar party on Saturday night. Here are the specs:
Mike and Katies Bday Keg Bash
This Friday, the 16th, @ 10pm, there will be a party held in honor of the exiting of Katie Nototomoupoulous and Michael Rothfeldfeld (that's me) from their respective mothers' wombs, through their respective mothers' vaginas on april 15th and 13th respectively. Please join us in celebration of these bloody acts of exodus. Keg will be there. Donations are appreciated to help support his trust fund. The lil' rascal does live in willaimsburg after all.
Katie and Amy's place. 43 bushwick ave. #2f, Williamsburg. Take the L to grand st. take a left when you exit the subway. #43 is 2 blocks down where Ainslie st would be if it went through the other side of bushwick.
186 Birthday Bar Bash
This Saturday, the 17th @ 10pm there will be a party celebrating the achievements of Jay Belin (golden birthday: 23 on the 23rd), Kyle Lawrence (broken ankle boy also 23rd but 24) and Josh "I love Passover" Builder (23 on the 17th). These three boys have beaten the odds and managed to stay alive despite their fondness for drugs, alcohol and stripers. Come join these boys at Bside where we will be filling the bar with only the coolest and most beautiful of people, or anyone who will show up. There will be cupcakes, free jello shots (look for us passing them out) and some serious drink specials (shot of whiskey + rheingold for 5bones; shot of tequila and baby bud $4; and hopefully something else.) Sivan has been kind enough to let us spend our money at her bar while we occupy the bathrooms (make out appointments begin at 11pm).
So yeah, Bside is on Ave B (btwn 13th and 14th). We will be there between 10 and 11pm. This should be a rager. Hope to see you all out and about this weekend.
Mix Cd's, bottles of liquor and make out sessions are welcomed.
Tonight's Shows.
If you screwed up and didn't get an advance ticket for Blonde Redhead and the Secret Machines at Bowery, than don't wallow in your rockless evening, get off the couch and go see my friend, Chris Howertons' band, The Ick, at Mercury Lounge.
Leave Your Saturday Open!
I'm Telling you now so you can't give excuses. There is going to be a huge Birthday party for a bunch of kids (including me) this Saturday (April 17). It is going to get rowdy!
It’s Just Sex and Drugs and Rock n’ Roll.
Ian Dury once put it so eloquently, “Sex and Drugs and Rock n’ Roll. It’s all my brain and body needs. Sex and Drugs and Rock n’ Roll are very good indeed.” Well, the former and the latter were not present on my weekend home, but the middle item was certainly present. The best part of my recent trip home was the meals. Hands down, I ate like a king, and I am now bloated like the only American king, (Elvis, dickhead). Let me give you the rundown.
Thursday’s Are For Driving.
The Zangrilli sisters picked me up from work and we hit the road around 4:30pm. We were hoping to miss some traffic by leaving on Thursday; unfortunately every other New Yorker had the same idea. The ride home took us for ever. We didn’t get back to State College until 10pm or so. Christie drove the whole way home while Julia dowsed in and out of sleep and I played Dj. We arrived at their house and said hello to their rents before the second leg of my trip which was a half hour ride with my older sister back to her house. My little sister was waiting to start the third and final leg of my long trip home. Rachel gave us a tour of her new digs before we hit the road.
I finally crossed the threshold of old 203 around 11:30pm and mom greeted me with sleepy excitement. We exchanged a few words before she went up to bed and I went down to Trevor’s house. Trevor is definitely my solid when it comes to Clearfield. He took me to a bar where we talked football with this kid who graduated a few years ahead of us. Hanging out at a bar in Clearfield can guarantee you one of three things: see a bar fight, hear someone use racial slurs, or get hit on by a slutty looking mother. Tonight we were graced by the middle selection. Being home is glorious.
We made our way back to Trevor’s and my boy Matty showed up. We did drugs and talked about drugs until the sun came up. Soooo glorious.
The Rest Is A Blur.
After that evening the rest of the trip blurred into one big mess. The next morning, Christine and I watched School of Rock before heading to Walmart because we wanted to get a dorky picture together for Mom. It never happened because the assholes at Walfart told us we didn’t need a reservation, then when we showed up, they told us they were booked solid. What the fuck is that? So we went home and had a huge dinner with the family and Trevor. That night we went to Evan’s house to hang out with some kids he brought home from school along with all of Evan’s little sister’s friends. Trevor was doing quite well with the little girls before I left, but it didn’t pan out. Sucks for him.
The next day was ridiculous. I sat on our couch and watched 3 movies: Matchstick Men, Runaway Jury and Missing. All three were decent, but it was a complete waste of the day. Why wasn’t I out in the wilderness enjoying some of God’s country? Oh yeah, because I was on vacation. Trevor came over for our Easter Meal where my sister wanted to say grace, but everyone was pretty creped out by the request. Not wanting my little sister to feel weird about her call for pray, I raised my beer and said a toast something to the effect of, “To a good meal, a great family, our health, fast cars and fast women.” After the meal I retired back to the couch to watch the Knicks game and to drift into the end of the weekend.
Could This Get Worse?
Sunday I woke up and said goodbye before Trevor and I hit the road. We picked up the Zangrilli sisters a few stops down on Interstate 80. We got back to the city by 6pm and at this time my head cold had really picked up. For this reason I spent the night on the couch watching more TV. So much TV. I need some rock.
I’d like to think that going home has some profound effect on what I’m doing here in the city, but the fact remains is that everything is so fucking confusing these days. Reasoning seems muddled. Decisions seem forced. Everything is Bullshit. But at least I don’t have to hear any more “Fag” jokes.
My favorite part of the weekend was the discussion I had with my mother about "Rap Singers," also known as people who sing rap or singers of the rap.
Could Monday Be Festive?
If my trip to Norm's comes up roses. They usually have DVD's on sale prior to their release date, so I'm going to walk over there at lunch to see if they have Kill Bill Volume 1 for sale yet. I'll report back later, but if they do have it, whose down for a 186 hang with a bitching film?
Linkage For The Soul.
How do I get tickets to this? Who has connections in the film industry? Hook a brother up. RIP Joe.
The Times has a great profile and small review of Modest Mouse's new record Good News for People Who Love Bad News. If someone has a copy, I'd appreciate a burn! I'll trade you for anything in my catalog. Modest Mouse also sat down with the A.V. Club in last week's Onion.
Dolf Datsun hurt his pretty little head.
The day I return from Coachella will also be the day I buy the new David Cross record.
The Times follows the Secret Machines around during a recent trip to LA.
CNN talks with Snow Patrol about their upcoming U.S. invasion. This time they are bringing it full on.
If you are like me, you like golf. It's good to see pretty boy Phil finally win a major.
Pour Morrissey. Pour, pour Morrissey.
TV on the Radio make the leap across the pond. They have signed to 4AD who will put out their debut record in the UK and Europe. Did anyone see the shows this weekend? How were they?
On the car ride home, the girls and I were discussing whether or not Speakerboxx/Love Below was a break up album. Outkast seems to be doing the same thing.
Does anyone want to learn TV Eye and then release it as our own single? We could be rockstars.
Spin puts together a comprehensive list of albums that Kurt would have told you to buy, but they seem to skip over two of his favorite acts. How could you miss the Melvins and the Wipers? Those bands ruled Kurt's stereo.
According to the Sun, today is Rock n' Roll's 50th birthday so in honor of that, they recall 50 shows that rocked.
Today's Ipod Mix included: The Unicorns, Ghost Mountain; The Jackson 5, Sugar Daddy; The Agenda, Crash! Crash!; Bouncing Souls, Neurotic; The Beatles, I am the Walrus; Comet Gain, Kids at the Club; ESG, Tiny Sticks; Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Y Control.
Did Someone Say Rock?
So I'm back in the PA and I'm just about to go back to sleep, but you all should know that I'm taking a helicopter back to NYC tonight to see Sam Champion at the Luna Lounge. They will be playing with These Bones, so its well worth me firing up Airwolf to come see the show. Scratch all your plans and fit this show into your evening. You won't be disappointed. I'm so drunk.
Fuck You. Fuck You. Fuck You.
You’re Cool. Fuck You, I’m Out.
Why the hell do I have such high anxiety about leaving NYC? It’s a rarity that I ever leave Manhattan. Double that instance for exiting New York. Trepidation may not be the right word, but it does come to mind. What do I think I’m going to miss? What show? What party? What make out session? I’ll only be out of the city for a few days, but I’m already missing it. This could develop into a debilitating habit. In fact, it already has. In an effort to live vicariously through my friends, here is a list of shows you should be checking out.
1.TV on The Radio @ The Mercury Lounge (April 8 & 9). Unfortunately these shows have sold out, but get there if you can.
2.Mobius Band & Sea Ray @ Northsix (April 8). These bands are well worth the ticket price, but make sure to bring some extra cash. The L Train stops running at midnight.
3.Sam Champion & These Bones @ Luna (April 9). Attention all you A&R scouts! Go to this show with a contract in hand. Both bands are a lot of fun and have the begins of a great song catalog, but they need help becoming a full time act. Sign them. Nurture them. Take them to the top. And let me be a roadie.
4.Arbor Day @ The Mercury Lounge (April 11). After you are done toasting to the risen son of Christ, come down to the club for this show. I should be back in town at this point, if anything, come watch me do tequila shots.
I’m Here To Be Seen.
On my way home from work, I ran into Demander on my corner so we all walked over to the Mercury in the wonderful sun. The Pleased were sound checking so we hung out to catch a couple tracks. This only fueled my massive desire to finally see those San Franciscan’s live. After a few phone calls, Karen and I headed to my house. We ran into Dr. Blaylock on the corner who told us he was heading home to do some ironing for Easter Sunday. We did the same. As Karen did the crossword, I frantically stuffed all my clothes into my laundry bag in preparation for today’s trip. We got some grub and passed out for a solid hour nap. We stirred nearly an hour later and realized we had to hustle to make The Pleased’s set.
Once in the club, Amy and Burke (the bitching Australians) hollered at me, so Karen and I chatted them up. They are having a great time in NYC and decided to take up my recommendation to see this show. They have been enjoying the great things of NYC like pizza and CD shopping. We talked until we heard The Pleased strike their first chord. We made a b-line to the back of the club and settled in for a great set that included favorites like No Style, One Horse and Already Gone. This five-piece included two guitars, bass, drums and keys. They looked like a bunch of art school kids, and Noah (the lead singer) had some funky (I sound like an adult) shirt on that made him look like Chris Robinson after stepping out of Jimmy Morrison’s bathtub. They have the emotive indie rock aesthetic nailed down and their dreamy croon can make even the jocky-est of boys swoon. During their set I said hello to Jin who was in her natural position; up front taking some shots. Sivan and Jordan rolled in as well as Daylen, Hawkins and Beach. The night was shaping up to be a good one.
During changeover I continued catching up on the NYC adventures of Amy and Burke. Amy told me they went uptown and did the Times Square thing just because. She told me they had a wonder frolic through the Toys R Us. When she said this, I knew that these kids were meant to cross my path. Nothing is better than spending a day in a toy store. Which makes me think, who is up for a trip to FAO next weekend? I’ve had some great times in that store, and I’d like to continue it. She also told me about the “Soup Nazi” from Sinefeld. I’ve been living in the city for 5 years now, and I haven’t even found it. It’s another must do. Maybe venturing past 14th Street could end up being a good idea. Kids started to trickle in, so I’m going give some shout outs to those who I can remember: Mike, Jack, Justin, Carlos, Leah, Josh, Cami, Berta, Noah, Ms. Lane (she’s back boys!), George, Builder and the lovely Mike. It was great to see all you guys out at the club. I know there are some missing, but tequila got the best of me. I also know he is thinking it right now, but how could I forget uptown Tom who shared a shot with Beach and I.
Morningwood was a welcomed surprise. They actually kicked total ass. There were Nirvana baselines, AC/DC riffs and a front lady who would kick Peaches ass after making you feel like less of a man. Can we focus on her for a second? I believe her name is Chantal, and she is a fucking queen. She controlled the stage and commanded the crowd. Their gussied up rock sound makes you want to dance like a kid who just heard the Pixies are reforming. Morningwood has made a believer out of me and watch out Chantal, because you just moved to the top of the “To Make Out With” list.
Another tequila shot or two and we were ready for Demander to rock our faces off. Can I say one thing before moving on… who knew Karen was so damn cute? Sorry Karen, I have to embarrass you for a second. Your stage banter coupled with your kick ass playing makes me giddy and its soooooo fucking hot. This actually goes ditto for Sivan who placed her drum kit on stage right (or is it stage left?) so all three were up front. I’d say the same for Jordan, but he just might think I’m weird. Though I was proper bevvied at this point, I can safely say, their debut show was a success. They have some really hooky songs and Jordan’s sparse guitar parts frames the killer rhythm section quite well. We can only hope these kids stay together and start gigging out with some regularity.
After their set some kids went to 186 and I believe some other kids went to Cami’s. I stuck around the club to chat with Jo Divestar about setting up an interview with The Pleased. I’m not sure if she is their Big Hassle rep, but that’s what I gathered from our conversation. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to accomplish this task in person due to my jet setting this afternoon, but after a long chat with Noah, I think we will be able to hook something up via the web or those things kids call telephones.
I’d also like to note that a Culkin was properly executed on Hawkins. I was the pusher and I believe Beach or Builder were the kneeler. It was hilarious because I took Hawkins Beer out of his hands before the push. It was a thing of beauty. He got a little pissed, but hopefully he realizes its all about the love, and now that he has been Culkined, he can begin Culkining.
Beach, Daylen and I were getting proper so we decided to get that Shwarma (sp?) Beach has been talking about. Bereket rocks. Thank you, good night!
It's Been Awhile Friend.
Liz sent me this amazing Op-Ed by Thurston Moore regarding Nirvana's legendary frontman. Do yourself a favor and give it a read.
No one told me this! Josh Homme got into a brawl at Niagara. I wonder if some punk said something to him about stealing Tim's girl?
Not long after their reunion show, Paul Atkinson of the Zombies has passed on at age 58. RIP.
Pitchfork beats Slap and me to the punch. They have a great sit down with James Mercer of the Shins.
Jeff Tweedy of Wilco is now in rehab. Has the whole world gone mad?
Black Eyes is no longer. The young Dischord band throw in the towel before their second album got a chance to drop. Speaking of Dischord, Ian MacKaye's new band, the Evens which is a male/female two-piece, have finished their debut.
Just in case you weren't there. This show rocked. Buy your tickets for their trip through in June.
The B-Boys are doing their part to kick the shit out of Bush. This record has all the makings of great.
No Ipod mix today, but if there was one, it would have had The Pleased on it.
O.C. Out!
Noah just brought to my attention that there will be no O.C. on tonight so there will be no afterparty at my house. Unless you are a girl. Then there is a huge afterparty.
Redneck Roots.
During a discussion with my friend Brandon, he mentioned that it was my hometown's bicentennial founding celebration. He also informed me that in honor of this, a bunch of morons got together and tried to float a raft down the river that runs through the county. Check out some hilarious pictures. Doesn't it seem like this physics majors are standing in water the whole time? This is what people actually do in Clearfield, Pennsylvania. I love the fact that the raft starts with a roof, but eventually loses it. It's so depressing.
There is also an online store with these to fantastic items. Check out this toddler t-shirt and frisbee combo. If that doesn't tickle your fancy than show your patriotism with a God Bless America/Bush Cheney tote bag. I'm fucking serious. This is what I grew up with. I just did that thing where you throw up in your mouth.
Tonight’s Specials Include.
I would like a debut Demander show with a side of The Pleased. And to drink? Yeah, give me one of those Washington Social Clubs. Hmmm… That sounds nice. I’ll have that too, but could you give me some Morningwood with my entrée? Yeah, we can hook that up.
Dinner will be served this evening at the Mercury Lounge. You know Karen. You know Sivan. You might know Jordan. So come to the club to see their first show as Demander, (how much do you wish your band thought of that name?). Here are the specs:
(10:30pm) Demander
(9:30pm) Morningwood
(8:30pm) The Pleased
(7:30pm) Washington Social Club
Also, I will be taping the O.C. so if you want to come to the show and not miss the best show on TV, than come back to my place after the gig and we can watch Ryan and Marissa make out! Oh, and so you know, get there early for The Pleased. They are fantastic.
Tell Me I’m Wrong. Tell Me I’m Right.
The day is rapidly approaching where I finally get to return home to hang out with my Mom and sisters. It feels like forever since I’ve seen them, and a big family hang is way past due. Sometimes my lack of contact with them makes me feel like a shit, but this is what I’m hoping to change with more trips home and frequent phone calls. This weekend should prove to be a strange experience. One of my top solids, Evan, called me up yesterday to ask if I was aware of the fact that one of our boys is now in rehab. Apparently Evan had no idea so he called the kid’s house to let him know that we will both be in town. Unfortunately the mom picked up and Evan had to hear the story from her. Either way, we will be able to sort through all the bad shit that has transpired since Christmas and hopefully lend a hand where we can.
Hardly Art.
Yesterday I headed out to the Northsix to interview the Thermals with Nate who was taking the pictures. Now I know what you are thinking… Jay doesn’t cross 14th Street so how the hell would he make it to the other side of the river. Let me tell you, it wasn’t easy. Sweaty palms, nervous twitches and a sense of misdirection weren’t going to stop me from meeting one of the coolest bands gigging out.
We made it to the club by 6pm. Nate and Homer set up some single shots while all the bands filtered in. I introduced myself to Eric from Say Hi to Your Mom along with Doug and DJ from Dirty On Purpose. All three guys were extremely nice. Eric told me about the six week tour they just returned from along with his first class flight back from SXSW. Doug clued me in on the happenings with the upcoming DoP release and we discussed our collective love of the first track on their last Ep, Monument. DJ told me that he believes there is a secret birthday trip in the cards for him (Coachella!) so we decided that we will have to get down under the California sunshine. Jin also showed up to make sure everything was in order with DoP. Jin was absolutely fabulous last night. She might have had more fun than everyone else put together. That girl got down. Also, a big thanks goes to her for helping me out last night.
The Thermals took the stage to sound check and pounded through No Trivia which is the opening track from More Parts Per Million. This got me so excited for the rock that was to come. After the check, we went downstairs where Nate finished off the photo session with a couple group shots and then Hutch, Kathy, Jordan and I retired to the back room to do the interview. This Portland trio was extremely sweet and gave me some great sound clips. We discussed the formation of the band, their relationship with Sub Pop, Kurt Cobain and their new record. Who knew nice people could pump out some serious rock n’ fucking roll?
Hardly Starving.
After we parted ways, I walked up to Grand and Bedford (look at how Williamsburg I am) to meet with Karen for a quick bite to eat. She took me to some small Japanese tapas joint called Snacky. It was such a solid meal that I’m actually considering going back to the other borough. They have a bunch of reasonably priced items so you can try a few different things and still have flow for a big Sapporo or some sake as the lady would have it. We were in and out in under a half. We got back to the club and I introduced her to the band before we met up with Noah, Matt, and DTL. Daylen, Elise, Sean, Dave, Home and Nate showed up on the later side.
Go Back To Sleep.
First on tonight’s bill was Dirty on Purpose who delivered a great set despite some broken strings. These Brooklyn kids have such a dreamy indie rock sound that it makes me want to hug some one and throw them in a river all in one motion. Doug’s deadpan humor between songs is so entertaining. It makes me want to bottle him up and sell him at Coney Island. Karen was completely mesmerized by Chris’ killer instincts on the kit and with some good reason. That kid can fucking play. They closed out the set with the always intense Monument. That is such a good fucking song and quite the crowd pleaser. Give them a shot on April 22 when they play their cd release show at Pianos.
Let’s Talk About Spaceships.
Squeezed in the middle of this fantastic bill was another Brooklyn based indie pop band, Say Hi to Your Mom. In fact, as Eric pointed out, the entire band lives close within a three block radius of the club. The set began with Eric taking the stage with guitar in hand and strumming through a couple tunes that were laced with some serious crooning. After these tracks, he was joined on stage by the rest of the band and they proceeded to jam through some reflective songs that were laced with some lyrics that remind you of Malkmus on a Sci Fi kick. They have some great pop songs that you should try on for size on April 14 when they open for Brendan Benson at the Mercury.
Punk As Fuck.
Fuck everything you know about punk rock. Fuck London. Fuck New York. Fuck southern California. Fuck D.C. Fuck You. And most importantly, fuck me. Punk rock is back and it’s not in the form of a liberty spike or a studded belt. It has nothing to do with a ripped t-shirt or a damn the man attitude. It’s back in the form of music, and the Thermals are delivering it in a tightly sealed set of two minute wonders. They don’t need to win you over, because it happens so effortlessly.
I hate the word reappropriation.
These three kids from the Northwest know what they want, and it starts with distortion and ends with your ears bleedings. I’m so serious when I say that you need to see this band. They will confirm that everything you’ve been doing up to this point is wrong. They have let me know that the fast and catchy style that has been wrongfully adhered to a group of Warp Tour wannabes is not what our punk forefathers had in mind. Granted they knew there was no future for punk, but they didn’t bet on the Thermals coming together to imitate, elaborate and reiterate (call me Johnny Cochrane) the entire list of punk ethos that made 1976 so fucking cool. The Thermals are the real deal, and when Fucking A hits in May, you will know why. PS their encore kicked so much ass.
Today’s Ipod mix included: My Morning Jacket, Phone Went West; Stephen Malkmus, (Do Not Feed The) Oyster; The Kinks, Austrailia; Greenhornes, Inside Looking Out; John Lennon, God; The Cure, Close to Me; The Libertines, Up The Bracket; Jay-Z, Takeover (Unplugged).
Let The Speculation Begin.
If you missed the post awhile back where I flipped out because Rivers joined Matt Sharp on stage for a couple songs in California, than let me just say that this news made me (in David Cross terms) literally shit my pants. Christian was kind enough to send me this link. Karl has posted some clips on the official Weezer web site. Enjoy. Let's all hope continued collaboration is in the cards.
God Is Smiling Down On Us.
You may be asking your self why... well, this is why.
They will be at NYU next year. Bring it on.
You Said We Partied. So Maybe We Partied.
In the words of one East Side resident, “Holy fucking bulldog”. This weekend was quite a display of ridiculous behavior and all American consumption. It tested the will of many and only the strong came out on top, but it goes with out saying, that all who were touched (or touched for that matter) by the absurd performance that was packed into three little days, may never be the same.
Also, let me apologize for the lack of updating. I’ve been under some heavy watch at work and I managed to get in a little more trouble so the shitty administrative work has been put on my shoulders. Two days in and two giant mailings out. It’s essential that I ride the last few months of this position with a bit of an attitude adjustment in order to ensure my future employment.
Where Shall We Begin?
It all started on Friday evening. After trying to score a quick nap, I grabbed a margarita to go at El Sombrero and made my way to Dr. Oveis’ pad. We sat around for a few before heading to Motor City to say hello to Mandel and to meet with the kids who were going to Kanji Village for Daylen’s birthday dealie. The group of ten or so, which included Beach, Oveis, Daylen, Liz, Todd, Danny Mohawk, Lucy, Elise, Eileen (I think) and I, sat down for a huge dinner at the village. At this point I had a heavy sweat on since I substituted a healthy dose of study drugs in place of sleep. This is becoming a practice I should shy away from, but fuck it (throw it in the trash).
After finishing the meal (my dinner came in a bamboo boat), Beach, Oveis and I headed to the Mercury to catch the Greenhornes set. If you don’t know these guys yet and you are a sucker for the garage rock revival (much like myself), than do yourself a favor and give these Cincinnati boys a listen. Their line-up has been shaved down to three fellows, but they still bring the lo-fi garage sound with some laid back Midwest fury. I bolted before Southern Culture on the Skids took the stage, but I’m sure they delivered.
Stevo and his pops were lurking around Ave B so I headed up to Bside and had a chat with Justin who was working the door that evening. With no sign of Stevo in sight, I was prepared to bolt before Carlos persuaded me to sit down for a quick VT. Eventually Stevo called and informed me that they were making their scene at Radio Perfecto. A quick skip down the block and I was pleasantly surprised by the presence of Mr. Marks, Jiun, Jordache, Max, Dana, Adam Fucking Ghory, Stevo, Mike, Builder, the Hawk and a few others. Then a phone call from Whitney came into my mobile. Much to my excitement, he was in NYC visiting with his mom and sister who were planning to crash out so he decided to meet up with the crew.
Once he showed up, Mike, Builder, Whit and I began a rigorous bar hoping that had us bouncing between Radio Perfecto and Bside. Carlos was nice enough to clue us in on a special that Sivan has never told me about. You can get a baby Bud and a tequila shot for the low price of $4. This closed the books on my evening. By 1am I was tossed, and ready for bed. Funny enough, the next morning I thought that I arrived home by 1am, but I was later told by Beach and the rest of the gang that they Culkined me in the middle of Ave B after sending me on a mission to find Oveis’ puke. Yeah, that’s right. I’m an idiot, but the night was amazing.
Shrimp Pancakes. My Ass!
Waking up didn’t really present much of a problem to me on Saturday morning. Mike had crashed out at the house so Mike, Builder and I decided to get some brunch at some joint that is across the street from HiFi. If you are looking for a wicked cheap brunch (without an alcohol beverage), than stop by the play with the yellow awning. After brunch Builder and I cruised into Julep for some very unnecessary PBR’s with his friend Katie who is top notch in many books. We also hung out with her roommate Jake who told me stories about seeing NOFX at SXSW.
Later that evening, Oveis, Builder and I headed up to Daylen’s new pad on 10th Street to watch the Final Four and drink keg beer. There were a ton of kids there, but the huge living and ample seating made for a great Final Four. At one point Builder, much like the Jewish Pied Piper of food, lead Mandel, Oveis and I to some magical pancake stand on 9th Street. Don’t get me wrong, the food looked great, but it was definitely not something that should be eaten before a heavy night of boozing. Upon our return, we were greeted with Tequila shots so I opted out of most of my meal and settled in for a repeat performance.
Following the Duke loss a large group of us (which included my crippled roommate) headed over to 7B to keep the party rolling. We were getting proper when I sat down at a table and met a couple of the coolest kats I’ve ever contacted. Burke and Amy were in NYC on holiday from Australia. They landed earlier in the evening and were already out and getting bevvied. They told me stories about The Big Day Out Festival and Burke’s band Girling, (I’ll have to check on the spelling). They were big sweethearts, and I tried my best to act as a host in giving them the low down on the East Village. Around 3am we decided to head up to Bside where we closed another evening out with the ridiculous Tequila shot. I even think Whitney showed back up. Unfortunately I was to shitgoosed to remember, but he did confirm that his digital camera got broken so the next time you see the chap, make out with him so he feels good about himself.
Chilis Anyone?
There seems to be a lot of talk about food in this post, but don’t let me fool you; this weekend was about getting extremely housed. A group that included Noah, Beach, Oveis, Daylen, Lucy, Builder, Danny Mohawk, Denise and I met up at mi casa around 1:30pm for our 2nd installment of the monthly trip to Chilis. We packed into some whips and headed for Elizabeth, New Jersey where Chilis Too is located. We headed into the mall on Culkin Amber Alert. If you don’t know by now, the Culkin’s have gotten completely out of control. For instance, while we waited for everyone to congregate before heading into the bar, Beach and Daylen tried to get me but I managed to steady myself after sitting right down on her back. After the meal everyone had their backs to the wall, but Beach and I still managed to toss Builder to the ground while he was using an ATM machine.
The meal was absolutely fantastic, but definitely not what my stomach needed. After my whole rack of ribs, I proceeded to hit the head in order to lose the lunch. We sat in that restaurant for nearly three hours, and our bill was mammoth, but it still couldn’t touch a previous Nice Guy Eddies check.
We headed back into the city and most of us separated into groups. Oveis and I cruised to his place to catch the Sopranos episode. Oveis’ numerous attempts to cuddle with me were vigorously thwarted until I convinced him that we could only be friends. Luckily he still has a chance with Captain Cupcake.
Can I Get A Day Off?
Following a hellish day in the office, I returned home to hang out with Kyle and prepare for my Thermals interview. Stevo showed up so we headed to Nice Guys to meet up with Beach and watch the championship game. Uconn beat the pants off of Georgia Tech which made me disappointed. All I wanted was one more good game. Daylen showed up, and after the game we went over to Mercury to catch The Eagles of Death Metal set which feature Josh Homme (of QOTSA) on drums. These guys were pieces of rock and roll gold. I highly recommend you check them out ASAP. They may be playing a show at Lit tonight. They had some dueling guitar riffs that reminded me of all the great things about bands like Thin Lizzy and The Bay City Rollers. The cocksure attitude of their lead singer made me laugh like a little kid. There were many celebrity Culkin opportunities last night, but I couldn’t convince Beach to assist me in Culkining Ryan Adams, Jesse Malin or Brody Armstrong. But we do know where we can get Ryan Adams, so he is now on the hit list.
Next Couple Of Days.
Before heading back to PA for the weekend, I’m trying to squeeze in as much rock as possible so let me know if you are going to be at any of the following events so I know to look for you.
1. Dirty On Purpose, Say Hi To Your Mom, The Thermals @ N6 (Tonight!)
2. Demander & The Pleased @ Mercury (Wednesday Night!)
3. Eagles of Death Metal @ Caroline Distro Office (Thursday)
Otherwise, I will see you after Jesus day. Happy Passover to all of you who helped kill him.
I’m An April Fool.
As promised, I’m here to do an evening recap, but unfortunately there are portions of the evening that remain a mystery, (i.e. Why were my pants in the bathroom this morning? And did Beach really leave me a sandwich on the doorstep?). This is how it all began.
Beach and I met up at 2a for a couple of early drinks. After a couple pints were put away, we were joined by Christie who has recently returned from visiting our friends Jeff and Tara out in sunny San Diego. She has a classic Moser story for those of you who know the kid, so make sure to ask her next time you see her smiling face. We retired to the second floor of the bar to hang out with Beach’s friend Mikki James (well, that’s his stage name, his real name escapes me right now) who is now playing bass with Johnny Lives. He was a real nice cat, and I strongly suggest you tip him big next time you are in the hood. Before we left, Hymee (a friend of Nate’s) came upstairs and asked me where my brother was. It was in jest, but little did he know, he was the first of a series of mistaken identities that would occur this evening.
The three of us piled into a cab and made our way to Shades of Green to meet Noah and Bri for a quick car bomb before heading to Irving. It came to my attention that a car bomb shot is topped off with some Jameson. I’ve never realized that, but at that point of the evening I feared bringing whiskey into the mix. The fear of the ridicule from not doing the delicious bomb pushed me into throwing it back. Beach and I said a quick goodbye and cruised into Irving Plaza with a proper buzz brewing.
We arrived during changeover and ran into three of Beach’s friends. They were all lovely ladies whose names started with the letter M, but they escaped me at this point. Damn I should start writing these things down. One of the girls asked me if I was at the show last night. After confirming, they kind of giggled and said they thought I was Mo Rocca of The Daily Show fame. Maybe it was the swept bangs or the glasses, but I’m sure the girls were too drunk to realize how bad their comparison was. We cruised back to the bar and did a quick tequila shot and got a beer.
We went upstairs to see who was around. We ran into Colin from Big Hassle who was with Juliet from the same company. She came up to me and started talking to me. I remembered meeting this girl ages ago at a Katie and Amy party on 13th street. I even got her phone number, but regrettably never used it. Anyway, she started talking to me as though I was Jay from the Panthers who I’ve heard looks like me, though I don’t remember them enough to confirm. Once she realized her mistake (only after showing me to one of her friends) we made nice and moved on. I was on the hunt for Molly so I could give her the O.C. tape, but she never turned up.
I ran into Jin and Mike from the Realistics who told me that he and Will, who plays keys in the band, will be performing with Brendan Benson at the Mercury Lounge. It’s been ages since I’ve seen Mike, and it’s always nice to here what he’s been cooking. At this point, the Walkmen were taking the stage so Beach and I headed downstairs to get ready for battle. Once we got into position we noticed that Adam was standing right in front of us so we all settled in for a fantastic Walkmen set.
By the time they hit I was well past my limit, so my thoughts on the show are pretty much limited to Holy Shit! And That Was Fucking Awesome! They really sounded fantastic. And The Rat was just what I had expected. The crowd wasn’t reacting much, maybe because they were in awe, but really that place should have been torn down. They were loud. They were fast. And they looked sharp. A slimmed down Hamilton controlled the stage like a madman. It was really a delight.
It was also amazing because somehow, Erin, Leah and Cami found us and joined in our loving of the rock. After some goodbyes, Beach and I met up with some kids at Rivertown Lounge who were celebrating Puja’s birthday. A successful Culkin was executed by on Ryan. The kid went down and the place turned into a minefield. This is where I shut down, but Noah told me I went home relatively close to the incident.
Thursday night was just what this guy needed. I think its my new favorite day of the week.
Today’s Ipod mix included: Adam Green, Hard to be a Girl; Iggy and the Stooges, Shake Appeal; Television Personalities, Jackanory Stories; Silver Jews, Federal Dust; Natural History, Broken Language; Juinor Senior, Chicks and Dicks; The Sounds, Hope Your Happy Now; Wipers, Voices in the Rain.
Best Picture Ever.
Ok, so I'm guilty of checking out College Humor's pictures more often than not. Who doesn't want to see wet tshirt contests and passed out frat boys? It is a window into the college life I missed by coming to the city. This picture is now on my desk top and should be on yours as well. It's a must see. Just look at his expression.
Get Um While Their Hot!
As some of you know, Franz Ferdinand tickets went on sale today at 11am. They are playing Webster Hall on June 17th. It's a Thursday which is the new Friday so get them and come dance with me. I am lucky enough to have a kick ass roommate who hooked it up since I am no longer with a bank account. They may be expensive, but its worth every penny. Here is your linkage.
A Band In Need Is A Band Indeed.
Don't worry kids, an update of last night's shitfest will be posted after lunch, but for now I wanted to pass an email along that Max Tepper of the Natural History sent out this morning. If you can help these guys out send him an email. The letter reads:
Hey Everybody,
The Natural History is looking to rent a place to rehearse during the day from April 13th through April 16th (and possibly a few days more). We're looking for about 3 to 4 hours a day. We'd be using our own equipment and our own pa. If any of you know of someone or would be willing to temporarily let us into your own space that would be amazing. Please write back at info@thenaturalhistory.com. Hope all is well.
Best,
Max Tepper
So all of you kids with rehearsal spaces and big apartments, don't miss this chance to get a song dedicated to you.
April Just Fooled Me.
Call it rightful retirbution for all the pranks I've been pulling in the office today, but I just arrived back from my lunch hour with Hawkins (Ipod mix of ESG and Iggy!) and had this conversation with my friend Christian who works at Atlantic.
christianaveB: secret darkness show on april 5th
christianaveB: cbgb's
christianaveB: fine
christianaveB: whatever
christianaveB: peace
jayGTC: are you shitting me?
jayGTC: don't play games with me son
christianaveB: no joke
christianaveB: be there or be
christianaveB: well
christianaveB: dont be there
christianaveB: its gonna be off teh hizzle
jayGTC: yeah, but is atlantic gonna buy out the club?
jayGTC: thats one tough show to get into
christianaveB: nope
christianaveB: i got 16 tickets
christianaveB: and 5 people going
christianaveB: so come to me
jayGTC: dude, can you definitely could me in on that?
jayGTC: i'm sooooo fucking in
christianaveB: hahaha
christianaveB: ok
christianaveB: sucka
christianaveB: check the date
jayGTC: is that sunday?
christianaveB: today
jayGTC: ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
jayGTC: fucccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccck
jayGTC: yoooooooooooooooooooooooou
Just so you know Christian, you are going down. You will be mine. Oh yes, you and that nice facial hair will be mine. That little tart of a man also sent me this hilarious link of Kelly Ripa discussing her bad habits. Unfortunately I don't know who she is. Was she on that millionare show with Regis?
Kyle Has A Bionic Ankle.
Upon my arrival at 186 I was happy to find Kyle back in the apartment telling his outlandish stories regarding how buff he’s getting from walking on crutches. Most of his jibber jabber these days gets written off because of the strong doses of vicodin he’s been taking. Either way, he had X-rays of his bionic ankle which are pretty bitching. He even gets a special club card that states he has a metal plate in his leg. It’s some kind of super hero club, and naturally Kyle will be running for president. I’d like to send a big thank you to him. Despite his recent kinship with pain killers, he managed to remember to tape the O.C. for Sivan, Karen and I.
Relax. Don’t Think About The Way I Treat You.
It is blasphemes to even consider missing the O.C., but last night I managed to get hooked up at Irving with Sivan. She told me the other day that she was planning to go see the Killers set, and obviously I wanted a seat on that train. She was more than willing to accommodate me (Thanks Siv!) so last night Karen, Sivan and I met at the apartment, hopped in a cab and made our way to Irving Plaza.
Sivan has some insane hook up at that club and her friend was more than accommodating. He was a really nice guy and hooked us up with VIP badges and some drink tickets. He also went to the bar and got us our first drink. How amazing is that? While he was at the bar, Audrey cruised in and we got a little chat on. Dennis was no where in site so the assumption was that she flew solo. Audrey also managed to cash in on the free drinks when our first round was brought to us. Sarah also showed up and was extremely excited for the Killers set, (but you all know this already). Eventually I ran into Anna (have a safe trip to San Fran) and Molly who were lovely as always. Come to think of it, I was a pretty lucky guy. All of these rockstar beauty’s around me, and I had no male confidant. Oh, well. I managed ok.
Karen, Molly, Anna and I decided to head downstairs when the Killers took the stage. Though this band seems to be stepping out of their infancy, some of the songs still feel like they could use some work. The hooks are definitely there and the sings range can bounce from a reflective Robert Smith to a pumped up Paul Banks. Their songs have that undeniable 80’s feel. As I told a couple of late entries, the Killers would bode well as an opening band or a Tiswas headliner. Basically, their sets are designed for dancing and to dance most NYC kids need to be drunk. I rest my case. Also, their gloomy bass player entranced me the entire time. I may be as hetero as they come, but damn, I could have his kids.
During changeover I was bouncing around the crowd and ran into Elliot who plays guitar in the Head Set. He gave me all the specs on their gig that is set up to support John Kerry. It’s the same night as the Demander show at the Mercury, so I won’t be able to make it, but the Knit show will also feature Bishop Allen so make sure you see some rock next Wednesday. I also ran into Ben who was in a rush to see some kids so we exchanged some quick hellos. Sarah was with Karen(plus) and they were both reveling in a post Killers set state of mind. They were rattling off the songs they didn’t get to hear, but all I could think was, “I heard Mr. Brightside. I’m happy.” Karen and Sivan were making nice with their guitar player who mentioned that he say me from the stage. Vindication! Thank you, good night.
At this point Ambulance Ltd. had taken the stage and was taking us on an aural ride. They have a uniquely retro sound that doesn’t play well amidst the Fever’s and the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s of NYC. They take more of their cue from the Velvet Underground, with songs like Primitive, but they turn up the pop with tracks like Stay Where You Are. Though they look like a bunch of skinny junkies, these boys may last due to their nods to indie forefathers like Pavement and Ride.
Jordan and a drunk Mike who gave me a kiss showed up just in time to see one of his employers’ acts take the stage. It was Stellastar*’s turn to wow the crowd of young kids and aging hipsters. I hate to say this, but I remember seeing this band at the Luna Lounge way back when, and things haven’t changed a bit. Come to think of it, my favorite show of theirs was at Luxx when Erin, Cami and I made the trip out there to see the band in an overcrowded room. Anyway, their sound didn’t fill the room as well as it did in the small clubs. There were some technical difficulties that gave way to a few loud screeches. It was unimpressive, but the crowd dug it and I'm so happy to see a band really take off. By the time they played My Coco, I was ready to head home.
After the hit, Karen and I slipped out of the club and headed to 186 to watch the O.C. The episode was ok, but it just felt like filler. It was good to see Ryan make amends with his old crew from chino, but Eddie’s friend who knocked him on the ground would have gotten his ass kicked. It’s obvious that Ryan and Marissa are going to get back together so I don’t know why they keep teasing us. The last 4 episodes of the season are on the way and from the previews it looks like they are going to be amazing. A Caleb proposal, another Jimmy Cooper screw up and a tragic car accident are all lined up. I’m having seizures just thinking about it.
If you missed the episode, let me know. I’ll probably watch it again this evening.
When I Used To Go Out.
So who is going to see the Walkmen this evening? Who is going to party like a high school kid whose parents have gone out of town for the weekend? Who’s coming with me? But seriously, I’m going to see the Walkmen later this evening and I couldn’t be more excited. Their new record is such a stronger effort. Though it may lack some of the catchiness that made the first one so popular, this record is more thought out and it takes you on a sonic ride.
Today’s Ipod mix included: Aretha Franklin, Respect; The Hong Kong, Mazerati; Frank Black, Bad, Wicked World; Velvet Underground, I’ll be Your Mirror; Talking Heads, The Big Country; The Fall, Oh! Brother, The Kills, Superstition.
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