First, let me say that the overly sentimental, cloying little post that came before this one was not exactly thought out. It was the first (and probably not the last) time I tried to write a post before passing/blacking out - actually, maybe I was writing to keep from passing/blacking out. You know when drunk people say awful things like, "hey man ... you're just great. I fuckin' love you, dude!" It was like that. Either way, it's spelled right and, in it's own way, a beautiful ode to closing down bars on work nights. Big ups to our (this is for you Mina and Xtina) fucking DOGS from Liam and Me. Jon and Matt pretty much helped us drink midtown out of beer. Why were we in midtown? Well, that's pretty indefensible isn't it?

Friday wasn't a total loss in the way that recovering from a horrible auto accident isn't a total loss. More movies and ice cream and feeling sorry for my dry brain and inability to complete simple tasks (getting a glass of water at 10am on Friday took about 25 minutes). By the time my roommates were getting home from their jobs, I was starting to feel better (although this is the same as saying, "Well, Hartford is better than New London). Then we pumped up an open bar downtown before committing more midtown suicide at a bar (gulag) called Mantra. The crowd was gelled and collars were popping and the girls left their self-respect back in 7th grade. If you want to see the ghost of Margaret Sanger throw up, take her to see the chicks at Mantra. So, of course some of us made out with them. I'll never tell who.

So tonight we're going to see the Mets and then keeping it downtown. If we're in midtown, how are we going to meet interesting, liberal art school graduates that we can take home to our mothers? ("Susan went to Bard and she majored in Sustainable Farming. Isn't that fucking incredible?")

And apropos of our corporate surroundings last night, here's a band that doesn't have a label but could very easily be the next thing dominating your radio/television/iPhone. I don't care if you're a hipster hater - production shined, piano-pop rock will always have a place in our society. Hate it or love it.

MP3: Meese :: The Start of It

(thanks to cpmu.blogspot.com)

Labels: liberal arts, vampire weekends

IN: Shamelessness
OUT: Attention-starved sad sacks

My dear friends Dillon and Tim put on this regular ping-pong experience called PADL BATL. It's a great place to meet fun people and have some chuckles. Competing in the tournament requires registration and the roster may be full, but you certainly don't have to compete to enjoy the event. This year's tournament will be held in a church in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Stop by and see what it's all about!

Labels: event, ping pong, vampire weekends

"Vampire Weekend: noun : Meaning to engage in weekend activities that will make you act like a vampire; avoiding sunlight, sleeping during the day, fearing sunrise. Red Bull and vodka can both be prominently involved.

Alternate Definition: noun : An afro-beat inspired, indie-rock band from New York City who write songs about Cape Cod."

So join us for what is definitely going to be a Vampire Weekend of drinking and maybe seeing Vampire Weekend.

Friday night if your wallet is flush ($18-20) and you're feeling behind the buzz, hit Webster Hall for Voxtrot, Favourite Sons, and Au Revoir Simone. Voxtrot has been sucking up press from the likes of the New York Times and for some reason no one noticed their new album is pretty terrible. I'll go to war with their first two EPs but the "long awaited" LP is ... tough. The live show is usually middling but I hear they're doing a lot of cocaine now (unfounded accusations alert!), so things might have amped up a little bit.

You can also run down to Park Slope's Union Hall and catch The Eames Era. If you're looking for a band that plays the kind of music Jenny Lewis and the Rilo Kiley kids wrote when they were hungry for a record deal, this is probably the best show on the schedule. If you miss it, don't lose your shit. There's always ...

Saturday night when you can catch The Eames Era again at Piano's. They're the 10.30pm band and Piano's almost always runs on time so don't go for the "cool kids show up late" arrival.

And if you're brave you can head out to the Glasslands Gallery (or is it an "Art Space?") in Williamsburg and catch Bear Hands (one great song, "Long Lean Queen") and Vampire Weekend (not to be missed). Yes, attending this show might make you a fucking hipster but keep in mind, Vampire Weekend graduated from Columbia and performed at the Bowery Ballroom in docksiders. Docksiders. Preppy-Hipster tensions could be running at an all-time high - which for my money is more than reason to go. Show kicks at 9.

MP3s:

The Eames Era - When You Were A Millionaire

Vampire Weekend - Oxford Comma

Labels: thanks mina, this blog just went to a new level, vampire weekends