On Saturday, a couple of friends and I went back to Brooklyn to check out After the Jump Fest, a full day music event which aims to raise money for music education. This was my first time at Studio B, which I think is the perfect place to host dances— the indie rocker's dream prom. Clearly, I was loving the disco ball. We were there mainly to see Locksley and Ra Ra Riot. But as the day progressed we ended up inhaling cookies and coffee from the sweets truck parked outside. I was probably more partial to Locksley [...]
On our way to Rumsey Playfield last evening, a friend and I passed two men wearing Aaliyah t-shirts. It didn 't even occur to me till much later that it was six years to yesterday that she died in a plane crash. In six years, a lot has changed. Mothers who had infants, now have little children. Students who left behind high school, have traded school bags for cubicles. Friends became lovers, lovers are now husband and wife. When people honor a memory, it makes the world slow down. [...]
The maracas are my new favorite instrument. Forget fancy guitars-- the maracas are where it's at! Friday night was probably the most fun I've had all week. Sofiblu and I were down in Williamsburg for the White Rabbits concert at Soundfix. The "stage" is merely a raised floor which works great for intimate shows. We were up in front and towards the end of the set, a band member nonchalantly hands a maraca to the crowd. When he didn't get any takers, he put it back down on the keyboard. Without thinking, I grabbed it and started shaking [...]
I fell asleep last night after watching a stack of movies I've been meaning to get around to-- my favorite thus far, is Party Girl. Parker Posey is queen of the dead-pan dark comedies, gotta love her. In Party Girl, Mary is an orphaned 20 something, living it up in New York with drugs, illegal raves, and a boyfriend who lowers her self-worth. When she gets her ass tossed in jail, she calls her godmother, Judy to get her out. To make good on her bail loan, Judy gives Mary a job as [...]
Art: Thaw Malin With the daughters on our arms, into the gardens, we'll run... - The Rosebuds My inner Martha Stewart wanted to take up gardening. I imagined myself with a woven basket and trimming shears in hand, tending to a shrub of fragrant and beautiful peonies. Did you know these little suckers take 3 years to bloom?!? Patience, sadly, is not one of my virtues. [...]
College kids, you don't know how good you've got it. You wear pajamas for the better part of the week, and in four years, learn to perfect the art of ramen slurping,. Sure, classes get in the way, but hey, it's not like you show up half the time. I got college on the brain because White Rabbits AND The National are playing Cornell University on Saturday, August 25th. Cornellians, I plead with you, do not miss this concert. Otherwise, years down the road, you will look back and cry because your favorite band ate [...]
You know I love me some New York Noise, but whoever is making decisions about programming over there, you need to put down the crackpipe. This interview with The Cribs is probably the most absurd thing I've ever witnessed. Still, it's not every day a punk band from England gets interviewed by a New Yorker in a tiara.
Blondie and Blonde Redhead are perennial favorites. The young Debbie Harry and her shocking blonde coif bouncing to poppy tunes reminds me of summer. Kazo Makino's piercing echo set against the melancholy drums and guitars of the Pace brothers is the call of winter ushering spring. But what about autumn? I'm all over this duo from New Zealand who rightly call themselves " The Brunettes ." Heather Mansfield and Jonathan Bree are what autumn dreams are made of-- a flush of mellow guitar and piano melodies [...]
I don't know how many of you have heard of this film, Kicking and Screaming but it surely would have helped me to see it last year when I spent many a day waking up confused about life. Made in 1995 (seems like just yesterday, no?), it's a witty and immensely quotable dramedy staring many indie film actors of the 90s, including Eric Stoltz and Parker Posey. It follows a group of friends who graduate college but can not pull away from college life and face the real world. So they patron the same bars, sleep [...]
I saw South Street Seaport from the train going down into Brooklyn Friday night. It was bit of a let down to not be able to see The National perform, but hey, shit comes up. No worries though--I heard it was a great show, and they are playing Terminal 5 on October 11 th , so crossing fingers that I can be there.
Seriously considering renaming this blog to the "Might Emigrate To Canada Blog." It seems like every other post is about a Canadian band or musician. Or is it because the majority of good indie acts are coming from Canada? Rest assured, as long as there is poutine, and maple syrup, there will be hot Canadian shit here. (Whether I am aware of it or not, apparently.) Anyhoo, I was thinking about this because a pal of mine in L.A. suggested that we spend a few weeks trekking across Canada from one coast to the other. Let's sweeten the [...]
Pitchfork confirms that Cat Power will open for Interpol in New York. The former label mates (Cat Power is signed to Matador, as was Interpol for their first two albums) will rock Madison Square Garden on September 14th. I love Chan Marshall. I know she used to be depressing as all hell, infamous for incoherent sets, and bizzare stage behavior, but I loved her anyway. Everything she sings is poetry. And now she's sobered up, and better than ever. From [...]
That lightning bolt was mine
Bison - Quill
Neutral Milk Hotel- Aeroplane Over the Sea
Shinichi Osawa – Big Beach Mix 2012
