elephant woman

i adore the new blonde redhead song, "elephant woman." i was listening to it on repeat whlie walking around the city last night. the emotion in kazu's voice is startling. mind blowing. inviting you into the sadness. embracing and gentle and fragile... can't wait for the album to come out on march 9... the album is more produced and pops a lot more than their old stuff. i bought a ticket for each of their upcoming bowery concerts, and i just can't wait to lose myself in the dizzy spin cycle of their music.

while walking around, i started off feeling very cold, but after a while of just wandering around and seeing the night life, my body warmed up with a flood of memories. after almost 7 years of living here, i have so many memories... so many different aspects of my life lived here... and suddenly here i am today, a product of all those experiences. motherfucker, where did the time go?

sometimes i take for granted the fact that i live in new york, and what a fucking great city it is. how fortunate am i? i have always known that i would end up in new york, even before i knew what new york was like. and once i came here i never left. some people go home during their summers in college, i was emphatic on staying and working in the city. some people spend time with their family during vacations and breaks, i stayed in the city and lounged in the buzz of new york -- those experiences i wouldn't trade for anything else.

earlier in the night i was at pianos to see the blue sparks and meet up with jo jo. i have to say that i had had my doubts about the blue sparks. i've seen them twice before and i didn't remember them at all. the only song i knew was from the truthflies compilation. so when i saw them at pianos that night, i didn't know what i was in for. it could be good. it could be really bad. but luckily, it was really good. they play their music fierce, sometimes even getting in fights with each other on stage. the tension was definitely thick. but those spats add fuel to the electricity in the air of their performance, and actually made them quite interesting to watch. plus the girl in the band has one of the biggest girl fro's i've seen in new york, minus macy gray. that's quite an accomplishment in my book.

then we headed over to see jo jo deejay at black and white. boy was that shit packed to the brim. i'm very claustrophobic so the place was really freaking me out. i had to go outside every 15 minutes or i would get very short of breath and annoyed at all the people brushing violently past me. i was determined to stick around though and see jo jo deejay. that was my entire goal for the night. she finally went on pretty late in the night... i think she started with stellastarr* "my coco" and then she played the walkmen "the rat". i was overjoyed, but probably the only one besides jocelyn who was rocking out to it. i'm the biggest dork when it comes to the walkmen. their fast stuff makes me want to dance and pop a vein in the process. can't wait to see them in april!

new order

re-read this old article about organizing your records... why? because it's friday. and i like this quote:

I love order. It's my dream.
A world where all would be silent and still
and each thing in its last place,
under the last dust.
-- Samuel Beckett

i bought the cooper temple clause cd, kick up the fire, and let the flames break loose. i'm supposed to interview them on tuesday... i really dig track six, "blind pilots."

damien

i am taken today with damien rice. jesus. i feel like i can't breathe when i listen to him. my heart hurts. you know?

practice makes...

... awesome. practice went well yesterday. i think i was in a haze for most of it, and i felt like i was dreaming. my head was swimming in music that really comes alive, swirling and twirling around the rehearsal space like chinese dragon kites on a windy day in central park.

afterwards we went to kayrock's speakeasy. i had never been before, but he turned his place into an amazing lounge. i didn't feel like i was in someone's apartment at all. i ran into steven's roommate and luke. very random... i was gonna try to drag my ass into the city to see jo jo spin at pianos, but i was starting to feel deathly ill. so instead i made the long, cold trek home and completely passed out.

this winter is killing me

you know it's cold when you have to prance around like an elf just to keep warm while you're standing outside of a building to smoke. or something. well, that's what i found myself doing all night. plus, the late night after late night gig was weakening my defenses. but i told mike from the winter pageant i would come see his band, and i was determined to keep my word. i mean it's a pretty exciting gig to be opening up for french kicks. i was only sad i had to leave to go review the fever/von bondies show at bowery... peeps, that is what happens when you make plans in advance. i am going to try to never do that again.

the night at mercury started off with a sweet trio from kentucky called shopping. as a girl, i have to tell you that i like the name... but i can't explain why three guys named their band shopping. i didn't have time to talk and investigate further. i wanted to pinch their cheeks they were so cute! they definitely had the startime vibe exuding from their pores, especially one guy who was nerded out in glasses and a v-neck sweater. i had no idea kentucky could birth indie-ness as such. the other singer was a cute one as well, and boy could he sing charismatically. it wasn't so much that he had a beautiful voice or anything like that (the other guy had a prettier voice), but that he commanded a lot of attention when he sang and sang it with spastic energy. they started off strong and upbeat, and at many points reminded me of french kicks in fact. i really liked the song they dedicated to isaac, mostly because of they screamed this one line in the middle of the song in unison and it sounded awesome -- it totally brought a smile to my face.

after shopping i ran into jerry from knife skills and turing machine. he's the coolest dude ever. always has something cool and interesting to say. a very engaging person, not to mention an excellent drummer who seems to make other drummers scream like girls. ;-)

he and i both were there to see the winter pageant. he's friends with paul the bass player. you might have heard me mention this band before on this blog/site/thang. they were and are still auditioning for drummers. but i saw them a long time ago at luna lounge, and was pretty amazed by the pretty sleepers they were offering up. the lead singer's voice is almost like an instrument itself -- gliding along the top of the music like a cool current of coos. they're the kind of band you want to lie down on a carpeted floor, close your eyes and listen to. plus they have some kind of xylophone instrument that makes their songs ring like icicles dripping and freezing on the ground. excuse me if that doesn't make any sense. it's quite early in the morning for me.

then i headed over to the bowery to see the fever and the von bondies. said hi to rachel as she headed into the merc for the kicks. ran into jo jo also, and we and her friend headed over together to bowery. i ran into matthew at the bowery, who is a total sweetheart. found out a little more about the band he is starting. i have to say, i am dying to hear him sing. you can read my review of the rest of the show on popmatters in the somewhat near future. if i don't die of pneumonia before then.

and no i wasn't at the after party at starfoods. before that point i texted jo jo and said, "i'm dying here." that's when i know i gotta go to sleep or else i'm gonna pay sorely.

opening the locked doors

as you probably already know, i started off today listening to neil young. what a great songwriter... except for that song "a man needs a maid." i don't care if he wrote it in the 70s -- that song was quite comical in a "is he serious?" kind of way. that really made me laugh, but i hear there is an acoustic version of the song that will erase my memories of the dramatic musical version. on the other hand, i love love "pardon my heart." it appeals to the sobbing sap in me.

when i listened to that song five billion times, i got into the mood suddenly to listen to the dresden dolls. they are dark and emotional at times... i craved the song, "half jack." it was weird how i began to listen to it on a whim because it's one of my faves of the band, and then i started to feel intensely sad. the lyrics are vague enough to where i could relate to them and the pain that is encapsulated in amanda's voice and those powerful words. the song opened a flood of thoughts and emotions -- opening the doorway to stuff i don't like think about. not too many songs do that these do they?

most of the time we listen to music to escape and forget our troubles. but the dresden dolls love to open up and put the spotlight on their troubles. wallow, even. or poke fun of. their music is exposed, and listening to songs like "half jack" is like picking a scab over and over to watch it bleed -- until finally it forms a scab and you can move on. quite cathartic.

old man look at your life

my boss would faint is she knew i was listening to neil young right now. in fact, i think i'm about to faint.

the art of storytelling

anna's story about our run in with the split pants guy is up on really small talk. her perspective of the sitch is funnier than mine.

also tonight:
watch dan kennedy as he hosts the moth -- in another life, jco and i were interns at the moth for about two years. i like to think of them as the golden years of the moth where we had amazingly talented storytellers like mike albo, shelagh ratner, jonathan ames, frank mccourt, hazelle goodman, romy ashby, edgar oliver, sarah jones, candace bushnell, albert maysles, george plimpton, jerry stahl, joey xanders, reno, timothy "speed" levitch, Philip Gourevitch and many many more. now i think the only person i know at those events is george dawes green, the founder and funder. i haven't been to one since kimya dawson, dan kennedy and gideon yago told rock and roll stories!

also, i think i am in love with this cass mccombs ep, not the way and his full length, A. love love!

bushwick blast

for two weekends in april, brooklyn is going to rock during the first annual bushwick blast. some of the most interesting, experimental bands from all over the country will converge at the asterick art space in bushwick to change the way you listen to music. oooh i can already tell it's going to be phenomenal...

dennis cahlo

dennis of the realistics has new mp3s up on his site. check out his next show -- it's free!

Dennis Cahlo
Friday, Feb. 28th
@ The Living Room
11 p.m.

more lit shit

went to see another friend's band circle and square play at lit last night. i was really exhausted from partying the night before, but got myself siked up for the show anyways. two nights hanging out at lit is kind of too much. but such is life. circle and square is a band that has been around for a while. they have their shit down. so when they're on stage, all four members perform tizzight. it just looked so natural. to me they kind of sound emo-ish, punk... very catchy.

other bands performing were kilowatthours and soundtrak. there was one song that kilowatthours played, it was the last song of their set -- an instrumental -- that was just really pretty and magical. i was actually surprised. it was gentle at heart. i like! i like! by the time soundtrak got on stage, i wasn't really paying attention too much. but from what i heard, they are very strokes-ish. i will have to see them again some time i think to really form a solid opinion. what d'ya'll think?

some peeps were hungry so we went foraging the cold city for food. i was a dumbass and wore a skirt -- so i froze my ass off all night. we all headed over to the new misshapes party in the west village at a bar/lounge called luke and leroys -- a two story mini-club. we got there kinda late -- 2-ish, so the party was actually kind of winding down. we hung out for a little bit -- it was good to see all the bloggers in tow. and the most outrageous part of the party was the last song i stayed for -- the walkmen's "the rat." ultragrrrl instantly pulled me on to the dance floor and a bunch of us freaked out, screaming those hammy lyrics. love love!

spent the rest of the night at a friend's place just listening to loads of really cool music that was new to me. it was pretty awesome. then i completely passed out, in a drunken haze that had me in and out of consciousness. i hadn't stayed up that late in forever. it was a crazy, but memorable night. thanks to all.

all lit up

i went to see anna's band knife skills last night. it feels really good to support a friend's band, especially because you get to see them grow and bloom as a performer. i feel like every time i see this band, the assault is more massive, more killer. their songs are short, to the point but just as deadly, like sharp, quick jabs to your racing heart. if you haven't seen this band, you haven't seen tough, sexy girls kick ass on the stage. i'm not talking about girls who LOOK tough. but girls who really let go and lead with their aggression. if you haven't seen this band, you are missing a phenomenal drumming maniac. i'm not talking about some guy who just bangs hard on the drums. i'm talking about insane beatings that would make the most vicious domestic abuser blush with envy. in short, get thee to a knife skills show soon! if you think you can handle it.

the forms played afterwards, and they were pretty good through the first three songs. energetic, swaying, melodic, notes elliding into others... and then they began to sound the same on every song. they had a lot of energy and oomph, but could probably stand to fill out more diverse forms to break up their set a little bit. but perhaps the point was to reject form and standard lyrics for the more abstract vocals and the kind of music that melts into itself... a very interesting concept if you want to intellectualize it. i could be taking my thoughts too far though!!

i am so totaled now. i thought that you couldn't get hangovers with liquor, but i proved myself wrong by drinking the most i've drunk in a while: three makers and gingers and a shot of tequila. serious shit, man. and i think i'm ready to do it all over again tonight at the circle and square show. watch out for this girl. she is on a roll. she is talking in the third person... ok i'll stop now.

be our friendster

i finally went ahead and did it. i created a friendster profile for dirty on purpose. add us as your friend!

also i will be at lit for the next two nights:
friday, tonight!
knife skills
quick fix kills
the forms
@ lit
9 p.m.

afterwards, head over to see jo divestar deejay at black and white!
(10th Street, betw. 3rd & 4th Ave’s in Manhattan)

saturday, tomorrow:
circle + square
kilowatthours
@ lit
9 p.m.

then head over to greg's new party, MisShapes in the west village at luke + leroys (11 p.m. to 4 a.m.). deejays are gonna be hawt:
miss modernage, ultragrrrl, aleix + inge (girlie action pr)

The Cooper Temple Clause

“Promises Promises"
Real Player
Windows Media

“Blind Pilots”
Real Player
Windows Media

mall-o-riffic

today anna and i ventured into the big time warner mall on columbus circle. we are happy because there is a whole foods and whole body in this mall. there's also a sephora and the borders where the fab five signed books yesterday. i feel like i'm back in suburbia. lunch time has become a little bit more fun. i'm eating melons like crazy.

on our way back to work, a guy dropped something on the sidewalk, picked it up and then said to me, "i split my pants!" it was a total line but i didn't realize it at the time. he wanted me to look backwards at his ass. i didn't look, but anna had the pleasure. she said he looked back and waved. the whole funny sitch kind of brightened up my day!

the show to be at

according to me and y'all:
tonight @ southpaw
pela, tincantelephone, moonraker
$8 // 8:30 p.m.

word to your moms.

bling bling

still haven't seen bling kong yet. looking forward to seeing them tomorrow at vicious @ sin-e. should be good!

winter be gone!

saw the video for the boggs' song "plant me a rose" on cliktrax. it was set in new york during the winter with snow on the ground. i don't know about you but i'm so over new york winters. yet i still like the old school feel of the boggs video. it felt like a century old reel of normal life in the city.

the winter pageant need a drummer!

from the winter pageant: the winter pageant still really needs a new drummer. temp to permanent. bear with my many posts, this is a rough setback to some fantastic momentum - we really do need all the help we can get, because john is so so so so so good.....and this music calls for a really unique player and individual. i've gotten lots of response so thanks to those who have helped so far...... please forward to anyone who you think might possibly know someone. again, we're doing so well, and this is a great project to be involved in. we just got a friday showcase at sxsw - this is huge.
-- byron
music @ www.thewinterpageant.com
notbrian@earthlink.net
917.676.6201

p.s. upcoming shows: we're playing with french kicks at mercury on the 25th of feb, and then a fringe benefits party at pussycat lounge with the occasion and mountain men on march 3.

Blur - There's no other way

You've taken the fun
Out of everything
You're making me run
When I don't want to think
You've taken the fun
Out of everything
I don't want to think at all

There's no other way
There's no other way
All that you can do is watch them play

You've taken the fun
Out of everything
You're making it clear when I don't want to think
You're taking me up when I don't to go up anymore
I'm just watching it all

There's no other way
There's no other way
All that you can do is watch them play
There's no other way
There's no other way
All that you can do is watch them play

(Ahh, ahhh, watch you play
Ahh, ahhh, watch you play..)

There's no other way
There's no other way
All that you can do is watch them play
There's no other way
There's no other way
All that you can do is watch them play
There's no other way
There's no other way
All that you can do is watch them play
There's no other way
There's no other way
All that you can do is watch them play

more photos from vegas

i was in the worst mood until keith bought me this las vegas trucker hat to wear. then my old, goofy self came back and i was able to enjoy las vegas despite the cheesiness. i played black jack for an hour, and left only five dollars down. not bad! it was fun. i felt like i was in one of those celebrity poker showdown episodes, except i was playing black jack.

mr brightside

walking around las vegas is like being in a pedestrian terror trap. unlike new york, las vegas is anti-pedestrian. but after hearing from the hotel clerk that there was a 45-minute wait for cabs, i was like FUCK THAT I'M GONNA FUCKING WALK, in true new yorker fashion, of course. i started walking over to the strip, in a cynical kind of mood. but it was just so nice outside. i swear it felt like it was in the 70s, a pure joyous contrast to the east coast weather i was trudging through only a couple days earlier. warmth = good mood. i ambled on the streets directed only by the huge "harrahs" hotel silhouette on the skyline.

when i got there, i followed some people walking into the harrahs. of course i saw the casino floor and just sort of walked through the entire thing. the ka-ching of the slot machines were kind of enticing -- reminding me of the time i went to detroit and went to canada to gamble in the windsor casinos. i had lost $20 that day. today i wasn't really in the mood to play much of anything. soon i realized that there wasn't much to do in las vegas if you weren't in the mood to gamble. but seriously, who gambles on their own, right? i decided i would do that tonight when keith is around. today i would just walk around, soak in the gaudiness, take photos of things like the tourist i am, and go shopping! i'll spare you the details but here's some eye candy. i'm hoping to feel the energy of a song like the killers' "mr brightside" while i'm here in vegas. so far, no go.

colorful evening, sleepy days

joe and george and i went to see the color bars last night at sin-e. i was listening to their cd earlier in the day, and wasn't sure i was into the pop-alt-country-funny songs. but what was particularly delightful about the color bars in their live performance is their beautiful three-person harmonies. it's pretty amazing that three people can sing so in synch. it was like watching an alt-country version of hanson!! while their lyrics were kind of silly (intentionally, i'm sure, but still not too impressive or enticing), some of their songs were really well-assembled rock songs with beautifully swaying guitar lines. it was weird because the band would go from plain goofy to really intricate, sweet music. it was also the kind of band that switched instruments a lot, which was cool and brought in different dynamics to their performance. i also loved it when they gave away valentine's day cookies that one of the guy's girlfriend had made. sweet.



originally we were at the show to meet up with some peeps for band business shite, but couldn't find them in the crowd. i was kind of annoyed because i missed seeing sam champion at luna lounge -- sorry about that noah and jay. i didn't miss you guys on purpose!! and i promise i will catch you next time. sorry sorry sorry.



anyhoo while i was there at sin-e, i talked with bill britelle of the blondes inc for a little bit. and he introduced me to this guy who's an artist -- a pretty amazing artist, in fact -- very basquiat. i think his artist moniker was fa-q -- pronounced like "fuck you." i saw his portfolio of work, and was instantly taken in by the complex emotions and raw display of pain and anger in his work. this guy should not be working at sin-e. he should keep on with his art and have shows again in new york city.



it was kind of a late night, and j&g and i headed over to my place. i had like almost an entire pizza in my fridge from the night before that i needed to get rid of, so i heated it up in the oven, and we all had a late night munch. it felt like i was in college or something. we ended up watching elimidate -- a show i've never seen before, and soon found it was kind of fucked up!! all the girls on the show kept bitching at each other and the jockish guy was totally grossing me out. "i wanted to squeeze her butt like they were georgia peaches." YUCK-O.

after j&g left, i had about an hour to pack and clean up the house. i didn't have any time to sleep. before i knew it i was heading to laguardia. i thought i was gonna pass out!! but the music list on my ipod helped me get through my 8 hour plane ordeal to vegas. here's what i was listening to:
"mind blindness" - dirty on purpose
"monument" - dirty on purpose
"latitudes" - pela
"all in time" - pela
"what" - brendan benson
"quarter to three" - bishop allen
"don't hold your breath" - calla
"mother sky" - calla
"lovefool" - cardigans
"delicate" - damien rice
"love is only a feeling" - the darkness
"here i dreamt i was an architect" - the decemberists
"coin-operated boy"- the dresden dolls
"in this city" - enon
"crying just for show" - french kicks
"close to modern" - french kicks
"1985" - french kicks
"trying whining" - french kicks
"the devil wears earplugs" - the joggers
"mr brightside" - the killers
"rocknroll" - lovedrug
"down toward the healing" - lovedrug
"to hell with good intentions" - mclusky
"tomorrow" - morrissey
"happy kid" - nada surf
"inside of love" nada surf
"big brat" - phantom planet
"1st things 1st" - phantom planet
"nothing better" - postal service
"lipgloss" - pulp
"common people" - pulp
"disco 2000" - pulp
"collide" - rachael yamagata
"house of jealous lovers" - rapture
"samson" - regina spektor
"waiting" - the rentals
"wonderwall" - ryan adams
"gone for good" - the shins
"the end has no end" - the strokes
"inoculate the innocuous" - the unicorns
"the rat" - the walkmen
"my old man" - the walkmen
"little house of savages" - the walkmen
"138th street" - the walkmen
"maps" - yeah yeah yeahs
"y control" - yeah yeah yeahs

the hotel room is nice. but i totally crashed and slept all day. i got to vegas around 10 a.m. (vegas time). so crazy. completely exhausted. i ordered room service, ate heartily and then went to sweet sleep. keith had his laptop all set up with internet connection for me (he knows me so well -- i'm completely addicted to the internet and would go crazy if i didn't have a computer on this short trip). tonight we're supposed to go to some party that his company and ibm are having. then we have the rest of the night to do whatever we want. originally he had told me that friday night would be stripper night... i dunno if i'm totally down with that, but i guess we'll see what the night will bring!

the walkies talky

read and link to my interview with hamilton of the walkmen
love jinners

joke of the day

what did five fingers say to the face?
slap!

somehow it's funnier when joe tells it.

rough trade

this week has been kinda rough. some good things, some bad things. there has been this huge anxiety building up within me these past couple days. i've been trying to fight it off, but it's kinda weighing me down emotionally. though i always try to be my perky lil' self. think happy thoughts. happy thoughts!

...pela. whoa, they totally stepped it up a notch or 10 at their mercury lounge show on tuesday. the volume of their show has gotten considerably louder, and billy is as passionate at the mic as ever. these are the kind of guys who wear their heart on their sleeves. love love them all! they also have this great new drummer who makes rock faces while he's pounding the beats. i love bands that look like they're having a lot of fun while their songs are bursting out of the monitors. full force. a good performance needs great songs, great spirit, and charismatic players. all was had by pela. also had lots of fun listening to their manager, lee, tell his biz stories. this is what i imagine touring life must be like -- sitting around in musty rooms with my peeps, smoking and drinking and telling stories that draw laughter and bring us closer together. sorry i don't have any photos. i brought my temporary digicam with me but then realized there was no smart media card in it. d'oh!!

forget simon cowell. judge for yourself:

pitty sing - "radio"
denali - "hold your breath"
on!air!library! - "bread"
south - "loosen your hold"
young people - "el paso"
call and response - "rollerskate"
the vines - "ride"
usher

sin city

ooh it's official! i'm leaving FOR a very special valentine's day in las vegas. wheee!!! don't worry. i'm not going to pull a britney or anything. but i might get lost in translation. gaudy hottie tottie!

french kicks on carson daly

.... again. in fact the taping is today. you better act fast if you want to go. click here

yeah yeah yeah, no grammy

from nick, catchdubs.com
unfortunately, the white stripes won. what's up with that?

no week for the weak

what a crazy week it's been! i started off friday morning at work, and there was an explosion in my building. the entire place was evacuated and eventually people were sent home. this was fine with me because i had a lot to do to prepare for the dop show at the knitting factory... but it was kinda scary seeing thick black smoke coming out of the side of my buliding. i think the first thing people thought it was was a terrorist attack. all they smelled was smoke and then when they looked out the window, they just saw black smoke. scary eh? people were running out of the building before anyone even announced an evacuation.

anyhoo, the dop show with suicide girls was great. the place was packed, and our fears that they'd get boo'ed off stage in favor of naked girls was forgotten once the band started playing. there were a lot of new faces in the crowd and people were into it. their set was 25 minutes long -- short and sweet. it was cool because after their set, people in the crowd asked for more. and they finally got to premiere their hot new song, "mindblindness." that song just drowns in emotion and builds up to an epic finish. sigh.

i really liked the people who worked at knitting factory. thank you especially to johnny the night manager. you are a total sweetheart!!! mwah!

so good to see bsiii in the house. i was happy that he was really into dop -- i had given him their cd at the last cousin show i went to at happy ending, and he came out to support. talked with him for a little bit but then lost in him the crowd later on. he's going to have a birthday party coming up at sin-e this month on feb. 22. cousin will play. it will be rad. come out and celebrate!

arthur from stellastarr* also came out to check out the show. one of my friends told me she didn't recognize him with his shirt on! it's ok though because he looked just as cute with clothes on. ironically, later in the burlesque part of the night, there were many topless girls with tape on their nipples. that's such a stellastarr* rip off! haha. saw daniel from circle and square at the show, and i was very delighted to hear that he liked the show. ed from circle and square was also in the house representing. we also ran into doug from the go station, jeremy from autodrone, heather from au revoir simone, and many more that i can't seem to think of at the moment. forgive me, it's been quite a week.

on a side note, lately the band has been calling me "pickles" despite the fact that i keep telling them i'd rather be called "penguin." i think i'm going to have to just accept this new moniker. but i thought another nickname for me uttered later that night was even funnier: "america's sweetheart". just as long as no one calls me "all-american girl" i think we're a-ok.

the band's show with pela last night at b61 in carroll gardens was super fun. it was so comfortable and free with lots of warmth. the bad part was that i got more than tipsy, dropped and broke my camera. while that's getting fixed, i will be using my bf's little digi-cam. cute and just as effective. pela was really amazing. it's been so long since they've played a show so we were excited they asked dop to play with them and even happier to see them play. i think the last time they played was october! they played my old favorite: "latitudes" and my new favorite "all in time." there were some technical difficulties -- the band played so hard that they blew out the power! but that's awesome in my book. the more passionate, the better.

dop also played a fun set that included one of my faves that still hasn't been recorded yet: "air show disaster". it's this huge instrumental that always makes me want to cry. it sounds cheesy, but when i listen to it, it affects me so deeply i want to weep or something. what can i say? i'm a sensitive sucker. george broke a string and the band, like pros, went into an impromptu performance of erika's new keyboard song. it's a very low-key song with a beautiful flow. hopefully they'll play it at another show soon...

here are some new photo galleries:
* french kicks @ mercury lounge
* dirty on purpose with pela @ b61
* dirty on purpose @ mercury lounge
* dirty on purpose with suicide girls @ knitting factory
* knife skills @ north six

and some cool upcoming shows this week:
feb. 10: pela @ mercury lounge
feb. 10: steven mertens - solo! @ cinema classics
feb. 10: dresden dolls @ joe's pub
feb. 11: french kicks, peelander z @ merc lounge
feb. 12: sam champion @ luna lounge
feb. 12: ambulance ltd @ pianos
feb. 13: ex models, roger sisters @ merc lounge
feb. 13: asobi seksu @ sin-e
feb. 14: regina spektor @ tonic
feb. 14: my favorite @ the hook
feb. 14: the wau wau sisters @ bowery ballroom

check my nyc shows calendar for more!

buy the recoys cd at realisticrecords.net!

see the amazingly cute stills aeri took from her video footage at the triple walkmen knitting factory shows!

omigosh, i almost forgot to mention that i saw the lilys downstairs at the knitting factory the same night of the dop show. they were amazing and surreal and beautiful. i was captivated with their low key set. i want to see them again soon!

strip it down, honey

it's official. the suicide girls/dirty on purpose show tonight at the knitting factory is completely sold out. not even any tickets at the booth. try your hand with the scalpers! but for those of you with tickets, i will see and party with you tonight! drinks! rock! and probably a lil' more than janet's nipple.

by the way, the walkmen perform on conan tonight!

i just saw an snl commercial where meghan mullaly ripped clay aiken's shirt off to reveal a nipple star. weird! how long are they going to be "milking" this joke?

cuts like a knife

knife skills ravaged the north six stage last night. they opened the night with their fast-paced, dangerous riffs. anna let loose on the mic and guitar. fon lin exuded sex appeal. jerry beat the hell outta those drums. and they owned it. so fun! it was good to see my dop crew in tow. lowbrau was in the house representin'. and the lovely katy. and her friend jenny. i saw a little bit of parts and labor, and really dug what i heard. experimental, loud but in a strangely catchy, dancey way. the music moved.

awful plastic surgery

i don't know where katy finds these things... awful plastic surgery

the walkmen on truthflies.com

if you buy the new walkmen album, bows and arrows, on truthflies.com, you'll also get an autographed poster! this is a limited offer so scoop it quick! it's only $12, but you get BIG LOVE. ed, you better save me one since i hooked you up!

fast suicide

word on the net is that the dirty on purpose suicide girls show is sold out, at least online. hope you got your tix!

tonight:
knife skills
parts and labor
lungfish
@ north six

french kicks!!!

the fucking french kicks made a triumphant return to new york city with the first installment of their residency at the mercury lounge. fucking hawt, people. FUCKING HAWT! i was amazed when they took the stage and wowed me with wondrous, melodic, pure-joy-filled new songs. my hips were swinging and my head was bobbin' with jaunty jubilee... whee! i know i sound silly but who the hell cares? drummer #2, the post-hugh drummer, quit the band so they temporarily used jake from the joggers, who apparently only practiced with them twice before the show. i was quite impressed. he hit those beat, and he hit them with sassssss! flirting with the crowd! the keyboard and guitar parts were as catchy as ever and josh's voice was featured on one new song. some good quality shit here, peeps! they sounded waaaaay better than they did at irving way back in the day. that venue just plain sucks. mercury is the bomb! no doubt! the whole time i felt like i was a little too close to nick's crotch. but at a french kicks show, i guess that's not a big surprise. that mofo is one tall drink of water. a special thanks to isaac. isaac, you are the man. awesome possum and whatnot. matt! lawrence! nick! josh! jake! love love.

met jay from flavorpill, and had a blast! we talked about all sorts of music and had great conversation. he introduced me to the man of the night -- johnny beach who books mercury. johnny was the nicest guy ever. i had so much fun jabbering away, i had to apologize for talking so much. sometimes i get in these weird moods where i have insane motor mouth. it just won't stop! but i promised we would go out drinking and have lots of fun after he returns to the city. wonderful totally cool guy. love love!

anyhoo, also chatted with peter bauer about all things walkmen! i had heard from a friend that the "listen to this" supplement in entertainment weekly this week was going to have a walkmen drinking special in it... so i asked pete about it and he said that the writer just drank with them and asked them what they drink. pretty lame stuff apparently... we'll see how it turns out. he said weird war may or may not join them when the band attacks irving plaza. i wish i had gotten a chance to say hello to hamilton. i never know if people connect jinners to jin, you know? but apparently hamilton does. i told pete i interviewed hamilton recently, and he told me that he knew because hamilton had told him. the whole time i thought i was interviewing all incognito and shit! no more, jinners, no more. mental note: come up with new incognito shit.

earlier in the night, stewart lupton's band, the child ballads, were actually quite impressive. stewart has the kind of voice that makes you think of crazy legends like tom waits or bob dylan. i liked the folkish feel of his band. it was weird because i was expecting jonathan fire*eater redux! but got some quality rock music. straight from d.c.! it's kind of a shame because i think a lot of people didn't give it a chance. there were some lulls, but for the most part, quite dramatic.

i still don't know what i think about the shout out louds... my initial reaction was a non-reaction. but i think i was so distracted i couldn't form an honest opinion. will have to see them another time. i know jo divestar loves them so they must have some merit!

at the end of the night a bunch of us went to starfoods! of course. i had my standard makers and ginger. i chatted up a storm with new friend jess. shared a cab with new friend justine, who i found out lives a couple blocks from me. it was good to see jco and rachel back in action. i had so much fun! i might end up going all four nights at the merc! crazy? could it border on walkmen love? we'll see...


before all of the musical chaos i went to see adrian tomine at the housing works cafe. great place to hang out, i realized. i briefly saw jason from product shop nyc, but i don't think he saw me waving to him. i got adrian to sign my book and i was a stupid flustered nincompoop. damn!!

things to do tonight

adrian tomine signing optic nerve 9!!!
@ housing works cafe
7 p.m.

french kicks, shout out louds
@ mercury lounge
9 p.m.

qatsi
@ sin-e
10 p.m.

love and lost

ok, so... flavorpill fixed the fact that dirty on purpose wasn't mentioned online. whatever. i still think they're journalistic dunces. not in a harsh way. just from one journalist to another. now i know i can't exactly trust their reviews. moving on...

anyways, back on to the music i've been listening to. on saturday night the gostation played tiswas. the crowd was full and lively. it was weird how i was there to see and support singer doug levy, a recent acquaintance. then i realized i knew another member of the gostation, their guitarist, from college. small small world! the gostation is brit pop gone rock'n'roll on u.s. soil. relatively new to the scene, i was digging their oasis ways... it was weird to hear them also cover an oasis song, but doug had the lead singer moves all down pat. watch out, liam! their set was energized and emphatic. looking forward to seeing them again soon...

aerial love feed headlined the night. i had seen them once before at vicious. the first time i wasn't really sure what i thought of them. they were loud. they were stylish. and they were strobin'! and geez were they strobin' again at tiswas. however, my opinion of them changed for the better. strange, eh? the only thing i didn't like was the fact that their set started to sound more and more like one big song. they had energy and the rock star poses (which are great, actually), but not enough differentiation between songs. and way too much strobe. please stop the strobe. it's great for finales, but not for a 35 minute set!

also, in case you were wondering, my interview with alex greenwald of phantom planet went well! he seemed a lot younger than i expected, but he was a talker and easy to chat with. i can see why the teeny boppers like him. while listening to the new phantom planet album, i felt like dancing. i think that's a good sign. who cares if their last album was a pop-tumor? though i did like that "turn shift repeat" song. anyways back to the fact that it makes me want to dance. dance!

the good and the bad

happy walkmen bows and arrows day! go buy your very own copy of their record today!

I was really underwhelmed with the Flavorpill review of the Suicide Girls show this Friday. Could everyone email them and let them know they forgot to mention the featured band, Dirty on Purpose?? I will love you forever if you do me this favor.

in other news, popmatters finally posted my review of the unicorns at southpaw…

also, I am interviewing alex from phantom planet today over the phone. we'll see how it goes…

the walkmen are A+++++

entertainment weekly give the walkmen's bows and arrows an "A". fucking hawt. they were the featured review -- full page review! i kind of don't like the comparison to the strokes though. they are NOT the strokes! get over it! they are the walkmen! thanks.

i read that time out interview you're all talking about. can't they get through one interview without mentioning neil hagerty?? the answer is no. haha.

all i have to say is IT'S TRUE!!


also:
Reprise Records says it will begin selling the debut album from rock act Secret Machines, "Now Here Is Nowhere," as a download three months ahead of its physical release. The move pushes the envelope on the lead-time major labels are giving to online sales of new releases. as part of the reprise offer, those who buy the album online will receive six free additional downloads, a bundled collection called "sympathy for the download 01." the digital sampler will feature a secret machines bonus track and cuts from the upcoming von bondies, the walkmen, the sun, head automatica and johnathan rice. fans will also receive a free CD-R to burn the tracks on to. the cd-r is a limited edition featuring exclusive secret machines artwork. [billboard.com]

i also got a chance to listen to the von bondies. that album rocks! can't wait to see them when they come to nyc feb. 25, bowery ballroom...

damien rice revised

New Remix of Damien Rice's "Cannonball" released:
Windows Media Version: low // high
QuickTime
damien rice will be coming back to nyc on april 16, beacon theatre...

i saw the go station and aerial love feed on saturday night at tiswas. full review coming soon!