the triumphant return of french kicks' wwfkd?
doggie style
my best friends girl
a larry situation
sex in the city

and then there were four... i mean, five -- who is this mysterious "dan" on drums?

hmmm, i just remembered i bought tickets to see margaret cho at the beacon theater on oct. 10. where the hell are my tickets?? anyone else going?

in defense of liars

i've heard a lot of people griping about the "secret" liars show on saturday night at the knitting factory. ok, here's my response: if you didn't like any of the four songs that liars played on saturday night, then you probably never really liked noisy post-wave rock. that's ok, of course. so they've become more experimental -- so what? my guess is that all that touring with sonic youth has heavily influenced the band, and they're trying out a new sound. i have to admit, i was curious as to what the band would sound like minus two original members, but i wasn't disappointed by the band on saturday -- i was disappointed by the fans, most of whom were stiff as a board during the set. and for some reason i was surprised that the guys didn't play any oldies and sad that their set didn't last longer, but that doesn't mean i didn't like what they played. this band has never been about following what the rest of williamsburg has been churning out. keep that in mind, dearies. the new york rock revolution will soon skew towards more experimentalism, and mtv rock will fade into the trl countdown.

the new hardglitter. i like.

i'm going to start a weekly OTM newsletter that will include nyc indie show listings and a gathering of relevant interviews and features. if you want to be part of the mailing list, please sign up by emailing info@onthemoonmusic.com. everyone already on the OTM mailing list will already be included. newsletter will come out every sunday to start your week off right! email me if you have a show coming up and want to be included in the listing.

so many friends and friendsters playing this week. what's a girl to do?

09.30.03
brilliant mistakes
@ galapagos

10.01.03
ambulance ltd, aerial love feed
@ mercury lounge

10.01.03
qatsi, read yellow
@ pianos

10.02.03
turing machine, hominid
@ lit (open bar from 9-10)

10.03.03
dirty on purpose
@ grand central (in the 'burg)
no cover

10.03.03
sonic mook experiment: panthers
@ sin-e

10.03.03
divestar and melody nelson:
the realistics, the flesh
@ bowery ballroom

very cool photos of:
o!a!l!
dirty on purpose
pela
a la jasper

sup mag spells stellastarr* wrong. on a brighter note, they do spell the notwist right. i like that cameron cook, fun journalist extraordinaire.

the natural history music video. i can't get it to work on my computer, but perhaps you can tell me what it looks like?

just surfing the ny times:

aclu vs. music industry
lower cd prices could hurt the yyys
marg cho still rules

liars played a "secret" show at the knitting factory last night. i have been in liars withdrawal for quite a while now, so i was excited to see them play again. there was a pretty large gathering of people there for the show. asif saw me holding tickets to the show and he yelled at me. "bitch, i put you on the list, you're jackey's plus one!" uh, jackey didn't tell me! it was funny cuz he called her up right then and there and yelled at her. ha. then he bought me a drink. sweetheart. love love him! i told him i didn't mind buying tickets and supporting the bands. he called me a dying breed. then he introduced me to katie from young people who was knitting at the knitting factory. priceless!

i didn't see cameron or bidi around, but mike d tells me they were there. i did run into Say Hi To Your Mom. chatted with those boys for quite a while. it was nice to run into them again. i loved their set, and i thought that lead singer eric had such a cute stage presence. i love running into people at shows these days. i feel like going to shows is so much more of a community event now. a couple years ago for me, it was just going to a show and seeing a band. now it's like seeing many of my friends.

liars played songs from their forthcoming album, which includes tracks that are more experimental. and angus gets on the guitar! i didn't get to snap any photos, but i did rock out. i have to say though that the crowd was pretty lame. it's probably the tamest crowd that liars have ever played for. why don't you dance, people! start a little ruckus. by the time i got into the front and center area, the boys had just finished their final song. that was the shortest set ever!

naf gave me a bootleg of dirty on purpose and on!air!library! at the sin-e show. i think i might post a couple of the tracks online here for a limited amount of time -- maybe when i have the photo galleries up. for the rest of the night i lost track of the friends i came with (they ended up in chinatown) and so i hung out with mike d and kevin. alcohol was just not agreeing with me that night.

the next liars show: october 30 at the bowery ballroom. buy your tickets now, suckas.

also tonight, go see sea ray at the bowery ballroom with clem snide!

new walkmen west coast tour photos a la affordable justice.

tonight i went to luxx -- you know that glorious rock club of old that used to have punk/dance/electroclash shows and hipsters hanging outside smoking and bullshitting? yeah, that one. there's also a new "carribbean bar" that opened up a couple doors down from the club. if you haven't heard yet, luxx is turning into a gay dance club beginning oct. 25. but right now there is a late night gay dance party on friday -- after the rock shows. so during the 25 suaves set (a husband and wife team like the white stripes only harder, crazier and better), i stepped out for a cigarette and some alone time. that was probably my big mistake. while i'm smoking, i overhear this conversation.

guy one: so you're gay right?
guy two: no i'm straight.
guy one: oh, i'm straight too.

obviously though guy one does not believe that guy two is straight. he continues.

guy one: things are so different now. back in the day, i could batter you.

needless to say, guy two soon snuffs out his cigarette and heads back into the club. unfortunately, of course, that means that guy one moves his interrogation on to me.

guy one: you probably don't want to talk to me after you heard that conversation.
me: [silence, puffing cigarette]
guy one: can i ask you one question?
me: no.
guy one: just one question. c'mon!
me: no.
guy one: just tell me, what makes you want to be with the same sex?
me: excuse me? what are you talking about?
guy one: what makes you want to rub up on another girl?
me: what the hell are you talking about? i don't.
guy one: you don't? ah man, i fucked up didn't i? but what makes you want to have a relationship with another girl?
me: i don't.

at this point he must have lost his train of thought or was thoroughly confused. he continues.

guy one: oh you're chinese!!
me: [silence, puffs cigarette faster]
guy one: you're chinese right?
me: no.
guy one: you're not chinese? ah man i fucked up again, didn't i? you're not chinese?
me: no. what are you?
guy one: puerto rican. if you're not chinese, what are you?
me: korean.
guy one: oh. i fucked up. i know you don't want to hear my story but let me tell you anyways...
me: no, don't tell me your story.

at this point, he tries to light his cigarette with mine and i back away, saying, "i have a lighter." this somehow perturbs him and he says, "keep your lighter." and finally, walks away. i went back into the club, but left shortly after. this kind of weird harassment does not bode well for the gay disco and its carribbean neighbor.

mark your handy dandy calendars:

tuesday, october 7
kenna performs for free
@ the supper club
doors 8 p.m.

plus, an intimate discussion with gil scott-heron -- the revolution will not be televised!

currently listening to the stills - logic will break your heart. in stores october 21.
[fawn]

r.i.p robert palmer.
;-(

thanks to all who came out last night to the show at sin-e. i thought on!air!library! was amazing. the new drummer kevin adds depth to their dark, moody songs. pee and ali's voices sounded wonderful. and i love claudia on the farfiza!

as announced on melodynelson yesterday, i have begun to manage dirty on purpose. so i've been going to the last few practices as they ran through their set list for last night, and i knew it was going to be killer. the set was pretty heavy, and they debuted a new song tentatively titled "spider eyes" where joe sings in a voice that draws me in every time because it is so distinctive. many of their songs flowed really nicely into each other. and they ended with everyone's favorite, dynamic instrumental, "monument." it was totally hot.

pela also sounded wonderful live, and the boys in that band were such a joy to talk to! as sweet as the music they were singing. lead singer billy has this unique voice that rings with heartfelt, uplifting melodies -- a voice that really carries the beautiful music they create. my faves are from their ep -- "episode," "latitudes" and "venom." and the live performance was just as good, if not even better, than their recording. i was so happy!

surprisingly, i knew the keyboardist in say hi to your mom already! so when alex walked into soundcheck yesterday, i was like, "hey, i know that guy!" funny how that happens, eh? i had never seen them live, but i've been listening to their mp3s online for a while now. so i was very excited to see shtym in the flesh! and i must say they delivered. i hold "the fritz" dear to my heart. i love how the songs are so smooth musically and have this really cool, almost jazzy vibe to them -- eric's vocals have a mysterious edge, and then the lyrics have sarcastic, witty bite, which gives the songs even more appeal. can't wait to see them again!

it made me so happy to see so many of my friends at the show -- christian and justin from bishop allen, naf from OTM Tokyo, Knife Skills, deron, Jenna, Jeff Sea Ray, Asobi Seksu, rachel, jennifer, the Red Comes Up, June Fool, the jean genie, Divestar, Miss Modern Age, melody nelson, jasper jenyk, new york doll and more that i am probably missing cuz my brain is so foggy (but you know who you are!). thanks for coming and making a girl like me so very happy.

photos from the show coming soon...

like a broken record, i know.

the realistics get bizarre.

come support the realistics at the bowery ballroom on oct. 3 -- it's their first headlining gig, and the show is 18+, for all of the kiddies crushin' on that keyboard player.

who is leona naess? her voice is as soft and velvety as a rose petal, and her new self-titled album will bring out the cheeseball romantic in you. check: "he's gone," "calling" and "how sweet." but literally:

She's the daughter of Arne Naess, former husband of Supreme Diana Ross. Born and raised in England but presently based in New York, Leona Naess is an introspective singer/songwriter whose alternative pop-rock draws on influences ranging from Edie Brickell, Tori Amos and Joni Mitchell to the Cure, David Bowie and Joy Division. -- allmusic.com

another "which stroke are you?" quiz [nme]

bands against bush include sonic youth, liars and erase errata.

BAB has set up more than twenty regional chapters in the U.S. and abroad, with a directory of groups willing to participate in various events to raise voter awareness. Among the events planned is an October 11th international day of action, with concerts planned for New York City; Olympia, Washington; Seattle; Los Angeles; Boston; Washington, D.C.; Portland, Oregon; Paris, France; and Dublin, Ireland. The day of action will be preceded by a Rock Against Reagan Memorial show on October 9th.

[rolling stone]

cds i'm fawning/yawning over today:

liars - they were wrong so we drowned
* very experimental, but hot nonetheless. only liars can pull this off
[fawn]

rufus wainwright - want one
* love his voice... but what's up with that "vibrate" song?
[fawn]

leaves - breathe
* coldplay part deux from iceland
[yawn]

tonight:
acoustique:
mary lorson
the last town chorus
jason trachtenberg
the io's
june fool
@ sin-e
7 p.m. // $10

finally someone agrees with my opinion that meg white of the white stripes is boring!

Seeing the duo in concert is like watching a gifted artist cut a demo. It's as if he says to Meg, "Hey, can you just keep time for me while I get this stuff down on tape?"

...The songs blurred like the years and spoken words slurred into one another, and the whole thing slowly turned into a bunch of electro pseudo-blues gobbledy gook.

...Meg's simplistic skin-pounding, her child-like delivery and coy posturing resemble a stunt more than they suggest unique technique or talent. Even the White Strpes' positioning onstage -- Jack frequently singing incoherently into a mike behind the drums, Meg playing directly to him at all times -- suggested as much. The only thing that made her a better choice than a drum machine was her partner's ability to control her tempo without physically pushing a button. Well, she's cute, too.

[rolling stone]

spoiler tee-shirt tagline contest from drewbacca:

Hey hep cats,

SPOILER 3 is just a month away, and one of the myriad tasks that must be done between now and then (apart from actually finishing our films), is that t-shirts must be made! The t-shirt, as we see it, will consist of the SPOILER logo and a tagline. Rather than stick with the boring "A Comedy Film Project" tagline, we thought we should drum up a new one for the shirts. Something with moxie and, preferably, razmatazz.

We've come up with a few ideas already, but thought: hell, why not get as many ideas as we can? So, without further ado, I'd like to announce the SPOILER T-Shirt Tagline Contest!

Email us your ideas for the SPOILER t-shirt tagline by the end of the day WEDNESDAY, and if yours is the lucky winner, we'll send you a $20 gift certificate to Amazon, and a SPOILER t-shirt. That's right: you can have your bullshit immortalized on a t-shirt, AND get that DVD of Daddy Day Care you've been salivating over.

For those who don't know what SPOILER is, please check out our website at: http://www.spoilerfilms.com

Cheers,

Drew
spoiler@drewbacca.com

what do you think of the keyboards in the new strokes song, "12:51?" is it a lil' electro-clash or what?

kudos to:

Bangin' Brooklyn for her gawker mention. you go, girl! sex, drugs, and heavy metal karaoke prevail!

the fever for landing that opening night gig for the cmj music marathon...

jasper for this fiery photo. lovely...

The Darkness reviewed in The New York Times.

Save the Date:

Thursday, September 25
On the Moon Music Presents...

On!Air!Library!
Dirty on Purpose
Pela
Say Hi To Your Mom

@ Sin-e
148-150 Attorney Street
8 p.m. // $8

my fave queer eye quote to date:
"shake it! don't break it! it took your mama 9 months to make it!"

when are they going to make bravo on demand so i can watch queer eye any day of the week?

from 'burg to 'burgh

my friend stephanie who lives in pittsburgh wrote me this email:

hey,
so, it looks like some of your new york bands are finally making it here to the other burgh (you know the one that's not williamsburg). last night i saw stellastarr* here and quite enjoyed the show. next weekend the fever is coming again, and i really wanted to see that show, but i'm going to be out of town that weekend! maybe someone cool will be in d.c. then. anyway, you should keep me updated on who's good and shit so i'm informed when bands come to town. also, if you have any connections to any of these guys that i could get in on, that would be cool too.

"The city itself and the scene feels jaded now. I can remember seeing Interpol a few years back and there was hardly anyone there. No one really cared about local bands back then. You could never get a gig. The only way people would book you is if you could bring an audience. Now a NY band can go from opener to headliner in a month and after three months they have a recording contract and a manager. It's crazy. It seems so hyper-aware of the outside attention. The heartfelt passion and the authenticity to just f*cking rock out just because you need to, with your friends. I think that's really tainted." -- Nick Zinner [from annabiotica] Hmm, wonder what bands he's talking about?

damn, panthers are opening for the darkness tonight, and it's completely sold out! bad for me because i don't have a ticket, but hella good for them!

derek reports on the walkmen's west coast tour. i love this photo:



yo, derek, we need more photos! more more more!

ooooh new kylie album on february 10th! [billboard]

new dido song, "white flag"... this sounds like all of her other songs, but i still like it. shuddup. [rolling stone]

join the slate book club. are they going to be like the next oprah?

har mar gets karen o to get all jiggy on our ass. "Plans for a collaboration with Har Mar are in the making when we both find the time," she said. "I think it’ll be a little more R&B than the Yeah Yeah Yeahs usually are!" [nme.com]

whatever.

breadsoul cappuccino is awesome.

last night, annabiotica and i rushed downtown to the knitting factory to see three of our favorite guys in the new york rock scene: jude, luke and dAve. when we got to the box office we found they annointed us with nicknames on the guest list: anna "kicking ass and taking names" barie and uh, jinners. the box office guy smiled and asked, "how am i supposed to ID you gals?"

we snuck into the green room and greeted the boys, thanked them for putting us humble and po' girlies on the list. then minutes later, qatsi took the knitting factory stage and totally kicked ass on that tiny stage (was it always that itty bitty?).

this new york trio gets tighter and tighter every time, and they are a joy to watch on stage. dAve really gets theatrical on stage... at times it seems like playing guitar is musical masturbation for him, and he continually flirts with the crowd. we wanted more luke (aka more drums!) 'cuz he's a giant drummer in more ways than one, and we wanted the music to pound more. and jude's voice was in stellar condition as he got all hot and sweaty under those stage lights. and we ate it up when he jumped off stage for that song we can't remember the title of. what's the title of that song???



***

anyhoo, a coupla my friends work for the PR company that represents narciso rodriguez. isn't his spring 2004 collection totally hot? not very indie or hipster, true, but if you walked into a club wearing these numbers, the rock stars would be drooling all over you, fo sho.

***


why are there praying mantis on the subway? it freaked everyone on the train. nature gets too close to us nyoo yawkers again!

***

happy belated birthday, cameron. may you find your gravy train!

the new york times asks, "why do we like music so much?" i think it's cuz we're aching to connect with each other.

it was heartwarming to see bishop allen take the stage at the bowery ballroom, under the red and blue glow of the stage lights... the cheering fans up front, us loyal followers who have been waiting for the group to return from their ambitious, long summer tour. and finally we get our fill of a band that's totally changing the sound of brooklyn. and they are getting lots of radio play on kexp.org, too, so i'm totally siked for them. john in the morning knows what's up!

they played my favorites and did a cover of talking head's "psychokiller." bonnie says they've been playing that cover all summer -- they did a great job of giving the song their own twang. some of my fave bishop allen tunes include "quarter to three," "eve destruction," "busted heart," "another wasted night," "little black ache," "charm school" and of course, "things are what you make of them." yep, they played all my faves -- though i have to say i love ALL of their songs. they are the shiznit, and you betta recognize. and a special hello to new bishop allen member christian o, the girl with mad skills on the xylophone.

after their show i chatted for a while with a great photographer, and then the band and blake downstairs. then i pulled myself away to head over to vicious at sin-e. talked with jasper and audrey. said hello to luke, yannick, bill jr., hugged dennis, heard the candy butchers canceled the bowery show (fuckers!), chatted with some asobi seksu, wanted to see the fiery furnaces, but decided i couldn't cuz i was so tired. so tired! so now, folks, i'm off to bed.

there is so much to do tonight! i'm going to be running from a party at serena's to a couple of shows in the LES. come join me and rock out with:

bishop allen
@ bowery ballroom
9 p.m. // $15

vicious: the fiery furnaces
@ sin-e
11 p.m. // $8

also...
panthers/a.r.e. weapons
@ lit
9 p.m.

plus, IM is all about flirting and gossiping. not working. duh! [from fifi]

i really liked the kings of leon after i saw them live... more on their set later (they were joined by ben kweller on stage for one song)....

the kings of leon afterparty was downstairs at the bowery after the show. it was pretty crazy. i met ben kweller who has a mighty grip. the kings in the flesh. i saw julian and the rest of the strokes. i stood next to nick valensi for part of the time during the kings set in the balcony. i met gina gershon. it was an insane night of meeting people. and now my feet hurt.

here is the one photo i got of julian and the back of nikolai. i kept wanting to take a formal photo of julian and other rock stars, but he sensed that and ran away downstairs. har har. whatever -- i didn't want to be like the papparrazzi around us. that was actually quite sickening.

i have come to hate the papparazzi and thank god i am not a celebrity! flash flash flash. how annoying to stand there talking and feeling like you're going to have an epileptic seizure. this one guy seemed so normal. he came up when we were talking to gina gershon and he acted like he knew her. gina was like, "when have we met?" and he was like "at some premiere for some film, i'm sure." then he asked her something like "did you make out with some chick and could you recreate that moment?" d'oh, it was papparazzi. he kept saying it as we walked away. shit like that must happen to celebs all the time. i was so weirded out by the experience. also in attendance were liv tyler, drew barrymore who was making out with fab quite a bit, that mooney suzuki guy, the donnas, jet, and a host of other rock stars i'm sure i didn't recognize.

along the way i ran into justin from bishop allen. bloggers. nina and matthew. jco! and the red comes up. more news later...

and now a moment of silence for 9-11.

apparently, there are bloggers including me in this mtv you hear it first stellastarr* piece. co co co! i learned from reading hard glitter and listening to dennis that the realistics will return to the bowery ballroom oct. 3 in support of the candy butchers (that guy who sang "that thing you do"), jonny lives and the flesh. erik -- that's all you!

for bidi: free david bowie concert - sept. 18 at 7 a.m. at Rockefeller plaza. aren't you glad you live in the city now?