happy new year!

check out this link for the countdown.

new year's eve options... there are tons!

for all the new year's options tonight, check oh my rockness. i recommend mommy and daddy @ supreme trading; and the autodrone, other passengers, the winter pageant and asobi seksu @ mercury lounge. but you should also know that i'm djing tonight as dj wtf?!? with dj j good times and dj build it at b-side (avenue b and 12th). i'm pretty sure the party is free. in any case, all the all-stars are coming to party, so you should come too. if you know anything about my music taste, you know exactly what to expect -- don't worry, i'm leaving my sad love songs at home and bringing out the upbeat jams! i even bought some new cds for the occasion. i'll be at b-side from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. holy moly!

also, a little beach told me that mercury lounge turns into a bar at 2 a.m. (with no admission fee) and all the regulars and some newbies (you?) will be partying till the break of dawn... with the promise of a free egg and cheese at the end of the night. we'll see about that. i know i'm heading over there after the b-side party ends at 4!

ps. if you are like me and wear your heart on your sleeve, then you will enjoy this article on the top love songs of 2004 from popmatters' dave heaton.

like i give a shit! like i give a fuck!

this may shock everyone... i have been converted to a !!! fan. it's official. spread the news. jinners finally gets what the hell everyone is talking about with !!!. you can shut your mouths now. even i can't believe it. but i danced my ass off tonight up front with all the punk rock kids! sweaty sweaty sweaty. never thought it would happen but shara pulled me up to the front after daniel and kara decided to stay in the back. now i am a convert!! even if they do smell like a boys locker room. the green room downstairs was NARSTY with their odor, which was permeating after they finished their first set. after their second set, i found the lead singer lying on my bag shirtless and sweaty. i screamed in disgust and daniel had to save my tote bag for me. thank you daniel! daylen says most girls would scream in delight, but girls like us still have some kind of decency to think it is gross. daniel and shara, you are the hero and heroine, respectively, of the night. dtl, thanks for getting me into the show. shara, thanks for making me dance with all your crazy friends. now i finally get what the hell you both are talking about. crazy!!! i saw belin very briefly, before he bailed, but he says dj party is still on at b-side. guess what i am spinning. hell yeah.

i also really enjoyed shy child's set. i love that band so much. they have a lot of talent and a full sound for a two-piece... and who wouldn't fall in love with the keytar and the cowbell drumming? they are also both adorable, nice and wholly unpretentious. a killer combination that's hard to find in this scene!

ps. i also saw beach get the culkin of a lifetime and it was the funniest thing i have ever seen a man do to another man on the floor of a dirty rock club. ahem.

help skippy help the tsunami relief

From Skippy: Tsunami relief iTunes only compilation help.

Guys, I'm piecing together an iTunes exclusive relief effort for survivors of the recent disasters... if you or someone you know happens to run a great label or be in a great band, please e-mail me and I'll give you the details. skippy@marchrecords.com

S

!!! and shy child @ mercury lounge tonight

i know the !!! slash shy child show is already sold out. but luckily i scored an entry for this crazyfest. you can still get tickets for the early show with freddy mas... but can i tell you how much i adore shy child? i think their album, one with the sun, is one of the best debuts this past year, and i totally neglected to put them on my autobiographical list. at my most depressed state, i would crank up the song "summer" and air drum in my room. i know it sounds silly -- i mean do people really air drum? but i did. and i will be tonight! shy child is probably one of the few bands around that make me dance for realz. when i first saw them at mercury lounge with the double, i was taken aback by how much i wanted to dance. and i couldn't stop staring. totally mesmerized. thanks to daniel for taking this girl.

there are lots of ways to think of this cold bitter winter as depressing...

but i say fuck it. i mean i am actually really sad about the death toll caused by the tsunami. i can't even imagine how much pain is being felt over there, it is simply unfathomable. and when i think about the tsunami catastrophe, i know that nothing in my life is that terrible. no matter how bad it may seem.

it might sound really spacey and hippie-like, but i think that earthquake shook the world in more ways than one. let me see if you notice it in your own life... have there been earthquakes in your life too? there have been many little earthquakes in my world for sure. of course, nothing compared to the real earthquake, but don't you think there is some cosmic force at work -- a bad omen of inexplicable hurt, crumbling our foundations? maybe it's just me. but i'm starting to feel better now. i have a lot going well in my life, and the bands i work with keep me going. give me a reason to feel loved. and for that i am grateful for the new year.

new beginnings. new life!

thank you to all

wow i was pretty amazed at the southpaw crowd last night. it was pretty full for dirty on purpose's set. they played their longest set ever -- 45 minutes with 9 songs in tow. mostly new songs including, "air show disaster," "to forget," "patient zero," "your summer dress," and a brand spanking new one called "light pollution." they also combined "you in the morning, me in the afternoon" and "monument" into one song with this amazingly spacey bridge. i think the first thing skippy said to me after their set was, "what's with the jam band set?" but you know what? it blew me away. i think it was one of their best and most powerful performances to date. but you know, i'm biased.

and the show completely sold out by the time the slip got on stage. have you ever seen southpaw when it was so packed you couldn't move? that's the way it was last night! i was so happy with everything and proud of everyone. thanks to all our friends who showed their purty lil faces and to all the new fans who took every single free cd before the end of dop's set! hot hot hot!

a special thanks to the coffee shop folks for hooking us up with tasty treats and treating us so nicely with our green teas. i ate the pumpkin bar and it was amazing!!! i'm beginning to like how friendly everyone in park slope is. it's such a refreshing change!

the next dirty on purpose show is going to be with the winter pageant for their cd release party. their cd is called waxing/waning -- so good! also playing are a place to bury strangers and pela. the show will be at sin-e on january 15 and our good friend dj j good times will lend his good music taste. also sup magazine is sponsoring the party -- hopefully the issue with a dop interview will be out by then!

and oh yeah, i am spinning as a human jukebox again for new year's eve for jay and josh's party at b-side from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. stop by and wish me well for the new year if you're not heading to the mercury lounge for that amazing extravaganza. b-side is located at avenue b and 12th street. i want to see all you crazy mofos there! i'm pretty sure it's free admission. that's crazy on new year's eve.

Dirty on Purpose + The Slip
@ Southpaw Tonight

Pick up your copy of AM New York today, peeps, because there should be a nice photo of Dirty on Purpose in there somewhere. Thanks to the nice folks at the paper who likee the DoP! Also thanks to New York Press and Oh My Rockness for supporting!

Tuesday, Dec. 28
Dirty on Purpose + The Slip
@ Southpaw
8 p.m. :: $15

Dirty on Purpose is on at 9 p.m. sharp.

See ya there!
Jin + ze band

knife skills on mystery and misery

also read the great blurb on knife skills from mystery and misery. that mp3 blog rules! knife skills is the toughest band in new york city.

nada surf - "treading water"

movies like zoos
try another me and i will
try another you
or put my arms around you
like i think you want me to
but tell me what you're thinking
i so often misconstrue
treading water treading white wine
seeing borders seeing straight lines
i get these feelings that i don't
have much time
always rushing always late
movies like zoos
i talk to missionaries when they're
standing at my door
they tell me what i should be reading
i still can't see what for
we both stand there politely trying
to change each other's core
when other angels float by
they seem likely to fall from the sky
what i want is difficult i must try
i see traces when you walk
other voices when you talk

oh the holidays

so most people go home to their families during the holidays. i was never that kinda girl. i preferred staying in new york, enjoying the fact that i had nothing to do with a world of possibilities. but this year, i decided to venture home... to "who the fuck cares." aka pennsylvania. it was a daunting trip.

the night before i had only gotten 2 hours of sleep, max. then i couldn't sleep during the day (i never sleep late for a better tomorrow anymore) and finally fell asleep around 1 p.m. then i woke up too late to catch the 4 p.m. bus, so i had to take the 6 p.m. bus. i didn't end up getting into philly until 8:30. i had to meet my parents at the billiards they run. i have never seen it before, so when i got there i was greeted with probably the shittiest pool place i've ever seen. so shady! that's my parents for ya.

my sister met me there and drove me home to lansdale. lansdale is a small town like 30 minutes south of philly. i hadn't eaten anything that day and couldn't stop thinking about all the delicious korean food my stepmom had prepared for me. that day was my birthday, and on birthdays, korean families usually cook up a special "birthday" soup composed of seaweed. it sounds kinda gross, but it was so good to me. it was a taste of home. i also love the spicy tofu that my mom makes and the barbecued beef. yummy!!


as soon as i walked in, i was met by my sister's white fluffy maltese poodle. her boyfriend had bought her the dog as a present. it was a boy, and my sister named it cookie. i told her that she basically made her dog gay. i kept calling it "she." it just seemed more like a girl. it wouldn't stop jumping and peeing everywhere. it literally would HOP like 3 feet into the air out of excitement. that dog was a trip and very cute. i hope they start training her (i mean him) because puppies need a lot of guidance and discipline. you can't just let it keep peeing all over the house. that's nasty!!!

i also found that my stepmom's nephew from korea was staying at the house... these details always slip past me. he is actually going to columbia university for his mba in business. i didn't remember meeting him at all before... but apparently i did at some point. i do remember however that i took his sister out and about in new york city when she visited. he said, "oh my sister told me all about you." shit, really? but not to worry, it was all good things. apparently, i really made his sister's trip to america exciting. no kidding! new york city is definitely way more exciting than lansdale. that's why i never go home anymore!

anyways the next day i did nothing. tried to renew my license but only got the camera card. now i have to go back at some point and take a new photo. why don't i get a new york license? i'm scared to death of the ny dmv. i think it's all the horror stories i hear. besides, i like having a pennsylvania license. they are prettier than the new york ones. at night, all the cousins and their parents gathered at cousin jai and joon's house. i haven't seen jai and joon in quite a while so it was nice to catch up. joon was wrapped up in the will smith movie i didn't know existed: i robot. classic will smith. south philly represent!!

jai has been going to nyu dental school (yeah he lives in the city and i never see him). he's at the point in school where you actually have patients and stuff. he showed me his card and it had this photo of him when he was a toothless toddler on it. his two front teeth were missing. so cute! he and i used to be so close (we're the same age) when we were younger. we used to play tennis, skateboard and ride our bikes around town, causing trouble. that all changed as we grew older. but i still feel like we're family.


my cousins sarah and sue decided they wanted to drive me upstate to kingston, new york. this is about 2 hours north of new york. the reason? my grandmother lives there with my uncle and aunt, and she said the one thing she wanted this holiday was to see me. now that might make you go, "awwww." but she's not as innocent as she seems. yes, she acts like she's my mother because during my younger years when my parents were divorced, she did raise me like her own child. so she has a special attachment to me. but she's also the one person who can easily tear me down and pick me apart. the last time i went to kingston, she made me so upset i was sobbing. she knows how to push my buttons.


but she's getting older and my cousins said just to ignore her. she wants to see me. so i went and saw her. she threw the same bullshit she always does my way, but i could tell she was happy to see me. my cousins theory is that she's preparing to die. my cousins say that old people just know when they are going to die... they feel it in their soul. maybe. earlier this year, grandmother came down to pennsylvania and spent one week at each of her children's houses. it was like she was saying goodbye. this makes me sad... very teary. i hope she doesn't pass away. the thought always makes my heart burst with woe. and probably some guilt and regret.

instead of going back to pennsylvania with my cousins, i decided to get dropped off in new york city. i mean, i was planning on coming back the next day anyways, and i wanted to avoid any extra travel time. so overall, my visit home wasn't so bad. now i'm back in new york and ready to have fun!

i was reading fiona's blog and...

i actually felt like i caught up with her a little bit. since she's gotten her head honcho gig at a certain teen website, she's been madbusy and we don't get to talk so much about steve malkmus or pavement. but on her blog were the perfect words: "honey i'm a prize and you're a catch and we're the perfect match." that made me so whimsical for those days that we used to work across the cube from each other, instant messaging about how cute steve malkmus and shiba inus are. sigh!!!

some funny expressions that were said this past week

** booty text (sending someone a text message that's like, "please pick me up now. so drunk")

** undercover gay (one of my friends said this when they meant "closet gay")

** it's all just ceremony. (said in the context of us getting up at a restaurant and putting our coats on, even though we were just going next door.)

** i'm not falling. i'm floating. (no kidding!)

** you can't really plan public sex. (oh really?)

** do girls like to get flowers? (duh!)

i'm 26!

i don't feel old, but i feel like i'm moving towards adulthood. finally! i'm the type of person who was born wishing they were 30. another year closer, sweet! it's pretty amazing.

go out and grab a new york press

go out and grab a new york press today. there is a sweet photo of dirty on purpose featured in the listings for their show at southpaw next week with the slip. isn't the band just adorable? so they have a show next week at southpaw in park slope, and all the allstars are coming to the show. if you are in the city, you should definitely scope this. i know the slip have a huge following in new york (as i was witness to when i went to see them at tonic a month ago when the show was sold out and the line was out the dizzoor), so if you can, buy your tickets ahead of time because we expect it to sell out.

the chinese stars

i can't stop listening to this chinese stars song. that guitar part is so catchy. i also love the goofiness of their site.

how long has it been...

since you've thought about this song? better than ezra's "good." i used to love that song.

birthdays and personalities

which one are you?

Pick the MONTH that you were born in & put it on the SUBJECT LINE. Then re-post it. Others might understand you better...

JANUARY:
Stubborn and hard-hearted. Ambitious and serious. Loves to teach and be taught. Always looking at people's flaws and weaknesses. Likes to criticize. Hardworking and productive. Smart, neat and organized. Sensitive and has deep thoughts. Knows how to make others happy. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Rather reserved. Highly attentive. Resistant to illnesses but prone to colds. Romantic but has difficulties expressing love. Loves children. Loyal. Has great social abilities yet easily jealous. Very Stubborn and money cautious.
_______________________________________________
FEBRUARY:
Abstract thoughts. Loves reality and abstract. Intelligent and clever. Changing personality. Attractive. Sexy. Temperamental. Quiet, shy and humble. Honest and loyal. Determined to reach goals. Loves freedom. Rebellious when restricted. Loves aggressiveness. Too sensitive and easily hurt. Gets angry really easily but does not show it. Dislike unnecessary things. Loves making friends but rarely shows it. Daring and stubborn. Ambitious. Realizing dreams and hopes. Sharp. Loves entertainment and leisure. Romantic on the inside not outside. Superstitious and ludicrous. Spendthrift. Tries to learn to show emotions.
_________________________________
MARCH:
Attractive personality. sexy. Affectionate Shy and reserved. Secretive. Naturally honest, generous and sympathetic. Loves peace and serenity. Sensitive to others. Loves to serve others. Easily angered. Trustworthy. Appreciative and returns kindness. Observant and assesses others. Revengeful. Loves to dream and fantasize. Loves traveling. Loves attention. Hasty decisions in choosing partners. Loves home decors. Musically talented. Loves special things. Moody.
_________________________________
APRIL:
Active and dynamic. Decisive and haste but tends to regret. Attractive and affectionate to oneself. Strong mentality. Loves attention. Diplomatic. Consoling, friendly and solves people's problems. Brave and fearless. Adventurous. Loving and caring. Suave and generous. Emotional. Aggressive. Hasty. Good memory. Moving Motivates oneself and others. Sickness usually of the head and chest. Sexy in a way that only their lover can see.
_________________________________
MAY:
Stubborn and hard-hearted. Strong-willed and highly motivated. Sharp thoughts. Easily angered. Attracts others and loves attention. Deep feelings. Beautiful physically and mentally. Firm Standpoint. Needs no motivation. Easily consoled. Systematic (left brain). Loves to dream. Strong clairvoyance. Understanding. Sickness usually in the ear and neck. Good imagination. Good physical. Weak breathing. Loves literature and the arts. Loves traveling. Dislike being at home. Restless. Not having many children. Hardworking. High spirited. Spendthrift.
_________________________________
JUNE:
Thinks far with vision. Easily influenced by kindness. Polite and soft-spoken. Having lots of ideas. Sensitive. Active mind. Hesitating, tends to delay. Choosy and always wants the best. Temperamental. Funny and humorous. Loves to joke. Good debating skills. Talkative. Daydreamer. Friendly. Knows how to make friends. Abiding. Able to show character. Easily hurt. Prone to getting colds. Loves to dress up. Easily bored. Fussy. Seldom shows emotions. Takes time to recover when hurt. Brand conscious. Executive. Stubborn.
_________________________________
JULY:
Fun to be with. Secretive. Difficult to fathom and to be understood. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Takes pride in oneself. Has reputation. Easily consoled. Honest. Concerned about people's feelings. Tactful. Friendly. Approachable. Emotional temperamental and unpredictable. Moody and easily hurt. Witty and sparkly. Not revengeful. Forgiving but never forgets. Dislikes nonsensical and unnecessary things. Guides others physically and mentally. Sensitive and forms impressions carefully. Caring and loving. Treats others equally. Strong sense of sympathy. Wary and sharp. Judges people through observations. Hardworking. No difficulties in studying. Loves to be alone. Always broods about the past and the old friends. Likes to be quiet. Homely person. Waits for friends. Never looks for friends. Not aggressive unless provoked. Prone to having stomach and dieting problems. Loves to be loved. Easily hurt but takes long to recover.
_________________________________
AUGUST:
Loves to joke. Attractive. Suave and caring. Brave and fearless. Firm and has leadership qualities. Knows how to console others. Too generous and egoistic. Takes high pride of oneself. Thirsty for praises. Extraordinary spirit. Easily angered. Angry when provoked. Easily jealous. Observant. Careful and cautious. Thinks quickly. Independent thoughts. Loves to lead and to be led. Loves to dream. Talented in the arts, music and defense. Sensitive but not petty. Poor resistance against illnesses. Learns to relax. Hasty and trusty. Romantic. Loving and caring. Loves to make friends .
_________________________________
SEPTEMBER:
Suave and compromising. Careful, cautious and organized. Likes to point out people's mistakes. Likes to criticize. Stubborn. Quiet but able to talk well. Calm and cool. Kind and sympathetic. Concerned and detailed. Loyal but not always honest. Does work well. Very confident. Sensitive. Thinking generous. Good memory. Clever and knowledgeable. Loves to look for information. Must control oneself when criticizing. Able to motivate oneself. Understanding. Fun to be around. Secretive. Loves sports, leisure and traveling. Hardly shows emotions. Tends to bottle up feelings. Very choosy, especially in relationships. Systematic.
_________________________________
OCTOBER:
Loves to chat. Loves those who loves them. Loves to takes things at the center. Inner and physical beauty. Lies but doesn't pretend. Gets angry often. Treats friends importantly. Always making friends. Easily hurt but recovers easily. Daydreamer. Opinionated. Does not care of what others think. Emotional. Decisive. Strong clairvoyance. Loves to travel, the arts and literature. Touchy and easily jealous. Concerned. Loves outdoors. Just and fair. Spendthrift. Easily influenced. Easily loses confidence. Loves children.
_________________________________
NOVEMBER:
Has a lot of ideas. Difficult to fathom. Thinks forward. Unique and brilliant. Extraordinary ideas. Sharp thinking. Fine and strong clairvoyance. Can become good doctors. Dynamic in personality. Secretive. Inquisitive. Knows how to dig secrets. Always thinking. Less talkative but amiable. Brave and generous. Patient. Stubborn and hard-hearted. If there is a will, there is a way. Determined. Never give up. Hardly becomes angry unless provoked. Loves to be alone. Thinks differently from others. Sharp-minded. Motivates oneself. Does not appreciate praises. High-spirited. Well-built and tough. Deep love and emotions. Romantic. Uncertain in relationships. Homely. Hardworking. High abilities. Trustworthy. Honest and keeps secrets. Not able to control emotions. Unpredictable
_________________________________
DECEMBER:
Loyal and generous. Sexy. Patriotic. Active in games and interactions. Impatient and hasty. Ambitious. Influential in organizations. Fun to be with. Loves to socialize. Loves praises. Loves attention. Loves to be loved. Honest and trustworthy. Not pretending. Short tempered. Changing personality. Not egoistic. Take high pride in oneself. Hates restrictions. Loves to joke. Good sense of humor. Logical

can someone tell me...

where i can find that acoustic version of "maps" from the yyys? i just heard it coming out of my coworker's blast of k-rock. how fucking bizarro.

people i want to see tonight

** dearest tom @ trash
** dearest mike @ wherever
** clap your hands say yeah!! @ vicious @ rothko

productshop has the scoop on nye parties

check out jason's compilation of parties here.

personally i recommend the mercury lounge party. i remember seeing the realistics on new year's eve there, and that was a blast! with such a stellar lineup this year, i'm sure history will repeat itself.

apparently breaking up isn't hard to do

both sea ray and on!air!library! broke up. what? that last sea ray show is at mercury lounge on january 21 with the mobius band and falcon (members of longwave).

cold hands, warm heart

damn! it is 10 degrees in new york right now. i have begun a new morning ritual since getting hooked up online (yay, finally!) at home. this morning i was making changes to the new knife skills site (check check check it out yo!) and shooting off emails here and there. i am obsessed with being warm and online. but my fingers are cold. even if they are hovering over the keyboard, typing all this shit out faster than you can say, "it's fucking freezing over here." i am also working on a new OTM site, but am coming to the realization (a sad one really) that i am not a graphic artist, no matter how much i will myself to be. i cannot draw for shit (on my computer). will someone help me out?

it's easy to become disappointed in people

there are so many times in my lifetime where i have trusted people to be who they are, who they present themselves to be, only to be utterly disappointed in getting to know who they actually are. it's because i have so much trust in others, in the goodness of others.

it really weighs down my heart, more than i think i can bear sometimes. like the character of darcy in pride and prejudice, once my favor is lost, it is lost forever. unless of course, you somehow redeem yourself.

some faults of mine that drive other people mad: i am too nice. i am not trusting enough in myself. i have no self esteem. i am too nice. to some, i'm sure, i am not nice enough. i am consumed in my work. i am not afraid to die. i am not afraid to not exist. i text message way too often. my silence is deadly.

what i hope to achieve in the new year: the career goals i have set for myself. strengthening my friendships. learning to love myself, just as i am. ha. this is the stupidest shit i've ever written on this blog. i apologize in advance. it's starting to make me sick.

gift certificates!

yesterday i went into the city to spend a couple gift certificates i had gotten for my birthday. one was to kim's and the other to other music. stuff i bought:

other music
** cass mccombs - "sacred heart" single
** the notwist - nook
** my bloody valentine - loveless

kim's
** kill bill volume 1
** kill bill volume 2
** pink flamingos
** this is spinal tap
** pavement - crooked rain crooked rain reissue

thank you!

sparky's... ugh

every time someone suggests eating at sparky's, there's a voice in the back of my head that's like, dude, that's not such a hot idea... but i go there time and time again. last night was no exception. i had a cheeseburger and fries and a coke (so american, i know). and afterwards, i wasn't feeling so hot. my stomach was in knots the entire night.

anyways, whatever.

i thought that i was going out of town this weekend, but it turns out i am not. too much shit to get done!! but some good shows tonight:

the caufield sisters @ trash
bishop allen // saints and lovers @ mercury lounge

what else?

arcade fire at webster hall

THE ARCADE FIRE
Webster Hall
Tuesday, February 1
Doors: 7:30pm
$15 / 18+

In response to the incredible demand for tickets, The Arcade Fire has just been moved from The Bowery Ballroom to Webster Hall - Same show, same night, different stage.

Don't miss this chance to reserve your spot at this exciting event -- On sale Monday, December 20 @ Noon. Tickets can be purchased through TicketWeb over the phone (866.468.7619) or online:

http://list.boweryballroom.com/t/4410811/31994868/1690/0/

Tickets also available at the Mercury Lounge box office: Noon-7pm, Mon-Sat (217 E. Houston Street) For further information: 212.260.4700.

(All tickets previously purchased for the Bowery show will be honored at Webster's door.)

how i spent most of yesterday

yes i had a bunch of holiday parties yesterday, starting at noon. then katy and i ate too many mashed potatoes at galaxy before the walkmen concert. that restaurant (right next to irving plaza) has the best mashed potatoes i've ever tasted. during my company holiday party, anna introduced me to a couple young fellow employees, brady and mike. brady, anna and i ended up eating $8 onion rings at the howard johnsons in times square. luckily someone (michael?) threw us $10, so our meal was covered. then we picked katy up and went to siam inn, which is a thai restaurant with a happy hour of affordable drinks and cheap appetizers. i really wanted to go into the russian vodka room, one of my fave midtown bars, but alas, i didn't want to spend that much money. then we headed down to snitch in chelsea where there was another holiday party going on. i saw jennifer knoepfle, my favorite lady from LA. she told me it was 80 degrees in LA yesterday. it made me so sad! and chilly willy. then katy and i headed downtown to galaxy and irving plaza. we were like little kids. totally in love with the walkmen. you know the dealio.

here are some photos from yesterday...

the walkmen @ irving plaza

knife skills in kitty magik

here is a great interview with knife skills in kitty magik, which is one of the best zines around. anna and fon-lin have some great answers to some equally great questions. it's rare for interviewers to be anything but dull these days. and hey, who took that great band photo? ha.

you've got a nerve...

ok the walkmen fucking rule. thanks to katy for coming with me to the show. i think you will always be my plus one to walkmen shows because you love them just as much as i do. i love that! we pushed our way to the front. at first i didn't recognize hamilton because he was wearing one of those puffy winter vests. where was his signature prep school clothing? hibernating, apparently. katy and i went crazy during the show. i thought i wasn't gonna have the energy to dance up front, yet there i was, for the one billionth time dancing up a storm and belting out the lyrics like marky mark in rock star. i mean, jesus fucking christ, the walkmen make me insane.

so anyhoo, i will have some choice photos up soon. you know i never feel compelled to take photos too much anymore, but what the fuck, i took a bunch tonight and even some video footage. fun fun fun! so inspired.

i don't remember exactly but... "thank you for coming, even though we think this is kinda lame." said hamilton during the middle of their set. yes, college music awards... what was that anyways? but the walkmen rocked it as only they could. i think that was the best i have ever heard hamilton sing "thinking of a dream i had." you know when he starts pleading, "DON'T LEAD ME ON. DOOOOOOOOOOON'T LEAD ME ON. DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON'T LEAD ME ON!!!" i just die during that part.

also can i tell you how much i adore paul from the walkmen. his smile alone can bring about world peace. and every time i see him at a show, he brings it on. love love! adore adore!

broken social scene @ bowery ballroom

i know i'm totally going to get slammed by doug the lawyer for leaving the broken social scene show yesterday early. probably an hour before their set ended. why? i was tired and they played all the good ones minus "lover's spit" by that point. i do like that emily haines. she's such a trip and i think her voice sounded pretty AMAZING last night. the best i had ever heard it. i have to say that i am finally converted to their live show now. i had seen them twice previously -- the free hudson river park show at the pier and then at sxsw at stubb's. both were outdoor shows, which i think wash out the power of their huge sound. one of the electric guitars was too loud in the mix, as well as a saxophone, but overall the sound was impressive. i just cannot stand for 2 and half hours for any band. that's why i don't jam.

ps. preshow i hung out at jay's house with noah and kyle. i ordered mama's mac and cheese. that stuff is so delicious. comfort food is amazing, eh? thanks jay for letting me hang. i lost you at the show though. where did you go?

oh and don't forget to go see the walkmen tonight at irving plaza!

yes, i'll be there rocking out as per usual. join me! join me! we can pretend we are on an episode of the OC.

dr dog

a month ago, jeremy gave me a cd. the band was called dr. dog. i said, get the fuck outta here. they can't be good. i listened to the cd and fell in love with the beach boys feel of this band's sweet harmonies. the times is in the curve, finally. so don't diss, lindsay! their album, while it's not a masterpiece, is still really good and worth mentioning. here is the times review of dr. dog.

The Walkmen @ Irving Plaza Thursday!

The Walkmen are playing a last minute show at Irving Plaza as part of the College Music Awards. Tickets are $10, which is grat for the quality music you'll be getting. I mean, have you heard "The Rat"? That's some serious awesomeness right there. I know, I freak out every time I hear it. The band goes on promptly at 11 p.m. Don't miss their last New York show of the year!

An Autobiographical Account of Music I Listened to in 2004

2004 was quite a year. More underwhelming than years previous, but very satisfying in many other ways. I was really disappointed with the state of music – popular music – this year. You got your Ashley Simpsons, your Lindsay Lohans, your Hillary Duffs, and frankly I could give a flying fuck about Britney’s latest marriage (hey that's why i quit alloy).

You also have people jumping on band-wagons, faster than you can say "Arcade Fire." But you know what? There were some sparkling moments that tickled my fancy and made me feel like there is hope in the future of that beloved genre we call "indie rock." These songs didn’t necessarily come out in 2004, but they defined my year, so pay attention.

[PS: I don't believe in illegal downloading, so I am not going to upload any tracks, unless any of the bands listed below write to me and say it's cool. Most of the time, you can just go to their website and see if they have any for download. Explore, explore, explore! I implore you.]

"Wake Up" -- The Arcade Fire – Funeral
Speaking of The Arcade Fire, who can deny the power in the opening lines of this song: "Something filled up my heart with nothing. Someone told me not to cry." There is such a vulnerability emanating from Win’s voice, and then the band chimes in with their uplifting, rejoicing chorus. The build is overwhelming. It strikes this chord inside of me, and I am left speechless. i will never forget seeing this band explode in the mercury lounge. it was one of those singular moments that stand out in my memory because the impression they left was enormous. bands don't usually blow me away live, the way the arcade fire did during cmj. that will be a moment in many people's top lists i'm sure! i was dancing like a fool up front, with my jaw open and drooling the entire time.
>> website

"It's Getting Late" -- Sam Champion – Slow Rewind
This is the perfect song for lonely people. Or rather, people frustrated with their crushes or lovers. I had to ask Noah for the lyrics so that I could sing it over and over again as my heart broke into a million pieces. I printed them and carried it around in my pocket for like a week. I'd take it out every once in a while and feel sad. "Though the reason’s strange, and it’s getting late, I know you'll never change."
>> website

"Sacred Heart" -- Cass McCombs – Prefection
The first time I heard this song, it was from Daniel's mouth. He was singing the hook, and I was like, "WHAT IS THAT SONG?" Eventually I heard the real deal coming from his iPod, and instantly fell in love. This is easily one of my favorite songs to date. It is extremely reminiscent of The Smiths with its whimsy and shimmering guitar parts. The song makes my heart swoon with its romance and the way Cass makes his voice glide up and down, likes doves on a gentle wind. i love cass so much i think i saw him perform like 3 times during sxsw this past year. then i saw him open for iron & wine at maxwell's in new jersey. though he's much more rock than romance live, he's still a favorite. now he's situated in london, and i want him to come back to the states and sing this song live, goddamnit!
>> website

"Elephant Woman" -- Blonde Redhead – Misery is a Butterfly
I heard this song as a demo before the album came out. This doesn't make me special. It just makes me severely lucky because I couldn't stop listening to that song on repeat for a month afterwards. I would walk around New York in the cold wind, bleary eyed and despondent. I had just broken up with Keith, and was feeling depressed and lonely. Kazu's voice was echoing my heart. i think i started crying during the bowery ballroom show i went to. it was far superior to their performance at siren festival, though it was nice of them to reprise the spot they lost a couple years prior because Kazu had that equestrian accident she talks about in this song.
>> website

"Lonely As Can Be" -- The Concretes – The Concretes
There is something undeniably compelling about the soft, honey voice of Victoria Bergsman. She makes me think that she knows all about sadness and disappointment. It's a beautiful depression that draws me into her world, and keeps me listening time after time. i didn't see this band live this year, but from what i hear, they are best left recorded.
>> website

"Telephone Wires" -- Mirah – You Think It's Like This But Really It's Like This
More than any other female singer-songwriter around today, Mirah is tops in my book for capturing the aches and breaks of love, and all in a glorious, stripped down lo-fi sound. I could listen to this entire album for hours at a time, but this particular song always makes me catch my breath and sing along. Even on the subway.
>> website

"Leaf House" -- Animal Collective – Sung Tongs
Meow. Kitties! Meow. Kitties! This song is unreal and that is why I adore it.
>> website

"I'm Happy But You Don't Like Me" -- Asobi Seksu – Asobi Seksu
C'mon, you can’t beat that title. Even if you don't know Japanese. Yuki has a way of emoting like a true Velocity Girl.
>> website

"Your Summer Dress" -- Dirty on Purpose – Demos
This year, I really fell in love with Joe's strange, yet intriguing high-pitched voice. Yes, he often gets mistaken for Erika – because what guy has a voice that high? But the quirky tone and amazing lilt in his vocals makes this song one of my favorite Dirty on Purpose songs to date.
>> website

"The Pony Song" -- Au Revoir Simone – Demos
I'm a big supporter of lovely lady melodies, and I think my prayers were answered when Au Revoir Simone formed and created music that flowed with warm, complementary vocals and keyboards, keyboards, keyboards and some drum machine. Such simplicity often equals magic. "And the moon came down to greet us. It was warm and made of flowers."
>> website

"Murder" -- The Big Sleep – Demos
I begged Danny for some preliminary recordings of their new songs. I was such a fan of The Big Sleep's live shows, that I just needed that shit on my iPod. My wish was merrily granted, and I became a big fan of this song. Sonya's vocals remind me of the pretty and low tone of Justine Frischmann. The guitar lines are catchy and fast-paced. The drums push the song into overdrive. And it's beautiful how it culminates into a beautiful wash of sound. Beautiful. Did I mention it was beautiful?
>> website

"Mistakes & Regrets" – And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead -- Old Enough 2 Know Better: 15 Years of Merge Records
This was a big year for me and the Trail of Dead. I saw them break their instruments two nights in a row. They were crazy. They were "punk" or whatever. But this is one song that made them tops in my eyes because it is so raw and visceral. "If you forget how to feel, reach inside your chest. Is there a heart beating? Is there just emptiness?"
>> website

"Up All Night" -- The Double – Demo
I think I almost fell over in my seat when I first listened to this song. It was so dark and defiant, building slowly into an epic masterpiece complete with strings, distortion and one fierce vocal melody. I wanted the song to build even more – and I hear there is a longer version that isn't released yet. If you have it, please send it to me. I need that in my life. seeing them live is a totally other experience. they change the songs, and it's like they are a different band. so far i prefer the recorded experience, which simply astonishes me.
>> website

"What’s In It For Me?" – The Walkmen – Bows & Arrows
This song is like a delicate love song, so marred and twisted with hurt that the words seem to tremble from Hamilton's lips, shivering and shaking into an unabashedly open and vulnerable confession. seeing them headline webster hall was a trip. and i'll never forget the night i showed up at their sxsw showcase, and peter gave me this look like, what the fuck are you doing in austin? classic!
>> website

"Waxing Incomplete" – The Winter Pageant – Demos
Byron's vocals are whispery warnings, hovering above the swirling and intoxicating guitar lines. Their music is for those who have been kicked down to the ground. I've described them before like a more emotional and fuller Elliott Smith, if you can even imagine such a thing existing. Here it is. this band truly comes alive during shows, and there is this ethereal quality that transfers magnificently from their recording to their live shows.
>> website

"Room Full of You" – Swearing At Motorists – This Flag Signals Goodbye
When I saw this band at SXSW, I went to the merch table after the show and bought four of their albums. And I was not disappointed. Their songs are short and to the point with no fucking BS. They are fragments of time, and this song is one of my choice picks from the collection of S@M songs I own. There is this inherent resignation in their music. Like they've sort of given up all hope and are just floating along in life. This song is no exception. "I'm all jacked up and driving too fast, and I can't seem to think past the past."
>> website

"All In Time" – Pela – Demos
Very fucking earnest. People either love 'em or hate 'em. I am on the side of love, and it's mostly because of this song, though "Latitudes" is still one of my faves. So pretty, so energetic, so wonderful. I also like any band that'll belt out Neutral Milk Hotel with a bunch of peeps in the basement of Mercury Lounge. C'mon, try it.
>> website

"Such Great Heights" -- Iron & Wine – Such Great Heights EP
No one else can seemingly whisper a song like Sam Beam. The gentle nuances in his voice are wonderfully acoustic and simply astonishing. When I heard this Postal Service cover, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. He turned the upbeat song into a more poignant commentary on the search for love in an impossible and distant world. when i saw iron & wine at maxwell's this year, i was mesmerized with sam beam. he has this magnetism that is pure and untarnished. i kinda see why he became a school teacher.
>> website

"This Mystic Decade" – Hot Snakes – Audit In Progress
It took me a while to get into Hot Snakes. Anna was always raving about them. And one day, I got the tracks and ended up fucking adoring them. I was going through a real "Why Does It Hurt" phase, but have since grown into "This Mystic Decade." It's an anthem of sorts, but Rick Froberg has a way of making me run around in flames. seeing them at north six and bowery this year made my year not as weepy and wimpy as it was for most of the year.
>> website

"Surgical Focus" – Guided By Voices – Human Amusements At Hourly Rates
No one can touch Bob Pollard's melodies. That guy is king at bending his voice into all sorts of infectious, catchy hooks. Where do they all come from? they didn't play this song at the gbv show i went to (the last night at irving), but they did play many other hits. that show by the hudson river pier was pretty crazy too. bob pollard really can play for hours and hours! and everyone seems to eat it up! including me!
>> website

"One More Time" – French Kicks – The Trial of the Century
The overload of rollercoaster keyboards on this track is magical. It sparkles and smiles into a mellifluous (big word!) mix of wonder and fascination. Nick has one sweet voice, but this song brought French Kicks to the next level. They keep getting better and better. Why aren't they more famous? What is wrong with you people? i saw this band this year play at bloomingdales. that was the weirdest experience ever, but that is how much i love this band. i will stand among overpriced clothing, sipping cheap beer from wine glasses and rock out to this amazing track.
>> website

"Put It On You" – The Fever – Red Bedroom
All I have to say is A-fucking-MEN. Shout it out! seeing the fever headline bowery ballroom this year was quite cool. they played the entire album in order. who does that? the fucking fever do. in this song, geremy jasper stretches his vocal range to include more emotion than usual. the party hardy element is only faintly there, replaced mostly by some raw screaming power that comes from the pit of his stomach. you know that place in your gut that shakes uncontrollably when you are sobbing your eyes out? that's where he seems to be drawing his emotion in this song.
>> website

"Oh When" – All Night Radio – Spirit Stereo Frequency
I love the spirit of All Night Radio. They were like these big funky hippies that created out of this world music that spiraled into swirlies. Formed by members of Beachwood Sparks, I easily fell for their whimsical mix of fantasy and higher states of bliss. Too bad they are already broken up. seeing them at sxsw and then mercury lounge was a trip. plus i love any band who has a lead singer named farmer dave. hell yeah.
>> website

"My Weakness" – A Place To Bury Strangers – Demos
There is something so rebellious and carefree in the loud distortion that often comes across as fuzzed out poetry. The vocals are understated, a nice contrast to the full force that emanates from the guitar, bass and drums. Fierce but wonderfully romantic in an unexpectedly way – no sap. i saw them several times this year (and my ears are still recovering, if you ask me). but yo, it was totally worth it.
>> website

"Our Summer of Teenage Lust" – Knife Skills – Get Home Safe
I think of this song as the story of my lost high school daze. The daze I wish I had. And my favorite line: "I had two letters in the pockets of my jacket, crippled up with the syllabus bleeding." did you know that i have never ever missed a knife skills show? i can't say that about many other bands... in fact, i can't say that about any other band at all.
>> website

"Theendisthebegi