jinners: why do you come here? and why do you hang around?
who is jinners?
why do you come here? and why do you hang around? ...it was just to see, just to see all the things you knew, i'd written about you... oh so many illustrations...
jinners is my nickname... hopefully in an affectionate sorta way.
Have you discovered The Helio Sequence yet? I've liked them for a while, but this new Sub Pop album, Keep Your Eyes Ahead, is quite excellent. I especially like the song, "Can't Say No." It really captures the essence of the craziness of modern day life. "Even if you wanted to, you can't say no" -- I always feel like this. Our current culture is so overwhelming and thick with commercials and bad role models. How can we say no when it is intrinsic in the very fibers of our lives? Listen to it yourself. I put it on my imeem jukebox above but they also have it on their MySpace.
Let's Get Crazy. Mondays are the new Thursday, Innit?
Preview of My 5th Year Anniversary Show From the Village Voice: Cheeky Brooklyn trio Cheeseburger have won themselves plenty of Stooges comparisons with vocalist Joe Bradley’s whiskey-soaked growl, their sloppy three-chord romps about cocaine and sex, and their fun, filthy stage shtick. With Dirty on Purpose/Shorebirds alt-country psych-rock side-project Neckbeard Telecaster and Frenchkiss post-rockers the Big Sleep, who are set to release the follow-up to their thumping, feedback-drenched freak-out Son of Tiger in February. Also: Coin Under Tongue. [jinners note - coin under tongue are like a heavier, southern nirvana. in other words, they rule!]
Are you ready to have a rock and roll heart attack?
Last night I went to The Music Slut's Blogger's Delight party to see Peasant, a.k.a. Damien DeRose, who is a singer-songwriter from Doylestown, PA. That is right near where I grew up in Lansdale.
His songs have a small town feel and are emotionally dreamy, but not in that annoying emo, cheesy way that some singer-songwriters are. Instead, Peasant's songs are charming and modest -- and that modesty sweetly enhances the "awwww" factor. I hear some Iron & Wine influence -- that hushed but smooth vocal that's so intimate, you want to lean in to hear every delicate note, every intricate pluck of the acoustic. The music totally makes me sigh. I love it.
His album, On the Ground, will be released in 2008 on Paper Garden Records.
He's in town playing some more, so go check him out: November 28 @ Rockwood Music Hall (NY) December 6 @ Pete's Candy Store (Brooklyn)
Last night, an impressive collection of musicians gathered to celebrate the film and soundtrack to Todd Haynes’ Bob Dylan biopic I’m Not There at the Beacon Theatre in New York. The concert benefited 826 National, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping students, ages 6-18, with expository and creative writing at seven locations across the country.
Towards the beginning of the night, Calexico and Jim James of My Morning Jacket collaborated for a beautifully intricate version of “Goin’ To Acapulco.” Even as he stood there casually dressed in a dark hoodie with his hands in his pockets, Jim James really shined as a performer.
I've been doing a series of interviews lately that focus on the songwriting aspect of music called "Songwriter Spotlight." No TMZ BS here! This time around I'm putting the spotlight on The Rosewood Thieves!
The band's music is not as eery as their disembodied press photo heads are above. The songs are actually warm, folky numbers -- the kind you listen to on the porch while drinking some spiked iced tea. Or rather, with the cold weather coming up, it's the kind of music you listen to while sipping on drunken apple cider in front of a nice fire.
Jinners.com is celebrating its 5th year as a New York music blog, and I would love to see everyone at this party! Since December of 2002, Jinners has been covering the New York music scene and cheerleading her favorite bands. This party is part of the Blogger's Delight free concert series at the Knitting Factory Main Space in New York.
Jinners.com Presents... Monday, December 3, 2007 @ Knitting Factory Main Space, NYC
Cheeseburger (dirty, fierce rock and roll) Neckbeard Telecaster (members of Dirty on Purpose/Shorebirds) The Big Sleep (psychedelic dreamy rock) Coin Under Tongue (aggressive grunge) DJ Dug (of Dirty on Purpose)
Last night I wasn't really expecting to go out to another show, but somehow I ended up at Warsaw in Brooklyn to see The Thermals and These Are Powers.
These Are Powers are fronted by Anna Barie, who used to front Knife Skills (a band I used to manage). When Knife Skills broke up last year, Anna formed a band with her boyfriend Pat Noecker, who used to be in Liars and No Things. She has totally grown infinitely as a front woman, her vocals are polished but also seemingly spontaneous at the same time. She has a way of charming the audience with her high kicks and jumps. She and Pat have really formed a chemistry on stage. Add Bill on drums and spooky noises, and you have what the band has dubbed "ghost punk." She handed out instruments to the audience and had them play along to a couple songs. She jumped into the audienced and danced with the common people. It was fantastic. It was my first time seeing them, and I was so impressed with their performance. Go out and see this band now!! They have an album on Hoss Records called Terrific Seasons.
The Thermals of course totally rocked it. I always feel really giddy when listening to the Thermals and I'm sure I've said it before -- they make me feel like I am back in high school. The feelings of rebellion, excitement and youth come rushing back to me. It's exhilarating. They didn't disappoint last night!
Last night I popped into The Onion/Adult Swim's Halloween show at Union Hall to see one of my favorite bands in Brooklyn, Cheeseburger. This is a band that gets better and better every time I see them. But without fail, every time, I get so freaking excited! I wasn't even drunk last night, and I felt like I got a total contact high from the performance.
In the beginning of the night, Sara from Spinner (dressed as a sexy Spidey) did a "Name That Tune" round before the band took the stage. I correctly identified Vampire Weekend and won myself a free shot. That's so hipster of me. Thanks to Jeremy Yohai for pounding that band into my skull so early on. Now I kind of see the poetry of that band name.
I downed the tequila and then moved my way to the front of the stage. Part of the experience is about watching frontman Joe Bradley do his thing on stage. His crazed, drunken fierceness is probably second only to Tim Harrington of Les Savy Fav, and that's probably only because Tim Harrington is twice his size.
Rolls of toilet paper were brought out and thrown all over the venue. Candy was thrown into the audience. Beer was spit on Halloween wigs and costumes. It was pretty magical.
Watch Cheeseburger perform "Derby Day" at Union Hall-oween.
Power To the People... Pay Whatever The Hell You Want For Music... and Magazines... and What Else?
First Radiohead says they want fans to pay whatever they feel like for their new album, In Rainbows, online. They want the fans to decide the price. Fans have the power. [read here]
Then Saul Williams follows the new Radiohead model and offers his album as a free download on his site. [read here]
Now Paste magazine has ads posted everywhere asking people to subscribe to their magazine for whatever they want to pay. [read here]
Come see Nicole Atkins and the Sea tonight at their Monster Ball at Union Pool in Williamsburg. Party starts at 9:30pm, and it's free!
Then tomorrow night, come see Cheeseburger and Cassettes Won't Listen at Union Hall in Park Slope for the Onion and Adult Swim Halloween partay. It's only $5!
Songwriter Spotlight: Daniel Tashian of The Silver Seas
Nashville is known for nurturing classic songwriters -- the kind of songwriter who will last through the ages. I recently came upon a great band from Nashville called The Silver Seas. The band's music speaks to the lonely and romantic -- the every man and woman. Their universal songs are what I call instantly "gettable," making your leg shake along with each chord, each sweet note.
Concert Review: Film School - 10/25/07 @ Mercury Lounge (New York, NY)
Last summer I heard a rumor that Film School had broken up. This was disappointing news as I had just seen them at SXSW and really was beginning to love them. Turns out the band was just on hiatus, or maybe they came back to their senses and realized they couldn't just quit like that. What kind of happy ending would that be for a band called Film School?
Last night I went to see them at Mercury Lounge, and really enjoyed their heavy, dark, shoegazy set. Lead singer Greg Berten's vocals range from soft, dreamy coos to sensitive-guy mutters.
Join Gabby Glaser In Rocking For Darfur on November 10!
Watch this trailer below with Don Cheadle about the Darfur crisis, get informed, and come out to support!! Please post this on your blogs and MySpace as well to help spread the word. Proceeds from the show will be donated to Oxfam America and Save Darfur Coalition.
My philosophy this year at CMJ Music Marthon was to "go with the flow." I would have a loose plan each day with what I hoped to see, but generally I would just high-five friends and see where the day (and night) ended up taking me. This laid-back approach served me well at SXSW (a huge indie festival in Austin, TX) earlier this year, and it didn't steer me wrong at CMJ.
Another side of CMJ Music Marathon are all the shows that are considered "unofficial" day parties or shows. This year there are quite a few -- too many to be named, but they usually include free admission, free booze and free swag!
I spent the last few posts focusing on the "music showcase" side of CMJ, which is a huge part of the festival that appeals to both fans and music industry professionals alike. But another important aspect of CMJ is what is happening behind the scenes -- networking between musicians and the pros who support them and their careers.
I once said Les Savy Fav were the saviours of rock and roll. And I meant it. I love them. Here's a fun YouTube video mockumentary they made about their HUGE Randall's Island show with Arcade Fire and Blonde Redhead.
I went to sing karaoke with Calvin Harris when he was in town recently and I ended up asking him questions for an interview with Filter TV. Watch how it turned out on Filter TV below:
Last week I went to see Miss Polly Jean Harvey for the first time at the Beacon Theater in New York. The show was sold out, and I had amazing seats ... right next to Music Snobbery, so you know they're good. ;-)
I have to admit, I listened to the new beautiful and haunting PJ Harvey album, White Chalk, before going and was afraid it was going to be a super-mellow show. I was dead wrong. She played a balanced mix of new and old, and it was actually a very soulful, dramatic and captivating show. I couldn't take my eyes off of PJ and found her performance very moving. She had on a white, Victorian looking dress that she claimed had all of the words to the songs written on it, a dress very similar to the one she's wearing on the album cover and a very simple stage set up with piano and various instruments.
Her vocals are so versatile, it's like she's changing character from song to song, and each character is so believable it's easy to get lost in the world that Polly Jean sculpts note by note. The best part is that she plays all of the instruments like she's starring in the best one-woman show ever.
I was quite charmed by her stage banter (everything sounds better with an English accent, innit?), and her fans were also very vocal with their "I love yous," "woo-hoos" and standing ovations. It was easy to get swept up in all the excitement, and I walked out of the theater infected and inspired.
I've got my show picks from the last three days of CMJ right over at Lifeskool TV. Check them out here... My head is dizzy from all the listening and clicking.
I listened to the new Radiohead album, In Rainbows, in the van on the way down to DC this past weekend. I wasn't that into it honestly. So I ask, Is Radiohead dead or what?
Gabby Glaser Official CMJ Showcase Wednesday, October 17, 2007 @ Union Hall w/ Ladybug Transistor & Special Guests Doors at 7:30pm. Gabby at 10pm.
Meanred Party Saturday, October 20, 2007 @ Don Hill's w/ Black Betty (Sylvia of Kudu), Tiombe, Taylor McFerrin Doors at 10pm. Gabby at midnight.
Dirty on Purpose Benefit for Hammer (Official Cat of Death By Audio) Wednesday, October 17, 2007 @ Death By Audio w/ A Place To Bury Strangers, Sisters, Coin Under Tongue, Indian Scout and more Doors at 8pm.
Jin Moon Manage This! A Discussion About Artist Management A presentation of common deal structures and the role of the manager with advice for bands on how to choose the right manager and vice versa. BB
MODERATOR: Dan Efram Tractor Beam, Founder & President
PANELISTS: Blaze James Black Sheep Fellowship, Artist Manager Mark Kates Fenway Recordings, Founder Doug LeFrak Feisty Management LLC, Owner Jin Moon On The Moon Music, President
VENUE: Kimmel Center: Shorin Music Performance Center 60 Washington Square South New York, NY 10012
CMJ Music Marathon recently announced the schedule for this year's festival. I went through the list of bands playing and picked the ones I thought were interesting enough to pop my head in and check out. Read the article here.
Rock Stars Are Real People Too: Kurt Cobain in About a Son versus Ian Curtis in Control
I just watched two films about two music icons -- last night I went to a screening of About a Son, the new documentary from Michael Azerrad about Kurt Cobain of Nirvana based on 25 hours of never-heard-before interviews he conducted with Kurt about a year before he committed suicide. This morning I went to see Control, a film based on the life of Ian Curtis of Joy Division shortly before he took his own life.
Of course, there are a lot of similarities between the two films and their respective subjects. Both films are "personal" accounts of artists as human beings. At the screening, Azerrad expressed how he really wanted his film to focus on Kurt as a person, not as a God. He wanted to strip away all the iconography and whittle the story down to just Kurt's regular day life and thoughts. Azerrad did this by layering excerpts from his Kurt interviews over imagery of not Kurt, but of regular people from Kurt's hometown of Aberdeen. There wasn't any Nirvana music used at all but other songs like Mudhoney's "Touch Me I'm Sick" and The Vaselines' "Son of a Gun" were used to move the storyline along. (Barsuk released the soundtrack.)
Control director Anton Corbijn himself stated, "Control is a personal film. It is not a music film..." Unlike Azzerad, Corbijn chose to tell this tale in black and white with actors portraying the story. He also used several Joy Division songs via concert-based scenes to help show the progression of Curtis' deteriorating mental state throughout the film. Songs included "Love Will Tear Us Apart," "She's Lost Control" and "Transmission." (Rhino is releasing the Control soundtrack which also includes previously unreleased tracks from the surviving members of Joy Division -- also known as New Order.) Newcomer Sam Riley did an excellent portrayal of Ian Curtis...
The biography of both Kurt and Curtis run parallel as well. Rock and roll. Angsty poetry. Marriage. A Baby. Drugs. Wanting to run away to a bigger city. Physical pain and ailments. Depression. Songs about alienation. Quick fame. Mental breakdowns. Suicide. Both Kurt and Curtis seemed to feel that fame somehow boxed them into lives they didn't intend to lead. Both problematic lives also compounded by each's physical ailments -- Kurt with his stomach and back problems medicated by heroin and Curtis with his epileptic fits medicated by a slew of random pills.
However, what is clearly different about these two people is how each processes, reacts and thinks about their family life. Kurt leaned on his wife Courtney and welcomed his daughter Frances into his life, even saying that when Frances was born, things seemed to be better in his life. Curtis was the opposite. He kept referring to his marriage with Debbie as a mistake, had an on-road affair and seemed to hardly pay attention to his baby daughter Natalie.
And while both stories did end in suicide, the feeling that I was left with as an audience member was wholly different. Yes, I felt sadness for both tragedies. But I also felt like there is no separating artists from their human self and vice versa.
Lifeskool TV Songwriter Spotlight on Matt Pond of matt pond PA
check out my revealing interview with matt pond of matt pond pa. he talks about how he writes his songs and what is currently (and perhaps always) inspiring his work. read the interview here.
My weekend started early this past week with the Dirty on Purpose/Fujiya & Miyagi show at Bowery Ballroom. I always love being at Bowery so it was a great night overall and the first time I saw both bands play together on this tour. After the show, we headed over to Sweet & Vicious for the Devendra Banhart afterparty. The bearded wonder was there. Jeezus! So was the amazing Cameron, who I always love bumping into at shows. I feel like I have known him since the beginning of everything, and that is somewhat comforting! One constant in a world of swift changes.
Besides talking about all things Dirty on Purpose, I have been blabbing on about a couple things of interest lately... identity fraud and The Pick Up Artist. First off, yes, someone committed identity fraud on my bank account, wiping it clean in three easy transactions from an ATM in California. I almost couldn't believe it... just like in the commercials! Apparently this all happened because I have been using non-bank ATMs. Beware, Williamsburg hipsters! Do not use those ATMs in those bodegas. Only use bank-based ATMs. People can steal your info after you type in your pin code, take all your money and fuck up your credit.
Then I was just telling a friend about the VH1 reality show, The Pick Up Artist. I don't know who is hooking up with that show host and so-called "master pick up artist" Mystery, but his tricks seem to work for the geeky dudes on that show. I was beginning to wonder if I could apply these so called pick up and attraction tips to my life and career. It's basically all about body language and subconscious communication skills... Just as I was recounting this story to my friend, a guy walks up to us at the bar. He asks us if we're from the area because he's looking for something. We are. He reveals he is from the Upper East Side and doesn't know the area (SoHo) that well. The guy refers to his friends who are sitting at the bar. We acknowledge that he is not some desperate wallflower. I asked him what he was looking for, and he told us he was looking for trouble. That was a classic surreal moment right there. I started looking around the room for hidden cameras. Was this an episode of The Pick Up Artist?
On Friday, I got ready for the Dirty on Purpose/Fujiya & Miyagi show at Music Hall of Williamsburg. The venue looks a little different in the light of day. I first saw the space during the opening week with Patti Smith and I thought it was really majestic. I still think it's majestic, but clearly not quite finished yet. The show was more fun than the Bowery show as there was more dancing and more friends at Music Hall show. Everyone wanted to check out the new venue. The sound system is amazing, but I couldn't really hear the band's vocals too much... But the thing was that they played really well and sounded really epic. It made my heart skip a beat. F&M sounded amazing as well -- I was totally grooving to their beats. In general the show took me to this great elated state. I liked Project Jenny/Project Jan a lot too with their interesting projections and energetic frontman.
I really liked the way Music Hall is set up. Sure, it's a lot like Bowery Ballroom, which is great, but it also has this wonderful lounge area at the back of the balcony section. And I really like the way the band dressing rooms are set up. They are located right above the stage so during the show, the rooms are rumbling with sweet music. The staff is amazing and friendly. The dressing rooms are all in a row so that the bands can co-mingle throughout the night. Can you tell that I love this venue? At least as a band manager, it's really great. I liked it as a fan and concert goer as well though. I can't wait to see and do more shows here...
random note: many of our friends showed up in flannel... that's so williamsburg!
On Saturday I wished my friend Mary a happy birthday. We hung out on the Great Lawn in Central Park. I accidentally wandered up Belvedere Castle, which was really beautiful. There was oldies music like The Carpenters coming from inside the Delacorte Theater. The day was breezy and perfect for a birthday picnic. Afterwards, a bunch of us ended up at Barcade in Williamsburg. Then we decided to take the party back to my incredibly tiny apartment and played a board game called Last Word (kind of like Scattergories).
My friend Katy is in town from LA and I met up with her on Sunday at her hotel, QT, in midtown, an appropriate name for such a "cutie" hotel. Katy bought a bottle of Veuve Cliquot, and we toasted the night with some bubbly. Yum... Then we headed over to Magnetic Field for the Gabby Glaser gig at the Atlantic Antic after party. She sounded really good, and there was a great (and handsome) crowd at the venue. This Park Slope area is full of intellectual cuties, apparently. After the show we went back in the city to feed our hungry bellies at Kate's Joint. I hadn't been there in a while, so it was absolutely awesome to be eating a satisfying meal of buffalo un-chicken wings and southern fried unsteak. holy moly. so delicious. so sinful... I recently met THE Kate at Gabby's Mercury Lounge show this past month. It's sort of like meeting a legend, no? I love working with Gabby because she is surrounded by people like this -- talented, driven and totally fascinating. Gab, herself, is full of stories of back in the day, and it's so amazing to hear those stories and compare it to how the music business is in the present day.
Set in Concrete features exclusive art work by Jason Friedman of The Boggs, Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth, Nick Zinner of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Lizzi Bougatsos of Gang Gang Dance & Aurelio Valle of Calla
Complete list of participating artists: Lee Ranaldo Lizzi Bougatsos Jason Baron Jon Santos Jess Holzworth NIck Zinner Aramis Gutierrez Moh Azima Richard Alvarez Aliya Naumoff Pedro Mena Tom Vadakan Mike Vorrasi Aurelio Valle Wayne B. Magruder Scott Irvine Jason Freidman Todd Bura Johnny Harrison
Curated by Aurelio Valle and Pedro Mena Production by Julian Duff
DIRECTIONS... By car: Take exit 70S off route 17, onto route 201S. take traffic circle to Floral Avenue. take left onto Baldwin Street. Spool is on the left just past the light. parking is available on the right just after the train tracks.
By bus: Take Trailways NY from Port Authority to Binghamton. for schedules and fares: www.trailwaysny.com. Taxi from Binghamton station to Spool about $7: 607-722-2227
Lifeskool TV Songwriter Spotlight on Scott Masson of Office
i asked scott masson of chicago-based band office about his musical inspirations... the band just released their debut LP, a night at the ritz, on scratchie records this week... read the interview here.
Dirty on Purpose + Fujiya & Miyagi Tour Starts Today!
Check out both these bands on tour...
Sept 25th—Baltimore, MD—Ottobar Sept 26th—Philadelphia, PA—Johnny Brenda's Sept 27th—New York, NY—Bowery Ballroom Sept 28th—Brooklyn, NY—Music Hall of Williamsburg Sept 29th—Boston, MA—Middle East Downstairs Oct 2nd—Montreal, QC—Lambi-Pop Montreal Pre-Opening Night Party Oct 3rd—Toronto, ON—Lee's Palace Oct 4th—Pontiac, MI—Eagle Theatre Oct 5th—Chicago, IL—Empty Bottle Oct 6th—Minneapolis, MN—7th Street Entry Oct 11th—Washington, DC—Rock 'n' Roll Hotel-DAM! Festival
i don't normally like huge stadium shows (usually bowery is as big as i like to get), but watching bjork perform at madison square garden was really amazing and enjoyable. we had nosebleed seats, but that's ok because we didn't have to sit next to any crazy people.
i had seen her perform at united palace not too long ago, and was expecting the same show... and it basically was the same show except bjork had on a different outfit, there were red flames bursting up from the stage on the opening number, and at one point bjork squirted out spider webs from her hands into the crowd like she was spiderman. she did her duet with antony of antony and the johnsons, which started off kinda weak, but then antony regained control and really put on a powerful vocal performance. i have to say though, my heart nearly exploded again during "army of me" because the crowd just went FUCKING INSANE. it was crazy. she ended the night during the encore with "declare independence" just as she did during the united palace show.
as i said in my united palace review, it's like watching a musical unfold. this time though, i was thinking this: her show is not as much about the hits as much as it's about the mystical, strange journey she is taking you on. she is able to create a world of her own, and when you're at her concert, you feel like you are not on earth. it's like peeking into another world... or rather peeking into the majesty and chaos that must be bubbling up in bjork's cute lil' head.
the british band the klaxons played as main support, and while i liked their music, i found their live show a bit on the dull side. their music could benefit from a little more of a light show. a lot of their songs started to sound the same, but it all still sounded good... sort of in a lansing-dreiden way, with lots of vocal gymnastics.
santo gold opened the show and they reminded me of m.i.a. meets no doubt or gwen stefani. the california m.i.a., i say (even though she hails from brooklyn). and what do you know, diplo was on the wheels of steel. no wonder!
chemical brothers, ladytron, the rub @ mccarren park pool
'cause i was helping mikers out with some filter work, i went to the chemical brothers show the other day, and the glow sticks were out and about... man, i haven't seen glow sticks since the last time i took a hit of X.
seeing the chemical brothers was a similar experience. though the music isn't really my thing per se, i loved the light show they put on. it took me back to my suburban high school days -- when i would go see the laser light show's "alternative music night" at the franklin institute planetarium. the images at the chemical brothers show were somewhat political with images of guns (or at least i think i remember seeing guns), scary with images of yellow-toothed clowns and awe-inspiring with their vivid colors.
it was also my first time seeing ladytron, whose music is more up my alley. in fact, i was even dancing during their soundcheck. i love the female vocals mixed in with the upbeats. they were less techno, and more indie dancefloor. just give me a disco ball and my new favorite drink ["summer babe" from soundfix - soco and peach schnapps and gingerale], and i'm all set to get a move on.
we were working with this great screenprinting company called hacienda, who were screening original collectors prints on the back of the chemical brothers merch tees. it is a pretty ingenious idea and really did boost the band's merch sales. what fan wouldn't want a limited edition concert tee? they were doing a different print with chemical brothers lyrics on the back of each tee, a different design for every night of the tour, presented by zune.
the rub were the opening djs for the shows at hammerstein and mccarren park pool. i saw both sets and thought their set at mccarren park pool was so much better. i recognized more songs and less techno beats. i guess i am anti-techno, eh? it's like an allergic reaction or something, but nothing personal.
songwriter spotlight on christopher denny on lifeskool tv
check out the interview i did with indie country singer christopher denny. he's got a voice that's otherworldly, caught in another era... read the interview.
