Sunday, February 27, 2005
Rock Rock to the Planet Rock, Don't Stop
Someone just sent me a link to this amazing collection of old school NYC rap battle and hiphop party flyers. There are some righteous shows and names in that bunch.
New Hot Hot Heat Single MP3
The good folks at Warner Bros. say you can have this one for free:
Download Hot Hot Heat's "Goodnight Goodnight" here.
New wavey goodness.
Download Hot Hot Heat's "Goodnight Goodnight" here.
New wavey goodness.
Grannies, Post-Punk Funk, and Riding The 7 Out To Shea.
I just got back from doing some supermarket shopping at my local Shop-Rite, which is pretty skanky, but the closest and by far the cheapest supermarket to my house. I'll never go on a Sunday morning again. It's like Golden Girls meets MXC, with dozens of angry old ladies doing battle at the Deli counter, banging carts into the achilles tendons of unsuspecting shoppers, and driving their little-old-lady hoopties the wrong way down one-way parking lanes to save precious seconds on their quickly dwindling days on earth.
And don't get me started on the old-bag theory that 24 cans of cat food are exempt from the "10 Items Or Less" rule in the express aisle.
Despite my run-in with these Senior Hooligans, I'm still well-chuffed over a couple things...
Mets single game tickets went on sale this morning and the Gods of the Internets allowed me to somehow sneak in and score tickets for the Saturday afternoon Mets/Yankees game in May, as well as a set of tickets for Opening Day against Houston for my dad, brother and me. Pedro Martinez and Carlos Beltran have got me psyched this year.
Gang Of Four will be playing a smallish tour of the USA with a couple NYC dates at Irving Plaza lined up. If you dig Bloc Party, Radio 4, Franz Ferdinand, or 3/4 of the bands from Brooklyn right now, you'll recognize that the angular but funky bass and beat of their sound owes big to the Gang Of Four. I've seen them a couple times way back in the day, and really loved the shows. Loud, noisy, and groovy.
Did I mention I'm pumped for the Mets this year? So much so that I need to post a picture of my favorite Met ever, Mookie Wilson, right now.
And don't get me started on the old-bag theory that 24 cans of cat food are exempt from the "10 Items Or Less" rule in the express aisle.
Despite my run-in with these Senior Hooligans, I'm still well-chuffed over a couple things...
Mets single game tickets went on sale this morning and the Gods of the Internets allowed me to somehow sneak in and score tickets for the Saturday afternoon Mets/Yankees game in May, as well as a set of tickets for Opening Day against Houston for my dad, brother and me. Pedro Martinez and Carlos Beltran have got me psyched this year.
Gang Of Four will be playing a smallish tour of the USA with a couple NYC dates at Irving Plaza lined up. If you dig Bloc Party, Radio 4, Franz Ferdinand, or 3/4 of the bands from Brooklyn right now, you'll recognize that the angular but funky bass and beat of their sound owes big to the Gang Of Four. I've seen them a couple times way back in the day, and really loved the shows. Loud, noisy, and groovy.
Did I mention I'm pumped for the Mets this year? So much so that I need to post a picture of my favorite Met ever, Mookie Wilson, right now.
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Yet Another Bravery Update.
Not to sound like a Bravery clearinghouse, but TicketWeb has just put more tix onsale for the 4/18 show with Ash at The Bowery Ballroom here.
In case you don't care about The Bravery, here's a picture of a cowboy monkey riding a dog:
In case you don't care about The Bravery, here's a picture of a cowboy monkey riding a dog:
Bravery Update
Looks like Rothko or Ticketweb realized they jumped the gun on sales on the Bravery show, and they are no longer available until the planned Saturday sales time.
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
The Bravery @ Rothko for Cheap
Inexplicably, K-Rock is sponsoring a Bravery show at Rothko. An email from them announcing the show says tickets go onsale Saturday, but TicketWeb has them for sale now here.
It's a mere $9.23 (that old radio promotion gag!), and since the Bowery shows with Ash are sold out, a nice option. Here's how it's advertised:
MGD's
Domestic Disturbance Live
with
The Bravery
Action Action
and
Kevin Devine
March 24th
"Domestic Disturbance Live"? Yikes. I guess since "Ozzfest" is taken, unimaginative beer marketers have to come up with something to appeal to the white-cap crowd.
It's a mere $9.23 (that old radio promotion gag!), and since the Bowery shows with Ash are sold out, a nice option. Here's how it's advertised:
MGD's
Domestic Disturbance Live
with
The Bravery
Action Action
and
Kevin Devine
March 24th
"Domestic Disturbance Live"? Yikes. I guess since "Ozzfest" is taken, unimaginative beer marketers have to come up with something to appeal to the white-cap crowd.
Sunday, February 20, 2005
Asobi Seksu @ Rothko Tsunami Benefit
Just got this info in an email from Asobi Seksu:
Rothko, NYC
Thu March 3 - SESAC & Giant Robot Magazine Present A Tsunami Benefit:
Benzos 11:30 PM, Elkland 10:30 PM, Daddy 9:30 PM, Asobi Seksu 8:30 PM, Kite Operations 7:30 PM
Doors 7 PM, $8
It's a work night, but I can totally handle an 8:30 start. Would like to stay for Elkland, too...maybe I can get the next day off. And for charity? I'm so there.
Rothko, NYC
Thu March 3 - SESAC & Giant Robot Magazine Present A Tsunami Benefit:
Benzos 11:30 PM, Elkland 10:30 PM, Daddy 9:30 PM, Asobi Seksu 8:30 PM, Kite Operations 7:30 PM
Doors 7 PM, $8
It's a work night, but I can totally handle an 8:30 start. Would like to stay for Elkland, too...maybe I can get the next day off. And for charity? I'm so there.
Tequila...Tool Of The Devil.
If you see me out and I'm ordering any sort of drink with Tequila as an ingredient, please stop me. Seriously. The older I get, the worse the hangover, and my Sunday mornings are way too valuable to be spent begging for mercy.
As if to prove that I don't need a hipster club or bar to enjoy myself, we met up with one of Kimberly's girlfriends from out of town at the notoriously unhip Gonzalez y Gonzalez downtown. I hadn't been there in about six years, but the bar is huge and I figured the big neon sombrero out front would make it easy for an out-of-towner to find. While waiting, I ordered a margarita (rocks/salt, of course), which was killer. It was just that one that I'm still feeling the effects of 14 hours later. I think I'm getting to the point where cures other than forfeiting the next day just don't work. So I guess it's time to forsake my beloved Mexican nectar for good. Or until the next picnic on a hot day.
The good news on the boozing front is that I discovered a new favorite beer at our second stop of the night, the Peculier Pub on Bleeker. Although a total frat-boy and drunk-girl joint, the Peculier has a menu of literally hundreds of beers from around the globe. I've always been a fan of Belhaven Ale from Scotland, but never had it from tap. Man, it's delicious. It's really creamy, like Boddingtons, and totally tasty.
Photo courtesy of Per at gefleolsellskap.com
Now, if I could find a bar with Belhaven on tap, less backwards-baseball cap-wearing-dudes, and a no-Tequila policy, I'm set.
As if to prove that I don't need a hipster club or bar to enjoy myself, we met up with one of Kimberly's girlfriends from out of town at the notoriously unhip Gonzalez y Gonzalez downtown. I hadn't been there in about six years, but the bar is huge and I figured the big neon sombrero out front would make it easy for an out-of-towner to find. While waiting, I ordered a margarita (rocks/salt, of course), which was killer. It was just that one that I'm still feeling the effects of 14 hours later. I think I'm getting to the point where cures other than forfeiting the next day just don't work. So I guess it's time to forsake my beloved Mexican nectar for good. Or until the next picnic on a hot day.
The good news on the boozing front is that I discovered a new favorite beer at our second stop of the night, the Peculier Pub on Bleeker. Although a total frat-boy and drunk-girl joint, the Peculier has a menu of literally hundreds of beers from around the globe. I've always been a fan of Belhaven Ale from Scotland, but never had it from tap. Man, it's delicious. It's really creamy, like Boddingtons, and totally tasty.
Photo courtesy of Per at gefleolsellskap.com
Now, if I could find a bar with Belhaven on tap, less backwards-baseball cap-wearing-dudes, and a no-Tequila policy, I'm set.
Friday, February 18, 2005
Garbage!
Finally, there's a new single from Garbage. I wasn't quite sure I dug it upon first listen...by the third, I was hooked.
Stream "Why Do You Love Me?" here, courtesy Filter Magazine.
Stream "Why Do You Love Me?" here, courtesy Filter Magazine.
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
The Nomi Song, The Gates, and Taking The A-Train With Ron Burgundy
I had a ball Sunday afternoon in the city. It was one of those days that makes you wonder why anyone would want to live anywhere else.
I started with a haircut at Astor Place Haircutters, the place I've been getting my haircut since I was old enough to wander the city by myself. My barber was Alberto, known to city soccer fans and his customers as "The Greatest Juventus Fan in America". This guy is super-fanatical about his love for Juve, and is so well known on both sides of the Atlantic that Juventus players stop by to pay homage to him. He's got a great photo over his station of him and Edgar Davids together in the barber shop. If you know David's hairstyle, you know he's there only to see Alberto, not to get a trim.
Newly shorn and calcio'd-out, I walked over to the Cinema Village to see The Nomi Song, a documentary about this weird German guy I used to see knocking around downtown who was sort of a hybrid opera singer/popstar/alien. Most new wave fans know Klaus Nomi as the weird guy in white makeup who sang the song "Total Eclipse" in the movie "URGH! A Music War" in the early 80's. It was a pretty compelling film, but I'm not sure it would be really interesting to those not familiar with the NY Downtown scene from '78-'82 or so. I liked it.
After the film, I grabbed the subway up to 59th Street to see "The Gates", Christo's enormous installation around Central Park. Up close as you walk under them, the gates themselves kind of look like trade-show booth bunting, but from a distance (and especially from some of the higher points in the park) they really are amazing to see as a group spread around the expanse of land. The bright orange against the winter grey of the bare trees and bushes of the park is pretty striking. The park really does look transformed. Even more amazing was the fact that the park was mobbed on a chilly February afternoon. Here's a bit of how it looked to me on the South end of the park:
As I left the park, I walked over to the Columbus Circle station to take the A back downtown. At the turnstile, I got stuck behind an older fellow obviously using a MetroCard for the first time and having trouble. As the old guy was swiping and swiping with no success, I noticed on the other side a guy in a Dodgers cap was waiting for him. I gave the old guy some advice on swiping the card faster to it would read properly, and he eventually got it through. I followed, and on the other side he and his pal thanked me for the help. I recognized the guy in the cap as Owen Wilson...That guy's crooked schnozz is unmistakable.
I walked down the steps to the platform, found a spot, and noticed Wilson and the old guy were also taking my train, and had met up with a few people who I guess were quicker with their MetroCards. One of the guys they were with was a tall guy, vaguely familiar even while wearing a ski cap and sports sunglasses. When the train pulled up I got on, grabbed a pole to hang on, and Wilson's crew followed. Wilson and the tall guy also grabbed the pole I was on since it was crowded, and as they started talking to each other I realized the other guy was Will Ferrell! He was sporting the perfect getup to be incognito without looking like a disguise. The car was packed, and though a few people seemed to notice Wilson, not a sole noticed Ferrell.
Having seen "Anchorman" the night before, I couldn't help but be amazed at the odds of riding the subway with a guy that I laughed out loud at on my big screen mere hours ago.
I got off the car at Penn Station, Wilson gave me a "see ya", and I started my way home thinking again for the millionth-time in my life how lucky I am to live where I do.
I started with a haircut at Astor Place Haircutters, the place I've been getting my haircut since I was old enough to wander the city by myself. My barber was Alberto, known to city soccer fans and his customers as "The Greatest Juventus Fan in America". This guy is super-fanatical about his love for Juve, and is so well known on both sides of the Atlantic that Juventus players stop by to pay homage to him. He's got a great photo over his station of him and Edgar Davids together in the barber shop. If you know David's hairstyle, you know he's there only to see Alberto, not to get a trim.
Newly shorn and calcio'd-out, I walked over to the Cinema Village to see The Nomi Song, a documentary about this weird German guy I used to see knocking around downtown who was sort of a hybrid opera singer/popstar/alien. Most new wave fans know Klaus Nomi as the weird guy in white makeup who sang the song "Total Eclipse" in the movie "URGH! A Music War" in the early 80's. It was a pretty compelling film, but I'm not sure it would be really interesting to those not familiar with the NY Downtown scene from '78-'82 or so. I liked it.
After the film, I grabbed the subway up to 59th Street to see "The Gates", Christo's enormous installation around Central Park. Up close as you walk under them, the gates themselves kind of look like trade-show booth bunting, but from a distance (and especially from some of the higher points in the park) they really are amazing to see as a group spread around the expanse of land. The bright orange against the winter grey of the bare trees and bushes of the park is pretty striking. The park really does look transformed. Even more amazing was the fact that the park was mobbed on a chilly February afternoon. Here's a bit of how it looked to me on the South end of the park:
As I left the park, I walked over to the Columbus Circle station to take the A back downtown. At the turnstile, I got stuck behind an older fellow obviously using a MetroCard for the first time and having trouble. As the old guy was swiping and swiping with no success, I noticed on the other side a guy in a Dodgers cap was waiting for him. I gave the old guy some advice on swiping the card faster to it would read properly, and he eventually got it through. I followed, and on the other side he and his pal thanked me for the help. I recognized the guy in the cap as Owen Wilson...That guy's crooked schnozz is unmistakable.
I walked down the steps to the platform, found a spot, and noticed Wilson and the old guy were also taking my train, and had met up with a few people who I guess were quicker with their MetroCards. One of the guys they were with was a tall guy, vaguely familiar even while wearing a ski cap and sports sunglasses. When the train pulled up I got on, grabbed a pole to hang on, and Wilson's crew followed. Wilson and the tall guy also grabbed the pole I was on since it was crowded, and as they started talking to each other I realized the other guy was Will Ferrell! He was sporting the perfect getup to be incognito without looking like a disguise. The car was packed, and though a few people seemed to notice Wilson, not a sole noticed Ferrell.
Having seen "Anchorman" the night before, I couldn't help but be amazed at the odds of riding the subway with a guy that I laughed out loud at on my big screen mere hours ago.
I got off the car at Penn Station, Wilson gave me a "see ya", and I started my way home thinking again for the millionth-time in my life how lucky I am to live where I do.
Friday, February 11, 2005
Here Comes The Summer...
Just as my Friday afternoon at work couldn't come to more of a crawl as I'm trying to will the clock to spin faster toward 5 o'clock, I decided to check Maxwell's calendar to see if they had any shows scheduled that I'd not heard about.
As I scrolled through the shows, I'd just about given up on finding anything new (though I hope to make the Guitar Wolf and The Kills shows), when at the tail end of the listings I find this gem:
Undertones
at Maxwell's
Friday, April 15 9:30 PM (9:00 PM doors)
U.S.$15.00
I love The Undertones with a love only surpassed by the love I have for my wife, family, and the Beef Bowl at Yoshinoya on 42nd Street.
I first saw The Undertones in June 1980, opening for Joe Jackson at an amazing outdoor show at the otherwise ridiculous Great Adventure amusement park. I had loved their first album, "The Undertones", which was chock full of great short pop punk tunes, and featured the still amazing anthem "Teenage Kicks", and had recently picked up their second effort, "Hypnotized", which they were touring in support of. Joe Jackson was still angry and great on this, his "I'm The Man" tour, and The Undertones' set was a great compliment to the bill. It was a beautiful night of rock.
Unfortunately, I didn't get to see them again until last March, when they played The Knitting Factory as the headliner for the annual Guinness Irish Festival there. Their original singer, Feargal Sharkey, had long left the band, but the new guy they replaced him with, Paul McLoone, was somehow both convincing and endearing as the frontman for the otherwise intact band. Although chronologically older, these guys rocked a 70 minute set as if they were still in their teens, tearing up a Belfast club. Of all the amazing shows I saw last year, I think I enjoyed that one best. Afterwords, I remember fawning about the show to my wife, and telling her the show was so good and perfect that I don't think I'd go see them again unless they happened back to play a smaller room, like Maxwell's.
Natch, I bought a pair pronto. One for me, and one as a birthday gift for my brother. Thankfully, Maxwell's serves Guinness, so that night oughta be righteous.
Tickets can be had here, while they last.
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
This One May be Better Than The Jello Shots Ad...
Also from Craigslist today:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reply to: anon-58939324@craigslist.org
Date: 2005-02-08, 4:56PM EST
I've got 3 spider monkeys that are around 2 yrs old. I can't take care of them any more.
Ask for cheeto
917 XXX XXXX
Oh man, the fun I could have with a couple of free spider monkeys! And you know somebody named "Cheeto" has a good story or two to tell while handing over the monkeys and whatever monkey chow he's got left...
Full posting here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reply to: anon-58939324@craigslist.org
Date: 2005-02-08, 4:56PM EST
I've got 3 spider monkeys that are around 2 yrs old. I can't take care of them any more.
Ask for cheeto
917 XXX XXXX
Oh man, the fun I could have with a couple of free spider monkeys! And you know somebody named "Cheeto" has a good story or two to tell while handing over the monkeys and whatever monkey chow he's got left...
Full posting here.
Monday, February 07, 2005
Free Jello Shots!
This has got to be my favorite entry on Craigslist this week:
"So yeah, I overestimated the alcoholic tendencies of my friends and I this weekend, so now comes Monday and I have some jellos for the taking. I feel bad just tossing them away, but Monday has come and with work and school, I really cant indulge anymore. So anyone who can make it midtown this evening, the jello shots are yours."
That's what I call a Public Service.
Full posting here.
"So yeah, I overestimated the alcoholic tendencies of my friends and I this weekend, so now comes Monday and I have some jellos for the taking. I feel bad just tossing them away, but Monday has come and with work and school, I really cant indulge anymore. So anyone who can make it midtown this evening, the jello shots are yours."
That's what I call a Public Service.
Full posting here.
Super Bowl Halftime--I know they always suck but...
"Baby You Can Drive My Car" by a guy old enough to qualify for the Tuesday Seniors' discount at Perkins?
As ODB once wisely said, "Nigga, please".
As ODB once wisely said, "Nigga, please".
Saturday, February 05, 2005
Mystery Film
I found a roll of undeveloped used film in a suitcase last week, couldn't figure out when it was used, and sent it off to one of those cheapo mail-order developing places. I was amazed to get an email last night informing me that the photos were available online, and upon inspection, I found they were all of our trip to Barcelona last year. I'd totally forgotten that we'd taken some photos...what a nice surprise, from a great trip.
Here are a couple:
I can't wait to get back and see more of Spain. It's probably the most romantic place I've ever seen, and the food is amazing.
Here are a couple:
I can't wait to get back and see more of Spain. It's probably the most romantic place I've ever seen, and the food is amazing.
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
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