Wednesday, October 24, 2007
11:31:47 PM EDT
Feeling Chillin'
Hearing Klaxons: Myths of the Near Future
THE VIEW FROM MY SEAT: Klaxons @ Webster Hall
Nu-rave, nu-shmave. Genre labels be damned,
Klaxons are a party band. And I don't
mean the kind you suffered through while waiting in line for the keg. I mean they're the
kind of band that brings the party. It's nigh impossible to avoid having fun at a
Klaxons show, no matter
how gray your day was, nor how dead set against grinning like a fool
you may be. I mean seriously, there I was at
Webster Hall on 10/12
having lost my
schmancy new cell phone and my driver's license, and I
still couldn't help but forget my
troubles and shake my @$$.
With their infectious beats, multi-part harmonies and synth-laden sonics, it's no wonder
the
Mercury Prize winners are catnip to the club kid set. And the club kids were certainly
out in force at Webster Hall, requisite glow sticks in hand. But with a heavier, more
aggro tone to several of their tunes, they've drawn a much more diverse crowd than I
would have expected. And that made me happy.
Why? It shows promise. Not only does it mean the US market can see beyond the
pigeon-holing labels, but it also means that Klaxons have a good shot at having legs. They
may well achieve the brass ring of longevity and ever-broadening appeal that signals a
solid future in the biz. I can't wait to see what they do next.
Unfortunately, I may have to. The Webster show was their last US performance at the
tail end of a grueling touring season that saw them in Cali as early as April
at Coachella .
After such a lengthy road, who can blame them for heading back across the pond to
savor
their Mercury Prize win and relax. ...And then hopefully start the party up again.
MORE KLAXONS LIVE: --
See Photos : Klaxons at Webster Hall--
See Photos : Klaxons at Coachella--
Watch Video : Klaxons at Coachella
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Tuesday, October 16, 2007
7:45:11 PM EDT
Feeling Mischievous
Hearing LCD Soundsystem: Sound of Silver
NEW PHOTOS & VIDEO: Arcade Fire, LCD Soundsystem, Blonde Redhead, Les Savy Fav @ Randalls Island
The must-see show of the fall season? I think most in NY would agree that Randall's
Island can boast having hosted that show: Arcade Fire, LCD Soundsystem, Blonde
Redhead, Les Savy Fav and openers, Wild Light, 10/6/07.
>>Arcade Fire Yeah, read that lineup again. What indie music fan could live with themselves having
passed up that opportunity? Not I, certainly. Thankfully, not only did I get to catch the
show, but I also got to shoot it. Watch and believe:
MORE FROM THE SHOW: --
See Photos : Arcade Fire @ Randall's Island--
See Photos : LCD Soundsystem @ Randall's Island--
See Photos : Blonde Redhead @ Randall's Island--
See Photos : Les Savy Fav @ Randall's Island--
See Photos : Wild Light @ Randall's Island--
Watch Video : Arcade Fire @ Randall's Island
--
Watch Video : LCD Soundsystem, Blonde Redhead, Les Savy Fav & Wild Light >>L to R: LCD Soundsystem, Blonde Redhead, Les Savy Fav
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6:57:16 PM EDT
Feeling Ecstatic
Hearing DJ Krush: History of DJ Krush
THE VIEW FROM MY SEAT: DJ Krush @ Highline Ballroom 10/4/07
Why am I only now finding out about
DJ Krush ? He's been making history, forging new
ground, pioneering in the
turntablist arts for well over 10 years. "
History of DJ Krush " is a
fitting tribute to a man equally respected among the hip-hop community as he is by the
electronic cognoscenti. The "
History of DJ Krush " is both the DVD release around which
the buzz machine kicked in, and the unexpected gift that introduced me to something I
find extraordinarily memorable.
(Thank you, Justin!) Let's get this straight:
DJ Krush is from Tokyo . Despite the language barrier, he has
collaborated with some of the brighter lights in the landscape of DJs and vocalists. You'll
find
Black Thought of
The Roots , the heavenly
Esthero , and even
Zap Mama 's
Marie Daulne . But rather than being an unseen force behind the scenes, DJ
Krush is really the
scene-stealer here. His beats are what I can only lamely under-describe as "fat." Words
just don't do it justice. And nowhere is this more evident then in seeing DJ
Krush live.
DJ
Krush is the perpetrator of some of the lowest low ends I've ever encountered live.
My ears sang with joy. (Disclaimer: I have a particular weakness for bass.) His taste in
hooks -- both vocal and instrumental -- areinfectious in the way that only the most gifted
trip-hop
auteurs can boast. I'm thinking
Portishead . I'm thinking Massive Attack. An
elder-statesman after more than 10 years on the international scene, it's a rarefied
universe that DJ
Krush finds himself inhabiting.
All of the aforementioned owes a debt of honor to
Krush 's most noteworthy ability. He is
a world-class, stunning
turntablist . This man spins. Seeing him spin, one is mesmerized by
the speed and agility of his fingers. He plays it all live. His fingers move like smoke and
mirrors. They are magic, and lightning fast.
The best thing about the "History of DJ
Krush " release is that it comes with three
individual
DVDs , two of which are heavily saturated with live footage. You can watch the
man's fingers move up close, in ways that my humble video couldn't capture. I only hope
you can get a smidgen of a sense of the kind of atmospheric webs DJ
Krush weaves
within the confines of four walls.
MORE DJ
KRUSH LIVE:
-
See Photos : DJ Krush live at Highline Ballroom NY-
Watch Videos : DJ Krushlive at Highline Ballroom NY
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Friday, October 12, 2007
5:59:34 PM EDT
Feeling Flirtatious
Hearing Klaxons: Myths of the Near Future
MUST-SEE SHOW: Klaxons Celebrate Mercury Award Win With NY Plus Sasha & Spooky
New Yorkers: Looking for something to do TONIGHT that's all thriller, no filler? Try the double-biller of Webster's October calendar:
The Klaxons , plus a late-night
dance bacchanal that features legendary
Welsh dj Sasha and his new London cohorts,
production duo Spooky .
New Yorkers are lucky to catch the
Klaxons ' last US date before heading back over the
pond to the land that, just last month, awarded them the internationally prestigious
Nationwide Mercury Prize for 2007 . Past winners have included otherworldly expat
Antony and the Johnsons , and
Arctic Monkeys , who found themselves nominated again
this year.
Show up by 8pm and you'll most likely be in time to catch the openers, billed as "Special
Surprise Guest". Ok, intriguing...
Meanwhile, late night revelers will shake it to the sounds of
Sasha . You'll recognize the
name from
Sasha and Digweed fame. They've recently collaborated in the studio with
interesting new production duo from London, Spooky. Tonight marks their first-ever
show together in New York, and they'll celebrate the release of the fruit of their
collaboration, the new double disc "Open."
See you there. Yeah, that's me up front with the camera, so say hello.
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Wednesday, October 10, 2007
3:15:29 PM EDT
Feeling Loopy
Hearing Via Audio: Say Something
CMJ MADNESS: Brooklyn Vegan’s Recommendations Help Us Cut Through The Noise at CMJ
OK, so
I've been poring over the CMJ schedule , and just as in years past, I've noticed
that old familiar creeping sensation of being overwhelmed. (*sigh*) This may be
unbloggerly conduct, but I'm going to admit my extreme uncoolness and announce, "I
have never heard of most of these bands! Who the Hell am I going to choose?!" I mean,
I love a whole slew of the band names (The Most Serene Republic, Care Bears on Fire,
The Beasts of Eden, Tall Firs, and most especially Giddy-up, Helicopter), but is that
reason enough to see them? Ummmm...
Granted, there ARE tons of bands whose shows I've been anxiously awaiting for weeks,
and in the case of Via Audio, months even. But still, I know I could use some advice
from a sage one, full of CMJ wisdom. Couldn't you?
As if on cue, enter
Pop Tarts Suck Toasted and Brooklyn Vegan : The Interview. Thank
you,
Pop Tarts Suck Toasted . Not only have you revealed
Brooklyn Vegan 's name
(Dave), but you've also had the forethought to provide us with a lovely Q&A to help us
mine our CMJ schedules and make the most of our precious time to rock. A few snippets
to whet the appetite:
- Out of your lineups what bands are you most excited to see? I'm really excited to see everyone, but of course there's the Black Kids coming up here from Florida, and then there's the return of the Maccabees from the UK who I loved last time they played NYC. Then of course there's the Meat Puppets. Saturday night at 205 I'm doing an afterparty with David Bruno, and we have Professor Murder playing as King Oppression which is like their other identity –they sing Professor Murder songs over other people's beats - live remixes I guess – or something like that. They did it at a Pitchfork Festival after-party in Chicago, and supposedly it went over really well there, so I can't wait. - Are there any other blogger's shows that you are interested in seeing during the week? Gothamist, Underrated, After the Jump, Big Stereo, and Pop Tarts Suck Toasted of course. Are there others? I haven't totally figured out everything going on yet. -
Read the whole interview at Pop Tarts Suck Toasted. -
Study the CMJ showcase schedules and build your own. -
Get to know Brooklyn Vegan and why his opinion counts. >>James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem, Randall's Island, 10/6/07 I'll find a way to make it work, I will! For my part, I am going to do my damnedest to see the following:
--
Brooklyn Vegan showcase at Bowery featuring
Voxtrot --
James Murphy (of
LCD Soundsystem )
DJ Set at Hiro (not officially CMJ?)
--
Via Audio at Lions Den and Ace of Clubs
--
Mates of State at Avalon and The Annex
--
Fools Gold Records showcase at Hiro featuring
Cool Kids &
Kavinsky --
Islands & ...
And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead at Highline Ballroom
--
New Young Pony Club at Studio B
--
Dirty Vegas at Highline Ballroom
--
Sister Suvi at Mo Pitkin's
--
British Sea Power at Bowery
--
The Shalitas at Europa
--
Simian Mobile Disco at Music Hall of Williamsburg
--
Abigail Warchild at Trash
--
Illinois at Midway
--
Band of Horses at Bowery
--
Matt & Kim at Music Hall of Williamsburg
--
Spoon at Roseland
--And just, frankly, because it seems like a good idea:
Scotland Yard Gospel Choir at
Cake Shop or Union Pool.
>>Illinois at Irving Plaza, 5/10/07 Film Festival Recommendation: Greetings From The Shore Directed by Greg Chwerchak
At IFC on 10/17, 3:30pm
--
Winner, Best Feature : Big Bear Lake International Film Festival
--
Winner, Best Feature : Red Bank International Film Festival
--
Winner, Best Feature : Hope & Dreams Film Festival
--
Winner, Best Narrative Feature / Best of the Fest / Best Actress : Great Lakes Independent Film Festival
--
Premiere : Temecula Valley International Film & Music Festival
--
Official Selection: World Film Festival, Montreal --Still to come : New Orleans Independent Film Festival (10/11-10/18), Oakland International Film Festival (10/18), Red Rock Film Festival (11/4), Queens International Film Festival (11/8-11/11), more... --Read a review : "Indie Films Take Spotlight In Hope"ALL THE CMJ LINKS YOU NEED: --Full Schedule : Showcases and other live music performances --Full Schedule : Film Festival screenings --Full Schedule : Panels and conference events --Registration : Get a CMJ Badge and get in on the action
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Tuesday, October 9, 2007
6:42:20 PM EDT
Feeling Mischievous
Hearing Via Audio: Say Something
CMJ NEWS: CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival Schedules Announced
CMJ Madness is coming to New York, and we have only one week to wait! With such an impressive and exhaustive list of
indie bands ,
films and
panels to sift through, you'll need all the time you can get to fully plan out your week. Just remember this: With CMJ, every minute matters. Now if only I knew how to clone myself...
ALL THE CMJ LINKS YOU NEED: --
Full Schedule : Showcases and other live music performances--
Full Schedule : Film Festival screenings--
Full Schedule : Panels and conference events--
Registration : Get a CMJ Badge and get in on the actionJust like you, I'll be wading through all the glorious options and coming up with a schedule of my own. The minute my itinerary is done, you can bet I'll be posting it here.
Already know who you're seeing and when? Post a comment and let us know which you think are the MUST-SEE shows.
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Thursday, October 4, 2007
4:36:14 PM EDT
Feeling Loopy
Hearing Bloc Party: Silent Alarm
NEW PHOTOS & VIDEO: Bloc Party @ WAMU Theater at Madison Square Garden 10/3
The boys from Bloc Party have been on a seemingly endless tour since last summer. But
no longer! With
only one US festival date left before they head back across the pond,
their Theater at Madison Square Garden show was a fitting way to wrap up their trek.
You've already seen me wax rhapsodic about how much I adore seeing these lads live, so
I won't bore you with a bazillion synonyms for amazing. Though I don't think the material
from their new album is up to the same standard as the tunes from their debut, Silent
Alarm, but their live performance was the high energy fun I've come to expect from them.
Watch and believe...
MORE BLOC PARTY LIVE: --
Photos: Bloc Party at WAMU Theater at Madison Square Garden --
YouTube Videos: Bloc Party at WAMU & United Palace Theater --
UnCut Videos: Bloc Party encore at WAMU Theater at Madison Square Garden --
Blog Buzz: The Monitor & TixGirl laugh about Bloc[k] Party Madness
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Wednesday, October 3, 2007
7:59:22 PM EDT
Feeling Happy
Hearing Gotan Project: Santa Maria del Buen Ayre
THE VIEW FROM MY SEAT: So You Think You Can Dance Live Tour at Continental Airlines Arena 9/29
Know this: I'm a sucker for
So You Think You Can Dance . I'm hooked. 100%
completely and totally. I'm a believer, and I'm not the only one.
Though
American Idol is famed for locating undiscovered talent, I'm put off by
the
machine it has become. I firmly believe almost any schmuck can sing
karaoke to other
people's music and look relatively good doing it,
thanks to the ministering of legions of
professional stylists and voice
trainers. The folks on American Idol are out there
specifically to play
the fame game. They're there to get famous.
Not so with
So You Think You Can Dance .
The kids who line up to audition for
SYTYCD are fully aware that they
won't become superstars. Though they may become
household names to
those who watch the show, the rest of the universe will slide blithely
by without taking any notice whatsoever when someone mentions "Benji"
or "Sabra" in
passing.
The winner of SYTYCD is not going to become the next Kelly Clarkson, and
everyone trying out on audition day knows it.
As
a result, there's a concentrated focus on true ability. The
notoriety-seekers are
weeded out immediately, and you're left with the
cream of the crop -- all of whom are
there because they have a dream:
They want to be dancers. Working, employed dancers.
Dancers with a
career. And this show actually provides real opportunity for
outrageously
talented dancers who might never have thought they could
make it farther than teaching a
hip-hop class at their local dance
studio.
Much has been made of the fact that SYTYCD and Dancing
with the Stars have brought
dance back into the mainstream. More power
to them for bringing dance into the living
rooms of those who might
never have thought it was "manly enough" to enjoy watching a
flawless
waltz, rhumba or disco routine. But speaking for those of us
[congratulating
ourselves for] already loving dance as an art form,
I'll admit I thought a reality show
dance contest couldn't possibly be
anything more highbrow than a trumped-up talent
show. Man, was I wrong.
Not only is the quality of the dancers shockingly high, as
Nigel
himself frequently pointed
out in Season 3, but it's also wonderfully
egalitarian. Because they put an emphasis on
turning out well-rounded
dancers versed in every genre, there's room for everyone from
classically trained ballet dancers (Danny) and ballroom champions
(Lacey & Pasha) to
B-Boys and B-Girls (Dominic & Sara).
Therefore, not only will you find every kind of
dancer, but you'll be
entertained by every kind of dance.
Being a die-hard fan, I made the long trek to
Continental Airlines Arena in E. Rutherford, NJ
already convinced it would be a fantastic show. Between the immense
talent of the
finalists and choreographers, and the promise from the
show's judges that the most
beloved numbers from the season would make
it onto the program, how could they
possibly go wrong? I was not
disappointed.
On the other hand, I found some of the montages
on the jumbotrons tiresome. We'd
already watched the full season,
including the finale. How many more times do I need to
see Nigel ask
Sex not to come back next year? That was a little much. But when all
was
said and done, the emphasis was on the dancers and the
choreography. We got to see
the
Flower and the Hummingbird routine firsthand. We got to witness
Danny and Lacey burn down the house with one of the sexiest sambas you'll ever see in your life. We gasped
at the acrobatics as
two princes vied for the throne . Mia's ode to her father was even
more beautiful and touching in person. Latin ballroom stars
Pasha and Anya devoured their salsa dish . And
the Devil chased the Angel , just for us.
Having trouble with the player? --Watch all the solos from the playlist on YouTube. --Watch the couples dancing together on UnCut. Even
if you don't give a damn about Sabra, Danny or the lot of them... Even
if you've
never seen the show once... Even if you despise reality TV
and all it stands for...
The SYTYCD Tour
is still a worthwhile evening out. You'll come away from it having been
exposed to more forms of dance than you'll ever find assembled under
one roof again.
You'll enjoy watching them performed by talented,
humble artists who refuse to
disappoint, because they know exactly how
lucky they are to be dancing for you. And lest
I forget, they also want
to thank you for voting them onto the stage in the first place.
Catch the So You Think You Can Dance Live Tour nationwide thru November: >>BUY SYTYCD TOUR TICKETS<< More So You Think You Can Dance Live Tour: --
Watch more videos from the SYTYCD Live Tour --
See more photos from the SYTYCD Live Tour --
Read Loralyn's Show Report @ Blogging SYTYCD
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2:58:23 PM EDT
Feeling Ecstatic
Hearing Martha Wainwright: Martha Wainwright
BREAKING NEWS: Martha Wainwright Announces Tour with Swell Season
Martha Wainwright just made my day. Yes,
Martha fans, your prayers have been answered, your dreams have come
true, and
one of your three wishes has been granted. She has officially
announced that she'll be
hitting the road with Swell Season for a full
US tour. Dates are as follows, thanks to
Martha's MySpace Blog :
11/5/07- The Moore Theater, Seatte, WA 11/6/07- Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR 11/8/07- Regency Center Grand Ballroom, San Francisco, CA 11/9/07- Regency Center Grand Ballroom, San Francisco, CA 11/10/07- The Wiltern, L.A, CA 11/11/07- 4th and B, San Diego, CA 11/13/07- Ogden Theater, Denver, CO 11/15/07- Stubbs, Austin, TX 11/17/07- Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA 11/18/07- Lincoln Theater, Washington, DC 11/19/07- Beacon Theater, NY, NY 11/21/07-Orpheum Theater, Boston, MA 11/24/07- Vic Theater, Chicago, IL 11/25/07- Vic Theater, Chicago, IL >>BUY MARTHA WAINWRIGHT TICKETS<< >>L to R: Signing autographs @ McCarren | With brother Rufus @ Gramercy (Yes, she's the one in pants.) If
you haven't had a chance to witness the divine Ms. W. onstage before,
this is your big
chance. It's her first time back on the road in the
year since she made the announcement
at
last summer's McCarren show that she'd cease touring while she records the follow-up
to her self-titled album.
Not sure what Martha's all about? Look, listen, read, and show up at a show! Martha Solo:
--
Photos : Martha Wainwright at McCarren--
Review : Martha Wainwright at McCarren--
Videos : Martha Wainwright Live --
Tickets : See Martha Wainwright on TourFamily Affairs:
--
Photos : Martha Wainwright with brother Rufus Wainwright--
Photos : Wainwright Family Christmas at Carnegie Hall--
Review : Wainwright Family Christmas at Carnegie Hall
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Thursday, September 27, 2007
8:52:37 PM EDT
Feeling Loopy
Hearing Jamie T: Panic Prevention
NEW PHOTOS & VIDEO: Jamie T @ The Bowery Ballroom 9/13/07
What's the hottest accessory for NY hipsters these days? A London
accent. Or at least a
playlist that comes heavily loaded with Brits who
flaunt their natural-born accents when
they sing, rather than going
with the usual American blues impersonation. Would I go so
far as to
call it another British Invasion? Not really. But the likes of
Mike Skinner (The
Streets),
Lily Allen , and newcomer
Just Jack are now the big buzz kids in the NY show scene.
Add to that list
Jamie T .
With an accent so thick you could stand a spoon up straight in it, the
lad is the latest of
the lot to be critically lauded in his native land
and shipped stateside to test the fame
machine that is the US music
scene. (I mean really, he's on Zomba, for @$%'s sake.)
September found
the wonderboy from Wimbledon hopping the pond for a series of US
shows, including multi-night runs in NY and LA. His Williamsburg
Union Pool and
Bowery Ballroom shows were must-sees for the indie in-kids. With a recent nomination
for the UK's uber-prestigious
2007 Mercury Prize
under his belt, can you blame the
hipsters for indulging their
curiosity in the bright new Brit? I'll admit my own curiosity was
piqued by the odd contrast of the Mercury Prize nomination and the
lukewarm review of
a previous show by the reliably spot-on
Brooklyn Vegan blog. Hmmm, what to make of it?
Sporting
a spitting style and a curled lip, Jamie T looked and sounded oddly
like a very
young Empire of the Sun-era Christian Bale. But a little
less polished and perfected, and
a lot more rock and roll.
Though
the arrangements and slick production mute the effect on his
recordings, his live
performance belied a propensity and predilection
for ska. More than just a strong
undercurrent, there's a downright
raging reggae river in his tunes.
Between the reggae, the accent, and the saucy attitude, is it any wonder the label paired
him with
It-Girl Lily Allen
for a bonus track? It's synergy. But where Lily Allen forgot the
words
left and right, and royally botched her Coachella appearance last
spring, Jamie T's
slightly sloppy delivery at the
Bowery Ballroom
was right in tune with his overall vibe, and
worked just fine.
Though
he could benefit from a bit more touring experience under his belt, it
was a fine
start to what could turn out to be a beautiful friendship
with the US market. Keep
working at it, Jamie, and come back.
MORE JAMIE T LIVE: --
Photos from the show --
Videos from the show
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