Ugly Floral Blouse

No, I'm still alive

2007-10-29T13:09:00.001-04:00

Aw, I'm sorry, poor blog, to have neglected you. I didn't realize it had been so long since we last hung out. Time flies when you're not having any fun. Hang tight. We'll be back together soon. In the meantime, let me quickly say that I hope all the NY five boroughs kids are coming out tonight to see The Lodger open for Holly Golightly at Union Hall. Their record is quite wonderful. Reminiscent of The Wedding Present, Boo Radleys, The Smiths, any really good C-86 band (you know, I really, really suck at trying to describe bands)...As usual, Bill wrote up a great post about the band, so maybe just go over to his blog, because I give up. My blogging muscles have atrophied. I think I just pulled a tendon. Anyway, The Lodger were great at Cake Shop the other night. Here is a song from the album, one that I hope maybe they will play tonight:

The Lodger - Watching

See you at Union Hall later, right?

It's not just for virtually hitting on people

2007-07-25T17:49:00.001-04:00

I am sure you are already aware of this, but MySpace is a really good source of information about bands. If you were to look at my profile, maybe you would think I am super duper popular because I have a lot of friends. Alas, no, I am just "friends" with a lot of bands that I like. I have, like, five and a half real friends. Instead of having to check a trillion individual band websites, it is easy to keep up with the news by reading all the band bulletins in one place. For instance, here are a few bits of information posted today:

David Brewis from Field Music writes about his project called School of Language. He's mentioned it before, but I guess he's playing out now. He has a gig with The Mules. I should probably hyperlink The Mules and anything else I mention, but meh. I loooooved Field Music. Like, a lot. A lot lot.

Junior from Junior Senior has a bit of a side project called I Scream Ice Cream.

Robert Wyatt and Bertrand Burgalat have collaborated on a song called "This Summer Night". You can hear it here. Just click on the cover.

Happy Anniversary!

2007-07-13T13:25:00.000-04:00

Photo taken from Antiparticle's Flickr stream

Photo taken from Allysonmmurphy's Flickr stream

Photo taken from Roboppy's Flickr stream

I would credit this photo, but I just copied it off the Union Hall Myspace page

Photo taken from Antiparticle's Flickr stream

Photo courtesy of Lara Weissling

photo taken from Robotpolisher's Flickr stream

Happy Anniversary to Union Hall! Union Hall's first year has been amazing. There have been special anniversary shows all this week, and there are still three great events to come. Tonight is a free dance party. Tomorrow night, Enon is playing. Sunday night is extra special with the celebration taking over both floors: Michael Showalter, Eugene Mirman, Janeane Garofalo, David Cross, Todd Barry...and a secret surprise band playing downstairs.

Beyond my own personal affection for the place, it really is a nice space. As one person wrote, "Freaking cool bar with a library, bocce ball, unisex bathrooms, and basement music hall. Love!" Oh, and they have food too! There's music, comedy, dance parties, films and Secret Science Club, where they recently hosted Nobel Prize winner Eric Kandel!

You really should check out Union Hall if you never have. I remember the Math & Physics Club saying that they felt like they were playing their set in a game of Clue. I love the cameo portrait of some random lady that watches over the bands as they play. I only wish I lived closer, so I could hang out there even more than I already do. I included some photos of the place, and hope I credited all the photographers properly and also hope no one gets miffed at me for snagging the pictures. I tried to include a picture of that snazzy unisex bathroom, but no luck.

Special thanks to Jack. My recent "unofficial" event at Union Hall was super awesome, and I owe it all to him.

Switches in New York plus tunes

2007-07-12T14:53:00.001-04:00

You know, I try not to pay attention to the hype for every British band that comes along, but I have to say that these two tracks by Switches are very catchy. Their album, Heart Tuned to D.E.A.D., will be out in the States in the fall, but their best tracks have this definite glammy 70s rock vibe that is irresistible. Shades of powerpop and pub rock too. Oohs and aahs. I quite enjoy the lyric, "rip out your heart and give it to me." I actually haven't posted a mp3 here of my favorite track, "Stepkids in Love", but their MySpace page has that song posted along with three other extremely fine tunes.

Switches are playing for free at The Annex this Sunday, July 15th. You can RSVP here. It looks like it will be a late show, but again it's free. They are also playing with The Fratellis at Roseland next Wednesday the 18th, but it's $18 and it's, uh, Roseland.

Anyway, Switches seem to be playing a few US dates. Here are two tracks...anyone want to go see them play on Sunday?

Message from Yuz

Lay Down the Law

Stereo Total is coming to town

2007-07-05T17:22:00.000-04:00

Stereo Total - Ex Fan de Sixties
buy Monokini (Kill Rock Stars reissue)

If you have never seen Stereo Total perform, you are completely missing out. The last time they played New York, I think it was at the Bowery Ballroom. The two of them seemed to be having some kind of fight or something (I don't know exactly but one of them seemed miffed), and yet their performance was still so much fun. This track was added to Monokini when the album was reissued by Kill Rock Stars, but it can also be found on Casablanca, a comp Elefant Records put out. The comp also features tracks by The Divine Comedy, Future Bible Heroes, Hopkirk & Lee...Sorry, this entry is not particularly well-written, is it? I got about an hour of sleep. Did I even write in English?

Aug 21 2007
7:00P
Rock and Roll Hotel
Washington, Washington DC

Aug 22 2007
7:00P
Ottobar
Baltimore, Maryland

Aug 23 2007
8:00P
TLA
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Aug 24 2007
6:00P
Webster Hall
New York, New York

Aug 25 2007
7:00P
Middle East
Boston, Massachusetts

Aug 26 2007
7:00P
Zaphod's
Ottawa, Ontario

Aug 27 2007
7:00P
La Tulipe
Montreal, Quebec

Aug 28 2007
7:00P
Lee's Palace
Toronto, Ontario

Aug 29 2007
6:00P
Andy Warhol Museum
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Aug 30 2007
7:00P
Grog Shop
Cleveland, Ohio

Aug 31 2007
7:00P
Abbey Theatre
Chicago, Illinois

Sep 1 2007
7:00P
Entry
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Sep 3 2007
7:00P
Chop Suey
Seattle, Washington

Sep 4 2007
7:00P
Wonder Ballroom
Portland, Oregon

Sep 6 2007
7:00P
Bimbo's
San Francisco, California

Sep 7 2007
7:00P
El Rey
Los Angeles, California

Reminder: Tonight!

2007-06-25T05:41:00.000-04:00

The Wombats hit the U.S.

2007-06-25T04:42:00.000-04:00

It looks like The Wombats are doing a mini-tour in the U.S. in August. It's about time. I've been bopping around to their catchy hooks and witty lyrics for months and months. When they played SXSW back in March, they didn't play any other U.S. gigs, which I found a little surprising. However, I am hoping they are going to post a few more U.S. dates on their MySpace page, because I also finding it surprising that they are playing three dates in Los Angeles, and only one date in New York...at The Annex.

http://www.myspace.com/thewombatsuk

Aug 6 2007
8:00P
The Roxy
Los Angeles

Aug 7 2007
8:00P
Cinespace
Los Angeles

Aug 8 2007
8:00P
Spaceland
Los Angeles

Aug 9 2007
8:00P
Popscene
San Francisco

Aug 11 2007
8:00P
Mod Club
Toronto

Aug 13 2007
8:00P
Great Scott
Boston

Aug 15 2007
8:00P
Annex
New York

Ticket Giveaway: epo-555 at Union Hall 6/25

2007-06-22T16:21:00.000-04:00

I am giving away 2 pairs of tickets to the epo-555/Taxi Taxi show at Union Hall this Monday, June 25th.

I've never had a giveaway before. How exciting is this? So the first two people to email me at uglyfloralblouse@gmail.com are the winners. You have until Monday afternoon to email me. You guys really should check out epo-555. Don't make me beg. Do you wanna see me down on my knees? Or bending over backwards now would you be pleased? I should actually give the tickets to the first two people who guess those song lyrics, but come on, that's an easy one!

************************************************************************
Monday, June 25th - 8:00pm

epo-555

Taxi Taxi
look at the cool poster Taxi Taxi made

with DJ French Toast playing tunes all night long
@
Union Hall, 702 Union Street at Fifth Avenue, Park Slope, Brooklyn

Cost: $7.00

Directions
Union Hall is located in Park Slope, Brooklyn, right off the corner of 5th Avenue on Union Street.
R train to Union Street. Walk 1 block east.
F train to 4th Avenue. Walk north on 4th Ave and turn right on Union Street. 1 block up.
Q, 2, 3, 4, 5 trains to Atlantic Avenue. Walk south on 5th Ave. Make a left on Union Street.

DeLuxe* 2 Year Anniversary Party tomorrow night

2007-06-22T15:59:00.000-04:00

DR MAZ

invites you to DeLuxe* - a night of the best new and classic indiepop, britpop, swedish pop, french pop, twee, c-86, and dance-pop

in beautiful New York City!

COME CELEBRATE OUR 2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY WITH SPECIAL GUEST DJs:
SHIRLEY BEANS (NEW YORK NOISE )
CHRISTIAN (LABRADOR RECORDS / SWEDEN)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

lolita bar

266 broome street

lower east side

saturday june 23rd

9 pm - 4 am

free

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"DeLuxe is a monthly night at Lolita helmed by Dr. Maz, one of the DJs behind Mondo, Luke & Leroy's smashing dance party. It mines similar musical terrain as its sister party. Want to hear the latest single by soon-to-be U.K. superstars du jour? Or that Wedding Present song you haven't listened to in five years? Or a track by Scottish tweesters the Boy Least Likely To? It'll play at DeLuxe, an indie anglophile's wet dream of a hoist-a-pint-and-chat-with-your-friends evening."

- Gabby Warshawer, AOL CityGuide

http://www.myspace.com/deluxenyc

Come out come out

2007-06-22T12:19:00.001-04:00

Denmark's epo-555 plays NY, NJ and MA

2007-06-14T19:27:00.000-04:00

I've written about epo-555 before. They are coming back to the States to rock your world with their blend of shoegaze, pop, electronica, jangle, indie rock and dreaminess. There are some epo-555 mp3s posted below, but you have to promise you'll go buy their albums, deal? I'll post more epo stuff soon. It's an epo blitz.

The lineup has changed a bit since they were last in the US. Tine Winther has joined the band. Camilla left the group, since she and Mikkel now have a baby boy. However, Camilla and Mikkel have started another project called Oliver North Boy Choir and, of course, I am going to post about them in the future.

epo-555's records, along with albums from various other Crunchy Frog artists like Junior Senior (well, in August) and Power-Solo, are now available in the US via Ryko Distribution. You can buy some epo-555 albums here and on itunes too. You can also still buy all their material from Vibrashop. Vibrashop is one of the coolest international mailorder sites around. For instance, they also carry albums from awesome European labels like Apricot, Elefant, Labrador, Siesta and Tricatel.

Here are your epo-555 links:
Myspace
Website

Here are your epo-555 tour dates:

Monday, June 25
8:00P
Union Hall
Brooklyn, New York

Tuesday, June 26
8:00P
200 Orchard
New York, New York

Wednesday, June 27
8:00P
Maxwell´s
Hoboken, NJ

Thursday, June 28
8:00P
PA´s Lounge
Somerville, Massachusetts

Here are your epo-555 mp3s:

From Mafia:
Examinor No. 39
Maid In China
Harry Mambourg

From the Radioaktiv - Mafia Fallout 7":
Sugarspiced Suicide featuring Lise Westzynthius

From the Depeche Mode tribute album, DMDK:
Stripped

From Dexter Fox:
Le Beat's on Fire
Dakota

A lone, lonely, loneliness mix

2007-06-11T14:16:00.000-04:00

No, this lone, lonely, loneliness mix is not a cry for help. It's not even a particularly gloomy mix. The other day, I wanted to hear "Are You Lonely?" by LaBelle, and typed "lone" into my music player to search for the song. When I saw a bunch of songs come up, I figured there was a mix somewhere in there. The song genres are all over the map. Obviously, I am not posting every song I own that has "lone" in the title. For instance, there's no "Only the Lonely" by The Motels. No "Lonely Boy" by Andrew Gold. I feel like I only went with one really obvious song, but you can't leave Gilbert curbside. There are two songs that I downloaded from full album blogs that specialize in out-of-print records. Both blogs are excellent. You will see where I posted the links. I apologize, by the way, that the volume levels are not consistent. The American Anthem song is particularly low, but so worth it. Go, Mitch Gaylord, go.

Labelle - Are You Lonely?
Buy Nightbirds here

The Divine Comedy - Lonely at the Top
Buy some albums by The Divine Comedy. If I knew where you could buy this, I would tell you.

Twisted Nerve - When I'm Alone
From the Caught in Session single - I don't know where to get it

Kristoffer Ragnstam - Lonely Lane
Buy Sweet Bills here

Nick Garvey and George Hann - Love and Loneliness
Buy the American Anthem Original Soundrack here

Futurisk - Lonely Streets
From Player Piano 7" EP - I don't know where to get this either

Gilbert O'Sullivan - Alone Again (Naturally)
Buy The Very Best of Gilbert O'Sullivan here

Dogs - Lonesome Hearts
Buy Different here

Skeeter Davis - Mine Is a Lonely Life
Buy The Essential Skeeter Davis here

The Godfathers - Lonely Man
Buy Hit by Hit here

House Party Show on Friday with My Teenage Stride

2007-06-11T14:02:00.000-04:00

I can't go, but you should. I have to say that I never paid much attention to Pants Yell! before, but they sounded great at the NYC Popfest recently. Oh, go see The Pains of Being Pure at Heart too. It's Peggy Wang East's other band (She's also in The Metric Mile). I make note of her location, because I am seeing Peggy Wang West soon, I hope. Lastly, do I really need to stress the awesomeness of My Teenage Stride?

FRIDAY JUNE 15
9:00 pm
$5 (FREE + 1 w/ RSVP to KIPBERMAN@GMAIL.COM before 6:00 pm Thursday, June 14)

Pants Yell!
My Teenage Stride
A Sunny Day in Glasgow
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
DJ Maxwell Williams (Hugpatch)
+ KEGS, KEGS I SAY, KEGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ONLY $5! (GET A FREE + 1 w/ RSVP to KIPBERMAN@GMAIL.COM before 6:00 pm Thursday, June 14)

The Carriage House
1027 Grand St.
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(off the GRAND St. L stop)
MAP TO PARTY
(you have to walk through the main doors, go to the courtyard and make a hard right to an ivy covered door to find the secret home of this most excellent party)

The 1900s play New York

2007-06-07T21:24:00.000-04:00

I meant to post this a while ago, because The 1900s have been playing a few East Coast dates. It's too late for me to mention the gigs in DC and Philly, but they are playing tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday in Brooklyn.

Friday the 8th - Magnetic Field
Saturday the 9th - Union Hall

I wrote about The 1900s last year. They are delightful. I don't know why they haven't blown up in some huge way yet. They are playing Lollapalooza in their hometown of Chicago in August though.

I would post another mp3, but I think I'm gonna make a mix instead with the webspace. Eh, maybe not. Well, you can listen to the band at their myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/1900s.

My Teenage Stride on tour with A Sunny Day In Glasgow

2007-06-07T21:09:00.000-04:00

Ch-ch-ch-check it out! My Teenage Stride is going on tour with A Sunny Day in Glasgow, and you should go see them play. I have written about My Teenage Stride before on this blog. Oh yes, hello there. I am still alive. Yeah, it's been a while since I've written anything. Anyway, they are going to be driving a lot of miles, so go to their gigs and give them your money, ok? I mean, buy their record. You can randomly give them money too. Everyone likes random and unexpected money.

June 13 - Boston, MA - Great Scott (w/Hands & Knees)
June 14 - Brooklyn , NY - Union Hall (w/ Palomar)
June 15 - Brooklyn, NY - Bushwick Loft Party -- 1027 Grand St.
June 16 - Pittsburgh, PA - Brillobox
June 17 - Chicago , IL - South Union Arts
June 18 - Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock Club (w/ White Jazz)
June 21 - Seattle, WA - Crocodile Club (w/ Arthur & Yu)
June 22 - Portland, OR - Towne Lounge (w/ Gingerbread Patriots)
June 23 - Davis, CA – Delta of Venus
June 24 - Los Angeles, CA - Pehrspace
June 25 - Tucson, AZ - Vaudeville
June 27 - Austin, TX - Mohawk
June 28 – New Orleans, LA - TBD
June 29 – Atlanta, GA - 11:11 Teahouse
June 30 - Athens, GA - Caledonia Lounge
July 1 - Chapel Hill - The Cave
July 2 - Washington, DC - DC9
July 3 - Baltimore, MD – Metro Gallery
July 5 - Philadelphia - Johnny Brenda's
July 6 - New York, NY - Cake Shop

http://www.myteenagestride.com/

NY: Check it out tomorrow night

2007-03-01T21:02:00.000-05:00

My Teenage Stride record release party

with The Secret History (ex-My Favorite)

Friday, March 2nd

Doors 8pm

Cake Shop - 152 Ludlow Street, NYC

http://www.myteenagestride.com (click on the music tab for mp3s)

http://www.myspace.com/myteenagestride

The new MTS album, Ears Like Golden Bats, is out! Come see my friends Jed, Brett and Jeff play. I've written about My Teenage Stride on here a few times over the past couple of years. The new album is fantastic. It's nice to see Jed finally getting some recognition for his talent (via blog action and print articles). There are four bands on the bill tomorrow night. I don't know anything about Skybox, but one of the members of Hands and Knees, Scott, produced and engineered the new MTS album with Jed. I was supposed to write about Hands and Knees about a year and a half ago on this blog. I'm no good, no good at all.

This will be The Secret History's first gig, and if you don't already know, the band is basically My Favorite minus the lovely and sweet Andrea Vaughn. Or rather, 5/6 of My Favorite plus two girls equals The Secret History. Please don't mistake the slapdash and last minute nature of this post for lack of enthusiasm. This is going to be a great gig, so please come out. Yeah, I know I need to start posting again on this blog. When I actually have the time to write, I find that someone has already blogged about the same things I had planned. Then, I sit at my computer, and wave my fists in the air and curse the blog gods. And that flailing around is usually accompanied by some sounds that are kind of like, "AAAAAAAAARRHHHHHHHHH!" So yeah, more posts coming if I can get my crap together and decide that I don't care if my posts are redundant.

IDOLATOR: Feb 12, 2007, My Teenage Stride Gives Us The Chills Jedediah Smith is the Brooklyn-based songwriter behind the band My Teenage Stride, and listening to the band's third full-length, Ears Like Golden Bats, you have to wonder just how much time he's spent obsessing over the Trouser Press; Ears wears its influences like one-inch pins bearing the logos of Orange Juice and the Go-Betweens. We've been especially charmed by the haunting "Reversal" (think of what would happen if the Chills' "Pink Frost" were turned upside down) and the manic, pogo-worthy "Chock's Rally"

THE DELI MAGAZINE: Striding Towards a New Record and Release Party With perfectly plucky bass lines, shimmering guitar work, a drum groove that moves along at a sprinter's pace, and luscious harmonies, My Teenage Stride's "To Live and Die in the Airport Lounge" is the perfect kind of song to convince you that you may not be as old as you think you are…which is good. Most folks have probably wasted a bit of time pining for lost days that have since passed them by. And I can't imagine Jedediah Smith, leader of the Brooklyn outfit, is an exception. But with his extremely recognizable guitar pop… no doubt the grand result of long evenings where The Kinks, The Velvet Underground, Joy Division, The Smiths, and Belle and Sebastian wore out the needle of his turntable… Smith and his band mates churn out the kind of classic kitsch that should have you feeling like there are plenty of glory days still to come. One such day, March 2nd, the band will be showing off new tunes from their forth-coming release Ears Like Golden Bats (Becalmed Records) at The Cakeshop. - David Pitz

BIG TAKEOVER: January 21, 2007, DAVE HEATON’S TOP TEN 1. My Teenage Stride – Ears Like Golden Bats (Becalmed)The best 2007 album I’ve heard yet – smart, funny, stylish, catchy indie-pop.

Urgh redux

2006-10-30T11:29:00.000-05:00

Especially since I didn't have time (or energy - me sick plus my eyes are all swollen so I look like I have been crying for three days) to write anything substantive about Urgh! A Music War in my last post, I wanted to direct you to Bill's nice entry on the documentary. I was wondering the same thing as him about what version of the film they will show tonight. I am hoping it's not heavily edited.

If you like the Klaus Nomi section, I would recommend renting The Nomi Song as well. There is a very interesting part where they talk about Nomi filming his segment for Urgh! A Music War.

Oh, and regarding the whole TV show conflict thing, if you were planning on watching the new Cracker movie with Robbie Coltrane on BBC America. BBC America repeats their primetime programming after midnight usually. I wish more channels would do that.

If you were planning on watching Two and a Half Men, I don't think I want to help you. Oh, I kid, I kid. Who doesn't love Duckie and Melanie Lynskey?

Urgh! A Music War on VH1 Classic tomorrow night

2006-10-29T21:45:00.000-05:00

Yeah, hi there. I know I haven't posted in quite a while. I don't know who is still checking this blog. I hope to be posting more regularly soon, but we can discuss that later. More importantly, VH1 Classic is showing "Urgh! A Music War" on tomorrow (Monday) night at 9pm. I can't tell from VH1 Classic's website if they will be repeating it after that, so I would say catch it if you can. If you don't have dvr and you feel the need to watch "Heroes", nbc.com streams the current episode after it airs plus the Sci-Fi channel reruns that week's episode at 7pm on Friday. If you have a conflict with another show, email me directly and maybe I can help you out. I'm like a human TV Guide, man. If you have a large social calendar and won't be home tomorrow night, well, good for you. I guess you are just better than me, eh? I have added two links below in case you haven't heard of the film. If I had more time, I would give more background.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urgh!_A_Music_War
http://www.urgh-dvd.com/

photos taken from:
http://www.kristianhoffman.com/recordings.htm
http://www.urgh-dvd.com/urgh-gallery.html

Cambridge, MA: Shepherdess plays with Beirut tomorrow night

2006-08-25T10:40:00.000-04:00

Saturday, August 26th

The Critique of Pure Reason and The Middle East Present
Beirut (Ba Da Bing Rec.)
Get Him Eat Him (Absolutely Kosher Records)
The Curtains (Asthmatic Kitty Records)
Shepherdess

at The Middle East Downstairs
$12
18+

Tri-state people, go see Shepherdess. My friend Emily of the bands The Operators and The Tricunx plays the violin. Here is a mp3 from the band's myspace page. Actually there is no violin that I can hear on this track, but you should still download it. Shepherdess is fronted by Hilken Mancini of the bands Fuzzy and The Count Me Outs.

The Feeling - North American tour dates

2006-08-16T16:41:00.000-04:00

We're very pleased to announce that The Feeling will be playing the following 16 US/Canadian dates in October.

OCTOBER
8th - Seattle, Crocodile Café
9th - Portland, Berbati’s Pan
11th - San Francisco, Café Du Nord
12th - West Hollywood, Key Club
14th - Denver, Hi Dive
16th - Minneapolis, Varsity Theatre
17th - Aragon, Ballroom - supporting The Fray
18th - Grand Rapids, Deltaplex - supporting The Fray
19th -Detroit, State Theatre - supporting The Fray
21st - Toronto, Kool Haus -supporting The Fray
22nd - Montreal, Le Spectrum - supporting The Fray
23rd - Boston, Orpheum Theatre - supporting The Fray
25th - New York, Hammerstein Ballroom - supporting The Fray
26th - New York, Hammerstein Ballroom -supporting The Fray
27th - Philadelphia. Electric Factory - supporting The Fray
28th - Washington DC, DAR Constitution Hall - supporting The Fray.

Write up about their previous NY gig found on Bill's site with a hot mp3. Some not so hot photos taken on the Treo found on my flickr account.

Sparkle Motion this Saturday

2006-08-16T16:26:00.000-04:00

Brooklyn: Tomorrow night

2006-08-04T09:52:00.000-04:00

Oppenheimer
The Metric Mile
Saturday, August 5th
9pm
702 Union Street at Fifth Avenue, Park Slope
$6

Directions:
R train to Union Street. Walk 1 block east. F train to 4th Avenue. Walk north on 4th Ave and turn right on Union Street. 1 block up.
Q, 2, 3, 4, 5 trains to Atlantic Avenue. Walk south on 5th Ave. Make a left on Union Street.

Elmo's parents

2006-07-25T14:10:00.000-04:00

I'm so not kidding. That's his dad and his mom. The Sesame Workshop produced a dvd to help military families talk to kids about deployment. I guess Elmo's dad is going overseas or something. I suppose it could be his mom, but his dad's is wearing a tracksuit...which means, um, nothing. My powers of deduction are pretty weak. My sister and I started discussing how a tan muppet and a red muppet could have produced Elmo, who is purely red. However, my sister thinks muppet genetics may be different than human genetics, which cracked me up.

Life on Mars starts tonight

2006-07-24T16:19:00.000-04:00

Check out "Life on Mars" on BBC America tonight. I would have posted a picture from the series, but Blogger is $&#**#^&$&#

Three reasons to at least watch the first episode:

1) John Simm is the lead, and he's a very likeable actor. I think he's grand. You may recognize him from when he played Bernard Sumner in 24 Hour Party People. He was fantastic in the BBC mini-series "State of Play". I highly recommend keeping an eye out for a repeat airing of this on BBC America or a possible dvd release. John Simm was also in Human Traffic if that helps. He was in a straight-to-dvd/cable movie with Christina Ricci called Miranda. I hate Christina Ricci in that movie. However, Julian Rhind-Tutt from "Keen Eddie" and "Green Wing" was also in the cast, so it's not all bad. John Simm appeared in probably the best episode of "The Canterbury Tales" adaptations with Keeley Hawes and Chiwetel Ejiofor. I think the first time I saw John Simm was in Michael Winterbottom's Wonderland, a very beautiful and sad film, and not in anyway related to the Wonderland starring Val Kilmer as John Holmes.

2) David E. Kelley bought the U.S. rights to "Life on Mars", which means he will be creating a U.S. version very soon. He's going to muck it up. I'm not a huge David E. Kelley fan. I will watch his shows some of the time, because he does have a knack for using interesting character actors. He tends to write outrageous material, and I think a lot of actors are attracted to that, even if it is just a guest spot. Those kinds of roles are fun to play, and get you noticed and possibly nominated for awards. However, I think Kelley always casts too many actors in his shows, and then doesn't know what to do with them. I also think he is more interested in being shocking than being true. He always ruins his own shows.

3) It takes place in 1973, so, you know, good music and fashion...

Sam Tyler (John Simm), a cool, sharp young detective, is working hard to keep the streets of 21st century Manchester safe from crime. But his world is turned upside down when the hunt for a serial killer becomes a personal vendetta after Maya (Archie Panjabi, The Constant Gardener), his girlfriend and colleague, goes missing. Desperately afraid she has been kidnapped by the killer, he sets out to find her, only to become involved in a near-fatal car accident. When he wakes, he finds himself in a different era - 1973. Is this reality, madness or a dream? Sam struggles to understand what is happening to him.

Disoriented and traumatized, 21st century Sam is completely bewildered by his new environment. As all attempts to return to his own time fail, Sam falls back on what he knows best - his job. Each episode features a different case, some of the toughest Sam has ever tried to solve - partly because of what seems like archaic police procedure. This is a world without cell phones, where cops rely on paperwork and memory instead of computers, there's no DNA profiling and what forensics do exist take two weeks to process.

Furthermore, his 1973 colleagues are insensitive, unreconstructed cops who regularly intimidate witnesses and are happy to nail suspects irrespective of whether they have evidence. Sam's new boss is hard-nosed Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister), the antithesis of everything Sam believes in. He gets results by trusting his gut instinct and, all too often, sheer brute force. Most of his team have similar attitudes towards their work including detective Ray Carling (Dean Andrews) who is suspicious of Sam and his 'new-fangled' ideas. At least detective Chris Skelton (Marshall Lancaster, Clocking Off), despite being clueless, is more affable and keen to learn.

The only person in this alien world who reaches out to Sam is a young police officer, Annie Cartwright (Liz White, The Street), an educated and open-minded woman who helps Sam in his quest to find the truth about his new circumstances, as well as battling to lock up the criminals of 1970s Manchester.

In the first episode, it becomes clear to Sam that the killer who is holding Maya in 2006 started his killing spree here and now in the early '70s. Could catching the perpetrator be Sam's key to returning to the future?

Another show tonight

2006-07-19T15:47:00.000-04:00

Tonight, Wednesday July 19th
8pm
The Besties, The Metric Mile, Shumai and Lil' Hospital
Tommy's Tavern
1041 Manhattan Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
718-383-9699

Sorry for the last-minute notice, but it's sure to be a lovely evening of twee pop.

Brooklyn: Friday night

2006-07-19T15:37:00.000-04:00

www.magneticbrooklyn.com

Tune: Song of Ultraman

2006-07-19T15:30:00.001-04:00

Misuzu Children's Choir - Song of Ultraman

I noticed that the first volume of Ultraman: Series One was released yesterday. There seems to be a lot of complaints about this particular release. Honestly, I know next nothing about Ultraman. I just like the theme song. It's super catchy. A big bear complained I only post pop music on here, but he's wrong.

The Feeling play NY tomorrow night

2006-07-18T16:00:00.000-04:00

I have a ticket to see The Feeling tomorrow night at The Mercury Lounge. If I can just fight off this bug, I'm going. Anyone else gonna be there?

I like this review from Harmonium:

Several years ago, The Feeling were little more than a ski-resort cover band in the French Alps. Now, they’re British pop-rock architects, having left the snowy slopes behind in favor of b-b-baby’s, na na na’s, and other pop-tastic building tools. Twelve Stops and Home is what they’ve constructed, and debut albums rarely sound this precise.

In the vein of Supertramp (and, more recently, The Darkness and Scissor Sisters), The Feeling are unapologetically happy. Their hook-laden songs bop and bounce around Dan Gillespie Sells’ voice, and the multi-part harmonies evoke ELO without making the listener laugh. Even the bittersweet Sunday-afternoon-strut of “Kettle’s On” and “Sewn” sounds optimistic when filtered through the band’s British poise. And then there’s the really happy tracks – “I Want You Now,” “Never Be Lonely,” “Fill My Little World” – which burn through pop-rock tricks like the entire Beatles catalogue on fire. Apparently, The Feeling learned a lot from their cover-band days, and Home often sounds better than the bands they used to emulate.

Two of the album’s best tracks have already topped the U.K. Singles Chart. It’s hard to say if these sugary riffs will find a place on American radio, but does it matter? It’s rare that pop songwriting is this tight, this genuine, and actually written by the band. The Feeling’s off to a great start here, and Twelve Stops and Home is one of the best pop-rock albums in recent memory.

http://www.myspace.com/thefeeling
http://www.thefeeling.com/

I feel I may resemble a certain well-known blogger here by simply pasting what someone else wrote, and not writing anything of my own.

Not my pictures

2006-07-17T17:54:00.000-04:00

My sister returned from a trip to Israel about a week and a half ago. I've never been to Israel. She went with a group to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Haifa. Obviously, considering recent events, I am glad her trip ended when it did. Our cousin lives in Haifa, so she had dinner with him one night on the beach. It looks like a really beautiful city. I am not going to use my blog to talk about the political situation right now. It's not something I feel comfortable writing about for a variety of reasons, but my sister let me post some of her landscape photos so people can "see the beauty of the country just about now and that it's not all about bombs, guns, etc."

Port of Haifa

Bahai Gardens in Haifa

Sunset on the beach in Haifa

Jerusalem

Atop Masada

Sunrise from Masada

RIP June Allyson

2006-07-11T17:36:00.000-04:00

I remember my mom dropping us off some weekends when my sister and I were kids to go see movies at some place in Concord. I can't recall if it was a library or not. They used to show films like Pippi Longstocking, Pollyanna and Little Women, the later version with June Allyson as Jo. I don't think I saw the earlier George Cukor version with Katherine Hepburn until later, so I always kind of think of June Allyson as Jo March. Ha, I just realized that I was watching Little Women in the town where Louisa May Alcott grew up. Oh, and speaking of Pollyanna, I sat next to Haley Mills recently at the theatre.

June Allyson had this very raspy voice, and they kept casting her in musicals. I have a cassette of the Words and Music soundtrack that I listened to a lot as a teenager, and there are some nice musicals on there like Lena Horne singing "The Lady is a Tramp" and Judy Garland performing "Johnny One Note". Then along comes June Allyson singing "Thou Swell". The actual song is a cute Rodgers and Hart tune, but her voice sounds like a bleating sheep. I suppose it was a bit endearing.

Most people probably know June Allyson as the lady from the Depends commercials. I actually didn't know much about her life until I read the New York Times obituary.

June Allyson, Adoring Wife in MGM Films, Is Dead at 88

By ALJEAN HARMETZ

June Allyson, whose perky wholesomeness made her the perfect girlfriend in a series of MGM musicals during the 1940’s and the perfect screen wife during the 1950’s, died on Saturday at her home in Ojai, Calif. She was 88.

Her death was announced yesterday by her daughter, Pamela Allyson Powell. The cause was pulmonary respiratory failure and acute bronchitis, she told The Associated Press.

Cheerful, blonde and petite but with a husky voice, Miss Allyson turned from chorus girl into movie star when she melted into the arms of Van Johnson in “Two Girls and a Sailor” in 1944. For the next decade, Miss Allyson and Mr. Johnson were a romantic team, co-starring in “High Barbaree” (1947), “The Bride Goes Wild” (1948), “Too Young to Kiss” (1951), and “Remains to Be Seen” (1953).

She also starred twice opposite Robert Walker — in “Her Highness and the Bellboy” (1945) and “The Sailor Takes a Wife” (1946) — and played a bouncy Jo March in MGM’s glossy 1949 remake of “Little Women.”

By 1950, Miss Allyson had made the segue from adoring girlfriend to devoted wife. She was happy to leave musicals behind. Although she had started in the chorus on Broadway, she told an interviewer in 1951: “I couldn’t dance, and, Lord knows, I couldn’t sing, but I got by somehow. Richard Rodgers was always keeping them from firing me.”

She was the steadfast wife of James Stewart’s one-legged baseball player in “The Stratton Story” (1949); the widow left behind by Mr. Stewart’s bandleader in “The Glenn Miller Story” (1953); the worried wife of Mr. Stewart’s baseball player recalled to active duty in “Strategic Air Command” (1955); and the understanding wife who loses Alan Ladd’s jet pilot to honor and duty in “The McConnell Story ( 1955).

In “Executive Suite” (1954), she assured her husband, played by William Holden, who was vying for president of the Tredway Corporation, “Darling, if it’s something you really want, that’s all that’s important to either of us.”

Ms. Allyson was always modest about her star power. “Women identify with me,” she said in a 1986 intervew, “and while men desire Cyd Charisse, they’d take me home to meet Mom.”

When Miss Allyson tried to move beyond Peter Pan collars and sugary characters as the harsh and nasty woman who pushes her husband (José Ferrer) into a nervous breakdown in “The Shrike“ (1955), her acting was praised but audiences refused to accept her, and the movie was a box-office failure.

June Allyson was born Ella Geisman on Oct. 7, 1917, in the Bronx. Her alcoholic father skipped out when she was 6 months old. When she was 8, she was crushed by a falling tree limb while riding a bicycle. After four years in a back brace, she taught herself to dance by watching Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movies.

The expensive therapy the injuries required tumbled the Geisman family out of genteel poverty into desperation. In her 1982 autobiography, “June Allyson,” written with Frances Spatz Leighton, Miss Allyson said she and her mother were forced to move countless times. The best months were when her mother had a job in a restaurant, she wrote, “because sometimes she could bring home food.”

Recovering from her injuries, she tried out for and won a chorus job in a 1938 Broadway revue, “Sing Out the News,” taking the name June (for the month) Allyson. Between 1938 and 1941, Miss Allyson sang and danced in several Broadway shows, including “Very Warm for May,” “Higher and Higher” and “Panama Hattie.” As understudy to Betty Hutton, who played the comedy lead in “Panama Hattie,” Miss Allyson took over the part for five performances when Miss Hutton came down with measles. In a plot development worthy of an MGM musical, the producer George Abbott saw her performance and offered her a small featured role in his next musical, “Best Foot Forward.” MGM bought the movie rights to the musical, and Miss Allyson was invited to Hollywood to play her role on screen. She stayed at MGM for 11 years and 25 movies.

“The only parental authority I had was the studio,” Miss Allyson said in 1972. “When I was a star, there was always somebody with me, to guard me. I was not allowed to be photographed with a cigarette, a drink, a cup of coffee or even a glass of water because someone might think it was liquor. When I left the studio I was already married and had two children, but I felt as sad as a child leaving home for the first time.”

A second-tier star at a studio that prided itself on owning “more stars than there are in heaven,“ Miss Allyson defied the studio boss Louis B. Mayer in only one thing. She fell in love with the married movie star Dick Powell. Mr. Powell divorced his wife, the actress Joan Blondell, and married Miss Allyson in 1945, despite Mr. Mayer’s opposition. Although the marriage was rocky at times — Miss Allyson once filed for divorce — it lasted until Mr. Powell’s death from cancer in 1963 at age 58. In her autobiography she touched on her struggle with alcoholism after Mr. Powell’s death.

Miss Allyson and Mr. Powell co-starred in two mediocre movies in 1950, “The Reformer and the Redhead” and “Right Cross.” Miss Allyson recalled being told that because of her childhood accident, she would never be able to have children, so she and Mr. Powell adopted a baby girl, Pamela, in 1948. Two years later, she gave birth to a son, Richard.

Pamela Allyson Powell now lives in Santa Monica, Calif. Richard, of Los Angeles, also survives Miss Allyson, as does her husband, David Ashrow, a dentist whom she married in 1976. A previous marriage, to Mr. Powell’s hairdresser, Glenn Maxwell, in 1963, the year Mr. Powell died, ended in divorce.

Miss Allyson’s film career had petered out in the late 1950’s with a remake of “My Man Godfrey “ (1957) opposite David Niven, and a sudsy Ross Hunter melodrama “A Stranger in My Arms” (1959). From 1959 to 1961, she was host of and occasionally starred in “The DuPont Show With June Allyson,” a dramatic anthology on CBS. After replacing Julie Harris as the star of “40 Carats” on Broadway and touring for a year in a revival of “No, No Nanette,” she returned to the screen and to MGM in 1972 as a lesbian murderess in “They Only Kill Their Masters.” She also appeared on “Love Boat,” “Murder, She Wrote” and other television shows.

In 1985 she became the national spokeswoman for Depend, a diaper for adults with incontinence. Still wearing her trademark pageboy hairdo, she broke one of the last taboos by bringing this uncomfortable subject into the nation’s living rooms by way of television commercials.

Writing about Miss Allyson’s autobiography in The New York Times, Janet Maslin wrote: “Miss Allyson presents herself as the same sunny, tomboyish figure she played on screen. Even the tough parts of her life — the death of her husband Dick Powell and her subsequent bout with alcoholism — are described in a relatively blithe manner.” Ms. Maslin added that Miss Allyson sounded “like someone who has come to inhabit the very myths she helped to create on the screen.”

New York Times

2006-07-11T16:16:00.000-04:00

So I know I haven't posted a ton lately, and when I do, it's usually NYC-centric or just pictures or a mp3. I am planning on writing more. I have been feeling kind of unmotivated, which, if you know me, isn't that unusual. I still watch a ton of TV, and always plan to write about the stuff I watch. It's probably easier for me to talk about TV, film and theatre than music, anyway. I could talk about TV all day, highbrow and lowbrow stuff. I wouldn't know how to write a regular review. I would just mention things:

I've been meaning to point out how BBC America is running episodes of "Spaced" at 11pm at least twice a week. If people only know Simon Pegg from Shaun of the Dead, they are missing out.

I could mention that "Project Runway" is starting another cycle tomorrow, even though it seems like we just saw Chloe win Season 2.

We could talk about that new show on Showtime on "Brotherhood", which wasn't bad at all.

Someone could explain why I find the preposterous "Rock Star: Supernova" fascinating to watch, even though it's a train wreck. Dilana and Lukas Rossi were good, but everyone else was painful.

I could agree with all the articles about how "Rescue Me" seems like a show written by men for men, and that it crossed the line into misogyny way before the infamous "Tommy forces himself on his estranged wife" scene. I could then explain why I still watch the show despite its faults.

I could write about how I like "Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares" on BBC America, but can't stomach the other show on TV featuring Gordon Ramsay, "Hell's Kitchen" on Fox.

We could talk about the upcoming fall TV shows.

Or the Emmy nominations.

Maybe I will write more in depth about these later.

Siren Festival After-Party

2006-07-11T16:12:00.000-04:00

Saturday, 7/15
10pm
UNION HALL
702 Union St @ 5th Ave, Park Slope, Brooklyn
Free
DJ French Toast spinning with friends Torquil from Stars and members of Dirty on Purpose

Tintin

2006-07-11T14:43:00.000-04:00

PBS schedules tend to vary depending on your local affiliate station, but "P.O.V." is supposed to have a documentary tonight at 10pm about Tintin.

Why does the comic strip The Adventures of Tintin, about an intrepid boy reporter, continue to fascinate us decades after its publication? "Tintin and I" highlights the potent social and political underpinnings that give Tintin's world such depth, and delves into the mind of Hergé, Tintin's work-obsessed Belgian creator, to reveal the creation and development of Tintin.
http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2006/tintinandi/

Brooklyn: Show this Friday 7/14

2006-07-10T13:16:00.000-04:00

Has anyone missed Michigan J. Frog?

2006-07-07T13:27:00.000-04:00

The WB will end its life with a look back at some of its biggest hits, re-airing the pilots of several of its signature shows one last time before ending its 11-year existence.

The network, which along with UPN will be folded into The CW in the fall, will treat viewers to showings of the first episodes of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Dawson's Creek," "Felicity" and "Angel" on Sunday, Sept. 17, its final night on the air, Variety reports. The CW is scheduled to sign on the next night.

"How do you end a network? This will be an homage to our shows," WB Chairman Garth Ancier tells the trade paper.

WB affiliates cede five hours of airtime, from 5 to 10 p.m. ET, to the network on Sunday nights, so airing the four pilots ("Buffy's" first installment ran two hours) won't be a problem. The night will begin with the first episode of "Felicity," followed by "Angel" and the two-hour "Buffy" debut. The premiere of "Dawson's Creek," which had the longest run on The WB of any of the four shows -- six seasons -- will end things at 9 p.m.

("Buffy" ran for seven seasons, but the final two aired on UPN after The WB and 20th Century Fox, which produced the series, came to an impasse over the show's license fee.)

Shows like "Gilmore Girls" and "7th Heaven," which have also enjoyed long runs on The WB, won't be part of the look back since they're continuing on The CW in the fall.

The final night, which will also include a look back at the network's promotional history -- including the resurrection of long-time network mascot Michigan J. Frog -- was a little tricky to put together, since rights to most of the shows currently rest in the hands of other networks. Ancier tells Variety that The WB will air promos for the cable airings of the shows, along with spots hawking the DVD sets for each series to appease the studios that made them.
(Zap2It.com)

Tonight in NYC

2006-06-29T14:13:00.000-04:00

DeLUXE *..................... is back again this Thursday!

Join DR MAZ and very special guest DJ SOJU (Club Par Avion) for one fantastic night of indiepop, britpop, & french pop! Come get your DeLuxe birthday cupcakes!

This is a VERY SPECIAL ONE-YEAR BIRTHDAY of DeLuxe * - we are thrilled to have guest DJ SOJU from the global supercool CLUB PAR AVION gracing the decks! Club Par Avion is a dance craze of sensational and entirely seductive Global Indie Clubpop, Indiepop, Cutepop, 60's Twist and yé-yé! from Japan, Spain, France, Hong Kong, Mexico, Germany, China and Bollywood, conductive to dancefloor exuberance and flirtacious alcoholic consumption.
See for yourself - www.clubparavion.com

When
thursday! june 29th @ 9 pm
Where
lolita bar 266 broome st ( @ allen st)
lower east side, nyc
www.lolitabar.net
* FREE FREE FREE!*

be our friend @ www.myspace.com/deluxenyc

UPCOMING INDIE POP GOODNESS
MONDO - NYC's best indie dance party on Friday, JULY 7th!
More @ www.mondo-nyc.com!

There's a big vat of Jon Brion demos

2006-06-26T14:22:00.000-04:00

over at Jefitoblog if anyone's interested...and you should be...for Jon Brion is super awesome. Hope some Chicago people were able to check him out this past weekend at Intonation. Think about bookmarking Jefitoblog if you aren't already, because it's one of the most thorough and well-written music blogs around.

10 Off-Broadway Theatres To Close

2006-06-26T12:47:00.000-04:00

Off-Broadway theaters take their last bow
By Miriam Kreinin Souccar Published on June 05, 2006

Six months ago, David Elliott got the bad news. His landlord was selling the building where his playhouse, the Perry Street Theatre, had existed for 31 years.

Now, when the theater's upcoming show, Treason, closes on July 22, Mr. Elliott and his codirector, Martin Platt, will pack up their sets for good, as yet another off-Broadway theater goes dark.

"It's really sad because it's a wonderful theater," Mr. Elliott says. "But we're just one of many."

Over the next few months, six off-Broadway houses, including the Century Center for the Performing Arts and the Lamb's Theatre, are facing their final curtain call. They share the stage with at least four others which have already shut down and will soon be demolished.

But real estate isn't the only problem. Off-Broadway has been in a downward spiral for the last few years.

With rising costs and dwindling audiences, even the most successful productions are having trouble turning a profit. Shows are closing at record speed, and fewer new productions are in the works, leaving many stages empty.

The plight of the city's commercial off-Broadway theaters is all the more painful because their glitzier counterparts are thriving. Last week, Broadway announced the end of a record-breaking season, with grosses jumping 12% to $861.6 million.

"There's not enough product for all of the off-Broadway theaters," says Ben Sprecher, a producer and theater owner, whose Promenade Theatre on West 76th Street is expected to close next month, though Mr. Sprecher says he hasn't made up his mind. "This is as difficult a time as I've seen off-Broadway in 25 years."

Some theater executives say the closings, which follow an off-Broadway theater building boom, are part of a natural market shakeout. In the last few years, nearly 10 commercial stages have been built, mostly near the theater district in midtown.

But replacing the old neighborhood playhouses with new theater complexes has changed the face of off-Broadway. Many of the houses closing now are anchored in residential neighborhoods, where they have attracted visitors to the area.

Ephemeral charm

"The small theaters that have been the lifeblood of off-Broadway theater, we're losing the charm they bring to neighborhoods," says Scott Morfee, who runs the Barrow Street Theater in the West Village. "Once you lose something that is part of the fabric of the community, it's hard to get it back."

Of course, not all off-Broadway houses are at risk. The Orpheum has been booked for 11 years with the über-hit Stomp, and Slava's SnowShow has been at the Union Square Theatre for nearly two years.

Still, with real estate at a premium, developers are trying to dislodge theaters wherever they can. Daryl Roth, a producer with two theaters, has seen an increase in calls from tenants who want to take her spaces, especially her Daryl Roth Theater, housed in a landmark bank building on Union Square.

"Over the last few months, I've had inquiries from three restaurateurs and two retailers," Ms. Roth says. "But right now I'm holding on."

Many don't have that choice. David Fishelson, artistic director of the Manhattan Ensemble Theater in SoHo, spent the last year looking for another theater company to take over his lease for the 140-seat space, but couldn't find anyone able to pay the monthly $20,000 rent his landlord wanted. Instead, Mr. Fishelson is helping his landlord find a restaurant to take over the lease. "I have to destroy my beautiful theater," he says.

The script is similar at playhouses throughout the city. The Perry Street Theatre was always given a good deal on rent from its landlord, the Trace Foundation. Now, the foundation is rumored to be selling the three-story building to a family that wants to put up a single home in its place. The foundation didn't return calls for comment.

The Lamb's Theatre has been housed in a building on West 44th Street owned by the Church of the Nazarene since 1979. The church is selling the turn-of-the-century building to the Hampshire Hotels Group.

Up for sale?

Sources say the Century Center is being sold to a church, but the theater didn't return calls for comment.

As off-Broadway continues to decline, even the midtown theaters are struggling. At New World Stages, two of the five theaters are dark. The Little Shubert has been empty since a planned production slated for last January fell apart. And within the next couple of weeks, 37 Arts will have three empty stages

"I see a difference now versus four years ago with the number of shows that are circling the theaters," says Margaret Cotter, president of Liberty Theaters, which owns the Union Square, the Minetta Lane and others. "The theater used to dictate to shows, and now producers have more pull."

http://www.newyorkbusiness.com/page.cms?pageId=1375 via Galapgos

HB Dedications

2006-06-25T13:05:00.001-04:00

The 6ths - Aging Spinsters
Buy Wasps' Nests

Split Enz - Poor Boy
Buy the True Colours limited edition cd with bonus tracks here

"Aging Spinsters" is dedicated to me. Happy Freakin Birthday to me.

Today is also Tim Finn's birthday. Tim Finn was a member of Split Enz and Crowded House. More recently, he has performed as a solo artist and as The Finn Brothers with his brother, Neil. I had been planning on posting "Poor Boy" soon anyway. The Split Enz albums have been released in remastered, limited editions with bonus tracks. You can also just pick up a regular old copy of "True Colours" in your local record store probably. Karen, a few yeas ago, was very sweet and sent me a vinyl copy of "True Colours" in the mail. She also sent me recently some Muppets glasses from many years ago when McDonalds sold them as a promotion. Sometimes people are nice...although most of the time, as my mom said to me earlier today, people are not very nice.

The most popular track is "I Got You", but "Poor Boy" is a big favorite of mine. This past month, Split Enz reformed and began touring New Zealand and Australia with the original "True Colours" lineup of band members. I wish they would come over to the US. You can read more about all things Finn at www.frenz.com

Today in history - June 25
By The Associated Press

Today is Sunday, June 25, the 176th day of 2006. There are 189 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:
On June 25, 1906, in what was then called "The Crime of the Century," architect and socialite Stanford White was shot to death atop New York's Madison Square Garden, which he had designed, by millionaire Harry K. Thaw, the jealous husband of artist's model and chorus girl Evelyn Nesbit, who'd once had an affair with White. (Thaw, tried for murder, was acquitted by reason of insanity.)

On this date:

In 1788, the state of Virginia ratified the U.S. Constitution.

In 1876, Lt. Col. George A. Custer and his 7th Cavalry were wiped out by Sioux and Cheyenne Indians in the Battle of the Little Bighorn in Montana.

In 1942, some 1,000 British Royal Air Force bombers raided Bremen, Germany, during World War II.

In 1950, war broke out in Korea as forces from the communist North invaded the South.

In 1951, the first commercial color telecast took place as CBS transmitted a one-hour special from New York to four other cities.

In 1962, the Supreme Court ruled that the use of an unofficial, non-denominational prayer in New York State public schools was unconstitutional.

In 1967, the Beatles performed their new song, "All You Need Is Love," during a live international telecast.

In 1973, former White House Counsel John W. Dean began testifying before the Senate Watergate Committee.

In 1991, the western Yugoslav republics of Croatia and Slovenia declared their independence.

In 1995, Warren Burger, the 15th chief justice of the United States, died in Washington at age 87.

Ten years ago: A truck bomb killed 19 Americans and injured hundreds at a U.S. military housing complex in Saudi Arabia.

Five years ago: The United Nations opened its first global gathering on HIV/AIDS with emotional pleas for help from African leaders. Pope John Paul II, on a visit to Ukraine, offered a prayer for Holocaust victims at Babi Yar.

One year ago: Hardline Tehran Mayor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the winner of Iran's presidential runoff election. The NAACP selected retired Verizon executive Bruce S. Gordon to be its new president.

Today's Birthdays: Movie director Sidney Lumet is 82. Actress June Lockhart is 81. Rhythm-and-blues singer Eddie Floyd is 71. Actress Barbara Montgomery is 67. Basketball Hall of Famer Willis Reed is 64. Singer Carly Simon is 61. Rock musician Allen Lanier (Blue Oyster Cult) is 60. Rock musician Ian McDonald (Foreigner; King Crimson) is 60. Actor-comedian Jimmie Walker is 59. Actor-director Michael Lembeck is 58. TV personality Phyllis George is 57. Rock singer Tim Finn is 54. Rock musician David Paich (Toto) is 52. Rock singer George Michael is 43. Rapper-producer Richie Rich is 39. Rapper Candyman is 38. Musician Sean Kelly is 35. Rock musician Mike Kroeger (Nickelback) is 34. Rock musician Mario Calire is 32. Actress Linda Cardellini is 31.

Thought for Today: "No idea is so antiquated that it was not once modern. No idea is so modern that it will not some day be antiquated... To seize the flying thought before it escapes us is our only touch with reality." — Ellen Glasgow, American author (1874-1945).

Minty Fresh does it again

2006-06-23T11:56:00.000-04:00

Maybe you already heard the news, but this rules. From Minty Fresh's MySpace page:

Sheesh. You whisper into a few blogger's ears and suddenly it's all over the internet. Since the cat's already out of the bag, you might as well hear the news from us. We signed Suburban Kids With Biblical Names. Check them out here. And they will be up on our site very very soon.Whew! I'm glad that's finally out in the open.

NY: Free show on 6/30

2006-06-22T17:36:00.000-04:00

http://www.celebratebrooklyn.com/celebrate/2006_popups/tv.asp

Sparkle Motion presents

TV on the Radio

Matt Pond PA

Voxtrot

Friday, June 30th

Prospect Park Bandshell, Brooklyn

Some Pop

2006-06-22T17:00:00.001-04:00

Eux Autres - Other Girls

The 1900s - A Coming Age

I have about three minutes to write this, but basically both these bands are really good. Both these bands are playing tonight in NYC. Both of these bands have gotten some blog action, so I am not gonna write up a whole thing, sorry. I am about ready to fall over at this computer...and you know what? Nobody downloads the mp3s anyway. I don't mean that in a whiney way, more in a matter-of-fact kind of way. Oh, don't lie, you sooo don't download the mp3s up on this site. I can read the statcounter, hello? You should download these ones though, okay? Thank you kindly.

I meant to write about these gigs last week or whatever.

Eux Autres play Pianos tonight at 9:15pm. They've been on a mini-tour, so I probably should have mentioned it before so you could see them when they were in your town. Eux Autres are a really cute indie brother-sister group from Portland, Oregon. Sometimes they sing in French, and you can tell 60s French pop is a big influence as well. They have a fondness for the handclap, and so do I.

You can download Ecoutez Bien from their official site.

There's a fun, kicky number called "Salut Les Copains" that Hello, Gina put up a while back. I am not sure if the link still works or if ezarchive is just acting up.

There are some more mp3s on download.com.

Buy Hell is Eux Autres from CD Baby.

Be their friend on MySpace.

The 1900s play Arlene's Grocery tonight at 11pm. Actually, The 1900s have played the last two nights in NYC. I saw them on Tuesday at the Mercury Lounge, and they were fantastic. They are a seven-member group from Chicago. If you haven't heard them before, it's like 70s soft rock with a dash of indiepop and maybe some psych (maybe a lot of psych). Guitar, violin, organ, male and female vocals. The song I posted above, "A Coming Age", is a really smooth song for summer (whatever that means - yeah, I know I'm the one who said it). I have read some comparisons to Belle and Sebastian, but I think they are more like The Essex Green if you need a contemporary reference.

They have a new EP out on Parasol called Plume Delivery. Parasol has a song for download which is a bit more upbeat:

Bring The Good Boys Home

Here is their MySpace page.

Bill wrote about the gig on Tuesday, and I basically agree with him on everything except Jeanine's pants. If you go to his site and read his review, you'll see what I am talking about. She was wearing these high-waisted denim bell-bottoms that I found to be more 70s than Jordache or Calvin Klein (Nothing became Brooke Shields and her Calvins!), but I am certainly no fashionista. I don't remember Jordache having a big flare at the bottom, but maybe that was an 80s thing. I think he is spot on about everything else, including the doo doo's and the ba ba's in the songs. He writes in actual sentences as well. And he doesn't sound like a psycho. You know, as opposed to me. His write-up of Midlake should be read too. Yeah, we really did see Kyle Howard. Not only did I know his full name when I saw him, but I was able to recite his credits from his memory. Oh yeah, he had a guest spot on "Friends" and a small part in Orange County, and he was in that 90210 spoof "Grosse Point". I need help.

Ok, I am really, really tired, and can't write any more junk.

Your Corey dreams may have been answered

2006-06-22T10:46:00.000-04:00

Two Coreys Together Again

Call it a Dream a Little Dream come true for fans of 1980s teen cinema. Or connoisseurs of 21st century celebrity curios.

Corey Feldman and Corey Haim, who in their prime Tiger Beat years costarred in three movies together, are being reunited for a proposed comedy series, Daily Variety reported Wednesday.

Although Feldman and Haim are best known collectively as "The Two Coreys," their new TV venture simply would be called The Coreys.

The show doesn't yet have a network home. The Variety article seemed designed to drum up interest in such a home being found--it noted that producers, the same people behind ABC's Wife Swap and the WB's Survival of the Richest, will begin peddling The Coreys on Thursday.

Speaking to Variety, RDF USA executive Greg Goldman teased that Feldman and Haim possess a chemistry that "just pops off the screen."

The Coreys would find the Coreys playing fictionalized versions of themselves, presumably because it would be funnier and less sad that way. Feldman would play Corey Feldman, married father of one son; Haim would play Corey Haim, single man. While both play those roles in real life, too, the TV show would ratchet up the comedy in the situation by having Haim, as Variety put it, "[shake] life up for the Feldmans."

Feldman and Haim, both 34, last teamed up, per IMDb.com, for two recent episodes of the Cartoon Network series, Robot Chicken. They also both appeared in the cameo-laden 2003 David Spade film, Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star.

A feathered-hair generation ago, Feldman and Haim earned their "Two Coreys" title in The Lost Boys, License to Drive and Dream a Little Dream. Later, and to lesser acclaim, they costarred in Busted (directed by Feldman), Blown Away, National Lampoon's Last Resort and Dream a Little Dream 2. Not one of those films, all made in the 1990s, were released in theaters.

While both Feldman and Haim have struggled to recapture the careers they had in the 1980s, Haim has just plain struggled, with drugs, with finances, with eBay regulations (in 2001, the site pulled an auction by the actor in which he was selling off one of his molars).

Last March, London's Daily Star quoted a "close pal" of Haim as saying the former idol was "clean and sober and ready to put his life in perspective." As such, the paper said, Haim was planning to write a tell-all about an affair he had with U.K. tab magnet Victoria Beckham during her Posh Spice/Spice Girls phase.

Feldman, meanwhile, has dabbled in music, renounced childhood friend Michael Jackson, and amassed more than 100 IMDb.com TV and film credits, many of them recent. Often, he appears as himself (see: The Surreal Life); at least once, he appeared as Store Clerk (see: Serial Killing 4 Dummys).

NJ: Tris McCall at Maxwell's This Saturday

2006-06-19T14:16:00.000-04:00

Perhaps you have heard of Tris from his various bands: Kapow, My Teenage Stride, Overlord, The Consultants, Tris McCall and the New Jack Trippers, and probably 20 other bands I don't know about...In case you can't read this graphic, it's this Saturday at 10:30pm at Maxwell's in Hoboken, NJ. Free copies of his new cd for everybody. Tris has always been really generous with his recordings, I have to say. Go check him out.

www.trismccall.net

The Apple

2006-06-16T14:06:00.000-04:00

So one of my favorite movies, The Apple, is being shown tonight and tomorrow night at midnight at the Sunshine Cinema on Houston Street. It is one of the most hilariously awful spectacles ever. While this movie was released on DVD, I highly recommend checking it out on a big screen so you can see the fabulousness in all its glory. You can buy tickets here. I will be there tomorrow night, and you should join me.

However, if you don't live near NYC, definitely pick yourself up a copy of the DVD. The Apple was released in 1980. It was directed by Menahem Golan, who ran Cannon Films. It's a movie musical, and here are the things I could compare it to: Xanadu, Can't Stop the Music, Rocky Horror, "Solid Gold", Flash Gordon, Godspell, Hair, the production numbers in Stayin' Alive, Gary Glitter...It's a sci-fi, disco-rock biblical allegory about good and evil. The villians are terribly campy and covered in lots of glitter. The movie takes place in 1994, so everything is, you know, futuristic. I have posted some photos below, but Blogger is being a pain so I couldn't post this one poster that says "The Power of Rock...in 1994."

I don't think my writing can really describe the wonder of this movie. You should watch the trailer here. It's just brilliant. There is also a page on the MGM website with sound clips.

Entertainment Weekly wrote about the DVD release a while ago, and The Onion's AV Club had a review.

Apparently, there were some deleted scenes that were not included on the DVD, which is a bummer. The last picture I have posted is from a cut musical number between Mr. Boogalow and Mr. Topps.

I've listened to this song, like, 20 times today

2006-06-15T14:26:00.001-04:00

The Style Council - Shout to the Top
Buy here

NY: DJ Set from Sweden's Labrador Records

2006-06-15T10:39:00.000-04:00

Tell your friends and spread the word, cause we're back this Friday June 16th with a special guest DJ set by Sweden's Labrador Records! Labrador Records have been churning out the best in Indie Pop goodness since BEFORE the time of The Sounds & The Concretes. Their catalog of artists have been played on the Mondo dancefloor since its inception. But if you haven't had a chance to get to know them, we've uploaded some sample mp3's for your listening pleasure! Go to http://www.mondo-nyc.com/blog.html to have a listen. But what fun is dancing around to these tunes (or any other) alone in your bedroom when you can dance with us? Well then...See you on Friday!

M O N D O
Friday June 16th
Miss Modular * Kevington * Michael Grace, Jr * Dr Maz
Spinning Indie, Brit, Pop, Rock & Retro (Plus anything from Shoegazer to Twee)
12 PM - SPECIAL GUEST DJ SET FROM SWEDEN'S LABRADOR RECORDS!

@ Luke & Leroy
21 7th Avenue South (at Leroy St)
www.lukeandleroy.com

Free!
21 and over
10 pm to 4 am

By Subway:
A,C,E,B,D,F to West 4th St (at 6th Avenue)
1,9 to Houston Street (at 7th Avenue)

Tune: My Teenage Stride

2006-06-14T17:30:00.000-04:00

My Teenage Stride - Reversal of Red Bird
Demo from upcoming My Teenage Stride album

My Teenage Stride - It's Fair That You Should Follow Me
From Major Major (Becalmed)
Buy from Poppolar, Tonevendor, and Becalmed Records

My Teenage Stride - They Are Alone in Their Principles (video)
Via YouTube, directed by Dakkan Abbe

More songs available on MySpace

My Teenage Stride is Jedediah Smith, a talented, versatile and extremely prolific musician based in Brooklyn. I'll be honest that I first heard about him because he was going out with a friend of mine (still does if you must know, nosey parker). However, I believe he wouldn't have been able to keep my interest if the music wasn't good.

In the studio, Jed does everything. He writes and sings all the songs, plays all the instruments, arranges, mixes, and sews the costumes. Okay, I made the last one up. Live, he is accompanied by some very nice and highly skilled boys: Michael Hollitscher- bass guitar, Brett Whitmoyer- drums, Tris McCall- synth/piano/backing vocals, and Dakkan Abbe- guitar/backing vocals.

Major Major was definitely more 60s-influenced while his newer stuff seems more based in the 80s in my opinion. Not the new wave 80s, but like a C-80something kind of British indie 80s if that makes any sense. You can hear the difference between the two tracks I've selected. Jed could probably speak to this better than I could. What say you, Jed? I am really looking forward to the new album in the fall. The newer songs during the live set have sounded fantastic.

Here is a list of his musical influences from the MySpace page:

The Wedding Present, Phil Spector, Galaxie 500, The Pixies, John Cale, The Kinks, PF Sloan, The Chills, The Jesus & Mary Chain, New Order, Tall Dwarfs[sic], The Smiths, Guided By Voices, Syd Barrett, Joe Meek, The Who, Paul McCartney, Velvet Underground, Elvis Costello, tape compression, Jobriath, Echo & The Bunnymen, gin, The Misfits, Syd Barret, The Walker Brothers, ragtime, Bob Dylan, Carole King, Sam Cooke, Mick Ronson, The Breeders, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, T.Rex, Beach Boys, early Beatles, Nico, 14 Iced Bears, etcetera.

I love that he listed Jobriath!

My Teenage Stride has a gig this Friday:
Friday, June 16th
NorthSix
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Doors open at 8:00 pm and the show starts at 9:00 pm
$10

The Shondes
The Reverse
My Teenage Stride
Kapow

Buy tickets

Here is a review of Major Major from Chris Mac of indiepages.com:

Wow, I thought the first album was pretty good (although very inconsistently so), but this is just a hundred times better! The sound is a lot clearer, the songs are a lot more focused, and the overall feel is just a lot more positive. Like on the first album, the songs have a noticeable Phil Spector/60s-inspired quality to them, with hints of Jesus & Mary Chain and Dan Treacy added in. Thankfully missing are some of the garage rock and excessively noisy elements that I felt marred the first album, and in their place are just more pure and wonderful pop songs. Speaking of the first album, a couple of his earlier songs (a couple of his best ones, at that) appear on this disc, including "Penelope", which I felt was the highlight of that record. Well, on this album, it doesn't stand out as much, as there are many other songs of that caliber, including "Bleeding Saddles", "XO Freedom Rider", the Aislers Set-ish "It's Fair That You Should Follow Me" and "Carry On Cassidy", the b-side of his debut 7". I just have to say that any promises of greatness hinted at the first time around are fulfilled tenfold on this album! Highly recommended!

Here are two pictures from a show at Cake Shop. Used my Treo again for the pictures. They came out so-so. Not to be gross, but it kind of looks like I smeared vaseline over the tiny lens. More pictures to be found starting here.

Hit and Run

2006-05-23T17:55:00.000-04:00

From the Kaiser Chiefs official website:

RICKY WILSON : HIT & RUN ACCIDENT IN LEEDS

We felt we should post something here about an accident that happened on Sunday night in Leeds to quash any rumours.

Ricky was hit by a car whilst walking across a pedestrian crossing in Leeds town centre mid evening on Sunday. He's the luckiest man alive, because he is still alive, it sounds daft, but a 'Ricky trademark jump' has probably saved his life. The jump meant he was flipped over the top of the car, hitting the windscreen, rather than getting trapped under it. He was crossing on a green pedestrian light. Whether it was a joyrider, wreckless driving or drunk driving we still don't know. Police are investigating - we'd like to thank the witnesses that have come forward so far.

Ricky has escaped with minor injuries, a broken toe and bruising. He would like all of you to know he's ok, the band's next live dates on June 2nd, 3rd, 4th in Holland and Germany will go ahead as planned and he's on the road to recovery. Any press or media reading this - Ricky's unavailable for comment for legal reasons. Anyone wanting to help with information for the Police - please call Leeds Police Station on 0845 6060606 or 0113 241 3059. We appreciate your help, we're all relieved and very pleased we still have a singer and all the practise leaping off the ground proved useful when it really mattered.

photos from: 1, 2, 3, 4

Brooklyn, NY: Art Brut in-Store Tonight

2006-05-22T15:45:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the short notice. I am too tired to go and just saw Art Brut last week plus I have to get my "Everwood" fix while I still can. However, I imagine Art Brut would really tear it up in such an intimate space.

110 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY
(718) 388-8090
www.soundfixrecords.com

Hi everybody,
An unforgettable in-store tonight ... England's Art Brut, who rock out
about modern art and fantasize about drinking Hennessey with Morrissey
... free at Sound Fix at 8pm. Get here EARLY.
See you tonight,
your pals at Sound Fix

NY: Three weekendy things

2006-05-19T15:54:00.000-04:00

LIVE APPEARANCE
MARTY KROFFT
SATURDAY, MAY 20TH @ 11AM
VIRGIN MEGASTORE UNION SQUARE

In the 1970's, Saturday morning belonged to the goofy, trippy TV shows of brothers Sid & Marty Krofft.

Meet Marty Krofft, legendary producer of H.R. Pufnstuf, The Bugaloos, Land of the Lost, Lidsville, Sigmund and the Sea Monsters and more!

He will sign autographs and chat about the shows you grew up with. Coffee for moms and dads, Krofft coloring books for the kids and screenings of Krofft shows for everyone! Come and enjoy Saturday morning, 70's style!

Come on down, meet the legend and get your very own signed copy of The Bugaloos: The Complete Series on DVD!!

The Bugaloos photo courtesy of Evergreen Daze

The Museum of Modern Art is showing a documentary about Theda Bara, The Woman with the Hungry Eyes, tomorrow night at 8pm. There is also a showing on Monday at 6pm.

Hugh Munro Neely and Andi Hicks, creators of a popular documentary on Olive Thomas, Everybody’s Sweetheart (2005), present a fascinating new film on the life and career of cinema’s first and foremost vamp, Theda Bara. The Woman with the Hungry Eyes follows Bara’s life from her Jewish childhood in Cincinnati to her happy retirement in Hollywood. The film features clips from Bara’s surviving films, and images from those that have been lost. Bara (née Theodosia Goodman), whose screen name was an anagram for Arab Death, is perhaps the best early example of a film personality artificially fashioned to satisfy audience fantasies. Like Rudolph Valentino and Greta Garbo, Bara did not resemble her public persona; she lived a life relatively devoid of tragedy or angst.

The IFC Center is showing The Thing with Two Heads, the movie with Rosey Grier and Ray Milland, tonight and tomorrow night at 12:35am.

The good and the bad

2006-05-17T12:04:00.000-04:00

"Veronica Mars" has been renewed and will make the move to The CW.
"Everwood" has not been renewed for The CW.
Yes, my whole life is the TV.

Just wanted to point out

2006-05-17T10:31:00.000-04:00

So everybody (everybody in the blog world anyway) is saying how great The Mugs were on KEXP the other day...I just wanted to point out that the mp3 of "Daisy Cutter" on the KEXP blog is from the EP. The version I have below is from the full-length album, Paper Scissors Rock. It's more fleshed-out than the EP version. John of "John in the Morning" blogged that The Mugs reminded him of The English Beat or early Police. Probably a better comparison than the one I made. Chris in the comments below thought they sounded a bit like The Secret Machines. What do YOU think?

Tune: The Mugs

2006-05-12T18:13:00.000-04:00

The Mugs - Daisy Cutter
from the album, Paper Scissors Rock
buy here

I have had this mp3 uploaded for a long time, and just never got around to writing anything. It seems like I better write something about The Mugs now since they are playing the KEXP showcase live thingy this Monday. They are playing at The Delancey this Tuesday also in connection with KEXP. In addition, Brooklyn Vegan pointed out that The Mugs were named one of the "Seven NYC Bands You Need to Hear" by L Magazine. There's a whole feature here. It seems like a lot of blogs will be writing about this band very, very soon. Yeti Don't Dance wrote about them a long time ago. Actually, I'm quoted in that post, sort of.

I saw The Mugs play last August on Night One of "Hot August Nights" with Voxtrot and The Consultants. I knew nothing about them, but they were really, really good. I bought their cd with all the money I had left in my wallet.

"Daisy Cutter" is a great song. It really takes off around the 0:53 mark, I think. The singer has an interesting voice. The tune sticks in your head, and I think it would be a fun song to have on while you're driving in the car. Oh my goodness, it's been many years since I've driven a car. The Mugs keep getting compared to bands like The Smiths and R.E.M., but honestly I don't hear it. I can imagine this song getting airplay in the 70s or 80s, but I hear more of a Steely Dan sound. Well, maybe not Steely Dan, but something like that...I don't think they sound like a lot of the bands out there right now. Somebody make a better band reference, please. Say something that will encourage people to download the song.

They play around town a lot, and I already mentioned their gigs next week. They will be playing Chicago at the end of the month, so you should go see them (you know who you are):

5/24/06 @ Schubas
5/25/06 @ The Mutiny
5/27/06 @ Record Emporium

www.themugs.com
www.myspace.com/themugsnyc
www.themugstheband.blogspot.com

NYC: Mark McAdam CD Release Gig

2006-05-12T17:42:00.000-04:00

I forgot to post about this show tomorrow night, probably because I can't go. I already bought a ticket to see Danielson and Saturday Looks Good to Me. Actually, the Danielson set is to celebrate the release of their new cd too.

So anyway, Mark McAdam's cd, Cavalcade, is finally being released. I wrote about Mark and his cd a while ago here. Mark and his band, who are really great, will be performing tomorrow night at the Parkside Lounge (at Attorney and Houston). 9pm, I think?

He will also be performing on June 9th at the Mercury Lounge. He will be in Philadelphia on the 10th, and there will be more tour dates coming up.

You can watch the video that Mike Myers directed for "Always Almost" here.

I am going to repost the links to the mp3s I already have up:

Mark McAdam - Always Almost

Mark McAdam - Too Hard

Actually, the second mp3 is from Mark's previous album, Boy Wonder, which can be purchased here.

There are some more mp3s from the album on this groovy blog. Make sure to buy the album here.

Forget it

2006-05-11T09:51:00.000-04:00

I took the post down about that show tonight with The Concretes at Cake Shop. The Concretes had to cancel because the singer has food poisoning, I guess. The rest of the anniversary show is still happening though.

2006-05-09T16:29:00.000-04:00

If I go home tonight and the UPN affiliate is airing a game instead of the season finale of "Veronica Mars", I'm gonna punch someone.

Still there

2006-05-08T18:33:00.000-04:00

I just wanted to point out that most of the mp3s are still up on this site, even if they are a few months old and buried in the archives. The ones I posted in the very beginning are gone, so no more "My Definition of a Boombastic Jazz Style" for you. If you are new to the site, check these out - I am linking to entries, not the mp3s directly:

Ed Hall - Witchcraft
Fuzzbox - Love Is The Slug
Jon Brion - Walking Through Walls
Jon Brion - Here We Go
Trembling Blue Stars - With Every Story
Vitesse - When Nothing's Changed
The Breakaways - He Doesn't Love Me
Freedy Johnston - On the Way Out
The Bristols - You're a Moody Guy
Metric - Siamese Cities
Mark McAdam - Always Almost
Mark McAdam - Too Hard
Nat King Cole - Orange Colored Sky
Translator - Everywhere That I'm Not
The Metric Mile - Codebreaking
epo-555 - Harry Mambourg
epo-555 - Le Beat's on Fire
Kirsty MacColl - Can't Stop Killing You
The Metric Mile - In Praise of Ski Jumpers
Johnny Cash and Biff from Sesame Street - Five Feet High and Rising

Get them while you can. Hmm, looking at this list of songs I've posted, I need to mix it up a little bit or something in the future.

RIP Grant McLennan

2006-05-06T19:37:00.000-04:00

The Go-Betweens - Cattle and Cane
from the album, Before Hollywood
buy here

Perhaps this song is an obvious one to pick, but it's still probably the best choice.

http://www.go-betweens.net/

New York Noise this week

2006-05-03T18:55:00.000-04:00

This week's episode of New York Noise looks really good. Hope you caught last week's SXSW episode featuring Peggy from The Metric Mile as an on-air correspondent. You could actually see her face, as opposed to the camera phone photos I posted below.

This week’s episode of New York Noise is your one-off chance to catch some classic post-punk videos! Wait, theres more - Simon Reynolds (author of “rip it up and start again”) will be hosting and some nice kids will be getting postpunk haircuts at dr. mike’s barber shop.

Catch it on NYC TV Channel 25 (you don’t need cable) Tuesday (tonight) at 10, Friday at 9, and Sunday at 10 (Didn't post in time for last night's airing, but you can still catch it on Friday and Sunday plus they usually repeat the episode at 4am or 5am)

Talking heads- once in a lifetime
Orange juice- dada with juice
-
OMD- enola gay
Klaus nomi- simple man
-
A certain ratio- back to the start
ESG- youre no good
-
Josef k- sorry for laughing
Franz Ferdinand- walk away
Monochrome set- Jacobs ladder
-
Devo- girl u want
Raincoats- fairytale in the supermarket

New shows coming on TV Land

2006-05-03T18:51:00.000-04:00

I still think this idea Rollie and I had for "TV Land Cribs" would totally rule. Cameras would take you inside Abe Vigoda's apartment or Ted Lange's house...Okay, maybe I am the only one who would find that compelling.

TV Land Takes 'Pity' from Mr. T

Series will feature 'A-Team' star dispensing advice

Dr. Phil may be the current king of blunt, plainspoken advice, but he's about to get some competition from a man who not only brokes no jibba jabba, but also had his own cereal way before anyone had even heard of Philip McGraw.

Ladies and gentlemen, introducing TV Land's "I Pity the Fool."The six-episode series, scheduled to premiere in October, will feature Mr. T traveling the country and helping out people in need, "A-Team" style. Instead of building jerry-rigged armored vehicles to take out unscrupulous developers, though, Mr. T will be doling out advice on such matters as getting ahead at work and family issues.

"I Pity the Fool" is one of several original shows the classic-TV network announced at its upfront presentation Tuesday. TV Land has also picked up "Back to the Grind," in which TV stars perform the same job their characters did, without the help of writers and technical advisers, and "My First Time," which will feature actors discussing their big break.

"We're very excited to premiere new original programming with a boomer demographic in mind," says Sal Maniaci, head of original programming at TV Land and sister network Nick at Nite. "Our mission is to produce TV shows for the TV generation, and this slate certainly delivers."

TV Land has also ordered more episodes of the behind-the-scenes show "TV Land Confidential" and "Sit Down Comedy with David Steinberg." Several specials are on tap as well, including one called "Urban Myths and Legends." It will explore such questions as whether Mikey from the Life cereal ads really died from combining Pop Rocks and Coke (nope) and just who the subject of Carly Simon's "You're So Vain" might be. (zap2it.com)

Tune: Five Feet High and Rising

2006-04-28T19:46:00.000-04:00

Johnny Cash and Biff from Sesame Street - Five Feet High and Rising

I'll be honest with you. I don't know where you can get a copy of this song except off the Internet or if somebody still has their old Sesame Street albums. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong and you can still find it in print. There are other Johnny Cash songs he performed on Sesame Street that you can purchase like the one on this great box set Sherri and Gille got for me a few years ago.

"You're Johnny Flash!"

Perhaps you remember Biff's partner, Sully? Sully never spoke, but he was very smart. Here is a picture of Sully with Baby Natasha:

It's been like a whole week since I posted some Muppets, so I thought it was about time. More pop and rock coming soon.

Sesame Street photos taken from the very awesome Sesame Street Encyclopedia.

Following up again: Translator

2006-04-28T18:49:00.000-04:00

A little while ago, Steve Barton of Translator left another comment, mentioning that you can now purchase Translator songs on iTunes. Please go and buy music files. I meant to post about this a few weeks ago, so my apologies. If you are behind on this blog, Translator was mentioned here and here and here. That mp3 is coming down very shortly. Like this weekend. It's silly for me to write about how you can buy it at iTunes if I give you the song here. If any other cool bands want to write me, my address is on the sidebar.

Following up: gig photos

2006-04-28T18:44:00.000-04:00

I never posted any photos from this gig in March at Fat Baby. The Metric Mile and Polar Bear Parade played, and I stood in front of them with my little camera phone. These photos look like early new wave MTV videos or something. That's kind of why I'm mentioning the photos after all this time. Everybody tells me how cool the photos come out on the phone, but you have to be careful or people will be faceless (see below). Brett was also taking photos that night with a real camera, and it looks like he was at a completely different show.

I already posted one mp3 by The Metric Mile, but I'll give you another one even though many of you have already heard it. Heck, I'll give you the link to both:

In Praise of Ski Jumpers

Codebreaking

I don't have any mp3s by Polar Bear Parade, but I've already hyperlinked in this post to their website and myspace page. They have recordings on those pages. They are a fairly new band, and you should visit and say hello! If you were in a band that was starting out, you would want people to support you, wouldn't you?

Jeff and Peggy from The Metric Mile.

See what I mean? Peggy has a lovely face in real life, but the camera phone has rendered her faceless!

I feel like Patrick's rocking the Gary Numan tip here.

It's Gary Numan again or even Robert Wilson...look up Robert Wilson if you don't know who I'm talking about.

James and Marisha from Polar Bear Parade.

I think this is my favorite photo of the evening.

More photos of this gig and other things at my Flickr account, including some epo-555 photos I need to post here.

NY: This week with Rose Melberg and Andrea Vaughn

2006-04-24T23:00:00.000-04:00

Quick note:

The lovely and talented Andrea Vaughn, formerly of the band My Favorite, will be joining Rose Melberg this week. I know you are all probably gonna go see Rose Melberg, because you are big Softies fans.

Tuesday, April 25 at Cake Shop, NYC

Wednesday, April 26 at Magnetic Field, Brooklyn - Graham Smith is on this bill too

http://www.myspace.com/rosemelberg
http://www.lostdetective.com
http://www.cake-shop.com
http://www.magneticbrooklyn.com

Just because

2006-04-14T19:10:00.000-04:00

I was trying to explain Schmoo to someone recently. Someone younger. Meaning I am someone older, I think. I couldn't find a clear picture of when Schmoo would turn into different objects. Picture found originally here. Yes, I am aware that this post is the polar opposite emotionally from my last entry. That's kind of the point.

Tune: Kirsty MacColl

2006-04-14T17:50:00.000-04:00

Kirsty MacColl - Can't Stop Killing You
from the album, Titanic Days
buy here

I don't know. I had Slocker upload this song for me ages and ages ago. Normally, I would maybe write about Kirsty MacColl and how awesome she is or maybe write about the reason I originally wanted to post this song months ago. It was actually the first mp3 I had prepared for this stupid blog.

I kind of made a lame promise to myself when I started this thing that I wouldn't talk about anything very personal. I mean, I don't want to sound like some Michelle Branch song or something when I talk about how sick I am of giving my heart away to everything and everyone. Honestly though, I am just so fucking sick and tired of being thrown away. And most of all, I am incredibly nauseous with self-pity. Wait, fuck that, I am pissed off most by the fact that I had to look up how to spell nauseous because I am a damn idiot.

I won't be writing any more entries of this nature again, so calm down and don't go changing your rss feeds or anything. I don't even know what the hell I'm saying anyway. If you see me later on tonight, let's not talk about this post, ok?

NY: My Teenage Stride and Overlord 4/13

2006-04-06T17:53:00.000-04:00

Two bands that you should check out if excellent songwriting is your bag

Thursday, April 13th

9pm Overlord (ex. Blue Sparks)
10pm My Teenage Stride
2 other bands

$5
Cake Shop
152 Ludlow Street, NYC
www.cake-shop.com

www.overlordusa.com
www.myteenagestride.com
www.myspace.com/myteenagestride

NY: John Cameron Mitchell dj set at Mondo tomorrow night

2006-04-06T13:25:00.000-04:00

We're kicking off the Spring season with a highly anticipated guest DJ set by Actor/Director John Cameron Mitchell of the rock musical, Hedwig and The Angry Inch. JCM, has been involved in the NYC underground music scene since the early days of Squeezebox; we're proud to have him gracing our decks.

M O N D O
Friday April 7th
John Cameron Mitchell Guest DJ Set (12pm)
Miss Modular * Kevington * Michael Grace, Jr * Dr Maz
Spinning Indie, Brit, Pop, Rock & Retro (Plus anything from Shoegazer to Twee)

@ Luke & Leroy 21 7th Avenue South (at Leroy St)
www.lukeandleroy.com

Free! 21 and over
10 pm to 4 am

By Subway:A,C,E,B,D,F to West 4th St (at 6th Avenue)
1,9 to Houston Street (at 7th Avenue)

www.mondo-nyc.com

NY: Pipas tomorrow night

2006-03-31T12:48:00.000-05:00

From Lio, Crashin' In:

Saturday, April 1st

Crashin' In presents
The Best in New Live Music By:

12:00am Unlove (AceFu Records)
Kristina's voice has found a home in my heart with her beautiful/blissfulvoice. Bringing strong comparisons to the CocteauTwins and Lush, their sweet, yet rocking shoegaze sound is assured to gain them a huge following among the indie music scene. Be on the lookout for the release of their debut EP.

11:00pm Human Television (Gigantic Music)
Human Television are bringing back the lost ear of jangle/dream pop that was once found in the early 90's by indie legends Galaxie 500, The Pastels, and Orange Juice. Black Tambourine and both the Creations Records and Factory Records catalogs are influences that you can clearly hear as you listen to this sophomore LP. This LP has takes on a whole new sound, as their debut took on more of a friendly/catchy indie-pop sound that drew strong comparisons to The Wedding Present andTeenage Fanclub. The band has even gained a modern day psychedelic feel to their lyrical poetry. One that would fit along well with our beloved band, Secret Machines.

10:00pm BURNSIDE PROJECT (Bar/none Records)
Burnside Project make indie dance music that would of fit perfectly in Factory Records catalog. Citing New Order as a huge influence these indie kids know how to play songs to get kids dancing. Their new album is filled with catchy floor fillers that are assured to be hits for fans of The Postal Service, The Russian Futurists, New Order, and Hot Chip. Their previous single "CueThe Pulse To Begin" was last year's dance floor hit starring Mendoza Line singer/songwriter Shannon McArdle

9:00pm ELIOT LIPP (Hefty Records)
Eliot Lipp was cited by Urb Magazine as the "Artist to Watch in 06'".He rhymes along the lines of RJD2, Madlib, Prefuse 73, and mixes beats like Shadow DJ. His debut release(2004) came out out on Prefuse 73's Eastern Developments imprint. "Beats and instruments alike create an organic sound with a rhythm that grooves hips and shoulders with a hard bump.(Urb)"

8:00pm Pipas
One of our all time favorites from South London. This twee boy girl duo have so much charm that you'll fall over in love while swaying to their catchy songs.

*Surprise Guest TBA

with Dj Oil (Crashin' In / Kanine Records) and Dj Paulie (Crashin'In/Mute)
Sponsored by Tokion Magazine and Kanine Records

CakeShop, 152 Ludlow Street, NYC
Doors 7pm, $8.00
www.crashinin.com for more info

Following up again: Translator

2006-03-23T18:55:00.000-05:00

Steve Barton of Translator posted another comment after SXSW, and also responded to Jack's comment about the lack of availability on iTunes. As an aside, it's a bit weird to call you Jack, Mr. MacFadden. Anyway, I wish every band I wrote about would be as nice and attentive as Steve Barton. Here is one of my previous posts if you don't know what I'm talking about. Everybody should go bug Sony about Translator. Did anyone catch them at SXSW? Anybody want to take me to SXSW next year? I'm fairly portable.

The SXSW gigs were really great! The set list for our show at the Elysium club was: "When I Am With You", "Favorite Drug", "Everywhere", "Nothing Is Saving Me", "Necessary Spinning", "New Song", "Standing In Line", "Everywhere That I'm Not" and the encore song was "O Lazarus". Yeah - we got an encore! As far as iTunes goes, let Sony know that you'd like it available. We've been talking to them about getting it up on iTunes, but as you mentioned, only the one video is there.
Peace/Love,
steve barton (translator)

Tune: epo-555

2006-03-12T14:43:00.000-05:00

epo-555 - Harry Mambourg
from the new album, Mafia, on Crunchy Frog
Buy here

epo-555 - Le Beat's on Fire
from the album, Dexter Fox, on Crunchy Frog
Buy here

You can also download these two tracks from their myspace page, but I am hosting the songs since I find myspace downloads to be rather slow. You can also download the track "Il Presidente" on myspace.

Another track you can download is "Hyperschlieb" from the SXSW page. If you prefer lovely female vocals, this is the song for you.

You can stream additional songs and watch their beautiful music videos on the audio/video page of their website. The animation of "Le Beat's on Fire" is particularly lovely.

Ok, so here's the deal: one of my favorite bands, epo-555, is coming over from Denmark to play NYC and SXSW.

They play 2 shows in New York:
Sunday, March 12th (tonight!)
Mercury Lounge
$10, no advance tickets
10:30 TRICK & THE HEARTSTRINGS
9:30 FILM SCHOOL
8:30 EPO-555
7:30 BUTTERFLY EXPLOSION

Monday, March 13th
Mercury Lounge
$10, no advance tickets
10:30 EPO-555
9:30 GUILLEMOTS
8:30 CORINNE BAILEY RAE
7:30 THE GRATES

And one show in Austin, Texas at SXSW:
Thursday, March 16th
Pecan St. Ale House
8pm

Back in 2004, I was reading the blog Mystery and Misery where he was talking about this band that had a diy-New Order--ish feel to it. If I hadn't come across that blog entry, I may never have heard this unique band. If you like any of the tracks I have linked to, please check them out. They are even better live!

I have waited so long to post this entry (remember how I was whining about my work schedule a while ago) that I think it might be better to look to the wisdom of others (plus as I have complained before, I am not that comfortable writing descriptively about music):

"Maybe it’s the “adorable foreign band radar” talking, but this ensemble of kids from Denmark inspire one adjective: ADORABLE! SO happy to be playing music, EPO-555 have nearly perfected their formula of crystal-clean electronic pop music. " - Glass Animal Index

"The press release for Dexter Fox, the debut album, mentions bands like the Pixies, My Bloody Valentine, Velvet Underground and Calexico, but these aren’t obvious to my ears. The band has a distinctively clanging rhythm section, though, and wonderfully understated vocals (always something to be appreciated!). Their sound is big without being in your face, diverse without being self-indulgent. A good way to get a quick feel for epo-555 would be to play the three tracks “Dakota” (a driving song with both real drumming and electronic-style percussion), “Pioneers” (a sweetly melancholy indie-rock tune with a distinctive shimmery keyboard part) and “Sugar for the War Machine” (heavily atmospheric tune with a bit of acoustic guitar, gripping, multi-layered instrumentation and the female vocals of Camilla Florentz joining guitarist Mikkel Max Hansen, drummer Ebbe Frej and bassist Jakob Nielsen) in sequence. This nice little trio of tunes can’t help but make a great impression on a new listener. There’s something rather grand about epo-555; they sound like an important band for the new millennium, but in a way that’s hard to put your finger on. I certainly hear it in powerhouse songs like the amusingly titled “L’Art Pour la Fart,” which kicks considerable ass (I can just imagine the audience goin’ nuts when the band plays this one live), and the R.E.M.-meets-Yo La Tengo jangle of “Sophia,” a tune that’s right as So. Central rain. Better than half the American bands mining similar territory, epo-555 are the real deal, a top-notch outfit that deserves to be popular overseas. Call the Crunchy Frog people, someone, and get these kids a U.S. distribution deal." - Playbackstl.com

"A delicate balance between intricate pop sensibility and the occasional sweeping distortion-fuelled outlets distinguishes the music of epo-555. Easy-going and playful melodies team up with more sombre and dark atmospheres in several of the songs, and epo-555 are quite conscious about this duality."I think the harmony in our music comes from the foundation. The outlines that Mikkel makes are, with all due respect, kind of pop-oriented and sing-able. The noisy elements are something that we in unison probably need to add to the nice piece of pop music in order to give it a certain edge", Ebbe explains." - Roskilde Festival

"Although their occasional mangled guitar whirls will draw inevitable comparisons with My Bloody Valentine, it would be unfair to confine EPO-555 to the current Shoegazer-revival trend. Their music is far too rich, varied and personal for that, mixing noisy-pop, twanging guitars, old-school electronics and the mellow voices of Camilla Florentz and Mikkel Max Hansen to an arresting effect." - Rockmondo.com

Mikkel and Jacob with the beloved epo-555 giraffe. Jacob used to play bass for the band. This photo was taken by Misscaro. Please check out her Flickrstream. She is a wonderful photographer. This photo is used with the permission of Misscaro and Creative Commons. I've never referenced a Creative Commons photo before, so I hope I am doing it right.

You can find some more press photos of the band here. Did you look? Aren't Camilla, Hans, Mikkel and Ebbe pretty?

Boston: Good show on Monday night!

2006-03-10T12:06:00.000-05:00

Hello to my people in Massachusetts. Hot Chip rule, so go check them out. Gonna see them again here in NYC tomorrow night. Big Digits are also on the bill, and they are a lot of fun! - HK

In what might be the greatest assemblage of talent this side of the the Canadian WBC team, Hot Chip, Big Digits, the Blanks, and David Day take aim at Boston's danceability this coming monday night at Great Scott. The show was organized by the Fenway Recordings people and centers around the aforementioned Hot Chip who are new additions to the DFA roster of awesomeness.

Here's all the necessary info. hope to see you there!

Monday, March 13th, 2006
Fenway Recordings presents:
Hot Chip
with
Big Digits
the Blanks
and DJ David Day
at Great Scott, Allston, MA
18+
$8
doors at 9pm

Following up: Translator

2006-03-07T12:47:00.000-05:00

Steve Barton of Translator posted in the comments of my Translator post:

Hi,
Steve Barton from Translator here! Yes, we are playing SXSW. Our show is on Thursday March 16th at The Elysium, 11pm slot. Also on the bill are The Alarm and The Like. Should be really good. We will also be at the Pop Culture Press party on Saturday afternoon March 18th at the Dog & Duck Pub in Austin, 1pm slot.

If anyone would like to check out more of our songs, try looking for the Sony/Legacy CD "Everywhere That We Were" on eBay. It's a very good overview. Also, we will have a CD available at SXSW with all previously unreleased live cuts, demos and studio outtakes.
Over and out,
steve

How cool is that? He didn't even tell me to take the mp3 down! So if you are going to SXSW, make sure to go hear Translator play, ok?

2006-03-07T11:57:00.000-05:00

Tune: The Metric Mile

2006-03-04T18:59:00.000-05:00

The Metric Mile - Codebreaking

Monday, March 6
Fat Baby
112 Rivington (between Ludlow and Essex)
$7
8: Big City Dreams
9: Time and Distance
10: The Metric Mile
11: Polar Bear Parade

Go see The Metric Mile play on Monday night at Fat Baby! If you have read this blog for a while, you may recall my writing (with photos too) about a little road trip with the boys of The Metric Mile, Jeff C. and Patrick S., to Northampton this past fall. Well, now two of the nicest and cutest guys I know have been joined by one of my foxiest and sweetest friends, Peggy Wang! I can't wait to check out the new version of The Metric Mile...now fortified with Peggy Wang East goodness.

Please be sure to download the mp3 I've posted. I think it's fantastic. Each time I see them play, I comment to the person next to me how it's a shame that Sarah Records is no longer around to put out their album. I'm not the only one who thinks this. Atmospheric, poppy and very dreamy. Be their friend on MySpace.

I've been meaning to post about this upcoming gig all week. I was actually very flattered that Jeff shared this mp3 with me, because he is quite the perfectionist and is usually reluctant to give out demos. I feel terrible that it has taken me so long to get this post up, but I've been working 60 - 70 hours a week and there has just been no time for blogging. In fact, I'm at the office right now. On the bright side, at least I haven't been working 80 hours a week. I did start writing this post yesterday, but then the computer crashed. What does it mean when your screen freezes into a patchwork design? Could I have more excuses? I'm just a horrible person, okay? You may also notice that this track says "Demos from Scott's". I've been meaning to post about the band that Scott is in for months. He has written me two very nice e-mails about his band, and I swear I'm still going to post about them.

Polar Bear Parade, also on the bill on Monday, are a new band from Marisha, formerly of The Consultants, and James, formerly of England (the country, not a band called England). They played about two weeks ago, and I meant to post about that gig also. This blog is becoming more about what I don't write than what I do actually write. I am looking forward to hearing them perform! Oh crap crap crap, I just remembered as I was typing this that I was supposed to send James some information he needed. James, if you are reading this, I promise I will e-mail you. I am just never gonna get it together, am I? My head hurts now.

Tune: Translator

2006-02-17T14:30:00.000-05:00

Translator - Everywhere That I'm Not

So a long while ago, I mentioned this song in some free association post, talking about how the video was on VH-1 Classic and the song ruled, blah blah blah. I've gotten a few hits on this entry from people looking for the mp3, so here it is!

Translator are playing SXSW. I think that's wild. Here's the little write-up:
Best known for the hit single "Everywhere That I'm Not", Translator signed to 415/Columbia Records and released four albums, four videos and toured extensively. This SXSW reunion show features all four original members. In November 2005 they reunited in San Francisco for a wildly successful show.

If you want to know more about Translator, go here. The only Translator album I could find for sale on Amazon was an import. I looked on Barnes and Noble too. To be honest, I wouldn't recognize another one of their songs if it came up and bought me a ginger ale. I would suggest buying something like New Wave Hits: Just Can't Get Enough, Vol. 4 or this comp that I bought for about a dollar, Into the Anxious 80s. It includes tracks by Let's Active and Rockpile as well.

Brooklyn: Eiffel Tower and The Isles

2006-02-15T19:03:00.000-05:00

Sparkle Motion presents

THE ISLES
"...This Brooklyn quartet represents four pages pulled from the Morrissey/Marr handbook, but with some perverse twists. The most radio-friendly of the lot boasts a title guaranteed to bar it from the airwaves ("Fuck"), while reverb-soaked, bottom-of-the-bottle anthem "Pills from Mexico" proves an unabashedly hetero answer to 'William, It Was really Nothing' 20 years down the line." - Magnet

EIFFEL TOWER
Parts Grandaddy and Quasi, Brooklyn's Eiffel Tower are led by Ben Wheelock and his dry delivery of heartfelt melodies. Recently having played with OK GO, the Rosebuds, and Matt Pond PA, this dynamic quintet are rallying fans with their upbeat synth/piano driven pop. They've recently signed to the new internet label, Zero One Infinity, and their Smallish Things album comes out on March 17, 2006.

Sunday, February 19th
7:30pm, show at 8:00pm
Magnetic Field
97 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, NY

Tune: Nat King Cole

2006-02-13T18:40:00.000-05:00

Nat King Cole - Orange Colored Sky
Buy the compilation Big Band Cole

So I wasn't going to have a Valentine's Day post. Then I remembered that Slocker is still hosting some songs for me, including this Nat King Cole tune. It's a great song about love. When you first fall in love and everything is spectacular...you know, before the crying starts. Oh wait, that could just be my life. Oh ha ha just kidding certainly not serious everything is coming up roses over here hip hip hooray lollipops warm woolen mittens.

I actually had wanted to post this a while ago for a completely different reason. I have been thinking about my grandfather recently, and first heard this song many, many years ago on the radio when I was staying at his apartment. I have always loved this genre of music and could eat it with a big round spoon. I could post about it everyday, so I better start getting some feedback on this blog or next I am going to whip out some klezmer. Anyway, I kept trying to figure out the name of the song. Eventually, I think I asked my parents what the name of that Nat King Cole song was where love came and hit him in the eye, because I kept looking for a song called "Love Came and Hit Me in the Eye", and there is no song called "Love Came and Hit Me in the Eye". When I listen to the song now, I figure I must have been a real dummy when I first heard the song, because he says the phrase "orange colored sky" about twelve times.

Slocker has been great about hosting tunes for me. Mike F., aka SF pop guy (as I like to think of him), has also very generously given me space. They rock, as they both have put up with tons of nonsense from me. Thanks, guys.

I have been waiting forever for snow

2006-02-13T12:31:00.000-05:00

So I could post this picture. Yeah, I know it's an exciting life I lead. I think the last time it snowed was Thanksgiving? Maybe it didn't even snow in New York that weekend. It snowed in Massachusetts where my parents live. My friend Joe, who lives about 20 minutes from my parents, didn't seem to have snow on his lawn though. I can't believe it's finally winter. A week or two ago, I passed a Mister Softee truck, but today people are digging out their cars.

I don't remember this snowman's name. Krista and I found him at the Eckerd's on Atlantic Avenue a few days after Christmas. The drugstore also had a Larry the Cable Guy box of chocolates for Valentine's Day, but I will spare you a picture. I think I will name this snowman...DJ Ice? DJ Flake? Shlomo?

Dave Chappelle this Sunday on Inside the Actors Studio

2006-02-09T20:26:00.000-05:00

To James Lipton regarding the thought process to writing Half Baked:

"I can't remember...I was high man. I was high."

Full press release from Bravo here.

Sorry, I don't mean to be lazy, but I am lazy.

Tune: Mark McAdam

2006-02-09T19:48:00.000-05:00

Mark McAdam - Always Almost
from the upcoming album Cavalcade on March Records

Mark McAdam - Too Hard
from Boy Wonder (2003) - buy here

Go see Mark McAdam
Saturday, February 11th
9pm
Parkside Lounge
317 East Houston Street
http://www.parksidelounge.com
FREE!!!

Things you should know about Mark:

His website is here.

His myspace page is here.

His new album, Cavalcade, will be released by March Records on March 17th.

The video for the first single, "Always Almost", was directed by Mike Myers.

His music is smooth and lovely. I am not great with the comparisons, but how about Jon Brion and Michael Penn for starters? The press release says, "tiny bit of twang and lush melodies and arrangements." Who doesn't like that?

I saw Mark perform at the Parkside Lounge a couple of months ago. He had a really nice backing band. He sounded fantastic plus he is a very funny fellow.

Mark worked on the music for God Grew Tired of Us, the documentary about the Lost Boys of Sudan, which won both the Audience Award and Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival this year. I am very anxious to see this film actually. "Frontline" also showed a documentary about the Lost Boys of Sudan a while back. It was extremely interesting, and I have heard that this new documentary is even better than the "Frontline" piece.

His song, "Too Hard", was featured earlier this season on "Grey's Anatomy".

"Too Hard" can be found on Mark's first solo album, available for purchase here. Dermot Mulroney played on that album...if the Mike Myers mention wasn't enough for your "gawker" sensibilities.

Mark was previously in a band called Sumack.

Mark is also a member of the Citizens Band.

NY: Saint Etienne Films Screening

2006-02-03T10:07:00.000-05:00

SAINT ETIENNE FILMS SCREENING IN NYC

Finisterre + What Have You Done Today, Mervyn Day?
(two films made by Saint Etienne and Birdie's Paul Kelly)

Sunday, February 12th, 7pm
Galapagos Art Space
70 N. 6th Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
http://www.galapagosartspace.com

SAINT ETIENNE TOUR DATES IN USA
13 th Feb New York - Irving Plaza - support Mosquitos
15th Feb Chicago - Metro - support Venus Hum
17th Feb San Francisco - Fillmore - support Every Move A Picture
18th Feb Los Angeles - Avalon- support Silver Sunshine

Thanks for the heads up, Bill.

The Organ - Memorize The City

2006-02-02T18:30:00.000-05:00

I meant to post this a while ago. Is that not the most commonly used phrase on this blog? I'm slowly cleaning out my inbox. Back in September, Cliptip featured this video by The Organ. I've mentioned the band on here before. I like them a lot. I was thinking they would play New York in March before they go to SXSW, but I haven't seen any new dates except some in Europe. Here's the link again for the video since I sorta buried it. Real Player only, sorry.

"Sometimes I close my eyes and you're not very pretty."

Book club

2006-02-02T17:49:00.000-05:00

So a few of us are starting a book club. I think my very first post on this blog was about a book, two books actually, and how I am unable to read anything because I have the attention span of a piece of lint. Anyway, you have any book suggestions? We already have the first two books set, but I was wondering if anyone had something nice to recommend. (photo courtesy of www.toughpigs.com)

Following up on my previous post about The Brunettes

2006-02-02T17:37:00.000-05:00

So when I wrote last time about The Brunettes opening on the Clap Your Hands Say Yeah tour, I said I hoped The Brunettes would play their own gig in New York. Well, Milly, who manages the band, very kindly wrote and told me they would be playing their own set at the Mercury Lounge on April 19th. It's gonna be great.

Tabloid

2006-02-02T17:28:00.000-05:00

I'm sure everybody reads E! Online, but:

"Full House" Star Admits Meth Problem
by Sarah Hall

Former Full House cutie Jodie Sweetin has earned herself a spot on the lengthy list of child stars gone wrong.

During an appearance on Good Morning America Wednesday, Sweetin, who played middle sister Stephanie Tanner on the hit sitcom, revealed that she is a recovering meth addict and once battled a daily drug habit.

The ex-actress, 24, said she had trouble figuring out how to adjust to a regular childhood existence after Full House ended its run in 1995.

"There is a certain sense of loss when a series ends," Sweetin said. "It is kind of hard to figure out who you are when you've lost your job at age 13, when that was basically how you identified yourself."

In an attempt to lead a "normal" kid's life, Sweetin attended high school and college, graduating with a degree in liberal arts. In 2002, she married a Los Angeles police officer.

Though she occasionally appeared in bit parts on TV series, including Party of Five and Yes, Dear, Sweetin's acting career essentially stalled after Full House.Two years ago, bored and unemployed, the former child star began experimenting with drugs as a way to pass the time.

She was soon addicted to methamphetamine and using the debilitating drug every day.

Though Sweetin stops short of blaming her addiction on her child star lifestyle, she concedes that her career may have stripped her of some of the benefits of a typical childhood.

"Growing up in the business you have to grow up very fast--you do have a different type of childhood, that has its benefits and it has its drawbacks," Sweetin said Wednesday.

After a particularly bad three-day bender, which reportedly resulted in an intervention staged by her former Full House costars, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, John Stamos and Bob Saget, Sweetin checked herself into Promises rehab facility for six weeks of intensive therapy.

Clean and sober since March of last year, Sweetin now admits she was "living a total double life."
"I was married to a police officer--we are going through a divorce right now--he had no idea," she said.

Since kicking her addiction, Sweetin says she now hopes to get back into acting.

"I want to make movies, TV series, wherever the career takes me," she said. "I really hope this isn't the last people hear of me. In fact, I would like to make this a footnote in my career, not the end."

Moira Shearer RIP

2006-02-02T13:17:00.000-05:00

Moira Shearer, Ballerina in 'The Red Shoes,' Dies at 80
By Anna Kisselgoff, New York Times

Moira Shearer, a luminous star in the galaxy of British ballerinas who brought the Royal Ballet to international attention and whose dramatic portrayal as the doomed heroine of the 1948 film "The Red Shoes" was searingly impressed on generations of moviegoers, died in Oxford, England, on Tuesday. She was 80.

Her death was announced by her husband, the writer and broadcaster Ludovic Kennedy. He said Ms. Shearer had been weak since her birthday last month and died in John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, The Associated Press reported.

"The Red Shoes," often called the most popular film about ballet, threatened to overshadow Ms. Shearer's reputation as a classical dancer. A Scottish beauty with flaming red hair, she created a sensation with her performance as a London debutante who aspires to be a ballerina but is driven to suicide by leaping in front of a train in Monte Carlo.

As Ms. Shearer said in later years, "The Red Shoes" was very different from the world of ballet that she knew. The image created by the film's directors, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, was of a Russian émigré ballet troupe filled with clashing temperaments. Dominated by a tyrannical impresario inspired in part by Serge Diaghilev, the troupe's backstage life had the ring of overwrought truth. But unlike the film's heroine, Victoria Page, Ms. Shearer did not face a seemingly impossible choice between a career and a marriage. During her dancing career, she acted in films and on the stage. In later years, she wrote two books, including "Balletmaster: A Dancer's View of George Balanchine" (1986), and wrote a column for The Daily Telegraph.

She also had four children, who, with her husband, survive her. They include a son, Alastair, and three daughters, Ailsa, Rachel and Fiona.

The recently established British ballet groups that Ms. Shearer joined in the 1940's were identified with hard work and struggle, devoid of the surface glamour of the émigré companies that succeeded Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. After dancing with Mona Inglesby's Ballet International in 1941, Ms. Shearer joined Sadler's Wells Ballet, which changed its name to the Royal Ballet in 1956. Rising from the ranks to ballerina from 1942 to 1952, Ms. Shearer was identified both with leading roles in the 19th-century classics and works created by the great British choreographer Frederick Ashton. She danced the title role in the premiere of his "Cinderella" in 1948 and along with Margot Fonteyn and Pamela May, led his seminal neoclassical ballet "Symphonic Variations" in 1946.

Ms. Shearer, however, was never considered the reigning ballerina in Sadler's Wells. That position was clearly held by Ms. Fonteyn, who was promoted from the start by Ninette de Valois, the company's founder. At least two generations of stellar dancers, including Ms. May, Ms. Shearer, Beryl Grey, Violetta Elvin and Nadia Nerina all shared roles with Ms. Fonteyn but not her status in the company.

Born Moira Shearer King on Jan. 17, 1926, in Dumferline, Scotland, she trained with the Russian teacher Nicholas Legat and at the Sadler's Wells School. Ashton brought her to the public's attention with a major role as Pride in his ballet "The Quest" in 1943. She was reluctant to appear in "The Red Shoes" but did so at de Valois's prodding. When the Sadler's Wells Ballet made its sensational United States debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in September 1949, ticket buyers knew Ms. Shearer from "The Red Shoes" and thought she would be seen in "The Sleeping Beauty" on opening night. De Valois, however, cast her in the fourth act in the "Bluebird" pas de deux.

Shortly afterward (1950) she appeared in a film version of "The Tales of Hoffmann," making several other films later with and without dancing. She also appeared as a guest artist with Sadler's Wells and with Roland Petit's company. In 1954, she toured the United States as Titania in the Old Vic stage production of "A Midsummer's Night's Dream." Among her other films were "Peeping Tom," "The Man Who Loved Redheads," "The Story of Three Loves" and "Black Tights."

Multitalented, she was seen by John Martin of The New York Times in Ashton's "Wedding Bouquet" in 1949 as exhibiting "her roguish gift for comedy in a brilliant performance."

Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist on DVD

2006-02-01T17:34:00.000-05:00

Meant to post this a while ago:

Season One is finally coming to DVD!

Photos courtesy of:
http://www.sassman.com/katz/index.html
http://www.thebluesite.com/archives/000130.html

This past July (I think), Molly and I went to this event at Happy Ending that was billed as a reading of "Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist". Here is what I wrote after going to the event:

so this wasn't really a reading of dr. katz. i don't know why they promoted it that way. jon benjamin and todd barry came out and did a little schtick about reading letters. then jonathan katz came out and did some reading from a laptop. a lot of it was stand-up material. then he showed a few clips from dr. katz as well as this pilot he created, based on his own life, with marcia gay harden and david paymer plus a clip from an animated show from the producers of dr. katz where jon benjamin voiced a talent agent. i think it was called "getting harry's business" or something like that. it looked hilarious, and i wish that had become a series. jon benjamin joined jonathan katz onstage for a few minutes only. did you know that jonathan katz has ms? i did not know this. he came out in one of those wheelchair/scooter things, and walked around with a cane. well, he kept calling it a scooter. he did a few jokes about his having ms actually. someone in the audience asked about the show coming out on dvd, but it doesn't sound like there are any plans yet. he said he would like it to come out on dvd, but he didn't mention anything concrete. bummer.

I have to get a new computer

2006-02-01T16:55:00.000-05:00

Should I get a mac or pc? What do you think? I could go either way at this point. I'm gonna get some comments on this blog if it kills me.

(Rollie, you're not allowed to answer this, because I know your answer already)

Random

2006-02-01T14:40:00.000-05:00

I'm cranky.

Someone explain the appeal of Rachael Ray to me, please. She seems retarded (or maybe she was dropped on her head), but she has, like, ten shows on tv right now. I don't get it.

So you all have seen the "Lazy Sunday" video from "Saturday Night Live", right? You know, "The Chronic..les of Narnia"? I'm not even going to post the link, because it's been posted everywhere. I bring this up because I've seen Andy Samberg on Letterman and Conan lately, but where is the Chris Parnell love? I didn't realize Andy Samberg was part of the group that came up with "The 'Bu" on Channel 101. I can't even watch SNL anymore. It's just awful. I tried to watch some of the Peter Sarsgaard episode, because I think he is an interesting actor but the writing is horrendous. Not that SNL hasn't had its ups and downs before. I just like to bring up that SNL video, because they talk about Magnolia Bakery and it reminds me of the time Slocker and I went out of our way to get cupcakes when we were coming back from dinner somewhere. They were out of vanilla cupcakes though, so we bought a big slice of cake instead. We wound up sitting in the dark in a little unlit park near the bakery, eating the cake out of the box. Yummy.

So remember when I asked if anyone could play that Josh Rouse video and tell me what it looks like? I gave the link and everything. Someone linked to it in the forum section of www.joshrouse.com, which is great and all, but how come one person out of the 400 people hitting that entry couldn't help me out and tell me about the video? I was serious about not being able to play it on my computer. Am I too needy? I am, aren't I? Tell me if I am too needy. I need to know.

Speaking of linking to me, out of all the things I ever expected anyone to mention from this blog, this is probably the last thing I would have thought of. My opinion of the Snapple Berry Mix and Mingle has been quoted! Mazel tov to me! I have many opinions on other beverages and even snack food if anyone is interested. I really don't want to put a smiley or winking face on my blog, but the symbol really fills a need, you know?

I am sure every blogger and their mother is going to mention that there is a new mp3 from Voxtrot up at http://www.voxtrot.net/.

There are actually 317.4 other things I wanted to mention, but I've been so busy lately that I haven't had time to post properly about events and new purchases and stuff.

Hot Chip Video/Subterranean Rant

2006-02-01T12:26:00.000-05:00

Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! New Hot Chip "Over and Over" video:
Real Player (high)
Real Player (low)
Windows Media (high)
Windows Media (low)

How fun are they? They are coming back to the States in March, including a New York date at the Bowery Ballroom. Listen to them live. This video fits the band much better than the video for "Playboy", which I saw on "Subterranean" on MTV2 recently. I was a little surprised that Astralwerks would pick that to be the first single in the US. If that had been my first exposure to Hot Chip, I probably wouldn't have paid attention.

Speaking of "Subterranean", while I appreciate that MTV2 bothers to show an hour of non-Top 40 music or even bothers to show music videos period, "Subterranean" is really lacking. Let me state again that I do appreciate MTV2 even having such a show, and hope they keep running it each week. Hey, they've shown Metric's "Monster Hospital" twice. Let me also say that I know nothing will be like "120 Minutes". However, here is my lame rant...

1. The videos aren't labeled properly half of the time. Is it that hard to program an hour of videos? Maybe it is, I don't know. It drives me crazy. Jim Shearer will announce that they have a video for Wolf Parade coming up next, for instance, but then they show a video for some other band like Of Montreal. And when they are labeled properly, it doesn't matter because they now have the video titles in the middle of the screen as big horizontal lines. Yeah thanks, I really didn't want to see the beginning or end of that video anyway.

2. Jim Shearer is freaking boring, and those interviews that they shoot in the basement (it's subterranean, get it?) are terrible. I am sure Shearer is a nice fellow and perhaps very exciting in real life, but why does he get to host so many shows on MTV/MTV2?

3. It's not even really an hour of videos. I don't mean the commercials either. I am talking about the stupid little cartoons and interstitial programming that clogs up the show. I don't know if MTV is trying to be edgy or something, but it's just clutter.

4. It's on at midnight on a Sunday night...when they feel like it.

Look at these notes from Altmusictv.com where they log the playlist from the show each week:

"MTV2 screwed up and aired the first segment with Jim from last week. However, the rest of the show was new."

"This show aired Saturday night (early Sunday morning) at 4 AM ET. For what it's worth, we don't know why."

"This show aired at 5 AM on Sunday night, or Monday morning to be more accurate. I don't know what the hell MTV2 was thinking, but they should apologize to Sons and Daughters, as well as their fans, for screwing them over like this."

"For those of you who missed it: this episode aired at 2 AM ET."

"No logos or video titles appeared for the first half of the show, but it was fairly easy to track down the song titles for the playlist."

"This was the second episode after MTV2's relaunch, and the crazy video titles in the middle of the screen are certainly not going away. Almost everything else is tolerable, except the dog logo and random other clips between videos can get annoying."

"Many changes this week, including a new theme for Subterranean and a relaunch for MTV2. New video titles and messages appearing during the middle of videos can be annoying. There were some random clips shown between videos. The show signed off with about 15 or 20 minutes to go, like the old 120 Minutes on MTV2. Everything about the new MTV2 seems random and unpredictable, which can make the show harder to follow."

"MTV2 ran out of time at the end, so they didn't play the #1 video. What a way to end the year!"

Obviously, I'm not getting anything done at work today.

In time for Valentine's Day

2006-02-01T11:28:00.000-05:00

Minty linked to these on Myspace. "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" Valentines! These rule!

Also see Law and Order: Artistic Intent, The Norton Anthology: Artwork Inspired by Edward Norton, Letters to Walken and Chuck Norris: Rave for America. I had seen the Artistic Intent one before, but the rest are new to me.

Vote for a new Epo-555 track

2006-01-27T18:04:00.000-05:00

Go here and select the new Epo-555 track, "Harry Mambourg" from their upcoming album, Mafia (Crunchy Frog). It's really, really, really good. Make sure to listen all the way to the end. It just gets better and better. Listen to the track here. I can't wait to hear this new album. One of my favorite bands. Can you tell? I will be writing more about them in the coming weeks. The illustration above is from their last album, Dexter Fox.

NY: Bro'in Out with Paul Rudd at UCB

2006-01-27T12:07:00.000-05:00

BRO'IN OUT WITH LEO & TONY
with Special Guest PAUL RUDD!

Somewhere between "The Dick Cavett Show" and "After Dark with Hugh Hefner" lies "Bro'In Out with Leo & Tony." In this live talk/variety show, host Leo Allen and 'sidekick' Tony Camin welcome real celebrity guests for a straight up talk show with booze, swearing, sketches and music.

Hosts: Leo Allen (Slovin & Allen) Tony Camin ("The Marijuana-logues")

Special Guests:
PAUL RUDD
GAVIN MCINNES
JUDAH FRIELANDER
TIM HARROD
PETE FITZPATRICK

Monday, January 30
8:00pm
$5
Reserve tickets

LA: Judd Apatow Q&A

2006-01-27T10:32:00.000-05:00

There must be someone I know from LA who reads this blog. On February 7th, The "Hollywood's Master Storytellers" series at the Arclight is showing The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and there is a Q&A with Judd Apatow afterwards. According to the bulletin board on the Freaks and Geeks website, Seth Rogen and others will be joining Apatow. Hurry up and get tickets since it is sure to sell out. I wish I could go.

Sooo

2006-01-26T16:15:00.000-05:00

Sorry for posting mostly information and not actually writing anything. I am a bit burned out at the moment. Personally, I like information. Not everyone does though. They perhaps like a little more thought and effort from their bookmarked blogs. I figure this is better than not blogging at all. However, I don't know what you all think. I usually get about 50 hits a day on this site, but maybe one or two comments a week. Poor poor little bloggy me.

NY: The Lilys/Kaleidoscope/KGW on February 4th

2006-01-26T16:09:00.000-05:00

SPARKLE MOTION presents

THE LILYS (Philadelphia, PA)
10:00pm
Kurt Heasley's Lilys are the legendary indiepop machine that could. An illustrious history behind them and some near hit singles ("NannyIn Manhattan" in a Levi's ad, anyone?), the Lilys are forging on withtheir upcoming offering and 6th studio album, Everything Wrong Is Imaginary. A departure of sorts (imagine that) from previous material, "...Imaginary" returns to the guitar driven glory of earlyworks in spots, while retaining the pious whimsy of the late 90'sLilys for good measure.

(THE SOUNDS OF) KALEIDOSCOPE (Washington, DC)
9:00pm
"...a psychedelic wonderland whose big-sound madness touches god and early Verve simultaneously." -- In Music We Trust

GRAHAM SMITH (of KLEENEX GIRL WONDER) (NYC)
8:00pm
When he was a high schooler, his Kleenex Girl Wonder outfit was dubbed the teenage Guided By Voices and championed in the pages of the NewYork Times, Magnet, and CMJ. Now, at 25, Graham's got more in commonwith the Mountain Goats' John Darnielle or Neutral Milk's Jeff Mangum, delivering empassioned and distorted acoustic melodies with a sharpwitted, almost hiphop like lyrical cadence. His, Yes Boss, LP will arrive this spring on March Records.

$8.50 advance (tickets at www.magneticbrooklyn.com)/$10 door
@ Magnetic Field, 97 Atlantic Ave (between Henry & Hicks)
Saturday, February 4th, doors at 7pm.

NY: Tris McCall solo at Pianos tomorrow night

2006-01-26T15:51:00.000-05:00

"tomorrow night, tris mccall solo piano set at pianos. songs about: politicians real and imaginary, new jersey cities and towns, williamsburg, the cmj music marathon, whiskey and sugar, breaking into office buildings, vandalism, last chances. could be revelatory, could be a disaster. in any case, i really doubt i’ll ever attempt a solo piano set again. your presence is politely requested."

tris mccall, piano
@ pianos
158 ludlow street, at stanton
friday, january 27
7:30
also playing: cat martino, beat the devil, baby dayliner
$8

Fayard Nicholas RIP

2006-01-26T14:29:00.000-05:00

Fayard Nicholas, Tony Winner and Stage and Film Dancer, Dead at 91
By Kenneth Jones

Fayard Nicholas, the Tony Award winning choreographer who was one half of the athletic dance duo The Nicholas Brothers, died Jan. 24 of pneumonia and other complications of a stroke, the Associated Press reported.Mr. Nicholas was 91. With his brother, Harold, Mr. Nicholas wowed audiences with their wildly aggressive tap routines, which included slides across the floor and a signature to-the-floor leg splits done without the use of their hands to break the impact. The younger brother, Harold, died in 2000.

Their work influenced dancers from Gene Kelly to Fred Astaire to Debbie Allen Gregory Hines to Savion Glover.

Mr. Nicholas won the Best Choreography Tony Award in 1989 for his work on the revue Black and Blue. The brothers appeared on Broadway as early as the Depression era, in The Ziegfeld Follies of 1936. The were also featured players at the Cotton Club, and a career in Hollywood followed.

They performed with Gene Kelly in the M-G-M picture "The Pirate" (1948). Other film work had them dancing together without having genuine speaking roles (so their work could be edited out when the film played the racially intolerant South).

Fred Astaire went on record saying their work in "Stormy Weather" (1943) represented some of the most perfect choreography captured on film. The dance sequence in the latter picture was called "Jumpin' Jive."

In the number, according to AP, "the brothers tap across music stands in an orchestra with the fearless exuberance of children stone-hopping across a pond. In the finale, they leap-frog seamlessly down a sweeping staircase."

Like so many dancers of their era, they started in vaudeville They were inspired by their musician parents, who played in orchestra pits.

"One day at the Standard Theater in Philadelphia, I looked onstage and I thought, 'They're having fun up there; I'd like to do something like that,'" Fayard recalled in a 1999 interview, according to AP.

The created an act called "The Nicholas Kids" and by 1928 they bowed in vaudeville. They were known for performing in top hat and tails. The Cotton Club in Harlem is where they got noticed.

The Nicholas Brothers appeared in Broadway's Sammy, a specialty concert starring Sammy Davis Jr. in 1974. Fayard appeared in the musical St. Louis Woman in 1946, and the brothers danced the specialty song "All Dark People" in the 1937 musical comedy Babes in Arms, which had racial intolerance as part of its plot. That song is no longer part of the licensed version of the Rodgers and Hart show, and a lyric-less version of it was used in the Encores! concert version that played City Center in 1999.

Harold Nicholas returned to Broadway in The Tap Dance Kid and Sophisticated Ladies. The brothers were awarded Kennedy Center Honors in 1991.

Mr. Nicholas was married three times. He married dancer Katherine Hopkins in 2000.

(Playbill.com)