Tuesday, July 27, 2004
A few weeks ago, I wrote about public access tv shows. I watched another one last night which is worth checking out. Fearless Music features in studio performances by various local bands -- each band gets one song. It's on Monday nights at 8:30pm, Manhattan channel 35.
On last night's show, I thought the Robbers on High Street, Two Gallants, and the Hong Kong were all pretty good.
On last night's show, I thought the Robbers on High Street, Two Gallants, and the Hong Kong were all pretty good.
Monday, July 26, 2004
SOUL REBELS and the STOOGES @ Tipitina's (New Orleans LA) - July 16, 2004
In case you don't know this already, New Orleans brass band music is very cool. I'd never really heard it before and didn't know what to expect when I showed up to the Battle of the Brass Bands at Tipitina's last weekend, but I left very impressed. Imagine hip hop crossed with a school marching band and you'll sort of have an idea of how it sounds.
I don't know who won the battle of the bands, nor do I know what the prize was, but I do know the voting process was questionable (even Belarus is capable of holding fairer elections) and seemed skewed in favor of the Stooges.
There was some considerable discussion among our own group as to which band deserved to win. I was mostly in the Soul Rebels camp. They were tighter, a bit more musically dynamic, and relied less on rapping. The Stooges* were still a formidable competitor. While they may have been a bit sloppier than Soul Rebels, they clearly put on a better live show. No matter which band won (and either way I wouldn't be disappointed), it was a very fun night of live music.
* Terrible name, by the way. As one of my friends put it, which Stooges are they: Iggy or the Three?
ed note: They used to be called the Little Stooges but apparently outgrew the Little part.
In case you don't know this already, New Orleans brass band music is very cool. I'd never really heard it before and didn't know what to expect when I showed up to the Battle of the Brass Bands at Tipitina's last weekend, but I left very impressed. Imagine hip hop crossed with a school marching band and you'll sort of have an idea of how it sounds.
I don't know who won the battle of the bands, nor do I know what the prize was, but I do know the voting process was questionable (even Belarus is capable of holding fairer elections) and seemed skewed in favor of the Stooges.
There was some considerable discussion among our own group as to which band deserved to win. I was mostly in the Soul Rebels camp. They were tighter, a bit more musically dynamic, and relied less on rapping. The Stooges
ed note: They used to be called the Little Stooges but apparently outgrew the Little part.
A Year of Slacking This site has now been cluttering the internet for more than one trip around the sun. Thursday marked the one year anniversary of my first post.
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
Last night's listening party went well. There was a good crowd and I ended up having a bit too much fun. Yaron was there and has a related post.
We'll be back again on August 3 to play the Flaming Lips' Zaireeka.
In unrelated news, I recently learned that my old school's radio station just began live streaming on their website. I haven't listened to it in years but they used to be really good.
We'll be back again on August 3 to play the Flaming Lips' Zaireeka.
In unrelated news, I recently learned that my old school's radio station just began live streaming on their website. I haven't listened to it in years but they used to be really good.
Tuesday, July 13, 2004
For the first time since its inception, I'm going to have to miss the Siren Festival. Even though I know the sound system will be awful and I'd probably end up with a sunburn anyway, I'm kind of disappointed I won't be there to see Blonde Redhead, Death Cab for Cutie, Mission to Burma, and a bunch of other bands I'd rather not think about right now play a free show.
Instead of sweating in the heat at Coney Island, I'll be melting in the humidity of New Orleans with some friends before driving to Georgia to visit my girlfriend. Even though I'm sure New Orleans will be a lot of fun and I am looking forward to seeing Karol after all this time, there's also something oddly appealing about the thought of sitting in a rental car by myself for a very long time while driving through four states --three of which I've never been to before.
It's always a daunting task packing cds to bring on vacation and trying to guess everything I might want to listen to in the upcoming week (while not forgetting to bring stuff Karol can agree upon as well). It always seems as once I get to where I'm going, there's a perfect song which I need to hear yet is inevitably found still at home.
Different locations call for different soundtracks. For example, I made sure to bring an extra Suede album with me when I visited London, the Pixies came along on a recent ride to Boston, and my trip to Washington State was fuelled by the K Records/Kill Rock Stars crowd.
Now it's Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia.
Mississippi is the easiest. Elvis Presley and Robert Johnson have their bags packed and ready to go. And of course Lee Hazelwood and Nancy Sinatra are waiting to welcome me to Jackson.
Georgia has REM, which is enough to make do even if I am certain I will secretly hope to hear "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" and "Dueling Banjos" at some point. All I can think of for Alabama is Man...Or Astro-Man?, which isn't much but better than the one Louisiana song I can think of: Johnny Horton's "the Battle of New Orleans."
Instead of sweating in the heat at Coney Island, I'll be melting in the humidity of New Orleans with some friends before driving to Georgia to visit my girlfriend. Even though I'm sure New Orleans will be a lot of fun and I am looking forward to seeing Karol after all this time, there's also something oddly appealing about the thought of sitting in a rental car by myself for a very long time while driving through four states --three of which I've never been to before.
It's always a daunting task packing cds to bring on vacation and trying to guess everything I might want to listen to in the upcoming week (while not forgetting to bring stuff Karol can agree upon as well). It always seems as once I get to where I'm going, there's a perfect song which I need to hear yet is inevitably found still at home.
Different locations call for different soundtracks. For example, I made sure to bring an extra Suede album with me when I visited London, the Pixies came along on a recent ride to Boston, and my trip to Washington State was fuelled by the K Records/Kill Rock Stars crowd.
Now it's Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia.
Mississippi is the easiest. Elvis Presley and Robert Johnson have their bags packed and ready to go. And of course Lee Hazelwood and Nancy Sinatra are waiting to welcome me to Jackson.
Georgia has REM, which is enough to make do even if I am certain I will secretly hope to hear "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" and "Dueling Banjos" at some point. All I can think of for Alabama is Man...Or Astro-Man?, which isn't much but better than the one Louisiana song I can think of: Johnny Horton's "the Battle of New Orleans."
Saturday, July 10, 2004
I like public access television. From panel discussions about African current events to a call-in show hosted by a boxing enthusiast to devil worship rituals to a woman in lingerie rubbing her bare feet on a man's face while asking if he wants to be her own private shoe salesman, there's really something for everyone. Even us music fans.
Now that MTV2 has apparently dumped Subterranean to make room for even more of the awful programs spilling over from its parent channel, public access is the last bastion of hope for indie fans looking to see music videos.
I first discovered Clicktrax a few months ago. It's on Sundays at 9:30pm, channel 56 (Manhattan Time Warner Cable). I must admit I haven't watched it in a while since it has the unfortunate time slot opposite Six Feet Under, but it's a cool little show. Besides airing videos you will never see on MTV (like stuff from Manitoba or the Bright Lights), it also recognizes local artists.
I also watched Rockit! TV last night for the first time. It airs Fridays at 10:30pm on channel 56. On just the basis of what I saw, I'd say it's a bit more mainstream than Clicktrax, relatively speaking. Mainstream indie in this case being defined by bands like TV On The Radio, Enon, Bright Eyes, and the Super Furry Animals.
If anyone else knows of other music television shows worth watching, please leave a comment.
Now that MTV2 has apparently dumped Subterranean to make room for even more of the awful programs spilling over from its parent channel, public access is the last bastion of hope for indie fans looking to see music videos.
I first discovered Clicktrax a few months ago. It's on Sundays at 9:30pm, channel 56 (Manhattan Time Warner Cable). I must admit I haven't watched it in a while since it has the unfortunate time slot opposite Six Feet Under, but it's a cool little show. Besides airing videos you will never see on MTV (like stuff from Manitoba or the Bright Lights), it also recognizes local artists.
I also watched Rockit! TV last night for the first time. It airs Fridays at 10:30pm on channel 56. On just the basis of what I saw, I'd say it's a bit more mainstream than Clicktrax, relatively speaking. Mainstream indie in this case being defined by bands like TV On The Radio, Enon, Bright Eyes, and the Super Furry Animals.
If anyone else knows of other music television shows worth watching, please leave a comment.
Wednesday, July 07, 2004
Thank you, Candace. That was very nice, even if I'm not sure how pretty she really was.
That song can be heard here. Other songs can also be found here.
I'm in a self-promotional mood now, especially after reading that really cool blurb Time Out New York wrote about our upcoming listening party.
That song can be heard here. Other songs can also be found here.
I'm in a self-promotional mood now, especially after reading that really cool blurb Time Out New York wrote about our upcoming listening party.
Friday, July 02, 2004
A while back, I wrote on this site how my friend Mike D and I were going to start up some sort of group to regularly get together and listen to some obscure/lost/forgotten albums. Despite receiving more than a few mocking comments on that post, we've tinkered with the idea and I'm pleased to announce the launch of the Archives Music Project.
On the first Tuesday of each month, we'll be at Rififi (AKA Cinema Classics -- 332 E. 11 St, NYC).
This month, however, we're starting a week late and our very first listening party will be held July 13. For this historic moment, come out as we're going to play the Beach Boys' Smile. The drinks are cheap and we start promptly at 9pm.
On the first Tuesday of each month, we'll be at Rififi (AKA Cinema Classics -- 332 E. 11 St, NYC).
This month, however, we're starting a week late and our very first listening party will be held July 13. For this historic moment, come out as we're going to play the Beach Boys' Smile. The drinks are cheap and we start promptly at 9pm.
