There was rain and free ice cream.

Read the rest of this entry »

At least that’s what she said last night on stage McCarren Pool in Brooklyn. Why? We don’t know. Is it because she is planning a wedding? Be that as it may, too bad Europe.

More photos after the jump.
Read the rest of this entry »

Although I don’t play keyboards for this band any longer, Black Shakespeare will give San Francisco a taste of the real. Search no further for the construct. Joe Brilliant I am looking at you!

Christopher when are you playing in NYC?

Tonight at Flavorpill’s (final?) One Step Beyond event at the Natural History Museum featuring The Cool Kids, Kid Sister and A-trak. A cool enough bill for your average freshman Pratt student hipster, and there were plenty. Flavorpill employee of the week Asher Rapkin stepped up his game when he brought up Kanye West during Kid Sister’s floor filler “Pro Nails”. West and Kid Sis finished the set together but then Kanye killed it with 4 or 5 of his own hits. “Stronger”, and “Good Life” literally had the skinny pants screaming from the ceiling.

How I ask you did Mr. Rapkin and his team pull this off with a budget of $127, a 1/2 case of bud light and an iphone? Please someone tell me!

( this is how the Mars Volta makes me feel)

I have decided, After seeing The Mars Volta at least once a year for the last 4 or five years (roughly 20 hours of show, yet only 6 songs were played) that The Mars Volta are the only band that can do what The Mars Volta does. It does’nt matter how familiar you are with the recorded material. Admittedly I am not that familiar yet I have most of their recordings. My point is when they step on stage for what will sure be a marathon progressive latina alternative jam session, if you are not in the room, the experience can not be communicated to you. Which reminds me , is there a live album or DVD? There should be a theatrical release concert movie. It would be almost impossible to sit through and be a box office nightmare however if handled correctly could redefine the concert movies.
What this band does create is art in the purist sense of the word. It is also ephemeral. Like the guy with the rocks and sticks sculpture or the sidewalk chalk artist except much louder.
The Mars Volta show is not for the faint of heart. And I commend the soldiers in the band that commit to bringing the rock for 3 straight hours with no breaks ( in the songs) and minimal banter on stage.
Another observation I have of the band is every time I see them they seem to pick up another member. 1st it’s another guitarist, then a horn player/percussionist then another keyboard player. All of which seems to allow them to play longer. So much longer.

Brooklyn Vegan has better pictures from the show as I was in the back looking for a place to sit down.

What’s wrong with that statement? Not what you think. I have never hid my fondness for the blue-eyed soul. As a matter of fact, anyone who will listen will get an earful as to why Hall and Oates were one of the greatest pop duo’s of the late 20th century. 6 #1 Songs, 7 Platinum albums , Song Writers Hall Of Fame?? Forget about it, most “artist” on the charts today can’t see fit to pull up their pants.

With that said, I was fortunate enough to enjoy an evening of Holiday music with Daryl and John at the Beacon Theater. I sat respectfully through new interpretations of traditional Christmas classics but I don’t think that anyone was fooling anyone as to why we were all really there…to get our “Private Eyes” on. But before that could happen, their version of “O Holy Night” did run on a bit long. My friend Carrie and I took that time to catch up ” how are the kid’s, price of metro cards , blah blah” , when the woman in front of me in the most un-christmas-like spirit turned in her chair and ssssh’d me. Like my loud conversation was ruining her experience. Bah Humbug.

C’mon lady. We all came here for the same thing. To get a little taste of the past. I bet this kind of thing did not happen at the Led Zeppelin Concert Monday night.