there are power lines, in our bloodlines

OK so I would also like to shamelessly advertise the party that I am throwing with Nora at Public Assembly. Its the place right next to Music Hall of Williamsburg where Galapagos used to be. Its a really cool space (it still has the waterfall), and we have some awesome bands playing. Good Night States are on at 9, The Bloodsugars on at 10, and The Canon Logic headline at 11. These are all great bands and me and Nora will be DJing between the sets and after. It will be fun no matter what BUT IT WILL BE FUNNER IF YOU COME.

Plus Nora wrote a great show preview on her blog

Here is a flyer. All of the lineup info is wrong, but I just told you the line up....so use your imagination.

ALSO I would like to tell you that you should all come to Lit on Tuesday nights. I know the "cool" days are to come Wednesdays and Fridays BUT. My friend David is always Djing and sometimes I DJ with him, and the crowd is really cool and unpretentious and laid back (kind of like how I remember the crowd at Hanger Bar). Its always dead till about 1:45 and then it somehow gets crowded and people start dancing. Its fun. You should come. David won't let me create a facebook even for it so this is the best I can do.

Even a stopped clock tells the right time twice a day.

So, I went to see Russell Brand on Friday at the El Museo del Barrio Theatre in Harlem. It was awesome. I got there about a hour before doors with my friend Kacey. We froze our tushies off for about an hourand had to listen to this very tragic woman talk about her involvement in a viritual vampire community. She also explained what Facebook to her friend. Note to self: do not ever describe Facebook to anyone. You will sound foolish.
We took our seats and were treated to the soothing sounds of Russells choice opening tracks including Stone Roses, The Libertines, and Morrissey. It was lovely. The stage was draped in kind of rich bohemian/middle eastern cloth and couches with embroidered pillows. Russell took the stage to "Supersonic" by Oasis, fitting I think.
From start to finish I don't think I stopped laughing once. He could basically ramble on about anything and I would probably crack up. He talked about not being able to horseback ride or surf on the set of Forgetting Sarah Marshall, his improvised performance at the VMAs (he said the jokes he really wanted to say and they were a lot funnier that what he actually did. And of course, a lot about sex.
One thing that did put a damper on an otherwise lovely evening was this really misinformed girl who seemed to think that by shouting at Russell incessantly, it would make him love her or something. Instead she just annoyed not only him but everybody in the audience. He was very funny about it, but you could tell that he really wanted her to shut up. "I'm running out of ways to be funny about it darling," he said with a wink. I almost died from embarrasment for the poor girl. I think I have a higher than normal tendency to excessively empathize with awkward situations.
So then we went outside to and observed as a hoards of fans crowded around russell trying to get a picture or an autograph or a kiss or something. I was standing with my back up against the opposite building to his trailer, just taking it all in. After he took a picture with a fan he turned around, looked at me, and DEFINITELY eyefucked the shit out of me. No joke. I didn't imagine it. And then he went back in his trailer and then we waited for all the poeple to go away and for him to come back out, and I got my picutre with im, but I didn't have to jumo around and scream like a fool, which is nice. I will have that picture as soon as Kacey gets her freaking disposable camera developed.
All in all it was a lovely evening, and after the show we went to this new vegan dessert diner called Lula's Sweet Apothecary. Its all vegan and it like an old fashioned amercian soda fountain. The owners were very nice and I think I may have developed crushes on both of them. I highly recommend you check it out. I got peanut butter oreo and rocky road as my sundae flavors asnd they were both delicious.

FIN

you are the generation that bought more shoes and you get what you deserve.

OK. can I just say, that this makes me sad, nauseous, and....upset. You all know that my beloved Hanger Bar, the upstanding establishment that was the site of hookups, makeups, breakups, and illegal activities of all sorts was closed a few months ago sadly. I guess I wasn't really thinking what would happen to it, but I could never imagine the monstrosity that was to come. Seriously NYC, I'm all for feeling safe when I walk the streets, but do you have to turn EVERY fucking bar (and we're talking Alphabet City here) into a sterilized retro-chic bore-fest with "specialty cocktails". Give me back my free bottle of Zygo and my flowered dixie cups! Oh, and to top it all off, this place is now called Elsa. I SWEAR TO GOD, if there is one more bar with a pseudo-old fashioned name (ahem...Beatrice...Ella..), heads will roll. Just LOOK at the before and after pics of the bathroom.

Epic Gloriousness
Wretched Wretchedness

WHY GOD WHY.

i will not hold it in

hey.

ok. so i really and truly cannot restrain myself from listening to Jukebox the Ghost. They are this amazing DC band that I saw at Nora's CMJ show, and "Victoria" and "Hold It In" are on repeat loop in my head. Their new vid for "Victoria" just came out a couple of days ago. 

ALSO, I dunno when the hell this Late of the Pier video for "Focker" came out, but it makes me dizzy....with happiness. AND guess what. Alicia, my pal from London, used to live with them in Camden. Are you serious. Running into them on the street? Coincidental mutual friends? Clearly our paths are inextricably linked.

I LIVE ON THE RIGHT SIDE, I SLEEP ON THE LEFT, THATS WHY EVERYTHINGS GOTTA BE LOVE OR DEATH

HOKAY. lets finish it up.

FRIDAY: I awoke with a hangover and an empty tummy. I ran to Pomme Frites poste haste, only to the make the mistake of ordering my frites with the sauce on top instead of on the side, which makes the sauce-to-frite ratio far to high to be tolerable. So I was walking along with my too saucy frites and who should I spot doing a walking-down-the-street photo shoot but LATE OF THE PIER. I couldn't believe that I recognized them, but I suspect I have a semi photographic memory. They seemed delighted that someone knew who they were and were very curious about my frites and wanted to taste them. They concurred with the imbalance of sauce. The weird thing though was the the photographer kept snapping away while we chatted. SO look out for me in a Late of the Pier photo shoot in the near future. haha. maybe. We talked about their show the night before and I told them that I would do my best to wrangle a way into see them at Irving Plaza.
I proceeded to Nora's day show at Rehab which included not only a great lineup of bands, but also free Function Water and free Colt 45. Here is me sampling some of that barley malt goodness.
The first band I was there to see was Jukebox the Ghost who were incredible. I've been hearing about them forever but hadn't gotten around to listening to them. Wowzers. I love lead singers who play piano at the same time. Its kind of a weakness actually. And "Hold It In" just might be the catchiest pop song I've heard in a long while. The Noisettes were up next. Another band that I had been hearing about for years but hadn't seen yet and they were great as well. The girl lead singer had possibly the greatest outfit I'd ever seen on anyone ever. I don't have any pics of her but you can head on over to Nora's coverage of the event for full disclosure. Tally Hall was the last to play and, after hearing/seeing Nora's obsessive twitters about the band, I was glad to finally see them for myself. They were adorable in their matching vests and matching vocal stylings. I think my favorite was "Welcome to Tally Hall" which featured beatboxing. Clearly making it stand out among the rest. The rest of their set was really good too. Apparently they showcased some new material, but I didn't know. It was all new to me. Here is me hiding behind Nora's CD case

After the show me and Nora went to the Zune reception at Lolita. Which was kinda awkward, because we were like the only two females there. And the photographer made us pose with this random guy. Double awk. BUT it had free drinks and there was a really nice plate of grilled veggies. Which was a plus. We didn't stay long but I'm glad we went, because when we left, there was the most amazing sign I've ever seen in my life. Behold:




I know. What are festoons you might ask? I don't know, and neither does Nora, but you can expect them to be coming in the form of a party name to a club near you sometime in the future. Nora peaced out to read Twilight, and my phone was about to run out of battery so I skipped on over to my friend Kacey's house, who I was going to see White Lies with at Bowery Ballroom at 9. The moment I got up to her room I passed out on her couch and didn't wake back up until like 8. So I composed myself and scurried over to Bowery with Kacey in tow. We met up with Paul and let me tell you, White Lies were absolutely amazing. They were one of the only bands I REALLY wanted to see during CMJ and they did not disappoint. They were like, out-Killering The Killers, I think that is the best way to put it. Their music is like the album The Killers should have made as a Hot Fuss follow-up. Just listen to "Death" and you'll see what I mean (the Crystal Castles remix of it is awesome as well). After that, Paul assured us that he could somehow get us in to the Late of the Pier show at Irving Plaza (most people know that as the Pete Tong/Soulwax show, but I was really only there for LoTP). They were great once again. I've already raved about them so you know the story there. However, Brooklyn Vegan somehow took another awkward picture of me looking confused in the crowd (The first one happened at a Crystal Castles show last year). WHY do I always look so confused in the crowd? Maybe I'm just concentrating really hard on the music, but I am probably just irritated by the flash.
Anyways, the show was awesome. After that me and Kacey went to Veselka for some grub (vegetarian Borscht is da bomb yallz) and then I stopped by Lit for a beer with Paul before collapsing into bedfordshire.


SATURDAY:

Saturday was pretty light on the CMJ shows. The only set I saw was Chief's at Pianos. Who were awesome. Of course. Actually, thier performance got them a write-up in Tripwire, which you can find here .

After their gig, which was at 4, I had to run to Am Appy to find a costume for my porno chic party I was DJing with my friend J. I had no time to try on because I had to go to J's apartment to learn Serato, because I didn't even know how to use it. I grabbed a leotard, some sparkly tights, and hoped for the best. Luckily, both the outfit and the party went pretty well. Here are a few pics. You can see more at Josh Shots (Josh aka host of the party aka love of my life) and on Ithinkyoureswell (if Antwan EVER posts the pictures). I was kind of drunk for most of it, but it was kind of stressful, since I had never DJed with Serato or with J before, but everybody really seemed to like it. Although it wasn't as fun when we had to carry the 100 lb (and I really don't think I'm exaggerating) coffin down 4 flights of stairs while we were both drunk. Somehow I got home with all my shit, but I am not exactly sure how.

Me and J. The Macktown Kids.

There was vinyl on there like 5 mins later I swear


ANYWAYS, yep thats it, that was my CMJ week. yay. I PROMISE TO POST MORE ABOUT LIFE.

GET YOUR HANDS ON YOUR WAISTLINE AND MOVE YOUR BODY TO THE BASSLINE (CMJ PART ONE)

I don't know how many of you were raised going to church, but you know the feeling where you haven't been to church for awhile, and you don't want to go back because you've been gone for too long? Or I guess the same analogy could be applied to the gym...Anyways, I know I haven't written in awhile BUT I WILL NOW. Prepare yourselves for this epic (CMJ) update. I was doing things before CMJ, but they sort of all blur together and I don't really remember that much of it, so maybe we'll save that fragmented memory post for later. And now brace yourselves for my six-day CMJ extravanganza.

TUESDAY:
It stared off with dinner and badge pick up (for her not me) with Nora
before heading over to the Tribeca Grand to see a short set from Lykke Li (whose name is pronounced, for the record LICK-ye LEE. jesus). There we ran into Nora's friend Cameron (i think?), who I think I gave the wrong set time for Hercules and Love Affair DJ set. Sorry man. Anyways, we crowded into the tiny performance space. She only played about songs. Which was plenty enough for me. She clearly wasn't used to the disaffected CMJ crowds, especially this early in the evening. She kept yelling at the crowd to "go buy a driiiiiink" in that annoying dutch accent or whatever the hell she is. Well sorry Lykke (or is it Li?) but DRINKS ARE LIKE $15 EACH. AND if we were actually to go to the bar, by the time we got back, you would be gone. SO if you want to buy us drinks, go right ahead. But in all honesty, I think her music is good, if a little overperformed (like a little too much "oajahaherrrr I'm being possessed by the devil of song!"). She twisted and twirled her little heart out and she really does have an oddly compelling voice. Plus her little backing duo of boys was really hot.

After Lykke finished we realized that it was WAY too crowded to stay for a minute longer, especially with the lack of free alcohol, so we escaped into the chilly night air, and set out to find the Redbull loft, which purportedly had free beer! We got there and lo, there was free redbull (duh) AND free beer. Called Spaten. which is a funny name. It was a little inconvenient to not be able to mix the redbull and beer together, but the bartender was really cute, (AND ended up sharing his secret vodka stash with us) so it was all good.

Cheeseburger was the first band we saw, and they were so hilarious, I think it was the hardest I've ever laughed at a gig. Cheeseburger is like the ultimate old school rock n' roll party band and I thought they were great. They are definitely kind of a novelty and they have songs like "Jellybean" and "Number One Party Song #1" (I don't know if the latter is actually a song name, or if they just say that before every song.

Next up were Vivian Girls who, despite their record being quite good, I did not enjoy at all. I think, on their album, their vocals have this reverby, ethereal quality to them that was totally lost live. They sounded like a middle school girl band trying to be punk and not getting their harmonies down very well. Which is sad, but I can't help it. We left before their set was over. Me, Nora, the boys of Cheeseburger, and their manager Jin, and went to hang out at like....a sound editing suite or some shit....I was drunk i don't really remember where we were. Anyways, we only stayed for a bit and then me and Nora headed over to Happy Ending, and place i had heard of many times but never been. It was lots of fun and really crazy. The kind of crazy that you really can't deal with unless you are a certain amount of wasted, which thankfully I was. The DJ was spinning some good choonz (although he wasn't doing anything that fancy really and certainly didn't need to be THAT protective of his serato equipment). Nora wanted to make out with the DJ so we had to "dance seductively" in front of him. I don't know how I get pulled into these things. But the DJ played Joy Division and New Order, which is all I can ask for really. I was talking pics with my disposable camera, but I haven't got it developed yet. Luckily Nicky got a couple shots.



WEDNESDAY:

I had to go to 9:30 class. I can't believe it, but I did it, and went to all three of my classes! I am so proud of myself. I just laid in bed for a few minutes when I woke up and I said, "Self? You are BIGGER than this hangover". And then I was fine! Meditation works people. After class I ran over to Sarah's to steal her CMJ badge for approx 24 hours. I ran back to NYU so I could go to one of the later panels. It was about full service management companies. It was really interesting. Then I came home. and I slept. For longer than I intended. I ran out the door to catch Friendly Fires at Annex, only for my ID to be REJECTED by the bouncers. I was like "AW HELLZ NO IM DJING HERE TOMORROW FOOLZ" and theyz was all like "THATS NICE LITTLE GIRL, GO HOME". I was pissed. I was supposed to be meeting Paul there too and he didnt answer his phone cuz he was already outside. So I sulked around outside for like 1/2 an hour, until Paul came out, where we proceeded to Pianos where my ID was rejected AGAIN. Wow. My night seemed to be going grandly. So I sulked outside Pianos for awhile, until the bouncer took a break and a I saw my thin window of opportunity and I jumped through it. I got in and the place was absolutely PACKED. They werent even letting anyone into the performance space. I hate hyped bands. Paul said they werent very good. I'll take his word for it. I waited for them to finish and I ran into Phil and Melissa from the office. Which was nice. Because, you know, I don't see them enough. Anyways, after Chairlift, I was whisked away to Music Hall with Paul to see Late of the Pier. WHO BLEW MY BRAINS OUT. Honestly. They were by far my favorite new band of CMJ. They are so young and so boundary defying its ridiculous. They are like Talking Heads meets Queen meets Klaxons. Basically my fantasy band. I cannot stop listening to Bathroom Gurgle. I just cannot. The lead singer is just electric, the whole band is really, they beat those disturbingly awesome sounds out of thier instruments with unabashed enthusiasm just makes me want to pee myself. I remember trying to DJ them last year and I think it was "The Bears are Coming" and people were like "this is not music, turn it off", which shoudl probably teach me not to play demos, but I knew I heard something special in that band! Thier new tracks are much more balanced and especially in thier live version, the wierd synth, 8-bit noises sound much more like accents rather than overpowering. It was a great set and I could believe how few people there were there! Considering Late of the Pier have been around for about a year now and the only other show they were playing costs millions of dollars to get into (ok only 55 but still...). I'd say there were only about 100 people there. Anyways, yes. check them out. They are amazing.

THURSDAY:
I got up early so I could make the most out of my badge before I had to return it to Sarah at 130. I went to an unconventional fund raising panel, which was forgettable, A "what's left of the major label's" panel, which was shocking and depressing (its unbelievable how major labels still havent recognized the versatility and value of alternative distribution), and then a little bit of a blogging panel which was interesting but stuff I mostly knew already. It also made me feel guilty for nt postng often enough.

Then I went over to Pianos where I met up with Sarah (no ID problems this time) and Jo to see The Muslims. This band comes from San Diego but they sound like they are from the UK (so of course I loved them) they kind of sound like The Libertines instrumentally with spiky/jangly guitars but with really deadpan punk vocals (kinf of like the guy singer in X). Bonusly, we saw a guy who had the greatest hair known to man. He looked like Bret Anderson mixed with Damon Albarn. Very cute. He turned out be the lead singer of the next band that was playing.

Then we ate (I had the BEST veggie burger ever. So. Good.), then Sarah and Jo had to go to a meeting so I stuck around to catch Friendly Fires. I am really glad I did, because they are awesome. Very energetic performance, almost like a harder rocking Coldplay, with no piano and more varied percussion (this is a very weird description but its the first one that came to mind. Sry.) After their set, I wandered over to the Fader Fort to see Johnny Foreigner who I THOUGHT was supposed to go on at 4:30 but really wasnt supposed to till 5:15. And I was on a tight schedule so I couldn't stay to see them. But I did manage to talk to a bunch of random people, snag a can of sparks and some deadly SoCo punch, and actually found an alumni of Sac State!!! omg I was so excited and we totally reminisced about midtown and the Florin Mall (which is really ghetto, to those who didn't know). But then I had to split to go to the Song's cocktail party at Happy Ending. It was fun, not too crowded, open bar, shot glasses and Peanut Butter and Co. sandwiches. yay. I could only stay for a bit though because I had to run over to Annex to DJ. I got there around 6. I left a little afte 2. Let me tell you what happened in between.

It was the most grueling DJ session I've ever had in my life, it was so tiring, but pretty fun. I DJed in between bands, and it was just so hot and crowded and loud I almost lost my mind. Chief went on first and they rocked it as ususal. There was a pretty big crowd there for the time they went on (6:30). After, Johnny Foreigner played and they were great as well. Kind of like a less annoying Black Kids. The Next bands blur together because I kept having to step outside because I felt so claustrophobic ESPECIALLY during Passion Pit. Omg, that was the worst. BUt good for Passion Pit I guess. The only band I remember well enough to write about was The Whip who were really amazing. I really can't give you too may details but I just remember being pulled out of my half drunk/stressed out stupor like cold water was splashed on my face. I actually started dancing to the songs! It was crazy, so they must have been good. Just listen to thier single, Trash, and you'll get what I'm saying. I started to leave after I helped JennyPenny count the moniez, bc the guys from The Rapture were supposed to take over after me. I went to 6th ward with Joady, the booker/head person of the night which was nice because she is the sweetest lady ever. I finally made my way home aroun 4. I'd say it was a successful day/night.

OK i cant write anymore or my brain will expode. so stay tuned for PART 2 of my cmj adventure.

I KNOW I LOVE YOU BUT IM FULL OF FEAR

Check out this awesome video set to the Chief song, "Your Direction". One of thier friends just moved into a new place and I guess in the garage there was this unmarked cardboard box that had all of this undeveloped film. Turns out it was all of this incredible old home movie footage. Not only is the footage great, but it totally suits Chief's whole old time LA summer vibe. It makes you feel nostalgic. For a time when you weren't born.