What do we LOVE?

...Live music, sing-a-longs, and hot cider!

Brian Ballard rocks
"the man on the flying trapeze"
at Pete's Candy Store

John Maus-tastic

ok [this] is kinda blowing my MIND!



happy Advent???

LOUD OBJECTS in NYC, EUROPE AND JAPAN

LOUD OBJECTS

in NYC, EUROPE AND JAPAN

Tonight in New York, Katie Shima is leading a truly unique Loud Objects performance with guest solderer Lesley Flanigan, while Kunal and I head to Amsterdam for a mini residence at Steim. For their show, Katie has wired up "a delicate orchestration of motors, water, glasses, speakers, wires, solder, microchips and noise." Meanwhile, the remaining of our trio are doing our best to get the party started in Europe with some heavy new drum chips. On Sunday we head to Japan for some more noise.

NYC

Loud Objects at Visual Volume
Wednesday, November 17 ($7) at 7:00 PM
SOHO20 Gallery, (map)

EUROPE

Nov 12: Rotterdam (Worm)

Nov 13: Rome (Dal Verme)

Nov 16: Brussels (iMAL) noise toy workshop and performance

Nov 18: Rotterdam (Worm) noise toy workshop

Nov 18: Amsterdam (OT301) with Jamie Allen, Pixelform, Jo Kazuhiro, Chung-Han Yao

JAPAN

Nov 26: Nanahari (TBA) with Nonhorse / sajjanu acoustic / LIVING ASTRO / Yximalloo

Nov 29: Tokyo (Tama Arts University) noise toy workshop

Nov 29: Tokyo (Superdeluxe) with inu / Cristal Fist / DJ: 37A (PANTY)

Nov 30: Kyoto (TBA) with Nonhorse

Dec 1: Osaka (TBA) with Nonhorse

Loud Objects (Tristan Perich, Kunal Gupta and Katie Shima) create electronic noise with minimal components: microchips, a power jack, an audio jack, and wire. The group solders custom audio circuits live, creating audible fluctuations of electricity with these bare elements. The New York City-based trio stage their lush noise constructions with soldering irons on top of overhead projectors, slide projectors, flourescent light towers, and remodeled guitars.

More information:
- http://www.loudobjects.com

Sometimes you just need your Ladies...

...Or perhaps I should say: "shen me?"

NOTE to self:
Get Swanlights - supposedly the best yet from the Artist, Antony, and the Johnsons...In other (related) news: James "Jamie" Elaine is still AWESOME.

He was the one who recommended the Antony album, and he also recommended looking into the following:

Ai Wei Wei - basically THE Chinese mover and shaker.

Book: Wild Wild East by Barbara Pollock

The 798, Beijing. A hugely successful arts district in China's radically growing cultural climate.

Ladies and gentlemen...

I saw these guys perform last night at Union Hall. A fun and jazzy sound à la Dirty Projectors and Akron/Family: I HIGHLY recommend In One Wind.

Each member brings their own personality to the stage, the lead guitarist, Angelo, has a surprisingly strong vocal presence along side his two female counterparts. The shorter smiley one is enchanting. The taller girl is probably the weakest part of the group with a slightly effected manner. But they have all the elements of greatness including STELLAR percussion [he is un-sane, you've got to see it].

Oh yeah - and did I mention that the show was a CD release party for Justin Keller's Land of Leland project? Well, it was. As usual JK dominates the stage with his lanky stature (in a dreamy/suave manner that is kind of magical) this time with equally impressive accompaniment - including (but not limited to) the genius of Evan Mazunik on keys, and the ever-so-devastating Mathias Tjonn on the ol' six string.

...now to give these tracks a listen...

Have a good Labor Day - See you next week!

Sarah Gregory is SO INTENSE

Last night at the new Rockwood Music Hall (stage II) Sarah and her Stanleys performed a smokin' set that really chilled out this crowd of New Yorkers. Her sultry voice wooed the suits and the skirts with savory and soulful sounds. Who can resist her un-real range and her smirky little smile?

I'd like to give a quick shout to the horn section as well as the guitarist whose tender loving notes carried me all the way home.

Special guests (her brothers-in-law) Andrew and Michael joined for a couple little numbers, including Michael's viral hit collaboration "Double Rainbow Song" which may beg the question - "What does [it] mean?" And I will tell you - it means this is a family of geniuses!

Leaving the venue, another steamy night on the LES - it began to rain, cooling off the boys and making those white summer dresses, as Sarah might say, "a little naughty".

What do you get when...

+

=
[THIS]

La La La

It seems like the favorite hobby of Lady GaGa fans and skeptics is to try and decipher the key to her pop roots. Ranging from Madonna, Bjork, to the ineffable Michael Jackson - she defies anyone who would track this lineage because she clearly uses it all, and MORE. In an almost Warhol-like huberous she continues to pour everything into her art (videos) and colaborate with highly creative individuals. Most recent would be the highly anticipated Alejandro video, that I admit - even shocked me a little. But for the sake of this conversation, I am going to take a momentary step back, and propose the following correlation...


Kylie Minogue's iconic video, directed by Dawn Shadforth who also bosts collaborations with Goldfrap, Bjork, and the Scisor Sisters - has at least one identical moment to Bad Romance. I wanted to bring this up because I think Kylie has not been given her due, as a pop star or as Rufus Wainwright would dub her "Gay shorthand for joy".

Who could compare to Sinead?

& [NO MANS WOMAN]

Flash-Back from the early NY Archives

Joanna Newsom YS tour - Webster Hall, NY, 2006
(just one of her encore songs - the crowd stood silently in awe through hours of her plucking)

1 and 3 - What has inspired us for centuries?

photo by Laurel Dailey, 2010

This photo really moved me. It caused me to recall the following which I also find to be pretty (gasp!) inspirational...

(detail)

Matthew 17 - The Transfiguration

¹After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ²There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. ³Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. ⁴Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." ⁵While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" ⁶When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. ⁷But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid." ⁸When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. ⁹As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead." ¹⁰The disciples asked him, "Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?" ¹¹Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. ¹²But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." ¹³Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

Paintings Raphael, Raffaello Sanzio

1483 - 1520

Painters,Sculptor, Architect, Poet,

Italy, Renaissance

A musical defence for love - in the world

1. Bjork - All is Full of Love
2. Au - Boute
3. Sandro Perri - Family Tree
4. Buena Vista Social Club - Chan Chan
5. Van Morrison - Crazy Love
6. Led Zeppelin - Over the hills and far away (the hair in this video is enough to make me believe in love)
7. Me without you - Allah Allah Allah
8. Joanna Newsom - Cosima
9. The National - Tall Saint
10. Page France - Chariot
11. Cat Power - Lord, help the poor and needy
12. Bob Dylan - Oh, Sister
13. Feist - Lo, how rose e'er blooming
13. Denison Witmer - Prayer of St Francis

All' to the Hall'elujah

All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
Thou silver moon with softer gleam!

O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thou rushing wind that art so strong
Ye clouds that sail in Heaven along,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou rising moon, in praise rejoice,
Ye lights of evening, find a voice!

O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thou flowing water, pure and clear,
Make music for thy Lord to hear,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou fire so masterful and bright,
That givest man both warmth and light.

O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Dear mother earth, who day by day
Unfoldest blessings on our way,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
The flowers and fruits that in thee grow,
Let them His glory also show.

O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

And all ye men of tender heart,
Forgiving others, take your part,
O sing ye! Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
Praise God and on Him cast your care!

O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

And thou most kind and gentle Death,
Waiting to hush our latest breath,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou leadest home the child of God,
And Christ our Lord the way hath trod.

O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Let all things their Creator bless,
And worship Him in humbleness,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One!

O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Words: Francis of Assisi, cir­ca 1225 (Can­ti­co di frat­re so­le, Song of Bro­ther Sun). He wrote this hymn short­ly be­fore his death, but it was not pub­lished for al­most 400 years. Trans­lat­ed to Eng­lish by Wil­liam H. Drap­er for a child­ren’s Whit­sun­tide fes­ti­val in Leeds, Eng­land; first ap­peared in the Pub­lic School Hymn Book, 1919. (source: www.cyberhymnal.org )

Drawing - Angelina Ballerina created by Helen Craig

Amber

http://www.amberboardman.com/

Remember from Amber Boardman on Vimeo.

Prozac doesn't fix everything

When everyone has gone to sleep and you are wide awake
there's no one left to tell your troubles to.
Just an hour ago, you listened to their voices
lilting like a river over underground
and the light from downstairs came up soft like daybreak
dimly as the heartache of a lonely child.

If you can't remember a better time
you can have mine, little one.
In days to come when your heart feels undone
may you always find an open hand
and take comfort wherever you can.

And oh, it's a strange place.
And oh, everyone with a different face
but just like you thought when you stopped here to linger
we're only as separate as your little fingers.

So cry, why not? we all do
then turn to one you love
and smile a smile that lights up all the room.
Follow your dreams in through every out-door
it seems that's what we're here for.

And when you can't remember a better time
you can have mine, little one.
In days to come when your heart feels undone
may you always find an open hand
and take comfort, there is comfort.
Take comfort wherever you can, you can, you can.

-Comfort, the Weepies

Lethal Lady GaGa

Full of bold references to Terantino tales - Lady Gaga joins up again with Beyoncé/Sasha Fierce in their most recent offering "Telephone". This Jail-bird fantasy smacks of early Madonna, and no wonder with directer Jonas Åkerlund, director of her Ray of Light video. (More on Jonas here) This is GaGa's second collaboration with the director, the first being "Paparazzi".

diner scene from Pulp Fiction

Kill Bill

watch below or go here.

UPDATE: Good Intentions Paving Co

Joanna, you're breaking my heart
You're shaking my confidence daily!

So far, I think "Good Intentions Paving Co" is my fave track on Joanna Newsom's new album "Have One On Me".

JANUARY 29 2010 (in memoriam)

Forget 2012!!! We have all had moments when we thought the world was ending, am I right? Weather we've lost a job, a loved one, experiencing a broken relationship, or maybe even unable to identify what is dragging our poor souls down - part of life is experiencing that pain. I have no words to console other than to share with you this song that might speak more deeply to you if you have felt this way at all recently...

To all of you who hurt - my condolences, my best wishes, and my whole heart is with you.