:: LIKE A PIG IN SHIT ::

(The Vivian Girls performing at the Market Hotel in Brooklyn)

So that great Team Robespierre/Ninjasonik//Vivian Girls/Snakes Say Hiss show I had mentioned earlier was tonight. Or it was until it got shut down by some aggro undercover cops with their metal batons and handcuffs. Now I understand that cops have a shitty job, one where it can literally be said that everyone is out to get you. BUT fuck cops who make everything worse (for themselves as well) by being overly violent and aggressive. That shit throws every piece of sympathy anyone might have for your crappy job right out the window. Put your baton away, take the handcuffs off the scared barely legal kid. There are less than 50 people here, and most of them are just trying to get out of the way. I know you had your training drilled into your head at the academy that everyone is a threat, but again, fuck you. Chill out. Do your job and issue summons and move on with your night. No one is going to give you an excuse to crack their face open here, we are too smart for that. Being an asshole isn't going to make anyone any safer. In fact, take a look at your 7 other comrades. None of them have their weapons out, they aren't handcuffing everything that flinches. You're making your fellow boys-n-blue look bad.

Your problem is that everyone is "other" to you. What a shitty way to go through life.

UPDATE: Turns out the cops were from Internal Affairs and were sent there on a vendetta. Beautiful thing about IA cops? No oversight committee. Seems like somebody wants to keep shutting down DIY venues in Brooklyn, (The Hi-Fi, the Syrup Room, Llando Escando). Gee, wonder who would benefit from having fewer places for bands to play in NYC? Not other venues, perhaps?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MP3:

Like a wound that just won't heal.

- Fear - I Love Livin In The City

A band's place in myspace.

:: KEEPING UP WITH THE DIRTSES ::

There's a magical building in Bushwick that serves as a safe haven for fast skateboarding and loud music against the perils of winter and whiny neighbors. It started when Bnels, Chuck Chatov, Brettland and Co. built a ramp in their living room. Not to be outdone, Principal Mark across the hall built a bigger, steeper ramp in his loft. Just as he finished laying down the last layer of fresh birch a party broke out. While Razortail played two sets, boards flew into the crowd of underage drinkers and even a few stray girls. Most gnar.

:: BAD DUDES LOVE COMPANY ::

(Black Mountain and Bon Iver performing at Glasslands in Brooklyn)

Goddamn can I just gush for a minute about how amazing Black Mountain is? It's only February and I smell album of the year. Haven't had anything I listen to on repeat so much since the last Parts & Labor release. So glad I was able to go see them again in Brooklyn. If you missed them in NYC, you can listen to a live concert (along with opener Bon Iver) on NPR. Not quite the same, but not too shabby either.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MP3:

So along with gushing about Black Mountain, I also want to show their tour-mates Bon Iver some love. I can't remember the last time I was at a concert and was consciously trying not to take photos because I was worried the sound of my shutter would disrupt the rapport with the dead silent crowd, all hushed and hanging on each note. Really amazing music.

- Bon Iver - Skinny Love

A band's place in myspace.

:: PEOPLE HAVE KIDS BECAUSE THEY ARE SCARED ::

(RZA performing at Studio B in Brooklyn)

Next weekend, get your ears ready.

:::

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28th:

Team Robespierre
NinjaSonik
Vivian Girls
Snakes Say Hiss

Market Hotel
957 Broadway
Brooklyn, NY

-OR-

St. Vincent
Foreign Born

Music Hall of Williamsburg
66 North Sixth Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 29th:

High Places
Lucky Dragons
Soft Circle
Picture Plane

Market Hotel
957 Broadway
Brooklyn, NY

-OR-

St. Vincent
Foreign Born
Basia Bulat

Bowery Ballroom
6 Delancey Street @ Bowery
New York, NY 10002

SATURDAY, MARCH 1st:

(holy crap this is an amazing line-up)
Genghis Tron
Aa (aka Big A little a)
Ponytail
Shooting Spires
Cheveu
Double Dagger

Market Hotel
957 Broadway
Brooklyn, NY

:::

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MP3:

"I'm so California, like khakis with house shoes."

- The Federation - Go Dumb

A band's place in myspace.

:: BRICK BLOCKS AND LONG SHOTS ::

Williamsburg is what it is and isn't what it was. But I'm happy to be here.

:: ZIP THE LIP, FLIP THE SWITCH, SCRATCH THAT ITCH ::

(These Are Powers, Apes, Knyfe Hyts at Cake Shop, NYC)

Ah crap. I totally forgot to post these photos earlier. I'm getting ready to hit the road for SXSW. Anyone got any friendlies in New Orleans? I'm planning to just toss myself there after Austin for a week to see what happens. Comfy couches and friendly faces are appreciated.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MP3:

The best thing about Houston, Texas:

- Fatal Flying Guillotines - Reveal The Rats

A band's place on epitonic.

:: PLEASE DON'T EXIST ::

(guess who's back in town)

SXSW is approaching, and that means bands on tour. Starting it off a little early is Shooting Spires, the sort-of-solo side project of Parts & Labor member BJ Warshaw. I had previously posted a track from their new album, in case you missed it. Before the great migration to Austin picks up in March, go see a new band with a very distinctive sound (and then go see Parts & Labor when they tour in March too).

Shooting Spires' Upcoming Shows:
Feb 12 - Bard College - Annandale-on-Hudson, New York
Feb 13 - Bug Jar - Rochester
Feb 14 - Bourbon St. - Columbus, Ohio
Feb 15 - MoCA - Cleveland, Ohio
Feb 16 - Empty Bottle w/ A Tundra - Chicago, Illinois
Feb 17 - Mix Tapes - East Moline, Illinois
Feb 18 - Bilken Club w/ HEALTH - St. Louis, Missouri
Feb 19 - Cinemat w/ Gravitas, Mouth Breather - Bloomington, Indiana
Feb 20 - Void Skateshop - Lexington, Kentucky
Feb 21 - Pilot Light - Knoxville, Tennessee
Feb 22 - Werehouse - Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Feb 23 - Spazzitorium - Greenville, North Carolina
Feb 24 - The Camel w/ Bermuda Triangles - Richmond, Virginia
Feb 25 - Velvet Lounge - Washington DC, Washington DC
Feb 26 - Talking Head w/ WZT Hearts, Video Hippos - Baltimore, Maryland
Feb 27 - Danger Danger Gallery - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mar 1 - Market Hotel w/ Genghis Tron, Aa, Ponytail, Cheveu, Double Dagger - Brooklyn, New York
Mar 12 - Habana Calle 6, Cardboard Records SXSW Showcase - Austin, Texas
Mar 16 - Double-Wide Bar w/ Parts & Labor, Torche, Pterodactyl - Dallas, Texas

And the Death Set have a new music video:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MP3:

Erica was a fellow crew member on the first year of the Miss Rockaway Armada's journey down the Mississippi. I fondly remember digging around in Manhattan construction site dumpsters looking for scrap wood with her. Whenever we were confronted by a grumpy authoritarian person, she was our spokesperson. Since besides being very cute and charming, she had an impressive way of dealing with people (even if they were not pleased with us). On top of all of this she is also a talented musician (oh and can also talk backwards, seriously). Anyway, I was always wishing I had something of hers recorded, and now I do, so I'm sharing it with you.

- Erica Freas - Moonshiner

- Erica Freas - A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall

A band's place in myspace.

:: EVERY YEAR IS THE YEAR OF THE RAT IN NYC ::

Hope your red envelopes were stuffed fat. Be prosperous.

:: ORANGE-LIT CHICAGO NIGHTS BURN ON INDIFFERENCE ::

Hey Chi-town. I've got some photos in this show, along with a slew of other truly talented photographers. If you're in Chicago, go check it out. They show is curated/hosted by, Brad Tromel, a kid with a lot of skill, ambition and energy. Things I admire and appreciate.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MP3:

You know what made me really sad while walking around in the snow in Brooklyn? That Elliott Smith is no longer with us. His music captured an essence of things in a different way than anyone else I've heard. Such a loss.

- Madeleine Peyroux - Between The Bars

A band's place in myspace.

:: EVERYTHING IS A BLESSING IN DISGUISE ::

(Dan Deacon performing at the Whitney Museum of Art)

With the frequency that I get stopped by cops and have my ID called in for taking photos (most recently of cars double-parked on the east side bike path in Manhattan), I'm really lucky I have a clean record.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MP3:

Plastik Caskit was a brief collaboration of Ian from Japanther, Rob from High Places, and Alex Knold. But it didn't sound anything like any of those bands. If I had to make a comparison, I'd probably say Lightning Bolt. Although the second track (not posted here) sounds a bit like the backing tape to a Japanther song. They played a couple shows, put out a CDR, and that was about it. So enjoy.

- Plastik Caskit - Track 01

A band's place is home.

:: I CAN EAT MY DINNER IN A FANCY RESTAURANT ::

Singlets. No stories. A little drama.

In love.

Security guarding.

Super Tuesday.

:: YOU'RE AFRAID OF THE STUFF OTHERS ARE MADE OF ::

(some Harlem faces)

I don't know if I've encountered two neighborhoods in NYC that aesthetically mirror each other as much as Harlem and Bed-Stuy.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MP3:

Somebody listens to M.I.A. a whole lot. And this is how that can be a good thing.

- Santogold - Creator

A band's place in myspace.

:: I'M NOT LOOKING FOR A JOB, I JUST WANNA BE A HEARTTHROB ::

(Team Robespierre and Ninjasonik performing at Death By Audio, more photos here)

This coming Friday is a big day. Will you be ready?

:::

POP SUBVERSIONS
at Ad Hoc Art
Feb 8th thru Mar 2nd, 2008
Opening Reception: Friday, February 8th, 7:00PM-9:00PM

Pop Subversion contains a healthy dose of both established and emerging artists from the realms of street art, pop surrealism, lowbrow, illustration, print making, tattoo and so much more. Through this group exhibition, promising young artists will have the chance to exhibit side by side with some of the more established artists in these fields. This mixture will allow the viewer to experience a plethora of varying styles and techniques rising out of this powerful New Contemporary movement in art.

:::

LEADERS
BLOODHORSE
THE MIDNIGHT PRAYERS
ACID TIGER
BAD DREAMS

Lost and Found Bar
113 Franklin Street at Greenpoint Ave, Greenpoint, Brooklyn

:::

DAN DEACON
at the Whitney Museum of Art

A high-energy electro-acoustic composer, Dan Deacon performs with Casio keyboard, computer, vocoder, signal generator, and other devices to process his voice and compositions. Influenced by Devo, Talking Heads and Scratch Orchestra, among others, his music takes experimental composition and electronic music off of the esoteric intellectual shelf, making it less formal and more fun.

:::

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MP3:

The boys of Team Robespierre just put out their first album, Everything's Perfect. Which is exciting, since they seem to be one of the most fun bands in Brooklyn right now (see photographic evidence above). You'll be missing out if you don't get yourself one.

- Team Robespierre - Ha Ha Ha

A band's place in myspace.