Juiceboxxx
NY2LON Live Reviewby L Dog from the West Coast
Juiceboxxx, the youngest of my favorite "indie" rappers, is worth just about anything to see. Even a sea of unappreciative hipsters. Even spilled drinks (on me). Even sweat.
When I met up with JB, I found him surprisingly charming for someone so tired. From what I could tell, the boy had flown from NY that day, by himself. Perhaps it was the drink in his hand (someone had gifted him absinthe!), or perhaps he just likes California. Either way I was more smitten with the now 21 year old rapper. He's very independent, he's lived on his own since he was a teen! And just his body and his lyrics and nothing else but an iPod filled with beats create a whirlwind of on stage punk rock energy. It was enough to move the regulars at "Blow Up," an indie dance club night, who are usually too busy with themselves to notice a live act. But then again, not all the acts there jump into the crowd regularly.
Juiceboxxx had twenty minutes to impress, distress, and make the audience dance. He totally did it, too. He played some of my favorites, the ever lovable "Thunder Jam III," "Center Stage," and "Sweat," which was the theme of my night since at the moment, my friend Brian was sweating up a Juice-inspired storm a little too close for comfort.
"They don't want to see me, they just want to see themselves," said JB before the show. It's true, or it was true. But Juice, you really showed them. Not only did the crowd respond, they freakin' loved this kid from middle America. And even if they hadn't, hey, you still got some rent moneys.
Posted by ny2lon at 9:40 AM on May. 12 '08 | Comments (0)
Rogue Wave
NY2LON Live Reviewby Lauren from San Francisco
I arrived at the Fillmore to find two spots right in the front of line waiting for me due to some real fans who got there a few hours ahead of time that I am lucky enough to know. I feel like, at my age, I deserve that kind of treatment. I had talked to Kristen, singer of Grand Ole Party, earlier and decided she needed a super gift (a St. Christopher visor clip for a band's van is a useful thing). I hadn't really heard the music of GOP, but was very impressed when, a few hours later, I got the chance.
The opening act, Snowblink, was as charming as you can get. This bay area group was led by a nice young lady, Daniela, whom I harassed about many things, insisting that we've met before, and asking her to show off her engagement ring. Almost married, pretty, sings like an angel and has a wireless headset microphone: yep the girl pretty much is livin' the life. Not to mention the rest of her band are pretty much just as charming, as they rock instruments like sticks, tambourines, a shared cymbal. For one song, a basket of bells was passed into the crowd and everyone grabbed one (or a few, as was my desire) and rang them. A fishing pole with ribbon was also utilized during the set. I'll definitely be seeing this band again.
Grand Ole Party took the stage a little after 9:30. I was already tired at this point (aging, remember?) but got re-energized. The San Diego three piece - simply guitar, bass and drums - really got the crowd going, whom I assume had not heard of this act. The band is fresh off a UK tour with Rilo Kiley, played their last date with Rogue Wave that night, and will be back in less than a month with the Fiery Furnaces. The band probably draws comparison to the Furnaces, and probably the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, as it is simple, somewhat early rock and rollish, and woman led. Frontwoman Kristen pulled a Don Henley and sang with much emotion and energy (way better than anyone this side of Henley) while playing drums. How she can do both at the same time is a mystery. Someone in the crowd near me muttered that it was a gimmick - if so, it was working because I, and my hard to please red head friend, were pretty much won over. The smoke machine and fan behind Kristen added a great effect, even though from my position in front of a monitor she kind of looked like a floating head singing into a headset microphone. It was two for two good opening acts that night. At the end of their set, I asked the bassist for his set list, and he said, "sure but you won't be able to read it." When I looked at it later, I discovered it was just a bunch of letters on a notecard.
By the time Rogue Wave hit the stage, I was beat from a long day, and from all the previous dancing. We giggled at how cute Rogue Wave's older men vibe was, especially as we noted their guitarist's horn rimmed, ben Sherman jacket wearing style. He was the best thing on stage, making faces, jumping around, being older, and he was only five feet away. I was happy to hear some of my favorite songs, like "Medicine Ball" and crowd pleaser "Publish My Love," relative early, that way I could go home and not feel cheated. I was about to leave when I heard Zach Rogue asking Daniela to return to the stage, and one of my favorite men in town, John Vanderslice, to come sing a song with them. No words can describe my love for V-slice, I always love running into him... I made sure to holla for him, and I also got Daniela to show off her ring a little more. Despite everything the show was a little sad for me; this is the first show in the bay area since Evan died. From sfweekly's blog: "After an Elephants show at the Starry Plough in Berkeley on December 20 he slept at the home of Graham Lebron from Rogue Wave. When the basement furnace caught fire he woke everyone up in the house, but tragically was not able to make it to safety himself and died from his injuries three days later in the hospital."
Rogue Wave's Myspace
Rogue Wave's Website
Snowblink's Myspace
Snowblink's Website
Posted by ny2lon at 10:17 AM on May. 6 '08 | Comments (0)
Colin Meloy
NY2LON Live Reviewby Lauren from San Francisco
Colin Meloy, you are a gentleman and a scholar. Seriously. Who else could write a cautionary song about prostitute mothers and have it be so amazing?
I was running pretty late, and I was tempted to skip the Colin Meloy solo show at the Fillmore that my friend had gifted me his tickets to. But I persevered, and got to venue only a few songs into his set. It's really weird to think of one guy getting a huge tour bus, but it seems pretty appropriate for a man with such an obvious talent. Everything about him is wonderful, according to my show companion, "He's so good. He's over thirty, esoteric, and wears glasses and stripes." This thought would repeat in my head as I watched the hour long set of Decemberists and solo material. Also, every time he drank a sip of wine, she would squeal...something about older men and wine must be appealing.
For every solo jaunt, Meloy puts out an EP of covers by a specific artist. First Morrisey, then Shirley Collins, and now the wonderful Sam Cooke â the cover of "Cupid" can't quite capture the power of the original, but Colin Meloy is a white guy from middle America who was born in the 70s, and did amazingly well making an EP of these songs that I could listen to over and over. Colin sang many songs about San Francisco, much to our delight, including "Grace Cathedral Hill," and "O Valencia."
Meloy is a mix a musician and an actor, this is especially true when he is by himself, wearing no outfit, just jeans and a collared shirt. He still makes the story songs come alive, and even lets the audience in on Decemberists secrets: like how bassist Nate Query has a mic in front of him only for one specific yell - the captains wail in "Mariner's Revenge." He also encouraged audience sing alongs, reminiscent to a school teacher, and regularly talked to the characters in the front row (they even got a few laughs out of him). It had been a few years since I've seen Meloy in any form, and this was a splendid reminder that he is probably a genius, but not the creepy kind, the kind that gets along with people.
Colin Meloy's Myspace
The Decemberists' Myspace
The Decemberists' Website
Posted by ny2lon at 12:55 PM on May. 5 '08 | Comments (0)
MGMT
NY2LON Live Reviewby Lauren from San Francisco
I'm always delighted when MGMT rolls into town. Needless to say, I didn't think they'd ever roll into town with a huge tour bus, but that's not to say those boys don't deserve it. It's hard work being young and touring all the time. Since I first befriended the lil guys, they've been in San Francisco three times...that's an insane amount of times! I know that they are huge in England, and I'm pretty sure they are huge here too. Anywho, I'll skip all that and go straight ahead to the review.
Slim's is a strange venue. Not bad, just strange. They have a real cook to make the bands food (a man named Jose, I think, who is super sweet and claims, believably, to be friends with all sorts of big names). They have a big screen to drop between set changes. They have annoying poles throughout the room, which you could conceivably put a drink down on, but seem to serve the purpose of annoying me. MGMT's van, er, large tour bus of love, was parked right outside the little venue, for all the kids in line to gawk at as they approached the show and waited in a long line. I think there is a joke about tour busses being bigger than the places a band is playing...that wasn't quite the case here, but it was pretty close. I was lucky enough to watch from inside as some MGMT crew gave out schwag (shirts, jeans, other stuff they had picked up on the road) to some lucky people outside. Free stuff is great, but you don't smile really big unless the free stuff is given to you, in some way, by a band.
MGMT is a duo, Andrew and Ben, but as a touring band they are joined by some of the nicest boys ever: Matt on bass, James on guitar and Will on drums. The band played a set of songs from their recent release, Oracular Spectacular, including: Weekend Wars, Pieces of What, Time to Pretend, and Kids (the encore). All of which were big hits with the crowd! MGMT also played some covers (the kinks!); you've got to play covers when you only have one album, I would think. I like to think that in a perfect world, everyone loves Brown Eyed Girl, by Van Morrison, and if I were the judge, the crowd at Slim's that night would definitely be in my perfect world. So would MGMT, because they somehow decided to play Brown Eyed Girl (I was surprised, I didn't hear it soundcheck!), "sha la la la's" and everything! Nothing can get a crowd of girls - which was most of the front few rows of that show - excited like that song...it's a fact! I was tempted to run onstage and dance, but I decided to mind my manners, and dance from where I was.
I expect that this little band will get bigger and bigger, hopefully not exploding in the process. In fact, I'm pretty sure they legally have to grow in popularity, it's in the contract, right? Columbia Records is ensuring us of at least three more albums. They have to pay for that bus somehow! WORTH IT.
Posted by ny2lon at 10:47 AM on Apr. 29 '08 | Comments (0)
Rilo Kiley
NY2LON Live Reviewby Lauren from the Bermuda Triangle
Rilo Kiley. It has been years indeed since I've last seen you. And, despite what people say, you have not changed! Not negatively, anyway.
Michael Runion, boy superstar and my favorite LA local, opened up the Rilo Kiley show by addressing the fact that the ads for the show all said 8 pm, when really, the show started at 7:30. "It's hard to feel anything when it's light outside," he complained, in an endearing way. I've never seen Runion with a full band, but he had one, a five piece backing band that he seemed to really like. He even got to put his guitar down, wrap the microphone cord around his self and croon for a few songs, when Whispertown's Tod picked up the electric. Michael Runion explained to the crowd that over thanksgiving, he had learned that his last name is Irish, even though he is Mexican: "I'd like to thank us, we built this state, and I'd like to thank the Europeans for stealing it." Michael pleased me, although he didn't play my favorite, "Don't Let Her Hold You."
Whispertown 2000, yet another lovely LA band, was more what the crowd was looking for: two attractive, short-dress wearing women (Jenny's friend Morgan and Vanessa), a cute boy (Tod), and a mustachioed character (a fellow who replaced old W200 member Colt). They kicked off their set with "103," a song about my favorite topic, aging! The four musicians switched off instruments, which really impressed me. Whispertown even played some new material. The band ended with their signature jamboree style finale; all of Runions band returned to the stage, (except Runion who was very late for the jam session) picked up instruments, and rocked out. The guitar player from Runion's band plucked the bass strings, while Whispertown's bassist fretted the notes: it was too cool to believe. Runion finally made it back to the stage to play the acoustic guitar and jam out for a while before the set ended.
Rilo Kiley, the band that everyone was waiting for, came out at a respectable hour - 9:25. Jenny Lewis, front woman, child star, solo star, all purpose ginger!, looked smaller than the last time I'd seen her, and everyone was swooning as soon as she stepped on stage. The band all had silver, black and white outfits on; they are an impeccably dressed band, but I would expect nothing less from Los Angeles darlings. I believe I saw Orenda Fink, one of my other favorite artists, playing with Rilo Kiley (trumpet, tambourine, keys). The lighting was brilliant - someone did a great job managing strobes, black lights, blue lights, red lights. The band kicked off the set with three songs from their newest album, Under the Blacklight, "Close Call," "Moneymaker," and "Dreamworld," which sounded so much like a smooth 70's song that I couldn't stop smiling.
"Capturing Moods," from Executions of all Things, was messed up by Miss Jenny, but noone would have noticed if she hadn't stopped to apologize, which was adorable, as usual; one of the best sing along moments came during this song, when hundreds of people sang/screamed, "you could sell your baseball cards just to pay your rent." At that moment all I could think was, 'I've never owned baseball cards, nobody I know has ever owned them either.' The lighting guy, whoever he is, produced my favorite moment of show: during the emotional high point of "Does He Love You" the stage was completely drenched in red light as Lewis sang, "your husband will never leave you for me" â it reminded me of how good of an actress she probably is, she can capture every range of emotion in the songs she sings.
Blake had an important announcement, he had to introduce his new guitar that he had driven all the way from LA to SF to retrieve from a craigslist ad in a bar. Can you imagine selling your guitar online only to find out it was for Blake Sennett, former child star, current rock star? He then went straight into "Ripchord," from More Adventurous. So many sing along moments during this set. "Absence of God," and "With Arms Outstretched," were just two of the many songs that had the crowd hot and bothered and singing like mad.
I love balloons! I am putting that out there as a pretext to my next statement - I love balloons filled with glitter. Needless to say, Rilo Kiley had balloons filled with glitter and it made my freakin' night. I texted my friend during the balloon song, "Silver Lining," that 'these balloons are floating and fucking huge...I want to marry one...and live happy with glitter latex children." One balloon even made it to the end of the song with out it's glittery insides being torn apart. However, an even luckier balloon got popped just as Jenny Lewis ended, "I never felt so wicked, as when I willed our love to die (POP)." She smiled at the balloon. The band "ended" with "I Never," a song that holds precious memories for me - I was there the first time it was performed live - complete with an epic Blake guitar solo. Now it's a sure fire sign that the show ain't over if the band leaves something running, and sure enough Rilo came out to perform a few more songs, including "Picture of Success," and "Portions for Foxes," which made the crowd completely nuts. I think Rilo Kiley is just a band that people can go nuts for...I was proved right when my friend Jen got a water bottle from the stage, and proceeded to yell "This is JENNY'S WATER!!," and pour some on my head. I guess she thought it was a sort of holy blessing - maybe everyone at that show would agree with her.
Posted by ny2lon at 3:41 PM on Apr. 22 '08 | Comments (0)
The Gay Blades!!
A NY2LON Live Review...Spinner from N6th
A little Iggy and the Stooges, a little... Dane Cooke, actually. Clark Westfield, lead singer of this 2-man outfit, could absolutely be a talk show host or a standup comic - that is, if he weren't such a fucking good musician. His personality is as amped as his music. He kept the audience (i.e. me) throughly entertained, like when he goes to the people in the front row, "We're so close! It's like it's just us!" Or when he called out some dude in the audience, "You're not really on your Blackberry during the clappy hand part are you??" He threw love to the concert organizers, saying, "We'd like to thank Deli Magazine for voting us the 28th best band of 2007... 28 is where it's at. Number 29? Fuck that. FUCK that. That's white rabbit shit."
Curious about the other guy in the band? Drummer Puppy Mills aka The Snitch, like, could've been in The Stooges. His propulsive beats totally held their own with Westfield's wildly manic persona. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed watching a drummer as much as I did tonight. He just made it look so fun and easy. And as a failed drummer, I happen to know that alot of the stuff he was doing wasn't that easy.
The Gay Blades are just really fucking FUN to watch. That's basically all I can say. What a fucking blast. I want to get back in line and go again!
Epilogue: At some point during the set, I heard someone say "They're like the White Stripes but with a sense of humor!" which at the time I thought was a lazy and very lame comparison. But I know what she meant, which is why I mention it now.
Visit the Gay Blades at their Myspace
Posted by ny2lon at 3:49 PM on Apr. 4 '08 | Comments (0)
Deck of Jack
Starter Jacket Videoby Raleigh Paterson from Newark
The 90's were known for many great things-flannel shirts, grunge music, Seinfeld, Cindy Crawford, Wayne and Garth, Beavis and Butthead, Doc Martin boots, and Pulp Fiction. Besides these unforgettable goodies, the decade also brought us a handful of pop-cultural stains-one of those being the Starter jacket epidemic, an unexplainable phenomenon where certain suburban teenagers dawned puffy coats and began acting like gangsta rappers.
Deck-of-Jack, with the help of the Slack Pack (Long Island's favorite cable access comedy troupe) tries to shed some light on this mystery in their brand new music video, "Starter Jacket."
For those who were alive during this turbulent time, it's time to break out your pagers, peg your pants, and re-live the days when suburban kids thought Compton was Camelot.
"Starter Jacket" video:
Check out the rest of Deck of Jack's hilariously awesome (or is it awesomely hilarious?) videos here.
Posted by ny2lon at 3:49 PM on Apr. 3 '08 | Comments (0)
Who Just Spent The Night With A Pirate??
Nice Beard...MQ from NYC
Posted by ny2lon at 2:29 PM on Apr. 3 '08 | Comments (0)
Oh Tom Brady...
Love ya for trying...Dave from Leytonstone
Why is it that certain looks work for some people, and don't work at all for others? It's a mystery of human physiology. I refuse to believe it is an dude vs. bloke thing. But something about Tom Brady just looks... I dunno... Off. Like he just doesn't quite.... feel right... or pull this off.
I think the David Beckham comparisons are fair. You did it to yourself, Tom. The instant you tied and tucked that pashmina. The hat and glasses maybe? with the cable knit? The casual friday chino? something.
Or maybe that he's kinda posing for the camera, like he's really proud of his look that day. Maybe he's projecting a bit of desperation?
I dunno. You decide.
Posted by ny2lon at 3:05 PM on Apr. 2 '08 | Comments (0)
Dan Deacon and Liam Lynch
Drinking Out Of CupsTo Da Moon from NYC
For those of you who don't know, Liam Lynch is the guy who sang that cult hit a few years ago "The United States of Whatever." Dan Deacon is... I dunno who Dan Deacon is. But this video is fucking amazing.
"pa-little kid in the background going CRAY-zeh-hheh-heh-hehhhh.."
comic gold.
Posted by ny2lon at 8:55 AM on Apr. 1 '08 | Comments (0)
PLAY BALL!!
In Honor of America's Past-time...Opening Day from NYC
Every opening day, we like to have important people (celebrities, legendary ex-ballplayers, politicians) throw out the ceremonial first pitch. In D.C., President Bush came out to boo's and threw out the first pitch. Last year, in Cincinnati, Mayor Mark Mallory came out to christen the new baseball season.
Geez, Mayor...
Thanks to MyPartyPost.Com
Posted by ny2lon at 1:04 PM on Mar. 31 '08 | Comments (0)
One For The Ages...
Arthur the weathermanMQ from NYC
"Pretty much everywhere, it's gonna be hot... Charlotte?"
"Then I don't need a jacket."
"..."
"..."
"AHEEHEEHEE!"
Doesn't look like much on paper, and yet... that 9-second exchange has kept me thoroughly entertained for almost 6 hours.
And then in the comments section, someone named "qu1et" posts this:
aheeheehee! It's gonna be hot. Pretty much everywhere. So Charlotte doesn't need her jacket. Because it's gonna be hot. Thanks Arthur! aheeheehee! Gonna be hot.
a) I want to hang out with pre-show Arthur
b) I want to date "qu1et"
c) Fire Al Roker. Hire Arthur.
d) ...
e) aheeheehee!
Posted by ny2lon at 5:34 PM on Mar. 28 '08 | Comments (0)
Pharrell Can't Be Stopped...
Old News Worth ReMentioningMe from NY
ALL THE GIRLS STANDING IN THE LINE FOR THE BATHROOM - the hook in N.E.R.D.'s new single, "Everyone Nose," refers to girls at clubs waiting to do blow. And everyone knows. Not a startling revelation. Nor is this blog post a scoop by any means. But I just needed an excuse to do a post on Pharrell, who is my hero (and my top friend on Myspace).
The beat is fire. New album, "Seeing Sounds," due in June. I, for one, can barely contain myself.
Check it:
Posted by ny2lon at 10:55 AM on Mar. 28 '08 | Comments (0)
The A-Team Movie is a Go!!
I'll believe it when I see it...Me from NY2LON Headquarters
So, rumor has it that the A-Team movie is being rescued from no-man's land, where it has been languishing for about a decade. John Singleton is set to direct; Michael Bandt and Derek Haas will write the screenplay. So who's playing who? The cast has yet to be determined, but everyone's a casting director these days, no? Some are more confirmed than others, but here's an educated guess...
HANNIBAL - GEORGE CLOONEY
I love it when a plan comes together.
FACE - OWEN WILSON
How YOU doin'
MURDOCK - WOODY HARRELSON.. Director Singleton has come out and said he really, really wants it to be him.
Awooooooooooo!
B.A. BARACUS - ICE CUBE openly talks about the role, and he's worked with Singleton when he starred in the director's debut, 'Boyz N the Hood.'
Fuck tha police
Yea yeah, ok..
I pity the fool
While I think Brad Pitt would make a good Face, i think the Clooney/Pitt combo would just overshadow everything else... The movie would lose its balance, you know what I mean? Plus, George Clooney, Brad Pitt... and then Ice Cube and Woody Harrelson... Sounds more like Ocean's 15 to me.
That said, I got to thinking... How boutttttt....
Hannibal: Ed Harris, Philip Seymore Hoffman (cause he can play any part), Jake Taylor from Major League (aka Tom Berenger), or Bill Parcells
Face: James Marsden (too young), Jefferson D'arcy (too old), Tom Glavine (not an actor, and no one in New York would go see it, purely based on principle.)
Murdock: i'm sorry, Woody Harrelson, like, is murdock. I've heard Jim Carrey, but... no. And I've also heard Johnny Knoxville. Come on, folks. Get a grip.
B.A.: Just let Mr. T do itttttt.. I mean, let's be honest, homeboy hasn't aged a bit. Or just go with Philip Seymore Hoffman...
Posted by ny2lon at 2:39 PM on Mar. 25 '08 | Comments (0)
SXSW 2008
The Week That Wasby Rachy P in NYC
Unlike most bloggers, we don't live blog at SXSW. We're too burnt out--literally and figuratively, thank you 95 degree, record breaking heat!--when we return to our hotel/couch/floor at 4am to stay up until 8 am blogging about the previous day's happenings, sleeping until noon and then doing it all over again. But kudos to those who do! Plus, we think it's fun to go back in our minds, one week later, and relive the awesomeness that is SXSW. By now we're well rested, refreshed, recovered, and ready to reminisce.
I'm going to try something different this year. I will attempt to connect each band I write about to the following one. Think of it as Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon SXSW.
I think it's only right to start with the first band I saw, a great band that also just happens to be from Austin, Future Clouds and Radar. They play really lovely, mellow pop, accented by Robert Harrison's beautiful vocals. Their bassist, Joshua Zarbo (one of the coolest people on Earth), used to be in Spoon. On our way to another gig, we bumped into Spoon's sound/tech guy, Jeff Byrd (another cool dude), and he recommended we see a band he's currently working with, Corto Maltese, also from Austin. I'm so glad I did because these guys are like a more awesome Arcade Fire. It's kind of ridiculous how awesome they are.
Speaking of Spoon, their drummer, Jim Eno, (another cool dude!) was at New York band Longwave's showcase. They're one of the best bands from NYC, and any fan of shoegazey, Brit-inspired rock should check them out. Their live show is always great.
Longwave played a day party with Look See Proof, from England. I love these guys. They play crazy energetic dance-rock, and their live show is great. They've got choppy beats that keep you tapping your toes throughout their set. At that same day show, LSP played alongside their friends, Glaswegian band The Dykeenies. They're a little too emo, My Chemical Romance-ish for me, but their live show is anthemic and strong; very powerful stuff.
Sons and Daughters, who are also from Glasgow, played 11 shows, and I went to three of them, all of which were great. I love their sexy, dark, gothy dance-rock, and vocalist Adele Bethel sounded stronger than ever when showcasing the band's new songs live. While speaking to guitarist and vocalist Scott Paterson about their insane schedule, he said theirs was nothing compared to Lightspeed Champion, who was doing over 30 shows! I managed to see just one of those performances, and I'm sure glad I did. Lightspeed is the new band of Dev Hynes, formerly of Test-Icicles, which this new band sounds nothing like. Dev has a really great voice, and the slowed down, stripped down music in his new band really allows him to show it off.
Another band that arose from a disbanded group is The Rascals, who were my favorite band of SXSW '08. I saw them three times and all three sets were killer. Like I said before, they sound like a mix of The Coral and Arctic Monkeys, and if that doesn't sound good to you then you need your head examined. I actually think they're better live than on record, so go see them live as soon as you can!
I saw The Whip just before The Rascals. Rave party 2008!! They went on at 4 in the afternoon, but vocalist Bruce Carter told us to pretend like it was 4 in the morning, which is the appropriate time to see a band like theirs. Madchester is alive and well in 2008, as long as bands like The Whip keep it going! A must see for anyone who likes to dance their ass off.
Speaking of Manchester, I was so pleased to be able to see Manchester-native Jim Noir at SXSW, as it had been years since I'd seen him last. He's still making wonderful pop music, and his set consisted almost entirely of new songs, all of which sounded great. He is a pop genius who can do no wrong.
I also had the pleasure of seeing Ed Harcourt, another singer-songwriter from England. I'm not sure how to describe Ed's music. Words like deep, epic, and angelic come to mind, but that sounds too cheesy! Oh well, it's true. His show was amazing and wasn't lacking in humor, something Ed is known for.
I saw California's The Morning Benders at the same venue as Ed. I was excited to see how their perfect West Coast pop songs would sound live, and they sounded great. They've really mastered the beachy, sunny pop sound.
Scissors For Lefty are also from California, but their music is more dance-pop oriented. Their live show was really fun. It was nice to see a band really enjoy themselves on stage and their humbleness was refreshing.
Fellow Californians Two Gallants played a handful of shows and I knew to catch at least one. They play passionate, intense blues-country-rock and the passion and intensity is always magnified at their live shows, which are incredible.
Johnny Flynn also plays bluesy country rock, but he's from England, which is kind of strange but also really awesome, because he has NAILED the sound. He was great live and it was quite fitting, considering we were in Texas.
I saw The Voom Blooms at the same venue on the same day. Unfortunately, they were forgettable, which confuses me because their recorded music is AMAZING. I'm going to chalk it up to being really tired and hot (me and them) and give them another shot.
Speaking of forgettable, Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong did nothing for me. It seemed like they were trying too hard and I'm sorry, but you shouldn't be wearing a cape when it's 95 degrees out.
One band that you couldn't forget if you tried is The Pigeon Detectives, also from England. Lead singer Matt Bowman jumps around on stage as if he forgot to take his Ritalin. He swings his mic in the air (and almost always catches it; it's quite impressive), brings audience members onstage, climbs things, and jumps from things. Their music is also great, with clever, funny lyrics and dancey rock beats that get you moving. If their music doesn't get you pumped up then I'm pretty sure you're dead. One of the best shows of the entire festival.
Finally, the band that stood out most for me was Fanfarlo, also from England. I had never heard them before and I was surprised and completely blown away by them. They sound like Beirut mixed with Belle and Sebastian--a great combination if you ask me. They've got lots of fun instruments and they sound really great on record and live, so go listen to them and see them as soon as possible!
Well, there's SXSW 2008 in a nutshell, or a shell that's slightly bigger than a nut...It was great fun and I'm already counting down the days until next year. Can't wait!
For pictures and links, click here.
Posted by ny2lon at 8:42 AM on Mar. 22 '08 | Comments (0)
SXSW Is So Last Week...
a recap..Back In New York
Here's my take on SXSW. I've decided that there are too many people for too few legitimately good parties. So you get a log-jam at the Playboy party entrance, and about a thousand empty showcases where bands are playing to their manager, sound guy, and #1 fan (sometimes manifested in one guy, unshowered and with a ponytail).
That said, I had a fucking blast. Above is a picture of NY2LON favorite the morning benders getting interviewed by John Norris of MTV News - mics, cameras and all. Check out the background - not your average sxsw gig. It was taken at the +1 House party at Hank Sinatra's house, where the stage was made of junk, and there was a pen full of goats and chickens in the yard. Hank himself might be the coolest motherfucker in history. Picture's worth a thousand words:
Highlights from the house party? The whole fucking thing. Explorer's Club were a revelation. Peggy Sue & The Pirates impressed. The Morning Benders were fresh and the perfect vibe to complement the gorgeous Texas sunset. The Heavy and Two Gallants brought the thunder.
Other parties I crashed/attended...
Playboy Rock The Rabbit. (10 out of 10)
The party of the week. There were playmates walking around in their little bunny get-ups. I saw celebrities like Lance Armstrong, Elijah Wood, and Tom Morrello. Carson Daly and John Norris were spotted having a conversation. No word on who was interviewing who, or whether we had traveled back in time to the set of TRL circa 1995. The band of the night was definitely The Heavy. Their frontman is outrageous.
Behind the scenes? The VIP section was really smoky, the floor was slick from all the spilled booze and melted ice, the industry hustle was non-stop, playmates were running in and out, and Moby was trying to kick a door down in his dressing room. And yes, the MGMT guy kept his headband on for the duration of the evning.
The BLENDER after-hours (not bad out of 10):
Cool Kids slayed it. But the performance room was so crowded, I chose to remain outside where it was nice and... crowded. But not sweaty and gross. Backstage scene? Not too crazy. The Cool Kids seem to have their heads on straight: I overheard one of the Cool Kids say, "The life is glamorous until you're in it. I've been in my house for 4 days this year..." Diplo and A-Trak isn't really my thing, but the music was loud and the party stayed packed til 4am, which is something.
DIESEL:U:MUSIC Party (dankness out of 10):
She&Him played - Zooey Deschanel is an angel. Her voice makes me want to shoop. The Ting Tings were a perfect late night act, as my drunken ass hopped up and down til the bitter end. My ears rang for days.
This wins for best VIP section - bowling lanes! Watching musicians and hipster industry folk, all conveniently dressed in Diesel, trying to bowl after a night of free beer and vodka drinks might have been my favorite thing... Besides seeing Zooey up close. She doesn't even look real. She's perfection.
Posted by ny2lon at 1:31 PM on Mar. 20 '08 | Comments (0)
The Rascals at SXSWby Rachy P from NYC
Howdy, y'all! This year's SXSW was awesome. As your resident Anglophile, I made it my duty to see as many UK bands as possible (this site's not called New York 2 London for nothin!) In total, I saw 22 bands from the UK, 12 from the US, one from Australia, and one from Sweden. That's a lot of bands. The best band at this year's SXSW was, hands down, The Rascals.
This trio rose from the ashes of their previous band, The Little Flames (sorry, the pun was necessary). If The Coral and Arctic Monkeys had a baby, well, it'd be The Rascals. I was lucky enough to catch the band three times at SXSW, and all of their sets blew me away. Lead vocalist Miles Kane sure has some strong pipes!
Their three-song set for radio station The Current was short, but the sound was amazing, so I took the opportunity to film the band during their set.
The Rascals performing "The Freakbeat Phantom":
This is just a taste of what's to come from our SXSW coverage. Expect a big write up in the next few days, complete with pictures, links, and more!
Posted by ny2lon at 7:46 PM on Mar. 19 '08 | Comments (0)
Gone to Texasfrom the NY2LON Headquarters
It's fianlly my favorite time of the year, SXSW!! Unfortunately avid NY2LON readers, that means we will be M.I.A. (not the artist) for a week! But not to worry, when we come back, we'll have so many updates that you won't know what to do with yourself!
Posted by ny2lon at 3:33 PM on Mar. 10 '08 | Comments (0)
This Week in Shows
NY2LON Concert CalendarGigaholics Anonymous, NY
Bands from all over the world are making their way to Austin, TX for the annual music schmooze fest that is SXSW. This means there are a ton of great shows before (and after) the festival in New York. However, London's holding it down with some pretty great bands this week as well. I'd say it'd be great to live on either side of the Atlantic this week.
This Week in New York:
Sunday, 3/9 - Ra Ra Riot, Levy - Living Room
Monday, 3/10 - The Black Lips - Bowery Ballroom
Monday, 3/10 - Reykjavik! - Cake Shop
Monday, 3/10 - South - Pianos
Tuesday, 3/11 - The Pigeon Detectives, Emmy the Great - Bowery Ballroom
Tuesday, 3/11 - Jose Gonzalez - Highline Ballroom
Tuesday, 3/11 - Shout Out Louds - Joe's Pub
Tuesday, 3/11 - Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip - Mercury Lounge
Tuesday, 3/11 - Dizzee Rascal - Southpaw
Tuesday, 3/11 - Justice, Chromeo - Theatre at MSG
Wednedsay, 3/12 - Joe Lean and Jing Jang Jong - Union Hall
Thursday, 3/13 - Bob Mould - Irving Plaza
Thursday, 3/13 - The Brunettes - Glasslands
Friday, 3/14 - Louis XIV - Irving Plaza
Saturday, 3/15 - Oakley Hall - Glasslands
Saturday, 3/15 - Cut Copy - Studio B
Sunday, 3/16 - The Pogues - Roseland Ballroom
This Week in London:
Sunday, 3/9 - Stereophonics - The Roadhouse
Sunday, 3/9 - The Zombies - Shepherds Bush Empire
Monday, 3/10 - Panic at the Disco - The Roadhouse
Monday, 3/10 - Kate Nash - Hammersmith Apollo
Monday, 3/10 - Mumm-Ra - The Forum
Tuesday, 3/11 - Guillemots - Shepherds Bush Empire
Wednesday, 3/12 - frYars - Soho Revue Bar
Wednesday, 3/12 - Jack Penate - Shepherds Bush Empire
Wednesday, 3/12 - The Jesus and Mary Chain - The Roadhouse
Wednesday, 3/12 - The Fall - The Astoria
Thursday, 3/13 - Kid Harpoon - Dingwalls
Thursday, 3/13 - Black Kids - ICA
Friday, 3/14 - Supergrass - The Roadhouse
Friday, 3/14 - The Mars Volta - Brixton Academy
Saturday, 3/15 - Neil Young - Hammersmith Apollo
More Listings:
New York
London
Posted by ny2lon at 3:16 PM on Mar. 8 '08 | Comments (0)
The Week in Links
Music Newsfrom the NY2LON Headquarters
Nick Valensi and Amanda de Cadenet have the cutest twins ever (see above). Beat that J Lo!
U2, Eminem and Paul McCartney to play Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday partaaaaaay.
Franz Ferdinand and Damon Albarn play unique gig for Africa Exprez.
Keira Knightley is releasing an album...
The Notorious B.I.G. film finds its leading man!
The Charlatans' new album is available as a free download!
Janet Jackson is going to release a weight-loss book...
Danger Mouse to produce Beck's new album.
Noel Gallagher has taken up shooting as a hobby... oh boy!
Lisa Marie Presley is pregnant with her third child, thank you very much.
Amy Winehouse is changing it up a bit by snorting shots of vodka. Maybe her and Prince Harry should hang out together.
A.C. Slater to hit Broadway, preppy.
Posted by ny2lon at 4:26 PM on Mar. 7 '08 | Comments (0)
The Last Shadow Puppets
NY2LON Live Reviewby Rachy P from NYC
On March 4, we New Yorkers were treated to a surprise intimate performance by The Last Shadow Puppets, a side project for Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner and The Rascals' Miles Kane. They are in town to promote their debut album, The Age of the Understatement, and decided to do a last-minute gig. It was their first ever live performance as a duo and it gave them a chance to preview new material from their album.
Fans of both bands will be pleased by the band's sound. It doesn't seem like the recorded material will be as stripped down as this acoustic set was, but the music for this project is definitely more mellow than the Arctic Monkeys' or The Rascals'.
If you don't know who The Rascals are, I suggest you check them out. Aside from the fact that they're a great band, the overall sound of The Last Shadow Puppets' music has more in common with The Rascals than with Arctic Monkeys. The Rascals remind me of The Coral, and the music played at the show sounded like what you might expect The Coral to sound like if they played acoustically.
Overall, the songs have a haunting feel to them, especially when Turner and Kane sing together. And call me crazy, but the title track reminds me of Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise!"
The album is out April 21 on Domino Records.
The setlist:
"In My Room"
"Standing Next to Me"
"The Chamber"
"Only the Truth"
"Calm Like You"
"My Mistakes"
"The Age of the Understatement"
"Meeting Place"
More information is available on Domino's website.
Posted by ny2lon at 4:06 PM on Mar. 5 '08 | Comments (0)
The Week in Links
Music Newsfrom the NY2LON Headquarters
Radiohead aren't playing Glastonbury this year due to the festival's lack of an environmentally friendly public transport system.
Eternally smiley home-chef Rachael Ray's SXSW showcase will feature The Stills, The Ravonettes, Scissors for Lefty, and Holy F*ck. Um, what?
MIA, Karen O, Joan Jett, Common, and Billie Joe Armstrong will appear in a new ad for Converse to mark the shoe company's 100th anniversary. Um, what?
John Mellencamp is working on a musical with horror novelist Stephen King. Um, what?
The Black Crowes have rejected Maxim's apology for reviewing their album before hearing it. Oops.
Coldplay warn that not everyone will like their new album because it is different from the first three. No comment.
Prince will have hip replacement surgery. Poor purple man.
Buddy Miles, Jimi Hendrix's former drummer, died at age 60. Miles also worked with David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, George Clinton, Santana, Muddy Waters and Barry White. RIP.
Keith Richards warns the youngins that doing drugs isn't worth it. We can't decide if Richards is a great or a terrible anti-drug spokesperson.
Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch will go up for auction if he fails to pay the $25 million he owes for the property. Yikes. Who would want to live there?
Eric Clapton has been invited to play in North Korea in 2009. He would be the first Western pop star ever to play in the country. Interesting choice...
Posted by ny2lon at 12:23 PM on Feb. 28 '08 | Comments (0)
MAXIM Reviews Black Crowes CD Before Listening To It...
Probably The Best Review It's Gonna GetMe at NY2LON Headquarters
Let's face it, this must happen all the time.
For those of you who have not heard, The Black Crowes' upcoming album, Warpaint, was given 2.5 stars out of 5, by Maxim Magazine. The only problem, according to the Black Crowes website, is that there is no way anyone at the magazine could have heard the album, because preview copies had not even been made available. Chances are, they heard one song (the single had been made available) and projected a review for the rest, which explains why, when asked, the magazine came up with: it was an "educated guess preview." Nice. "No comment... I mean... Sorry, I guess." would have been better.
Don't get me wrong. There's no way the new Black Crowes album is going to be good. And this incident probably has every shitty band who's ever gotten a terrible review from the mag chomping at the bit. Not to mention that the Black Crowes have always had an infuriating sense of entitlement, and now it's bigger... and in this case entirely justified.
So, to prevent a shitty band uprising, and to curb this Black Crowes crusade / press train, if I ran Maxim, here's how I would handle this.
1. Fire some people
2. Agree to re-review the Black Crowes album.
3. Take a star away.
4. Put CORRECTION: Black Crowes get 1.5 stars on the goddamn cover of next month's issue.
Posted by ny2lon at 9:06 PM on Feb. 26 '08 | Comments (0)
The Wallbirds
NY2LON Featured ArtistMeg from Quahog
In a day and age where literally any and every band adds you on myspace and calls you a "friend," it's hard to whittle down who you should and shouldn't listen to. A little initiative goes a long way, so when a band takes the time to send me a message, I put them ahead of all the other bands, and give them a listen that day. Thankfully The Wallbirds did just that and not only did I immediately listen to them, but I also immediately fell in love with their music.
What's really interesting about The Wallbirds is that they incorporate a couple genres of music in the course of one self-titled EP. On tracks like "Valentine" and "8 O'Clock Blues," you can expect to hear Bruce Springsteen like harmonicas with Ryan Adams' type folk rock. Then there is the stellar track "The Avenue" that is throwback, jangly, southern pop sung by way of Doncaster. Bridging the gap between these two genres is the track "Desperate" which combines the harmonicas and folk with a pinch of southern charm. It's easy to imagine the three guys that make up The Wallbirds sitting on a porch in the south playing banjos and washboards chewing on straw.
They have an unhealthy amount of tour dates coming up with both The Metros and Air Traffic, which you should take the time and make sure you see them.
02/27 - Birmingham, UK - Bar Academy*
02/29 - Tunbridge Wells, UK - Forum*
03/01 - Norwich, UK - Arts Centre*
03/03 - Leeds, UK - Cockpit*
03/04 - Edinburgh, UK - Cabaret Voltaire*
03/05 - Aberdeen, UK - Tunnels*
03/06 - Glasgow, UK - King Tuts*
03/07 - Liverpool, UK - Korova*
03/08 - Bedford, UK - Esquire*
03/13 - Brighton, UK - Freebutt
03/14 - Portsmouth, UK - Shepherds Crook
03/15 - Southampton, UK - Unit 22
03/28 - Doncaster, UK - The Hub
03/29 - Wakefield, UK - Escobar
04/05 - Middlesborough, UK - Arena
04/10 - Inverness, UK - Hootanannys
04/11 - Stornoway, UK - Woodlands Centre
04/12 - Ullapool, UK - The Arch
04/13 - Elgin, UK - Red Shoes Theatre
04/18 - Peterborough, UK - Met Lounge
04/19 - Sheffield, UK - Academy
04/22 - Liverpool, UK - Barfly
04/23 - Birmingham, UK - Barfly
04/24 - Exeter, UK - Lemon Grove**
04/25 - Brighton, UK - Concorde 2**
04/26 - York, UK - Fibbers
04/28 - Edinburgh, UK - Liquid Rooms**
04/29 - Norwich, UK - Water Front**
04/30 - London, UK - Sheperds Bush Empire**
05/01 - London, UK - Barfly
*With The Metros
**With Air Traffic
Posted by ny2lon at 1:37 PM on Feb. 26 '08 | Comments (0)
The Films
NY2LON Featured ArtistHeidi from The Hills
Based on looks alone, you would never know that The Films hail from Charleston, South Carolina and they do everything in their power to make sure you don't find that out. Sorry to blow your cover fellas. These southern natives released their first full length album, Don't Dance Rattlesnake, this past September with a limited edition secret album called Horseforce! That's 23 songs kids! Although they'd like to forget it, it's really their southern roots that add to the overall album(s) sound. They are one of those bands that just some how ended up on your doorstep (or iPod for this generation) and you have no idea how they got there, but thank god that they did.
The second track, "Belt Loops," is essentially a Jon Cusack movie from the 80's in song form, although The Films add a little venom with lyrics like, "she said jealousy is something that distracts, I said it's hard to focus with your fingers in his belt loops." No beating around the bush there. Having heard a few tracks prior to the album's release, I got attached to them, but by far the best track on the album is one I haven't heard before. "Being Bored" is a rambunctious track that starts off with a ridiculously catchy beat that you find yourself bopping your head along to all through the song. "Tabletops" is a lip-curling sing along that you wish would never end but thankfully, when it does, you're greeted with an equally clever and fun song called "Black Shoes." The Films start getting dirty on "Strange Hands" when they describe a raunchy club scene with "he was push, push, pushin like he was selling speed, he's got hands upon her hips makin faces you wouldn't believe. Oh next thing is strange hands movin down your back." Growl!
Although I haven't heard Horseforce, I would have to say, based on Don't Dance Rattlesnake, all 23 songs The Films are offering you, you should listen to. There's not a single ounce of filler on Rattlesnake, so go on, give it a listen. They let you stream the whole album on their site, so you really have no excuse not to!
Posted by ny2lon at 3:30 PM on Feb. 25 '08 | Comments (0)
The Week in Links
Music Newsfrom the NY2LON Headquarters
Lily Allen's looking pretty goth these days!
Aretha Franklin and Beyonce fighting over the word "queen". Ladies, let's be civil, we don't want another Biggy/2Pac debacle!
Emma Watson (i.e. Hermione Granger) claims she is not dating Johnny Borrell, also has a relatively annoying website!
O.J. Simpson's girlfriend has been hospitalized for a severe head injury, the claim is, she fell...
Amy Winehouse's favorite pub will rise again after the Camden Market fire that occurred this past week.
YES!!! A film version of The Mighty Boosh has been confirmed!
Mark Ronson becomes an American!
Stacey Farber (i.e. Elle on Degrassi) goes to the New School and interns at Teen Vogue!
Paris Hilton apparently has a brother who she refused to bail out of jail.
Beck apologizes for lyrical debacle.
Interesting fashion statement made by Kelis at the 2008 Grammy Awards.
Dolly Parton is forced to postpone her upcoming tour (and SXSW appearance) because her legendary breasts are causing her back pain!
Posted by ny2lon at 8:11 AM on Feb. 15 '08 | Comments (0)
This Week in Shows
NY2LON Concert CalendarGigaholics Anonymous, NY
Grab your sweetheart and take them to one of these fine upcoming shows! Or, if you don't have a sweetheart, quit yer moping and try and find one at a gig! Cupid's on your side!
This Week in New York:
Thursday, 2/14 - Band of Horses and Dirty on Purpose - Brooklyn Masonic Temple
Thursday, 2/14 - Yeasayer and MGMT - Music Hall of Williamsburg
Thursday, 2/14 - The Duke Spirit and The Jaguar Club - Union Hall
Friday, 2/15 - Sam Champion and the XYZ Affair - Bowery Ballroom
Friday, 2/15 - Cassettes Won't Listen - Europa
Friday, 2/15 - The Black Hollies - Magnetic Field
Friday, 2/15 - Pissed Jeans - Silent Barn
Saturday, 2/16 - White Rabbits - Brooklyn Academy of Music (Free!)
Monday, 2/18 - President (ex Q and not U) - Knitting Factory Tap Bar
Monday, 2/18 - Calvin Johnson - Luteran Church of the Messiah
Tuesday, 2/19 - Punk Metal Karaoke Night - Club Midway
Tuesday, 2/19 - Foo Fighters, Serj Tankian, and Against Me! - Madison Square Garden (Weirdest line up ever...)
Wednesday, 2/20 - Be Your Own PET - Mercury Lounge
Wednesday, 2/20 - Ambulance Ltd. - Union Hall
This Week in London:
Thursday, 2/14 - Justice - The Astoria
Friday, 2/15 - Get Cape Wear Cape Fly - KOKO
Friday, 2/15 - The Raveonettes - 229
Saturday, 2/16 - Smashing Pumpkins - The 02 Arena
Saturday, 2/16 - Dropkick Murphys - Carling Academy Brixton
Saturday, 2/16 - The Horrors - The Astoria
Sunday, 2/17 - Dizzee Rascal - Shepherds Bush Empire
Monday, 2/18 - Jimmy Eat World - Carling Academy Brixton
Monday, 2/18 - Hadouken! - KOKO
Tuesday, 2/19 - The Wallbirds - Borderline
Tuesday, 2/19 - Electric Six - Carling Academy Islington
Wednesday, 2/20 - The Kissaway Trail - Bush Hall
Wednesday, 2/20 - We Are Scientists - Soho Revue Bar
Wednesday, 2/20 - Lightspeed Champion - Dingwalls
More Listings:
New York
London
Posted by ny2lon at 1:37 PM on Feb. 14 '08 | Comments (0)
The Blood Arm
NY2LON Featured ArtistVivian Banks from Bel Air
Alright, we here at NY2LON admit that The Blood Arm's latest album, Lie Lover Lie has been out for awhile, but we never gave it the attention and praise it deserved, so we are now taking the time to give it a proper spin! (Even though they're currently working on a new album - whoopsies).
For those of you who don't know who they are, The Blood Arm are the US's answer to Franz Ferdinand. Hailing from LA, they make the kind of pop music that seems to have gone out of style within recent years. Their music is just good, honest fun, with a flamboyant flair that only lead singer, Nathaniel Fregoso, could deliver.
The simple drumbeats at the start of "Suspicious Character" are infectious and introduce us to the most exciting track on the album. The song has clever lyrics ("let me steal a kiss, yah I was late for only this, and if you want one more, come back to my apartment and I'll show you what it's for") that you should definitely use this Valentine's Day to find yourself a date! The end of the track concludes with the spelling out of the word "know," which you wouldn't think to be sexy, but The Blood Arm manage to pull it off.
You can find possibly one of the meanest lyrics in the song "Angela," when Nathaniel yells, "I miss you like a nuclear bomb." Ouch. Their biography states that the lead singer realized "that his voice could lead him to heights higher than he could ever climb with his arms and legs alone." And it has undoubtedly done so. "Do I Have Your Attention?" is Nathaniel's way of conveying his message that he wants to be heard.
Almost all of the eleven songs on Lie Lover Lie are less than four minutes, making the album a forty minute masterpiece. This album deserves a lot of praise for its mature, yet simplistic pop music and warrants another listen from everyone. We're looking forward to their future work!
Posted by ny2lon at 12:55 PM on Feb. 13 '08 | Comments (0)
Look See Proof
NY2LON Featured ArtistKelly from Bayside
You know that rare occurrence when you hear a band for the first time and absolutely fall in love? That's what happened to me when I was introduced to this new band called Look See Proof. Composed of four fellas from Hertfordshire, Look See Proof are young, energetic, and ready to take the current music scene by storm. Their name may not ring a bell, but once their debut album comes out in June, they'll be unavoidable. They've already appeared in the pages of NME without a proper full length record out--now that's saying something.
What sets LSP apart from all the other bands trying to make it in this industry is that they're just in it to have fun, all the while making ridiculously catchy pop gems. The four songs you can hear on their Myspace (if you're not too lazy, you can buy their singles) are all choppy, single-ready songs.
The beginning of "Casualty" is incredibly anthemic, and you could easily see the song flourish in a venue the size of Brixton Academy. They also offer their version of a teenage heartbreak track with "Local Hero." Although all their songs are extremely addictive, I would have to say after far too many listens that "Start Again" is the unforeseen frontrunner in my book. Towards the end of the song, the following lyrics: "Let's all, start again, I'm so fed up, with repeated trends. Cause I know your face, and I know I'm wrong, but there's no point trying to convince you. Don't let me down, I wonât let you down" are spoken/shouted and it's absolutely genius.
Besides having a catalogue of remarkable tracks to their name, LSP have a touring record that would make any music fan jealous. They've supported the likes of The Fratellis, The Rifles, Foals, The Dykeenies, Good Shoes, and just recently The Twang. If this is not a formula for success, then I don't know what is. Fortunately for those of us in the US, they're playing this year's SXSW, and I would highly suggest making time to check them out!
Posted by ny2lon at 12:09 PM on Feb. 12 '08 | Comments (0)
The Week in Links
Music Newsfrom the NY2LON Headquarters
**Breaking News!!!!** Michael Jackson's kids finally unmasked!!
Finally a chance to listen to a single by M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel'a new band, She & Him!
Arctic Monkeys' newly recorded material apparently has a psychedelic feel to it... should be um, interesting.
Super-hyped band Vampire Weekend based their name off an old video made by lead singer Ezra Koenig. You can view the trailer here.
The Oprah Sarcophagus. 'Nuff said.
I wish I was 13 again! New Kids on the Block preview a new song!
Being a Skinhead is so in these days!
What all readers of NY2LON are just breathlessly waiting for, Vanessa Hudgens album news!
Lightspeed Champion joined by Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys for a Strokes cover! Cool!
Posh will do just about anything as long as she can get naked.
Gwen Stefani is preggers with her second child! Weren't No Doubt planning a come back soon? Ho hum.
Pete Doherty to open a pet sanctuary...isn't this the same guy who fed weed to penguins? Yah, I thought so.
Posted by ny2lon at 12:38 PM on Feb. 1 '08 | Comments (0)
JUICEBOXXXfrom Lauren from California's public schools
JUICEBOXXX, out of the Milwaukee suburbs, graduated high school the same year as me, and already he's played with Dan Deacon, Health, Japanther, and This Bike is a Pipe Bomb. He's tall, energy-filled, and most likely plays video games in his bedroom, if he's ever home. Juiceboxxx has been making his brand of punk rap that you can dance to since he was the ripe old age of 15. If you want to see someone get crazy on stage, don't hesitate to see the juice; he'll most likely jump off the stage right onto the back of someone else. Whenever I've seen this musician, I've felt an odd mix of fear and delirious happiness, and I think that's his plan: pump up the crowd, scare a few people who aren't ready for him, and get everyone moving (whether you're moving to the beats, or to the back of the room as to avoid getting crushed is your choice).
A sample lyric from Thunder Jam III: "I know there all the kids out there you might be like, Fuck it. What is there for me to do? What is there for me in this fucking world? Well, I'll tell you what there is, man. We got music, we got our companionship, we got each other. And nobody can take that shit away."
Somehow this young man inspires me as much as musicians who are twice his age. How does he pack so much meaning into a song that, at first, most would dismiss as a dance rap club number? I don't know, but he's got plans for a US tour, so perhaps we can all ask him then.
Posted by ny2lon at 10:30 AM on Jan. 30 '08 | Comments (0)
Kimya Dawson
NY2LON Featured ArtistLeela from New New York
Okay, okay so Kimya Dawson isn't on the entire soundtrack for the movie Juno but she sure has a monopoly on it. Some of her solo work, along with tracks by her bands The Moldy Peaches and Antsy Pants find their way onto the recording.
Kimya, along with fellow members of the Moldy Peaches have been local folk heroes here in New York, so it's a bit bizarre having to share them with the masses now. We here at NY2LON remember the days when Adam and his kooky ex-babysitter used to dress up and perform as the (actually) smelly Moldy Peaches. In the glory days they used to open for The Strokes in what are now considered exceptionally small venues for both bands. Kimya even had a baby that she appropriately named Panda! Now it seems that her time spent as the underground cult hero of New York is up and she has been thrust into the mainstream.
Juno's success is absolutely undeniable, so much so that it brought The Moldy Peaches out of their indefinite hiatus to promote their songs and the movie. Kimya and Adam Green are so well known now that they even performed on The View (where the above, incorrectly labeled picture is from).
The songs that Kimya and her collective bands contribute to the soundtrack standout not only from the other artists but also from the movie. The songs are cute, happy, emotional, sad, and a little quirky all in one, just like Juno.
Posted by ny2lon at 1:09 PM on Jan. 29 '08 | Comments (0)
Clocks
NY2LON Featured ArtistSunshine from Pittsburgh
It's slightly embarrassing how long it took me to write a review about a band called Clocks but as the band Travis so eloquently put it, "time exists but just on your wrist, so don't panic." So, I'm not going to panic and I'll just write the review a good three and a half months after seeing them... Sorry guys. Anyway, I saw them open for The Departure at King Tut's while I was still in Glasgow way back when in early October.
Playing to a pretty packed Tut's, Clocks turned out to be the band of the night. Although most of the crowd was there for The Departure, (why, I don't know) Clocks won over nearly everyone with their Coral influenced, lip-curing rock'n'roll. Their song "That Much Better" is deliciously catchy and will have you itching for more. Thankfully, their debut is out this summer, in time "for the sunshine" as their myspace so perfectly puts it.
It may surprise you, as it did me, that a band you may never have heard of are on the major Universal-Island. Don't worry, it won't be long 'til their name is on the tips of every music fans lips. A band like Clocks can go far on a major with their perfectly crafted, sea-shanty, dreamy pop songs. It seems like they're actually being pushed by their label, which is a rarity for small bands on big labels, but Clocks have an extensive UK tour coming up that you should definitely check out before time runs out!
02/06 - Cardiff, UK - Barfly*
02/09 - Northampton, UK - Soundhaus*
02/10 - Cambridge, UK - Barfly*
02/11 - Birmingham, UK - Academy 2*
02/12 - Liverpool, UK - Barfly*
02/14 - Preston, UK - 53 Degrees*
02/15 - Stoke, UK - Sugarmill*
02/16 - Sheffield, UK - Fusion*
02/18 - Newcastle, UK - Academy 2*
02/19 - Aberdeen, UK - Cafe Drummonds*
02/21 - Dundee, UK - Fat Sims*
02/23 - Nottingham, UK - Rescue Rooms*
02/24 - Leeds, UK - The Cockpit*
02/26 - London, UK - Kings College London*
02/27 - Oxford, UK - Academy 2*
02/29 - Leicester, UK - The Charlotte*
03/01 - York, UK - Fibbers*
03/06 - Manchester, UK - Academy 3*
03/08 - Edinburgh, UK - Liquid Room*
03/09 - Barrow-In-Furness, UK - The Canteen*
03/10 - Glasgow, UK - Oran Mor*
03/24 - Southampton, UK - Guildhall**
03/25 - Brighton, UK - Brighton Dome**
03/27 - Newcastle, UK - Academy 1**
03/28 - Glasgow, UK - Barrowland Ballroom**
03/29 - Manchester, UK - Academy 1**
03/30 - Birmingham, UK - Academy 1**
04/01 - Reading, UK - Hexagon**
04/02 - London, UK - Shepherds Bush Empire**
04/03 - London, UK - Shepherds Bush Empire**
04/04 - London, UK - Shepherds Bush Empire**
04/06 - Bristol, UK - Academy 1**
04/07 - Norwich, UK - UEA**
04/08 - Sheffield, UK - Octagon**
04/09, Preston, UK - 53 Degrees**
04/11 - Hull, UK - University**
04/12 - Leeds, UK - University**
04/13 - Nottingham, UK - Rock City**
*With One Night Only
**With Scouting For Girls
Posted by ny2lon at 12:55 PM on Jan. 28 '08 | Comments (0)
Jack Penate: the Next B.I.G. Thing
NY2LON Featured ArtistMQ from Mercury
One part sock hop, one part skank-punk, all parts grins and mischief, Jack Penate was the latest British buzz artist to invade the stage at Mercury Lounge in New York's Lower East Side. Playing to a crowd divided - displaced Brits in front, Anglophile New Yorkers in the back - Penate seemed to feel right at home. He sang yelled 'Happy Birthday' to a girl called Kate, much to her pleasure I'm sure, and careened into a verse from Notorious B.I.G.'s 'Dead Wrong,' listing Biggie Smalls among music idols.
Thanks Miss Modern Age
The set was all go-go-go, fun-fun-fun, producing an infectious energy that made the set exhausting in the best kind of way. The set was short but sweet - a wind sprint, really - but I'd heard enough to know I'd been worked out.
I brought home his album, 'Matinee,' which documents on record the energy Penate can produce on stage. There's drum and bass in "Got My Favourite," a Reggae beat in "Learning Lines," and his go-to throughout the record: the swingin' 3-against-4 rhythm that had my toes a-tappin' earlier that night. Another highlight is the song he described as being inspired by the constant muggings on the streets of his hometown London, deftly titled, "Run For Your Life."
(5th Grade book report ending:) In conclusion, the show was energetic, the record is neat, and Penate's fresh upbeat sound is a welcome addition to the NY music scene, as well as to my personal record collection.
Posted by ny2lon at 12:20 PM on Jan. 23 '08 | Comments (0)
Kate Nash: Cute As Can Be, But Curses Like A Sailor
NY2LON Live ReviewJ from the Troub
Don't let the whole Minnie Mouse dress and wholesome fresh-faced innocence fool you. In case you haven't heard any of her songs yet (in which case, where've you been), the girl is kinda gangster... She has a song called Dickhead, in which she sings these... [let's call them] tetchy lyrics in her sweetest, most lilting, mother's-lullaby-to-her-infant-child delivery:
Why are you being a dickhead for
Stop being a dickhead
Why are you being a dickhead for
You're just fucking up situations
or how bout this Hallmark moment, from "Foundations":
Then I'll use that voice that you find annoying
And say something like "yeah, intelligent input darlin' - why don't you just have another beer then?"
Then you'll call me a bitch, and everyone we're with will be embarrassed, and I won't give a shit.
Such is the tantalizing dichotomy that is Kate Nash. While she spent most of her set bouncing up and down like a 5-yr old at a piano recital, playing her syncopated, rollicking brand of fun, poppy tune-age, her acoustic guitar portion of the show revealed why she appeals not only to teen girls like Perez Hilton (who I saw at the show), but also to someone like Sean Avery (the hockey player, who my buddy spotted at Kate's show in NY last week). There is an edge to her songs that hints towards a girl who's been through some shit, but can still charm an audience who prefers a bit of sugar with their medicine.
Posted by ny2lon at 12:45 PM on Jan. 15 '08 | Comments (0)
2GS on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
In Case You Missed It...Jane Doe from The Hills
(aired 1-3-07)
"That was pretty good, I thought," Jimmy Kimmel quips at the end of the vid. And given his perennially surly predisposition, I think we can safely count that as high praise. Turns out Jimmy's got some taste!
Let me give you some context. After lobbing some soft-toss questions at Rev. Al Sharpton (who bolted immediately after - why do guests do that?), and a forgettable interview with the balding gentleman sitting by Kimmel (he does something in sports), Two Gallants made their US television debut with the single off their self-titled album "Despite What You've Been Told."
And yeah, it was pretty good.
Gallants are on a well-deserved break at the moment, but hopefully we'll hear from the boys again real real soon.
Posted by ny2lon at 9:43 AM on Jan. 8 '08 | Comments (0)
NY2LON Endorses:
Playboy Party in '08!Me from NY2LON headquarters
We try not to get too political here at NY2LON. A) because the American "2-party" system must look pretty ridiculous to folks in the UK, where their left wing ranges all the way to the Socialists. B) because the British Monarchy / Parliamentary system looks to us Americans like... well, we don't really get it. I mean, is that red-headed kid really a bona-fide Prince? Like what's the deal with that... Seems a bit of a loose cannon to me... Maybe I'm wrong. And to be fair, we ELECTED Bush... Twice... But I digress...
As you may or may not know, we here in America are smack in the middle of an election year. And given NY2LON's marginal interest in any of the candidates (besides gripping fear that a Southern Baptist Minister might actually get elected President), we have decided to endorse the Playboy Party and its ticket, headlined by Iggy Pop. Yup, they've teamed up in the name of progress, hope for a better tomorrow, and postmodern T-shirt designs (what's more American than that, I ask you).
Playboy's Rock the Rabbit program is back for its second year, and the roster of artists participating is absolutely stacked. Get a load of this:
* Iggy Pop
* Duran Duran
* Daft Punk
* The Shins
* T.I.
* Gogol Bordello
* Hot Chip
* Ghostland Observatory
* Jamie T
* Tokyo Police Club
* The Pipettes
* New Young Pony Club
* Margot & The Nuclear So And So's
* Little Ones
* OFFICE
* The Oohlas
* The Heavy
* Working For A Nuclear Free City
* The Beasts of Eden
* DJ Dimitri from Paris
Each artist will design a T-shirt putting their own respective spins on the iconic Playboy Rabbit Head logo - with the shirts then hitting shelves in select Bloomingdale's locations, and at ShopTheBunny.com. The original designs will be auctioned off with proceeds going to Rock The Vote. And there you have it. A Social Conscience and nudity - not necessarily mutually exclusive... Right Alicia?
And here's NY2LON favorite Illinois' T-Shirt design from last year's RTR:
All hail the Playboy Party, cause the Playboy Party don't stop.
ROCKTHERABBIT.COM
Posted by ny2lon at 11:40 AM on Jan. 7 '08 | Comments (0)
Abigail Warchild
NY2LON Featured ArtistThe Minner in Billyburg
(photo: Maryanne Ventrice)
Abigail Warchild @ Piano's 12-18-07
Walking through the amusement park that is New York during the Holidays, it can all seem a bit... I dunno. Much... Listen, I love the season as much as the next guy, but there is only so much holiday cheer one person can handle. I think you'll agree.
It was in this mindset that I stood in Piano's Tuesday night to see a Brooklyn-based (via Boston) band called Abigail Warchild. The name, to me, screamed 'easy listening.' I am kidding, of course, and yes, the band sounds much like one might expect - except way, way better. Yeah, they are heavy. Very heavy. And loud. But beneath the frenzied pyrotechnics there is some quality songwriting. Mangled diction, primal screams, and syncopated stop-and-go rhythmic dare-devilism suddenly open up to some very listenable, very musical hooks that make their songs more than just thunder and brimstone (though there is plenty of that, too). There are blues licks, clean straightforward guitar riffs, and just enough give, just enough melodic resolution, to offset the sharp angles of their guitar parts.
Lead singer Mike Sanders commits whole-heartedly to his whiskey-soaked stage persona (who actually differs from the seemingly mild-mannered, overall good guy he is off it). His vocals are visceral, ferocious, equaled only by the frenetic way he handles the guitar - marrying sound and visual in a way that makes it hard to look away, for fear that you'll miss the moment where he inevitably just bursts into flames. That is to say, were it not for his bandmates, who are as compelling. There is Val Loper, who matches Sanders' urgency on guitar. They will compete someday for the Guinness World Record for shoulder strap malfunctions during a performance. Sean Davenport is a man possessed behind the keyboard. At one point, he was up on an amp (the keyboardist) - to really hammer home his Expressionist torment. Suffice it to say, the way he plays keys makes Jerry Lee Lewis seem like the musical equivalent of a rollicking bike ride through the park. Bassist Mike Hart is stoic and solid, making up one half of the best rhythm section I've seen in some time. Which brings me to their drummer Mike Ushinski, who, in cahoots with Hart, really brings the hammer down. Together, they bludgeon the listener not only with Ushinski's deeper-than-most drums sounds (you will feel them in your belly), but also with their remarkable steadiness, grounding Abigail's sound with a 2-ton anchor.
This is the most promising band I've seen in a long while - there, I've said it. And I'm not even going to mention when Sanders fell off the stage face first after he blacked out mid-scream, because that would just be manipulative. Believe me, you'll be manipulated enough this holiday season. Which reminds me, I've gotta go check if those shoes I've wanted are on sale...
Posted by ny2lon at 12:31 PM on Dec. 21 '07 | Comments (0)
The Sounds
NY2LON Live Reviewby Rachy P from NYC
The Sounds are one of the greatest live bands around today. Their final festive show in New York City made the unfriendly, large space at Webster Hall feel like it was an intimate house party with friends. I had a terrible cold and a plane to London to catch the next day so I wasn't sure if I'd make it to the show. After mulling it over, I realized that missing The Sounds is not an option, so I headed downtown, and I'm sure glad I did. The Sounds can put a smile on anyone's face, sick or not.
The Sounds play fun, catchy pop-punk that owes much of its sound to the bands that came before them in the 80s, but they're not just another Blondie tribute band. While lead singer Maja Ivarsson could pass for Debbie Harry physically, she's in a league of her own vocally. And you get the feeling Maja was born for this role, regardless of who came before her. Maja is the best frontperson this side of Howlin' Pelle from The Hives, and that's saying something. What is in the water over there in Sweden??
Maja dances around all over the stage and makes sure audience participation is a part of the show. She sings to and with the kids in the front row and thanks the crowd over and over again for their love and support. Judging from the smiles on all the fanboys and girls' faces, they had a great time indeed. For most of us, myself included, this will be our last show of 2007, and what a way to go!
Posted by ny2lon at 9:46 AM on Dec. 21 '07 | Comments (0)
Best New Artists of 2007
NY2LON End of Year Wrap-Upby the team at NY2LON
Best New Artists
1. Illinois (ok, we've loved them for longer than a year, but what the hell...)
2. Kate Nash
3. Foals
4. Bat For Lashes
5. Los Campesinos!
6. New Young Pony Club
7. Cool Kids
8. Ra Ra Riot
9. Vampire Weekend
10. We are from Barcelona
Posted by ny2lon at 3:56 PM on Dec. 17 '07 | Comments (0)
Buck 65
NY2LON Featured ArtistRP from the dirty Jerz
Buck 65 (Richard Terfry) is awesome. His brand of hip-hop, if that's what you want to call it, is incredibly creative and, at the same time, both intelligent and comedic--listen to "Centaur" from his amazing This Right Here is Buck 65 for an example of this.
His latest album, Situation, on Strange Famous Records, expands upon his unique genre of rap music and explores new ways to make his music even more interesting, if that's even possible! He's similar to Beck in that he's an "indie" person's rapper and quite creative, though his deep, gravelly voice is more comparable to Tom Waits.
For just a taste of what Buck's capable of, listen to "Way Back When" on his Myspace. And all of you in Australia and Europe: go see him! His live show is amazing: fun, entertaining, and hilarious--what more could you ask for?
29-Dec-07 Sydney, AUS Luna Park
30-Dec-07 Sydney, AUS Peats Ridge Festival
31-Dec-07 Phillip Island, AUS Pyramid Rock Festival
2-Jan-08 Northcote, AUS Northcote Social Club
3-Jan-08 Byron Bay, AUS Hotel Great Northern
4-Jan-08 Brisbane, AUS Gallery Of Modern Art
8-Jan-08 Cronulla, AUS Brass Monkey
9-Jan-08 Sydney, AUS The Basement
5-Feb-08 Caen, France - BBC
6-Feb-08 Nantes, France - Olympic
7-Feb-08 La Roche Sur Yon, France
8-Feb-08 Lille, France - Aeronef - Nuit De L'Alligator
9-Feb-08 Amiens, France -La Lune Des Pirates -Nuit DeL 'Alligator
12-Feb-08 Paris, France - La Maroquinerie - Nuit De L'Alligator
14-Feb-08 Angouleme, France - La Nef - Nuit De L'Alligator
15-Feb-08 Tulle, FR-Les Lendermains Qui Chantnent- Nuit De L'Alligator
16-Feb-08 Clermont, FR - Ferrand - Coope De Mai -Nuit De L'Alligator
19-Feb-08 Orleans, France - Astrolab - Nuit De L'Alligator
20-Feb-08 Evreux, France - Abordage - Nuit De L'Alligator
21-Feb-08 Sannois, France - EMB - Nuit De L'Alligator
23-Feb-08 Marseille, France - Cabaret Sauvage
26-Feb-08 Dijon, France - La Vapeur - Festival - Gerneriq
27-Feb-08 Dijon, France - Le Consotium Festival - Generiq
28-Feb-08 Besancon, France - Le Cylindre - Festival - Generiq
29-Feb-08 Strasbourg - La Laiterie
1-Mar-08 St Gallen, Switzerland - Palace Theatre
2-Mar-08 Fribourg, Switzerland - Fri-son
4-Mar-08 Malmo, Sweden - Debaser
5-Mar-08 Bergen, Norway - Hulen
6-Mar-08 Stockholm - Debaser
7-Mar-08 Gothenburg, Sweden - Pustervik
8-Mar-08 Oslo, Norway - Bla
9-Mar-08 Helsinki, Finland - Kuudes Linja
12-Mar-08 Hamburg, Germany - Knust
13-Mar-08 Berlin, Germany - NBI
14-Mar-08 Munchen, Germany - Orangehouse @ Feierwerk
15-Mar-08 Heidelberg, Germany - Karlstorbahnhof
17-Mar-08 Brighton, UK - Komedia
18-Mar-08 Oxford, UK - Zodiac @ Academy
19-Mar-08 Portsmouth, UK Wedgewood Rooms
20-Mar-08 Bristol, UK Thekla
22-Mar-08 Liverpool, UK Academy 2
23-Mar-08 Manchester, UK Roadhouse
24-Mar-08 Glasgow, UK King Tuts
25-Mar-08 Leeds, UK Cockpit
26-Mar-08 Birmingham, UK Barfly
27-Mar-08 London, UK Dingwalls
Posted by ny2lon at 3:14 AM on Dec. 15 '07 | Comments (0)
Top 10 90s R&B Songs I Grew Up On...
and still sing along to whenever we play them in the NY2LON headquartersTim from Bed-Stuy
1. I'll Make Love To You - Boyz II Men
2. I swear - all 4 one
3. Vision of Love - Mariah Carey
4. If - janet jackson
5. Creep - TLC
6. One Sweet Day - Boyz II Men / Mariah Carey
7. Whatta man - salt n pepa featuring En Vogue
8. Again - janet jackson
9. This is How We Do It - Montell Jordan
10. No Diggity - Blackstreet feat. Dr. Dre and Queen Pen
Honorable Mentions
I Like the Way (The kissing game) - hi-five
Take me there (jackson 5 remix) - mya, blackstreet, mase
Ghetto superstar - mya, pras, odb
Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg - TLC
Dreamlover - Mariah Carey
Baby - Brandy
Back and Forth - Aaliyah
The Sign - Ace of Base (Not R&B, but I still sing along every time)
Posted by ny2lon at 3:25 PM on Dec. 14 '07 | Comments (0)
Screaming Ballerinas
NY2LON Featured ArtistRed Pepper from Abbey Road
When I first saw the Screaming Ballerinas at a gig in London, I didn't think Iâd like them. Screaming Ballerinas are a female-fronted band and I'm very critical of girl singers, mostly because I don't like the way they make their voices sound when they sing or the way they sexily prance about onstage. Moreover, the band members dressed like they got lost somewhere back in 1983, the year most of them were probably born.
Instead, I was pleasantly surprised. They describe themselves as a "disco punk-pop explosion" and that's a spot-on description. They've got bits of the Long Blondes and Blondie in them (and, although a few of the members are indeed blonde, the band decided on a more original name) and they're certainly not lacking in the fun department. Their live shows are full of jumping, dancing around, and...confetti! And the excitement from their live show translates well onto their recorded material. Try getting the chorus of "Crucify" out of your head--go on, I dare you! And for what it's worth, vocalist Laura Trouble, though she glams it up, acts just like one of the boys and isn't afraid to really get into the music, which is what we love!
They've got one more gig in London before the new year on 21 Dec at the Dirty bingo christmas party @ Clockwork in Angel. Check it out if you can. If you can't make it, fret not--I'm sure we'll be hearing from and seeing much more of this band in 2008!
Posted by ny2lon at 3:37 AM on Dec. 14 '07 | Comments (0)
The Week in Links
Music Newsfrom the NY2LON Headquarters
A lock of John Lennon's hair has been sold for 24,000 pounds at an auction of Beatles memorabilia. I can think of a million better ways to spend that kind of money...
Sales of Led Zeppelin's back catalogue have increased by 500% since they played their allegedly one-off gig in London this past week.
The skycraper that U2 are planning to build in Ireland has received complaints about lack of environmental consideration. Tsk tsk Bono!!
Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler was questioned by police after his girlfriend was involved in a fight at a club. Who knew people still cared enough about him to fight over him?
Marilyn Manson is hoping to one day make a fortune by selling a childhood souvenir--his foreskin. Ew.
Lily Allen has been selected to be part of the judging panel for the 2008 Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction. The other panel members are academics. This should be interesting...
Posted by ny2lon at 3:09 AM on Dec. 13 '07 | Comments (0)
Top Five Indie Songs in Commercialsfrom NY2LON headquarters
There's a lot of debate about whether or not indie musicians "sell out" when they license their songs to mainstream corporations for commercial use. Those of us here at NY2LON aren't sure where we stand, but we can't deny the fact that unexpectedly hearing a song by a band you love come from your TV is pretty awesome. Here are our top five indie songs in commercials:
5. Royksopp's "Remind Me" for Geico
4. Mates of State's "For the Actor" for AT&T
3. Cat Power covering Cat Stevens' "How Can I Tell You" for DeBeers diamonds
2. Jim Noir's reworked "My Patch" for Target
1. Of Montreal's reworked "Wraith Pinned to the Mist" for Outback Steakhouse
Posted by ny2lon at 1:38 PM on Dec. 12 '07 | Comments (0)
frYars
NY2LON Featured ArtistRachy P from NYC
Not much is known about frYars aside from the fact that frYars is Ben Garrett, a London teenager whose lyrics and music go far beyond his young age. He only played his first show less than a month ago and has so far only released an EP--The Ides, on Make Mine Records--but we think he'll be big in 2008 so we're jumping on the bandwagon early!
A lot of talented underage bands have been coming out of England lately, including Bombay Bicycle Club and Cajun Dance Party. But the only things the two aforementioned bands have in common with frYars is that they're teenagers and they like to get people dancing.
Most frYars songs have an underlying beat that, at the very least, gets your toes tapping. "Chocolate" and "The Ides" are simply dark, synthy dance tunes. What makes frYars different from most is that his lyrics are pretty dark. In "The Ides" he sings, "You took my life/Good job for you, I wasn't born a killer/You should've died that very night."
His voice is reminiscent of Morrisey or maybe Nick Cave. When I listen to his music I can't help but imagine an Edgar Allen Poe poem, and I mean that in the best way possible.
Check him out now and go see him live before he blows up!
Posted by ny2lon at 3:12 AM on Dec. 7 '07 | Comments (0)
The Week in Links
Music Newsfrom the NY2LON Headquarters
The Police's drummer Stuart Copeland is forced to apologize to the Chilean President after many Chileans felt that his comments suggested that he found their female president, Bachelet, less attractive than Argentina's president-elect Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. Oops!
50 Cent is speculated to have taken drugs when a Croatian reporter goes backstage and sees men crouched around the table in a suspicious looking manner. A musician doing drugs? Well, I never...!!
The management groups of some the biggest acts in the UK--including Radiohead and Arctic Monkeys--have drawn up plans to instigate a 'tax' on touts. They want a share of the re-sale value when tickets are sold on sites such as eBay. Hmmm....Sounds like greed to us!
Jarvis Cocker is no longer interested in creating Britain's entry to the Eurovision Song Contest. What a bummer!
"Eccentric" music producer David Gest is going to auction off over 120 gold singles and albums along with hundreds of other music memorabilia. Um, he's too strange to even comment on...
Wilco's Jeff Tweedy is going to show his support for Presidential candidate Barack Obama at "Chicago Rocks," a concert and campaign fundraiser on behalf of Obama.
U2's new album will have trance, metal and Moroccan influences. Oh dear.
The Iranian government has launched a nationwide crackdown on rap music and deemed the genre itself illegal. Sounds like something my grandma would support.
Posted by ny2lon at 2:44 PM on Dec. 5 '07 | Comments (0)
Visual StimulationMary from Park Slope, BK
Since we posted Two Gallants' video for "Despite What You've Been Told", it has been featured on the homepage of YouTube, and viewed by over 235,000 people. I like to believe NY2LON had a hand in securing that many viewers (wink, wink). Therefore, I have decided to post a few other recent videos that have caught my attention.
This song makes me dance in my chair in the NY2LON offices. (People often give me weird looks when I dance, but I don't care. They know I can throw it down.)
Vampire Weekend - "Masnard Roof"
Embrace the buzz. I love this song, and I kinda want to join a yacht club.
The Comas - "Come My Sunshine"
One of the best albums of the year. Not only are they also the nicest people you will ever meet, Nicole proves that women can rock and still be respectable. (Down with Amy)
Kate Nash - "Foundations"
Kate Nash gets brownie points for FINALLY coming to the States. (see yesterday's post) Also, we haven't posted on her in almost a year. Sorry, Kate. We've always loved you. To make up for it, you get two videos.
Kate Nash - "Mouthwash"
Starlight Express scared the shit out of me as a child. (and I'm still kinda scared of it...)
Snoop Dogg - "Gin & Juice"
Because you always need some old skool Snoop....