Kate Nash is all up in the U.S. media these days. Hanging out with the New York Times, and now she's also in this month's Interview Magazine, which by the way, is on newstands now. I wonder what she's doing for Halloween. Big plans? Trick or treating maybe? To all the trick or treaters, have fun. Be safe. No egging houses! But if they give you apples, well... then you gotta do what you gotta do.
In semi-related news, her rumored bf, Ryan Jarman, of The Cribs will be back in town on November 15th when The Cribs play Music Hall of Williamsburg. They must really love this city. It's like, the fourth time they've played New York this year.
Here's a treat from Ms. Nash's BBC Radio 1 session. Happy Halloween!
Kate Nash- Fluorescent Adolescent (Arctic Monkeys cover)
I made tomato soup today to console myself. I trekked to the supermarket for ingredients to stir into a big pot of "Wish I Was There" soup.
It was delicious, but not as satisfying as actually being at The Shivers show.-- the reason I needed to get my cookery on. What can I say, I'm an emotional chef. And I'm going through some doubts about my professional career/direction in life (or lack thereof), which prompted me to top off the soup with bread pudding. Okay, so I also cook when I get nervous.
All the more reason why I should have been at The Shivers gig at Rockwood Music Hall yesterday to calm me down. I only found out about it today when I randomly checked their Myspace to see what's going on with these guys. The delicately folksy love song, Beauty, was one of the most played songs on my iPod in college. And for good reason! Beautiful, and romantic are words that come to mind. Slow dance on a cloud without all the fluff-- it's a hard task to accomplish and these guys pull it off. Luckily, they're playing another show this Sunday, November 4th at Mercury Lounge.
The detective stands next to a pay phone, and unbeknownst to him, the phone rings. Does he answer it? Does the voice on the other line have vital information to share? Everyone else stands around idly, so he picks up the phone.
“Hello?”
“Mike? Mike, is that you? It’s Nikki… the airport waits for us, but I’m at Canal Street Station… Canal Street Station…..”
Friday evening, Shabs and I went to the subway station at Canal Street to play this free interactive mystery game. In the underground labyrinth of the busiest station in Chinatown, we dialed in a number at one of the pay phones. The woman who answers has a thick European accent. She repeated the same message over and over again. She was in distress. We have to find her. But how?
It took us close to two hours to solve the mystery, because it was so hard to hear with the trains constantly rolling by. You punch in answers on the keypad, and they’ll let you know if you’re on the right track. We had to dial in several times, so it can get quite frustrating, but on a hunch, I punched in a response and then we were on our way. It’s a bit of a psychological thriller—when does the line between reality and figments of your imagination start to blur?
To play, you must dial in from a pay phone at Canal Street Station. The last day for the interactive game is October 31st so if you’re looking for something different to do on Halloween, here’s your chance! Bring your thinking- cap, patience, a friend to cling to when you get creeped out, a good sense of hearing, and loads of disinfectant wipes (have you used a New York payphone? They’re gross!
*That's right, I'm going to be Dean Cain for Halloween.
I'm going to a Halloween party this weekend, and I haven't got a costume. Originally, I planned on going as Olive from Little Miss Sunshine but without those perky red cowboy boots, people will wonder if I rolled out of bed and came in my pajamas. I hit up every shoe store from Canal Street to Union Square but couldn't find boots appropriate or affordable enough. Ah wells... Some back up ideas are to dress up like Superman's alter-ego, Clark Kent and be androgynous, or maybe glam it up as Audrey Hepburn from Breakfast At Tiffanys.
So it's not just me, Dinosaur thinks this is true also--- it's tough for the ladies to shop for costumes if you don't want to be a sexy cop or a sexy nurse. What if I wanted to be Susan B. Anthony and get my groove on to the Women's Rights movement? (This store has it but only in children's sizes) Not fair, I say, for the lazy and uncreative. Hunting down little make-it-work items for a costume can be fun, but I would rather go to one place, get the damn outfit, and be done.
The Wallflowers sprung into town Monday night, playing a show at Highline Ballroom, which, funny enough, is situated next to the Western Beef supermarket. Why? Who knows? If you're into rock music and two for one specials on toilet paper, I suppose it's good to know where you can get all your errands done.
I attempted to outmanouever a double whammy at the show: standing behind a tall man, with extremely poofy hair (his hair, is in a great many of my photos sadly, like a poodle on its hind legs looking for a photo op), BUT, I fulfilled one of my goals in life-- to see The Wallflowers, so I can't complain too much.
Jakob Dylan fans showed up in throngs, drawn to the center stage by the man's signature raspy vocals. After Rami Jafee left the group indefinitely, the band shuffled the line up with Stuart Mathis on lead guitar. He played extensively with The Wallflowers on their Rebel Sweetheart tour, so he might be familar to people. Because this is my first Wallflowers show, it was all new to me, but Mathis was especially good on How Far You've Come- the the fingering, the pull offs and bending-- t'was quite cool. It's probably my favorite song off the last album, and it was a treat to hear it live. Jakob Dylan is such a brilliant songwriter too-- finding middle ground between sadness, and silver-linings. I find myself listening to this track any time I'm ready to leave the pity party.
Sometimes a high wall, is just a wall Sometimes it's only there to make sure you feel small Or maybe there to save you, from the depths, of a much deeper fall
The Wallflowers will be in town for a few more days, as they are booked for a birthday party. It's a sweet reminder of the shows musicians played in their early days, but in this particular case, it's not just any ice cream cake balloon-animals affair. The festivities are for Hillary Clinton. She's turning the big 6-0. If you can shell out the $100+ for a ticket, the show is at Beacon Theatre on October 25th.
Closer To You is one of the songs they played for the encore. It's a goosebump inducing lullaby, which Jakob Dylan acknowedged, "is for the ladies." Judging by the number of wooed women (and men) in the crowd wanting to get "closer to you," Jakob, we'll say your music is for lovers.
Set List for The Wallflowers at Highline Ball Room, 10.22.07
Shy of the Moon I Am a Building Here He Comes 6th Avenue Heartache The Passenger Up From Under Empire of My Mind When You're On Top How Far You've Come God Says Nothing Back Letters from the Wasteland If You Never Got Sick 3 Marlenas God Don't Make Lonely Girls Nearly Beloved Everybody Out of The Water
Encore
I've Been Delivered Babybird Closer To You Everything I Need
They are, in fact, brunette! Great, now that the debate on hair color is settled, the band played a short set at Soundfix last Friday and the music was thoroughly adorable, just like these Kiwis. The stage was too small to fit the band and their equipment, so singer Jonathan Bree had to stand on the floor. They brought hip back to the Village people when they sang and spelled B-A-B-Y on the track “Brunettes Against Bubblegum Youth”.
I planned to return to Soundfix for The Rosebuds yesterday, but never quite made it. I woke up and felt interminably lazy so it turned into a Weeds and No Reservations/A Cook’s Tour day in my pajamas. (If you haven’t seen the No Reservations Leftovers episode on youtube, it’s so funny—a must see for Anthony Bourdain fans).
Speaking of food, off to brunch….
The Brunettes- Brunettes Against Bubblegum Youth (B-A-B-Y)
This week I went to Barnes & Noble at Union Square to see one of my favorite poets, Nina Cassian, who was doing a special reading for Poetry in Motion. New Yorkers know Poetry in Motion as those poetry ads you let your eyes wander to when avoiding the gaze of fellow straphangers on the subway.
There was a book signing afterwards, and I brought an old collection of poems with me. As I ascended the steps onto the platform where she was seated, my heart started to beat really fast. To me, she's kind of a big deal. Lots of thoughts started to run through my head. What would I say when I get to speak to her? I wanted to tell her how I found her book of poems by accident—it was sitting on a pile of free books at the English department in college a few years ago. No… then she’ll think someone didn’t think her book was worthy enough to keep. That might hurt her feelings. Oh shoot.
So when I met her, all I could squeak out was, “Oh my god, it’s so nice to meet you.”
She sees the book I have for her to sign and she is pleasantly surprised that it’s an old edition, as if someone had dug up a favorite sweater from a box in the attic. She asks me who she should make it out to, so I give her my name. “Is that all? Just your name?” she asks in her heavy Romanian accent. I give her kind of a geeky smile, “That’s it!” Well, no, that’s not it, I thought. Give me some insight into the meaning of life! How did you know you were meant to be a writer? What is the secret of humanity?!
But that’s a lot of words to ask for from a person, even if she is a poet.
I have no time to offer proof to you Of the great, astonishing virtues I possess; therefore, Those who have eyes will see, those who do not see, My eyes will remain undiscovered as before.
Some there are who, meeting me, have said: “Welcome to my life, you living wonder!” Other had nothing whatever to say to me, And I left them far behind, wanting upward to wander.
Time sweeps on, and I have precious gifts, And I constantly seek out those who merit them. If I do not find them, then let me be buried Like a paraoh, with my riches, so the Earth may inherit them.
I have a penchant for cover songs, so I was excited to come across this cover of the Gorillaz' Feel Good Inc, by Skye Edwards, the former frontwoman of trip hop band, Morcheeba. It was recorded live for KCRW.
I don’t know very much about Skye outside of Morcheeba (or even when she was in the band for that matter save for a few Morcheeba tunes on my iPod), but since she left the band in 2004, she's gone solo, and even came out with an album last year.
Her rendition of Feel Good makes you "feel good" for sure-- not with femme-fatale sensuality akin to trip-hop, or even the heady sensations of two tukes too many. Instead, her voice is clear as crystal, still as water, gliding effortlessly over the guitar acoustics. It's almost a throwback to the 50s/60s songstress era-- a single mic, and a muted spotlight. It's hard not to slow down and relax when you listen to her.
This is the live version, but you can hear the original cover over at her myspace, as well as listen to some tracks from her album, Mind How You Go.
While walking around New York a few weeks ago, you might have seen a photo of Jackie Kennedy on the cover of New York Magazine, and thought to yourself, "When did Jackie O look so... mannish?" Of course, upon closer inspection, you realized it was President Clinton in drag, with the headline, "Bill Clinton: First Lady." This isn't the first time, as Steven Tyler puts it, the dude looks like a lady:
"I haven't been in drag in 50 years. In my high-school yearbook, there's a picture of me and a buddy of mine wearing dresses, and we're, uh, holding each other," --Bill Clinton, New York Magazine, October 22nd.
So nice to see the ex-prez take it with such good humor. By the way, and this is kind of random, but did you know Bill Clinton is a crossword enthusiast? He even wrote the clues for one of the NYT crossword puzzle a few months ago (thanks Dawne!) but a word to the wise-- it's a really tough one. Take a shot at it. New Yorkers can tune in to Ch. 13 (PBS) tonight at 10pm to see President Clinton in Wordplay, a documentary about crossword puzzles and the people who love them. I saw this film last summer and it's great. It's also kind of nice to see public figures outside their element as well. For a few moments they are unfazed about the state of world politics, or the speed of that last four-seam fastball. Rather, their entire existence rests on knowing what is that five letter word for a chocolate substitute (!?!?!)
Should I give you the answer? It's kind of an easy one...
I had such a great time at The Raveonettes show last night at Bowery Ballroom. This is the second time I've seen them perform this week. After looking at the pictures I took at Southpaw, I realized that I always veer for the left of the stage (usually in front of a bassist). Perhaps it’s some subconscious attraction to the bass. But it was nice to see the view from the right.
Gliss, as usual, was amazing. Martin was a bit chattier with the crowd yesterday evening, but unlike Southpaw, there wasn’t a crop circle of empty space in front of the band. They played this one song that I really liked that isn’t on their album, so I asked Victoria about it after the set. It’s called “Kick In Your Heart” and I recommend it because David is a total badass on that guitar riff. You can download it from their website. Just sign up for their mailing list. One other interesting note- in addition to swapping gear with each other between songs, the band makes up the set list as they play. Three cheers for spontaneity.
(Martin and David, each taking their turn at the guitar)
So Nicole Atkins has my vote for coolest wardrobe. It would be fun to raid her closet. She was wearing this vest that her friend made for her out of old bicycle tires. I love recycling, don’t you? (Al Gore would be proud) She said she smelled like a giant condom. This girl can sing, and she's got a sense of humor to boot.
When the crowd was applauding, Nicole mentioned that it was funny “watching people clap for me when I sing about my pathetic life.” Aww… you’re not pathetic, Nicole! Would a pathetic person wear these darling gold cowboy boots? No way. I couldn't get a really good shot, but those boots were so cute.
Her band is great also! They have wonderful chemistry when they play together. Watch for them when they perform live on the Late Show with David Letterman on October 30th.
The Raveonettes played a razor sharp set of mostly new songs and appreciated the love coming from the crowd. It was a sold out show :)
I love this photo below of Sharin and their drummer. I really like the contrast. What an unexpected shot-- Sharin just popping up like that!
The Raveonettes Set List 10.12.07 @ Bowery Ballroom
Remember Noisy Summer That Great Love Sound Let’s Rave On Hallucinations Blush Attack of the Ghost Riders My Tornado Expelled from Love Lust Red Tan Love In a Trash Can Dead Sound French Disko (*They love Stereolab!) Aly, Walk With Me
The Raveonettes- Lust (demo) (Listen to more demos at their myspace)
Sab and I went to see The Ravonettes on Wednesday and caught two other great shows. We were early in a major way. I get overly excited so I am never fashionably late, but always ridiculously early. Anyway, we were there when Gliss did their sound check. They played what I think was, “Make Believe” or “Kissing The Blvd.” (It was probably the latter). From what we heard, we knew this band was going to be really good, and they did not disappoint.
Martin, Victoria and David, the three members of Gliss, play bass, guitar, and drums like a game of musical chairs, switching gear with each other after the completion of each song. When the instruments are passed around, each bandmate puts a different kind of energy and personality into the performance. There’s also something about this that makes the music exceptionally intimate, not just for the audience, but between the threesome as well. It’s something like a musical make out session and they’re swapping saliva. Or, some other less gross analogy. Straight out of L.A. these guys are rocking sexy bass lines and slick riffs that slink at the beck and call of Martin’s lush lyrics. The album, Love The Virgins, is good, but I feel like the record should support the live show and not the other way around. They really are a fantastic live band.
Next up was Nicole Atkins. I don’t know much about her, but she has a lovely voice, and her lyrics resonate well with the lovelorn. I really enjoyed “The Way It Is,” “Love’s Surreal,” and “War Torn.” Plus, she was kickin’ it in these red hot shoes. Hot shoes are cool.
The Raveonettes played many new songs from their upcoming album, which hits Europe in November, but doesn’t swing state-side till January. Lust is my absolute favorite new song, and Sune says that they really enjoy playing it as well. It’s worth singling out—this track is downright hypnotic. Throughout the night, The Raveonettes just wanted everyone to have a good time. Rave On. They also played a cover of Stereolab’s French Disko. FD seems pretty popular (The Editors did a cover of this song as well).
The Raveonettes’ 10.9.07 Setlist @ Southpaw
Remember Noisy Summer Let’s Rave On Hallucinations Blush With My Eyes Closed Black Satin Attack of the Ghost Riders My Tornado Expelled From Love Lust Red Tan Love in a Trash Can Dead Sound French Disko (Stereolab cover) Aly, Walk With Me
I love Brooklyn and all the music venues, but the traveling between Bkyln and Qns is pretty exhausting, even though it seems like I spend a lot of time there, which I do. I just got back from The Raveonettes show at Southpaw and I'm pretty tired. Full update tomorrow, I promise.
However, I just have to say, the opener, Gliss, was mind-blowing. I bought their album and hopefully it lives up to the live show. If not, I'm going to see The Raveonettes again on Friday at Bowery Ballroom, and guess who is the opening band?
The Ian Curtis biopic, "Control" opens for limited release in the States today. It is playing for a two week run at the Film Forum downtown if any New Yorkers want to catch it. I am definitely going to see this one.
Todd Hayes' new film, I'm Not There, starring an array of Hollywood’s finest channeling Bob Dylan, opens in November. The soundtrack, an impressive 30 track, mostly covers record, comes out at the end of this month. It is available now for pre-order at Amazon.
These are the tracks, in no particular order. (I highlighted the ones I'm especially excited to hear)
"All Along the Watchtower," Eddie Vedder and the Million Dollar Bashers "As I Went Out One Morning," Mira Billotte "Ballad of a Thin Man," Stephen Malkmus and the Million Dollar Bashers "Billy," Los Lobos "Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window," the Hold Steady "Can't Leave Her Behind," Stephen Malkmus and Lee Ranaldo "Cold Irons Bound," Tom Verlaine and the Million Dollar Bashers "Dark Eyes," Iron & Wine and Calexico "Fourth Time Around," Yo La Tengo "Goin' To Acapulco," Jim James and Calexico "Highway 61 Revisited," Karen O and the Million Dollar Bashers "I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine," John Doe "I Wanna Be Your Lover," Yo La Tengo "I'm Not There," Bob Dylan "I'm Not There," Sonic Youth "Just Like a Woman," Charlotte Gainsbourg and Calexico "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues," Ramblin' Jack Elliot "Knockin' on Heaven's Door," Antony & the Johnsons "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll," Mason Jennings "Maggie's Farm," Stephen Malkmus and the Million Dollar Bashers "Mama You've Been on My Mind," Jack Johnson "The Man in the Long Black Coat," Mark Lanegan "Moonshiner," Bob Forrest "One More Cup of Coffee," Roger McGuinn and Calexico "Pressing On," John Doe "Ring Them Bells," Sufjan Stevens "Señor (Tales of Yankee Power)," Willie Nelson and Calexico "Simple Twist of Fate," Jeff Tweedy "Stuck Inside of Mobile With Memphis Blues Again," Cat Power "The Times They Are a Changin'," Mason Jennings "Tombstone Blues," Richie Havens "When The Ship Comes In," Marcus Carl Franklin "Wicked Messenger," the Black Keys "You Ain't Goin 'Nowhere," Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
Also, do you recall a few years back when Bob Dylan was the face of Victoria’s Secret? I know, I am still struggling to make sense of it too. Why, Bob, why? Slate.com had some theories, but three years later, I realize whatever Victoria Secret was thinking, it was surely a positive move towards brand recognition. Ask anybody—“Remember when Bob Dylan was surrounded by lingerie-clad VS models?” Uh, yeeahh. It’s not exactly an image you can laser off of your cerebral cortex.
I gotta admit, I wasn't too into her when she vocalized her "needs" in a rendition of a hit Cribs tune, but this song just about takes the cake due to its variability. Depending on the day, the aforementioned "dickhead" could refer to a douchebag boyfriend, a menacing boss, or the idiot who cut you in line on the coffee truck queue. Let's just cut to the chase-- these people are being dickheads! Why mince words, right?
My friend said to me, "I love this dickhead song. 'You're just fuckin' up situations.' Oh, well done. Well done, Kate."
Well done, indeed. This song is like the musical equivalent of the little black dress: to-- the-- point--classic.
I had to watch this interview about five times before I got the gist of it. My one year of college Spanish has not prepared me well for the real world unfortunately. But damn, Paul can lay it down en Español! He spent a good chunk of his childhoold in Spain and Mexico apparently. (His Spanish sounds a little Catalan here, I think...) He is discussing Interpol and his relationship with music. It's fun watching him talk with his hands too because he doesn't normally get so animated. But I grew up speaking another language as well and I still wave my hands around when I speak.
Luckily, they have announced more dates! Do these guys ever take a break? Even if it's just to pause, take a breath, and come out with some t-shirts or something (Sof and I are dying for some merchandise). Although, there is a music video for The Plot available now.
Oct 7 2007 7:00P Schubas Tavern w/ Tokyo Police Club-- Chicago, Illinois Oct 8 2007 8:00P Birdy's-- Indianapolis, Indiana Oct 9 2007 8:00P 7th St Entry w/ Tokyo Police Club-- Minneapolis, Minnesota Oct 10 2007 8:00P Billiken Club-- St. Louis, Missouri Oct 12 2007 8:00P Slowdown-- Omaha, Nebraska Oct 13 2007 8:00P Larimer Lounge-- Denver, Colorado Oct 14 2007 8:00P Kilby Court-- Salt Lake City, Utah Oct 18 2007 8:00P Neumos w/ Tokyo Police Club-- Seattle, Washington Oct 19 2007 8:00P Doug Fir Lounge w/ Tokyo Police Club-- Portland, Oregon Oct 21 2007 8:00P The Fillmore w/ The Pogues-- San Francisco, California Oct 22 2007 8:00P Beauty Bar w/ Tokyo Police Club-- Las Vegas, Nevada Oct 23 2007 8:00P El Rey Theater w/ Tokyo Police Club-- Los Angeles, CA Oct 24 2007 8:00P The Glass House w/ Tokyo Police Club-- Pomona, CA Oct 26 2007 8:00P, Beauty Bar-- San Diego, California Oct 27 2007 8:00P, Ruby Room Lounge--Phoenix, Arizona Oct 30 2007 8:00P The Mohawk--Austin, Texas Nov 1 2007 8:00P The Cavern--Dallas, Texas Nov 2 2007 8:00P Jackrabbit Lounge--Shreveport, Louisiana Nov 3 2007 8:00P One-Eyed Jacks--New Orleans, Louisiana Nov 4 2007 8:00P Bottletree Café--Birmingham, Alabama Nov 6 2007 8:00P The Earl--Atlanta, Georgia Nov 7 2007 8:00P Local 506--Chapel Hill, North Carolina Nov 9 2007 8:00P Rock and Roll Hotel--Washington DC
ELLE: Please provide a snapshot of adolescent humiliation at the hands of a woman.
Dave Grohl: In seventh grade, there was this gorgeous, angelic girl named Sandy who moved to Alexandria, Virginia, where I grew up. Within the first few weeks of school, I asked her to go steady. She said yes, and we’d meet at her locker after every period and give each other hickeys. After about two weeks, she said, “I’m new here; I don’t want to get tied down,” and dumped me.
ELLE: Was she, like, a 23-year-old seventh grader?
DG: Nah, but she did have the whole feathered hair, Jordache jeans, lip gloss look. So I played it cool and was like, “Whatever, baby, no big deal,” but I was secretly heartbroken. That night I dreamed that I was playing guitar onstage in an arena, rocking ass in front of 20,000 people, and I looked down and saw Sandy crying because she made the biggest mistake of her life. And that dream’s what got me into this rock ’n’ roll thing.
I'm just trying to imagine the young Dave Grohl with the 80s hair (no business, all party) sucking back tears because a girl shat all over his heart. There, there... What is it people say? When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Then spike it, chug it, and strap on a guitar and write some songs.
Hey, I guess we've got to thank Sandy for the Foo Fighters.
I haven't seen a good movie in the theatres in a very long time. Yesterday, I broke the film drought with Wes Anderson's new flick, Darjeeling Limited. It's about three estranged brothers who meet for the first time since their father passed away, on the Darjeeling Limited to embark on a spiritual journey through India. Big brother Francis (Owen Wilson) is eager to reconnect while his two brothers, Peter (Adrien Brody) and Jack (Jason Schwartzman) want to be anywhere else except on this train. Each brother brings his own baggage into the relationship, (beautiful, buttery soft leather, specially designed Marc Jacobs/Louis Vuitton luggage might I add) and when you put all that history and grief into one little train compartment, stuff... happens.
It's subtle hilarity. I chuckled. But I got train sick too. Wes Anderson's continuous shot camera action gives me motion sickness but it was worth it. So bring the ginger ale: Sip and enjoy.
View the trailer:
The prequel to this movie is a short film available for free on iTunes called Hotel Chevalier. It stars Jason Schwartzman and Natalie Portman. I haven't seen it. Have you? Thoughts? Worth seeing?
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Kate Nash is all up in the U.S. media these days. Hanging out with the New York Times, and now she's also in this month's Interview Magazine, which by the way, is on newstands now. I wonder what she's doing for Halloween. Big plans? Trick or treating maybe? To all the trick or treaters, have fun. Be safe. No egging houses! But if they give you apples, well... then you gotta do what you gotta do.
