 Tuesday, July 03, 2007i went to a pool party but i didn't get wet
   The point of this entry is to tell you that I, like 829347589237592835 other "hipsters" went to a free show in a dilapidated swimming pool. What I do know is that I really enjoyed the band Illinois, as much as I did when I saw them at SXSW and not just because of the photo in the upper right-hand side of this blog. The other thing I have to say is that Man Man was fun for me... for about two songs. Also, the marching band outside was awesome and Enids ran out of mac and cheese and Rachael and I were really unhappy about that. Everything else you probably already know. Have a great 4th of July!! Illinois - Screendoor posted by n. @ 7/03/2007 05:42:00 PM
a reason to lay low
 Female singer-songwriters have been growing on me lately. While I've been through my Tori phase and my Bjork obsession, the genre has never really been one that I have gravitated to. But now I'm a somewhat unlikely Feist fan, I have an opinion on the different Cat Power records, and I squeeled with glee in my front hallway when I saw Jenny Lewis on the cover of the new issue of Filter that arrived today, so I guess it has been a steady progression. A few weeks ago I saw a singer songwriter at Pianos who goes by the stage name Lay Low. In actuality, the act is a bluesy rock band from Iceland fronted by the charmingly shy Lovisa Elisabet. As Lay Low, she has a debut album out now called Please Don't Hate Me which showcases her husky vocals and low-key charm. She's the kind of act that would fit perfectly in a dark smokey bar while you lean back and sip a cold pint of beer. Best of all, you might get the chance to do just that, as Lay Low will have two performances at CMJ this fall, before hustling back to play in her home country at the Icelandic Airwaves Festival. Either way, I'm smitten with these songs. Have a listen. Lay Low - Mojo Love Lay Low - Please Don't Hate Me posted by n. @ 7/03/2007 03:11:00 PM
Friday, June 29, 2007VAMPIRES for this weekend...
 There has been a lot of sun out lately, what with the solstice last week and what not. I would imagine that this would make them (them being vampires) very unhappy in general. That leaves very little time to party! Vampires have it rough. Lucky for them, there is an entire band whose name is devoted to making Vampire's have their very own weekends of fun. Meet Vampire Weekend. Yeah I'm just that clever. But seriously, everyone is talking about this band, so give them a listen. I'm not sure Vampires would even be into this music, because it is fairly cheery and not very blood-drinking-esque. I invented an adjective. Here you go. Have a great weekend! Vampire Weekend - Oxford Comma Vampire Weekend - Cape Cod Kwassa (do vampires even GO to cape cod? i think not) posted by n. @ 6/29/2007 03:07:00 PM
this = fun
 i had possibly the best night ever last night. EVER. i mean like... if clive owen had been involved, it would have been the BEST NIGHT OF MY ENTIRE LIFE. but still.. it was good. so check this remix, which i would add to my hyper dance mix seen below. The Cribs - Men's Needs CSS Remix!!! ohhhhh shit. posted by n. @ 6/29/2007 10:10:00 AM
Thursday, June 28, 2007dancedancedancedancedance
 man sometimes, i get really hyper. we have discussed this before. and at this times i like to play dance remixes and dancey songs really loudly in inappropriate yet awesome locations (ie: my desk at work or my bedroom, also known as not hiro or studio b). here are a few new tracks that i am liking right now when i am not listening (once again) to the new interpol album, which is not quite as good for hyper moodness. Shiny Toy Guns - Starts With One (Young Americans Remix) Shout Out Louds - Tonight I Have To Leave It (Kleerup Remix) Franz Ferdinand - All My Friends (LCD Soundsystem Cover) Justice - D.A.N.C.E (MSTRKRFT remix) Feist - 1 2 3 4 (van she tech remix) posted by n. @ 6/28/2007 12:18:00 AM
Wednesday, June 27, 2007shiny toy guns heart their fog machine
 I'm going to take a break from listening to the new Interpol album obsessively to tell you what I did Monday night -- i went to see Shiny Toy Guns at Highline Ballroom. I lam a big fan of this band, which may be surprising to some since their style is very divergent from what I spent the majority of my time listening to/obsessing over. Regardless, their energy and devotion to their fans is infectious and while their rise has been slow I think there are great things to come from this Los Angeles based band. Their live show that I saw on Monday was vastly more impressive than anything I had seen from them previously (I've seen this band perform in venues ranging from a tiny studio the size of my bedroom to opening for the Sounds at Webster Hall). Most notable was their seriously vamped up light show, which featured a LOT, and i mean A LOT of fog. I also really enjoyed openers, the moody rockers The Hourly Radio (who I have seen several times and always enjoy) and Stars of Track and Field who I have never seen before but was very impressed with. Shiny Toy Guns will be bouncing around the US and Europe on a tour that has dates stretching through til NOVEMBER, so def. check them out if you have the chance, even if it may go against your "indie rock" inclinations. After all this I hope those kids get some much needed rest, since singer Carah Faye already seemed a bit fatigued on Monday, but they still always manage to deliver a great show. Shiny Toy Guns - Stripped (Depeche Mode cover) Stars of Track and Field - Say Hello posted by n. @ 6/27/2007 11:11:00 AM
Friday, June 22, 2007in memory of drew gorenThough I never personally got to meet him, Drew Goren sounds like a he was a pretty amazing individual. I urge you to come out and support this important cause with what will I'm sure be a great benefit concert June 30th at Luna Lounge, curated by Doug from the GoStation. ---------------------------- Drew Goren, a gifted photographer and friend, passed away on December 19th, 2006. In March of 2005, the unimaginable news that Drew had stage IV cancer at the young age of thirtyone came as a huge shock to everyone who loved him. Yet, still Drew would continue on to work through the last year and half, almost harder then ever. He often squeezed photo shoots inbetween chemo sessions. And although it began to get painful for him to even walk his subjects were never even aware of his disease; he always preferred they not make allowances. Drew worked because he loved photography, not because he had to. A fund has been established for Drew's 5 year-old daughter, Nina, and her mom, Julia. Contributions can be made through the Talbert Family Foundation and are tax-deductible. Please designate your funds to "Drew Goren Memorial Fund." To learn more about the fund, go here. To see some of Drew's photography, visit Subway Sleeper.com 
posted by n. @ 6/22/2007 11:59:00 AM
a record collection, reduced to a mixtape
 TGIF people. For reals. This has been a pretty BLAH week. Does the summer solstice normally bring the blues? Well, no matter, the surest thing to get me out of a funk is some great new music, which makes it so appropriate that a crazy fun band like Art Brut put out a new album this week! Rachael and I actually featured some of the new tracks from It's A Bit Complicated on our now defunct internet radio (RIP), but I thought I would bring one back today for good measure. Art Brut might not be the most sophisticated band out there (as the name implies), but there is just something so damn GOOFY about these guys, I can't help but grin. Their myspace page says that they sound "like nothing on this earth" and I'd say that's a pretty good assessment if I've ever heard one. Art Brut - Pump Up The Volume posted by n. @ 6/22/2007 11:00:00 AM
Thursday, June 21, 2007Ra Ra Riot return to the stage in NYC
 In what is sure to be an emotional performance for the band and their fans after the passing of their drummer and friend John Pike, Ra Ra Riot will make their return to the stage with a free performance at Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport on Friday, June 29th. They will be supported by friends and fellow local acts, Sam Champion and The Bikini Carwash Company. According to Seaport Music producer Steve Dima, “Our hope is that New York’s indie music community and fans alike come out in mass to support Ra Ra Riot and hear the music John helped create. No doubt, it will be a special night.” The band will also move forward with their scheduled summer tour suporting Tokyo Police Cluyb and also travelling to the UK for the first time. Ra Ra Riot has joined with John Pike’s family to create the “John Pike Memorial Fund” which you can learn more about on their myspace page. I'm really glad the band has decided to continue on inspite of the recent tragedy, and hope everyone comes out to support them at this show. Ra Ra Riot - Hounds Of Love (Kate Bush) - Live on WOXY Ra Ra Riot - Each Year posted by n. @ 6/21/2007 03:00:00 PM
interpol are over the lower east side
 but is the lower east side over Interpol? well, I live in Brooklyn, so I still like them even if they hang out at the Spotted Pig now and all Carlos seems to want to talk about is his dog.... Interpol in the NY Times Also, this song, which apparently leads off the album, is just the kind of melancholy Interpol that I love (only Paul Banks can really sing this way about piles of dirt and your soul) and makes me think of the good old days. You know.. like 2003 or something. Interpol - Pioneer To The Falls This is the last Interpol I'm posting, because you need to go buy Our Love To Admire when it comes out posted by n. @ 6/21/2007 02:45:00 PM
Wednesday, June 20, 2007um.... NO.
 booooooooooooooo posted by n. @ 6/20/2007 02:46:00 PM
Monday, June 18, 2007after the jump!
 www.afterthejumpfest.com august twenty-fifth, two thousand and seven line-up to be announced shortly curated by the people behind: themusicslut . batteringroom . disconap . earfarm . ryspace . irockiroll . musicsnobbery . merryswankster . softcommunication . theunderratedblog . sitdownstandup . watercoolergossip . bumpershine . themodernage . productshopnyc . yetidontdance . slapyouinpublic . subinev . punkphoto . poptartssucktoasted . stereoactivenyc for more information, please email: booking: booking@afterthejumpfest.com charity: charity@afterthejumpfest.com sponsors: sponsors@afterthejumpfest.com publicity: publicity@afterthejumpfest.com posted by n. @ 6/18/2007 10:03:00 AM
Thursday, June 14, 2007the british gospel: razorlight @ irving plaza
 So the In The City music conference is going on this week, but only lasts for two days so basically you could blink and miss the entire thing. I'm honestly pretty underwhelmed by the whole thing, considering that there are only a handful of bands playing the entire festival. My boyfriend and his bandmate did attend some of the panels yesterday and found some of them to be really interesting and some just basically a waste of time. I met up with them once they were done becoming even more jaded about the state of the music industry and we went over to Irving Plaza (or the Fillmore blah blah blah) for a Nylon party featuring two things that I generally really like: british bands and free vodka - pretty much in that order depending on the day. Opening acts Bloody Social and the Plasticines were fine but in the end utterly forgettable. Bloody Social have enough long hair to flail around that they appear to have been transported here from early 90's Seattle and Plasticines are an all female group who did one good cover but I don't even remember what that was. The Misshapes and Steve Aoki were djing, except I'm pretty sure Steve didn't pay a minute of attention to the Misshapes set because he kept replaying the same songs they had played, except he played remixes (btw, the remix of Bjork's "Earth Intruders" is pretty awesome, if anyone wants to send it to me). In between bands they were also playing a lot of "Nylon tv," the gist of which apparently involves a lot of people who are cooler than me doing random stuff in random countries for no apparent actual purpose other than to be cool. So the culmination of all of this was a live performance by Razorlight, which turned out to be lead singer Johnny Borrell backed by a random five person gospel choir who seemed nothing if not totally amused by the entire thing. Despite the sparse crowd, Johnny ended up giving a pretty great performance, eventually explaining that the choir were subbing in for the band's drummer who was ill and back in the UK. If I were them, I'd consider keeping the five additional singers around though -- they def. added something great to the performance - some soul. Johnny kept his shirt on unfortunately, I have no idea if Kirsten Dunst was there or not, and when the vodka dried up, made my way home to bed. This was an exceptionally long blog entry for me. Hope you liked it. Razorlight - America posted by n. @ 6/14/2007 08:32:00 AM
Wednesday, June 13, 2007quite possibly the only karaoke i would be good atseeing as how you don't actually have to SING anything 
posted by n. @ 6/13/2007 05:14:00 PM
morning theft covers the pixies!
 When the Pixies reunited at Coachella in 2004, I was there and it was pretty awesome, but I was definitely not NEARLY as excited as Rob Holmes from Morning Theft was. I am, however, really excited for Rob and his band because they are one of the artists that were chosen to participate in this awesome Pixies tribute record that is coming out in November of this year - alongside acts like British Sea Power, They Might Be Giants, and OK Go. YAY FOR MORNING THEFT! Even more awesome, if you go to the myspace page for the release right now, you can stream their contribution, an awesome cover of Ana. You diehard fans can also pre-order a limited edition first release pressing thingy. In the meantime, Morning Theft promises updates as to their forthcoming album (woo!) and future shows soon. Morning Theft - Thirty Helens Agree posted by n. @ 6/13/2007 11:25:00 AM
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 20 something girl living in NYC, writes about music and other assorted stuff, originally from chicago, likes vodka tonics and the rapture. i'm not a music journalist, just a fan & also a dj
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