Check out some wonderful photography before you carve yourself a place in the couch for the Oscars telecast:

Great Performers: A New York Times Portfolio by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. http://www.nytimes.com/packages/khtml/2004/02/29/magazine/20040229_PORTRAITS_FEATURE.html

Bill Murray by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. (Congrats to Bill by the way for his win at the Independent Spirit Awards yesterday).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moving right along, I care for your cultural lives so that I've also decided to update you with some film notices today as well:

Terrence Malick's The Thin Red Line is playing today at BAM Rose Cinemas (30 Lafayette Ave. Bklyn.) beginning at 9pm. Starring a ridiculously talented ensemblecast, including Nick Nolte, Sean Penn, George Clooney, John Travolta, Ben Chaplin, Woody Harrelson, John Cusack, Jim Caviezel (aka everyone's favorite bloody Jesus), and a sneak peek at Adrian Brody, who was the main character until hours of the film hit Malick's cutting room floor. The director has only made three films in his entire career, and all three are film school masterpieces.

Trailer: http://videodetective.com/home.asp?x=y&SpeedTestResults=2880&PublishedID=8067&AltID=&CustomerID=14817&WM=False&Ads=True&Play=TRUE

If you want my body and you think I'm sexy, come on sugar let me know...

No, unfortunately Rod Stewart isn't making a guest appearance at CBGBs tonight, but this song instantly came to mind when going over my Events Calendar. Over in Astoria Queens, 35th Ave. at 36th St. to be exact, Marlon Brando is getting his aggressive funky on in The Last Tango In Paris. The American Museum of The Moving Image is worth checking out in its own right, but chances are that after the 6:30 screening of this film, you probably won't want to do anything else but curl up in the fetal position and cry. Cheers!

Trailer: http://www.videodetective.com/home.asp?SpeedTestResults=2880&PublishedID=882&AltID=&CustomerID=14817&WM=False&Ads=True&Play=True

Musically we've got some stellar acts for this evening:

Sin-E (150 Attorney at Stanton Sts.) is hosting the continuation of Icelandic group Tenderfoot's US tour. Helping out will be The Last Town Chorus, Pale Blue Dot, and Slow Six. Get there by 7pm with $8 and you should be golden in the My Morning Jacket sense.

Tenderfoot: "While This River Flows" http://www.tenderfoot.is/media/While_this_river_flowes.mp3

The Last Town Chorus: "Oregon" http://www.thelasttownchorus.com/audio/ltc-Oregon.ram

Pale Blue Dot: "Things That Aren't Even There" http://www.palebluedotmusic.com/Music%20Clips/palebluedot2-01.m3u

Slow Six: "Evening #1 Excerpt" http://www.slowsix.com/music/evening1.zip

That's all for now, crazy amounts of studying await me.

If you really need me/Just reach out and touch me-S.

The Faces: Rod Stewart ca. 1971 by Jeff Albertson for CORBIS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's Friday and there's some damn good shows going down tonight. That's all that needs to be said. Take care of each other tonight and donate a couple of drinks to your favorite band.

As you can see to your left, ambient mood music shall penetrate the walls of Southpaw tonight beginning at 8pm (125 5th Ave., Bklyn.). We've got four ultra-promising bands coming there for the reasonable price of $10: SEA RAY, TENDERFOOT, THE LAST TOWN CHORUS, and CHALLENGER. Once you hear "Revelry", you'll understand why Sea Ray have been the possessors of tremendous industry buzz. Think Sigur Ros on Prozac, The Polyphonic Spree shaking hands with the NYC Symphony. It's perfectly-structured pop music, but with added unique qualities; a cello here, intelligent lyrics there (Oh I don't care what the Good Book says/Now I'm free/But I feel no revelry), and this great light percussion section (on a song like "Revelry", SR could've decided to go melancholic duple, but instead they came up with the uber-catchy double-time drums and tambourines you hear in the track). The fact that the band possesses a diverse sound is an added bonus. Tenderfoot meanwhile have emigrated from Iceland to bring you quality music their way. Yes, I know when you hear Iceland, you immediately think of aforementioned blues brothers, Sigur Ros. Judge not dear music lover. On a song like "While This River Flows", your ears are imbued with Simon and Garfunkle guitars and waves of pulsating rhythm punctuated by deep-throated emotional vocals. As if it couldn't get better, it goes and does with The Last Town Chorus. It is at this point that I should mention that the bookers of Southpaw deserve tremendous credit here; they have sculpted a bill which is consistent in both technique and sound. TLTC keep within the bill's theme of mysterious mood music, but they have a completely different idea of what that entails. Beth Orton-esque female vocals glower over echoed slide guitar in "Change Your Mind". The only complaint I will register here is that the song doesn't have many parts to it, it's a beautiful river of sound but with no climax or bridge to keep the ear tuned in. Last but not least, Challenger, a band who will stretch the boundaries of Southpaw's conception of "mysterious mood music". I've had this group on the radar for some time now after hearing "Goddamn American Dream", a Pink-Floyd-opera of sorts complete with samples of Bonham's "When The Levee Breaks" brick-layer-drums. Nevermind that when I exclaimed to a DJ friend how amazing it was that Challenger sampled Zeppelin, he cooly replied that along with "Funky Drummer", "When The Levee Breaks" is one of the most sampled drum lines ever. Besides the point entirely. They took a novel approach to a much-approached subject and, I think, succeeded. "Goddamn American Dream" is one of their more accessible songs however; strange samplings like the knife-sharpening sound in "Destroyer" may put off the audience a bit. Personally, I think it's intriguing enough to warrant a second listen. See for yourself at Southpaw and then tell L.A.R.S. all about it.

Moving right along, we've got one of my favorite bands playing a surprise show tonight at the Knitting Factory's Old Office space (74 Leonard St.). Yes, I'm talking about THE HARLEM SHAKES, a band who can shake (harmony-infused "Eighteen"), rattle (the dark "White Note") and roll (the addicting "Disco 5000"). These boys are simply wonderful on wax and preternaturally mind-blowing onstage. Get there by 9pm with $7 in order to see the Shakes' supporters, Fireworks Go Up!, Kung Fury, and Salo Rex. Don't believe the hype? Well after listening to THS' mp3s below, please reroute yourself to the L.A.R.S. archives, where you will find a review of their January 17th performance at Don Hills, where they properly blew away this young music fan. At the very least, go there to give them all a good pat on the back, they're superbly polite and sweet gentlemen.

And speaking of The Harlem Shakes, I have a favor to ask all of you, and this time, it's actually quite important. If perhaps you fancy yourself to be Mick Ronson-esque:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

or perhaps Jimmy Page-ish

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

or, as Beck said, You only have one finger left/And it's pointing at the dawn, (I mean, really, why do all lead guitarists point at up? Je ne sais pas)....

you need to IMMEDIATELY contact The Harlem Shakes. These boys are in need of a lead guitarist toute suite. I shall repeat that, because it bears repeating. THE HARLEM SHAKES ARE IN NEED OF A LEAD GUITARIST.  The question is, are you feeling lucky punk? If you are, contact this awesome band at harlem@harlemshakes.com. And no prankers please, only qualified guitarists need apply. Check out their website beforehand to get a better feel for the band: www.harlemshakes.com. I mean, I immediately offerred to do the Robert-Palmer-video backup style, but apparently they're not in need of such schlockery. Point is, contact them and then go see them tonight. Cheers.

Check the Events Calendar for more details and other shows, there's so much more where this came from. And need I remind you, all of the band websites, dive websites, etc etc etc, are located in the L.A.R.S. links. Bisou, bisou-S.

All these bands are so nice, I decided to list them twice:

Sea Ray: "Revelry" http://www.culturalagency.com/mp3/sea_ray_revelry.mp3

Sea Ray: "Quiver" http://www.culturalagency.com/mp3/sea_ray_quiver.mp3

Tenderfoot: "While The River Flows" http://www.tenderfoot.is/media/While_this_river_flowes.mp3

Tenderfoot: "Country" http://www.tenderfoot.is/media/Country.mp3

The Last Town Chorus: "Change Your Mind" http://www.thelasttownchorus.com/audio/TheLastTownChorus-ChangeYourMind.mp3

The Last Town Chorus: "Brooklyn Navy Yard, 1950" http://www.thelasttownchorus.com/audio/LTC-BrooklynNavyYard.mp3

Challenger: "Goddamn American Dream" http://www.challenger.ms/music/Challenger%20-%2001%20-%20goddamn%20american%20dream.mp3

Challenger: "Destroyer" http://www.challenger.ms/music/Challenger%20-%20Destroyer.mp3

The Harlem Shakes: "Disco 5000" http://www.harlemshakes.com/Disco5000.mp3

The Harlem Shakes: "White Note" http://www.harlemshakes.com/whitenote.mp3

Fireworks Go Up!: "The Sun Don't Burn Without Her" http://www.fireworksgoup.com/sun.mp3

Fireworks Go Up!: "Glorious Mood" http://www.fireworksgoup.com/glorious_mood.mp3

Kung Fury: "Gotta Be Me" http://mp3.washingtonpost.com/get_song?song_id=8664

Kung Fury: "Need My Soul" http://mp3.washingtonpost.com/get_song?song_id=8663

And in dedication of Robert Palmer...and what I could've been...a contendah:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I used to rock it/Sometimes I'd roll it/I always knew what it was for-S.

First things first: I made the executive decision last night to not go to The Fever/Von Bondies bill. Yes. I can actually hear you wincing as you read that statement. But I was whipped hard yesterday by work and I just collapsed into bed. Anyways, not the point. The point is that I am going to have to ask you a small favor: if you would be so kind as to post, email, and/or im me and let me know all the juicy details of the concert, maybe even send some photos of, say, you humping Geremy's leg or re-breaking Jason's nose, I'd be oh so grateful. Danke shein darling, danke shein.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moving right along, we've got some stellar bills tonight, not to be missed. First up, we have those uber-talented gentlemen, THE SEXY MAGAZINES hitting the birthplace of punk, CBGBs.  What can I say that hasn't already been said? The Sexys may be killer on wax (hear below), but they are A-FUCKING-MAZING live. Their guitarist has virtuoso fingers to make Valensi and Hammond Jr. weep in jealousy, their lead singer has a good old-fashioned rock and roll case of the crazies, and their drummer is replete with stick-twirling, stand-up kit bashing glory. Their review shall be fast approaching, but until that point, I highly recommend you checking them out live to form your own opinions upon. I guarantee, in fact, I place a 2 lager bet on the fact that you won't be disappointed. Get there by 11:00 to see TSM, but by 7pm with $7 if you want to see the leadup to all the chaos, including Miles From Home, Astronaut, Formula 1, and Down For Law.

If however you've been a rock and roll sinner, enjoying the random Shania Twain lp for instance, and therefore don't feel absolved enough to step into the cathedral of rock that is CBGBs (the only place where Joey's name hangs directly over its cross street), then perhaps this bill will suit your errant ways. MORNINGWOOD are playing Pianos (158 Ludlow at Stanton Sts.) tonight starting at 8 with help from Champions of Sound, Baby, Crash Convention, and Morex Optimo. $8 is going to get you all shook up, particularly because there's sure to be some crazy antics in celebration of Chantal's birthday. I for one just want to wish that girl a good one, it's a downright travesty of rock reporting that Karen O gets all the glory and yet Chantal is relegated to the sidelines. Go and show your support of a true blue rock outfit.

Beginning at 8pm at Sin-E (150 Attorney at Stanton Sts.), a quartet of talent shall be playing for the downright steal of $8. We're talking The Situation, Les Baton Rouge, The Tuesday Suits, AND CRIMSON SWEET.  There's a lot of grrrl power in that lineup, one that you won't want to miss. CS have great potential, their single "So Electric" is catchy yet elusive, one that buys into the theory that the '80s weren't such a bad place in the rock and roll tableau, and still manages to keep it unique.

Listen, look and then go use the rest of your senses at one of these great bills tonight. Before you go do that, why not check out the Photo Album, where we've got new show pics plus new rock and roll photography without watermarks. And hey, when you guys are flooding me with dissertations on the Fever/Bondies show, could you also let me know of any good ways to put my videos up on the net? If you do, you just may be able to see Franz Ferdinand footage plus 3 separate Sexy Magazines songs. Who do you love? Oh yeah.

Some Sexy Magazines photos courtesy of me, shameless self-promoter that I am:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, of course, some mp3-age:

The Sexy Magazines: "Man O' Man"   http://www.thesexymagazines.com/MamOManclip.mp3

The Sexy Magazines: "I'd Be Myself" http://www.thesexymagazines.com/I'dBeMyselfclip.mp3

Miles From Home: "Salt" http://www.milesfromhome.net/music/Track%202.wav

Morningwood: "Nu Rock" http://www.morningwoodrocks.com/nurock.mp3 

Champions Of Sound: "All Around" http://www.championsofsound.com/ChampionsOfSound-AllAround.mp3

Morex Optimo: "Stalling" http://morexoptimo.com/sounds/Morex_Optimo-Stalling-sample.mp3

Crimson Sweet: "So Electric" http://www.angelfire.com/falcon/crimsonsweet/newelectric.mp3

The Tuesday Suits: "Alone, Naturally" http://www.thetuesdaysuits.com/personal/TS_D01_Alone_Naturally.mp3

Les Baton Rouge: "Somersault" http://www.elevatormusic.com/LESBATONROUGE_somersault.mp3

Rock Photo: On The Cover of the Rolling Stone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you remember?/When we used to sing-S.

"We were talking/About the love we all could share/When we find it/To try our best to hold it there/With our love/With our love/We could save the world/If they only knew"- Within You, Without You, George Harrison.

He was the "quiet one". The lad from Liverpool with the shy smile and romantic songs. He was a master of musical understatement, combining love of music with virtuoso talent to create some of the most instantly-recognizable songs in music history. He was a deeply religious man who sought for the Way constantly. He was a presence more felt through the earphones than through the television or onstage. He was. George Harrison would be sixty-one today. May he rest in peace, sheltered by his friends Johnny and June Carter Cash, among many others. He is greatly missed...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Photo credit for above: The Beatles in Rome, 1965. By Ferdinando Scianna/Magnum Photos).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Filming A Hard Day's Night, 1964. By David Hurn/Magnum Photos).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(The Beatles, 1964. By Marc Riboud/Magnum Photos).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1963. Paris, France. By Philip Jones Griffiths/Magnum Photos).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1965. By Norman Parkinson Limited/Fiona Cowan/CORBIS).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Golden State Park, San Francisco, CA, August 7, 1967. By Bettmann/CORBIS).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(The taping of The Ed Sullivan Show, February 9, 1964. By Bettmann/CORBIS).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It took a long long long time/Now I'm so happy I found you/How I love you-S.

Wow, frenzied is the only way to describe today. However, late as it is, I decided that today is so full of wonderful events that I couldn't not post about it, compulsive chronicler that I am. On with the show:

Record release parties can never be bad times, it's an actual rule. Tonight hosts the LIARS' release of the intriguingly-titled They Were Wrong So We Drowned. Liars are one of the bands who have paved the way for hypnotic quasi-trance mechanical rock; without them The Rapture wouldn't be hip-shaking their way up the charts. Helping this band kick it proper are none other than TV ON THE RADIO, a talented group in their own right, and Chromatics, a band which has a robotic and ambient groove to them which is quite enticing. Bring your own sausages and vodka, and get to the Warsaw by 8pm with $14 (261 Driggs Ave., Greenpoint/Williamsburg, Bklyn).

Meanwhile over at Irving Plaza (17 Irving Place at 15th), those crazy Swedes THE SOUNDS shall be performing live for your pleasure. Just picked to open The Strokes' US tour, The Sounds have a catchy take on the derivative '80s formula. Nothing earth-shattering here, but Maja Ivarsson seems to have tremendous charm and charisma; this band should provide a dance-till-you-drop fun night for you all. Because, as Cyndi so blithely put it, girls just wanna have fun.

That's all for now, but keep an eye out folks because tomorrow and Thursday are big days indeed. We're talking THE FEVER and THE VON BONDIES hitting the Bowery, followed directly by THE SEXY MAGAZINES careening into CBGBs (and ps, check out the photo album for new pics of The Sexy's Sunday show). Whoa.

I've got your song stuck in my head like a knife/Whoa-S.