The Rosebuds @ Bowery Ballroom
The Rosebuds presented on May 24 at the Bowery Ballroom their third and best album, Night of the Furies. The North Carolina husband/wife duo becomes an explosive and unforgettable band on stage. Their receipe: a dynamic synthpop balanced with dark romantic melodies, a music based on Kelly and Ivan universe but largely shared with the rest of their fellows and public...The Rosebuds is one of these generous bands who have not finished (hopefully for us) exploring their musical aspiration and inspiration...
“Let the spring come in”…
Spain's Primavera Sound is a festival that takes place in Barcelona
every year. This will be the seventh time that Primavera Sound will be a part of the
European festival season. Between May 31 and June 1 and 2, the
ultra-hip European town will be visited by more than 150 artists.
The 2007 line up is composed by such names as The Fall, Beirut,
Wilco, Patti Smith, The Smashing Pumpkins, The White Stripes, Justice,
Modest Mouse, Built to Spill, Black Lips, Grizzly Bear, Comets on
Fire, Sonic Youth, Melvins, Slint, Erol Alkan, Spank Rock and Blonde
Redhead. The Primavera formula is now well known: quality indie
music, a range of electronic music and some bill toppers capable of
attracting a large audience. Add an amazing setting and
a wonderful weather and you have the best way to celebrate Spring in music (if you feel
up to crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a few days)… If you're not, then just get ready
for next year…
To know more about Primavera Sound log on:
Official Primavera Sound websitePrimavera myspace
New York Look Book
My favorite part of
New York magazine has always been the "Look Book" section, where photographers stop people on the streets of NYC and interview them about what they are wearing. These are real people just like you and me with real jobs and budgets, not skinny fashion models in unattainable couture selected by stylists.
On September 3rd,
New York magazine will finally release a book featuring 200 of the best "Look Book" interviews of the past. Not every style shown in the book is one that I would personally covet or even understand for that matter, but just in case, it contains a "Where to Buy" section as well as New York neighborhood shopping guide so that you can perfectly emulate your favorite sidewalk fashionista.
Chasing Cool
Chasing Cool is the latest installment in the ever-growing market for entertaining business literature. In the same vein as such bestsellers as
Good To Great, and
The Tipping Point (both texts were required reading while getting my BBA at Parsons),
Chasing Cool is more inspirational than it is instructional.
The book tells the stories of several creative visionaries and how they led their respective businesses into the future by creating trends, instead of following them. It contains advice from such icons of cool as Sofia Coppola and Russell Simmons and the authors themselves are pretty hip themselves. Noah Kerner is a DJ turned marketing executive and one of
Billboard Magazine's "30 Under 30" and Gene Pressman is the former Creative Director of Barneys.
The marketing of the book is innovative and cool in itself. It has its own website and online community. On
ChasingCoolBook.Com, visitors can download buddy icons, send e-cards and become its friend on Myspace and Facebook.
This book is a must-read for anyone looking for creative inspiration, whether it be for the marketing of a Fortune 500 company or themselves.
Arcade Fire & The National@United Palace, May 8
One of my very first musical experiences in New York City will definitely go down as memorable. How could it not be when it was a performance by two of the best bands of the past year? The much-hyped Arcade Fire and the National, who are less well-known but just
as amazing performed at the United Palace
Theater, NYC. Despite sound problems and a twisted ankle (which forced
Brooklyn's The National to shorten their set) both of the bands offered us
some surreal moments.
I have seen The National perform many times in Europe, so I know how
amazing and heartbreaking they are live. Even
yesterday where the conditions were not the best, they played several sublime songs such as "Start A War", "Squalor Victoria" or
their magical version of "About Today" which ended their set beautifully.
They humbly left the stage to the Canadians of The Arcade Fire who went on to launch over an hour-long explosion of music, colours and energy. I
had never seen anything like it. The Arcade Fire shows are a real
experience and the audience was in a trance until the very
last minute, when Win Butler invited the crowd to take the stage and
improvise choral back up on the wonderful "Wake Up"...
The Sundance Channel Goes Green
The Sundance Channel has always been known as the cable channel with substance. Run by Robert Redford, it has built its reputation by showing smart independent films and thought-provoking documentaries. This year, Redford and company have taken Sundance to the next level of social responsibility. They have devoted enormous blocks of programming to eco-related shows made especially for the network. They have launched several new series such as
Big Ideas For A Small Planet,
Ecoists,
Eco Documentary, and
Eco Biz. Each inspiring program provides real life examples of how individuals and businesses are going green. They have even gone one step further by launching their own Eco Blog and
Guide to Green Living on their website.
The content of this new green programming is under strict quality control by its own advisory board, which includes such members as Robert F. Kennedy, Majora Carter of Sustainable South Bronx, global warming activist Laurie David, and journalist Simran Sethi.
Generation Garrel
Louis Garrel
Late last week, Brooklyn Academy of Music's BAM Rose Cinemas opened its latest collection of films to be shown through May 22nd. The program titled Generation Garrel, features nine films that showcase the work of one of France's most creative and prominent families in film; think of them as the French Coppolas. There is the actor Maurice, his son, director Philippe, and Philippe's son, the actor Louis Garrel. American audiences will most likely recognize Louis from 2003's "The Dreamers."
Clotilde Hesme and Louis Garrel in "Regular Lovers," a film directed by Philippe Garrel"
This week, BAM will be showing five films in the series: "Emergency Kisses" (1988), "Liberte, la nuit" (1983), "The Dreamers" (2003), "Kings and Queen" (2004), and "Wild Innocence" (2001).
For show times and a synopsis of each film, visit the
BAM Rose Cinemas website
New Bjork out NOW
Last Wednesday, May 2nd, I saw Bjork at Radio City Music Hall and it was a magical experience, just as I expected. The best part was when the very special guest, Antony as in Antony and the Johnsons sang a duet with the little Icelandic fairy. The worst part was when my best friend stormed the stage and began skipping around before he was hauled out by a security guard. Yes. I know that guy.
Bjork's new material is AMAZING. I have seen her twice in the past month and have been blown away each time.
Buy her new album Volta. It hit the stores May 8
BJORK ON SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE:
Jesus & Mary Chain Return
As mentioned in our Coachella report, one of our all-time favorite artists, the Jesus & Mary Chain are back and better than ever. Their drama-free Coachella comeback performance made me fall in love with their music all over again. You owe it to yourself to check them out at one of their several summer tour dates,listed below.
05-21 New York, NY - Webster Hall
05-22 New York, NY - Webster Hall
07-04 Lisbon, Portugal - Super Bock Super Rock
07-13 Madrid, Spain - Summercase Festival
07-14 Barcelona, Spain - Summercase Festival
08-12 Hildesheim, Germany - M'era Luna Festival
08-31 Argyll, Scotland - Inveraray Castle (Connect Festival)
09-01 Stradbally, Ireland - Stradbally Hall (Electric Picnic)
Some JAMC goodies to hold you over till the big day:
THE CLASSICS:
COACHELLA '07:
Ever looked closely at your JAMC vinyl? Maybe you should. Here are some messages etched in to some of their records:
Happy When It Rains EP 12"
a. Bison agathe xxx
b. I'll have a pizza, baby xxx
Darklands LP
a. verfaillie
b. William, Rona and the baby cats
Blues From A Gun 7"
a. Manhattan chippy
b. Frankie Howard Blues From A Gun 12"
a. Spermy yer grief
b. You love it!
Blues From A Gun 10"
a. Spermy her grief
b. My coo ca choo Rollercoaster 12"
a. Hunter high school
b. Johnny Beattie is bad
from
The Jesus & Mary Chain FansiteJAMC Myspace
Vusi Mahlasela's tour
Vusi Mahlasela is well established as one of South Africa's foremost artists, essential to the country's music scene before, during and after Apartheid.
Come and discover ( if you still do not know him ) this South African singer-songwriter and poet-activist, with his latest album The Guiding Star.
Do not miss either his New York SOB's show on Wednesday, May 9
Vusi Mahlasela New CD "Guiding Star" In Stores Now
Don't miss Vusi Mahlasela Live in Concert - On Tour Now! May dates include:
* May 9 S.O.B.'s, New York, NY
* May 10 Ram's Head Live, Baltimore, MD
* May 12 America's 400th Anniversary Celebration, Jamestown, VA
* May 13 Star Hill, Charlottesville, VA
Click
here to buy tickets, and for complete & updated Vusi Tour Dates info
Official Artist Website
Vusi Mahlasela @ MySpaceBuy Vusi Mahlasela "Guiding Star"
AmazonATO Records Official StoreiTunes
"World Circuit presents..." (World Circuit/Nonesuch)
"There have been moments in pop history when you can depend upon a label to buy a record blind. Atlantic had it, Motown had it for a while, and World Circuit has it at the moment" - Charlie Gillett, Billboard
London-based World Circuit Records, distributed in North America by Nonesuch, has taken world-music into the mainstream and onto the charts with a roster of artists and a series of unprecedented cross-cultural exchanges that have garnered international acclaim.
This two-disc, 29-track set, World Circuit presents... celebrates the 20th Anniversary of the label and illustrates the breadth of its catalogue, with each song personally annotated by Nick Gold.
You will listen to talented artists such as Buena Vista Social Club, Ali Farka Toure and discover the Malian singer Oumou Sangere, the Latin-inflected big-band sound of Orchestra Baobab, the Cuban doo-wop of Los Zafiros and the sinuous Spanish-Andalusian-Arabic groove of Radio Tarifa. All of them and many others have been gathered on this compilation. You will also find some previously unreleased tracks and other rarities.
AmazoniTunesNonesuchWorld Circuit Records
Joakim at Tribeca Grand NYC this Saturday!
Do NOT miss Joakim at Tribeca Grand NYC this Saturday!This Saturday, May 5th: 10pm-late
Sanctum @ Tribeca Grand
2 Avenue of the Americas (Church & White Sts.)
Joakim (Tiger Sushi/K7!/Paris)
Plus NYC's:
JDH (FIXED/ Defend Music)
James F!@#%^ Friedman (Throne of Blood/Go Commando)
Click here to RSVP!Check out Joakim's
MySpace!
New Album "MONSTERS AND SILLY SONGS" out now on Versatile (France) and K7 (Worldwide)
News about Gorillaz
The last time you heard Damon Albarn's name mentioned, it was probably for his new project "The Good The Bad And The Queen," and not for Gorillaz. Although he announced that the 2005 release of "Demon Days" would be the last Gorillaz record, the adventure is not completely finished. The conceptual band inspired by the comic universe will soon become the stars of their own movie directed by Terry Gilliam, best known for his work on "12 Monkeys."
Coachella Recap
Rage Against The Machine
The Passionate Lifestyle crew just returned from the annual Coachella Valley Arts &
Music Festival in Indio, CA and we could not be more exhausted. This year the festival was extended to three days instead of the usual two and the lineup included some of our favorite artists such as Rage Against the Machine, who who made headlines by playing their first show in seven years.
Day one was our favorite day of the festival. We arrived in the late afternoon just
in time to catch Digitalism tear things up at the dance tent. I am a huge Digitalism
fan but the heat was so intense that I had to move on after just a few songs, but what I did catch was amazing as usual and the crowd was definitely moving. I quickly ran next door to see Rufus Wainwright, who is one of my absolute favorite singer songwriters. He was draped in a mu mu-esque outfit and was entertaining the crowd with his usual on stage banter. Highlights of the show were "14th Street" and "The Art Teacher". I almost cried. Really.
Rufus Wainwright
Coachella Crowd
Next stop: The Jesus and Mary Chain. They did not disappoint and I was screaming along to every song, even when Scarlett Johansen sang back up on "Honey". I couldn't really hear her that well, but it didn't destroy my Jesus and Mary Chain buzz so I guess she did well.
Bjork
The highlight of Friday was of course, the innovative genius Bjork, who headlined that night. The visuals were spectacular and her voice sent chills down the spines of everyone in the crowd. She even had a trumpet-playing choir wearing robes and colorful face paint.
Bjork
Friday night also brought some of our best celebrity sightings. Strolling around the festival's VIP area we spotted Paris Hilton, Tara Reid, Jessica Alba, Danny Devito, Adam Brody, Ryan Cabrera, Simon Rex, and many more.
Arcade Fire
The other days of the festival all sort of blended into each other due to the massive heat, but highlights included Arcade Fire, who gave me goosebumps, our own NYC dance heroes LCD Soundsystem, and of course, the Rapture, who blew us away for the tenth time.
Arcade Fire
On Sunday, we were amazed by Klaxons, who had every single person in the Mojave tent dancing, jumping, and screaming (some with glow sticks) and Lily Allen, whose live performance has improved tremendously since the last time we saw her. And I am not just saying that because she was very sweet and apologized after crashing into me in the VIP area the day before.
Although I did have an amazing time and was extremely impressed by all that Coachella had to offer, all of the other performances seemed irrelevant around 11pm on Sunday night, when a small part of my heart that has been dead for about ten years was brought back to life...by Rage Against the Machine. They were one of my favorite bands back in their glory years but I had forgotten about how powerful they are. I wasn't the only one pumping my fist in the air screaming along to such classics as "Bulls On Parade," everyone else in the festival seemed just as excited and I thought there was going to be a riot when Zack de la Rocha went on one of his trademark political rants suggesting that the current administration should be "tried, hung, and shot" like the Nazi war criminals. Rage's performance was the perfect closing to a perfect festival weekend. My only regret is that I didn't buy one of the Rage Against the Machine Coachella 2007 t-shirts when I had the chance. Oh well, they don't believe in materialism anyway.
