Guided By Voices @ Irving Plaza, Tonight

Goodbye 2010!

Q-Tip & Friends @ Liberty Hall, December 31st

TIX

The Crystal Method, Disco Biscuits @ Terminal 5, Tonight

TIX

Raekwon, Disco Biscuits @ Terminal 5, Tonight

TIX

Beady Eye: "Four Letter Word"

BDI

Former Oasis frontman- Liam Gallagher started a Mod Rock band that ain't bad at all. They sound like The Small Faces and The Kinks. I think Oasis haters will actually like this band.

Kanye West: "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" VINYL

BUY

This is a very special deluxe vinyl LP for Kanye's newest release. It includes 3 LPs along w/frameable artwork.

14-time Grammy-winner Kanye West made a triumphant return to NBC's Saturday Night Live in October, delivering breathtaking performances of his anthem "Power," and his newest single, "Runaway," from his highly anticipated new album MY BEAUTIFUL DARK TWISTED FANTASY.

MY BEAUTIFUL DARK TWISTED FANTASY includes Nikki Minaj, Jay-Z, Rick Ross, and Justin Vernon of Bon Iver on the smash street single "Monster" and Pusha T on "Runaway" which received the Best New Music stamp from Pitchfork. Other guests include Kid Cudi and Raekwon and contributing producers include RZA of Wu-Tang Clan, Pete Rock, and Q-Tip. The new album was recorded in Honolulu and at the legendary Electric Lady Studios in New York City. (AMZN)

The Rocky Horror Picture Show @ Chelsea Cinema

@MIDNIGHT

Die Hard @ Landmark Theater

@MIDNIGHT
There is nothing for Jews to do on Christmas but eat Chinese food and go to the movies.

2001 A Space Odyssey @ IFC

@MIDNIGHT

Somewhere (Sofia Coppola)

Like "Lost in Translation", Sofia Coppola's newest centers around the loneliness and despair of fame and celebrity. "Somewhere" takes a different angle, from the perspective of a boring Johnny Depp type actor who's directionless in his private life until his 11 year old daughter comes to visit. Without a hard plot, or delivery of any kind of traditional script, the movie has a lot of silence and symbolism. This is Sofia's fourth, leaving a trail of stylish music video sequences that seem to have become her own brand of subtlety. One could watch and see nothing in "Somewhere" but a pattern of scenes taped together like an issue of Vogue, or you can read into each episode as a character study on boredom vs. reality through the eyes of a movie star. The infamous Chateau Marmont Hotel is the setting for most of the story, with a brief trip to Italy similar to the comedic styling of "Lost in Translation". "Somewhere" puts a damper on what it may be like to be famous, the automatics of the job, and the superficial behind-the-scenes way of life it can be if there's nothing else driving you toward success. It's almost a slap in the face at Hollywood cliches, using a dose of reality to further explore one's want to have depth and purpose in a career full of hollow interactions and meaningless acquaintances. Nothing momentous happens to either character from beginning to end, making this an 'Anti-Celebrity' movie that raises a bigger question after you leave the theater- is 'nothing happening' the same as philosophical intellect? Film critics would ask that question in the form of- does this movie suck, or am I getting the point through self-reflection? Sofia Coppola has tapped into a genre of her own by changing the necessities of a filmmaker, putting images before words and soundtrack before dialogue. (A)

Somewhere @ Lincoln Center AMC

@AMC

Utopia @ Highline Ballroom, January 29th

TIX

MNDR @ Terminal 5, February 4th

TIX
with Chromeo

Don Van Vliet (AKA Captain Beefheart) RIP

Nobody knew exactly why Don Van Vliet walked away from a successful music career to live a reclusive life, a painter somewhere on the west coast for the last few decades. We now know he had been suffering from Multiple Sclerosis, but it was not made public to his fans. We all thought he just went crazy and couldn't deal with fame, or simply got tired of the music business, and both might be true anyway. I got into him at a young age along with his childhood friend- Frank Zappa. Even though both tested the musical boundaries of an alien embodying Beethoven, Coltrane and Robert Johnson all in one, Zappa was the easier of the pair to understand. Vliet was more a poet and avant-garde, breaking every rule there was to break within music theory, sound technology and utterly playing instruments "wrong". Zappa, on the other hand, as progressive as he was, didn't compose outside the rules of traditional music theory (not till much later in his career), was more comical lyrically than poetically, and opposite to Vliet's Magic Band, demanded that his players peform at the utmost skill and virtuosity. I could never put my finger on exactly what I liked about Vliet's music at such a young age, other than its originality and detachment from anything comparable. He was always mentioned alongside Zappa, but in so many ways, they were total opposites of a still unexplored spectrum of music only an elite group of musicians will ever understand. What always intrigued me, and still does about Vliet, is whether he actually composed his music note-for-note on paper. I've read the Zoot Rollo biography, and whatever articles I could find on Captain Beefheart, all suggesting he did, but it's still hard to believe the use of the accident was not prone in his compositions. My favorite of all his albums- "Lick my decals off, baby" sounds like a record made by Charles Manson if he had access to a Jazz ensemble. His debut record- "Safe as Milk" was more bluesy, and less experimental. His most famous- "Trout Mask Replica" was perhaps his most outrageous lyrically and rhythmically, and his closest attempts at making something commercial- "Unconditionally Guaranteed" and "Bluejeans and Moonbeams" were considered failures by most including myself. But the Captain made his comeback critically with "Shiny Beast" (my 2nd favorite). When you listen through his catalog, you can hear he'd come full circle on "Shiny Beast" and invented some new form of poetic-drone Rock. He had given up the ridiculous time signatures of "Decals", but strayed away from his version of normality on "Guaranteed" and "Moonbeams", only to come out the other end with his final masterpiece. He would return in the early 80's for two more records- "Doc at the Radar Station" and "Ice Cream for Crow", but both were reworkings of older material and neither made an impact the way "Shiny Beast" did. Then, he was gone. Another misunderstood icon like Syd Barrett or Peter Green to be remembered through his art, and never returned to the stage.

Up until this past weekend, I was sure he was going to make some kind of come-back, a tour or a reunion record, or something/anything. I had no idea he was ailing, nor did I know he would pass away younger than expected. I just heard from various people who knew him personally, that he was living a private life and had given up music to paint full time. I even thought about tracking him down in the past, trying to find him at an art exhibit or something, but how the hell was I gonna do that?

So there goes another fallen hero of mine I never got to meet. I did however, learn a lot from his work, and I'm humbled to know that's the way he would've wanted it. He walked away from the public eye for a reason. The best I can offer, is to spin his records and share his stories with others who got to know his tremendous legacy. And I'm also humbled to know I can spend the rest of my life analyzing his music and never run out of new ideas to learn about. I think he would want his fans to remember him that way. He was a true genius, a visionary the world hasn't caught up to yet, and probably never will. (A)

Gang of Four @ Webster Hall, February 8th

TIX
For those who missed the last batch of reunion shows...

The Rock & Roll Circus (2011), January 3rd & 4th

TIX

Head (Deluxe Edition Box)

RhinoHandMade

America Lost And Found: The BBS Story

Criterion
This is SO AWESOME! All the gravy, the extras, the documentaries... God bless Criterion.

Questlove @ Brooklyn Bowl, Tonight

TIX

Snowden @ Public Assembly & Mercury Lounge, January 21st, 22nd

Brooklyn

Manhattan

The Monkees: HEAD @ 92YTribeca

TIX
8pm

The Wu-Tang Clan @ Best Buy Theater, December 29th

TIX

Nouvellas @ Knitting Factory, Tonight

TIX
(I'm one of the special guest stars appearing tonight*)

Patti Smith @ Bowery Ballroom, December 29th - 31st

TIX
3 nights to New Years, as usual.

The Roots @ Brooklyn Bowl, December 31st

TIX

Guided By Voices @ Irving Plaza, December 31st

TIX
I'm going.

Tricky @ Brooklyn Bowl, December 10th

TIX

Bridget St John Vinyl Reissues

4 Men with Beards
"Songs for the Gentlemen" & "Thank you for..." have been reissued.
"Ask me no questions" soon...

Apollo Heights @ Hanks Saloon, Tonight

FREE

New York scenesters- Apollo Heights are playing around 10pm tonight, with Automatic Children, The Ravages and The Archive.

Kanye West @ Bowery Ballroom (Review)

3 words- Massive Goat Fuck.

No one loves the new Kanye West record more than me. I had been listening to various leaks months before the release of the album. I was obsessed, and still am. I never even liked the guy before. This fucking show could have ruled, but for several reasons, it was more uncomfortable than entertaining. First off, the doors were supposed to be at 10, Kanye at 11. So basically, 500+ people lined up around 9 to get in and get close to the stage. There were 'supposed' to be three lines- 1 for people with tickets, which no one had. 2 for list. 3 for celebrities. (Diddy, Qtip, Jay Z, etc.) After standing in line for three hours, watching famous people waltz in, I began to realize WE were the opening act- the audience. We were being filmed, as I think the promoters were expecting a riot outside the club. But it never happened. Another hour or so went by, and the crowd scattered around the doors. Instead of a riot, they got a mob of fans wandering around aimlessly, some went home, others lit up joints and drank Red Bulls sold on the street. At around 1:30 AM, you could hear the beginning track off the new album booming off the club. "Dark Fantasy" had begun, but the line wasn't moving. The fans got mad, as we didn't know if anyone would get in at this point. Then the second track- "Gorgeous" was playing and you could hear Kanye West's voice, so everyone knew this was really happening. I love those opening tracks, but never got to see him perform them. Just as "Power" cued up, the doors opened, hundreds stormed in pissed-the-fuck-off. I made it in at the middle of the song, not knowing what to expect, least of all, that it would be Kanye on stage all alone. He had on some designer outfit you'd see James Brown wearing, and was changing up the mixes from the album versions. This was the most packed I had ever seen the Bowery Ballroom, way way way over the capacity point. If the goal was to cause some kind of Woodstock/Festival vibe, it worked. But none of this was necessary. A five hour wait in the cold, just to get in late to a show, and to finally get in to see little Kanye prancing around the stage in his Dolemite suit is hardly as impressive as I expected. But the music went on, with guest appearances (Bon Iver, Nicki Minaj ruled), all in all, turning out to be a wild Hip Hop show. Almost every beat and track was an alternate mix from the album version, and he was captivating from a distance, which I've never found from any other Rap artist. I sank into the mass, and watched the remainder of the album. I don't know how late this show ran, but I bailed around 3AM, later found out he did an encore of older songs, and ended the show with a 20 minute rant.

I don't know if this is normal for a Kanye West show? Does he always perform till sunrise? If so, I'd rather pay the money, and see him at Madison Square Garden. I found it funny that 'famous' indie bands like The Walkmen, Francis & the Lights were not on the P Diddy line, but standing behind me to get in. Was this event supposed to anger the fans? What purpose does that serve? He's already mega-popular with a King Kong sized ego. I think his music is great, but putting the cluster-fuck publicity of the moment, before the actual concert royally ticks me off! This is what happens when a performer of his magnitude squeezes into a tiny New York City club last minute. Still, don't know exactly what the problem was, but in hindsight, this was the greatest show that never happened.

I could say- Fuck you Kanye! and never listen to him again, but the music's too God damn good! That's the thing- "He knows.. he's so fuckin gifted." (A)

Hunters & Hussle Club @ LIT, Tonight

info

Hussle Club are on at midnight.

last night

Todd Rundgren, "A wizard, a true star" played Gramercy Theater last night. I expected 'the wizard' to perform his solo material along with songs from his ex-Prog band- Utopia. Unbeknown to me, Todd was promoting his new Robert Johnson tribute album. I expected more experimental stuff, but I got a standard Blues gig. He was charismatic, smokin' guitar leads all night, but didn't wind up playing much of the material that I love. Like Bob Dylan and Robert Plant, Todd is in his denouement. He was once, America's answer to David Bowie, now a Blues-man with a beat up Tele and a neon green Stratocaster. Eccentric rockstars grow old in their own ways... at least I got to see him. (A)

MNDR @ Santos Party House, December 17th

TIX

The Top 20 records of the year!

1. Underworld - Barking

2. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
3. Snowden - Slow Soft Syrup EP
4. LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening
5. Blonde Redhead - Penny Sparkle
6. Bruce Springsteen - The Promise
7. Bottomless Pit - Blood Under the Bridge
8. Warpaint - The Fool
9. Mark Ronson & the Business Intl. - Record Collection
10. Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - Hawk
11. Omar Rodriguez Lopez & John Frusciante - Self-titled
12. Caribou - Swim
13. The Roots - How I got over
14. Band of Joy - Self-titled
15. Jimi Hendrix - Valleys of Neptune
16. The Melvins - The Bride Screamed Murder
17. The Orb featuring Dave Gilmour - Metallic Spheres
18. The Phantom Band - The Wants
19. The Chemical Brothers - Further
20. Gold Panda - Lucky Shiner

Mission of Burma @ Maxwells, January 28th

TIX

& Bell House, Jan 29th

Paul McCartney @ Apollo Theater, December 13th

Good Luck

Todd Rundgren @ Gramercy, Tonight

TIX
& Iridium, Dec 6th

The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town story

last night

Warpaint @ Music Hall, Tonight

TIX