NEW YORK CITY IS SO EXPENSIVE. you've been warned. but still, we choose to live here because it's just so darn terrific. i guess.
in the past week, i've had both good & bad experiences with the ways of money.
THE BAD:
1 diet coke at joe's pub in manhattan- $5.45
1 corona at joe's pub in manhattan- $8
1 gin and tonic at joe's pub in manhattan- $10
a round trip subway ride from brooklyn to manhattan- $5 (it adds up real quick!!!)
soy crips from natural food store in williamsburg- $4
THE GOOD:
coffee from a stand in manhattan near spring and hudson- 75 cents (and the guy is so nice too!!)
a bottle of wine from trader joe's wine shop in union square- $3.99
a whole slew of groceries, including hummus, crackers, a Luna bar, eye makeup remover cloths, cereal, whole wheat pasta, bananas, & a box of mac and cheese from trader joe's in union square- $16
12 pack of diet coke from natural food store in williamsburg- $2.99
1 fancy beer on tap at BARCADE (a bar with retro video games, sweet!)
in williamsburg- $5
CD's like pavement's wowee zowee, times new viking's rip it off, and the entire sonic youth back catalog- FREE! (if you work where i work)
& tickets to see robert forster & the feelies within one week of each other- priceless
& i make a whopping TEN DOLLARS a day at my internship. I'M RICH!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Monday, September 1, 2008
things of inter-est lately.
i've been obsessing over the Vulgar Boatmen for the past few weeks. almost all i've been listening to are their albums Please Panic and You and Your Sister. they were from Gainesville, FL, back in the late 80's & early 90's. they sound twangy and poppy and basically like the best thing you've ever heard and the lyrics are incredible, they make me picture mossy Southern towns with winding, hilly streets, that seem quiet but are actually brewing with activity. um, yeah, anyway. there are not many good videos of them to be found, but this one showcases a beautiful song of theirs called "Drive Somewhere."
Bas Jan Ader is my favorite artist of all-time only after mr. a.w. he was this amazing Dutch guy who did really sweet conceptual art involving sailboats & tea parties & falling off bicycles. he went missing in the Atlantic Ocean during his final work of art. this is a particularly wonderful piece of his, from 1974, called Flower Work.
i've been up to some creative projects, including filming random shots on my video camera downtown at night & of my friends and i being hysterical. we've also been plotting our upcoming band, maybe or maybe not called The Tundra. it's going to be the best tambourine-laced party band ever!! and last but not least, i recorded 2 albums on my trashy tape recorder (that was once used by me to interview Calvin Johnson no less!). they are entitled Broken Tailbone and Twangy & Jangly.
i just re-discovered this part of an atrocious picture once taken of me & E. our legs aren't really that stumpy.
i've also been really, really obsessed with Athens, Georgia, and all things having to do with it. like, Elephant 6 bands (especially Circulatory System and the classic Olivia Tremor Control albums) and the Happy Happy Birthday To Me record label and the band THE SQUALLS. they are incredible. their song "Na na na na" is one of the greatest ever. it was featured on the seminal Athens, Ga: Inside/Out film. this clip from the film is kind of a nice encapsulation of everything i've been into Athens-wise. (you'll see some sweet R.E.M., Flat Duo Jets, Pylon, and BBQ Killers action, among other stuff. oh, and watch Peter Buck- he's amazing in this!)
um, and i've been way into glasses lately. i've been sporting a sweet pair of thick black-framed ones, ala Elvis C. and Buddy H. they look like
plus
and i've obtained a pair of red heartshaped sunglasses, ala one of my other style icons, Lolita:
finally, i've begun watching what some people consider to be the greatest TV drama of all time, The Wire. i'm not even through season 1 yet, but it's super terrific. here is a picture of my fave character, Bubbles, pulling at fast one on some mean drug dealers!
Bas Jan Ader is my favorite artist of all-time only after mr. a.w. he was this amazing Dutch guy who did really sweet conceptual art involving sailboats & tea parties & falling off bicycles. he went missing in the Atlantic Ocean during his final work of art. this is a particularly wonderful piece of his, from 1974, called Flower Work.
i've been up to some creative projects, including filming random shots on my video camera downtown at night & of my friends and i being hysterical. we've also been plotting our upcoming band, maybe or maybe not called The Tundra. it's going to be the best tambourine-laced party band ever!! and last but not least, i recorded 2 albums on my trashy tape recorder (that was once used by me to interview Calvin Johnson no less!). they are entitled Broken Tailbone and Twangy & Jangly.
i just re-discovered this part of an atrocious picture once taken of me & E. our legs aren't really that stumpy.
i've also been really, really obsessed with Athens, Georgia, and all things having to do with it. like, Elephant 6 bands (especially Circulatory System and the classic Olivia Tremor Control albums) and the Happy Happy Birthday To Me record label and the band THE SQUALLS. they are incredible. their song "Na na na na" is one of the greatest ever. it was featured on the seminal Athens, Ga: Inside/Out film. this clip from the film is kind of a nice encapsulation of everything i've been into Athens-wise. (you'll see some sweet R.E.M., Flat Duo Jets, Pylon, and BBQ Killers action, among other stuff. oh, and watch Peter Buck- he's amazing in this!)
um, and i've been way into glasses lately. i've been sporting a sweet pair of thick black-framed ones, ala Elvis C. and Buddy H. they look like
plus
and i've obtained a pair of red heartshaped sunglasses, ala one of my other style icons, Lolita:
finally, i've begun watching what some people consider to be the greatest TV drama of all time, The Wire. i'm not even through season 1 yet, but it's super terrific. here is a picture of my fave character, Bubbles, pulling at fast one on some mean drug dealers!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Ode to Summer 2008 (part one).
well it seems, all of the sudden, the summer is coming to an end. i've got to pack up my things & move to the big city for a little while. Matador & sleeping on floors & Robert Forster & trying to make money awaits me. The Summer of 2008 was pretty great it turns out. Maybe not as surreal as some summers, or as monumental as others, but I don't know, it was pretty fantastic. Pretty high up on the list of All Time Greatest Summers. i saw a ton of amazing shows & listened to incredible tunes & bought a lot of dresses at thrift stores & worked at the record shop & travelled &... did other things. Those are all good things.
what better way to pay tribute to and sum up the Summer of 2008 than with a multitude of lists?! okay, here goes.
top shows of the summer of 2008:
1. justin townes earle
2. king khan & the shrines with the jacuzzi boys
3. old 97's twice
4. meat puppets
5. ATHENS POPFEST in which i saw too many bands to name, but the highlights were circulatory system, fat planet, thee american revolution, elf power, my teenage stride, roky erickson, great lakes, and big fresh.
top bands of the summer of 2008:
1. vulgar boatmen
2. circulatory system
3. my teenage stride
4. the squalls
5. the cuban heels
6. 13th floor elevators
7. elf power
8. ELVIS COSTELLO & THE ATTRACTIONS, duh
9. fleet foxes
10. cats on fire
top vacations of the summer of 2008:
1. athens, georgia
2. phoenix & mexico
3. new orleans twice
top activities of the summer of 2008:
1. applying for jobs
2. making sno-cones
3. making films about sno-cones, Popfests, & Elvis Costello
4. redecorating my room
5. recording my double album on cassette
6. ATHENS POPFEST
7. watching really really good tv (Mad Men, Rescue Me, The Wire)
8. having dinner parties with friends
9. making lists
10. going to see bands
top thing of the whole summer of 2008:
1. the Athens Popfest
and here is a mixtape i made in honor of the summer of 2008. it might seem similar to other mixes made throughout the summer, but this one is different & special, believe me. these are the only songs you need to know about my summer.
1. i had to tell you- 13th floor elevators
2. one wink at a time- the replacements
3. white winter hymnal- fleet foxes
4. paralyzed- elf power
5. up the junction- squeeze
6. to live and die by the airport lounge- my teenage stride
7. when you're near me i have difficulty- xtc
8. starry stairs- okkervil river
9. ride- old 97's
10. welfare bread- king khan & the shrines
11. margaret says- vulgar boatmen
12. morning of my life- great lakes
13. the grey estates- wolf parade
14. joy- circulatory system
15. falling slowly- glen hansard & marketa irglova
16. everyday i write the book- elvis costello
17. higher grounds- cats on fire
18. i tell myself- the seeds
19. fisherman's blues- the waterboys
20. i don't care- justin townes earle
21. haunted- shane macgowan & the popes
22. don't drop out- dolly parton
23. i can't stay mad at you- jonathan richman
24. nananana- the squalls
what better way to pay tribute to and sum up the Summer of 2008 than with a multitude of lists?! okay, here goes.
top shows of the summer of 2008:
1. justin townes earle
2. king khan & the shrines with the jacuzzi boys
3. old 97's twice
4. meat puppets
5. ATHENS POPFEST in which i saw too many bands to name, but the highlights were circulatory system, fat planet, thee american revolution, elf power, my teenage stride, roky erickson, great lakes, and big fresh.
top bands of the summer of 2008:
1. vulgar boatmen
2. circulatory system
3. my teenage stride
4. the squalls
5. the cuban heels
6. 13th floor elevators
7. elf power
8. ELVIS COSTELLO & THE ATTRACTIONS, duh
9. fleet foxes
10. cats on fire
top vacations of the summer of 2008:
1. athens, georgia
2. phoenix & mexico
3. new orleans twice
top activities of the summer of 2008:
1. applying for jobs
2. making sno-cones
3. making films about sno-cones, Popfests, & Elvis Costello
4. redecorating my room
5. recording my double album on cassette
6. ATHENS POPFEST
7. watching really really good tv (Mad Men, Rescue Me, The Wire)
8. having dinner parties with friends
9. making lists
10. going to see bands
top thing of the whole summer of 2008:
1. the Athens Popfest
and here is a mixtape i made in honor of the summer of 2008. it might seem similar to other mixes made throughout the summer, but this one is different & special, believe me. these are the only songs you need to know about my summer.
1. i had to tell you- 13th floor elevators
2. one wink at a time- the replacements
3. white winter hymnal- fleet foxes
4. paralyzed- elf power
5. up the junction- squeeze
6. to live and die by the airport lounge- my teenage stride
7. when you're near me i have difficulty- xtc
8. starry stairs- okkervil river
9. ride- old 97's
10. welfare bread- king khan & the shrines
11. margaret says- vulgar boatmen
12. morning of my life- great lakes
13. the grey estates- wolf parade
14. joy- circulatory system
15. falling slowly- glen hansard & marketa irglova
16. everyday i write the book- elvis costello
17. higher grounds- cats on fire
18. i tell myself- the seeds
19. fisherman's blues- the waterboys
20. i don't care- justin townes earle
21. haunted- shane macgowan & the popes
22. don't drop out- dolly parton
23. i can't stay mad at you- jonathan richman
24. nananana- the squalls
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
r.i.p.
one of the greatest establishments in mobile, alabama has closed indefinitely. even though people complained about the lackluster service and the waitresses had meth face, Picklefish is still beloved in this corner of the world and holds a very special place in my heart.
they had some of the best pizza i've ever tasted. they had a fantastic jukebox. i recall playing lots of Elvis Costello & Big Country & Tom Petty & Ramones on it. my (legendary) band in high school, The Right Angles, would go there after every gig we played. we would yell "The Right Angles are leaving the building!" when we left, every time, without fail. we found that very humorous. i'll never know how the Picklefish employees felt about it. i saw the Pine Hill Haints there once. they are an amazing band and their bass player plays the washtub. i have ended up there with friends many many late nights after a show or hanging out downtown having a few brews. also, the one and only time i've ever eaten a FRIED PICKLE was there. a fried pickle is the stuff of dreams.
come back soon please Picklefish!
xoxoxoxoxo.
they had some of the best pizza i've ever tasted. they had a fantastic jukebox. i recall playing lots of Elvis Costello & Big Country & Tom Petty & Ramones on it. my (legendary) band in high school, The Right Angles, would go there after every gig we played. we would yell "The Right Angles are leaving the building!" when we left, every time, without fail. we found that very humorous. i'll never know how the Picklefish employees felt about it. i saw the Pine Hill Haints there once. they are an amazing band and their bass player plays the washtub. i have ended up there with friends many many late nights after a show or hanging out downtown having a few brews. also, the one and only time i've ever eaten a FRIED PICKLE was there. a fried pickle is the stuff of dreams.
come back soon please Picklefish!
xoxoxoxoxo.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
summer & sandy.
i guess i should say something non-music related here. but nothing's coming to me, as all i ever think about or DO is music. well along with one or two other things. but i digress. i have a phone interview with Matador Records in two days & i've been thinking lots about music. it's really the best thing we've got, you know.
i'm coming out with a double album on cassette soon. one side (songs written in 2007) is called Broken Tailbone and the other side (songs written in 2008) is called Twangy & Jangly.
this is a list of random good songs i've been loving this summer. isn't LIFE GOOD?!
1. nite club... old 97's
2. i don't care... justin townes earle
3. got my mind set on you... george harrison
4. fisherman's blues... the waterboys
5. auntie alice... okkervil river
6. falling slowly... glen hansard & marketa irglova
7. shut down... the beach boys
8. sayonara... the pogues
9. some of shelley's blues... great lakes
10. welfare bread... king khan & the shrines
11. i tell myself... the seeds
12. i can't stay mad at you... jonathan richman
13. actors' colony... my teenage stride
14. rain king... counting crows (L-O-L, i know right? whatever, this song is GOOD ok! i am not ashamed.)
15. big tears... elvis costello & the attractions
16. you don't love me yet... vulgar boatmen
17. he doesn't know why... fleet foxes
18. crying in the rain... dave edmunds with nick lowe
19. up the junction... squeeze (especially fun to sing at dinner parties)
20. the grey estates... wolf parade
21. everyday i write the book... elvis costello & the attractions
22. you're so good to me... the beach boys
23. when you fall... pine hill haints
24. my heart... gene vincent
25. hands off... old 97's
26. mouth almighty... elvis costello & the attractions
i can't believe how many good shows i've seen this summer: old 97's x's 2, meat puppets, king khan & the shrines, justin townes earle, billy bob thornton & the boxmasters. that's in addition to the pogues and billy bragg, crystal stilts and pains of being pure at heart, dean & britta, marshall crenshaw, and stephen malkmus earlier this year...
i'm coming out with a double album on cassette soon. one side (songs written in 2007) is called Broken Tailbone and the other side (songs written in 2008) is called Twangy & Jangly.
this is a list of random good songs i've been loving this summer. isn't LIFE GOOD?!
1. nite club... old 97's
2. i don't care... justin townes earle
3. got my mind set on you... george harrison
4. fisherman's blues... the waterboys
5. auntie alice... okkervil river
6. falling slowly... glen hansard & marketa irglova
7. shut down... the beach boys
8. sayonara... the pogues
9. some of shelley's blues... great lakes
10. welfare bread... king khan & the shrines
11. i tell myself... the seeds
12. i can't stay mad at you... jonathan richman
13. actors' colony... my teenage stride
14. rain king... counting crows (L-O-L, i know right? whatever, this song is GOOD ok! i am not ashamed.)
15. big tears... elvis costello & the attractions
16. you don't love me yet... vulgar boatmen
17. he doesn't know why... fleet foxes
18. crying in the rain... dave edmunds with nick lowe
19. up the junction... squeeze (especially fun to sing at dinner parties)
20. the grey estates... wolf parade
21. everyday i write the book... elvis costello & the attractions
22. you're so good to me... the beach boys
23. when you fall... pine hill haints
24. my heart... gene vincent
25. hands off... old 97's
26. mouth almighty... elvis costello & the attractions
i can't believe how many good shows i've seen this summer: old 97's x's 2, meat puppets, king khan & the shrines, justin townes earle, billy bob thornton & the boxmasters. that's in addition to the pogues and billy bragg, crystal stilts and pains of being pure at heart, dean & britta, marshall crenshaw, and stephen malkmus earlier this year...
Thursday, July 24, 2008
music lately.
last weekend, i saw the Old 97's two nights in a row. they are my favorite live band ever. i've seen them 10 times now.
first, in new orleans. ken is my guitar god.
second, on the water with some of my best friends. rhett wore a black t-shirt. it was a perfect summer night.
i've been listening to FLEET FOXES (excellent), the dB's, freddie & the dreamers, squeeze, subway sect, and of course, Elvis Costello. he is probably the most amazing man ever, so, you know. here are a few pieces of proof for that statement:
"(the angels wanna wear my) red shoes" on Top of the Pops
the video for "no dancing"
"lipstick vogue" live
the HI-LARIOUS video for "i can't stand up for falling down"
"watch your step," probably the most gorgeous song of all time, on a television program
and a stunning rendention of "man out of time" on tv
see? what'd i tell you.
first, in new orleans. ken is my guitar god.
second, on the water with some of my best friends. rhett wore a black t-shirt. it was a perfect summer night.
i've been listening to FLEET FOXES (excellent), the dB's, freddie & the dreamers, squeeze, subway sect, and of course, Elvis Costello. he is probably the most amazing man ever, so, you know. here are a few pieces of proof for that statement:
"(the angels wanna wear my) red shoes" on Top of the Pops
the video for "no dancing"
"lipstick vogue" live
the HI-LARIOUS video for "i can't stand up for falling down"
"watch your step," probably the most gorgeous song of all time, on a television program
and a stunning rendention of "man out of time" on tv
see? what'd i tell you.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
sun city part two.
we drove to Mexico, through the desert.
we walked over the border to Nogales.
it was quite beautiful in some places, and the cheap woven blankets & narcotics sans a prescription were in abundant supply.
we ate at this restaurant, called La Roca, that is built into the side of a cliff. it is very colonial in design & the food was outstanding.
they have a big bird there.
back in Phoenix, we saw King Khan & the Shrines and it was an epic show.
Mr. Khan had a nice owl. and a HOT bod, as you can see.
i also got this shirt & this bruise (from when the keyboardist of the Shrines pulled me onstage to dance and clap during King Khan's show).
we walked over the border to Nogales.
it was quite beautiful in some places, and the cheap woven blankets & narcotics sans a prescription were in abundant supply.
we ate at this restaurant, called La Roca, that is built into the side of a cliff. it is very colonial in design & the food was outstanding.
they have a big bird there.
back in Phoenix, we saw King Khan & the Shrines and it was an epic show.
Mr. Khan had a nice owl. and a HOT bod, as you can see.
i also got this shirt & this bruise (from when the keyboardist of the Shrines pulled me onstage to dance and clap during King Khan's show).
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