Archive for September, 2009
Johnny Flynn plays a show in NYC this week and I hate my life a little bit more
Yep, this Sunday you can catch Johnny Flynn at Piano’s in NYC. Tickets are only $8 and the show starts at 10:30pm. It’s 21+ though, sorry youngins.
More info about the show HERE
Before they were on “Far”
In five days, I get to see Regina Spektor live. Be still my heart, be still.
In honor of such a glorious experience, I would like to share with you some live gems of Ms. Spektor performing songs from her latest record Far. As we all know, bootlegs are a tricky deal and it’s usually very difficult to find good quality recordings, but something is always better than nothing.
Blue Lips (10-17-2004)
Not sure where she’s performing, but the sound quality is great.
Folding Chair (XFM Session, August 2004)
She’s perfected her dolphin sounds in the last five years.
Human of the Year (04-09-2006)
When Begin To Hope was released, Regina and her label asked that bootlegs of “Human of the Year” and “Dulce et Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori” not be shared. Obviously you can’t control the internet, but fans did respect her wishes for a long time which was very considerate. This is one of those first recordings of “Human of the Year” from a show in Boston. As she begins to play, audience members repeatedly shout requests and her response is one of my favorite things ever.
Dance Anthem of the 80s (12-29-2003)
Before the drums and the special guest beatboxers, it was just Regina and her piano.
Genius Next Door (04-09-2006)
This is from the same Boston show as “Human of the Year” above. Of all the live versions I have of this song, this is hands down my favorite and the reason this is in my top 10 favorite Spektor songs*.
Wallet (07-10-2004)
One of the earliest recordings of this song from a show at Tonic in NYC. I don’t think that club even exists anymore.
One More Time With Feeling (07-14-2007)
It was a big deal when live recordings of this song surfaced because it was legitimately a “new” song. From the live versions, you would have never guessed it would have been one of the happier sounding songs on the album.
Man of a Thousand Faces (05-14-07)
This recording is bittersweet since it was recorded at a Borders instore in Chicago and I couldn’t make it due to my lack of transportation. The previous night, I saw her at the Riviera where she sang “Silly Eye Color Generalizations” and I almost peed my pants. Anyway, this is one of the first known recordings of this song and although the quality isn’t the best and the beginning is cut off a bit, it’s still pretty incredible how great she sounds at a simple instore.
* It’s actually impossible to choose only ten songs as my favorite, but if I could “Genius Next Door” would be near the top of the list.
So guess what? The Lovely Feathers are touring America, that’s what.
Finally! It’s been almost three years since The Lovely Feathers paid us a visit. The long overdue dates are as follows:
09/29 Tasty World, Athens, GA
09/30 Club Downunder (Florida State University), Tallahassee, FL
10/02 TBA, Atlanta, GA
10/03 The Duke Coffehouse (Duke University), Durham, NC
10/04 Rock N Roll Hotel, Washington, DC
10/06 Garfield Artworks, Pittsburgh, PA
10/07 Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY
10/08 Middle East Club, Cambridge, MA
10/09 Higher Ground, Burlington, VT
10/10 Iron Horse Music Hall, Northhampton, MA
10/11 Soundlab, Buffalo, NY
10/13 Schubas, Chicago, IL
10/14 Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland, OH
Now I must wrestle with the uncertainty of whether or not my finances will allow me to spend a night dancing to the tunes of my favorite Canadians, but such is the life of a broke college kid. If it’s going to take them another three years to come around, I can give up groceries for a week and splurge. So worth it.
Check them out if you haven’t already: myspace / official website
From their latest album Fantasy of the Lot, a sweet song about a dude who can no longer get it up. Yep.
And some of my favorite songs from their EP My Best Friend Daniel and debut album Hind Hind Legs, both of which I highly recommend you purchase:
Iceberg (from My Best Friend Daniel)
Photocorners (from My Best Friend Daniel) – There’s a newer version of this song on Hind Hind Legs, but I personally prefer this one. Faster, louder, catchier.
I Really Like You (from Hind Hind Legs) – Once again, I prefer this version to the one on My Best Friend Daniel. Wait for the “FAKE FAKE ABSOLUTELY FAKE FAKE FAKE ABSOLUTELY FAKE”. So good.
Kid Harpoon full album preview!
Kid Harpoon‘s debut album Once is released September 28th, but you can listen to it now on his official website for free.
quick thoughts:
1. “Colours” sounds a bit different, but nothing too drastic
2. “Buried Alive” = <3
3. ”Childish Dreaming” is as beautiful as ever.
Full album review coming soon.
genius at work.
Fox Searchlight released a short featurette about the making of Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox. Just under three minutes, the featurette is narrated by Jason Schwartzman and it gives a look at all the crazy details that went into making the sets and puppets as well as the voice work. Watch it below:
Good Shoes @ Underage Festival
you must watch this:
highlights:
2:55 – a mob of kids who had just been going absolutely nuts for Good Shoes leave the front of the stage once they’re done playing. PRICELESS. We’ve all done that at some point for bands we love at festivals, I know I have.
3:50 to end of video – drunken dancing to Beyonce’s “Single Ladies”. PRICELESS.
