Pre-Show Routine

Shenanigans: New Orleans, LA

A big brass band that played on street corners.

Bourbon Street

Bourbon Street

A Hostel

A Hostel

Some last shots of my trip to the South on film. Just returned from Detroit with lots of pictures and stories and videos.

Leaving

(Somewhere Ohio or Kentucky)

I'm Off To Detroit. Hopefully I'll have a lot to report, when I return.

China Town, Boston, MA

Wounded Rhymes by Lykke Li Review

(Image courtesy: Stereo Gum)

The single “Get Some” is pretty much the writing on the wall for this album. Lykke Li’s sophomore effort is quite a departure from the soft-spoken cutesiness of her first album Youth Novels (Atlantic). From Youth Novels she sang “I’m a little bit in love with you,” on her single “Little Bit” and now on “Get Some” she sings “I’m a prostitute / You gon’ get some.”

Where did our lovely, quiet and shy Lykke go? Well, she and her music grew up. Admittedly the single made me start immediately hating this album. It is a big over-produced indie club style hit, and I wanted the super-subtle and adorable vibe of the last album. Luckily, the single (I understand why it was chosen – mass appeal) happens to be the worst track on the album, or really, least good. The rest of the album is slowly infectious. It is a little hard to get into at first, because it’s such a surprise from Lykke and is at parts overwhelming. After a few listens, you’re hooked, and start to appreciate some of the hidden sophistication of the album.

Lykke had Bjorn (of Peter, Bjorn and John) back to produce and he went huge. I hate to use the clichéd “wall of sound” description, but there is a big early 1960s influence on the album, so it does sound like a modern Phil Spector job. The song “Sadness is a Blessing” could have been a Supremes hit, while “Unrequited Love” sounds like one of the solid gold oldies ballads, “doo-wops” included. You can even hear it in the super reverbed out guitars of “Get Some.” Those guitars are an example of the sly genius concealed in this album.

The vocals match the songs: big, multi-track, harmonies, reverb, the works. A chorus of Lykke Li’s sings the pain of the last song “Silent My Song.” Speaking of pain, this album is a lot darker than her last. She really delves in to some ache as opposed to the wonderings we would be used to.

This album is a must. It might take a few listens but you will fall in love with the new Lykke Li (and her emotional baggage) just as much as you did the younger playful Lykke.

Also for the Freep.

Deer Tick At The Paradise pt.2

Gargling Beer

(Paradise Rock Club- Boston, MA)

On March 3 Deer Tick played the Paradise between opener Dawes (gimmicky country rock) and headliner Middle Brother (which is actually just a sloppy combination of Dawes, Deer Tick and another band, Delta Spirit(Middle Brother probably should've been named something that started with a 'D')).

I felt more as if I stumbled in to a house party hosted by Deer Tick and their friends than as if I was at a show. They started off with a pair of new songs and then dove in to favorite “Smith Hill” off their album Born On Flag Day (Partisan Records). Next they played a jazzy version of “Ashamed” from War Elephant(Revolver). It was during this song that it became clear that lead singer John McCauley was very drunk. The song included some beer gargling and some hands-free beer chugging. McCauley was also hilariously wearing a Deer Tick t-shirt.

In the middle of the set Matt Vasquez of Delta Spirit and Middle Brother sauntered on stage to sing some songs including a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Racing In The Street” and Sam Cooke’s “Bring It On Home To Me.”

They also brought on Chris Paddock to sing the song he wrote, “These Old Shoes.” They finished the set with “Christ, Jesus” and a messy cover of The Band’s “Down South In New Orleans” which they played with several members of the other bands.

I wasn’t particularly impressed with the set. It was a lot of fun, and Deer Tick was obviously having a blast, but I wish they got more into the music than the party atmosphere antics. There were just too many people coming on and off stage and switching instruments and chaos. But what you can expect from a folk band that sings of heavy drinking and broken hearts?

Also for the Freep.

Deer Tick At The Paradise pt. 1

(Little Snippet of Christ Jesus)

Review and more photos coming soon.

Destruction

Allston, MA

Home of the weekend, ill advised regrettable tattoos, mistakes, puke blood, the sil, ewoks and jahwees, The Great Scott, a Ninja, crusties, and some other stuff.

Oh and some birthdays. That is where all this came from.

We Out Live Our Dreams

Mini We Out Here

This Makes Sense

So I have to be somewhere at 11am. Responsibly I get to the 57 bus stop half an hour early, giving my self loads of time to where I need to be. While I'm waiting I decide to get an Ice coffee. Hmm No Dunkin' Donuts around here, I guess this little asian tea place will have to do. Wow 4$ for an ice coffee little asian lady? This better be bucket-sized and taste like Jesus. I'm waiting there and she is like cooking shit, running a boba machine, doing like witchcraft and shit with roots and herbs, all sorts of tricks. A 57 whizzes by. Mother Fucker. Well I still got time so it's chill.

10 minutes go by. No joke. With all the witchcraft and roots, i'm expecting the fountain of youth in the holy grail. After asking me for the third time if I want cream and sugar i get a kiddy sized iced Americano (It's espresso and water not coffee, yeah I'm being picky but like I said 12 minutes of waiting is just enough time to start splitting hairs). Well shit better get going. Put in a straw, turn , sip, and another 57 goes by. Son of a bitch.

So now I'm jogging down the street with my overpriced mediocre shit to Packard's corner where you can catch a train or bus. I get there. And I wait, and I wait and I wait. A train comes! Ok 10 minutes, i'll be there right on time. Get on the train, go one stop, (which is one block) and the train decides it's going express downtown and past my stop. WHORES

Get off (to add cruel irony, in front of a Dunkin' Donuts) and look at my phone. 10:59....11:00. Shit I'm late. As this thought enter my head, the MBTA sends out the squadron. On the horizon I see two 57 busses and a train.

sweet.

Ninjasonik Review

(Article originally published for the Daily Free Press)

Ninjasonik walked in the door, onstage and were in your face the whole set. They rocked the tiny Middle East Upstairs Saturday opening up for local band Bad Rabbits. The indie hip-hop group consists of front men Telli and Jah Jah and DJ Roofeo. Local DJ/rapper Jasmine Solano, who has toured with Ninjasonik before, replaced Roofeo for the show.

Ninjasonik sounds like hipster Brooklyn in the summer (hipster-hop?). Their beats are fun and fast; they sample everything from Bobby Brown to the Death Set. They rap about tight pants, going out and PBR. They started in 2006, Telli explained. “Our old DJ asked me in on a track, but I already knew Jah Jah from skating around.” Jah Jah added, “[Telli] was the ingredient we needed. It was perfect.”

The pair took turns rapping verses, jumping off stage and dancing with the crowd during their breakneck set. They were full energy despite Jah Jah having been hit by a car the day before.

It felt like it was over before it began. They played a reworked version of “Art School Girls” and fan-favorite “Bars,” to which the crowd held up their PBRs. The highlight of the night was the song they closed with, their remix of Matt and Kim’s “Daylight,” an ode to sleeping late after a long night with your friends.

Jah Jah was seated on a trashcan and wincing slightly when I caught up with the pair after the set but it did not stop him from showing excitement about their new album Peter Pan Syndrome which is set to drop in June. Jah Jah explained the title: “It’s defending against being a kid and never growing up, which some people fall in to.” Telli stressed that it’s “a real album,” wanting to get away from the just for fun feel of their last album Art School Girls. Jah Jah said they wanted to represent “The New York we could never see, when nobody judged anybody, when everybody was chill with everybody.”

Ninjasonik’s live set has a party energy that doesn’t quite come across on record, and although they rap about a rebellious lifestyle, they were really nice dudes. They even invited me to skate with them in Brooklyn. I only wish I could skate.

Give me your reubens

(Taken by Ryan, New Orleans, LA)

(Eagle's Deli (Superb Reubens) Brookline, MA)

Today I had what would probably me my Death Row choice of last meal:

-Reuben

-Thick-ass chocolate milk

-Dunkies Ice Coffee (Regular)

-Newports

Ha but don't worry heart attacks will get me before any state needle will.

The Fighter Review

(Image courtesy: Wikipedia)

Yes! Another Boston movie and it's good. Seriously.

Ok Marky Mark was serviceable. He pretty much played himself and realistically it coulda been any muscly bro who can drop Rs. And the story was good and deep, but pretty straight forward- no surprises.

The real magic was in the entire supporting cast and surprisingly the cinematography. Christian Bale did a stellar turn as "Dicky" Eklund the burned out brother to Mark Wahlberg's Micky Ward. Bale did a dead-on Boston accent for a Brit, too. Amy Adams did pretty well as the girlfriend (it was a slightly deeper role than Julie and Julia). She also got pretty naked, for no real reason, which was pretty cool. Micky's real trainer played himself, and Melissa Leo as the mom was hysterical.

In the beginning of the movie a lot of the shots used a hyper short depth of field, putting an intriguing focus on certain actors and their actions. The fight scenes were all shot to look like they did on HBO in the 90's creating a super realistic old time effect.

While a far-cry for best picture, I could see Bale and Leo as winning in supporting roles. I give the movie a "Wicked Fucking Pissah." Just kidding no one says that anymore in Boston.

Interpol

(Image courtesy: blogs.inlandsocal.com)

Saturday February 19th Interpol played the House of Blues in Boston. It was the last stop on a tour backing their recently released self-titled album. It is their fourth.

The show was sort of like when you see Santa Clause off-duty from Sears and realize he is not a happy grandfatherly type, but an over-weight alcoholic with ill-advised tattoos. Well, ok, it wasn't childhood ruining disillusionment but it was bad.

They started the show just after 9p.m. to a mixed crowd of well dressed 20somethings, drunk bros, and weird little asians. I'm not sure if it was Interpol or the House of Blues, but the mix in the crowd was bizarre.

They started off with "Success" of their newest album, but did not play much from it (Thank God the album was horrific.) They then played a botched version of "Say Hello To The Angels" (too fast and sort of cutesy) and stumbled through a wicked forgettable show.

The highlight of the show was the last song before the encore "PDA" from Turn On The Bright Lights. It was almost a joke like "Hey remember that perfect album we made? Ha ha that was funny." And that is the thing about Interpol. That first album was amazing, dark, hauntingly beautiful, interesting, reverby, marvelous. The follow up was decent. The follow up to that had some gems in the rough. And the newest album is just straight up bad. Alcoholic, shitty tattooed, diddled a child- Santa bad.

Portraits