COWBOY JACK KELLY VS. BATMAN

Who's tougher? Batman doesn't dance and sing but he does wear a cape.

SHOW REVIEW

Last week Wyatt and I went to the old Knitting Factory to see Joan of Arc. Wyatt is a huge Joan of Arc fan. I, on the other hand, am not a fan - huge or otherwise. They tend to be a little on the pretentious side for me. But, I had been listening to their new album on Rhapsody and was able to get through it without hating it. Progress. Rounding out the bill was Katie Eastburn and Ponytail so I was in for a night of art school rock. Luckily, the Knitting Factory has the best deal on cheap drinks that you can find in Manhattan - 1 can of PBR and 1 well shot for $7. All of their other drinks are typically overpriced so it's nice to be thrown that bone. Good pour, too.

We watched a little of Katie's set. She plays keyboard and, when she's not using a drum machine, does some percussion one-man-band style with her feet. It was pretty cool but the songs weren't ones that you could immediately grab on to.

Then Ponytail took the stage. They look like they're about 17. They definitely didn't dress up for the show and were all sporting those art school haircuts which are just never flattering. I was dubious. Once they started though I couldn't help but love them. Maybe it was the well tequila, or maybe I just like watching 17 year olds rocking out in adidas track shorts. Or, just maybe, they are really good. Judging from the attention they've been getting lately, I'm guessing it's the last option. You don't get a write up in the New York Times for nothing.

Their energetic set flew by. They reminded me of Deerhoof with a more improvisatory vocal style. Very cool.

The bald spots starting filtering in towards the end of the set getting ready for Joan of Arc. I wonder if Ponytail has any reverance for them. I wonder if they are fans.

Joan of Arc was great and I have a new found appreciation for them. Their stage presence wasn't the least bit pretentious. It was endearing and playful. I am definitely a fan now that I've seen them live. I guess that's why bands tour, huh?

LUNCH TIME POLL 2

  

Dollar Store Deals Part 2

Some of you may remember Dollar Store deals Part 1, where we were introduced to such great items as the mighty Staunion permanent marker. Well, I was doing a bit of shopping yesterday and came across a bin of these:

I guess someone decided that these were NOT, in fact, a safer baseball.
I cant comment on just HOW safe they may or may not have been, but they were sure crappy.

SIGHTING!

Wyatt ran into Adam Duritz yesterday at the Apple store downtown and DIDN'T give him a CD! But, honestly, what was he going to say "My girlfriend had a crush on you when she was in grad school"??? Wyatt's not a fan of the old Countin' Crows.

ON THE BEAT

Hey-o!

My newest On the Beat column is now up on EightMillionStories.com! Check it out! This month's report is on TV's SCARY switch from analog to digital in early February, 2009 and it's effect on the music industry in NYC and rest of the US.


Here's the link!

TOP FIVE

I'm making a late game substitution in my Top Five Voices list.

I need to add Joe Strummer in there. I can't figure out who to bump, though.

MYSPACE DEMOS #6

This is a little thing that Drew, Wyatt and I came up with to play in between songs at Breakup Breakdown shows. We needed something to play so that Jeff could tune and, I think, James could put on the acoustic guitar? Anyway - we didn't want dead air so we played this...once. At the last BUBD show. So, it's in keeping with my original mission to put up things that will never see the light of day otherwise. It was recorded on my iRiver so it's a little blown out but you can get the idea.

BLOGGER!!!

I forgot how annoying this blog template is in cutting off all of my pictures. If you click on them you can see the full versions.

Here are a couple more from the release party. These were taken by the handsome and charming Raphael Rodriguez.

THANK YOU!!

A HUGE "thank you" goes out to all of the people who came out to our CD Release party on Friday night. You are beautiful. And, thanks also to everyone who worked on Pole to Pole. It was great to celebrate with you.

Here are some cool pictures. These were taken by the lovely Jamie MacKenzie:

2 MORE DAYS!!

I can't believe it but it says it's going to be sunny and clear on Friday! I guess our weather curse has been lifted. Not lifted, however, is our booking curse. Our Americana night in August at Rehab was cancelled today.

CURRENT FAVORITE BASEBALL NAMES

A top five list:

5. Evan Longoria (Rays)
4. Ebby "Nuke" LaLoosh (Bulls)
3. Milton Bradley (Rangers)
2. Coco Crisp (Red Sox)
1. Boof Bonser (Twins)

I cheated on one of those. This is my way of ignoring A-Rod's digression into Kabbalaism. Anyhoozers... 4 days until the CD release party.

HAIR OF THE DOG

Jeff will not be around this weekend so I will be assisted in my DJ duties by Wyatt. We'll be hitting some stuff outside the straight up country genre so it might be a little eclectic. In a good way, of course.

A TV SHOW BEL AIR CAN GET BEHIND

At least me and Jeff. Get this - it's a soap opera about Hockey.

T MINUS 9 DAYS