Short and Sweet NYC

Shaveworks: The Cool Fix

2010-02-08T08:30:00.000-05:00

Shaveworks traditionally offers a variety of products for men; however, The Cool Fix, a special targeted gel lotion, is a unisex product that shaving parties of either gender can appreciate. The Cool Fix is designed to treat ingrown hairs, razor bumps, razor burn and redness that often results from close shaving. Application is easy, much like any other moisturizer, only The Cool Fix is comprised of ingredients that lend a unique soothing quality coupled with exfoliating agents to effectively prevent ingrown hair. Most surprising about this product is its lack of tiny beads typically found in exfoliating formulas. Instead, Shaveworks incorporates glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and phytic acid to lift dead skin cells, exfoliate and detoxify sensitive skin. Furthermore, an ingredient called, “mediacalm complex,” aka Boerhavia Root Extract, instantly soothes and reduces redness.

The first stage to achieve maximum benefits from The Cool Fix is regular application for approximately one week. Following this initial phase, maintenance requires less frequent use. The only drawback is that despite its title, results do not necessarily create a cooling sensation. However, a burning sensation will definitely result when applied directly after shaving, and those who are not used to it should be prepared for a gasping effect at minimum. Those odd-sounding ingredients must be at work. Indeed, several days later users will see that The Cool Fix is a worthy investment for achieving a smooth, clean shave look.

Jessica Stein

Gilt-y Pleasures - Black and Gold for Spring

2010-02-08T08:20:00.001-05:00

Take a modern approach to basic black dressing this spring. Since black is such a dominant color this Spring, pair it with accents of gold for a dramatic effect.

Why not pair your favorite black jeggings, like these JBrand jeggings in black ($139 at Singer22) with an a standout leather jacket? To wear over your basic black tee, this standout Temperley London Ava studded leather jacket ($2,150 at Net-a-Porter) will get their attention. The gold pyramid studs add a bit of rocker flair to this sumptuous ruffled cropped leather jacket. Your feet will look lovely shrouded in black boots - a pair of CHLOÉ - Wedge heel boots ($425 at FarFetch,com).

Gold jewelry accents will perfectly unify this look. The House of Harlow's starburst collection pairs perfectly with black. Check out the House of Harlow 1960 14KT Gold Starburst Cocktail Ring with black leather, and Leather Stations Necklace in black. The geometric shape of the pyramid studs mirrors the angular shapes on the Stations Necklace. You've seen Nicole Richie wearing the Leather Stations geometric shaped necklace everywhere, she often layers it with other necklaces from her line.

You have seen Nicole herself wearing these fab pieces in the magazines and in your favorite celebrity blogs. Now is your chance add these pieces to your own jewelry collection!

Enter TheFind's House of Harlow Valentine's Giveaway valued at $250 from our friends at The Trend Boutique.

From our friends at thefind.com

The Daily Shortlist February 8

2010-02-08T08:00:00.003-05:00

Location: Lower East Side, NYC
Band: Yeasayer Get Tickets Here
Show time: 8 PM
Venue: Bowery Ballroom
Food: The Stanton Social
Drink: The Magician
Accessory: The Pink Pony

With Yeasayer’s sophomore album just released, the band sheds a bit of it’s world music influenced indie rock for a more 80s pop influenced sound, which sees the band evolving into one of the most cutting edge artists out there today. Plus their live shows are a party! Joining them are Light Asylum and Bobo. For dinner, The Stanton Social has earned a reputation for being a beautifully designed restaurant/lounge while serving up some delicious multi-ethnic cuisine. For drinks, a favorite of mine is The Magician, this bar’s chill atmosphere just may be the cure for a well-earned night of rocking. A great way to end the night? Stop by The Pink Pony. This boho café has been serving French food and coffee since the 80s and has a relaxing vibe. It’s as punk as that neighborhood gets nowadays.

DVD REVIEW: Artie Lange Jack and Coke

2010-02-07T08:30:00.002-05:00

Artie Lange
Jack and Coke
(Image Entertainment)

For 9 years comic Artie Lang has held an esteemed seat on the Howard Stern Show endearing himself to fans with his down to earth blue collar demeanor and despite his recent brutal suicide attempt the New Jersey native has recently released his second standup special Jack and Coke on DVD.

The show which was filmed at New York’s own Gotham Comedy Club runs about an hour and a half and shows what a confident performer Lange is despite his insecurities. The best material in Artie’s set is his most personal and many of the funniest jokes will be familiar to fans of the radio show. Unfortunately, Artie’s best bits are few and far between and the comic often veers from the heartfelt and lands in the more predictable territory of gay and hooker jokes for much of the show, pulling from a seemingly never-ending bag of hack.

The best comedy often stems from personal trauma and rage and nothing says that more than 9 stab wounds to the abdomen so it’s a shame Lange doesn’t get real in his set. He ends up appearing like any number of stage vets who go through the motions and he never feels in the moment. When he does occasionally break from the mold it’s thoroughly interesting and funny and a few examples can be found on the DVD extras. Lange has proven he has great ability in his time on the Stern show so hopefully he sticks around long enough to reach his potential onstage.

Tim Needles

I WAS THERE . . . Globalfest 2010 @ Webster Hall, 1/10/10

2010-02-07T08:00:00.001-05:00

There's no better way to lengthen the road of your mind or widen the prairies of your soul than by traveling, seeing the world, and melding with people unlike yourself. Yet many New Yorkers-myself included- are reinventing the 'stay-cation' since a glimpse of life far beyond the East River doesn't come cheap. Fortunately, on January 10th, the world came to us when globalfest 2010 shook the Big Apple to its multi-ethnic core. The latest foray into world music included Celtic vocals, gypsy blues-rock, Zydeco, and the ever-popular jams of West Africa. Early in the night, Alif Naaba brought Burkina Faso to the intimate stage of The Studio @ Webster Hall. Strums of the ngoni and rips of the guitar drew steam from a slow-growing dance circle steeped in the call and response. This was a sign of great things to come.

Up above, the soul-wrenching croon of Namgar, whose name is shared by her Siberian/Buryat band, ambled gracefully onto the main stage of Webster Hall. The gold accents of Namgar's brightly colored satin dress paled in comparison to her extravagant headpiece: a metallurgical feat that spread outward to either side, thin sheafs of long black hair wrapped around, and a center protrusion that rose phoenix-like from her head. Though too proud to outwardly appear "uncultured," the New York crowd silently marveled, tickled pink that globalfest had once again delivered the goods. The 9-person band was no less impressive with its ecletic derivation: part-Russian, part-Tibetan, part-Mongolian, all-soul. The band opened with "Tunka," a song that begins with the stereotypical twang-and-strum aesthetic that had me convinced that I had already seen this Bruce Lee movie. Yet as the calligraphic strokes of the chanza quivered alongside Namgar's vocals, the dam broke and a cascade of heavy metal beats and edgy riffs flooded the venue. A nearby group of grease-scented headbangers threw out some expletives of approval and began breaking necks. I couldn't help but agree. There's nothing cooler than traditional Buryat shaman rock.

Cursed by tight set times and my inability to teleport, I missed a lot of notable performances: the electro jazz of Caravan Palace (France), the footloose Zydeco of Cedric Watson (USA), and the bolero-cumbia-electro downtempo of Federico Aubele (Argentina/USA). I did manage to salsa to La Excelencia, groove with Francois Ladrezo & Alka Omeka, and marvel at the possibilities of global solidarity displayed by Nguyen Le's pan-Asian jazz trio Saiyuki; what a treat to hear the Japanese koto, the Indian tabla, and an electric guitar woven through a musical loom!

At the end of the night, the doors of Webster Hall unveiled a satiated crowd. We flowed into New York City's streets nourished by transportive music that not only took us around the world but, more importantly, took us outside of ourselves. We danced and sang and left Globalfest 2010 with a full satchel for the road ahead.

Nicole Velasco

THEATER REVIEW: Daddy

2010-02-06T08:40:00.003-05:00

(L-R): Bjorn DuPaty as Tee and Gerald McCullouch as Colin in Daddy.

With a simple deconstructed set and a strong trio of actors, the new play Daddy directed by David Hilder is a thoughtfully provocative amuse-bouche for the New York stage. The work opens up with a focus on the lives of two gay friends: Colin, played by Gerald McCullouch most famous for his role as Bobby Dawson on CSI Vegas, and Stew, played by Dan Via who also penned the play, and despite their friendship and intimacy they live separate lives in the bedroom. The introduction of Tee, played by Bjorn DuPaty, a young intern in Colin’s office and shortly afterward his bedroom, complicates matters between the friends and the lives of all three men.

The play’s real strength is its terrific dialogue and quick moving story which is so good it makes Dan Via’s performance, which was spectacular on its own, that much better. It’s rare these days to see someone actually pull off the writing/acting duo without questioning either role, but his naturalistic performance is the heart of the work. Gerald McCullouch’s performance is also worthy of note with a role that seems to fit him like a glove and paired with Via the duo approximate a sense of reality more than any play in recent years. The play also manages to address questions about gay marriage, adoption, and the conventions of unconventional relationships through the action without forcing or shoehorning the issues into the work.

Daddy will run through February 11 at TBG Arts Center’s Mainstage Theatre on West 36th Street and is well worth checking out. For more information, go to their website www.daddytheplay.com/

Tim Needles

I WAS THERE . . . Winter Jazz Fest 2010 @ Multiple Locations in NYC, 1/9-1/10/10

2010-02-06T08:30:00.001-05:00

For two frigid January nights, jazz music coursed through the veins Greenwich Village. Syncopation and improvisation overflowed at major pulse points the likes of Le Poisson Rouge, The Bitter End, Kenny's Castaways, Zinc Bar, and Sullivan Hall. Designed as an aural buffet for the attendees of the Association of Performing Arts Presenters (APAP), Winter Jazzfest 2010 drew crowds of 1,200 on Friday and 2,500 the next night. These impressive numbers reflect the potency of the otherwise latent enthusiasm for jazz; the $30 two-day ticket clearly too difficult to pass up when 55 notable jazz acts are rounded up in a two-block stretch.

Warming the Friday crowd was the Nicholas Payton SeXXXtet, Bobby Previte's New Bump Quartet, Eric Lewis/ ELEW, and Mark Giuliana's Beat Music. When LPR and Zinc Bar tucked in at around 10PM, the go-to jazz guys of Search & Restore kept the jams flowing to a full house at Kenny's Castaways. Entry by exit only, the line outside Kenny's had the usual bums of Bleecker Street wondering what party caused the front windows to fog up. Inside, a motley crew of old and young, hipster and straight-laced crammed the awkward layout and questionable balcony forming one appreciative amoeba.

Friday's frenzy led to Saturday's melee. With double the amount of revelers and new jazz heavy hitters sprinkled throughout the venues, foot traffic proved an issue. Like any good festival, conversations were replete with comments about this or that amazing performance as well as compromises about where to head next. As the flagship venue, the deep inhalation of people filled Le Poisson Rouge to capacity for acts like the Occidental Brother Dance Band International, the Vijay Iyer Trio, and Bitches Brew Revisited. Exhalation commenced for performances like Dr. Lonnie Smith (Sullivan Hall), Mike Reed's People, Places, and Things (Kenny's Castaways), and the Todd Sickafoose Tiny Resistors (Bitter End). Though jazz has a ways to go before you hear it on the subway blasting from some youngthing's headphones, Winter Jazzfest 2010 proved that the genre is very much alive.

Nicole Velasco

The Weekend Shortlist February 5 to 7

2010-02-05T08:00:00.006-05:00

Friday February 5

Location: Bushwick, Brooklyn
Bands: The Sky Report Winter Showcase with Brahms
Show time: 9 PM
Venue: Tandem
Food: Potion Café
Drink: Life Café Nine 83
Miscellaneous: Stain

The Sky Report Winter Showcase with Brahms is featuring Brahms, who are fresh off sold-out opening dates with Passion Pit, The Dirty Projectors and Telepathe, along with Brooklyn electro chanteuse Bonnie Baxter under her new moniker ShadowBox, “epic synth-pop” band Fan-Tan, and ambient electronic artist David Shane Smith from Los Angeles. DJ’s Fatalist, Jeremy Russell and Silent T will spin till 4 AM. For food in this neighborhood, Potion Café offers organically grown and traded food that’s part of the “slow food” movement and make delicious and creative food like the poached eggs in white wine sauce. For drinks, check out Life Café Nine 83. While it’s THE same Life Café that the RENT musical features in the play, it’s not the same location. This new Bushwick locale also possesses a boho vibe, an Americanized menu of ethnic food, and a fun selection of mixed drinks including martini’s and lemonade cocktails. A HUGE space decked out in old couches, Stain is an artsy bar that looks like an old-school coffeehouse yet serves local wines and beers.

Friday February 5

Location: Upper West Side, NYC
Band: Chromeo
Show time: 9 PM
Venue: Guggenheim Museum
Food: Brother Jimmy’s Bait Shack
Drink: Cavatappo Wine Bar
Miscellaneous: Ship of Fools

Not exactly known for throwing shows of this sort, the Guggenheim will see Chromeo perform as part of Guggenheim First Fridays, where art and music meet. While you’re there, check out the exhibition by Anish Kapoor. Now that it’s cold out, what better way to warm up than with some BBQ. Brother Jimmy’s Bait Shack is known for their BBQ’d meats, smoked in house. The menu is all Southern favorites like po boys, catfish, fried chicken, along with burgers. Though it’s small, Cavatappo Wine Bar packs a mighty punch, offering an amazing selection of wines from all over the world for under $10 a glass. With more than 40 TVs featuring sports, Ship of Fools also has darts, pool tables, and video games.

Saturday February 6

Location: Tribeca, NYC
Event: Reverend Billy & the Life After Shopping Gospel Choir
Show time: 8 PM
Venue: 92Y Tribeca
Food: Pakistan Tea House
Drink: Mocca Lounge
Miscellaneous: Chinatown Ice Cream Factory

A political statement in the form of preaching of the gospel, Reverend Billy & the Life After Shopping Gospel Choir try to educate their audiences on the evils of too much consumerism in our lives. Add on performance art, live music, theater and humour and you have one of the most addictive events to see in NYC in recent years. Nearby, Pakistan Tea House is a buffet style Indian restaurant where you can choose between chicken, meat, fish and vegetables. It’s affordable and very good. For drinks, check out Mocca Lounge. With a funky interior and a menu of Italian inspired fare, it’s also a bar with a large list of coffees with or without alcohol, beers, and frozen shots. Smack dab in the heart of Chinatown, the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory makes gourmet ice cream flavors like Black Sesame, Ginger, Durian, and more exotic flavors like Taro and Wasabi. Don’t worry, they have the go-to’s like Vanilla, fruits, and chocolate flavors too.

Saturday February 6

Location: Union Square, NYC
Event: The Awesome 80s Prom
Show time: 8 PM
Venue: Webster Hall
Food: Thai Me Up Sandwich Bar
Drink: McSorley’s Old Ale House
Miscellaneous: Mudd Cafe

Relive the best and worst of coming of age in high school at The Awesome 80s Prom. This interactive show is part musical and full-on party as the audience gets to drink, dance and vote for the Prom King and Queen. For eats, check out Thai Me Up Sandwich Bar, a sandwich shop offering Thai sandwiches with 7 Steamed Fried Vegetables and a choice of chicken, veggie, tofu or beef on a baguette with 3 types of sauces for $7. One of the city’s oldest bars, at McSorley’s Old Ale House you can feel the history when you enter as memorabilia, since its beginnings in 1854, are all over the walls. Aside from it being a frat hangout nowadays, it’s worth the trip. You’ve seen that orange Mudd coffee truck parked on Astor Place and on various other streets, but check out their Mudd Cafe on East 9th for coffee and a healthy, vegan, and vegetarian menu.

Sunday February 7

Location: Midtown West, NYC
Art: Tim Burton
Show time: See website for schedule; Through April 26
Venue: MOMA
Food: Eatery
Drink: Valhalla
Miscellaneous: Central Park

In this Tim Burton retrospective, MOMA features over seven hundred examples of rarely or never-before-seen drawings, paintings, photographs, moving image works, concept art, storyboards, puppets, maquettes, costumes, and cinematic ephemera from his early childhood drawings through much of his filmography. Nearby and delicious, Eatery offers a new American menu that’s asian influenced. Try the Red Curry Chicken Breast over roti pancake, with baby carrots and red curry coconut sauce ($16.95). Valhalla’s minimalist space is chill, letting the 24 brands of beer from all over the world on tap be the main attraction at this bar. While its warm out, waste a little time walking through Central Park, relax, and get out of the hustle and bustle of the city. Just watch your step. The working horses tend to leave surprises behind them!

TRAVEL: Greyhound’s New Lucky Streak Busses to Atlantic City

2010-02-04T08:30:00.006-05:00

I was recently invited out as part of a blogger event by the folks at Greyhound who wanted us to experience first-hand their new Lucky Streak busses going directly from the Port Authority Bus Terminal to Atlantic City. While most of us have taken a Greyhound, that initial fear of being stuck in my seat for over two hours, on top of being unable to check my email or plug in my iPod and phone was overwhelming. But quickly my perception of the bus experience was drastically changed. Greyhound’s new Lucky Streak busses offer free Wi-Fi, power outlets, comfy all leather chairs, extra legroom, and priority boarding. But why all of a sudden the drastic change and upgrades you might ask? According to Greyhound’s COO Bill Blankenship, who happened to be riding with us, “We learned a lot from our BoltBus, which was kind of our test for modernizing and changing the perception of the inner city bus and what you’re going to be seeing on these Greyhound’s is all of what we learned from the BoltBus, and it really resonates with consumers. It’s a quality bus and while a very simple concept, pretty tough to deliver for most. Clean and well equipped, this motor coach arrives on time, is safe and environmentally friendly. That’s what you can expect and it’s that simple. This is the future of inner city bus travel.” Even better, the addition of 102 environmentally friendly Lucky Streak busses Greyhound built are environmentally friendly with fuel-efficient engines that see the reduction of approximately 40 cars off the road each day and generate nearly three times less carbon dioxide per passenger, per mile than a hybrid vehicle.

The Lucky Streak bus runs door to door from New York City to select Atlantic City Boardwalk Casinos with an open return ticket that allows riders to return within 30 days from any of the eight casinos they serve, which can come in handy if you find yourself broke at 3 AM and need to leave. Passengers also receive discounts and special deals from partner Atlantic City casinos like free money to gamble with offers changing depending on the destination and time of year.

For those who want to hit the casinos, there’s a wide variety of choices including the fabulous Tropicana, the Trump Taj Mahal, Showboat, Caesar’s, the Borgata, the Hilton, and Bally’s among several others. For those not interested in gambling, there’s much to see and do. There’s always a show in most of the casinos, over 25 golf courses, the beach & boardwalk, restaurants owned by Bobby Flay and Wolfgang Puck, high end stores like Gucci and Coach as well as the Atlantic City Outlets featuring H&M, Guess, and more. Plus there's no sales tax on clothing. It’s a great little getaway for all of us New Yorkers out there in need of a quick vacation, which is pretty much all of us!

For this week and the next, Greyhound is offering a round trip ticket on its Lucky Streak busses to Atlantic City for a dollar and it includes $25 to gamble at Bally’s Casino, meaning they are practically paying you to go. Not sure if the people at Greyhound heard of the old saying “Nothing is free,” but thankfully, rules were meant to be broken!

For more information on Greyhound’s Lucky Streak go to their website www.luckystreakbus.com

DaVe Lipp

The Daily Shortlist February 4

2010-02-04T08:00:00.003-05:00

Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Bands: Lowry
Show time: 10 PM
Venue: Spike Hill
Food: Bliss Café
Drink: Greenpoint Tavern
Miscellaneous: Ella Cafe

Indie rockers Lowry are playing a residency at Spike Hill, performing every Thursday in February and March. Also expect friends like The Bloodsugars, Luke Wesley, Porter Block, Casey Shea, No Lindsay, David LK Murphey, Ivan and the Terribles, and many others for shows before and after their own. For veggie lover’s, Bliss Café is an excellent place for tempeh, tofu, and vegetables, with all menu items $10 and under. There’s only one or two bars left on Bedford Ave where you can still get a 32oz beer in a Styrofoam cup for about $5 and Greenpoint Tavern is one of them. This is one of the long standing Williamsburg dive bars still running strong. It’s always fun and the older waitstaff have plenty of sass but will take care of you. While several new coffee shops have popped up in Williamsburg recently, Ella Cafe is not just the best designed, with it’s blond wood interior but the coffee is good and the the organic menu is great.

Alicia Keys Returns with a new Album and Rocks Carerra Sunglasses

2010-02-03T08:40:00.005-05:00

On her latest album, Elements of Freedom (which you can read the review of here), Alicia Keys proves that she has no problem writing hits. Speaking of hits, check out her newest video Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart, where Keys plays a seductive superhero with extraordinary powers. These powers allow her to save the lives of all people, but for the person she loves her arms turn into a deadly weapon.

Also, check out the retro Panamerika 1 sun glasses by Carrera, from their Carrera Vintage collection inspired by the 1980s with their unique metal frame in the form of a tear. She looks gorgeous and with those glasses looks like a true heroine!

Here's a really cool Behind the Scenes video below.

DaVe Lipp

MUSIC REVIEWS: George Winston, Hurricane Chris, Alex Cuba, Beehive, Annie, Nouvellas, Sentient Machine

2010-02-03T08:30:00.014-05:00

George Winston
Love Will Come-The Music of Vince Guaraldi, Volume 2
(RCA)

Those of us old enough to know what 'New Age music' is and familiar with those classic Charlie Brown animated TV specials, might very well adore this new CD by George Winston: Love Will Come-The Music of Vince Guaraldi, Volume 2. Guaraldi is the jazz pianist responsible for all that hip piano music in those Chuck B. specials. Winston, a solo pianist was on the forefront of that new age thang way back in the mid 80's. Winston is once again visiting his love for Guaraldi (hence the volume 2!) but this time he's interpreting some of Guaraldi's lesser-known work (lesser known if you only know the guy from those Charlie Brown specials…and if so, educate yourself!)

The opener "Time For Love" is a melancholy piece with a strong repeated phrase and some Winston improv hinting at his ragtime influence. The longer "Macedonia/Little David" and "Fenwyck's Farfel/Calling Dr. Funk" is Winston covering Guaraldi channeling Cole Porter. "Woodstock,," obviously based on the little yellow bird, is as fun and light as the stride piano retelling of "You're Elected, Charlie Brown/Little Birdie”…the longest tune on the album.

"Room At The Bottom" is Winston at his best; slow, perfectly plucked single notes over a light affective heart-breaking Guaraldi phrase. "Air Music" is a standard you're sure to know.

"Love Will Come /Slow Dance" probably the most perfect song here, with Winston employing a muted effect at the end; "Rain, Rain Go Away" a mature, expansive-like single piano piece, akin to Guaraldi's classic "Cast Your Fate To The Wind" and the last tune, the title track, heartbreakingly beautiful.

Listing to Love Will Come-The Music of Vince Guaraldi, Volume 2, it's obvious to me nobody touches the singularly perfect Guaraldi like the singular talented George Winston.

Ralph Greco, Jr.

Hurricane Chris
Unleashed
(J Records)

Check the resume, ya’ll: Started rhyming at age 9; major release debut (51/50 Ratchet, J Records) at age 18; had one of the hottest singles of 2007 (“A Bay Bay”); got mix tapes on the streets (Ya Hear Me? and Louisi-Animal); and oh, in Shreveport, Louisiana, September 25th is officially “Hurricane Chris” day.

SO, it’s a no-brainer why Chris Dooley, Jr.’s newly released album, Unleashed is a head-nodding, body-rocking, swag-on-100 type-of-vibe.

With a 10-year history of rhyming, the 20-year old Louisiana-based rapper is bringing track upon track of club anthems. Take your pick from the summer hit, “Halle Berry (She’s Fine),” the body loving “Coke Bottle,” the sexual cockiness of “I Want It,” “Beat It Out The Frame” and the second single, “Headboard” featuring Florida rapper Plies and B-More songster Mario - and you have an album that club DJs devour on a Friday night!

Nevertheless, if you missed it, do check out my personal fave, the extended remix of “A Bay Bay” featuring The Game, Lil Boosie, Baby, E-40, Angie Locc of Lava House, and Jadakiss. Nearly three years later, it’s still in rotation.

ND McCray

Alex Cuba
Agua Del Pozo
(Caracol Records)

Floating soulfully over what could be called Cuban R&B, Alex Cuba’s beautiful voice is the perfect accompaniment for this grooved out album. No surprise either, as this accomplished Cuban born artist wrote all of the songs on Agua Del Pozo himself. Now residing in Canada, Alex Cuba’s music draws heavily upon his homeland as it includes masterful percussion, lyrics entirely sung in Spanish, blaring horns on most tracks, and expertly layered bass lines.

A guitarist first and foremost, Cuba’s own music on the album alternates between rhythm and lead, comfortable in either role. Fifteen tracks clocking in at fifty-five minutes, with a very balanced blend of upbeat and slower songs, each composition is presented in a very clear manner. To Cuba’s credit, each instrument can be heard and the production values are crisp. While each track has a different melody, they’ve all got a distinctly Cuban sound while forming a very cohesive album. My only criticism would be that the tracks that don’t stand out begin to blend together after awhile.

The tracks that do stand out however are very noteworthy. “Si Pero No” is one of the grooviest songs on the album, with a catchy tune and chorus. A lovely example of Cubano R&B, it also has a heavier presence of post-production tinkering, which luckily does not interfere with the flow or enjoyment of the track.

“De Manera Que” is one of the slowest songs on the album but instead of being lamenting or down beat, is clear, warm, and full of heart. Featuring only Cuba’s voice and guitar work, the stripped down track speaks louder than any of the other tracks on this musician’s ability. Agua Del Pozo is an enjoyable listen for lovers of contemporary Cuban.

Kenneth Joachim

Beehive
Sun & Scream
(Unsigned)

Zach Hinkle, the primary force behind electronic-pop band Beehive, relocated to New York City to record Sun & Scream, the follow-up effort to Beehive’s first EP, I’m Losing My Punk Rock Spirit. (Hinkle also belongs to band alias Cherokee.) Sun & Scream was recorded entirely in Hinkle’s city apartment and was mixed by Ryan Stansky.

The album opens up with “Pink Slip,” a 52-second long song that exemplifies perfectly what the rest of the album has to offer as far as keyboards, distorted vocals and overall low-fidelity. “Midnight Kidnap Then a Night Cap” is one of the album’s best tracks, ringing with sounds of bells (xylophone?) that are exotically ominous.

“My Need to Stay” is the first single off of the album and displays Hinkle’s ability to combine pop hooks and melodies with abstract beats. “Concrete Garden” is worth the listen, while “Department Store Hangover” is an appropriate closing with its echoing guitar and piano.

However, while Sun & Scream attracted me on the first listen, the album unexpectedly became boring after a few. If you threw different colors of paint on a wall and let them run together, it would look pretty cool while the paint was still wet; yet when the paint dries, you may not like the end result as a whole. I admire Hinkle for his ability to take sounds from two different ends of the musical spectrum and ease them together smoothly, yet as a whole, the album does not deliver songs with enough juice to make your memory want to attach to them.

Perhaps “Mirror Mirror” is the track to blame for this sudden loss in appeal. The album presents itself as lightly somber and authentic, and then transforms into cheesy disco, with the repeating lyrics, “Sometimes I feel like running, and sometimes I feel quite stunning…”

For more info on Beehive, check them out on MySpace.

Lucy Tonic

Annie
Don't Stop
(Totally/Smalltown Supersound)

Are you an Annie fan? After her last hit, "Heartbeats," many fans were looking to Don't Stop to fill the void in time since Anniemal came out in 2004. Does the album stand up? Fans surely won't be disappointed by another stellar on-your-feet album but those looking to dive headfirst into Annie's music may be a little put off by the disc. The album is overall much slower but still enjoyable. Annie's standout voice gives ordinary songs a larger than life feeling.

Standout tracks on the album include "Hey Annie," a mid-tempo track with airy vocals and group chorus lines and "I Don't Like Your Band," which brings both a message and an infectious groove to the dancefloor. Title track "Don't Stop" is among the album's weakest with a radio friendly feeling. While the majority of the album is accessible, it is slower and nowhere near as lively as Annie's prior work. If you are looking for a track to sample, "Heaven and Hell" is a slower track with the usual Annie bounce that is a stellar track on this otherwise downtempo album.

Tania Katherine

Nouvellas
Nouvellas
(Ernest Jenning Record Co.)

Nouvellas is a thoroughly entertaining album by a new group that’s easy to love. True, it doesn’t break any new ground, but that doesn’t take away from the quality of the songs. The music world needs it’s envelope-pushing innovators but it also needs people to keep classic sounds alive and kicking, and boy does this album kick!

Nouvellas tap the mine of sweet soul music to make little Rock ‘n’ Roll gems that have groove and grit. The key to their appeal is their two front woman attack. Jaime Kozyra and Leah Fishman trade lines but sound best when singing in harmony. They are both great singers and neither one outshines the other. Rather, their voices act as the perfect compliment for one another. Two distinct flavors, that when combined, elevate the situation to a whole other level. Peanut Butter and Jelly. Of course, the songwriting is pretty great too.

The opening track, “Baby You Change Your Mind,” has the incredible ability of sounding like something you’ve heard before even though I can basically guarantee you haven’t. You’ll insist it must be a cover but it’s brand new. “These Days Are Gone” is the obligatory melodramatic ballad and fortunately, it’s pretty excellent. My favorite track though is “Don’t Count On Me.” Not quite stately enough to be a ballad, not uptempo enough to really rock, it exists somewhere in between and makes use of the best of both worlds. To put it plainly, it’s sadness and frustration that you can dance to. The record also has some of the strongest vocals from beginning to end.

The album might run out of steam a bit toward the end, but the bulk of it is steamy enough to fog up all your windows so you can get on with that dance party in privacy. Nouvellas is a good reminder that at one time, R&B and Rock ‘N’ Roll were the same thing and at their core, maybe they still are. If you are a fan of soul music in the Stax Records vein or just good pop music, you can’t go wrong here. Anyone who can successfully incorporate a vibraphone into three songs is alright by me.

Jonathan Zuckerman

Sentient Machine
Sentient Machine
(Independent)

Sentient Machine's self-titled EP kicks off like a party and ironically enough, the very first words of the opening track, “James Brown New Year's Eve Bash” are “Come on/Let's have a party.” You'd be wise to follow their advice. And the good times don't stop there. This is just the beginning of a heavy, intergalactic, funky journey these seven tracks offered will guide you through. The party atmosphere seems to work it's way up to a crescendo—a dark, guitar driven cover of The Tramps' eternal dance floor hit, “Disco Inferno.” This version doesn't bring Travolta's abnormally tight wardrobe to mind but somehow still manages to make you wanna get down.

The musical shindig comes to a screeching halt however, with the album's final two tracks, “She Blew Me Away” and “Architecture Man.” That isn't necessarily a bad thing. “She Blew Me Away” explodes from a brooding, menacing monster into an energetic powerhouse that showcases the fine musicianship of the band. Look out for a really cool keyboard solo. The closing track, “Architecture Man,” comes across more as a Marilyn Manson b-side or remix but clearly drives home the fact that all good things must come to an end. Lucky for you, solving this particular problem is as easy as just pressing play again. And you will want to do just that.

The band is currently offering the EP as a free download which you can get right now right HERE

E. Grey

The Daily Shortlist February 3

2010-02-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

Location: Noho, NYC
Art: Never Can Say Goodbye
Show time: Wed to Sun, 12 PM to 7 PM; Through February 13
Venue: Tower Records
Food: Babbo
Drink: The Dove
Miscellaneous: Café Reggio

In the multi-media art exhibition Never Can Say Goodbye, over 20 artists works are housed in the former Tower Records, celebrating the stores community role of being the place where people went to meet each other face to face and talk music and more. One of the six Italian eateries of celebrity chef Mario Battali, Babbo takes Italian American cooking to another level. While the food can be expensive and reservations would be the best way to get a table, this place is highly regarded among food connoisseurs is is nothing short of amazing. Disguised as a lounge The Dove is really a neighborhood bar dressed up in red, white, and gold décor with a nice selection of beers on tap and a very good mixed drink menu featuring delicious martini’s. One of my favorite coffee houses, Café Reggio has the most literate and West Village atmosphere I have been to. A real slice of New York, it was also in the movie Superfly. Go there or be square!

The Sky Report Winter Showcase with Brahms

2010-02-02T08:40:00.005-05:00

Our friends at the music blog The Sky Report are throwing their first annual winter showcase at Tandem (Bushwick) on Friday, February 5th, 2010. Leading the lineup is Brahms, who are fresh off sold-out opening dates with Passion Pit, The Dirty Projectors and Telepathe, Brahms join a bill that also includes Brooklyn electro chanteuse Bonnie Baxter under her new moniker ShadowBox, “epic synth-pop” band Fan-Tan, and ambient electronic artist David Shane Smith from Los Angeles. DJ’s Fatalist, Jeremy Russell and Silent T will carry out the party until 4:00am. No advance tickets are available, but rather $8 at the door, $5 with rsvp at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=248157800953&ref=mf or by sending an e-mail with your name and guests to theskyreport@yahoo.com. RSVP does not guarantee admission – first come first serve.

Tandem
236 Troutman St. (between Knickerbocker + Wilson)
L train to Jefferson
718-386-2369

Band links:

Brahms www.brahmsband.com
ShadowBox www.myspace.com/shadowbox4u
Bonnie Baxter www.myspace.com/bonniebaxter
Fan-Tan www.myspace.com/fantanmusic
David Shane Smith www.myspace.com/davidshanesmith
Tandem www.tandembar.net

DaVe Lipp

CONTEST: Win Tickets to See True Lovers this Thursday Plus a Prize Pack

2010-02-02T08:40:00.004-05:00

Dion Lunadon, former leader of The D4, and Ben Maitland of Boxcar Guitars fame have merged their talents to create the raw, lust-ridden, gritty guitar-shredding new band TRUE LOVERS. Also featuring Keith Stapleton (The Fever) on bass, Evan Pazner on drums and Matt Welsh on keyboards, the band are gearing up for the release of their self-titled debut album on Altra Records.

They’re playing a Brooklyn show this Thursday night at 10:00pm at Coco 66 (66 Greenpoint Avenue) and they are giving a away a pair of tickets AND a True Lovers prize pack (tote bag, vinyl LP, t-shirt and sticker) to one lucky Short And Sweet NYC reader. First one to email us gets the goods!

Official site: www.TheTrueLoversBand.com
MySpace: www.myspace.com/thetrueloversband
Video for “Death Threat”: www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9UYSRRzIU0

To enter, e-mail us Here

DaVe Lipp

THE INTERVIEW: Rockabilly Legend Wanda Jackson

2010-02-02T08:30:00.006-05:00

With her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year and new music coming out produced by Jack White, it seems that Wanda Jackson's 50 plus year career is finally gaining the validation it so richly deserves. Perhaps it was her switch to country and gospel music in the 70's that confused people, but the Rockabilly music the revivalists adore her for is still in her heart and on her set list. She'll be in town in February to play The Knitting Factory and I suggest, like me, you get yourself schooled by The Queen of Rock.

You've been called the sweet lady with the nasty voice. Are you comfortable with that description?

Well it's a little misleading because I'm not really sure that I'm a sweet lady. [Laughter]

Where do you think that part of your voice comes from?

I've been asked about it a lot lately. A lot of artists do it. I just call it growlin'. I can do it a couple of different ways. Its just something I reached down and got a hold of through a song I was recording, "Fujiyama Mama." I loved the song but I didn't want to just sing it plain. I dug down deep and found that part of my voice through that song.

When you first turned the audience on to that part of your voice, could you see that it had a really strong effect on people?

Yes you could kind of tell. Maybe it shocked them a little bit. They liked it. Live audiences like that type of growlin' and singin' because I'm a belter. The songs that I belt out like that are really crowd pleasers.

What was it like being a young girl in a touring boys club that included Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and of course, Elvis Presley?

Well, I rather liked it. But that's the way it had always been. We used to call it a package show. We'd go on 10 day, or 2 week tours. It was always just one girl. There weren't that many girls singing, even country music. I was about the second or third one to come along, Kitty Wells, Jean Shepard and me and then a few years later came Patsy and Brenda. But I didn't think anything about it. I enjoyed the company of the guys. My dad traveled with me to make sure my reputation stayed intact. That was good. Everyone liked dad. I was always treated with respect and like a lady because my dad was there.

I guess at the time you all were helping to create rock and roll although maybe you didn't really know it.

Right. We didn't really have a name at that point. Like when Elvis talked to me about starting to record, we just called it this new kind of music. Elvis was billed as "The Hillbilly Cat." I had a couple of different ones through the years. Finally they stopped doing that stuff. At one point I was "The Singing Doll." Then I was "The Party Doll" after "Let's Have a Party" was a hit. Of course now I guess they are still doing it. I'm "The Sweet Lady with the Nasty Voice." "First Lady of Rock and Roll" is the title I like.

I watched a clip of you singing "Hard Headed Woman" on Town Hall Party" in 1958. You introduced it as a beautiful love song and then you proceeded to tear the place up. Did you enjoy playing with the audiences expectations in terms of country versus rock?

Yeah, well, I'm an entertainer as well as a singer. Some are one or the other, but it's best when you're both. Oh yeah, I still flirt and play with my audience. I always have. It gives an intimate feel to your show. I especially like it when the audience can come down front right at the bandstand. That way I can look 'em right in the eye and ruffle their hair up, throw water on 'em, just have fun with 'em.

Can you tell me about your collaboration with Jack White? People are extremely excited about it. How did that come to be?

Well I just found out myself for sure. My webmaster Jon Hensley is a big, big fan of mine. So he loves rockabilly and early rock, but he also wanted me to get in the 21st century, you know, so my career wouldn't always be just the old stuff I've done. So he was talking to a friend of his from Nashville, she does make-up and hair for a lot of the big stars like Faith Hill. She said, well heck why don't you get in touch with Jack White, he lives here in Nashville, has his own studio, he might be interested. So John was brave enough to call him, unintroduced or anything. I think John wanted him to do a duet with me on a new album. My husband, John and I were getting our heads together. What kind of album would I want to do right now? So we were thinking Wanda Jackson and Friends. So he asked him about that, and Jack said, well no I wouldn't be interested in doing a duet on her album, but I would be interested in recording her myself. That got John very excited. He called us and he had to tell me who Jack White was because I really didn't know. But I've learned some things about him now. So we kind of bounced that around awhile and decided, heck yeah, we ought to try it. So that was it. Then Jack said OK. He sent me some songs he had in mind, we set up a time for me to come in and record. We got 6 songs now in the can for single releases or however he wants to use them.

Are you planning on doing a full length record?

Well the first release is a single. I believe the release date is January 26th. I think the song will be "You Know I'm No Good."

Are they Jack White songs?

These are cover songs, kind of obscure ones. He wants to do more of a showcase with me. Allow me to do things more in the country vein and a lot of rock and roll, some Blues and Gospel, so I'm just staying on the lookout for songs. He's got 6 so we'll put out the first single this month. It's going to be 7 inch vinyl.

Vinyl's making a comeback.

I know it. I think it's great. It'll be "You Know I'm No Good" and "Shakin' All Over." Now "You Know I'm No Good," Amy Winehouse had a pretty good hit on it a few years ago. So it's not one of the old ones out of the archives. A little more up to date. I really liked the song. We reworked it a little bit. I got to do my own style with Jack's coaching, pushing me.

Did he bring in session players?

He had playbacks for me like most of the artists do these days. He laid the music down and then I do my part. If there are any extra voices behind me or a string section, that's added later. The dubs I had to work with had horns and great guitar and everything. So he had all that done without me. He's such a talented young man, he really is.

Do you find it encouraging when these younger artists seek inspiration from and help to communicate your music to another generation?

Well, you can imagine, it's very exciting. This has been going on for me since the late 80's. The revival of rock and roll, 50's rock, began for me in Scandinavia, and then in Great Britain, Australia, Japan. I went from straight country right back into the rockabilly. I've come full circle now. I'm seeing all these beautiful young people who just love these songs, they just love 'em! They know all about 'em, they know all about me. They ask intelligent questions. It's cute, they'll say 'well now who's playing bass on "Fujiyama Mama?"' I have to sometimes look it up and give them the answer later. But they know that much about it. And to see them dressing in the vintage clothes and driving the classic cars, it makes me feel like a teenager again. That's not bad. At my age it's easy to want to sit back and go on your past body of work. But I haven't been able to do that because of this new popularity here in America and all over the world. I've been recording all along. I did an album called Heart Trouble. I had some great musicians and singers join me on that. The Cramps, Dave Alvin, Lee Rocker, Rosie Flores, Elvis Costello. That made a lot of noise. My latest one is I Remember Elvis. I did a tribute to him.

I listened to that last night. It's a really moving record. I know that Elvis has had a very special place in your heart and in your career.

The last track on the record I tell the story about how I met him, the first time I saw him work, the last time I got to see him, the day that he asked me to be his girl and gave me his ring.

Over the years did you lose touch with him?

I worked with him and toured quite a bit with him from the Summer of '55 when I graduated high school. I was 17. I'd already had a couple of country hits on the Billboard charts. I had a name pretty well built up for myself. I toured with him up until February of '57. That's when he went to Hollywood to start his movie career and he no longer toured. You've read about how Colonel Parker didn't allow him to tour anymore. He concentrated on the movies. Of course everyone has the same opinion about Colonel Parker taking him out of music and making him stay right there in the movies, because he didn't get good movies. I think he could've been a really fine actor if he'd been given a chance. That's where we lost contact. I didn't push it. He had enough to do. So, yeah, we drifted apart.

Any clues as to what's given you such longevity in your career?

Well of course I'm not the only one. Jerry Lee Lewis is still working. I worked with Chuck Berry recently, Jerry Lee too. So there's a handful of us left. I don't know except our songs were simple. You can learn 'em real easy. Other singers can do 'em easy. And it represents a time in America. We were the last generation of innocence. Because in the '60's, here came the Vietnam War and free love and all that stuff, so everything changed. And now we're up here where we are now, everything is so fast and automated and I think they're wanting to just step into a time capsule just for a few hours. I can tell them stories and things like that in my show and they just get the feel of what it was like to be a teenager in America in the '50's.

I hear that you're coming to town to play The Knitting Factory in February.

Yes, I'm looking forward to it. I like the Knitting Factory very much. We always have full houses. I forgot to say when we were talking about Elvis, I did see him one last time in 1964, in kind of a chance meeting. I left word that I was staying at the same hotel as him, in fact on the same floor. He had the whole floor rented out except for the rooms my husband and I and another couple had. I left word that I'd like to say hi to him. The very same night he came down to the room and met my husband and our friends, stayed maybe 10, 15 minutes with us. That was the last time I got to see him.

It's nice that you got to have a positive final encounter with him and that he got to meet your husband.

What I liked was the fact that of course my husband had been to his shows when he was a teenager too, in Texas. But the fact that he got to meet him personally and he could see what was between me and Elvis, it was just a pure, sweet friendship. I didn't know how important it was at the time, but since 1985, I've talked about Elvis just about everyday, in one way or another, on a show or in an interview. I think that made it easier for him to accept that everyone wants to know about me and Elvis. In the beginning it didn't sit real well with him. But he wasn't in show business and he didn't really understand our relationship. He wasn't intimidated or anything by it, he just didn't understand our relationship and so after that he did and it's made it a lot easier for him.

I can sympathize with the guy. Most men have to deal with someone who's their rival who's just a regular joe. But to have it be Elvis Presley. It takes a strong man to deal with that all those years!

That's my thinking exactly.

Dan Siegler

The Daily Shortlist February 2

2010-02-02T08:00:00.001-05:00

Location: Midtown West, NYC
Theater: A View From the Bridge
Show time: 7 PM
Venue: Cort Theater
Food: Havana Central
Drink: The Campbell Apartment
Miscellaneous: Kinokuniya Bookstore

Liev Schreiber and Scarlett Johannson star in Arthur Miller’s tragic play A View From the Bridge, about a Brooklyn longshoreman obsessed with his 17-year old niece. But when she falls in love with an immigrant fresh off the boat, his rage tears his family and his world apart. While Times Square is obviously an expensive mess of restaurants, Havana Central offers affordable Cuban food like Camarones con Coco - coconut dusted jumbo shrimp fried and breaded with pineapple ($12). The former office of 1920s mogul John W. Campbell, The Campbell Apartment is an utterly spectacular bar located in Grand Central Terminal. Who knew? For fans of Japanese pop-culture, Kinokuniya Bookstore has a large selection of Japanese themed books, videos, CDs, magazines, comics, and stationary.

Vavoom Design Pulse Texture Crème

2010-02-01T08:30:00.001-05:00

I had not seen Vavoom hair products since I was in middle school when it was en vogue to gel your hair. Vavoom is making a comeback at salons with a range of hair products called Vavoom Design Pulse. They are still making gel, but under fresh, suggestive packaging and calling it Texture Crème ($15, 5 oz). This lightweight product provides light control without being gummy. We felt the hold could have been stronger for all day wear. The purple texture crème is wonderful for loose, piecey looks without looking overworked. This gel is just the thing for fine hair to emphasize body. It also responded well to heat tools such as a hair dryer. On the whole, Vavoom Design Pulse Texture Crème delivers what it promises with a medium hold, shine, and pliability.

Ashkan

A Little Romance - Black Lace Dresses

2010-02-01T08:20:00.001-05:00

With Valentine's Day soon approaching with it comes the question, "what will I wear for an evening of romance?" Whether it is your fifth date or your 5th anniversary, no other fabric says 'romance' like lace. A delicately woven lace dress adds a sweet message of feminine charm. Choose a modern silhouette with a higher hem for the season. The dresses shown here have interesting layering at the skirt and a fitted waistline. Pair this LBD lace confection with some killer statement heels (Miu Miu Forma cutout sandals, $755 at Net-a-Porter), a ribbon necklace (Zsa Zsa's Rhinestone and Ribbon Bib Necklace, $44.99 at emitations) and a satin embellished clutch (Lanvin Oulala satin clutch, $1,090).

BCBG Max Azria's Lace & Organza Party Dress, (left, $468.00 at Nordstrom.com) features a plunging neckline infused with party girl charm. The tiered ruffled organza skirt is edged with lace and is cinched with a removable medallion wide belt. From Nanette Lepore, the designer who is known for her girly looks, brings us the "Love Triangle" Lace Dress, (middle, $320.60 at Bloomingdales.com). This dress is certainly more appealing than a real-life love triangle, and this paisley lace frock offers a serious date-night look for an evening of romance. Thakoon's Addition Twist Front Dress, (right, $347.50 at Shopbop.com) is embellished with a bias lace panel at the neckline and twisted waistline detailing at the front and the back. I absolutely adore the ruched shoulders and balloon hem on the sleeves and skirt. Long live romance!

Save on your purchases with Coupon Codes from Nordstrom.com from TheFind.com's new coupon site.

From our friends at thefind.com

The Daily Shortlist February 1

2010-02-01T08:00:00.001-05:00

Location: Lower East Side, NYC
Bands: Martin Bisi
Show time: 9 PM; FREE
Venue: Small Beast (at The Delancey)
Food: The Stanton Social
Drink: The Magician
Accessory: The Pink Pony

Veteran Brooklyn producer Martin Bisi performs at Small Beast, Paul Wallfisch's weekly MUSIC SALON upstairs at The Delancey with Paul Wallfisch (Botanica, Little Annie), Rachelle Garniez, and John Dylan Keith. For dinner, The Stanton Social has earned a reputation for being a beautifully designed restaurant/lounge while serving up some delicious multi-ethnic cuisine. For drinks, a favorite of mine is The Magician, this bar’s chill atmosphere just may be the cure for a well-earned night of rocking. A great way to end the night? Stop by The Pink Pony. This boho café has been serving French food and coffee since the 80s and has a relaxing vibe. It’s as punk as that neighborhood gets nowadays.

I WAS THERE . . . Of Montreal @ Highline Ballroom, 2/26/10

2010-01-31T16:14:00.002-05:00

The last time I saw Of Montreal in New York was the now infamous Roseland Ballroom performance in October 2008, just before the release of Skeletal Lamping. That spectacle of a show included, among the multiple large projection screens, tiered platforms and revolving stage sets, singer Kevin Barns emerging from a coffin covered in whipped cream, hanging himself in a gallows, and riding a white horse on stage. You could say the bar had been raised.

Tuesday’s show at the Highline Ballroom – the second of the band’s current tour - saw them in different but no less engaging form, and indeed quite live, playing without the use of pre-programmed beats or backing tracks.

And oh, the virtues of keeping it real. This straightforward approach – essentially the live drumming and what-you-see-is-what-you-get instrumentation – injected the band’s indie-funk-rock with a ton of muscle. I didn’t expect a near mosh pit to break out during “Disconnect the Dots.” In fact, it was a few songs into the set, particularly during “Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse,” that the crowd was driven to frenzy and stayed that way the rest of the night. We’re talking crowd surfers. Lots of them.

It was enjoyable to see the band freed from their program – songs were extended, segued and in some cases re-arranged, which made for a welcome fresh take on some of the more well-played numbers.

The set list mixed newer material from the last two albums with a good amount of older material – which in terms of modern Of Montreal means going only as far back as 2004’s Satanic Panic In the Attic and 2005’s Sunlandic Twins. A new song was also thrown in; the curiously titled “Teenage Unicorn Fisting,” which fits nicely into the context of the band’s current stylings.

Now for what really makes an Of Montreal performance: the stage show, which was also on a smaller scale, but regardless, packed plenty of wicked surprises. Two giant screens projected colorful animated sequences, while performers in full-body black spandex suits filmed band members with video cameras, using green screens and lights to apply psychedelic video effects on the big screens.

A shirtless Barnes even stretched himself out on cross beams during the intense set-closing jam out of “She’s A Rejecter.” But the biggest surprises of the night were the special guests, especially the two appearances by Susan Sarandon, who first emerged to spank a pig man over her knee with a ruler, using a crouching Barnes as a seat. She reappeared at the end of the set to assist in throwing streamers into the audience while the spandex-ed performers shot a snowstorm of white feathers overhead.

The final surprise was the encore - a joyous duet of The Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back,” between Barnes and new friend/collaborator Solange (yeah, Beyoncé’s sister), who was almost too good at channeling the sweet voice of a young Michael Jackson.

My one (superficial) complaint of the evening was Barnes’ woolly beard, which suited the pirate/gypsy-esque get-up he sported. I just don’t think sparkly blue eye shadow works with beards (I’m looking at you too, Devendra Banhart). Barnes is so good at looking pretty; I’d never have pegged him as the beard type.

Either way, there’s never a bad time to be had at an of Montreal show, but this one certainly ranks among the best I’ve seen them. And this is a band that specializes in bringing it on a regular basis.

John Mordecai

I Was There . . . Age Of Evil @ B.B. King's, 1/26/10

2010-01-31T08:30:00.001-05:00

I've long ago realized I'm not, never have been and will never be cool. So, when I get the chance to experience something that is, man I am down…as the kids say. Last night a date and I (she happens to be cool) caught the blistering Age of Evil, quartet play a heavy, hard, and old-school metal half hour at B.B King's (opening for Hail). The 2 pairs of brothers, Jeremy Goldberg-vocal/guitar, his brother Jacob on bass with the brothers Ziff: Jordan on lead guitar, Garrett on drums, hit the standing crowd right between the eyes with a tighter-than-tight 7-song half hour. Opening with their heavy (yet commercial) "Call Me Evil," through the faster-than-fast feet of Garrett and true guitar styling of Jordan, to a great "Get Dead" from the band's latest EP, these Scottsdale natives showed a very appreciative crowd what they are about: powerful musical playing with serious conviction. Check them out on Myspace

Ralph Greco, Jr.

DVD REVIEW: Glee Season 1: Road to the Sectionals

2010-01-30T08:30:00.002-05:00

Glee Season 1: Road to the Sectionals
(20th Century Fox)

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've likely heard something about Glee. The Fox Network sensation features one touch comedy, one touch sarcasm and, of course, one touch musical.

Glee: The Road To Sectionals chronicles the first half of season one. We're introduced to Will and his wife, who we find is faking a pregnancy. He finds out about that one later too. We find out about cheerleader Quinn, whose kicked off the cheer squad for being pregnant. She convinces her rock-singing boyfriend Finn that he's the daddy when it's really his best friend. Scandalous! We meet Rachel, whose in love with Finn, and the rest of the glee club. The unpopular glee club's first goal? Getting the sectionals so that the school's principal will let them keep singing along.

The DVD for the show traces the glee club through its marijuana laced start, to it's sectional end. It traces the relationship of Finn and rhyming girlfriend Quinn straight through the revelation about her pregnancy. It traces Will from doting husband with a Pottery Barn obsessed wife to a man following all of his passion.

Plain and simple: the DVD for Glee is the most fun you're going to have with a box set this year. You'll laugh, you'll cry and then you'll get online to download some of the stunning tracks performed by the cast. If you can't take a hint or a joke, the DVD is not recommended. But if you're looking for some quality television, buy Glee. In fact, I hope you've ordered it already.

Tania Katherine

I WAS THERE . . . Short and Sweet NYC Presents @ The Knitting Factory Brooklyn, 1/22/2010

2010-01-29T08:30:00.009-05:00

Though we were all on needles Friday night at the Knitting Factory for our second-anniversary party featuring DJ Rob Swift, Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers, Apse and Venn Diagrams, I believe we pulled off a properly successful evening. Rather our CEO and editor, DaVe Lipp worked his eclectic network of stars.

The night began with the modern-day cabaret, two-man duo Venn Diagrams. Jeffrey Marsh on vocals and Rick Sorkin on guitar were one-part David Bowie and one-part…um, something else. The artistic-duo entertained us with a blend of witty banter, snarky commentary, show tunes and original songs to include a strange and delightful number featuring a guitar, a bow and a saw.

As the energy increased (and the drinks), ambient-rock band Apse also made a lasting impression. Aside from a lead singer who largely wailed and a bass player who often kneeled while playing, the band was an eclectic and impressive mix of multi-instrumentalist. At various points throughout their rock/instrumental set, the keyboardist switched to a clarinet, tambourine and then a guitar; while the guitarist played the organ. Apse could be described as progressive rock, in an peculiar sort of way.

What can I say about Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers? Well, her “Happy Hookers” are three dudes that have performed with her at SXSW, among other popular events and spaces. Her sound is a twisted fusion of perverse blues, rock, punk, and jazz. Her onstage presence is loud and disturbing. Her instrument of choice: the harmonium. To be honest, I believe the bulk of the music heads in the audience came for Shilpa Ray. Though Rob Swift headlined, she rocked it as people danced, bobbed, semi-moshed, screamed, and heckled her throughout her 35-minute performance.

Wrapping the night was X-ecutioners lead man, DMC East Coast champion and NY Scratch Academy instructor DJ Rob Swift. As a member of the innovative 90’s turntablist crew which featured the late Roc Raida; Total Eclipse and Mister Sinista, Rob’s 50-minute set was a mix of old school hip hop, funk, jazz and Latin rhythms that reflected upon his Bronx upbringing.

If there were a proper checklist to showcase the ridiculous skills of Rob Swift, it would go a little somethin’ like this: Chose the right records, check. Beat juggled, check. Proper mixing, cutting, scratching, stops, spinbacks, ill mixes, insane tricks, and an ending that rendered a crowd speechless…check, check, check, and muthaf**kin’ check.

ND McCray + Photos by Leslie Torre

The Weekend Shortlist January 29 to 31

2010-01-29T08:00:00.007-05:00

Friday January 29

Location: Union Square, NYC
Band: The Crystal Method
Show time: 10 PM
Venue: Webster Hall
Food: Momofuku
Drink: The Village Pourhouse
Miscellaneous: Sundaes and Cones

On their first studio album in five years Divided By Night, The Crystal Method continue making electronic dance music that incorporates everything including the kitchen sink and several guests like hip hop act LMFAO and New Order’s bassist Peter Hook. They will be performing a DJ set live as part of the Girls & Boys party. If you like ramen noodles and pork, then Momofuku is your spot for food. The Berkshire pork is the best I’ve had and it’s the only place I’ll eat pork period, which should tell you just how good Momofuku really is! The Village Pourhouse may look like a neighborhood bar to watch sports but actually has three more rooms, where you can order food or find a quiet place to smooch! For dessert a little left of the dial, Sundaes and Cones offers eclectic flavors like wasabi and corn and many more flavors that are familiar.

Friday January 29

Location: Upper West Side, NYC
Bands: St. Vincent
Show time: 8:30 PM
Venue: Jazz at Lincoln Center, Allen Room, Time Warner Center
Food: Symposium
Drink: Broadway Dive
Miscellaneous: Sip

The thing I love about Lincoln Center is just when you think you have them figured out as “that place to go for classical music,” they bring in someone like Annie Clark AKA St. Vincent who is a brilliant and well-respected indie singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist who has worked with The Polyphonic Spree ans Sufjan Stevens among others. Low priced anything near Columbia University is getting harder to find, but at Symposium, you’ll get Greek food that won’t force you to take a mortgage out. The Pastitsio (baked macaroni with ground meat $9.95) is out of this world. Not the kind of dive bar you’re thinking, though Broadway Dive has a single malt scotch and bourbon menu big enough that you won’t even know where you are after a few. A coffee bar that also serves liquor, tapas, and baked goods all in one place? Sip sounds good to me.

Saturday January 30

Location: Union Square, NYC
Bands: Of Montreal + James Husband Get Tickets Here
Show time: 8 PM
Venue: Highline Ballroom
Food GoGo Curry
Drink Stitch
Miscellaneous Leisure Time Bowl

James Husband will be pulling double duty being in Of Montreal who create some of the most groundbreaking indie rock, while also performing his own material off his recently released album A Parallel I. The owner of GoGo Curry is obsessed with the Yankees Hideki Matsui and his Jersey (55). The menu’s theme is baseball and katsu, a fried meat, chicken, or shrimp cutlet served in a curry sauce is the specialty here. Portion sizes are Walk (small), Single (Med.), Double (L), and Triple (XL) and are inexpensive. The mascot, a gorilla for some reason, is plastered everywhere, making this place even quirkier. In the heart of the garment district, Stitch, a cozy after-work bar/lounge, stocks a cocktail menu with a design theme. If you still have energy and are in the mood to bowl, check out Leisure Time Bowl. Located in the Port Authority, this place is stylish and fun.

Saturday January 30

Location: Park Slope, Brooklyn
Bands: Slavic Soul Party
Show time: 9 PM
Venue: Barbes
Food: Chiles & Chocolate Oaxacan Kitchen
Drink: The Gate
Miscellaneous: Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co.

Balkan brass band Slavic Soul Party bring some serious funk heat at their live shows as Eastern European tradition meets western groove and their music fully exploits all that and more. Ever have Oaxacan food? Chiles & Chocolate Oaxacan Kitchen serves up some fantastic, not exactly Mexican food. Try the smoky flavored Mole Negro, one of the best mole sauces I’ve had in NYC. Before leaving, you must try one of the hot chocolates like the Chiles Y Chocolate. A hint of chipotle without too much heat is a nice kick start for the night. The Gate is a great Park Slope bar with excellent beers on tap and a outdoor courtyard to chill. If time permits, you must, and I mean MUST go to the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co., a non-profit organization that helps kids with their writing, that’s fronted by a store selling super powers.

Sunday January 31

Location: Midtown West, NYC
Band: An Albatross
Show time: 8 PM
Venue: Knitting factory
Food: Fette Sau
Drink: Spuyten Duyvil
Miscellaneous: Union Pool

Noise rock outfit An Albatross make a muddy stew of synth driven scream metal that will blow you away. Check these guys live to comprehend. Joining them are RICE and Wharton Tiers Ensemble. If your feeling German BBQ, you can head over to Fette Sau (fat pig in German), where the owners of nearby bar Spuyten Duyvil have opened up this meat only restaurant serving up some of the best pork and beef in NYC. For drinks, Spuyten Duyvil is a beer lovers dream, with a selection from all over the world, friendly and knowledgeable bartenders and a neighborhood feel, it’s no wonder this place has been so successful. If you’re still ready for more, you must hit Union Pool, where there’s always a band playing, great DJs, and plenty of action.