On Repeat: Foster The People

A little MGMT & a dash of Miike Snow

On Repeat: Cut Copy

I've been dancing around in my apartment to this song nonstop.
This will be one hell of a live show.



Cut Copy's latest album, Zonoscope is out now.

Broken Bells, Spoon & Miike Snow

Tonight's the official launch of SXSW Music 2010.  And I have hardly an ounce of energy left--and it's only the first day.  Today we shot Seabear, Shadow Shadow Shade and Class Actress.  I saw Broken Bells last week but just had to see them again...and the rest of my crew was just as impressed.  After Spoon (I've never been a big fan), I was dragged to Miike Snow, and unbeknownst to me this band is right up my alley.  Can't wait to shoot them on Friday.

OK Go Does It Again

Lots of buzz on this one.  It defintiely beats the treadmill, and we film geeks love this because it's one take!  The song's not bad either, not bad at all.

"This Too Shall Pass"

New Vampire Weekend Video: "Giving Up The Gun"

Interesting cast.

Oh Trey

I forgot just how addicting you are. 

Oh how I hate hate hate Terminal 5...it was impossible to see and it was way too crowded and over sold. Why would you pick that venue Trey? But put me in a room with 95% men, the oh-so-adored trumpet playing Jennifer and her freakin' soulful blasting, echoing rendition of Zeppelin's "Black Dog," Dire Straits' "Sultan's of Swing," acoustic versions of "Wilson" and "Sample in a Jar," and a dash of "Gotta Jibboo"--and you've got me babe.

On Repeat: Florence and The Machine

Oh Florence, your Lungs is a MUST BUY!

"Cosmic Love"
"Dog Days Are Over"
"Blinding"
"Kiss With A Fist"

Juuuulian

Yes, of course the show was awesome the other week, and Julian was wearing lots 'o leather and using his sultry voice to wow the crowd at Terminal 5 (sigh). We made a bee-line to the center and found the few others that were dancing, and had a grand ole time, albeit short.

 

Get your Julian on.

Phrazes for the Young "11th Dimension"
Phrazes for the Young "Ludlow St"

(Shout out to Meidell for the video)

Hope For Haiti Now

BUY ON ITUNES!!!

'Nuff said.

Shivers.

Oprah, Lady GaGa & Haiti

Spectacular interview, and straight from the heart. Love the costumes and the fact that January 24th is Gaga For Helping Haiti Day.  So many celebrities are doing wonders right now.

I feel BLESSED to be alive.  Carpe Diem.

The Velvet Underground "After Hours"

Rad video.

On Repeat: Surfer Blood, The Drums

Went to Bowery last night and caught two bands fastly approaching recognition and stardom. I call Bowery my second home, although most of the time I'm showing up there with no ticket in hand, usually because I can't get my act together in time to buy tix or rarely know if I'll be in town. The venue was cluttered with A&R folks, models, hipsters--the creme de la creme of NY's seen & must be seen music scene, which is why of course I was turned away. I won't tell you how but SCORE I got in. Surfer Blood opened for The Drums, two completely different styles yet wonderful all the same. On heavy rotation starting now.

Surfer Blood, Astro Coast

From Florida, these youngin's are on the right track with great vocals and great energy.  They don't surf, but their tunes are catchy indie pop rock at its finest.  

"Take It Easy"

The Drums, Summertime!

As soon as these guys hit the stage it was as if we were transported back into Andy Warhol's Factory hangout with The Cure's first album on the record player.  I wanna get up and jump around on my bed when I watch this video.

"I Felt Stupid"

I Like Them Brits

Hello HotRats

Check em out tonight on Letterman for a taste.

Their videos are pretty dope, and I hope to catch their show at Bowery this Thursday.

Yup, I like what I hear so far...you can listen to more on their website.

Contra Is Here!

Stoked for release day. Fave Track "White Lies." Listen  to the whole album here.  Gracias VW!

Vampire Weekend was on Letterman (above) and Conan last night.  Is it just me or does Ezra seem to be lip synching?

Another Strokes Side Project

If you're a member of the Strokes and you haven't gone off solo on a side project, you're the odd man out. Julian Casablancas, the Strokes lead vocals & songwriter, has released "Phrazes for the Young," an album not Strokes-like at all.  In fact, if you didn't recognize Casablancas familiar voice you wouldn't make the connection at all.  I like the album, and kudos for exploring a new sound, but please, I'm dying for a new Strokes album!  I'm hoping the "recording" sign on your webpage is in fact true.

By the way, I'm digging the head-to-toe leather ensemble, and the girl in short shorts banging away in the back.

Don't want to leave the other boys out:

Little Joy, Little Joy

Albert Hammond Jr., Como Te Llama?

Nickel Eye, You and Everyone Else

On Repeat: Deer Tick

Deer Tick--the type of raw rock that wets my appetite so easily.  I saw this Providence bred band at sold-out Bowery Ballroom a few months ago and it seems they are still trying to break through the music scene with War Elephant, reminding me of Delta Spirit.  They are known to make appearances at SXSW, so I hope to see them there, if not film them for mtvU.  If this band pushes it a little further, and keep touring, I don't think they'll have any problem breaking through.  Their myspace page only has one tour date listed, but lucky for me, it's in NY at Terminal 5 on May 15th (with Dr. Dog).

NYE In Miami With Phish--Who Else?

Of course I spent New Years Eve at a concert (highly recommended), and there was nothing more perfect to end the year with than Phish.  I saw the last 2 nights of a 4 night run at the American Airlines arena in the breathtakingly beautiful city of Miami.  They did not disappoint.  The arena was similar to MSG, yet smaller, which made it perfect.  On both nights one extremely lucky phan was plucked from the audience and given a once in a life time opportunity to freakin' play on stage with the band, to their favorite song for that matter.  On NYE it was a drummer Trey was looking for, and when she was sitting behind Fishman's drum set, Trey asked her how long she played the drums, to which she replied "6 months."  And she was great!  The song?  Fluffhead...the audience went nuts.  I was also happy to hear "Shine a Light" and the encore, "Loving Cup," both favorite Rolling Stones songs of mine.  Right before midnight, "Party Time" was played, and at the stroke of midnight hundreds of various sized balloons and confetti were dropped and it was such a cool site to see.  The most exciting part of the night?  When Trey proclaimed "See you next summer!"  Woo-hoo!

My Top Classic Rock Albums

For those of you that don't know me, I'm a classic rock girl at heart.  It's the genre of music that I grew up on, what I lived and breathed before NYC, my inspiration for the music-filled life that I live now.  A few years ago, I was the type of person that mostly sought out "Greatest Hits," "Best of," "Top Singles" albums, figuring, what's the point of testing out all of an artist's albums if their greatest hits are supposedly all on one?  In truth, if you want to get to know an artist fast and decide whether you like them or not, test out their greatest hits album.  Every classic band has one.  But if you truly want to get to know an artist, enjoy an album as a sum of its parts the way it was meant to be, lose yourself in the moment in time it was written and recorded, question the lyrics and the order of tracks; you can really appreciate an album in it's entirety and see an artist in a pleasingly new light.  If you're willing to go all out--listen to the hard cold record.

There are an endless amount of albums I have yet to discover, but here, a few of my most cherished.

The Rolling Stones, Sticky Fingers, Let it Bleed, Exile On Main St and Beggars Banquet

David Bowie, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Starman

The Doors, Morrison Hotel and Waiting for the Sun

George Harrison, All Things Must Pass

The Velvet Underground, The Velvet Underground & Nico

The Who, Live at Leeds

Led Zeppelin, Houses of the Holy and Led Zeppelin III

The Beatles, Abbey Road

Bob Dylan, Blood on the Tracks

Jimi Hendrix, Are You Experienced?

Cat Stevens, Footsteps in the Dark

Paul Simon, Graceland

Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon and Animals

The Allman Brothers Band, An Evening with The Allman Brothers

Eric Clapton, 461 Ocean Boulevard

The Band, The Band

Jethro Tull, Aqualung

Lynyrd Skynyrd, Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd

Bob Marley & The Wailers, Exodus

The Grateful Dead, American Beauty and Workingman's Dead

Carol King, Tapestry

Rush, Moving Pictures

The Police, Outlandos d'Amour

Steely Dan, Can't Buy a Thrill

The Beach Boys, Pet Sounds

Yes, The Yes Album

On Repeat: Tegan & Sara, "Sainthood"

Another excellent album by quirky sister duo Tegan & Sara.  For a taste, check out my favorite tracks, "On Directing" and "The Cure."  They also have some pretty cute merch!

Inspiring Commercials

Lately I've been digging the Palm Pixi (featuring Passion Pit's, "Sleepyhead") and Levi's (featuring Walt Whitman) commercials. I'm usually constantly t-voing through any and all commercials, but these I actually stop and watch. It's rare when a 30 second spot can move you, and powerfully enough so to grab your attention in this day and age! I've also included a Levi's re-do w/ an MGMT "Time To Pretend" soundtrack that I thought was pretty cool.