Girls Take Stage the Riot Way

It was cold Saturday night, but not too cold to keep Death by Audio in Williamsburg from steaming up with a packed house of punk & indie rockers of all ages. I, among them, was re-living my days as a teenager when I went to shows in the mid to late nineties. "Not much has changed," I thought, noticing the sea of black attire, hoodies, fingerless gloves, great-hair-cut-but-not-clean-head, tattoo and piercing adorned lot. I mean, the cost at the door was still 5 bucks. Hell, I even bumped into a kid I once dated in my teens, who I was not surprised was still rocking this scene as guitarist of the headliner, The Measure.

But something was different. And it wasn't just that there was an equal amount of girls and guys in the audience to distinguish mid-nineties from 2008. Or the eerily familiar dress code. I mean, shit, even the dj played Jawbreaker in-between sets (which I happily sang along to in my head).

It was who performed: a powerful, all-girl band that rocked tightly orchestrated and invigorating guitar riffs, drum patterns and time signatures leaving the guys in the audience spell bound (taking note of the flawless and natural instrument control) and the girls inspired (and slightly turned on). I realized I had always wanted to see this in my youth--girls taking the stage and being completely comfortable doing so. As a musician who has performed across the nation with a variety of bands-an all girl one at that-I realize that life would have happened so much sooner if this was the window of my alternative, underground teen angst life.

Each Other's Mothers rocks. I was right in the front along with a bunch of girls bouncing and pushing--of course, into me--but staring at these super nice, geeky yet serious girls who wear rock star so casually. Maybe because they're just being real. The Mothers put on a show that is worth trekking long and far too. Reminds me of the days that I'd go see Erase Errata and come home to play music or blast songs from their set with my friends for hour-long dance parties on top of my bed.

As a musician and feminist who engages teen girls at the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls, it's not always clear how girls live the day to day. But going to this show and seeing my friends perform made me think that within all the same-same there's a lot of new. Teens are getting access to a whole new meaning of gender bending equality alongside the generation ahead of them. It doesn't matter that I'm not a teenager anymore, I can clearly see how freakin awesome this would be for any girl--or guy, for that matter.

It can't hurt having a much more curious and D-I-Y adept generation growing fast behind us "approaching thirty-somethings." Hell, a zine table had more attention then the makeshift bar at the show if that tells you anything. Maybe more punk and indie rock like the Mothers will open up the eager and desiring eyes of our youth to a new way of being, acting, and finding ourselves--and a lot earlier.

The fashion's the same as is the attitude and tiny micro groups within one intricately embroidered macro identity. But Riot grrrl in their hearts, the Mothers and their allies have nothing to prove when they take on the stage. They're meant to be there. Always were. As obvious as the tattoos and eye-wear that signifies "we're in."

"Change"

"Change" seems to be the word of the month. We hear it spoken from our neighbors and colleagues, produce it from our own tongues, and see it everywhere on a daily basis in print and media. Whether it be the most popular "Fundamental Change," climate change, presidential change, economic change, or change of season- together, these are times of change and we are all some how affected.

I've been so in the midst of change that I've neglected documenting it over the last month.

A friend of mine, Chris Henderson- a filmmaker, journalist, and arts services director has taken to the road traveling across the country with friend Graham Meriwether, independent documentary journalist, to document the changes Americans are facing and to discover what change they hope a new president to bring. They're stopping through 18 swing states over the course of 18 days to find out what core values Americans hold in common. Each day they create a short video portrait of an American community that reveals the issues that are influencing voters. Almost half way through, they've come across loyal republicans who for the first time will be voting democrat this election, conservatives who say they just don't want to change, and so many who feel that voting in this election is so crucially important and personal.

Here is their last video from Nevada:


Follow the rest of their trip through their blogs:
Red Blue Road Trip
Al Jazeera

Separately, my personal biggest change of late has been a move from Williamsburg Brooklyn to Fort Greene Brooklyn this past October 1st. Williamsburg served me well over the past 2+ years. We had great times and developed something special between us. I lived in S.burg amongst the Hasidim and through distant and sometimes rather up close observance learned about an old and extremely private culture I never expected to know about. I also lived in central Williamsburg amongst Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Italians, Polish, hipsters, artists, wanderers, trustfundees, students, the displaced, out of place, run out, vegans, yuppies, queers, bridge and tunnel tourists, musicians, the jaded, soul searchers, and so on. One could call it diverse, others would say that everyone looked the same. Nevertheless no one could say the burg isn't stimulating in one way or another, visually or otherwise. A short bike ride to work and all my favorite spots- El Beit espresso, McCarren pool parties, Brooklyn kickball, Bozu sushi, Cheese shop sandwiches, Gimme Coffee, Relish, Salvation Army, Sound Fix, etc. Lots to love. Lots to drive one crazy. It was certainly becoming stagnant for me and in times of change I chose more change.

Through great serendipitous occasion, a duplex apartment was found in a beautiful brownstone near Fort Greene Park and BAM. It has a respectably sizeable peaceful green garden and an interior that is layers of old Brooklyn character and charm.

The move in process has been slow but I'm extremely happy in my new place and excited to discover the new neighborhood and those adjacent.

More change to come I presume.
GO OBAMA!
Alaska's biggest newspaper endorses Obama/Biden : NPR

Boyskout

I've recently joined up with the band Boyskout as their new drummer. www.myspace.com/boyskout

Boyskout is a 5 piece indie rock band from San Fran, now based out of NYC/Brooklyn.
The last CD was recorded by Dave Schiffman who produced The Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Rage Against the Machine and before I joined, they played shows with Metric, The Killers, The Donnas, and Northern State.

We have a few shows coming up. I'd love to see those of you in the NYC area there!

Monday Jan 28 Fontana's
Friday Feb 15 Columbia University
Saturday Mar 1 Cake Shop (weekend of my bday)
Friday April 4 Pianos


All the best in the New Year!!

. .. ... . .. ...

fly high fat featherer.
fly over land dwellers..
poop on this city
...we are poop machine
poop splat on his head.
peck down you are fed..
peck poop poop fly
...fly high fat featherer

Star Bellied Sneetches! in Williamsburg??

Attention: Though I can not be sure, it appears that, Sylvester McMonkey McBean has finally arrived in our little town of Williamsburg.
As you can see below, the proof is in the photos. Undeniable Star-on/Star-off Machines.

What does this mean for the fashionistas, self proclaimed hipsters, Emphatically Non-hipsters, Hassidics, Puerto Ricans, yuppies, Polish, etc.?

How will we know "whether this one is that one or that one is this one
or which one is what one... or what one is who."

Will Hassidics soon be wearing skinny leg jeans and chucks?

Sept 25 thru Sept 30

Tuesday - went to a screening of Wes Andersons's new short at the Apple Store in Soho. Anderson, Jason Schwartzman, and Natalie Portman were all there for Q&A after.

note: the last 3 letters of the last names of the director and 2 stars of the short.

Thursday - Limewire roofdeck party. lots and lots of free booze

Friday - saw one of the worst movies I've ever seen, "The Contract." Then went to Karaoke at Trash Bar in w'burg. Shandi from America's Next top model was there. Apparently shes really big in the Karaoke scene. I didn't realize there was a "Karaoke scene." Then at 4:30 am successfully rode my bicycle while inebriated with my friend Meredith in the basket... I wish there was a photo of this. My camera is at the repair shop.

Saturday - went to the Marlins vs. Mets game at Shea Stadium with Matt. Marlins got creamed 13 - 0. Marlins got revenge though on sunday when they beat them 8-1 knocking them out of the playoffs.

Later, saw Wes Anderson's new movie, The Darjeeling Limited. It was by far the most visually stimulating film I have ever seen. Aesthetically beautiful. I may just go see it again.

Then, drove up to Connecticut to Pete's lakehouse. Camped, fished, came back.

Sunday - Kickball finals. Non-committals turned The Committals took the championship over Prison. The moon was bright, The night was madness.

Rilo Kiley at Webster Hall/ Why dont Indie Kids in NYC dance?

Went to the Rilo Kiley show this past Sunday at Webster Hall..
---missed the first band Art in Manila on Saddle Creek due to pre-concert beer consumption. ----caught the 2nd opener Jonathan something? was good, solid folky indie whatever songwriter but nothing excitingly unique to write home about... or blog about.

Rilo Kiley however was a phenomenal time. great show. beforehand I was really hoping they would play mostly old songs and few from Under the Blacklight, their new record. I listened to the album many many times trying to get into it. A few songs sorta grew on me but none of them were the rilo kiley i know and love.

However, after seeing/hearing them perform the new stuff live, I am now sold on the record. It makes sense to me now. No, it's not the much loved lyrical treasures Jenny Lewis typically pens but they are super fun live tunes with some pretty outstanding intricate musical subtleties if you listen closely.

They opened the show with "It's a Hit" and for the most part varied back and forth between new and old songs. It was a really fun set. My only complaint would be the usual lame new york city crowd of indie kids who are either afraid to move/dance or just refuse to for whatever reason. So my friend and I were the only ones dancing, at least that we could see anyway. I could never comprehend standing completely still to live music you really enjoy... Someone clue me in?

WHaTs New??

SEPTEMBER
-became marketing manager at galapagos art space in brooklyn.

-found a moped gang and rode along with 30 other moped-ers to coney island

-not playing music! Need to play music soon!! who wants to be in a band?

-Amanda moved back to Chicago. Got another new roomie, Jen

-going to see Rilo Kiley on Sunday, sept. 23 at webster hall

-kickball is over :( but it ended with a 'ball' playoffs still going on but half of our team went MIA so Brooklyn United did not advance in the playoffs.


-Lots of friends moved to NY. --- jason, all of ellis ashbrook, meredith, christine







AUGUST

-moved to a new place 1 mile from the old place. its a 3 bedroom townhouse in Williamsburg with a basement and outdoor space. awesome. still living with Nathan and Speckles(cat).

-got a new roomie, Amanda.

-went camping with matt and sarah

cinco de mayo

My Cinco de Mayo in Williamsburg this Saturday..

began with a moped ride from the East side to the South side, a quick nap, picked up a taco, then to my favorite little Spanish diner down the street for a Morir Sonando ("die dreaming"), a very tasty fresh squeezed orange juice beverage. I then took a walk on the Williamsburg bridge with my OJ, enjoyed the view and took a few photos. From there I hung out on a bench, took in the sun, and watched some local skateboarders. After too much of that I met up with my friend Matt. We walked down Bedford and stopped into the new Southside coffee shop, Oslo. I got a shot of Espresso. I read somewhere that if you really want to be a true coffee/espresso drinker then you shouldn't have milk after 11am. So no milk, no sugar... It was absolutely awful! Im not sure if it was the espresso or if I'm just not ready for straight up espresso yet. I think it was a bit of both.

So we continued along and arrived at Union Pool at about 5pm. In keeping with the cinco de mayo theme, we drank Sols. L Magazine was having a book release party there and thus had free chicken wings! We had our fill of wings and then headed out. It was getting chilly and Matt was sans hoodie so we walked over to a nearby thrift store. He ended up going with a blue and white striped track jacket over a red sweatshirt with duckies on it that said Nebraska! Very poor decision I think. Next stop was White Castle 2 doors down to use their restroom. I can't go to White Castle without having a burger and apparently Matt cant go without getting fries. So we ate again even though we'd just had free wings.

So I'd now traveled from E.Burg to S. Burg to Centralburg to E.burg again to then decide to take a trip to the Lower East Side and visit the Cake Shop for their 2nd anniversary. We caught the first band, who I'd heard a bit about before, Vampire Weekend. They're a relatively new NYC indie band from Columbia University. They were surprisingly very good, tight, unique sound with an abundance of very diverse influences, upbeat, and fun.

One would think we would call it a night from there... but instead we met up with my friend Louis. We left Cakeshop, I made a little sidewalk art on the way, hopped on the JMZ back over the river to S.burg. We met up with Jenny and some of her friends at Bembe for some Salsa dancing. We had some tequilla, got our dance on, and ended cinco de mayo... by then technically seis de mayo.

Hassids and a Movie

So as many of you know, I live in Williamsburg Brooklyn. If you haven't been here before, the sort of people that live here, generally fall in one of the 4H's: Hipster, Hispanic, Hoodlum, or Hassid. The area I live in is predominantly Hassidic. Now Hassidics I've come to observe are very private and extremely peculiar. The other day I was walking out of my apartment to go play music with some friends when two young Hassid girls, about 15yrs old stopped me on the sidewalk. They asked me if I could help them with their oven. They had very thick accents and I was very surprised they were speaking to me so I asked them to repeat. They said that they needed help with their oven on the fourth floor and emphasized that it was okay because they had an elevator. I was of course curious and they and their little brothers seemed harmless enough. So I took the elevator up and they took the stairs and met me on the fourth floor. They led me into their spotless apartment that looked un-lived in and directed me to the stove. Two of the gas burners were on high with nothing on the stovetop. The eldest girl motioned to the stove and asked me to simply turn off the 2 burners. I did as they asked, they thanked me and I left. I know they can't use electricity on the Sabbath I think but this was like a Wednesday so I don't know what it was all about. It of course had something to do with their religion. Whatever it was, they felt it so important that they follow this rule that they left their apartment unattended with gas burners on high putting all their belongings at risk of burning down and let a complete stranger, a gentile no less into their apartment.


On another note I saw the movie, Black Book, last night. The film, directed by Paul Verhoeven, who directed Robocop and Showgirls, was nothing at all like those movies, but rather was a World War II Resistance thriller/drama about a Jewish singer who fights both for survival and against the Nazis by seduction, cunning wit, and spy tactics. The movie had one of the most dense plots I'd seen in a while and I was intensely engaged from start to finish. Dutch-born Verhoeven also directed one of my favorite movies as a kid, Total Recall. This was his first return to the Dutch screen in over 20 years. With movie ticket prices in NYC so high, about $11-12 on average, I tend to pick and choose what movies I see in theaters rather sparingly with a bit of scrutiny. I found Black Book to be a very worthwhile 2hour escape from reality and money well spent.

Adventure! aquarium

Congrats to my friend Vicki for being accepted in the Masters program in Media, Culture, & Communication at NYU!


(medium: envelope, crayola markers, play-doh)

Hello. I am your cousin.

Last night I attended a very peculiar concert. My friend, who grew up on the Upper west side, had a cousin who was performing at a venue in the village. Her very very Jewish and slightly crazy family required that she attend. The music was upbeat Argentinian, Columbian, and Venezuelan type stuff that one might witness drunken tourists dancing to hotel poolside. Instead of hotel poolside they were playing on the stage at a basement bar of a diner type establishment. And instead of drunken dancers there were middle aged to elderly Jewish folk sitting politely at tables facing the stage, sipping their one cocktail or glass of wine that would probably be a bit too much for one evening. Between sets, I was sitting next to my friend when a small man of about 70 approached us. He grabbed her hand with both of his and did not let go for the entire length of conversation to follow. He said in a Russian/New Jersey Jewish accent. "Hello. I am your cousin. You have never met me." She responds slightly apprehensively but cheerful, "Hi, really you're my cousin? how come we havent met before?" He says "well, I came from Europe. While in Europe I wore your cousin Phil's Barmitzva suit." At this point I started laughing pretty hard, but tried as best as I could to restrain myself. The conversation continued and he further explained his connection to her and her family. I had a smile on my face for the rest of the evening and repeated aloud multiple times in my very best pseudo Russian New Jersey little Jewish old man accent, "Hello. I am your cousin. While in Europe, I wore your cousin Phil's Barmitzva suit."

Hoola Hoop Camouflage

Thought Bubble - "They'll never find me in this bowl of Cheerios"
Arrow - "ANGRY MOB OF HOOLA HOOPS"

Inspiration: A friend who is coming in town for the weekend said that she was going to hunt me down. I responded with "you can try but you may not succeed as I will be dressed in camouflage to blend in seamlessly with my surroundings like a tiny tan hoola hoop in a bowl of cheerios." I don't know where it came from... just popped into my head randomly. I found it so hilarious that I decided to translate it to cartoon after I got home last night from a few beers and pizza at Capone's.

Good Company & Turtles

ATTN BLOG READERS:

You are amongst good company. It has just come to my knowledge that NYC based producer/songwriter, Sam Hollander has been perusing this very blog on a regular basis. I know I say I'm blowin up, but this guys actually blowin up with a discog that includes tracks on the Snakes on a Plane Soundtrack, Gym Class Heroes, Boys Like Girls, Arrested Development, Earth Wind & Fire, AND the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turles movie that comes out this Friday! Keep an eye out for Sam on the rise and check out this trailer. Im siked, this movie is going to be dope!

TMNT Trailer

Home from SXSW

Im back in Brooklyn! Just flew back this morning at 6am. It's really great to be back. Haven't really slept in days but I had an awesome time in Austin. I saw sooooo many bands... A few new to me that blew me away, some old favs, some good friends, and of course some really horrible shit.

Here's some of what I ended up seeing. Pics, videos, and more detailed descriptions of the noteworthy shows to come soon.


Thursday: Tacks, the Boy Disaster, Blonde Redhead, The Hush Sound, Apollo Sunshine, The Little Ones, Mute Math, Melee, These Arms Are Snakes

Friday: Kidnapkin, Madi Diaz, Cold War Kids, Tilly and the Wall, St. Vincent, Margot & the Nuclear So & Sos, Via Audio, Gruf Rys,

Saturday: Pipettes, Apollo Sunshine, Buzzcocks, Via Audio, The Office, The Watson Twins, Tacks, the Boy Disaster, Tilly and the Wall


CELEB SITINGS - Tom Morello(Rage,Audioslave), Slash, Midlake, Wayne(Flaming Lips), Hanson drummer, Jamie Kennedy

SXSW 1st report

SXSW. WOW! I'm at a Best Western Hotel now. It's the last day of sxsw and the first moment I've had access to the internet. I plan to give a full report when I get back to NYC tomorrow but I thought I'd share just a few highlights.

Austin is really an amazing city. I can not believe how many bars and venues they have in one small area. It truly is the live music capitol of America. It really sucks that it happens to be in TEXAS! It's actually very surreal for me that I'm in Texas. I never thought I would have any reason to visit the epitome of red state suburbia. Nevertheless it's been a great time so far.

One band I saw last night absolutely blew me away. They were the best thing I've seen yet at SXSW and were an incredible pleasant surprise. They're called:

St. Vincent

I'll give a full description of them later. Im headed back to the craziness.

Willy Burg Characters

New York City, particularly Williamsburg, truly has its share of characters. In the midst of a rather uneventful weekend aside from getting way too trashed Friday night at Bembe and the East River Bar, and picking up some old school red Nikes at a thrift store for $15, I found myself encountering quite a few of these characters. I'd say probably about 5 in total, but here are three...

1. THE LONELY DIVE BAR DUMMY - a staggering unattractive fellow, drunk on 32oz beers served in styrofoam cups, approached my friends an I. In an attempt to initiate conversation he asked in complete sincerity without trying to be funny or ironic, "So... you come here often?" He entertained us so we kept going back and forth with him. He tried desperately to keep the wheels turning in his big intoxicated head to keep up the conversation. I asked him "So... what else you got??" He thought long and hard I assume, even though his stare seemed pretty vapid. He finally said that he knew three jokes. Of course I wanted to hear. He told 2 which I've forgotten now and then told the third.. "Would a warewolf always be a warewolf if it lived on the moon?" That, he said, was his best joke.

2. CRAZED GAS STATION ATTENDENT FROM STRANGE UNDISCERNABLE FOREIGN COUNTRY - I pulled up to a gas station to fill up my moped tank. i slid my card, prepaid $1.50 (small tank) and proceeded to fill up. $1.20 ended up being enough and I didn't care to get my change so I got ready to leave when the gas station attendant came out of his little gas office and asked me in a very heavy accent if I got a receipt. I figured he wanted to give me my change. I said I'd just hit the no receipt button because I didnt want one. He said "I need. I need receipt. you not alowed to touch!" So i said "excuse me im not alowed to touch what? I paid and Im leaving." He yelled, "where's proof? you no leave!? me - "sir. I dont know what you're talking about. I paid. Im leaving." Him - "NO!" It went back and forth like this for a a bit. He said stirnly "You NO go! I check computer. you stay!" I waited a moment to humor the very strange and now very heated man. He walked back into the little gas office, apparently checked the computer and waved me on to go. I went.

3. THE ARTIST/POET - met at a bar while with some friends. he wore tight dark expensive clothes. while others danced and drank, he sat in a dimly lit corner introspectively contemplating the heavy troubles of the world, his world. He worked hard to keep up a facade of deep mysteriousness but transformed out of his cloak of troubled artist into wide eyed horny obnoxious dude when the potential opportunity arose to see 2 girls kiss.

Good Friday

My last post was sort of on the negative side, so today I will share with you 10 good things in no particular order from my life this week:


1. MUD COFFEE. best coffee I've found in NYC thus far. You can find it in the big orange trucks at Astor Place and Union Sq. www.mudnyc.com

2. CARLEN ALTMAN. very funny comedian I saw perform last night. Her humor is refereshingly real and quirky. jokes are current and relavent. comes off very naturally and has cool shoes.
carlenaltman.blogspot.com

3. THE WESTERN CIVILIZATION - indie pop rock band from Houston. could quite possibly be the love child of Conor Oberst and Jenny Lewis. you cant not love them. you just cant.
myspace.com/thewesterncivilization

4. BEMBE - latin bar/club in williamsburg on S. 6th and Berry. atmosphere, music, drinks, location... all SUPERB! go there. tonight!! www.bembe.us

5. LAUNDRY BOARDING - hadnt done laundry in a little too long and the basket got a bit too heavy and cumbersome to carry 4 blocks to the laundry mat so i set it on the front of my skateboard, held on to the handles like reins, and rode that baby all the way there. only fell on my ass twice.

6. BOTTLE OPENER CARABINER - i lost my keys at a party in redhook, so i was looking to replace my carabiner and found this... the coolest invention ever: a carabiner/bottle opener/corkscrew! but i cant find it in the US. damnit
http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/lifestyle-home/bar-booze/carabiner-corkscrew/index.html

7. NYU MARKET SUSHI BAR - looks like your typical market but they have really fresh sushi for really cheap! it's on University & Waverly. at Washington Sq.

8. TRL - Gym Class Heroes was on trl this week. hearing myself on tv never seems to get old.

9. HOVERBOARD


10. WET CHICKENS

open bar...wack

I seem to get dragged very often these days to various CD release parties with the seemingly enticing persuasive tactic "there's going to be an open bar!" Most of the time the bar is so packed that it takes you forever to get a drink or the booze isn't so good. Nevertheless it's free so you take what you can get.

The other night I went to one of these CD release/open bar events at a club called LIT in the East Village. Maybe it's that I've been to one too many of these but I do believe that it was the WORST open bar ever. For my first blog ever, I will rant about this evening.

I arrived at the venue at about 10pm, said some hellos, shook some hands of new faces, listened to some blah music and waited around for an hour with a dry throat waiting for the promised open bar to commence. At the stroke of 11, I walked upstairs to the bar to quench my thirst. There was one very frustrated and pissed off, long haired, troubled rock and roll dude bartending and lots of petulant scenester drunks trying to get there hands on some free booze. I waited and waited at the bar. The open bar was limited to the most shitty excuse for vodka Ive ever tasted. I'm no vodka connoisseur by any means but i knew this particular brew was funked. To make things easy, since the people I was with wanted to mix their vodka vile with cranberry juice, i chose to do the same. So when the dirty haired tender of bar came near I quickly spurted out "3 vodka and crans please!" Finally after the very long wait to be served standing behind the posse of obnoxious pseudo ghetto naughty by nature/de la soul cross breeds, I held in my hand a kiddie-sized plastic cup filled about 3/4 of the way with glowing red liquid that would surely dye my insides a few shades brighter towards neon. No matter, I'd waited and I was looking forward to the first sip. I put my lips to the teeny stirring straw peeping out of the teeny cup and sucked in a mouthful of the concoction. Now i know i already told u about the barely palatable vodka, but if you could believe it, the cranberry juice, if you could call it that, was actually worse. It was like pure liquid sugar with a dash of cran-esque artificial flavoring that made me shake and shiver all over uncontrollably. If one wanted to train a very very young girl to ween off of an over concentrated Koolaid addiction and onto alcoholism, this particular drink might be a good one to start with. After a few sips i said out loud "awwww its like little Suzie's first mixed drink." This made me smile to think about alcoholic 7 year olds, which made things a bit better but overall in summary....

the open bar was wack!