The Definitive Essay on Hipsters or How I Learned to Stop Worrying And Embrace Being a Vintage-Head Who Likes Certain Yuppies

So for a long time I really liked the hipsters. I really did. The music they flock to is pretty much the bread and butter of this blog, and the girls are cute. But I've recently had to directly interact with a couple of them and it's not a pleasant experience. They are incapable of communicating. The notion of socializing seems to freak them out. And they are absolutely, as a rule, unfriendly, if only because they don't expect to have to communicate. An out of town pal of mine took his virginal daylight walk down Bedford Ave around N 7th this past June and he asked, "is this some kind of weird social experiment?" Another friend of mine - one who lives among them and the native Poles in Greenpoint - pointed out that these were the kids who were the freaks and losers in suburbia and that rather than make the effort to be better at communication and general socializing like us urbanite freaks and losers, they chose to crowd around each other, develop a needlessly overworked fashion style in order to stand out, and then devolve into vacuous ninnies.

What kills me is the years-long cool factor of eye glasses and vintage clothing. It made me think they're all a bunch of nerds. They're not! They're too stupid to be nerds! They just co-opted the look! The idea of a Utopian world of hot, smart people seemed to be at our grasps, only for us to find that it was a facade. Dumb, pretty people just figured out a way to look smart, not be smart.

But what's really triggered my contempt is the rise of the keffiyeh. I became really bothered by this fashion trend of Palestinian resistance scarves for two reasons: 1) the use of scarves in the summer time because it's "cool" and 2) either the blatant association with the imagery or the lack of information in regards to said imagery. It's not a question of whether one agrees with any or all of the dimensions of the Palestinian cause. It's a question of the motivation behind it. How many of these vapid morons have actually taken the time to understand the symbolism and how many of them have given deep thought to the merits and demerits of the cause (see the Che shirt phenomenon)? Though I am by no means an "Israel is right no matter what" kind of fool, I am heartened by the rise of Israeli Defense Force shirts in the scene as the Mideast conflict plays itself out in the hipsterverse. Of course, the fear is that some of these response-wearers are themselves uninformed. But someone had to start wearing it out of substance. They had to. Either way, the fashionistas seem to have broken down into civil war, which is in and of itself maddening as it is fascinating.

A month ago, the Times wrote a piece about the end of McCarren Park Pool as a venue and the fact that the writer could not avoid pointing out the little quirks about these strange people is hilarious. It is one of the best pieces on hipsters I have ever read. In a follow-up, the Times wrote yesterday on the Sonic Youth finale, and they hilariously wrote that a hipster asked to be off the record on how they are deliberate about their look (that's a no-no to admit) but the writer also erroneously described Craig Finn as a hipster (he's not, he's a regular guy with glasses who's too literary and too normal to be a full-on hipster)! So there are a couple of examples of the so-strange-one-can't-be-objective-about-it hipsterverse.

There are those out there who will defend the hipsters as those who keep the Indie and cutting edge music and art scenes alive with their money and their scenester-ism. This is a valid point. And for a long time I would even go so far as to champion the hipsters over the boring yuppies who gentrify everything to the point of excess, leaving New York too expensive for the rest of us. But the yuppies can communicate. The yuppies can have conversations. The yuppies don't like to hoard their culture, they like to sprinkle it around (though they do like to hoard the money, which can be a problem if you're into the whole progressive communal thing). And the yuppies can provide the very funds that the hipsters do. In fact, as the yuppies move into the hipster neighborhoods, they've come to adopt a lot of the hipster look - creating some disturbing test-tube-like hybrids known as the "Yipster".

I am working on a theory to delineate people like me from the hipsters. The working label is "vintage-head". I appreciate the elements behind some of the hipster look. Turning-back-the-fashion-clock is truly the way to go. But one can be a vintage-head without being an anti-social, cliquish, spoiled brat. It is simply an appreciation for the finer things in past lives, to make a new pastiche in the modern world.

At one McCarren show I attended this summer, I met who I thought was the First Nice Hipster. In fact, she turned out to be a yipster (I figured it out because she looked the part of the hipster but had only heard of bands like the Black Lips and the Hold Steady; if she was a true hipster she'd have been well-versed in such matters, and she wouldn't have been talking to random, friendly people in the first place). And because this girl was so nice, and friendly, and social, she smashed the stereotype of the arrogant yuppie for me. And frankly, I've been meeting some very nice yuppies this summer and over the year past. And I get along with them a lot better than I do with the hipsters. So in conclusion, the Love of the Hipsters is Dead. Long Live the Vintage-Heads and Their Friends in the Yuppie/Yipster Community. May we live together in harmony and may we even intermingle and have Vintage-Yuppie/Yipster babies. And may we take back the hot-nerd look. And above all, may we be able to carry on a nice conversation. Take that you lousy hipsters! Now get me my mocha latte! And do it on the quick before I blow my lid and throw my fedora at you, see?!

(Please note the possibility that the "vintage-head" theory may a distraction from the realization that this writer may just be a plain ol' yuppie who likes fedoras and bad 1940's movie talk, and has been rejected and dejected by hipsters, and doesn't want to own up to it. If this turns out to be the case, and the writer is called on it, please see the upcoming essay "Why All Yuppies, Hipsters, Yipsters, and Vintage-Heads Can Rally Together Against the Hated Hippies".)

The Raconteurs; The BlackLips @ Terminal 5

The Raconteurs; The Black Lips
@ Terminal 5
New York, NY - May 31, 2008

Is it me? Maybe it's me. Sure, the new record is one bit of awful but why should that affect the live show? These are the Raconteurs after all, this is Jack White after all. Whether it did or not, it was bad. Bad bad. All those little things that signify a Jack White show - the between-song pounding, the ins and outs and ins again of songs, etc etc was annoying. They even looked annoying. Obviously, the venue didn't help with its stifled sound and ridiculous set up.

The Black Lips are the most overrated band in America. They cannot play. And not in that punk aesthetic sort of way. They just can't play. Their songs that sound good on record still sound good live but we're talking about a handful of songs like "Bad Kids", "Oh Katrina", and "Make It". Otherwise, they are pretty damn bad.

Maybe it's me.

Dirtbombs at Golden Plains; Black Lips at Other Music

Performance of "Underdog"



The Dirtbombs' session at Other Music will premiere on June 27th.
Past recorded sessions include:
White Williams
Richard Hawley
Celebration
No Age
St. Vincent

Dream Ticket: The Raconteurs and the Black Lips

Well...is it really a dream ticket? The Black Lips, much beloved by the hipsterverse for the last year, really only have about 4 or 5 good songs and the rest is wasted by their sloppiness and general lack of class. The Raconteurs are of course the Raconteurs but just a couple posts below it was established just how yucky the new LP is. And the show is at Terminal 5, the place to be that also happens to have awful acoustics. So really...dream ticket?

Yeah dream ticket. Jack White is going to wail on the guitar. The Lips are going to have fun. The crowd should have fun. Dream ticket it is.

Terminal 5, May 30

Update: Dream Ticket? No. 40 dollars? 40 dollars (pre-fees mind you) to see the Raconteurs? At Terminal 5? Are you kidding me?

September 2007 Concert Calendar Highlights

September is packed tighter than a train in India so here are just a few highlights and remember to check the calendar to get all the listings:

-New York legends Dinosaur Jr. play Webster Hall this Monday.

-New York legend Patti Smith christens the Music Hall of Williamsburg on Tuesday.

-Peter, Bjorn, and John play Maxwell's one night next week and Roseland Ballroom the next night.

-Saturday September 8th is particularly notable:

• Modest Mouse at McCarren
• Vampire Weekend at the Music Hall
• The Ditty Bops playing two shows at Irving
  

-Clap Your Hands Say Yeah resume their touring with a show at the Music Hall on the 10th.

-The Noisettes come back to town for a couple of shows the weekend of the 15th and 16th and Apples in Stereo will be playing two shows spread out over almost a week starting that weekend.

-The week of the 17th has several free shows at 7 World Trade Center including a double bill of the Hold Steady and Old 97's as well as M. Ward and Nick Lowe.

-The Black Lips play the Bowery and the Music Hall that same week.

-Friday the 21st is a killer night:

• Metric at Webster Hall
• Heavy Trash at Luna Lounge
• Les Savy Fav at the Music Hall
• The Subway Band at Lucky Cat

-Rilo Kiley, despite their new album being hated, have sold out two shows at Webster Hall the weekend of the 22nd.

-Okkvervil River play the suddenly very good Webster Hall on Friday the 28th.

-There are also shows in September featuring the Arctic Monkeys, Joseph Arthur, Cheater Slicks, The Frames, Holly Golightly, Interpol & Cat Power, Nellie McKay, Devendra Banheart, SCOTS, Kaiser Chiefs, Iron & Wine, Animal Collective, localheads the Bamboo Kids and Star Spangles, and many many more.

Black Lips on Fair Game; Cat Power Opens for Interpol?

Those poor Black Lips...will they ever get a blog post to call their own?

The cleaned-up boys (though I bet they still don't look bathed) played a smashing set on the cutest show on radio, Fair Game with Faith Sailie. The boys talk about their trip to Israel. When the Vice Records video log of that adventure is up, it'll be posted here. In the meantime...

Cat Power is opening for Interpol. That's just not right. This is not a judgment on Interpol's quality or even a question of whether they musically fit together (they don't really). It's just a question of status. Is Interpol really bigger than Cat Power? Really?

Black Lips on British TV; Ryan Adams's Fridge

The Black Lips appeared on ArtRocker TV in preparation for their trip to Israel (that's right, they went to Israel).

Are the Black Lips selling out? Or are they just soaring their way to rock n roll stardom? Are they really even THAT good? Will these questions be answered on this blog? Stay tuned...

And for no related reason, the Mad Hatter Ryan Adams has a listing of the contents of his New York City fridge. His antics aside, he's out of my good graces with his defense of Domino's. Consider his New York privileges revoked, and that a death wish (or as the believers call it, a "Fatwa") be placed upon his round head.

2006: The Year In Music

Before we get into it, let me warn you that this is, like pretty much all lists, a grossly uninformed and limited view of pop and rock music. And in comparison to previous years, I don't personally feel satisfied with the amount of music I have heard by which to judge these categories. So take everything with a grain of salt and the notion that this is the opinion of one rock n roll fan and the music he has heard, and not a music critic instruction manual in what was good in music in 2006:

Best Artist With A New Album
Josh Ritter – The Animal Years

If only because this is a classically perfect album. It's almost too good and mechanically so. Every song is a melodic radio friendly bit of singer-songwriter pop. And yet this kind of music doesn't make a dent in the charts anymore. And although garage rock and blues are arguably my favorite genre of music, this is the third year in a row that an undeniably non-garage rock record wins. Blanche won 2 years ago and the Decemberists won last year, indicating that it takes something special and different to stand-out, even if, as in the case of Ritter, sounding different means sounding so predictable. Not to mention, The Animal Years wins by eeking out other albums that were near-perfect and split the difference. Listen to some stuff here.

Runner-Ups:
Bob Dylan – Modern Times

At the top of many other lists this year (and shockingly shun by the Grammys), the legendary Dylan's new record is one of many albums this year that are half-perfect and half-flawed. Like many other records, it peters out with some filler but what's good about it is so good that it is still part of the Top Albums of the Year. See the video for "Thunder on the Mountain" below.

The Black Keys – Magic Potion

Like the Dylan record, what's great on this record is great enough but it sort of weakens out as it goes on. Not to mention, trying to follow up Rubber Factory is like God trying to show up...well...Dylan. Here's the video for "Your Touch".

The Changes – Today Is Tonight

A sharp, sudden, and stylish debut from these pop-rockers out of Chicago. Jingle-jangle all the way. Listen.

The Decemberists – The Crane Wife

After having last year's Best Album with Picaresque, it was going to be hard for the Decemberists to match it completely just one year later. They almost pulled it off with a handful of solid tracks and a couple of shocking departures but all together it's a bit too much to take in at once. Plus, it's way too derivative of Pink Floyd, ELP, and Talking Heads at different times, and even as the Decemberists do the homages well, they're above it. But still...a fine record to remember the year by. Expect the Decemberists to stick around a long time, if they choose to do so. Now how about some Colbert-inflamed "Valencia"?!

The Flaming Lips – At War With The Mystics

By Lips standards, this is an eclectic record filled with nice twists and turns. No Flaming Lips record is a complete masterpiece (though The Soft Bulletin came closest) but this album held on from its spring release to remain a top entry. Scroll down below in the video section for the "Yeah Yeah Yeah Song".

James Hunter – People Gonna Talk

I first heard James Hunter on Dave Raven's Raven N Blues podcast and it turned out he was getting help from some big time stars, Starbucks, and Virgin Records Stores. So he was stuck in my head. The second coming of Sam Cooke provided the most lighthearted and pleasant record of the year. Listen to some of the stuff here.

Mondo Topless – Take It Slow

The best garage rock record of the year, Philadelphia's Mondo Topless takes too long to put out new albums but if consistency requires big lapses of time, then let them do what they want. Listen.

The Raconteurs – Broken Boy Soldiers

Yeah yeah yeah yeah, I know. How could the official band of the Blue Republic blog not have the Album of the Year? In all honesty, it would be a little unfair. The Raconteurs were not the only band around in 2006. That's obvious. And if I have to get technical, let's just say "Call It A Day" cost them the victory. They should have put the live version of it on the record and we'd have a different story. My Baby's on the "Level".

M. Ward – Post-War

M. Ward has yet to make an album I completely love from beginning to end, but he gets better every time and he's become of the most endearing authentic artists out there. Listen to some tunes.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Show Your Bones

For most of the year, it was probable that the YYY's third album would shock the world and be the Best Album of the Year. It was tough not giving it to this unique and important (band-wise) record which showed the trio could shift their sound without changing their aesthetic. See the videos for "Gold Lion" and "Turn Into" below.


Best Song/Single Released by Band , Group, or Duo

TV on the Radio – “Wolf Like Me”

Usually I break this category down into three winners but this year there was almost no contest. The true number 1 - and certainly one of the best singles of this decade - is TV on the Radio's "Wolf Like Me". It's everything that experimental rock n roll should be. Their albums remain too much for my taste but I appreciate where they are coming from and what they are trying to accomplish and producing songs like this certainly make that possible. Listen here and see their Letterman performance here.

Blanche – “What This Town Needs”

Oh boy - here they are again. 2 years after winning it all, Blanche is back. Those of you who thought I shilled for the Raconteurs (and for that matter, the Dirtbombs)...just wait till 2007 when the full Blanche lp is released! This sneak preview, released off an October EP, demonstrates that Blanche is going down true rock n roll paths on their continuing unique road. Listen.

The Raconteurs – “Broken Boy Soldier”

Yep, here they are. But it can't be helped. By the sheer technicality of releasing this mostly-title track as a single at the end of the year, the Racs sneak into the winners circle. But they deserve it. It's Led Zeppelin, Decemberists, White Stripes all in one and all at their finest moments. Scroll down to the video category to check it out.

Runner-ups:
The Black Lips – “Oh Katrina”

Atlanta's Black Lips are fast becoming a band that when they're good, they're good and when they're not good, they're not good. "Oh Katrina" is pure good. Hookish, garage-ish, fun-ish. Good. Google search - find it.

Electric Six – “I Buy The Drugs”

Switzerland may have been an overall bust, and even the live show slacked off at least one night, but E6 can still put out the singles that ought to be hits. Here's the video and here's hoping they pull out all the stops on New Year's Eve at Maxwell's.

The Flaming Lips - “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song”

See below.

Gnarls Barkley – "Crazy"

It had to be on here. It was that good. And that's the end of it. The video.

The Soledad Brothers – “Good Feeling”

They came, they saw, they broke up. But they left this shoulda-beena-classic behind. See the video below.

The Strokes – “You Only Live Once”

Last year's First Impressions of Earth came out too late to matter last year and had too much filler to be considered this year but the band wisely released the opener as a single. It's the best song on the album. the video.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Gold Lion”

The video.

Best Song/Single Released by a Female Artist
Jenny Lewis (w/the Watson Twins) – “Rise Up With Fists!!!”

No contest this year. No female-sung song stuck in my head quite like this one. See the video below.

Runner-ups:
Cat Power – “The Greatest”

Chan Marshall gets better all the time and less of a secret each time at that.

Neko Case – “Margaret vs. Pauline”

Neko's voice is one of the best in the world and she shows it off on this diddy from Fox Confessor Brings The Flood. Watch

Best Song/Single Released by a Male Artist
M. Ward – “Right In The Head”

How did M. Ward fend off Bob Dylan and the album-winning Ritter? By combining rock, country, folk, and pop into one haunting little song that's how. Watch.

Runner-ups:
Bob Dylan – “Thunder on the Mountain”

Nothing was finer on Modern Times than this opening track. The video.

Josh Ritter – “Girl In The War”

Barely losing to M. Ward in this category, it's the best song on the best album. Listen again.

James Hunter – “I’ll Walk Away”

Listen to this episode of Raven N The Blues to hear it.

Best New Artist
The Changes

An impressive combo of a great live show with a solid debut album is all it took for these boys to win it.

Runner-ups:
James Hunter

Did I already mention he's the second coming of Sam Cooke?

Les Sans Culottes

The live show says it all. So much fun. Listen.

Best Live Act
The Dirtbombs

Winning it outright 2 years ago, and sharing the title with about two dozen bands last year, the Dirtbombs sieze it outright again this year. No one does it better. No one. Listen to the live "Missionary Man" on the greatest MySpace page in the world. Watch something.

Runner-ups:
The Changes

You'll want to date Molly Ringwald after listening to this band live. Maybe.

The Decemberists

Colin Meloy remains the great frontman and the band remains a killer live show. Watch.

Electric Six

Yes they had one sour show but they are still E6 and they are still better than you on your best day. Watch.

Les Sans Culottes

If you see them live, request "Les Enfants Terrible". But here's "Ecole De Merde" in the meantime.

The Mooney Suzuki

I caught the Suzuki three times this year in three radically different stages. No bass player, a brand new bass player, and finally, a working band. I don't know how the next album will turn out, but live-wise they're getting it back together. A taste.

Mondo Topless

The best way to appreciate the Topless is to see them live. Give them a beer!

Pas/Cal

Not your typical Detroit band, Pas/Cal stays outside the box with their own brand of pop. Listen. Watch (kind of - the idiot cameraman is an idiot friend of mine).

The Raconteurs

Despite breaking the single-year record for most times I've seen an act live, the Racs came up just short in this category too. And they did so if only because it's impossible to best the Dirtbombs and because it was more interesting seeing them perfect their sound each time they played. The Raconteurs of April were good but they were not the Raconteurs of September, who were flawless. Also, it helps to have the world's greatest living rock n roll guitarist in your band. Nothing beats "Headin' For The Texas Border".

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Sexy sexy nights out thanks to YYY. Believe it.

Best Music Video
The Raconteurs – “Broken Boy Soldier”
If only for the cannon-firing squirrel, here's the winner.
Plus, for all the non-stop attention I gave them, they deserved more than just a co-win for Best Single and coming in second in two other categories.

Runner-ups:
The Flaming Lips - “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song”
Why is Wayne Coyne the goddamned greatest?

Jenny Lewis (w/the Watson Twins) – “Rise Up With Fists!!!”
Dang cute.

The Soledad Brothers – “Good Feeling”
The band put together this one official video, filled with friendly cameos (including the one and only Dan Miller). A fond farewell to some good time guys.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Turn Into”
As intoxicating as the song.

Official CMJ Music Marathon Schedule

First listen to this and read this and this.

CMJ Music Marathon Tue 10/31 - Sat 11/4

Tuesday October 31

The Black Hollies - Lincoln Center Day Stage

Medeski, Martin, & Wood - Hammerstein Ballroom

The Cardigans; Matt Nathanson - Knitting Factory

Birdmonster - Pianos

Wednesday November 1

Steve Earle; Laura Cantrell - Southpaw

Tapes N' Tapes; Cold War Kids; Dr. Dog; Elvis Perkins; What Made Milwaukee Famous - Bowery Ballroom

The Giraffes - Studio B

Magnolia Electric Company - Northsix

Someone Still Loves Your Boris Yeltsin - Pianos

The Mugs - Magnetic Field

Thunderbirds Are Now - Pianos (early)

Thunderbirds Are Now; Tokyo Police Club; Harlem Shakes - Galapagos

The Slits - Knitting Factory

Rooney - Irving Plaza

Dr. Dog, Jonny Lives - Lincoln Center Day Stage

Tigers and Monkeys - Fontana's

Thursday November 2

The Slits - Maxwell's

Blue Cheer; Moon & Moon - Knitting Factory

Heavy Trash - Pianos (early show)

The Black Lips; Dirty on Purpose - Sin-é

Tralala - Rebel

The Shins; The Thermals; The Elected - Bowery Ballroom

Forward Russia - Mercury Lounge

The Flesh - Midway

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin; Headlights - Europa

The French Kicks; Thunderbirds Are Now; Tokyo Police Club - Studio B

Silversun Pickups - Pianos

Jonny Lives - Crash Mansion

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Lincoln Center Day Stage

Oakley Hall - Tonic

Hot Chip - Webster Hall

Friday November 3

The Decemberists - Hammerstein Ballroom

The Black Keys; The Black Angels - Nokia Theater

Albert Hammond Jr; Tokyo Police Club - Mercury Lounge

The Black Hollies - Cake Shop

George Clinton; Kid Congo - Crash Mansion

SSM - R&R (9:30AM show)

The Secret Machines - Warsaw

The Starlite Desperation - Lit Lounge

The Grates - Bowery Ballroom

Architecture in Helsinki - Irving Plaza

Thunderbirds Are Now - Pianos

Deerhoof; Mary Timoney - Hiro Ballroom

Palomar - The Delancey

Saturday November 4

The Mooney Suzuki; The Dansettes - Rebel

Scott H. Biram; Bobby Bare Jr (4PM show) - Union Pool

The Fall - Hiro Ballroom

The Secret Machines - Warsaw

Cody Chestnutt - Canal Room

Shooter Jennings; Oakley Hall; The Watson Twins - Irving Plaza

The French Kicks; Bobby Bare Jr. - Mercury Lounge

Silversun Pickups; Tokyo Police Club; Elvis Perkins - The Annex

Man Exposes Himself to Underage Girls: The Black Lips and Be Your Own Pet

Be Your Own Pet; The Black Lips; Imaginary Icons
@Southpaw
Brooklyn, NY - September 29, 2006

A night of hard rock n roll. BYOP's lead singer, Jemina Pearl, seemed quite disinterested in performing, and gimmick or not, I don't like that. Especially considering that when I saw this band in February, Jemina was rocking out on stage, having a great time. The boys in the band are getting quite good at their instruments and show potential to expand their musical horizons should they ever choose to do so.
The Black Lips have really defined themselves by now as a band that plays good songs badly. Songs like "Oh Katrina" really showcase the band's talents as a pure rock n roll band but their insistance on playing most of their songs out of tune and to distract everyone with gimmicks continues to hinder them. That being said though, if they have fun with it and their fans love it then so what. I could personally do without the smoke machine, the flashing lights, the spitting, the vomiting, the peeing, and the penis exposure but their fans seem to dig it. The underage girls who populated the crowd really seemed to love all that kind of stuff but considering that the leader of the underage girls in the crowd was Jemina Pearl, I guess it doesn't matter or mean anything.
Opening act Imaginary Icons are a straight up garage punk band with the successful ability to have all their songs stand out from each other. Led by Tom Dash, would you expect anything without substance? I think not.

AYE CAPTAIN! The Dirtbombs Take A Short Sea Voyage

The Dirtbombs; The Dansettes; The Demands
@ Maxwell's
Hoboken, NJ - July 29, 2006

The night before the Dirtbombs set sail on a cruise off the island of Manhattan, they played at the old Maxwell's stomping grounds and dusted off old chestnuts like "Little Miss Chocolate Syrup", "Stuck Under My Shoe", and "I Can't Stop Thinking About It". It couldn't have been better (except for the confusion that led to no encore but this was made up for, the next night).
Openers The Dansettes were a straight-up Motown soul revival party band. But you should have known that by now. The Demands were another straight-up band, this time pure punk rock n roll. Excellent opener.

The Dirtbombs
@ Rocks Off Concert Cruise
New York, NY - July 30, 2006

Two full sets. That's right - two full sets. With food on board. And the Statue of Liberty and the New York skyline around us. Highlights included "Shake Shivaree", "If You Want", "I Want Need Love You ", all the usual, and covers "Missionary Man", "War Pigs", and "Oh Katrina" (the new great song from the Black Lips). They also did Brian Eno's "Baby's on Fire". Also per usual, they just about entirely trashed their instruments. All that was missing was a couple of captain's hats and some pirate talk.

Blue Republic's My Space Band of the Week: The Black Lips

Atlanta's Black Lips have been one of the fastest rising bands in underground garage rock. These grimey, noisy psychadelic throwbacks have done major tours with the King Khan & BBQ Show and the Dirtbombs. They recently opened up for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs .

Check out a live clip of the band on my page, before heading to the official page.

Date With Destiny?

Yeah Yeah Yeahs; The Dirtbombs; The Black Lips
@Roseland Ballroom
New York, NY – May 3, 2006

I hadn’t expected on going to this show until by dumb luck (and frustration) I found out that the Dirtbombs had suddenly been added to the bill and had played the night before and were playing again. My girlfriend and I were able to score tickets and we went. The YYY’s were a little slower paced at times than they were at the Bowery in February but for the most part they had the same mesmerizing set full of musical lusciousness and visceral energy. Sometimes the new music is so sexual it isn’t funny. They doled out “Pin” and “Y Control” again and finished off the show with “Date With the Night”, but again focused on the new material, which has proven to be one of the best albums of the year. “Phenomena”, “Honeybear” and the single “Gold Lion” are absolutely fantastic songs.
So how were the Dirtbombs? As usual they were the best. There is no other word for it…the best. It was awkward seeing them play in such a large venue (the loud but sparse cheers the band received upon coming on stage prompted Mick Collins to say “Thanks for knowing who we are”). We had balcony seats, however, so it was also a nice change to be able to visually take in the entire band as a whole (and we were treated to Ben Blackwell doing a headstand while playing the drums for our troubles). It was also different to hear the band from enough distance as to not have ringing ears by set’s end.
The Black Lips – who I finally was able to see a full set of – started off with a rocking song that recalled twangy country 60’s rock as done by garage bands but the rest of their set was an ode to the 13th Floor Elevators, case closed. That’s not necessarily a bad thing however.

The sound is bad and my stupid "woooo" is picked up towards the end, but here is a visual presentation of what it's like during a Dirtbombs show:


A taste of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs:


(videos by Roxxan H)

May: Easy Like Sunday Morning All Month Long

It seems like May is a relatively quiet month. After a packed first four months of the year, it seems that people want to spend more time in the increasingly nice weather than in the rock clubs. Thats great but dont forget to catch some shows, and dont forget that shows are always added as the days and weeks go on.

The month kicks off as it should on the first. Aqualung is playing the Bowery Ballroom tonight. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs return to the New York stage since their pair of Bowery shows in February with two shows starting tomorrow night at the Roseland. The Black Lips will be opening up it may be the biggest crowd the Lips have ever played for.

On Sunday, the Bamboo Kids play Maxwells while the Brian Jonestown Massacre play Webster Hall a week from tomorrow. Friday May 12th is a huge night, the biggest of the month and its almost all happening in Brooklyn: Elvis Costello will be playing BAM, the Mooney Suzuki will be playing Southpaw, and the Fleshtones will be playing Magnetic Field. Anyone left should go see the White Rose Movement at the Bowery. The next night is all about the Yarrows at the Parkside Lounge.

Elefant will be playing Webster Hall on Wed May 17th while Art Brut plays two nights the Knitting Factory starting the same night (with rumors of We Are Scientists opening up). Art Brut just played 3 shows in NYC in April and here they are again. Maybe in June theyll take up residence at Madison Square Garden and try and beat Billy Joels record before Madonna does. The third week in May ends in legendary fashion with two nights of Television's Tom Verlaine at the Bowery. But that weekend will be another packed one: The Hard Lessons return to their Brooklyn Home-Away-From-Home, the Trash Bar, that Friday, while The Woggles play Magnetic Field on Saturday, and The National play Webster Hall on Sunday.

Webster Hall is the busiest venue this month by far, wrapping up May with Gnarls Barkley making their US debut the night after the National, and the Walkmen playing on Wednesday May 24th. In between, go catch Langhorne Slim at the Knitting Factory.

More gigs will pop-up and then it will be June, which has already shaped up as being twice if not three times as busy as May. So take a breath while you can because summer is coming and there wont be any slowing down after that.

March: In Like A Lion, Out Like A Lion

Ok so I missed a couple days. Sue me. All I missed was a Strokes show and a Belle & Sebastien show and a Jonny Lives show....yeah, ok.

But that's March. It is jam-packed, chocked-full, and other annoying descriptions worth of gigs.

Start the month off right on a Friday anyway, I say. And we pick up where we left off...The Strokes and Eagles of Death Metal play the Hammerstein Ballroom tonight and tomorrow night while Belle & Sebastien wrap up their stand at the Nokia Theater tonight. Both shows are sold out (which is ok, since moshing assholes have crashed the Strokes gigs), but have no fear: Les Sans Culottes is back at Southpaw tonight, and the Mooney Suzuki will finally play at the Annex tomorrow night for the Tiswas party. Sunday night is Oscar night but if you feel like doing something, go see the Misteriosos at Sin-é or Curtis Eller at the Living Room.

The local acts have a field day starting next week: Jonny Lives is a local pop rocker who basically never stops performing so you have no excuse to not go (unless my word of praise means shit to you, then I understand). Next week, Tuesday, he's at Southpaw, then back there 2 weeks later. Then a week after that he's back at Sin-é. Meanwhile, the Violets are playing CBGB's next Tuesday as well and Crash Mansion on the 27th. Langhorne Slim is doin' time at the Mercury Lounge next Wednesday.

British indie-gal Carina Round has a 3 night stand next week at 3 different venues: Pianos on Thursday, Rothko on Friday, and Mercury Lounge on Saturday. And also next Thursday, the Allman Brothers Band begin their annual two week stand at the Beacon Theater.

Friday March 10 is a frustrating night. What to choose?! Metric at Webster Hall? or Les Sans Culottes at Magnetic Field? Argh! Some of you should split the difference and go see the Datsuns at Maxwell's. Some of you must like them. You can also see them the next night at the Merc.

Isobell Campbell comes to Southpaw on the Ides of March while the Pogues (yes that's right...the POGUES!!!) begin a 4 night sold-out stand at the Nokia Theater on the 16th. And that brings us to St. Patrick's Day. If you don't have a ticket to the Pogues (like me, the idiot), you can see Black 47 at the Knitting Factory. They are playing two shows in one night. You can skip the Corned Beef and Potatoes and Parade, and go see the one and only John Doe at Maxwell's.

Indie darlings Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins return to New York for the second time in a month for two nights at Irving Plaza, starting on the 18th.

There's nothing going on until the 23rd (as far as I can tell, it's always subject to change) then you have more hard choices: Richard Hawley at Sin-é? Controller.Controller at the Merc? Animal Collective at Webster Hall? Sigh.
The next night, Ray Davies begins three nights at Irving Plaza. And Saturday the 25th is again full of choices: Davies, Animal Collective again - this time at the Bowery Ballroom, The Gossip at the Knitting Factory, and the most hyped band in the world, the Arctic Monkeys, making their New York debut at Webster Hall.

And yet the month is still not over! On Monday the 27th, the White Rose Movement finally plays the Mercury Lounge. And the month ends triumphantly with the Flaming Lips at Webster Hall on the 31st. And sure enough, they kick off what's going to be another insane month, the next night.

Dirtblanche 2005 & The Rest of the Year

Well with Thanksgiving less than a week away, it's the first sign of yet another year of our lives coming to an end. And what a year for rock n roll. Yours truly has gone to a personal-best 36 gigs this year (blowing away last year's record setting 21 gigs). And we're not finished.

First up is the big one. The unbelievable one. Dirtblanche 2005 at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland. It will be my first time in Cleveland, and the first time I am seeing a gig in a place that isn't the New York City or Philadelphia metro areas. And I am taking a 12 hour 770 mile road trip to get there from little ol' Springfield, Missouri. I will be seeing the American Heartland for the first time...Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio. Or as I call it, Red State, Blue State, Red State, Fucked Up State. Ok no politics in this post, I promise.

So why is Dirtblanche so big? Not just because of the eclectic nature of the Dirtbombs playing the same gig with Blanche...but because these are the two bands I care so much about that I started My Space pages for them with my Roxxan of Freshgigs and Blanche Manual. I am glad to say both those pages have been well-received and are doing well. Dirtblanche 2005 will be a culmination of this Dirtblanche year (and who knows what next year will bring with a new Blanche album, and even more Dirtbombs shows).

As for the rest of the year, New York will be hopping straight through New Year's. Immediately after Dirtblanche, the Dandy Warhols will close out November at Webster Hall. Let it be said that I hate Webster Hall. It's hot, stuffy, and fucking expensive.

December is packed. Southern Culture on the Skids make their triumphant return to the Big Apple with two shows (Maxwell's and Southpaw). Iron & Wine will soothe the soul for 3 nights at Webster Hall. The Deadly Snakes will play Mercury Lounge then Maxwell's 3 days later with the Black Lips. And X - that's right - X....I will say it again....X....is playing Roseland Ballroom. Everyone and their grandma better be there. And all of those shows are within the first 10 days of the month!

The middle of December does not let up. The Sights are back to play Maxwell's before opening up for the Donnas at Irving Plaza the next night. I have never really been sold on the Donnas but having Eddie Baranek around will help the night out for sure. I won't be there because on the same night in Southpaw, Reverend Horton Heat returns to New York. The week finishes off with the Lemonheads playing two nights at Bowery Ballroom and Brooklyn heroes Living Colour playing their biggest New York date in a long time at Irving Plaza.

The last week of December, and the year, feature a week-long residency at Maxwell's for Yo La Tengo. It's a Hoboken Hanukah this year! Also, not a bad way to spend Christmas Night, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Night too. Also on New Year's Eve so far, will be in their hometown of Brooklyn to play Northsix and They Might Be GiantsClap Your Hands Say Yeah is doing it at Irving Plaza (wow talk about a meteroic rise eh?).

And just to show you, things are still ticking into the New Year's, The Yarrows - who should be getting a My Space page if they listen to their smart, sharp drummer (yeah yeah, he's a long time friend of mine, ok?)...are playing the Charleston in Williamsburg on January 28. And just a few weeks after that?....you guessed it....the Dirtbombs.

Those of you in the New York area, if you can't make any of these gigs, or want something else to do in the meantime, go to Terra Blues on Bleeker St. by Laguardia Place, and catch hot, jumpin' blues nightly.

Well, Well

A couple weeks ago, I blogged about the travails of one Mark Sultan, AKA BBQ, and his efforts to get across the border from Canada to play rock n roll shows. He was thwarted by a jerk-off border patrol officer looking to bust balls like a overpaid, bored cop on the beat. Well, Mark made it after all, and thank goodness he did:

King Khan & BBQ Show
@Magnetic Field
Brooklyn, NY – November 11, 2005

Responsible for one of the best albums of the year, the Montreal guitar/guitar & foot pedal duo King Khan & BBQ Show reflect what’s best about the stripped down minimalist retro movement when it takes different roads. In this incarnation, it’s old time 50’s rock n roll and doo-wop with a twist of hardcore punk. Opening up with a surf rock/Chuck Berry-ish wallop, Khannie & The B drive right into a bevy of hard driving but foot stomping good rock n roll. “Fish Fight”, arguably the single best song of 2005, is the ultimate garage rock anthem while “Shake Real Low” maybe even surpasses it’s dance-craze ancestors of rock n roll yore. Forget maybe. It blows “The Twist” away, that’s for sure. In between, songs like “I Love You So” and “Outta My Mind” reflect the skill with which the duo ferry between hard and soft. If there was one problem this night, besides instrument problems (which seem to haunt BBQ every time he comes to Brooklyn) it was the venue. It was too small in its anticipation of a crowd for King Khan & BBQ as well as headliners the Black Lips. The stage was too small and was obscured from all in the bar except for the handful of people right upfront.

The Black Lips; King Khan & BBQ Show; DC Snipers
@Maxwell’s
Hoboken, NJ – November 13, 2005

I caught the Black Lips this time, at the much more comfy Maxwell’s, but I didn’t stay. It sounded like good rock n roll fun. But once again, King Khan & BBQ ruled the night. With more room to wiggle (and Khan to change into his girl outfit, before spitting beer all over my fedora), the makers of the year’s swingin’est rock n roll record had the whole place jumpin’. Utterly flawless. Openers DC Snipers had an offensive name (it’s like having a band called The 9/11 Hijackers, ya know?) and played marginally good hard punk n roll.