Rumblings

Damn you Woody’s and your stiff drinks! I got a late start today (read: I woke up on the couch with my clothes, shoes, and coat still on) and totally missed the Radiohead presale on Waste. Don’t bother, the site is fucking clogged to shit and the presale is sold the fuck out. Not to mention, my waking call was a friend rubbing it in my face that he got three tickets to for Radiohead’s Camden show. Three? Why not get the max of four? Ugh.

Anyway, a couple of quick things. Gui Boratto was brilliant last night at Woody’s in Philly, it was great to finally see/hear him live. If you can make it out on Saturday to see him at Studio B, definitely do so, he spun and incredible set with a whip cream topping of “Beautiful Life,” sending us off into the early morning streets of Philadelphia happy.

Philadelphia faves and friends The War on Drugs are giving away their Barrel of Batteries EP. Get it here FREE of charge. The psych/country/shoegaze outfit will be releasing their debut full length, Wagonwheel Blues, via Secretly Canadian later this year. Catch them tonight at the North Star Bar in Philadelphia.

FRICTION alums HEALTH are set to drop a remix album titled HEALTH/DISCO, which sees their debut remixed by the likes of CFCF, Curses!, Philly’s Pink Skull, and more. Full details here.

Lastly, I’d like to say happy birthday to my little beast, Ms. Shelby, who turns seven today. I know she’s not much of a blog reader, but I hope she sees this.

[MP3]: Gui Boratto  ”Sozinho”
12″ Single, K2; 2006

It Was Good Knowing You Girl

[MP3]: Low “Sunflower”
[MP3]: Phosphorescent “Cocaine Lights”
[MP3]: Rare Bird “Passing Through”

Guilt can be a Bitch. I understand it can make people act in strange and different ways. I forgive them. Sure they can call me an ‘asshole’ and be mad at me. Maybe it was for telling them that she died, or maybe it was for some other reason. But they’re the sort of people that would probably call me that anyway if they found out that I didn’t tell them the news. I guess it would be my mistake either way. Remember, I was the only one that adopted and took care of her when they decided their time with her would be done. Funny they always accepted news about her. And I’m sure they still loved her. This monster can feel sadness too. I apologize for telling them that she died, I can be such an ‘asshole’ sometimes. Maybe its best for all of us to sweep it under the rug that she ever existed. Anyways, ignore all this. Thats fine.

Artefacts for Space Travel Gives Us Inspiration to “Recoop”

Artefacts For Space Travel are a young dystopian three piece from South London consisting of Joseph Walsh, Sam Walsh, and Alex Griffiths. The trio plays a loud and energy packed mix of punk and apocalyptic pop. Themes of the group’s songs are centered on death, childhood, the cosmos, romance, and a dystopian future. Songs bend from noisy and growling psychedelia to panic stricken punk packed full of modern and haunting melodies.

I’ve had “Recoop,” the b-side of the band’s single “Lucy” on repeat for the last week or so, sucked in by the catchy chorus line sung by guitarist Joe Walsh; “recoup because you’re so young”. It’s funny that I discovered the track (and band) around this time, because it’s perfectly fitting for my dad, who’s currently recouping from a busted up arm. The poor guy took a nasty fall about two weeks ago and not only broke his radius in half, but also dislocated his ulna from his wrist sending it tearing three-inches out of his skin. The image accompanying this post is the actual x-ray from his left arm about two hours after the accident took place. Awesome! Here’s to “recooping” dad and also providing some rad “exclusive” content for the site. Ha! Try not to bust yourself up any more and make sure to get your ass to physical therapy!

Artefacts For Space Travel embark on the “Stolen Tour” in the UK on April 8th followed by an appearance at the Great Escape Festival in Brighton and more local shows in June. “Lucy” is out now on Stolen Recordings and available for download. More info on the band’s MySpace page.

[MP3]: Artefacts For Space Travel  ”Recoop”
Lucy Single, Stolen Recordings; 2008

“The Day That No Birds Sang”

Favorite site Fecal Face has some horrific images and a personal account from photojournalist Lyle Owerko moments after the events of 9/11. These are truly intense and saddening photographs of that dreadful day. Here

NYC based photojournalist, Lyle Owerko, was one of the first photographers to the World Trade Centers on September 11th and captured some disturbingly intense photographs, one of which ended up on the cover of Time Magazine. These are his words and images of that horrible day.

[MP3]: Queen  ”Who Wants To Live Forever”
A Kind of Magic, EMI; 1986

The 20 Worst Foods in America

Being from the midwest, I actually find it nostalgic to indulge myself in a little Chili’s or Outback sometimes. Pure kitsch. You can’t tell me that you didn’t have a good time at the Time’s Square Olive Garden or Red Lobster. There’s something about being so bad, it’s actually good. But looking at this recent analysis from Men’s Health, I might think twice about getting the bloomin’ onion. Some of these appetizers have 2900 calories! 200g of fat! I must admit, I would have thought the Chipotle Grilled Chicken Burrito would be relatively healthy. Anyone have favorites on this list? Suprised by the numbers?

Vaguely Familiar

Ever have one of those days where you just wanna slash your wrists? Well this whole week has been a slasher. It all starts when your friend was supposed to meet up and give you a ride somewhere. Of course they didn’t show and have you waiting for 4 hours before you give up and go to lunch in the late afternoon. Not even a call or the balls to apologize. Great. Then your friends don’t return your calls. Sure they’re wrapped up in their own world, but they’ll be the first one’s who’ll get in touch once they’re good and ready; when they hit a speed bump. People’s “what have you done for me lately” attitudes can just suck uh f*ck. That’s not how I roll.

Then songs start sounding the same because you’re in some sort of melancholy funk. Then it literally happened to me, the songs were the same. I listened then I realized all you need is yourself.

[MP3] Al Green “I Wish You Were Here”
Al Green Is Love, The Right Stuff, 1975
[MP3] Nas “Shootouts”
It Was Written, Columbia, 1996
[MP3] Consequence “The Good, The Bad, The Ugly” featuring Kanye West
Don’t Quit Your Day Job, Columbia, 2007

Some Kinda Love

Above pic via Fen Branklin

So, as everyone knows, last Tuesday was Election Day. It was a pretty big day for Philly, with new mayor Michael Nutter being elected and all. If you’ve been following the news, you may have seen that Philadelphia has one of the worst murder rates in the entire country giving our new mayor a lot to deal with in his first couple months. To date, we’ve tallied up 351 murders, something like 1.1 per day. In the most recent Philadelphia Weekly, a writer referred to Philadelphia’s current state as “Baghdad with cheesesteaks” and Killadelphia.

I like to consider myself somewhat politically active, but I didn’t vote on Tuesday. Given Philly’s current “state of emergency,” I was disappointed in myself by not voting, not only did I space on the date, but I never even took the time to register to vote in Pennsylvania or change my ID. As stupid as it sounds, I guess I’m still clinging to my last ties to my former New York address.

I love New York, I always have and I always will. Philly, with its grittiness, empty streets, state stores, die-hard Eagles fans (seriously, I made the mistake of walking into the local pub the second the Eagles lost to the Bears a few weeks back and thought someone was going to rip my head off), last-calls, peculiar show attendance, violence, and crime has been a tough place to truly embrace. On top of that, I’ve constantly been traveling from DC, to Baltimore, to Chicago, to New York (of course) and back again. I’ve maybe spent a total of a half a dozen full weekends in the City of Brotherly Love since moving from Manhattan. With all this running around, I don’t think I ever felt settled here.

It wasn’t until last night; on the way back from one of these jawns to DC that I finally felt like this city was my home. I was with a friend of mine who absolutely loves Philly, but recently moved away and really misses it. We were coming up 95 and she said we’re almost there and I said “I don’t see it (Philly)” and she’s like “its right there.” I made a typical “me” comment about the lack of a skyline as I strained my eyes to see it while cruising by Lincoln Financial Field. It was in fact there, a dozen skyscrapers or so, not very impressive and mostly unlit for some reason; PSFS (I always wondered what that stood for), the liberties, the Comcast center, and that damn scrolling marquee. She said “it’s not New York.”

Trust me, I know this is a music blog and this “story” is in fact going somewhere, musically related that is. As we came into Philly, my friend put on “After Hours” by The Velvet Underground and it was just perfect. VU drummer Maureen Tucker sang “one, two, three…if you close the door…” as we drove past City Hall with its yellow clock face, gorgeous black statues, and gleaming white granite topped with William Penn. It’s a beautiful and impressive building to say the very least. I haven’t listened to The Velvet Underground since moving here, but for some reason it just fit…the mood, the time, the city. After we said our goodbyes and I got home, I put on the entire record (I’m still listening to it as I write this) and for the very first time (with the help of a friend and Lou Reed) I can honestly say that this city, given its shortcomings, has finally won me over. My friend is right, it’s not New York and it doesn’t have to be…

[MP3]: The Velvet Underground  ”Some Kinda Love”
The Velvet Underground, MGM/Verve; 1969