best belated concert worth the effort: a camp at club lambi.shar's longed to see nina perssonever since she sang "love me, love me."she passed on seeing them on her birthday back in 2004 at popscene. boy was she sorry.
anyhoot, shar was able to see her tonight. i was scouring the montreal concert calendar for gigs and did not find anything except for bands playing after i was leaving montreal. :( i happened upon a camp in one of those tourist guides. they were scheduled to play saints showbar, so headed over friday to get tickets at the box office. i arrived to a sign saying it was closed because of flooding. checked the a camp site and the show was moved to lambi. okie dokie, tickets available through cheap thrills, so hit them up. they didn't have them prolly because of the venue change. i did enjoy their selection of vinyl. so third try is the charm and i got tickets at the door.
i saw nina pre-show scurry past the crowd to the green room. the feathered headband was a dead give away. she was petite and a showstopper in a faux chanteuse with dark eyeliner kinda way. club lambi was a perfect little venue to have my first encounter with nina. it's decorated with vinyl on walls and hanging from the ceiling. i wished my battery in my camera hadn't died or i would have posted pics. a camp played quite a few covers by daniel johnston and grace jones, which is a preview of their upcoming covers ep. i ony really knew their single, "stronger than jesus" which they sang to close their set before an encore. nina you were worth the wait and hope to see you soon.
best remote fltgc:montreal biennale! omg, this exhibition was outstanding and very much a participatory experience. oh you french canadians know how to throw down some arty goodness. i thought that l'ecole was just the site of the montreal biennale's open design and host to stefan sagmeister's obsessions are helpful professionally but inane privately, however shar was pleasantly surprised that most all of the biennale was exhibiting there. there's so much i have to shorthand it:
- "rip.: remix" was fortuitously showing as i entered. a 85min doc about copyright laws with gregg gillis of girl talk as the forefront subject. did you know gregg is a bioengineer by day?
- obsessions are helpful professionally but inane privately stems for a phrase that mr. sagmeister provided. here are just a few interpretations.
- shopdropping comments on advertising in the commodities sector, primarily in the form of grocery store shelves.
- daniel jolliffe's une minute gratuite/one free minute asks viewers to record a message to be played at a future performance. what would you say? call 1-888-500-1011.
- melissa mongiat's the good conspiracy is another participatory exhibit where viewers are asked to provide compliments, good news and advice on recorded phone messages or write them down on little notecards and notepad. - mathieu bouchard + alexandre catonguay (uber frenchy no?) bring read + write, where one literally can write on the wall.
- peter bard's man with a movie camera: the global remake is a homage to vertov's og version only mr. bard asks us to play along. this totally brought me back to college film class.
tortured question of the day: request to follow or not. okay, haven't posted the widget to show how many followers i have namely because shar has so few. sad but true. i do know that people read my blog thanks to google analytics, the few comments i get from time to time and my random friends that say they read it on your blog. what made me rethink posting the widget was a comment i got today from m, who has an awesome blog. lightbulb! there are other rad people from all over reading about my little life. so if you are inclined, become a follower of mine. hit the follow button on the left column. don't worry i'm not a cult or anything. i just broadcast sunshine, sad songs and shar.
feat of the week: detox! no alcohol for a week. shar's been knockin' it back a little too much for the past month and then some, so it's time to give the liver a good rest. jac's calling off the booze too. it's better when you have a buddy suffering too. funny, we had out no beer and no ice cream pact back in june last year. we've been talking about it for a while now, trying to work around birthdays and special events. nuff procrastinating, day one today!
battle of the film franchises:terminator salvation versus star trek. okay i watched terminator last night to round off my may blockbusters. i was reeling from how great star trek was two weeks ago, so the comparison of the two films had to be made.
terminator salvation star power: christian bale (and his infamous meltdown on set), helena bonham carter, bryce dallas howard, common special cameo: arnold schwartznegger featured director: mcg visual effects: ilm
star trek star power: eric bana, chris pine, zachary quinto, john cho, zoe saldana, simon pegg special cameo: leonard nimoy, winona ryder featured director: j.j. abrams visual effects: ilm
winners star power: terminator salvation special cameo: star trek featured director: star trek visual effects: tie
overall: star trek. i must say star trek wins leaps and bounds. mainly because unlike terminator, star trek had a cohesive storyline. terminator was a lot a special effects, but little attention to the plot. what's funny is i just noticed that anton yelchin is in both flick, with prominent roles of chekov and kyle reese. so boldly go where no one has gone before and i will not be back for terminator 5.
must rock out of a disney inspired album: st. vincent at webster hall. oh annie, how shar has waited and waited and waited for your fairness to grace thee. you did not disappoint. i haven't seen you since your gig at cafe du nord back in august of 2007 and with your new album in tow you brought it. you also won some new fans in karen and virginia, who accompanied me to your ball.
here's my recollection of the set list: the strangers laughing with a mouth of blood now, now actor out of work the party oh my god (annie labels as uber special "b-side, japanese import, itunes exclusive") the bed save me from what i am black rainbowmarrow just the same but brand new *encore* marry me your lips are red
special guest in the balcony: david byrne. oh yes, shar caught you admiring annie from a far.
best encore:iron & wine on late night with jimmy fallon. i was pleasantly surprised with entrance confirmation to the band stand seats for sam's set. sorry i still haven't mastered clear pics of tickets. anyhoot, it was a treat to see sam again on the day of the release of around the well.
he sang a new tune "godless brother in love". it was quite appropriate to have his sister, sarah, singing back-up. i was front and kinda center on the band stand directly behind sam. look for the bespectacled lady in a red top over sam's right shoulder. saki, i'm wearing your top. it's like you were there. mollie was really there standing to my right.
belated realization: iron and wine played sun god. holy heck. my alma mater got sam to play sun god. dude, they didn't have cool bands when i attended. this year they not only had sam gracing the fine stage on rimac field, but they freakin' got n.e.r.d. and girl talk too.
missed cover: iron and wine covering new order's "love vigilantes". i guess that's why it took them a while to get us in the studio.
best trl set: iron and wine at arbrons art center. sam was in good spirits as he hit the stage solo with just his acoustic guitar. just him and the crowd. he just came from red rocks opening for flight of the conchords. our concert was extra special because fans got to vote for the set. lucky concert goers got commemorative tickets (sorry pic to the right is blurry). the graphic design on it reminds me a lot of frank lloyd wright.
i snoozed on the voting and recalled too late to cast my vote. sam, however, played my favs "passing afternoon" and "each coming night". he did not play jac's fav "flightless bird, american mouth".
set list of what i could recollect:each coming night jezebel song he never played before live bird stealing breadradio war some song he did with isaac brock (modest mouse) for his side project, ugly casanovapassing afternoon resurrection fernfever dream sunset soon forgotten communion cups and someone's coat sodum, south georgia trapeze swinger
*encore* such great heights some song this dude literally raised his hand for half the show to request
does anyone have the whole set list? also, those attending tonight's show i would be interested in seeing your's. sam said they would not be the same, but more songs that he knew. i guess i can wait for it to be posted here too, but would love to hear from others in attendance last night and tonight. :)
abron's was the perfect setting for the intimate concert complete with cushy seats. sam was uber chill and a bit burned by the 2 weeks of touring. i didn't mind. i liked his slip ups, tuning and wonky cable problems. he seems to just go about it without too much fuss. love me some sam beam. he provides the perfect lullaby before bed.
vinyl find of the year: not one, not two, but SEVEN sam cooke 45s. i've been searching for some sam cooke on vinyl and not until today was i able to find some. i was strolling the 5th avenue street fair with jason and behold the fifth avenue records & tapes. they had 45s and lps. i bought all their 45s because finding a collection like that it rare. and oh yes, shar had to have them. i may go back for the lps, but i'm content with my 45s for now:
"chain gang"/"cupid" "twistin the night away"/"you send me" "wonderful world"/everybody loves to cha cha cha" "another saturday night"/"send me some lovin'" "shake"/"cousin of mine" "having a party"/"bring it on home to me" "good times"/"frankie and johnny"
notice no uber sought out "change is gonna come". i also would like "love will find a way", "sad mood", "that's where it's at" and "i'll come running back to you".
repeat feat of the day: half saunter on the west side highway. so last year jac and i completed the great saunter. we wanted to repeat the west side leg but end up at the cloisters. jac opened up to friends and thanks to mel, allison, young, elaine, cam, teresa, stephen, claire, and sue. also, to those who met up for pitstop #2 at dinosaur bbq: julia, justin, mike and jen.
must non-scary clown art: marion peck's "ladies & clowns" at sloan fine art. we got mixed up and went to gallery 128 because it has the same addy as sloan. sloan had a little mishap so was closed for 5 minutes before we were able to enter. one of the gallerist sliced herself with an x-acto. ouch, right? she seemed lucid and chipper waiting for a friend to take her to the hospital to get patched up. jac, laura and i ended up passing time getting cupcakes at sugar sweet sunshine. jac and i had ooey gooeies.
shar hasn't been okay with clowns for quite some time. i think it's because of it. marion's clowns are sad and for some reason don't seem as threatening to me. i especially love the portrait to the right. it's like jane austen giving you the bird. cute and cynical. reminds me of nara.
jac told me that marion is married to fellow artist mark ryden. there is definitely similiarites in composition. that's a lot of good art for a couple, but you know what other couple makes great art? this power art duo.
best way to ring in summer: little joy's "next time around" wunderlust music video. makes me wanna frolic in brasil. they are opening for regina spektor at the beacon on wednesday, june 17 and headlining tuesday, june 23 at bowery.
belated greeting to a beloved ohioan band: pomegranates at mercury lounge. okay, i've been waiting and waiting to see the boys from cincy for quite some time. i got shut out of their gig at bell house supporting the french kicks back in mid-february. mostly my fault because i assumed i could walk in for tickets. i was wrong and ended up drinking my sorrows in the front bar. zaid was there for said night and it was only fitting that i check out his pad pre-show tonight.
going solo to see the pomegranates offered a nice spot up front. they were all i was expecting - cute boys playing indie pop goodness. no nonsense, no gimmick, just good tunes. for the last song, joey invited a kexp dude on stage to shake the tambourine. joey was standing literally 20 feet from me enjoying wye oak post-set. i was really sleepy and couldn't bring myself to say anything. not even a generic "great set!" sigh.
must neighborhood venue: southpaw. i can't believe it's taken me this long to hit up southpaw. i have been looking at the calendar, but not until tonight had i found a reason to go. colt 45 sponsored a free gig at southpaw with phenomenal hand clap band headlining. hurrah! i had to sit through the horrendous golden triangle. man, the only good part of their set is that it made me appreciate phcb more.
i was really wishing i was donning some polyester threads with a wild pattern. i really dug laura's red dress too. very simple and chic. (sorry no pics because i was lame and forgot my camera) she was extra adorable singing the chorus to "15 to 20".
before the second to last track, daniel requested some light dimming. his request was granted and then the disco ball was spinning. AWESOME! clap clap clap...cow bell.
best new neighborhood bar:sharlene's bar. ever get off the the B/Q stop on 7th avenue and go, "i'm parched and i need me a beer." well, look no further friends shar's here for ya. formerly the hood dive mooney's, who's down to christen my bar with me? it's a classy joint with beer and cocktails. also, not to be forgotten a jukebox because you know shar loves the tunes. at sharlene's we dole out hugs like candy. what more can you ask for?
much anticipated first listen: mayer hawthorne @ le poissson rouge. shar's had her heart set on a certain vinyl record in the shape of a heart by a certain kid from michigan. guess what? she finally has it. everyone asks if it actually plays. yup! appointments to see said heart-shape goodness action can be made here. mayer was in town for the last stop of the stone's throw party and had plenty of heart shaped records. he threw down a great opening dj set complete with some hip shakin' motown goodness. a swell time was had by all. i wish he would come deejay my bday. that would be tops. mayer also returned later in the night to croon a couple tunes including his single "just ain't gonna work out".
here is the fairly new video with said heart shaped record in a starring role. there are behind the scenes pics of the video shoot here.
best reunion:fltgc with co-founder jac. reunited and it feels so goooood. it's been months since i've crawled with jac. she's been busy with work and there were some miscomms via founders. i take the blame. so this edition is jam packed with art goodies and saki in tow too.
first up, was the dream house at the mela foundation. i've noticed the pink glow emanating from the building on church between white and franklin one evening months back. it's a conceptual piece where you become one with the room and melt into the tones blasting from the speakers. i think i found my new lunchtime nap zone. this is us being goop. next was deitch wooster for francesco clemente's a history of the heart in three rainbows. he paints dreamlike watercolors that span the entire space. feels like floating in romance. it's up until the end of the month.
we crossed grand to the sister location, where i was uber excited to see jonathan borofsky's human structures. i walked by yesterday on my way back from lunch and saw the in progress installation of the rainbow colored tap plastic (ttttttTAP) structures in the front wing. in the back, prepare to be overwhelmed by his five large paintings. he apparently has a piece in the mission. i will have to see it the next i am home and have a burrito. lastly, but definitely not least, was glowlab for the roberto mollá exhibit. this is another i saw going up yesterday. christina came out to chat. i heart her and she makes every visit to glowlab inviting and art-inspiring.
one can see the japanese influence in his works that capture some anime and tokyo landscape. christina told us how it was her pleasure to bring his works stateside since he is mainly known in spain and europe. don't forget to check out the catalog from his exhibit in spain. apparently someone swiped the copy from the opening the night before and a new one was freshly redisplayed on our visit. return it sir or madam. i've accidently taken from glowlab too.
i'm a lucky gal to be working near a plethora of art goodness. i am thankful for the bounty.
best belated concert worth the effort: a camp at club lambi. shar's longed to see nina persson ever since she sang "love me, love me." she passed on seeing them on her birthday back in 2004 at popscene. boy was she sorry.
