An Evening Of Unknown Pleasures... i don't know dude

So Peter Hook is playing Unknown Pleasures live for the 30th anniversary of Ian Curtis' death and he will be visiting NYC in December. Am I going? hmmmmm.....
Hell yes!

• Crunchy bass vibrating my ear drums
• As close as I'll ever get to seeing Joy Division
  
• SHADOWPLAY
• Peter Hook's beard
• Hearing the "back in the day" stories by grandpa goths at the bar
• Maybe randomly playing Monaco's "What Do you Want From Me"
  

Hell to the no!

• Co$t... this is going to hurt
• "What do you mean Love Will Tear Us Apart wasn't on this album?"
  
• Has a new band, has a new club... Anniver$ary of Ian Curti$' death?
• "I have the rare textured sleeve... got it off ebay"
• It will prob. be packed= elbows in the tits
• Webster Hall smoke machines smell like ass syrup

I'll let you know in December!

photo by Man Alive

What is wrong with me? BIG TAKE OVER

I can't even think about why I haven't posted anything on The Big Takeover show I went to a couple of weeks ago...

The evening began with rushing out of work, piling in whoever needed a ride into my baby blue station wagon and sitting in traffic while my olfactory organs were enticed by the smell of fancy cologne and Japanese cakes. So my working class fancy folk smelling friends and I made our way to The Bell House in Brooklyn mainly to see two people... Steve Drewett of The Newtown Neurotics and Mark Burgess of The Chameleons...

(note to those going to The Bell House in Brooklyn on an empty tummy... bring a snack, bring a snack, BRING A SNACK... There is nothing around there and filling my belly with whiskey sours wasn't an option because I had been at work since 6am, it was only 6pm, and Mr. Burgess wasn't going on till around midnight.)

Steve Drewett went on pretty early. Beginning his set solo. He played some songs including a new one called, "You Break my Heart", which was super catchy with doo doo dooooooos! and fun guitar riffs. He later was joined by his backing band featuring Jack Rabid on drums. After some potty humor and drum seat problems, the band, who rehearsed for no more than a hour, played an awesome set including Neurotic songs "When the Oil Runs Out" and "Kick Out the Tories".

My friends and I got a chance to talk with Steve Drewett outside the venue for a while with his sweetheart wife. So what has he been doing all these years? WEB DESIGN! After making a this quick career move, he finally has decided to go back where he belongs... THANK YOU! He told us fun stories about sleeping on Justin Sullivan's floor and having Kajagoogoo's tour bus when he was in the Neurotics. They didn't take the big Kajagoogoo off the side of the bus and they were confused for the two-toned-spiky-i dunno what the fuck is going on hair-pop band- when they were on the road... He must have been one of the happiest men I've ever met and I really hope he decides to come back to NYC really soon!

The rest of the evening I spent walking around the venue and dropping in and out of sets by Jon Auer of The Posies and For Against... Most importantly staring down Mark Burgess while he was enjoying a smoke outside because I am a total creep... I was ready to hear this man's howling voice.

This was the closest I'm ever going to come to The Chameleons... They played all my favorites like "Perfume Garden" and "Pleasure and Pain". The set was all Chameleons except for ending their set with Alternative TV's "Splitting in Two"... Mark Burgess was jumping around with his red Big Take Over tshirt on full of energy. I was really impressed with the eye-lined backing band and my ears were ringing for a few days after this show.

I'm still in "did that just happen?" mode...

The Residents!

Last night I went to see The Residents. I'm not a hardcore fan, but I've always have been really curious about their live shows. I headed over to Webster Hall last night and I did enjoy their set. I think it's funny when people say things like "I could do that" about bands like The Residents. Then why haven't they? Even I appreciate them and I started getting a little restless after an hour or their two hour set. I liked the story-teller part of their performance with different disoriented characters. I've never experienced anything like that at a show and it's definitely a unique one of a kind performance. It freaked me out at points, but that's what The Residents want, no?

WFMU RECORD FAIR THIS WEEKEND!

For all you record collectors and music lovers out there, this weekend is your chance to get your hands on that super rare import you've been digging crates for thanks to one of the best radio stations out there, WFMU.

There will also be a bunch of live broadcasts from The Trashmen, Heavy Trash, and many other... plus movies in the AV Lounge...

My suggestion would be to go on Sunday because the dealers just want to get rid of what they're selling, so you have a chance of getting music at a lower price... but then again, who knows what will be left after tons of people thumbed through before you.

They have a coupon you could get in for $5 instead of $7 and for desperate collectors, you could pay $25 to get in early and get free re-entry all weekend.

So it's today Friday, Oct. 23 through Sunday, Oct. 25 at The Metropolitan Pavilion (125 West 18th St. between 6th and 7th aves in NYC.

for schedules and floor plans click here!

Don't bring all your money with you unless you want to be broke by the end of the weekend, but if you don't care, go for it!

photobyhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/valeriebb/ / CC BY-SA 2.0

Hugh Cornwell of The Stranglers Playing NJ and NYC

The Stranglers have always been different from the punk bands of the '70s. Their bass is raw and chunky, while the keyboards add a nice melody along with Hugh Cornwell's recognizable voice.

After The Stranglers' breakup in 1990, Cornwell has been going solo. His music does have a little bit of a Stranglers feel, but his sound focuses more on guitars and harmonizing. You could download his new album for free off of his site.

The Brighton Bar on Wednesday Sept. 9 at 8:30 pm.
121 Brighton Ave, Long Branch, 07740, US

He will also be playing The Highline Ballroom in NYC on Sept. 12 at 8 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m. $15.00
BUY TICKETS

photo by g_cowan

Motörhead playing NJ and NYC!

original article in The Aquarian

My ears rang for two weeks after seeing Motörhead play the Birch Hill when I was 13, but all is forgiven because I got to see Lemmy and his trademark cocoa puff play some of the best rock ‘n roll out there today.

Being the only original member left in the band and staying preserved and pretty with his coke and whiskey, Lemmy remains untouched and still pumps out the same energetic music as he did in 1975.

Even if fans can’t tell what song they’re playing because of how loud they are or if Lemmy really does play his bass the wrong way, you have to love them!

They will be playing The House Of Blues in Atlantic City on Sept. 5 and Roseland Ballroom in NYC on Sept. 9.

BUY TICKETS!

photo by Mark Coatsworth

admit it, you like them!

I really want to go see The Pet Shop Boys and dance my ass off. YOU SHOULD TOO!

Sept 1 Hammerstein, NYC
Sept 2 Hammerstein, NYC
Sept 6 House of Blues, Atlantic City, NJ
BUY TICKETS!

photo by baldiri

If you could make it to NYC in 30 min... GO SEE WALTER LURE!

he still wears that tie!

Seriously! One of the few punk rock legends that are still alive and kicking is playing at the Bowery Electric in NYC at 10p.m. TONIGHT!

Not only is Walter Lure known for being the guitarist in The Heartbreakers, but his work with The Waldos is amazing!!! What better way to celebrate JT's birthday then with his fellow bandmate? This is as close to Johnny Thunders as you're gonna get!


video by thiswasnotpunk

Show this week that's not sold out (yet)! Camera Obscura!

I LOVE this band. They're what indie-pop should be...

I haven't been able to make it to their shows because they've been sold out last time they came around.

If you like good pop music by cute girls that look like they stepped out of the '60s, go to this show!

Their new album is great too! Check out my review...

WEDNESDAYJune 24th, Webster Hall, $20

We'll see if I could make it out to the city this week

Photo by Oliver Lopena
oliverlopena.com

Estelle Bennet of the Ronettes Dies...

original article in the montclarion

With their dark, cat-eye makeup, high beehives and tight clothing, the Ronettes topped the charts with their hits "Be My Baby" and "Baby, I Love You" in the '60s. Though their unique look may have set them apart from other girl groups, their music made them become one of the most memorable groups of all time.

One of the trio, Estelle Bennett, was found dead in her apartment in Englewood, N.J., on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Her cause of death is unknown; she was 67.

The Ronettes composed of Bennett sisters Ronnie and Estelle and their cousin Nedra Talley started in 1959 and broke up in 1966. Being from New York City, their big break was in 1961, when they were supposedly confused with another trio and put on stage at the infamous Peppermint Lounge. They covered Ray Charles' "What'd I Say," and their talent quickly stunned many as they worked their way up to getting a record deal.

The group helped producer and songwriter Phil Spector perfect his signature "wall of sound" technique. By having a layered echoing ensemble of instruments behind the group's candy-coated, yet fiery voices, Spector and the Ronettes created music that remains engrained in people's minds after all these years.

After making a few recordings as a solo artist following the Ronettes' split, Bennett stopped making music. Her life changed drastically from fortune to dealing with the hardships of mental illness.

Bennett hid from the public eye, struggling with anorexia and schizophrenia (according to Talley) after her fame with the Ronettes.

The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. Bennett refused to perform for fear of being overwhelmed, but gave a quick "thank you" and an awkward, "I'm Estelle of the Ronettes," at her acceptance speech during the ceremony.

Even though Bennett was a backup singer in the Ronettes, she had played a big part in creating their image. The overdone eye makeup and tall beehives that the group made their trademark can still be seen on fashion runways and on artists like Amy Winehouse, showing that their classic look hasn't gone out of style.

Bennett's death has touched many fans, leaving them devastated, along with her sister, Ronnie Spector, who left a note on her website saying, "To my beloved sister, Rest in peace, You deserve it."

Leaving behind her daughter, three grandchildren and sister, the memories of her synchronized dance moves and timid, yet sweet stage presence as one of the Ronettes will never be forgotten.