Category: Music

The Invisible Dog Gallery

I went to a CD release party for the guitar quartet called Dither a few weeks ago. Dither is emulating the Bang on a Can mission by producing casual concerts of new music in unique settings. Indeed, they are the group that graced the program cover for the recent Bang on a Can Marathon. The Invisible Dog gallery — so named because it was the Carroll Gardens factory where the original “invisible dog leashes” were traditionally manufactured — is a wonderful building with a gallery on the first floor and artist studios above. These were taken during the “If You See Something, Say Something” art show and a mostly different show is there now. More info on the art can be found at the site. I had a great time and apologies for not posting these sooner!

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Teenage Wasteland

Over the Edge (1979), Matt Dillon, etc

I’m not sure how I didn’t get around to seeing Over the Edge until now. (Holy crap, the whole movie is posted on Youtube in 10 parts!) I was totally in this movie’s target demographic at the time it was made. My family Christmas card in 1977 shows me wearing a Yes belt buckle just like the lead’s Boston belt buckle. I was angry, I hated the ‘burbs, and I was making the transition from Yes, Neil Young, Heart, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Aerosmith to The Ramones, The Sex Pistols, and X. Even though the film got bad distribution (fear of teen violence), I understand it was an HBO staple through the late 80s and 90s. Hm, I still don’t have cable.

Matt Dillon was incredibly lucky to be plucked out of high school for this, his first movie. I never took him seriously as an actor until Factotum, because he pretty much plays himself (or else his personal meld of Rocky Balboa and The Fonz as the filmmakers put it). While he doesn’t actually say the line, “I’m Richie White — I’m on probation” has always been Dillon’s core film persona. The other one is the Drugstore Cowboy/barfly which isn’t that different.
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The Winter Trees Gallery

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I’ve always liked trees. I remember freaking out a little bit as a kid when Smokey the Bear told me trees can’t run from forest fires. Later it occurred to me that trees are the nerve endings of the planet. Leafless trees in the winter have as much character to me as they do with full foliage and fall colors. I give quiet thanks to the tree gods whenever I burn some wood in a fire or a stove. You could say I’m something of a treehugger. If I was really ambitious, I would’ve recorded all the trees and camera spots and taken shots during all four seasons — I do sort of know where some of them are. These trees are in Williamburg, East Village, Upper West Side, and Riverside Park.

In college, I was a prolific music critic but I got disillusioned with the music business at an early postgraduate stage. To get back to more music advocacy, I have loaded the Grooveshark plug-in which allows me to add a music player to posts. My first installment here has a couple songs from the San Francisco space-lounge act called Tipsy. Enjoy!

Blurboxer at Think Café

Blurboxer at Think Café

Liveblogging from Think Café near NYU. Blurboxer is sitar and upright bass. I think (ha) this is their first gig and it works great as coffee and soup music. The clean improvisation pieces sound wonderful but the electronic effects sound overmodulated. Yet again, I blame the nonexistent sound guy.

Update: I was informed the speakers are blown. Don’t get me started.

February Live Music Reviews

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I saw a number of friends’ bands over the last couple of weeks and thought I’d give them all reviews and plugs.

Spanglish Fly, Feb 19, Rose, Brooklyn — I’ve known the leader of Spanglish Fly, trumpeter Jonathan Goldman, for about eight years as he played on the corporate softball team I coached. He led a New Orleans style jazz band for a few years, then lived in New Orleans for a few years and came back and formed this band. These guys are bringing back the boogaloo sounds of Spanish Harlem in the 1960s and 70s mixing mambo, soul, latin jazz, and funk typified by supergroups like the Fania All-Stars. They’re playing live a lot and are highly recommended! See link above for schedule.
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Free Concerts in Morningside Heights

‘Tis the season! I just got back from a concert by TACTUS at the Manhattan School of Music at Broadway and 122nd. That’s the new music group. It’s the end of the semester and MSM is putting on a string of great free concerts and recitals almost every night through December 19th so check the calendar and get uptown! There’s something for everyone: chamber, opera, holiday music, chorus, and jazz. (The Fauré opera has an admission charge.)

Also, the Bloomingdale House of Music on 108th Street near Broadway is having a handful of holiday concerts.

Fall Colors

79th street boat basin at sunset

I really like this photo. Even though the composition is completely split in half, both halves are satisfying and normally, you’d see the top half with a sunset over it. Hmmm.

I got booked to DJ a party at SiP for a bunch of jazz musicians this Saturday night. DJing for musicians is sort of like compiling a slide show for photographers. It’s curating a museum show for artists! I’m flattered and nervous.