so the 308
has now chosen to reside
in 1207
Sep 3, 2012
Apr 9, 2012
Talk to me-so you can see- oh what's going on- what's going on
I NOW PROCLAIM MARCH 2012 THE "LOST MONTH"
Things I've been up to
the oft-renamed BRITTANY BAKING CLUB now has a website courtesy of Katherine Hieber. Check thatshit out: http://i5.nyu.edu/~keh414/
You know something is worth anything when it has a website and is a club. Marie and I have a bad habit of making clubs out of everything to do. Many of them short lived-Haruki Murakami club, Fight club, Slam Punk, etc.
I also just went to a concert Friday night and saw this amazing band The Bailen Brothers. They do a kind-of-corny funk thing but they put on an intense show. There were shirtless saxophones, trumpets on bars, and me actually dancing. And then an intense cover of "I can't get no satisfaction" that included crouching and animal noises. Check them out at www.thebailenbrothers.com and their music video below
They're playing again this Friday at The Smyth Hotel
If you're in the know, than you've been victim to my constant updates about my Flatiron shows. For those of you not in the know.....
I am now playing at Flatiron Hotel every Saturday 5-8pm. It's a really swanky place with an aquarium. We're at Toshi's playhouse, the hotel's in-house restaurant which is amazing! I got the spaghetti and it was so good. My band got salad. Wimps. We play a bunch of covers -I want you back, rolling in the deep, rehab-and few popular originals.
Speaking of which, I have a band! These handsome fellows are in the Jazz Studies program and are all really great at what they do. I might post pictures later if it's not too creepy. and if they never find this site.
Another post about my August show at a Jazz and Burlesque club (you heard me) and an amazing blog about asian-americans soon.
Feb 21, 2012
Quick Update
Marie and I are now working at Georgetown Cupcake, the Soho location. Come visit us at 111 Mercer St. :D
I just played a show (which Marie missed. no forgiveness) at a really cool place called Leviticus Studio. Vid clips and pics attached!
We've been listening to the new Screaming Females album "Ugly." "But wait!" you exclaim, "it's not to be released until April." Big wins for internship. I also got the new Heartless Bastards album "Arrow," which has been similarly amazing. Lots of hard-rocking females in the 308 lately.
I'm going to the album release party for Bright Moments this Thursday for Washington Square News, so expect a quick review on that.
Since Marie is being a lazy butt, I'll try to post something substantial soon. She's being a poophead funnyface. However, she did help me discover that Trader Joe's Duchess Earl Grey+Teavana Rooibis Chai+German Rock Sugar=awesomeness.
I also found a drummer! I'll be playing at Arlene's Grocery March 28 for all you 21+ people. Again, more info to come~.
Jan 24, 2012
Finn reinvents narrative tropes-a repost from Washington Square News
Here's a piece I did for Washington Square News. Apparently it went to print, but I always find these things out too late.
"Maybe I was fatigued from all that optimism," Craig Finn chuckles as he compares his downtrodden solo album to the upbeat works of his band, The Hold Steady. If there's one word to describe his new work, it's fatigued. "Clear Hearts Full Eyes" was furiously composed and recorded during one of the hottest summers in Austin, Tex. While the album echoes the rollicking guitars and rhythm of Tom Petty, the lyrics deliver a more exhausted message — Finn is tired of the world. From the resentment of fakes in "When No One's Watching" to the sarcasm of "New Friend Jesus," Finn spits out the anger of Green Day and skinhead punk to the folksy drum and beats of The Black Keys.
Images
Finn's style is a throwback to older, simpler arrangements. Most of the instruments are recognizable and familiar — mainstays of guitar, drum and bass — a far cry from the dubstep and dance beats of most modern music. "New Friend Jesus" even incorporates a banjo. Despite the small number of instruments used, producer Mike McCarthy, who has worked with Spoon and Trail of Dead, has managed to drench your hearing with the sound of these familiar instruments. Yet the nostalgia of the album doesn't stop with Finn's instrumentation.
"Clear Heart Full Eyes" is predominately an album of lyrical storytelling. Listeners slowly fall into the sarcastic and old-fashioned world that Finn creates with each song. It's a relief to hear the words at the forefront. Unfortunately, some of Finn's lyrics lack the melody to make for great songs, and the words lose some of their strength as a result.
Finn's songs admittedly contain splashes of clichéd story tropes, like the devil befriended and disloyal husbands. These ideas, however familiar, still ring true. Finn explains the title of "Clear Heart Full Eyes" means "Clear Heart, a heart that is open [and] full eyes — having seen a lot, your eyes remain full." It seems that the years with The Hold Steady have taught Finn the same lessons learned by many, lessons of broken hearts and cynicism. But the cracked strength of his voice resuscitates these old ideas as something fresh. Finn's familiar songs and earnest performance remind us that though these ideas and emotions have been done and felt before, that doesn't mean they hurt any less.
Jan 5, 2012
Hey, ladies and gents and nonbinary anarchistic patriarchybusters. I suppose there's no real reason for the 308 to be on hiatus anymore, as Christina and I have returned to our respective home states for winter break and thus have no finals to study for. Then again, it's harder to coordinate interesting posts when we're thousands of miles apart. *the sound of marie shedding a single, pearlescent tear*
In any case, I don't really feel like posting any New Year's resolutions, mainly because I tend to think they are silly! Let's just say that I'd like to get better at things I'm merely okay at and do more stuff I find worthwhile. That should cover all the bases!
I have changed one thing for 2012, though--I have returned to the twitter account I first made in 2008 in order to rock the world with my insightful observations and scathing wit. Well, okay, mostly it's just a wasteland of self-congratulatory sarcasm, but that's practically the same thing. Come follow me! I'm so lonely.
Interesting content to follow as events warrant.
Jan 1, 2012
And, of course, some Resolutions
To be honest, I don't really like resolutions. They've become a joke in our culture, so that sentence's that begin with "My resolution this year..." are met with laughter. Because of this, I actually have never made any resolutions, so this year will be my first. Why? Well, I guess the whole college/growing up/maturity has made me realize that I need to get my ass in gear for some things. So here are some of my personal and musical resolutions for 2012.
Music
1. Get on Slowbizz and play as many house concerts as possible. I'd love for this resolution to come true, and once I get started I know it will. I'm still a few people short to getting the 100 needed to start, however. Please sign your name and support at http://mim.io/99de12
2. Play at more art galleries. Since the amazing show at Local Project, I've realized that one can find support in different artistic mediums. Basically, people who like paintings probably like music! I met a bunch of great people at the Local Project show, and I hope to go to even more art galleries and artist gatherings in New York this year.
3. Get better at guitar This has always been a goal for me, but this year, I'm going to learn more covers of great guitar songs (I've got my eyes set on Hendrix and Clapton).
4. Do 2-3 shows a month. I feel like this is going to take a lot of emails and work, but I'm ready for it! Hopefully Slowbizz will take off and help me out ;)
Personal
1. Cook I'm really bad at cooking. As in once I got 3rd degree burns, and another time I accidentally made playdoh. That said, I know that cooking my own meals is healthier and more cost-effective. Right now, I'm looking at making my own bento boxes for lunch. I'm learning through this great website called www.justbento.com.
2. Parkour/Freerunning Yeah, yeah I can hear you laughing already. I've been obsessed with parkour/freerunning since I saw District B13 three years ago, but have been too chicken to go to any local jams. I know there are weekly classes in downtown NYC, and a friend and I have resolved to go. Wish me luck!
3. Get a summer job Pretty self explanatory. I've got my eyes set on an english tutoring job in Italy!
Re-posted from www.musicchristinali.com
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