The Stills - "Yesterday Never Tomorrows"

My looks pushed too far, I'll get wrecked in some bar
I've lost it, my foot's on a nail
The dark winter snows bright, please stay here tonight
I'll cry my face straight through my pillow
Some things last forever, why can't this last forever
Nothing lasts forever, I hope this lasts forever

I had to get out of my head this weekend, or so that's what I figured out on Saturday night. The past few days have been emotionally draining, trying to be one person for someone and another for someone else, never fully realizing who I should be for myself. It's a very strange experience to see your parents as real people, perhaps even more flawed than you are yourself. As much as I tried to pretend I wasn't part of my family growing up, there's no denying I'm a product of my parents. Now, for the first time, I'm scared of what that might mean.

I almost cracked Friday night, when silence was deafening and my thoughts took over my entire body until I could hold in anymore, resulting in a vicious regurgitation that even I wasn't allowed to control. After a lot of hesitation and fear, I made my way out of my apartment and downtown to Bowery for Ra Ra Riot. It was pouring with rain, which helped me hide within the masses of people out and about. It didn't take long for me to get lost in their music, a familiar sound and safe freedom. I forgot what it felt like to have energy on stage pour out on a control, but the band proved they could do it for the umpteenth time. By the show's end I had my fist pumping and hands clapping. I stayed out until 4 a.m. that night. I hadn't done that in years.

The rain continued into Saturday. I didn't want Pat to go back to Staten Island but we both had things on our to do list that day. Again I was alone in my thoughts, running across town while my sneakers became sopping wet. I removed myself from my apartment and reality again that night, heading to a familiar site of my past that only made me realize how much I have changed. Maybe I haven't even really changed, just realized where I do and do not fit in. It was a nice refresher, almost like that puff of the cigarette on Friday night too. Sometimes you have to remind yourself how bad things really are. Katie and I made our way to Bowery for The Stills, and although I couldn't physically make it through the whole show, hearing songs off my beloved Logic Will Break Your Heart was enough.

I forgot how much I love that album; I've been listening to it all day today. It's strange to think that was five years ago, and how much I wish I could go back to that time. Life felt much easier then.

Ra Ra Riot | WOXY Lounge Act

Are you going to see Ra Ra Riot headline Bowery on March 7? I am so excited to see this band rule the stage, in what is bound to be a fantastic show debuting a number of new tunes off of their upcoming full-length. It may be sold out already, but I bet if you get there that night, you could get in. But don't quote me on that.

The band took over the wonderful WOXY a couple weeks ago, and their blog, The Futurist, has just posted a number of tracks, and another very cool video. Definitely worth checking out.

woxy.com presents Ra Ra Riot from Soft City Lights on Vimeo.

Long Blondes @ Bowery | Lily Allen @ Roseland

Now that the wisdom teeth are out, and I'm feeling much better in all aspects of my life, I've been out and about getting back into the routine of seeing shows and being my usual random self. Even though I had a horrific experience seeing David Cross (who I love) do a "You Tube Show And Tell" on Monday night at Mo Pitkins (I kid you not), it happened to be sandwiched between two fabulous shows from two fabulous female fronted bands from my homeland: the Long Blondes at Roseland on Saturday, and Miss Lily Allen at Roseland last night. We'll go chronologically, because..well, that's how we roll around here.

(P.S. - I wish I had pictures for you, because I'm now a bit of a camera whore since my birthday, but I was pretty far back for both of them that the people just look like dots. Not worth it, right?)

I've been enjoying the Long Blondes album immensely since I listened to it a dozen or so times with Pat on our way to Philadelphia a little while ago. You know me -- I'm a total gusher of all things pop orientated and this Brit band does it so perfectly, it is almost like a time capsule. See, I grew up being a total No Doubt fan which brought me back to the likes to Save Ferris and Letters To Cleo. It was my dream to be one of those fearless females one day on stage, but as time has shown...I've chosen to write about it instead of hog the spotlight. Regardless, Kate Jackson and the rest of the Long Blondes have successfully turned back the clocks and I am as giddy as a teenager.

Seeing them on Saturday, I had a good feeling about the show. The album was solid, the venue perfect, and I was ready to sing along. And although I had a great time, Pat had some negative things to say and the more I think about it, the more I find myself agreeing with him. While a good show, it wasn't any where near to what it could have been. The band played the songs exactly to the T of the recording, and although it sounded good -- it could have been better. I wanted Kate Jackson to become my new idol, and instead she awkwardly walked up and down the stage while singing nicely. There was no wham bam thank you ma'am pizazz. I was left satisfied, but hardly blown away.

Lily Allen, on the other hand, should have been a disaster. Rumors of her canceling the show once again plagued me as I headed into the worst venue on the planet Roseland (no exaggeration). I must admit I have a bit of an infatuation with Miss Allen -- to the point that I think if we met, we'd be the best of friends. It's been almost a year since I picked up that album in London the day it came out and it's been a consistent staple of my listening habits. Gosh darn, it's just so poppy and good. I just love her.

And lets face it -- she could practically get away with murder. Although she seemed sloshed and stoned, forgetting the words to her own songs that forced her to take out a lyric sheet, bursting out into laughter in the middle of songs, and babbling incessantly in between -- I had a ball. The songs were actually transformed for a live setting (minus an actual guitar, what the hell?) and Lily ran across the stage, singing to the fans, and generally having the time of her life. I, in the very back of the venue, was feeling the same way. I had been dying to catch her live, and I'm glad I finally did. I'd go see her any time she's back in this city, too, just as long as it's not at Roseland.

Lily played one new song [turns out it wasn't], something about MySpace and feeling bad about her self (seems to be a trend with her, no?) and three covers. It was actually quite endearing when she apologized to the crowd for making such a short album, forcing her to play other people's so we "get our money's worth." She covered a song by the Specials (not bad), Kaiser Chief's "Oh My God" (love, but crowd was not familiar) and Blondie's "Heart Of Glass" (surprisingly pulled it off). In the end, I came out forgiving Miss Lily Allen for all of her pitfalls because she's so gosh darn likable. And those songs, with the right words or not, and still wonderful.

White Rabbits @ Bowery Ballroom

Okay, it's official. I love the White Rabbits. After an incredibly exhausting week of going out every single night (not so glamorous, I promise you) I was tempted to stay in and get an early night. But there's only one (okay maybe 3) bands that could get me out when everything else is telling me to stay in, and that's the power of the Rabbits.

I wrote a blog post for cmj.com about the show last night and included Wes's pictures (thanks!). Check out the post here.

I also found this very funny video diary of their trip to SXSW. A must-see, if I say so myself.



Don't forget that their debut album Fort Nightly will be out May 22 on Say Hey Records. I can vouch that it's one of the best releases of the year.

Check out a bunch of new songs on their myspace.

Cold War Kids Bi-Costal Residency

I admit I like the idea of residencies. If there's a band I love and they put together a residency, you can guarantee I'll be there for all shows. I'm just like that. I like routine, and god help me if I can ever get enough live shows under my belt. I wonder if there's a record for how many live shows one human being has seen. Hmm, I should look into that...

However I can't help but express my concern for Cold War Kids. They have taken it upon themselves to embark in a bi-costal residency, switching back and forth from dates in LA and NYC. Talk about jetlag. My only hope is that they have managed to fly first class and have a lot of Ambien. I know I couldn't deal with all that traveling. Good luck my friends.

I hopefully will be attending one of these shows. If my roommate finds out they are here and I couldn't get her a ticket, she's going to be pissed. I've created a monster.

All dates below..

01/10/07 New York, NY @ Pianos
01/12/07 Los Angeles, CA @ The Fold in Silverlake Lounge
01/17/07 New York, NY @ Union Hall
01/19/07 Los Angeles, CA @ The Fold in Silverlake Lounge
01/24/07 New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
01/26/07 Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland
02/20/07 San Diego, CA @ The Casbah
02/22/07 West Hollywood, CA @ Troubadour
02/23/07 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
02/24/07 Santa Cruz @ The Attic
03/02/07 Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive
03/03/07 Omaha, NE @ Sokol Underground
03/04/07 Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck
03/06/07 Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
03/07/07 Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave at the Eagles Club
03/08/07 Madison, WI @ The Annex
03/09/07 Chicago, IL @ Subterranean
03/10/07 Columbia, MI @ Mojo's
03/12/07 Little Rock, AR @ Juanita's
03/14/07 Dallas, TX @ Gypsy Tea Room & Ballroom
03/19/07 New Orleans, LA @ The Republic
03/20/07 Tallahassee, FL @ Club Downunder
03/21/07 Orlando, FL @ The Social
03/22/07 St. Augustine, FL @ Cafe 11
03/23/07 Atlanta, GA @ Vinyl
03/24/07 Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge
03/26/07 Mt. Pleasant, SC @ Village Tavern
03/27/07 Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
03/28/07 Washington D.C. @ Nightclub 9:30
03/29/07 Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church
03/30/07 Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Downstairs
03/31/07 Northampton, MA @ Pearl Street Night Club
04/02/07 Montreal, Quebec @ La Sala Rossa
04/03/07 Ottawa, Ontario @ Zaphod Beeblebrox
04/04/07 Toronto, Ontario @ The Mod Club
04/06/07 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
04/07/07 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom

A Brief Smile, The Stills @ Bowery Ballroom

Saturday night started out innocent enough. It was to be a full night at Bowery Ballroom and then a stop by at a birthday party and then home in one piece. And yet half way through the night I remembered why I try and stay in most weekends. No, it's not just that the lower east side is awfully packed and you can't find a bar to sit comfortably at. It's more so the fact that I realize I don't have to get up for anything the next day, and that, in itself, makes me a little bit crazy.

I'll spare you the details of the alcohol infused ridiculousness that ensued after Bowery Ballroom. Let's stick with the music, eh? And make this a family blog.

So it was the second time those A Brief Smile boys have played Bowery Ballroom, which in my book now makes them experts and superstars. I probably sound like a broken record every time I post about this band, but I couldn't be more proud of how they have progressed over the years. Their live show has really become something quite professional, and their songs are the real star. Donned with two Christmas trees up on stage, the young fivesome came out to a quickly filling crowd. While they may look young, and are indeed quite are, they play like they've been doing this their whole lives.

It's a rewarding experience to bring someone to see a band you love for the first time. Especially when it's a band like A Brief Smile, who I have seen more times than I should probably admit to. I'm always nervous that I've been biased after all this time, but when they share the same enthusiasm as you...it's nice reassurance.

The set in itself was what I've come to expect: layers upon layers of sound melding into each memorable tune, filling up Bowery Ballroom with its grand themes. The boys debuted a brand spanking new song in which I had to ask both Vanessa and Sean whether it was a cover or not. It was instantly familiar, and completely unpredictable at the same time. I hear a self-produced EP is in the very near future. I can't wait.

The Stills were, in a nutshell, a complete surprise. I, of course, was freakishly obsessed with Logic Will Break Your Heart. I initially liked Without Feathers, but hardly with the same intensity. Without ever seeing the band live before, I expected a good show, but something that could be a bit mundane. It was completely the opposite as The Stills brought a high-energy playful rock to a very enthusiastic crowd. I remember jumping up and down and singing at the top of my lungs. That was unexpected.

As soon as they lashed into "Lola Stars and Stripes" as their second (second!) song, I was convinced. The Canadians bounced back and forth between old and new, and there was never a dull moment. Although they left out my favorite "Animals + Insects," I let them off the hook.

Perhaps that total excitement from the show is a reason for the anarchy that followed. I'll never know for sure.

A Brief Smile to open for The Stills | Interview

It feels like just yesterday these boys were playing for my issue 4 (?) release party at the now extinct Tribeca Rock Club. My how time flies. Now they are opening up for The Stills (!) at Bowery Ballroom next week. Ah, they grow up so fast.

Buy your tickets here.

The Music Slut is now officially a huge fan of the band, and recently interviewed them in their 8 question series.

4. What's your favorite infomercial?

John (bass): The one with the flying and the guys jumping over walls with rope and stuff where they stand on mountains in awesome uniforms and put swords in front of their faces. It was really cool looking and the guys were all super hot.

Garrett (guitar): The one with Chef Tony ‐ I believe the company name is Miracle Blade. They put Cutco to shame ‐ Chef Tony can cut through pure marble and even steel without any effort. The knives never dull either...... you should see what they can do to the skin of a tomato......

Read the whole interview here.

A Brief Smile - This Machine

Just Stay | Kevin Devine

Have I told you lately how much I love Kevin Devine?

I find myself saying that at least once daily, usually towards Wes, who happened to take that that wonderful picture above (more here) and can deal with my constant gushing. I just can't help it. Every time I listen to Mr. Devine I feel the need to tell the world just how much I adore him. So here I am, telling you, again.

The last two times I saw Kevin play, I found myself completely in awe. I stood there, wherever it was, and could not take my eyes off of him. There's a certain intensity in his voice that I find inviting, whether he's pouring his heart out or just plain complaining about the state of our country. He's fearless, the type of artist that will use his craft unapologetically, while coming off completely sincere. The last two times I saw Kevin play he ended his set with "You'll Only End Of Joining Them," each time causing myself to unexpectedly cry. It hits me in a way that most songs try to but never do. The album version, off of his latest effort, is nothing compared to what you see live. I wish he had recorded it stripped down and acoustic. It's so much more powerful.

Kevin is currently on tour with Matt Pond PA and Straylight Run. Check his myspace for all the dates. That tour will hit NYC on December 3 at Bowery Ballroom.

Kevin Devine - You'll Only End Of Joining Them

Kevin Devine - Just Stay

Buy Put Your Ghost To Rest and the rest of his albums over on his website.

Annuals, Voxtrot @ Bowery Ballroom

I needed one more horrah.

As if seeing over twenty bands during five days wasn't enough, I decided it would be stupid to pass up missing Annuals one more time, especially when they are teamed up with those indie pop darlings Voxtrot. After a yummy sushi dinner I found myself back in Bowery Ballroom, back amongst a crowded hipster crowd, and with beer in hand. Oy vey. Old habits die hard.

We got there just in time for Annuals to start, and like you know, I love this band. Their album is most definitely in my top 10 of the year, and seeing them live for the first time at Sin-e ended up being a religious experience. I saw them twice over CMJ, the first at Fader house, which was awful due to the sound, and the second at Bowery, where everything fell together perfectly. But I've come to conclude it's hit or miss with Annuals. And last night, I'm sad to say was a miss.

Now don't get me wrong. It was still a good show. Just not their best. I think the CMJ wear and tear took its toll, especially on Adam's voice. Every screech was far too forced for my liking, and the band as a whole just seemed tired. Can you blame them? I was tired as well. They played through their usual repertoire, and had a couple people in the crowd go bizerks. I'll never get sick of hearing "Complete or Completing" into the honky tonk loving "River Run." It's so good.

And then there was Voxtrot, a band I've seen more times than god, but can't help but feel happy every time I see Ramesh jump around like a little dork on stage. It's endearing. I'd never say that Voxtrot is a live band, by any means, but I have to say last night proved to be their best sounding show yet. Perhaps it was the acoustics of the lovely Bowery, or maybe it was some really spectacular new songs, but the band was in top notch. Then again, maybe it was just the fact that they hadn't spent the last week corrupting their liver. Oh, the possibilities.

Voxtrot is like those cheesy romantic comedies. A lot of people won't admit how good they really are, because they hit all the right spots. There's no real surprise when it comes to this band. It's straight forward and inviting. I became a bobble head for most of the show while singing along to the old favorites. They even did an encore! There was talk about a cover of "Dancing In The Dark" which would have, maybe, made my life. But sadly it didn't happen.

After the show I got drunk. It was like CMJ all over again.

(P.S. I forgot my camera. Sorry to all you Ramesh lovers, but there's no sweaty pics this time around.)

CMJ: Day Four Recap

I reached a new stage of delirium yesterday. I was up at 7 to finish work, and found myself back at Pianos by 11:30. It's official. I'm moving in.

We got there and stood on line for the Colin Meloy acoustic show. Honestly, I was in it for the free drinks and brunch, but Colin was a nice added bonus. Once we got in, it was a mad rush to the food so instead we made a mad rush to the bar upstairs. Colin was performing already. It sounded nice. I couldn't see. Mimosas are yummy.

There was no food once we went back downstairs. Go figure.

Hung out for a bit at Pianos thanks to our drink tickets, and then we made our way over to Fontanas for the BV showcase of the day. Got there just in time to see iForward, Russia! who I hated at SXSW, but really quite liked yesterday. Maybe it was just the mood I was in. Anyways, they rocked the house.

Ran into some more familiar faces and then caught up with the Changes boys. They are so nice. I love seeing this band and I thanked CMJ for chances to see them twice in two days. The Changes put on a super set, albeit short. Ended again with "Her You And I" and I did my little headshake dance. Awesome.

From Fontanas we were delayed by Sean's little 15 minutes of fame with the MTV crew, but headed over to Fader Lounge for Oh No! Oh My!. My poor little intern and Matt Picasso couldn't get in, so instead we decided to get some nutrition in the shape of a Tiny's sandwich. Mmmm, so delicious. And so needed. All this CMJ running around you sometimes forget to eat. Oh and PS. Matt Picasso, nicest blogger ever!!

Ok so then we headed over to White Rabbit where my two youngins passed out on the couch. Seriously. I sipped my beer and listened to the dude from Diamond Nights play acoustic, then Vietnam, and then Office. I seriously love Office and it sounded like an amazing acoustic set. Unfortunately I only got to hear two songs before I had to head out for work related things.

A couple hours later I made my way to Bowery where I thought I had missed my lovely Kevin Devine, but ended up getting there just in time for him to begin. I would see Kevin every day of my life if I could. I just really frickin adore him. And he ended the set with the amazing "You'll Only End Of Joining Them" which never ceases to give me chills.

Nora called me after Kevin Devine and I told her I was about to see Annuals. "Oh my god," she said. "Are you geeking out?" I thought to myself, no I actually was not. I was so utterly exhausted by that point I was literally hanging onto the stage to not fall asleep. I ran into Kathryn who asked me if I was okay. I figured that was a sign that I didn't look so together. But I blamed it on CMJ and once Annuals got started, I did, in fact, geek out.

Annuals set was night and day from the Fader Lounge before and I remembered why I'm so obsessed with this band. They are so good. But the thing I don't like about CMJ is that you'll have a pretty crowded show, but its full of people who have no idea who you are. There was no crowd singalong, no one else rocking out, so I felt a bit out of place. But only for a second. Annuals totally rocked it and probably provided my favorite show of the week.

I tried to go to Mercury afterwards for Cloud Cult but was sidetracked by my roommate who wanted a drink. Then I tried to get into Sin-e for Pela but they weren't letting in any more badges. I was right across the street from my apartment. It was time to go to sleep.

Still standing. Just barely.