Northern Soul

I've been to Northern Soul nite in Manchester and I can tell you it is the most fun, the most unique type of dancing EVER! Here is some archival footage of Northern Soul dancing from the Wigan Casinos in the '70s:

Don't get me wrong, I really like the moxie of bands like Grass Widow, The Vivian Girls, the Dum, Dum Girls and The Girls at Dawn.  But I am a sucker for production values.  I think I have age on my side but I feel like if you are gonna do the whole sixties girl group aesthetic you should go big like Sharleen Spiteri:

One Simple Wish

Today Holly and I are going to the Art Class at The Wish Shop of One Simple Wish, a NJ non-profit that supports children and families in need by granting wishes. The wishes are small and large ranging from movie tickets to computer equipment.  Click here to Grant a Wish!

Guilty Pleasures #2

Eminem: Love the Way you Lie

No Singer Left Behind

I heard a piece about this on BBC World News while I drove to work yesterday.  It's a virtual choir produced by Eric Whitacre who instructed the web audience on YouTube on how to download and record his score for "Lux Arumuque."   He then took the recordings of all 185 participants (he has said assuredly that no singer was left out) and mixed them together for a choral rendition of his song. A very neat usage of viral video/user sharing:



Is it me or is Eric Whitacre just a little too "camera-friendly" though?

Jiggery Pokery

The girls from Jiggery Pokery in London make all kinds of things - art installations, music videos, window displays - even a rollerskating event.  Just adore how they painted the outside of a pub.   The best part about it is that they look like they have a lot of fun making their art.  Check them out!

Rat Girl

Just the other day I was thinking about Kristin Hersh from the late '80s band Throwing Muses and how, when I saw them play live in college, she was six months pregnant.  Then I started thinking about how touring is exhausting and pregnancy is exhausting and how did she ever do both at the same time?  Well wouldn't you know it, now my questions can be answered.  I'm downright gleeful to find out that she has written a memoir called Rat Girl because she was one of my first influences when I was learning to play guitar and write songs at fifteen.  Another great storyteller Mary Gaitskill describes the book as "the story of a wide-eyed soul coming to maturity in the ridiculous cacophony of modern life. Although it is supposedly about what we call, for lack of a better term, 'manic depression,' it has nearly no interest in such grim diagnostic thinking. It is instead awestruck - by music, feeling, perception, wild animals, mystery, dreams, 'the gorgeous and terrible things that live in your house.' It is an original beauty." 
-Mary Gaitskill, author of Veronica and Don't Cry 

It's now in my Amazon check out.  You can order it here as well: http://www.amazon.com/Rat-Girl-Memoir-Kristin-Hersh/dp/0143117394/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_cart_1.  The Gilbert Hernandez cover is just the cherry on top but I'll save the genius of the Hernandez brothers for another post. :)

Philip Glass

I remember seeing this play in the '80s and it was amazing back then as it is now when I listen to it:

Pink Skull

I was incredibly impressed by Pink Skull at the Before the Bridge music festival (see earlier blog post).  They reminded me of LCD Soundsystem or MGMT with just the right mix of electronica and rock with hooky pop vocals and a smattering of psychedelia.  Check out "Oh Monorail" on their site.  I wouldn't be surprised if these Philadelphia natives were to make their way around the UK/European festival circuit soon - they'd fit right in.

Obsession #4

The '60s aesthetic epitomized by this record cover (courtesy of WFMU's Rock & Soulichiban Blog)

DJ Blow my Speakers UP

One of the best things about my town is that right outside our doorstep there's always something fun to do. So today we're walking all of six blocks to attend the Before the Bridge Music Festival.

The artists include: Kimberly Townsend, Monko, Red Orange Morning, If'n, Sounds from Atlantis, McRad, Pink Skull, Lowry, Gang, and Rolex. Then there's an after party at the local Collingswood coffee shop, The Groove Ground. Out of all of the bands, I'm most interested to see Lowry "a Brooklyn-based indie rock band with members originally hailing from Kansas, New Zealand, Australia, North Carolina and Canada" according to the website. Sounds like a good combo to me. They've played shows with Grizzly Bear and Andrew Bird.  The hardest part about tonight is making sure my 2 year old doesn't run on-stage with the bands because she loves to show off.

Alex Kemp

Check out new stuff from Alex Kemp, formerly of The Godrays and producer of a few songs on T*shirt's (my beloved band from the '90s) second CD. And since I remember fondly that Alex could write a genius pop hook, I wasn't surprised to hear how great these songs are.

Also enjoy Shadows on the Square from 2006:

Cleanin' it up with Betty Wright

Betty's still killing her biggest hit, "The Clean-Up Woman." Little known fact: she successfully sued the early '90s band Color Me Badd for using a sample of her song "Tonight is the Night" without permission. You go, Betty!

Obsession #3

The National's song and video for Bloodbuzz Ohio. Singer Matt Berninger is the Don Draper of indie-rock in this very straightforward video. I especially like his shy, humble dancing.

If you look at the the career trajectory of The National - they embody the essence of modern garage band not so much in the sense of the music but because they started off in a University setting like thousands of other college bands, but kept aspiring and persisting and over 10 years later, they are now appreciated and adored. Another 4AD gem!

Best Award Acceptance

In honor of the MTV VMA Awards 2010 which aired last night I'm posting my favorite award acceptance speech/spectacle.  It comes from the P3 Gold Swedish music award show in which Karin Elisabeth Dreijer Andersson from Fever Ray (who basically IS Fever Ray) accepts the Best Dance act award in 2009.  You can see where Lady Gaga may have been inspired by this.  Love the audience reaction!

Strange Stuff #1

These Robert Longo-inspired poses of full body Snuggies.

Obsession #2

I've always loved the leopard fur coat in any way shape or form, even if it's just on the trim.  This one is from Topshop and is reasonably priced at $170.00

morsels of digital yummies

Check out Digital Chirashi, the blog started by my work colleagues where we can post any "juicy, fun tidbits related to digital design and/or anything."  I'll be guest bloggin' yo.

Obsession #1

I found the site Arkiva Tropika linked in my twitter feed this morning.  It features the largest online collection of paper ephemera from the '50s and '60s featuring Polynesian and tropical themed art.  I'd love to pimp my house out in this kind of look!  I used to own some killer tikki glasses but being such a nomad they were lost in my many moves.  Anyway, visit the site and enjoy!

Black Swan

My sister tipped me off today to a new movie by Darren Aronofsky called "Black Swan" which stars Natalie Portman, Winona Ryder and Mila Kunis.  Okay, so if that cast and director isn't enough to lure you zombie-like into the theater, here's the synopsis:  "Nina (Portman) is a ballerina in a New York City ballet company whose life, like all those in her profession, is completely consumed with dance. She lives with her obsessive former ballerina mother Erica (Hershey) who exerts a suffocating control over her. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Cassel) decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre (Ryder) for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice. But Nina has competition: a new dancer, Lily (Kunis), who impresses Leroy as well. Swan Lake requires a dancer who can play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, who represents guile and sensuality. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly but Lily is the personification of the Black Swan. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Nina begins to get more in touch with her dark side - a recklessness that threatens to destroy her."


Sounds amazing!  And I bet there's a great soundtrack to go with it.

Grand Taxonomy of Rap Names

I ordered this poster for my cube today. Woot!

Warpaint - "Elephants"

This video just looks amazing - both the styling and camera effects.  But is it me or does the drummer look really out of place in this band (cosmetically speaking)?

Guilty Pleasures #1

Usher - Lil Freak

and
Ke$ha - Take it Off

Favorite Brands #1

One of my favorite brands is Utz, not really because of their products (which are quite delicious) but because of the cute little indie rock girl, who was updated at some point during the 85 years of this snack-food company's existence.