Hot Right Now: Yacht Rock

One of my sources on the 411 on what's hot right now is my "off line" "friend", Nicky Shingles, bassist of fifty on their heels. He's the chatty one! Nicky has turned me onto Aqua Teen Hunger Force- all kinds of shit, really. Anyways, one of the conversation topics over the last several months has been what Nicky calls "Yacht Rock." I'm not really sure what side of the "on the rise/on the fall" trend spectrum but my best guess is that "Yacht Rock" is a "buy". Yacht Rock is also really, really You Tube friendly- as this dope post by Music Snobbery aptly demonstrates. It would be cheesy to steal his vids- but please, go check out Chicago's "If You Leave Me Now", Seals & Croft "Summer Breeze", and of course- "Sailing" by the IMMORTAL Christopher Cross. Mom was a soft rock aficinado, shall we say? Lots of memories involving san francisco and volvos.

Music Snobbery is a NYC based music blog, but don't hold that against it...

and YACHT ROCK!!!

Show Review: Chromeo @ Beauty Bar San Diego

Chromeo @ Water Rats 08/02/07, originally uploaded by neil365.

Let one thing be said clearly: Hot chicks love Chromeo with a fierceness. That's just- fact- based on my observation last night at Beauty Bar San Diego. My buddy Dave- newly ordained as an Orthodox Rabbi- so call him Rabbi Dave-- was in town for the night, so of course we HAD to go...

When we arrived at 930 PM it was reasonably crowded, but by the time we tried to leave- we literally couldn't. We had to turn around and exit through the emergency exit in back.

Me: Can we get out this door?
Beauty Bar Guy: Is this an emergency?
Me: Well, we just spent 10 minutes trying to get out the front, and couldn't-- I think, for the purposes of THIS DOOR- that constitutes an emergency...

A guy at the show told me that he "loves the history book reviews." Who knew? As we left, there was a line of 50+ waiting to get in to the sold out venue. That's a success. Congrats Missy Big Stereo-- I bet you made your bar number in a big way.

Punk Board / Apertivo / Scolari's Office / Maniac

the owner of apertivo is a maniac?


Saw this video (i.e. was diected to it by Rosey) at new blog Punk Board News. I read it in the hopes of seeing funny stuff related to the three bars the punk boarders hang out at- ok- really only one bar- and that bar is Scolari's, as confirmed by the lolvideo of- it's of the owner of neighboring restaurant/cafe? Apertivo BERATING A GUY WITH A CANE FOR RIDING HIS BIKE ON THE SIDEWALK!

Here is the thread on punk board:
Punk Board Forum on Apertivo Video

There is also a fairly unhilarious thread about the "scene," including the requisite "THERE IS NO SCENE IN SAN DIEGO WHY DO PEOPLE POST ABOUT THIS SHIT WHEN IT DOESN'T EVEN EXIST!!!!" postings. Indeed, unruly sentiment of the punk board, indeed. I could not agree more with your delicately stated, passionate declaration of principle vis a vis the "scene" and it's existence or non existence.

I really like their gross sex dirty talk threads! Oh yeah. Go look if you dare.
They also have a decently funny thread about me- again. Hey- I LIKE THE PUNK BOARD. I get it: guys with beards, people who hang out at scolaris, remnants of the pirate raido crew, swami-o-philes, it's all good- we can be friends.

Grand Ole Party Announces Tour Opening for Rilo Kiley

Grand Ole Party (myspace)

Cat Dirt rumor confirmed... again! Grand Ole Party to Open For Rilo Kiley Cat Dirt Rumor Post

I wish I could translate my powers of foresight (Jesus and Mary Chain playing at the Glass House in Pomona, ScarJo playing with Jesus and Mary Chain and now......Grand Ole Party opening for Rilo Kiley) into some form of renumeration, haha, instead of the scorn and hating it generates. But what about Grand Ole Party?! Cheers to their success thus far, it will be interesting to hear about their adventures on the road (Grand Ole Party - KIT?) click on the "Grand Ole Party" label below to get more backstory.


Rilo Kiley v. Grand Ole Party
Let the manufactured publicity commence!!!!

RILO KILEY GRAND OLE PARTY US TOUR DATES
6 Sep 2007 7:00 P
THE WARFIELD San Francisco, California
7 Sep 2007 7:00 P
CRYSTAL BALLROOM Portland, Oregon
8 Sep 2007 7:00 P
SHOWBOX Seattle, Washington
11 Sep 2007 7:00 P
OGDEN THEATRE Denver, Colorado
12 Sep 2007 7:00 P
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI Columbia, Missouri
13 Sep 2007 7:00 P
SOKOL AUDITORIUM Omaha, Nebraska
14 Sep 2007 7:00 P
FIRST AVENUE Minneapolis, Minnesota
15 Sep 2007 7:00 P
RIVIERA THEATRE Chicago, Illinois
17 Sep 2007 7:00 P
ROYAL OAK MUSIC THEATRE Royal Oak, Michigan
18 Sep 2007 7:00 P
PHOENIX THEATRE Toronto, Ontario
19 Sep 2007 7:00 P
LA TULIPE Montreal, Quebec
21 Sep 2007 7:00 P
AVALON Boston, Massachusetts
22 Sep 2007 7:00 P
WEBSTER HALL New York, New York
23 Sep 2007 7:00 P
WEBSTER HALL New York, New York
25 Sep 2007 7:00 P
TROCADERO Philidelphia, Pennsylvania
26 Sep 2007 7:00 P
9:30 CLUB DC, Washington DC
27 Sep 2007 7:00 P
9:30 CLUB DC, Washington DC
28 Sep 2007 7:00 P
ORANGE PEEL Asheville, North Carolina
29 Sep 2007 7:00 P
VARIETY PLAYHOUSE Atlanta, Georgia
2 Oct 2007 7:00 P
HOUSE OF BLUES Lake Buena Vista, Florida
3 Oct 2007 7:00 P
TBA TBA, Florida
4 Oct 2007 7:00 P
REPUBLIC New Orleans, Louisiana
5 Oct 2007 7:00 P
WAREHOUSE LIVE Houston, Texas
6 Oct 2007 7:00 P
PALLADIUM Dallas, Texas
7 Oct 2007 7:00 P
STUBB'S BBQ Austin, Texas
9 Oct 2007 7:00 P
RIALTO THEATRE Tucson, Arizona
10 Oct 2007 7:00 P
MARQUEE THEATRE Tempe, Arizona
12 Oct 2007 7:00 P
<3 <3 SOMA San Diego, California
13 Oct 2007 7:00 P
THE JOINT Las Vegas, Nevada
15 Oct 2007 7:00 P
SANTA MONICA CIVIC Los Angeles, California

Show Review: Daft Punk Los Angeles & David Beckham

I don't believe in taking pictures for my blog anymore. It's like- if you need a picture of a running polar bear- just find a picture- don't fly to the arctic, rent a helicopter, and chase down a polar bear with your enormous telephoto lens- just- you know- find another picture.

Went to the David Beckham debut at Home Depot Center in lovely, lovely Carson Califorina- then followed it up with a quick jaunt up the 110 (through South Central Los Angeles- Slauson holla!) and to Daft Punk Los Angeles Sports Arena (USC Campus). A fun day, to be sure.

The LA Galaxy v. Chelsea game was at 530 PM. Parking was $20! The Home Depot Center is on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills (WTF?) but is totally state of the art, and reminded me or REAL socccer stadia I've been to in the past- like Chelsea's snug little place in London. Soccer stadia tend to be smaller as a rule- 25K instead of 50k- even for the biggest teams. Anyway- the design of the Home Depot Center is first rate, the only bummer was a single ATM within walking distance. Since parking was $20 I had to use it, because parking at Daft Punk was $15.

The atmosphere inside was very jovial- it was interesting to see 1) Chelsea Supporters! 2) Old v. New Galaxy Fans. I was literally stunned to see the number of "fans" who were, in fact, wearing David Beckham jerseys- the sporting equivalent of "wearing the t shirt of the band you're going to see." Also, lots of guys in tucked in polo shirts and $400 expertly shredded jeans. Also interesting to hear so many british accents.

The Chelsea fans sang songs and shit- the Galaxy fans did nothing. Get on that! A cheer? something? although the Galaxy fans in the bleachers did stomp their feet to create a racket, there's nothing like a good soccer jeer/cheer. Maybe Chivas games would be more "soccery"? Anyways- I'm looking at buying tickets on stub hub, so count that a success. thanks to jfcd for the ticket hook-up, 7th row off the field, what!? also fun was the 24 oz. beers served in large plastic cups for $12. although your beer gets warmer faster in a big cup, there's something satisfying about a large beer in your hand watching a bit of footie.

After the game it was total mayhem in the parking lot but we managed to navigate down Avalon Blvd (or should I say North) and were quickly on the 110N- which runs from pretty much straight through the beating heart of downtown los angeles. The freeway has these massive public transportation stations that rise up from between the two sides of the 110- and I had never seen anything like them in Los Angeles before. I certainly don't use the 110N. Got freeways on the brain, it seems.

Daft Punk totally sold out the Los Angeles Sports Arena. It was quite an impressive display- getting 8K or whatever Southern Californians (and beyond- Phoenix? holla?) whipped up into a frenzy using the following elements:
1. electronic music.
2. triangle with screens on it
3. colored lights
4. two guys dressed in robot suits.

It kind of represents a culmination of a process that can be traced at least back to the "be-ins" of San Francisco, through the club culture in London, Paris and Berlin, with, of course, a heavy, heavy, heavy dose of american arena rock culture. And really- now that you're thinking about it- doesn't the entire process that began with Daft Punk and led to Justice a more or less conscious(i.e. manipulative) attempt to generate a music genre that will appeal to a mass american audience? Mull it over- I think the answer is "yes". And you know what- MORE POWER TO THEM. I wish Daft Punk 100 dates of sold out arena tour in the U.S. more than anything.

Signs of the conscious effort at work were most at issue during the inter set dj performance by Kavinsky and/or Sebastian. A fairly benign set of French electro house bangers veered into the slightly insane with a "remix/edit" of Rage Against the Machine's anthem... I don't know the song title- the one where he screams in the chorus (okay, okay, "killing in the name of"). But it seemed like every head/fist in the audience was banging/pumping - 20 minutes away from the head act, with the house lights on. It was refreshing to be around people, even where we were in the loge seats (behind frankie chan), who were into the music, dancing like it was their last. The genuinely enthusiastic response of the sold out crowd is credit to the fact that these guys- (these guys = two members of daft punk and their manager/ed banger record label owner busy p) have figured out how to sell electronic music to American audiences. In fact, I would go so far as to say-- they thought about this a lot, and the Daft Punk arena show is itself the culmination within a culmination.

Simply put- the whole thing is brilliant, and very, very commerically effective. Arena rock itself should take note of this commerical and "artistic" success- and ask itself the question- Why can't there be more arena rock shows that are as financially lucrative and artistically successful as a daft punk show?

How does something like last night even happen in the modern day music/culture industry? Daft Punk had little advertising, no record out, hasn't played america more then once in the last decade, never charted(?), not on the radio, had a couple minor hits, been sampled by a couple of rap artists.

All I can say is- it's a credit to the artist and, I think, to the management- for using the Ed Banger label as a sort of advance force/precursor that undoubtedly successfully "sold tickets" to the Daft Punk concert.

I'll leave the musical descriptions to those, perhaps, who witnessed the show for the first time last night. I will say I thought this performance surpassed their Coachella performance. The crowd was bigger and more into it, the set was longer, and the lights and color show was more fully developed. We left drenched, sore and tired but in awe and inspired. Sessions Fest anyone?