James Abbott and Friends, James Abbott and The Costellos, James Abbott and the Gypsy Headhunters, Papaya and Coconut….ok they don’t actually have a band name yet, but what they will have is solid, soulful music that will pluck your nerves and send an overload of dopamine and good time chemicals coursing through your body. So come out to Arlene’s Grocery on August 11th for a fun night.
Here’s a funny little video made by NYC comics, Jay Nog and Lance Weiss, asking New Yorkers what they would do to get Lebron James on the New York Knicks.
An art installation that is currently touring the world over is making its multi-borough New York City appearance starting the Monday proceeding Father’s Day and lasting for two weeks. New Yorkers will be able to sit down and publicly show off their musical abilities (or lack-thereof) at 50 different locations, including such notable landmarks as Coney Island boardwalk, the Metropolitan Museum, Lincoln Center, at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge, the Staten Island ferry terminal, and the Central Park band shell. The borough breakdown is as follows: 27 in Manhattan, 10 in Brooklyn, 5 in Queens, and 4 in each Staten Island and the Bronx.
The artist behind this brilliant city-wide installation is British artist Luke Jerram, who has successfully placed 130 pianos in various public locations in such bustling cities as London, Sydney, and Sao Paulo, with his New York attempt being the largest in scale. All of the pianos have been donated specifically for the “exhibit” and have been personally hand-painted and decorated by various artists, just adding to the colorfully intimidating nature that a full-size piano will exude in the middle of Manhattan.
According to his website, Jerram got the idea for the project at his local Laundromat, where he hypothesized that a piano would serve as a conversation piece and initiate more interaction among the typically coy customers there. Jerram has mentioned in interviews how hopeful he is about the reactions that his work has the potential to elicits. He cites a couple in Sydney that had met at one of his pianos and are now married.
I am personally very excited to see how this already ambitious and interactive art experiment will flourish in one of the greatest art-cherishing cities in the world. I predict “Crocodile Rock” re-enactments, classical duel-offs in the vein of an Eaton-Young Piano Duo, and of course the always avant-garde and in this case, borderline vandalizing prepared piano (in which particular objects are attached to the pianos inner strings so that the hammer hits and resonates said object). Got to go polish off my “Chopsticks” and meet you down at the piano installation on Canal Street!
Well, yesterday was Brooklyn’s famous Atlantic Antic street festival, the absolute best of all the New York street festivals because it’s massive, it’s the last gasp of organized outdoor fun before the cold weather kicks in, there’s live music, the food is amazing, there are plenty of adult beverages to enjoy, and it’s in Brooklyn! And, for me, it’s right outside my apartment door.
I didn’t get out there till about 3:30 because I was nursing a pretty hefty hangover from a late Saturday night, but quickly grabbed myself a bloody mary and a yummy Vietnamese sandwich and was on the up and up. I met up with a couple friends and ran into some others, but mainly spent the next couple of hours first with Red David and then just with my hazy hangover-headed self.
It was really nice to see all the Obama frenzy at the Antic this year. Everywhere I looked were people of different races, colors, religions, sexes, sexual preferences, musical tastes, and ice cream flavor preferences banding together in support of positivity, hope, and America’s future. You could get your picture taken with a life-size cutout of Barack, you could order an organic Obama burger, and even order Biden gelato. It reminded me of New Yorkers inate ability to see through bullshit, and it’s easy for us to see that there is only one presidential campaign right now which is running on truth and honesty…and it ain’t McCain/Palin. Continue Reading
Like many fellow New Yorkers, Brooklynites and bridge and tunnelers, I have been watching this show called NYC Sound Tracks. The premise of the show is quite simple, yet creative, innovative and New York-ish enough to have engaged me in their search for New York’s best subway musician. An underground talent search… Literally.
Unfortunately, Theo Eastwind, my local fave on the L train Bedford stop didn’t make it into the final round despite my voting efforts. It’s not too late to tune-in though. You can watch past episodes on www.msg.com/soundtracks and catch the final episode this Sunday September 14th at 8PM on MSG. Continue Reading
You’re probably asking yourself, “What’s style battling?” Style Battling is a hot new art form and the next new nightlife sensation invented by House of Diehl and inspired by MC battling and haute couture. If you’re into fashion or the hit TV show Project Runway, you won’t want to miss this!
With a 5-city sold out tour that garnered rave reviews, STYLE WARS culminates at the The Style Battle Championship Grand Finale in NYC. The winners of the New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami and Chicago regional battles will face off in the final battle for the crown.
James Abbott and Friends, James Abbott and The Costellos, James Abbott and the Gypsy Headhunters, Papaya and Coconut….ok they don’t actually have a band name yet, but what they will have is solid, soulful music that will pluck your nerves and send an overload of dopamine and good time chemicals coursing through your body. So come out to Arlene’s Grocery on August 11th for a fun night.
