Monthly Archives: May 2011
No Words Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford
OTBKB Music: Old 45 Picture Sleeves; Video of The Baseball Project Covering R.E.M.
I found some long forgotten 45 rpm records in the back of a closet this weekend. In the interest of history, science and mainly because I think that these are pretty neat, I posted scans of five of them them today at Now I’ve Heard Everything. Click here to see them.
The Baseball Project is currently touring with R.E.M.’s Mike Mills pinch hitting for Peter Buck. Mike stepped up to the mike as The Baseball Project covered R.E.M.’s (Don’t Go Back To) Rockville at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis, MN on May 26, 2011. Click here to see it.
–Eliot Wagner
No Words Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford
No Words Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford
No Words Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford
OTBKB Music: Looking Forward to June and Back at Tuesday Night
The musical summer schedule starts in earnest in June with several of NYC’s outdoor festivals opening. All this adds up to more shows in more places, with too many of them opposite each other. I’ve compiled 53 shows which you can find on the June Music Calendar at Now I’ve Heard Everything, just click here to see it. And, as always, the calendar remains a work in progress with additions (and occasionally a subtraction) to be made further on down the road.
Tuesday night’s live presentation of The Radio Free Song Club at The Living Room was a star-studded absolute delight. Backed by the house band, The Radio Free All Stars (Andy Burton, Doug Wieselman, Paul Moschella, David Mansfield, JD Foster and Dave Schramm), Don Piper, Jody Harris, Laura Cantrell, Dave Schramm, Kate Jacobs, Jennie Lowe Stearns, Victoria Williams and Freedy Johnston each played a new song for the show. Although they were not present, Wreckless Eric and Amy Rigby, Peter Blegvad and Peter Holsapple contribute a pre-recorded song for the festivities as well. Nicholas Hill was the emcee/dj for the show, the 16th in the Radio Free Song Club series, which after a vote and discussion was dubbed the Sweet 16 Tons edition. See 11 photos of that show by clicking here.
–Eliot Wagner
No Words Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford
We Love Our Firefighters in Park Slope
We love our firehouses and firefighters in Park Slope because they’re such a vital part of life around here. That’s why there’s a big neighborhood rally tonight (Thursday) at 7PM in front of Engine 220 on 11th Street between 7th and 8th avenues, one of the firehouses that Mayor Bloomberg has slated for closure.
We need and depend on our local firefighters for emergencies of all kinds. They’re there. They’re on it. The response time is fast, their dependability is solid.
After 9/11, we truly understand their level of commitment and the profound, mortal risks they take for the public good. We vowed never to forget the sacrifices they made on that day (and on other days) and the men and women who were lost.
I remember in the weeks and months after 9/11 waving to the guys from Squad 1 and 220 every time they rode by in their trucks. It was such an emotional time.
Firefighters are, quite simply, part of the fabric of this place we call home. Sure, you can reduce what they do to a spread sheet. But that’s so reductive and short-sighted. Think about all they do:
Firefighters control and put out fires, they perform search and rescue at fire emergencies, provide pre-hospital emergency medical care, and perform fire safety education. Think of those class trips and the way they inspire children.
They also enforce laws, ordinances, rules and regulations regarding the prevention, control and extinguishment of fires and to non-fire emergencies including terrorist activity, hazardous materials incidents, vehicle accidents, water main breaks and utility emergencies.
Need I say more?
Politicians try to measure things and balance budgets. But the relationship between a community and its firehouses is special and hard to measure. They contribute in ineffable ways to the texture of our lives and the ways that we feel safe.
Come rally in support of Engine 220. They deserve it and so do we.
The rally is being held to demonstrate the depth of community outrage over cuts to public services that are basic to public wellbeing, while the Mayor refuses to lend his support to the millionaires’ tax that could mitigate some of the need for cutbacks. Join Assemblymember Jim Brennan, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, Senator Eric Adams, Yvonne Graham, Deputy Brooklyn Borough President, Steve Buscemi, Marian Fontana, Al Hagan, President, Uniformed Fire Officers NS Jim Rallis, Former Captain, Ladder 122 at the 7PM rally.
No Words Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford
OTBKB Music: The Jim Keller Band Plays Tonight
Back in the early 80s, Jim Keller wrote the still ubiquitous 867-5309/Jenny and was part of the band that recorded it, Tommy Tutone. That band broke up shortly after that and Jim kept working as musician. After a few years, he put his guitar away and ended up working for the music company of composer Philip Glass, licensing Glass’s music. About five years ago, Jim dug his guitar out of the back of the closet and started writing and performing again. The Jim Keller Band is made up of some of New York City’s musical mainstays (including Chris Masterson). One thing for sure, these guys know how to rock. See the details about tonight’s show at Now I’ve Heard Everything by clicking here.
–Eliot Wagner
Thanks for the Autograph (and Happy Birthday Bob Dylan)
Me and Bob Dylan go back, way back. I mean, not only is he the voice of my generation, he’s the voice of my life. I’ve been listening to his records and singing his songs for decades now. When I was 11, my parents gave me a vintage leather jacket (from Ridge Furs on 8th Street) and a Bob Dylan songbook.
I loved that aviator’s jacket. But that songbook. That was my bible for so many years because as a budding singer/songwriter, that was my music.
Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright. Bob Dylan’s Dream. All I Really Want to Do. Blowin’ in the Wind. A Hard Rains’ A Gonna Fall. These were the songs I sang sitting on my bed, strumming my Maderia guitar.
And the albums: Freewheeling Bob Dylan. Highway 61 Revisited. Blonde on Blonde. Self Portrait. Nashville Skyline. Blood on the Tracks: the music of my childhood.
I saw Bob Dylan and the Band at Madison Square Garden, at the Arena in Binghamton, NY, at Radio City Music Hall, at Madison Square Garden with Tom Petty, at Madison Square Garden during his born-again phase, at Madison Square Garden in concert with Joni Mitchell.
Best of all: I saw Bob Dylan on Eighth Avenue in Park Slope across the Street from the Montauk Club back in June 1999 on my son’s birthday. He was wearing a cowboy hat and was roaming around with a photographer, and stopping to chat with people. I asked him for an autograph and he signed his name on the back of an American Express billing envelope I had in my bag. Luckily I didn’t mail it.
About a year later my son bought me The Definitive Bob Dylan Songbook for my birthday. He’d told me for days that “I’d probably start to cry when I opened it.” And he was right.
Happy Birthday, Bob.
Save This Park Slope Firehouse: Rally Today at 11AM
Mayor Bloomberg has proposed closing 20 firehouses and 8 of them are in Brooklyn, including Engine Company 220, located at 530 11th Street in Park Slope.
The community is fighting it and there’s a demonstration this morning.
Join Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, Councilmember Brad Lander, Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley and Borough President Marty Markowitz will join Park Slope and Windsor Terrace residents THIS morning to rally against the closure. If the Bloomberg Administration is allowed to proceed with this closure, response times at fires will increase dramatically for Park Slope and Windsor Terrace residents. Arrival of the second engine necessary to get water on the fire would rise from 4:08 to 5:24 (a 30% increase). The elected officials and residents will call on the Mayor to explore other savings or revenue options, rather than seeking to save $55 million by putting lives at risk.
WHEN: Wednesday, May 25 at 11am
WHERE: Engine Company 220, 530 11th Street, Park Slope, Brooklyn
WHAT: Rally and press conference
WHO: Residents of Park Slope and Windsor Terrace, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Councilmember Brad Lander, Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley, Uniformed Firefighters Association President Steve Cassidy, Uniformed Fire Officers Association President Al Hagan
No Words Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford
No Words Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford
OTBKB Music: Going to Hell With Kathleen Edwards
I’ve posted a song over at Now I’ve Heard Everything from Kathleen Edwards that has yet released (although it might have already been recorded; a new album from Kathleen is in the works). The title of Going to Hell makes it somewhat timely given the goings on over the past weekend. Just click here to see it.
–Eliot Wagner
No Words Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford
No Words Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford
No Words Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford
OTBKB Music: Israel Nash Gripka’s Goodbye Ghost
Suppose back in 1971 that Neil Young and John Fogerty decided to put out a record together. It certainly would have been one of the best records of the year. That never happened, but Israel Nash Gripka‘s new record, Barn Doors and Concrete Floors certainly sounds like that pairing and is in the running for many best of the year lists. See the video of Goodbye Ghost from BDCF at Now I’ve Heard Everything by clicking here.
–Eliot Wagner
No Words Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford
No Words Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford
OTBKB Music: New Video from The Little Willies
The Little Willies (Lee Alexander, bass; Jim Campilongo, guitar; Norah Jones, vocals and piano; Richard Julian; vocals and guitar; Dan Rieser, drums) had not played together since 2007 until they got together again about six weeks ago for two secret shows at The Rockwood Music Hall. There is a excellent video shot at their March 31, 2011 show which features some great vocal interplay between Richard and Norah waiting for you at Now I’ve Heard Everything. Just click here to see it.
–Eliot Wagner
No Words Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford
A Letter To Tiger Mom, Wicked Stepmothers, Babeland and More at Edgy Moms
You won’t want to miss: A Letter to Tiger Mom from Anaconda Mom at this week’s Edgy Moms.
Also just added: Barbara Ensor, will read about the stepmother to end all stepmothers from Cinderella (As If You Didn’t Already Know the Story).
And as another added treat: we will be raffling off some interesting items from Babeland, including their fabulous new book, Moregasm: Babeland’s Guide to Mind Blowing Sex. Says O Magazine: “The writers are as down-to-earth and funny as your closest friend.”
So what is an Edgy Mom?
She’s feisty and fun and a little bit zany. She whines to her friends and can be a bit of a martyr. She fantasizes about taking long trips without her children. She lets her kids have dessert before dinner and reheated pizza for breakfast. And she NEVER remembers to bring Cheeros or tissues to the playground. Except when she does and then she feels victorious.
Her kids have seen her fight with their dad, yell at her mother and curse her sister on the phone. They’ve watched her cry. She’s been know to throw away her children’s old toys and art supplies when they’re not around. And then pretend she doesn’t know where they are when they ask.
And she knows NEVER to miss Edgy Mother’s Day because it’s a blast and the wine is free.
Join us for this stellar line-up of writers, including Paola Corso, Jennifer Hayden, Judy Antell, Nancy McDermott, Sophia Romero, Yona McDonough and special guests who will rock you and shock you, make you laugh, cry, cheer and look at motherhood in a whole mother way.
See you on Thursday, May 19, 2011
@ The Old Stone House
Third Street between Fourth and Fifth Avenue in Park Slope’s Washington Park
Note: due to construction in the park enter on the Fourth Avenue side of the house
Curated by Louise Crawford and Sophia Romero
$5 donation includes free wine and snacks.
Photo of a lovely mermaid mom at the Coney Island Mermaid Parade by Hugh Crawford
S’Crapbook by Jennifer Hayden: Thumbs Down
No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford
Eszter Balint & Chris Cochrane at Barbès 8PM
Tonight at Barbes at 8PM, I can’t think of anything better to do than this:
Eszter Balint & Chris Cochrane: Jon Pareles of The New York Times has this to say about singer. songwriter and violinist Eszter Balint: “Miss Balint has her own film noir sensibility as a songwriter. She puts arty twists into back-alley Americana… but the cleverness is not the point. She slips inside her characters to project their restlessness and longing.” In addition to two releases of her own, Eszter Balint has also appeared on recordings by Michael Gira’s Angels of Light, Marc Ribot’s Los Cubanos Postizos, and John Lurie’s Marvin Pontiac’s Greatest Hits among many others. Balint recently toured with Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog, featured as special guest on violin and vocals. Eszter Balint will be performing some of her brand new material during this residency, accompanied by one of New York’s most inventive and fiercely passionate players, guitarist/composer/songwriter Chris Cochrane.
376 9th St. (corner of 6th Ave.) Park Slope, Brooklyn
OTBKB Music: Joey Ramone and General Johnson Take a Ride to Rockaway Beach
It really felt like summer this weekend, so in honor of the warm weather finally finding us, I’ve posted a video of The Ramones‘ song, Rockaway Beach over at Now I’ve Heard Everything. It’s a classic soul rearrangement by General Johnson, lead singer of The Chairmen of The Board (their big hit was Give Me Just a Little More Time), and sung by him and Joey Ramone. To see the video, just click here.
–Eliot Wagner