Here it is. I’ve finally finished my list of some really interesting things to do New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Click on read more for the essential details.

Continue reading OTBKB’s Weekend List: New Year’s Eve/Day Edition →

It’s almost January so it’s time for the monthly music calendar.  Next month is absolutely jammed packed with good shows, assuming that we don’t have another city-stopping blizzard.  Click here to go to Now I’ve Heard Everything and see what the beginning of 2011 has in store musically.

And since New Years Eve is drawing close, click here for your second chance to see a listing of  (mostly) low cost or free music amenable to last minute planning over at Now I’ve Heard Everything.

–Eliot Wagner

If you are still looking for something musical to do on New Years Eve, here are some shows with no cover or not all that expensive tickets (and one not so cheap show).  Those shows which are not charging covers and which are only selling tickets at the door are where you should head if you are making up your mind Friday night.  Click here to see the listings at Now I’ve Heard Everything.

–Eliot Wagner

Here’s an excerpt from the poem Snow Day by Billy Collins:

Today we woke up to a revolution of snow,
its white flag waving over everything,
the landscape vanished,
not a single mouse to punctuate the blankness,
and beyond these windows

the government buildings smothered,
schools and libraries buried, the post office lost
under the noiseless drift,
the paths of trains softly blocked,
the world fallen under this falling.

In a while I will put on some boots
and step out like someone walking in water,
and the dog will porpoise through the drifts,
and I will shake a laden branch,
sending a cold shower down on us both…

You can read the rest here

“A few light taps upon the pane made him turn to the window. It had begun to snow again. He watched sleepily the flakes, silver and dark, falling obliquely against the lamplight. The time had come for him to set out on his journey westward. Yes, the newspapers were right: snow was general all over Ireland. It was falling on every part of the dark central plain, on the treeless hills, falling softly upon the Bog of Allen and, farther westward, softly falling into the dark mutinous Shannon waves. It was falling, too, upon every part of the lonely churchyard on the hill where Michael Furey lay buried. It lay thickly drifted on the crooked crosses and headstones, on the spears of the little gate, on the barren thorns. His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead.”

From The Dead by James Joyce

Here are the second five albums in my Best of 2010 list.  It’s an interesting coincidence that I saw each of these bands live before I ever heard their records.

Madison Square Gardeners – Taste the Thunder: Perhaps one of the most fun bands to see live out there these days, The Madison Square Gardeners deliver an EP which shows what they do so well, and that is flat out rock.  From the ruefully cynical I Was Born With Nothing (And I’ve Still Got Half of It Left) to the joyously upbeat Young and In Love, The Gardeners give you more of what you listen to a rock band for.

Phosphorescent – Here’s to Taking It Easy: Phosphorescent was not on my radar screen until I saw them do a live show inside a record store, where they knocked me out.  This record is mostly mid-tempo rock with some inspired lead guitar, akin to early 70s Neil Young.  The songs have enough room and time here, including Mermaid Parade and the eight minute stand out, Los Angeles.

Eli “Paperboy” Reed – Come and Get It: This neo-soul album from Brooklyn-based (via the Boston-area) Eli “Paperboy” Reed is the real deal.  One of the best live acts I’ve ever seen, Eli leads his large (including horns) band through 12 songs including the title track and Name Calling.  Make no mistake, this is not a recreation of anything, it is a continuation of the lineage of 60s soul.

Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds: Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds is a nine-piece (including horns) rock/soul/funk band fronted by small framed and big voiced Arleigh Kincheloe who also writes their material.  They have been packing them into the Lower East Side’s Rockwood Music Hall for the the past two years and it’s nice to finally have a record which documents well what they do.  If you’ve already seen Sister Sparrow, you’ll want to get this record.  If not, once you listen to this record, you’ll want to see them live.  This CD is a party in a jewel box, with Freight Train the standout cut.

Watson Twins – Talking to You, Talking to Me: With keyboards once again added to their songs, The Watson Twins (sisters Chandra and Leigh Watson) shine on this record.  With influences ranging from from folk-rock, soul and Pink Floyd, one finds all sorts of interesting musical thoughts popping up in The Watson Twins’ music.  Here, from the short and punchy U N Me, to the extended Midnight, and on to the bass driven The Devil in You, the sisterly harmonies and strong song writing make this collection stand out.

–Eliot Wagner

Mr. Popper’s Penguins, the film adaptation of the 1938 children’s book written by Richard and Florence Atwater, has been shooting the last few days on Montgomery Place in Park Slope.

The film stars Jim Carrey and is directed by Mark Water, who directed Mean Girls. The cinematographer, Florian Balhaus, is a resident of Park Slope. The film, which also stars Carla Guigno, Angela Lansbury, Philip Baker Hall and Madeline Carroll, has been shooting for the last two months at Steiner Studios in the Navy Yard section of Brooklyn.

Upcountry Maui plantation cottage $260K: CasaCara

Prospects Heights is not all brownstones: CasaCara

Wanna hear my to do list?: Reclaimed Home

Herman Miller blocks: Swiss Miss

Robot wallpaper: Swiss Miss

Kim and Scott white and bright: Limestone Adventures

Romanesque Revival: Park Slope Patch

“Passed and paled into the darkening land, the world to come.”

All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy

It’s time to trot out the best of the year list, and I’ll spend today and Friday doing just that.   This Best Albums  list will  be presented in two parts.

2010 was a pretty good year musically with a bit of a pick up in quantity and quality from 2009.  It seems that it was also the year of the EP, and three of the top 10 albums are, in fact, EPs.  Note that nine out of the 10 bands that comprise this list are NYC based; four and parts of another are Brooklyn-based.  And eight out of the nine play around town frequently.

The top album of 2010 is:

Steve Wynn & The Miracle 3 – Northern Aggression:  I’ve said this for years: Steve Wynn and The Miracle 3 (Jason Victor, Dave DeCastro and Linda Pitmon) are the best rock band out there. This album contains 11 songs (10 Steve originals and a cover) that run the gamut of styles (including straight ahead rock, psychedelia, rock/funk and soft rock ballad).  Some songs were recorded live in the studio and one was even made up on the spot (Consider the Source).  But no matter what, you get great musicianship and songwriting on each track.  It was well worth the five year wait since the last Miracle 3 album.  If  you like rock, get this album.

The rest are presented in alphabetical order

Del-Lords – Under Construction: The Del-Lords are a New York City based band active in from 1984-90, playing a straight-ahead brand of rock with some of the most intelligent lyrics anywhere.  They came back together again this year and put out this five song EP to bring with them on their short tour of Spain early this year.  The songs here are presented as rough mixes,  but they sound great.  When the Drugs Kick In (a profoundly anti-drug song) and Silverlake are the standouts here.

Sasha Dobson – Burn:  This six-song EP is the first record from Sasha Dobson since 2006, when she released Modern Romance.  Sasha’s voice is a clean and pure as before, but this record is sparked by the four songs on which Steven Elliot plays tasty, imaginative and even blistering lead guitar.  While Sasha had rock elements in her music previously, she jumps all in to the rock pool here on those songs.  Two additional songs which have more jazz leanings round out this excellent outing.

Maura Kennedy – Parade of Echoes: Maura Kennedy, along with her husband Pete, has been one half of the duo, The Kennedys, for the past 15 years.  She steps out on her own for the first time with this album, and it is a winner.  Although longtime listeners to The Kennedys will find much that is familiar here, the 13 songs here were all Maura’s own (all the original songs by The Kennedys are co-writes by Maura and Pete).  This is definitely a rock record, and the song Chains delivers all the power chords you’ll need.

James Maddock – Live at Rockwood Music Hall: I don’t know who has a better time at a James Maddock show; the band or the audience.  No matter, a James Maddock show is someplace between a concert and a party. This live album finally captures that feeling and puts you right in the audience.  As good as lat year’s Sunrise on Avenue C was (and it made the NIHE Best Albums list then), this record really gives you an idea of what James and his band can do with their material in a live setting.  Most of the songs come from Sunrise, with a couple off of  Songs from Stamford Hill, the album by James’ former band, Wood.  Although James’ material is pretty much all mid tempo, it really rocks here.

Part 2 of The Best Albums of 2010 will appear Friday.

–Eliot Wagner

Today Eliot Wagner is celebrating the first birthday of Now I’ve Heard Everything, his wonderful NYC music blog. Hard to believe he’s only  been doing it for a year. Prior to starting the blog, he wrote posts for OTBKB three times a week, which he still does (they link to NIHE). He briefly wrote music posts for the Gowanus Lounge.

Eliot is passionate about music and has been involved with music and radio in New York City all of his life.

In the late 60s and 70s, he spent a lot of time at The Fillmore East, The Academy of Music, The Palladium and anywhere bands would set up and play. He was present when Lou Reed and Bob Dylan recorded seminal live albums.

Throughout the 70s and early 80s, radio was his constant companion. Sometimes the dial would be set on WPLJ, sometimes on WPIX, but mostly it would be set at 102.7, WNEW-FM.

These days he can be found  listening to music in Brooklyn and the Lower East Side and here on the Internet. Now that he has a blog, it is his mission to give readers a “continuing music education” and help expand their horizons and learn about the great music that’s out there.

The other night I saw Eliot at the Keren Ann and Danya Kurtz show. He’s a great fan, a great appreciator of music and a walking encyclopedia of the music he loves.

Happy Birthday, Eliot.

Hugh took the No Words Daily Pix picture last night during the eclipse. At 4AM I woke up to the sound of him leaving the apartment with his camera, tripod and other equipment.

He stood on the corner of Third Street  and Sixth Avenue and took pictures Our neighbor Tim gave him some gloves to wear.

Prior to that Hugh was gloveless and so inspired.

At about 3:30 AM, the beautiful full moon rose above New York City. The Earth passed between the sun and the moon. It cast a shadow on the moon with unusual colors.

According to NASA (via Tonic) “the moon reflected even richer colors because there were extra particles in the air due to recent volcanic activity.”

Tim: thanks for the gloves. Thanks be to the universe for the eclipse. And thanks Hugh for the beautiful picture.

“But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.”

From Middlemarch by George Eliot

Even this week, the week before Christmas, there’s still lots of live music out there.  I want to draw your attention to tonight’s Willie Nile (with a full band) show at Don Hill’s in Soho at 7:30pm, which was announced only on Willie’s Facebook page.  For the rest of the week, including a performance of Jewmongous on Christmas Eve and Dar Williams at The Bell House on December 26th, check the handy list I’ve prepared for you here at Now I’ve Heard Everything.

–Eliot Wagner

It’s Saturday and there’s lots to get done and so much to do. Movies, theater, art, dance and music. Speaking of music, tonight Harry and the Potters bring their Yule Ball to The Bell House. Draco and the Malfoys with be there, too.

And shopping:  Gifted at the Brooklyn Flea, Kings County General Store at Southpaw on Sunday, a Holiday Craft Fair at the Brooklyn Lyceum and just added a holiday shopping party at Urban Alchemist. Click on read more for all the essential details of what I’ve listed so far.

Continue reading OTBKB Weekend List: Dec 18-19 →

“He would be there all night, and he would be there when Jem waked up in the morning.”

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (1960)

Twas the weekend before Christmas and there’s loads to do in the way of movies, music, theater, dance and art.

And shopping. It’s an especially great weekend for shopping what with Gifted at the Brooklyn Flea, Kings County General Store at Southpaw on Sunday and a Holiday Craft Fair at the Brooklyn Lyceum. Click on read more for all the essential details of what I’ve listed so far.

Continue reading OTBKB’s Weekend List: Friday-Sunday →

Last night at Feast, Brooklyn Reading Works’ annual benefit reading for the food pantry at St. Augustine’s Church, Eliot Wagner, of Now I’ve Heard Everything told me that Neil Young played at the Bell House on Wednesday night with his wife, guitarist Pegi Young, who was playing with guitar legend, Burt Jansch.

Dang, I wish I’d followed my own bloggy advice and gone to the show. Dang, I hope you followed my advice and went to the show. I’ve been to two shows recently at the Bell House and I’m becoming quite a fan of the place. You can’t miss over there: it’s a wonderful place to hear music.

Bklyn Vegan and he has a review and mountains of pictures. Here’s an excerpt and just one pix from BV.

Young made the surprise guest appearance as part of his wife Pegi’s backing band, the opening act, and kept to the shadows most of the night. Bathed in dark crimson light, he filled in his wife’s rollicking, twangy sound with subdued yet accented guitar licks, that unmistakable gritty rhythm style, and on one occasion harmonica. Even in just a supporting role, his focus was impenetrable. When Neil Young raises his guitar neck and dons that irascible stare, it commands attention like a force of nature. Pegi finished off her set with a version of Neil outtake “Doghouse,” graciously letting her man share the spotlight as he sang backup and finally splayed out a solo.

But the highlight of the show was Jansch; his complex acoustic ruminations sprang to life like a Celtic fable, and his vocals, softer with age, tranquilly voiced stories that were equally anguished and joyous…

Photos by Bklyn Vegan

Second Dan is a Brooklyn-based band with a lead singer, Dan Rosen,  who comes from Australia, Melbourne to be exact.  They put out a very good album this year, titled Angeline.  Their new video, shot on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, is of the title track.  It’s quite charming.  See it a Now I’ve Heard Everything by clicking here.

–Eliot Wagner

“Beneath her body are the cool stone and the whole mountain, enormous and solid and infinite. She thinks: How thin is the crust of Earth.”

From To The End of the Land by David Grossman

Are you hungry for some stir fried fiction, fresh baked poetry and deep dish prose? On Thursday, December 16 at 8PM come feast on a succulent bounty from writers who use food as metaphor, motif and mnemonics of meaning. Bring an appetite for good writing and real snacks by Chef Ame Gilbert, who will be preparing tasty treats for you to enjoy.

This event is a benefit for the food pantry at St. Augustine’s Roman Catholic Church in Park Slope. You are invited to donate what you wish. Suggested donation is $5, which includes snacks by Ame Gilbert and wine. Feel free to give more for those in need.

The writers on the literary menu include: Greg Fuchs, Jim Behrle, Louise Crawford, Michele Madigan Somerville, Peter Catapano, Sophia Romero, Amy Gilbert and Jake Siegel.

The Old Stone House is located at Fifth Avenue and Third Street in Park Slope. For more information go to theoldstonehouse.org or brooklynreadingworks.com

I have two music videos today, one from Milton and another from Harper Blynn.  Both Milton and Pete Harper lived here in Park Slope for a while; I used to see both on 7th Avenue.

Milton moved away about a year ago, but he and his band played  The Living Room last week.  They’ll all be back there in February for their customary four week residency.  Until then, click here to see the video of the song Grand Hotel, a story of friendship and rueful disappointment.

I’m not sure whether Pete Harper is still here (he’s on the road a lot these days) but it’s probably been a year since I’ve seen him around.  He’s one of the two frontmen in the band Harper Blynn (J Blynn is the other).  They have been playing The Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2 on Tuesday nights, and they’ll have one more Tuesday night show there next week.  Click here for a video of their song Models and Dancers.

–Eliot Wagner

“Einstein walks back to his desk, sits down for a moment, and then returns to the window. He feels empty. He has no interest in reviewing patents or talking to Besso or thinking of physics. He feels empty, and he stares without interest at the tiny black speck and the Alps. “

From Einstein Dreams by Alan Lightman

Brooklyn-based Dayna Kurtz played a really strong show at The Bell House Friday night, opening for Keren Ann.  Dayna closed her part of the show with her song, Love Got in the Way.  Watch a video of Dayna singing that song over at Now I’ve Heard Everything by clicking here.

Saturday night Elliot Murphy was in from France (where he has lived for the last two decades) with his band, The Normandy All Stars, playing The Rockwood Music Hall.  Originally from Long Island, Elliott still has quite a following in the NYC area.  The show was billed as “An Evening with Elliott Murphy,” and as the show lasted two hours, I’d say that was exactly what it was.  See photos from the show at Now I’ve Heard Everything by clicking here.

–Eliot Wagner

Are you hungry for some stir fried fiction, fresh baked poetry and deep dish prose? On Thursday, December 16 at 8PM come feast on a succulent bounty from writers who use food as metaphor, motif and mnemonics of meaning. Bring an appetite for good writing and real snacks by Chef Ame Gilbert, who will be preparing tasty treats for you to enjoy.

This event is a benefit for the food pantry at St. Augustine’s Roman Catholic Church in Park Slope. You are invited to donate what you wish. Suggested donation is $5, which includes snacks by Ame Gilbert and wine. Feel free to give more for those in need.

The writers on the literary menu include: Greg Fuchs, Jim Behrle, Louise Crawford, Michele Madigan Somerville, Peter Catapano, Sophia Romero, Amy Gilbert and Jake Siegel.

The Old Stone House is located at Fifth Avenue and Third Street in Park Slope. For more information go to theoldstonehouse.org or brooklynreadingworks.com

“In the world according to her father, Jenny Garp knew, we must have energy. Her famous grandmother, Jenny Fields, once though of us as Externals, Vital Organs, Absentees, and Goners. But in the world according to Garp, we are all terminal cases.”

From The World According to Garp by John Irving

On Thursday night photography enthusiasts, including No Words Daily Pix and Stylefile NYC , headed to the Levi’s Photo Workshop to listen to renowned photographer Bruce Davidson lead a discussion on his life’s work in photography. Best known for his works “Brooklyn Gangs,” “East 100^th Street” and “Central Park,” Davidson showcased works from a variety of projects he’s worked on over the past 50 years, shedding light on how projects materialized and explaining how he gained the trust of his subjects.

Following the presentation, the forum was opened up to the audience – both in-house and those watching live via the Levi’s Facebook page (over 35, 000 viewers tuned in!). The audience listened as Davidson discussed the most frightening moment of his career and his plans to revisit Los Angeles in early 2011. Afterwards, Davidson signed copies of his latest retrospective, Outside/Inside.

“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past”

From The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Tonight’s bill at The Bell House, with Keren Ann and Dayna Kurtz looks to be quite an interesting one.  First up will be Brooklyn’s Dayna Kurtz.  Tonight’s set will be made up of songs from a forthcoming album from Danya consisting of mid 20th century r&b, jazz and/or blues songs which have not been previously covered or covered only once.  Then, Keren Ann, who last toured in 2007, will be playing a set which will include some material from her album titled 101 which is completed and scheduled to be released in March.

Get all the details about this close to home show at Now I’ve Heard Everything by clicking here.

–Eliot Wagner