Posted in In Store on April 30th, 2008 by Ultragrrrl
In my mind, I’m picturing Almack’s writer, Lauren Mooney, at the Santogold instore wearing American Apparel gold spandax pants and a hypercolor tshirt from 1987… plus neon green wayfarers. But she probably wore black and she probably didn’t go just so she could see if Ashlee Simpson was there, like I would’ve. “Outta My Head” is fucking awesome. She made that. Santogold, not Ashlee and not Lauren. Read her review of the instore:
Posted in Live Shows on April 30th, 2008 by Ultragrrrl
New Almack’s correspondant, Sarah Protzman, went to check out Goldfrapp’s performance at Beacon Theatre last night and I’m really quite shocked she didnt’ care too much for it. Read on to find out why:
What happens when the Jam’s frontman Paul Weller collaborates with Noel Gallagher from Oasis? I have a seizure from excitement! You can hear the track, “Echoes Round the Sun”, on Stereogum. Weller is releasing 22 Dreams 6/24 on Yep Roc — it’s a two-disc, 21-track, 70-minute album(s) with guests like: Graham Coxon, Ocean Colour Scene’s Steve Cradock, Little Barrie, ex-Stone Roses guitarist Aziz Ibrahim, and Oasis’ Gem Archer and Noel Gallagher. I am about to pull out all my old Melody Maker magazines and blow a load. That’s entertainment?
I guess the collaboration Linkin Park did with Jay-Z a few years back went well since the band is teaming up with another hip hop genius: Busta Rhymes. Hoo-ha. Check out the two collaborate in a video for “We Made It”. I liked LP’s first album (weird, right?), but this video is whackjuice. Too over the top.
Like I said, the world is turning into my brain circa 1998, so naturally, Morrissey performed “Irish Blood, English Heart” on the Craig Ferguson show. I have a tea cup that Moz drank out of that Marc Spitz stole for me when he interviewed the Mozfather in 2003. I drink out of it almost daily. Anyway… Moz was wearing an American Idol shirt while performing, which is kinda genius and sort of makes me want to buy one myself now. You can see a video of this here. Oh, and can we talk about last night’s Idol? I had been waiting for like the ENTIRE SEASON, if not my entire life, for it to be Neil Diamond night on AI, and it was an abomination!!!!! First off, the songs were rushed beyond belief. The song choices were all horrible for each contestant (really, Archuleta should not have sun “Sweet Caroline”), and the two most Neil-worthy contestants — minus my sweetie Jason Castro — were kicked off (carly and michael)!!!!!! Neil should shoot them all. Also, I left a voice mail for my book editors to send the contestants my latest book called the Pocket Karaoke because I pay such strong attention to the Neil chapter. It was my favorite to write. I doubt sent the books because the performances wouldn’t have sucked so bad if they did.
Absolutepunk.net has the tourdates for Modest Mouse and REM. I bet you Michael Stipe is like “OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGG I’M TOURING WITH JOHNNY MARR!!!!”
Mark your calendars for May 3 because that’s the official date when Radiohead becomes music for the VH1 crowd. But that’s OK because VH1 is airing a show called Radiohead_In Rainbows_From the Basement. You can watch a teaser for it featuring “Reckoner” here:
Oh God do I love Thom Yorke. SEE!!!! 1998!!!!!! ALL OVER AGAIN BECAUSE EVIDENTLY MY BRAIN IS NOW DICTATING POP CULTURE AND IT DECIDED TO PULL FROM THE BEST FUCKING MUSICAL PERIOD.
Plan your Bamboozle with set times. This doesn’t come from my brain circa 1998 except for the fact that I met Bryan from Saves the Day when I was 18 at some party. But he’s not even in the band anymore and hasn’t been for almost 10 years. But I am in the album art for Through Being Cool. Find me. The pizza scene. I hadn’t even heard the band before, thank God they’re pretty god.
After finally catching Jones Street Boys one freezing winter evening at Mercury Lounge just prior to seeing Cloverfield, as they warmed our hearts even with songs like “Winter’s Waltz” (I think that was the name), I couldn’t think of anything more enjoyable than catching them at Pianos in the Spring. Sadly, I wasnt able to do that on Saturday, but our good friend Shruti Ganguly was. Here’s her report:
One of my favorite bloggers, Kathy Cacace, was sent to cover the Fiery Furnaces at Brooklyn’s Southpaw on Saturday. As always, she writes the best shit:
The Fiery Furnaces are one of those bands I never entirely made up my mind about, so it’s extremely difficult to convince someone to go to their show with you. I was listening to Blueberry Boat for the first time in ages while washing dishes and, about six minutes into “Quay Cur,” my roommate, my most likely show buddy, said, “Hey. I—I don’t really like this.” I tried to defend them with my favorite song off of Gallowsbird’s Bark, “Rub-Alcohol Blues,” but I don’t think I won him over. But I wasn’t entirely won over myself; the great parts of the Fiery Furnaces’ complicated, eccentric albums are great, but the difficult parts always make me skip around to the Futureheads, or Felix da Housecat, or some other, easier “F” in my iTunes.
More after the jump Read more »
New Almack’s correspondant, Dena Singer, went to check out Guns N’ Roses on Friday night… well, not really GNR, a GNR cover band, but probably just as fufilling. Axl is kinda Wacko-Jacko these days, and I don’t know if I like it. Seeing a cover band is kinda like dating someone because they look or remind you of Johnny Depp, which I’m guilty of, so basically, I endorse it.
Dena’s tale to tell after the jump (w/ pix!): Read more »
One of the sweetest boys I’ve met in the past year is Meik Strapp. He comes out to all the shows I promote and is always up front taking photos and sharing them with the world. He’s like a cheerleader with a camera and a sweet wife. When he asked if he could contribute to Almacks, I was like “Duh!!!” So Meik went to the WBAR-BQ to check out a bagillion bands despite being under the weather. I think I might have to check out a few of these bands next time they play.
Posted in Live Shows on April 26th, 2008 by Ultragrrrl
I decided to try something new with this site by having two people review the same show. So we have Christine’s review here and if you continue reading you will enjoy Yvonne’s fantastic review AND photos.
Posted in Live Shows on April 26th, 2008 by Ultragrrrl
Samantha Moore went to check out mathrockers, the Foals and Epochs. She brought photographer Annie Lesser along with her. Despite having 3 beers dumped on top of her, she had an amazing time… well, maybe it was because of all the beer that got dumped on her! Read her review:
In an effort to be everywhere at once, we’re going to be introducing a lot of new correspondants for Almack’s in the coming weeks. Introducing Christine Paolino! Here is her review of Kate Nash’s Webster Hall show:
Posted in Live Shows on April 25th, 2008 by Ultragrrrl
Samantha Moore has been covering shows for Almack’s while I’ve been holed up in Miami celebrating Passover week with my family. She went to check out Zooey Deshanel’s new band She and Him when they played a show on campus.
I have become totally obsessed with American Idol this season, which might be ironic since everyone is up in arms about how it’s the worst season ever — which I totally disagree with, — and how the ratings are down. Isn’t everything down this year? The economy, record sales, my emotions. It’s all down.
OMFG! I love that Gossip Girl’s advertisements appeal to my sensibilities… and apparently Albert Hammond, or so Miss Modernage reports in her daily Strokes update.
Posted in Live Shows on April 23rd, 2008 by Ultragrrrl
I fucking love Samantha Moore for two reasons: 1. She reminds me so much of my first roommate Elizabeth Goodman, whom I love. 2. She is young enough to not know about the hype that surrounded Smoosh a few years ago. Reading her show reviews is like reading my blog back in 2003 when we had the first wave of Strokes-like bands that were actually the Strokes. I sent her to see Tokyo Police Club at Bowery Ballroom so she could have one of her “I was there!!” moments. Check back here in a couple weeks when we post an acoustic performance by the band, filmed in my living room about a year and a half ago when David Monks used to call my couch a bed. Here’s her story:
