Cockney Rhyming Slang

Love Life

2008-06-12T12:28:00.000-07:00

TT!TV UPDATE

2008-05-07T11:41:00.000-07:00

Lack of updates because my life is rough, but look what Travis and I have been working on! TT!TV is going to be your new favorite show so get into it people! Look forward to an entire website and lots of exciting things after I finish finals!

Episode II: The Armory

Episode III: Young Lords

Episode IV: Reni Lane

So grab some popcorn, sit back, and take notes!

Welcome to TTTV

2008-04-02T21:19:00.000-07:00

Look forward to more TTTV, a glimpse into the world of Tiye and Travis.

Stuff My Dad E-mails Me

2008-03-23T22:08:00.000-07:00

Claiming to be the most innovative product of the year...

Joe Lean

2008-03-22T07:54:00.000-07:00

SXSW

Larry David

2008-03-10T21:58:00.000-07:00

We always agree.

Pretty much...

2008-03-09T21:39:00.000-07:00

Juno

2008-02-24T08:58:00.000-08:00

I effing hate that shit. I don't have time to rant on it now, but I just needed to get that out before the Oscars.

So hot right now.

2008-02-22T21:12:00.000-08:00

Remember when people would run for student council and be all like, "If you elect me student council vice prez, I promise to get new vending machines with soda and more half Wednesdays!" Those were the days.

Yes

2008-02-14T07:50:00.000-08:00

Steph found this for me...

Got 20 Minutes?

2008-02-12T23:18:00.000-08:00

Please watch this.

Neighbors

2008-02-12T20:30:00.001-08:00

My friends have all heard me complain a lot over my neighbors since I got back home. Spending that much time in Paris made me realize that, excluding my friends and loved ones, people are really inconsiderate in America. Since my neighbors are getting more annoying to me every day, I can't help but take my woes to the last refuge of bitching: blogging. That's what a blog is really, aside from a place to put up pictures, one big complaint.

SO

I have a new neighbor. She moved in while I was out of the country. My sleep-deprived whirlwind of a homecoming was capped off with the fact that I now share a paper thin wall with a loud young girl and her untrained never-stops-barking puppy. A loud young girl who is currently and very loudly having sex with her girlfriend. Women are so fucking annoying. I tried to tune out the noise, by watching Funny Games because what could be more of a turn off to them then the sound of shouting Germans from the other side of the wall? But my Netflix karma chose this moment to curse me! The DVD was scratched and froze my computer. I retrieved some headphones to listen to music, but then sound was horrifyingly transcended by bed shaking. I got up and made some tea and cursed the below freezing temperatures, sleet, and snow for trapping me inside my apartment for the evening with people who don't fall asleep after sex! I now have a completely new level of sympathy for men who choose post-coital sleep over chat. Damn women are annoying! Seriously, shut the fuck up. I know my neighbor's just trying to get me back because I keep watching Barack Obama videos on YouTube at 2AM and this is her way of letting me know she's for Hill. Also, Travis and I probably kept her up last night while we were watching Performance in the wee hours. But seriously all of that is nothing because SHE HAS A DOG! Dog covers paper, scissors, AND rocks in the world of tiny apartment dwelling! And loud lesbian sex covers all! I have no problems with anyone's sexual orientation this way or that, but there is nothing I hate more than noisy neighbors! Sound from another room is my number one pet peeve...even more annoying than the term "pet peeve".

So yeah, that's all I have to say about that. I hope that the previous paragraph had enough sexual words to get some perves over to read my blog. Welcome perves! And one final request to send out into the blogiverse. Please, if you're in a relationship with a girl with a dog...I beg you...go sleep with her at your apartment...her neighbor already has it bad enough with the dog. Thanks!

I Love Barack Obama

2008-02-11T10:11:00.000-08:00

This person knows what I mean.

This is England

2008-01-30T20:24:00.000-08:00

El Puerto

2008-01-17T04:09:00.000-08:00

Los Skaters

2008-01-15T14:53:00.000-08:00

Click for larger pics.

La Grippe

2008-01-11T09:58:00.000-08:00

My last days in Paris were destined to be in bed and not in the fun way. French flu is horrible. Tomorrow I go to Barcelona...should be something like this...

...right?

Les Seins

2008-01-11T09:55:00.000-08:00

Les Hommes

2008-01-11T09:33:00.000-08:00

Les Sculptures

2008-01-11T05:27:00.000-08:00

Les Arbres

2008-01-08T15:51:00.000-08:00

La Vue

2008-01-06T03:55:00.001-08:00

La Tour

2008-01-05T12:10:00.000-08:00

Les Skateurs

2008-01-03T15:07:00.000-08:00

La Nuit

2008-01-03T04:12:00.000-08:00

Le Jour

2008-01-01T04:07:00.000-08:00

Paris

2007-12-10T10:52:00.000-08:00

I leave tomorrow! Expect a lot of this...

and this...

and this...

Tea Party

2007-11-11T22:45:00.000-08:00

...madness...drunkness.

0.0

2007-11-04T12:09:00.000-08:00

Gogol Bordello

Typical Wednesday

2007-11-01T22:28:00.000-07:00

Et Pour Tous

2007-10-23T00:12:00.000-07:00

JUSTICE

Pour Vous

2007-10-21T22:14:00.000-07:00

Justice and Erol Alkan

Shawiiing

2007-10-17T22:19:00.000-07:00

The downside of CMJ is being force fed bands that you just don't care two flying ducks about. The downside gets deeper when you're on meds and can't drink. The upside is I managed to see some good bands today. Here's a sneak peak at the pictures...

Jack Penate

Vampire Weekend

White Williams

The Deadly Syndrome

I must say, aside from White Williams' nonstop hotness, the most pleasant suprise of the day was The Deadly Syndrome. They were the last band of the day for me, but I stayed and enjoyed the whole show even though I'm sleep deprived...and now I'm home writing about it because I just wanted to share the news...I think that says a lot.

The Calm

2007-10-15T21:32:00.000-07:00

CMJ starts tomorrow and I'm already feeling the sleep deprivation. If you want to keep updated on the amazingly amazingness, I'll be posting the shindig on imeem (FYI: I have pictures from every show that I go to that you may not see on this blog or Flickr on that profile). All of my CMJ updates will be on the CMJ imeem page. Confusing enough? Hope so.

Here are some pictures that I took at a really nice show in BK last night...

Chicks Man

2007-10-15T21:03:00.000-07:00

!!!(Chk Chk Chk)

Late Sunday

2007-10-15T10:42:00.000-07:00

From Beirut's September 26th performance in Central Park. Pictures on my Flickr.

Sooo Scene

2007-10-09T09:07:00.000-07:00

...my very first imeem music playlist.

Sick Week

2007-10-07T17:24:00.000-07:00

End of Summer Jam

2007-10-02T19:46:00.000-07:00

End of Summer Jam
(A.R.E. Weapons, The Vigins, SH SH SH SHARK ATTACK!!!, and ModRocket)

Eff being sick.

2007-10-01T12:16:00.000-07:00

I just got home from the doctor's office with a handful of new prescriptions and suddenly realised that I had tickets to see Animal Collective last night and forgot to go. I must have been deep in conversation with my best friend, Nyquil. The show was apparently a bomb, which sort of makes me feel better but not really. I did a bunch of shit last week that I'll get around to sharing one day, but not now.

Mystery Jets

2007-09-24T08:31:00.000-07:00

Mystery Jets

I'm really not digging this new venue, but Mystery Jets make my life. So great! However, I cannot believe they played without Henry. What is the point of being a dad band and not bringing dad along? Keith Murray stood in as step dad for one song, although I'm pretty sure they didn't even invite his drunk ass on stage, he just crawled up there. Tonight, they're playing Joe's pub.

Mystery Jets

Bulgarian Chicks

2007-09-21T09:59:00.000-07:00

Alec Kopyt and Eugene Hütz at Mehanata

Alec Kopyt and Eugene Hütz performed an extremely intimate show at Bulgarian Bar last night. Eugene played DJ the rest of the night/morning...and by DJ, I mean he had an orgy in the DJ booth while playing Super Taranta! on repeat. The hundreds of sweating bodies crammed into the basement didn't seem to mind.

Alec Kopyt and Eugene Hütz at Mehanata

Over This

2007-09-19T07:57:00.000-07:00

Bonde do Rolê

We all saw Bonde do Rolê back in April at Studio B and thought they were the shit and a half. Their return to Brooklyn was greatly anticipated and by far one of the biggest disappointments this year. These kids are clearly over their nightly American Apparel ad of a show. They still bring a ton of energy, but their vibe is negative where it once was carefree and fun. We left early. This was also my first visit to the brand spanking new Music Hall of Williamsburg (formerly Northsix). So wow, they did a lot of work on this place. Now all it needs is better music, cheaper drinks, and a crowd that doesn't shop at the Gap. A music venue cannot be built on cement and leather couches alone.

Pacemaker

2007-09-19T07:40:00.000-07:00

Jamie T

It should be evident by now that my opinion of Jamie T is completely biased. Needless to say, I had a ball at his show and was pleased as punch he came to our half cancelled after party (don't ask). The kid's alright. He even apologized to me onstage for accidentally elbowing me in the eye. How thoughtful...um yeah. Thursday was overall a weird day. I had a lot of stress and with one drink, it was all relieved in the form of verbal diarrhea. On that note, I should just stop typing. OK? OK.

Black Eyes

2007-09-14T09:42:00.000-07:00

I just finished unpacking yesterday hence no blog. Last night, Jamie T elbowed me in the face. He beats up girls before every show for shits and giggles. The man is out of control! It's the second time I've been elbowed in the face this week. I didn't get a black eye which sucks because it hurts to get elbowed in the face and I have no proof of my pain. I do, however, have more bruises than an old banana on my arms and legs thanks to running down North 6th in heels at 3am and falling once, twice, three times a lady. I'm trying to normalize. Bare with me. Or bear with me.

Ghosts at St. Mark's

2007-09-03T09:36:00.000-07:00

Aural Zoo

2007-09-02T08:22:00.001-07:00

Blondie

2007-08-31T08:27:00.000-07:00

Secrets out!

Jungle District

2007-08-30T08:41:00.000-07:00

Uncle Phil's Banjo

2007-08-13T07:40:00.000-07:00

...in case you needed a visual representation of insanity.

Babies and Bunnies

2007-08-10T13:29:00.000-07:00

The Cribs

White Rabbits

The first openers, Foreign Islands, were hands down the best of the three bands that played Bowery Ballroom last night but I didn't take any photos of them. Sue me.

Wiz Kids

2007-08-09T09:23:00.000-07:00

Spy Camera Haircut

2007-08-08T07:24:00.000-07:00

Antonioni

2007-08-02T14:03:00.000-07:00

"I always want to tell stories. But they must be stories that evolve, like our own lives. Perhaps what I seek is a new kind of story."
- Michelangelo Antonioni

Ingmar Bergman died the same day. Sad.

I'm Alive!

2007-07-23T11:19:00.000-07:00

Gogol Bordello

I just had one of the best weekends on record for sure because all I did was read Harry Potter and see Gogol Bordello. That is literally all I did...two of my favorite activities. I lost many bodily fluids in the process because I cried like a baby while reading and I don't think I've ever sweat as much in my whole life as I did in those two nights of Gogol Bordello. My better judgment forced me to opt out of the Siren Festival. The morning of, I had a whooping cough and once the mail man hand-delivered that beautiful giant book to me, I knew the only force that could pry me away from it would be this...

Amazingness. I may be crazy for going two nights in a row. I may be crazy for being up front in the mess of it all for every minute of it. And I may be crazy for a lot of other Gogol-related things. But now I have that video of Hütz to make me feel a little less crazy.

Gogol Bordello

Honestly, what can be said about this band? If you haven't seen them live, I suggest fixing that as soon as physically possible. As a great connoisseur of many a concert, I can tell you there is no other live experience that comes close. Listening to the albums or watching videos is nothing compared to giving into the full body hysteria of this show. Two days to chase them to Romania, kids!

potterpotterpotterpotterpotter

2007-07-22T23:29:00.000-07:00

ZOMG

Place your bets!

2007-07-19T18:47:00.000-07:00

Can I survive through the weekend? Who knows these things? The next two days of my life are going to be rough and I'm hardly prepared. I knew it was coming and was planning on resting up this week. Queue the arrival of Jamie T, my stubborn ass wanting to show him a great time, and the return of my strep throat which I thought I had kicked a week ago. But never fear! I'm back on some prescriptions and I'm relying on them along with adrenaline to get me through the next 56 hours of Gogol Bordello, Bulgarian Bar, The Siren Music Festival, and...just to prove I'm completely crazy...more Gogol Bordello. Who in their right mind would go see that band two nights in a row? Who?! If I survive to Sunday, I'll be ready to snuggle up with my antibiotics and Harry Potter. I figured I've waited this long to read it, so waiting an extra 24 hours won't hurt...OK now you know I'm crazy.

Pool Party

2007-07-18T10:30:00.000-07:00

Jamie T

Last night, Jamie T packed them in like sardines at Union Pool. The last time I was at Union Pool, I was not only being kicked out, but made to climb over a barbed wire fence in the process. Fond memories, indeed. It was nice to legally enjoy this place for the first time. Turns out to be quite the charming venue with a tiny old fashioned theatre, a great courtyard, and as you can see a real photo booth. Oh yeah...and some good tunes as well...

Jamie T

Londaaan

2007-07-16T14:11:00.001-07:00

So this kid is back in town. Fun.

Rewind

2007-07-16T13:35:00.001-07:00

Courtney Love

Alright! Approved, I am. When Courtney Love played Hiro Ballroom last Thursday, only a few pre-approved brats like myself were allowed to document it. Let's just ignore the fact that the show was packed with amateur photographers snapping away with everything from Canons to Sidekicks. So what made me so special? Well I got to watch soundcheck and I got to go backstage after. Let's also ignore the fact that I was forbidden to snap any pictures once given these privilages. If it was an artist I actually had an interest in, I'm sure I'd be more upset. Luckily...

Courtney Love

I was covering the event for imeem and though I may not love Love, it certainly beats a desk by a mile. Mile and a half even! One of many highlights from the evening was finding out that Courtney Love's new guitarist happened to be former Larrikin Love guitarist, Miko Larkin. So pleased I was to see a member of a dear departed band I thought I'd never hear from again. I think he was equally pleased to meet an American who actually knew who he was. Another highlight was meeting BP Fallon and having him tell me I had an "amazing vibe" only to mishear him and thank him for complimenting my bag.

Courtney

2007-07-14T10:40:00.000-07:00

La Prohibida

I'm not able to share pictures from Courtney Love's show yet because they have to be pre-approved. Luckily, La Prohibida performed at Nacotheque last night and she doesn't demand her pictures to be pre-approved because she knows she looks good.

Earlier in the evening, after enjoying a bit of Menomena at South Street Seaport, I was kidnapped by a dozen Asian girls. They promptly took me to the West Village and force fed me vodka and champagne.

It was after this when we all stumbled down to Don Hill's for a a very special gigantic Friday Nacotheque.

Around 3AM, Raphael and I found it necissary to go over to Mehanata. This wee hour of the morning is usually the best time to pay a visit to the Bulgarian Bar if there's a good party, however we decided it was a better idea just to sit in the middle of the sidewalk outside. By this time, I had also deemed it necissary to wear huge glasses.

I'm planning on dying of exhaustian on the Bulgarian Bar floor next week after engaging in a debauched 48 hours of madness courtesy of some crazy old men. Speaking of Madonna, have you seen this?

Them Virgins

2007-07-05T09:20:00.000-07:00

The Virgins

Tuesday night was a giant never ending benefit party at St. Mark's Church. It was seemingly packed with every hipster in the metropolitan area, but not in the annoyingly intense way you might expect. It was good fun. People just hung out in the garden a little tipsy while most of the bands played inside. A little past 2AM, The Virgins started playing causing everyone to pile into the church and go crazy for them. Mass hallucination at its very best. They're a good band...but are they that good? Whether their catchy tunes warranted it or not, the crowd reaction is really what made this show great.

The Virgins

Yesterday, I woke up with a 102 fever. Good times.

Church Party

2007-07-04T08:06:00.001-07:00

Last night was mental. More on this later. For now, enjoy a clip of The Virgins in action.

Under My Umbrella...ella

2007-07-02T17:54:00.001-07:00

After avoiding going out and partying for a week, I crawled out of my cave on Friday to go see Daylight's for the Birds play at Cake Shop. It was the debut of their highly anticipated (by me) cover of Rihanna's "Umbrella" hence the short clip up there. A few photos on my Flickr as well.

I left Cake Shop for Fat Baby to go meet up my long lost brother, Travis, who I barely get to see nowadays because he is nursing dear Dante back to health in Philly. Walking through Fat Baby on a Friday night is like date rape city! The L.E.S. in general has become a vortex into bridge and tunnel hell. But apparently that does little to stop us kooks from going to Ruff Club. I stood in the Annex basement completely sober for about a half hour, explaining my theory that you have to take several weeks off from Ruff Club to forget how awful it is until you eventually wind up there again, before I went home and slept like a bay bay.

Speaking of the dearest side of the lower east, remember the photoshoot I did for Vice to be a L.E.S. Sim? Well, the website for it is up HERE. I really wanted to register so I could see my character but apparently it's full and no more people can sign up now. Damn! It is seriously the creepiest thing imaginable. The fact that some guy in middle America could use a virtual me to to virtually dance at virtual 205 or virtually shop at virtual American Apparel doesn't exactly sit well with me. Gawker puts it oh so well.

Moving on! Looking for an apartment in NYC is just about my least favorite activity. It's the kind of activity that appeals to someone who likes fishing in the desert. After a frustrating day, I told myself I would stay in and relax which is always the beginning to a wild night out. The roof of my building was invaded by Long Island and I decided it was time to jet. I met up with some friends at a new bar that was right next to a horrible ~~closet~~ apartment I had looked at hours before. When there was a break in the rain, a few of us went to Home Sweet Home for those Young Lords' new night. This is the new Saturday night for sure. If the real L.E.S. is making you feel more like you live in Vice's V.L.E.S, you should try out this party because it's fun without being too intense to have a sit down.

That's really all the excitement I have to share. My two main activities of the moment are looking for an apartment and stressing over looking for an apartment. One day I'll be back to normal...or closer to it.

Andy Rooney wrote this.

2007-06-27T18:37:00.000-07:00

Photo Credit

I'm stuck inside this evening because the sky is opening up. I've been reading Dostoevsky but my brain has become too scattered to continue. Instead, I've decided to write a mindless blog about Myspace, of all things. I guess it was my scatter-brained mindless browsing on Myspace this evening that led me to this scatter-brained mindless blog. I think the appeal of Myspace is that no matter how scatter-brained and mindless you think you are, you're always a mere click away from someone much more scattered and much less...brained. Or so you think.

The best people to click on are people who you haven't seen in a few months or more and you go to their pictures and think, "Damn. You got crazy." You're probably reading this thinking I mean you and I don't. Unless you happen to be that crazy ass person I know who is gradually taking on the personality of some delusional muppet...according to Myspace.

"Damn. You got crazy," is one of the five seemingly automatic responses that I have to any given person on Myspace, the others being:
"Oh hell no."
"Why must you be gay?!"
"Why did I do that with you?"
"Why are you a DJ?!?!!"
Other than that, it's just guttural noises.

Why do people have pages and pages of pictures that they took of themselves? I think it's OK to have pictures like this...like one or two, not ten pages of them. And why do boys that I've hooked up with have to look like freakin creeps in pictures?! Maybe I just like creeps. No. You know it's not a good sign when you shriek and shut your laptop as soon as your eyes come across a picture thumbnail. "I swear he was hot when"...finishing that sentence is like most depressing MadLib ever. "...when I was drunk...when we were twelve...in that basement..." all the same person, of course. Wild times when I was twelve.

The worst is when you figure out that all of your friends basically know each other in some way or another. It's like Oldboy or something. Gross.

Nonstop Hotness

2007-06-20T12:40:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Travis, Dante, and I decided we would go to the top of the Empire State building. After we found out it was $18 per person to ride an elevator, we decided against it. Instead, we walked to Central Park where we took a canoe out. After a lot of sugar and Sparks, we thought it was a good idea to walk the 50 blocks to Columbia. Now that I'm looking at the pictures Travis and I took, I see I'm wearing the same thing I did last time I did this walk. Walking through sketchy neighborhoods at night wearing a little dress makes me realize how lucky I am to have friends who can protect me. Speaking of cute little outfits...

Beirut Bear

2007-06-18T09:57:00.000-07:00

Neck Spasm

2007-06-14T09:57:00.000-07:00

Franz Ferdinand

Last night was ROUGH! My neck hurts so bad from being front and center for not one...not two...but three amazing performances from UK's finest. That sounds like I'm not complaining, but I am. My neck hurts so bad right now. I'm going to cry.

Franz Ferdinand kicked the night off at The Bowery Ballroom. They were good fun. I must say that I never understood why people found Alex Kapranos so attractive, but now I do. Man's got sass. I only knew two of the songs they played. I'm sure there are thousands upon thousands of die hard Franz fans around the world who want to kick my ass knowing that I stood mere feet away from these Glasgow gods of theirs. I should really just rename this blog to "I'm Sure You Want to Kick My Ass".

Franz Ferdinand

After their set, I piled into a cab with a bunch of crazy girls to jet down the the Knitting Factory. I walked in the door at the same moment The Pigeon Detectives walked on the unlit stage.

The Pigeon Detectives

They were amazing. The stage there is so small and it was a completely different experience from seeing them in Austin a few months ago. They're so unknown in America and don't have a record label here which is a shame because they're really a head above a lot of the same old UK bands in terms of their live shows and quality of their songs. What I mean to say is I likes 'em! And after an endless night of upbeat Brit tunes, their songs are the ones still stuck in my head this morning.

The Rakes

The Rakes were the headliners at this show. One look at Alan's wrist told me he had been at The Bowery Ballroom earlier that night too. The Rakes are another fantastically underrated UK band. Kill the sound guy at The Knitting Factory for drowning out the vocals with way too much bass the entire show. I was jazzed to see them play but by this time, my neck was already killing me and I was standing next to drunk girl. It was that girl who my mom always warned me never to become and after a few minutes I was sworn off of alcohol all together. Click the captions for all the pictures.

Family Fun

2007-06-13T09:42:00.000-07:00

Last night, after some serious rule bending, Eric and I saw Akron/Family play at Bowery Ballroom. The two of us don't exactly have the best history of success with this sort of thing, so I was relieved when we got inside unscathed. I had never heard Akron/Family before and I found them pretty impressive. They were like voodoo bluegrass sonic animal youth collective...only not as good as that. Don't get me wrong, they were really good but voodoo bluegrass sonic animal youth collective sounds like the best sounding thing in the world that certainly would have melted my brain five times. It was amazing how into it the kids at this show were...certainly the biggest audience reaction to a band I've seen since Gogol Bordello...maybe not quite that intense, but seeing a bunch of white kids break out into tribal dance seemed pretty intense at the time.

When I got back last night, I nearly cried when I found out that The Pigeon Detectives had played Knitting Factory with The Rakes. This morning I see they have decided to make it a two night affair. Small problem...Franz Ferdinand. Dear Franz, please finish your set before 11pm so I have a chance to run down to Tribeca and see The Pigeon Detectives. Pleasepleasepleaseplease!!! Hmm, I hope that works. I saw The Pigeon Detective at SXSW and they were the shit. Great live band.

Earlier in the day, I went to the Museum Mile Festival for the free museums and block party only there was torrential rain leaving me with Poiret and two inches of water in my shoes.

Theque Two

2007-06-10T14:50:00.000-07:00

Get it? Take two!!?! Shut up! Continuing with my never ending yesterday, I headed down to Nacoteque around 1AM...so I guess that's technically today...still counts! Since I started yapping about this party, about a dozen people promised to come with me, but all of them mysteriously never showed up. Jerks! Their loss, it was fun as fuck. It was the CD release party for Bonde do Role and I took half a dozen CD's at the door out of my love for them.

Beat Up Old Fellas

2007-06-10T13:26:00.000-07:00

We Are Scientists

Last night I went to see Beat Up Old Fellas open for The Spinto Band. They only played new songs. While they did attempt to play around different beats and distortions, they have seemingly abandoned the danceable catchy tunes that made them worth listening to in the first place. It was like Bloc Party part II, ignoring what your good at in favor of slower, longer, zzZzzz...Ouch! It pains me more than anyone (except Shelana) to say this about a band I loved BUT there are so many bands and musicians out there. SO MANY! There has to be a reason for me to listen and watch and last night it was hard to find one.

We Are Scientists

Soon after I broke Shelana's heart with a single text, Jay came and hung out with me on the American Apparel bench for a while and I took a really cool picture of him...

If you couldn't tell by now, Ross and I figured out how to take these weird night pictures with my camera. Observe our experiment from earlier in the day but be warned of its overwhelming attractiveness...

MOVING ON! I went back to Mercury Lounge to catch The Spinto Band play to a half empty room.

The Spinto Band

Good times. More to come.

Uhu Gareth Pugh

2007-06-10T13:17:00.000-07:00

Mere days after spotting Mr. Pugh out and about, someone at imeem offered me a pass to Tomorrow Unlimited. Small world, right? Yesterday I went to view the gallery and listen to Gareth Pugh and Matthew Stone discuss their artist collective beginnings as squatters in London. It made me think I need to move to London because paying no rent whatsoever seems ideal.

Yesterday was kind of the longest day of my life. It started with breakfast at the horribly overrated Spotted Pig with my brother, Ross, and our godmother in the wee hours of pre-noon and continued endlessly from there. I'll post the lot.

The Man Who Came to Stay

2007-06-08T11:33:00.000-07:00

Daymn! Sweet Peter is looking mighty fine as Cavalli's new poster boy.

Darkroom

2007-06-07T09:23:00.000-07:00

Last night, all the town's people came out to Darkroom as it was Sophia Lamar's birthday. I was jazzed to see Gareth Pugh there...and no, that does not count as a name drop as I didn't meet or talk to him, but rather pointed and giggled with glee and awe of him and his genius. The usual suspects were there to take photos so you know where to look if you're really that interested. For now, enjoy the few snaps I took while getting my nightly dose of second hand smoke.

Hey kids, meet Raphael...

Raphael likes to take retarded pictures of me....

Raphael is my dear dear friend and he always captures my down's beautifully.

Franz

2007-06-07T09:02:00.000-07:00

OK, I'll admit I'm not the biggest Franz Ferdinand fan. I mean I like them alright, I'm just not die hard like a lot of people are for them. They always make me think of being eighteen years old at Club Bang in Hollywood trying my best not to crack a smile lest the scene kids find me weak. That being said, I couldn't resist the chance seeing them play Bowery Ballroom next week. COME ON! Seeing a band that normally plays air fields playing at a venue this small is just too enticing. It sold out in less than a minute so I'm feeling extra proud.

New to Me

2007-06-05T08:58:00.000-07:00

This was filmed a few months ago, but is it ever really too late to share some Beirut? Happy Tuesday!

Yeehaa

2007-06-04T12:51:00.000-07:00

I definitely fell into my bed at 6 AM this Monday morning after several hours in the dark dungeon that is Home Sweet Home. It was the last Sunday for Young Lords before they switch to Saturdays and they let me have a go at being real pretend NYC DJ for a little bit. After a few thoughtful selections, I couldn't resist playing Heartbeats if only to truly feel for one sweet moment that I was a real pretend NYC DJ. Harrr.

Les Animaux

2007-06-02T09:04:00.000-07:00

Animal Collective

It's getting really hot here in the city. I can't complain because anything is better than cold in my book. Summer has started...even though technically it hasn't, I can definitely feel Summer in the air.

Last night, Animal Collective played for free at South Street Seaport. It was threatening to rain on my parade all day but it never did. It was a beautiful night to enjoy three guys making sounds. While walking back uptown, Eric and I decided that it was necessary to have a strange sound contest. The true winner of that competition would likely be the people of Chinatown who were lucky enough to be awoken to the sweet sounds our vocal experimentation.

Animal Collective

Earlier in the day, I went to a photo shoot for Vice. They said that they were using my clothes, hair, and overall likeness for a Sim-like character that people can choose to explore a virtual L.E.S. scene with on their website. Ummm...yeah...I got fifty bucks, so I'm set. So I guess keep checking their website for a chance to virtually be me and virtually do things Vice thinks I do!

Bday

2007-06-01T07:12:00.000-07:00

Last night was Brendon's official birthday celebration night. One of many over the past week. We ate tacos at Fat Baby followed by a normal debauched night on the L.E.S. I managed to get home at a reasonable hour and am really proud of myself for being up early because today is a long and full day. More to come... Oh and I got my hair did!

Pedestrianisation

2007-05-30T10:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, after having our minds blown by Killer of Sheep, Eric and I decided to go for a walk. We walked and walked and walked some more. We ended up in Harlem, walked over to Columbia, enrolled as premed students...that or just sat in the courtyard making echo noises. No matter how long I have lived in this city, I find it's always possible to explore it as a foreigner. My new camera loved it.

New Camera Time

2007-05-29T09:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was day one with my new lovely camera. This morning, I dropped it for the first of what will probably be many times. It survived. Check the results...

zZZz

2007-05-27T16:57:00.000-07:00

I'm so tired. I'm about to die! Why am I not sleeping?! Friday night was the best time. Travis and I got smashed courtesy of my Peruvian ~~sugar daddy~~ friend buying us drinks non stop. We bounced around the L.E.S. until unfortunately ending up and a dreadful Ruff Club crowded with bridge and tunnellers...ew. Anywho we had a ball and did things that you will never hear about ever.

Last night, a smart person would have slept. Thank goodness for my missing brain cells because I went to Nacotheque instead. I had never been but heard the best things and after enjoying last week's events, couldn't wait to partake in more Spanish speaking fun. We danced hard until 4am to songs that I didn't know a word to...that is except when they played Spanish versions of American songs. I had the best best time. This party comes with my seal of approval as it is filled with extremely attractive people both inside and out. Ha! Hi, I'm being corny. My ever present stupidity was clearly with me when I decided to go to the after party. One sunrise later I was sound asleep...for a few hours, at least.

Today I am BEAT! My Dad bought me a new camera (yay! Love you, dad!) and I had to pick it up from the high school drop out store where I wasted an hour of my life. Travis and I went shopping which I'm sure was a similar experience to dragging a zombie down the road as I was out of it. But he was great company as I stressed over what to wear to Motherfucker tonight. Getting dressed is hard enough for me, let alone in theme. !@#$%^&*...eff. I'm so tired I kind of really don't want to go. We'll see. On one hand we have The Faint and good times all around. On the other hand we have my warm welcoming bed...oh, and my sanity. Tough decisions must be made!

r.i.Pod

2007-05-26T09:37:00.001-07:00

Eff. My iPod has died.

Ferry Fairies

2007-05-24T10:14:00.000-07:00

Last night, after making a brief appearance at High Voltage and then getting a little more than tipsy at Lit, Travis Wayne, Dante, and myself decided to take a ride on the Staten Island Ferry at 3am. We were joined by some drunken sailors in town for fleet week. Unfortunately, Sex and the City lied to us and this entire fleet was full of man titties (their words, not mine). We still had fun and eventually I'll have a nicely edited video of it all. For now, enjoy these pictures.

Oh hell yes.

2007-05-23T15:28:00.001-07:00

Photo Credit

Gogol Bordello are playing two nights in a row at the Irvingfilmorplazastfu. If any band knew how to sort a visa, it would be this one, so I don't expect any push backs from them. I'm jazzed.

Oh hell no.

2007-05-23T15:16:00.000-07:00

Mystery Jets were denied visas and have to push back their shows here...FOREVER! OK, not forever but seriously eff that. This is about the 500th time this has happened to a band I'm seeing this year. Yes I'm bummed, but now I have June 1st wide open. Should I got to CSS or Animal Collective? Hmmm...decisions, decisions.

Backtracking

2007-05-21T13:26:00.000-07:00

So I've pretty much ignored this blog long enough. Thought I would catch you up on my life's events in reverse order. I'm hoping that by doing this, I will encourage myself to blog more once again.

That picture of me and Ross when we were three and seven is sitting right next to me now. I'm in DC visiting my parents and eating Wheat Thins...that's all they ever have to eat here. Last week they visited me in NYC. We went to a screening for my non-camera filmmaking class which was the first public exhibition of my first attempt at film. Pretty sweet. Someone in my class took my film to get a digital print made to be shown at a gallery in London in June. If all goes well, maybe I'll be able to post it here someday. We shall see. When I gave him my film canister, I took some sharp scratching tools out of it, put them in my bag, and forgot about them until two days later when I was coming back to my apartment in the wee hours of the morning. I pushed my hip against my door to forced it open only to have my hip met with one of the sharp little tools successfully stabbing me in the leg. Not really the best thing to have to deal with at 5am. I'm OK though.

Moving on, I saw Patrick Wolf...again. OK I love Patrick, but I've definitely had my fill. Yikes! I can't believe I'm saying that, but his show at Bowery was a little more glitter than I could deal with. Pictures? Voila!

Patrick Wolf

The week before that show, we all partied at Happy Endings. That was fun if only because Patrick rapped along with the musical stylings of Fergie. Good times...go back to England plzthnx. Ouch! I'm kidding. Why am I being mean? Who knows? I love Patrick. He has a unicorn tattooed on his chest! Take that for what it's worth.

I thought this would be in reverse chronological order, but really it's just turning out to be Tiye's random scatter-brained order. Learn to deal! I got back $80 last week by not going to see The Kooks or Arctic Monkeys. Good move, me thinks. Big venues plus all ages plus bands I already have seen many a time equals my ad on craigslist.

Last Friday, I went to a party in one of the nicest apartments I've been to in recent memory. So nice, I wanted to cry. It was really fun, but I was the only person there who didn't speak Spanish. Everyone knew English anyhow, so it was all fine until a bunch of us went to a little after party at which point not a single word of English was uttered for the rest of the night...I mean morning. Those few hours were spent watching people dance and sing their hearts out to every word of Spanish pop songs that I had never heard of. It was like when you go to a party and they play Will Smith and everyone knows the words to Men in Black...like that...in Spanish. Needless to say it was freakin awesome.

Friday's events will no doubt produce a great source for my embarrassment. I'm sick of having incriminating photos taken of me...I need to take some of my own! I'm going to start taking more pictures this summer, so look forward to that. I just got a killer job which I'll go into more detail about later next week after everything is finalized. For now I'll just let you know that once you find out what it is, you'll just think I'm a lucky bitch...not that you don't already think that...but it's really sweet and along those lines. What else? What else?

Last week Travis was away in Philly for way longer than I could stand. Hopefully that picture will help you understand. There will be a lot of stuff for you to live vicariously through posted on here next week. Promise!

The Man

2007-05-10T09:24:00.000-07:00

Photo Credit

Hedi Slimane is subtlety and style incarnate. He not only has an eye for beautiful things, but takes amazingly beautiful photographs and has honestly become one of my favorite photographers. Plus he shares my disco ball infatuation. Here are two of his new pictures of the man, Peter. Click the caption for more.

Greetings from Beirut

2007-05-07T13:38:00.000-07:00

Beirut

Last night at Bowery Ballroom was one of my favorite concerts I've ever been to...that's saying a lot...in the top five for sure. My pictures are all up on my Flickr. As soon as I walked in I saw Ed Droste, reminding me of the last really great show I went to. Ah memories. But I couldn't bare to say anything to him because I'm using parts of 'Marla' on the soundtrack for my experimental film I made at school. I'm sure he would really love to know that...only not. I learned that The Arcade Fire were also there when some of them played on stage with Beirut for the encore. So I finally got to see the Arcade Fire! If that wasn't enough indie name dropping already, Sufjan Stevens was there too, but I didn't see him...good thing or I might be dead on the Bowery floor right now if I had.

Final Fantasy

Final Fantasy opened and set the bar high. I've only listened to him on my iPod before, so seeing how he creates his one-man orchestrations live was amazing. A projection artist created things on stage as he played. It was really a beautiful set. Beirut came on with their horns for the last song and it was the first extreme high point of a show filled with them. This makes me sound like a total wussy but I was close to crying. WUSSY! But still...wow.

Beirut

Zach Condon is trying to make up for every slacker kid my age by being scary kid genius my age. It's hard to believe that Beirut's music does not come from a wised old man far beyond my age and experience, not some American kid who just turned 21 like me! Recently I've been on a really big Eastern European/Balkan kick, listening to anything from Boban Macovic to Leningrad, and Beirut has been the greatest nurturing source to that kick. I feel like seeing them live last night filled me up with enough happy to run off of for a long time.

Having gone out every night for the last week...month...or so...I decided to take my joy and go to sleep. On my way I walked right into Zach and briefly thanked him for the amazing show. I'm pretty sure I said the word "amazing" to him a dozen times in thirty seconds. It was. Seemed that most of the audience had a similar appreciation. At one interval between songs, a woman shouted out, "Never stop!" and then the quote of the night, "Stop tuning!" A world where Beirut's music never stopped playing for a moment seems ideal and certainly the one I'm in now, for it's been playing in my head even as I sleep.

Funny Things Said to Shey at 3am

2007-05-02T07:31:00.000-07:00

I thought I would share some eloquent quotes from my drunken self...

"He thought we were dating, but we weren't...anyways at least he didn't like PENIS!"

"Now he's like a freakin rugby player...a bedazzled rugby player."

"He's so retarded. Please tell him I said that. No don't. ...He's going to grow up to be a pedophile. Please tell him that. No don't."

Those quotes are all about different people. I wonder if anyone other than Sarah would be able to guess who they were about. Good thing I don't have to contemplate that because Sarah's the only person who reads my blog! Good times.

Easy Steps to Better Your Mood

2007-04-29T13:14:00.000-07:00

Step 1: Listen to Beirut before bed.

Step 2: Listen to Beirut upon waking.

Trust me, it works. Having amazing friends and family helps too. Sorry for the lack of anything on here. Finals. Life. etc.

One more step...

Methodddd

2007-04-25T21:20:00.000-07:00

~~Bob~~ Cate

Jarvis (or asdfghjkl;')

2007-04-24T15:20:00.000-07:00

Jarvis Cocker

Really, what can be said? Jarvis Cocker is a legend and I was thrilled to see him perform just like I've always imagined. He takes top prizes in both dance moves and stage banter. He spoke about how being inside Webster Hall felt like being inside a pyramid where milk stays fresh and razor blades stay sharp which would be worthless to the ancient Egyptians who, according to Jarvis, did not shave. What that has to do with anything whatsoever, I don't really know. Click the caption for the full set of photos.

After the show was a very debauched night, indeed. Bouncing around the Lower East Side until the wee hours of the morning has become a frequent pastime. I got to meet Jarvis and briefly shower him with praise at zee Annex followed by hours of absolute ridiculousness.

After a brief slumber, I took pictures of Travis looking like Christian Bale...

and a few of us in our matchy matchy outfits...

We got up early to soak in the perfect weather with the hope it might cure our hangovers. It helped but now I'm about to collapse. I'm really only writing this because I'm in the midst of a shitload of homework which I should be getting back to....now.

100!!!

2007-04-24T15:19:00.000-07:00

Just had to get that out of my system.

about to die

2007-04-23T11:10:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry, but the weather has been too nice and I've been too busy to do this blog thang for a while. Just wanted to share my excitement a bit. I'm seeing Jarvis Cocker tonight and then I plan to die happy.

Vomtastic

2007-04-18T13:18:00.000-07:00

Instead of doing my homework, I would just like to alert you all to the fact that I am very sick. Do you have any idea how painful it is to loose two pounds in less than ten hours? I'm very sure you don't want to know. Today, I made progress because I can actually walk around my apartment a bit. Being sick sucks! Owww, it's hurting my arms to write this! I had a dream that there was a giant red and blue hen/parrot creature sitting on a telephone wire...judging me. Boo! I'm going to go back to watching The Tudors for historical purposes. Twee!

Holy Water

2007-04-15T13:21:00.000-07:00

Saw The Gossip last night. Beth Ditto wore a gold lamé dress. It was the hotness to say the least. After, I was supposed to hang out with my Swedish friend and his really hot visiting Swedish friend but I was tired and a half by the time I got home and just went to bed. This morning I was met with a voicemail box filled with the funniest Swedish drunk dials ever. Good times.

New York is about five feet under water right now and I hear it's about to get worse. I was out a few hours ago and the puddles are deep enough to almost go over my wellies. Part of me would really love to Swedish it up right now and the other part is thinking it's DVD time instead. Yesterday, I watched Happiness of the Katakuris for one of my classes and that was some effed up shit. Now, I need something like Harry Potter to cleanse my pallet.

Now that's more like it!

2007-04-14T10:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I was in a sour mood and the cynical part of me was already planning to title this entry "Klaxons Mehnia" as the whole week had been a bit of a disappointment. Of course, you readers must adjust to Tiye's meaning of disappointment which is basically anything less than over the moon and back again. I have high standards, what can I say? High standards that were not being met after I went two for two with crowded pretentious parties earlier in the week.

Knowing I wanted to catch Bonde Do Role, I breezed into Studio B around what I thought was a frighteningly early time only to be met by the most packed crowd I've ever witnessed there. Despite the insane crowd and the scorching temperature, Bonde Do Role were fantastic fun and tempered my bad mood a bit. Cue the end of their set and standing around looking at strobe lights for half an hour getting more and more ticked off.

A century later, Klaxons finally took the stage. I watched the first half of the set from a perch on the side of the DJ booth and the second half on the far side of the stage. That venue always has interesting ways to get a great view. Klaxons definitely abolished any thought of me calling them "meh" last night. It was a perfect venue and, despite being packed, an amazing crowd. The show seemed to enter a higher realm when they played Magick. After stretching out the pause at the climax, they kicked back into the song at double the volume and the room erupted. People were going nuts and it fed into the energy of the performance. Let me just take this opportunity to thank the sound guy at Studio B. Amazing.

After the show, me and my band of outsiders embarrassed ourselves a few times by trying to chase down cabs until we gave up and walked over to Royal Oak. After some quality time there, some of us went to 3rd Ward for a rave. It was pretty awesome, but it seemed that everyone there had taken all the free drugs before we got there leaving us to wander the delirious halls a bit too sober until we decided to jet. It was a pretty fun night. No pictures...from anyone apparently. Use your imaginations!

I can't even...

2007-04-13T08:56:00.000-07:00

I believe these photos are by Roger Sargent. I'm trying to compose a single thought but I'm a little overwhelmed.

I'm about to cry

2007-04-12T20:03:00.000-07:00

*dies*