September 11, 2009 · 5:03 PM

Jam of the Day – Twin Tower Sights and Hotel Lights

Today marks the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center attacks here in the city, and for the third consecutive year, the commemoration was held at Zuccotti Park, right next to ground zero. The Times has a pretty great re-cap of the events here. And although the weather no doubt made standing outside for the ceremony a bit more difficult, it will certainly make seeing the commemorative twin columns of light that much easier to check out tonight:

WTC Twin Columns of Light - from Flickr user Sister72

WTC Twin Columns of Light - from Flickr user Sister72

Another light shining tonight, but in Brooklyn, is Hotel Lights. Hotel Lights is lead by Darren Jessee, who was the drummer for Ben Folds Five. Jessee is joined by Alan Weatherhead of Sparklehorse on Hotel Lights recordings, and they have made some really low-key tracks that they describe as “melancholy and beautiful songs about small, human scenes– spot lit moments enclosed and illuminated.” Sounds like the perfect soundtrack for today.

Come check out Darren Jessee tonight at Pete’s Candy Store, where he will play a solo set starting at 8 PM. He’s followed by indie rock band Falcon 9, as well as author Nic Brown, who will be reading selections from his new novel “Floodmakers.”

Hotel Lights – A.M. Slow Golden Hit:

-Drew

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September 10, 2009 · 4:34 PM

Jam of the Day – Everybody Come Outside Tonight

Tonight marks the first night of Fashion Week in NYC. In a bid to make it all seem a little less incongruous to be flaunting terribly expensive, high-fashion clothing and attending exclusive VIP events in the midst of a recession, the first night this year is being billed as Fashion’s Night Out, an event conceived by American Vogue, NYC & Company, the City of New York, and the Council of Fashion Designers of America “to enliven again the consumer spirit that churns the economy and boosts the local industry of America’s fashion capital, New York City.” The main point of the evening, of course, is to get people excited to spend money on fashion (and then actually part with the cash), and about 700 retailers and designers across New York City are confirmed participants in the event. These stores will stay open until 11:00 PM, and have been encouraged to provide “creative customer experiences” for everyone walking around and enjoying the fashion. Maybe you’ll see Diddy! Or Anna Wintour! But probably not.

As part of all the festivities this evening, one of our favorite bands, Bear Hands, will be playing a free show tonight in Rockefeller Center, right where the tree usually goes. The show kicks off at 6:30 with a set from Savoir Adore, and Bear Hands goes on last, from 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM.

Joining the line-up, and hitting the stage at 7:45 PM, are Cincinnati-based “art-pop” foursome Pomegranates. Their music has been described online as hinting at early Modest Mouse or Death Cab for Cutie (the later seems more relevant), but they sort of sound more like American Football or early Piebald to these old-emo-loving ears. No matter how you slice it (it’s a fruit, get it?!), I’m definitely feeling this band. And from what I can hear online, they sounds great live. Check out their session at Daytrotter and you’ll hear what I mean. So come on out tonight and support some great bands (and fashion)!

If you aren’t able to make it to Rockefeller Center by 7:45, don’t fret! Pomegranates are also playing tonight at Bruar Falls, in Williamsburg, around 10:00 PM, and at Union Hall, in Park Slope, tomorrow night.

The jam today is a live video of the band playing “In the Kitchen,” from their debut LP, Everything Is Alive, released in May, 2008. Their most recent release was this spring’s Everybody, Come Outside!.

Pomegranates – In the Kitchen:

-Drew

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September 9, 2009 · 7:19 PM

Jam of the Day – Beatlemania Strikes Back

Over the past month, in anticipation of today’s release of both, The Beatles: Rock Band, and the remastered editions of all 12 studio albums from the Fab Four, so many people have been writing about The Beatles and the return of Beatlemania, that there’s even an article about the articles. But if you haven’t had enough meta-news yet, check out Beatlesnews.com for even more coverage of the coverage!

The digitally remastered versions of all of the Beatles studio albums will each feature the artwork and track listings as they were originally released in the U.K., and some albums will come with expanded booklets with rare pictures and new liner notes. For a limited time, each of the albums will also be “embedded” with a brief documentary about its making. And while most people will purchase the remastered discs in stereo sound, the complete remastered box set is also available in an even more limited-edition mono version, for the true Beatles purists (apparently John and Paul never cared much for studio production, and the first few records were all recorded in mono; George Harrison was the real audiophile in the group).

While the concept of The Beatles: Rock Band sounds exciting, I don’t know if we could get quite as euphoric as the Times did when they explained that “By reinterpreting an essential symbol of one generation in the medium and technology of another, The Beatles: Rock Band provides a transformative entertainment experience. In that sense it may be the most important video game yet made.” To a Beatles fan yes, to a Sim City or Halo fan, probably not.

In celebration of renewing and reinventing the old, here’s a fun video and image collage of the Fab Four that begins in their younger days and carries straight through their career. It plays over one of our favorite, and in-arguably one of the best, Beatles songs ever, “Let It Be.”

The Beatles – Let It Be:

-ev2bk

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September 8, 2009 · 11:38 PM

Jam of the Day – Raekwon’s OB4CL2 Finally Drops, on Account of Being So Hot

Today Raekwon finally dropped his long-delayed and much-anticipated record Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. II, the follow up to his classic 1995 hit. And really, it feels like these tracks are taking us back to another era, when the Chef and the rest of the Wu breathren dominated over dope, rugged beats. It’s really good. I’m kind of excited to listen to it again.

Tonight, a few lucky ticket holders are heading to Santos Party House to check out the “Ice Water Inc & Littles present: RAEKWON, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II” release party, hosted by Diddy and Hot 97’s Peter Rosenberg, with music by DJ Kid Capri. Basically everyone who is on the record is performing live tonight:
GHOSTFACE KILLAH
METHOD MAN
BEANIE SIGEL
TALIB KWELI
SLICK RICK
BUSTA RHYMES
LYFE JENNINGS

Somehow Raekwon managed to keep this from leaking until it dropped today, which is a pretty shocking and impressive feat these days. So if you want to listen to the record in full before buying it, check it out here. Help the Chef eat! But in the meantime, if you can’t make it tonight for the live show, here’s one of my favorite tracks off the album, with an old school beat from Dr. Dre and featuring Lyfe Jennings.

Raekwon – Catalina (ft. Lyfe Jennings):

-Drew

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September 8, 2009 · 2:34 PM

JOTD Update – Official Boy Crisis ‘Fountain of Youth’ Video

As a final update to our series of posts about the new “Fountain of Youth” video from Boy Crisis, here’s the official final version, directed by Jordan Fish, which they just posted earlier today.

Boy Crisis – Fountain of Youth:

Boy Crisis is also playing a show tonight at Cameo Gallery, in Williamsburg. Come see what they’re wearing this time!

-Drew

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September 4, 2009 · 9:08 PM

ev2bk Live Music – Elizabeth & the Catapult Performing “Momma’s Boy”

Elizabeth & the Catapult @ Music Hall of Williamsburg - September 3, 2009

Elizabeth & the Catapult @ Music Hall of Williamsburg - September 3, 2009

Last night, at their homecoming performance, Elizabeth & the Catapult rocked it. They had the audience fully engaged and along for the ride, mentioning numerous times how excited they were to be playing back home, and to this particularly supportive crowd. Temporarily, the magic spell was broken when the band was ushered off-stage for a melancholy duet between Elizabeth and Jeff Taylor, but they were able to bring the mood back up to close the show on a high note.

Elizabeth & the Catapult – Momma’s Boy (Live @ Music Hall of Williamsburg, 9/3/09):

-ev2bk

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