James Murphy x NYC Subway System

Very interesting idea and I'd love to see this in place- it's interesting (for at least a minute) to listen to the turnstiles moving during rush hour as is - but if done right, this would add a lot more personality and character to NYC's subterranean commuting world...but let's think of another funding channel besides the MTA.

Bleeker Bob's

Check out this really great quick doc on the West Village's Bleeker Bob's record store. Make a point to get there before they shut their doors!

Danzig: 10/29/11

Danzig at Hammerstein Ballroom, 10/29/11.

Music For Landscapes: Central Park (Listen to the Light)

The Making of Listen to the Light by BLUEBRAIN from BLUEBRAIN on Vimeo.

This is an interesting idea from a duo calling themselves Bluebrain where they have created two apps, one for the National Mall in DC and another for Central Park in NYC, that utilize your phone's gps to relate your geographic location to a section of original music that they have composed. The group essentially mapped out regions of each park and put music to each zone which will change as the listener moves along the different geographic locations. I made a point to try out the Central Park version and it is an interesting experience (Although I was a tad skeptical at first because I wasn't sure if I wanted someone telling me how to have an experience.). I also wanted to figure out a bit on how the app changes between regions, how the mix is effected and what may happen if one stands in one place for a bit of time. The music changes between regions subtly where one piece gently gives way to another which appears at first low in the mix. If you stand in one place, the music is designed to loop, but not noticeably. The app is free, so if anything else, it's a good excuse to get to the park - if that excuse was really needed.

Occupy Wall Street

I visited the "Occupy Wall Street" protest today in Liberty Plaza and left with no more of a sense of the movement's purpose as when I arrived (I only had a vague idea of what the protest was attempting to accomplish before this afternoon.).  A key problem I see is that the message is too diffuse and not focused enough and is generally centered on money and how policy has handled wealth leading up to and after the financial collapse.  I am not sure what the group intends the endpoint to be but it appears that it will mostly be awareness (probably no actual policy change).  To me, the most interesting aspect of all of this is how social media and technology has shaped organized gatherings for cause - O.W.S. began and continues to survive through a large online presence, not dissimilar to the successful Arab Spring revolution (just not as radical).

Ende Tymes

I was in attendance this past Sunday for the film screening @ Outpost. While at Outpost, I witnessed a small crowd of experimental film enthusiasts fall asleep, get up for water (and exclaim "fuck!"), laugh and observe how others were handling A 25 MINUTE FILM BASED SOLELY ON A DRUM BEAT BOUNCING WATER AND REFLECTING LIGHT BACK INTO THE LENSE OF 1 STATIONARY CAMERA SHOT. ...But the other films were interesting and Outpost is a nice space off the Hawley L stop.

Atlas Sound @ St. Cecilia's Church, Greenpoint: 06/16/11

Thurston Moore @ Other Music: 05/23/11

This is the scene an iPhone without flash attached to an elongated arm captured as its owner was pressed against the back row of records at Other Music tonight. Thurston and band played through most of Demolished Thoughts...bravo indeed.

41 Strings @ Good Units 05/11/11

I went in to this thinking it would be an experimental, abstraction of string based sound but it was hardly that. The performance consisted of around 30 minutes (split up into maybe 5 pieces) of emotive violin/cello/viola sections, upright base, churning electric base and steady drum lines. Nice space, good stuff.

Ty Segall @ KCDC Skate Shop: 04/28/11

Ty Segall playing on a half pipe at KCDC...one man band style.

New York, 197?

Yeah, sure a lot has changed...but judging by this clip, a lot is still the same (I'm looking at you, "kooks").

William Basinski @ Other Music - 03/24/11

I was lucky enough to check out William Basinski improvising on 30 year old analog tape loops...this is ambient music, but to me, the way Basinski arrives at the final sound is the most intriguing part of the experience. Each piece of tape has it's own story and comes to it's own conclusion...perhaps differently each time.

Kurt Vile @ Generation Records 03/08/11

This was one of three in-stores Kurt played Tuesday night. I was lucky enough to slide into the Generation Records basement to check out his second gig of the night. The sound was pretty fantastic and Kurt ran through around 45 minutes of material.

PS1: 02/19/11

This is by far the biggest video game I have ever played. I mean, I jumped through fire, over water, fought giant karate men and possibly a scorpion then calmly walked to the next room to soak in some contemporary fringe art.

NYC Extreme Urban Exploring

This dude is absolutely crazy and I'm so glad he captured all of this rad footage of the old City Hall station, Canal Street sewers, Lincoln Tunnel tunnels and the top of the Williamsburg bridge...because I was totally going to go out and do all of that stuff myself. What a maniac!

Union Square - 01/19/11

Usually these dudes don't do it for me...but then I saw this guy!

Union Square - 01/19/11