Marathon '33 at Webster Hall... If I Had the Disposable Income!!

I would sooo be at this tonight if I had the disposable income... But I've already overspent to see Chromeo, The Punk Princess (off-Broadway show), and the Raveonettes this coming week....! Here's to enjoying the decadence of the city!

Celebrate the recession with
THE ORIGINAL REALITY SHOW:
MARATHON DANCING

ENJOY AN EXCITING STAGE SHOW
We're transforming Webster Hall, 125 East 11th Street, into a 1930's dance hall for MARATHON '33 — a special presentation of a new stage show inspired by Miss June Havoc's 1963 play of the same title — for one night only on Monday, October 19, beginning at 6:30pm. Tomé Cousin and Peter Gregus will direct and choreograph a cast of more than twenty performers as they jitterbug and jive to the sounds of a bygone era.

Tony Award-winning Broadway Star
Karen Ziemba
will entertain with 30s era songs!

CLASSIC FUN FOOD OF THE TIME
In addition to the entertainment, we'll be serving the comfort foods of the era, and of today too,
including hot dogs, pretzels, peanuts, cotton candy and beer.

RAFFLES & DOOR PRIZES
Chances to win trips, jewelry, theatre tickets - including FINIAN'S RAINBOW and THE TOXIC AVENGER - and more,
along with other surprises will add to the evening's fun.

This Once-In-A-Lifetime, Theatrically Historical Event will honor Abingdon's Board Chairman Emeritus Margot London,
and our Special Guest of Honor Julie Harris,
who created the role of Jean Reed in the original Broadway production of
MARATHON '33.

The fun begins at 6:30pm with swing lessons taught by Myrna Caceres from The 92nd Street Y with the assistance of Fred Velde from the Workshop Theater. This will be followed by a featured duet by the Mark Stewart Dance Theatre. The stage show begins at 8:00pm, and will be followed by drinks and dancing into the wee hours. Vintage dress is optional.

Premium tickets at $250, including a Private VIP Reception,
are available by CLICKING HERE

or Balcony view tickets at $50 are available by CLICKING HERE

GBH Events: Dollar Daze at Webster, Anti-Pop Consortium and More!

I have to re-post this informative and exciting e-mail from the party-promoters at GBH.

BLACK DEVIL DISCO CLUB LIVE
Mike Simonetti (Italians Do It Better) DJs
$1 DRINKS & $1 ADMISSION B4 MIDNIGHT
Friday September 25 at Webster Hall

The legendary Black Devil Disco Club are coming to New York to play a live set for us. Our spines are tingling... these guys are not only the most mysterious and enigmatic electronic act in history, but their spooky electro disco sound is so essential, it feels like it is casting some weird voodoo spell over you.
Those italo disco basslines, and creeping synth lines, weird sound effects, amazing melodies... it's what you might imagine they play on a Saturday night in Beelzebub's brothel... take a listen
The Devil In Us //// Coach Me //// H Friend //// Open The Night

The excellent Mike Simonetti of Italians Do It Better will also be DJing.

And not to forget our resident Girls and Boys DJs: Alex English, Gavin Royce, Kids With Snakes and Rekles.

$1 DRINKS & $1 ADMISSION TIL 12 WITH RSVP: CLICK HERE

Webster Hall: 125 E11th St between 3rd & 4th Ave.s
Doors 10pm. 19+ w/I.D.
_________________________________________________________

Official Phoenix After Party
SVEDKA VODKA OPEN BAR 10-11
Tribeca Grand - Saturday Sept. 26

That's right... it's the Phoenix After Party... and DFA's Holy Ghost! will be DJing.

Plus Matt and Maia are back to rock the turntables (we'll be celebrating Matt Kaye's Birthday). Alex English will also be DJing.

Your hosts for the evening will be: The 66Sick Girls,and Aaron Kolfage.

And let's not forget the drinks speciasl:
$10 Sol and Jim Beam shot combo all night (Red Stripe and Jim Beam shots are both $6 if purchased separately).

PLUS SVEDKA VODKA OPEN BAR 1OPM-11PM

FREE WITH RSVP: CLICK HERE
When you arrive, tell the door person you are on the GBH Guest List.. Admission at doorperson's discretion.

Tribeca Grand: 2 Avenue of the Americas
Doors 10pm. 21+ w/I.D.
Admission at doorperson's discretion.
__________________________________________________________

ANTI-POP CONSORTIUM LIVE
Tuesday Sept 29 at Santos Party House

Legendary underground Hip-Hop renegades, Anti-Pop Consortium are back and they have a new album. This will be the release party for 'Fluorescent Black', with a live performance by the boys themselves plus CX Kidtronik and special guests.

$10 TICKETS AVAILABLE: CLICK HERE

Santos Party House: 96 Lafayette Street betwn Walker and White. Doors 7pm. 18+

Dreaming of Fun... Like Webster Hall's Dollar Daze

If my scratches from this past weekend's fall off my bike have healed significantly by this upcoming weekend, I may go to this:

Dollar drinks and dollar admission before midnight! (Apparently, admission is 19+, the dollar specials are only for those 21+). See the Webster Hall site here. Even a DJ set by Does It Offend You, Yeah? Will definitely be an interesting time.

But I may just have to dream about it and wait for another night for some dancing debauchery.

Peaches at Webster Hall!

So I am a little preoccupied currently with my very quickly approaching sojourn to South America, and thus I have been neglecting this blog of mine. I will probably not be updating my blog so frequently during the next two months; and if I do, it will be about the magic/mystery/mythology of Peru, and all my adventures & misadventures there.

So I have been packing the fun in before the upcoming departure date (May 21!!).

Peaches at Webster Hall last night, May 16, ROCKED! She fully delivered on all raunchy, musical promises made in her albums. Categorized on her Myspace page as Electro/Rock/Hip Hop, Peaches was simply fun: she was tough, yet vulnerable, and cheeky, yet clearly working for the love of the crowd.

Double Trouble With Shows: the Presets and Bunny Rabbit

Friday night was the perfect Springtime NYC evening jaunt, with two shows, free pizza, lots of dancing, and a free street poem written just for me. Oh, NYC in the Spring, I love you.

The Presets at Webster Hall this past Friday night actually went on at the given showtime, 8 pm, apparently! My friend and I arrived around 9, to a packed (though fast-moving) line to Webster Hall, and were promptly greeted by the Presets already playing mid-set.



While the Presets were enjoyable, the oppressive heat and crowds of Webster Hall detracted a bit from the show. I found myself fluctuating between thoroughly enjoying their industrial pop sound, the pulsating light show, and the very charismatic audience, to mellowly reflecting on how one's experience of a show's quality so subjectively depends on our own individual states at the time. Of course, the presence of someone in front of me checking his e-mail during the show didn't help matters, either...





Overall, the Presets were a fun time; but it was only setting the stage for the fun of the evening to come. After a stop at the Crocodile Lounge for free pizza, my friend and I proceeded to Glasslands in Williamsburg for another show.


The "Secret Faggot" party at Glasslands featured Bunny Rabbit, a Peaches-esque singer with a
wonderfully fun dance-arty vibe.

Presets TONIGHT - Webster Hall

I am seeing the Presets tonight at Webster Hall. The show, although early (doors at 7, show starting at 8, supposedly?!?), is sold out and promises to pack a punch.

The Presets, which calls itself "Industrial/Psychedelic/Techno" on Myspace is what I consider a no-wave, electro-pop dance band. But whatever -- their songs, with incredibly catchy hooks, are delicious ear-candy!

They also have an after party tonight at Le Poisson Rouge.

Lusting After the Raveonettes

Yet another good show! The Raveonettes are one of the few bands I've seen lately who were better live than on their albums. Sample songs can be heard on their Myspace page; I had only been familiar with their most recent album, Lust Lust Lust, prior to the show last night at Webster Hall, and I maintain that this latest album is their best work to-date.

Videos below.

Upcoming Events This Week/Weekend

To help myself stay organized and invite friends, stalkers and others who have chanced upon my blog, I am going to list events I plan/hope to attend tonight and in the coming days...

• Wed, 1/14/09, Soulgasm, Dance Party, Sin Sin Bar, East Village
• Wed, 1/14/09, Scout Tufankijan Book Launch Party for Yes We Can, a photo-book covering Obama's campaign, DUMBO
  
• Thurs, 1/15/09, Handmade Music Night, Music-Making Party/Spectacle, Bushwick
• Fri, 1/16/09, The Raveonettes, Music Show, East Village, Webster Hall
• Sun, 1/18/09, Eight, Theater, PS 122, East Village
• Monday, 1/19/09, 23rd Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., BAM, Brooklyn
  

Tonight, 1/14/09, Wed, I am going to Soulgasm at Sin Sin Lounge in the East Village, which will be playing funk, house, dub and more. Sin Sin is located at 248 E. 5th St, between 1st and 2nd Ave. It's free before 11 pm and $5 after!

Also, as listed on Myopenbar.com, this is happening tonight:

The Obama Campaign: Photos by Scout Tufankjian

artsy booze, no cover / 6pm-9pm

Powerhouse Arena

New Feature:
Click on bar names to view more information including past and upcoming listings, maps, and other bars nearby.

37 Main Street,
at Water Street
DUMBO
(718) 666-3049

Map It | Directions

Kick inauguration week off right, with a boozy Brooklyn book launch party for Scout Tufankjian's Yes We Can. Tufankjian was the only independent photographer to cover Obama's entire campaign, including the
period before his run was announced.

1/15/09, Thursday. I am intrigued by yet another event listed on Myopenbar.com:

Handmade Music Night

PBR, no cover / 7:30pm-10:30pm

3rd Ward

New Feature:
Click on bar names to view more information including past and upcoming listings, maps, and other bars nearby.

195 Morgan Ave.,
btw. Meadow and Stagg St.
East Williamsburg
(718) 715-4961

Map It | Directions

Dorks, geeks and nerds (but not dweebs or doofuses) unite in this sprawling celebration of all things musical and electronic. 3rd Ward, crafty-bitch central Etsy.com, Make Magazine, and createdigitalmusic.com present this party-come-science fair featuring, among other things:

• a theremin made from mannequin parts
• "gestural controllers made with wood and 3-D printers"
• "over-the-shoulder musical fashion with snakeskin and leather"
• a "prepared" (i.e. f--ed-with) Nintendo System

And from the 3rd Ward website:

Handmade Music
7:30 - 10:30 pm & Every 3rd Thursday Going Forward!

Part party, part mixer, part Science Fair, and part performance, this is an informal chance for geeksters and the geek-curious to come together, relax, and discover new sounds. The evening is a gathering of inventors of new instruments & music technology. Featuring circuit-bent toys, custom software and patches, interactive digital & visual instruments, custom electronics, electricity-powered noisemakers, DIY robots and new acoustic instruments. And it's open to everyone from hard-core hackers & newcomers to music lovers who want to learn about the DIY music scene.

To sign up visit http://beepit.eventbrite.com/.

On Friday, 1/16/09, I am going to see The Raveonettes at Webster Hall.

And Sunday, 1/18/09, I am seeing the performance Eight at PS 122, a play about the intersecting lives of twenty-somethings in London.

Monday, 1/19/09, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day features a tribute to MLK, Jr. at BAM, starting at 10:30 am.

CSS and SSION at Webster Hall

I saw the Wednesday evening, 12/17 show at Webster Hall, featuring CSS (Cansei de Ser Sexy) and the opening band SSION. See SSION's (pronounced "Shun") Myspace page for video clips. They are an over-the-top glam/punk/pop band that fit perfectly as the opener for CSS.

SSION below, and CSS clips follow.





CSS put on a good show, with the lead singer wearing a patterned full bodysuit. Unfortunately, I wasn't so impressed with their new songs, as taken as I am with the songs from their self-titled album, Cansei de Ser Sexy (CSS). CSS pictures and videos below:

Fright Fest 2008!

As Halloween approaches, I have several events in mind for some fearsome, horrific fun. There is, of course, the Village Parade. But beyond that, where to go, what to do?

I am sure almost every venue will be throwing some sort of Halloween-related party or generally spread the spirit of gloriously spooky costumed revelry. Let's take a look at some of the prominent and not-so-prominent events that hold that extra-special blood-curdling appeal.

First up: The Central Park Pumpkin Festival! This Saturday, 10/25, from 3 pm to 7 pm, at the Central Park Naumberg Band Shell, by the East side of 72nd St, will be an afternoon-long festivity with free pumpkins, music and costumed fun! Appropriate for all ages.

Next Up: Lady Gaga at Highline Ballroom, at 431 W. 16th St, between 9th and 10th Ave. She will be performing alongside Semi-Precious Weapons and nightlife icon Amanda Lepore. The event is this Tuesday, 10/28, and is only $10 in advance from going.com. Doors are at 9; event starts at 10; and dressing/glamming up is mandatory!

The Halloween Robot Rock Masquerade at Le Royale, at 7th Ave South and Leroy St. With advance tickets at only $20 and a two-hour vodka and beer open bar, it sounds like you get more than what you pay for!

See the GBH site for RSVP info. Le Royale is a small-sized dance bar with 2 floors, with chic West Village style.

Webster Hall, at 125 E. 11th St., hosts an annual "Webster Hell" Halloween party and is apparently the official NYC Parade Afterparty, this being its 35th year.
All 4 floors will be open, starting at 8 pm. There will also be a titillatingly terrifying performance by Demon Queen and her demonic dancers. Tickets are available online, at $35 for standard admission. At 2 am is their famous costume contest, with the grand prize of $5,000. There will definitely by some extraordinarily scary, haunting costumes here.

The Delancey, at 768 Delancey St, between Clinton and Attorney, hosts a Zombie Prom night Thursday, October 30th, for only $10 and the Witches Ball (price tba) October 31st. Both parties are in the downstairs section. This is somewhere I recommend hitting up or some low-cost unpretentious, ghastly fun.

The Space Monster Mashup Ball on Halloween, starting at 9 pm, is a space-age, out-of-this-world costume party with a galactic fashion show. Hmm, how to make my sailor costume space-aged? Where can I get an astronaut helmet...(or how can I make one?)? The party is at PINK, at 199 Bowery (at Spring St), goes til 4 am and will also feature prizes and Space Pirate punch. Advance admission is $20 and can be purchased from the site's website, or for $30 at the door if the event does not sell out. Lookin' intergalactically stellar!

On Saturday, November 1st, Public Assembly -- at 70 N. 6th St. in Williamsburg -- is having a "Holla-Ween 2!" party, which marks the 2nd anniversary of the Crooked Disco parties, is only $5 with RSVP and has an open bar. Sounds too good to pass up!
The open bar is from 10-11 pm; there will also be free candy there AND a $100 costume contest.
For more info, see the Crooked Disco site.

And, of course, you can always roam the streets of NYC and follow your instincts in your hunt for blood for your Halloween thrills.

Yelle Re-Cap

Yelle was a fabulous time! She struck me as a French, electro-pop version of Lady Sovereign: another one of those cheeky white rapper girls, with more attitude and energy than one would expect from a skinny young white girl... And, though I basically did not understand Yelle's lyrics, a girl next to me was kind enough to translate the general gist to me; and, from what I gather, her songs mostly are about looking good, boys, ragging on other girls, and having fun.

Pictures - and videos! - from the evening follow.





(above shirt slogan: "DANCE OR DIE"; I purchased one for myself!)




You can also see more pictures on PrefixMag.com.

Also, see this link to a video and interview on Yelle's American success, with footage from the Oct. 18th show.

Yelle at Webster Hall, tonight, 10/14

I am seeing Yelle, the French pop-princess superstar extraordinaire, tonight! Ok, I don't actually (yet) own any of her music, but she seems like a blast. What's not to like about quirky French pop music?

See the Flavorpill write-up here, which cites Cindy Lauper as a source of inspiration, and go here for tickets (or just hang around Webster Hall to try to score one). Tickets are only $20 a piece.

Her Myspace page provides samples of her music to the uninitiated. And, Wikipedia gives further background information, including the fact that her real name is Julie Budet and her musical name Yelle comes from YEL, a feminine acronym for "You Enjoy Life."

The Black Kids: Poppy Cure-esque Fun

So I saw the Black Kids perform at Webster Hall on Wednesday. The Black Kids, with songs like "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You," are full of youthful pop tunes. I first heard of the Black Kids in Spin Magazine, with their article promoting the Black Kids as an up-and-coming group. Reggie Youngblood, the band's songwriter, leading singer, and guitarist, admits that the Cure was a major influence in his musical stylings: that much is transparent in the music. I have to think that it's kind of ironic that I have previously complained that the similarly-named band, The Black Keys, also strikes me as a clearly derivative band. Yet, acknowledging their derivative sound and moving on, you find that the music's quality is appealingly addictive.

The Black Kids played a short set, only an hour long. They played their album songs, as well as a cover of a Magnetic Fields song, and one song not on their album. Why such a short set? They don't yet have a larger repertoire of songs. But, that said, they played a solid performance. The crowd (see picture below) was packed. I found myself watching their set from the balcony, where, while I did not consistently get a clear, unobstructed view, I had space to enjoy the music and see the event from a bird's eye view.