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Another day toiling away at City Winery leads to pounding drinks at Beauty Bar and going to a show at Webster Hall to see Marina and the Diamonds. Lets not forget the opener, Gordon Voidwell. This man is fun, you see it in the way he sings and moves. He is a dance party and when he sings white friends, I think I want him to be my black friend.

I have a confession to make and I did not realize I had one until after Marina and the Diamonds performance, when I was showing my roommate her music. I had heard her song Robot in the winter and I thought it was ok but nothing special. When she sang Robot at the show everyone started passionately singing along trying to cleanse themselves of their own conformity. I did like Robot better live. She added so much more feeling behind every word, I felt it reverberating through me and all around me.

A few songs in, she tells us she is sorry for being a little slow tonight, that last night she was on (I did not notice). Marina continues on to say she is a super bitch, that she has really big goals. Thats the answer to her edge. She wants it so bad and you feel it. I like that, a lot. It might also come from her new hair cut which by the way is mucho hotter than her long flowing hair. I will do five hale marries and lets say I am forgiven for my sin.

Last Saturday I partook in the festivities of the Northside Festival. I wandered over to the Williamsburg Music Hall. The line up had three very different artist ranging from soul to new age.

We pull from our past experiences for inspiration or we look towards our music forefathers (forepepole, would that work? Trying to gender neutral here). Eva Luna’s muse is motown/soul. I like the concept but found the trio and front man clashing. The back up was singing harmoniously and he was belting a funky scream. There was also a tendency to have similar sounds through each set.

There is something contagiously cheery about Allo Darlin’. The ukulele strumming made the cavernous room full of good cheer. Their music even moved statuesque listeners. It is simple and uplifting. It may be a little too cheery for some but all I can say is I liked it.

Twin Sister makes me think of modern art, which most of the time I do not get. I am not sure if she was sining or chanting. We should have started dancing around a fire praying to the God’s of libation. After Allo Darlin’ I wanted to dance not sway. We left early to hang out in Mccaran Park with friends. A good show and warm weather, makes for a perfect day.

Every coin has two sides but it is still the same coin. This how I think of Cam Will. The first time I listened to Cam Will was at the bar K&M in the Burg. The bar was everything I expected from a hipster populated neighborhood. Renovations looked as if they had been put off. Feeding into the neighborhood’s love of the past.  The delapitated charm made you feel part of the scene.

Every It girl’s life is full of boys and drama. Cam’s music plucks at those heart strings, making you recall the boys you love and hate. The string instruments (violin and up right bass) added to the lament of the struggles of love. The violinist had some captivating solos or maybe I am just a sucker for the violin. Damn my womenly ways.

Impressed with the first show we invited him to play at our monthly show at Three of Cups. This time he played solo. Even without his band to accompany him, his voice pulled you in. He joked at his own tendency to sing of relationships gone awry but offered prozac and shots to remedy the mood. A man with many hats, each a comfortable fit.

Read my comment to an article the Village Voice posted on celebrities praising Hitler.

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/dailymusto/2011/05/watch_out_galli_1.php

Read my comment to a village voice article discussing raunch pop and women’s sexuality.

http://disq.us/1zll4d

Another universe is downstairs at Three of Cups. It is a grunge rocker’s paradise with skulls dangling from the ceiling and red lighting. Up stairs is a restaurant with Italian cuisine and  a brick oven. We found the bar by checking out myopenbar.com. Three of Cups has free well vodka for an hour during the week. After chatting the bartender up we found out they used to have live music but it had tapered off. Now we  are hosting two events there a month.  This past Tuesday we had the Elm Street Kids and the Healing Light.

The Elm Street Kids and the Healing light both operate in different realities. The sojourn through Adrian Inamo’s realm (Elm Street Kids) was full of  molestation, rape and angst. Adrian’s parents were in the audience and not even their presence held him back. His father even had to leave the room for his cover of “My Bare Hands”. He always seems to find the right balance of screaming harmony for the song. The Elm Street Kids best song was his own song about an older women he asked out ending in rejection. The line stuck in my mind is “You are up my alley and I want to be up yours”. The beauty of romance.

Then we entered the mellow funk of the Healing Light. They sat on the floor with a tangle of cords and boards.  It is the type of music that can make you content relaxing on the couch, just letting your mind drift. Whale noises seem to have an enchanting affect on your mind. Nature’s melody of calm. I like anyone who can ease stress and make me feel pleasantly chill. No drugs necessary but optional.

I may not be the best judge of who is poppin since I am one of those people who usually likes the chorus of raps songs better, there is usually some type of singing. To rectify this aliment I went to Southpaw Saturday night.  The nights entertainment was “Whos Poppin” by Empire Entertainment. Before I go into detail I want to give you some general observations.  Each performer was better than the last with the exception of Mike Black (saw 6 performers). All of the artist were good at promoting themselves and had strong stage presences.

After we shouted our drink order to the bartender which was made difficult by the extra wide bar we took our bourbons and waited for the show. A Rihanna look alike started the show off with spew of slang that left me confused.  The only thing I understood was Young Spade was coming to the stage.  His music was the generic money, women and jewelery but what I liked was he told a story with his hands. But it was not cheesy like a Backstreet Boys video.  Next man up was One Wilson who plugged his appearances on MTV and Fuse. He was cocky but had a right too be. Marvelous followed with a raspy growl reminding of DMX,  my only qualm was he ended very abruptly.

The MC redeemed her self by making the crowd come closer to the stage. I was actually surprised how many people moved. Next she introduced Hollywood who was my favorite performance of the night. I can’t really put my finger on it but it was a combination of  his moves (and dancers), an intense gaze and a presence that that drew your eyes to the stage. He also had strong lyrics, they departed from the norm.  The last two were not to my taste, especially the one who followed Hollywood.  I can’t remember his name, it was something like switzy twizy.  He was crude and mainstream sounding. Mike Black was too monotone. I could not focus on his performance and was glad someone asked me what I was writing. The show continued on while we departed for a late night snack. Now I know whos poppin.

I might as well just move to Japan or China then everything I eat will just be called food.  As I write this article I am waiting for sushi.  Monday night I ate noddles from Ippadu.  The reviews were right when they said there is usually a wait.  Mine was brief (30 minutes) compared to some who waited a  hour plus.  The energy level is high with lots of loud chants when you enter or ramen is being served.  My spicy ramen had a divine broth and extra large soup spoons perfect for piling ramen.  I would have liked more pork.

After indulging my noddle craving we walked over to the Living room to see what was playing. We lingered long enough to have a drink.  We  went next store to Pianos.  Up stairs a trivia game was in swing.  We entered round three to test our minds against our  fellow merry makers.  To be honest we used our phones to look up some of  the answers.  It was for free drinks.  We left Pianos without the free drinks to Rockwood music hall to listen to Little Tybee.

Humorous Bee is a perfect way to describe the band.  I felt like a bee on a beautiful spring day, too much metaphor babble? Honestly it makes you happy.  Modern day hippy music.  I like feeling happy and I also really dug the violin played by Nirvana Kelly.  The violin has always captured my attention and have a weak spot when I find it in modern day use.   I also noticed Josh Martin shredding on his 8 string guitar. He had some amazing solo’s,  appreciated from my front row seat.  I left feeling successful.  Ate tasty ramen, had fun with my friends and listened to a great band.

One down and many more to come.  The Blibu launch Party featured Milk Toast, Elliot, The Elm Street Kids and DJ Creeper.  There was also a special performance done my Michelle Lu who is one of the founders of Blibu.  She sang DIY with Adrian Inam from the Elm Street Kids.  She make look small but she has some pipes on her.  This song may not have shown it but she can sign low and sultry.

Milk toast opened up the show and are a relatively new band but had great stage presence.  One audience member did tell them to turn their mike up in between songs but other than that they had a great performance.  There were two songs I liked in particular but they did not name their songs.  I am sure we will hear more from them.  Elliot brought some modern Back Street Boys Smoothness to the stage and it was hard not to dance too.  Unless you were glued to the bar stools like some people.  Elliot is a great person to listen to when you want to have a good time and forget about the week.

Another way to forget about the week is to drink and Blibu raffled off drinks, money and a guitar through out the evening.  The winner of the guitar was the pianist of Elliot’s band.  There is a picture of yours truly and the winner.  RockyOutNY will keep you posted for the next event.

I meet Bright Brown at our launch party for Blibu.  Alex was not actually playing but taking care of the sound for the event. From their album Oceans I liked the songs Starting Explosions, Botanical and My Wife.

As the name implies, Starting Explosions, explodes with loud vocals that tapers off. The opening lyrics makes you think of 1984.  Big brother peering out at us from our TVs. “Don’t you feel sometimes you want to be starting explosions, along the pipeline to the mainstream, cut the cable to our t.v. dreams. “  Good thing my TV is unplugged but I do like to watch Some online TV like Modern Family or 30 Rock.  Hypocritical?  Maybe but I like to laugh.

Botanical starts off with a catchy tune sung by a child and I feel these lyrics are a perfect motto for life “the stars always line up, we just have to be willing to zigzag.”  The love song My Wife  praises the fairer sex, not that I mind, and should put you in the mood for the approaching V Day.  FYI not all women love red roses or jewelry with hearts.