L’Arc~En~Ciel Take The Garden by Storm
L'Arc~en~Ciel (French for rainbow), a band formed in Osaka, cements its name in rock history as the first Japanese band to perform at New York City's famed Madison Square Garden on March 25th
Musicians with a Double Life
People love watching Bruce Wayne rid Gotham of crime at night as Batman, Peter Parker swing between skyscrapers as Spiderman, and Clark Kent fly through Metropolis as Superman, so when I heard that the band Fleming consisted of two doctors and a suit my music journalist senses started tingling.
Aussie Floyd Shines On New York City
I always knew that for me to absorb the full impact of Pink Floyd's music required a live stage with instruments, singers, and visual effects; so when the opportunity to see The Australian Pink Floyd Show (TAPFS) in New York City came to fruition I just had to be there.
Reviews
L’Arc~En~Ciel Take The Garden by Storm
A few years ago I went to the MTV Video Music Awards in Japan, and noticed something interesting. Whenever categories came up where American artists went against Japanese artists, nine out of ten times, the American would win, and not even be in attendance to accept the award. It seemed so unfair to compare American artists to their Japanese counterpart when you think about how many American bands... [Read more]
Musicians with a Double Life
We live in an age where having a double life is the greatest things since bread came sliced. People love watching Bruce Wayne rid Gotham of crime at night as Batman, Peter Parker swing between skyscrapers as Spiderman, and Clark Kent fly through Metropolis as Superman, so when I heard that the band Fleming consisted of two doctors and a suit, my music journalist senses started tingling. Guitarist... [Read more]
Aussie Floyd Shines On New York City
The first time I heard music from Pink Floyd was in high school when my brother played me “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” the opening song off their classic 1975 album Wish You Were Here. From then on I was hooked, and spent all my money collecting the Floyd’s albums and live concert bootlegs. At the time, my weekends were spent basking in the beauty of laser Floyd at my local planetarium,... [Read more]
Bebe Buell Makes ‘Hard Love’ at Hiro Ballroom
She may be a grandma, but she can still rock. Since the early ’70s, Bebe Buell has worn a lot of hats: Model, Playboy Playmate, muse—she served as part inspiration for the character Penny Lane in Cameron Crowe’s Academy Award-winning film Almost Famous)—author (the New York Times bestseller Rebel Heart), and celebrity mom of Liv Tyler. You know, Steven’s daughter. Now, Bebe is ready to... [Read more]
Time for NOTAR to be a Superstar!
In the day of short attention spans, social media, and 3D television it’s hard to find a Hip Hop album that doesn’t bore the crap out of you with random filler and guest spots. Some of today’s hottest Hip Hop artists such as Jay Z, Lil Wayne, and Game have all released critically acclaimed albums in the fall of 2011. Although their albums have had no problem climbing the charts I can’t... [Read more]
‘Live from Tokyo’ Explores Music’s Japanification
When it comes to cultural diversity, Japan has always been a borrower. Their entire writing system, known as kanji, is made up of Chinese characters; the country’s most popular sport is baseball, America’s pastime; and South Korean television dramas get all the top ratings. Japan’s music scene is no different. In Live from Tokyo, American director Lewis Rapkin takes us on a kaleidoscopic... [Read more]
Brian Wilson Takes Manhattan
As part of the Blue Note Jazz festival, Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson performed at New York City’s Highline Ballroom before a sea of gray-haired fans enthusiastic about doing the hippy hippy shake to classic hits like “California Girls,” “Help Me Rhonda,” and “Heroes and Villains.” The first half of Monday night’s performance was like a greatest... [Read more]
Summer Jam Kicks Off the Season
“We’re gonna party like it’s my last show!” said a blonde Chris Brown as Busta Rhymes joined him on stage at the “New” Meadowlands stadium for the 2011 edition of Hot 97′s Summer Jam Hip Hop showcase. Artists on the bill this year included Wiz Khalifa, Waka Flaka, Fabolous, Swizz Beatz, Rick Ross, DJ Khaled, Lloyd Banks, Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, Prodigy... [Read more]
It’s Not How You Start, It’s How You Finish
Every once in a while an album comes along that gives you the confidence to withstand any adversity the world throws your way. Whether its being unemployed, ending a relationship, or losing a loved one this album has the power to make you feel better, and The Hours’ newest album, It’s Not How You Start It’s How You Finish does just that with songs like “Narcissus Road,”... [Read more]
How I Met Happythankyoumoreplease
Love is hard to find in the concrete jungle, but if you look the right places it might just creep up and bite you in the ass. HAPPYTHANKYOUMROEPLEASE is Josh Radnor’s (How I Met Your Mother), feature writing and directorial debut about a struggling writer named Sam (played by Josh Radnor) who takes in a boy he finds on the subway. His friends Mary and Charlie (Tribeca Best Actress Award winner... [Read more]
Soul Mining: A Musical Life
Living in New York City it is not uncommon to randomly come across celebrities while you’re doing something relatively normal. I’ve bumped into movie star Dustin Hoffman on my way to lunch, spoke to The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart outside of starbucks, and met legendary music producer Daniel Lanois at a book store while waiting for my girlfriend to get off work. Lanois was “Upstairs... [Read more]
Gutter Rainbows is Talib Kweli’s Pot of Gold
Talib Kweli is on a roll. Just six months after the release of his much anticipated Reflection Eternal sequel Kweli is back banging on your eardrum with a new solo record titled Gutter Rainbows. It’s a breath of fresh air hearing Kweli rap in an age where mediocre pop rappers saturate the market with average sounding albums. In recent months Nicki Minaj, T.I., Lil Wayne, Kanye West, and The... [Read more]
