VOTD: Dandys, The The, RLD, First Fridays @ Medusa

Good morning!

As promised I have the new video from The Dandy Warhols, which I will follow with a chaser from one of my favorite bands, THE THE.

But first... I should mention... today will be a long day... I have to be on the set of a film... I am still sick :(

So much to do.. so little time.

I hope to see folks at the Red Light District performance tomorrow night. You can RSVP to get on the mailing list here

It will certainly be fun and The Devil's Playground find entertaining Burlesque.

As I mentioned previously, you will want to arrive EARLY as this event could sell out as it did before 10 or so last time. If you have to miss this performance, we are playing one more time, Thursday, the 5th of March at The Knitting Factory with Jill Tracy, UXG and DJ Xian.



The last piece of news is to announce that starting Friday, the 6th of March and First Fridays after, DJ Darren Revell (Big Sonic Heaven, the late indie 103.1 fm) and I will be bringing a new monthly party event to Medusa Lounge. The music you will hear ranges from all walks of exciting music from a wide spectrum of genres from shoegaze to electro, rock to trip hop, psychedelia to industrialized funky breaks! It will be a place to not only hear songs you love but a place to be exposed to a variety of new tunes and find your new favorites!!! Check the site today! (myspace.com/revellshok)


Enjoy The Dandy Warhols


Here are some videos from The The from years ago!

The first one includes Johnny Marr (The Smiths on guitar)


This next one is from 1986!!!!
It features a certain woman, who sang a certain song about a certain stance by a Buffalo.... do you remember her name? I do! Do you?


The most recent song and video date back 8 years ago now and is PILLAR BOX RED


You may recall Dogs of Lust which was The The's big single in 93-4 and which subsequently led to the tour with Depeche Mode in 1994.
I can provide just a link as this video has been disabled for embedding.
VIEW NOW

Have a great day!!!
Send healing thoughts my way if you can!

VOTD: Dandys, The The, RLD, First Fridays @ Medusa

Feeling Sick, last wknd recap, this wknd advance

I am feeling the pains of the common or not so common but recurring cold.
I could blame Jill Tracy as she was very ill and perhaps it only took one hug. I had a wild wknd, that could be it.

I had barely been sleeping (as usual). I awoke very early Friday as we had to basically rebuild the Red Light District rehearsal set up at Monte Cristo for our Red Light District performance this past Friday. Abby and I left to get more equipment at our downtown space around 12:30 noon or so... It was hailing outside and we got over to the venue and found out that even though we already knew we were going to have to go to a third story with no elevator with tons of gear, that ALSO the regular entranceway was locked so we would have to brave the rains on a slippery staircase where water was flowing. It got crazier when there was this SPOUT that shot water out right in the line of where we needed to walk on the thin stairway... it was similar to crossing a waterfall! Once we made it to the top floor... none of us expected the half foot drop into water... everyone's feet were submerged and soaked far beyond ankles!. We spent a long time getting the venue up to speed for a live band. I believe we left there after 6pm or close to it!



The show went very well. People were quite polite and we were all quite delighted with the amazing turnout to the event!!! Legion, brought my mother and that was excellent! She even danced with me to a Portishead song earlier in the evening. Right after our performance and before I had left the stage, I heard someone yell, "Shok Attack". It turned out to be Vernon Lewis from Heroes/ Universal. He had no idea I was performing, but wanted to meet the drummer. He had found out about the event from a girl who was with him.


The Ball ended at 2:30 and I carried a slew of gear back to my apt via a few cars by 3:30am. Then I went with Jenz and Melissa T. to an afterparty at a friend's where I ate copious amounts of baklava and more food and was home and asleep by 7:30am.

9:30am is when my father called. It was afternoon in Philadelphia for him however too early in LA for a Saturday... especially having just gone to sleep after a long day of rain and moving equipment and performing... and absinthe! Since I do not have call waiting.. I told him I had to get off the phone for the cable internet people who would be calling at 10am. As soon as hung up with him.. RRRING, it was them calling from the front gate. Within moments of them coming in, I get a call from Universal, asking me if I can come in to work 8 hours.... so I did!


I was home by 8ish and got a call from my friend, Jenz. Since neither of us are in any romantic worlds, we decided to hang and went to The French Crepe Company at the Hollywood & Highland Mall.


I had the pleasure of demolishing the lovely BASTILE with Turkey!!!!
You should try this! I always enjoy it!




We then decided to go see Jill Tracy perform her cabaret act (Jill on piano with a violinist and drummer) at Boardners for Bar Sinister at Midnight. It was a good n long evening. I returned home after the club and worked on organizing some of my music for quite a few hours.

Sunday was the usual.... early morning rise (9/10am) to hit the local Farmers' Market on Selma & Ivar and meet with Heidi and our weekly hike with Pooch. This week it was RUNYON CANYON.




In the evening, I hit the Sushi spot, Fat Fish, where all plates are $2 after 9pm. Maxi joined me... then she went home and I went with Jenz to Malediction @ 10pm. Danced nearly the entire time (I have needed a good workout). Got a bite on the way home (2am) and that was Sunday.


Btw, here are two images of the fire dancers from Malediction.


Also there were the Wandering Marionettes in attendance. An amazing dance troupe!!! Check their site!


Monday, I decided to email my friend Johnette. I had been meaning to call her for so long to sing on this project I have with Mark Caro (Tech Itch) but somehow I never had.... so finally, I decided to email her. No more than 4 minutes later, she replied and instead of being in the desert, where she typically resides, she was up the street in Beachwood Canyon. After a few short emails and less than an hour later, we met for a quick lunch at Miceli's Restaurant @ 3:30pm.

We shared a big caesar salad, rolls, a few glasses of Castello Di Gabbiano and a side of spaghetti in olive oil. Somehow the day became evening and we had been there so long parties at tables had already been on the third rotation.

We then decided to leave and wander to our next location for MORE FOOD since now it was after dinner time. We wound up at The Velvet Margarita and split pomegranate margaritas, the complimentary chips, salsa, dip and she had the Ahi Tuna Ceviche while I destroyed the Salmon Quesadillas.


I was home by 10:30. It was a lovely 7 hour time where we covered a slew of ground for not having seen each other since last year when she helped me move some of my mother's belonging's into storage. Actually.... I saw her after that when she was the tour guide for the visit to Joshua Tree I took with my mother, Douglas McCarthy and his mother... and Miss Pooch-A-Rilla.

There is not much better than sharing conversation over great food!

This week is flying by and I am not feeling well.... I hope to be better by Saturday for our Red Light District performance @ Bordello for the Alice in Wonderland themed cabaret and burlesque event. Perhaps more friends will attend! There is more information on the invite here. I advise an early arrival as the last time we performed at Bordello, there was a line of 100 people, wrapped around the venue by 10:30 and many folks did not get to enter.

Stay tuned for videos by The Dandy Warhols, a message from Trent Reznor and some free music! Have a good evening and I hope you enjoyed LOST if you have a tv set!
Now to catch some ZZZZZZZZs

Feeling Sick, last wknd recap, this wknd advance

VOTD: Fever Ray & Hell & Friday the 13th performance

Today's videos oddly enough, go well together.

The timing of this posting actually just fell into place.


I have been recently corresponding with my old pal and band mate, Matthew Sims aka Mount Sims who relocated to Berlin, Germany to unleash his work yonder! As, Mt Sims, he has actually released a great album that I have been recently playing more and more. In one of our latest emails, he wrote about a project in which he is involved with Olof Dreijer, one half of the band, The Knife.

The other half of The Knife, the sister, Karin Dreijer Andersson, is responsible for the video below.

Her solo project, which is rather interesting, is called, Fever Ray.



If I Had A Heart from Fever Ray on Vimeo.

Now if the similarity of the video imagery for these two is not enough... what really got me after I was set to post this, is that Matt, mentioned above, was previously signed to Gigolo Records, which was owned by DJ HELL, who is responsible for the following video which was already slated for today.

Before we enter the music of The Twilight Zone, I..... (pause)
The crazy folks from the cable company came and interrupted my thoughts!!!

I was actually called in to work today at Universal, so I must depart.
at the bottom of this post is another reminder for Friday.

And now for the other video.

DJ Hell - Angst (a dark but soothing, mello groove) from his forthcoming release, "Teufelswerk"


Have a great day!

This Friday, Red Light District, my baby, is performing to celebrate our Debut Album release at The Black Heart Masque Ball at RUIN. Hopefully you can make this!!!

We are quite excited to say the least!

More information on myspace.com/redlightdistrictx

VOTD: Fever Ray & Hell & Friday the 13th performance

phew... album near completion

A few weeks ago, there was a scary situation where my main hard drive nearly became dust in the wind. This was oddly enough one day before I was set to order my new machine after over four years.

The issue was not as simple as someone who may have had photos and music files that needed to be rescued from a drive. I can actually go fishing and retrieve those types of files successfully in most cases. In this scenario, the way I have my drive configured, it is all about music applications, editing software, instruction sets and installations that all need to work together to properly complete the system. If the structure is off at any point. My unfinished songs, can not be completed as planned.


Thankfully, with the help of two friends and my own investigations, all was restored and on top of this, the information is now in a very sweet machine on which I have been using the last week or so.


The downside to this is that it pushed back the schedule for a few projects, including work with clients when finances are really needed along with the completion of "Smoke & Mirrors" the Red Light District album debut. The release date is still set for this weekend, on Valentine's. The live band will perform this Friday, the 13th at RUIN for the BLACK HEART MASQUE ball celebrating the release of this debut album.

I am working hard on completing the album and combining a two-three week work schedule into what is only a few more days to get this completed! Mostly what is needed is mixing, however, some re-recording is still afoot. Two weeks ago, I re-recorded all of the live drums, a full album of 20 songs' worth in just one day. I am pleased with the results, however now is time that I was taking short break and that time is nearly ended as Juliette should be here in just moments to listen to my progress of the day as I have completed our song, "SMOKE".


If you are interested to attend Friday for the release party, please check this invitation link and RSVP for extra surprises!

Have a good evening... I will resume posting some of my Videos links of the day tomorrow!

Btw, I do plan on shooting a video where we destroy my old machine in a similar fashion to the classic scene in Office Space with the fax machine.

phew... album near completion

RLD - Record Release Party & Performance Friday 13th

I am proud to announce that
"Smoke & Mirrors" will be released on Valentine's and to celebrate this, Red Light District will perform a special love show @ Ruin on Friday the 13th.

Expect vibraphones, accordion, keys, electrical stringed twangers, lots of percussion and the beautiful voice of Ms. Juliette Angeli.


Handcuff King (Death Defying Acts) [promo mix] by Red Light District Lizard Girl (online promo mix) by Red Light District


<-- Click to enlarge flyer

Here is the flyer for Red Light District's release of "Smoke & Mirrors" for next week, Friday the 13th.

We will be performing a short set with some surprises along the way. Promos will be in hand and we hope you can pass along the message!

You may RSVP here and receive a special download.

If you are a videographer, film maker, puppeteer, artist, horn player or magician, drop a note to the RLD myspace.

Our next scheduled shows are the 25th of February @ Bordello and 5th of March @ Knitting Factory with Jill Tracy, UXGentlemen and DJ Xian

Lastly, if you are free this Saturday and want to dance to some 80s, I am spinning a short guest spot at That Damn 80s Club in Los Angeles at The Monte Cristo.

RLD - Record Release Party & Performance Friday 13th

LOTD: FIGHT CLUB THE MUSICAL & Cholesterol

I had taken some time away from the net last week and have been focusing on wrapping up the album for RED LIGHT DISTRICT as well as shifting my dietary world since I had been told I was thirty pounds overweight and 20 pounds heavier than last year. The worst of it was being called and informed I had a massively high bad cholesterol level and that I would need to start Lipitol immediately...

The good news is that I said I would change my diet right away and ex-sore-sigh-zzz.
I was told the following:
1. cut down on red meat
= my response: I have not had red meat in 20 years

2. instead of whole milk, use 2% or lowfat
= my response: I do not drink milk and haven't for years... I drink almond milk

3. do not butter my breads as often, etc.
= my response: I hardly ever have butter on my bread

4. Ice Cream
= my response: Ok... you got me!

I can rock an entire one of those Dreyer's 2 gallons in one sitting while watching a movie ;)
Anyhow..... I have since cut out fried foods, ice cream and even sodas (Jack & Coke have been limited drastically as well) and weight is not only dropping, but I feel fantastic :)
I even had 3 comments on Sunday regarding my weight :)


SO..............................

The Following is one of my backed up LOTDs aka Link Of The Day

LOTD
FIGHT CLUB, The Musical


Yes, boys and girlinas... following in the trail of Mel Brooks' work, The Producers, Young Frankenstein and soon to be, Blazing Saddles, a number of fantastic films are doing the flip of the Musical to Movie act as the stories of the Moving Pictures are being resurrected and adapted for the stage for song and dance.

One of these is the story of FIGHT CLUB by Chuck Palahniuk. Apparently, Trent Reznor will score this.
Director, David Fincher will be tied to this as well if the production takes off at all.

I am not sure I can imagine Tyler Durden as a flamboyant dancer, but then again, the Sharks of West Side Story had a dark side that was convincing at the time, but "when you're a Jet you're a Jet all the way from your first cigarette 'till your last dyin' day!"

LOTD: FIGHT CLUB THE MUSICAL & Cholesterol