Archive for October, 2005

DeVotchKa opened last night for The Dresden Dolls at Webster Hall. I arrived halfway through the set, and standing in the back, house right (where I always end up), I couldn’t help but bust out some dancing, including a polka at one point. The typical New York audience was standing still, much to my surprise. Listing to this band is like being at an Eastern European Gypsy wedding, it’s unique, haunting and fun. There is no better site than Jeanie Schroder putting on her tuba decorated with Christmas lights. I mean, come on, how many other girls out there can get on stage and rock the tuba.

The Dresden Dolls, made up of just a piano, drums and the bittersweet voice of Amanda Palmer, came on stage next. I saw them when they opened for Nine Inch Nails and loved the music, but I wasn’t prepared for what a show they could put on. During one of their songs a curtain dropped from the ceiling in the middle of the hall and a girl climbed up and did all kind of tricks in the air with it (what do you call that? tissue dancing?) At one point Zombie Brides were throwing flower petals off the balcony, mechanized boys were dancing on stage and a full orchestra came on stage for a cover of ‘Science Fiction Double Feature.’

If Edward Gorey decided to put together a show, this is the line-up he would choose. It was the perfect way to start Halloween weekend.

Since I was in the back, my pics didn’t turn out, so the above images are from a Dresden Dolls concert in March that I took from http://www.freemusic.cz/clanky/3693.html

At 6:15 I lined up outside the New York Public Library on 42nd St and 5th Ave, and after a 45 minute wait, and a very minimal security check (the girl behind me got in with a gym ID card), I was let into the Celeste Bartos Forum to see Bill Clinton and Dr. John Hope Franklin discuss current race relations in our country.

In 1997 Clinton launched The Presidents Initiative on Race, which basically breaks down to a national effort to deal openly and honestly with our racial differences. The head of his advisory board was Franklin, a History professor and distinguished author. Franklin has just written a book titled Mirror to America, and tonight’s discussion is to help promote it.

A dixieland band was playing as tuxedod waiters handed out complimentary champagne. Under a lighted archway a small platform stage was set up with two chairs waiting for the evening’s guests. People of all ages, from 7 to 70 were scrambling to find seats, wandering into the VIP and Press sections which were cordoned off by velvet ropes. As is my luck, I ended up with a chair in the last row on the side, next to the (marble) wall. Although this was a talk about race relations, the audience was predominantly white, and seemed to be upper class, based on the conversations I overheard. I felt like I was at a fund raising political rally more than an academic lecture.

After another 45 minutes, the band broke out into the old Louis Armstrong song, Black and Blue, “My only sin is in my skin,” to set the tone for the evening.

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Being loyal Firefox users, we had no idea that the site wasn’t working properly when viewed with Internet Explorer. We apologize to all of out IE readers out there. Hopefully this problem will be fixed by the end of the week. In the meantime we recommend either using Firefox, or entertaining yourself with some of our favorite sites:

Angry Alien
HomeStar Runner
Ant War
Happy Tree Friends
Zug
Something Awful
Church of the Subgenius
Dial ABC
Landover Baptist
objective.jesussave.us/index.html (this is the real site that
landover baptist is a parody of, and it’s funny and scary at the same
time)
M C Hawking’ Crib
Redmeat
The Onion
Cruel.com
My visit to New York!
Pentrix - Videos
Volare Karaoke
Morphases - More Faces
eChalk colour perception
Eric Conveys an Emotion
Waiter Rant
Overheard in New York
This Is Broken
SONGS TO WEAR PANTS TO

Despite the advice given on this blog, I did not buy my ticket to see Eugene Mirman at Pianos in advance. When I arrived at 9pm (for the 9:30pm show), the place was packed. People with tickets were already lining up to get in and get seats. I asked the hostess if any more tickets would be sold, and was told I’d have to wait and see how many no shows there were. Since it was pouring out, I was hopeful. But the rain didn’t keep people away. I was fifth in line for cancellations, and just barely able to get in. Of course being the last one in meant I was doomed to stand at the very back, where I could only catch a glimpse of the stage if the people in front of me all happened to sway in the same direction at the same time.(Thus, no pictures)
I wasn’t disappointed though, because Mirman was recording a comedy CD, and I feel that I got the full experience, since I could hear the show, but not see it.

Todd Barry opened for Mirman, which is appropriate for a taping, since Barry has actually sold more CDs than the Rolling Stones. I know it sounds weird, but it’s true. One might even compare Barry to Mick Jagger. And by one, I mean Barry did, onstage, while asking those of us with blogs to spread the rumor that he has sold more CDs than the Stones.

After a short set, Barry brought Mirman up on stage. I have seen Mirman many times before, he’s the host of Invite Them Up at Rififi and he often appears at other comedy nights around town. I knew going in that there would probably be a lot of material I had heard before, but I was actually surprised of how much of it was new, or at least changed for the evening.

Mirman’s style is quick one-line humor, which meant that the laughs, besides being plentiful, were often. I wouldn’t exactly call him observational, although he does take the everyday and make it funny. He does so by pointing out the ridiculous, and then exaggerates it. He took a slogan from a Republican National Convention website: “Freedom, the most powerful weapon of all” and
1) explained that it actually makes no sense (”you can’t mug me, I have the ability to vote for whoever I want” “oh I’m sorry I didn’t realize you had so much freedom”)[that’s not a direct quote -ed.]
and
2) pitched some of his own slogans for Freedom, including “Freedom, let’s share the shit out of it!” and “Freedom, you can cum on it’s face. It likes it!” [that IS a direct quote, so you can’t blame me for the language -ed.]

After what seemed like no time at all, the show was over. Mirman ended the night with a voice over of him turning down a female computer for sex, which was kindof weird and the only time I wasn’t laughing my butt off. Other than that, Mirman was ‘on’ all night. My only complaint is that I couldn’t see anything, and that’s my own fault.
Mirman’s CD (which has yet to be named) will be coming out on Subpop, so keep your eyes open for it. I can tell you as someone who has (in a way) listened to it already, that it’s gonna be good.

Along with Star Wars and the Rocky Horror Picture Show, the Cohen Brothers masterpiece, The Big Lebowski, has emerged as the next great cult film. The proof? Lewbowskifest, now in its third year, is a communial celebration of the film with gatherings in a handful of cities across America. Drunk rooommate stumbled down to this year’s New York party, held at the Knitting Factory on Friday.

The first band of the evening, Hair Supply, played an electric and mesmorizing set to a packed main space room. A look around the venue, (all three rooms were opened for one admission), revealed dedicated fans of the film dressed in full regal. Bling Kong, Brooklyn’s favorite cheerleader-based rock band turned the Knit into a romper room, and I found myself wanting to bone each and every one of them.

As the crowd waited for Corn Mo to take the stage, (the evening’s last performer), the fun-loving crowd was starting to get hammered on white russians. I slipped through the mass and upstairs to the backstage area where the Dude himself was drunkenly trying to molest the Bling Kong cheerleaders. A reporter asked him if he was surprised by all the attention he’s received for being the basis for Jeff Bridges’ character in the movie. He responded by telling a photogrpher in the room she was hot, (she was).

my stupid fucking rooommate won’t let me watch baseball. i fuckin hate her!!!

Corn Mo rocked, as he always does. After his set, a giant screen descended from the ceiling of the main space, and a screening of the movie started. A guy dressed as the old guy with the cowboy hat mimed along with the intro to the chagrin of the crowd. Then he got hit with a bottle. A fight in the front bar turned into a drive-by shooting. As the night wound down, it seemed like patrons of Lewbowskifest ‘05 had revealed their true motivation: it was an excuse, (or an opportunity), for people to get together and get drunk. And drunk rooommate was one of them.

I have it on good authority that Madonna will be making a surprise appearance at GAY Saturday at The Roxy on Saturday night. She won’t be performing (at least, is not planning on it) but will be there to introduce her new single. So get out there and ‘Shake Your Love’. . .wait. . . that was Debbie Gibson.

OK, I make fun, but the 13 year old girl in me is actually kindof excited.

UNCOOLKIDS would like to remind you that this is just a rumor and takes no responsibility if she doesn’t show.

Ok, girls, you’ve got a month to get your skate on. Don’t say I didn’t warn you:

“Gotham Girls Roller Derby (GGRD) will hold their first tryouts for a new crop of derby divas on the evening of Monday, November 21 at Skate Key in the Bronx. The ladies of GGRD are looking for new recruits to join the roller derby revolution for another action-packed season in 2006.

Aspiring Gotham Girls must be female, 18 years of age or older and must skate on quad roller skates (not inlines). At tryouts, skaters will be evaluated on their skating skills, but more importantly - girls should have enthusiasm, drive and kick-ass attitude. GGRD wants positive team players that are fearless and flamboyant on the track. Girls should be willing to learn the game and participate in the DIY (do it yourself) “for the skaters – by the skaters” spirit of the league. Hopefuls will be notified of their acceptance one week after tryouts and selected girls will be expected to achieve certain skills after a three-month training period.

Interested skaters should visit www.gothamgirlsrollerderby.com/tryouts/ to learn more and sign up for a tryout time. GGRD girls will also be on hand at their 2005 Championship Bout on October 21st to answer questions. Support staff is also needed to fill out the GGRD ranks including referees, towel boys, stat keepers and more - contact emmabadapple@gothamgirlsrollerderby.com for more info.”

Tonight at 7pm, Wednesday through Friday at 7pm Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers Pier 61 - 23rd Street and the Hudson River Tickets: $20; $15 for senior citizens. Call (212) 929-5811. www.icetheatre.org

Celebrate the 2005 season of the Ice Theatre of New York, the country’s finest artistic ice dance ensemble, featuring visionary choreography and special guest artists, including Tatiana Navka and Roman Kostomarov, two-time World Ice Dance Champions. With works by Peter Di Falco, Heather Harrington, David Liu, Joanna Mendl Shaw, Elisa Monte and Douglas Webster.

This week is one for the adventurous, starting with choreographer Ann Liv Young’s “Michael” at Dance Theater Workshop, October 19–22 at 7:30pm. “Michael” is the story of four women, one man and a choreographer which takes place inside a 42-foot mobile home, decorated with Victorian furniture. The content is explicit: full frontal nudity, male masturbation and racially provocative text. Presenters and critics seem apprehensive. This choreographer has a reputation for taking no prisoners, but let’s hope audiences that go to DTW will judge the work for its content and not its shock value. After all, what’s really shocking about any of that? You don’t have to look too far to find that sort of thing in Chelsea. Read Claudia La Rocca’s preview at nytimes.com

Taking it further downtown to a crowd that takes raunch much less seriously, we have the opportunity to catch Reverend Jen’s “Mr. Lower East Side Pageant,” this friday, from 7-10pm at the Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery. Considered a holy day for art stars, expect singing, dancing, indecent exposure and episodes of schizozendria (that’s embarrasment for others). Lauded as “the kind of event that you moved to New York for,” there will be a swimsuit competition and an award for best “man tits.” All women and gay men get a ballot at the door. All men that show up in time are eligible to compete.

There are few guilty pleasures in life better than watching Showgirls, the classic story of a crazy stripper/hooker (played by Jessie from Saved by the Bell) trying to make it in the seedy Vegas underbelly. It’s one of the best awful movies ever. You can’t go wrong with this dialog:

Molly Abrams: Where are you from?
Nomi Malone: Back East.
Molly Abrams: From where back East?
Nomi Malone: Different places!

and

Cristal Connors: Where do you dance at, darlin’?
Nomi Malone: Um… at the Cheetah.
Cristal Connors: I don’t know how good you are, darlin’, and I don’t know what it is you’re good at, but if it’s at the Cheetah, it’s not dancing, I know that much.
Nomi Malone: You don’t know shit!

So what would make it even better? Did you say sock puppets? Well aren’t you in luck, cause for the rest of the month the Ace of Clubs Theatre (9 Great Jones and Lafayette inside Acme) presents Harvey Finklestein’s Sock Puppet Showgirls.

That’s right, your favorite scenes have been recreated for you to experience live through the magic of sock puppets. Seriously. How can you NOT go to this?

Tickets are $15:
212-352-3101 or TheatreMania