The Tyranny of Ducks

Shooting with Don Wildman from Offlimits

2011-09-24T21:00:00.007-04:00

Hello my friends,

Been a bit busy, but enough about that. Wanted to let you know new Travel Channel photography is coming out soon! I got the great opportunity to do a second shoot with the wonder Don Wildman from out show called Offlimits (premieres soon ::wink::). We shot at this AMAZING location on Long Island City called The Foundry and I instantly fell in love with it (as did Don and I with their insanely cute "guard dog", sadly not pictures). The dog made us go over our shoot time, but I think it was worth it. Still waiting on Don't approval from the images, but I wanted to give you a "sneak peek" of what's to come!

ps - funniest guy ever.

Sand Masters

2011-06-08T15:17:00.006-04:00

Photographed our newest show, Sand Masters, last week for Fleet Week. We built a giant sand castle in the middle of Times Square!!

Love these guys :)

All images copyrighted to Elizabeth Fraser

Tartan Day - NYC

2011-04-22T10:22:00.005-04:00

I was so excited to stumble upon Tartan Day two weekends ago! So much Scottish pride here :)

First Post in a Year!

2011-03-25T12:48:00.002-04:00

Ciao interwebs! Can't believe its been so long, and that so many of you have stuck around. Thanks for all the notes! I have a new goal to update Tyranny every other day at the very least. To start it out, please view this AMAZING video on night photography. Enjoy!

Night Photography: Finding your way in the dark from Mark & Angela Walley on Vimeo.

The Defibulators

2010-06-24T17:37:00.002-04:00

Hi folks!! Haven't updated in months, but I saw this band at Union Hall last night and needed to share.

The Defibulators - "Say Say Say" from BoB Coon on Vimeo.

Beautiful acoustic sessions and even harder, foot-stopping fun in person.

<3

Off to Austin & SxSW

2010-03-12T13:52:00.008-05:00

On my last day in NYC before heading to Austin, I was sent the following video, which reminds me of how tiny we all are in this huge city.

The Sandpit from Sam O'Hare on Vimeo.

It's beautiful and amusing, with all of its tilt-shift fun. Reminds me of a Richard Scary Book, where you get to look into a factory of how bread is made :)

I love this city and continually get a warm, fuzzy feeling inside of me whenever I think of Brooklyn and my home, but I'm excited to get away for a few days.

I mean, it's SxSW! Who wouldn't be excited?! :)

The Photography Post : A New Photo Aggregation Site

2010-02-18T10:44:00.004-05:00

Hey fellow art-lovers and trollers of the interwebs; Do I have a treat for you! Launched not but 2 days ago, The Photography Post is a pretty amazing little site that brings users all of the latest and most interesting photographic projects from across the internet onto one site! TPP doesn't discriminate between solid new source or causal side blog; all they are looking to do it find the pulse of photography on the world wide wed. It's REALLY cool. So far it's turned me on to a ton of interesting sites I had no idea existed before, like Ads of the World, which showcases some of the weirdest and most visually striking ads that we in America would never get to see.

Thanks, internet!

[video] Love Language - Sparxx @Lauromatinee

2010-01-26T17:18:00.001-05:00

I lost all of my bookmarks for about 2 months (poor crashed computer) but have sudden been able to recover them!! Yay!! This lead me to a lot undiscovered, great music content that smaller sites have posted over those 2 months. Hence, this video!

The Love Language - Sparxxx from LaundroMatinee on Vimeo.

Makes me says, "keeeewl!" Especially since I haven't listened to the Love Language in ages.

Inaugural 13.1 New York Race -- April 3, 2010

2010-01-19T12:09:00.005-05:00

I have a new race on the horizon, and this time it's in Queens! I'm thinking I should make it a goal to run a half in every borough, and then run the NYC Marathon afterwards Talk about seeing the sites; and I'll most probably never want to run in NYC again after it, ha.

Part of the national 13.1 race series (which has already established races in Fort Launderdale, LA, Chicago and Boston), this half-marathon is the first of its kind, looping through Flushing Meadows Park and around it's many fountains, stadiums and the always visually stimulating Unisphere.

Here's the course map:

They claim that there is a party associated with this race, though no details have been posted yet. I'm looking forward to it!

Two New Albums You Should Definitely Give a Listen To

2010-01-19T11:30:00.005-05:00

Vampire Weekend - Contra

Contra - Vampire Weekend

Spoon - Transference

Transference - Spoon

[video] Horse Feathers - Curs in The Weeds

2010-01-12T11:50:00.003-05:00

Haven't listened to Horse Feathers in ages!

Horse Feathers - Curs In The Weeds from LaundroMatinee on Vimeo.

Today, I...

2010-01-10T19:22:00.015-05:00

...met a llama during a random parade on Graham Avenue and Metropolitan...

...and his friendly camel acquaintance...

...ran into the end celebration of Improv Everywhere's No Pants Subway Ride at Union Square... ::UPDATE:: More photos here!

...with some of the pant-less participants dancing away over our heads...

...and learned Moleskins are super cheap at the Strand!!

I also got to the gym for the 4th straight time in a row that I intended!!
Excellent Sunday.

Brooklyn Flea - One Hanson Place

2010-01-09T20:45:00.008-05:00

The Brooklyn Fleas has moved for the next 14 weekends to One Hanson Place, just around the corner from BAM and across from the Atlantic LIRR terminal. It's gorgeous!! And as always, there is plenty to buy and plenty to eat.

Crab claws, creepy broken babies...

... and flannel for all!
More on Flickr
All photos credited to The Tyranny Of Ducks.

[video] 50 People, One Question: "PostSecret: Confessions on Life, Death and God"

2009-12-16T10:57:00.007-05:00

I love these videos so much. Based in Brooklyn. Such simple insight into the human mind. The video is produced in tandem with PostSecret, which is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard.

"What is your secret?"

PostSecret: Confessions on Life, Death and God from Frank Warren on Vimeo.

Brooklyn Vegan 2009 CMJ Showcase @ MHoW

2009-10-28T11:12:00.012-04:00

Laura Marling

The Antlers

Fanfarlo

Quick update! I managed to fit in the Brooklyn Vegan CMJ show last week before rushing off to Maine (for sudden family stuff) and boy, I wasn't disappointed! Laura Marling, followed by the Antlers, followed by Fanfarlo, who are just amazing live. Below are 2 videos I grabbed during the event (available in HD on youtube) and as you can see, I have a new camera! It's lovely and I plan on using more often, so please check back for more frequent updates than before. For more photos, check out my Flickr account to the right.

[video[ Fanfarlo - The Walls Are Coming Down

2009-10-05T14:36:00.002-04:00

Never saw this before. FUN! Simple and sweet.

Dirty Projectors - "When The World Comes to an End" (Jimmy Fallon 9/28)

2009-09-29T16:13:00.004-04:00

"The vocals on this song are batshit insane" - Danny Fraser. WORD. So ridiculous.

NPR - Tiny Desk Concert: The Avett Brothers

2009-09-29T13:54:00.008-04:00

I had never heard of these Tiny Desk Concerts produced by NPR before today, and I'm already in love. Oh, how I so wish we could do this where I work.! Live music, right next to my desk, making my work go so much smoother... Le Sigh... The worst of phone calls could be soothed over! Rivals could work together as BFF! Raises for all! (Ok, maybe I went too far). Still, please watch and adore, as I am doing right now. Keep the video open behind your work, and pretend The Avett Brothers are right there with you, getting you through the day :)

ps - Avett Brothers just released a new CD, I AND LOVE AND YOU. Lovely!

FANFARLO, THE ANTLERS, LAURA MARLING @ Brooklyn Vegan CMJ Fest

2009-09-25T13:19:00.004-04:00

EXCITEMENT!

FANFARLO

THE ANTLERS

LAURA MARLING

Get your ticket now. CMJ is back!!

James Pomerantz Photography

2009-09-09T17:27:00.003-04:00

Everyone should check out this guy. Very, very cool stuff. And on top of it, he's started a blog about getting his MFA at The School of Visual Arts! I'm interested to read along, especially since hardly anyone gets their Photo MFA these days.

[video] The Antlers: Two

2009-08-25T12:41:00.005-04:00

I haven't really been moved by a band like I have with The Antlers in a long while. I saw them open for Here We Go Magic earlier this year at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, and it was a pretty incredible experience, though I never appreciated their music as much as I do now after their release of Hospice, their first full length album.

Everyone is raving, and it's not hard to see why. Below is their lovely video of Two, an animated interpretation of music's ability to flow out from instruments and vocal chords, and then fill us (overcome us) in the space we inhabit. brightening our day.

Hooves on the Dirt: Motel Motel's Super Secret Garden

2009-07-15T12:48:00.006-04:00

Secret Garden Series: Motel Motel from hoovesontheturf on Vimeo.

Hi-definition, black and white, Motel Motel; swoon. Raw, unfiltered music like this is so deliriously satisfying!

See the rest of the Secret Garden Series here. Previously freatures: Tallest Man on Earth, Olof Arnalds and Middle Distance Runner (a band, not the song by Sea Wolf).

The Calm Blue Sea - Siegfried (An Original Score)

2009-07-08T15:08:00.007-04:00

http://www.thecalmbluesea.com/

Back in early 2007, the band called The Calm Blue Sea was still just the twinkle in some young kids' eyes in Austin, Texas, a collaborative thought of something experimental that involved a lot of passion and complexity, and some general rockin' out and good-times. Now in 2009, with an acclaimed self-titled release under their belts and a wealth of praise and pride from their home town and beyond, the Calm Blue Sea has also completed an exalting project: composing an original score to the Fritz Lang movie Siegfried.

In a show of old-world charm and deep nostalgia for the day before recorded sound, the original score premiered live to a sold out show on March 29, 2009 at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas juxtaposed to a rare big screen showing of Siegfried. 96 minutes later, the show ended to a standing ovation and rave reviews. The response was in fact so amazing, that the Calm Blue Sea decided that it was something that should be shared with everyone, and set forth to put the full score into recorded form. On August 18th, 2009, 200 handmade and numbered double disc CDs will be released to those lucky few who put their orders in now at The Calm Blue Sea's online store.

"I'm really, really proud of this one," said Jeff Crews, guitarist for the TCBS.

Buy it, wait with anticipation until August 18th and then gather your friends with a copy of Seigfried to see the magic happen.

Want more on TCBS?
Myspace
Website
Live Woxy Session

St Vincet @ the Bell House (Hiatus Continues)

2009-07-08T14:51:00.003-04:00

Annie Clark @ the Bell House in Brooklyn. Photo by Elizabeth Fraser Photography

Hey folks. Sorry for the absence, as always, but I guess sometimes life gets in the way :) Anywho, wanted to share some images from St. Vincent @ the Bell House in Brooklyn! It was a pretty rad night. I'm so glad Annie added the extra show! Click here for more photos @ Flickr.

BARACKLYN FEVER!

2009-06-24T16:57:00.002-04:00

Presidential look-alike Randall West. ((AP Photo/Mary Altaffer))

I know it's not really him, but I just HEART this photo haha. The Brooklyn minor league team The Cyclones hosted a Obama Bobble Head night yesterday, and amazingness ensured. See the full story here at Gothamist!

How I Love the Streets of NY

2009-06-04T15:18:00.003-04:00

NYC: Soho Street Photo by Professor Bop via Flickr Creative Commons.

I love my walk to get lunch every day. Sometimes, I take obscure routes just so I can stay out of the office for a bit longer and enjoy all the window shopping that the city has to offer around 16th and 5th ave. But today, I discovered something even better about walking on the streets of NYC, something I had nearly forgotten about: overheard conversations!

Now, don't get me wrong, I do not like to eavesdrop on people's private conversations, but hell, this is NYC and we're all smooshed together as it is, so it just happens all the time. And really, it doesn't help that half the people are screaming out what they are saying to project over the rumble of NYC life. So when I was crossing 16th street at 5th ave today around 1pm, I wasn't surprised when my ears caught the tail end of an extremely heated and loud argument between a man and a woman. What I WAS surprised at is what the woman than yelled at her boyfriend (?):

YOU'RE LIKE AN EMPTY CHRISTMAS PRESENT.

What?!?!?!!? It took about 20 whole seconds for the words to reach my brain, process, be translated, and then reach my lips, to which a "HAHAHA" came out, and then a hand flew over my mouth. What the hell is up with that comment? How did she even think of that in the heat of the moment?!

As confusing as it all was, though, in that moment I realized something I hadn't thought about in awhile: I ADORE NEW YORK CITY.

I've had a smile on my face every since :)

ps- I know, where the hell have I been? I need to get back into this blogging-thing. SOON!

Brooklyn Half Marathon (Official Map!)

2009-05-18T11:45:00.005-04:00

Hey fellow runners,

NYRRs have finally posted an official map for the Brooklyn Half Marathon on May 30th! I'm getting really excited. See you there!

Need For Some Zen on Tuesday (old Jose Gonzalez)

2009-05-12T16:39:00.002-04:00

I'm digging back into my old video archives to find some kind of music to help calm down a crazy Tuesday, and this Jose Gonzalez video popped up. Texas, pickup truck, acoustic guitar...all of the right things :)

TakeAwayShow_JoseGonzalez-1-DivX
by lablogotheque

Hope your Tuesdays are going well!!

Color Me Katie : Shadow Art

2009-05-03T13:59:00.005-04:00

Have you ever wondered if you shadow has been playing tricks on you while your back is turned?

The adorable freelance photographer, Katie Sokoler explored this lovely little issue over at her blog, Color Me Katie, and reveals how she created this fun and entertaining art. Remember those thought bubbles popping up all over Brooklyn a few months ago?

Yup, that was Katie, too! I adore this lady, and how she tries to brighten every single day she lives in, and how my borough of Brooklyn is now even more interesting than it was before :) What's her next project? Who knows, she seems to have a new one everyday!

Life is Crazy! (BushwickMusic launches)

2009-04-29T12:58:00.006-04:00

Life is going crazy for me right now, so updating will continue to be sporadic.

Here is a quick taste of what I have been listening to recently! Hope you enjoy :)

A Change is Gonna Come - Ben S...

make right with you - Luke Tem...

Rock & Roll - Eric Hutchinson

Also, BushwickBK has announced the official launch of BushwickMusic, a forum where Bushwick artists can upload their own music and anyone can listen, comment, or even DOWNLOAD the songs! I'm really excited for this, and can't wait to see how it will evolve.

Take Away Show: Tallest Man on Earth ("These Days" Cover + "The Gardener")

2009-04-23T16:16:00.004-04:00

Tallest Man on Earth - The Gardener - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Tallest man on earth - These Days (Nico Cover) - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Bees, If You Please! ::UPDATE::

2009-04-21T13:30:00.024-04:00

Walking to get my lunch today on East 16th street, I passed by my local Anthropologie store (a place that causes my heart to yell, "Yes! Go buy something pretty!" and my wallet to respond, "WHAT?! No, no, no, no...crazy lady..."), and I noticed that their newly crafted window displays were all about bees! And not just pictures of bees, but informative messages letting me know on average how many honey bees were in a colony during the spring (roughly 200,000), and that honey bee hives were dying out at a rate of 20% a year in America (wow). The windows were as gorgeous and artistically crafted as always (and perhaps this is what draws me in the most), but I was very intrigued by the idea that now Anthropologie was trying to inform me of something, not just sell me a product. (Yes, I do see that it could be argued that by informing, they are trying to win over my trust and therefore get me to buy something (like GAP does with RED), but the direct messages, staring me in the face that had nothing to do with the usual "buy a product and therefore donate" sentiment, seemed to out weigh that point). I was intrigued that they were not backing a "popular" cause, too, but rather an environmentally specific message centered around these tiny winged creatures that are so readily associated with childhood storybooks and warm spring days.

Well, Anthro's ad campaign did one thing right: it got my thinking about the plight of the yellow and black fuzzy things that sweeten my yogurt in the morning, and when I returned to my desk later (sandwich in hand), I noticed an email from Anthropologie, titled, "Bees, If You Please!" (almost as if they KNEW what I was doing...) with the following statement enclosed:

"The Honey Bee is responsible for pollinating millions of bushels of fruits, nuts, and vegetables. Sadly, these hard working insects are disappearing at an alarming rate. This Earth Day we turn our attention to their plight in hopes of raising awareness, advancing research and ensuring a sweet future for our children."

Also enclosed was a link to all of the "delicious foods linked to bees," all in an attempted effort to raise awareness and get people thinking. Awesome! I fully support this initiative and effort (and love that they're getting the word out), but a moment later, I noticed one large flaw in their message: they never told us viewers and readers (walkers on the street) how to actively HELP the honey bee! Not once in any of the pages of their website, or their window advertisements did they directly tell me how I could stop the honey bee from going the way of the dodo. LAME, Anthropologie.

SO, I did some of my own research and found some links to help others like me out:
* Haagen- Dazs "Save The Honey Bee" initiative
Anthro should take some notes...
* Carl Hayden Bee Research Center
This was the closest to Anthro linking to a direct site, since their "delicious foods" is housed on a subpage here.
* Wikipedia page on Honey Bees

Fact, fact and more facts!

Anything else? Go help the honey bee! Because if not, spring will never be the same.

UPDATE
Check out Anthro's Flickr account to see the ads that inspired this post! Apparently, all of the new displays for Anthropologie are made from recycled items! Sweet. :)

Brooklyn Half Marathon Course Announced

2009-04-20T12:36:00.005-04:00

After months of sketchiness surrounding the date, time and location for this years race, the route for the NYRR Brooklyn Half Marathon (May 30th, 7:30am) has finally been announced today! But, of course the NYRR couldn't just give us a simple map or directions, but rather needed to throw another puzzle into the mix by posting the following directions for the route:

Start: On Wellhouse Drive in Prospect Park. Course: Two full loops of Prospect Park, exiting West Drive onto Prospect Park Southwest to Park Circle; Ft Hamilton Parkway to North Bound Lane of Ocean Parkway travelling south onto Surf Avenue ( East Bound Lane); left turn onto West 2nd entrance ramp onto boardwalk (near handball courts); turn right (west) on boardwalk. Finish: On boardwalk behind Keyspan Field.

So, really, the only thing that messed me up what the "start at Wellhouse Drive" part which is in the middle of the freakin' park, so how do you accurately make two loops of the park after that, only the exit to Park Circle?! I'm still a bit fuzzy on the details, but I DID make this map of what I believe the course will look like (give or take). Enjoy, and I hope I see you there!

Weekend Highlights + Linkage by Lizzie

2009-04-18T12:15:00.006-04:00

Bushwick Rooftop by Elizabeth Fraser Photography

WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS:

Saturday (4/18): I can't say much more than GET OUTSIDE! It's a beautiful day, and we won't be having another until sometime next Friday, so enjoy it! If you're a runner like me, check out MapMyRun to plot a local course. Also, the Cherry Blossoms are in bloom at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden until May 10th!

Sunday (4/19) : Cinema 16 @ the Bell House ($10)
-- "Recreating the experience of the silent film era, curator Molly Surno programs obscure vintage films and pairs them with contemporary New York musicians. Bands are given one month to compose a musical score in order to modernize the tradition of an live music accompanying films during the 1920s." -- from the about section of www.cinemasixteen.com
Check out Sarah Lipstate, who will be one of 2 live performers this Sunday.

Some Links:
* No more paper cups at the Park Slope's Red Horse Cafe (it's Earth Month!) {OtBkB}
* Bushwick Cooks: Lemon Coffee Cake {BushwickBK}
* Kings County BBQ Truck @ Brooklyn Flea (yum!) {KingsCountyBBQ}

Fiest's THE WATER music video (featuring Cillian Murphy) : 5 minute clip & Making Of

2009-04-17T15:25:00.007-04:00

This is only a 5 minute snippet of the 15 minute long video created for Feist's "The Water", from her 2007 release The Reminder. Really, it's just lovely (I know, I say that a lot, but it's so true for this video). I'm still trying to find the full 15 minute version, but I can't seem to located it on pitchfork.tv, or anywhere else on the intra-net. Anyone have a clue?

Also, the Making-Of video:

What's Lizzie Linking To? 04/17/09

2009-04-17T14:17:00.005-04:00

Church in Rome, Italy. Image courtesy of Elizabeth Fraser Photography.

**NYC Grid stumbled upon images his grandfather had taken in NYC over 40 years ago, and proceeded to trek to each location to take an up-to-date version of the same shot, at the same angle. Check it out! 1961 vs 2009.
*New restaurant Tandem in Bushwick, Brooklyn, is having its grand opening tonight!!!
*Want to know which common processed food are vegan-friendly? Check out I Can't Believe It's Vegan, brought to you by PETA.
*Photosmashing wishes for more hats and gloves, please! Dittos to that.
*FiPS reports on the possibility of Mint coming to Park Slope, stealing business from Zip Car.
*"One of the best things to do in this city as a cartoonist is to get on the subway and draw," - George O'Connor, NYC Graphic Novelists.
*The Anti 9-to-5 reports on the worst possible Freelance Scams out there.
*Who's parent gives them an old childhood psych evaluation 17 years later? This guy's parent does.

From 1967's Hustlers, Beats and Others by Ned Polsky:
[Beats] resent any label whatever, and regard a concern with labelling as basically square. But insofar as they speak of themselves generically and are forced to choose among evils, they prefer the word "beat." Until recently "hipster" meant simply aone who is hip, roughly the equivalent of the beat. Beats recognized that the hipster is more of an "operator"--has a more consciously patterned ifestyle (such as a concern to dress well) and makes more frequent economic raids on the frontiers of the square world--but emphasized their social bonds with hipsters, such as their liking for drugs, for jazz music, and above all, their common scorn for bourgeois career orientations. Among Village beats today, however, "hipster" usually has a pejorative connotation: one who is a mannered showoff regarding his hipness, who "comes on"" too strongly in hiptalk, etc. In their own eyes, beats are hip but are definitely not hipsters.

Roxwel Exclusive Interview: The Calm Blue Sea

2009-04-16T13:31:00.008-04:00

Hey guys! Check out this exclusive interview with Austin local band (and lovely gents who I have the pleasure to call friends), The Calm Blue Sea. The "big guy named Danny" is my brother, and "Jeff's living room" was my brother's old house, he shared with many of the band members. I feel very honored to have such a strong past (and present) with such amazing musicians, and I only see better things for them in the future!

If you're in Austin, check out their show on April 19th @ Mohawk's, where they will be opening for The Twilight Sad!!!! I'm so excited for them.

Want more media? Check out these links:
Woxy Session from SxSW
PureVolume
LastFM

Annie Clark (St. Vincent): Unannounce FREE show tonight!

2009-04-14T14:01:00.003-04:00

Hello fellow music fanatics,

I checked my email just now and saw this announcement through St. Vincent's newsletter:

If you're in New York I have a special unannounced and invitation-only solo show in Manhattan TONIGHT and we've saved a few seats to offer to you. There is only a VERY limited number of seats put aside and we'll give them out on a first come-first served basis until they're gone If you'd like to attend this show at 8:00 PM sharp, email my friend Todd at toddinbk@gmail.com before 4:00 PM EDT today and he'll let you know if you were quick enough to grab a pair for this special little show. If you don't make it tonight, I'll see you with my full band at Webster Hall on May 20.

Get on it, people! I already have. A small, secret show by Annie sounds like heaven to me :)

VIDEO PREMIERE - "Actor Out of Work" by St. Vincent

2009-04-10T12:54:00.001-04:00

Weird, interesting, odd and fun! I'm so glad that St. Vincent is back!

Myspace
Website

Bon Iver - Lump Sum (Laundromatinee)

2009-04-09T12:22:00.001-04:00

Bon Iver~Lump Sum (Live in-studio at MOKB/WEEM) from LaundroMatinee on Vimeo.

This is exactly what they sounded like live when I saw them in October. Amazing and just so lovely.

Time Out NY 2009 Eat Out Awards (Brooklyn Style)

2009-04-07T13:02:00.010-04:00

Nightfall Between Bridges, Brooklyn, NY by Grunik, through the Creative Commons License on Flickr.

Time Out NY has announced their 2009 Eat Out awards, and I've narrowed it down to just our friendly Brooklyn borough! There are some interesting, new and eclectic places to check out, hopefully in your very own 'hood!

READERS' CHOICE

Best Coffee - Cafe Grumpy (Greenpoint) (excitement!!)
193 Meserole Ave at Diamond St (718-349-7623)

Best Addition to an Underserved Hood - Vinegar Hill House (Vinegar Hill/DUMBO)
72 Hudson Ave between Front and Water Sts (718-522-1018)

Best New Brooklyn Restaurant -Buttermilk Channel (Carroll Gardens)
524 Court St at Huntington St (718-852-8490)

Best New Ice Cream - Blue Marble (Boerum Hill / Prospect Heights)
420 Atlantic Ave between Bond and Nevins Sts (718-858-1100); 186 Underhill Ave between St. Johns and Sterling Pls (718-399-6926)

Best New 'Hood Joint - The General Greens (Fort Greene)
229 DeKalb Ave at Clermont Ave (718-222-1510)

Best New Cocktail Lounge - Clover Club (Cobble Hill)
210 Smith St between Baltic and Butler Sts (718-855-7939)

CRITICS' CHOICE

Best Place to Cultivate a Beer Belly - Beer Table (Park Slope)
427B Seventh Ave between 14th and 15th Sts (718-965-1196)

Best Case Against Cupcake Backlash - Sweet Revenge (Williamsburg)
62 Carmine St between Seventh Ave South and Bedford St (212-242-2240)

Best New Artisan Pie - Montorino (Williamsburg)
319 Graham Ave between Ainslie and Devoe Sts (718-599-8899)

Most Welcomed Gentrifier - James (Prospect Heights)
605 Carlton Ave at St. Marks Ave, (718-942-4255)

Best Unlikely Marriage - No 7 (Fort Greene)
7 Greene Ave between Cumberland and Fulton Sts (718-522-6370)

Best Reason to Declare Love for BBQ - Char No 4 (Cobble Hill)
196 Smith St between Baltic and Warren Sts (718-643-2106)

Best Nouveau Chophouse - Walter Foods (Williamsburg)
253 Grand St between Driggs Ave and Roebling St (718-387-8783)

Best Bar for a Gin Blossom - Sycamore (Ditmas Park)
1118 Cortelyou Rd between Stratford and Westminster Rds (347-240-5850)

Best New Dumplings - Eton (Carroll Gardens)
205 Sackett St at Henry St (718-222-2999)

Best Comeback of a Vanishing Trade - Marlow & Daughters (Williamsburg)
95 Broadway between Bedford Ave and Berry St (718-388-5700)

All restaurants can be found here on TimeOutNY.com .

Happy eatings! I know I will.

Ben Sollee w/ Daniel Martin Moore - Prettiest Tree On The Mountain

2009-04-07T10:10:00.003-04:00

Ben Sollee - Prettiest Tree On The Mountain from LaundroMatinee on Vimeo.

So pretty!

What the full session and interview (w/ free mp3s) at LaundroMatinee.

I have to say, Ben Sollee's cover of Extraordinary Machine by Fiona Apple is pretty freakin' wonderful!

Phoenix - Lisztomania Brat Pack Mashup

2009-04-06T13:54:00.001-04:00

AMAZING!

Earthquake Rocks L'Aquila, Italy - Kills 90+

2009-04-06T12:39:00.005-04:00

Photos from flickr by bluecristal85

Coverage on NYtimes.com. Such insane imagery going on around this disaster.

Matt & Kim vs Beastie Boys

2009-04-05T22:06:00.003-04:00

OMG, this is one of the best remixes I've heard in ages! So much fun to hear the Beastie Boys is a more modern context, but still so raw and them. Click here from I Guess I'm Floating to get the mp3.

Tallest Man On Earth: covers the traditional song Stepstone (and that good 'ol Fleet Fox cover)

2009-04-02T13:44:00.003-04:00

The Tallest Man On Earth: Stepstone (Traditional) from shoottheplayer.com on Vimeo.

Lovely.

And, to reminisce, this is still one of my favorite videos on the internet right now!

What's Lizzie Linking to? (03/31/09)

2009-03-31T10:17:00.008-04:00

Jo's Coffee on South Congress in Austin, TX. Image by Elizabeth Fraser Photography, and Tyranny of Ducks.

* A Jetblue baggage carrier apparently dozed off while on the job INSIDE of a plane's cargo area and was flown to Boston. (NY Daily News)
* From Home Alone to Michael Clayton, Hollywood has invaded NYC for years. (NY Daily News)
* Keep Austin Weird iPhone slideshow. (WorldHum)
* Still waiting on news for when the 'wick will be receiving our new restaurants and bars. (BushwickBK)
* Wavves @ Market Hotel coverage (rawk). (BrooklynVegan)
* Amazon ranks the top 100 Indie Rock albums of all time (Stereogum)
* The oldest known existing daguerreotype (from 1848) sold at Sotheby's for $62,500. Am I the only one who things it's worth more? (CNN.com)

Careful: tomorrow is April's Fools Day!

Video Monday!

2009-03-30T10:25:00.002-04:00

Fiume Nights _ Tokyo _ the Pascals, live part3, march 2009 from vincent moon / temporary areas on Vimeo.

So, I've seen this video popping up under my "suggested viewings" area over at vimeo.com for a few days now, but something about the title never enticed me enough to click on it... until today! Oh, and it's pretty, really truly pretty. I suggest you give it a try as well (and don't let the title fool you). If you'd like, you can close your eyes and click on it, and therefore not even know you did it yourself!

HAPPY MONDAY!

Department of Eagles, MoMA video "No One Does It Like You"

2009-03-26T20:57:00.006-04:00

The Department of Eagles screened their new music video for their song, No One Does It Like You, at MoMA on March 24th 2008, produced by the Directors Bureau, directed by Patrick Daughters and Marcel Dzama, and featuring costumes and sets designed by Dzama, and it is LOVELY in all it's simplicity. I love that MoMA has the balls to acknowledge the modern day music videos can be held up as art, because music IS art, and the bands/songs I gravitate towards seem even more enticing when they embody the ideals of the modern (and post-modern) era as much as a painting, or sculpture, or photograph ever could. And honestly, this video is pure art to me. It seems to elude back to the first incarnation of film, or early stop-animation, and even the art of surrealism, like Bunuel or Fritz Lang, yet it still plays with me and makes me smile. In total, very, very smart and well done. Really, really wonderful.

Want to know more about Department of Eagles?
Website
MySpace
SxSW Coverage @ BV

I would like to know where they got their name from...

"Where the Wild Things Are" Trailer (featuring "Wake Up" (new version?) by Arcade Fire)

2009-03-25T14:25:00.010-04:00

At first I was skeptical, but this looks pretty freakin' amazing to me!

Camera Obscura releases a new LP, My Maudlin Career (due April 20th)

2009-03-25T12:22:00.005-04:00

During SxSW, I ran into a fellow Brooklynite in the back of Bird's Barbershop, who said he was on his way to the French Legation Museum to see Camera Obscura. Being a photographer, the term was very familiar to me, and being a 20-something indie music listener, I had heard of the band before, but in that moment I had to confess that I had never listened to this Glasgow based band. The Brooklynite said I should definitely check them out and now, a week later, I have. The result is a new band to add to heavy rotation in my iTunes. So pretty! There is something warmly/hauntingly 80s about the band, yet the sophistication of rhythms and melodies grounds them very firmly in post-modern rock and (as Camera Obscura puts it themselves) the "melodramatic popular song" genre. Horns, guitars, organs, keyboard synth, beautiful voice on the lead singer... all big thumbs up from me. Also, I can picture this music being amazing on a long car ride, which always works well for me (I adore car rides).

Their show tonight for the Mercury Lounge is sold out (lame), but if you're abroad during the next month, check out their tour schedule:

21 April - Newcastle Academy 2 - Tickets

22 April - Manchester Club Academy - Tickets

23 April - London Shepherd's Bush Empire - Tickets

24 April - The Assembly, Leamington (Replaces Warwick show) - Tickets

25 April - Sheffield Leadmill - Tickets

26 April - Glasgow Barrowlands Ballroom - Tickets

29 April - Belfast The Stiff Kitten - Tickets

30 April - Dublin Andrew's Lane Theatre - Tickets

Their new album, "My Maudlin Career" lands in stores on April 20th. Listen to the nifty embedded mp3 player below to get a taste.

Want to know more about Camera Obscura?
Myspace
Twitter
Website

Threadless Spring Cleaning Sale

2009-03-25T10:33:00.006-04:00

Ever rocker needs some sweet Ts to do their job correctly, so head on over to Threadless for their $5 Spring Cleaning Sale! At Threadless, all final designs have gone through a rigorous approve process by people just like you to have the honor of gracing the front/back/side/(underside?) of a Threadless T.

Any to my surprise (and utter delight), you can purchase some of the t-shirt graphics for your walls!! Blik is the sister site for Threadless, and offers moderately prices decals for you home or office walls. I've always been a huge graphic arts fan, and now I'm obsessed with finding the right decal for my bedroom. Perhaps this one in black... Which one is your favorite?

What's Lizzie Linking to? (Brooklyn, Mostly)

2009-03-24T13:23:00.005-04:00

CFCF - You Hear Colours from tommy boy on Vimeo.

** Please, check out I Guess I'm Floating's coverage of SxSW (and their blog in general). It's lovely.
*The free IKEA bus in Red Hook was slapped with 50 safety violations today.
*Check out Largehearted Boy's Interesting CD Releases for this week, highlighting the Decemberists.
* Ever wanted to make authentic, NYC bagels in your own home? BushwickBK tells you how!
* If you want to know what kind of people make up NYC, check out the 1 in 8 million beautiful photo slideshows at NYtimes.com. This is what beauty looks like.
* Lola is back (!) at Stuff Hipsters Don't Like, and is now writing for FreeWilliamsburg!

Video Monday!! {Marnie Stern, Thao w GDSD, King Khan, and Sigur Ros (Take Away Show)} + SHDL update!

2009-03-23T12:18:00.005-04:00

Marnie Stern live on Radio K from Radio K on Vimeo.

WOXY presents Thao with The Get Down Stay Down from Soft City Lights on Vimeo.

King Khan and the Shrines - outta harms way - Live at Sonic Boom Records from Graeme Phillips on Vimeo.

Sigur Ros - Við spilum endalaust - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

STUFF HIPSTERS DON'T LIKE!

{SxSW} Videos!

2009-03-22T15:16:00.004-04:00

Hey guys. So, I'm back home in Brooklyn, and will be writing my recap of the past weeks escapades in a bit. BUT, in the mean time, I thought I would share some videos taken during the week of SxSW in Austin. Sound is pretty terrible on all videos, but I thought it might be nice to try and make a collage of what it is like to experience music at SxSW. I'm very surprised, actually, at the lack of video coverage this year. Perhaps people are still just coming down and need a few days to edit.

Motel Motel @ SXSW from lhl on Vimeo.

Did the lead singer wear that muscle shirt the WHOLE week? I swear I saw him in it at the Ms. Bea's Party on Friday night, too.

These guys rocked my socks off!

{SxSW} Update: Wed and Thurs Shows

2009-03-19T22:35:00.006-04:00

Hey all!! So, things have been a bit crazy, so no recent updates (as you might have noticed). In an attempt to give a quick read-through of yesterday (and what has happened today so far), here are some images and quick reviews!!

"HEALTH" is a rockin' band from LA, comprised of 4 high spirited guys who tear the hell out of their instruments. I really thought I was transported to some crazy Brooklyn basement party when I saw these guys today, when we simply had out backs to the bright sunlight streaming through the doors.

"King Khan and the Shrines" just destroyed me today at Bird's Barbershop on the East side of Austin. SO MUCH FUN! I felt like I was watching James Brown in his prime with even MORE funk thrown in there. Definitely a highlight for today (Thursday).

Oh, the lovely "Motel Motel" from my stomping grounds of Brooklyn, all the way in Austin! They played Paradise on Wednesday (seen here) and actually gathered a decent crowd! And as a note, it was 87 degrees this day, and that is why lead singer Eric is wearing a muscle shirt...I hope.

"Marnie Stern" plays the guitar like she was born with it in her hands. Never have I see a girl shred a guitar like this since Annie Clark (WHO I SAW IN PERSON TODAY on the stairs of the Parish, just hanging out. I swear, my brother almost proposed on the spot). But yes, Marnie. She rocks. Amazing girl.

"Here We Go Magic" @ Mohawk's on Wednesday. They did not disappoint! Very awesome live, and were all kinds of smiles to be on the Austin stage (and the media agreed, as you can see!)

"Paper Chase" @ Club DeVille on Wednesday. These guys were very interesting, and as a new listener, I think I might always prefer their live version (who knows what this kind of ENERGY sounds like through a recording).

The next two pictures are "Horse Feathers" @ Club DeVille on Wednesday!! If only Mohawk's next store have been quieter, this would have been an excellent set. But combine the fact that they had to follow up Paper Chase (super punky) and deal with ambient noise, the show was not the greatest, but I was still very happy to see these guys in person for the first time.

And, last but not least, "Thao and the Get Down Stay Down", which was the BEST for Wednesday! I'm a fan, from this point out.

I'm off to the Pure Volume party with friends (which has an open bar every night of SxSW, so a great place to "refuel") but I'll be back with more updates soon!

All images credited to The Tyranny of Ducks through Elizabeth Fraser Photography.

{SxSW} The Onion's Decider Party @ Mohawk's (featuring Low Line Caller, the Lemurs, Evangelicals and The Wooden Birds)

2009-03-17T11:35:00.007-04:00

The Lemurs @ Mohawk's

Yesterday was just lovely here in Austin. After a pair of rainy, dreary days on Saturday and Sunday, the sun finally broke through and we reached a delightful 85 degrees! I couldn't help but spend every minute of my day outside, and started with a 5 mile run around Town Lake (originally intended to be 4 before I got lost for a bit), and then skipped over to South Congress where I went vintage shopping and indulged in some street photography. It was all so successful, I might have to put today on repeat! After this, and some lovely BBQ with friends at the County Line (some of the BEST in Austin, imo), tumbled my meat coma induced self over to Mohawk's for the Onion's Decider Party! Man, was the place crowded, and it was ONLY Monday of SxSW week. Pretty soon, just the STREETS will be as crowded as that venue last night.

I missed the first band (Low Line Callers), but was oh so happy to arrive in time for the Lemurs to come on (one of the best local bands around). Mitch Billeaud (lead vocal and guitar) is a sweetie and addresses the audience as if he were the host of the party, and had the responsibility of everyone having a good time on his shoulders (which I guess is how a band is supposed to feel, but rarely does anyone express it so sincerely like Mitch did last night). They rocked, basically, and made me dance in the small space I was occupying in the crowd. Next was Evangelicals, and they rocked, too, only in an INSANE way. Were the Lemurs turn towards a bit more pop rock (with twists of folkiness for the more intimidated), Evangelicals challenge their instruments to push the limits of sound, yet never SO much that I was ever annoyed by it. Ultimately, these two bands made a great pairing. The Wooden Birds (who played last) were completely out of place. I believe on another night, if I had seen them first I might have fallen head over heals, but to have a very subdued, folkish band come on after the ROCK we had just heard was a complete mind-fuck. I know there has been alot of chatter around the venues and blogs about this band, but just because they were the most popular, doesn't mean they still fit in going on stage after a completely different genre of music played before them. It just didn't work.

On a side note, Eugene Mirman was very hilarious, and despite the stupid brats heckling in the front row, did a great set.

Evangelicals @ Mohawk's . Photo credited to The Tyranny of Ducks

Eugene Mirman, giving out "gifts".

Can't wait for tomorrow! It's the official start...

{SxSW} The Calm Blue Sea @ The Pure Volume House Party "Local Music is Sexy" (3.14.09)

2009-03-15T14:15:00.007-04:00

Last night, began the "official" arrival of music for SxSW to Austin. True, the OFFICIAL official party does not begin until Wednesday, but bands and companies are all in town and itching to get things going. At about 9pm, my brother and I arrived at the Pure Volume House Party at 2nd and Trinity near the convention center, and stood in line for an absurdly long amount of time (really, only 2 people checking names?) to get into the free RSVP only party. The whole event was dubbed "Local Music is Sexy" and showcased bands originally from our own town of Austin, Tx. Our friends The Calm Blue Sea opened the night with a rockin' set, and the week long part officially began! Free Asahi beer all night? Well, why not?! Access to the nice green room bathroom (over all the port-0-potties) due to my lovely friends in the band: excellent. And a big screen inside of people tweeting about how lame the line outside was? Awesome! It was a wonderful way to start out the festival, though I did think it was pretty lame how far removed the larger mingling area was from the stage. It made it very uninteresting to treck over to the stage to see some new band to only treck again outside to talk with people, over and over. (I'll give the party a B). Check out their myspace to see all of the future shows these guys are playing at SxSW and don't miss the show on April 19th when the open for the Twilight Sad!

Love Language: Daytrotter Session

2009-03-14T01:02:00.003-04:00

Quick update:

I logged onto Daytrotter tonight (this morning) to find a wonderful surprise: The Love Language!! Man, how I love this band, and I'm going to pay this whole session tonight, despite being exhausted and leaving for Austin tomorrow at 8am (yay!) For those of you unfamiliar with Daytrotter, it is a studio in rural Iowa which plucks up musicians during their tours and record very raw versions of their wonderful songs. And all mp3s are FREE!! I love the concept, and will always be a big support and fan of their efforts. Please give the Love Language a listen to, and browse their archives to see if one of your favorite bands have recorded with Daytrotter before.

Quack.

Sound of Marching Feet ::edit::

2009-03-06T14:37:00.005-05:00

Dan, circa 1990

My amazing, wonderful, uber-talented brother FINALLY updated his blog! Check it out.

Sound of Marching Feet

::edited due to brotherly criticism::

:)

Lizzie Heads to SxSW

2009-03-05T21:35:00.005-05:00

Austin Summer Afternoon, created by Stuck in Customs via Flickr

It's official: Lizzie is headed to Austin for SxSW!

After a lot of, "I can't, it's too much money, too much time off, too much I would have to do before hand, so impossible..." (basic, pure whining on my part), it finally kicked in a few days ago that I LOVE SxSW, haven't been to the event in over 3 years, and that I'm in desperate need of some warm weather, amazing music ALL day long (for 4 days straight), and some uber company that I normally only get to see but 2 times a year (I'm originally from Austin, TX, so I have many people down there that I miss on a regular basis). And so, I shuffled around my work schedule, found a $250 roundtrip ticket to Dallas, and arranged for some rides from some AMAZING friends (and brother) all to get me to Austin on the 14th!!

Keep your eyes peeled! If I'm not too giddy from the day (and night's) events, I will consistently be updating this thing with lovely SxSW action.

RAWK!

What's Lizzie Linking To

2009-03-03T13:05:00.004-05:00

Photo by Elizabeth Fraser Photography, credited to The Tyranny of Ducks.

** Prince is releasing his newest song through Target. What?! (BrooklynVegan)
* After the lovely show at Sound Fix on Saturday, it may not close after all! (Gothamist)
* Loved Garfield comics as a child? You might find these a bit more disturbing (Garfield Minus Garfield)
* Bushwick has an arsenal of abandoned TVs on its streets! (BushwickBK)
* DUMBO now has a Recycle-A-Bicycle store.
* Love and Style: Christine Norrie on Romance and NYC (NYC Graphic)

Video Monday: Thunderstorms w/ Holly Throsby

2009-03-02T18:25:00.001-05:00

Holly Throsby: A Shoot The Player Film from shoottheplayer.com on Vimeo.

Very cool with the approaching storm in the background.

Marissa Nadler @ Sound Fix (Brooklyn, NY)

2009-03-01T12:39:00.005-05:00

Marissa Nadler @ InStore space in Sound Fix. Picture by Elizabeth Fraser Photography, credited to The Tyranny of Ducks.

I'm not quite sure what I was expecting when I went to go see Marissa Nadler play the final In-Store show at Sound Fix last night, but I was definitely surprised with what I got. First of all, since this was a kind of "end of the era" show for the once thriving record store, I expected the house to be packed. Add Marissa Nadler, and I expected there to be a decent line out the door. Add the fact that the show was FREE, and I thought there was no chance in hell we'd get in. Well, not ONE of my premenitions came true, because when my friends and I showed up "late" (about only 5 minutes early for the show), we simply and easily walked back into the performance space, and staked out a decent spot 6 heads into the crowd. True, we could have gotten a nice seated spot if we had come earlier, but we were in no way complaining. There were perhaps 5 dozen people in the space by the time Marissa Nadler took the stage, and not many more showed up after that.

For Marissa's performance, I have this to say: grim's fairytale. Standing and listening to Marissa Nadler playing live for 50 minutes made me feel like I was slipping slowly and deeply into a twisted fairytale, that wished to lure me in with comfort, but would eventually snag my heart if I let myself go too far down. Her voice was beautiful (though wavered a few times) and the simplicity of a duo of guitars really let the etherealness wash over the beautiful InStore space and everyone who had come out to see her. My only complaint is I think 50 minutes of her type of music is perhaps a little too much (for me, at least). My friend who had never even heard Marissa Nadler's music before last night, said," You know, one up beat song occassionally wouldn't hurt her" and I had to agree. It's very enticing to be trapped in Marissa's grim fairytale (just let it take you down, lose yourself in the twisted tales) but if you shake off that feeling, and simply sit with the music for awhile, it can become a bit too much. Marissa closed with a lovely, lovely banjo melody, which I adored and pulled me back in to nicely close things off, but in the end, it was a little too late to make me love the whole set. Odd, no one asked for more from her when she was over. We clapped and a few whistled, but I sensed a collective feeling of, "That's enough!"

Overall, it was a decent show and I enjoyed it. I can't believe this space is closing down (and how small the crowd was last night). It's a sad, sad thing, especially with such a unique space and all of those lovely LPs hanging around the store. After the show (and a PBR or two), my friends and I shuffled through the CDs and LPs, and I felt like I was back in high school and Waterloo in Austin, looking for my next, new inspiration of great music. I should go to record store more often.

Quack.

What's Lizzie Seeing: Saturday (Feb 28th)

2009-02-28T15:43:00.005-05:00

There's a bunch of amazing music going on tonight, but here are my top picks:

**Marissa Nadler : Instore @ Sound Fix
Only Marissa could make me miss a Motel Motel show. I'll be there with bells on!
* Phosphorescent CD Release w/ MOTEL MOTEL and Mike Bones @ The Bell House
* The Depreciation Guild @ the Mercury Lounge

Enjoy the last day of February!

Yeasayer (Take-Away Show)

2009-02-26T10:32:00.004-05:00

La Blogotheque has once again made me a very happy music lover :) I'd say one of the top 3 or 4 Take-Away Show ever!

Take Away Show #87 _ Yeasayer (full version) from temporary areas on Vimeo.

Want more info on Yeasayer?

* Brooklyn Vegan review of their show @ MHoW on Feb 14th (w/ many pictures) [the most recent show they have played].
* Myspace
* Website

Classical Conan O'Brien: w/ Martha Stewart

2009-02-25T12:34:00.006-05:00

In lew of the fact that Conan O'Brien is leaving NYC, I've decided to search around the net and hunt down my favorite moments from the show. Conan has made me laugh to the point of crying more times than I can count, and I have fond memories of middle school and high school nights when I would stay up to watch his antics (it was the best in Austin, TX because it was on an hour earlier there!) I hope that the West Coast only brings us bigger and better Conan.

This clip is from 2002 (the middle part), and besides Conan messing up Martha's kitchen, at the end she pulls out Taco Bell and Olde English 40s for Conan and herself. Awesome.

Conan_and_Martha from 23rd street on Vimeo.

Gaspar Claus & Pedro Soler (Take-Away Show)

2009-02-24T16:25:00.007-05:00

Through the lovely Vimeo, I came across this absolutely stunning Take-Away show with Gaspar Claus & Pedro Soler (guitarist and cellist who specialize in Flamingo).

Take Away Show #94 _ Gaspar Claus & Pedro Soler (full version) from temporary areas on Vimeo.

Lykke Li vs Kings of Leon "Knocked Up"

2009-02-24T16:06:00.001-05:00

Bumming around the internet today, I found this video on I Guess I'm Floating . It's Lykke Li covering Kings of Leon, and it's lovely.

Exclusive Video of Lykke Li Covering Kings of Leon Live in KNRK studio from Dave Allen on Vimeo.

Tuesday: Nostalgia

2009-02-24T14:45:00.003-05:00

Weezer - Keep Fishin' (featuring the Muppets).

I always loved the bunny with the headphones at the very beginning. :)

The Fruit Bats @ Mission Theatre (Portland, Oregon)

2009-02-17T14:38:00.002-05:00

The Fruit Bats at Mission Theaters, Portland, OR - "When You Love Somebody" from James Furbush on Vimeo.

LOVE.

On a side note-
Thanks for the patience! Life is returning to normal and there are many great things in store for the future of Tyranny of Ducks, including:
-- Review of the Motel Motel show @ Southpaw last Friday
-- Photo Essays (!!)
-- More posts on art (even sewing, since I have just received a new sewing machine for my birthday!)
-- The spring. OMG, how I am yearning for the spring.

Until then!
Quack

Videos: Frightened Rabbits, Daniel Martin Moore (x2) and Horse Feathers

2009-02-12T15:26:00.012-05:00

Dear readers,

My life has gotten shaken up recently, so posting will be a bit chaotic until next week (at the earliest). Music, though, will forever be a comforting factor in my life, so I have decided to share some videos with you that I have been watching lately, from some amazing artists. As always, thanks for reading and take care.

Frightened Rabbit - Poke (Live @ (Le) Poisson Rouge) from Ray Concepcion on Vimeo.

Daniel Martin Moore - Smile from Soft City Lights on Vimeo.

Daniel Martin Moore - Stray Age from Soft City Lights on Vimeo.

Horse Feathers perform live at Portia and Slim Moon's BBQ from Dave Allen on Vimeo.

The Love Language: a Tuesday Surprise

2009-02-10T14:57:00.005-05:00

From the Love Language myspace. Photo credited to David Remer.

Band: The Love Language
Label: Bladen County Records
Band Members:
Stuart McLamb (electric guitar, vocals), Jordan McLamb (acoustic guitar, percussion, vocals), Junis Beefmonth (electric guitar, vocals), Missy Thangs (keyboard, vocals), Joshua Pope (bass guitar), Kate Thompson (organ), Thomas Simpson (drum kit).

I often find out about new music through suggestions on blog, free mp3 downloads, friends, relatives and just the general crawling of myspace. Most often, everything leaves me bored and restless, and I end up going back to my iTunes or old favs on Myspace for the rest of the day to satisfy my musical bug. But then, sometimes, you find those small gems that make you oh so happy your obsessed with the internet.

I just spent the majority of my Tuesday listening to the Love Language as I plugged away at work, and I am now officially hooked! More, more. more is all I want. I think 230 Publicity had it right when they said the Love Language, "...sounds like a Phil Spector recording employing the reverb of the Walkman and the aesthetic of the early 90’s lo fi movement, ala Guided By Voices and Sebadoh." Sweet, smooth yet gritty and soothing while it makes your toe tap to the catchy rhythms.

The band was started by Stu McLamb who, after a strong bout of alcoholism and arrests for disorderly conduct, landed him in solitary confinement with his wrists and ankles bound, life at a crossroads. I guess something like that can really smack some sense into a person, because McLamb then moved back in with his folks, sobered up, and started writing and recording the songs that would one day be The Love Language. Recorded completely on his own (which seems to be a recurring theme in music I fall in love with now a days), McLamb's CD was passed around until it ended up in the hands of the Rosebuds and they asked him to open for their fall tour (a quick scramble around to for a 6 person band, and the answer was YES), and the rest is now history (or, history in the making). The Rosebuds tour is now over, so we will just have to wait and see what's in store next for these guys.

For more info, try these links:
Blog
Myspace

Sources: 230 Publicity, Love Language Myspace

What's Lizzie Linking to?

2009-02-10T10:29:00.012-05:00

Drive Thru (in Bushwick), created by D. Billy.

* The Brooklyn stoop drinking case from Sept 2008 was stalled due to Judge Jerome Kay believing that his long-time residency in Brooklyn would cause him to be bias to the case (pro or con, he did not say). [Gothamist]
* North Brooklyn's industrial heritage through old train tracks. [BushwickBK]
* Mike Lupica says A-Rod did in fact give us the truth about his steroid use in his public apology yesterday, but it was still just A-ROD's version of the truth. (That's right, I'm a Yankee's fan.) [NY Daily News]
* "Fucking shit," he realized. "I live in the new McKibben Lofts." A story of Bushwick. [My Memoirs]
* NYC Graphics interviews Al Jaffe, Mad Magazine's veteran Fold-In artist.
* The WHOLE LIVE WAVES SHOW, from Market Hotel! [NY Taper]
* Go see Hunger, a riveting look at the IRA hunger strike. [Film Details]
* I will not miss the next Chili Takedown @ Union Pool (last one was Sunday). [FreeWilliamsburg]

Music Suggestions:
The Low Anthem (American/Folk/Indie), The Happiness Project (interview segments, looped, and set to music by Charles Spearin), Laura Marling (Alternative/ Folk)

Video Monday: St. Vincent, Sea Wolf, and The Depreciation Guild

2009-02-09T12:18:00.009-05:00

Sorry, sorry, sorry, but here's another St. Vincent video. It's from Other Music!! (I love that store), and I've never heard Annie Clark sing this first song before :)

ST. VINCENT from Dig For Fire on Vimeo.

Backstage Sessions : Sea Wolf - Middle Distance Runner from Hard to Find a Friend on Vimeo.

The Depreciation Guild // Blip Festival 2007: The Videos from 2 Player Productions on Vimeo.

And a lil' Motel Motel. I love these guys.

Happy Monday!

Beirut (w/ Kaki King) @ BAM (02/07/09) UPDATE: Video below

2009-02-08T13:24:00.018-05:00

Beirut @ MHOW (photo by Ryan Muir)

Last night was unseasonably warm for February in Brooklyn, which made the trip to BAM for an epic and thoroughly unique concert even more enjoyable (G train trips can be trying). My roommate was a bit late, so we missed the beginning of Kaki King, but did catch her trying to pull out her "rock moves" (a strong kick outward while playing 11-3, which she later said sucked because she hit her volume knob on her guitar and sent the whole thing out of tune). No matters, it was the engrossing melodies and vibe she exuded that made me love her performance last night. Honestly, next to Annie Clark, I've never seen a girl play the guitar like Kaki King can. Her personality and small figure reminded me instantly of Juno, but the way her fingers pluck and glide across the body of a guitar literally left me speechless and to wonder what kind of trance she must get into to play like that. Also, her drummer was AMAZING. My roommate is currently learning the drums, and she laughed out loud as how intimidating seeing something like that was for her. For the last song, Kaki King laid on her back and stared at the beautifully ornate ceiling of the BAM orchestra house while she took strong advantage of her acoustic (oh, yeah, and she told us a story halfway through of a man who died on safari because a zebra mistook him for a female zebra and...well...he died from anal trauma. Kaki King wasn't sure if she could say anal in an opera house, but did it anyway). As a Brooklynite, she looked thoroughly in love with last night's performance.
And then, Beirut came on.

Everyone was on the edge of their seats as the pared down, 5 man band took the stage, and we all collectively waited for Zac to say his first words, words that in the end created a panic.

"We tried this last night," Zac said, "And it worked pretty well, so...stand up! Come forward."

After a moments hesitation ("Is he serious?"), the entire opera house's main floor went CRAZY! People rushed from their seats into the aisles and down to the front of the stage to try and stake out a prime spot. Luckily, our seats were close enough that getting to the stage was easy (we were about 5 feet from Zac and less than a foot from the right side of the stage). There were some hugely tall guys in front of us, which sucked (though I can't get too mad because my brother is 6 foot 5, and I always try to sympathize with a strong love of music and absurd height). But really, who cared about all of it? We were 5 feet from BEIRUT! And the concert was just lovely, I must say. Those brass instruments are so INTENSE when you're right next to them! And everyone was swaying and dancing together as the songs built in crescendo and Zac danced around on stage with his ukulele or horn (or really, just by himself). He kept joking around with the audience and explained to us that he didn't know if this whole, "Bring the audience to the front of the stage," thing was kosher in an opera house, but that he loved people standing close because the stage felt lonely without them. He also struggled with a knot on his ukulele for a bit, and said he didn't trust volunteers after a million people offered to help.

After about 7 songs, the gang brought out the Vassar Orkestra to help with the rest of the set, and that just sent the whole performance over the top. There was a girl in front of me freaking out because she knew about half of the people in the orchestra, and kept trying to distract them while they played.

They ended with a 3 song encore (including Sunday Smile :) ) and Zac took someone's feathered headband from the audience and using it as a blindfold for their last song before thanking us for a wonderful night, leaving the collective brass-pop-rock-loving population of the 5-boroughs to fan out into the brisk streets of Brooklyn, and stand in awe for a few minutes before going about our business. One thing can surely be said about last night: everyone left with a truly unique musical experience under our belts, and a lovely memory of an intimate show with Beirut in a grand opera house.

UPDATE: Here's a video from youtube of the performance from the upper balcony. It makes me that much more grateful that I was one of those small heads so close to the stage!

What's Lizzie Linking to?

2009-02-04T10:46:00.017-05:00

Uphill Climb, from the series Sweet Science, credited to Elizabeth Fraser Photography.

* New Yorker has decided on their top 12 Eustace covers from 2008, and gave the wonderful Banksy some love.
* Velo Brooklyn (Bushwick's lean, mean bike shop) gets profiled at BushwickBK (preview: it's owned by a young chick!)
* If you buy chicken from Murray's, you can now track where it came from and find out more about that local farm!
* BrooklynVegan reports on the Motel Motel show (amazing!) at Market Hotel. Definitely the band to look out for in 2009.
* Photosmashing makes me want to break out my Holga camera again.
* The beautiful, new site NYC Graphic has a chat with Dean Haspiel who is "Bleeding Hipster Ink".
* 25 Random Things (the Facebook chain letter), has taken over the internet. (NYtimes.com)
* Tell my brother to update his site.

Music Suggestions:
Passion Pit (electronic/pop), Sondre Lerche (pop/indie/dub), and The Depreciation Guild (pop/experimental).

Annie Clark (aka: St. Vincent)

2009-02-03T13:37:00.019-05:00

So, it's not Monday, but I did want to add a few additional videos for this week, specifically of Annie Clark. Oh, how I love this lady. Clark's voice can bring you into a trance-like state of being, either soothing you to the bone (as in Marry Me), or make you wondering how such intense music can come from such a doe-eyed woman. She reminds you in the end to just breath, sit back, and listen, enjoy. If you know me personally, these videos will be nothing new (except for the last one that I recently found on shoottheplayer.com), but they're worth watching again.
Happy Tuesday :)

#67.2 - St Vincent - Marry Me Uploaded by lablogotheque

St. Vincent - These Days (DUMBO Session)

St. Vincent - Paris is Burning (DUMBO Session)

St Vincent: What Me Worry? from shoottheplayer.com on Vimeo.

Other Videos:
Black Cab Session: Dig A Pony
DUMBO Sessions: Your Lips are Red
La Bologotheque

For more information on St. Vincent, please visit the myspace, or Annie's blog, or their website (though, sadly, nothing has been updated in quite sometime). The newest bit of information I have seen is that St. Vincent plans to play a show on February 26th in San Francisco, California.

Video Monday | I heart VIMEO

2009-02-02T14:33:00.007-05:00

Fifty People, One Question: New York from Fifty People, One Question on Vimeo.

alela diane | "dry grass & shadows" from gorillavsbear.net on Vimeo.

Andrew Bird: Plasticities from shoottheplayer.com on Vimeo.

Fruit Bats: Love in a Compact Compartment

2009-01-31T17:07:00.015-05:00

Fruit Bats (from their myspace album section).

Band: Fruit Bats
Label: Sub Pop
Members (currently):
Eric D. Johnson, Graeme Gibson, Chris Sherman, Ron Lewis, Sam Wagster
Discography:
Echolocation (2001) Mouthfuls (2003) Spelled in Bones (2005)

One of my favorite bands for a long while now has been the Fruit Bats, a self-defined indie/bluegrass band originally from Chicago but now based out of Seattle, WA. Funny thing is that they have not produced any new music since 2005, and "Fruit Bats" has been an every changing cast of musicians, the only consistent member being Eric Johnson, Fruit Bat's original founder, yet these things do not stop me from listening to the band on a steady basis. My brother turned me on to this wonderful band (as he usually does) when I was still in high school (2002?), and I've been hooked ever since. The Fruit Bats are odd, because I often feel they really personify why great music can sometimes exist without having the strongest cohesion between melodies and lyrics. (I can often love their songs, bouncing my foot and singing along, yet then look closer at their lyrics and wonder, "What the hell are they talking about?"). My favorite record of theirs is Mouthfuls, with Echolocation being a close second, and Spells in Bones a farther third. Echolocation is a wonderful supplement to Mouthfuls, but I think that they did not hit the same cord on Spells in Bones as they did on the other two, and perhaps this was a reason they drew apart as a band. Nevertheless, they tug at my heart strings, and I will forever enjoy listening to their music on a warm summer day, in the car, while driving to some distant waterhole (sorry, I am nostalgic for Austin, TX).

Why my sudden interest in these guys who have not been recording since '05, you ask? Fruit Bats recently announced that they are in the studio again and TOURING none the less! I have already put my heartfelt plea in for a NYC (Brooklyn, I hope) show through their blog, and I am sure they will give it a strong consideration. This band shows its greatness over and over again to me, because when I joined their mailing list and expressed my love of their music (along with my joy to hear that they are starting things up again) I got a personal response of, "Excited to start playing again, too! Speak to you soon!" When a band takes time to acknowledge their fans, I think that is just wonder. Please check them out! You will not be disappointed.

Tour Dates (as of today):
Feb 2: The Casabah @ 8pm (Santa Barbara, California)
Feb 3: The Echo @ 8pm (Los Angeles, California)
Feb 5: The Ike Box@8pm (Salem, Oregon)
Feb 6: Mission Theatre @ 8pm (Portland, Oregon) <--check out the link for an interesting write-up on the band.
Feb 7: The Vera Project @ 8pm (Seattle, Washington)
Mar 28: Schubas @ 9pm (Chicago, Illinois) <-- I would give my right arm to see this show. Apr 2: The Picador @ 8pm (Iowa City, Iowa)

Go to their blog, Myspace, or website for more information, music, and love!

What's Lizzie Seeing: Saturday

2009-01-31T16:16:00.007-05:00

Motel Motel

Top Pick: Motel Motel @ Market Hotel w/ Ava Luna, 500mA, TV Partyhouse, Yva Las Vegas. God help me, I will make it to this concert tonight. According to the Facebook event for this gig, it is also the birthday for one of the guys (Mickey) in the band, so put on your party shoes and come to good ol' Bushwick for some fun!

Sydney Wayser @ The Living Room
Baby Soda @ Moto
Loney Dear @ Union Hall
DJ Rafter @ Union Pool

I'm sure there's more going on out there, but this is what's tickling my fancy at the moment.

Happy Saturday!

Lykke Li & Bon Iver doing 'Dance Dance Dance' in L.A

2009-01-28T12:35:00.008-05:00

Lykke Li & Bon Iver doing 'Dance Dance Dance' in L.A from Lykke Li on Vimeo

I've loved this video for such a long time, I thought I would finally share it today. This lovely and simple version of 'Dance Dance Dance' almost makes the sleet in NYC bearable.

Almost.

:)

Baby Soda & Burlesque @ The Glasslands (Last Night)

2009-01-23T10:15:00.010-05:00

Baby Soda @ The Grasslands Gallery. Photo by Lizzie.

There seemed to be no better way to relax after a long days work yesterday than with some "hot" jazz music, wonderful Italian food, great friends, strong drinks, and of course, burlesque! This is what The Glasslands Gallery brought us last night for $10, and I think it was quite a wonderful deal: The Bearded Heart Cabaret and Dinner Theater Soiree. Baby Soda (see above), brought us down to the streets of New Orleans with some good-old-fashioned street-marchin' jazz music that you just had to swing your hips to, and then the lovely Coco La Pearl and Della Dare provided us with some slightly awkward but rambunctious and uproarious burlesque. We laughed, we cried, we drank much wine. It was lovely.

Soda Baby is playing again tonight at The Glasslands Gallery for their "Dancing Party" Debutantes and Suitors! Costumes required! Free beer from 10-11! I suggest everyone gets all fancy and comes on over!

Change :) GO OBAMA!

2009-01-20T15:40:00.011-05:00

Barack Obama, created by Joe Crimmings Photography

I am a huge Obama Family fan (that's right, not just the Barack, but Michelle, Malia and Sasha) and today I was insanely verklempt to see that lovely African American First Family, all smiles and bounces in their steps, stand in front of the American country and say to us "thank you for giving us this opportunity".

I had to go into work today, and around 10am, my office set up a hi-def televsion in one of our conference rooms, and everyone gathered together with our laptops (to 'work' ) while we watched Biden and Obama swear in to office, and Obama give him speech, and I swear guys, I nearly bawled. Even during Yo-yo Ma (who I adore) and the poem about love (which was so new agey...but I like that haha), and Aretha Franklin (love the hat. seriously.), I was tearing up and going verklempt all over again. I was texting my brother, and my dad during the whole thing (who kept sending "goosebumps" over and over to me, until I asked if his phone was broken, and he responded, "No, lots of goosebumps."), and gmail chatting my friends... We were all 'together' for this amazing day.

The only down side? It has been a really hard day to work, knowing that America is on to some BIG changes. Some of my friends insist they will not celebrate Obama's presidency until they actually see some kind of change come from the white house and the hands of this young man. I agree that Obama has alot to prove, based on his own extensive promises and how Obama truely does need help from the citizens to make things happen (make things change).

For me, the change I'm excited about is how the spirit of a broken country can be healed, and how emotional rifts between different races, cultures and social class (well, maybe less of the last) can be repaired and we can once again have a strong and steady foundation for our country to grow from! I'm excited about knowing there is a person leading our country whom thinks of American citizens first, and not himself. I'm excited for change; I love change. Change has been my life, and I've leaved to embrace it because it allows you to expand your knowledge, intellect, tolerance and love for all things.

Oh, and did I mention I'm excited for Bush to be out of office? I think that this one fact is something out ENTIRE country can get behind and smile about!

GO OBAMA!!

ps - I'm becoming a HUGE fan of Joe Crimmings photos of Barack. So amazing!

'Anti-Oxidant' Video Salon @ Northeast Kingdom

2009-01-17T12:35:00.006-05:00

Marissa Nadler - Famous Blue Raincoat from Greg Eggebeen on Vimeo.

In my little corner of Bushwick, we have this wonderful restaurant called Northeast Kingdom, and for awhile now, it was the only reason that young, hip adults of Brooklyn to venture over to the Jefferson stop on the L. Like a little bubble in this otherwise fairly non-gentrified neighborhood, Northeast Kingdom serves a variety of exquisitely produced comfort foods, all compiled from local and organic farms. They also have lovely beers on tap (like Allagash, a personal favorite for the summer). It takes all of 3 minutes to settle into Northeast Kingdom and feel like you are in a wooden lodge somewhere far away from Brooklyn, eating food cooked by your cheek-pinching grandmother as you converse with long-lost friends.

So, how does this relate to Greg Eggebeen's video done to Marissa Nadler's cover of Famous Blue Raincoat? Well, according to BushwickBK (my fav Bushwick website), Northeast Kingdom hosts (randomly, really) an event called the 'Anti-Oxidant' video salon, and it has only been getting better and better. The event has really taken shape since local artist Christina Medina has taken over, and this weeks videos were all centered around local music (hence Marissa Nadler!) Man, oh man, if Eggebeen's video is any representation of the caliber of art being show at these events, I will NOT miss the next one on February 11th. It's beautiful, flowing and haunting yet still lovingly nostalgic. Eggebeen did an amazing job of capturing the subtle emotions at play behind Nadler's cover.

Other videos/artists showcased that night:
Opening video by Fritz Donnely.
Drew and the Medicinal Pens (who performed live afterwards!)
Matthew Dunehoo (formally of Baby Teardrops)
A/D
Ryan Power of Burlington, Vermont
Worm

Kids Who Love Obama

2009-01-16T15:35:00.008-05:00

Young Obama Supporter in Des Moines, IA, originally created by Joe Crimmings Photography

The NYtimes did a great piece today on letters from children (ages 6 to 12) to president-elect (until Tuesday!!) Barack Obama.

Left: "Dear Barack Obama, you look too skinny", from NYtimes.com. Below, a letter from Holly.

Dear President/Mr. Obama,

The best thing about living in the White House would be running around like a maniac. The thing I would like least is the work.

— Holly Wong, age 9, San Francisco

So, so adorable and really, quite interesting. Kids are just so endearingly smart and simple-stated. I'm currently reading The Stuff of Thought by Steven Pinker, and the majority of the first chapter is centered around first language acquisition and how children inherently know how to speak English grammatically correct. And he points out many times, that when a child says something that seems to simply be a babble of words stuck together, there is actually massive intelligence behind what they are saying

i.e. - "I don't want it because I spilled it of orange juice."

Technically, the sentence is fine, based on all of the grammatical rules a child would have inferred from hearing other people speak. We just have come to accept a sentence (semantic construction like this) to sound off and that it is not acceptable to us.
...

Hopefully, this isn't just me being a linguistics dork :)

Can't wait for Tuesday!!

What's Lizzie Linking to in Brooklyn?

2009-01-15T11:21:00.020-05:00

a bright day in brooklyn, originally created by 6161810

Curbed.com reports on the controversial Walentas Dock Street project, which got its first okay yesterday with a 30-7 vote. Bye-bye beautiful Brooklyn Bridge view if this goes through!

I'm extremely excited about the Brooklyn Flea Winter Antique Market that has opened in DUMBO! Located in the ground floor store at the corner of Front and Washington street, the market will be open for 12 weekends (starting last weekend).

BushwickBK reports on what REALLY makes a vintage store cool (i.e. - clueless-ness!)

If you have not see Fifty People, One Question yet, please please do. Happy, sad, bittersweet and uplifting, fifty Brooklynites were asked the question, "Where would you like to wake up tomorrow?"

Head over to NYTimes.com for their new section titled One in 8 Million that will explore a unique story from a different New Yorker each week. It's GORGEOUS. Finally, the NY Times is using this medium in the right way with wonderful photography and crisp audio recordings. Sensationally satisfying!!

My wonderful father, founder and owner of the Brooklyn Stained Glass Conservation Center, was featured in an article in the Brooklyn Eagle for his wonderful craftsmanship in reconstructing the 7 stained glass windows that were blown out of the Bay Ridge church on August 8, 2007. Remember that terrible storm that flooded all of the subways lines? Yup, that's the one. which also created Brooklyn's first recorded tornado that touched down in Bay Ridge and subsequently destroyed all 7 windows in the church. Work from a single digital image taken some time in the mid 90s, my father recreated the windows (including a 23 foot chancellor window) from scratch, using only his own artistic skills to get the job done.

Ciao Ciao!

Sister Rosetta Tharpe - Above My Head

2009-01-14T18:22:00.004-05:00

Today Was Terrible

2009-01-14T16:06:00.010-05:00

Subway Study, originally created by JKonig.

So, I normally don't use this blog as a reason to vent, but today warrants it. Besides waking up late and having to deal with "20 degrees and below" temperatures here in this wonderful city, I also found out a terrible thing happen to a person my father describes as "the sweetest guy you will meet."

On January 4th, at 7:30am, Ronald Melichar (a top official of the Department of Small Business Services and friend of my father) was at the City College stop on the No. 1 train at 137th St. and Broadway. At some point, Melichar had a seizure and fell onto the track and the third rail, and was electrocuted. Observers ran to the token booth clerk and explained the situation, pleading for the power to be turned off (which the clerk said would happen right away). Yet a full two minutes later, Melichar was still on the tracks and, to the horror of the observers, a train pulled into the station and ran over Melichar. The Fire Department was only called at 7:38am (8 minutes later!!), and rescue teams arrived at 7:42am to find Melichar still alive, though riddled with electrical burns and several fractured bones. Apparently, he had a heartattack as well before he was taken to the hospital. Amazingly, Melichar is still alive (though barely and in the ICU); his leg had to be amputated to save his life.

I just don't really know what to say to something like this. One, why did it take so long for the power to be turned off in such a dire situation? And two, what did this sweet and loving man do to deserve such a thing? My father informed me that Melichar also lost his life partner really recently to a strange virus which took his partner's life absurdly fast. It pains me to think of what his family is going through, and to know that Melichar touched so many lives (like my father's).

I guess you just never have any idea what is headed your way, and that we should all be grateful to simply be alive and breathing. My prayers go out to Melichar's sister and family.

All information for this post came from the following sources:
The Daily News
Gothamist

Magazines and the Dodo?

2009-01-05T18:10:00.017-05:00

dirty magazine, originally created by www.elliebrown.com.

I found out today that one of my friends was let go from her job as an Associate Photo Editor. Such a bummer. It's just about the hardest thing in the world to be an artist during an economic recession, because alot of what artists create are luxury items and not essential to life (you don't REALLY need to commission that panting of your dog to survive, do you?), so a good amount of really talented artists are pushed under the table during this time.

Searching around the internet to see just HOW bad the artistic employment opportunity was right now, I came across this list of the Top 9 Predictions for 2009 from Ed2010.com, a site started by two young women who simply aspired to be Editors of magazines by 2010. Actually, I wonder how they are doing... The list revolves around where print and online publications will be headed in 2009 (unfortunately, some are oh so close to seeing the Dodo).

http://www.ed2010.com/2009/01/9-predictions-2009

These are simply written by someone in the business, who has been around the block a time or two, and I think they hold greatly true to the times.

What artists are NOT being hurt by the economic recession? I'd say MUSICIANS, most definitely. Everyone loves a wonderful melody, and it's very voyeuristic (meditative, even). We are allowed take a moment away from the stresses of life and believe in love and life again (or, atleast that's how the music I listen to makes me feel :) Who else? Thank god the internet, the medium in which I work now a-days. We're just rolling along because, guess what, it's free!!!

Here We Go Magic

2009-01-02T14:36:00.013-05:00

GorillavsBear (through my bro) just turned me on to the wonderful Here We Go Magic, a band that is based in Brooklyn and scheduled to play at SxSW this spring! Oh, South-by, how I miss the years when I had a Spring Break and you were my destination...

Anyway, the whole self-titled album is very...ethereal, which I've been really into lately through the likes of Horsefeathers and Bon Iver, though these two bands go towards folky and Magic is much more post-modern... ethereal post-modern rock, yes, that's it! Kind of like they wish to take you away with the wind of their instruments and emotional melodies that still hold a strong beat. On their Myspace, they list sounding like, "Joyful, we hope," which I think pretty much sums it up. I adore music that is joyful. It makes life so wonderful, and lifts even the darkest of days.

Apparently, the creator of Here We Go Magic is a man by the name of Luke Temple, and the whole album was recorded by Luke at his Brooklyn home using analog synths, a cassette 4-track, and an SM-57 mic. It's due in February, right in time for the tour. Here We Go Magic also has a Daytrotter session coming up in March, according to Myspace, which I hotly anticipate.

The band plays on February 15 at Southpaw in Brooklyn, which I will be sure to check out...right after I check out Beirut on February 4th at BAM. What?! That's right! Woot!

My Journey Through JFK

2008-12-22T15:04:00.012-05:00

JetBlue Terminal (T5) Opens at JFK Airport, originally posted by jetblueflickr .

I went to high school in Austin, Texas, and my brother and mom still live there, so for the Christmas Vacation, I decided to pack up my necessary possessions and braved JFK to return "home". But oh, I did not realize how much of a mess this would turn out to be.

Due to the huge snow/sleet storm on Friday (Dec 19th), my flight was already delayed for an hour when I arrived at JFK at 7pm Saturday night. This wasn't a big deal to me; I could live with getting into Austin at 12:30am or so. I did not, however, anticipate the series of events that would transpire that would make me much, much later.

The first unusual thing happened while in line for security. I was conversing with the young woman behind me about how the security agents were barking out slow and loud orders to us, like, "TAKE OUT YOUR LAPTOPS" and "NO LIQUIDS" as if we had our brains melted somewhere along the way and had reverted to child-like states. The middle-aged woman leading the security team would clap her hands together with each command, as if it would help better register the order with us. "Does she really think we are all this dense?" I asked the woman behind me. Well, apparently someone was, because when I turned around to look at the opposite security line, I saw a young man (no older than 25), with his shirt completely off, and about to strip down to his underwear. (!!!) I cannot help but fathom how this young man thought that airport security had gotten so intense that we all had to undergo strip searches to get on a plane, OR that he just accepted this scenario as truth and wouldn't at least think, "This is a violation of my being." Luckily, the security guards stopped him before he could embarrass himself any farther, and got him to buckle up his pants, and put his shirt back on. This was such a sign of things to come...

After grabbing some food and a new book to read on the plane, I finally boarded my flight to Austin one hour late, and settled into my seat, thankful to be on my way home. Well, 45 minutes later, we were still sitting at the terminal, dealing with a computer error that the pilot described as, "Nothing serious; just a signal we can't take off with. We're going to reboot the plane similar to how you reboot your computer at home." It's funny how that is the universal solution to all technological problems: restart and hope for the best. Finally, the pilot came out and said, "Alright, we've got problem one solved, now on to problem two." Uh oh, right? The pilot went on to describe how the flight crew had already been working for eight hours and the maximum that any crew cam work is 13 hours. Which meant, that if we didn't get off of the ground in 30 minutes, they would have to bring in a whole new flight crew to take us to Austin, which was not available at that time. We would have to wait for the 9:30am flight the next day to get to Austin.

"I'm gonna be honest, folks," the pilot said. "We have a 50/50 chance of going anywhere tonight."

It was like a suspense movie aboard the plane after that. I had terrible visions of having to get off of the plane, claim my backs, and return all the way back to my apartment to then just come back the next morning, thinking all this while we rushed to get to doors closed and everyone secured. We cut the line to get our wings de-iced, and then air traffic control allowed us to cut the taxi take-off line to get into the air literally four minutes before the deadline.

Once in the air and at crusing altitude (and after we had all breathed a sign of relief to actually be on our way home), the pilot came on with this funny, final message. "You guys...well, SOME of you guys must have been really good this year, because I honestly didn't think we were going to make it. Thanks!"

Some of us? I enjoyed that he was a realist :)

Needless to say, I finally arrived in Austin at 2am, went straight out to a Birthday /Engagement party that was still raging in East Austin, and sat in front of a fire pit with a cold beer and friends to de-frazzled myself from the past 12 hours. I'm so happy to finally be on vacation.

Sound of Marching Feet : Top 25 Albums of 2008

2008-12-17T10:57:00.010-05:00

David Vandervelde -- Waiting for the Sunrise, #20 out of 25 at The Sound of Marching Feet .

For all of you music lovers out there, I'd like to point you to my brother's blog, The Sound of Marching Feet, where he has compiled his Top 25 Albums of 2008. Now, this is not your momma's everyday "Top 25" list. You will find no Beyonce or Kanye, no Britney Spears simply because she made a come-back this year. Not even a HINT of Coldplay. No, this list of albums stays mainly to the unknown, unheard, truly fresh and new albums from 2008. Some bands will seem familiar to some of you, but other bands are still trying to get themselves heard; to prove themselves to the judgemental crowds of independent music listeners that they're worthy of their time and devotional. Now, I do not agree with ALL of the selections my brother has on this list (mostly because I have not heard of atleast 6 of the bands), but that's exactly why I always love his choices, and why I will always look forward to this list at the end of the year. His ear has turned me on to so many amazing bands in the past (including bands like the Bowerbirds and Fruit Bats), that I don't have a problem looking at this list and seeing, say, Grails at #5 and taking a listen just to experiment. Try it yourself! I guarantee you'll find something new that you will love.

Bon Iver w/ The Tallest Man on Earth @ Town Hall (12/10/08): REVIEW (revised)

2008-12-12T20:08:00.011-05:00

Photo taken by Chris La Putt, originally from Brooklynvegan.com

::This is a revised post to my original::

Man, oh man, how I had been looking forward to this show. I bought my tickets to see Bon Iver way back in August, in a hurried rush when I only realized tickets were on sale minutes before, and then (once purchased) I nearly forgot about them, until my iCalendar finally clicked over to December and BAM! right in the middle of the 10th was their name in bold letters, with a series of exclamation points that made it look like the key had gotten stuck (or that I was a 5 year old and had just seen a pony).

Who could blame me? Bon Iver IS my very own pony: wild and untamed yet sweet and innocent; a dream... The show was so wonderfully melodic and soothing, I couldn't help but close my eyes at one point and simply sigh back into my chair, feeling the stresses of the day melt away under their harmonies.

Justin Verner (the mind and voice behind Bon Iver) was so humble to be in front of us that night, and only reconfirmed my feelings about him and his music. Verner (in interviews and through lyrics) has always reminded me of someone who could be friends with my older brother (protective yet fun), or of someone I always see on the streets of Austin, whom smiles unprompted and say, "Hello" in the most genuine way. Verner kept joking all night about his awkwardness during long pauses, as well as how quickly his (and his band member's) lives had changed since For Emma, Forever Ago came out. Truth be told, I had forgotten Verner had only put out this LP in '07. It seems almost impossible for me to imagine how a person can put out their very first album (raw and unfiltered, recorded alone), and then a year later to have the most amazing and rave reviews in all the magazines and to be on the tips of everyone's tongues, as they sell-out concerts across the world. And to imagine, that it was a dark and depressed Verner, sitting alone in a cabin in Wisconsin and completely done with life, who wrote these beautiful and heartfelt songs, who created these insanely unique and simple songs that now touch so many people and allow Verner to smile nightly and feels like the luckiest guy in the world. It's really quite the story, and you can't help but feel uplifted by it, and inspired to try to never give up.

A Few Notes (And Questions) to End With:
1) When Verner mentioned that he wasn't into encores these days because basically, Bon Iver didn't know enough songs to play one, someone in the audience started to rant really loudly about the economy and how "it's been a shit year and we New Yorkers have had to deal with enough..." I really wasn't sure if the guy was being positive or negative towards this "Encore" statement, but the audience cracked up nervously, and Verner played it off like a gentlemen. "Right on, man, right on {pause} I couldn't hear what you said at the end there, but it sounded passionate. You just made my day." haha

2) The venue was lovely (Town Hall on 43rd btw Broadway and 6th ave), but really, do that many people exist in this city who can't wait until a song is over to get up from their seats? I thought the idea of a sit-down concert would be nice (considering I don't really want to go crazy to Bon Iver anyway), but I'll never go to one again if the audience keeps disturbing everyone around them like they did at this one.

3) The Tallest Man on Earth played some AMAZING music, but never have I seen ego more embodied on stage than this man, and it turned me off. I asked my friend who plays in The Calm Blue Sea what was up with that, and he said, "yeah, we'd be humble as shit to open for Bon Iver. I don't know what his deal was."

4) How old is Verner's lead guitarist? 15? He's like a baby! Also, I've heard stories about this kid, that he's either Verner's younger brother, or was once his guitar student. Any authentication to this?

Anyway, it was a lovely, lovely, uplifting show. Their cover at the end of Lovin's For Fools by Sarah Siskind almost made me cry, and during The Wolves (Act I/II), they had the whole audience sing along and it was magical. I heart these guys.

Monday

2008-12-08T21:09:00.003-05:00

Today was a typical busy Monday. Lots of meetings and photographic requests, as well as playful chatting and sarcasm with coworkers. One thing I can always count on at my job is that someone will say something during the day that will make me smile, crack up or just take me away from the stressful grind. Even more than doing something you love, I think that working with people you love is so important to a healthy life; they make even the most hectic days seem pleasant and fun.

That being said, I had a moment after work that made this Monday just so, so completely ridiculous.

After leaving work, I decided to trek over to Trader Joe's to buy some groceries (my personal storage of food at home has become completely barren after not having been home for dinner for several days in a row; AND, my coffee ran out this morning, which is just completely unacceptable, so this trip was necessary). So, I walked the few blocks over to TJs on 14th street to brave the crowds and grab some kind grub. When I arrived, though, I was surprised (and a bit depressed) to see there was already a line forming outside (very unusual for 6:15pm on a weekday). Now, I have never been one for lines (or the cold), but after conversing with myself about "the benefits of coffee" vs "being on my way home and warm", I decided to stand out in the cold and wait with the other few dozen New Yorkers for our sustenance. Its a funny situation one faces during these circumstances, in lines. You wait there, saying, "Only 5 more minutes, that's as long as I will stand here," yet as time passes, you don't move an inch and continue to wait. It's almost like a battle of wills with yourself, or to some extent you feel like you're being tested, pushed...battling this very Monday. "I've waited here for 15 minutes, so damn if I'm going home now." It's like you're battling the universe.

Needless to say, despite the existential battle of wills, when one stands for any extended period of time on 14th street, you see a variety of crazy sights. I saw a man walking in shorts and flip-flops in this 34 degree weather, a taxi almost run over a young woman who had a complete right-of-way, and an older woman walking about 8 dogs, pulling her every which way as she serenely continued on her path. The biggest of all incidents (and what promoted me to write this post) was an older man, probably in his 60s, who approach the front door of TJs and, after arguing extensively about how it was unfair for him to wait in the cold for 40 minutes to get into the store, attempt to literally push his way into the store past the young woman guarding the entrance.

I was not very shocked to see this site (hey, I live in NYC), but more disturbed about the nature of people, and how a simple LINE can bring about the worst in us. It's something to do with one thinking they have an inherent right over the next person (whomever is in front of them) that causes humans to crowd closer to the entrance, even when no one is moving, or to bum-rush the front door (as this man did) out of some kind of self righteousness. Why do we do it? What is it? Is it the feeling like we're being herded like animals into a store that is branded? Are we already annoyed at ourselves that we did not have the foresite to come at a more reasonable hour to purchase our groceries? Or is it more that here, in NYC, we sometimes go crazy from the rush? I feel that the later is very true, though it doesn't only happen here. Lines and "herding" occure across the world and do not do well for the human psyche. We don't want to be animals anymore; we are civilized humans...right?

Well, the security guard came out and literally made the man apologize to the young woman, who made her own strong point to the man by saying, "You have no right to touch me" before he walked away in a huff as if some injustice were just thrown upon him, cursing the woman and this "f-ing store". Is he right for being mad? Perhaps...

But in the same vein, we ourselves are only to be blamed for reducing ourselves to kind of animalistic behavior, willing to be herded to our food. F-it, I was in that line too, wasn't I?

Happy Turkey Day!

2008-11-26T12:17:00.004-05:00

Oh Thanksgiving, how many different and unique memories I have of this day...

There was that one year when I was studying abroad in Florence, and got trapped in an elevator with 2 friends for about 20 minutes, until Christine pried open the doors because she would NOT spend the night without a beautiful dinner. We drank way too much wine that night over candlelight, wonderful food and amazing conversation, and then went to explore the gorgeously lit streets of central Florence.

There was that other year, when I was about 17, when I was working at a supermarket in Austin, TX. We were the only supermarket open that day, and things were CRAZY. I have never heard so many people complain about how expensive a can of cranberries could be, or have I seen so many people go into a panic when we started shutting the doors. The day was filled with non-stop checkout and big smiles to all who seemed like life would not go one without that last bag of stuffing (the wife would SURELY kill them without it).

There were all of those times when I was really little, and would travel from NY state to Wyckoff, NJ to my grandparents house for Amesbury family fun, with drunk grown-up, holiday music, and playing some fantasized game with my cousin and brother in the corner. I always had a lovely dress to wear, and would be picked up and twirled by relatives, hugged and kissed.

There were those smaller Thanksgivings, with just my mom and brother in Austin, Tx, though we would always make enough food to feed an army, and the weather would never be colder than 55.

And there is how I spend my Thanksgiving days now, in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY, where we have the extended Fraser/Korby family (and friends) spread through my Aunt and Uncle's brownstone, numbering around 25 (if not more), and more food and drinks than we know what to do with. We smoke a 26 lb. turkey in the backyard, and put an extra one in the oven, and always start the day beforehand with peeling potatoes and cutting carrots, just because there are just so many to feed! We laugh, we hug, we poke fun, we speak about all that has gone on in the year that we have unfortunately been unable to share with one another because of how hectic life can become. We reconnect, really. Reconnect in a wonderful way.

I feel like this holiday can be so lovely, because no matter where I have been, or who I have been with, it has always been about family and friendly and the love we share, and all of us just wishing for one day out of the year to be completely consumed with the warmth of other people. Sure, we always have one person who takes it too far, is too drunk, or a little too depressed for everyone else, but in the end, the warmth wins out. How can it not, when so many people are wishing for it so badly?

So, from me to you, have a wonderful and HAPPY Thanksgiving. If you're at home alone, call your friends, call your family, hell, knock on your neighbor's door and get something going. You're not alone, and I'm sure they would love to see you :)

Where is Lizzie?

2008-11-12T17:10:00.002-05:00

Lizzie has been way too busy at her real job, and has been promoted (!) so, I'm sorry for the lack of updates! More to come soon, I promise.

Future concerts consist of :
Centro-matic (this monday) and Bon Iver in Dec.

There will also be the Fraser Family Thanksgiving post which, to say the least, will be ridiculous, wonderful and full of family-insanity. AND, my two amazing friends just got engaged! I had a date at MoMA the day after the engagement party and it was interesting to see wonderful artworks and engage in deep, philosophical conversations while still swimming from too much gin and champagne.

Anyways, Lizzie is still in Brooklyn/NYC, still into art and life, and will STILL update! Just not right now :)

XOXO

Palin Sighting!

2008-10-27T13:35:00.003-04:00

I'm at a conference for work in Virginia, at the Lansdowne Golf Resort to be exact, and I just had my first official sighting of Sarah Palin! Apparently she gave a live speech near by in Virginia earlier today and was just held up in our hotel over night. Funny thing, all of my whole company was trapped in the bar area last night because she was schedules to walk by that particular club house and they didn't want us drunkenly leaving the bar and harassing her. "Poor us" for having to stick with open bar for a bit longer. She also had her whole entourage of children staying with her (baby missing, though), who all came pouring out of the elevator when she reached the lobby floor. It's a very odd experience to (1) see a political figure in real life (or a political celebrity, as is her case), and (2) to eat your breakfast next to 6 secret service men, because you always think they're just about to jump up and run to her defense.

Exciting conference so far :)

Update (finally)!

2008-10-26T16:44:00.003-04:00

In an attempt to post EVERYTHING I've been trying to get up here (but have, unfortunately, keep getting interrupted before it is ever finished), I will do a quick break down of music and venues I've been to lately. Enjoy!

What's Lizzie Seeing : In a Heartbeat

Who: River City Rebels -- the craziest mix of guys I've seen on stage together in awhile. Lead: drunk, jolly biker. Keyboardist: misplaced Alberta Cross member. Drum: too dark in the back to tell. Bassist (our friend Pat): preppy, skinny, and has a nice smile.
Where: The Trash Bar -- FUN. Pool. Eclectic with car chairs to lounge in and Christmas lights on the ceiling (oh, such a staple in Brooklyn). Grungy, but lots of fun.

Who: Alberta Cross -- as if SoundGarden tried to find their southern roots. Always a wonderful show, and climbing the charts. They just left to open for Oasis in the UK, so good luck to them!!
Where: The Mercury Lounge -- I've always loved the Mercury Lounge (we also saw Semi Precious Weapons about 2 weeks ago, which was AMAZING as usual). It's packed in the skinny bar area, but you almost always see the band members of the act you've just seen hanging out with the locales and fans. Watch out for their Long Island Iced Tea -- it's deadly!!

Who: John Vanderslice -- I love Mr. Vanderslice, but at this particular concert he wasn't that amazing. Perhaps it was because the space we saw him at had just opened (literally, that night), or that he was playing all by himself (voice and acoustic guitar were all the sounds envolved), but yes, not an overally impressive night by Vanderslice. But DO check him out in the future, because is recording are superb. In fact, at the show he mentioned how he had been challenged to record 24 new sounds in a year, and was up to 18 (I think that was the break down), so we should be seeing wonderful things from him soon!
Where: 92yTribeca -- Fun, new, interesting, Tribeca. I don't know, I don't go to that part of the city that often, but if it were the right band, I would definitely return. The sound was decent and the spumante lovely (though they changed glass sizes later in the evening; what's up with that?)

Who: Sydney Wayser -- This girl is so, so, so LOVELY! A bit Laura Marling, a bit like Fiest, it's very, very moving and truely beautiful live. I stumbled upon Sydney last night at the Living Room, and it was such a wonderful surprise. Very stirring :) Check her out!
Where: The Living Room -- My friends have played at this venue before, and I generally like it. It's right smack dab in the middle of all the other venues in the LES, so the location is great if the music is over and you want to check out some more. It's very cozy, too; intimate, especially with Sydney like above. Thumbs up!

More to come!

RIP - William Claxton, 80 years old

2008-10-16T13:51:00.005-04:00

Mr. Miles Davis, taken from William Claxton's website.

A mutual infatuation of photography and music lead me to William Claxton and his documentary photography of the Jazz legends of the 50s and 60s. I believe this happened sometime during my freshman year in college; I can't be certain of the exact date because all I really remember is immediately falling in love, deeper and deeper with every photo, and then things became a blur. Beautiful, rich, original and compelling, Claxton took such legendary musicians as Billy Holiday and Miles Davis (whom normally roamed the dark stages of smokey clubs and dim-lit backstage areas), out onto the bright streets and beaches of sunny California, and showed their deep souls in the light of day. Through Claxton's photography, a viewer could feel the intensity through which these musicians lived ever day of their lives -- where it was crying out the blues, dancing on the streets in joy, or clutching at their instruments or mics, longing for their next chance to shine. It was as if, by staring into a Claxton portrait, you became engluffed in the Blues, immersed in Jazz, taken over by Soul. Black and white photography has always been a passion of mine, and to know that each one of Claxton's photos was not only taken with passion and pleasure, but then slaved over through processing, printing and spotting with his own bare hands, makes even more energy and life stir from every print he's created. It's beautiful and stirring, and though I'm sad to hear he is gone, I know his photographs will stay with me forever.

Thank you, Claxton, for sharing your passion with us.

The Tyranny of Ducks

Shooting with Don Wildman from Offlimits

Sand Masters

Tartan Day - NYC

First Post in a Year!

The Defibulators

Off to Austin & SxSW

The Photography Post : A New Photo Aggregation Site

[video] Love Language - Sparxx @Lauromatinee

Inaugural 13.1 New York Race -- April 3, 2010

Two New Albums You Should Definitely Give a Listen To

[video] Horse Feathers - Curs in The Weeds

Today, I...

Brooklyn Flea - One Hanson Place

[video] 50 People, One Question: "PostSecret: Confessions on Life, Death and God"

Brooklyn Vegan 2009 CMJ Showcase @ MHoW

[video[ Fanfarlo - The Walls Are Coming Down

Dirty Projectors - "When The World Comes to an End" (Jimmy Fallon 9/28)

NPR - Tiny Desk Concert: The Avett Brothers

FANFARLO, THE ANTLERS, LAURA MARLING @ Brooklyn Vegan CMJ Fest

James Pomerantz Photography

[video] The Antlers: Two

Hooves on the Dirt: Motel Motel's Super Secret Garden

The Calm Blue Sea - Siegfried (An Original Score)

St Vincet @ the Bell House (Hiatus Continues)

BARACKLYN FEVER!

How I Love the Streets of NY

Brooklyn Half Marathon (Official Map!)

Need For Some Zen on Tuesday (old Jose Gonzalez)

Color Me Katie : Shadow Art

Life is Crazy! (BushwickMusic launches)

Take Away Show: Tallest Man on Earth ("These Days" Cover + "The Gardener")

Bees, If You Please! ::UPDATE::

Brooklyn Half Marathon Course Announced

Weekend Highlights + Linkage by Lizzie

Fiest's THE WATER music video (featuring Cillian Murphy) : 5 minute clip & Making Of

What's Lizzie Linking To? 04/17/09

Roxwel Exclusive Interview: The Calm Blue Sea

Annie Clark (St. Vincent): Unannounce FREE show tonight!

VIDEO PREMIERE - "Actor Out of Work" by St. Vincent

Bon Iver - Lump Sum (Laundromatinee)

Time Out NY 2009 Eat Out Awards (Brooklyn Style)

Ben Sollee w/ Daniel Martin Moore - Prettiest Tree On The Mountain

Phoenix - Lisztomania *Brat Pack Mashup*

Earthquake Rocks L'Aquila, Italy - Kills 90+

Matt & Kim vs Beastie Boys

Tallest Man On Earth: covers the traditional song Stepstone (and that good 'ol Fleet Fox cover)

What's Lizzie Linking to? (03/31/09)

Video Monday!

Department of Eagles, MoMA video "No One Does It Like You"

"Where the Wild Things Are" Trailer (featuring "Wake Up" (new version?) by Arcade Fire)

Camera Obscura releases a new LP, My Maudlin Career (due April 20th)

Threadless Spring Cleaning Sale

What's Lizzie Linking to? (Brooklyn, Mostly)

Video Monday!! {Marnie Stern, Thao w GDSD, King Khan, and Sigur Ros (Take Away Show)} + SHDL update!

{SxSW} Videos!

{SxSW} Update: Wed and Thurs Shows

{SxSW} The Onion's Decider Party @ Mohawk's (featuring Low Line Caller, the Lemurs, Evangelicals and The Wooden Birds)

{SxSW} The Calm Blue Sea @ The Pure Volume House Party "Local Music is Sexy" (3.14.09)

Love Language: Daytrotter Session

Sound of Marching Feet ::edit::

Lizzie Heads to SxSW

What's Lizzie Linking To

Video Monday: Thunderstorms w/ Holly Throsby

Marissa Nadler @ Sound Fix (Brooklyn, NY)

What's Lizzie Seeing: Saturday (Feb 28th)

Yeasayer (Take-Away Show)

Classical Conan O'Brien: w/ Martha Stewart

Gaspar Claus & Pedro Soler (Take-Away Show)

Lykke Li vs Kings of Leon "Knocked Up"

Tuesday: Nostalgia

The Fruit Bats @ Mission Theatre (Portland, Oregon)

Videos: Frightened Rabbits, Daniel Martin Moore (x2) and Horse Feathers

The Love Language: a Tuesday Surprise

What's Lizzie Linking to?

Video Monday: St. Vincent, Sea Wolf, and The Depreciation Guild

Beirut (w/ Kaki King) @ BAM (02/07/09) UPDATE: Video below

What's Lizzie Linking to?

Annie Clark (aka: St. Vincent)

Video Monday | I heart VIMEO

Phoenix - Lisztomania Brat Pack Mashup