The Mozzer, The Buzz and the Shock

Mr. Morrissey in the spotlight, Richard Burton in the back.

Uho - We are back after a short mishap with the template and glad to have not lost this little archive of shows and music in New York. Because there are great ones, still. Recently, Morrissey, last of the international playboys, held a series of triumphant shows at the Hammerstein Ballroom and easily entered my all time favorite top ten live shows, climbing as high as the top five. Highlights and a bawling 40 year old cynic writer in tears included fantastic renditions of Smiths classics like "Stop Me" and "Girlfriend in a Coma", but also powerful new songs from his two latest records like "You Have Killed Me" and "First of the Gang to Die". The man is so sophisticated in the best of senses, charming, yet distant, and, by God, sexy. Or, as my friend the bassman said, probably the only person he'd consider changing his orientation for. That good.

So much for the Mozzer, now to the buzz: We are glad to report that C. Gibbs is back from a most successfull tour with Lucinda Black Bear projects, playing sold out shows in Zurich and leaving merch and an excellent video for You Got it Blue all over Europe. Meanwhile back home,The Snow with long time C. Gibbs collaborator Pierre de Gaillande have started to take larger stages and developed into an experience somewhere between languid jazz and pop ballads - come see the less known but more impressive Hilarys of New York, with one l less than the senator, but decidely much more talent for singing. Good news also comes from Kinetic, who find their name more and more mentioned in the press, with their shows mentioned in Time Out now. We also checked out Overlord at the Delancey recently, and were impressed. Somebody should finally go and sign them and send the band on tour. They've got the songs, trust me. And on this note, one last buzz: The Palace in St. Gall, Switzerland has become the favorite stop on European tours for many a promising US band. Check out their MySpace Siteand look at the names they had playing there and what people say about this island of indie in Eastern CH. Then go and ask Jeffrey Lewis about St. Gallen after his show on November at the Crown Point Festival on the Lower East Side!

Below, you find my current list of top ten live shows ever. I excluded small and intimate shows, although they usually are my favorite and move me most - for example Television Personalitites in 1991 at Maxwells in Hoboken or Chris Bailey of the Saints at Ziegel Au Lac in Zurich ages ago. Here the more commercial ones. I'd be interested to learn of your favorite shows ever!

1. Paul Weller - London, Royal Albert Hall, 1992
2. Pet Shop Boys - New York, Hammerstein Ballroom, 2000
3. Morrissey - New York, Hammerstein Ballroom, 2007
4. Pyschedelic Furs - Outside Woodstock, Open Air, 1999
5. The Church - New York, Irving Plaza, 2006
6. The Finn Brothers - New York, Central Park Summer Stage, 2005
7. Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros - New York, Irving Plaza, 2002
8. Madonna - New York, Madison Square Garden, 2005
9. The Cure - Konstanz, Rock am See, 1991
10. Lloyd Cole and the Commotions - Drahtschmiede Zürich, 1985

Blog Action Day? Alright, Alright!

Ok, it's blog action day today... The UN and Google and some NGOs for the protection of the environment want us to talk about climate change, so here we go: when I was a kid we spent days in the full sun without skin protection and barely got a tan. These days, playing soccer for an hour in the sun, you're burnt. I recommend George and Dick join us some Sunday here at Rodney Park for a game and experience the phenomenon themselves. They might even be able to stop traffic on the BQE to retrieve the ball.

Anyway. I know I been lazy posting lately, but that's just cause I've seen tons of shows with my sedulous buddies Martin and Marco from Rorschach, Switzerland, restlessly on the lookout for good concerts - we found plenty of promising names, but few highlights. Here's their list of New York Highlights:

1. Midnight Soccer against Morex Optimo in Greenpoint's McCurren Park (5:3 for Painhead)
2. Union Pool
3. Roast Beef Sandwiches
4. The Draft at the Knitting Factory
5. Arcade Fire on Randalls Island (incl. the Rock Sluts)
6. Queens of the Stone Age at WaMu Madison Square Garden
7. Animal Collective at Webster Hall (and on my wall)
8. Who the fuck is Biffy Clyro?
9. USA - Switzerland in Rodney Park (18:11 for USA)
10. Personality, Character, Style

There's some stuff that didn't make the list, too: The Klaxons, for example, did not impress my friends, as did the Black Angels who do a horrid ripoff of the Doors, mixed with, huh, Spacemen 3. There were some rather forgettable East village bands we saw and a great Falcon show we missed. They shot tons of photos which they promised to send - i will post some when i get them. For now I leave you with a shot of the Draft, the best concert we've seen this week. Martin and Marco were great guests, always uplifting and in the mood for every new adventure. They are officially proclaimed NNF - Not Non-Fillers!

British Girl Charm

God, I wish I had been writing songs when I was 19 instead of hanging out in dull bars not knowing what to do with my life. Kate Nash seems to know what to do with hers and appears happy to share it with us.



The Luna Lounge was enjoyably crowded on September 24 and they even managed to get the sound somewhat right. Even tough I couldn't hear the violin during the first song, but you can't ask for too much. Kate Nash was playing for free after not getting an US work visa like a few other British artists before her. She didn't seem to mind at all and impressed with her down-to-earth attitude despite her huge success in the UK. She was cute and charming and a bit shy and the three members of the band all visibly enjoyed playing with her.

Here is her performance of the 'Skeleton Song' including a very cute introduction:


More pics in my photodiary.

'Capo My Heart' and other Bear Songs

Lucinda Black Bear CD release party at Joe's Pub on September 18:


Hear them perform 'Kites' live, the sound was really nice!


More pics including pianist Anton Sword guest performing in my photodiary.

Buy that CD! It's a great piece of work! Let's hope Time Out New York is right with saying 'the striking, melancholy tunes on LBB’s new disc, ‘Capo My Heart’ and Other Bear Songs, could push him over the top'. And if interested, listen to this Joe's Pub interview with Christian Gibbs about Lucinda Black Bear.

Girl Power Rock'n'Roll

Turns out Rock'n'Roll can be for me but burlesque shows not really. At least when 'The Shalitas' performed at the 'Supreme Trading' September 15 and there was a burlesque support show I was not sure why I should watch this. My boyfriend didn't know either, so we left outside and came back for the music show.

And luckily, that was worth it. The performance of The Shalitas was very entertaining and I really liked the matching outfits. Go girls!



More pics, also of the end of the burlesque can be found in my photo diary.

Diversity Achievement Award For Melomane!

Saturday night, the growing music phenomenon Melomane crowned a busy year with a splendid show at Joe's Pub for which this website awards them the DAAM for, the Diversity Achievement Award in Music. During their stint as entertainment combo in Holiday resorts in the South of France this summer, this band must have discovered some kind of holy grail for songs: New arrangements brought out qualities in old gems like "Northern Birds" that made them shine in clothes of a different genre, revealing layers and sexy hooks, new blood and verve. No strings this time, but exquisite horns, notably by the second Swiss to join the band, artist Eveline Feldman. Seemingly effortless, the band slid from Pop to Folk, from World to Rock, from Ballad to Battle song with sweetly alert stage presence. And then the new songs, boy! Absolute highlight was the Thin Lizzy style guitar duell between Pierre and Q., flawless.

But really, did you ever doubt they had it in them? This band has all the chops needed in their wonderfully charismatic mix: Britpop escapist Quentin Jennings, the ultimate American urban country girl Daria Klotz on bass, the poetic flow and prolific wit of french-californian Pierre de Galliande's songs, all backed by his trusted buddy Kenny Savelson from the days of US postpunk legends Morning Glories. And there's the ever growing variety of guest musicians and world spanning side projects, just to mention here C. Gibbs with Melomane cellist Frank Heer, who will be touring Europe this October. Come wish C. Gibbs luck this Tuesday night at Joe's Pub again, where they are celebrating the Lucinda Black Bear record release party. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Diversity Achievement Award in Music 2007 goes to the New York band Melomane, true professionals, true believers in music and fully committed to good taste.

Since you've seen tons of Melopix from shows already, I include the great pretty old (2002?) shot they sent to Joe's Pub.

Feelies, Dream Syndicate & Sham 69 in one Night?

Glenn Mercer promoting his solo debut Wheels in Motion.

Not really the super groups, but better: We hear the Mercury Lounge is closing, but while it's still open, there's sweet surprises such as last night's show of two of the biggest 'Coulda Been Bigger'-Stars: Glenn Mercer and his buddies from the Feelies (sauf Bill million) and Steve Wynn, former head of the Dream Syndicate, both in splendid form and the famously grand sound of Mercury Lounge. What a musical pleasure, and the thing really started rolling when they went wild on guitars. Lots of older faces in the audience, but merely a head that wasn't noddin to the riddim, consumed by the stream.

Steve Wynn with band, including the most amazing female drummer

But not enough of old men on guitars. I thought it was a sham when Club Midway announced they booked Sham 69, but alas, shortly after midnight they took the stage at New Yorks truest punk rock club and dished out all the old hits: If the Kids Are United, Hey Little Rich Boy, Borstal Breakout, Hersham Boys and what have you. They, that is to say, did not include Jimmy Pursey, who left the band in 2006, but has his own Sham 69. After last night's show we think, the lineup with Whitewood and Dave Parsons, who wrote all them songs, are the real thing, also with the hilariously self-effacing Tim V on vocals. There could have been a bigger crowd for this punk rock legend, considering all the attention punk gets in the media and from the hipsters again. Dudes, you really missed this one.

Sham 69, the Parson line-up: As authentic as it gets

Helsinki Zurich in a Halcion Daze

The place is always packed when Dorit Chrysler, the Austrian-American undebated Queen of New Yorks Lower East Side plays Helsinki in Zurich, Switzerland, and it seems she always has an ace up her sleeve, this time bringing Bingo Palace veterans Fa Ventilato and Privateman into the spotlight while herself donning an electric guitar, just like in the old days of Halcion, when Chad Swahnbergs guitars roared over Dorit's accusing voice, while Jeffrey Whitte and Fa laid the solid fundament. There are not many traces of Halcion on the internet, to read a pretty accurate review of how their shows were, click here. Fa has since abandoned drumming and has made himself a name as Fuckintosh and will be on tour soon with the balkan-electro bastard Import-Export. Tami was there ban the historic moment on picture - Thanx!

They Still Do That, up in the Catskills!

I never cared much about Labor Day Weekend, to be honest, cause news happens when news falls, so I am working round the clock and never get out of the city much anyway. But this time, we got such a nice invitation from Anton and Yael to hang out at the fantastic lodge in the Catskills, play Croquet, relax Victorian style, swim and strumm on acoustic guitars, which, as you must know, has been strictly prohibited in New York City. But as you can see, they still do it up there in the Catskills, especially if there's A Toby To Ride.

Rorschach Testing, the Waters are Fine!

Wow, I haven't been here for some time, guys. Seems blogs are more something for the winter, yknow, put another blog on the fire and tell us a story... There's quite a few to tell from the trip to old Europe where the lakes are blue, the sails shine in the sun, the forests welcome the hiker with cool green shadow. Enuff. The international Supergroup of Rorschach SG chanced upon each other and discussed the record they didnt make in '82 and split with vague plans of beaming down to planet Bodensee in a near future and music is always possible and life just a little bit less hectic.

Mind you, there's riot. A voice to wake the Swiss up from the pacifying harmonizer that mother nature has lulled them into is Göldin, on his third full length CD "Fantasy is Fucked", again aided by trusty Bit-Tuner and his infallible ear. The Eastern Swiss poet rapper Göldin is rough, is mean, is british-understated in swiss german. His stories tell of everday swiss life, political divides, binges, crazy ideas and little joys like the upcoming local soccer game, furnished with an eternally bittersweet melancholy. Brooklyn rapper Sensational adds some of his flavor. Check out "Up in smoke" on Goeldins MySpace.

Meanwhile, one of my early idols, Stephan Eicher released a new record, Eldorado, which shows him at his very best, at ease with himself and the world, tender, authentic, and, especially in the title track, mighty - no one touches the king of Swiss pop, not any Adis or Baschis. For those mean bastards of you who always put an 'S' in front of his last name, listen to "I cry at commercials" - one of the first truly great fusions of Indie and Jazz. Chapeau, M. Eicher!

Respect also to Die Aeronauten whom we went to see on a float in Basel. Despite a rainy day, hundreds of people showed up at the shores of the river Rhine and danced the rain away to the vivid sounds of these old friends, who rolled out a series of hits with fat, big band sound. Go figure, Green Day.

What else? greetings to all the lovely people we met over the three weeks, good luck to all the new kids on the block, and especially to their parents, it doesnt always have to be rock'n'roll, does it? A nice sunset on a mountain top. Picking rasperries in a garden and eating plum pie. Shoving the ball over the wall into the right upper corner of the goal. Enuff again.

Back in New York, the heat seems on the way back to hell, but just to make sure, we'll all go to musical camp at Anton Fine's summerhouse in the Catskills, guitars and all. Most people seem to have been lying low during August. Went to Chico's for welcome drinks, he said he's retiring - well'see! Anyway, it was hear what was going in musically in the meantime: Melomane, according to Pierre, were in the south of friends, excuse me, France, and recorded five new tracks besides playing holiday resorts and enjoying good food. Heather and Jay's new project Peng! has banged out three songs already, says Alfred. Watch out, Europe! Overlordis playing Monkeytown on reservation only next Wednesday, come sing the Gospel according to George. Oh and yeah, Damien photographed David Beckham and therefore started a blog about the Superleague, you find it here. Bongers the bass man meanwhile played with Maroon 5 (ask him about it!) and met Beckham backstage at the Box. He was impressed, he says. More soon. Off to the Catskills now! I leave you with a picture of my beautiful hometown of Rorschach, ach.

Swiss National Day at the Beach in Queens: Wed Aug 1st

The 1st of August is Swiss National Day and this year, we Swissies in NY celebrate it on the Water Taxi Beach in Queens! There are going to be Livebands, DJs and Beach Games, it's all for free and you are invited. There are Watertaxis leaving at 34th Street and 1st Avenue free of charge (That's worth the trip already.) Spectacular views of the Skyline with the UN headquarters right across the river.

Jan, Mike and me are going to play some Mani Matter chansons. Mani Matter was a unique storyteller and songwriter, who died on the way to a show in 1974. Kind of our Hank Williams or George Brassens. Then again, he was a politician and a lawyer. Kids in Switzerland still know all the words to the songs. I hope I will. We
are playing at 7.15 pm. Maybe Kerry will join us and we'll play some more. Catcha start at 6pm, Chin Chin will blow you away at 8pm.

Here's a picture of the amazing view from the Water Taxi Beach. For more go to The Water Taxi Beach Website.

Summer in da City and Sirens Calling

We heard the call of the Sirens on Saturday and descended on Coney Island just like all the fellow hipsters, but soon discovered that the sound has not improved from earlier years and quite a few bands seemed to have problems adjusting to the weird conditions, with music blaring from the stands and MCs alluring customers thru cheap blasters. So we opted for the healing power of salt water on the near beach, took a swim and then a ride on the still impressing Wonder Wheel. Wandering around we almost bumped into David Johansen and he flashed his Mick Jagger smile at my girl. Back to the music: We Are Scientists were good, powerful nerd punk. Cursive was a strange version of the Cure with bad sound. The highly praised M.I.A totally disappointed. The New York Dolls did a good job, nothing dead exciting, but they got the stadium sound down and seemed to enjoy their second coming. Btw,now, that everybody says Coney Island will be developed, it's certainly a good idea to go down there and see for yourself that there is indeed some stuff that could be nicely developped. Urban planning doesn't necessarily have to be bad. But I'm digressing. Saw Falcon with The Great Northern and The Comas yesterday at the Mercury Lounge and honestly, that was more interesting music than the whole Siren Festival. We just hope them village voice bookers haven't lost the touch - and that the Siren festival is still around come July 2008.

Full Tank on The Moon!

It's Friday and hot in Williamsburg, so take a cool RnR trip to the Luna Lounge to see the all female Full Tank. Rock n Roll is full of drama anyway, but even more so if the whole band consists of a bunch of fabulous women who all hold their own sway... I guess what I'm trying to say is: Every outing of the Tank can bring new surprises, be there four, five or six of them pwrr grrls. We'll dearly miss Eveline tonite, though, and strongly hold on to the belief that things will and people can change. Horns!

Bastille Day with Gainsbourg and Kennedy

Almost missed this: Today is Bastille Day and quite a few friends of ours are honoring the French in them with a tribute to Serge Gainsbourg - it's the Loser's Lounge at Joe’s Pub! Kerry Kennedy will make her LL debut as part of this fantastic Bastille Day show. She’ll be singing “Soixante-Neuf Anne Erotique” with the fabulous Pierre de Gaillande. The rest of the killer line-up: Michael Cerveris, Ed Rogers & Amanda Thorpe (Bedsit Poets), Pierre De Gaillande (Melomane), Kerry Kennedy, Sean Altman & Sue K, Patti Rothberg, Boshra Alsaanti (Looker), Nick Danger, Joanna Choy, Lianne Smith (7 PM only), Joe Hurley, Stan Harrison, Mike Fornatale, Flaming Fire, Adira Amram (9:30 PM only). The Kustard Kings: Joe McGinty, David Terhune, Julian Maile, Jeremy Chatzky, Eddie Zweiback, Konrad Meissner And: Connie Petruk & Katia Floreska (backing vocals) With: Claudia Chopek (violin) and Eleanor Norton (cello). Joe's Pub is at 425 Lafayette Street, just below Astor Place.

There are two shows, one at 7 pm, the second (most probably sold out) at 9.30pm. They are $25, but worth it...

Heatwave! Coney Island! Room Acoustic!

Yes - it's broken! As I write this, I see dark clouds coming up and a cool wind picking up, cool enough to finally blog again. It was just too damn hot. And to jump into the pool in Williamsburg means McCurrin Park in Greenpoint where you have Built to Spill and Sonic Youth and whatnot. Or take the train to Coney Island on the 21st of July and cruise through the attractions and bands such as the New York Dolls...all for free, mhm.

But first, come down to Bar on A again next Wednesday. We have two more shows before we take a summer break. The first one is acoustic at Bar on A, featuring on three guitars Beautiful Burnt, Jaunty Jan and Roaming Rome. Bar on A is at the south eastern corner of Avenue A and 11th Street in the East Village. The show is free and Michael is bar tending.
Starters at 9pm.

The second on, on July 27th at East River Bar is electric and features also our trusted rhythm section Marvelous Martial and Jingle Jangle Jean-Cosme. That night, the Blissful Martin Bisi and the crafty Hot Iron Swallos with rock you, too. Hope to see you here, there and everywhere.