YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2008 World Series - Game 5 (part 2) - 9th Inning - Section 142 from ryan cummins on Vimeo.
Phillies win the World Series - Celebration on Broad Street from BCR on Vimeo.
Black Kids & Cut Copy @ Paradise - 5/12/08
Black Kids Review:
Monday’s are not usually the best day for me when it comes to giving a thorough review of a show. But I kept my whits about me by not drinking too many PBRs.
I missed the opening band, Mobius Band. I know some of my fellow Boston bloggers have been following these guys but I have yet to catch on. I’m sure that sooner rather then later I’ll catch their opening act. Give them a listen and let me know what you think: http://www.myspace.com/mobiusband.
I made it just around the time Black Kids were making it on stage. The crowd didn’t seem into it right away. I think the packed house and cramped space didn’t help. They’re a band you want to sit back and groove to. Even their grooviest of tunes didn’t get me moving too much. But I don’t think that’s really the point, unless you’re completely in the bag. The point here is that they play fun, catchy music. The lead vocalist, Reggie Youngblood, has a unique sound but as we all know, we take after our idols. I heard hints of Bowie on occasion and for modern day inspiration he was definitely throwing in some British accent love for Bloc Party frontman, Kele Okereke .
My one problem with Black Kids is the line up that seems forced here - brother and sister in the same band. If Ali Youngblood actually played an instrument proficiently or had impeccable vocals, it would be one thing, but she really doesn’t do much to add to the band. The whole brother - sister thing probably works to their advantage but I recently saw an interview where Reggie said “it’s the first time I’ve played with my sister. That’s not completely OK. We don’t hang out. If we weren’t playing music, we probably wouldn’t see much of each other.” (Boston Metro). Not sure if that’s good press or not. Maybe he meant to say that “It’s OK” and the Metro either miss quoted him or he miss quoted himself.
What’s even worse about their setup is they put her front and center. When she’s not supplying the back up vocals or pushing a few keys on her mini synthesizer, she passes the time by doing a little jig. It’s kind of like the Ashley Simpson episode from SNL.
However, they’re having fun and that’s all that really matters. Would I recommend seeing Black Kids live, not really. Nothing too special. However, I would recommend buying their music for their poppy and fun songs.
Their album his coming out in July. It was recorded and produced over in London by Bernard Butler (former Suede guitarist). The album is coming out on Columbia Records.
Cut Copy Review:
Cut Copy are all about the build up. They love revving up the crowd with breaks in the song that lead up to huge bass lines and infectious melodies. If you own their recent album, In Ghost Colours, you already know this. The one thing that I felt lacked from their set was a flow. There were periods between each song that were longing then I expected. Especially since on the album the songs flow into one another.
But that is the only downfall. Everything else was just pure, good old fashion, dance fever music and electronic pop goodness.
I was able to capture most of their performance of the single “Lights & Music”. Watch below. The sound is a bit scratchy since I was up in the stage-right balcony where speakers point right at you. The more and more I go to the Paradise the more I enjoy the sound quality in certain locations such as in this spot. If you go too deep into the balcony then the sound gets muffled. I also enjoy the floor over on the left better then the right even though the right side is bigger.
And watch carefully folks, Boston kids love to get down. I mean, this place was going nuts during these build up moments. The boys from Cut Copy were eating it up. I looked down on the sea of kids and could barely make out individuals. It just looked like one big mass of human arms flaring back and forth. Too bad this was a Monday night others I would have been down there in the mix.
Natalie Portman Sitings and other musings
I recently signed up for Hulu, the online TV viewing website that has Joost beat for its simplicity and the fact that you don’t have to download any software. Just sign up and start exploring. They also have a strong commitment to providing HD quality streaming clips so that’s good news for us HDTV folk.
One of the first videos I watched was a clip from SNL (Saturday Night Live). I have to admit, I really can’t stand most of the comedians that have been on this show for roughly the past 10 years. But every now and then they come up with a gem such as the “Lazy Sunday” skit.
The skit I saw included Natalie Portman doing a rap about what her regular life is about or rather, surreal life. The skit itself was thought up by Andy Samberg, who is probably the funniest dude on the show (except for Darrell Hammond but that’s an unfair battle given he’s been on the show for 13 years!). Andy and his writer friends from Berkley, CA are the brains behind most of the spoof musical bits on the show today such as “Lazy Sunday”.
It starts off as an interview with Chris Parnell (for some reason Andy really digs Chris Parnell who has been off the show for a couple of years). Natalie, dawning her boyish hair cut but somehow managing to look sexy as ever, is asked by the reporter, “Natalie, what is a day in the life of Natalie Portman really like?” And she says, “Do you really want to know?” And that’s when the things start really getting hot. Watch the 2 and half minute clip below.
In other Natalie news, this time we’re delving deep into the heart of the psych-folk barrel with Devendra Banhart. Some of you may already know that Natalie and the hippy dippy singer are very close friends but for those of you who didn’t know, now you do. They solidified this friendship by recently appearing in a music video together that has yet to be released. Read more at MTV News Room.
Stream a Devendra Banhart track, “Little Boxes”, which is a cover of the theme song for the Showtime series, Weeds.
Moving away from Natalie, I went to the Malkmus and John Vanderslice show last night at the Paradise. I won’t go into a review of the show but if you’re a Malkmus, ex-Pavement or ex-Sleater-Kinney fan I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how awesome the dude is on guitar and how amazing Janet Weiss is on drums. But what I will tell you is how John Vanderslice has proven to me that he is the nicest guy on the music scene today.
This was my second time seeing John and my second time meeting him. He’s very approachable and he makes it a point to the crowd that he will be hanging out by the merch table not only after his set but also after the Malkmus set. Besides being friendly, the guy is also a musical genius and he always seems to bring along these musicians who are far and above some of the best musicians around - drummer who plays both a synth and sampler while drumming or a bass player who also happens to play the violin. You know, people like that.
J.V. MP3: “White Dove” (off of Emerald City)
Download more JV MP3’s HERE: http://www.johnvanderslice.com/html/mp3_index.html
John and Steve are only on tour for one more show together tonight in North Adams, MA at the Museum of Contemporary Art.
See more shows that JV and company are headlining after April 4th HERE: http://www.johnvanderslice.com/html/shows.html
See more Malkmus and The Jicks shows HERE: http://www.matadorrecords.com/tours/
