If you don’t like the FFFF word, don’t watch this video.
If you don’t like Lana Del Rey, don’t watch this video.
I love the FFFF word and I love Lana Del Rey!
So here’s Lana singing “Born to Die” with the line “let me kiss fuck you out in the pouring rain” live in New York from December 5, 2011 at Bowery Ballroom, xclusively on G-TV. If you like this video, check back on this site daily and tell your friends. You never know what I’ve got up my sleeve. Also, for all the LDR haters, please think about this before you spend another second in your cloud of hate – sure Lana is not the best singer on the planet. But she’s also not the worst. Pick and choose your battles! Spread the love, not the hate!
I can’t think of a better way to close out 2011 and begin 2012 than by seeing the incomparable Patti Smith perform at New York’s Bowery Ballroom! Patti Smith played her annual trio of sold-out New Year’s shows on December 29, 30 and 31 at Bowery Ballroom and I was fortunate enough to see the final show. What can you say about Patti Smith other than the fact that the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer is worthy of every accolade she receives in the press – she’s an incredible performer. Mixing poetry with punk and rockin’ for nearly 2 hours and 45 minutes, Patti Smith’s performance was in a word, G-L-O-R-I-O-U-S!
Patti, who turned 65 on December 30th 2011, was in a great mood as she told stories in between songs and urged the crowd to empower ourselves in these turbulent times. She advised us to arm ourselves with knowledge and fight back against injustice because like her song says, “The People Have The Power!” Just before the stroke of midnight, Patti Smith surprised the crowd with the announcement of a special guest star – former REM lead singer Michael Stipe. He poured champagne for the front row as the crowd enthusiastically rung in 2012 with the classic ”Auld Lang Syne.” He stayed for a special cover of Jimmy Webb’s “Wichita Linemen” (and a video will be coming soon – so please stay tuned!)
Patti Smith
Patti also played classics such as “Redondo Beach,” “Because The Night,” ”Pissing in a River,” which she dedicated to the late Amy Winehouse and also played the theme song to “Around the World in 80 Days,” which she dedicated to Mike Todd, who was married to Elizabeth Taylor, who also passed away in 2011. Covers of “Not Fade Away” and “The Last Time” were also played as well as her recently recorded cover of U2′s ”Until The End of the World,” which found Patti getting really emotional (and in turn, there was not a dry eye in the house during the song). The great evening ended with a rockin’ version of “Rock and Roll Nigger” and the crowd chanted the chorus “outside of society” in unison with Patti Smith and her amazing band. Patti thanked the crowd for 14 years of New Year’s Eve shows in New York and mentioned that they will not be playing them next year at this time. Where she’ll appear is anyone’s guess, so stay tuned! Spotted in the crowd: Michael Stipe hanging out with actress Toni Collette and Atlas Sound’s lead singer Bradford Cox.
If you got nothing out of this review, please take this kernel of knowledge with you into 2012 and beyond – THE PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER!
Here’s my predicition for one of the biggest stars of 2012: Lana Del Rey. She performed a way sold out show in New York a few weeks ago to mark one of her very first live performances. She’s going to be on Saturday Night Live (hosted by Daniel Radcliffe) in a few weeks and she’s due to make the transition from being the most talked about singer in the blogosphere to the most talked about singer in the lame-stream, I mean mainstream. One of the songs she’ll probably play on SNL is her infectiously haunting track”Video Games.”
On December 18, 2011, Georgia’s Atlas Sound played a sold out show at Bowery Ballroom in Manhattan. Atlas Sound is the brain-child of Bradford Cox and his nearly two hour set was definitely great for the brain. If you don’t know the music of Atlas Sound, it’s a solo side project from the extremely creative and very talented Bradford Cox. His music is ambient, psychedelic and extremely passionate. When Cox writes songs, the lyrics and music are written via stream of consciousness and they are deemed finished when they “start to sound crowded.” Atlas Sound took the stage around 10 PM and played for a solid hour and 45 minutes. He emerged with just a guitar, a smoke machine and lights, which kept the crowd absolutely mezmorized for the entire set.
Atlas Sound
Every song was captivating to watch as the songs each built to a climax and Cox’ passionate delivery mixed with perfect mood lighting made for a surreal night. Cox played a lot of songs from his critically acclaimed album “Parralax” and he also did a Christmas song called “Artificial Snow.” I sat inches from artist and Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ guitarist Nick Zinner and he and his friends had commented that from the looks of things, I was set to have some pretty good pictures from the show – and as you can see above and below: YES! Good news for Atlas Sound fans – NYC Taper was in the audience and he said that he’ll be uploading the concert this week.
See a couple more pictures, including a photo of opening act Carnivores, the setlist and a photo from my encounter with Bradford Cox after the jump.
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings concluded a 7 night run in New York with a sold out show at Manhattan’s Bowery Ballroom on December 14, 2011. If you don’t know Sharon Jones’ music and/or stage presence, you are missing out! She is one funky soul sister whose sound could loosely be described as Patti LaBelle meets James Brown! She runs a tight band and the Dap Kings are so funky! From the second Sharon Jones hit the stage, she didn’t just work it, she owned it! Shaking her moneymaker in every song and wearing a fringe covered dress, thus making her body moving even more entertaining to watch, Sharon Jones’ performance was absolutely sensational.
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings
During several of the songs, Sharon Jones brought up members from the audience to shake it on stage and this was of course after Sharon Jones showed the crowd a few of her favorite dances, which included the mashed potato and the tighten up (Archie Bell and the Drells - represent!). She told stories in between songs, “tested” the band’s reflexes by calling their names and having them funk out “on the one.” By the end of the nearly two hour show, Sharon Jones wore us out from dancing and grooving on a really chilly winter New York night, but such is the price of funk and soul.
Sharon Jones
Thanks to Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings for helping end this year on such a funky high note with one of the best shows I’ve seen this year! If you get the chance to see Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, do not hesitate! She has some funk that’ll kill ya! Read more of this article »
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