Such a lady

More video: a song by my favourite new musician of the week Danielle Ate The Sandwich (normally of Colorado) about a dog she met in NYC.

Other favourite videos: What’s Love Got To Do With It?, Ode to Optophobia & most of all, I Get Ideas (When We Are Dancing)

Read Full Post »

Breathe it out & let it in

I don’t think Sonic Youth has featured on this blog yet, which seems a bit of an oversight on my part. Not that, now I’m mentioning them, I can think of anything intelligent to say.

When I was 17, I thought New York City sounded like Washing Machine & women in New York City were like Kim Gordon. “& she said honey, here’s a quarter. Go put it in a washing machine.“, “Yeah, I take my baby down to the street & I buy him a soda pop.” etc. So that’s another part of my mental image of the city, gruff & swirly guitars & short dresses & biceps.

Read Full Post »

Those were the reasons and that was New York

Chelsea Hotel, written Leonard Cohen, performed Corin Haines (of the teev fame).

( The actual Chelsea Hotel, history, etc).

Read Full Post »

Ain’t it the truth

the Gossip in NYC, Originally uploaded by Spattz

Stopped at Real Groovy on the way home from the mailbox and found Undead in NYC, a 2003 live EP by the Gossip. They’re usually on the other side of America & they’ll probably be in Europe when we’re in NY, but the live recording connects them with The City for today (& reminds me of their amazing show at the King’s Arms a while ago).

More Gossip in NY pictures: 1 2 3 4.

Also bought Get Lonely by The Mountain Goats – the opposite album in lots of ways but just as suitable for this wintery weather. Connecting thread: I saw The Mountain Goats play an amazing show at the King’s Arms, also.

Read Full Post »

House guest

Danced to this with Kerry, late one night / early one morning in Wellington, a couple of months ago – one of the highlights of a slightly patchy appearance by DJ Vadim. Danced some more, then went for 4am falafels and back to K’s for sleep.

This weekend she was in my town, making plans for a trip to (where else) NY. We won’t overlap, she gets home just before I leave, but I’m sure our stories will intersect somehow.

Read Full Post »

It’s up to you

Karaoke Dokey!, Originally uploaded by Muppitz

Karaoke last night at Andrew‘s opening was full of NY-related duets with B. Completely failed at “New York, New York” (sorry Frankie, the Cat Power version has spoiled me for remembering what the actual tune is), and didn’t do much better with Englishman in New York (sorry, Quentin). Later, pulled off a totally passable (though non-NY related) version of “She’s Got You“.

Alternate NYC karaoke picture: Sing Sing (Breakfast at Tiffany’s reference? Some others duetted “Moon River” last night). There are lots of bars in NY of course, but I’m not really a karaoke instigator & suspect the boys wouldn’t be into it. Also, in New York there is karaoke on demand on the cable teev! Innovative.

Read Full Post »

Walk like a man

gay men chorusing

Read Full Post »

The main squeeze

squeezebox, Originally uploaded by sgoralnick

I joined a mailing list called Nonsense NYC, which sounded worthwhile: “a discriminating resource for independent art, weird events, strange happenings, unique parties, and senseless culture in New York City.”

& here is something it told me about this week: the Main Squeeze Orchestra. They’re apparently “the only all-female accordion ensemble in the western world”, and they play things like the theme from Amelie (of course) (mp3, 4.1 MB) & Love Will Tear Us Apart (mp3, 4.3 MB) (both arr. Jenni Dykeman) & the St James Infirmary blues (mp3, 3 MB) in glorious accordion harmony. See also more sounds and video and this picture on Flickr.

Best all-girl accordion orchestra ever?

Read Full Post »

Let’s see how far we can amble

Nina Nastasia, Originally uploaded by abbyladybug

If this trip was a fillum, Nina Nastasia would feature on the soundtrack – she lives in New York and sings perfect urban folk songs. I saw her in Auckland last year, playing with Jim White at the Schooner Tavern’s last night. Youtube has “In the Evening” from that show, and her MySpace page has some properly-recorded tunes.

Read Full Post »

Cream of the crop

Cat Power singing about New York on French TV:

I’ve had her recording of this song stuck in my head for the last couple of weeks.

Read Full Post »