RA RA!

Who needs sleep when you have places to be, people to meet and things to do? I'm running on 3 hours of sleep. I'll give it five minutes before my head hits the keyboard.

Work has been busy, in a good way. I just took on a second job as a babysitter and I'll be out on Shelter Island every weekend now, making sand castles at the beach and playing miniature golf with the babies. Not complaining yet.

Today I decided to venture to Southstreet by myself since Snowden was going to play as a part of the RiverToRiver Festival with Ra Ra Riot. Got there and found out that Snowden cancelled, and 2 other bands will open for Ra Ra Riot, who has been bumped up as the star band of the night. The first two bands were sad groups of people whose names I don't even remember. I even left after the first set thinking the wait wouldn't be worth it, until Edward jumped on me and I met up with him and Jordan.

So I stayed with Jordan.
FINALLY Ra Ra Riot came on. I found myself forgetting where I was because their energy and playfulness with each other totally stole my heart. Allie played the electric cello while Becky played the electric violin; being the two only girls meant standing at the front of the stage and often laughing at each other. They were so into their role in the band that the way they played made it seem somewhat spiritual/orgasmic. It was beautiful.

The lead singer, though, reminded me a bit of the lead singers from terrible bands such as the Ataris, where their voice is high-pitched and their face is twisted into a look of constipation and pain, head always cocked to the side as if there is an excruciating pain in their neck.

One of the guitarists was totally a dork, the other wore pants tighter than those of any other girl I have ever seen. Mr. Spandex Jeans, was jumping ALL over the stage with Mr. Ataris-Voice.

I am very fond of Allie, as she was super cute in her white blouse-dress and yellow flats and seemed to be the youngest member of Ra Ra Riot. She was beautiful.

Anyway, Ra Ra Riot put on a feel-good show, and that's what they are - an innocent, fun band, nothing much more.

Their album debuts July 10th.

Bravo Bravado!

On Repeat:

After watching The Birdcage and getting into the gist of South Miami life and music in the early 90's, I got even more into synth pop and freestyle. That is how I stumbled upon this wonderful Melbourne DJ, Ben Plant, better known as Miami Horror.

Miami Horror is definitely influenced by Daft Punk and Gloria Estefan's "Congo", and falls into the pool of the many 80's revival bands. Don't roll your eyes; Miami Horror, though almost purely instrumental, will make you wanna whip out your neon bikini and roller-blades to send you wiggling your hips and clapping your hands down a boardwalk. The songs are never boring and the hard-hitting bass, pumping with the vibrating electro-keyboard chords and ever-changing pitch will surely have you playing these songs on repeat.

I'm eagerly anticipating Plant's first album, Bravado, soon to be released.

MP3: Midnight Juggernauts - Road to Recovery (Miami Horror Remix)
MP3: Miami Horror - Don't Be On With Her

Vermont: June 2007

I've been looking forward to this trip ever since the semester ended.

First of all, hanging out with Nicky after a whole month of being separated was absolutely necessary.

Being in the city so much got me to a point where all the noise, pollution, people, tall buildings and man-made structures started to suffocate. For some reason I was just tired of everything and spending time in Vermont was the perfect remedy for my feeling unsatisfied and tired.

Landed in Burlington, where Nicky picked me up and we went to have the BEST sandwich ever, drove past the fields and farms and trees and a dead skunk to this:

Typical.

I loved it.

During this vacation I also got to meet the cutest babies ever and fell in love with Demetrius, who I miss terribly already.

Went strawberry picking with Chrissy, ate strawberries for hours because they were the sooooo deliciously delicious. Oh my goodness we had so many strawberries.

We also had two creamies that day. For those of you unfamiliar with the best maple soft-serve ice cream, you're missing out.

Oohhhmuhgawdsomuchfoood.


Went to a party where we all got drunk playing checkers and jumped on a wet trampoline.




Went to Wayside Diner the next morning where I was so hungover I couldn't eat breakfast. Barghhh.

But Chrissy took the best pictures ever.

Then went exploring in Nicky's "backyard" where we made a documentary about survival in the forest.

Hiked up and down through the forest; it was crazy! I almost died trying to keep up.

























Laid on the Statehouse Lawn for some time, hysterical laughing over immature matters with the best. Amazing.

Also sat at a bonfire in Nicky's backyard with her family, watching the smoke whirl in question marks and joking about how that was the vision of our futures.

Suggested creating a crop circle garden in the shape of a question mark or exclamation point.

Did a lot of other things but I just can't put into words how much I've thought about throughout the trip. I risk sounding like the biggest loser ever in saying that being in the country/mountain-side brought me to a level of higher awareness. There wasn't a single moment when I thought about wanting my iPod. Everything is so beautiful and untouched and pure.

A bajillion thanks to the Best Ever for everything.

Jetlagged

Vermont is wonderfully beautiful. So much grass, so many trees, so much sky. So many honest people because I lost my phone (again) and a nice security guard called home to let my sister know where it was (<3).>

Pretentious Phrase of the Week

In describing a Kandinsky painting where several planes seem to intersect each other, Professor Trudie Grace said,

"It's a cacophony of direction."

Go Go Smear the Poison Ivy, Make Your Crooked Hands Holy

My DSL connection has been sucking so bad lately. Hence the lack of updates.

I've also landed a job at a silk-screening lab in the Upper West Side as an assistant. Job description: doing all the odd jobs around the lab, answering the phone every 2 seconds and returning e-mails every 7 seconds. The lab is overloaded with orders right now so it's a really busy place but it makes the time fly. The neighborhood is of course beautiful and we're right on Amsterdam and near Central Park; summertime just makes sitting at one of the sunny sidewalk cafes even more great. The guys (I'm the only girl there) are all really sweet and down-to-earth so it's all right. The only problem is I'm working full-time there so it's draining in so many ways.

Anyway, next Wednesday I'm flying to Vermont to visit the best lil' boy, Nicky. We'll reunite for a few days and be lil' boys together. It's also about time to get the out of QWEENZ (pft, when is it NOT time to get away from Queens?). Forests and fields and good times make for a refreshing, much-needed mini-vacation.

On Repeat:
Icelanders Múm (!!!) has announced their fourth album to be released September 25th, titled Go Go Smear the Poison Ivy, Make Your Crooked Hands Holy. CAN'T WAIT based on this track for download. Dancing Behind My Eyelids is an empowering track of electronic beeps and bumps. Indecipherable sung lyrics come halfway through the track of "dancing" and "horizons" but are, for the most part, hauntingly nostalgic in a magical way. This is the perfect in-between singing too much and not singing at all, since most of their best work is instrumental. It's entrancing. Go blast this on some good headphones and listen.


MP3: Mum - Dancing Behind My Eyelids

Those Germans

Around the World

Watched "Hard Candy" last night, and I have several problems with the movie:
-Why is she such a psycho!?
-Sandra Oh was absolutely irritating in this movie
-Ellen Page's character was perhaps the most annoying and unlikeable character in the history of all the movies I've ever watched.
-I honestly don't see the problem with Patrick Wilson fondling me.
Don't watch it.

On a lighter, more happier note:
I can never get sick of this video.

Daft Punk - Around the World

Battles with Mirrors

Battles is Animal Collective from the future. Using all kinds of electronic effects, lead singer Tyondal Braxton's voice is manipulated to sound like a small choir of evil cyborg children. Ian Willians and Dave Konopka play their bad-ass guitar and bass chords, with an almost droned out keyboard to add to the effect that you're at rockin' concert for robots where a spiritual event will follow a moshpit.

Though the drums are, at times, a little dominating, Battles' new album "Mirrored" is definitely worth listening to, especially if you fancy experimental music.

They'll be playing at the Southstreet Seaport Festival on August 31st.

Battles - Atlas

Life and Pictorals

Today I got training-attacked by the Training Manager at Crunch. His name is Antonio and he's black and 38 and good-looking. His exercises involved his legs between mine and vice versa. Could this be a developing case of jungle fever? Kidding. He was really good and I have an actual session with him on Friday.

Apparently I have poor posture and terrible balance and it's making me look fatter/shorter than I really am. I believe it.

Found some Yo Majesty/CSS photos from the other night:
Carolina Parra is still on my mind.

First Blog/Carolina Parra

In good spirits for the first, mostly music-oriented and personal, blog entry:

Last night was the Cansei de Ser Sexy concert at Irving Plaza. For those of you unfamiliar with the Brazilian electro-pop/rock band, GO 'GIT and listen to some of their music. I swear it'll make you wanna flail your arms in the air and wiggle around like you jus' don' care.
They opened for Ladytron during their tour last year and I fell in love with them ever since Lovefoxxx kicked off the show with choreography and energy reminiscent of little children. Adriano, Luiza Sa, Ana, Ira and Carolina played along with enough energy to electrocute the entire eager and hungry audience rocking with their beeps, thrashing drums and buzzing guitars.
I didn't even have tothink about buying tickets for their return at Irving Plaza; I knew CSS would put on a show fun enough to leave their audience thinking about the great time they had the night of June 1st for weeks.

The opening group was Yo Majesty, a rap group composed of three black lesbians who looked like they came straight from New York City in the 80's. Eventually the well-fed, dreadlocked rapper/singer stripped off her multi-colored neon palm trees t-shirt and baggy jeans to shake and jiggle all over the stage in boxers while the two others continued to shout "Fuck 'dis SHIT" at all the CSS fans. They had good energy but their music wasn't exactly my cup of tea.

After their set ended and Cansei de Ser Sexy's equipment was FINALLY set up (at apprx. 10:00PM), Lovefoxxx came out in a fully-sequined rainbow body suit (YESS!). It drove everyone absolutely crazy and the crowd started to push toward the center front, where Trey and I were squished up against the fence before the stage. Carolina's bangs hung over her face as she was bent over, furiously picking at her guitar; I was absolutely in love with her. Still am.

When they played "Off the Hook" I found myself screaming the lyrics with everyone else and wishing with all my heart, for Nicky to be there.

They had bubble guns, water bottles, towels, drumsticks, giant vibrators and vegetables to freely throw out to the crowd. Lovefoxxx even threw herself into the crowd twice before security had to rescue her from dozens of grabbing hands. The front row, which included Trey and me, had to push against the fence to keep from being suffocated by the aggressive crowd behind them. I've never been groped, grabbed, jumped on and humped by so many people, ESPECIALLY when they played "Let's Make Love and Listen to Death from Above." GAD it was absolutely insane! All of CSS's friends and Yo Majesty came out to dance and rock with them on stage during the final few songs.
Here's the best part: toward the end, Ana held up the second hot pink, rather large, vibrator, offering it to the crowd. Of course I was so crazed and into the scene that I reached my hand out and Ana looked at me like "YOU want it?" and gave it to me! Now I have a vibrator from Babeland, gifted by Ana, too large for me to know what to do with. The show ended around 11:45PM and Trey and I left drenched in sweat and feeling like we just won a billion dollars.

Sigh. What a wonderful, wonderful band. I'm already looking forward to their return. There were a bunch of photographers and one cameraman so pictures/videos will be posted as soon as I find them online somewhere.

Next Show: 06/29 Snowden with Ra Ra Riot at South Street Seaport.