Brett Dennen is a musician that I have been listening to since what Fred refers to as my “strum strum hippie yodel” days. Dennen has been quite busy since the last time I checked up on him. He now has three full length albums, has toured the world, done the late night talk show circuit and was rated as Rollingstones  “10 Artists to Watch”.

More recently though Dennen released an iTunes exclusive EP with the help of Brazilian ex-patriots Forro In The Dark and Jason Mraz. Dennen’s songs already had some feel for some reggae so it was the natural combination to match him up with Forro In The Dark and the combination is well received. The EP features reggaefied songs from his latest LP Hope For The Hopeless and one older track from his debut self-titled LP as well as the new track “Joan of Arc”.

Dennen is currently on tour with Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. You can check out his MySpace page for tour dates and locations.

We the Indie Music fans of the world have a duty.  The world we’re leaving for our children is in terrible peril! While the media has pumped us full of Save he Whales, Save the O-Zone, and Save the world from the likes of John and Kate, there is a much more threatening evil on our doorstep.

Yes Indie Citizens…I’m talking about carbon copy, teeny-bop, pop.

I’m talking about the Jonas Brothers. I’m talking about Hannah Montana…or Miley Cyrus…or Hannah Montana…oh whatever. I’m talking about The Cheetah Girls! Yes. It’s horrible. And it’s threatening to lead our children down the path of musical starvation, turning them into Star whatever point whatever and KIIS FM  zombies who won’t know the difference between a good song and a radio jingle!

In the same way that my father saved me from Debbie Gibson, Maddonna, Tiffany, Milli Vanilli, and Vanilla Ice with the Beatles…I believe we should all fight the mainstream music maleficence take and introduce our kids to good music. Music that doesn’t feature just 3 power chords. Music that doesn’t feature “jaded” in the lyrics . Yes, music that doesn’t suck.

Let me help get you started. Here are some songs that have gone over like the Berlin Wall on my kids:

• Mates of State – My Only Offer. My kids love this song. EVERY one of them, ranging from 8 years old to 4, even the 6 month old likes it.
• Architecture in Helsinki: That Beep: This song has been so requested at our house that I’ve almost had to hide the CD.
• Of Montreal: Brush, Brush, Brush. Ok, I don’t care that this song is off the soundtrack for the weirdest kids show on TV. Yo Gabba Gabba has the Teletubbies and Poobah beat for psychotic mental trip, and truth be told, I really can’t stomache the show, but this song is cool. And Of Montreal is one of the indie-est Indie bands on the planet.
• They Might Be Giants. (see video below). You can pick just about anything from John and John. Their music is fun and wacky, and they even do kid music. I’ve actually been listening to their kid stuff for years with my kids, and let me tell you: they sure beat Raffi! In fact, you don’t even have to buy a CD to get your kids started. Go right over to Itunes and subscribe to the Friday Night Family Podcast (or click here to watch it in “syndicate”). Other great TMBG hits your kids will love: “Experimental Film,” “The Mesopotamians,” “Man It’s So Loud in Here,” and even the classic “Birdhouse in Your Soul”. Below is a ditty from their new Kiddie Album.

• Rodrigo and Gabriela – Diablo Rojo. Pretty much anything by this duo will make your kids dance.

• Robert Bobbert / Apples in Stereo – We Are Superheroes. You can count on just about anything from Apples in Stereo. Robert Bobbert is the lead singer and has done his own stuff (like the link above).

• Dan Zane and Friends – Hello. Ok, this guy really IS a kiddie musician, but this song was featured in a recent Coke Ad, and it’s very cool. (sorry, no download link).
• Dogs Die in Hot Cars – Godhopping. Just a cool song all around. Fast paced, and it talks about children in poor countries…so bonus points for teaching kids social responsibility.
• 8 1/2 Souvenirs – Happy Feet. This is a great swing outfit. Their stuff is…well…happy.
• Forro in the Dark – Asa Branca (Featuring David Byrne). Brillian brazilian beats. Used to be a legit free download on music.download.com, I’m sure it still is somewhere.
• Guster – Amsterdam. Pretty much anything of this album (Let’s Keep it Together), is great. In fact, I think this album is one of the best (if not THE best) indie albums of all time. Yes. I just said that.
• Oingo Boingo – We Close Our Eyes. Come on, it’s Halloween. I had to include something from Boingo.

I was joined in Studio 4  today by Rob Simonds of The Cedar and we had a chance to talk about The Cedar’s 2009 – 2010 season, in particular about the upcoming Global Roots Festival in late September which features a ridiculously diverse and wonderful roster of artists including Os Mutantes  (above, in 1968), BLK JKS from South Africa, Forro In The Dark and Huun Huur Tu with Carmen Rizzo. We also heard tracks from Tony Allen, Dennis Brown, Puerto Plata, Ted Curson and many others. The show is available for 2 weeks by visiting the KFAI site where I’ve also posted the playlist (here as well, after the break).

Brownout – Pole Position
album: Aguilas & Cobras; label: Six Degrees

Tony Allen – Ayenlo
album: Secret Agent; label: World Circuit

Sara Tavares – Bué
album: Xinti; label: Four Quarters

Nico Fidenco – Eternal Anguish
album: Perché Violenza Alle Donne?; label: Dago Red

Vinicius Cantuaria – Rio Negro
album: Sol Na Cara; label: Gramavision

Bei Bei & Shawn Lee featuring Georgia Anne Muldrow – Make Me Stronger
album: Beauty & The Beats; label: Ubiquity

Dennis Brown – Some Like It Hot
album: 7″; label: Pioneer

Menahan Street Band – The Contender
album: Make The Road By Walking; label: Dunham/Daptone

Deolinda – Mal Por Mal
album: Cancao Ao Lado; label: Four Quarters

Zuco 103 – Pororoca
album: After The Carnaval; label: Six Degrees

Mulatu Astatqé – Yekatit
album: The Very Best of Ethiopiques; label: Manteca

Os Mutantes – El Justiciero
album: Everything Is Possible; label: Luaka Bop

Blue States – Metro Sound
album: Man Mountain; label: ESL

Joe Mensah – Africa Is Home
album: Ghana Soundz Volume 2; label: Soundway

- • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
- Global Roots Festival preview with Rob Simonds of The Cedar

BLK JKS – It’s In Everything You See
album: BLK JKS; label: Secretly Canadian

Os Mutantes – Anagrama
album: Haih or Amortecedor; label: Anti

Forro In The Dark – Lost In The Ballroom

Bajofondo – Pulmon
album: Mardulce; label: Decca

Huun Huur Tu with Carmen Rizzo – Ancestors Call
album: Eternal; label: Huun Huur Tu & Carmen Rizzo
- • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Lord Newborn & The Magic Skulls – A Phase Shifter I’m Going Through
album: Lord Newborn & The Magic Skulls; label: Ubiquity

Céu – Rosa Menina Rosa
album: Vagarosa; label: Six Degrees

Puerto Plata – Mujer Perjura
album: Casita De Campo; label: Iaso

Ted Curson – Lin’s Garden
album: Traveling On; label: Evidence

Ja, schon klar, der Sommer ist wettermäßig bislang unterster Durchschnitt. Schöne Musik ist daher nötiger denn je. Hier sieben akustische Vorschläge zur Rettung der Welt, viel Spaß mit den siebenSONGS 30!

A. A. Bondy – When The Devil’s Loose (mp3)

Forro In The Dark – Light A Candle (mp3)

Melissa McLelland with Ron Sexsmith – Seasoned Lovers (mp3)

The Avett Brothers – I And Love And You (mp3)

Lightning Dust – Never Seen (mp3)

Mikroboy - Raus mit der schlechten Luft, rein mit der guten (mp3)

William Fitzsimmons – You Still Hurt Me (live) (mp3)

High Places performs in Stuyvesant Town (http://www.thefader.com)

If you thought that Wednesday nights were looking pretty bleak in the Summer Concert Calendar, worry no more. Looks like Stuyvesant Town scored a really great mix of bands for a Wednesday night music series in June and July. Why this has to happen after I move out of Stuyvesant Town is beyond me. It would have made up for having the word Oval as part of my street address.

All the shows are free and they are set to take place at 7:00 pm on the Stuyvesant Town/Peter Cooper Village Oval Lawn on East 16th Street (around Ave. A). There will be a different pre-show DJ each night starting at 6:00 p.m.

Here’s the lineup:

6/10 Budos Band: A Staten Island based instrumental group, The Budos Band plays “Afro-Soul” music. If you miss them here, the band will also perform at Central Park Summerstage on July 24.

6/17 Phenomenal Handclap Band: I don’t know much about this New York band, but they describe their sound as an “anthemic, dancefloor-oriented blend of progressive rock, disco, electro, and ’60s soul with sprinklings of hip hop-styled orchestral breakbeats and moody, synth-heavy hooks.” Though I’m going just because I like their name.

6/24 Easy Star Allstars: A group of artists who specialize in covering albums in a reggae style. They’ve recorded their own versions of Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon, Radiohead’s OK Computer and The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

7/1 Jay Reatard: He’s from Memphis, Tennessee and he plays garage/punk music.

7/8 Forro in the Dark: This is a New York band that blends the traditional Brazilian musical style of forró with some modern sounds.

7/15 Kaki King : She’s famous for her guitar skills, as demonstrated below.

Não, amigos, não é trote. Isso realmente aconteceu. Thank God!

Um dos músicos da banda de David Byrne, é o brasileiro Mauro Refosco. Além de tocar com o cantor e compositor escocês (sim, Byrne nasceu lá), o percursionista tem um projeto paralelo chamado Forro In The Dark, onde ele e mais Davi Vieira, Gilmar Gomes, Guilherme Monteiro, Jorge Continentino, e Smokey Hormel compõe e tocam sucessos de ritmos tradicionais do nordeste brasileiro. A banda está radicada em New York.

Graças à proximidade com Byrne, Refosco o convidou para uma participação no primeiro álbum da banda, lançado em 2006. A canção escolhida foi uma versão de David para o clássico “Asa Branca”, de Luis Gonzaga. Ficou uma obra prima! Além da sonoridade ter ficado incrível, o vídeo é bastante divertido. David Byrne dá mais uma amostra de quão é apaixonado pela nossa música. Ele já revelou por diversas vezes que uma de suas maiores influências é Caetano Veloso, com quem cultiva uma longa amizade.

Outro detalhe a ser observado é que Smokey Hormel, que executa guitarra, baixo e cavaquinho nas gravações, tocou nos últimos álbuns de Johnny Cash. Em uma entrevista, Mauro Refosco revelou que o escolheu porque curtia a batida country de Hormel, que lembrava Cash, e tinha tudo a ver com o ritmo acelerado do Baião.

Espero que gostem do vídeo. Procurei a letra para postar, mas infelizmente não achei.

São raros os projetos que conseguem agregar diferentes vertentes artísticas de uma maneira que faça muito sentido. Daquelas iniciativas que quando você tem contato pela primeira vez, depois a segunda, terceira…  ainda se pergunta como nunca ninguém tinha pensado nisso antes.

O Wax Poetic surgiu em Nova York em 1997, fruto da cabeça do músico e agitador cultural Ilham Ersahin. Nascido na Turquia e influenciado pelo jazz, ele conseguiu visualizar a união e plena convivência entre jazzistas, produtores de música eletrônica e artistas digitais, roqueiros, e a turma do hip hop. Ai mora o grande segredo deste projeto; a facilidade de passear por gêneros, línguas e batidas em suas longas apresentações. Uma jam session por noite e a possibilidade de novas descobertas e surpresas… como se fosse um set de “discotecagem instrumental”.

Essa liberdade artística do grupo possibilitou sua consolidação no cenário nova-iorquino, e os encontros semanais de jams ganharam um local definitivo com a criação do Nublu Club. Local onde as novidades musicais convivem junto com os ecos da vanguarda musical nova-iorquina do início dos anos 80, embalado por vozes de diversas partes do planeta. Considerado como um dos quintais da música brasileira nos Estados Unidos, Ersahin mantém o Nublu desde 2002 e abre espaço para quem quiser ir lá se apresentar. Hoje o Nublu ganhou um novo braço e se transformou em um selo no qual o Wax Poetic lança seus discos. 

Foi nessas idas e vindas que a relação com o Brasil começou. Bebel Gilberto, Céu, Black Alien, 3 na Massa, Forró In The Dark entre outros nomes já passaram pelo Nublu e alguns até já acompanharam o Wax Poetic em suas turnês. Caso de Thalma de Freitas que viajou com a banda para se apresentar pela Europa e inclusive fez uma aparição surpresa no primeiro show do projeto em Curitiba, em 2007. Sem ao menos ser divulgada ou anunciada, a cantora subiu ao palco e começou a criar rimas e sons para acompanhar a banda.

Outro parceiro dos músicos nova-iorquinos é o Otto, que já ocupa muito bem seu espaço na (importada) art-pop brasileira. O músico pernambucano chegou a tocar com o Wax Poetic em uma edição do Festival de Jazz de Montreux, ao lado da cantora turca Nil Karaibrahimgil, mantendo a babel sonora do projeto. E é o fruto desta parceria que o público curitibano vai poder conferir na próximasexta-feira (13-02), durante a festa de Aniversário do Jokers. Wax Poetic e Otto mantém o clima de liberdade artística e sobem ao palco para mais uma inesperada sessão de sons e diferentes linguagens musicais, que contam com a realização da Maamute Produções.

These guys opened for Gogol Bordello December 30th at Webster Hall and were one of the funest groups I’ve ever seen live. The video is a little lackluster, but hey, they’re Brazilian and this is the song of the day not the video of the day… that goes to that whistling ape.

Para quem não sabe, estou em Nova York e hoje fui no show do Gogol Bordello. E que show. Vamos por partes.

Webster Hall

A melhor analogia mesmo para o Webster Hall é a da Sabrina. “É tipo um Opinião”, mas no nível de Nova York, é claro. O prédio é de 1800 e não sei das quantas, cabe mais gente e o som é realmente bom. As semelhanças estão na fila para a chapelaria e as bebidas ultra-caras (até hoje ainda pode usar hífen né? ).

A Chegada

Chegando no lugar, baita fila. Cheguei às 18h15 para um show que iniciaria as 21h (com show de abertura às 20h). Ta beleza, telefonei pra Nisia, que me perguntou qual seria a banda de abertura, respondi que nem tinha prestado atenção. Sete horas da noite cravado abrem as portas pra gente entrar.

Entrei, deixei meu casaco na chapelaria (ROUBO pagar 6 dólares por isso, mas tava um calor insuportável lá dentro…). Subi as escadas e para a minha surpresa o que ouço? “Olha a cabeleira do Zezé! Será que ele é? Será que ele é?“, seguida de “Ô jardineira por que estás tão triste?” e “é uma timaço” e por aí vai. Uma série de músicas de carnaval de salão de – acredito eu – das décadas de 40 e 50. E eu pensei, “tu vê só”. Peguei a primeiríssima fila, lá na frente. Isso que dá chegar cedo. Detalhe: sold out, socado, trilhares e trilhares de pessoas.

A Banda de Abertura

E começa o show da banda de abertura. Entram uns sujeitos no palco, entre eles um vivente tocando triângulo. Oxente, isso parecia muito com algo que eu conheço. Aí ouço alguém gritar “AÍ NEGÃO!!”, mas ele responde “Say what?”. Nah, não podem ser brasileiros. Começam a tocar um instrumental estupidamente bom, com a melodia principal vindo de uma flauta transversal de madeira. Aí eles começam a cantar “Á É Í Ó Ú Ipisilone”. Bah. E daí corre o português solto. Forró atrás de forró, mas com um toque de rock, tipo Mombojó, Cordel e afins. Muito bom!

O nome da banda é Forró In The Dark. (Perdoem a qualidade da foto de celular).

Forró In The Dark

Claro que no primeiro intervalo silencioso entre as músicas eu grito “TOCA RAUL!”. O flautista deu uma risadinha e o Davi, o cara do sopapo ali fala no microfone “Isso é Raul mermão, forró nordestino dos bons!”. Aí ele pergunta se tem brasileiro na platéia, eu levanto a mão e mais uns dois mais ao fundo.

No final do show conversei com o Mauro, barriga verde e segundo da esquerda pra direita na foto. Me convidou para um outro show deles dia 9 no Joe’s Bar. Eu e o pai pensamos em ir.

Gogol

E deu de Brasil né? Vamos ao Gogol! UCRÂNIA! Leste europeu! Entra Eugene, galera vai a loucura! Ei, peraí seu caceta! Ele tá com uma camiseta que é a bandeira de Pernambuco! As calças dele têm uma bandeira do Brasil bordada! O casaco dele tem um BRASIL bem grande atrás. E o gaitista também usa uma calça igual! Pô, o Brasil tá em alta lá. Mas sigamos.

Ele começou com “Everything is Illuminated”. Admito que não sou um mega-fã hardcore ultra-power deles, não vou reconhecer todas músicas como no Ben Folds (que digamos de passagem, foi um lixo em termos de apresentação se comparado com esse, apesar de ser um músico que eu admiro mais). A galera quase botou a baixo aquele lugar. E eu agostumado com bunda-moles no centro dos EUA que só dão uma balançadinha na cabeça, se muito. Bah, o pessoal começou a pular que nem louco! Eu posso garantir que esta foi a vez que fiquei mais apertado em show na minha vida! O mais próximo disse havia sido o Oasis em SP em 97. Nisia, Leo e Ricardo talvez tenham passado por algo semelhante no Pearl Jam. Fantástico. O cara é um artista. Dança, pula, bebe vinho e sei lá mais o quê.

Eugene entra antes da banda

Música atrás de música ele detonava e a galera pulava que nem louca. Teve mosh pit (de criancinha, mas teve – não, não me meti), empurra-empurra e tudo mais.

O violinista, “wearing purple”, é claro, é outra figura. Todos são, só vendo.

Publiquei dois vídeos completamente indaudíveis no meu flickr.

Em um ponto do show, ainda no início, aparecem duas dançarinas/artistas fantasiadas de… algo. Uma toca pratos e outra toca bumbo, daquele de banda marcial. Fazem uns backing também. Ficaram pululando pelo palco até que tiraram parte da roupa para revelar mais. E o que vejo? “PAPAI, OBRIGADO POR SER SANTISTA”. As gurias estavam usando camisetas feitas para bebês da torcida do santos, além de shorts femininos do peixe. Pô, DEU de Brasil né?

Uma hora a galera cansou de pular tanto, eu inclusive.

Na hora que ele desceu do palco, eu apertei a mão dele.

E teve uma hora que ele coloca um balde em cima do microfone e começou a batucar. Ele atirou uma baqueta pra esquerda do teatro, a outra ele atirou pra mim. Tá aqui em casa

E então eles saem, voltam pro bis e tal. Eu chamaria de intervalo, porque foram mais umas 7 ou 8 músicas. Bem, uma hora ele vai lá dentro e volta com um livro. Fala do livro, diz que ele escreveu a introdução e diz: vamos ver se vocês são bons e sabem cantar isto: “ô Teresa, blablablanãomelembroenãoconhecia”. A brasileira seguiu cantando sozinha lá do fundo, mas acho que ele não ouviu. Aí ele xingou a galera e começou com um Another Brick in The Wall Part MMVIII e emendou com “Start wearing purple”.

E mais um tanto e acabou. Fenomenal. Estou cansado, podre e fedorento e vou pro banho antes que desintegre.

E não, não consegui falar com o Eugene depois do show. Fica pra próxima.

Saída

Coisas boas: Achei 26 centavos no chão e um ingresso não pisoteado (que eu peguei porque como comprei online estava com o nome na porta). Metrô super-eficiente de madruga, ruas ultra-seguras. Tranqüilíssimo (trema também ainda pode, né?)

Coisas ruins: UMA HORA na fila pra pegar meu casaco de volta. E ainda pedem GORGETA! Para pegar um número (999 o meu) e tirar um casaco de um cabide e devolver! Salário pra quê?!

FLOYDFEST ANNOUNCES ADDITIONS TO INITIAL 2009 LINEUP

DONNA THE BUFFALO returns for another passionately requested encore, joined by multi-cultural ensemble PANJEA with Chris Berry & Michael Kang (String Cheese Incident), as well as the acoustic sounds of EMMITT-NERSHI BAND (with members of Leftover Salmon and String Cheese Incident) and PETE FRANCIS (of Dispatch) featuring BAREFOOT TRUTH (selected to perform at the Obama official pre-debate Rally on October 15th 2008).

Free MP3 tracks of Under-the-Radar series artists are now offered to ticket buyers through end of December, featuring Jesse Chong Band, Rooster Blues, No Strings Attached, Thousands of One, the Mantras, Electric Chameleon, Blount Harvey, and Galen Kipar Project

The independent event production team, Across-the-Way Productions, just announced exciting additions to the already colorful initial lineup for their celebrated annual music and arts festival, FloydFest. Now in its 8th incarnation, the festival will take place July 23-26, 2009 in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of southwest Virginia. Since its inception in 2002, FloydFest organizers have prided themselves in providing a safe and welcoming ground for a global community forum, and musical showcase steeped in Appalachian roots. This year’s theme Revival echoes the festival’s mission to serve as a holistic plateau for the restoration and rejuvenation of our individual values, and our living culture.

“It’s easy to get bogged down, spun and otherwise deflated from the hustle and bustle of life,” explains Kris Hodges, the festival co-founder. “To take time out and consider these demands — and still maintain one’s sanity, ideals and heart — may be what the art of living is all about.”

Crowned “the best under the radar music festival” by musictoday.com in 2003, FloydFest continues to showcase performers spanning multiple genres on the cutting edge of the music scene. The 2009 initial performer lineup also includes the afro-beat globe-trotters Toubab Krewe, the extravagant cabaret of San Francisco’s Yard Dogs Road Show, NYC based Brazilian thump and cool Forro in the Dark, Canadian folk hipsters The Duhks, neo-funk-soul of Outta Sight Recording artists The Dynamites featuring Charles Walker, sacred steel masters The Lee Boys, Jamaica’s  sweet reggae grooves of Clinton Fearon of the Gladiators, the house-jumping sounds of Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, the progressive old-time sound of The Horse Flies, New Orleans’ street brass explosion Hot 8 Brass Band, disarming arrangements by Oklahoma’s Samantha Crain & the Midnight Shivers, Toronto’s Cosmic Rockers The Sadies, retro-pop and honky tonk of Mad Tea Party, soul shaking, conscious music of Laura Reed & Deep Pocket, quirky Americana Jazz of Boulder Acoustic Society, gypsy swing of The Belleville Outfit, the gospel of Ollabelle, and sure-to-get your head thinking and your feet moving sounds of Sol Driven Train, New Familiars, The Junk Yard Band, Luminescent Orchestrii, Barcelona Institute of Gospel, Stop, Drop & Roll, and Rising Appalachia - and that’s just the beginning.

Also returning to the festival, and making their main stage debut in 2009, will be the 2008 Emerging Artist winner William Walter & Co., as well as this year’s “Under-the-Radar Music” series showcasing the most promising up-and-coming regional acts. FloydFest will be announcing new artists throughout the winter and spring months, culminating in a full lineup that will span 4 days and fill seven stages with top quality genre-crossing music and workshops.

The beautiful festival venue, Blue Cow Pavilion, is located at milepost 170.5 off the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, the 80-acre mountain plateau offers camping, a progressive “Global Village” area of workshops and demonstrations, over one hundred artisans and crafters, food offerings ranging from pulled-pork BBQ to fresh sushi to hand-churned ice cream, a comprehensive healing arts area, and a Children’s Universe, featuring stage performances geared toward children, puppetry, workshops, playground equipment and babysitting services.

Early-bird tickets for the 2009 festival offer as much as a 40% discount and are on sale now. “If the first four weeks of sales are any indication, we are looking at another record year,” reports festival VP of Communications, Svetlana Nikic. “Despite rising costs of production, we restrained from price increases, and decided instead to direct our creative energies on raising the standard of the festival experience.”

Early ticket purchasers benefit from significant seasonal discounts and specialty Souvenir Packages, which include on-site parking. Now through December 31st tickets are $20/Thursday, $25/Friday, $35/Saturday, $30/Sunday, $80/3-day weekend, $90/4-day weekend. Souvenir passes are $155, and RV prices are $100 and $120; these tickets have a history of selling out early. VIP tickets are $415, which include all-access for the festival, on-stage seating, full hospitality, merchandise and massage coupon.

Across-the-Way Productions
Born in 2001 on the small stage of Oddfella’s Cantina in downtown Floyd Virginia, Across-the-Way Productions, Inc., has dedicated itself to becoming Southwest Virginia’s premier event production company. In a world of ever-increasing homogenization, AtWP promotes a community-based approach to event production, and prides itself in presenting sincere, family-friendly, quality, even magical events.

In addition to FloydFest, the 2009 AtWP roster includes the states’ largest wine festival – Vintage Virginia, the state’s oldest wine festival Virginia Wine Festival, and this year’s inauguration (slash resurrection) of Floyd Fandango, a new kind of Beer and Wine Festival set for July 4th and 5th at the beloved FloydFest site on the Parkway.

Submitted by FloydFest

In one of the few parts of Lower East Side that still vaguely resembles the LES is a music venue/record label that embodies that spirit of the neighborhoods rich past and cultural diversity. On Avenue C between 5th and 6th street, hidden from the East Village douche-baggery and tucked safely in between LES projects, Nublu is the every night sure bet to hear the best of international underground music, past and present, blended together in lounge splashed in video projector madness. Music heads check there pretension at the door and everyone is there for one reason; to hear great music.

There is no sceniness or aloof selector at the door. There’s not even a sign, just a small blue light bulb above a graffiti covered door on the avenue. In between sets (usually three a night) there is a mixed bag of characters standing outside that raise eyebrows “…I think its an AA meeting or something…”

Musicians play directly on the floor and sometimes you have to brush against the bassist or singer to get from one end of the bar to the other. It’s probably the only venue where you can listen to a 70 year old east village beatnik poet read in the same night as you experience Bobby Mcferrin’s son destroy a drum machine. You can sit at the bar between Warp artists Prefuse 73 and Beans while listening to a glitch-hop concerto by Flying Lotus as the boys from the Brazilian Girls tune there instruments in preparation for their set. David Byrne is a regular and has collaborated with Nublu artists Forro in the Dark. Nublu’s Kudu has a new project Betty Black that is almost site specific in it’s bespoke fit to the space.

Nublu is a magical venue because of the crowd that makes it that way. Their Wednesday night forro-style brazilian party has achieved a near cult following of music lovers and dancers who cut loose from shackles of self consciousness done upon them by the NYC “to cool to dance” zeitgeist. There is a comforting feeling of like-mindedness being surrounded by conscious music loving people. That connection is strengthened knowing that once you leave, a block east is gritty project Gomorrah and block west is all cornball jock rapist bars and manufactured “dives” filled with stella-suckling hipsterati listening to tom petty.

forro in the dark

In short, Nublu is whats real in the streets. They should be given a million dollar renewable grant to keep doing exactly what they are doing. Music aficionados should make mecca at least once in their lifetime and nod there heads to the lower east 5 times a day.

Aah. Three days of Bumbershoot. I’m exhausted tonight…

Yesterday was definitely the highlight of the weekend for me. Heather was in town from Boston (for a wedding) and came along for the day. Christine also came with us, and we met up with a group of my coworkers midday as well.

Here’s what we saw on Day 2:

• Shim: Rocked it like it was 1990. Their opening song was fantastic… we didn’t stay for the whole set, but left feeling inspired.
• The Blakes: We saw these guys in the Exhibition Hall, which has horrible sound. Too bad. Judging from their MySpace page their decent.
• Australia’s Strange Fruit: An aerial performance on the lawn. Loved it.
  
• Forro in the Dark: Another one whose produced stuff on MySpace sounds better than their performance. Maybe it was the noise of el jardin de cerveza.
• Jakob Dylan: Packed the house! The Bumbershoot folks inevitably book someone at the Mural Ampitheatre who is too big for that space. At this point in the day Jakob’s music was too chill for me.
• Pacifika: Pretty music en Espanol.
• Stone Temple Pilots: Rocked it like it was 1994! They were LATE. About 20 minutes after their showtime, their tour bus pulled up to the stage. Sounded great though.
• Thee Emergency: Annoyingly weird.

Australia's Strange Fruit on Day 2

Today’s crowd was markedly different from the last two days. First off, it was SO PACKED. I felt like a sausage the whole time. And impossible to sit and enjoy the music… standing was required. We didn’t stay especially long because of it. We got to see Carina though, which was great.

Here’s what we saw today (Day 3):

• Bedouin Soundclash: Arrived at the end of this set. Too distracted by finding our way through crowd to listen.
• Cheb I Sabbah & 1002 Nights: I really enjoyed these guys, great world music beats.
• Old 97’s: Chilled in back with an elephant ear.
• Battles: Improv-style noise making.

faz tanto tempo que não escrevo aqui por conta da correria tamanha…disse que faria balanço da Casa de Criadores mas como diz o Lulu Santos, tudo muda o tempo todo no mundo, então já vou mudando de assunto…o que tem me consumido nessa semana é essa turma de rapazes que está fazendo alvoroço em NY…as temporadas no Nublu bombam e eles já conquistaram Bebel Gilberto e até mesmo o Talking Head David Byrne…aliás, fiquem com esta pérola…aquele mesmo do Psycho Killer dando uma de Luiz Gonzaga…com direito a Asa Branca em inglês e chapéu de couro…o David Byrne não veio, mas o Forró in the Dark faz show hoje (6/6) e amanhã na Choperia do Sesc Pompéia…recado dado !

Last weekend My friend Matt and I drove to Philly to watch Forro in the Dark play at World Cafe Live!. The venue was amazing- intimate, holding about seventy people, most of which had seats, and stylish. Beers were reasonably priced, with a less-than-stellar selection.

The band- oh the band played a phenomenal show. The beats and rhythms were irresistible, I’ve read it before but you can honestly not help but move your hips. In fact, I was even able to talk my friend (who has only ever danced one other time in his life), to try some meringue and salsa. After the show, the band left stage and came down for drinks, where I had the honor of meeting both Mauro Refosco and Davi Vieira, both very chill, down-to-earth guys.

I can’t wait to see them play again. Right now they’re heading down to Brazil for some R&R, and I hope to catch them on a Wednesday night at Nublu in New York.

Depois de problemas técnicos, o “Ouvinte Blog” está de volta!

O próximo post é uma crítica para o álbum de estréia desta que é considerada uma das sensações do momento nos Estados Unidos e na Europa: MGMT!

Ah! E amanhã este blog faz sua primeira cobertura de um show. Trata-se da banda “Forro In The Dark”, uma mistura de diversas sonoridades com o típico forró. Você não conhece a banda? O que será que sai dessa “salada” de ritmos? Confira a resposta dessa e outras perguntas e mais novidades, no “Ouvinte Blog”.

Tudo começou no clube Nublu, no East Village, em Nova Iorque. De uma jam session em clima de forró reunindo uma turma de amigos brasileiros surgiria a banda que vem dando o que falar em solo americano.

O encontro virou show semanal e em 2006 o grupo lançou o disco “Bonfires of São João”. Com Steve Earl, eles gravaram em 2007 a música “City of Immigrants” que faz parte do álbum “Washington Square Serenade”. Agora em 2008 o Forró in the Dark acaba de lançar o o EP “Dia de Roda”.

A banda que faz um som inovador de raízes tipicamente brasileiras e cada vez mais vem se consagrando no exterior, já gravou com grandes nomes como o excêntrico David Byrne, a musa Bebel Gilberto e até mesmo a cantora japonesa Miro Hatori. No ano passado eles percorreram os stados Unidos, Canadá, Europa e América Latina colecionando elogios da crítica especializada.

Tudo isso pra dizer que o Forró in the Dark está no Brasil para três apresentações no SESC São Paulo – veja o serviço logo abaixo.

A banda é composta por Mauro Refosco (zabumba e voz), Davi Vieira (percussão e voz), Guilherme Monteiro (guitarra e vocal), Jorge Continentino (pífano, saxofone, barítono e voz) e Itaiguara Brandão (baixo).

Para ouvir é só ir até o myspace: www.myspace.com/forrointhedark

Forró in the Dark no Sesc São Paulo

5 de junho – Sesc Santos

a partir das 21 horas

R$ 1,50 a R$ 6

r. Conselheiro Ribas, 136 – (13) 3278 9800

6 e 7 de junho – Choperia do Sesc Pompéia

R$ 6 a R$ 24

Capacidade – 800 lugares

Censura – 18 anos

r. Clélia, 93 – Barra Funda – (11) 3871-7700

8 de junho – Área de Convivência Sesc Bauru

show de abertura com Pé de Molambo

a partir das 21 horas

capacidade – 300 pessoas

gratuito

Av. Aureliano Cardia, 6-71 – (14) 3235-1750

www.sescsp.com.br