I haven’t been posting as regularly as I use too… Things change, again and again, but anyway, here’s what I’ve been up to:
With its complex guitar melodies, and thunderous drumming, Magnetic Island’s self-titled album has revolutionized the Riot Grrl sound of the 90s and taken it to higher heights. Because of the Riot Grrl movement we have such great women fronted bands like Magnetic Island, who thereupon help propel the genre further by fusing punk, experimental rock, etc. taking us deeper than simple chords and or fills.
Magnetic Island, under the direction of one of indie rocks best female guitarist, Lisa Liu shows her aptitude to not only play the guitar extremely well, but also demonstrates qualities of a brilliant composer. This brilliance is manifested in part by the fact that Liu, a new comer to the drums, played all of the percussion parts for the album, in addition to guitar, vocals, bass and Rhodespiano.
The time is now, blaze the drums, but not in an overbearing manner, Liu’s drumming is clear and precise and works with each song, complimenting every accent of the guitar and vocals. A sense of equilibrium reigns throughout the album as each instrument is well arranged to benefit the overall sound. The songs are driven by the guitar and drums, with bandmate SMV’s vocals and undercurrent melodies on the keyboard. Nothing is accidental or by chance, and every layering of sound has a purpose, and successfully fulfills its positioning, making Magnetic Island one of the most well composed albums that will surely be a contender for best of 2012.
I know it’s been awhile since I’ve posted anything substantial, but I’m still here. Thinking about writing and not having enough time. Anyway, I will be on the air this coming Wednesday, June 29 at 8:00pm for my radio show Broad Strokes on Washington Heights Free Radio (WHFR). With me this month will be the alternative/folk band Holy Moly.
I saw these guys at one of NYC’s best DIY spots Fort Useless awhile back and they are truly amazing.
You can listen to last month’s broadcast HERE. Learn how to learn HERE.
Last month’s Playlist:
Cannons by Little Scream
Wish I knew by Magnetic Island
Night Nurse by Gregory Isaacs
Calgary by Bon Iver
Zebra by Beach House
Amnesia by Blu
Where Will I Be by Emmylou Harris
The Sparrow Looks Up at the Machine by The Flaming Lips
In a Strangeland by Talk Normal
Drinking Again by Aretha Franklin
Over You by Raphael Saadiq
Ribbon by She Keeps Bees
Holy Holy by Wye Oak
Cyrstalised by The xx
Bringing you stories, live events, and much more, WHFR tries and remains independent of any corporate sponsorship. So, if you like what WHFR is doing, you can donate by contacting us at info@whfr.org. DIY forever baby!
Also, if you’re in a band or know someone who is, and would like to be on the show, please email me at roarplanet@gmail.com.
Bad audio… But I’m still obsessed… You should be too.
Recorded on HTC EVO phone.
On a dimly lit stage, she’s a rabbit in red high heels
undressing her fur for egg sucking wolves.
Thighs around, shimming down a Maypole
she looks at her image pinned
under their greasy vision, she laughs and shouts
“Look! Look what I can offer. You can’t refuse.”
Like children wanting a breast to suck on
they begin to cry:
There’s a brown girl in the ring
tra-la-la-la-lah.
There’s a brown girl in the ring
traaaaah-la-la-la-la-lah.
Tongue tied to razors, they each wave a dollar.
And she looks like a sugar
and a plum, plum, plum.
She has many lovers gleefully climbing the cracks
up her stairs, her vision cuts off their heads.
She’s little red riding hood skipping in a driveway
waiting for the bed to sink, the wolf to come quick
running up her calves, resting on her back
fucking her in the ass.
She’s a tight numb life buoy, soaking in a tub
she’s a tight numb life buoy, rocking from side to side.
Rocking from side to side, hugging her knees
her priest pets her on the shoulder. He whispers:
If you’re frightened of dying and you’re holding on… ‘
You see devils tearing your life away…
But if you’ve made your peace
then the devils are really angels
freeing you from the earth
from the earth.”
Her bare paws run
in the middle of winter
she’s a wild black cat
pouncing on her prey
sinking her teeth into its skin.
‘ From “Rabbit In Your Headlights” Psyence Fictionalbum.
When I wrote Brown Girl In The Ring, I was completely obsessed with this song, Rabbit in Your HeadLights. I was so obsessed with this song that I created my own video in my head, and I almost wrote to Radiohead and UNKLE about my ideas. Little did I know that they had already done a video that’s just as disturbing to watch.But like with anything that ever happened, like with any book gone to film/video, the edits doesn’t play the small parts leading to the song’s rise to a climax or fall to the end.
Listen HERE to a song I wrote on the steelpan for a very special woman I met recently. The song is called FEVER TO TOUCH and there’s a poem that goes with it as well that I wrote awhile back called Everyone Should Know This. I’m hoping to turn the poem into lyrics for the song.
As you can tell, this woman had a huge impact on my senses, enough so that I’m still grieving over the loss of not getting to know her in the way I envisioned.
I’m still thankful to have shared those moments that were gifts of kindness, an awakening… I felt like I could love, and be loved again. Maybe that was the point of our encounter, who knows. But I’ll keep the joy I felt close at hand as I walk these streets of uncertainty.
Image via Wikipedia
Can’t keep anything
Can’t keep you and your mind
Can’t keep your love, our love alive
Can’t keep the ghosts of unbelieving outside
Can’t keep you, as you’d want to be kept.
Not nobody hears you sing a song so holy
disturbing my rest, with a new question mark
with a new need, that couldn’t be taken aback…
Not nobody can give you a proof of love as holy?
Not nobody can come up with a proof that love exist?
With it’s meant to be absolute? With it matrices
struggling to breathe as conditional decides
for us when we do unfold, gathering care for you
revealing silent songs of secret desires, desire
that rest with our bones, a ghost, we build
but never forget the wasted never leave mes.
Not nobody, I hear your song stories
please play your impressions again
as I keep hearing you dear, keeping you dear to me…
Live Wednesday, February 23 at 8:00 p.m. on Washington Heights Free Radio (WHFR)‘s Broad Strokes, Calypso Sally will have special guest, Mindy Abovitz, Editor-in-Chief, and founder of TOM TOM Magazine, a magazine about female drummers.
Broad Strokes streams live off the web every last Wednesday of the month at 8:00pm. I, Calypso Sally, that’s me, try to play a broad range of genres, stretching from indie rock, pop, alternative, noise rock, hip hop, reggae, dance hall, metal, calypso, funk etc. It’s sort of a mixed bag. I also have live acoustic performances. But this month I have media extraordinaire Mindy Abovitz in the house.
She’s going to talk to me about TOM TOM Magazine, women taking over the drum world, the music scene in NYC versus abroad, and how open the media has been with a woman taking on a predominantly male environment. Full throttle, however, she is wiping out the old school mentality!
Mindy Abovitz is a musician and media maker from South Florida currently residing in Brooklyn, NY. She has an undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and a Masters in Media Studies from the New School for Social Research. She has been playing drums for 11 years and has taught at Rock Camp for Girls and Vibe Songmakers. Before starting Tom Tom Magazine, Mindy was an engineer at East Village Radio, worked at Main Drag Music, threw music shows at her loft The Woodser, and played drums for Taigaa, More Teeth, The Good Good, and other Brooklyn bands. In 2009 she started Tom Tom Magazine: A Magazine About Female Drummers because there wasn’t one and media representation of female drummers was poor. She has since put out 5 issues of Tom Tom and plans on putting women musicians in the front and center of the media because that is where they belong. She currently drums for Chica Vas.
I’ve been working with Magnetic Island, an exprimental, indie rock band based in NYC, on the single Subterfuge.
This past week the single premiered on Gimme Tinnitus. You can check it out here: Subterfuge.
Not only did I play the drums, and the steelpan on the single, I also sang!
It was so great being back in the recording studio, and playing in general. Even though at times it was a challenge, I learned so much from the experience.
Working with Magnetic Island was really refreshing as the sound is completely different from my band Telenovela Star.
I think the difference is that I was more focused on percision rather than power. Less concerned with trying to prove how fast I can play or how much agility I have, but more concerned with how to bring out the song, make it tell the story that it’s dying to say.
Working with these guys also gave me the opportunity to break out my steelpan, which has been sitting in my closet for sometime now, and as well as to sing. Being brought back to my first instruments, my voice and the steelpan, reminded me of why I desired to be a musician. I was blown away. I didn’t realize that I was capable of expressing myself through these other mediums, especially singing. I realized that I can do more than carry a tune. I have a voice. I can sing.
All in all this was an eye opening experience for me, and I’m thankful to have had the chance to work with such talented, and genuinely remarkable musicians. They brought out a side of me that was starving to be explored.
Here are some shots of us in The Fort recording studio:
If you missed my show, Broad Strokes, on Washington Heights Free Radio (WHFR), here’s your chance to listen. I think this was probably one of my best mixes so far. I’ll be back streaming live off the web on Wednesday, October 28th at 9:00pm. And if you know a band or you’re in one, send me a shout out at roarplanet@gmail.com.
Listen here at WHFR or download here Broad Strokes.
Playlist
Get Up – Washed Out
Die Slow – Health
Elemental (Featuring Sputnik Brown) - DJ Spinna
Plaster Casts of Everything – Liars
Kathmandu Dub – Mad Professor
Che Sara Sara – King Britt
Left Handy Man Handle – Helms Alee
Murder – The Big Sleep
K.I.S. Compatible – Tony Allen
Slugs In the Shrubs – Les Savy Fav
Lock Picker – Proton Proton
The Dirty Dirty – Tapes ‘n Tapes
Gringo Dread – Mad Professor
Go Ghost – Ex Lion Tamer
Stranded Pearl – Giant Sand
If you missed my other persona, Calypso Sally, on the radio, you can listen to the broadcast here (it takes awhile to start). The next show is Wednesday, September 30 at 9:00pm. Check it out!
PLAYLIST
Bombs Onra
Everyone is Guilty Akron/Family
Big Bang Swati
What About Us? Mr. Lif
Dirty Loop Onra
Hey There Girl Yo! Majesty
Song 57 Goes Cube
Part Bloodhound Susu
Your Mouth Telefon Tel Aviv
Hold the Line Featuring Mr. Lex & Santigold Major Lazer
The Under Over Rob Sonic
Talking About Money Wye Oak
Winner Telenovela Star
High Road Deradoorian
Down In The Park Kirb & Chris
Fangela Here We Go Magic
Waiting for the Sun to Rise Lightning Dust
If you’re in a band or know someone in a band, and you’d like to be on the show, just email roarplanet@gmail.com.
This is a video that Maggie, the guitarist from my band, created. We were jamming in Jeff Byrd‘s living room, which was totally awesome. It’s the weekend we recorded a couple of songs up in Gilboa.
Exploding Dog
Recently, I did a radio show on Washington Heights Free Radio (WHFR) and it was a blast. I’ve been a guest reader for a WHFR event (see and listen here), but now I will be dj-ing every last Wednesday of the month at 9:00pm (streaming live off the web) as Calypso Sally and the name of my program is Broad Strokes, Yay!.
Why Broad Strokes? Well, I’ve never been the type to pigeonhole myself into one particular genre, so I thought what better way to express my eclectic taste but by playing different types of music. I’m always looking for something new to listen to. So if you’re in a band (or you know someone in a band ) send me an email: roarplanet@gmail.com.
You can listen to the show here: Broad Strokes
PLAYLIST:
Cellz Doom
The Reeling Passion Pit
Still Dope Feat. Empress Starhh Doom
Clumsy Coyote Eyes
Flynn Ratatat
Caterpillar Playground The Nurses
My Girls Animal Collective
Cannibal Resource Dirty Projectors
Portland Renminbi
BDF – German Hardcore The Netherlands
Quiet Dog Mos Def
Three Decades The Horrors
Black Hearted Love PJ Harvery & John Parish
Extinguisher J.A.C.K.
Sleep Over Beethoven Ungdomskulen
Youth Her Vanished Grace
So a week and two days ago, my band went up to Gilboa to record a couple songs — hopefully we’ll be coming out with something new soon. It was a lot of fun, here’s a few clips of me drumming:
Adulthood is an illusion. It is an uncomfortable suit of clothes which makes us stiff and complex and at odds with life which is fluid and simple and wondrous. Paul Squires
I’ve been somewhat neglecting the music out there. With everything that’s been going on, tracking down bands seemed pretty juvenile, but then again, you need music in your life, especially now (see previous music posts here).
So in no particular order here are some talented artists that are neither an illusion nor juvenile:
Renminbi’s Surface. It’s pronounced REN-MIN-BEE (rénmínbì; literally means ”people’s currency”), and they are an experimental, post punk rock band from NYC. Their EP Surface just dropped and it’s amazing. Produced by Don Fleming who agreed to work with the band after a myspace message (I’d like to see a copy of that myspace message!), the album makes you want to curl up with your headphones on and zone out into your own world. These guys are currently on tour. Faves: Honestly, I love every single one of these songs.
PJ Harvey and John Parish’s A Woman A Man Walked By. I’m a sucker for PJ Harvey, because it seems like she can never do any musicial wrong. Every album is a new sound, a different story. Some may find this album daunting, but I find it very gutsy and courageous. In this album she teams up with John Parish and you hear a less restricted, a more free PJ Harvey, as she manipulates her voice to different vocal styles. There’s actual screaming in this album! Faves: Black Hearted Love, The Chair, The Solider, Passionless Pointless.
The Horrors’ Primary Colours. The Horrors is a British five-piece garage band that I discovered on emusic. They combine the punk with the expriemental, sometimes reminiscent of Joy Division. Faves: Mirror’s Image, Three Decades, Who Can Say, Scarlet Fields, Primary Colours.
Ungdomskulen’s Bisexual. For the life of me I can’t pronounce their name right, and it’s embarrassing because I’m always like, “OMG you have to listen to Ung…!” Ungdomskulen is a three piece Norwegian rock band. They combine a very satisfying mixture of new wave, prog rock and jazz. With solid syncopated beats, gritty guitars, phat baselines to move your hips to, and infectious vocals that sound familar, but I can’t put my finger on (if only the IPhone would come out with an app for that), I’m always drenched with sweat dancing to my interpretation of their songs. Faves: Sleep Over Beethoven, I Dunno, Osaka, Only In Novels, Teenage Tritonus.
White Rabbits It’s Frightening. The White Rabbits is a six-piece indie New York band. I must admit at first I wasn’t that into the White Rabbits because for some reason them having two drummers annoyed the shit out of me, but on their latest album, this annoyance seems to be fading. On It’s Frightening , they sound a little Spoon-ish, no surprise there since Spoon’s lead singer and guitarist Britt Daniel produced the album. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Faves: Percussion Gun, They Done Wrong/We Done Wrong, Company I keep, Right Where They Left.
Passion Pit’s Manners because I couldn’t resist the catchy lyrics, and 80s pop synthesizers mixed with a touch of R&B and house music. Definitely songs to dance to. Faves: Little Secrets, The Reeling.
Animal Collective’s Merriweather Post Pavilion. Animal Collective is just that, a musical collective based out of Baltimore, Maryland. I love their music because it’s not pretenious, not over the top, but takes the kind of risks that I appreicate in a band. The title of this album is homage to one of the best outdoor venues in the Maryland/DC area. Faves: Summertime Clothes, My Girls, Daily Routine, Bluish
My band (Telenovela Star) is playing a show this Friday, and I must admit that I’m a little nervous. Nervous, because it’s been a year since we’ve played out in front of anyone. The feeling kind of reminds me of when I performed for the first time.
It was for a Carnival event that my elementary school put on. I was like six or seven, and I was competing in the Calypso Competition. I remember staying up late the night before practicing with my dad. He wrote the lyrics and the melody. I remember thinking that it was a really cool song. I had dance moves. I even had back-up singers, awesome. Most of all, I had my dad singing to me. I’d look him in the eyes, while he sang the song to me. That was the best part.
When it was my turn to sing, I was completely terrified. I was so afraid. When I got on stage, I totally froze up and couldn’t remember the song that I lived and breathed for months. Honestly, maybe a shot would have calmed me down.
Anyway, DJ Mojo is responsible for my band’s end of hibernation. Our last show for ’08 was in celebration of his birthday. And we’re doing it again, this Friday. We’re playing July 3rd at 11:00pm at the Delancey. If you’re in the city, come celebrate and see me freak out!
Bisexual is a term I hear
while i’m unsure of the direction
the song is going to take
but then, I’m reassured by the chorus
that i’m straight
I’m okay now
Terry, this woman that I work with, she’s a dyke
button down shirt and tie, slacks, polished black shoes dyke
now i don’t have a problem with the gays
it’s just that Terry’s girlfriend looks just like me
pumps, pencil skirts, manicured nails, lipstick, pearl necklace
I wasn’t expecting this, it’s like a song with a familiar beginning
you know, something you can bob your head to, you know
and then all of a sudden it changes, and i’m unsure of the direction
the song is going to take… So I hold on for the chorus, for some kind of refrain:
i’m straight, i’m okay now.
she’s a dyke
button down
shirt and tie
slacks, polished
black shoes, dyke
a song with a familiar beginning
you know, something you can
bob your head to, you know
her woman looks
just like me
i wasn’t expecting
pumps
pencil skirt
manicured nails
lipstick, pearl necklace
I wasn’t expecting this bridge
this change in melody
irregular, I pause for the chorus
for some kind of refrain…
I am straight
I am, okay now
Bisexual is a term I listen to
Illustration by Bryan Bruchman
Two Saturdays ago, I met up with the other members of my band, Telenovela Star, for the first practice in a long time. We went through our songs, which surprisingly wasn’t that bad considering it’s been like 6 months of not playing our set.
We played some new songs and some not so, but in the sense that it’s taking on new directions. I’m talking about Death By Meteorite (DBM) that’s off of our full length, Love, Lust, Sci-Fi & Monsters (LLSM).
The genesis of DBM began like any of our songs, out of a long and quite possibly frustrating day at work (you know what I’m talking about), and then coming to practice, and some douche played with and may have broken or stolen our equipment. So, we quite possibly spent a good half an hour venting, calling around to find out who messed with our shit, and then finally we channeled all of this stress and DBM was born. At which point, of course, we’re smiling because for the time being, we’ve forgotten about all of the ills inside and outside.
The first DBM recording was a total raw draft that was recorded on cassette tape. Feeling the vibe from that first draft, Maggie went home and started playing her acoustic. From there, she wrote the lyrics for DBM. I don’t know what made her decide to record what she was working on, but I’m so glad that she did.
Awesome was the first thing out of my mouth, when she shared the home-recording with Hanna and me. She did all of the recording for the DBM version on LLS&M by herself! Even the whistling, the effing whistling.
It was around the time when we were finishing up with the LLS&M album. So, we were so excited about including DBM on the album. It was the perfect ending piece.
After LLS&M came out, we hoped to come back to DBM with the whole band. And we so did last Saturday. I can’t tell you how excited I am about this song. Listening to it is like witnessing the sun about to set, you’re cruising down a road, and all you feel is this summer breeze. Maggie said it: DBM is very visual. You get the feeling of going across the country.
We can’t wait to share this experience.
The Love Lust & Sci-fi Monster’s Death By Meterorite version: Death By Meteorite
According to Cote ci Cote la: Trinidad & Tobago Dictionary cocoyea is, "The shaft of the coconut leaves on a branch. The dried fronds are used in handicraft, birdcages, building of Carnival costumes etc. The dried fronds are sometimes tied in a bunch making it a cocoyea broom, which is used for certain rituals, and for sweeping."More...
Recent Comments