Video

Amazing Spontaneous Bhangra In An East Village Deli!

Amy Rose Spiegel :: Wednesday, June 16th, 2010 4:30 pm

Musician Derek Beres, of the (lame-looking) band EarthRise SoundSystem, dropped an improvised beat on a Punjabi deli counter as he was getting lunch in the East Village. What followed was an incredible, impromptu performance. Check out this extremely talented duo below. MORE »

NYC’s Mosque Protests are Truly Embarrassing

Andrew Belonsky :: Friday, June 11th, 2010 11:40 am

New York, you’re acting like an ass. Twice in less than a month this city has been a hotbed of protests against Mosques.

First there was the one over potential Muslim inclusion at Ground Zero, a then last night’s meeting about turning a Staten Island convent into a Mosque devolved into a shouting match that had to be broken up by police.

I expect more from the Big Apple. MORE »

“We Were All Witnesses”: The City of Cleveland Says Goodbye to LeBron James

Matt Kiebus :: Friday, May 14th, 2010 2:30 pm

It sucks to be a Cleveland sports fan right now. Not only are you most likely from Ohio, but also the sports franchises you root for routinely torture you. Last night the Cavaliers underachieved for the second straight year, losing in the Eastern Conference semifinals after finishing the regular season with the best record in the NBA. That sucks.

Now the really bad news, this summer LeBron James, the city’s messiah, is a free agent. James has a very difficult decision to make this summer, either stay with the team that drafted you and finish what you started or move to New York City. In the simplest terms where would you like to play basketball? Cleveland, home of the Rock n’ Roll hall of fame, or New York City, home to just about everything. My guess is that the Cuyahoga River might be back in flames come July. MORE »

Nas Remixes Gil Scott-Heron Really, Really Well

Amy Rose Spiegel :: Wednesday, April 7th, 2010 11:45 am

Both Nas and Gil Scott-Heron are enormous figures in the hip-hop world, albeit in really different ways. While Nas spits fast-paced, clever rhymes out of the side of his mouth, Gil Scott-Heron is a drawler, taking his time with his words in a soulful cadence familiar to spoken-word artists. These disparate paces, unsurprisingly, work beautifully when they’re mashed together. I’m especially thrilled that Nas remixed the best track from Heron’s latest album, I’m New Here, the handclap-laden “New York Is Killing Me.” Download it here.

Fuck “Old New York,” Unless You’re Edith Wharton, And Be Happy That There’s Only One Homeless Person Left In Times Square

Amy Rose Spiegel :: Wednesday, March 31st, 2010 4:05 pm

As a New York City college student, I often find myself involved in a really infuriating conversation that I’m sure many others are familiar with. My biggest pet peeve in the world is when 21-year-olds bemoan the loss of some mythical “old New York,” which usually involves the usage of the terms “gentrification,” “crust punk,” “sanitized,” and “Washington Square Park.” The best part is the people who spew these ill-informed diatribes are never, ever native New Yorkers - although they’ll be quick to tell you that their fathers worked here when they were growing up, or that they were born in a hospital in the Bronx, or that they’re from Long Island, which totally counts (it doesn’t, as if it mattered). They’re just elitist dicks who’ve watched Kids one too many times and think that by glorifying the perceived grittiness of rape, disease, violence, and class struggles, they’re somehow attuned to something more authentic than the safer city that they live in today. MORE »

Everybody’s Working For The Weekend: Neon Indian, Titus Andronicus, And More!

Amy Rose Spiegel :: Friday, March 5th, 2010 5:20 pm

Get ready for some good NYC weekend shows to fill the two-day gap before you have to go back to the office, or, like many of us, sleep in and surf Craigslist for a job!
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Wilco Sandwich Shop Begs The Question: What Band Would You Eat?

Amy Rose Spiegel :: Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 4:30 pm

After perusing the menu of Sky Blue Sky Sandwich Co., a new Wilco-themed sandwich shop in Toronto, and reading about Led Zeppole, a Village-based restaurant that celebrates both powdered confections and classic rock, I began thinking of how five of my favorite bands might be interpreted through food. Below, a list of the music I want to sink my teeth into.
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Best Coast Announces Tour Dates

Nick Nicoludis :: Thursday, February 25th, 2010 12:30 pm

The LA duo of Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno aka Best Coast have announced upcoming tour dates in New York, Chicago and other Midwestern cities. They’ll be kicking it off in New York City April 1st at the Bowery Ballroom with Japandroids. Joining them as guest drummer will be Ali Koehler (Vivian Girls). I’m really excited for Best Coast to be coming out east because they don’t get to make it out here very often. I can understand. Why come to the east coast where the snowpocalypse seems to be lurking around every corner when you can lounge in the warm California sun all day? I’d start planning by getting tickets/asking a date soon because who knows when Best Coast will come around again (hopefully soon). Get the tour dates after the jump MORE »

Looking For Some Fun This Weekend? Look No Further!

Amy Rose Spiegel :: Friday, February 19th, 2010 5:45 pm

Common logic goes that there’s no reason to ever get bored in New York City, especially not on a weekend, and I think this is one of those cases where I’m inclined to agree. If you’re not sure what you’re getting up to, here are some promising shows taking place tonight and tomorrow.

Playlist: Take Me To The City

Amy Rose Spiegel :: Friday, February 19th, 2010 4:30 pm

I’m not exactly what you’d call “well-traveled.” I’ve been to some excellent places and seen the great things they have to offer, for sure, but I’m not some jet-setter who can readily put forth an opinion on many of of the major cities of the world. Instead, I’ve learned about them largely through the lyrics of the musicians I listen to. Below are some of the songs that have whisked me to far-off locales over the years.

Finding Your Fortress of Solitude

Johnny Sanford :: Tuesday, February 16th, 2010 11:45 am

Last week, New York City was blanketed with the most snow we’ve seen in years, and New Yorkers got the chance to take a day to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee in their bathrobes while watching the snow hit the proverbial fan. We were encased in a momentary Fortress of Solitude, and I took the time to think about where to find peace in this otherwise hectic town. MORE »

Fashion Week Ain’t Shit Compared To ’90s Sitcom Style

Amy Rose Spiegel :: Monday, February 15th, 2010 6:20 pm

It’s Fashion Week in New York City, and it seems like all my friends are frothing at the mouth about their favorite overpriced designer’s new collections. I love fashion, don’t get me wrong, but I tend to do a lot of hiding during Fashion Week. I don’t much go in for the crowded parties, the guilt-inducing gift bags (I hate that free clothing/swag goes to the people that obviously need it the least), and the seemingly endless discussions about draping, ruching, eviscerating, defenestrating, and whatever other verbs people are applying to clothing these days.

Snow in All 50 States?

Matt Kiebus :: Friday, February 12th, 2010 12:00 pm

The recent crippling snowstorms even shut down snow veterans like New York and Philadelphia for a couple days this week. The ill prepared Chesapeake Bay area of Baltimore and Washington D.C. have gotten blanketed with record highs in snowfall, which has resulted in business closures and weeklong school cancellations. Even the Dallas-Fort Worth area in Texas just received a record 11 inches of snow and the forecast predicts snow on the horizon for Louisiana and the Florida panhandle.

Reports coming out of Oklahoma City say that this could mean there might be measurable snowfall in every US state. It is unconfirmed, but this could be a first in our country’s history.

To be blunt, we are getting a shit ton of snow. It’s like something out of a Roland Emmerich movie. Pretty soon Obama is going to be looking for John Cusack to save the world. I starting to think maybe the Mayans were right and my back is already dreading shoveling snow in 2012.

Fall In Love With Awesome Bands This Valentine’s Day

Amy Rose Spiegel :: Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 1:10 pm

If you’re looking for plans on Valentine’s Day, there are tons of great shows that will surely impress the fine young music-lovin’ thing you’ve got your eye on. If you’re single, you could just take this opportunity to try and make some groupie-style, extra-heavy eye contact with that bassist you always thought was sexy. Who knows? Maybe it’ll lead somewhere.

Homebrew Culture invades New York City

Johnny Sanford :: Thursday, January 28th, 2010 1:00 pm

Homebrewin’ ain’t easy, but it sure is fun. Some people might scoff at the idea of getting their hands dirty in hops and grain, but homebrewing is fast becoming the hip trend in places like Brooklyn, as well as all over the world. The passion for homebrew is reaching a feverish pitch in this city, with the newly-renovated opening of “Brooklyn Homebrew” on 163 8th Street on 3rd Ave last week. With a line of brewers out the door upon it’s opening, it’s been a long time coming. MORE »