BMAs

"Oh yeah, he was playing with Frank Smith last night"
"Frank Smith played last night?"

Ahhh the BMAs, our yearly excuse to go nuts.

While this year's pre-party was not as hooked up as years past (free PBR and mini burritos from Boco Loco? what happened to Qdoba and whiskey??), we still managed to get sauced enough to ignore the awards. Here's who won:

Best New Local Act: Humanwine
Best Female Singer Songwriter: Melissa Ferrick
Best Male Vocalist: Josh Ritter
Hard Rock Act of the Year: Godsmack
Jazz Act of the Year: Hiromi
Local Album of the Year: Aberdeen City, The Freezing Atlantic
Best Male Singer Songwriter: Will Dailey
Best Americana Artist: Lucky 57s
Best World Artist: Boston Afrobeat Society
Best Female Vocalist: Amanda Palmer
Best Folk Artist: Antje Duvekot
Producer of the Year: Matthew Ellard
Best Blues Artist: Peter Gammons
Unsung Hero Award: Duke Levine
Local Debut Album of the Year: Campaign for Real Time
Song of the Year: Damone, Out Here All Night
Best Live Act: The Slip
Local Male Vocalist: Jake Brennan
Local Female Vocalist: Sarah Borges
Hip Hop Act of the Year: Mr. Lif
Best Punk Act: Dropkick Murphys
Best Pop Rock Act: Dresden Dolls
Album of the Year (Major Label): Guster, Ganging Up on the Sun
Local Song of the Year: The Snowleopards, Stuck in the Middle
Album of the Year (Indie Label): Mission of Burma, The Obliterati
Act of the Year: Dresden Dolls

Extra Positive

It's late and I'm exhausted but I can't help but go nuts about how incredible Extra Golden were tonight. To be honest, I had no idea who they were before they took the stage, but once they did, they completely won me, and the rest of the audience over. I'm not sure how often the band tours, considering two of the members are from Kenya, but if they are ever in your area, GO SEE THEM.

The Plan was great tonight.. I love nights when everything seems to come together perfectly.. a solid lineup (seriously, Hats & Glasses, Extra Golden, Choo Choo La Rouge, Hallelujah the Hills?? Amazing), good people, and tons of energy in the room. Carl and I both needed a kick in the ass, and this was it. Refreshed? I think so.

Yawn Machine

Last night I met Laura at 1369 but didn't have any coffee, so I blame me falling asleep at 11pm while watching some people making a dinosaur out of rice crispie treats on the Food Network on that. Should have drank some coffee. Should have put up posters.

You know, because usually I stay up WAY past 11pm... no really.. I do.. no really..

But yes, I did pick up the HD posters and they look pretty great, although I wish I would have splurged and gotten a lot more of the full color version cause they look way better than the ones I had printed on "Ultra Orange" paper, but oh well.

Anyway, I plan on flyering the drunks at tonight's 90's night at Commonground, which I know for a fact plays Harvey Danger. Perhaps I will even go in myself. Perhaps I will dance. Perhaps not.

Nate gave me a hug before I went to work this morning. He's my roommate and I haven't seen him in nearly a week.

Here's some cute baby goats:



When I was a kid, we lived with this family while our house was getting build. They lived on this farm-type land which was sorta awkward to mow, so they bought a goat to keep the grass from getting too long. Her name was Marcy and she would get real crazy and gallop around the porch and climb on top of my dad's car. Me and my brother used to try to feed her cheese wrapped in leaves, but she wouldn't eat it. I think I've told this story before.

That farm house was the same place where I ran full speed into an electrical fence. I do not recommend!

Ho Hum

Just another day at the Pirate office.. making phone calls, checking up on records.. people getting stabbed..




The police said the kid's ok.. superficial wounds. I resisted to the urge to volunteer the investigative skills I've picked up by watching Court TV. "Don't step there! You'll contaminate the evidence!"

my friends are totally famous!

Check out Laura and Heather on the cover of The Dig this week (2nd and 3rd from the right in the bottom right corner.)

Marry Me Murray

If you've spent any amount of time with me in the last month, you have undoubtedly heard me singing the praises of The Dears' new album Gang of Losers... or you've literally heard me singing it, cause I've been doing that too. Their songs have been in my ears and on my lips since the day I got the record... and even after listening to it close to 20 times in recent weeks, I have yet to fall out of love with it.

Pop Matters has posted a review of the record which pretty much hits all the same points I would if I were a writer and not .. well, me. Check it out here.

Also, if you haven't seen this band live before, I HIGHLY recommend it. They have some shows coming up, but none of them are anywhere near me.. perhaps they're near you? Does anyone want to fly me to Glasgow so that I can see them on my birthday? hmmm...

Sep 27 2006 8:00P
The Mod Club Toronto

Oct 4 2006 8:00P
Troubadour Los Angeles, CA

Oct 5 2006 8:00P
Pop Scene San Francisco , CA

Oct 14 2006 8:00P
Village Dublin

Oct 15 2006 8:00P
Limelight Belfast

Oct 20 2006 8:00P
Oran Mor Glasgow

Oct 21 2006 8:00P
Northumbria University Newcastle

Oct 23 2006 8:00P
Academy 2 Manchester

Oct 24 2006 8:00P
Cockpit Leeds

Oct 25 2006 8:00P
Bierkeller Bristol

Oct 26 2006 8:00P
KOKO London

Oct 28 2006 8:00P
Vera Groningen

Oct 29 2006 8:00P
Botanique Brussels

Oct 30 2006 8:00P
Maroquinerie Paris

Oct 31 2006 8:00P
Milky Way Amsterdam

Nov 2 2006 8:00P
Molotow Hamburg

Nov 3 2006 8:00P
Mudd Club Berlin

Nov 4 2006 8:00P
Gleis 22 Muenster

Nov 5 2006 8:00P
Gebaude 9 Koeln

Nov 6 2006 8:00P
Ampere Munich

Nov 8 2006 8:00P
Circolo degli Artisti Rome

Nov 9 2006 8:00P
Transilvania Milan

Nov 10 2006 8:00P
La Romandie Lausanne

Nov 11 2006 8:00P
10 Street Club Rimini

Nov 14 2006 8:00P
The New Capital Music Hall Ottawa

Nov 15 2006 8:00P
A.J.'s Ale House Kingston

Nov 16 2006 8:00P
Lee's Palace Toronto

Nov 17 2006 8:00P
Lee's Palace Toronto

Nov 21 2006 8:00P
The Venue Winnipeg

Nov 22 2006 8:00P
University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon

Nov 23 2006 8:00P
University of Calgary Calgary

Nov 25 2006 8:00P
The Starlite Room Edmonton

Nov 27 2006 8:00P
Richards Vancouver

I Was So Dizzy From the Beer

My friend Carter sent me the link to this ridiculous story out of Beijing.

At least the guy wasn't pummeled by an orangutan.. although, that'd probably be funny to watch

Takers and Terrors

Philadelphia's CityPaper.net has posted a rad article about our friends at Park the Van Records, which you can read here.

Last summer, when Pirate was about to work Easy Beat for PTV, I emailed Chris an annoyed "ummm why haven't I heard from you in forever" email... and he replied with an "umm my apartment and office were destroyed in Hurricane Katrina" email. I felt like the biggest a-hole ever (dudes, I didn't KNOW that he lived there!), but luckily he forgave me and came to our Christmas party, where I proceeded to ramble on about how great I think the label is. And I still do!

Park the Van has recently released Dr. Dog's new Takers and Leavers EP. The record has six tracks, including two from their upcoming full length, which will come out in 2007. The first 1000 copies (available in select stores throughout the country) are handmade, each with original artwork.. so get 'em while they last!

Also check out Dance Away the Terror, the new record from The Capitol Years! Pitchfork likes it!

Poster by Dave Hinckley

To the Woods!

Aimee, Laura and I took the elusive orange line to the woods of Malden this afternoon.. braving the rough terrain of the Middlesex County Fells.

It was intense.



From the top of a big rock we scanned the vast land of Malden below us.



And really.. no matter how far away you think you are.. Boston is always looming in the background.



We still felt pretty badass though.



Especially when we identified this as "not a praying mantis."



Laura was attacked by mosquitos. Hopefully not a Triple E mosquito. We planned ways to bring her out of her impending coma.



I found the cheapest rent in Boston. They wouldn't let me stay behind though.



We decided the party was over when we saw the panther in the panther cave.

p.s.
Nate just said "lots of people mean well. Hitler meant well."

Oh man.

Indie Interviews.com has posted an interview with John Roderick where he explains some of the lyrics from Putting the Days to Bed. Check it out here.

I know there's something to be said for interpreting things for yourself, but honestly, I love knowing what a song is actually about... otherwise it just leads to "OMG JOHN RODERICK WROTE THIS SONG ABOUT MY LIFE" and that doesn't really help anybody.

His explanation for Hindsight is especially great.

Also, just because this quote is fucking incredible..

"I'm not really interested in describing relationships that "work." Who cares about those people, the bastards. They don't need pop songs written for them, they're busy helping each other in the kitchen and having their kid's friend's parents over for a glass of wine. What would I say? "Tupperware this, recipe that?" The people that need pop songs, the ones who pore over them, are the people asking themselves, "Why in God's name am I home listening to records on Saturday night instead of kissing someone passionately on a fire escape while the neighbor across the alley plays the saxophone?" -John Roderick (I forget where this was taken from.. forgive me)

Long Winters play Harpers Ferry in Allston on September 30th as part of NEMO.

This morning. in a Nyquil fog, I boarded the C Line behind a family of three. The dad sat his two girls down in one seat and clutched a stroller and a paper bag from Finagle a Bagel as he stood next to them. Immediately the older of the girls asked for a piece of bagel with "the bottom cut off." Obligingly, the man shifted his weight, dug into the paper sack and extracted two cream cheesed pieces of bagel. The tantrum began.

"Daddy you didn't listen to my voice!" whined the little girl.

He asked her what was wrong, squatting next to her. "I told you to cut the bottom off but you didn't listen to my voice."

This went on for several minutes, all the while, she wailed "You didn't listen to my voice!!"

Finally, her dad pulled out a magnadoodle, an awkward piece on a crowded train, and went to work. He drew a bagel in the middle of the board.. a smiling happy bagel.. and drew a diagram, explaining to his daughter how bagels were cut.

I admire this man, I really do. I do not have that kind of patience. It wasn't even my child and I was about ready to give her a time out. Perhaps when I have kids someday, I will think of him and take a deep breath and resist the urge to roll my eyes at my children. Probably not, but one can hope.

Back to that Nyquil fog. Yesterday I developed some sort of allergy to something (work maybe?) which caused me to sneeze uncontrollably. Although I hate to say it, there's some satisfying about sneezing four times in a row. That's beside the point though. I had pockets full of tissues with me by the time I got to the Avalon. Jose Gonzalez was great. He was quiet and acoustic, which was strange for the huge room, but I'm glad I got to see him.

Anyway, after Jose was over, I made my way home (early!) and went to work trying to fix my runny nose etc. The only pills I had were iron and Nyquil, so I opted for the latter. Now, I must point out that a few years ago, I was the absolute SICKEST I've ever been.. vomiting, using rolls of toilet paper on my runny nose, no appetite etc. One of those nights I decided to take Nyquil gel caps. Bad idea. If you're vomiting a lot, never take Nyquil, cause you will puke it up and you will want to die. I have a strong aversion to cough medicine. Especially when it's coming backwards up my throat.

So based on past experience, Nyquil= scary.

So naturally, I took 'em. Then I promptly fell asleep at 10pm. I woke up twice to the noise of my phone buzzing with stories of the Dears show and possible B-hamsters coming my way.. but my body was so numb that I couldn't bring myself to move. If I had spoken, it would have sounded something like this "mlllllammmmmmnnnnnnnnlammmm."

Good news is, my nose is no longer running.
Bad news is, my brain is asleep and I think my lazy eye has gotten lazier.

Soft Bed

Mechanical Museum

I broke my camera last night.

That's a lie, cause it was already broken. Sometimes it would work if I put new batteries in it, at least for a short period of time. Then after a certain point, the screen would go black or blurry and pictures would be non-existant or unrecognizable smears of pink-orange. I figured out I could sometimes fix this if i banged the camera again the heel of my hand. Or banged it on a table. Or a wall. Or a friend. But then I just looked like an idiot.

So last night, frustrated that I couldn't take a picture of the white socks I was wearing with my country dress, I decided to disessemble my camera. My thinking, of course, was that if I took it apart and put it back together, it would be magically fixed! That's how people fix things, right?! So I set to work, removing tiny screw after tiny screw, placing them carefully on my comforter and trying to memorize where they all went. After removing 8 or so, the back of the camera finally popped off and I was left with naked mechanics and dust. Naturally, I poked around with my finger, brushed off the display and decided that that was sufficient. On went the back of the camera. In went the screws. Well, in went all but two of the screws, cause I forgot where some of them were supposed to go. I slipped the batteries back in and prepared to pat myself on the back for a job well done.

I pressed the on button and......

nothing.

hmmm maybe I put the batteries in wrong...

nope, nothing.

The camera is dead.

I murdered my own camera.

When I was young I took apart my touch lamp and electrocuted myself. I think I broke my computer when I took apart to see why it smelled like burning a few years ago. Keep me away from a screwdriver or I will ruin your life.

I am rejoicing in the fact that 11pm sounds like bedtime once again and I am no longer braving the wilds of the New York subway system at late hours of the night and tromping through Astoria in worn-down heels.

That being said, my trip was wonderful.

The combination of good friends, good music, good food and the energy of the city lightened my head and got my blood moving again. I'm revived and I am joyful.

I feel like myself, and that is a good feeling.

I Hate It

Yesterday on the bus to NYC I started writing an explanation (er.. mission statement?) of You Like It. I only got two paragraphs in before wanting to punch myself in the face. Need to be reminded that not everything should sound like a snarky asshole wrote it. Considering the fact that I haven't had to write anything of substance since I graduated college (and even then, I'm not sure that a paper analyzing a TRUTH magazine ad was really that substantial) so I'm having a little trouble getting started. I'm becoming more and more convinced that I need a large team to help me with this.. one that understands the "vision" of this project and has experience with publicity... I was aiming to have a "soft launch" by the end of the year, but that is about three months away an I've gotten nowhere.

Soooo... yeah.

Sometimes you need a little reminder that things aren't that bad.

Everything Can Be Explained With A Brakes Song: Part 2

Heard about Your band
I couldn't help it you were screaming in my ear
Coked up arsehole
Waiting for Liars
You shared a cab with Karen O
Oh oh? Oh oh oh
You're talking hyper bollocks
You're talking salaries
Oh yeh, you work in Insurance?
30k? OTE
You met Electrelane
Eh eh? Eh eh eh
You know the girl from Sleater Kinney
You said you couldn't understand
Why it was that she contined to play
When she was only earning 10 Grand PA
You know a lot of people in the industry
Woo-hoo, woo-hoo-hoo
I heard about your Band
WHATEVER DUDE!

Everything Can Be Explained With A Brakes Song

Hi, how are you? What do you do? What do you listen to? Where do you go? Are you with them or are you with us? How do you dress? Who are your friends?

Won't you shut the fuck up? I'm just trying to watch the band.

Hi, how are you? What do you do? What do you listen to? Where do you go? Are you with them or are you with us? How do you dress? Who are your friends?

Won't you shut the fuck up? I'm just trying to watch the band