The Value of Blood
Right now I’m on grooveshark.com listening to the newest Grizzly Bear and Phoenix albums (both are fantastic). I feel a little guilty though since I haven’t paid a cent to either band and yet I’m able to hear each album in its entirety. As a recording artist myself, I think about how I’ll feel when my album shows up somewhere for people to listen to for free. I know part of me will be happy that it’s out there for anyone to hear and that I just want to share my work with anyone who might be into it. Then I think about the time I’ve put into it. How I’ve labored over each note, every beat, every last thing. I think it’s that I want it to have meaning – to have value to you. To me it’s not really about making money, it’s about feeling like the work I put into this is appreciated somehow. There’s just so much out there that’s created to be consumed and disposed of without any thought but I don’t feel like music should fall into that category. Maybe some music should, I guess. Some of it is definitely just candy, but for the most part even most silly pop songs have their origin in something honest. It takes a human to come in and sing the notes, write the songs…to CREATE. Maybe it’s not all good, but it is art.
What is art worth to you?
Top Shop Style Notes – Really?
…no punchline needed.
The Playboy of the Western World – Theater Review
Performance: 11/13/09, 730pm
@ New York City Center Stage II
131 West 55th Street (between 6th & 7th Avenues), NYC
Presented by The Pearl Theatre Company
The Playboy of the Western World is a three-act play written by J.M. (John Millington) Synge set in Ireland in the early 1900’s. All the action takes place at Michael James Flaherty’s pub and tells the story of Christopher (Christy) Mahon. Christy arrives telling the tell of how he’s killed and buried his father, the bravery of this act immediately endearing him to the townspeople. Christy stays on to work (and hide) in the pub, and he and the pub owner’s daughter, Pegeen Mike, fall in love. Christy quickly becomes the town heart-throb and his ego swells. He boasts often of the time he had to kill his father. But can we trust his story?
This production featured many strong acting performances, particularly by the women in the cast. There were times that I felt a bit lost as the Irish accents and period language made things harder to follow. There might be times the actors could slow down a bit to make sure the audience is still with them. If I had a criticism, it would be that I’d rather see the moments of physical struggling have more realism. For instance, at one point Christy “struggles” to shake free from a rope that’s obviously very lose around his shoulders.
The play tells a fun story and is well-acted. I enjoyed it! Though I think they should have had a traditional Irish band playing in the “pub” during intermissions – that would be a nice touch.
NY Update: Mix Nut
Walla closed last night. It was a good time and I met some really nice people. It may take some time to get the song we sang 9 times out of my head. But once I do…
…it’s back to the album. It’s almost done! I’ve just got to get some vocals down, then it’s into mad scientist mode for the mixing process. This is where I get lost for hours tweaking this and that, making sure you can hear all 5 guitar parts but somehow finding space to let the piano ring through without overshadowing the color from the organ all the while making sure the vocals and drums cut…until I realize I have too many layers and I scrap half of them. At least until I add them all back in when I go to check the mix later. If it sounds frustrating it is, but I love it. What’s a little frustration in the name of love? (Right, honey?)
I’m looking for an organ player, by the way. Any organ players out there want to join The Lovely? Contact me!
Veteran’s Day – Honor Your Heroes
It is Veteran’s Day and the first thing I read on the NY Times blog feed is that the body of one of the US soldiers missing since last week was found by divers in an Afghan river. My heartfelt condolences go out to the family of that soldier and to all the families of those lost in service. To those who have served or are still serving, know that you are appreciated. You are our heroes and deserve the utmost respect.
I’d also like to apologize on behalf of NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg and the Yankees for proceeding with their World Series festivities the day after the Fort Hood shootings. It was disrespectful and this city should be ashamed for being so thoughtless. If it had been 13 baseball players shot to death, I doubt there would have been a parade.
Whatever your personal feelings about the ongoing US efforts around the world, I feel it is important to honor those who have put their lives on the line. Not just on Veteran’s Day, but every day.
And may it come to pass that human beings finally evolve so that we learn to settle disputes without taking up arms.
Come See: Everything, Nothing, Something, Always (Walla!)
The show I’m in runs this week. The limited engagement opens this Wednesday (11/11) and closes this Thursday (11/12).
From the Performa 09 website:
In “Everything, Nothing, Something, Always (Walla!),” the medium of theater has been adapted to an exhibition context in order to stage a conversation-cum-argument between five characters who represent various aspects of the artist’s psyche. Through spoken language and movement, these representations of the complex self turn the artistic process inside out for the viewer, thus opening it up for examination. The performance itself is a time-based installation that takes the form of a one-act live theatrical play looping for three hours, varying slightly with each repetition and simultaneously acting as a performative “sculpture” in the center of the exhibition space, visible from all angles.
For more info, click here.
Everything, Nothing, Something, Always (Walla!)
A project by Emily Mast for Performa 09
@ X Initiative
548 W 22nd Street, Ground Floor
Wed, Nov 11th & Thurs, Nov 12th
Stop in anytime between 6 & 9 pm
FREE
iTunes can suck it
They’ve got the crappiest support ever. The guy I spoke with just kept saying “well, what do you want me to do?” Uh…how about Help Me? Isn’t that what Support is supposed to do?
NYC Men’s Haircut – NY Recommends…
Visit Freemans Sporting Club on Rivington Street for a great haircut done by people who care about quality.
Specifically, I’d recommend my barber (stylist?), Jason James. He’s very talented and also happens to be a really nice guy.
Expect a bit of a wait as these guys take their time to do the job right. It’s worth the wait, though.
Here’s their website: http://www.freemanssportingclub.com/
They also make gorgeous clothing. Gorgeous expensive clothing.
Artistic Beauty – In the iPod of the Beholder
I feel the piece above really captures the struggle of man’s desire to dominate while simultaneously wrestling with his desire to connect on a deep personal level.
Actually, this is a photo of my iPod’s screen which is decidedly shot. It still plays music, but it will only play my iTunes library in alphabetical order by artist. Now every time I turn it on I always hear my friend Adam’s EP, since he’s the first of the A’s (I don’t mind at all…it’s really good. Listen to selections from it here: Adam Salzman).
I’ll be taking it the “Genius Bar” (I’m sure this was intended to be clever when they coined this, but I think some of the people manning these stations take it to heart – especially in the Portland, OR ones) hoping there is a quick and cheap fix for this. I assume though that the quick fix is to just buy a new iPod. Hard to stomach when this one still plays music.
Maybe I’ll just stick with it. I can still listen to music, plus mine has the added bonus of displaying a unique piece of modern art for a screen. It’s all about perspective. My iPod isn’t worthless…it’s priceless!
