Central Village

Coachella 2007: Day One

Friday, April 27, 7:53 - I should really finish these Gothamist posts a bit more ahead of time...

9:12 - Done! Time to go in the pool.

2:40 - decided to walk from the house over to the festival. Wouldn't call it a bad idea yet, but it is goddamn hot. I keep saying its not that far, but it is. Actually...there's a turn up ahead. Looks like I'm almost there, however. All in all it'll be about a 30 minute walk. Good to know for tomorrow. No shade on this final stretch tho. Next time, note that la quinta polo estates would be a good place to stay.

3:14 - teen puke count: 1. Not even inside yet!  For some reason only half the front gate is open. Taking a long time to get in. Should be in time for tokyo police club still.

4:03 - picked comedy over tpc. Good call. This is perfect. Patton oswalt is my favorite.

5:17 - not sure what's more surreal...walking around with aziz and him getting stopped every 5 steps for a photo or an autograph, or watching silversun pickups play in front of like 30,000 people on the main stage. Missed azizs set and I'm sure it was great, but I am happy to say sspu is absolutely killing it up there.

PS...the internet is really spotty out here, so these updates won't come in realtime too often. Sorry

5:33 - just a tip boys...never lay a finger on a chick with revolvers tattooed onto her hips. Just seems like bad news.

5:53 - how great is that part in lazy eye where it gets all fuzzy and noisy at the end they just come back together one more time to pound it home? I think it was that movement at the fader house during cmj 2005 that sold me on these guys as more than just an indie one hit wonder with kissing families. Anyone who says they aren't solid live is really just plain wrong.

6:21 - seriously, wtf is circa survive doing here? I've never seen a tent so empty this late in the day. I even like this shit and I think they're awful. Meanwhile amy winehouse is overflowing the smaller tent. Poor choice as the random screemo band of the year.

7:52 - 12 minutes into the jesus and mary chain to admit I couldn't care less about these guys except for that one song from lost in translation. Sorry, I know I'm worthless.

Coachella 2007: Day Zero

April 26, 2007 - 9:48: On the 10 due east to palm springs. Blasting Faithless' Insomnia in anticipation.  Giant sunglasses? Check. Mustache? Didn't last 12 hours.

On our way...

10:52 - Steve...miss you this year dude. My buddy...an absolute staple of Coachellas past...is stuck in NYC this year for work. He's already called 4 separate times to different people checking in since I've been in Cali...about 15 hours so far. We're not even at the house yet. Might just leave someone's phone on speaker at the dance tent and set him up with a dedicated line.

1:37 - @ the house. God this place is beautiful.

5:48 - Um...still enjoying the pool, etc. Someone just made guacamole and there's a fresh squeezed grapefruit passion fruit cocktail punch on the way. Honestly, I'm not gonna come back on here tonight unless something really wild goes down. The best day zeroes are usually the ones that create the least news.

7:24 - Hmmm...Jack discovered rolling down the hill onto the golf course.

Just got the new National album vetoed for Best of Morrissey. These things happen. I'm OK with it.

9:44 - The pool is too cold. Thats an issue we've been dealing with all day. Now the hot tub is empty. Like it's at half capacity, and we have no idea what caused it to drop. The only solution, of course, is to cram eight dudes in together to try and get the water level above the jets. Almost there. Just need a few more dudes.

10:34 - Hot Tub is much fuller, thanks for asking. The garden hose helped.

BTW...Staying here with a well connected Swede DJ with a sick Misfits tattoo who has a tip on a special guest this weekend I can't quite talk about yet. Potentially worth rearranging ones schedule for, I can assure you.

Fun Fun Fun Vacation Fun Fun

Friday, April 27: Comedians of Comedy >Tokyo Police Club/Nickel Creek > Of Montreal > Silversun Pickups > Amy Winehouse > Arctic Monkeys > The Jesus and Mary Chain > Jarvis Cocker > Interpol > Faithless > Bjork. Woohoo!

Saturday, April 28 (If I can find a ticket): Hot Chip > MSTRKRFT > Kings of Leon > !!! > The Arcade Fire > Justice > Girl Talk > LCD Soundsystem > The Rapture > Tiesto. DANCE!

Sunday...Pass.

Melinda and the Justin Timberlake guy are totally doing it

You could just tell if you were watching American Idol last night. Maybe I can find a screenshot or a youtube clip? There were two moments in particular where I was like...whoh.

Sorry if this is already common knowledge. I don't follow this stuff too closely.

UPDATE: Well, it's a start. Thanks Kel.

An Overdue Apology

Last year (in fact, just realized it was a year ago tomorrow) I made a big stink about The National moving their show at Bowery Ballroom to Webster Hall after already selling the smaller club out. I was bummed, and the band was apologetic. Of course, they're back this year and have now sold out a Sufjanesque 5 consecutive nights at Bowery Ballroom. Clearly the band could have played fewer nights at a much bigger club, but chose not to. It was a very nice gesture to their fans, and I sincerely appreciate it. Thank you, The National, for doing this. I'm sorry for giving you a hard time before.

I was just thinking about this last night cause they've got an absolutely phenomenal new album coming out that I've been listening to pretty much nonstop for the last few days. I'd call it the early favorite for album of the year if I hadn't already said that about half a dozen other records so far. 2007 is a very good year for music.

Seedless Grapes...What will they think of next?

Hey, remember a couple nights ago when David Wain and Paul Rudd sang 'More Than a Feeling' with Of Montreal at Studio B? That was pretty wild, huh...

Check the full writeup with pictures and everything at Stereogum. Probably one of the most enjoyable shows of the year.

Just when I start telling people I think we're currently in the golden age of television...

via College Humor and Bill Simmons

The Libertines Have Reunited

This is very exciting. Of course, NME has a live blog dedicated to it.

Evil Doodlers, Dillon Panthers

I watched this this morning while getting ready for work. Hysterical. I also appreciate the reminder that Human Giant is on tonight. I watched last weeks on itunes and haven't set the DVR yet. Need to do that.

Lil' 9/11 Trailer

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Also on TV, Friday Night Lights ended in a bit of a hurried whimper last night. I've said this before, but I'd probably be happier if this show ends forever with only one season completed. This episode solidified that belief, with all the tacked-on potential story lines they dropped throughout the way-too-short hour. But if it stops now, it could go down as this generation's My So Called Life in that regard. Something that can be taken in as one complete work on a DVD box set or on syndication. You try and pick up this story next year and there's a lot of explaining that has to be done that the show's structure won't necessarily be able to support. And I'm nervous about that.

If you missed it and like to spend a lot of time in front of your computer, I believe you can watch the entire season on nbc.com for free.

2007 River to River Highlights

Wow. These guys know how to book a concert series, huh. All shows are free, of course...

Friday, June 1
Animal Collective (with Danielson)
South Street Seaport, Pier 17, 7pm

Tuesday, June 26
The Living Room – A Songwriters' Night starring Martha Wainwright, Chris Thile, Ari Hest, Jim Campilongo and more.
World Financial Center Plaza, 7pm

Wednesday, July 4
The New Pornographers (with Midlake)
Battery Park, 3:30pm

Thursday, July 5
Shearwater
Castle Clinton National Monument, Battery Park, 7pm

Friday, July 6
Fujiya & Miyagi
South Street Seaport, Pier 17, 7pm

Wednesday, July 11
Spoon (!)
Battery Park City, Rockefeller Park, 7pm

Thursday, July 12
Ron Sexsmith
Castle Clinton National Monument, Battery Park, 7pm

Friday, July 13
Menomena (Other acts to be announced) (!)
South Street Seaport, Pier 17, 7pm

Thursday, July 19
Drive-By Truckers (!!)
Castle Clinton National Monument, Battery Park, 7pm

Friday, July 20
Rock Plaza Central
South Street Seaport, Pier 17, 7pm

Thursday, July 26
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Castle Clinton National Monument, Battery Park, 7pm

Tuesday, August 21
Movie Nights on the Elevated Acre: On the Waterfront (108 minutes, 1954)
Elevated Acre at 55 Water Street, Sunset (typically 8-9pm)