Crimson Grail pics, video

August 11, 2009 10:55 am  /  Music, New York  /  , ,
Brendan @ Rhys Chatham's Crimson Grail, 2009

Photo credit: Tim Griffin from Brooklyn Vegan

There are some good pics of the Rhys Chatham concert over at Brooklyn Vegan.  And a video of the finale via YouTube:

“A Crimson Grail…” take 2

August 5, 2009 9:42 am  /  Music, New York

Rhys Chatham rocks out

This Saturday evening I’ll be playing along with 199 other guitarists (and 16 bassists) in composer Rhys Chatham’s piece “A Crimson Grail for 200 Electric Guitars.” As you might recall, I posted something similar to this about a year ago, but unfortunately the concert got rained out just a couple hours before show time. It was an epic bummer.

But they’re doing it again this year, and (after successfully postponing my jury duty) I’ll be playing in it.  If you’re in or around NYC, you should come see us.  It’s free!

Saturday, August 8, 2009 at 7:30 pm at the Damrosch Park Bandshell.

To quote the Lincoln Center/Wordless Music guys:

Some friendly advice: Saturday’s performance at Lincoln Center is expected to draw an audience of 10,000. In other words: get there early. Doors open at 7pm and the concert begins at 7:30 sharp.

[The orchestra] … includes collaborators and members of The Modern Lovers, The Jesus Lizard, Guided by Voices, Scratch Acid, Pussy Galore, Silver Jews, Lambchop, Akron/Family, Oneida, Parts & Labor, Boss Hog, La Monte Young’s Theatre of Eternal Music, Lester Bowie, John Zorn, Gamelan Son of Lion, They Might Be Giants, Opal, Cyndi Lauper, Prince, Reagan Youth, San Agustin, Flashlights, Come, Stars Like Fleas, Bear in Heaven, Mates of State, Rogue Wave, The Natural History, Glenn Branca’s Hallucination City and Symphony No. 13 for 100 Guitars, Band of Susans, Damo Suzuki, Thurston Moore, Taj Mahal, Merzbow, Panthers, The Hidden Cameras, Vietnam, The Natural History, John Lee Hooker, Johnny Thunders, Town and Country, Joan of Arc, Bird Show, XBXRX, Mike Watt, 7 Year Rabbit Cycle, Phill Niblock, Tony Conrad, Larval, Black Elf Speaks, usaisamonster, MONO, and Dragons of Zynth, as well as the Juilliard School, Berklee College of Music, Manhattan School of Music, Northwestern University Classical Guitar Ensemble, NY Symphonic Arts Ensemble, and the P.S. 180 Guitar Group.

“Hey donkey, what’s going on? …

No, those are just female moose!

(From: http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/stumper/archive/2008/10/21/in-which-sarah-palin-displays-the-latest-in-donkey-fashion.aspx)

…Alright. Say ‘hi’ to your mother for me.”

It seems improbable (and to my eye the “vote” flag seem out of place from a design perspective if not photoshopped), but I haven’t heard anyone calling “fake” yet.  So then, what was she thinking? I suppose wearing the symbol of your opposition is “mavericky.” At least that’s a nice word for it.

Maybe the scarf is part of the $150,000 the RNC has spent on her clothes. For those of you who like math, that’s $2,500 a day–or equal to one of McCain’s annual health insurance tax credits (for individuals) every single day.

* It’s a reference to last weekend’s SNL skit with Mark Whalberg, NOT “that one” with Palin.

The New Yorker Out Loud: Escalation
Date: July 7, 2008
Description: Seymour M. Hersh talks about the Bush Administration’s secret campaign against Iran.
Role: Content and audio editing, working through Curtis Fox Productions

Michelle’s Bike: After

June 29, 2008 2:52 pm  /  Bikes, New York, Photos  /  

Michelle\'s Bike (Front)

Michelle\'s Bike (Side)

Michelle\'s Bike (Back)

Michelle’s Bike: Before

June 19, 2008 12:08 am  /  Bikes, New York  /  , ,

Michelle\'s bike ver 1.0

I bought this old “All Pro” department store bike (originally from K-mart, I think) from a flea market in Hell’s Kitchen near Michelle’s place.  If rust = vintage and vintage = cool, then does rust = cool?

I hope not, because I sanded all of it off and repainted the frame, bell, fenders, and chainguard (including the orange stripe detailing).  New brakes, new handlebars, kickstand, new back weel (ditched the coaster for a single speed cog), trued and re-dished the wheels, polished all the chrome, and a badass new cruiser saddle.  I’ll post the “after” picture as soon as she sees it.