The screenplay for The Housemaid, a new thriller from South Korea, must have had audience reactions written in the margins. Because the narrative should be familiar to all of us, we react not because we don’t expect the film’s more violent and erotic moments, but because cues are being given to us. While watching the shirtless and well-toned husband leave his pregnant wife in their bed and creep downstairs to find his young new housemaid reading topless, our eyes don’t widen out of free will – we’re simply doing what we’re told.
Joan of Arc are a band unstuck in time. Not because of Tim Kinsella’s Suicidal Tendencies t-shirt, or Bobby Burg’s trucker hat, or the stack of cassette tapes on the merch table of all their old recordings. But, despite having been a band for the past 15 or so years, they have still not succumbed to indie rock mores or made themselves easily compartmentalized into the sub-genre-of-the-weeks. They’re not one step ahead, nor one step behind, but the rotating cast of characters that make up Chicago-based Joan of Arc seems to be sidestepping the scene altogether. (more…)
You all remember the awesome Stadiums & Shrines — our partners in crime for the FREEwilliamsburg CMJ Showcase blowout at Glasslands this past summer. Well, the awesome music blog has partnered up with Neon Musical Insight to throw another perfect night of music, booze and dancing at Cameo Gallery tomorrow night!
Luckily for all of you, it’s only $8 and will include the musical musings of such favorites as SOARS, Headless Horsemen, Com Truise and the lovable Kohwi. Moreover, one of you fantastic readers will be winning a pair of tickets to a show that has a flying walrus on the flyer– and we all know there’s nothing cooler than flying sea dwellers, right!?
What’s better is that each blog has posted mixtapes to preview the night, which you can grab here and here.
So comment below for your chance to feel the same exhilarated joy as a young Jason James Richter!
Jesse S., who took this photo, tells me officers were handing out pamphlets on bike safety and “ticketing everybody for everything.” My favorite part, as you can see above in Exhibit A, is the helpful construction sign asking, “What’s going on here?” on behalf of us humans. Somebody, answer this bridge’s sign.
If you love Southern Cooking and are looking for a new place to get your fix in Williamsburg, you’re in luck with the upcoming opening next Tuesday the 25th of Mable’s Smokehouse. Mable’s Smokehouse is owned by couple Meghan Love and Jeff Lutonsky who wanted simple and traditional Southern food. They promise to deliver borracho beans, Rotel-Velveeta dip, Luzianne sweet tea, hot links imported from Schwab’s in Oklahoma City, pulled-pork tamales, and, of course, pie. The selection of alcoholic drinks will be limited, with offerings of three vodkas, two gins, and a few bourbons.
Mable’s Smokehouse.44 Berry St., entrance on N. 11th St., Williamsburg; 718-218-6655
With all those glitter shirts and pink tights and smooth jams, this really seems like the prom night we all would’ve loved. Ariel Pink and his Haunted Graffiti hit Fallon with “Round and Round” from Before Today. Ariel looks about as aloof as ever here, but it’s a great debut late-night performance.
Ever go to a sweet show at Shea Stadium but (for some reason or other) the night seems a little hazy or forgetty in your memory? Or maybe you just want a copy of the performance on tape? Or you want to check out some bands you’ve heard buzz about on the internet? Well now Brooklyn’s Shea Stadium is making available a whole bunch of recordings from its archive for free on its website. You can download sets from So-So Glos, Ducktails, Screaming Females, and so many more.
In related news, Joan of Arc are playing Shea Stadium tomorrow with Soft Circle. Hopefully this will be recorded and archived on the site, as they intend on updating regularly as more bands play the venue. I’ve got some listening to catch up on.
Are you trembling, Councilmember Eric Ulrich? Transportation Alternatives has asked its supporters to send you angry faxes, a result of your “draconian” bike bill wherein we have to wear license plates like scarlet letters on our bicycles. It’s kind of an asshole proposal on your end, bicyclists say, and for that, you’re about to get yo’ ass faxed.
From their email:
As reported by the NY Post, Councilmember Eric Ulrich wants to introduce a draconian anti-bicycling bill that would require all New Yorkers to register their bicycles. Councilmember Ulrich has made bicyclists a scapegoat. His proposal will stop people from riding bicycles and make bicycling less safe. We need your help to stop his plans.
They ask you send an e-fax–which I assume is like making someone’s fax machine print out your email–telling the Councilmember “I strongly oppose your bicycle registration proposal and urge you to withdraw it without delay.” What’s your bike stand?
Score one for cash-strapped zen-seekers: Yoga to the People celebrates the grand opening of the studio’s first Brooklyn location this weekend – and in doing so, it’s giving more expensive hot yoga practices off the Bedford stop a serious run for their money.
Located on North 11th between Roebling and Driggs, the latest Yoga to the People opens officially next Monday, but this weekend (January 22 and 23) all hot yoga classes are FREE. Just make sure to head to their website – located here — beforehand; there’s only 50 spots available per class, and you have to sign up to guarantee a place in class. Didn’t get to the website on time? Most of the YTTP classes in Manhattan are very reasonably priced (between $5-10 per class), so chances are you won’t have to break the bank to achieve nirvana here on opening day.
Nick Thorburn of Unicorns + Honus Honus of Man Man + Joe Plummer of Modest Mouse + George Michael Bluth. Already this equation is getting pretty out of control awesome. But then when you throw in them covering “Bad Man” by the Oblivians the math just gets wrecked. Who cares about math anyway?
