Apr 16 : "Yea Weather" - The Big Drops (Haworth NJ)

New Music / Freshly Written & Recently Released (Oct 2012)

Also on the bill with Jackie Paper at Hong Kong Garden last week was The Big Drops. I liked their show; some very interesting arrangements. But it's almost like two bands. The live music had a lot more power than what the band has on their web pages. I can't seem to find any of their recorded music that meets the same intensity. But here's a sample of one of their songs, "Yea Weather".

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6/27/20 UPDATE! ::: OOPS! Looks like the band removed this song from their webpage!

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While the web pages indicate the band's home as "Haworth", I talked with the band members and found that they actually come from a few different towns in North Jersey. ... To visit The Big Drops' Bandcamp page, here is the click ::: The Big Drops (CLICK HERE)

Apr 11 : "Where've You Been?" - Jackie Paper (Philly)

New Music / Freshly Written & Recently Released (This Month)

Philly Music!

They get me every time; I love the chord progressions of Philly "Indie Dust-Trail/ Shoegazey Rock and Roll," band Jackie Paper. And those chords were out in full force when I went to see Jackie Paper headline at Hong Kong Garden on Saturday night.

Jackie Paper headlined an exciting evening of five bands, both local and regional. The band actually put together the whole evening. Jackie Paper's lead vocalist, Joshua Dowell, and flautist, Michelle Goodwin, did the planning.

The night was intense. When I see live music, I always like to stand in the front, but Hong Kong Garden was so packed that night that those of us standing up front were a mere six inches away from the band. Nice! Like I said, "intense". I had a good time.

The band played a variety of music including pieces from their new album "April 2012". A sample from that album is playing right here on my blog page. The song is "Where've You Been?", and is the lead track :::

jackie paper · Where You've Been

To visit Jackie Paper's web page, here is the click ::: Jackie Paper (CLICK HERE)

Apr 08 : "what we would do - featuring un.real" - Panophonic (Clifton Heights)

These were sure a couple busy weeks; had a lot on my plate especially with the community work. So I was happy to learn last week that Panophonic was going to be doing a show on the one night that I had free.

Panophonic is the solo project of area musician and promoter, Tom Lugo. Tom had put together one of his trademark "Popnoise Festivals", an evening of three bands featuring himself as Panophonic, UK shoegaze outfit Suzy Blu / Insect Guide, and NY / NC / LA outfit The Veldt / Apollo Heights. Was the theme of the lineup bands with multiple names? :)

That night I had an assignment. A photographic assignment. Tom handed me a camera and asked me to take pictures of him as he played. So that's what I tried to do. I tried to get him from different vantage points from the audience as well as sneaking around to the side of the stage to get a couple more shots from that perspective. ... ... I wasn't used to his camera and I'm pretty sure my results weren't that stellar. But luckily for Tom there were other friends taking pictures as well. ... Whew!

This was a first for Panophonic, playing at Voltage Lounge. I've seen Panophonic as well as Tom's band, Stellarscope, play at a variety of venues all around Philly, but this was the first trip to Voltage.

Here's a sample of Panophonic's music, "what we would do- featuring un.real", playing right here on my blog page :::

To visit Panophonic and hear more, here is the click ::: Panophonic (CLICK HERE)

Mar 28 : "The Last Trade" - James Conway

New Work / Freshly Written & Recently Pubished (2012)

I had a very good time reading this book. The book was loaded with interesting characters and fast-paced action, two dynamics that sometimes don't occur at the same time.

While some of the books I've talked about here have been of a more serious nature, "The Last Trade" by James Conway was pure entertainment.

Near the beginning of the book a stock broker receives a mysterious call having originated with a wealthy foreign investor who directs him to do multiple stock transactions involving billions of dollars, but NOT to mention anything about the transactions to anyone including coworkers, supervisors, friends, or colleagues, and not to look up any background information on the company whose stock was being traded.. And, as you can probably imagine, the broker just HAD to make a brief mention to a friend. ... ... ... Within a matter of a couple hours, the broker is found murdered in his apartment.

The book simultaneously follows a intriguing characters in a number of countries. A couple characters were reprehensible, but there are a number of people you'll like and root for. ((The main detective is a woman)).

The book is fast-paced, with many chapters being no more than five or six pages, and then they switch countries to a different set of people.

In spite of the rapid chapter changes, James Conway builds up interesting personalities as well as good descriptions of the physical environs.

I enjoyed every page, couldn't put it down, and highly recommend it.

To reserve your copy, here is the click ::: Free Library of Philadelphia (CLICK HERE).

Mar 24 : "Winner" - Chaos Chaos (Brooklyn)

New Music / Freshly Written & Recently Posted (Fall 2012)

FIRST NIGHT BACK!

My first night back to hear live music after weeks of being busy working was to go to Johnny Brenda's on Friday night. Coincidentally David and Pat had also put that on their calendars, so we met and had a good time.

The opener was Brooklyn band "Chaos Chaos" which I liked a lot. I was drawn to their very original melodic lines and unique composition.

Chaos Chaos is a sister act, made up of Asy and Choloe Saavedra. On Friday night they had a guest performer playing with them on some of the songs.

Here's a sample of some of their interesting stylings. The song is "Winner", which was released on ITunes earlier this month.

To visit Chaos Chaos, here is the click ::: Chaos Chaos (CLICK HERE