god only knows

I'm not technically a big Giant Drag fan, although there are couple of songs on their record that i quite like. However, Information Leafblower linked to this cover they do of The Beach Boys' God only knows that sounds just so pretty... it also doesn't hurt that they picked the best song from Pet Sounds. You know what, just based on that i may actually go revisit you, Giant Drag! Well done. Enjoy and have a great weekend!

Download from gorilla vs bear - Giant Drag :: God only knows [mp3]

memory

This sunday will be the last day for Paul Schneider's residency at Pianos. This one will be especially great because DC-based singer-songwriter Laura Burhenn (who i have mentioned here countless of times) will be performing at 7pm. At 8pm AK Healey (aka Ashen from Scout) will also be performing with Steve and Jason from Longwave. Should be a solid night, so you know the deal, no cover, just show up at 7pm and enjoy!

Paul Schneider :: Osmosis [mp3]
Laura Burhenn :: Memory [mp3]

pleasure island

A bunch of stuff is going on tonight, and they're all within 1/2 a block of each other. Sarah has a showcase at Fat Baby. I'm deejaying at Cake Shop with Karibomb! We'll be on 12 to 4am, and at 1am, The Living Things will perform! I heard great things about these guys, so it should be fun. Not to mention, Kari and i haven't djed together in at least a year!! The cover is only $5, come come come!

Also, do yourself a favor, before coming to Cake Shop, go see Michael Leviton play at Pianos either tonight or next week. I'm listening to his music on myspace right now and it's so beautiful! It so reminds me of Chet Baker, especially his voice. Michael, who you may know from his great band La Laque, sings and plays baritone ukulele. I have no idea what a ukulele looks like, but it sure sounds amazing. Michael's doing a residency at Pianos on wednesdays at 9:30pm, he's got two wednesdays to go. Don't miss it!!

parting gift

I want to write about the surprise Keren Ann show on thursday, but that will have to wait a little bit. My weekend was so busy, but probably the best i've had in a long time. Friday i was out showing some love to my buddies at Fat Baby and at Stolen Transmission. Saturday night started with the relaunched MisShapes at Don Hill's, which was just completely insane. It felt good seeing Don Hill's packed again (kids dancing on top of speakers!), and it felt just right to have MisShapes there. Tommie Sunshine and Junior Sanchez spun for most of the night, so we got to hear lots of great remixes, especially the one of Kaiser Chiefs' I love you less and less. Junior also played Nth Degree by Morningwood, which i thought was really cool of him. Then it was my turn to be on the wheels of steel at 4am for the new after-hours party thrown by GBH, and though by that time i was starting to feel beat, i realized that i'm never tired enough to DJ, and had such a good time playing to a late crowd. Thanks to all who came by, said hi, and kept me company...

Up until saturday, i did not have a ticket to go see Fiona Apple, which was quite unnerving if you know how much i love the girl. However, because i have incredible friends, i ended up with one ticket for the Nokia Theatre and believe me when i say it was the perfect way to end such a good weekend. Mark, you are a star, thank you thank you for coming through! I just could not have missed this show!
As it turns out, Fiona not only managed to release my favorite album this year, but also play my favorite show... As soon as she graced the stage, i just knew she was going to be as intense, insane and amazing as she was five years ago when i last saw her. She opened the set with Get him back and played through all three albums with a much bigger emphasis on the second and third records. She played my two favorite songs from the new album, Red red red and Not about love, back to back. The crowd was singing along to every song in a very endearing way, which sent out a great vibe in the room. I can't tell which part of the show was my favorite... perhaps seeing her do the crazy dances and really getting into each word she was beautifully delivering, or seeing the hardcore fans at the front "shaking" their hands during Paper Bag, or just witnessing the enormous talent coming from such a tiny but definitely matured person (who looked like she was dressed like a fortune teller, although Jocelyn argued she looked like Obi Wan Kanobi!). Actually i do have a favorite moment from last night... before the very last song during the encore, she said something about how the most important thing in life is to surround yourself with great people, and that even the angry songs she writes are all about incredible people who are totally worthwhile. She then dedicated Parting Gift to them.
Long gone is the Fiona who throws fits and talks nonsense, here's a young woman who, in my opinion, is starting to make her place amongst the classics and legends.

Fiona back in new york. Photo stolen from Brooklynvegan.