News on Shuffle – Page 6 – Mostly music news + reviews, but we also cover film, tv, and anything else that catches our fancy

Life Happens

Earlier this month I wrote my first post in over a year because one of my favorite shows turned 20 years old and I had to add my two cents on what that meant to myself and the industry as a whole. Writing that article made me realize I had one that was grossly overdue, a review of a comic for someone whose work I usually love. I wrote him an apology email today about how life got busy and I’m really sorry. And then I read the comic and wrote a thing on it and in that one article I came up with two others I should write – this being one of them (the other is a thing is on the current run of Doctor Strange and how much I LOVE it, but that can wait). The actual article I wrote about the thing I was supposed to will be coming out very soon, but for now I wanted to do yet another giant update on what I was doing that kept me here.

Mostly I got a new job that kept me very busy and RELEASED A RECORD.

Yes, Lonely Atom Records, the small start-up record label I work with, finally released our first 7″ record late February. The two bands featured are The Pandemics and InCircles (both bands from NYC/LI). You can either download the songs or purchase the vinyl on our Bandcamp. There’s also stickers and pins for sale, and we’re working on t-shirts.

Between releasing the record, booking shows, and my actual real job(s), I’ve been fairly busy. I honestly love writing on here though, so I’m going to try to pick it up again. I’ve been reading a lot of comics lately, and between that and watching The Wednesday Club every week on Geek & Sundry’s Twitch channel, I will probably want to talk about that more. Don’t worry though, I’ll still have plenty of music musings as well as just general stuff about the news and other random things. The site is called “News on Shuffle” for a reason…

That’s all for now. Stay tuned for the review I just finished and whatever other things pop into my head and scream to be written down into this void we call the internet. And remember folks, when life gets you down you gotta remember to just keep swimming.

How Buffy Changed My Life

I’m sure by now you’ve seen plenty of articles online about how Buffy the Vampire Slayer is celebrating 20 years since its premiere. I’m sure you’ve also seen plenty of people tell their stories about how Buffy saved or changed their life in some way. Allow me to be a last-minute addition and share what Buffy means to me (and how it shaped television as we know it today).

BtVS premiered on this day in 1997. I gotta admit, my memory is poor but I’m gonna go out on a limb and say I wasn’t watching this show when I was 9. I know I started watching episodes as they aired at some point, but as far as I can remember the show had already been on for a few seasons. (Don’t worry, I was able to catch up in repeats real quick). Regardless, from my first glimpse of the slayer I could feel her speak to my innermost self. She was awkward, terrible at relationships, and had all the same problems every girl faces, but also was a badass who kicked butt and took names. She was what I already was combined with what I wanted to be. She also was the only female superhero I can think of (other than the girls in the Power Rangers) that I had to look up to. Yeah, I know, there are plenty of other badass ladies out there, but back then I watched a lot of dudes in tights (Superman, Batman, Spider-man) and Buffy. She and Willow were my everything. Yes, the whole cast of Scoobies were great, but they were my favorites.

After watching Buffy (and Angel once that got its spinoff) I started expanding to other vampire/occult offerings. As luck would have it, the show that turned me onto the genre also influenced it. I think it’s fair to say that a lot of the tv and movies you see today would not have had a chance if Buffy didn’t have the success that it did. It masterfully blended the dark and the quirky in ways every television show ever would only hope to achieve. (Charmed comes to mind almost instantly as having similar qualities). It also was the jumping point for a wonderful career for Joss Whedon, as well as many of the cast members. Joss jumped from Buffy and Angel to Dollhouse and Firefly, the latter getting a cult following that might even surpass Buffy levels, before eventually getting to jump into the Marvel Universe with Avengers. Suddenly one of my favorite creators in the industry was in charge of the only genre I love as much as the vampire/magic stuff: superheroes.

Backstory: I learned to read with comic books, and some of the first television I remember watching were cartoons based on those comics. Even today, most of the television I watch is the CW lineup of superhero/comic book related programming. Supergirl, Flash, Arrow – the genre has gotten a big bump with the success of the Marvel films. I also think that CW (formally WB) has been a leader in focusing on “nerdier” fair. Kids WB was my go-to for cartoons as a kid because of how many hero type shows it had, Buffy and Charmed (as well as many others) were WB primetime staples back in the day, and now it continues with the lineup of hero shows I already mentioned. Of all the shows I’ve mentioned, however, I think Buffy was the most significant. And based on how much people have been talking about this anniversary today, I think the masses would agree.

Thanks for letting me ramble for a bit. It’s been over a year since I’ve been inspired to write anything, but it feels appropriate that Buffy Summers finally pushed me into action. She was an inspiration to many. May she continue to do so for 20 more years and beyond.

Buffy-Vampire-Slayer

OK Go Release New Video “Upside Down & Inside Out”

I haven’t written anything since before New Years and I owe you multiple posts that are beyond past due but for now we’re going to forget about all that because OK GO RELEASED A NEW VIDEO AND IT’S AMAZEBALLS.

If you follow the band on their social media, you may have noticed them incessantly hinting about this masterpiece. After much antici…PATION *ahem* the video for “Upside Down & Inside Out” has finally dropped into our laps. It starts with an introduction that says the entire thing is really truly shot in low gravity and there are no green screens or wires involved. What follows is a brilliantly choreographed masterpiece of maneuvers to wow the viewer.

OK Go are no strangers when it comes to viral video making. From their first big hit “Here It Goes Again” audiences have been entranced by their work. It’s good to see that they are still keeping with tradition over ten years later. Now to watch that new video about twenty more times…

To Spoil, or not to Spoil… That is the Question

I owe you a photo post from the Narc Twain show I went to and an introduction to the record label I’m working with now, but I just got into two conversations about spoilers (mostly regarding Star Wars but it’s a hot topic in general) and I want to get this rage post out of my system so I can enjoy the rest of my day.

This all started with a friend on Facebook announcing he was planning on seeing Star Wars on opening night and THERE WILL BE SPOILERS. He suggested that if people don’t like it they can just stay off the internet. I pointed out how unrealistic this was in today’s society, and his friend proceeded to rage at me all the reasons I was WRONG. We went back and forth for a bit before I finally accepted the fact he would never see my viewpoint and quietly backed down. I then had almost the same exact conversation with a group of friends on another Facebook thread, but way more civil and less RAGEY. Which is good because I was ready to ragequit the internet for the next two weeks in an effort to avoid both spoilers and the assholes who post them. Of course one of my most awesome friends sent me a link to simply block all the spoilers if you use Google Chrome. It got me thinking, however, about the unwritten rules when it comes to spoilers and how we consume media nowadays and internet etiquette and such. And that is what this post is really about…

First I’ll give you the argument that was given to me about why it’s ok for someone to post spoilers. Basically it boils down to the fact that the person’s Facebook page is theirs to do with as they please, and if they are excited about a thing then they are going to talk about it and you can’t stop them. This is all fine and good, but there’s also my mantra to consider: DON’T BE A DICK. I’m not saying don’t post spoilers at all. Just have some self-control and if you just can’t help yourself then please for the love of god warn a person before you ruin it for them. Yes, I get you’re a fan that’s excited about a thing. I am too, which is why I would like you to respect that not everyone can see a movie opening weekend. Hell, you’re lucky I’m seeing it a week later. The last James Bond movie I just saw last week and it had been out for a month at that point. I did not see a single spoiler for that movie though and had to go through very little effort to avoid them. But for some reason Star Wars has its own special rules where if I don’t see the movie opening night then it’s my own damn fault if I get spoiled. Which is unrealistic and somewhat childish IMO.

Now let’s look at the other side of things. In one of the discussions I had it was suggested the appropriate time to wait before one can no longer complain about spoilers is a year for movies and a month for TV shows. I, for one, do not watch TV the night it airs. I usually 1) work nights, and 2) wait until the next day when I can watch it online. I also have a life outside of consuming media and have seen almost none of the fall finales of my favorite shows because of this. I am very grateful to the corners of the internet I tend to frequent that they make it fairly obvious what posts to avoid if I don’t want to be spoiled on a thing.

Movies are a bit different. I rarely go to the theater unless it’s something I think the big screen and such will contribute to the experience (or I just can’t wait for the DVD). This usually means I only really see big ticket items like the Marvel franchise, and I wait for everything else. I pay for the Netflix DVD account, which is way cheaper than going to see all these movies when they premiere. Obviously I’m going to see Star Wars. I’m waiting a week though, so I can watch when visiting my family for Christmas weekend. I get that a lot of people will have already seen the movie by then, but I don’t think it’s fair to tell me I need to avoid the internet or have no right to complain when I get spoiled on things. We live in an age where that is unrealistic. For example, the record label I mentioned at the top of the page? It currently has a crowdfunding campaign going that I need to be able to promote ON THE INTERNET. I need to plaster it on Facebook and Twitter and send email blasts, otherwise how do people know I’m doing this awesome thing? And there are plenty of other nerds where it’s THEIR JOB to be on the internet. It is unrealistic and unfair to expect them to stay offline till they watch a movie just because you can’t put a simple “spoiler warning” on something you post.

That’s the thing that gets me the most… I’m not asking people to refrain from talking about it until I’ve seen it. I realize the world does not revolve around me, and you’re excited about this thing just as much as I am, but don’t be a dick about it. Give me a warning so I know to avoid that post and I can still get the same experience you got when you saw that thing for the first time. I’m sure when I finally see the movie I will want to post about it too. Might even write something up on this ol’ blog here. But rest assured I will either choose my words carefully and/or warn people about spoilers beforehand. It’s the little things like respect that make the internet big enough for all of us.

That’s all I have to say on the matter. Feel free to RESPECTFULLY share your opinion in the comments.

Presenting: Narc Twain

You may have heard me talk about a band called “Jukebox the Ghost” here a few times. They’re one of my favorite bands and some of my favorite people of the musical persuasion. One of their members, Tommy Siegal, has two other projects he’s involved with. One is “Drunken Sufis,” who are weird but fun. There’s not much else to say there; you just have to experience it for yourself. The other band he’s in (and what I’m here to talk to you about) is “Narc Twain.” When I talked to Tommy about Narc Twain, he seemed real excited about them. It’s a little something to direct his creative energy towards when what is coming out doesn’t fit the mold for JtG or Sufis. Hearing him talk about it got me excited for him, so of course I’m also excited I now get to review the album and share it with all of you.

If you like dystopian rock tunes, this self-titled album should make it to the top of your list. It has some of the more interesting lyrics I’ve heard in awhile (and this is coming from someone who practically breathes punk rock). It’s not just the lyrics though; the instrumentation also takes some fun leaps and turns at points in the music. I found myself sitting with anticipation at where the songs would go next. There’s only 6 songs to soak in so far, but that should be good for a short trip. While I liked the album as a whole, I think track 3 was my favorite. The chorus is super catchy. It’ll be a nice earworm to knock out the Gogol Bordello song that’s been stuck in my head for a week now.

If this short little album isn’t enough for your hungry ears and brains, then perhaps you want to see them live and in person! Well then you should join me tonight at Knitting Factory in Brooklyn for their show tonight. (While you’re there check out the pizzeria that’s across the street; it’s one of my favorites). Get there early though, because you don’t want to miss any of the show! Doors are at 7pm, and the show starts at 8pm. Knitting usually has good pre-show happy hour deals to enjoy as well, for those who care about such things. Eat, drink, and be merry, and rock your dystopian hearts out with Narc Twain.

The Great Big CMJ Post

Hi all! A week later and the dust has finally settled on a crazy/productive CMJ experience. Some band discoveries for me worth mentioning this year were Multimagic, Wild Sun, and Brother Valiant. Def go check them out. Here’s one of my favorite shots from seeing Multimagic at Arlene’s Grocery.

I also went to a couple networking events, including one on the roof of The Delancey that gave us free beer (and one of my favorite shots I think I’ve ever taken).

There were a lot of great new acts I was introduced to over the week, but my favorite show (that I wasn’t working) was getting to see The So So Glos at Baby’s All Right for the BrooklynVegan party on Saturday.

With all the running around I did last week, the highlight was documenting a showcase by my friend from TJO Presents at Our Wicked Lady in Brooklyn.

Besides having a sick lineup of bands (which I’ll get to in a moment) there were also drink specials for Coney Island beer!

*check out those great options ^

Everyone seemed to enjoy the delicious brews, both audience and bands alike flocked to get a taste.

*thanks to Jon Good of Out of System Transfer for the photo opportunity

Beverages in hand, it’s time to start the show. Like I said, I really enjoyed this lineup and had a lot of fun photographing everyone. First up was Dreams of June.

Next up, my buddies from Out of System Transfer, one of which has already been featured with tasty beer in hand.

Moving right along to Bree and the Whatevers, which I also took video that can be viewed on my YouTube page.

Brook Pridemore:

Slim Wray (who you can see again on Wednesday as part of Grundle Thunder‘s EP release)

Jamie Register & the Damn Thang:

And finally, we closed out the night with Bushwick Hotel:

Overall the night was a lot of fun with a solid lineup and equally awesome crowd. Congrats to TJO Presents for putting on such a great show. Thanks to Coney Island for the beer specials and everyone who showed up and rocked out with us. Thus ends my CMJ coverage for this year. Until next time, folks!

Shayfer James EP Release @ Rockwood

Here’s photo post #2 of the day for you. It’s Shayfer James’ EP release on Stage 2 of Rockwood Music Hall, September 19th. He had a great turnout where everyone sang along to songs that had literally just been released. It was pretty amazing to witness. He’ll be playing Rockwood again Oct 13th if you want to witness the magic for yourself.

Nerd Night Out @ Bell House

First of all, I’m sorry this took so long to post. The show actually happened Sept 12th, but it’s been a crazy month and I haven’t had a chance to really think straight let alone make updates on this thing here. Fear not, however, for you are getting two photo posts today from shows I had the pleasure of attending over the course of the month. The first is Nerd Night Out, a music/comedy tour with Molly Lewis, Joseph Scrimshaw, and The Doubleclicks! It was a great night full of laughs and shenanigans. I hung out after the show to chat with Molly Lewis (which I posted a picture on Twitter with her), bought some merch, and even got a CD signed by The Doubleclicks. It was a great night and if you ever get a chance to see even one of these performers, I say do it!

Backyard Superheroes – Let’s Get Dangerous

Before I begin I want to give some back story on this one. The ska scene (like many other scenes in the world) is a small place. Pretty much everybody knows everybody else. Since I’m dating a ska musician, it means that at least half the ska reviews I do are people I’m friends with or are on friendly terms with. So yeah, I’m a little biased. I was specifically told to give constructive criticism on this one though, and that’s what I’m gonna try my best to do here.

First thought with the intro (other than how much I love when bands do intros) is how it gives the album a big feel, like the band is getting a big introduction before they go play the hugest stage ever. When you think about it, that’s what happens when you put your music out into the universe these days. You are essentially jumping on a stage that the whole world can see, especially with the Internet as your major distribution platform. It makes me happy that these guys might not be headlining a stadium, but it definitely sounds like they put everything into the music they’re delivering to your eardrums.

Second thought, as I continue listening, is how tight everything sounds. The horns are ON POINT and all the songs seem to flow into each other really well. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, folks: I love it when people make full albums and not just a bunch of songs that can be listened to on shuffle. I know that’s how a lot of people listen to music now, but I still like putting on an album and listening from start to finish. It makes me happy to see a band take the time to really think about song placement and how the album as a whole is going to flow.

I know a said I was going to try to give constructive criticism, but my only complaint is that the album is too short at 17 minutes long and flies by. I want more music! Still, this definitely got me pumped and made me want to go to one of their shows soon. If you feel the same way, you’re in luck! These guys are going on tour. You can find a complete list of tour dates on their Facebook page as well as ticket links to all the shows. And if you just want to listen to their music from the comfort of your own home (including this album) then Bandcamp is the place for you.

Baked Potatoes Review

What I’m about to review I’ve been meaning to post for awhile now but things got so busy and other things got written due to urgency of how soon they had to go up and before I knew it I was apologizing to a really cool band that I hadn’t gotten around to their tiny little 4-song EP. In general I haven’t posted anything in two months, and I’m super bummed about that fact. In addition to this post, I also am tempted to do a Flash season finale thing but I’m also still wrapping my brain around that one. Maybe next week I’ll do a “best of” for all the finales of the shows I’ve been following. In the meantime, here’s a little review of a band called “Baked Potatoes” that found me through a Facebook group I’m part of called “Touring Ska Bands”. It’s something a friend of mine started that has grown to become quite useful for help with booking tours and crowd-sourcing and such. Anyway, enough chatter, let’s review this bad boy.

Immediately upon starting my listen of this EP, titled “Waiting for the Weekend,” I was actually kind of glad I waited till now to listen to it. This is because the feel of the music makes me think of the beach and summer weekends in the sand, which is something we can look forward to now that summer is slowly starting to creep around the corner. There’s a very chill yet simultaneously upbeat vibe that is never better executed than with a solid reggae band. If only it were actually long enough to last for a longer portion of your beach trip, but I’m sure with enough support from viewers like you, we can get more tunes out of these guys to last through future summers and beyond. In the meantime you’ll just have to play these four songs on repeat, which I’m sure I will be doing over the course of the summer. And if my only complaint is that this EP left me wanting more, then I guess that’s a good problem to have.