WITH DAN THE AUTOMATOR & KID KOALA
Concert of the summer for sure! An Epic night on the lawn at the Celebrate Brooklyn Bandshell… I went online and saw a short, live video clip the day before this show that had the entire orchestra playing and though, “there’s no way THIS is the show they will be performing tomorrow”… it was. Crazy good!

(Almost forgot to mention Kid Kola’s opening DJ set… all vinyl, no headphones… scratching and mixing… respect)

Walked over to the House of Vans with Nick to meet up with a couple of friends… free concert you know. Crazy long beer line made sense only when we got to the front and found out it was free! Canadian indie rocker Mac Demarco performed for an enthusiastic crowd… free beer. Didn’t know who the next band was… someone whispered it was an 80′s one-hit wonder… Charles something… free beer. Then, it became as clear as the first day I heard him… that sound! The crowd was completely stunned… as if Charles & Co took the stage and said “now we would like to show you what music sounds like”… epic.

Our favorite festival… made brighter every year by the mighty Michael

Can’t resist the power of Steel Panther… whenever they come to town, it’s on! Many ask me when I wear the t-shirt “is that a real band”… your damn right it is… and they rock!

Played all of the hits, sounded amazing! “Riding on the metro oh oh”… She even took a ride through the crowd on the bouncer shoulders while she sang.

Headed to the East Village last night for The Press House 13 Year Anniversary at Mercury Lounge – woo-woo! Met some new people and caught up with ol’ friends but the highlight was definitely goodbyemotel‘s set in 4D! 3D glasses were given out, (with custom GBM logo may I add), and the band played behind a 3D projection. Sounding somewhere between Pilot Speed and 30 Seconds to Mars, goodbyemotel rocked. The bass player played Moog Bas Pedals like a keyboard which was really cool as they floated through space warps & mountainscapes. Mid set the screen dropped and the band seemed more… dare I say vulnerable? They finished the set with an acoustic song, the singer standing in the audience reminding many of us of another beloved Aussie band The Kin.

A very good night.

All humor aside, Liam Finn is no joke! My good friend Bob Duncan practically dragged me to this gig and so glad he did… great songs, great band. Spent the afternoon listening to Crowded House & Split Enz to get ready (his father is Neil Finn), but Liam has a style all his own. It was the last night of his month long residency and they played 14 songs, many from a new album. The band seemed like a group of good friends, switching instruments and chatting between tunes and his brother Elroy held it down on drums.

I am a new fan.

Everyone loves a field trip. And where else beckons more than Texas, and that great annual amalgamation of music, corporate sponsorship and beer, South By Southwest? Miko Graphics was on the scene, maneuvering through the rowdy crowds and sticky bar floors.

This year we answered many essential questions, such as: How many complementary snacks and iced teas can be stuffed into an average pair of skinny jeans? What Obamacare plan is best for (otherwise-healthy) frequent stage divers? Do BBQ stains come out in the wash?

After catching some amazing sets all over town, it’s hard not to feel a bit spoiled with sonic riches: Together PANGEA smashing guitars, The Orwells smashing out the stage lights, and our fellow Brooklynites, Parquet Courts, delightfully smashing eardrums. Our boy Kosha Dillz was down there too, doing his thang with Matisyahu. Good times. ’Til next year, Austin.