The Breeders AND Speedy Ortiz!!!

I went to hear the Breeders play the entirety of their album ‘Last Splash’ for it’s 20 year anniversary at Webster Hall on December 19th. I read somewhere that Speedy Ortiz would be opening for them the night after and I was bummed as their album, ‘Major Arcana’, is one of my favorites this year (not sure I’ll be able to fit a year-end list in seeing as the year ends in a coupla hours or so). I was also under the impression that The Breeders would be playing their album ‘Pod’ on the following night, I’d surely miss some great tunes from that album. Turns out everything went my way that night!! A. Speedy Ortiz opened!! and B. The Breeders played BOTH albums!! I went to take a gander at the Merch table (CDs,LPs, t-shirts) I have been collecting various t-shirts over the years. I see buying a t-shirt at a show mostly as a means of support for the band. I’m generally not big on advertising. I suspect bands nowadays make their money touring and selling stuff. I guess I want to believe it’s possible for musicians to make their way in the world without having to rely on a day job heh. The Speedy Ortiz shirts were on their way from Brooklyn ahhhh fresh ink. This was my first time hearing both bands live. I wished the audience were as enthusiastic about Speedy Ortiz as I was. They’ve made some great pop punk songs, really catchy melodies and hard felt to boot. An older dude next to me was audibly complaining to himself as Sadie Dupuis (lead singer/guitarist) and company tuned between songs…it didn’t take them long to tune and they only did it maybe 3 times. It felt like some sort of patriarchal assertion, weird. The configuration of both bands was interesting to me….they had the bass player center-stage, lead singer off to stage right, guitarist to the left and the drummer in the back. The other guitarist in Speedy Ortiz is intense, full bent, almost playing on the ground. The bass player was stereotypically stoic and grounding. Catch Speedy Ortiz in 2014 if you can…I think they’re playing Irving plaza January 22nd.
Now I hate this expression but I’m going to use it nonetheless as I feel I’m running short on time…Kim and Kelley Deal have aged remarkably well. They played ‘Last Splash’ and ‘Pod’ live with all of the quirks on the albums which make them so special. I was awed at not only their faithfulness to the recordings in paying homage to their 20year anniversary but their energy on stage was amazing. Kim Deal emanates good vibes. Period. She just does. It’s an undefinable characteristic. I’m a complete stranger and hope the best for her for no good reason other than those good vibes have to be in the world. Kelley seemed to be having such fun but in a more internalized fashion (a little smile to herself). I’m so glad/lucky to have caught these two amazing bands. I hope there was some passing of the torch from The Breeders to Speedy Ortiz… but one never knows what goes on behind the scenes. Here are some pictures and the Brooklyn Vegan recap:
http://www.brooklynvegan.com/tag/The+Breeders

So look people, if you’ve been reading this blog, thanks a whole helluva lot and let’s have a kickass new year!
The Philip Lynch album is going to be finished in 2014!
Next up I’ll be playing with Ben Kraus on bass at Piano’s Upstairs 158 Ludlow Street NYC @ 8PM Friday, January 3rd, 2014 Free (now it’s going to be cold that night but I’ve heard new yorkers are tough)

Falstaff

I went to see, hear, experience Falstaff by Giuseppe Verdi at the Metropolitan Opera House last Saturday. Conducted by the formerly sidelined by ill health and Met favorite, James Levine. It was a Christmas gift from my mother who is an huge opera buff. Over the years I have come to appreciate this most high art. Opera at its best is the merging of music, story and performance. I came to fully appreciate it when I saw these three elements come together in the Met’s production of Gaetano Donizetti’s Lucia Di Lammermoor with the soprano, Natalie Dessay. I often pull elements out of music or paintings and assess them based on their particular role in the piece in addition to an overall impression. What is working in the work? Am I moved by it? And/or can I use it in my work? Not to suggest that I borrow ideas from opera for my alt-pop-rock-folk tunes heh. My first opera was Seigfried by Richard Wagner, the third opera of the four, Der Ring des Nibelungen, perfect for a kid! Dwarves and a dragon to boot!
This production of Falstaff was so wonderfully comic with little lazzi (comedic bits) strung throughout I thought it would be perfect for my nephews. Sir John Falstaff is a big, blustering, boastful drunkard of a character with two hilarious sidekicks. The whole cast was really excellent. The music suited the mood and visa versa. I realized afterwards that Falstaff was my first comedic opera. Partially, loosely based on The Merry Wives of Windsor. We saw two of the singers after the opera at a restaurant and my mother offered her thanks and warm appreciation. An opera singer’s life must be so strange. It seems such a small, specific world and the audience is mostly comprised of wealthy, older patrons. Here’s a review:

Thanks for tuning in! Happy Holidays!!

IDA MARIA!!

Wow I went to a great show last night! Ida Maria played the Mercury Lounge on the lower east side. A small venue for such a big star. I know, I know many of you may not have heard of Ida Maria but believe me she’s a big star. Her songs are emotionally honest and sometimes raw to the point of breaking. No matter how far you push an idea or a story, if your songs are coming from a genuine place they fly! Her set was magnificently paced. Her tophat had a giant beautiful red feather. The band was tight. Ida on guitar, a lead guitarist, bassist, drummer, and a backup singer. The first song I ever heard of hers was the hit, “Oh my god”. I ran out and got her album, “Fortress Around My Heart”, tout de suite (Lynch highly recommends heh) I’ve been a fan since. This was my first time seeing her live. Support live music people!!

Ida kicked off the set with “Queen of The World”

I had a couple of drinks down the way at Parkside Lounge, great venue/bar, before the show. Aretha Franklin was on the jukebox and it made me think how tough it is for women in male dominated fields. I was also a little apprehensive….what if Ida’s not good live? Those worries were laid to rest with the first song. She has great stage presence and a beautiful voice which she’s unafraid to push into some rougher, darker territory. Apropos of nothing, she apparently has synesthesia. In her case she envisions colors when she hears music and would make songs with color palettes, how cool is that?
I spoke with her cousin (who sang back up) a little bit after the show and they’re playing tonight at Rough Trade in Brooklyn @ 8PM you’d be wise to catch them! You will not be disappointed.

I leave you with this one – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy_dMzFr7t8

Oh P.S. I’m playing Sunday December 8th (so is the excellent Rob McMahon) at An Beal Bocht 445 West 238th Street (at Greystone Avenue) 7:30PM Ben Kraus on bass again so c’mon out, it’s a real treat!!

Gail Heidel of The Way Station!

I’ve played at The Way Station 2 times before solo and will be playing this Saturday, 11/30/13 at 7PM with Ben Kraus on bass. Gail Heidel has been kind enough to answer some questions about the establishment where she works for her brother and proprietor, Andy Heidel.

This past weekend, as you undoubtedly know, was the 50th anniversary of the launch of the popular t.v. series, Dr. Who. Your bar is The Way Station, 683 Washington Ave. Prospect Heights, Bklyn. NY.
1. How long have you been in business?

We are having our third anniversary on Feb. 20. We have Buhre Station STOMP SOCIETY booked from 9-11pm for the party.
Genre: Swing
For fans of : Great Music & Good Times

Named, “Best of the Bronx” News 12, this Swing Band not only recreates the authentic sounds of such greats as Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong’s Dixieland, but also brings their unique brand of showmanship and most importantly FUN back to this timeless genre of music. If you have not had the opportunity to experience the Buhre Station STOMP SOCIETY live in action… NOW IS YOUR CHANCE at their Brooklyn premier !!!

” Keeping this sound alive. …bringing back an era that was truly timeless and fabulous!”

BUHRESTATIONSTOMPSOCIETY.COM

2. Righteous. So, dear readers, be sure to make it out if you’re in town! Did you start out with the Dr. Who theme or was that an addition?

It wasn’t in the original business plan, although the steam punk aesthetic was.*(http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&fr=uh3_my_web_gs&va=steampunk) The tardis was a solution to a problem. *(http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&fr=uh3_my_web_gs&sz=all&va=tardis) The bathroom was sited next to the actual bar and Andy and his former manager were wondering how to disguise it. The idea of the blue box was born.

3. Hahahaha that’s an excellent, creative solution. Who’s the bigger Dr. Who fan? You or Anders?

Anders is the fan. I’ve never watched the show. I’m in it for the music.

4. I love live music and it’s very important to me. Have you always hosted live music?

If you are asking about my career path-
No, I haven’t. I am actually a visual artist. I work part-time as The Gallery and Public Program Manager at Pelham Art Center and part-time at The Way Station. I am also an Assistant Professor of Art at Hunter College teaching one class per semester. This being said, music has also been a big part of my life. I wrote three books about the Black Crowes with a friend of mine, which led to a job work for them doing on-site promotion during the 1997 Further Festival tour. I was also a manager for a regional funk band in the late 90’s in Connecticut.

Or if you are talking about the bar.
Yes, we have always had a music series since the bar opened. Andy was originally booking a couple of bands per night by himself and then he asked me if I had the time to help with the booking and promotion. We ramped up our game and are now booking between 100-125 bands per month plus screenings, nerd cabaret, nerd karaoke, comedy and lectures.

5. I was very impressed with your professional and respectful way of booking. You promote the shows via email and on your website, stream them live and are compiling quite an impressive archive. Have you booked bands, players, shows in other places prior to The Way Station?

Thanks so much! As I mentioned above, I am also an arts administrator. My first job in the city was actually booking films and negotiating contracts at The Whitney Museum in the Film and Video Department. Part of my current position in Pelham is to organize 6 exhibitions a year, one of which I curate. I also plan and organize our Folk Art Series with live music, traditional dance and hands on art workshops along with other public events. A number of bands from The Way Station have made their way north to play at my Art Center.

6. Do you buy vinyl, CDs, and/or mp3’s?

I buy mp3’s. mostly these days and have a great collection of cds from bands that come through The Way Station. My husband, James, who is the Wednesday and Saturday night sound man, collects vinyl so it’s in the home.

7. I’m a huge fan of Record Store Day and this past weekend was also the WFMU record fair. Have you been to a Dr. Who convention or comicon or record fair? If so, which ones?

Sorry, no. I have been to a Star Trek Convention in Florida years ago with Anders and our sister to hear Diana Troy speak.

8. Do you have a favorite band?
The Black Crowes

9. Do you have a favorite author?
No. In recent years I’ve become a non-fiction reader focusing on the study of urbanism. So it’s more like I have a favorite research topic.

Favorite books include:
Jane Jacobs, Death and Life of Great American Cities
Robert Caro, Power Broker
Lewis Mumford, The City in History
Stephen Johnson, Emergence
Jarod Diamond, Guns, Germs and Steel

10 Do you have a favorite drink?
Smuttynose IPA year round
This time of year I love pumpkin beers and stouts.

Thanks so much for your time!

Thanks for the interview.

Best,
Gail

Power of The Crowd

On my birthday, a couple of weeks ago, I went to hear Built To Spill play (I try to go every time they’re here in NYC). Generally I’m not fond of crowds…I know, I know then why do you live in NYC? Well the museums, the theatre, the music, the parks, the all night everything, and the extraordinary people. Crowds, though, remind me of majority rule, how strong one voice has to be to break the walls of idiocy, and unquestioning compliance. Just because something is popular doesn’t make it good, ethical, thought-out or right. I digress…the show was sold out. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of kids there….a new generation has discovered this excellent band from the 90’s! Good for them. Slam Dunk, a band from Victoria BC, opened the show followed by The Warm Hair. Slam Dunk was fun excellent pop-punk stuff. The Warm Hair was either an ill-conceived novelty act playing on stereo-typical rocker tropes or just really not very good. For The Warm Hairs rock posing and posturing, tough guy shirtlessness, and audience provocation…they had NO searing solos! (A prerequisite for rock, real or invented, to fly). The line-up actually made me wonder whether Built to Spill put the weaker act on before they went on for an even more impressive show by contrast. In any event, Irving Plaza filled up by the time Doug Martsch and company were set to take the stage, not a comfortable moment for those of us who treasure immediate personal space as most new yorkers do. We especially recognize personal space as a commodity whether it’s a seat on the subway or a nice apartment….a better price usually trumps space though. All of that said, there were at least 3 or 4 songs where the crowd joined in! We knew all the lyrics! We were gathered in the same spot for the common joy of reveling in these awesome songs! It didn’t make me like the people I was surrounded by any more than before but I certainly garnered a feeling of community which used to be the norm at shows I attended years ago.

Here’s an excellent review, setlist and photos of the show: http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2013/11/built_to_spill_25.html

Here’s a piece on introverts (which oddly enough I think may be): http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/20/introverts-signs-am-i-introverted_n_3721431.html

P.S. Next Appearing: Philip Lynch w/ Ben Kraus (on bass) Saturday November 30th, 2013 @ 7PM The Way Station 683 Washington Ave. Brooklyn, NYC

Goodnight dark prince.

In keeping with the last post, the notion of proprietary rights to a particular artists music and pride in either discovering them or sharing their music, my introduction to Lou Reed was via my older brother and I held tight to The Velvet Underground and Lou. The album cover for Take No Prisoners (live album) of a bald man in fishnets, heels and leather jacket made an impression on me in my sexually formative years…sexual identity could be a form of expression! Plus the notion that different things work for different people really freed me to a world of my own. Tough and cool music that was also sensitive because it was revealing a world not dealt with openly publicly. I’ve always identified with the underdog, the misunderstood and the disadvantaged not because I feel that way myself but because those who can’t stick up for themselves need somebody to stick up for them and Lou was the soundtrack. Influences are important not only for artists to help further develop and understand who they are and what they are making but also to share with audiences to give them a context for their work. Lou Reed is one of my influences. He opened a door, lyrically, for the world….you can write about what society views as undesirable, degenerate, ugly, and or disturbing and reveal a world which said society was secretly curious about all along. Those who knew him best have eloquently paid tribute below:

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/laurie-andersons-farewell-to-lou-reed-a-rolling-stone-exclusive-20131106

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/28/patti-smith-lou-reed_n_4171625.html

The tracks I caught at Lincoln Center today:

I’m Waiting for The Man
Warrior King
Venus In Furs
Leave Me Alone
Caroline Says
Heroin
Waves of Fear
I’ll Be Your Mirror
Satellite of Love
White Light/White Heat
Smalltown
I Want to Boogie With You
Candy Says
Street Hassle
Vicious

(Then I had to go back to work but it went on until 4)

Holy Fanzines!!

I recently received my copy of Mole City, the band Quasi’s double album, plus a t-shirt and their fanzine (all items are excellent, most importantly the tunes). Dig that cover! http://www.killrockstars.com/molecity/ I had a notion of creating a fanzine for myself and sending it along with the CD to the various reviewers we’re sending the Philip Lynch album (I’m still keeping title to myself)… now I realize the key to having a fanzine is having fans, I’m still in the market for more of those. I like to consider myself an “artisanal” songwriter and only a select group of very special humans will enjoy what I’ve been cooking up with James Beaudreau hahahahahaha. I’m kidding of course, a ton of people can dig this stuff. So what exactly is a fanzine? Well per wikipedia (I know, I know lazy):

A fanzine (portmanteau of fan and magazine or -zine) is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon (such as a literary or musical genre) for the pleasure of others who share their interest. The term was coined in an October 1940 science fiction fanzine by Russ Chauvenet and first popularized within science fiction fandom, from whom it was adopted by others.

So yeah a fanzine can apply to comic books, fiction, music and anything really. Quasi’s fanzine features praise and insights from Corin Tucker (of Sleater Kinney), Jon Raymond, Gary Jarman (The Cribs), Jon Spencer (Jon Spencer Blues Explosion), Carrie Brownstein (of Sleater Kinney, Wild Flag and the t.v. show Portlandia). There’s also an awesome piece by Sam Coomes (Quasi’s lead singer) reflecting on the band being at it for 20 years. Great photos of shows, backstage antics, life on the road, posters and a couple of reviews.
When I was a kid (said the old codger) fandom was different. We really got into what we were listening to. It didn’t have to be dance music to dance to it. There were 2 kids in my highschool so into the Ramones that they wore only torn jeans and those black leather jackets and they were inseparable. They knew the secret, their band had the best tunes and everyone else was a fool. Also a couple of friends were so into Pink Floyd that that was almost the extent of their conversation and they were really bright. (I went to that animated movie Heavy Metal with those guys and ended up riding around in a shopping cart for a little while) heh. Nicole Blackman was a die-hard Replacements fan and tried to get me into them but in my heart of hearts I was such a Beatles devotee that just the name ‘Let it Be’ (the Replacements album she was pushing) was an affront! How dare they!! Well, here it is years and years later and wow do I love The Replacements (sorry Nikki). I wonder if the kids today (quoth the codger) are devoted to their bands to a degree that they dress like them, fight over who has the better taste, try to convert other listeners and compile and circulate their own ‘zines?

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&fr=uh3_my_web_gs&sz=all&va=fanzine

Here’s a track from Mole City! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJlUjm9fGv8

Thanks for tuning in (heh get it?) dear readers I’ll catch you soon! -p

P.S. I’ll have special post for Lou Reed next time, I was kind of devastated and needed time to digest the loss.

The martyr says beat me, the sadist says no.

There seems to be a trend of listeners at open mics hoping for upbeat, hopeful songs….it’s no wonder in a day and age of continuing war and occupation of countries for over a decade, let alone unemployment figures, pay discrepancies and governments shutdowns. Often songs which deal with issues or uncomfortable feelings are heavy-handed and so do no service to their subject. There’s a hard balance to strike between being topical and felt. A lot of my songs are not necessarily loose and easy love songs or sunshiney flower songs, not that there’s not a place for these types of songs, so I often wonder what it is that draws me to the darkness. I’ve seen singer-songwriters at open mics apologize for their sad or dark songs and every time it happens I wince. I started writing this post a week or so ago and right after I began it there was an op-ed in the New York Times about why we like sad songs….I didn’t really feel like the article answered the question. Rather, it drew a distinction between perceived feeling and actual feeling. It contended that we enjoy perceived feeling more than actual feeling and that a sad song provides the ground for those perceptions. I didn’t really like the article. Here’s a link to the article: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/22/opinion/sunday/why-we-like-sad-music.html?_r=0

I think I like sad songs because I feel a kinship with sorrow, not more so than joy, and so it’s like a recognition, a mirror, an ‘oh yeah, I’m a human creature and this is what we all go through’ more of an empathy and understanding than a “perceived feeling”. It’s kind of a fine line…empathy is different than perception. I think it’s very important that we know who we are. It would be great to plow through these days unaffected by anything and everything….or would it? I don’t enjoy the blank faced, plugged in, screen fixated zombies I sometimes see in the street because it speaks volumes of the things they’re avoiding (themselves, each other, sorrow). It’s easy to sink into oneself and get lost though and perhaps people feel “happy” songs communicate more directly to the audience. Perhaps misery is in such an abundance that it’s the last thing anyone wants to be confronted with. It’s hard to tell someone to embrace their sorrow because it says as much about them as their joy, but I think that’s what some good sad songs do. So don’t overindulge in your own sorrow but don’t avoid it!! heh. Thanks for reading people, I’m going to Puglia and will resume the blog in a coupla weeks (perhaps with a Tarantella)!

Here’s a sad one:

Here’s a triumphant sort of sorrow:

Here’s a cover of a Willie Nelson classic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK-DcAcQ-7Y

Eureka!

I seldom have a eureka moment where I feel as though, that’s it! I’ve written a really great melody and song! I do get psyched about writing new songs but it’s not like, this is it! It takes time, living with what you’ve made to get to know it and since I write frequently I’ve often moved on to the next new fascination without taking real stock in last weeks song. My brother-in-law recently said that he felt a song I wrote a couple of months ago was my best (entitled ‘Your Love to The Battle’). I was flattered (he’s a poet) and a little taken aback, as though this alien notion had landed smack dab in the middle of my brain. I’m not accustomed to thinking of my songs as successful. I think of them as whether I like them or not and which ones other people like. This is something I’ve probably got to change in order to effectively promote myself and the album. I think the world weighs things in terms of what’s ‘successful’. In the western world success generally means how many ‘likes’ you get, how many people click on your link, how much money you’ve made as a result of your efforts, how ubiquitous you’ve become and basically how popular. This doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with quality. The popularity contest has come from high school to adult life aided by television shows which promote the judgement of performers based on a scale built of commercial viability. This leaves little to no room for the truly exceptional, wildly unusual, amazingly inventive, and joyously expressive. I digress. James and I have been listening through and tweaking (not twerking) mixes for the album in order to get them on par with each other before going into the studio with a mastering engineer to hear them in a more pristine environment. James had seen me play a couple of weeks ago at an Irish pub on East 15th St., Shades of Green and liked a new tune, ‘Burn’, which he feels is as good as ‘Your Love To The Battle’ which surprised me. So now we have a decision to make, do we try to record this one for the album (not until after our first pass at mixing is over) or go with what we have? They sound great so far! Sometimes it takes outside opinions from people whose ears and aesthetics I respect to let the eureka sink in. I had a bizarre feeling a couple of weeks ago while listening to some of the mixes that …we made this, this is real….it was as though after having been continually writing and performing song after song after song….they have started coming back to me. A strange feeling to be sure! Also James plays bass, keys, leads, and drums on a lot of the tracks so the shape of the tunes is more supported than the lone guitar and voice of open mic land.

Thanks, as always, for reading people! Have great listens!

oh also, recent recommendations: ‘Wrecked Again’ – Michael Chapman, ‘The Third Eye Centre’ – Belle and Sebastian, ‘Stiches’ – Califone, and ‘Defend Yourself’ – Sebadoh

oh, and I’ll next be playing at The Way Station in Prospect Heights 683 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn on September 23rd @ 7PM, come by after work!

LUNA

I just got back from an excellent trip visiting family in Indianapolis. There are some great record stores in the world. I find that frequently they’re located near colleges, which in some ways makes me hopeful that upcoming generations are buying/listening to new music. Every time I’ve visited Indie I’ve gone to Luna on 5202 N. College Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46220. The staff are always helpful and well-informed. One year I spoke with the owner, Todd, about the resurgence of vinyl and treasure troves of forgotten artists being re-released by the likes of record labels like Light In The Attic and Sundazed. On this most recent trip I suggested to the clerk (who told me about the artists who created the concert posters for sale and who created their t-shirts) that Luna is like a sister store to Other Music (15 East 4th Street, NYC, NY 10003) for me, they’re that great! Luna’s vinyl offerings are equally if not more extensive than OM. They also host in-store shows and have a whole section dedicated to unsigned, local bands. The clerk even suggested I send my album when it’s finished (James and I are closing in on the beast by the way). So, Lynch, what goodies did you procure? Well Philip, I got Speedy Ortiz latest album Major Arcana, I’m hooked on this track (and the whole album’s great!) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2XHXX_jkKY
Nina Simones compilation, Black Is The Color of My True Loves Hair. : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv9717YTmsQ
Queens of The Stone Age …Like Clockwork: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCy8pjhl97A
Michael Fennelly’s Love Can Change Everything: Demos 1967-1972 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHp8aGdWhqc
Belle and Sebastian’s Tigermilk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ftNbsofBi0
Cleaners From Venus, Vol. 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcoryX9O9PM

Have a great Labor Day Weekend and righteous listens!!
I’m playing at Bar Matchless 557 Manhattan Ave, Bklyn, NY Friday Sept 6th @ 8PM c’mon out!!