Beastie Boys Come Home

Last night the Beastie Boys played a sold out show in their home town of Brooklyn, NY. The show took place in one of NYC’s most unique venues, McCarren Park pool. McCarren is an old community pool that is the size of at least 3 Olympic sized pools. The audience stands “in the pool” and the stage is on one of the edges.

The weather was threatening rain from the get go but held off and provided a perfect night to jam out to some great music.

It was surprising to learn that they have never played a show in Brooklyn. With 2 members hailing from the borough, you’d think after all these years they would have played there. So it was a special show for the boys as well.

There was no opening band just Beastie Boys from start to finish. They played a great mix of the hits you gotta hear, like Sure Shot, So Whatcha’ Want, Intergalactic, Body Movin’, Root Down, and their new instrumental stuff. The new stuff is great too and makes me wish I were going to the show tonight at Hammerstein Ballroom which is all instrumental.

Between many songs they would scream “BROOKLYN IN DA’ HOUSE!” and the crowd would go nuts. So you could imagine the anticipation and expectation that they would play No Sleep Till Brooklyn. Well following a great encore that included Sabotage and Intergalactic, they delivered! The crowd went insane and was an unreal feeling throughout the venue.

Everyone left with big grins on their faces knowing they had seen a unique show and one you know the Beastie Boys themselves will remember.

Some great pics from the guys over at Brooklyn Vegan, who were obviously much closer to the stage than us.

 

XM – Sirius Merger Info from CEO Hugh Panero himself

Happy Friday everyone. In the mail last night I got a letter from Mr. Panero himself…..well I think the 13million total subscribers to XM and/or Sirius also got one, but ya know it was the thought that counts. Anyway I attached it below but it basically describes that your service won’t be interupted, that they “plan” to make both sets of programming available via your current radio with no obligation to purchase a new radio. We’ll see if all these promises and claims hold true. Either way it’s pretty exciting and good for the satellite radio world. No more wishing you had Sirius to listen to NFL or wishing you had XM to hear MLB!

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Random Song Friday – Little Ones – Oh MJ

Check these guys out. Fun indie band from the West coast   Little Ones on iTunes

 

More proof that the Internet is great and powerful

“Hmmm, that girl on American Idol is pretty attractive…what’s this? A news story talking of scandalous pictures of her surfacing on the Internet…well then.”  haha No one is safe, if you ever, ever, ever think you could be in the spotlight or a minor celeb YOU CAN’T HAVE HALF NUDE PICS OF YOURSELF OUT THERE! No one is safe. 

 

Ron Sexsmith @ The Bowery Ballroom

Went to see this guy, Ron Sexsmith, at the Bowery on Friday. He’s been around for years, playing up in Canada, but now is making waves in the US and I’ve been hearing a lot about this guy lately so wanted to check it out. He’s been backed by some big names in music and Hollywood. One in particular, in my opinion gives him a lot of cred right off the bat, that of Elvis Costello. Big fan of his and if he says someone is alright, then I gotta check them out. The show was good, he’s a singer/songwriter type but had a full band behind him which was great. Was expecting him and a bass player only but nice to have the full sound of a 5 piece band. He has a killer voice, not far off from that of Paul McCartney or Costello himself. The songs were reminiscent of the old 2min 30sec hits of the vinyl days(when that’s all they could fit on a side of the record), so they were powerful and quick and left you wanting more. He’s def. worth a listen and think you’ll be hearing more from him.

Kim Taylor from Cincinatti, Ohio opened for him and she was pretty cool too. Had that raspy, smokers singing voice that is awesome and makes any note, any lyric sound cool.

 

New music…at least to me

Saw this band, Portastatic, at a local record store and sounds pretty good. Found out the band started as a side project for the lead singer of Superchunk. It’s pop’y and best thing they’re on Merge Records, started in good ol’ Chapel Hill, NC (which is next to Raleigh, where I’m from)