Hope Sandoval @ Hollywood Forever Cemetery - September 29 (by Luz Gallardo)

"There was no photography allowed in the venue when Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions, the band featuring the revered Mazzy Star vocalist and My Bloody Valentine's Colm Ó Cíosóig, played Hollywood Forever [on September 29th] in a concert marking the release of its latest album Through the Devil Softly. Absolutely none. This rule was stated no fewer than six times on printouts that lined the entrance and parlor room. Perhaps that was for the best. The glare of camera flashes and cell phones pointed toward the stage might have ruined the carefully crafted ambience of the gathering.

With its stone facade, a courtyard lined with twinkling palm trees and mosaic floors, the venue looked like a cross between an Old Hollywood apartment building and a mausoleum. This was seemingly appropriate, as there are probably more than a few people who did time in art deco structures off of Vine or Gower or Franklin who now spend eternity interred in this famed cemetery." [LA Weekly]

The above-described show happened only a couple days after Bon Iver's graveyard show in the same exact location, but got almost no attention (compared to the Bon Iver show anyway). That's partially due to the no-photography thing I guess, but still sad (I wish I planned a vacation around going to both).

Anyway, Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions' new album is out now on Nettwerk who also re-released 2001's Bavarian Fruit Bread. Buy it so that Hope knows people care and she keeps making music (though she has already admitted plans for more Mazzy Star).

Her long-awaited return to NYC kicks off with a show at Music Hall of Williamsburg tonight (10/10). It's sold out, but Monday's show at Bowery Ballroom isn't (UPDATE: also sold out).

Dirt Blue Gene is an Irish shoegaze band that is on tour with Hope, and shares members with her band. Some recent live videos, the setlist from San Francisco, and all dates below...

Continue reading "Hope Sandoval released an album, played the Hollywood Graveyard too, is on tour and finally back in NYC"

"All of our deceased Jewish grandmas are having 'Dirty Dancing' lessons with Patrick Swayze up in the sky -- Borscht Belt style." - Taryn A.

Patrick Swayze, the balletically athletic actor who rose to stardom in the films "Dirty Dancing" and "Ghost" and whose 20-month battle with advanced pancreatic cancer drew wide attention, died Monday. He was 57.

His publicist, Annett Wolf, told The Associated Press in Los Angeles that Mr. Swayze died with family at his side.

Mr. Swayze's cancer was diagnosed in January 2008. Six months after that, he had already outlived his prognosis and was filmed at an airport, smiling at photographers and calling himself, only half-facetiously, "a miracle dude." He even went through with plans to star in "The Beast," a new drama series for A&E, and filmed a complete season while undergoing treatment. Mr. Swayze insisted on continuing with the series.

"How do you nurture a positive attitude when all the statistics say you're a dead man?" he said to Bill Carter of The New York Times last October. "You go to work." [NY Times]

The sad news comes one day after the completion of the 2009 ATP NY Festival at Kutscher's in the Borscht Belt, where the ghost of Johnny Castle was always in the (sometimes confetti filled) air (and "Dirty Dancing" was as common a comparison to the venue as "The Shining"). RIP Patrick. Videos below...

Continue reading "Patrick Swayze, RIP "

photos by Natasha Ryan

Walkman/Dodo

Walt Martin of The Walkmen's Top 10 of 2008
1. Thee Oh Sees, The Master Bedroom is Worth Spending a Night In (astleface/Tomlab)
2. Thee Oh Sees, The Hounds of Foggy Notion (Castleface/Tomlab)
3. Thee Oh Sees, Thee Oh Sees/The Intelligence Split EP (Mt. St. Mtn.)
4. Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes (Sub Pop)
5. The Howling Hex, Earthjunk (Drag City)
6. Bonnie "Prince" Billie, Lie Down in The Light (Drag City)
7. Beach House, Devotion (Carpark)
8. The Breeders, Mountain Battles (4AD)
9. Dirty Dancing Soundtrack (20th Anniversary Edition) (RCA)
10. Animal House Soundtrack (30th Anniversary Edition) (MCA)
(that list via Filter)

The Walkmen and The Dodos shared a bill at the Brooklyn Masonic Temple last night in NYC (12/16). More pictures from the show below...

Continue reading "the Walkmen & the Dodos @ Brooklyn Masonic Temple - pics"