photos by Amanda Hatfield

Steven: Thanks for taking time out of the grueling tour schedule to answer a few questions for us. I saw you perform Friday night (a few back) and was curious if you find it disappointing when venues aren't at capacity. You guys are tons of fun, so it's strange that people pass on tons of fun for a little bit of fun. Does it affect your performances?.

Think About Life: Thanks for the kind words. Glad you had "tons of fun"...we sure did! The size of a crowd can't really affect our performance. We have so much fun playing the songs, and just as much fun writing the songs. It's just exciting getting to travel around playing songs we're proud of and that make us happy, to new people every night. I think usually that's obvious to a crowd, no matter what size and we get lots of reciprocated energy. Couldn't ask for more.

Think About Life played to a less-than-capacity crowd at Santos Party House in NYC on Friday night (the show that was originally supposed to be on a boat). They were supported by Tayisha Busay and Phonetag, and more pictures from the show are below...

Continue reading "Think About Life, Tayisha Busay & Phonetag played Santos Party House (pics) "

Think About Life @ BV-SXSW 2010 (more by Tim Griffin)

The Think About Life show on the boat, scheduled for this Friday (8/27), was moved indoors. Tayisha Busay and Phonetag will now open the show that is happening at Santos Party House. All dates below...

Continue reading "Think About Life moves to Santos -- updated tour dates "

photos by Edwina Hay

Big Freedia & Azz Everywhere

Big Freedia, who is part of this summer's PS1 schedule, was among those who played Crust Fest at Public Assembly last Thursday. The Northside Festival showcase also had sets by Tayisha Busay, Dinosaur Feathers, Iran & more. Some more pictures from the night below...

Continue reading "Big Freedia, Tayisha Busay, MillionYoung, Dinosaur Feathers, Iran & more (Crush Fest) in pics "

by Andrew Frisicano

it's a pool toy

Andrew W.K. and friends launched the free, biweekly Adult Swim Presents Summer at Santos series with a party at the club on June 11th. The show featured sets from Andrew W.K.'s roster of Skyscaper Music Maker artists, including Cherie Lily, Bad Brilliance and Aleister X, all of which appear on that label's only release so far, DAMN! The Mixtape.

Cherie Lily opened the show promptly -- I missed her set, but she re-emerged throughout the night onstage and in the crowd. Next, Aleister X, a Brit goth one-man show, performed with Andrew W.K., who spun from the booth and sang backups.

Bad Brilliance rolled out a red carpet for his costumed spectacle, which featured members of the dance-pop band Tayisha Busay (pictured on stage with Cherie Lily, below) and others dancing in full '80s aerobics gear while photographers in formal dress (also part of the performance) snapped photos a la movie-opening paparazzi.

The synth-pop-punk of Natalie Portman's Shaved Head, the only band on the bill, was energetic and unhinged. It was during their set that the crowd got into stage-diving/manical dancing mode. More than a few showgoers backfliped into the crowd.

Last up, Andrew W.K. performed a set of party-rock singles with a backing track and occasional added piano. It became hard for him to even reach the keyboard though, when at least half of the crowd joined him on stage during the second song. Most stayed there for the rest of the set, which progressed with the house lights on. Cherie Lily hung out stage left contributing hypeman ad libs to songs like "Party Hard" and "I Love NYC." And she wasn't alone on the mic as Andrew passed it to friends (crowdmembers) on stage. Near the end of the night someone cracked open a foam-filled plush toy which was quickly disassembled and rained plastic snow on the departing crowd.

The Adult Swim series continues on June 25th with sets by Jon Glaser, The Woggles, Cheeseburger, A.C. Newman and more. That's the same night Santos hosts the Phenomenal Handclap Band CD release show.

Some of the night's performers, including Cherie Lily, Tayisha Busay and Aleister X, will be at the Studio at Webster Hall on Thursday, June 18th. Tickets are on sale.

Natalie Portman's Shaved Head play Santos again on Saturday, June 20th with Kittens Ablaze and Home Video. Tickets are on sale.

More pictures below...

Continue reading "Andrew W.K., Bad Brilliance, Aleister X & Cherie Lily @ Santos Party House - pics (Adult Swim party)"