This Is Lily!

It's been a long year for Miss Allen, but things are looking up! Life is looking up! New song, new old look, and finally...NEW RECORD!

Here it is in all its glory you guyz. It's Not Me, It's You:


Oh, and there's supposed to be a tour, I think? Can't wait! It's Not Me, It's You drops Feb 10. Be ready!

E

NEW LILY ALLEN VIDEO!

Omigosh, omigosh, omigosh! Lily is for realz back! I am so stoked on this new album. I don't even have words for this. You see how the title is in all caps?! It's like I'm screaming!!! Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait!

Loves me some Lily Allen! And this song is sooo good. And it's good to see her with long hair again. And I love Lily Allen and this song.

And that is all.



E

Free Show For Those With Nothing Better To Do Tonight

Do you live in LA? Are you bored? Have you no friends?

Good!

Head over to the 3rd St Promenade tonight in Santa Monica and see Links live at the Apple Store. Por libre! Free! No cost.

I've actually seen a band live at an Apple Store and it's a fun time. Go. Please. Make friends, listen to indie dance music, have a ball. We are your friends. You'll never be alone again, so come on.

E

This Time Just The Girls

Basically if I could form a perfect girl band it would be like the Coathangers. I would be Stephanie (the one with the bangs over her eyes). Only it would also involve sparkly ribbon headbands, 80s synth keyboards, glitter eyeshadow, and be called The Savage Ivories.

Sigh...it's finally Fall. Well, not here, in the volcano-temperature Valley where it still gets to the mid 90s during the week, but in general. And even though colder weather is my favorite, it usually sends me into some kind of temperature induced sadness, like when some people get depressed due to the fact that it's dark so much or whatever. So to combat the aforementioned sadness, I delve heavily into my music stash, putting together playlists and mix CDs that create a winter wonderland full of swirling ambiance and delicious memories. Normally, I would a throw playlist your way, but this is no ordinary winter. This is one of empowerment and feminism, so with that, I've compiled the Fall Fem Fierceness playlist: the best fall and winter tracks from the badassiest females in music. Which would you guys add? Feel oh so free to let me know.

Sara Lov: "New York"

Jenny Lewis: "Rise Up With Fists"

The Watson Twins: "How Am I To Be?"

Asobi Seksu: "Walk On The Moon"

Cat Power: "Lived In Bars"

The Breeders: "Doe"

Be Your Own Pet: "October, First Account"

Northern State: "Three Amigas"

Regina Spektor: "Better"

Magneta Lane: "Constant Lover"

Pony Up!: "Shut Up And Kiss Me"

Charlotte Gainsbourg: "The Songs That We Sing"

The Long Blondes: "You Could Have Both"

And there you have it. Plus a few personal all time favorite riot grrrl songs:

The Grown Ups: "Nick and Nick" (Ummm, a song written back in like '94 about how the dude this girl fell in love with fell in love with a boy, using the lyrics "suck it in the dick" and "which one is the chick" is like pure gold.)

The Cougars: "Brain Cactus" (Surriously. If you don't feel badass when you listen to this song, you never will. And I hurt for you.)

The Chubbies: "Didjahavtasaythat?" (We all know this feeling.)

Old New Music One Stop Shops

People (ie my bf and occasionally a friend) are always (sometimes) asking me, "Erika, where do you find all this great music?" Because, let's not lie here you guys, I have impeccable taste in music. And you all do too. It's what separates us from the girls who buy the HSM soundtrack.

Anyway, so I tell people I get it from the internet. I mean, I buy albums too, but they're getting more and more expensive these days, and until I can afford one of those fancy record players that converts records into mp3 files, it's easier to just get things in a format I can already use.

So then they ask me, "Where on the internet?" I am not surprised if bit torrent is failing them in terms of musical selection. Mostly because it sucks. But I have friends who would sell their souls for bit torrent, so I don't say anything to them. I do however tell them about some amazing music sites where the music is not only free, legal, and good, but free, legal, and good. Like how I did that? So did I. And now I think the time is right to share them with you. But if you guys have any awesome sites of your own, feel free to let me know, because I could always use new music. I mean, who couldn't? Except for the Music Nazi, but he's no fun.

1. Music.Download.com: This website was my Ground Zero. Not in the 9/11 way. So, okay, forget that. It was my Square One. I found this site while browsing through Google to find some mp3s of Dead Blonde Girlfriend. And it's, um, amazing. The site is organized by musical genre, country, and even city. So if your friend tells you about this band but all you remember is that they're from Philly, you can still find them. Once I started looking through it, I couldn't stop. I spent hours a day after school on this website, discovering music I never knew existed...bands like The Goldstars, Faux Jean, WinterKids, Rye Coalition, The Natural History, The Trivs, Oxford Collapse, Social Studies, and many more! My music library grew like 200 fold daily. And, as it happens, the regular Download.com has a ton of computer programs you can download for free! It's where I got the audio editing software I used in my internship as well as the program I used when, ahem, I made my own DJ mixes. Ahem.

2. Daytrotter.com: If you are not aware of Daytrotter's existence, you must not like indie music. And that's okay. But almost every indie band has done a session for these guys. Basically, you go to the site, pick a band, and then you get to read a very, VERY well written interview about the band, and then at the end, you get to download tracks from the band's albums, which they re-recorded just for Daytrotter! And fo' free! Gratis!

3. Spinner.com: Spinner is like Blender, or Spin, but with more focus on indie music and less douchebaggery. They update their site with a new free mp3 daily, and on top of that they have a ton of cool things to look at. Just go, now. It's neat. Dope.

4. Label websites: Come on kiddies, label sites are probably the most untapped well of music-y goodness around! And it's super easy too. Here, I'll walk you through it: Pick an indie label. Don't go with anything big because Def Jam, Island, or Sony BMG, whathaveyou, aren't gonna be giving away mp3s for free. But smaller ones, like Matador and Team Love have a ton of music ripe for the picking! Suicide Squeeze used to have a ton of free mp3s too, but I don't know what happened, because they don't anymore. Still, dig around and see what you find. The thrill is in the hunt, right?

Um, now go find yourself some music. Vamanos, vamanos! And then maybe one day we'll meet up and compare collections. Just like Pokemon battling, but with audio files. And yes, I should be working for a music magazine. Soon enough...soon enough.

Deuces,
Erika

Top Of The World

For some reason I've always been a Dixie Chicks fan. I can't really explain why because I'm not into country music but I can stand to listen to them. When this song came out a long time ago I was sort of obsessed with it and now I have it on repeat all the time. That, and this song.



I'm so wee-yerd.

Now go to Missbehave and read something funny!

Bound For The Floor

Oh my gawd, I used to listen to this song all the time when I was in middle school. My mom didn't buy me any up to date technology till like, everyone but me had it, so I didn't get a CD player until I was in 8th grade. So instead, I turned to my radio since all I had were tapes (and a nice collection at that: Spice Girls, Janet Jackson, the All That soundtrack). Back then everyone was listening to Top 40 stuff but I couldn't get the signal for that station on my tiny little radio, so I listened to the 90s rock station. Basically all through middle school I was obsessed with Local H, AFI, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Oasis, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and the Beastie Boys. I was awesome, but misunderstood, like all the greats. Too bad that hasn't changed. Anyway, start your Thursday the right way with some seminal Local H! They taught me the word copasetic, btw. Now I use it all the time and people give me weird side eyes.



Deuces,
Erika

Don't Tell Me My Love's Not The One That I Want

It's something that I don't say often, except about this particular CD: "I feel like this album was written for me." I said it only once before, sadly, in reference to Fall Out Boy's Under the Cork Tree album. Gawd, I know, that speaks VOLUMES about my musical preference in high school. I swear it's better now everybody. V can vouch, trust.

So when I was an intern at the now defunct 99X radio station in Atlanta, I, like all other interns in all other corporations, got access to THE CLOSET. For fashion interns, the closet is filled with clothing. For business interns, the closet is stocked with office supplies and paperwork. For kids slaving away in the entertainment world, I assume the closet is full of film reels, headshots, profiles, used syringes, and discarded one dollar bills. But for a wide eyed eager beaver devoting her energy to typing CD case labels, running mail, snapping shots for the website, stacking autographed posters, answering phones, and occasionally sleeping/eating her weight in vending machine goods/watching Seinfeld reruns in the break room, THE CLOSET is the compendium of musical goodness and history, the reserves of every album that was every played and will be played at the station in chronological order. I spent a good bit of my time in the closet (once I was there sorting CDs for six hours straight. I could not look at a Foo Fighters or Jane's Addiction record the same since), and while most of it was boring (put Rogue Wave in the R's, file Beck in B, stick Serge Gainsbourg in S, not G), I was rewarded handsomely. The deal was, remove any and all albums that had been in the closet for more than three months and put them in a box. After I finished, my boss would skim through and take out what he wanted and then I got to take whatever was left. Naturally, I got wise to the system and started getting clever. Hmmm, I don't have this Black Keys album...it's kinda old...and into the box it goes! My boss had an amazing collection of music, and we had varying tastes, so I usually got everything I wanted from the closet.

Among the free deliciousness was the Nicole Atkins record, Neptune City. The album came out back when I was still in the pussyfooting stage with my boyfriend. I had the pleasure of seeing Nicole Atkins when she opened up for the Pipettes last winter, and I remember just standing there in a crowd of about 200 people packed into a bar not fit for its occupancy level, mesmerized, because I felt like she was singing to me, for me, about me. But then the Pipettes came out and I spent the night dancing, getting touched by some creepy dude, and walking barefoot on the street because I lent my flats to my friend who was stupid enough to wear heels to a concert when she barely wore heels at all. Feelings and sentiments passed. Emails were sent out and an internship was secured.

My boss knew of my interest in Nicole Atkins. Queshes about said concert were asked and answered accordingly. Then I went digging in the closet, doing my internal duties (guhross!) and I found the Nicole Atkins album. Not one for sappy chick music, my boss let me take it, no arguments made.

I am almost embarrassed to admit that almost a year later, I have finally listened to the whole album. It is incredible. It speaks to me like few records ever do. I sing to it, cry to it, identify with it, and dance to it. You need to own it. Here, I'll help you.

Nicole Atkins: "Maybe Tonight"

Deuces,
Erika

I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker (With Flowers In My Hair)

Okay, someone out there had to get that Sandi Thom reference. No? Alright, alright, I'll stop. Because what this post is really about is my guitar! That I bought! Today! That's right!

And what you may not know about me (which is understandable, because even though I put most of my life out here on my baby of a blog, there are shitloads of things I've kept private, which probably doesn't make me the right kind of blog owner), is that I've forayed into the world of guitaristry before. Actually, I play a multitude of instruments: piano, flute, and the drums, my real musical passion. Instruments and music and writing are the only stress relievers I have. But back when my friends and I were in our seminal girl band, Russell Betty and the Corrigans (an obscure Great Gatsby reference and the fourth and final name we decided on), I was destined to learn all the instruments.

This was long before I ever saw or knew of the Coathangers or Grand Ole Party, and learned that the drummer and lead singer of a band could actually be one and the same, and at the time I thought the only way for me to sing the songs I wrote was to be a lead guitarist. So at it I went, borrowing my bandmate's acoustic and tab book, using a pink clothes button as a pick, and strumming away while holed up in my room for hours. From those weeks of musical encampment, I mastered only two chords: C and F and constructed sappy, whining folk songs from them.

And now, two years later, I am basically starting from scratch, having forgotten everything I ever learned. I held my guitar and it was almost like meeting an old friend with whom you used to do everything but whose name you seem to have misplaced, despite the many memories.

Hopefully these nine months I have left of school will provide me more than enough fodder to start creating some really good music and hopefully this guitar will bring me some much needed peace of mind.

I'm gonna be the next Beck! I'll be Becky!

Deuces,
Erika

Let's Do It Again!

So it sort of came to my attention as I was driving along Sunset Blvd tonight that I haven't heard/looked into any new remixes lately. I also haven't posted any good remixes in a long time. Maybe it's the club kid in me, but I love a good remix. Not the warehouse bullshit that's just sounds and blips and electronic squeaks over some basic bass beat. No, I like the real remixes, the reinterpretations and reevaluations...the kind made for you to listen to on your headphones, not when you're hopped up on E and waving pink glowsticks on a sweaty dancefloor. Although those are fun nights too!

And seeing as I once aspired to be one of those DJs that specialized in the club scene (that's a whole other story altogether!)...you know, the kind you read about on Missingtoof that make those monthly mini-mixes (whoa alliteration!)...I have a shit ton of good remixes just lying around. So here's my WNTR RMX PLYLST (or my winter remix playlist. I thought it looked cooler abreeved, yes?) And I know it's still a month or two until full blown winter, but...well don't get so caught up in the details, okay??

WNTR RMX PLYLST

Crystal Castles v Health: "Crimewave (Sinden Remix)"

Paper Route Gangstaz: "Bama Gettin Money (Diplo Remix)"...this one is one of my fave jams!

Bloc Party: "Hunting for Witches (RAC Remix)"...the only remix of this song I haven't already posted...I guess it's pretty remix-able!

Glass Candy: "Clowns (Ssion Remix)"...does anyone remember Glass Candy? I talked about them awhile back...

Klaxons: "Atlantis to Interzone (True Psuedo Remix)"

Now download these rmxs, turn up your laptop's speakers reeeeally loud, and be musically cultured jerks everywhere! Yay!

Deuces,
Erika

I Ain't No Hollaback Boy

Here at the Disco, I would like to think it's my responsibility to bring you lovely ladies and gentlemen nothing but hotness, when and if ever possible. This one is a little old, but even a year after the fact, I can still put this track on in the car and laugh just as hard as I did when I first heard it.

We all know Cobra Starship are demigods. For Chrissake, they have a keytar player! And she's a chick! Plus Gabe Saporta makes wearing tight pants super manly and "Snakes On A Plane (Bring It)" was amazing. It was the sole reason I bought the movie soundtrack...ohai, and the 45 version. Anyway, I heard this song on their Myspace awhile back but I noticed it never really got out. Easily the single which could have launched them into emo/pop/mainstream oblivion and they never did anything with it. So I share this baby with you. Mazel Tov!

This shit is supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!



Deuces,
Erika

The Pilgriming Vine

Uhhh...I'm sure I've mentioned it before, but I'll do it again: I love Basia Bulat. She has to be the prettiest, sweetest Canadian singer this side of Broken Social Scene. After hearing her song, "In The Night" about a year ago, I fell in absolute j'adore with this golden haired songstress. So for my, and your, personal enjoyment and pleasure, here's the debut video for her single, "The Pilgrimming Vine." And then below that are a few downloadables so you can get clicky with it. Oh, and here you can buy her debut album, Oh, My Darling. Happy trails campers!

Basia Bulat: "The Pilgriming Vine"
Basia Bulat: "In the Night"
Basia Bulat: "The Hem of His Garment"

Deuces,
Erika

Blister In The Sun

Welcome to the hottest day of the year boys and girls! It's supposed to be anywhere between 96 and 99 degrees today, but I will still somehow manage to brave the heat and hit up H&M ...because that's just how dedicated I am.

The recent heat wave has forced me into longing for Autumn in the worst way. It is my favorite season: the peacoats and wool jackets, the collared shirts with sweater vests, the thick, colorful tights under summer dresses, the closed toe heels, the knit caps and scarfs, and the fingerless gloves...it's all so much fun. Plus colder weather gives me plenty of leeway to gain three or four pounds and not have anyone scrutinize me at the swimming pool. Normally, it would mean I don't have to shave my legs either (which is such a hassle in the summer!), but this Autumn has blessed me with a bf who will only make fun of my hairy legs. Great...

So with all that said, I thought I would compile my list of Autumn songs. I used to have a list that was about 50 or so songs deep, but that just goes to prove how weird I am about music. Anyway, people have the misconception that summer songs are fast and poppy and once you get into the cold seasons, the music has to be slow and moody a la Beach House or Animal Collective. But not so! Here I present you with my Fall music...feel free to add your songs below.

Because I'm nice and it's either this or calling the bank to ask why there was a processing error in my electronic check, I'm posting mp3's of the songs below the title. Read and listen!

Band of Horses - The Funeral: Come on, this song is timeless, and gorgeous. Plus the video is really sad. Also, I love BoH. "No One's Gonna Love You" is my and bf's song...geeky I know, but cute, right?
MP3

Malajube - Pate Filo: Secretly I want to move to Montreal, open up a scone shoppe, and spend my nights drinking red wine in bathtubs of other people's houses. And I also cling to the hope that it'll be like The Science of Sleep.
MP3

Aesop Rock - Daylight: Um, Aesop is kind of awesome. This song is a little older, but still just as good as his new stuff. None Shall Pass, btw, is crazy good. I can't even begin to describe Aesop.
MP3

The A-Sides - We're the Trees
MP3

Au Revoir Simone - A Violent Yet Flammable World: I love those cute Brooklynites! ARS' music is so pretty and so strong, which is a little unexpected since you have three Nylon cover ready girls making music. It's still magical.
MP3

Basia Bulat - In The Night: The prettiest Canadian musician I've ever seen, Basia Bulat is amazing. She has a gorgeous, sparkling voice and blond locks to die for.
MP3

Blonde Redhead - Misery Is A Butterfly: Kazu Makino has fantastic vocals on this song. I kind of think of Blonde Redhead as Bjork with a band, but everyone wants to dispute me on this.
MP3

Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Follow You Into The Dark: Are you kidding me??? Perfect fall music! Plus these lyrics are beautiful. Oh, brooding, thoughtful Ben Gibbard...
MP3

Sea Wolf - You're A Wolf: The first time I heard this song, I was in LA (heard it on Indie 103.1 holla!!!) and I thought it was heavenly. So will you!
MP3

Super Furry Animals - Run Away
MP3

The Futureheads - Skip To The End
MP3

Les Breastfeeders - Funny Funiculaire: This all goes back to formerly stated love of Montreal and French Canada. Oh and French Canadian pop punk.
MP3

Pony Up! - Shut Up and Kiss Me: Girls with guitars that sing about realistic subjects and say things like "I am sorry that you're stupid, I can't be your fucking cupid" make me soooo happy!
MP3

White Hinterland - Dreaming of the Plum Trees
MP3

Sean Lennon - Dead Meat: Hands down, favorite song by Sean Lennon. Done.
MP3

All right! That's all folks! Hopefully you guys find some new Autumn music that you like! And don't forget to tell me your faves! When will it be cold already???

Oh yeah, and poor Missbehave is a day late and a dollar short on my car theft. I wanna tell them not to worry about it now, but I guess it's too late (too apologize!).

Deuces,
Erika

This Week On The Music Front

Ugh, it's Sunday. Normally this would make me so bored and stir crazy I would want to scoop out my eyeballs and eat them with fava beans, but with all the shit that went down this week, this Sunday was a godsend. Plus I definitely had things to look forward to today.

This was a more interesting week for music, Lollapalooza actually notwithstanding. Although it did provide good amounts of interesting stories, pictures, and a big cup of Chi-town haterade for me to sip on. Here's the rundown on everything.

TTFN & CUL8R BYOP

Yes it's true kiddos. Be Your Own Pet is no more. You feel like the longer you pay attention to music, its scene, and the outcome, these kinds of things should not bother you anymore. But as I have followed BYOP since their inception and own all but one of their LPs, CDs, and EPs, this really gets me. Some say it was because they were running into issues with their Get Awkward release, namely censorship problems, but some blamed it on their signing to a big label, Universal, or because they pulled out of the Warped Tour lineup. Whatever it was, it does mean that Jemina and Co. aren't starting any more food fights, telling bitches to leave, or kicking ass at the Dude Zone anytime soon. *Tear slowly rolls down cheek* I hear there are going to be some spinoff bands but NOTHING will be like BYOP. Thank god I got to see them when they opened up for the Arctic Monkeys two years ago.

NME TRIES TO TELL THE US WHY WE'RE COOL AGAIN

This ish went down like tranqqued up grizzly from a treelimb. According to NME, we (America) were cool once, then stopped being cool, and now, thanks to 25 new bands, are offish cooler than the other side of the pillow. And while the editors can acknowledge that we have an underground scene like no other, these bands (read:the ones they picked randomly out of assrtd issues of Paste, Fader, Spin, and Filter) are suddenly making us really legit again. Because uh yeah, before Vampire Weekend, we were just a wasteland. This is the list of bands. Try not to get too angry. Or maybe get angry, and go tell other people what you think:

01 Vampire Weekend

02 Lil Wayne

03 Glass Candy

04 Kings Of Leon

5 MGMT

06 Spank Rock

07 TV On The Radio

08 Boy Crisis

09 Black Kids

10 Holy Ghost Revival

11 The Hold Steady

12 Fleet Foxes

13 Amazing Baby

14 Jay Reatard

15 HEALTH

16 The Cool Kids

17 Black Lips

18 Yo Majesty

19 White Denim

20 Telepathe

21 Iglu and Hartly

22 Chester French

23 Girl Talk
24 TheDeathSet

25 Grace Jones

Like, rly? Girl Talk is that far down? And White Denim? And TVOtR wasn't making us cool back when they actually put out an album? Glass Candy certainly deserves to be that high on the list, but, who put this ish together?

CHESTER FRENCH TALKS TO ME IN WARM, FRIENDLY TONES

I left a comment on Stereogum dealing with all this NME nonsense. Here it is, in full verbatim fashion:

Firstly, good music really is just that. Good music. It comes from Britain and America AND the rest of the UK. Like, Frightened Rabbit are amazing and they're Scottish. Oh yeah, and it DEFINITELY comes from Canada. Stars? The Guest Bedroom? Pony Up? Yes please! Oh yeah, and the Leeds music scene is killing it right now. It deserves something of a recognition since it somehow manages to create a barrier against the shitty typical shetpile of the normal music scene. Oh yeah, and Los Campesinos! Yes please! But keep in mind that NME is the equivalent of a fifteen year old's self published zine. It's whatever music they like...uh,and whoever's show they have a press badge for. I met the dude in TheDeathSet...that band is like Australian. And why are Black Kids and VW so high on that list...because they sound British? Glass Candy pwns and so does Jay Reatard and the Black Lips. But NME did acknowledge that there is a significant underground scene in NY and LA (although those of Philly, Chicago, Atlanta, and Seattle are equally noteworthy), they just choose to ignore it. Whatev. Americans may have had their fill of these bands (Chester French...sigh, whatev), but they're like still hitting the other side of the pond, no? Like Pokemon! But not with Japan, with the UK...okay, so not like Pokemon.

Then I checked my email. I received this message from DA Wallach of Chester French. First I got worried. I get in too much trouble for the things I say on the internet. When that happens, I take a deep breath and ask myself, "What would Sarah Morrison do?" This time I didn't have to:

Hey Erika-

I saw your comment on the stereogum blog where you mention our group, Chester French. I hope no one's had their fill of us yet, since the album isn't even out, but I definitely want to win you as a fan. If you send me your mailing address back I'll mail you a special edition package of our single and shall be sure to get you a copy of the album when it finally sees the light of day! Hope you're having a great weekend.

D.A.

Normally I'd get psuedo-frustrated for people taking the things I say too seriously, but this guy was just tooooo sweet to get angry at. That's Chester French for you, I guess.

All up in ur emale, leevin u messagez.

NEW VIVIAN GIRLS SONG

Someone actually compared them to a crappier version of the Pipettes. I hope she never goes on to have a music journalism career. If she does, it will probably be writing for NME. The Vivian Girls are hot awesomeness from Brooklyn. They're an all girl band that makes muddy and/or raw rock music. It's great. They're great. They just released a new song from their S/T LP called "Where Do You Run To?" and it's sort of good. Play it on a cool, sunny Autumn day, enjoy your tea, and try to figure out the fastest way to get that still sleeping one night stand out of your bed and into a taxi. Uhhh..."I know it's eight in the morning on a Wednesday, but I have to go to church now..."

Vivian Girls: "Where Do You Run To?"

As you can see, it's obvi been a busy week for everyone. In other news (ION is going to be the new abreev for that saying, so you know for future ref), Jessica Fletcher's badass friend Mistress Viviane has a new column going on Single Scoop about "the realities of sex." It's really good and worth reading, because we've all had these bedroom bafflers at least once.

And in case you missed it, Adult Swim ran an Old School night on Friday where they showed old episodes of the shows that originally made AS so fantastic: Sealab 2021, The Brak Show, Home Movies, Space Ghost, etc. What is even more fantastic is that I remember all of those shows. Mid 90's born Hannah Montana tweens? You ain't got shit on me! It was also V's birthday on Friday, the 1st of Aug, so Alex, if you catch my girl on the streets, take her by the hand and buy her a cupcake. Jess Fletch can surely recommend you some good places to go. And now the "p" key on my laptop is stuck. Great.

eace easy eo le,

Erika

Tilly And The Wall: The Aftermath

I took this picture two days ago, at sunset, while driving. I hear that's like, dangerous, or something. But it came out nice, and that's all I care about.

So as you all know, I went to see Tilly and the Wall tonight. Well, I should probably say last night, since it's technically the next day. And let me just say, being so young and all, I've usually felt like the youngest person at a show since most of the venues I frequent are a safe haven for High Life guzzling, high waisted skirt wearing, 23 and 24 year old hipsters. But for once, I actually felt old. There was just a spread of little hipsters in training, ranging from about 15 to maybe 17 at the oldest, that looked as if they'd raided every thrift store and Baby American Apparel in the area. It was almost sad. But mostly it was entertaining.

Anyway, I took mad amounts of pics and whatnot, so now you can feel like you got to rock out to Tilly with me! Even though you didn't.

First, my bf and I went to Village Pizza for early dinner. This is what it looked like. As usual I refused to talk while there was a camera on me. I always look stupid when that happens.


This is the Village Pizza bike, but they don't deliver with it anymore. They just get edgy hipsters to drive their Honda Accords to houses bearing pizzas.

After that, we headed over to the Variety Playhouse. That's when I ran into two people I went to high school with. Awkward...So after that I ran into the Coathangers before they took the stage. They said "hi" to me and then began speaking to me in warm, friendly tones which immediately made my bf look like a douche because he didn't believe that I knew them. I don't know why those red spots in the eyes are so obvious, but I look really flushed because it was pretty hot in that place.
Then there was a man running around, talking to members of the Coathangers, dancing with himself, funneling drinks, etc. He threw himself into the picture, very yearbook style.

After we shot snaps, the girls went on.

So then we saw the Ruby Suns, but none of the pictures turned out well, so I won't force you to strain your eyes and/or cock your head to the side at odd angles so they look okay. But I did talk to some kids about how sexy the drummer/lead vocalist was. The Ruby Suns had New Zealand accents, so all the girls were pretty much ready for marriage by the time they finished.

Then it was Tilly and the Wall!!! During the set transition, they played Justice and Outkast and yet the only two black people in there (i.e. us) were the ones dancing. People laughed at us though, with sort of envious smiles, like "Lord, why can't I dance that well and without inhibition?" But back to Tilly!!

The girls were so on point with their clothing, ya'll. I think I read somewhere that Peggy Noland and Mooka Kinney outfit them, so it makes sense.

After their set, the crowd continued to cheer and clap and make a ton of noise. See, it's a Variety Playhouse tradition for the band to leave the stage, then the audience keeps clapping and cheering, and the band comes back on to play one more song. Tilly and the Wall were no exception. They all came back out and played "The Freest Man" and then, my personal favorite, "Night Of The Living Dead," which I figured they HAD to play since it has a lot of lyrics about Atlanta. It was rad.

Oh yeah, sorry about how mildly blurry these pictures are. Then again, there's a reason I don't put "professional photographer" on my resume. Oh yeah, and in case anyone was wondering, I was wearing a high-waisted jumper, my homemade Coathangers shirt (yeah I actually made that shirt! And I always get queshes from people asking me where to buy it!), and pink sneakers from Urban Outfitters. I was pretty fucking hipster-ed out, son.

Oh! And that reminds me! I won't be here at The Disco for the weekend since me and my amiga are road-tripping to Tennessee to see one of my old high school friends. So until Sunday night, you guys'll just be hearing from Miss Lolita Hazed, but that's still a treat, right?

Catch ya'll mothasuckas on the motherflipping flip side!

Deuces,
Erika

Straight Representin'

Tonight I'm going to see Tilly and the Wall at the Variety Playhouse. I'm super stoked and you may be super jelz. But as stoked as I am to see Tilly, and the Ruby Suns, I'm even more excited about seeing the Coathangers.

I have seen the Coathangers live going on three times now and it's always eggpants awesome! (The Coathangers and the Black Lips, Snowden, the Selmanaires, Noot D'Noot, and DJ Treasure Fingers are the few acts that make me super proud to rep ATL!!!) They always put on a super fun show. I was at their album release party and awesomeness occurred: they offered me beer, gave me sparklers, and during their set they broke a piñata! Some candy went in the direction of this little toddler and then Julia Kugel, the lead singer, started shouting, "You almost hit a baby!!! You almost hit a baby!!! And there was a mini horse with a horn on his head!! Everyone was calling him a unicorn!!

See, nothing but fun with these guys. I saw them again at Record Store Day (did anyone go out to their city's RSD celebration? I loved mine...I got to see at least 10 bands and eat up hot dogs and pizza for free and then I bought some vinyl for about $4, and then Lillian gave me some MIA bandannas...it was rad!) and they totes did not disappoint. There was silly string and balloons and face masks...one of which they gave me, and then I got Stephanie Luke to sign my drumstick! Ha! Rusty Coathangers <3's me! Anyway, so this made me start thinking...sometimes when you're stuck in a place you're not really inclined to liking, music is like a temporary savior, right? So do you guys have any local bands that you get excited about and see lots and lots of times and sort of know and all that jazz?

And Mz. Sullivan, you can't answer because you've got Million Dollar Mano, Hollywood Holt, Cool Kids, and Kidz In The Hall in your neck of the woods and that's just unfair! Stupid Go-Ill killing the game right now...grumble, grumble, grumble. So talk about your local music scene! And then I will lord over you with my awesome ATL music scene! Yay! Upperhand!

P.S. And just in case you kinda think you might like the Coathangers, there are mp3's, the link to buy their album, and their music video below! Peace up A-Town down!

The Coathangers: "Shake Shake"
The Coathangers: "Don't Touch My Shit"

"Tonya Harding"


The Coathangers - "Tanya Harding" from ataricharm on Vimeo.

Deuces,
Erika

Plz Don't Get Silly-er

Christ. I heard some shitty rap awhile back, but I was sort of hoping that would be the last of awful club songs.

Not so!

If I hear this anywhere...Club Crucial, Club Primetime, S.O., or even Club Crunk, my ass is out of there faster than you can say "Ladies are free before midnight."



Okay, now...as if this'll make me feel any better about the current rap/club game...has anyone been all up in the club, having a really good time, you know, just turning shit out, and then the DJ just threw on some song so awful you can't even stay on the dancefloor? Tell me what song it was!

That way I can laugh and listen out for it next time I'm out!

Deuces,
Erika

Of Montreal Listening Party Tonight!

Erm, I don't even know if anyone besides me listens to Of Montreal, but I'm mostly just posting this for myself, because I would love to go if I lived in the East Village...or, um, New York City at all. Come out and join other drunken New Yawkers and listen to the pre-release of Of Montreal's new Skeletal Lamping LP before anyone else does! And then talk to the super guys from Polyvinyl! They seem nice.

And then after all that, turn your eyes to the horizon and watch Grizzly Bear on Letterman tonight!

Fun, fun, fun till daddy takes the T-Bird away!

Hi-Fi bar
10 pm - 12:30 am
21+

Okay bye, have fun, I wish I lived in New York!

Deuces,
Erika

Dip. Lo.

Current time: 2:56 am.
Show start time: 10:00 pm

This is the recount of the events that took place between those four hours.

First, we get to the Whirlyball. I am immediately bombarded by this surly dude barking, "Can I see your ID?" at me. Yeah, fine dude. I present said ID and then they proceed to mark me up by writing X's on both my hands and my wrist. Mentally, I'm thinking, just calm down. I won't drink. Chill, Rembrandt.

Noot D'Noot begins playing. It is doubleplus funky. Like, the kind of funky that has an A in it. It's FUNKAYYY. With three Y's. Yeeeeaahhh. So funky even the hipsters begin some noncommittal dancing.

SIDENOTE: I really wish I'd brought a Hipster Bingo card to the show because I would have definitely gotten Bingo by the end of the night. There was a white boy afro, PBR, an ironic mustache, hot Asian, Chuck Taylors, High Life, Parliament cigs, an 8-foot tall guy, and a 4-foot tall girl. Yeah, I would have won many times over. Okay, now back to your regularly scheduled blogging...

So after Noot we go into the back room and watch drunk people play Whirlyball. And then I run into Mathis, my old pal from the Selmanaires. We talk a bit, recount some memories, and laugh, laugh, laugh. Dark Meat goes on, but we don't go see them, we just stay in the back room talking to DJs and rockers and secondhand smoking.

Then it's...well, then it's Diplo. He comes out, tossing basketball shaped whistles and plastic covered CDs into the crowd. He starts the set with a variation on Bucky Done Gun. The whole audience begins to sway in dancing, oceanic, awesomeness. I sort of forgot a good bit of his set but I will run down the best songs of the night:

MIA "World Town"
Daft Punk "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" in some kind of Diplo edit
Outkast "Rosa Parks" and then "Bombs Over Baghdad"
Li'l Wayne "A Milli"
Nirvana "Smells Like Teen Spirit" in some kind of Diplo remix fashion
Soulja Boy "Yahhh!" at which point everyone sings the "Yah, yah, bitch!" part and shakes their hands in people's faces for the "get out my face" part
Le Tigre "Deceptacon"
Mims "This Is Why I'm Hot"

And then people, Diplo plays "Paper Planes." Word! Everyone goes apeshit. It's amazing. Cue the gun shaped hands pointed to the sky. Diplo sprays the audience with silly string. He kills it.

I will have pics up when I get my camera back from my boyfriend on Tuesday. I currently smell like cigarette smoke and ganja. I'm tired as fuck. Sometimes people smell. Bad.

Deuces,
Erika

Diplo Tomorrow!! Punch Punch!!!

Normally I like to post show flyers and reminders the day of, for no real reason, just to let people who suffer with me in Atlanta to know there's something else they can do that night instead of putzing around in the Virginia-Highlands and getting drunk off PBR (though both have their merits). But this time, I gotta let the ATLiens know in advance what's going down tomorrow.

Diplo is coming! Dark Meat is supporting! NOOT D'FUCKINGNOOT is opening! That's right! Chunklet is back again, presenting us unworthy Atlantans with another show of spectacular proportions! If the idea of going bananas to the sounds of Diplo isn't enough to whoo you into coming, please let Noot D'Noot be it. The funkiest sounding band in Atlanta, Noot is fuhreaking amazing. I've seen them twice already and every time is a new, badass experience. Seriously. Srsly. Punch. Punch.

Come out to the Whirlyball tomorrow, get drunk on High Life, and then dance all night! Oh! And look out for me! I'll be wearing something bright and/or flashy. If you see a medium height black girl with a short bob and emerald eyeliner, or hear a sort of loud voice and/or weird laugh, you've found me! Say hai!

Tix can only be bought at Criminal Records and picked up in person. No orders, no exceptions.
$10 in advance/$12 DOS
Doors open at 9 pm
Show starts at 10 pm
18+

Punch punch! Holla!

Deuces,
Erika