What's Going On Jemina?

Apparently Jemina Pearl is still going post byoP. And now she's got Karen O hair. I'm eternally jelz only because I always wanted to have Karen O hair. But I'm not sure what to say about Jemina. I'm mostly sad because I loved byoP and I want her hair and I'm not sure this whole thing is such a good idea.

Discuss.



O, J.

E

TTYL!

In about an hour and a half, I'm hopping on a plane and heading to ATL for Thanksgiving! Expect some not so live blogging and highly infrequent updates. But when I come back, expect awesomeness! Because there's a serio surprise coming in the not so future! Get ready!

In the meantime, I'll leave you guys with a video of one of my favorite songs. It REALLY sucks that byoP had to release a second EP with this song on it, because I never got around to buying that EP.



Abientot.

Nylon + byoP = Becky

Currently listening to: "Never There" by Cake

We all know what happened to Be Your Own Pet. I'm still regretting the fact that I didn't own a digital camera when I was sixteen and thus could not take any pictures of the one performance of their's I ever got to see. I'm also still sad that I missed the sale on their merch's website and so now I have to pay $20 for a shirt instead of $10. You may be regretting different BYOP related things for different BYOP related reasons.

I assume this whole thing went down like this:

Jemina and Co. were packing up their instruments, fresh off the end of the Nylon Summer Music Tour, when Marvin Scott Jarrett (the Editor-in-Chief of Nylon, duh) strolled up to them.

MSJ: Hey guys, sorry to hear about what's going on.
Jemina: Yeah, dude. We just wish there was something else we could do about those fucking songs that got fucking censored and fucking banned.
MSJ: (stroking his chin thoughtfully), Well let me see what I could do. I'll ask an intern to get some department people together. In the mean time, let me offer you guys some parting gifts...bottle of Andre? Pair of Sevens? Life size poster of Alice Delall? New Watson Twins album?

And then he walked away, got some interns on it, and out of that quick exchange came a video for the single "Becky." If that doesn't seem familiar to you, but you bought Get Awkward like I did, that's because "Becky" was one of the songs Universal deemed to controversial to release. Granted BYOP did release it along with two other removed songs on their Get Damaged EP, but it's not the same. Anyway, peep the video.

"Becky"



And in case you just wanna sorta chart their progression, here's their first video, the one they made 2 years ago for the song, "Bicycle, Bicycle, You Are My Bicycle." I saw that video when it made it's first world premiere back on Subterranean and I knew at that instant, that those kids would be big.

"Bicycle, Bicycle, You Are My Bicycle"



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

Be Your Own Pet Is Filming In MN. This Just In: Erika Is Still Hella Jealous

What the fuck. I love Be Your Own Pet. You do too, you won't admit it, I know, but you most certainly do too! I came across a Myspace bulletin from Nylon about BYOP and music videos and "we want you to be in it!"

That got me.

I clicked on it and BAM! like a sick twist of fate I read:

"Attention Minnesota: We're filming a Be Your Own Pet music video in your 'hood this weekend and we want you to come be in it!"

Flipping A. I didn't bother to read on because I was too heartbroken about the 'Sota thing. Why the hell would a music video of a band from Tennessee film in MN?! I know, it even made me use the ?! all over again!

Needless to say I am fucking disappointed. There went my chance to get discovered and become abso famous for just being myself like every other it girl, but fuck it. I will have to continue to whore myself out over Blogger in order to achieve said life position.

(I am just kidding, everyone)

Still, if you reside in MN, check this shit out. Yeah, whatev, you're welcome for the notice. If you get famous, email me and let me know so we can hook each other up, you with free shows and clothing discounts, and me with VIP rooms at the club. We can work it out.

Deuces,
Erika

(Also, Sarah Morrison, if you are reading, I like Nylon, but not half as much as I LOVE Missbehave. Haha :)