DIY Project Coming Soon...

As many of you already know - I am finally a homeowner. I closed on June 16, 2008. It took nine looong months and four banks get the loan for the co-op. Anway, I purchased a lovely one bedroom apartment in the neighborhood known as Bushwick in Brooklyn, New York. My apartment was sold as a "handyman special" and that it is. I'll document the entire project and give tips along the way...

I can't thank everyone enough for their support through this home purchase ordeal. I'd really like to give a huge THANK YOU to mia madre and my sister for their financial crutch and love along the way...

Wish me luck and let the DIY project begin!

Best Political Jingle Ever!

And the winner of the BEST political jingle, hands down, goes to Louisiana Commissioner Bob Odom.

Who is Bob Odom?!?! He was the leader of the Boll Weevel Eradication program that has nearly wiped out the pest in his great state. Bobby is also a major supporter of tattooing and inserting microchips in cattle for easier recovery missions. It's all about efficiency; Time and money is saved when a "lost" animal is led to a slaughter house with ease.

Go Bob!

To listen to the BEST political jingle, simply go to http://www.bobodom.com and click on the jingle option.

The Analog Days...

June 2, 2008 - Nanook of New York downloads her first song EVER. Landmark day guys, landmark day...

12 Records for 12 Bucks...

Spent the majority of this lazy Sunday enjoying the warm sun outside at my neighborhood flea market. The Brooklyn Flea takes place every single Sunday from 10 - 5pm (rain or shine) at Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in historic Fort Greene, Brooklyn. It's on Lafayette Avenue between Clermont and Vanderbilt Avenues. The market has over 200 vendors offering vintage clothes, furniture, silk screened clothes, antiques, etc...There are local bakers, clothing designers, artists, jewelers among the artisans and vendors.

Today was the perfect day to cruise the outdoor market and sift through beautiful piles of crap and unwanted junk. My favorite spots to sift are usually the record bins. I scored big with 12 records for 12 bucks.

This is what I got (Donovan was a real treat):

Steely Dan - Greatest Hits
Blood Sweat & Tears - New Blood
Donovan - Catch the Wind
The Byrds - (Untitled)
The Byrds - Greatest Hits
Donovan - Greatest Hits
Donovan - Sunshine Superman
Duke Ellington - Music of Duke Ellington
Johnny Cash - Country Round-Up w/the Wilburn Bros & Billy Grammer
Arlo Guthrie - Alice's Restaurant
The Highway Men - Self Titled

Quiet Hooves in a Silent Barn

Friday night I found myself at the new rock venue Silent Barn in Bushwick (my future neighborhood if all goes well). The avant music space is located at 915 Wyckoff Avenue. The "barn" is actually a home that dedicates an entire floor to rock bands and their adoring (and very drunk) fans.

For $8 I was able to see five bands, guzzle a sixer of Budweiser, smoke cigarettes freely and have nostalgic thoughts of college basement parties but with much better bands now.

The bands were (in order):

Family of Love
Teeth Mountain
Quiet Hooves
Soiled Mattress and the Springs (winner: best band name)
O'Death

Got there late, of course, and missed the first two bands. I did get a chance to catch Quiet Hooves, an experimental rock band from Athens, Georgia. The feel good band is made up of brothers (Julian and Patrick Bozeman) and eight talented friends (Mercer West, Andy Pruett, David Specht, Javier Morales, Cameron Dye, Aaron Gentry, Christian Seklecki and Taylor Lee) having a great time playing smart songs with synthesizers and trumpets along to drunken sing-a-long tunes. I had the pleasure of sharing a smoke with Patrick outside and hearing about Athens' music scene, life south of the Mason Dixon Line and other southern comforts...

The band gave the dank air a liveliness that was much needed in the over 100 degree joint; I loved their sound and charismatic stage presence. Listen to their tunes at www.myspace.com/quiethooves. "Your Body" is already a favorite of mine. Oh, and Patrick - you'll be on the big bus one day!

Quiet Hooves Tour Dates are as follows:

May 29 @ Space 1026 in Philadelphia, PA
May 30 @ Silent Barn in Brooklyn, NY
June 1 @ The Depot in Baltimore, MD
June 2 @ RUMORS in Richmond, VA
June 3 @ Spazzatorium Galleria in Greenville, NC
June 4 @ Little Kings in Athens, GA

To get to Silent Barn simply take the L to Halsey or the M to Myrtle/Wyckoff. Look for future show dates at www.myspace.com/thesilentbarn and GO SEE LIVE MUSIC!