Best of February, 2014

This is me for the past 4 months

Listen, I had a pretty remarkable experience playing basketball in high school.  This time of year brings back very fond memories.  I was an average player at best.  My ball handling was adequate.  I had a pretty nice jumper.  More than anything I could play defense.  It was my calling card and it was probably the only reason I was allowed on the floor.  Nothing was better than leading a break and knowing I had two strikers on my side able to score.  We were a bunch of West Jersey punks with no business doing as well as we did.  My last two years we were 45-6 and won our league easy.  Usually we made it to the second round in States and take a beating from an urban school, like the legendary St Anthony's Friars from Jersey City.  Sure, we would lose by 50 in their famed Armory/home gym.  But I could tell my grandkids that I was on the foul line next to 5 future D-1 players.  My game was more suited to awkward, lunch-hour, YMCA business executive's runs.  For a goofy dork like me this was pretty cool.

I was never in better shape.  I was never more eager to play.  It was a joy to be in the gym in late February.  The stakes were a little higher.  I remember our locker room steps.  Walking upstairs and hearing the music start.  Getting ready to take the court the rush of adrenaline was paralyzing.  The crowds were bigger.  It was louder.  I was a real basketball junkie.  Which is why I never really left the game.

I was a hack player.  But my coach was a rock star.  In his day he was a gifted player.  He was our school's leading scorer.  He led them to a state title.  He went on to become a college star and has since had their gym named after him.  Local.  Freaking. Legend.

And as good a player as he was, he was probably a better coach.

He taught us all the right things.  His drills kept us fit.  His nasal voice was stern, encouraging and forceful when it had to be.  His sense of humor kept practices entertaining.  But he could lash out if you were not on board.  He played kids that deserved to play and would never consider listening to a parents opinion on how to run his team.

As I get ready to coach March Madness, 6th grade Catholic league edition, I wonder if his methods would be frowned upon in today's World.   I know mine are.  And I think I do a pretty good job.

At what age are you comfortable having someone really coach your kid?  Is it middle school?  Before that?

Is it too harsh at any time?  Can they swear at your kid?  If so, what age?

If your son/daughter is not performing up to potential when can coach say "you suck."  Never? Really?

If we never hear that how will we learn when we are sucking?  I read the news (ok, I read the internet  from borderline reputable websites.)  More specifically I read The Onion and 1010wins.  But I get the sense we are still in a down time economically.  Far as I can tell we still are at war.  And if it isn't us someone else is fighting.  Syria, Ukraine and Sudan come to mind without much research.  They are killing people there right?

Point is, we are not all perfect.  We should start hearing about our imperfections as soon as is humanly possible.

We need all the time possible to correct them.

If we fail to inform our youth what is needed to succeed, we have failed them.

We are not all winners.  We don't all get trophies.  We can complain about it all we want.  And all of that is just fine.

That said, I am going to go win this bitch.

Getting excited for the brackets to be revealed  

We still do music here.  And although the hoops season has rendered live concerts obsolete, some key music has stayed in focus.  Please add these songs to your latest playlist.  Lots of new releases coming up and many live concerts on the schedule.  The spring should be a blast.  Now, if Mother Nature just gets her act together and cooperates.  Have a great March and be well!!

Reputante Album Art

M83 "I Need You"

Synth composer/producer/performer M83 has mostly been doing soundtrack work since his hugely successful last record, Hurry Up, We're Dreaming.   Last year he worked on Tom Cruise's Oblivion.  His latest, featuring a sax solo Tina Turner could sing to, appears on the Divergent soundtrack.   I have little, if no interest, in watching either of those films.  But I can listen to this all day.

Dum Dum Girls "Rimbaud Eyes"

LA based girl band led by Dee Dee Perry released Too True in January.  The ladies are sexy, let's just say that right up front.  Take a look/listen to David Letterman salivate over them on the clip above.  In it he asks for them to come by every night.  All that aside, their mix of 60's rhythm and blues and rock and roll is refreshing.  This song, referencing the French poet, is a fine example.

Sun Kil Moon "Ben's My Friend"

Lots of California on this months list.  Mark Kozelek is the man behind this folk rock act.  This song, an ode to Death Cab/The Postal Service alt hero Ben Gibbard, is effective in it's simplicity.  Benji, the band's 6th studio album, was released this month.

Hospitality "I Miss Your Bones"

The NY based punk-pop trio will soon release Trouble,  their follow up to their critically acclaimed successful self titled 2012 alt-debut.  Lead singer and guitarist Amber Papini leads the power trio.  It is no nonsense, bass driven, rock and roll.  The first single is addictive.  Give it a try.



St Vincent "Digital Witness"

Annie Clark gets herself a lot of buzz.  She has appeared on Portlandia.  She toured and made a record with David Byrne.  Hell I saw her appear at a National show last year in Brooklyn.  Her PR machine is strong.  Her music?  Well that is up for debate.  This song, and visually stunning video, are both impressive.  I hear lots of Annie Lennox and maybe Siousie Sioux when Clark is at her best. This might be that moment.

HelloGoodbye "Everything is (Debatable)"

California synth pop.  These cats have been around for a little over 10 years and released their 3rd LP,  Everything is Debatable, late last year.  The title track echoes 80s feel good bands like Culture Club, Human League, Thomas Dolby, Level 42 and many more.  It's a very comfortable song.  Sometimes that is all you need.

Gap Dream "Fantastic Dream"

Fullerton, California is where  Gabriel Fulvimar calls home.  He has described his pop project, Gap Dream, as "an attempt to find a chill spot just to organize his mind."  Lots of synths and vocal effect dominate this track.  I can't get enough of it.

Kevin Drew "Good Sex"

Canadian musician Kevin Drew cut his teeth with the baroque-pop band Broken Social Scene.  His solo record, Darlings, should arrive in a few months.  The opening track exults the virtues of good sex.  Who am I to argue?

Eels "Agatha Chang"

There are few bands that get me quite as giddy as eels.  News of a new record and tour probably fell under your radar.  Not here.  This is the first release from the forthcoming (April 14) Cautionary Tales of Mark Oliver Everett.   Everett's droopy, soulful voice is best when he sings about longing.  This is about as dreary as I get.  But no one does it better than E.  His NYC tour will hit the legendary Apollo Theatre in June.  You really should be there.  For more: eels official

Damien Jurado "Silver Timothy"

Mr Jurado has, like, a million albums dating back to 1997.  He is Seattle, Washington based and has released music under both the SubPop and Secret Canadian labels.  Being the true pro I am my introduction with him was about 2 weeks ago.  This song is a trippy nod to the "Girl with Ipanema."  I could see Hunter S Thompson listening to this as he rode through the desert.  Smooth, velvety lyrics layer nicely over howling guitars and a groovy organ.  I may have missed a huge body of work.  The beauty is I can go catch up on all I missed.

Annie Clark, aka St Vincent

The National, Barclays Center 6.5.13

Singer Matt Berninger, of indie rock royalty The National, joked last night to the thousands in attendance at Barclay's Center in Brooklyn, "we have played many places in and around NYC, but we always loved this place best.  It's good to be back where it all started."  Well, something like that.  Berninger is from Ohio and met Scott Devendorf (bass) while they attended the University of Cincinnati.  Only after they left Ohio for Brooklyn, about 15 years ago, and hooking up with twin brothers Aaron (guitar/keyboard) and Bryce Dessner (guitar) and Scott's brother Bryan (drums) did the band take shape.  Then, like about half of today's alt rock bands, they began to call Brooklyn and NY home.  In those 15 years Brooklyn has become Manhattan West and Jay Z and Bruce Ratner built an immense Arena in an insanely busy part of town (to the dismay of many of the locals.)  The Nets left Jersey for it and the Islanders will be playing hockey there this winter.  This was The National's epic homecoming.  The National?  An arena band?  Sure, why the hell not?  If Passion Pit can play MSG, these guys can headline this venue.  But what a venue...

Did I mention it's size?  The Barclay's Center has a capacity of 18 thousand.  That is easy to believe.  And since the motif is mostly black (hallways, ceilings, tile...) it has an cave-like feel to it.  My wife thought it looked like an Equinox gym.  That might have had a little to do with the fragrance that permeates the place.  Can someone tell me if they blast cologne in that place?  It was smoky in the concourse from something.  And I am sorry, but at this size you are NEVER going to be able to make it feel like a rock club.   Once you start checking ticket stubs for sections it is clear you are at an "event" not rock show.  There are plenty out there who like an arena or stadium show.  This blogger is not among them.  For one thing, I need to be able to see the bands faces.  I want to know if there is improvisation going on, or if a singer is getting emotional, and how, for the most part, they get along with one another on stage.  Chemistry, or lack thereof, are necessary components to capture my attention.  That cannot be replicated by a video screen.  My seats were pretty darn good too:  lower level pretty much straight on with the stage.  When Berninger announced he had a guest vocalist (Annie Clark from St. Vincent), I had to take his word for it.  They were far away!  She could have been anyone.  Her vocals could not be heard either.  In fact, it makes no sense why she was there at all.  

Thankfully the sound is pretty darn good.  Berninger's big baritone sounded great and the rat-a-tat drumming of Bryan was clearly energetic and emphatic.  Berninger can not be faulted for not filling the arena and the Dessner brothers get a pass too.  Again, the place is immense.  The National really don't have a sound fit for this scale.  These guys are a 3 to 4 thousand seat band.  And that is ok.  Who can really play an arena these days?   Save the Bon Jovi, Bruce, Coldplay, U2 votes too.  Think for a moment of newer bands.  Bands!!  Not Taylor Swift or Gaga...  those are variety acts (special in their own right.)  Categorize those musical acts the same way you would the Harlem Globetrotters or Disney on Ice.  

Music loud and big enough to knock an arena crowd off its feet.  Is it Foo Fighters?  Pearl Jam?  Nine Inch Nails (who are touring this summer?) 

You gotta be real freaking loud and have a big personality/stage presence to pull it off.  Dave Grohl is probably the closet around.  Friends tell me Brandon Flowers of The Killers has what it takes.  Laid back, black suited Berninger, skews more lounge than arena.  His sardonic asides in between songs are witty for a smaller room.  

It's just all very odd.  

Don't get me wrong.  There were moments of real power.  "Bloodbuzz Ohio" and "Afraid of Everyone" from their amazing record High Violet were soaring and special.  Earlier songs, like "Abel" and "Squalor Victoria" were performed with high energy.  And slower numbers, like the opener "Don't Swallow the Cap" from their new record Trouble Will Find Me, were special in their own right.

It's just very anti-rock show...

  

There are plenty of clean lines and modern decorative touches.  The concession stands boast espresso, sushi and authentic NY sandwiches.  Stoli handles the liquor and beer stands are abundant.  Remembering the blight that was the Atlantic rail yards (which this arena replaced- was built on top of) the Barclay's is easily an above average upgrade.  

We handed an usher a stub.  We had to stay in our section.  People were not standing.  Other folks were insistent they sit in seat 12, not 14.  All that was missing was someone selling Cracker Jack, or a foul ball it my way ( I guess stray puck or basketball makes more sense.)  

It was good to see one of my favorites on a big stage.  They deserve the acclaim, both commercial and critical.  It was nice to see another grand new piece of NYC architecture and innovation.  Say what you will about the Barclay's, it is nothing if not impressive.

Let me be the first to say these entities need not meet again.  It will be great to catch a hockey game this fall.  If and when The National plays in smaller venue later this year, count me in.

Until then I will stick to music clubs for music.  Dinosaur Jr at Irving Plaza tomorrow night is more my speed. Although the doors open at 11pm. Yikes!!

The National setlist Barclays Center 6.5.13  SiriusXM broadcast the show live and will be replaying on SiriusXMU should you want to listen.  Tune in to that network or look them up online for more detail.

Some street art.  I guess.

There are pictures of old NYC basketball squads on the interior corridor walls.  Weird mix of old on a very new (and new looking) building.  

Like a steel birds nest (like the Chinese Olympic Stadium)

The interior of the "Geico Lobby"  Modern, Modern, Modern!

The many subways of NYC are just steps from the Center.  The 4 took about 30 minutes to get to Lower Manhattan.  Figure 30 minutes for midtown too.

Pacific Standard  Nice beer bar with West Coast theme located on 4th Ave.  Just a few blocks away from the venue with a nice happy hour, friendly bar keepers and cool crowd.  Nice find!

The National, Barclays Center 6.5.13