go somewhere private where we can discuss fashion.

On the heels of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week I've decided to sum it up with LISSY TRULLIE.



Trullie, hipster model turned musician, was present at the La Baron party at the Bowery. She also DJs at Paul Sevigny's hotspot Beatrice. Lissy is worth checking out just to see that not everyone in that scene is so vapid. Her songwriting skills are actually pretty decent and her voice is incredibly unique.

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In terms of New York party spots, I would also highly recommend Mr. West. One of the best hip-hop DJs I've ever heard and a pretty relaxing atmosphere make this a club frequented by Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, and Mary J. Blige when they are in town.

Most fun fashion show? I would say this is a tie between Jill Stuart and William Rast. The Jill Stuart show featured these amazing and sophisticated black lace pieces that I could see myself wearing. It also helped that The Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Blonde Redhead accompanied the girls as they strutted down the runway. Justin Timberlake's line, William Rast, left something to be desired clothing-wise. The "New America" theme just didn't do it for me, but I was starstruck by the Hilton's, JC Chasez, Jessica Biel, Anna Wintour, and Carine Roitfeld.

Fashion Week was crazy, but it's good to be home.

please don't throw it all away.

My New Favorite Song:


When I was doing my radio show over the summer I came across a demo. A song called "You're Making This Hard" by Irish indie band Sweet Jane. The song was reminiscent of Darklands (1987) era The Jesus & Mary Chain and featured a duo of male and female vocals, steady bass drum beats, and driving guitars. Unfortunately, they changed it up a lot for the version in their EP, which can be previewed on their myspace.

"Blackboots Blackhearts" is the title track on the EP. It is really the style of stuff I'm into right now. In lieu of something lovey and valentiney, I'll go with something that reminds me of exactly how I feel. Just the right blend of melancholy and feedback.

secret knowledge of backroads.

My Stomping Grounds In:
The H Street Corridor / The Atlas District

Since speaking about Rock & Roll Hotel in my summer "nightowl" post, I have decided to expand and talk about a section of DC that I've been frequenting quite a bit.

H street NE is an up-and-coming area of DC. Once a bustling part of the city, the H Street District suffered setbacks following the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the ensuing race riots of 1968. Recently, the area has been revitalizing and focusing on the arts & entertainment sector. Named after the famous Atlas Theater, the Atlas District boasts a number of hotspots. The area is a lot easier to access using public transportation following the recent addition of a free H Street Shuttle. It travels a convenient route between the Chinatown and Minnesota Ave metro stations. There is also the option of the X2 metro bus, or as always a trusty (and more costly) cab ride.

Besides Rock & Roll, my most frequented H Street venue is Sticky Rice. In fact, it is a lot like a second home. Foremost, the staff are wonderful and accommodating. I now consider many of them friends. The food is delectable and fairly inexpensive. They boast sushi and tater tots and they now have delicious brunch! After dinner, Sticky turns into a boisterous nightspot with a great atmosphere and a gong. Tuesdays are karaoke night hosted by the talented Andrew Herndon, Wednesdays are BLINGO hosted by the elusive Russell, and the weekends bring DJs, dancing, and trivia. Sticky Rice is the total package for a restaurant/bar establishment. Check out all the deets at http://www.stickyricedc.com.

Another restaurant in the area that I thoroughly enjoy is Dr. Granville Moore's Brickyard. This gastropub is meant to be a bit grimy, but the food is totally worth it. I am not a beer drinker, but all my friends rave that the offering of over 50 beers is spectacular. The Belgian fare is delicious and the low-key environment is relaxing and welcoming. I would highly recommend mussles, frites, and a brownie for dessert! More info at http://www.granvillemoores.com.

listen to me! i'm on the stereo, stereo.

I have made mixes for quite a few people in between this and "The Mixed Tape" post, but I particularly want to share the one I put together for my bandmates. [We're indie/shoegazey, I'm the singer, we don't have a name yet, and I will definitely give more details when we do...] Anyway, this mix cd was meant to inspire songwriting, to help with band bonding, and to show some of the songs that I've been loving. Here it is:

1. starrsha- ringo deathstarr
2. sixteen- skywave
3. 23- blonde redhead
4. bled white- elliott smith
5. blue jeans*- blur
6. the drowners- suede
7. blasphemy- miracle fortress
8. all things ordinary- the anniversary
9. everything's alright when you're down-
the jesus & mary chain
10. stereo- pavement
11. angry mulch- voxtrot
12. summer babe- pavement
13. welcome to new jersey- the glands
14. center of the universe- built to spill
15. the only moment we were alone- explosions in the sky

* "Blue Jeans" shows up on basically every mix I make because it's just that meaningful. I also repeated "Summer Babe" because it's a pretty solid example of a song I'd like to emulate.

i had a name. i let it leave me.

[I haven't written extensively about Voxtrot because they have been in some sort of limbo since I started this blog. They are one of my favorite bands, but I have not heard the real deal on why things are on hold. I have my ideas, but I can't stop hoping that they'll get it together and start work on a new album. Regardless, they are worth talking about and I won't put it off any longer.]

For the past few years I have been into Voxtrot, an Austin-based indie band. I stumbled into them on Myspace, took in a few shows, and have been obsessed ever since. I don't want to get into a lot of background in this post, but I will say that each of their EPs is worth listening to for different reasons.

Often times it is telling to listen to a band's rare or unreleased tracks. Lately, I have been favoring "The Warmest Part of the Winter" because it highlights Ramesh Srivastava's tender vocals, a slide guitar line, and introspective lyrics. There is a melancholy tone in the melody giving a sobering view on love. When Voxtrot recorded their full length album, I think they lost touch with some of the simplicity found in this song.



I would also recommend "Angry Mulch" and "They Never Mean What They Say," though MP3s are hard to come by at this point.

my president is black, my lambo's blue.

Young Jeezy - "My President"


Nas - "Black President"


P.S. Do you think Pac cares that Nas sampled him when it's a matter of civil rights? I feel he'll be watching from the sky tomorrow and loving it all. Holler if you see me at the inauguration!

they call you sentimental.

In my previous post I mentioned that I've been listening to a lot of The Glands. As with many of this fall's discoveries, they came to me in a 14-disk package sent by a west coast enigma. Introducing me to The Glands was a good choice because they have sucked me in. I have trouble explaining why I love them so much, I think because I feel an emotional connection to the songs. They hit me in a reminiscent way as though I've been hearing them for years and am revisiting the story. Lyrics which may seem simple have an eloquence and elegance in execution. Musically, they benefit from many unique influences and are a bit Guided By Voices or Pavement-esque. I have heard them described as "high-quality '90s college radio fare" and I can't say that I disagree.

My question is why this band never achieved greater recognition or even a cult following. Reading articles about them from the late 90's and early 2000's, it seems like the journalists put The Glands as being poised for success. Their self-titled sophomore album (2000) was hailed as "...an indie-rock masterpiece" (9 of 10 rating) by Spin Magazine. Today that is juxtaposed with the same record being on a list of "the best indie albums no one's ever heard." No one really knows if they broke up, and there is a cloud of mystery surrounding their period of silence. There is also a third album in limbo due to a rumored squabble with the Capricorn label. Ultimately, I want to disseminate information on The Glands because I believe in them at a high level. With the right marketing, or a few years later, this band could have blown up. I sincerely hope that they have more to bring to the table.

The following are snippets of my most highly recommended songs:

• Fortress by The Glands
• Welcome To New Jersey by The Glands
• Skin by The Glands
• When I Laugh by The Glands

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