Steven Van Zandt Talks Halloween on CW11

I love watching live TV from the set, and Steven Van Zandt is a hero, so this morning was extra special when I got to be with the all-around rock and roll missionary for his appearance on CW11 News here in New York. Steven's generally got a dozen or more amazing things on his plate at a time, but here he was discussing his new holiday compilations, Halloween A Go-Go and Christmas A Go-Go.

The first shot is Steven with CW's reporter Emily Frances in the green room, where Steven and I shared a chuckle at how many scary/creepy/Halloweeny songs there are to choose from in Roky Erickson's catalogue (he picked "I Walked with a Zombie" but says he'll consider my suggestion of "Don't Shake Me Lucifer" for Vol. 2).

Below that are Steven and Emily with me and Shore Fire's Nora Lyons added to the mix (thanks to our friend, talent exec Spencer Mindich, at the show for snapping the shot!).

Pumpkin Thieke

You've probably read about our pumpkin-decorating contest, but I wanted to toot my own horn about the pumpkin-head version of our office manager Chris Thieke that I did. I had everything- the glasses, the long hair, the beard, the hat, the cigarette, even the arm holding the weekly staff schedule that he brings around every monday.

Sadly, my pumpkin didn't win any prizes. I demanded a recount, but was denied. At least I'll have something to talk to Al Gore about the next time I meet him at a bar.

Anyway, here's a picture of my pumpkin Thieke standing next to the real thing. Can you tell the difference? Me neither.

Just Shoot Me

An addendum to Mark's post below - as a bare-armer, my contribution to the evening was this gun-inspired mix:

A Visit to Westside Rifle and Pistol Range

There aren't many shooting ranges in New York City let alone Manhattan. In fact, it's pretty much down to the venerable Westside Rifle & Shooting Range, located on 20th St near 5th Ave. Last night, most of the Shore Fire staff visited the range for a fun evening of shooting, though several folks decided to bare arms rather than bear arms. Afterward we retired to the equally classic throwback bar Peter McManus bar for burgers, bourbon and beer.

Here's the shooters during our training session.


Rebecca, Nancie and Carrie

Shore Fire President Marilyn Laverty taking aim:

Labelle on Today

Labelle stopped by the Today Show Wed morning to talk about their new record 'Back to Now,' their upcoming concert at the Apollo, and fashion - of course. Patti, Nona, and Sarah chatted with Kathie Lee and Hoda like they were long time friends.

Here are behind the scenes snapshots at the Today Show and the US Weekly Hot in Hollywood Party on 10/21
Watch the Today Show segment below.

Rock & Roll Pre-School

For the past few years I’ve known “Mr. Hugh” as the guy who teaches music class at my kids’ pre-school on Fridays. He’s a friendly guy, always quick with a smile, with a certain Eric Idle look and air about him.

I recently discovered that the guy who taught my girls “Wheels on the Bus” and “Yellow Submarine” is also responsible for one of my favorite power pop songs of all time. “Mr. Hugh” is actually Huw Gower, former guitarist for The Records! Remember their song “Starry Eyes”? Total jam.

I first came to the song through Dr. Janet. Remember Dr. Janet? Probably not. They were an extremely short-lived, extremely inside baseball indie rock “super group” circa 1991 or so, featuring Ira Kaplan from Yo La Tengo, Gary Lee Connor from Screaming Trees, Lyle Hysen from Das Damen and Matt Sweeney from Skunk (and later, Chavez).

I don’t know what it was that made me buy their 45 - probably my Screaming Trees obsession at the time - but as soon as I heard their cover of “Starry Eyes” I was hooked.

As I dug deeper I would discover that The Records had more than “Starry Eyes” to be pround of. Founded by Will Birch, formerly of the damn-near-seminal pub rock band Kursaal Flyers, The Records provided an essential bridge between that genre and its new wave offspring.

Check out some vintage Records, performing “Starry Eyes” from 1979. That’s “Mr. Hugh” on lead guitar, wearing the black blazer and skinny tie.

Saving Lives, One Banjo At A Time

The Daily Mail is reporting that banjo player Eddie Adcock had brain surgery while performing. It's a pretty incredible story. He and his banjo playing have been suffering from tremors. The doctors asked him to play while keeping him under local anesthetic. When they places an electrode inside his brain and turned it on, his banjo playing returned to its virtuosic best and the doctors knew they had succeeded.

While I suggest reading David Derbyshire's whole story, you'll get the gist from this passage:

"He lay on a table, clutching his Deering GoodTime banjo to his chest and picking at the strings, while surgeons prodded his brain through a hole in his skull.

When the surgeons found the right part of the brain, Adcock instantly regained his ability and was able to play at full speed once again.

The operation ended on a high note with a twang of lightning-fast banjo picking."

Ledisi @ The Blue Note with the Count Basie Orchestra

R&B, soul, gospel, jazz and even music theater - Ledisi can do it all and do no wrong. Not only is her GRAMMY nominated album 'Lost & Found' still on the Billboard charts, and her first holiday album 'It's Christmas' in stores now, but the Best New Artist nominee is also performing with the Count Basie Orchestra at the Blue Note in NY all this week.

She wowed a packed house at the legendary venue last night with her humble presence, outstanding vocal range, and awe-inspiring scatting. A few times she fought back tears of joy as she expressed her excitement about this special occasion. In a fierce strapless pink dress and silver stilettos Ledisi dazzled like a jazz vet.

Bon Voyage and Happy B-Day to Chris Brudzinski

Our indefatigable Director Of Business Affairs Chris Brudzinski is the second recipient of a month-long sabbatical here at Shore Fire. He's heading to Australia next week, so we moved his birthday celebration up a bit. We decided to get him his last decent bagel for a while..so here he is blowing out a candle stuck into a bagel with cream cheese.

Girl In A Coma Wake Up NYC's Terminal 5

Our clients Girl in a Coma are opening for Tegan and Sara on the current tour, and played NYC's Terminal 5 last night and the night before. It's a big place, but the trio's big sound really filled it up, and the big crowd really loved GIAC's great songs and incredible intensity!

We loved hanging out with them, as well as with our friends from the media and from Blackheart Records, including co-founder Kenny Laguna, Carianne Brinkman, Gabe Godin and Julie Rader, who took the pix below.


From left to night above, that's Jenn Alva, Andy Silva (newest employee of Shore Fire's online marketing department), Phanie Diaz, Shore Fire's Chris Taillie, Nina Diaz and me.


The Girls just wanna have fun with Jason Glastetter of CMJ.com.

Get your Reload Button Ready for Juke.com

Those of us left here in the office -- our staff was decimated by sickness and vacation days - gathered last Friday in the conference room to hear from long time music journalist/editor Craig Marks. Marks is editor- in-chief of a soon-to-be-launched music news site, juke.com, which he described as 3/4 Blender (which he formerly edited) with some Gawker added in. Aimed at a mainstream but music loving audience, and owned by CBS Interactive, Juke will feature all original writing and news reporting, covering all popular genres. But no inside baseball....very little in the way of music business reporting. They've got their staff in place.... We've got our fingers on the reload button in anticipation of the site's launch later this month.



Here's Marks at the head of the table (squint for a sneak peek at Juke's home page)

Krauser's Karrot Kake...

We crowded around The Kitchen Table -- the animated staff discussing Main Street vs. Wall Street - while Rob "Joe Six Pack" Krauser winked at us all, gathered his breath, and blew out the birthday candles on a delicious carrot cake:

Here's Rob preparing for the first cut

While My Guitar Gently Walks The Runway

I am almost as obsessed with style as I am with music, and was amused by this photo in The New York Times's online coverage of last week's Spring/Summer 2009 Chanel show in Paris.

The model, wearing a gypsy-ish look, is nicely accessorized with a guitar, which the backstage stylist appears to believe she plays left-handed (when she's not busy texting her boyfriend or eating a meal consisting of three grapes). The bandolier grip is also something one doesn't often see on a musical stage. But the Chanel logo strap? I can see that catching on in certain circles, like maybe at The Pit on 90210.

Debbie Harry and Miss Guy love Animals

This morning Matt Hanks and I met up with Debbie Harry, Miss Guy (from the hot new band Goonsquad) and Rational Animal founder Susan Brandt for a couple of TV appearances to promote the upcoming Gimme Shelter: Rock & Rescue benefit at the Highline Ballroom on Monday, Oct. 6. Our first stop was CW11 studios and then we headed downtown to the Morrison Hotel Gallery Soho Loft where Debbie and Guy were interviewed by the famous Lauren Glasberg (New Yorkers may know her from Taxi TV).

Watch the CW segment here.

Watch the ABC segment here.

Also, tune in this weekend to catch Rational Animal founder Susan Brandt on the weekend morning show on WCBS in NYC.

See the photo of above of us taken after the ABC shoot. (from left to right: Carrie Tolles, Miss Guy, Lauren Glasberg, Matt Hanks, Debbie Harry, Susan Brandt)