Shore Fire is a Fan of the GRAMMYS - Are You?

My excitement can't be contained - I love the interactive GRAMMY site and the ability to make a portrait from all our favorite nominees - www.wereallfans.com

Here's a Shore Fire Media portrait I created in seconds with the following Artist DNA. It looks cool as a picture, but click on the image to see a full motion multimedia show:


Zac Brown Band, Maxwell, Ledisi, Bruce Springsteen, Neko Case, Elvis Costello, Booker T. Jones, John Fogerty, Brian Setzer Orchestra, Levon Helm, Mavis Staples, Susan Tedeschi, Diana Krall, Smithsonian Folkways and Loudon Wainwright III

Don't miss Maxwell and Zac Brown Band when they perform on the 52nd GRAMMYs Sunday January 31st at 8pm/7pm Central on CBS.

Your turn - please share your pages in the comments - I'd love to see them!!

A most special birthday for Diana

Yes, it was finally time for the big one, the landmark birthday, the one everyone's been waiting for. It's been a long time coming but our very own Diana D'Angelo has hit the big twenty-one, and is ready to take a few writers out for drinks. As you can see she was grinning ear to ear for the occasion:


Here's Diana as she got ready to blow out her birthday... well, pastry collection, which may be a first for an afternoon Shore Fire birthday celebration, flanked by the front of Chris Taillie and the back of Andy Silva. The pastries were spread among the staff with joy, partly aided by the intrepid tong-wielder whose prominently displayed arm is obscuring Mark Satlof, just after bestowing some morsels on Matt Hanks, seated to his left.


And as the sugar and good conversation sets in, the staff eases back to celebrate another wonderful year with the lovely Ms. D'Angelo, at far right, with (counterclockwise) Chris Taillie, Carrie Tolles, Nora Lyons, Rob Krauser, Mr. Hanks, Mr. Satlof, and a glimpse of our fearless leader, Shore Fire President Marilyn Laverty, peeking into the photo at far left:


Happy Birthday Diana!!

Me and Underdog: The Brilliance of Suzanne Muldowney

In the late 80s/early 90s a mysterious Underdog roamed the streets of New York. I would see this lady dressed in full on costume here and there and wonder, and I knew her from her appearances on the brilliant late night public access show Beyond Vaudeville, probably the craziest talk show ever to air. Were they putting us on? You just never knew...the host Frank Hope was so deadpan and so obviously enraptured by his guest, themselves an eccentric collection of semi-b list celebrities (Soupy Sales, Joe Franklin) and work-a-day oddballs. Underdog fit right in. (I bought a DVD best of Beyond Vaudeville and it's even better than I remembered. No rose colored glasses here). Later on I heard her on the Howard Stern show, but in recent years I've lost track of Underdog. A quick search shows that her legend lives on and she's still active, though, sadly, recovering from a serious cat bite. And when I found this old photo of me and Underdog (Suzanne Muldowney) taken at the Coney Island Mermaid Parade many years ago, I was reminded of how thrilled I was to meet her at the time. Scroll down below too for a youtube clip of Underdog's greatest hits as well as a clip from just last month.

Another Talented Satlof, Now Out of Retirement

The TV directing and producing credits of Ron Satlof - my uncle - run as long as your arm. Mentioning 70s and 80s classics like the A-Team, Battlestar Galactica, Hawaii Five-0, Perry Mason, Quincy ME, Charlie's Angels, The Dukes of Hazzard, McLoud, The Six Million Dollar Man and my favorite Get Christy Love barely scratch the surface of Ron's TV work, while in the film world it's hard to beat an Assistant Director credit on Mean Streets plus a cameo in the classic Scorcese film (as a bartender). Ron retired several years ago, to Florida, but he came out of retirement over the last couple of years to write, produce and direct the new film Misconceptions, a funny and poignant dramedy about a southern fundamentalist woman carrying a baby for a two gay men from Boston. I caught up with Ron at the opening of the film in New York City on Friday. The theater was packed and the crowd appreciative. Ron and his co-writer Ira Pearlstein stayed afterward to answer audience questions. It's playing in NYC at the Quad Theater through Thursday, so this is a chance to run on down and see the film on the big screen.

Scott Brown's eHarmony commercial

I have crazy friends. And they are very funny. This all started because I wrote a post on Facebook begging my comedian friends to do a parody of those eHarmony commercials. They called my bluff and did this parody which features 29 dimensions of hilarity.

Scott Brown's eHarmony Commercial - watch more funny videos

A Little Saturday Afternoon Amusement

Doonsebury on contemporary music education

Had to post this gem. In today's Doonesbury, Garry Trudeau comes close to imagining campus life at Scott Booker's Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma.

Click on the image to read:

If This Doesn't Make You Smile...

As we wrap up another week, I thought I'd post this incredible video of PS22 students doing a version of 'Empire State of Mind." Hard to keep the smile off my face watching it.

The Swell Season at Radio City - Inside & Out

Here's one way to deter scalpers.

On a moments notice, Glen and Marketa of the Swell Season - along with other members of Glen's band The Frames, and opener Josh Ritter - decided to go outside and play for fans as they filed into the sold-out Swell Season show at Radio City Music Hall Tuesday night. (That's Clarence Clemons' nephew Jake Clemons on sax, too).

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry watching a scalper trying to sell tix as the evening's performers put on a free show just a few feet away.

It was perhaps my favorite moment in an awesome week of Swell Season activity that included a taping for Letterman, a show to benefit Haiti at City Winery, and much more.

Come back soon, guys!

Costello's Show is a Spectacle here in NYC

My kids and I stumbled across a massive display of posters advertising Elvis Costello's Sundance show "Spectacle," right in the heart of the Times Square subway station a week or so ago. There's at least 15 large posters in a row, so massive that I came up the stairs and stopped short in my tracks it was so impressive...and as of yesterday, it was still there. Wow. Then today, I gasped as I was reading the New York Times, flipped a page on the A section, and came across a full color full back page ad for tonight's episode. Double Wow!


From

Scott Walker 30th Century Man

Finally saw this film last week and one scene in particular struck me as unique: the screen splits in two and you see a Scott Walker record spinning in one boxed screen, and then in the other screen you see a musician [who has been talking about Scott's music and influence throughout the documentary] listen in real time to that record. Not only does it look great on screen, but it's a cool insight into seeing how these musicians listen to music. Do they sing along? Bop their head in time to the song? Facial expression? Neat stuff.

New York Benefit Shows for Haiti Relief

As details of Haiti's devastation continue to pour in, the music community has ramped up efforts to raise funds to help the recovery efforts. An amazing amount of benefit concerts, fundraisers, ebay auctions and more are happening all over the country. Here are two NYC events we plan on attending and thought our fellow New Yorkers would want to know about:

City Winery is presenting a series of shows beginning Wednesday Jan 20 and going through Jan 23 featuring performances by Rosanne Cash, Josh Ritter, Patti Smith, The Swell Season, Yo La Tengo and more while Brooklyn's Bell House will host a show on Wed Jan 27 featuring Jimmy Fallon, Ted Leo, Sondre Lerche and A.C. Newman among others.

100% of funds raised from the City Winery benefit will be directed to Doctors Without Borders, Partners in Health and an emergency mobile hospital aid mission organized by the Jewish Renaissance Medical Center. The Bell House show will benefit Save the Children and Partners in Health.

Of course, we urge you to donate any way you can.

More info and tickets for each show here:

City Winery:
http://www.citywinery.com/news_items/18/

Bell House:
http://www.thebellhouseny.com/calendar.php

Parks and Recreation is the "Wu-Tang of comedies"

I absolutely love NBC's Parks & Recreation, I think its brilliant and Questlove agrees. He recently called the show "the Wu-Tang of comedy." Quest got together with the cast and his friend RZA to created a little spoof, the result is hilarious. You have to check it out here:

Parks and Recreation is the Wu-Tang of Comedy - watch more funny videos

Jimmy Fallon, meet your lost cousin Nick

I attended last night's taping of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and got to hang out with Loudon and producer Dick Connette and meet Jimmy! Jimmy was obviously excited about having Loudon on the show. He said, ""I'm so happy he's here. I'm a fan of this guy... he's one of my favorites... unbelievable." Loudon's performance of "Didn't He Ramble" was a home run. If you don't believe me, watch video for yourself.



Here's Loudon with Dick before the taping:



And Loudon with Jimmy:



And Jimmy with me. I told him that people have been asking me for years if we're related and he admitted that we do share a certain resemblance!

See You Later, Alligator

It's been a really tough week for music deaths. I'll miss you Jay and Teddy. I'll miss you too, Yabby You. But I think I'll miss Bobby Charles most of all.

Bobby had a fascinating career that spanned over 50 years. In the 50s he wrote monster hits like "See You Later, Alligator" and "Walking to New Orleans" that helped form the bedrock of swamp pop and early rock and roll. Honestly, I'm not sure what he did for most of the '60s, but by 1972 he was hanging with The Band, at which point he recorded his legendary self-titled album - his first long-player and a bona fide stone classic. It's the best Band album you've never heard. Or one of the best Louisiana rock and roll albums ever made. Seek it out immediately if you haven't heard it. (Bobby makes a brief appearance in The Last Waltz too, on "Down South in New Orleans.")

Bobby was a lifelong Louisianan and a bit of a recluse. The Oxford American ran a nice story on him a couple years ago, but it doesn't appear to be online. Still, although Bobby preferred to keep to himself, his influence was vast. One recent example is the track "Paper Cup" from the new Swell Season album 'Strict Joy.' Glen Hansard has cited Charles as the inspiriation for that song in interviews. Watch him talking about Bobby and performing the song here:

Kicking off the teens, Brooklyn style.

Last night the Shore Fire gang marked the new decade by convening some of our Brooklyn friends for an impromptu 2010 kick-off cocktail party at the Brooklyner. It's an impressive new residential building -- in fact the tallest building in the entire borough -- we've been watching grow from our office windows for some time now.

Needless to say we were thrilled at the chance for a sneak peek at the building and its very hip hang out lounge, and thanks to the gracious hosting of our brilliant friend Karen Auster and her firm Auster Agency, and the Brooklyner's management, friends new and old joined for music, snacks, and drinks. Here's a sampling of the evening's festivities.

Here's Shore Fire's Matt Hanks with musician Josh Charles.


Blue Note publicist Cem Kurosman doing his best to channel Minnesota Fats:



Shore Fire's own Diana D'Angelo and Marilyn Laverty flanked by label legend Tommy Silverman (on right) and manager Bruce Garfield (left):


Rob Krauser catching up with ICM's Alex Joffe and Jessica Rosenberg of Harlequin Books.


Want to see more pictures? Check out Shore Fire's Facebook page for the full gallery.

Cups & Cakes For Lauretta's Birthday

The battle for the honor of best cupcake in the city has become a serious NYC pastime, with fierce advocates and strong opinions, and Sugar Sweet Sunshine has been chronicled here as an office favorite on multiple occasions. But Lauretta Charlton's birthday celebration marked the debut of a new contender -- Brooklyn's One Girl Cookies -- that might just have a shot at the title. Here's Lauretta making a wish flanked by Mark Satlof, Elizabeth Lutz, and Matt Hanks captured in mid-applause.


The huge smile says it all, it's a hit. Here's Lauretta with (from right to left) Elizabeth, Mark, Nora Lyons, Diana D'Angelo, Carrie Tolles, and Matt. Happy Birthday Lauretta!

Kicking off 2010 with Gemma Ray

UK siren Gemma Ray came to NYC over the holidays to do some recording for a new covers album with Matt Verta-Ray (Heavy Trash), and ended up staying into the new year to play a show and sit down with the Wall Street Journal and Vanity Fair.

Gemma played a solo show at Mercury Lounge on Monday the 4th, my first concert of 2010. The Village Voice was in the house and mightily impressed, saying Gemma is "truly talented."

The next day Gemma sat down with John Jurgensen of the Wall Street Journal and Frank DiGiacomo of Vanity Fair to talk about her latest album 'Lights Out Zoltar!', working on the covers record and oh so much more. Keep your eyes peeled for both upcoming pieces.

(Gemma and Frank DiGiacomo from Vanity Fair)

(Gemma and John Jurgensen from the WSJ)

Three Dazzling Instrumentalists at The Blue Note, WNYC

I had the privilege of seeing the first performance by a dazzling new trio made up of Mark O'Connor, John Patitucci & Julian Lage last night at the Blue Note. It was stunning music, with each player pushing the next to new heights. As with all things O'Connor, this was a night of American music, blurring the boundaries between folk, jazz, classical, and other worlds. One minute one heard an Appalachian moan, the next a western theme, followed by something from the streets of New Orleans, gypsy music, and, of course, modernist New York music. I was blown away.

This afternoon the trio appeared on WNYC's Soundcheck. Here they are with host John Schaefer, who begged them to find a name. I nominate the one their parents gave them: O'Connor, Patitucci, & Loge has a ring to it, in my opinion.



They're at the Blue Note tonight and tomorrow as well. My advice? Do not miss them since these are the only dates currently planned with this incredible trio.

Happy 75th Birthday Elvis!

I'm a big fan of LA Times writer Ann Powers AND Elvis Presley so it's no surprise I'm enthralled with her grudge match blogs pitting some of The Kings greatest hits against others in honor of what would be his 75th birthday January 8th. Follow the story here.

Here's my favorite.

To Spain w/ Josh Rouse!

On these cold, dark December days, Josh Rouse's new album 'El Turista' (March 9 / Yep Roc Records) transports me to a warm afternoon on the Mediterranean shore. The music is incredible, immersed in Spanish, Brazilian, and Cuban influences but encompassing Josh's signature sense of melody.

Download the mp3 "I Will Live On Islands" for yourself here.



Check out these embeddable Takeaway Show clips from La Blogotheque:

Josh Rouse - Oh, look what the sun did / Duerde Mobila - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Josh Rouse - Cotton Eyed Joe / Valencia - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Josh Rouse - I Will live on Islands... - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Josh Rouse - Quiet Town / Mesie Julian - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Vintage Shopping with Lykke Li

I caught Lykke Li at SXSW in 2008 when the young Swedish phenom was on the verge of breaking out this side of the pond. Although I arrived late and only caught the last song I knew she was one to keep an eye on. Since then she's collaborated with Bon Iver, recorded a hit song for the Twilight soundtrack and toured the world over. One of the things I love most about her is the way fashion infiltrates her image as a musician, she's kind of like the Ashley Olsen of indie-rock. I was super excited when I saw this Current TV Embedded segment on Lykke. They go vintage shopping in San Francisco, one of my favorite cities and they find some awesome stuff. I'm kind of thinking of planning a trip to San Fran just to hit up some of those thrift shops. Who's with me?