We here at the Gothamist Arts & Entertainment World Headquarters may disagree on what to think about Patrick Wolf, but there is a solidifying consensus that his performance at Hiro last night (his first NYC appearance in 4 years) was not too great. Our growing frustration with Hiro Ballroom is only magnified by how impressive their booking has been of late. For the first three quarters of the short set, the sound was grating. Nothing mixed together, vocals either came in too strong or not at all, and the intricate instrumentation on stage was impossible to decipher. It wasn't until the final song of the set, The Magic Position, where everything came together correctly, but by then the damage has been done. One of the saddest side effects of the closings of the many different downtown rock clubs is that the acts that should normally be playing in them are now getting gobbled up by larger, non-music venues where the concert attendee is considered an afterthought. Every time we have to suffer through a set at a place like Hiro, Annex or R&R, our anticipated longing for places like Sin-e and Tonic grows more and more.
Gothamist's Week in Rock, Volume 13
Gothamist Band of the Week: Overnight
New Feature Alert! In a city filled with music, bands and venues we sometimes feel a bit overwhelmed and underenthused. So here's the deal, we are going to write about one NYC band each week. We want to introduce you to some new music that we've heard, and we want you to introduce us to some new music as well (see end of post). We're all listening through cluttered ears, but that's only because we know there's something worth listening to out there.
Halloweekendry
Gothamist Arts & Events has fantastic Halloween weekend suggestions for what to do, what to watch, and what to listen to. And remember kids, we fall back this Sunday. Yeah, we know, that's mean more darkness (not to mention another hour of pre-election hoo-ha) so Gothamist recommends some sort of reflective clothing for you and your pets.
Previously on Gothamist
We hope you're been checking out our wonderful sub-blogs: Gothamist Arts & Events, Ask Gothamist (for advice), Gothamist Food, Gothamist Interview, Gothamist Sports, and Gothamist Weather. Plus the week in full.
Morningside Heights Saturday
You can find more events from Gothamist Arts & Events as well as Gothamist Food.
Some Sunday Activities To Keep In Mind
Tomorrow brings a few exciting but very different activities to partake in: First, there is Broadway on Broadway, a live free outdoor concert in Times Square, hosted by Wayne Brady (soon to be seen in Chicago) and Christy Carlson Romano (Beauty and the Beast), to celebrate the musicals and plays the Great White Way has to offer. Some of the participating shows: Avenue Q, Brooklyn, The Musical (who knew?), Chicago, Golda’s Balcony (which means the awesome Tovah Feldshuh, aka attorney Danielle Melnick from Law & Order, will be there), Hairspray, La Cage Aux Folles, Little Women, Mamma Mia!, The Producers, Rent, Wicked and Wonderful Town.
RESFEST 2004
For more on great things to do in the city, Gothamist Arts & Events. And last year, RESFEST had a program of Spike Jonze's work.
Chappelle Goes Gondry
Also: Dave Chapelle will not be doing the Rick James biopic; he told Terry Gross in a great NPR interview that he spoke to Rick before his death and Rick's concern was that his children might not understand the film, even if it was a comedy. But Rick James's shadow still looms, as "I'm Rick James, bitch!" gets tossed out a lot at his shows. His Showtime special, For What It's Worth, aired last Saturday and is in repeats.
Play Catch Up
- There are tons of foods and recipes to try in Gothamist Food
- Figure out why subway entrances are color-coded or why women are always cold on Ask Gothamist
- Check out the great interviews this past week in the Gothamist Interview
- And thanks to everyone who entered our contest to win some Jet Li and Hero swag. We received about 200 entries and we'll be emailing the winners later. And Hero opens nationwide today.
Coolfer's Music Picks
Gothamist readers, summer (if you want to call it that) is almost over. The season of free, outdoor concerts--many of which were ruined due to rain--has passed. Time to go back indoors, into the clubs, for the best music in the city. The week ahead looks fairly decent. Sure beats the Olympics.
Today's Hump Day Plans: Bjork, Food, Football Fans
And it's a Wednesday Addams doll in the image...get it?
Time for a Change
A little cool today but otherwise pleasant. Later in the week look for it to get slightly warmer, with seasonable highs in the mid-80s on the weekend. Republicans and a chance of rain enter the picture Sunday night.
Elsewhere on Gothamist
- Gothamist Interview serves up some sexy interviewee this week, like Tristan Taormino
Coney Island Day
The invisible rabbit emailed us with a link to his post and cool photo gallery of last week's Coney Island Circus Day. Pictured above are the Pontani Sisters, Angie, Tara and Helen. The sisters are touring all over and will be back at Coney Island on August 27th for Burlesque at the Beach.
Summer Heat
- And the voice of the Mets, Bob Murphy dies, and Isiah Thomas continues to shore up the Knicks on Gothamist Sports
Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
The NY Times' A.O. Scott wrote about how Harold & Kumar "revitalizes" slacker comedy while also "persuasively, and intelligently, [engaging] the social realities of contemporary multicultural America." Okay. Rotten Tomatoes says it's pretty fresh and Roger Ebert gives it three stars. And Karen at Gothamist Arts & Events saw the film and gives her thoughts (it's fun).
Burlesque, Hell, and More
And if you want some music stylings, check out Coolfer's weekend picks at Gothamist Arts & Events, which also has the inside scoop on music, film, and other stuff to keep you occupied.
Weekend Ideas
- See Otis the pot-bellied pig, above, and other animals at the Central Park Zoo (yes, cruel to show Otis and mention a pig roast, but we can't help think Otis is cute AND like eating pork)
Talking About NYC In The Movies
Some movies on the theme: On The Waterfront, Unfaithful (never has the Metro-North been so decadent), and Plaza Suite. And find other great events in Gothamist Arts & Events.
Gothamist Goes Sirening
Gothamist Arts & Events' Jen Carlson and Janelle Gunther headed to the Siren Music Festival and have some choice pictures from the hot Coney Island days of music (that's David Cross in the crowd, above). The NY Times' Kelefa Sanneh thinks concert goers were fortified/stupefied "by a potential toxic mixture of sun, beer and fried clams" (Gothamist loves the accompanying photograph by Rahav Segev which shows the Cyclone, fans, and Death Cab for Cutie). Carlson and Gunther, great pictures, but you left the fried clams out - what gives?
Second Season of Da Ali G Show
The Post's Linda Stasi says, the show is "Brilliant, original, horrifying, cringe-making, hilarious." You can see Da Ali G show on Sunday at 10:30PM on HBO, after the Marky-Mark produced Entourage (which has been getting great reviews) at 10PM. [Of course, there's Six Feet Under at 9PM; if you're been missing out, read Gothamist Arts & Events' recaps.] To catch up, watch some video from the first season and check out Da Ali G glossary.
City Charms
For the last five years I have been working in Manhattan but living on Long Island. During my tenure here I have never learned to enjoy,or have even taken the time to get to know, the city. I work, I go home. Now, five years later I am tired of people telling me how great the city is without really experiencing it and knowing it for myself. I wonder if you have any advice as to where I should start my real New York City education?
Music Picks: Tiger Mountain and More
O Chang-gun's Toenail at the Cherry Lane
Check out Gothamist Arts & Events for more cultural happenings in the city.
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