The Liability's Debut!

The Liability - Kill The Lights from matt hall on Vimeo.

If you read my posts here on music the first thing that comes to your mind will not be "Oh yeah he's big into alternative indie rock!" And you'd be right. However even if they're not my first love I do like music from a lot of genres and I know good music when I hear it. My boyfriend Jesse, however, happens to be big into alternative indie rock, and not just as a consumer: he plays in several different bands. This clip is the opening number from the very first concert by The Liability, the band he organized here in New York City last year. The sound quality of the video here isn't perfect, but I really really love this song, called "Kill The Lights," written by his fellow band member Matt.

There are six guys in the band, all of them quite talented. Jesse is on keyboards. Paul handles lead vocals on this number. This first concert consisted of originals written by the various members of the band, and one cover (David Bowie's "Heroes.") The show was held at Fontana's down on Eldridge Street in Manhattan's Chinatown. Their sound is quite promising, and I can't remember the last time I walked away from a show like this with one of the songs completely stuck in my head like a good ear-worm. I've had friends in bands before and after seeing them perform I admit at times I've felt like I was fulfilling an obligation to support my friends without being really engaged by what I was hearing. Not so this: I'm really looking forward to watching these guys develop.


You can watch for upcoming Liability dates on their Myspace page.

Jasmine in My Mind

While I'm a huge music person with all sorts of eclectic tastes, I can't actually play a note. I'm lucky to run in very musical circles, though, and somehow many of my friends are musicians. Last night I went to a performance by one of my boyfriend's bands, The Soft Rock Renegades of New York City. A seven-piece band that covers the latest songs of thirty-five years ago, the Renegades played an awesome set at Fontana's in New York City's Chinatown.

The Soft Rock Renegades play songs from sing-along 1970s and 1980s radio like Seals & Crofts' "Summer Breeze," Bread's "Everything I Own," or Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are." Last night's best numbers were showstoppers: "I Can't Go for That" from Hall and Oates, and "Africa" by Toto. Two songs just added to their repertoire for this concert, Olivia Newton-John's "Magic" and Andy Gibb's "I Just Want to Be Your Everything," were terrific. While many of the seven members do double-duty on multiple instruments, the band consists of two keyboard players (including Jesse), two guitarists, a bass player, a drummer, and a percussionist. Most everybody sings backup vocals, and while two of the musicians handle most of the lead vocals, everybody but the drummer gets a lead star turn.

Their sound is really infectiously fun, turning all these familiar chestnuts into party-time celebrations that transcend mere nostalgia or kitsch. I look forward to seeing them perform again!

A little optimism for the New Year

It's been quite a year. Here my favorite drag queen reminds us that the new year should be full of promise! Amen to that. There's a lot that could stand to get better. This one is very sweet and uplifting...a nice side to Candy.

Of course, my career as a Candy Samples video extra continues. And that's my cute boyfriend playing the guitar...he's a star!

Who has the cutest boyfriend?

Yes it's a crappy little photo of us. But I think the answer is pretty clear.

My boyfriend, an e-crime victim

Hey my boyfriend is famous (and cute). His hotmail account was hijacked and some guy from Morocco demanded $100 ransom to un-hijack it. Read all about it in The Washington Post online!