There is nothing conceptually better than rock and roll

INDEED!

Unfortunately, I have to trade in my rock n roll lifestyle for DUM DUM! the real world. And much to the chagrin of my 13 year old self, not in a house with seven strangers where I would be the one bein' all "Shit! these people are dumb." Because EVERYONE hates that girl.

With the end of summer officially, which seems to have extended into the second to last week in September, I give you, the summer of rock and roll that was summer 2k6. The thread that goes through my entire life seems to be this thing called music, and this summer more than any other, due to being in New York and having all the free time and free shows in the world, I uh, went to a lot of shows. BEST OF, with interactive potential:

5. YYY and Sonic Youth at McCarren Pool
I am happy to have lived and seen Karen O twirling up close. I want her to be my crazy garbage bag wearing friend (unless Meg or Courtney wants to step it up). This round, she was wearing a wonder- woman esqe superhipsterwoman costume. And I said to Greg, I said, "I just want them to play Black Tongue," the 'boy you're just a stupid bitch, girl you're just a no good dick' song. AND THEY DID. And shit, sorry but I'm just not impressed by a twirling Kim Gordon. Plus, YYY in BK? YES!
WONDER WOMAN! http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6287/25/1600/yyy4.jpg


4. Hot Chip at the Seaport
One of the best surprises of the summer. I mean shit, I danced through the whole thing. Let's see them for CMJ on the Thursday and dance like bitch cakes. Over and over vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ2Cg2jtw7I

3. Shellac at the Europa Club in Greenpernt
Now I'd never listened to the boyfriend when it came to his fave noisey, analog-y, Albini band. I thought the tunes were all right. Live, I felt like someone punched me in my eye and ear sockets, in a completely good way. They're very honestly about music and certainly not about scene, and I feel this is what it would've been like in the 70s when CB's was good. Except darker, and again, less about scene. Steve Albini speaks for us weird kids. http://negativland.com/albini.html

2. Bloc Party at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park
This should be the real winner, because the combo of day at beach with Courtney, boozin at Asbury dives then seeing Bloc Party in a parking lot was one of my best days of the summer. It ended with the craziest bolts of lightning I've ever seen. I love Bloc Party and Courtney. Nuff said.

1. Voxtrot/matt pond PA/TV on the Radio at Prospect Park
The line up alone is too crazy. Thing was, I went for Voxtrot and not the other two bands, who I knew were good, but never paid much mind to. matt pond was beautiful and cut his set short because of a possible storm, so that TV on the Radio could go on quicker. JEEESUS, they came on with the Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra, a full horns section which made Young Liars one of the best things I've ever heard. Tunde's voice was double powerful with the horns, and I doubt I'll ever get to see a horns section with TV live ever again. Burly Kyp also picked up his adorable daughter at the end of Method.
Link to the best Young Liars ever: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v3AK-BgMwU

HON MENTIONS OF AWESOME: B & S with Becca, Greg, and my brovver at Battery Park - points for adorable-ness
Of Montreal at McCarren Park Pool- points for skirts and swords
Meeting Anton Newcombe at McCarren- he's a mad and very charming genius see DiG!