Cop it while it’s hot, in celebration of the MLB All Star Break….here’s the details about the No Mas All Star Sale via my cuz CI…
A major league deal for the midsummer classic: 25% off everything except our vintage sunglasses. The store has just been restocked with full runs of classics shirts like The Catch,Thunderbird Hotel, Thank Ew, Fuckface, Boom Boom Mancini,hats, shorts, etc. The sale ends when the NY season resumes: 7pm Thursday night.
Matisyahu put on an amazing show last night at the Central Park Summerstage in the heart of NYC, gearing his fans up for his new album Light (cover above), which is in stores August 25th. He swung back into town in the midst of a monster US touring schedule, and got a perfect night of weather to play some old favorites and show off his new single “One Day”. Check out the official video and a stripped down, in studio clip from WNYC’s Soundcheck of “One Day”below:
Back to last night’s show. Lots of good vibes and love backstage and out in the crowd, and I saw a lot of old friends from White Plains, University of Maryland, and even my boy Ben who used to work for me at Kidsco, which was amazing. Big Moshe (pictured below) sat in on the congas and did his thing, and I came out on “WP” for my 16 bars of fame, which is always a thrill. I spotted a few dudes in the front row spitting my verse along with me word for word (or at least trying to, it’s a tricky one huh fellas LOL). Check the pics from backstage that my wife took (pardon the sunburned face I was at Playland all day with a bunch of crazy summer camp kids) and the video of “WP” courtesy of LC at www.dreamtime.tv…
Get ready for that Light album, it’s dope (“One Day” is available now on Itunes). I got a copy of the whole thing last month, and it’s got some great songs on it and a lot of new sounds. DJ Roz is also finishing up his Matisyahu No Sleep ‘Til Brooklyn mixtape, which will drop exclusively here at Westcheddar before the album comes out, so stay tuned for that it’s going to be crazy. And Moshe and I will finally be holding our live music/open mic River Ciphers on Wednesday, July 22nd at The Rec Room in Dobbs Ferry, so come through for that.
I’ll leave you with a couple recent interviews/live performances Matis did on the radio. First is a fun one from Philly’s Preston and Steve morning show, courtesy of my boy Ariel from WP at themerchan.com, and second is the full audio link to Matis and the boys on WNYC’s Soundcheck…
Matisyahu on Preston and Steve in Philly
Matisyahu on WNYC’s Soundcheck
*BONUS*
Read this recap of the Matisyahu Central Park Summerstage show written by my boy Craig Dershowitz, which also includes some great pictures…
Stevie Wonder picked the perfect song out of his bottomless catalog of classics to memorialize Michael Jackson yesterday. “Never Dreamed You’d Leave In Summer” is one of the first R & B tunes I learned how to play on the piano. I performed it on a few different occasions with my childhood friend Liz Farrell back in our high school days (she’d sing and I’d tickle the ivories), and many times in my twenties during late night sing-a-longs with drunken pals. Stevie Wonder is one of my absolute favorite musicians of all time. I spent most of my first two years of college studying his catalog. He’s got some bangers, but it’s his ballads that I really love. Here’s the clip from yesterday’s service at the Staples Center of Stevie singing “Never Dreamed You’d Leave In Summer”, which coincidentally I first heard in a Poetic Justice scene where Janet Jackson is listening to old records in her house…
I thought I’d add to this post with a cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Lately”, performed back in the good old 90’s by Jodeci on MTV Unplugged. Wonderful (pun intended).
This marks my 200th post on Westcheddar, in just over a year’s time. Thanks for reading, watching, and listening. Stay tuned.
My geeeeee JK at Dirty Jax sent this over to me yesterday. I’ve been telling him to put my favorite catch phrase on a shirt for a minute now, and he finally doesd it! Look for these to be available soon here at Westcheddar. Oh yeah, Dirty Jax popped up at Cipha Sounds and Rosenberg’s Juan Epstein Live podcast at the 92Y in Tribeca this week. Check the pics, then download the show, which features special appearances from Jim Jones and Buckshot of Black Moon…
Oh yeah, cop that Dirty Jaxson BAD t-shirt, which JK re-released yesterday in tribute to MJ. Link below to that (it’s available in white too) and the rest of the summer ’09 line…
*BONUS*
I stole the beat from the classic Biz Markie song “What Comes Around Goes Around”, and used it to describe how my G used to be with the ladies back in my younger days (first verse middle school, second verse college). A nice little old school story joint, strictly for the summer. Link below…
For background info on the event CLICK HERE. Hope to see you at the first cipher. Come through and represent!!!!
*UPDATE*
THIS EVENT WAS POSTPONED DUE TO A SCHEDULING CONFLICT.
STAY TUNED FOR NEW DATE AND MORE INFO!!!!!
“This is just like the place we played in last night.”- Ben Bridwell, Band of Horses Lead Singer, joking about Carnegie Hall
I used to review live shows for XXL Magazine (you know, the hip hop publication), and I would always start my article with a quote from one of the acts. Well the one above is most fitting to describe last night’s performance. It was special, for the band and the audience, because it is certainly not a normal place to see your favorite indie rock group. Band of Horses is a small town southern band, so I doubt they’re used to venues that give you the feeling that Abe Lincoln is sitting in the front left row of the dress circle. I’d assume they feel at home on a bar stage, or at least some place where the ceiling isn’t a football field high and the seats made of red velvet. I picture them jamming on the side of a an old gas station looking out at a country road. Still, Carnegie Hall was quite a place to see them play.
First off, the sound in there is absolutely amazing. I mean, it’s so crisp, it’s like you’re listening to a studio recording by yourself with the best headphones on the market. The house was definitely packed with a lotta white people, mostly young, but not Miley Cyrus young, more like 20 and 30 somethings out after work or fresh off finals. Our seats were in an ill spot: front row of the very top balcony, which was pretty high up but gave us a clear overhead view of their acoustic set up (below). And Bridwell reached for a variety of other unseen instruments through the show (he even grabbed a melodica at one point even which was pretty cool).
They played lots of tunes from both Everything all the Time and Cease to Begin, and kept true fans on their toes by playing some of their slower songs more upbeat and vice versa, slowing down their heavier stuff. I anticipated one of them, “Wicked Gil”, because I have a great live recording I found on the net somewhere last year of them playing it nice and slow, though the original version from the album is way more uptempo and rocky (is that a word?!) Check it out and download it too…
Band of Horses “Wicked Gil (slow version)”
The thing I love about BOH is their vocals. Bridwell, the lead singer, has the most amazing voice, and the greatest melody lines. And the harmony!!!! WOW!!!! Especially in a venue like that, but man, it was so beautiful. They played lots of country style ballads, and nailed the faster tunes too, keeping the flow of the show moving without losing the nicely seated crowd. It’s pretty stiff and tight in there, but people still managed to yell stuff out between songs to soften the mood. In fact, I strategically yelled out “play ‘Detlef Schrempf’!” during their encore, and my heckle was answered as they immediately dropped into the tune. I would’ve been pissed if they didn’t play that (it’s my favorite song of theirs) so I’m glad they heard me, though I think it was that we were just on the same page. Me and BOH have that type of connection, you know?!?! Ha.
All in all, two thumbs up. Simply a great band with beautiful songs. They played a few new songs off their upcoming album that were VERY NIIIIIICEEEEE, and the piano player and one of the guitar players both showcased original tunes too, grabbing on to lead vocals respectively at different points in the set. But Bridwell is their bread and butter. That guy is really talented. One of the best vocalists and songwriters of my generation. Can’t wait to hear the new album, and I hope to catch them next time around in a smaller venue, plugged in, just to see how they rock out. Click the link below to peep the set list from last night, and read a little more about the show…
Brooklyn Vegan- BOH @ Carnegie Hall Set List
Special shout out to my dudes Jiggs and Timmy for rolling last night, we had a blast. And big ups to Al Jiggy, my dog from UMD who was coincidentally sitting only four rows back from us in the same section. Crazy! Great to see you!
*UPDATE*
I’ve been checking youtube for video clips from the show. They were being really strict about people taking pics or filming in there (the guy next to me got knocked early on so I didn’t even attempt), but it looks like a bunch of fans were able to get some fairly decent footage after all…check the link…
Looking for something fly to wear for the summer, but don’t want to leave Westchester? I got the spot for you. The Rec Room (above), nestled in the quaint river town of Dobbs Ferry, is perfect for local shoppers searching for Soho style gear. Located right on the corner of Cedar Street and Broadway, The Rec Room has a lot of really dope t-shirts, clothes, hats, kicks, cd’s, stickers, toys, and more. With a really clean, laidback vibe, this is the place for you to find something cool and impressive to wear to your next barbeque or give to someone as a present, without having to make the trek downtown. And they carry my cousin’s line No Mas NYC!!! Check out some more pics…
By a twist of fate, my man Moshe, who lives up the hill from The Rec Room, discovered the new store (it’s not even a year old) and became friendly with Bahr, the owner of the shop. Moshe quickly hit me up, telling me about the possibilities of us doing some sort of live music event at the shop, and that Bahr was into hip hop culture and all that good stuff that he knows I can’t get enough of. Well the moment we all started exchanging emails and I discovered Bahr knew my cousin and carried No Mas, I could tell this was the beginning of something special. And last night, the three of us sat down at The Rec Room and came up with a great idea for a monthly event. We all hit it off right away, and realized the need for something new and exciting here in Westchester. And what better location and people to host that type of event. I mean, we all are heavy in the community, with all sorts of connections to artists and musicians, both young and old. Check out this artwork The Rec Room is currently displaying in partnership with a local after school program…
So our event is tentatively going to be called River Ciphers, live from The Rec Room and hosted by Stan Ipcus with Marlon “Moshe” Sobol on house drums. The idea is to unite everyone together at the beginning of each month to share whatever it is they’re into musically and artistically. It is a chance for Moshe and I to rock together again (which we’ve done alot in the past), and bring our friends, family, kids we work with, community members, and special guests, to perform in an open mic type setting. We want to embrace the talent that is right here in Westchester County. I am proud to be a part of this partnership with Bahr and Moshe, and look forward to turning River Ciphers into something passionate, historic, and FUN! Stay tuned for more details on our first event, which is going to be held Thursday July 2nd, and check out this video of Moshe killing it on the drums a few years ago at one of my shows at The Thirsty Turtle, and also the link to The Rec Room website…
Jay-Z is always good for a memorable moment at Summer Jam. This year, he performed his new song that’s had everyone in a frenzy since it was released last Friday night. Check the live video below of “D.O.A”, the death of auto tune anthem. Ironically, T-Pain joined Hov on stage for the funeral. This song bangs.
Just for the record, I liked auto tune…By the way, a great way to keep up with new hip hop news and music, other than here and nahright.com is Rap Radar…peace.
Jay-Z “D.O.A.” (Death Of Autotune) DIRTY VERSION prod. by No I.D. & Kanye West
Dear God, I wish I had one of those horse masks (above) to wear to the Band of Horses acoustic show I’m attending this Thursday 6/11 at Carnegie Hall. Ha! That’s an actual fan spotted in the crowd at one of their shows. Awesome. But honestly, I haven’t been this excited about going to a concert in a long time. It’s my first time seeing BOH live. And an all acoustic set at Carnegie Hall? Sick. Here’s a video for one of my favorite songs from their last album Cease to Begin, “No One’s Gonna Love You”, which features lots of live clips of the band on tour. Will I see you at the show? Look for me and Jiggs and Tennessee Tim in the front row of the balcony. Yes!
I got a great response from the Jay-Z and the Roc live at the Tunnel videos I posted yesterday. Almost every respectable hip hop blog, from Nahright to Rap Radar to Miss Info’s blog to 2dopeboyz linked to Westcheddar and gave it props, and my site hits skyrocketed! So thanks for that. In coalition with that classic footage, I completed my Cribs series with my final installments, where I dig into my hip hop magazine collection and also open up a package I received from Amazon.com courtesy of my wife’s birthday gift certificate to her rapping husband. Created for hip hop enthusiasts who went to high school in the 90’s and anyone who wants to get to know me and my interests a little better. Check out Stan Ipcus “Cribs” part 3 and 3 1/2…
In addition, our recent nuptials are being featured as the Wedding of the Month on Westchester Magazine’s website! Check the link for the story and pics from the big day, and also my GROOM GUY blog that I write for the magazine too…
Westchester Magazine Wedding of the Month
Westchester Magazine GROOM GUY Blog
My wife and I outside Battery Gardens last weekend at my cousin CI’s wedding
Westcheddar 