Shopping Spree

Fly Spots

Amoeba Music may be the dopest record store on the planet.  I used to raid the one in Berkeley every summer when I would go to California to visit my homeland.  And I’ve been to the ones in San Francisco and L.A. a few times too.  They are the best!  I wish they had a location in New York.  Well, I stumbled upon a little web series thing they’ve been doing called “What’s In My Bag?”, where they catch different musicians and celebrities shopping in their stores and see what they’re buying.  Check the episode above featuring Alchemist (one of my favorite hip hop producers of all time) and his rapping buddy Evidence to peep what they copped.  And below, take a listen to a really dope song off Alchemist’s last project The Cookbook EP featuring Evidence, Blu, and Kid Cudi on the hook.  It’s called “Therapy”…

And here’s a nice LA themed video for an Alchemist and Evidence duet called “So Fresh”, off Ev’s latest EP The Layover…

Alchemist has a new album on the way, so keep your eyes open for that.  And if you want to see what was in my shopping cart recently from amazon.com, CLICK HERE.  Amoeba please come to New York so I don’t have to shop online all the time!!!!!

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I got two other favorite record stores that I’ve been to recently outside the New York area.  Westchester County has no cool record stores, and it never really has other than big chains (don’t get me wrong I heart Borders but it’s not exactly a COOL RECORD STORE).  I grew up going into the Bronx to buy mixtapes and vinyl, but the rise of the internet made those types of trips basically unnecessary.  But I still appreciate going to a great hometown spot to buy music, probably more than any other activity on the planet.  Check these two out…

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Jack’s Music Shoppe is in Red Bank, New Jersey, near where some friends of mine live.  The town and general area surrounding it is the backdrop for all those Kevin Smith movies like Chasing Amy (a scene in the movie takes place there and the famous Secret Stash comic book store is across the street).  My boy told me Jersey locals like Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi have been known to pop in, and they’ve got a great selection of stuff in there.  Stop by if you’re ever in the area.

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Sound Spectrum (above) is a tiny but super cool music store in Laguna Beach, California.  I was there a couple months ago, and struck up a conversation with the owner Jim Otto after noticing how sick his reggae section was.  Turns out he was a total reggae enthusiast, and put me on to some great stuff that I wasn’t up on.  He also gave me a tour of his back office which was filled with vinyl and collector’s items and pictures from old tours and movies and album promotions.  Great guy, and awesome store.  Definitely visit if you are in the area.

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BRING AMOEBA TO NEW YORK!!!!!

Amoeba Music “What’s In My Bag?” Archives

Barbershop Quartet

Uncategorized

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Looks like Mayer Hawthorne’s debut album Strange Arrangement is set to be released September 9th.  So far, everything I’ve heard from this guy is dope.  For those of you who missed my post last month on new artists I’m checking for, well he was at the top of the list, with his Amy Winehouse-ish Motown throwback R & B sound and hip hop sensibility.  No wonder Stones Throw Records signed him after hearing two songs.  And now with the success of dudes like Robin Thicke and Justin Timberlake, whiteboys with this much soul are no longer considered freaks of nature.  They’re simply accepted and embraced.  Check out this latest video of Mayer Hawthorne doing an acapella rendition of “When I Said Goodbye” (a song off Strange Arrangement), barbershop quartet style.

Pretty cool huh?  Doo Wop!  Mayer Hawthorne’s got the right idea.  Man, I always wanted to be in a barbershop quartet.  I guess rap was my calling though.  For my previous post on Mayer Hawthorne (and four other new artists I’m digging), click on the link below.  And then go to his myspace page to hear the album version of “When I Said Goodbye”, it’s fresh…

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Mayer Hawthorne on myspace

Dance Or Go Home

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Here’s a couple highlights from D Cole’s latest installment of Dance Or Go Home, where New York’s finest Get Dark dancers battle for city supremacy.  Above is the well known Mr. Youtube vs. Mr. Jones (dude is kinda nice!!), and below is Tokyo vs. Kid Pat.  Both are great battles, displaying lots of new Get Dark styles and moves…

Anyone like me who works with kids in NYC, Westchester, Long Island, or even farther out, probably knows that this style of dance has a strong movement behind it.  For a behind the scenes look, Westcheddar style of course, CLICK HERE.  And to stay up to date with all the new battles, check out D Cole’s Youtube page on the reg.  Peace.

D Cole’s Youtube Page

Band of Horses @ Carnegie Hall

Events, Fly Spots

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“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).

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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…

Band of Horses @ Carnegie Hall VIDEO FOOTAGE

So Long

Youth

I’m waiting on my dude Matty B to get me some more info on these kids (he’s their teacher).  I don’t know the first kid’s name but the second kid is Yung Rell, and they’re both students at Roosevelt High School in the Bronx.  I’ll find out more, but for now just enjoy this awesomely low budget black and white video above for their song “So Long”.  It has a dope beat, a great hook, and both kids can spit.  I’m impressed.  I’ll update you with more info on them when I get it.  Later…

*UPDATE*  The first kid’s name is Flip…

Step Your Beatbox Game Up

My Dudes, Youth

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I happen to be longtime friends with two of the best beatboxers on the planet, Max B and Matisyahu (above playing “SWITCH” at my wedding reception).  Matisyahu used to beatbox at parties for me back when I first started rapping in high school, and I met Max B at College Park up at the campus radio station, and from there we’ve all been great friends, hanging out, making music, and performing together for years (see the banner pic at the top of the blog).  I will put either of their skills up against anyone.

Max B is definitely the more technical of the two (though you should not sleep, Matisyahu’s techniques are quite advanced).  These guys are not students of the game, they are teachers.  Max actually has had a DVD out on the market for a few years now, teaching people how to beatbox.  I sware, kids at my Cultural Arts Center and friends and other people I know are constantly telling me to “check out this guy beatboxing” or saying “you’ve got to watch this beatbox video”, and what I’m starting to realize is that lots of these cats are learning from MAX’S DVD!!!!!  I can just tell.  Maybe I’m wrong, but I think I’m right.  Check out a couple clips I found online from Max’s tutorial…

Yo Max, this clip about snares has alot of views on youtube my dude!  Almost 300,000!

I own this DVD, but I still can’t beatbox very well.  I’ll stick to rapping.  It’s not Max’s fault, I just crack up watching it because he’s my friend and it’s so damn funny to me!  Don’t front Max, you know this is hilarious, with the mouth close-ups and the headband.  Ha!  But seriously, this video is an excellent way to learn how to beatbox.  It’s an extremely thorough tutorial.  And on the beatbox.tv website, you can cop ipod downloads of the DVD so you can learn on the go, as well as sample packs of beatbox sounds for production.  Here’s the link:

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www.beatbox.tv

Recently, BEATBOXBATTLE.COM held an online world championship, and a girl from Canada won first place.  Check out this video of Julia Dales, and tell me she didn’t learn some of her techniques from watching Max’s video.  Props to her though, she’s pretty nice!

Check out the other Top 5 winners from around the world HERE…

Also, I have to post this video that the kids I work with are obsessed with watching, and I’m convinced he’s one of Max’s students too.  Check this kid out, he’s only 14 and he’s pretty ill.  Can’t tell what that accent is, but he’s definitely not from the states.  Watch for 2:00 in, that’s my favorite part…

Oh yeah, there’s some crazy beatboxing flute players out there.  Lots of them actually.  Chcck this link, they’re pretty cool.  

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And last but not least, I have to pay homage to Rahzel the Godfather of Noize.  I first saw him with The Roots a long time ago, and have since seen him a bunch of times live and had the pleasure of hanging out with him and Max one day at an NYC studio session for a beatbox project they were working on together.  This guy is a living legend, and I’m sure both of my beatboxing buddies will agree.  Sure, Biz Markie and Doug E. Fresh came before him, as did others, but Rahzel is from my era, so I’m rocking with him as my G.B.O.A.T. (Greatest Beatboxer Of All Time).  Check this live rendition of him beatboxing Justin Timberlake/Timbaland’s “Sexy Back”…

Step your beatbox game up.  Peace.

The Rec Room

Events, My Dudes, Stan Ipcus, Youth

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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…

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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…

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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…

The Rec Room Website

Moonshine Melodies

Uncategorized

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I’m gearing up for the Band of Horses acoustic show this Thursday at Carnegie Hall by listening to some of my favorite Sub Pop acts.  There’s BOH of course, Fleet Foxes, Grand Archives, Iron & Wine, my favorite band, The Shins.  Before I get into all the news surrounding The Shins, check out this unreleased James Mercer acoustic set, live from The Moonshine Festival back in 2004.  It’s a pretty amazing set.  He plays all my favorites off the first two albums, a cover of Neil Young’s “Harvest”, and some rarities like “When I Goosestep” and “Sphagnum Esplanade”.  Link below…

James Mercer of The Shins- Live at the Moonshine Festival

In terms of recent news surrounding The Shins, well…First of all, Mercer let two longtime members go (keyboardist Marty Crandall and drummer Jesse Sandoval) and brought in a new drummer (Joe Plummer via Modest Mouse) and bassist (Ron Lewis via labelmates Grand Archives).  The Shins have 30 songs done for their new album, and they are recently debuted two of them on tour.  Here’s live video clips of them from a recent show in Hollywood, California….”Double Bubble” and “The Rifle’s Spiral”..

Sounds like none of the new songs are ballads.  Mercer says they’re all uptempo and happy.  I don’t know though.  As happy as I am as a person, I always like slower, sad sounding songs the best.  Especially from these guys.  Still, I can’t wait to hear their new stuff.  I also read Mercer worked on something with Danger Mouse, and is appearing in an upcoming movie called 180 Degrees South.  Stay tuned, I’ll keep you updated…peace.

The Wonder Years

The Good Old Days

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Nowadays, we can go out and buy virtually any TV series on DVD, or even download brand new episodes and old classics directly onto our computer or Ipod.  But one show I guarantee you will never find in any Best Buy or Itunes store is The Wonder Years.  I read somewhere it’s because they could not get the rights to use all the great music that’s scattered throughout the show.  This is truly a travesty because The Wonder Years is arguably the best television show of all time.  It’s my father’s all time favorite show, and we would watch it together as a family regularly when I was growing up.  It was funny, heartwarming, serious, historic, and just realer than the other programs of that 80’s decade, like The Cosby Show and Family Ties (and those are amazing shows don’t get me wrong).  The setting, the great characters (older brother Wayne is my favorite), inter-family relationships, the issues of the time period, the superb narration, and of course the music!  What a great show.  I hope they figure out how to release it on DVD one day.  Until then, check out the link below to a great Youtube channel that has pretty much every episode of The Wonder Years in order from the first season on.  I’ll get you started with the pilot…

THE WONDER YEARS Youtube Channel

Scratch That

Youth

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I’m a big fan of Guitar Hero, but from the moment it came out I’ve been saying “Yo, they need to come out with Hip Hop version of this!”  Not that I put a ton of thought into it, but I pictured my dream version of the game using like a mock MPC beat machine instead of a guitar.  Well DJ HERO is a way cooler idea than that, using a turntable and fader as a controller, with a similar feel and look as Guitar Hero (see pic above), only with a much wider range of hip hop, dance, and even rock music.  Their are a bunch of songs and mash-ups to scratch on, mix up, and conquer.  Check out this in depth look at DJ HERO, which will be available in the fall:

In addition, kind similar to the way Guitar Hero released an all Aerosmith edition of the game, DJ Hero will have a special Jay-Z and Eminem edition of the game.  Check out this interview with Hov and Em where they discuss why they are co-signing the game and also why they are so excited about its release, filmed at their recent star studded affair for the game in L.A. where they both performed (yes they rocked “Renegade”)…

Wow, Jay-Z is certainly having a big week here on Westcheddar.  I’m definitely gonna get this game for the kids who frequent my Cultural Arts Center.  We might need to set up a bake sale to pay for it though!  Speaking of crazy new technology, have you seen the new Iphone with a built in video camera and editing software where you can share videos right from your phone?  Sick!  And that’s not all.  Check it out RIGHT HERE.

And for those of you who miss the good old days of Nintendo and Sega Genesis, well check this Westcheddar story on where to play the classics online HERE.

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*BONUS*  Check out The Beatles version of Rock Band coming out in September HERE