get your tix now...

...if it's not sold out already. the most hilarious play i've ever seen on Bdway and so subtle a message I almost missed it (which would've been o.k.). TOE TALLY BAD MUTHER FECKIN' ARSE!!!! ;D

See it

What a story. Elijah Wood is wonderful as always (and those blue eyes never cease to amaze me), and Charlie Hunnam is brilliant. I have no idea where he came from or where he's going but I hope I see him again soon. Clair Floriani is unsurpisingly disappointing, but everything else is truly impressive, from the directing to the costumes to the soundtrack. Seriously: check it out.

We Are Scientists at Roseland

I know that if I wasn’t friends with the guys of We Are Scientists, I’d still love their music. I’m sure if I hadn’t hung out with Chris Cain and his gorgeous baby boy, I’d still find him hilarious when he cracks jokes between concert numbers. I’m positive that I would still find Keith Murray as fun to watch, had we not, on several occasions, ruminated over the wonder that is my Jem and the Holograms T-shirt. Never the less, it is the case, and I couldn’t be happier for their success. I have seen them in concert about a dozen times now, everywhere from a tiny little bar in Alphabet City where my boyfriend and I were two of about 10 people in attendance, to just recently at Roseland Ballroom (with Arctic Monkeys) where we were two of the masses. They’ve come a long way, babies!

This band plays the kind of music, that I find IMPOSSIBLE to sit still while hearing. Some have compared them to The Killers, but I think they’re much less grandiose and pretentious (although I do enjoy the Killers). One friend, who only heard their album but not seen them in the flesh, said they had less mellow Cure flavor, which I can kind of see, but again, W.A.S. is much easier to relate to. Chris, Keith and Michael Tapper are not some freaky mods in weird make-up; they’re just a few cute dudes you watch and think, “They’d be cool to have a few beers with” (and you’d be right)!

At Roseland the other night, I was pretty hung over. One of my best friend’s birthday parties had been the night before and I helped her celebrate by drinking as many beers as I could. I woke up the next morning very sick and proceeded to spend the majority of the day sleeping, much to the disappointment of my puppy. But once the lights dimmed and those three scoundrels took the stage, I felt just fine. As usual, I couldn’t stop my head from banging and bobbing back and forth, even though it hurt to do so. And even though most of my body ached from various and sundry minor ailments (some due to my gender and some due to my drinking), I couldn’t help gyrating to every beat of every song until their 40 minute set was done. These boys give new meaning to the phrase “the rhythm is gonna get ya.”

Tapper always works his fucking heart out, banging the drums like there’s no tomorrow, drenched in sweat by the start of the second number. Chris is always cool and collected at the bass, almost stoic until the song is over and hilarity ensues as he makes jokes about the sound guy who keeps coming up on stage to adjust sound equipment: “Who is that guy? Hey! What are you doing up here?!?!” And then there’s Keith, the one makes all the ladies swoon (as any good lead singer should). Keith always flashes this grin to Chris that reminds me of the cat that ate the canary. I think Keith knows that the stage is where he belongs and is really enjoying the taste of being there, especially now. He’s sexy as hell, got charisma coming out of his everything, and a voice that plays tricks on itself, changing and wailing, alternately smooth as butter and urgent as a siren.

The highlight of their set for me was when Alex Turner and Matt Helders from Arctic Monkeys joined W.A.S. in “This Scene Is Dead.” Alex took over lead guitar for Keith so he could just sing and slink around the stage wielding his microphone like a weapon and caressing it like a dance partner. Matt sat right next to Michael and they played the drum part in perfect unison, resembling Animal from “The Muppet Show” in all their excitement. It was an awesome surprise, especially when Keith stood up on the little bit of space between the two drummers and shouted down at all four musicians surrounding him. I cannot do justice with my words… it was just SOOOOOOOOOOO COOOL!!!!!!!!!! =D

Suffice to say, We Are Scientists never disappoint, and I defy anyone to see them live and disagree. And if you haven’t heard them yet, get on their website; if you have the time to read this post, you have the time to check out a video or two (all of which are tiny morsels of comic genius, by the way).

www.wearescientists.com

Ah, W.A.S., I count the days until I see you again… IRVING PLAZA, JUNE 30th!!!

How the music evokes

Just when I thought I couldn’t think my boss was any cooler, I came across her c.d. collection. About 10 Bob Dylan albums, 2 Ani, 2 Dar, 2 Dead, 4 Rolling Stones, Cat Stevens, and Elliot Smith just to name a few. So as I cleaned out and organized her daughter’s “art closet” I put on Out of Range. It’s the first time I’d listened to the album (all the way through) in a few years and I was not surprised by how surprisingly amazing I still think it is.

“Life is a B movie: it’s stupid and it’s strange
It’s a directionless story, the dialogue is lame
But in the he said/she said sometimes there’s some poetry
If you turn your back on it, let it happen naturally
Oh yeah… oh hell yeah…”

And as I listened I remembered the first time I heard Ani’s music. It wasn’t from Ani, it was out of the mouth of my friend Meg who sang beautifully, softly, a cappella while her and I and a few other girls, high as kites, played a kind of Hide-and-Seek by the Florida moonlight:

“I search your profile for a translation
I study the conversation like a map
‘Cause I know there is strength in the differences between us
And I know there is comfort, where we overlap
Come here: stand in front of the light
Stand still so I can see your silhouette
I hope that you have got all night
‘Cause I’m not done looking, no I’m not done looking yet…”

What a gift she gave me that night!

Listening and remembering I was filled with a warmth and a bittersweet
feeling
of…

SISTERHOOD.

For all those out there (the brothers too) that know what Ani’s words mean, how they can make you feel and think and hurt and rejoice, my heart goes out to you today... =)

Theatre in NYC

It's so sad how much money controls theatre in NYC. So many young artists, myself included, have something to say but can't afford to say it and if they do, very often it's in someplace so cheap that no one will come see it. And the artists with the money only say things that they're sure someone will pay $65-$125 a pop to see.

I produced a friend's play about 5 years ago. At that time I just happened to have $1400 collecting dust in the bank. I was living with my parents and paying no rent. I produced the show and made back $1200 of my investment. That's damn good for NYC theater. And even if I was sure to only lose $500 on my next venture, I don't have $2000 just lying around these days (and believe me, that's the LEAST amount I could hope to spend, just to book a space). These days I have rent to pay, a puppy to support-- he has health insurance that costs $20 a month, I don't even have health insurance for MYSELF because I can't find it for even 3xs that amount--and I live basically from paycheck to paycheck.

And the saddest part to me is that I have a lot to say and would say it well, if given the chance to produce again. And I have friends who are so talented that I would use to send my message, friends whose talents are sorely underused and underappreciated who could really use the jobs I would give them, the exposure I would allow them. I told one such friend the role I would cast her in, had I the chance. "Oh my GOD I would KICK ASS in that role, but you're the only one who would cast me in it-- no one else sees that I have that in me." I know that. I want that for her. I want it all for myself. I want to say something important, to upset people, to make them think and cry and change the way they treat people around them-- to make them realize that it MATTERS...

too bad I don't make enough money and am now facing two months of unemployment...

DAMN.

More smell

Every once in a while a miracle happens in this city: it smells like the earth is supposed to smell...

Every once in a while something new is planted, a street is cleaned up, the wind blows just right, and nothing but plant and air meet my nose...

Only every once in a great while though...

God, I miss "the country!"

Smell

What is it about the smell of a baby's head?!?!? So sweet...

What is wrong with people?!?!

“Next time you better hold on TIGHT! I told you to be careful, now you got NOTHING. You drop everything that gets put in your fucking hands, STUPID!!!”

Where did I hear this tirade? On Rivington Street at 2pm. Who was screaming it? A grown man. Who was he speaking to? HIS SIX YEAR OLD SON WHO DROPPED HIS ICE CREAM CONE.

*sigh*

I swear, you have to have a license to have a car, but any shmuck can have a kid. =(

It’s the little things

I love my boyfriend VERY much, as anyone who knows me knows. One of the things I love best about our relationship is the “little things.” I think these things are so important in a relationship, and really key to a happy, successful coexistence:

Example 1: We still constantly compliment each other. He knows I think he’s foxy. But I love to tell him so, all the time, no matter how long we’ve been together. And he returns the favor. It’s nice. And I think it’s important as people grow older and gain or lose weight or whatever, that they let their partner know they’re still attracted.

Example 2: We’ve accepted each other’s little quirks. I am a freak when it comes to my bath towel. If it’s going to touch my clean, wet, naked body, I am very particular about what else it touches. I know this is kinda crazy, and I admitted it to him when we first started living together. And while he may shake his head while doing it, he respects my wishes to be anal about my towel and helps me keep it clean. This shows such patience and love, I can’t even begin to express how much I appreciate it! ;) And he has little things he’s silly about too that I won’t get into but that I try to respect and accommodate, even when they make me giggle. ;D

It’s the little things… that are really a big deal!

So weird

It’s so funny to me that things I used to find SO GROSS as a child (Credence Clearwater Revival, tomatoes, suntan lotion) don’t bother me at all as an adult…

Quick Post For Foodies

I recently have discovered my new favorite item for salads: THE MANGO!

Not only is it colorful, but truly yummy. I made one salad with avocado, greens, and mango with grilled chicken which was awesome, and another with orange bell pepper, blue cheese, greens & mango which was also delicious. The latter can also be done with feta instead of blue: equally scrumptious. =)

I’m a lyrics whore

I’ve always joked about it, but it’s really true, no matter how tired a melody may be, if I really like the lyrics to a song, or they touch me, I can forgive clichéd arrangements, even mediocre voices… lyrics are just the end all be all for me in music.

(Not that I can’t appreciate great, inventive, original MUSIC, there’s lots of lyric-less classical music and jazz that I love, I’m speaking mostly about popular music- get it? =)

Life Upon The Wicked Stage Part 2

So my show is over and I'm miserable about it. There’s always a grieving period for an actor when a show is done, but I've never been sadder to see a show close than I am now, and that's saying a lot because I've been in some pretty wonderful shows. There was something about this group though! We just loved each other so much… our brilliant director truly made a family when he cast us.

I will never forget playing this role (see part 1 of this post) and treasure the experience and my friends who were in it with me always. And when I get the videotape, WATCH OUT! I will subject as many people to it as I can (ESPECIALLY those who didn’t catch it live)!!! And I will weep, remembering the good times… =)