Tag: Object

Broad Strokes 2012

It has been awhile since the last Broad Strokes broadcast… Broad Strokes is still alive and kicking it! In fact, there’s a show this Wednesday, February 29 at 8:00pm on Washington Heights Free Radio (WHFR). The first show for the year! And what better way to start your Broad Strokes listening off with a First Listen of new music.

This first show of Broad Strokes will test the waters of 2012, featuring new music by the band The Catskills. Presently, a nomad Americana band that you may have known as Object. Nomad, because after the release of Object’s EP, Tomorrowland, band members Eric Kramer and Maria Schettino decided to flee the out of control high stress, and accelerating rent of New York.

They freed themselves of their Brooklyn home, equipped with a practice and recording space, for the open air and more room to truly reflect. A reflection that translates a simplistic longing, that doesn’t beg for approval. Their music now, as Catskills, expresses the generosity that you’d find gripping you at night. Love exists between them, that a lone wolf wanders, and hopes to find in a howl.

Calypso Sally will be your conductor, as we travel and ask hard questions about putting out a record outside the Mecca of record making New York.

Bringing you stories, live events, and much more, WHFR tries and remains independent of any corporate sponsorship.  So, if you like what WHFR is doing, you can donate by contacting us at info@whfr.org.  DIY forever baby!

Teletextile Live on Broad Strokes, Wednesday, October 26

Live next Wednesday, October 26, 2011, the NYC band Teletextile will be playing an acoustic set on Washington Heights Free Radio (WHFR) Broad Strokes. This will be a fantabulous night, as Teletextile will explore the gamut of sound through voice, harp, guitars and drums. Show starts at 8:00pm.

I saw these guys awhile back at Fort Useless, and I was immediately drawn to their well thought out melodies. I mean every instrument is orchestrated perfectly to build the song. And it’s not a pretentious attempt at showing off their great musicianship, nor does it forget the untamed expression of raw passion.  Both of these ingredients: great musicianship, and their inability to never forget this raw human connection to music, makes their songs unforgettable.

For those of you that don’t know,  I have a radio show called Broad Strokes, and it streams live off the web every last Wednesday of the month. My dj name is Calypso Sally, but I don’t just play Kaiso, lol.

I try to play a broad range of genres, stretching from indie rock, pop, alternative, noise rock, hip hop, reggae, dance hall, metal, calypso, funk etc.  It’s sort of a mixed bag.  I also have live acoustic performances like next week Wednesday’s broadcast.

In the meantime, you can check out last month’s show where I featured women musicians that not only front the band, but also are the rhythm section. You can check out last month’s broadcast HERE.

Last Month’s Playlist

Ear Ring by Rainer Maria
End Bender by Magnetic Island
Filthy & Free by Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers
Next One Is Real by Pink Noise
Bloodletting by Spylacopa
For Those Things That Past by Let Fall The Sparrow
Just Give Up by The Evil Us
Rivers End by The Evil Us
Release by She Keeps Bees
Pretty as Pie by Helms Alee
The Major by Made Out of Babies
Transformer by Marnie Stern
I Don’t Know How to Act Here by Teletextile
Just for You by Object

Bringing you stories, live events, and much more, WHFR tries and remains independent of any corporate sponsorship.  So, if you like what WHFR is doing, you can donate by contacting us at info@whfr.org.  DIY forever baby!

Broad Strokes’s Schedule:

If you’re in a band or you know a band and or singer/song writer that would like to do a show, contact me at: roarplanet@gmail.com.

Broad Strokes this Wednesday, January 26 @ 8:00p.m.

I’ll be doing my radio show, Broad Strokes, this Wednesday, January 26 @ 8:00 p.m. on Washington Heights Free Radio (WHFR). This will be my first broadcast for the year so check it out. Learn how to listen HERE.

You can listen to last month’s broadcast HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last month’s playlist

Tell ‘Em by Sleigh Bells
Moving In (Remix) by Pink Noise
Memo to the Man by Zach Hill
Transparency is the New Mystery by Marnie Stern
Trouble! by Turbo Fruits
Just for You by Object
She’s Long Gone by The Black Keys
Next One is Real by Pink Noise
Inspiration Prod. Kev Brown by Epsilon Project
Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) Arcade Fire
Apologetic Shoulder Blades by Baths
I Walked by Sufjan Stevens
Slow by Twin Shadow
My Girls by Animal Collective
You Go, Uno by Kan Kick
What Does Your Soul Look Like (Part 4) by Dj Shadow

Bringing you stories, live events, and much more, WHFR tries and remains independent of any corporate sponsorship.  So, if you like what WHFR is doing, you can donate by contacting us at info@whfr.org.  DIY forever baby!

Also, if you’re in a band or know someone who is, and would like to be on the show, please email me at roarplanet@gmail.com.

Broad Strokes to Warm Up Your Holiday Spirit

As we near the close of twenty ten, there is a lot to reflect upon and be thankful for. Twenty ten was not an easy year for me, at the very beginning I felt troubled and lost, displaced would be the best word to describe my state of being. All it took was one phone call to change my gloomy direction. No, I didn’t discover Jesus, nor was it love or a new type of elixir…

I got a call from Magnetic Island (MI), saying that they wanted me to collaborate with them on a music project. I’ve always held MI in the highest of esteem as musicians, so much so I felt a tinge of intimidation after I had agreed to work with them.

They are great musicians, they passionately live and breathe music. I know that for a fact, because I witnessed this passion the morning that we were set to record Subterfuge, the MI single that I sang, played the drum-kit, and also played my steelpan on.

I had spent the night over at MI’s place, and the first thing they did the next morning, after breakfast, was grab their instruments: Lisa was on her guitar running through scales, and Sue was on her keyboards with headphones on. They taught me so much, or better yet they gave me so much hope…

Twenty ten brought me closer to my friends, family and also made me realize how important it is to have a really awesome boss: one who is generous and thoughtful, very rare and special.

At the curtail of this year, I was reconnected to how spiritual I am, thanks to a special lady, who probably doesn’t know how much of an impression she made. I’m so touched to have met her.  

These are all the things I’m thankful for this Christmas: friends, family, new beginnings… On and upwards!

I’d like to dedicate my last radio show for the year to all the peeps that made twenty ten a year full of laughter, growth and endless possibilities.  So prepare yourselves for a winter experience full of surprises on the next Broad Strokes broadcast!

During the intermezzo, you can listen to my show from last month HERE! showcasing most of the bands that played the Washington Heights Free Radio (WHFR) fundraiser/my bday party.

Playlist
The Shore by Magnetic Island formerly known as Renminbi
No One Cares by Object
Dr. Who by Telenovela Star
Clumsy by Coyote Eyes
Siren by Magnetic Island
End in Bender by Magnetic Island
Genius by Telenovela Star
Summer Phase by Magnetic Island
Yellow Red by Coyote Eyes
Fight Song by Magnetic Island
Subterfuge by Magnetic Island
Blue Chameleon by Object
BLMHYL by Telenovela Star
Just For You by Object

Bringing you stories, live events, and much more, WHFR tries and remains independent of any corporate sponsorship.  So, if you like what WHFR is doing, you can donate by contacting us at info@whfr.org.  DIY forever baby!

Also, if you’re in a band or know someone who is, and would like to be on the show, please email me at roarplanet@gmail.com.

Double Dose of Broad Strokes

Last month I did my radio show, Broad Strokes,  on Washington Heights Free Radio (WHFR), and it was a lot of fun.  I spent probably three hours listening to my collection, trying to find the right songs to play. I hope you enjoy what I came up with, listen HERE.

 

 

 

Playlist

 Sun by Caribou
Tightrope by Janelle Monae
Sprawl II Mountains Beyond Mountains by Arcade Fire
Hell’s Bells by Cary Ann Hearst
Maximalist by Baths
Sung (Not Said) by Magnetic Island
Normal by Envy
In the Fall by Future Islands (Featuring Katrina Ford)
Would Know by Mount Kimbie
Sleepless In Silver Lake by Les Savy Fav
Just For You by Object
Natural Selection by UNKLE (Featuring The Black Angels)
Aminals by Baths
Lady Daydream by Twin Sister
Junveniles by The Walkmen 

In August, I invited the experimental noise band The Boy With The Ice Cream Face to play an acoustic set, and they were fantastic. There’s banjo playing involved. You can listen HERE.

I’ll be on the radio again this coming Wednesday, October 27 at 8:00 p.m. with special guest:

She Keeps Bees

Rock duo from Brooklyn. These guys are awesome, I completely recommend tuning in. To listen go HERE.

Bringing you stories, live events, and much more, WHFR tries and remains independent of any corporate sponsorship.  So, if you like what WHFR is doing, you can donate by contacting us at info@whfr.org.  DIY forever baby!

Also, if you’re in a band or know someone who is, and would like to be on the show, please email me at roarplanet@gmail.com.

A week of radness.

This week started off, well, great. I went and saw a show at the Knitting Factory, on the mother of all school nights, Monday.  But, it was an opportunity to listen to Object‘s new works live, catch-up with friends, and then as a cherry on top, reaquaint myself with The Netherlands.

The Netherlands is a power trio out of Brooklyn, NYC.  I saw them maybe about two years ago, when the line-up included a female bass player, now changed to a dude on keys. 

They were on my 2008 list of bands I totally dug.    And I’ve been meaning to see them perform ever since that one show when they had blew my mind, so much so I bought all their cds. 

With their own sort of pyshedelic, punk, soulful grunge rock, you might suffer a head or neck injury from head thrashing to their music.  

Here’s the video I made of the Netherlands using my Flip:

I took a few shots:

Magnetic Island

 

On Wednesday, I had my radio show, Broad Strokes, on WHFR. 

 This month, I invited Magnetic Island, another fave of mine, to play a live acoustic set and they were freaking awesome. 

So gifted, just this week Magnetic Island dropped a demo that you can check out at Cash Music, and you can listen to the Broad Strokes broadcast here. 

Object on Broad Strokes

Last month, I invited Object to play live on my radio show, Broad Strokes, and it was pretty awesome to say the least.  They played an acoustic set with all new songs, and as I type, one of these new songs is being mixed for their next album!

What I love about these guys, one of the many things, is that they are so incredibly talented, sincere, and down to earth.  Okay that was three.  They are definitely good people, and great musicians.  

Today, while listening to the acoustic set, I thought if I had never seen them live and I just heard this acoustic recording,  I wouldn’t  expect the all encompassing swell of sounds from their electric live sets.  That’s how adaptable they are.  They can move to any element with ease, and without pretense.  All in all, Object can play some rock and roll.

Anyway, I’ll be hosting another Broad Strokes hour live on Washinton Heights Free Radio(WHFR), this Wednesday, March 31, at 9:00pm.    New tunes to feed the soul!

Bringing you stories, live events, and much more, WHFR tries and remains independent of any corporate sponsorship.  So, if you like what WHFR is doing, you can donate by contacting them at info@whfr.org.  DIY forever baby!

To listen to Object’s acoustic set and interview go here.

You can also read the Tom Tom (a magazine about female drummers) interview with Maria here.  She was featured as drummer of the week in February!

And if you haven’t had enough of my obvious obsession with OBJECT, you can read this.  Hey, I like what I like for reals.

Broad Strokes Live Tonight at Nine

Tonight at nine, I will be doing my monthly radio show, Broad Strokes, on Washington Heights Free Radio (WHFR).  To listen to the show, go to WHFR and click on Listen listed on top of the menu bar.

It’s been awhile since I have done a show.  So, I’m trying to keep my anxieties at bay.

However, I am excited, because I know this will be fun.  Especially since it is for the first time this year, 2010!

The show is live and direct from WHFR’s home: an apartment in Washington Heights.

I fine this inspiring, that you can do anything once you set your mind to it.  You can have a radio show in your apartment if you can dream, believe, be flexible and most of all endure.

Because I’ve been M.I.A for awhile,  I wanted to include so much on this broadcast.  But there is no time.  What I will do, however, is explain my absence on the air web.

WHFR has been experiencing some technical and financial difficulties, such as needing a new computer, and being a non-profit/grassroots web station they have and are doing most of this out of pocket.

Bringing you stories, live events, and much more, WHFR tries and remains independent of any corporate sponsorship.  So, if you like what WHFR is doing, you can donate by contacting WHFR at joe@kracfive.com.

Playlist

She Moves She by Four Tet
Head Techician by Object
Vertical Rhythm by Gossip
Ambling Alp by Yeasayer
Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division
Down in The Park by Kirb & Chris
Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart by Alicia Keys
You Do You by Bear In Heaven
Surrounded by Your Friends by Hooray for Earth
Silver Trembling Hands by The Flaming Lips
I Quit Girls by Japandroids
Destruction by Willowz
Repetition by ZAZA
Dance Alone by Transmission
Beating St. Louis by Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers

By the way, if you know of a band(s) that I should be listening too, or you are in a band that wants to be on the program, just send me a shout out: roarplanet@gmail.com.

It’s all about the bands

So last week I had my belly full of music.  Starting with this indie rock/alternative band from Paris called The Novels on Thursday night at Trash Bar.

Some photos of The Novels:The Novels

The NovelsThe Novels

And then there was Saturday night when partially, my dream came through (thanks DJ Mojo).  I saw two of my favorite bands play on the same bill at the House of Yes.  It’s been my dream that Renminbi, Object and TSTAR played on the same bill, so imagine my delight when both Reminbi and Object were sharing the stage.  It was freaking awesome, here, check it out, first up is OBJECT:

RENMINBI

Some photos of Renminbi:Renminbi

Renminbi

Renminbi

This Time of Year

Yup, it’s that time of year for list making and the best ofs…

But during this time of worry, wondering if my job is going to be there tomorrow, I’ve found this activity to be quasi healthy, as it perpetuates hopefulness. A promise. Something that I’m terrible at.

“Any tiny positive thing is good,” so says my lover, the Buddha. So, in an attempt to be hopeful about the future, I’ve created my list of favorite songs, and albums for 2008. Because as much as I make fun of her Buddha remarks, my lover is semi right. Reflecting on your favorite things, what makes you laugh, smile a little, that brings you joy is worth making a list of and keeping in your empty pocket, or maybe on your ipod.

In no particular order, here are a few of my favorite songs and albums, that kept me alive in 2008:

OBJECTObject’s Black Swan, because these kids reek awesomeness, especially live. I saw their last show for the year this past Friday night, and they did all new stuff, with the inclusion of their unrecorded and my favorite, Disappear. Most of their new stuff is instrumental metal, a new direction (maybe?), which began as a Halloween side project. These kids are sickly talented, and I can’t wait to hear what they bring in 2009. See previous post here: Object. Listen: OFF THE RECORD

THE NETHERLANDSThe Netherlands‘s BDF-German Hardcore, because they’re effin crazy, and their songs remind me of James Brown: some soul meets rock, meets noise possibly? My faves: Teenage Sun, BDF-German Hardcore, Warleola!, The Gogo Dancer, and The Cocain Knightz. This is a great band. I can’t wait for their insanity to explode. Listen: BDF GERMAN HARDCORE

YO! MAJESTYYo! Majesty‘s Kryptonite P***y EP and Futuristically Speaking… Never Be Afraid. Some of the words, and phrases I associate with Yo!: Risk Takers, Unapologetic, Dynamism, Hott, Scandalous, Blasphemous… Scandalous and Blasphemous because isn’t that what makes 2008 especially special? When we think about all our leaders being caught in the act, and all these words become attached to their behavior. Like “phenomena”, as if they’ve created a new trend. I wonder sometimes what exactly is phenomenal about what they’re doing, especially when they can get away with it. These guys, however, Yo! Majesty, push the queer in funkadelic, rap, hiphop. Added to this mix and their in your face lyrics Yo! fuses Soca and Club music, making their sound completely sick. Faves: Break Bread, Kryptonite P***y, Night Riders, Hott, Grindin’ And Shakin’, Never Be Afraid.

SWATI Swati‘s Big Bang. This is probably one of the most uplifting songs I’ve listened to in awhile. It makes me feel electric from my finger-tips to my toes. I walk to work imagining that I could play guitar like it was my sword, singing the lyrics like they were a spell, ready for whatever awaits me…

RENIMINBIRenminbi‘s The Phoenix. Renminbi, pronounced REN-MIN-BEE, is an experimental three piece, that kept changing drummers on me. My band had the opportunity to play with these guys, and they’re amazing: both as musicians and human beings. For me that’s all it takes. My faves: Lachine, Fight Song, Siren, The Shore. Listen: SIREN

pianowire1 Pianowire‘s The Throws, still gives me goose bumps, or as we say in Trinidad, make meh pause raise. So good. They’re a mixture of Elton John, Billy Joel and Queen. I also love Contact. These guys are coming out with an album soon. Listen: THE THROWS

Holy FuckHoly Fuck‘s Royal Gregory, because you couldn’t be in a much better mood after listening. It’s a great mixture of electronic, experimental and rock music. See, it’s very possible to like electronic music, once it’s done well and it’s not repetitive. Another band that I appreciate a lot, that does the same (bridging the gaps between electronic, experimental and rock) are the Battles.

The CoolLupe Fiasco‘s The Cool is supposedly an antithesis to Miles Davis’s Birth of Cool and if I may the Cool Jazz movement, as it critiques and decontructs the current “cool” state of hip hop (a derivative of bebop jazz) which no longer challenges the status quo, discusses social issues, but again and again chooses to be distracted by the bling and pussy.  Gwendolyn Brooks’s poem We Real Cool also comes to mind when listening to this album:

We Real Cool

THE POOL PLAYERS.
SEVEN AT THE GOLDEN SHOVEL.

We real cool. We
Left School. We

Lurk late. We
Strike straight. We

Sing sin. We
Thin gin. We

Jazz June. We
Die soon.

OBJECT

OBJECT is one of my favorite NYC indie rock bands. I first met these guys back in 2006, when my band was sharing a bill with them for a DJ Mojo show at Trash bar. I was immediately moved by the amount of power and noise that this duo dished out. It restored this belief I’ve had, if you’re creative and talented enough, anything is possible. But of course, this was before I realized that creativity and talent doesn’t mean anything if you don’t have the money to support the potential.

Since that night in July, 2006, my not so secret crush on Object has grown into a full blown obsession, so much so that both my lover and I have become familiar fixtures at an Object show. Well, not every show, but we did catch them at Crash Mansion this past Friday night. And they have excelled further, even as they played tunes from possibly their first EP.

After a listening session of Object’s latest album, Black Swan, a good friend of mine puts it well, “[Object] reminds me of a renovated, improved Soundgarden…” Honestly it took Soundgarden four players to invent and sustain such a swell of an all encompassing sound. Yeah you can argue that it’s all production, but if you’ve been to any of Object’s shows (even at the shittiesh venues in NYC), you’d become a believer, and think that there was never, ever a need for a second guitarist. If you didn’t know better, they’ll even trick you into thinking that having a bass player was unnecessary.

The immediate response is to compare them to the White Stripes. But even as a compliment, and as much as I like the White Stripes, this comparison just means you’ve been depending too much on pop culture for answers.

It’s like averaging an A grade against an A and C, making a B grade. Yes, indeed both the White Stripes and Object have a guy playing some incredible guitar, except Eric’s vocal range and control could quiet any emo boy’s crooning, and gals playing drums, but Maria’s fierce, complicated beats, can easily be one of the best, understated, drumming (male or female) out there in both the indie and mainstream scene.

Object’s music isn’t the tame lo-fi 80s carbon-copy that currently saturates the NYC scene. While most are opting for this easy way out, Object is progressively taking on what was left off from the grunge scene of the 90s.

In Black Swan, they take on these familiar comfort zones and win. They aren’t afraid of risking it. And it shows, particularly in a new song Disappear (not yet recorded, only available live). It’s clear that Object is fully aware of the trappings that comes from mastering a sound, a voice.

Check them out at their myspace page OBJECT.