There is NOTHING hotter than female musicians. Actresses are pretty hot but really they are just paid liars, fakers. And they’re almost all crazy. Maybe they lack a true sense of self so its easier for them to become other people. But musicians create something far more beautiful and universal! Most of actresses beauty comes from makeup, CGI effects and the occasional prosthesis. But a musicians beauty comes from their soul. (deep, I know).

But, whilst young popstar/trainwreck-in-training Britney Spears was physically peaking at the 2000 VMA’s, her pop predecessors were aging themselves to their current perfection. So I present to you, AvantTrash’s 6 Female Musicians that have gotten Hotter with age:

Have you seen Alanis Morrisette lately? The music has still dropped south of the listenable scale but she finally found the right hair color and is more gorgeous at 34 than 21 when Jagged Little Pill came out. (And hopefully has the same theatre habits). What prompted this list is this video from Howard Stern that features the Canuck talking about Ryan Reynolds, Promiscuous Sex and a foray into Lesbianism. (random fact: In the script for Dogma. Her line as God when asked the meaning of life was supposed to be, “One Word… Plastics.” Bonus Points if you get the homage.)

About to go back on the market and 50 in August is Madonna, although totally nuts, an African baby thief, still without vocal talent and a bad imitation of a guitar player is still “one tasty piece of bitch“. Sometimes she gets too buff for her frame, sometimes she looks transparent and I can see her vaney face (they don’t get much sun in England) but I think that Yid Yoga and Kaballah Karate Stuff is doing wonders on that amazing body she’s always had. I would hit it and so would you because at the end of the day she has encyclopedias of SEX in that ever wrinkling dome of hers. But lady, you can fix your teeth. You don’t have to look like the Brits. We have orthodontic technology now and it’s not plastic surgery. Even that Alien-Raper Tom Cruise tried to fix that mouth full of 2×4’s he wraps around David Miscavages little Hubbard. (That was a gross one, even for me, I know.)

Assuming you are old enough or retro-minded enough to remember young Kylie Minogue, awkward and tiny in her “Locomotion” days; you are assuredly pleased at the gorgeous Provacatuer this 40-year-old beauty has become. Something ‘I can’t get out of my head‘ is that side-baring curtain she was sporting in her infamous 2001’s video, looking like a sexy Jedi. Since then she has put out an asstounding amount of records, toured constantly, and even beaten breast cancer. But I can’t for the life of me put my finger in on what makes her so hot?

Former schoolteacher, Jingle Writer and Bad-era Michael Jackson backup singer Sheryl Crow has also kicked breast cancer’s sorry ass recently and came out of it more physically perfect than when she went in. She’s also probably outsold everyone else on the list. I’m willing to forgive her “Soak Up the Sun” and “The First Cut is the Deepest” infringements because her new record is decent protest music and her first 3 records are fucking chronic. At 46-years-old she still sounds the way she did when she broke out with Tuesday Night Music Club in her late 20’s. This photo of her “getting back” at John Mayer is proof that physically she probably hasn’t lost much either. She’s recently adopted a son and seems to live completely on her own terms on a farm outside of Nashville. Not bad for a girl from Missouri.

Despite recent beach photos on trashy blogs that I won’t name, the other Canadian songstress (not so fast Ann Murray) Sarah McLachlan is still at the top of my crush list. Better than Chocolate (in joke). She claims that she never found her true voice or really felt comfortable with her looks until she was nearly 30 (and got that sexy short haircut). The 40-year-old queen of Lilith Fair had me “Fallin” for the video of her writhing around in a bathtub. Her lyrics floor me, She is unbelievably talented as a musician and songwriter, she dedicated a huge deal of time to social causes and world relief, Surfacing is one of the best records ever made and she looks exactly like my co-conspirator AliUptown give or take a few freckles. And apparently her music lifted Darryl “D.M.C.” McDaniels out of depression.

I was raised around country music. My parents toured the midwest playing supper clubs and honky tonks and for some reason back then they let us kids hang around alcoholics in loud, smokey bars. But during all of that time I never heard of Emmylou Harris until I was a teenager. Even now I’m not terribly familiar with her older work, mostly collaborations with Mark Knopfler and Indie’s such as Bright Eyes that seem to worship at this Silver Fox’s feet. Is she the Steve Martin type who prematurely greyed? Because It seems to work for her. I’m sure she’s had some work done or some good airbrush artists have been on her photos because at 61-years-old is still hot enough to let me put her in this list without seeming like a GILF hunter.

Judge if you will but I propose a 25-year-old MINIMUM on success for women. Maybe then our society will figure out what is really hot and not swallow the load that douchey TMZ/PEREZ/Celebtarded Gossip Magazines are trying to sell them. The country has an extreme case of agism and ideal look dismorphia and I think these chicks are the cure.

Don’t take “chicks” the wrong way. Jesus, so sensitive.

A couple weeks late, I know. But I was describing it to someone and they were like…huh?

THE BPA - ‘TOE JAM’ FEAT. DAVID BYRNE & DIZZEE RASCAL
We love you David Byrne.

Lawsuits, lawsuits, lawsuits. You know I love ‘em. So…apparently McDonald’s has a Happy Meal toy that wears a red hat similar to Devo’s flower-pot-looking hat in the video for “Whip It”. Obviously, the fast-food chain was ‘inspired’ by the band. Some might say a little too inspired. What clinches it is the toy’s name: New Wave Nigel. Sounds cool, right? Not to bassist Gerald Casale, who informed the Australian Associated press that they are in the midst of a lawsuit. He states that the doll is a “Devo rip-off, and the red hat is exactly the red hat that I designed, and it’s copyrighted and trademarked.” Ouch.

The Happy Meal figurine is part of an “American Idol” themed set-each doll a different music genre: Disco Dave, Country Clay, Rockin’ Riley, Soulful Selma…you get the idea. The irony was not lost on Casale that a band that satirized mass culture was now being embraced by two of the biggest fixtures of the mainstream: McDonald’s and “American Idol.”

“We don’t like McDonald’s, and we don’t like ‘American Idol,’ so we’re doubly offended.”

See the offending doll for yourself:

Shit. George Carlin has passed. Comedian, Philosopher, Enemy of Censorship - This is how George Carlin should be remembered.

Piss. This morning on Indie 103.1 comedian Patton Oswalt said not to be sad for the loss of George Carlin because he would have hated people crying over his death instead of celebrating his life. I think we profane loudmouths have a lot to thank Mr.Carlin for. Carlin, Richard Pryor and Lenny Bruce were perhaps the 3 most important people to ever take on the conventions of “Decency” and what is considered “Profanity”. Because of them we have freedom in media and this here internets to say whatever the Fuck we want.

Cunt.

Cocksucker. In his 5 decades of comedy he produced 23 albums, won 4 grammys and wrote 3 bestsellers. If you haven’t checked out his 14 HBO specials, I recommend you do so.

Motherfucker. He and my Dad have the same birthday…the day after mine. And for fucks sake, he was Rufus.

Tits.

“Be Excellent To Each Other… Party On Dudes.”

Presenting the best white guy with a black guys voice since Adam Levine, Sam Sparro.

His album drops June 24th if you still buy CDs but you might want to snatch up a Vinyl of this because you will be playing it at your dance parties!

This is the kind of album that people will dance to and fall in love with each other. Wear a condom, kids; I don’t want to see a dance-inspired baby boom.

The singles “Black & Gold”(download) and “21st Century Life” will be the ones that suck you in. They’ve been spinning all over L.A. radio for the past month and I didn’t even figure out who it was until last week. This kids voice has an amazing soul quality reminiscent of the 70’s heavies! Hear for yourself…[myspace]. And he’s only 25. Jealous?

The Hump & Grind Rhythm and Synths in “Cottonmouth” will get you sweaty. “Recycle It!” is like an 80s PSA gone mad! “Clingwrap” eats a Parliment groove and throws enough Prince and Michael Jackson synths to choke a 10-year-old. This whole album plays to my vintage Roland Synth fetish in all the right places.

This record is CHRONIC! Apparently Mr.Sparro did a “Secret Show” at the Echo the other night but I missed it because of some minor alcohol poisoning and the accompanying personal guilt. I will be enjoying this album with a maximum of 3 drinks. What have I become… really!?

No shots please.

Video for Black & Gold.

I found this show by way of seeing what Vincent Kartheiser was up to post-Angel. It didn’t peak my interest at first, but I kept hearing and reading good things about it, so I decided to take the plunge and download it. It’s second season debuts on AMC July 27th, and I am sorely wishing I still had DVR.

Set in an advertising agency on Madison Avenue in the 1960’s, Mad Men depicts the changing social mores of America, highlighting the rampant sexism, racial bias, and un-PC behavior of its high-level ad execs. After showing the new secretary, Peggy (Elisabeth Moss) around, Joan Holloway (office manager and my girl crush) introduces the girl to her typewriter. “It looks complicated, but the men who designed it made it simple enough for a woman to use.” Later, the new girl visits the company doctor to get a prescription for the pill. The doc puffs on a cigarette while he examines her and warns the innocent out-of-towner “Easy women don’t find husbands. Don’t think you have to go out and become the town pump just to get your money’s worth.”

Joan (Christina Hendricks) is actually my favorite character on the show (sorry Vincent), mainly because shes fucking gorgeous and sultry and curvy and a redhead. Roger Sterling, partner at Sterling/Cooper, and one of Joan’s biggest fans refers to redheads as ‘the cherry on top of a vanilla milkshake’. Hot. She is the intelligent femme fatale of the show, who thinks that Mannhattan is “everything“.

My boy Vinnie (ew, did I actually just say that?) plays Pete Campbell, a young junior executive at Sterling/Cooper. He’s the black sheep of the office, but is tolerated for his socially influential family. He sexually pursues Peggy although he legitimately wants to be a good husband, and is eager to succeed at his job. He’s the guy you love to hate to love. I am, of course, completely attracted to his misogynistic prickishness (yes I made that word up).

Series creator Matt Weiner (one of the brains behind The Sopranos) wrote the pilot script eight years ago, wanting to portray the changes in American society at the time-the capitalism and social conservatism of the Eisenhower era and the privileged executives that cared less about how good the idea was, more about how well it was sold to the client.

As interesting as the show’s social and political commentary is, the private lives of the Sterling/Cooper employees are the icing on the cake-excess is always fun to watch. Between the material wealth and complete lack of fidelity, these executives are spoiled babies, looking around at their Roman Empires, and wondering what’s missing.

Don Draper (Jon Hamm), the protagonist of the show, is a perfect example of this-he rarely seems happy with his ‘perfect life’. Although his secrets and insecurities are crippling behind closed doors, he masks it with a fearless confidence. When confronted by a beatnik, who challenges: “Perpetuating a lie? How do you sleep at night?”, Don grins and shoots back: “On a bed made out of money.”

I like the show because it’s not the glossy caricature of 1960’s America. You see the grit and the imperfections. The costumes are wicked, and I think I’m gonna check out some vintage clothing patterns, cause I wanna be Joan Holloway. I love immersing myself in a completely different world. I’m lost 1960, and I don’t wanna come back.

When you are the son of the greatest singer-songwriter of all time, it’s going to be hard shake their shadow. I mean look at this review, already not even talking about him. He’s already doomed.

But Jakob Dylan’s first post-Wallflowers solo record “Seeing Things” holds up pretty well on its own. The most positive merit is the musicianship which is crisp to a maddening level. You can hear the pros that the Dylans tend to surround themselves with; and Jakob’s voice mixes with well. Dylan kept surprisingly less gravel in his voice but instead you hear some of the folkier dareisayit, Springsteen? Yes, this album is classified on iTunes as FOLK. I could be missing the point of the track but “War Is Kind” is almost even a protest song?

A bold move for someone who spent the last 2 records shaking his famous father.

I’ve been spinning this record on occasion for a couple weeks trying to get a solid bead on whether I like it or not and I haven’t thrown it off my balcony yet so I guess it must be passable. I’ve zeroed in on it’s perceived simplicity making it a repeat friendly (background?) record. You will hear ghosts of brilliance in the sparse guitar work of the lead off track “Evil Is Alive And Well” which I believe to be my favorite. The dark side of the simplicity is the lack of emotion behind Dylans vocal lines. Pretty, but without melodrama. I like melodrama with my acoustic. The dark side, as i was saying, is this albums LACK of dark side.

The cleanliness of this album began to bother me halfway through with Adult-Contemporary worthy singles like “Something Good This Way Comes”(in heavy Sirius rotation) and “On Up The Mountain”. At times Seeing Things turns into a record that I’m guessing only parents can understand. I am not, so i do not. Maybe you’ve knocked someone up, in which case I direct you to this solid acoustic record. Should you be looking for something a bit more like the Wallflowers… you’ll have to wait.

The “Thing” I wasn’t “Seeing” on this album is how it was produced by Rick Rubin. Too few cooks in this kitchen.

I give Seeing Things by Jakob Dylan a commendable 7/10 for its simplicity and possible truthfulness… and hope very soon for a rock record.

——

Catch Jakob Dylan currently on tour supporting Seeing Things:
June
27 - Chicago, IL - Metro
28 - Detroit, MI - St. Andrews Hall
29 - Charleston, WV - Mountain Stage
30 - Lexington, KY - Kentucky Theatre
July
01 - Lexington, KY - Kentucky Theatre
03 - Buffalo, NY - Lafayette Square
04 - Rothbury, MI - Rothbury Festival
05 - Des Moines, IA - Music Coalition
06 - Milwaukee,WI - Summerfest
08 - Austin, TX - Austin City Limits Taping
10 - Ottawa, ON - Ottawa Bluesfest
13 - Winnipeg,SAS - Winnipeg Folkfest
15 - Los Angeles, CA - Tonight Show w/ Jay Leno
August
02 - Newport, RI - Newport Folkfest
09 - Edmonton,ALB - Edmonton Folk
17 - Lyons, CO - Folks Festival
31 - Seattle, WA - Bumbershoot
September
26 - Austin, TX - Austin City Limits Music Festival- Zilker Park

Omahan Conor Oberst has announced a lengthy solo tour to accompany his impending solo LP due out August 5th.

Why even drop the name Bright Eyes? Bright Eyes is Conor Oberst. No offense to Mike Mogis and Nate Wolcott, they are both very talented but everyone else on stage with Conor is just “you know, those guys in Bright Eyes’ band”. And actually he is still bringing Nate with on this tour, along with Maria Macey Taylor, Taylor Hollingsworth, Nik Freitas, and Rilo Kiley’s Jason Boesel in his band called the Mystic Valley Band. I’m guessing this naming followed a couple days visit with Mescalito.

You can stream 2 of the tracks on ConorOberst.com now. Let me know if you get a pre-release.

So dare I shell out 40 bucks tomorrow morning to see him at the Trubadour August 5th? A CD release show of sorts? Probably not. He seems to loathe his audiences and never fails to play exactly what nobody else wants to here. I’ll wait for a smaller Bright Eyes show.

North American Tour Dates
7/25 Billings, MT Bones Brewing
7/27 Calgary, AB Calgary Folk Festival
7/29 Vancouver, BC Richards on Richards
7/30 Seattle, WA Neumo’s
7/31 Bend, OR Midtown Ballroom

I don’t know what they are actually called. Hipster Holster is just the first name I came up with, or Guido Gizmo Gunbelt for the fans of alliteration. It set me back a bit one night following a short punk down Hollywood Blvd into Tiny’s K.O. and seeing black holster straps over his white sleeve-removed button up; until I saw that the holsters were not for a .38 snubnose but rather for a Sidekick and a Camera.

For all practical purposes they make total sense. Between my Razr and Casio Exilim I have 2 of the thinnest pieces of tech out there and I still feel bogged down by technology. I’m on the fence about bringing a small messenger bag with me when I go out. And its hard enough to get laid without having to carry around a man-purse. Even if I got an iPhone (which could happen) that still wouldnt be enough of a camera to replace what I carry now so I’d still be hauling the same amount of junk around. Why not free up my pockets with a holstervso I can get some tighter jeans? (j/k…sorta)

So are these Hostlers so lame they are hip, so lame they are lame (because really I think they are lame), or are they so functional they are ironically hip? I think this design is the offspring of a mobster and a tourist. Because the first thing it reminded me of what a fanny pack.

Drop us a comment and let us know…HOT OR NOT?

I knew this entire dance in middle school. The chick to Aaliyah’s right is Fatima Robinson, the choreographer. This video made me want to wear green lipstick. Man, I loved MTV then-if for no other reason than all the dancing in videos. That was ten years ago, wowza.

The song is listed as the 387th on the ‘The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born‘. Whatever that means.

So my roommate and I ventured off to the Northwest Side (represent) to eat us some ribs and watch us some bands. The Republic Tigers were the first band of the day, and most people were still wandering into the area, the grills were just starting to fire up, good smells and good sounds were soon to follow. Of course, the second the music started, the sky opened up, and Heaven had a good cry. Sprinkles soon turned to tsunami rainfall within minutes. We sought shelter under the tarp where the makeshift sound booth was, while others stood in the pouring rain, their umbrellas making a laughable attempt to keep them dry. See the wetness?

Considering all the PA speakers were covered in blue tarps, and the weather was on the verge of apocalyptic, the sound quality was impressive. The band themselves rocked on, every now and then edging further and further away from the stage front to avoid the inevitable flooding. After about 15 minutes, it was deemed a lost cause and unfortunately, that was the end of the show.

They definitely have an indie-rock flair, but there’s something delicate amidst the rock. There’s a nice contrast between the soft acoustic sounds, and almost 80s-ish keyboard sounds, and that’s what made them so appealing. They definitely kept the attention of the crowd, which was everyone and anyone. They did come down and take time to meet everyone afterwards, very personable (and attractive) dudes.

I managed to stay mostly dry and have a good time. Although I can’t say much for the ribs (or the 6 dollar funnel cake), the band was definitely worth the trip. I wish they could have finished their set, or better yet, had a later time slot, and therefore a much bigger audience to impress.

*sidenote: In the picture, the two girls in the orange Republic Tigers t-shirts couldn’t have been older than 14, and absolutely gushed over the guys. It was sickeningly adorable. One of them flew into Chicago from Tallahassee to see them, after stumbling across them on XM radio a month prior. Now that’s a fan.

Here’s a quick email interview I did with the Republic Tigers before the show, questions answered by Kenn Jankowski, lead vocals/keys/guitar guy:

Avanttrash: Tell me about your influences in music.

Kenn Jankowski: We have many individual influences. But collectively, I’d say we all really love most of the “headphone” bands, like the Flaming Lips and Blonde Redhead. It’s not enough for bands to have beautiful recordings though. We mainly enjoy the ones that have obvious threads of classical influence within the chord flow and melody.

AT: What is the Kansas City music scene like? How does it differ from what you’ve seen in other cities while touring?

KJ: Massively supportive. If you don’t like our band, but you explain to me what kind of music you do like, I can introduce you to a Kansas City band that meets your demands. I see trends within cities, when we travel - it usually seems like 80% of any given city’s music all sounds similar. Where as, Kansas City has Ssion, In The Pines, Namelessnumberheadman, Deep Thinkers, The Rich Boys, Roman Numerals, Ghosty, Ad Astra Per Aspera, Be/Non, Olympic Size, Paper Cities, Beautiful Bodies, Vedera, Bacon Shoe, and American Catastrophe just to name a few.

AT: How does being from the Midwest influence your sound?

KJ: Occasional twangy pronunciation. That’s about it.

AT: Any old bands? What do you bring from those past experiences to Republic Tigers?

KJ: He who smelt it, dealt it.

AT: What’s next after Ribfest?

KJ: Finishing out the tour with Nada Surf - Indianapolis, Columbus, and Cleveland. Then we go home for a few weeks and play a benefit show in KC on June 28th at Crosstown Station. West coast touring after that. Not really sure beyond.

Moral of the story: Good guys, good music, catch them if they come to your area. Pray for sunshine.

I’ve heard that it’s nuts over at HBO right now. Total “reorganization”, firings, and lots of people jumping ship. Looking at SHOwtime’s current lineup of Californication, Dexter, This American Life, Weeds, Bullshit, The L Word and now british export Secret Diary Of A Call Girl, I can see why. With the recent finales of The Sopranos and The Wire, and Big Love MIA, I gotta wonder what HBO is doing on the sidelines? Get into the game so I have something to design!

There are hundreds of Billboards for Weeds and Secret Diary around L.A. but I didn’t even realize that the star of the latter was Billie Piper from the first two seasons of Doctor WHO (2005). Rose Tyler as a classy hooker?…sure I’ll check it out! The first 2 episodes of the british version are online right now, i suggest you do the same.

I still love you HBO. But when are you bringing back Tales from the Crypt?

I, being from Nebraska, am a huge fan of The Faint. Luckily they are touring through L.A. doing 2 nights at the Fonda. I just might have to see them both. And after 4 years of waiting …a new record!

Press Release:
A culmination of nearly four years of writing and recording, Omaha quintet, The Faint are preparing to release their fifth album, Fasciinatiion, on August 5 on the band’s own newly-formed label, blank.wav. Working on their own without any time constraints, the songs went through many recorded incarnations before finding their final forms. The result is the best album in the band’s career, a record that is the purest culmination of The Faint’s brilliant musical instincts, ideas and aesthetic, with each member contributing equally to its creation.

In honor of the recent release of Priscilla Ahn’s debut album A Good Day and her recent appearance on Jay Leno. Here is an Email Interview I did with Ms.Ahn a couple weeks ago:

AvantTrash: When i’d seen you last year at a school fundraiser in the back of a store; your set painted a lovely picture of Pennsylvania. How would you describe your upbringing?
Priscilla Ahn: In general, it was pretty quiet. My parents were strict as I got older, so I didn’t go out much and “party”. I spent most of my time at school. I was involved in sports and music and drama, which took up most of my time. When I got home I studied. The older I got, the more I fought with my parents, so I tried to spend most of my time in my bedroom, reading, playing guitar….

AT: What made you pick up the guitar or start writing songs?
PA: My Dad always urged me to do it. But I never had any real interest in it until 9th grade, when a guy I liked played the guitar really well, like James Taylor style. I thought it was the coolest thing, and dug out my mom’s old guitar she had brought with her from S. Korea.

AT: Did you tour? Did you do the coffee house circuit? Any busking or singing for your dinner?
PA: When I first started out I did a lot of coffee houses. I also tried to get gigs anywhere I could. A lot of those places were restaurants and bars. I’d play for like, 3 hours, and make $60. I never liked to “busk”. I was never in a position where i had to, so i figured why should i? it’s exhausting work. But when my family and I were on vacation at the beach, my dad made me sing for change on the boardwalk. I was into the first night, but then…..well, like i said….it’s exhausting. You’re constantly giving energy to a majority of people who didn’t care, and your only real validation that people like you, is their loose change. Although, i have to say, I didn’t do too bad.

AT: And the trip out to L.A.? What prompted it and how was your trip out here?
PA: My first trip out here was with 2 other musicians. Our goal was to write songs on the road. We never wrote anything, but the traveling was unforgettable. And the moment we drove into L.A. I knew it was a place I wanted to be. So….one month later I packed up my car and drove out. It took me 5 days. It was truly an adventure. I was 19, traveling alone across the country, staying in hotels by myself for the first time, blasting Led Zeppelin in my Saturn. It was cool.

AT: I heard you waitressed… where was it and how long did that last?
PA: I waitressed at a restaurant called Cheebo. I was there for a year.

AT: How did you get hooked up with Joey Waronaker?
PA: My manager hooked me up with him. We had coffee and I really liked his personality, and we became friends from there.

AT: How was the Hotel Cafe tour? Who do you think is going to be the next big thing from that group?
PA: The tour was a lot of fun. All good people, singing together, traveling together. It was pretty cool. I have no idea who’s gonna “blow up” next. I’m never really good at guessing those things, cuz the ones you would think are the least likely to, are playing in the grocery store the next day. I can say, though, that I listen to Buddy’s album ALL the time. He gave me an advance copy of it about a year ago (lucky me!) and i think i’ve worn it out.

AT: With all the craziness in the music business, where do you see music going?
PA: Who knows? It seems like it’s going into the hands of whoever wants it, really. Music will always be one of the most popular forms of art and entertainment. It’s just, how people hear it, and how people choose it, that’s changing. I love that music is available wherever you are, and that I can record a song on my laptop and post it to a bunch of people on myspace in a matter of a few hours, or less. Things are just gonna get faster and more efficient…..and smaller probably.

AT: Thanks for your time.
PA: no prob! :)

—–
How Lovely. So a couple days ago I asked for people to send me emails telling me why they should get Priscilla’s CD and that I’d give them to the best 2 answers. Well the winners were Tonya Howell from Grand Island, NE and Mrs. Beth Miller from Lebabon, PA
Mrs. Miller Wrote:

Priscilla Hartranft Ahn is from Bernville, PA but also descends from Korea.
I was her high school counselor at Tulpehocken High School where she was encouraged to follow her heart and not the expectations of others.
She resisted those enormous conformity pressures and look what has flourished!
I am a proud mama. We are a Tulpehocken Proud village.
That is why I want to win the CD.
Otherwise, I will have to call her mother and pay for one!
(^_*)
Mrs. Beth Miller, retired

Wow! My guidance counselors weren’t that helpful!
Tonya Howell wrote:

Why I should get the CD? Because her song “Rain” has gotten me through these massive amounts rainy days, flooded basements and sewer back-ups on the island that is Grand. I included it on my mix: http://www.mixwit.com/tonya_howell/rain-more-rain-even-more-rain

Yeah that weather stuff is nasty. We don’t have that stuff in L.A. anymore. Congrats to the winners and stay tuned for more contests and a LOT more live reviews!

My first exposure to Priscilla Ahn was through sheer coincidence. Early Last year I was working for a band who happened to be playing a little benefit show in an exotic home interiors store in Eagle Rock. The opener was the featherweight Phoebe Cates (or yes, Winnie Cooper) stand-in Ms.Ahn. With her guitar and handful of toys and gadgets she made the space her own little world. Her songs transported me into to a place that you’d think only she’d been. But what really slayed me was the delicate orchestra coming off of one small person. With the aide of a Boss loop station pedal she made enough music to fill 3 coffee houses. So of course I’d wondered what it would sound like if she actually had a full band behind her.

Flash forward a year to the night of the release of her debut album A Good Day, where Priscilla and her parlor full of band members took the stage of the Hotel Café. The house was packed with a surprisingly high contingency of asian fans (role model?) and some buzz seeking industry and media reps. I joined a photo pit of about 7 packed into the small corner off stage left and prepared to be destroyed with a feather.

Priscillas stage persona is a tiny ball of artisitic elation, at once nervous and as comfortable as if she were singing to herself…which she eventually did (in loops). The room was stuffy but a cool breeze flowed from the opening numbers of Priscillas set with “Wallflowers” and the Dylan/Lennon Harmonica infused “I don’t think so”. She beamed as she announced the albums release and proclaimed that she was going to “play the whole damn thing”. Which she nearly did… minus the albums’ title track. Her co-penned song “Astronaut” stuck out of the middle of her set just as it does on the album with a storytellers jumble of The Ditty Bops meets “Mr. Kite”.

Even the smallest band would feel crowded on the Hotel Café’s Stage, but veterans such as bandleader/producer/mentor Joey Waronker played to perfection and drove songs like “Red Cape” beyond what the very capable Ahn could do solo. As I was debating the merits of her work with a band and solo Ahn broke out her ukulele for “Find My Way Back Home” and proved how absolutely powerful she could be with just 4 strings and no accompaniment.

But what makes a Priscilla Ahn show is the personality transferred through her storytelling. Debatably the most beautiful song in her cadre is “Lullaby” which comes with a wonderful story about small town escapism and unqualified local policemen; sealed with her Joni Mitchell to Delores O’Riordan vocal outro. As the set was winding down she also shared her story of Willie Nelson’s reaction to her cover of “Opportunity to Cry” before launching into the song with folk swing.

The evening was capped with her “Dream” of a new single which builds to a peak with a looped armada of perfectly harmonized siren calls from Ahn. The added layers of Upright Bass, Drums, Keys, Electric Guitar and Two Cellos pushed this showstopper to the brink of spiritual enlightenment.

The assumed Encore and closer was the kazoo soloed “The Boob Song”, an older fixture of her set with more great storytelling and playful teenage introspection. A fun close to a great set, Priscilla Ahn is full of promise and potential. She radiates a joy in creation and performance that you won’t see too often in bitter, navelgazing hipsters on dark stages in Silverlake. Although my shirt was sticking to my back and the Hotel Café had to be its typical high 80s climate, I felt refreshed by this show as if i’d just walked through the rain.

9.4/10

This video just reminded me to change my party affiliation back to Independent (I registered Democrat only for the Primary). I think joining either team guarantees that you are rolling over to take a corporate sponsored dildo up the ass. I can’t vote neither so at least I’ll vote for the one who talks about helping the environment, women’s rights and marriage equality; even if they never really do anything about it.

thanks to Shannon for the video.

I saw Priscilla Ahn at the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood for her CD Release Show tonight. She is still amazing! I will be posting a glowing review and an interview tonight. In case you want a little taste of Priscilla Ahn then set your Chin seeking TiVo tonight (Wed) and catch her performing her single “Dream” to perfection on the Tonight Show.

To celebrate her amazing CD Release, Filter Magazine has hooked me up with 2 copies of A Good Day to give away to 2 lucky AvantTrash readers. All you have to do to get one is to email me at contest[at]avanttrash.com and tell me where Ms.Ahn is from and why you want the record. HINT I’ll pick the 2 best.

Massive amounts of reviews coming soon, its been a busy week.

I’m going to call this a Weekly Trashing even though I’m not really complaining about anything. I just haven’t done one in a while. But I have something to bitch about anyway, just hold on.

I bought a nice TV recently. I’ve never owned anything besides a shitty tube TV ever. I didnt even own a television for the first year I lived here in L.A. I figured, “Why get one when I can watch everything online?” But then I got my SNES and NES sent out here (Zelda ain’t gonna save herself ya know). Be Jealous, when was the last time you played Starfox anyway? I picked it up the other day and killed the shit in 20 minutes. How  is it I can I remember where every power up is on a game I played 15 years ago but can’t remember simple things at work sometimes? *shakes fist at sky*

So part of my magical new TV in its autoprogramming glory found all of these MAGICAL digital channels. My remote has a decimal point on it! What else has been hiding from my periphery? It’s like when you find out that everyone you know orders a slice of cheese on their apple pie! Sounds crazy but its true and its as if the whole world is in on the conspiracy.

So you know I’m not totally hopeless, I’d heard of digital radio before; I just didn’t know about all of these magic channels. Some of them seem kinda JV. If only this opened TV up to Pump Up The Volume style pirate stations! But alas, we’re totally in a police state. Authorities have no heart for creativity. They want to teach you to be resourceful but once you figure out their little system they put you away. Specific example: some kids in Ontario, CA got busted recently for hacking into their schools computer system and changing their grades (WarGames?). Dude, if you’re smart enough to break your school’s security then that should be your pass from high school. What worldly knowledge to you need to know beyond that?

IT guys are loaded. Teachers make shit.

I have a sad Mac. I fucked up the screen, and it’s getting a “not covered under warranty” repair. So that’s why I’ve been sans-posting. I am expecting an email from the Republic Tigers soon, I caught them at Ribfest Chicago last weekend-review/interview/story to follow soon.

Anywho, the July 08 issue of Elle Magazine is incredible, and whilst killing time at my soul-crushing job, I stumbled across a mini-article about Ketamine.

Apparently it is now on the list of recreational drugs that shows promise as a remedy for mood disorders. With testing, it is proving to be a potential treatment for depression, more specifically, overcoming one of the greatest obstacles in treating depression: the ‘crucial lag time before medication takes effect’. That period is considered particularly high-risk for suicide. Most antidepressants can take weeks to kick in and take effect (while sometimes not working at all), while ketamine takes hours.

According to an experimental trial published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, 71% of subjects had a significant reduction in their symptoms after an infusion of ketamine. I’m interested to see any follow-up research on this theory. Apparently, those crazy club kids were on to something. I’m gonna go watch Party Monster.

Way cute, and a fair interpretation of how I feel tonight: