Sandy

November 16, 2012 By Chris Taillie Leave a Comment

There has been so much moving media coverage, and shocking videos and photos, of Sandy and its aftermath. CNN recently said that the Staten Island Advance was doing reporting worthy of a Pulitzer for their home turf coverage in the wake of the storm.

But one of the most moving pieces I’ve heard was the Nov 6 episode of WFMU’s The Best Show. FMU got hit hard by the storm – lost power, damage to their transmitters, and had to cancel their annual record fair. Host Tom Scharpling front-loaded the show with Jersey’s best and brightest musicians, took calls with a $9 “burner” and gave a candid, emotional soliloquy on the devastation the storm had on his home-state and NYC. A must-listen, Friend of Tom or not, and a strong reminder that our neighbors still need our help.

FMU extended their silent fund-raiser to help recover from this storm, go here for more info: https://www.wfmu.org/marathon/

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: hurricane, relief, Sandy, Staten Island, WFMU

Get your monophonic subtractive synthesis on

May 22, 2012 By Chris Taillie Leave a Comment

Google Doodle has brought out the big guns with a playable Minimoog synthesizer to honor the birthday of Bob Moog on May 23. Because its May 23 in Japan and Australia already, you can play it today! And its hooked up to a little recorder, too.

Go here to get your synthesis on: http://www.google.com.au/

More on celebrating Moog:
http://createdigitalmusic.com/2012/05/bob-moogs-birthday-videos-benefit-swag-apps-and-a-playable-google-doodle/

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Boob Moog, Google Doodle, Moog, Synthesizer

Nonnas (Italians Grandmas) man a kitchen in Staten Island

April 6, 2012 By Chris Taillie Leave a Comment

NPR Morning Edition recently talked to some of the staff at Enoteca Maria, a wonderful and quirky restaurant on the north shore of Staten Island. I’ve had some great meals there and was happy to hear them on the radio, pots and pans clanging in the background.

The kitchen is staffed by a rotating cast of “nonnas,” Italian grandmother’s who turn out everything from sweetbreads, stewed pigs feet, whole roasted fish and rabbits to pillowy lasagna. My favorite part is the gratis antipasti tray of tiny dishes to snack on – sauteed zucchini, chick peas, pickled veggies, caponata, olives, sardines…different every time you go. Every restaurant should do this. And it’s well worth a ferry ride or Verrazano bridge toll.

Listen to the story here: NPR

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: food, Foodies, Grandma, Italian, Kitchen, Lasagna, New York Restaurant, Nonna, npr, Staten Island

Impromptu Grand Canyon concert

March 13, 2012 By Chris Taillie Leave a Comment

The Barr Brothers never fail to impress me with their musicianship and creative spirit. While venturing across the US last fall the Montreal quartet made it a mission to perform on the ledge of the Grand Canyon. Naturally a crowd gathered as they were setting up their huge harp, harmonium, water xylophone – so the band asked their new fans to shoot video of the impromptu desert show. They cobbled it together in this beautiful version of “Beggar In The Morning.” If I only had one song to listen to while viewing the grand canyon this would have to be it.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Arizona, Beggar in the Morning, Grand Canyon, Harp, Ledge, Montreal, The Barr Brothers

Where to Eat

January 17, 2012 By Chris Taillie Leave a Comment

I’m a sucker for good year end list (aren’t we all?). I’ve thoroughly waded through many of the music lists and now I’ve got my sights set on…FOOD!

My new years resolution is not to lose weight or eat healthier but to visit as many restaurants as I can on Adam Platt’s Top 101 list and Sam Sifton’s Top 10 new joints of 2011 list. Here’s a slideshow.

The Times’ $25 and Under crew also made their own Top 10 list.

Started the year with the Franks’ Prime Meats, which was amazing and heavily meat-focused. Our spread included roasted marrow bones, lamb stew, sauerkraut with pork belly, beef tongue and sausages (!)…gut-busting, cold weather eatin’ at its finest.

NY Mag's Adam Platt listed his top 101 NYC restaurants to visit

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: adam platt, food, foodie, Frank's Prime Meats, new york times, NY restaurants, Sam Sifton, top restaurants

If only this was the real NYC subway map

January 9, 2012 By Chris Taillie Leave a Comment

WNYC has been airing a special series this week on NYC subway lines that were planned but never came to fruition, along with abandoned stations and tunnels that were never (or have yet to be) completed. Check out the mythical line that would’ve connected Brooklyn to Staten Island. And the line that would’ve gone from Canal Street to Williamsburg. Let’s not even get started on the 2nd Avenue line. If only!

Here’s a link to the interactive map and go here to see a slide show of FDR’s old train and a number of unfinished/abandoned stations.

current maps of NYC subway system with a number of planned lines that were never executed - courtesy WNYC

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: 5 buroughs, MTA, NYC subway, planned lines, public transportation, subway system. WNYC

Papas Got a Brand New Bag

December 1, 2011 By Chris Taillie Leave a Comment

Warren Haynes graces the cover of the December issue of Relix, an in-depth profile on the guitar god who has been performing and touring non-stop since he was 16 with some of the world’s greatest bands. This year he released his lauded, mighty soul record ‘Man In Motion,’ debuted his new band with a 5-month world tour and became a proud papa, welcoming a son to his happy family (congrats, Warren!).

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: 2011, relix, warren haynes

Long live CMJ

October 28, 2011 By Chris Taillie Leave a Comment

Every year there seems to be discussion about whether CMJ still matters, and if it will, and/or should, continue to exist. Well, CMJ is always one of the highlights of my year (last year I saw 35 bands) and I hope it continues for as long as it can!

This time around I got to spend a lot of it with The Barr Brothers from Montreal. They are insanely talented and insanely sweet people and played 4 shows including The Apple Store and the always great M For Montreal showcase and emerged from the hubbub as one of the break out acts of 2011 with over-capacity gigs, landing on Top 5 (NPR) and Top 10 (AM New York) preview lists, in festival recaps and more. I snapped some photos along the way (and got to see some other great bands too).

The Barr Brothers perform in the crowd @ The Apple Store

jetting over the W'Burg bridge for more Barr Bros CMJ action

just about to play their final CMJ show @ Rockwood, check out that harp!

a tiny portion of the band's huge collection of mad-scientist instruments being packed away on Allen Street post-Rockwood show

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Tagged With: Barr Brothers, CMJ, CMJ 2011

Rave On Warby Parker

September 12, 2011 By Chris Taillie Leave a Comment

I spent part of my summer working on the fantastic Rave On Buddy Holly record – and am also a proud wearer of Warby Parker glasses (as are a couple other Shore Fire staff members), so in a confluence of events went to the Warby Parker/Rave On Buddy Holly Fashion Night Out Party last night at Partners and Spade in NOHO.

Rave On Buddy Holly and Warby Parker, a super cool and affordable NYC-based eyeglasses company, teamed up to celebrate what would have been Buddy’s 75th BDAY with cake, booze, and a performance by Rave On contributor Justin Townes Earle. Rave On producers Randall Poster and Gelya Robb were in attendance and JTE put on a great set. Buddy deserves his own national holiday, but this party was a good NYC way to celebrate.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Buddy Holly, Buddy Holly Birthday, Eyeglasses, Fashion Week, Glasses, Justin Townes Earle, NYC, Rave On Buddy Holly, Warby Parker

Honeyboy Edwards on YouTube

September 8, 2011 By Chris Taillie Leave a Comment

The world lost a blues icon recently when David Honeyboy Edwards passed away. Many outlets have paid tribute to this national treasure with pieces on his legacy as an original delta blues musician and one of the last surviving members of this esteemed group. I think YouTube’s is best, though: a curated playlist of 42 videos.

Open this video directly on YouTube’s site and all 42 will play in sequence, a great new YouTube Music feature. Check out this eMusic Blue Note Class of ‘64 playlist too!

Smithsonian Folkways also has a number of Honeyboy’s recordings in their catalog.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: blues, Honeyboy Edwards, playlist, Smithsonian Folkways, YouTube
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