This morning Matt Hanks and I met up with Debbie Harry, Miss Guy (from the hot new band Goonsquad) and Rational Animal founder Susan Brandt for a couple of TV appearances to promote the upcoming Gimme Shelter: Rock & Rescue benefit at the Highline Ballroom on Monday, Oct. 6. Our first stop was CW11 studios and then we headed downtown to the Morrison Hotel Gallery Soho Loft where Debbie and Guy were interviewed by the famous Lauren Glasberg (New Yorkers may know her from Taxi TV).

Watch the CW segment here.

Watch the ABC segment here.

Also, tune in this weekend to catch Rational Animal founder Susan Brandt on the weekend morning show on WCBS in NYC.

See the photo of above of us taken after the ABC shoot. (from left to right: Carrie Tolles, Miss Guy, Lauren Glasberg, Matt Hanks, Debbie Harry, Susan Brandt)

Like Jeff Tweedy says “out of site out of mind” which is why I forgot how much I loved WILCO until I saw them perform last night at the McCaren Pool. They are one of my all time favorite live bands (up there with My Morning Jacket and Radiohead) and it’s been almost three years since I’ve seen them perform. The first time was at Radio City and the last time was NYE 2006 at MSG with the Flaming Lips – both spectacular shows.

However there was something different about last night’s show – the music was mind-blowing as usual but Jeff Tweedy was more engaging than ever. He joked with the Brooklyn crowd and complimented them on their clapping skills calling them “free-thinkers” for creating a new rhythm – he boosted everyone’s spirits and the energy at the show was overwhelmingly positive. They played songs from ‘Sky Blue Sky,’ ‘A Ghost Is Born,’ one of my personal faves from ‘Mermaid Ave.,’ Woody Guthrie’s “California Stars” and they pulled out some old hits from ‘Being There’ (which happens to be the first Wilco record I bought) and ‘Summerteeth.’ Check out Brooklyn Vegan’s review of the show here:

Wilco @ McCarren Pool, Brooklyn, NYC – pics & setlist

Interesting the different take he has on Tweedy’s banter – guess it’s all about perspective.

This weekend Lauretta and I went to the All Points West Music Festival. We trekked from downtown Manhattan via the Path train and the Light Rail to Jersey’s fine Liberty State Park. It was a lovely day for an outdoor festival.

The festival grounds were a little chaotic with 30,000 music fans roaming freely but interestingly enough we ran into our friends without the aid of cell phones. In the massive crowd watching the Kings Of Leon I spotted my childhood friend Katie and her boyfriend Matt. Then a stage away we ran into Shore Fire staffer Robby Krauser and his wife Natalie who were hanging with music scribe Tad Hendrickson.

Me, Robby, Natalie and Tad Hendrickson watching The Roots

Sadly due to the insane lines we missed one of my favorite bands the Felice Brothers. The music was great! We saw sets by The Black Angels, The Roots, The Kings Of Leon and the evening was capped off by Radiohead’s phenomenal closing set. From now on as long as I live I vow to never miss a local Radiohead show.

RADIOHEAD!!!!

I snagged the hottest ticket in town last night for the NYC premiere of Sex and The City. Naturally I am obsessed with the show as a twenty something New York lady and the movie lives up to all the hype – it was fabulous! I left feeling exhilarated and inspired, especially when it comes to fashion. Stylist Patricia Field is a genius – the costumes were incredible. And seeing NYC shine on the big screen was also and joy but my favorite part of the film was the message it was all about love and friendship – the most important things in life. Sappy I know, but true.

Being at the premiere alongside the movers and shakers of the entertainment and fashion industry was exciting as well. I came face to face with Donald Trump and his lovely wife Melenia, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Anna Wintour.

Last Friday Matt Hanks and I joined Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova at GOOD MORNING AMERICA for a performance as part of their Friday concert series. Though I have the Once Soundtrack on constant rotation on my ipod this was the first time I have seen them perform the songs live. I must say if you find the music moving on record or in the film just imagine how powerful it is from just a couple of feet away – absolutely incredible! After their performance Matt and I grabbed a photo with the lovely duo in the green room.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Djg3_eMv8j4]

On Saturday night the Great Northwest descended on lower Manhattan hitting the stage of the Bowery Ballroom where Blitzen Trapper and Fleet Foxes performed. Blitzen Trapper is my new favorite band. I’m wild about their latest album ‘Wild Mountain Nation’ – no pun intended. I danced my butt off through out their set of twangy Big Star inspired rockers. Washington’s Fleet Foxes opened for them and had the packed house in a trance with their ethereal folk rock harmonies. Watch the Youtube video of BT above and check out the bands myspace pages below –
www.myspace.com/blitzentrapper
www.myspace.com/fleetfoxes

Hanging out with talented and enigmatic musicians is one of my favorite things about my job. This past week I had the pleasure of spending time with the Austin ensemble Future Clouds and Radar. Prior to their stellar performance at Pianos last Wednesday the band and I stopped by WNYC Soundcheck where they performed a couple of songs. And on Monday we made a visit to Fearless Music:The TV Show where the band taped a segment which will air on the FOX network this fall.

WNYC Soundcheck

Fearless Music: the TV Show

Anyone who has spent enough time with me has heard me gush about one band or another proclaiming “this is my favorite band!” And although I might sound like a broken record sometimes I should make it clear that there are many different types of musicians/bands that I classify as my favorites. For example, The Grateful Dead is my favorite jam-band, Steely Dan is my favorite 70’s soft rock band, Josh Ritter is my favorite singer/songwriter and the National is my all-time favorite rock band. I say that with confidence and conviction after catching 2 of their sold out nights at the Bowery last week.

I’m aware that my claim may seem a bit over-the-top but having listened to every National album time and time again I have yet to hear a song that does not move me and their newest offering Boxer has been in constant rotation on my ipod since last Tuesday. See below for the Youtube clip of Matt Beringer singing in the crowd on 5/31 – look for me at around 1:08. It was quite overwhelming being the only lady in a sea of drunken screaming men with the lead singer of my favorite band pouring his heart out less then a foot away.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr8a9bqc4IQ]

The excitement in the crowd was contagious last night at Webster Hall for sold out performance by the unnamed supergroup. I was mesmerized from the first notes of “The Good, The Bad and The Queen,” their stellar album which they performed start to finish. Paul Simonon’s (The Clash) penetrating bass line, Damon Albarn’s (Blur, Gorillaz) magnificent vocals and virtuosic talent on the piano, the gratifying guitar work of Simon Tong (Verve, Blur, Gorillaz), Tony Allen’s (Fela Kuti’s band Africa 70) prowess on percussion and the soaring string section created a very ethereal atmosphere. Webster Hall was packed but being petite little ladies in a sea of men my friend Joey and I were able to squeeze our way up to the front to watch The Good, The Bad and The Queen up close in all their glory. Albarn donning a top hat looked stunning and sounded angelic. Simonon defined cool in his pork pie hat and proved to be an incredibly engaging performer lurching around the stage with his bass. It was speculated by many in the crowd that the band would perform Simonon’s “Guns Of Brixton” but they ended the night with the epic title and closing track of the album.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuNBu__ZziU]

After the show we stuck around for the meet and greet. I shared a few words with Simon Tong and received a hug from Tony Allen in response to my enthusiastic praise of the show, the album and of course his dynamite drumming.