Tag Archives: NYC

September 11, 2012

Courage & Humanity on 9.11.01

By Lila Lyric

Here is a 9/11 story of a ‘friend’ that was in the tower that morning.  This is a powerful survivor’s account of courage and humanity on such a tragic day in US history.

Quite a few people have asked me quite a few times to post about my experiences on 9/11. A few months afterward, I was seeing a counselor for a while, and she told me to write it out like a journal entry. According to her, it would help me deal with things. So this is what I wrote.

*************
Warning: I’m going to try not to jump around, but I may a little bit, because I had quite a few blank spots during that morning. I put some of what I did together later, after speaking to two women I crossed the Brooklyn Bridge with, Doris and Hanna. I’ve been watching a few documentaries lately, so I’m going to try a similar timeline approach to try and keep things straight.

September 11, 2001

6:00AM – My alarm goes off. Mike has an early pick-up that has to go way the hell out on Long Island. He tells me to go back to sleep because I don’t have to be in the office until 9:30; I tell him I’m going in early because I’m meeting my supervisor Maria at 8:45. She is going to teach me a new job function, and I want to have time to eat my breakfast outside by the Orb sculpture on the WTC Plaza. He rolls his eyes at me before he kisses me good-bye, and dashes off. I lounge for a while, watching the TODAY show before I jump in the shower at 6:30, leaving the TV blasting loud enough to hear the weather. According to Al Roker, it’s going to be a gorgeous day.
7:15AM – Well, Al was right; it is a stunning day. Clear skies, sunshine, and a light breeze. The N train is actually on time for once, and I even get a seat! I’ll be at work in no time; and since I have a seat, maybe I’ll just stay on the local and not even bother with the express.

8:15AM – Cortlandt Street-World Trade Center. I have plenty of time. I stop and browse in Barnes and Noble, on the underground Concourse level. Maybe I’ll come down on lunch and pick up a book. They have a huge sci-fi section, so the selection is really pretty good. Oh, damn, where did the time go? It’s getting late; no breakfast on the Plaza now if I want to meet Maria in time. I have to switch elevators at the 44th floor, so I’ll just run down the escalator and grab something in the cafeteria on the 43rd floor on my way up to the 49th.

8:40AM –Damn, but this French toast smells heavenly! The woman in front of me on line is digging for exact change. A man behind me sighs heavily. I turn to look at him and shoot him a “grin and bear it” sort of look. He rolls his eyes and silently grins in response. The woman drops her handful of change. The grinning man helps her pick it up, as my hands are full with my tray. The cashier rings up my order, and I pay. I hear a distant rumble, like a freight train. The cashier absently wonders aloud, “What’s that noise?” as she hands me my receipt. I notice that the time on the receipt is 8:45AM. Damn, I’m late to meet Maria.

8:46AM – There is a huge noise, and I stagger and fall, french toast flying. As I pick up my head, the floor actually ripples, and through the floor-to-ceiling windows, I see WTC 2 sway. Then I realize that our building is swaying. Not just swaying, whipping back and forth, like an old car antenna. There is a shower of shiny stuff cascading past the windows; I realize that it is glass. I get to my feet as debris begins to fall past the high windows, some of it burning. I walk towards the windows. My first thought is that a chopper has missed the helipad, but already too much stuff is coming down for it to be a chopper. Jesus, maybe it’s a Cessna. More and more debris is plummeting past the windows, and people are screaming. I lean against the window and look up to see something large coming down, aflame. It looks vaguely like a La-z-boy recliner. It seems to float past in slow motion, and as it disappears below me, in a moment of horrible clarity, I realize it is an entire row of airline seats. They are occupied. I hear a voice, and turn to see the grinning man. He isn’t grinning any more. Debris is raining past the windows now, and a snowstorm of paper is floating by. He looks at me and very matter-of-factly says, “I was here in ’93. I can’t do this shit again. I’m outta here.” And he bolts towards the emergency stairwell. It’s right near the cashier’s station, and I hadn’t even realized it was there. I follow him as he enters the stairwell, but I stop at the door. It is already crowded in there, and I can’t make myself go in. A building security man is there. “C’mon, lady, we gotta go!” I can’t make myself enter the stairwell, and I shake my head and back up. “Lady! We gotta GO!” he shouts at me. “I CAN’T!” I scream back. “There’s too many people, and no AIR!” I am not entirely rational at this point. My claustrophobia is kicking in. A very large man stops at the door, and comes back to our little standoff. The security man barely glances at him. “Miss, I can’t leave until the last person is out, you’re the last, let’s GO!” The large man very softly says to me, “Miss, he’s only doing his job. Help him do his job. Come on, now.” And he takes my hand. “I’ll stay with you.” He waved the security man away, and walked me towards the door. At the threshold, I balk, planting my feet. He slips a hand to the back of my head, grabs a handful of hair, and yanks me into the stairwell. I am highly pissed off, and he’s hurting me, so I start calling him every filthy name I can think of. He drags me towards the first flight of stairs leading down. I can’t stop now without being trampled. He lets go of my hair, takes my hand again, and smiles at me. “That wasn’t so hard, was it? You just needed to get started. My name is Guy. What’s yours?” I start to cry, and tell him my name. He talks to me all the way down 43 floors, asking me all kinds of questions. By the time we hit the 30’s, I find myself telling him that my first anniversary is at the end of the month, and about our wedding, and about my sisters, and my husband, and how I have such a nice Mother-in-Law, and oh, God, did Maria get out? Firefighters are passing us, headed upwards. I can see terror in their eyes, but some of them actually manage to joke with us as they pass. Somewhere in the 20’s, I think it was 26, there was water cascading out of the fire door on the landing, and it was shin-deep on me all the way to the teens. I realized that Guy was quite a large man, well over 6 feet tall, because the water doesn’t come up much past his ankles. In retrospect, we actually moved down quite quickly, but at the time it seemed to take forever.

Approximately 9:00AM – Upper Lobby. Plaza Level. Cops and firefighter are everywhere. There is a line of cops along where the windows at street level used to be. Glass is crunching underfoot; it’s all over the place. There are cops at the stairwell door, directing us underground to the concourse level. I am really not interested in going underground. All the cops are shouting to be heard. “Do not try to exit the building here! Don’t look outside, keep going down! You’ll be led out to Cortlandt Street!” The stench is incredible. Of course, despite instructions not to, everyone looks out at the Plaza as they head down to the Concourse; it is a wasteland. Debris covers everything, even the Orb. There are bodies scattered like leaves, along with chunks of the building itself, and pieces of fuselage, and the smell of blood and jet fuel is overpowering. As I get to the top of the powerless escalator, clutching Guy’s hand, another jumper hits. I realize I am repeating “oh Jesus, oh Jesus, oh Jesus” over and over, and I clamp my mouth shut. We cross the lower Lobby towards the revolving doors that lead to the shopping concourse beneath the Trade Center. The sprinkler systems are still on down here. In the background, there is another rumble.
9:03AM – We are crossing through the propped open revolving doors on the concourse level when there is an enormous, booming crash, and we almost lose out footing. Remnants of glass stuck in the frames of the lobby windows suddenly let go and crash down around us. Guy wraps me in his arms and hunches over, protecting me. A large shard of glass falls from the frame of the revolving door and wedges itself into his back. I hear someone screaming, and I realize it’s me. There are screams from the Upper Lobby. “Another one! Holy shit, another one!” The second plane has struck WTC 2, the South Tower. A man runs over, taking his shirt off. “Guy!! Holy Jesus, Guy, I’ve been looking all over for you, don’t move, lemme pull this out…” Apparently he works with Guy, but I never caught his name. He wraps his shirt around his hands and yanks the shard of glass out of Guy’s back. I realize that the glass would have struck me if not for Guy. The three of us follow the crowd through the concourse. It looks as though it has been abandoned for years; chunks of glass litter the floor, discarded high heel shoes are all over the place, and there is about 3 inches of water flowing steadily from the lower level of WTC 1 towards the subways. The Barnes and Noble sign hangs crazily down, attached by only one bolt. Beneath it, mingled with the remnants of the front windows on the floor is what remains of the Anne McCaffrey display that caught my eye on the way in. “Keep moving! Head for Cortlandt Street!” The NYPD and PAPD are lining the route through the concourse and up the steps of the subway exit. As we hit the street level, the sun blinds me, and I trip. Guy hauls me up, and drags me across the street and up the block, towards St. Paul’s Chapel. We pause for breath in the middle of the block, and look back, and up. Oh, sweet Jesus, I’m sorry I looked; both towers are burning. The South Tower is hit much lower than the North, and my first though is that the top section of the building will fall over. We bolt up to Broadway, and presumed safety. We pause at the chapel, and collapse onto the curb with scores of others. A cop rushes over to tell us to clear the area. “Sorry, people, you have to keep going. Head north, go uptown, go over the bridge, just GO!” Guy asks me if I will be all right; he wants to go and try to find more of his colleagues. I tell him yes, and ask him which way to go to get to the Brooklyn Bridge. All I want is to go home. He points me towards the Bridge, and asks me again if I’ll be okay. We hug, both of us crying, and I thank him over and over. He and his friend disappear into the crowd, and I never see him again. I don’t even know his last name, or what company he worked for.

(I don’t remember much about this part; I put it together later on. I have no recollection of calling my sister-in-law, but I know I spoke to her from a barbershop, because apparently, I told her that’s where I was, and that the nice lady in the barbershop gave me some water. I couldn’t get through to Mike, and asked her to try.)

I walk up Broadway, looking for a pay phone; Mike must be frantic by now. The lines at all the pay phones are 20 and 30 people long. There aren’t any bars open yet, either. I am not too sure how far I went looking for a phone, but I do remember waving a $50.00 bill around, asking people to use their cell phones. No one had service.

The next conscious memory I have, is of being on the Brooklyn Bridge, walking with two women, Hanna and Doris. They work together at the Chase Bank on Broadway. Hanna is giving me sips of tea from a takeout cup. It is about 9:45AM, which means I wandered a bit after getting out of Tower 1. From here on out, my timeline is fuzzy.

(According to the phone conversation I had with Hanna three days later, I was on the pedestrian ramp to the Brooklyn Bridge itself, when I walked up to her and Doris and said, “I’m lost. Can you tell me where the Brooklyn Bridge is? I’m really lost, and I want to go home now.”)
We continue across the bridge, walking slower than most, along the inside railing, because Hanna is in her 60’s and not as nimble as she used to be. We come across a tall, slim, black girl, model pretty, who is limping along on a pair of heels. We ask if she needs help. She had foot surgery the day before, and just wore the heels for looks in the cab she took to work, so she could put on her bunny slippers when she got there. “I don’t even own a pair of flats!” She doesn’t want to take the shoes off, to avoid getting her foot dirty. I tell her to ditch the damn heels, and offer her my sandals. I go barefoot most of the time anyway, so it’s not a problem. She resists at first, until Doris gives us all a reason to want to move a little faster. “I don’t want to scare anyone, but it occurs to me that we’re standing on a big frigging target here! Could we move this along? Tall Girl, I don’t know your name, but put the fucking sandals on, and let’s get the hell out of here!” Tall Girl puts on my sandals, and now that she is off the heels, she can walk faster. We end up getting separated in the crowd, and lose her. We hear a distant rumble, and I look up, praying I don’t see another plane. People behind us begin to scream, and we look back to a surreal sight: The top of Tower 2 is sliding sideways. The top section actually tilts at a crazy angle before it begins to crumble, and we see the rest of the building start to give way beneath it. People begin to run on the bridge, and we duck behind a support beam to keep from being trampled. There is a gray cloud billowing through lower Manhattan.
(At this point I apparently began to lose touch with reality again, because I don’t remember walking the rest of the way across the bridge. According to Hanna, I started babbling inane questions, asking, ”where are all the cameras? This can’t be real, someone’s shooting a movie. If they’re shooting a movie, shouldn’t there be cameras? These special effects are awesome, Jesus, all these extras must be costing Speilberg a fortune.”)

Reality again. We come to the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge. Apparently some of the debris caught up with us on our way over, because I am clutching a tea-soaked tissue and breathing through it. There are ambulances and a couple of fire trucks at the bottom of the pedestrian ramp. Someone is calling out, “Miss? Miss! Hey! Barefoot girl!” It is Tall Girl. She is sitting on a gurney near one of the ambulances, having her foot attended to, and waving wildly with my sandals. “I got the right one all bloody, but the fireman washed them off for you!” I step into my slightly soggy sandals and tall girl hops up and hugs me. “Thank you so much!” We survey the area, and try to figure out where to go next. An extremely young fireman walks over to us with a bucket. “Okay, ladies, let’s get you rinsed off.” He motions us toward one of the trucks. “We’ve got an open hydrant over here, so you can rinse off some of that muck.” I realize that we are all lightly coated with a gritty dust. We take turns dumping bucketsful of icy water over our heads to get rid of the grit. My blouse is filthy, and it suddenly feels as though I have been eating dust by the spoonful, so I dump a couple more buckets over my whole body, and I gargle a bit for good measure. The fireman tell us there are no trains running on this side of the river, but there might be busses by the Courthouse complex, so we head off. When we get there, the lines for the shuttle busses are literally thousands of people long, and confusion is rampant. Doris wanders off to see if there is a bus to Canarsie for Hanna. “Don’t go anywhere yet!” she says. I ask a passing cop for directions to walk to Bay Ridge. She has no idea. “I honestly don’t know, hon, I just got off a bus from the Bronx! Lemme ask someone.” She motions over an ambulance attendant. He’s not too sure, “but it’s in that general direction”, he says, pointing vaguely. Doris comes running back. “Hanna! I found a shuttle to Canarsie, and they’re taking senior citizens first!” We pelt over to the bus, hug Hanna and get her safely on board. She sticks her head out the window, and screams to Doris, “Call me when you get home!” Doris & I start to walk, checking pay phones on the way.
They all still have lines. About two hours later, we’re in a quiet residential neighborhood, and a woman watering her lawn tells us we’re in Bensonhurst, about two blocks from the intersection of McDonald & Church. I realize my father works not too far away. I ask to use her phone. “It hasn’t worked all morning, but you’re welcome to try.” She brings out a portable phone and a pitcher of iced tea with too much sugar. It is the most delicious thing I have ever had in my life. First I tried to call Mike; “This call can not be connected at this time.” Fuck ATT anyway. I get one of the “office girls” at my father’s job. “Hi, I need to speak to Carmine, please; this is his daughter.” “OH MY GOD”, she screams, “IS THIS ADRIANN?” “Yeah, is he there?” “Hold on honey, I’ll get him!” The phone clunks down, and I can hear her screaming to the rest of the office, “We found her, we found her, she’s on the phone, we found her, go get Bear!” I start to giggle. We have now been surrounded on this woman’s porch by some of her neighbors. “Honey? Are you okay? Where are you?” I have never been so glad to hear a voice in my entire life. I start to sob, and all I can say is “oh, Daddy” over and over. We’re all crying, and Doris is hugging me. The iced tea lady takes the phone, and tells my Dad to meet us at McDonald & Church, and she shows us the way there, and waits with us for my Dad. He finally pulls into the intersection, tires screeching, jumps out of the car, and runs to me, sobbing as hard as I am. Meanwhile, the car is in the middle of the intersection. A traffic cop wanders over, realizes what is going on, gets into the car and pulls it out of the intersection. We hug iced tea lady, and Doris & I pile into the car with Dad. Turns out that if we had made a right turn three miles ago, I would have been home by now. We take Doris to her house, which is a block away from my Dad’s job, and we stop in there so the office girls can see I’m okay. I leave them my home number so they can keep trying to call Mike for me, and we head to my place. They must have gotten through, because when we turned the corner, all our neighbors were out, and Mike came pelting up the block to where we parked. I have never been held quite so tightly, and I have never been so happy to see anyone, ever. We went upstairs to see if we could get through to people on the phone. Mike had the TV on, and my father – who doesn’t drink – went straight to the liquor cabinet. I felt grungy, so I went to take a shower. It turned out to be the first of many. I kept swearing that I could smell that horrible stench from the plaza. When I came out, the TV was showing the collapse of Tower 1 – my tower. It was the first time I heard that both towers were down. I went back to the bathroom and threw up. Mike got me settled on the couch with Daddy and a cup of tea. Then he listed everyone who called. “Franny, my mother, your sister Daria, – who is fucking nuts, by the way. Her husband called her from 14th St, and she told him to go downtown and find you, and that if he didn’t, not to bother coming home. He called me, asking where he should look. I told him to go home. Who else? My sister, your brother is on his way with his wife and some Chinese food, Caren, your job doesn’t know where you are, Maria and Crystal are okay, and ToniAnn is at the MidTown office, Joe & Laura, Jimmy, Mary, both Colleens, and some girl from Canada named CC.” “Who?!?” “CC. She said she knows you from on-line, at the bridal site.” “Are you fucking kidding me?” “No, I’m not kidding you; she was one of the first people to get through. Here’s her number, call her back, if the damn phone is working.”

I can’t remember when I called CC back; it might have been the next day, but I seem to remember it being later that evening. I called my job to check in and get my name off the casualty lists. There was supposed to be a large breakfast meeting in Windows on the World that morning, but one of the Japanese execs missed his flight out of Tokyo the night before so it was cancelled. We would have had the entire senior staff at the meeting, over 100 people, but thanks to a slow cabdriver in Tokyo, they all made it. As it was, we had personnel in both towers, and we lost 29 people, all from Tower 2, the South Tower.

So that’s pretty much it, I guess.

 

The song ‘America’ fits in here nicely, so I will post this video from a Ryan Star fan that speaks volumes of that day.

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August 29, 2012

The Business of Being Hesta Prynn

By Betty Beat

Photo by Randy Scott Slavin

Photo by Randy Scott Slavin

A few months ago, Lila and I heard that Hesta Prynn put out the call to her fans to come up with words to describe her. Having met her on our NYC “No Sleep ‘Till Brooklyn” whirlwind adventure, Lila and I took up her challenge, brownosed by turning our words into a bit of art and ended up landing an interview.

Surreal.

The main word chosen for this little project was “Propulsive”. The power to propel. It had a lot of meaning – how both Lila and I have claimed that Hesta’s music makes us run harder, how her music moves us, how when we met her she was like a force. And then we realized just how much velocity this girl has.

Hesta Prynn is an entity. And she knows it. In an industry that is often fickle-minded and self-indulgent, Julie Potash, is a smart and savvy business woman. She is building the Hesta Prynn brand. She recognizes the business behind music, the changes in the music industry and combines creativity with something that many artists rely on big companies to provide them: business smarts.

This was not the interview we expected.

Most people who know me know that I have a decided interest in how the music industry is run. I have a bit of a predisposed skepticism of the need of big record labels and traditional musical marketing methods. I mean, when you work more than a decade in marketing and advertising, you tend to have a healthy skepticism of all mass marketing tactics and the driving force behind them. So I, obviously, was elated to talk to an artist that….well, she gets it. According to her, “I’m like Hesta Prynn, the whole business entity; not just Hesta Prynn – musician.”

And what is more, Julie manages to intertwine business sense with some good old-fashioned idealism without it seeming trite or canned. She’s just real. She wants people to like her music, but more than that, she wants people to share it.

So, when her EP drops today, along with her new video, it’s not going to be in a traditional way. According to Julie, it’s going to be done “more grassroots.” This isn’t a full length record. “In this day and age, I wonder; I explore the idea… if putting an album of music is a dated way to do this. As opposed to, let’s say, putting out an EP quarterly?”

“I started in this business pretty young doing Northern State; it kind of got really big. We did the more traditional things for a hot minute. Then things started to change in the industry at the same time things started to change in the band. By the time I’d done that for a number of years, I was ready to try some other things. Just like any other profession. It was a natural progression.”

Instead of just writing music, putting it out and touring to support it, Hesta Prynn is diverse. She Djs (notably opening the Roxette show on September 2nd, more on that in a bit). She writes for other artists. She creates art and mixes it all together to be a force. Propulsive, indeed.

It isn’t any wonder that she has had the fortune to work with the likes of DJ Muggs (Cypress Hill) and Adam Horovitz (Beastie Boys). And she shows immense gratitude to the lessons learned from those she has either collaborated with or learned from.

“These people shaped who I am and the fact that they’ve been generous to me, as an artist, I sometimes can’t really believe that it happened.”

And if you want a prime example of exactly how awesome her collaborations have been, ask her the story of Clown from Slipknot. A story I can’t even begin to do justice here in writing. To get a taste of it, go YouTube Hesta’s “Seven Sisters” video and just watch. Watch and appreciate the sheer creativity that is shared and know that one day, should you have the luck to meet her, that you can ask her to tell the story behind the video. That Clown is a Hesta Prynn fan kind of blew our minds. I think it initially blew hers as well. That we got to hear about the creation of the video, the insights delivered by a metal icon and shared a bit of what Julie was able to experience with him was a highlight. I know, I know.. it’s like teasing by not sharing the entire story here. But trust us, it’s something best heard in person. In the very least, go check out the song and video.. it’s one of our all-time favourites.

But, the EP and video release – the driving force of why we wanted to talk to Julie. What could we expect? Of course, both the music and the video are shared below. And we had to ask if there was a certain satisfaction in pulling all of this together on “her own” (of course, Julie has surrounded herself with a team, but this isn’t big label relase-ish.. this is all her own.).

We Could Fall in Love on iTunes NOW!!!

“If you look at my videos, they are so much better than anything I’ve ever done. Everything is better now, but I have pay it out of my pocket. And that is a little stressful, but I’m running my own business. It’s about investing in your own. I don’t know if it’s more rewarding, but you can do it better (than relying on a label).”

“I’m really doing this one really grass roots. One of the songs is produced by DJ A. One is produced by Teen Wolf. I’m basically going to do it all myself. So we’ll see what happens. And see how much attention it gets. I hope that people that have always supported me, will pass it on to their friends. I’m counting on my community.”

Immediately after the release comes her September 2nd show, opening for Roxette at the Beacon Theatre.

A 45-minute set that she has promised will be a mix of showcasing just who Hesta Prynn is. This show marks the largest she has ever done. She’ll spin, she’ll sing and we’re certain she is going to propel the crowd. It’s her goal. This set isn’t about her, in the typical “look at me” stage artist. It’s about the audience. And she makes that claim without an ounce of false modesty or faked humility. She just really wants people to enjoy her work.

“It’s a really big show for me, the biggest I’ve ever done. I’m doing a DJ set and I’ll sing a couple songs and a video installation and show people what I’ve been doing, what I can do, what my interests are. I would never just show up and play records for 45 minutes, I craft it.  I’m creating it, I’m definitely over-thinking it, for sure. But that is exactly what I was told to do, how to do it. When you’re performing and for people who don’t necessarily know you, you are constantly marketing yourself; selling yourself.  When it comes to performing, my real dream, my real 100-percent-honest-to-god, I want every single person, not just one person, I want EVERY person there at one point in that show to say, “Oh shit, that’s my jam.” If you can make 3500 people say at least once, “that’s my jam”, you know what you’re doing. I literally may die trying.”

And this is why Lila and I are such fans.

I won’t get into this long and overdone concept of “girl-power” and feminist attitude. But just as Julie has shown great appreciation of those she has been able to collaborate with in her life, she shares that by equally giving back to her fans. Sure, we write this blog and review music, but we’ve been long-standing fans of Hesta Prynn that were afforded a greater insight into a woman who, frankly, we both exclaimed we would happily just hang with. For no other reason than… Hesta Prynn is just awesome. She is exactly what she sets out to be. She may not know what your jam is, but she is pretty sure she is going to hit it. She recognizes that Hesta Prynn is the “most outgoing, my most sure, my freshest dopest most awesome version of myself… in my most inspired moments.” And I’m pretty sure everyone has a bit of that in themselves. Their most confident.

She doesn’t expect to be the biggest star at the party. I will never expect her to try be the diva of the ball. What I expect of this EP is just solidly great music that is fun and inspired. Something to share with those I know will appreciate it. Nothing contrived , nothing fake.

So, as we leave you with our sharing of one of our favourite artists here at Beat & Lyric, let us impart the biggest thing we learned from Julie during this process. Her parting moral, if you will:

“I think that it’s hard to be your real self in this world. I feel like having another name or persona and a look I think it helps you – I mean, I have to step up to be that. If I’m going to go and perform, I have to show up already knowing this time is going to be good. I really have built this thing that I have. I do feel that when I step into the Hesta Prynn thing, I’m ready to have fun. And I’ll be the coolest girl at the party and I’ll be friends with you. I won’t be the coolest girl and I’m not nice. I’ll be the coolest girl at the party, I’ll be friends with you and I’ll be like ‘get in my car and let’s go.”

Well played, Hesta Prynn. We are more than ready to take a spin with you.

~Betty Beat (with Lila Lyric)

 

Follow Hesta Prynn on Twitter

Like Hesta Prynn on Facebook

Check out the official Hesta Prynn webpage  www.hestaprynn.com

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August 18, 2012

Saturday’s Shazam Six

By Lila Lyric

Saturdays I rise early and head to the gym. The air temperature has dropped in the last day and created some wicked fog for my sunrise drive. Inspired to get off my butt and blog for you!

I use Shazam on my iPhone. It’s a great tool not just for finding out ‘who the hell sings that’ but to make lists of songs you don’t want to forget about. I can glance at my stereo while driving and see the name of an artist or the title of the song….but do you think I’d remember the next time I was sitting in front of a computer to check on on the net? No, I only remember useless information and crazy obscure pop culture references. So I use Shazam to list artists and songs I want to jump into deeper and explore.

Today’s Six contains a high concentration from the East Coast of the USA. Three of these bands are Brooklyn based, a fourth is based in NYC, only one from across the pond and the sixth from Portland. This was not intentional, just sifting through the songs on Shazam and these are all new(er) to me and worth mentioning here. Brooklyn is the clearly the Mecca for ultra-cool indie music…..at least statistically speaking from a Beat & Lyric point-of-view.

My Saturday Shazam Six:

1) The one and only band not hailing from the US in today’s list. The xx, a London band that jumped on my radar in the last month. They’ve been around since 2009 and are set to release their second studio album on September 11. Here is ‘Chained’. Also check out ‘Island’ from their first album, it’s dope.

2) The other band not hailing from the greater NYC area is The Chromatics. I may have blogged this one before, but it’s worth repeating. This Portland Oregon band have been around since 2001. Their fourth studio album “Kill for Love” was released in March of this year. Here they are doing Neil Young’s ‘Into the Black”

3) Jumping across the coast we have DIIV from Brooklyn. I don’t know much about this band other than a quick glance at Wikipedia. I only Shazamed this song this morning! If you know them, or do any research on them let me know….I’m feeling lazy. Here is “Doused” from their current album ‘Oshin’

4) The White Rabbits are based in Brooklyn, but originally hail from Missouri (I wonder when they made their pilgrimage?). The song here “Temporary” is from their 3rd studio album “Milk Famous” which was released in March of this year.

5) The Walkmen (not to be confused with Canadian band The Walkmen) were given a shout out this month on the blog as the were the opening act for Florence and the Machine. The band has members based in both Brooklyn and Philadelphia. They’ve been kicking around the scene awhile, since 2000. This is the title song from their May 2012 release (and their 7th studio album) ‘Heaven”

6) My final Shazam Six for today is Dirty Projectors. Might I add that I love this band name. Again with Brooklyn. They have been around since 2002, and any band that has the courage to release an album (as quoted from wiki) ‘The album is an attempt by band leader Dave Longstreth to remember and reinterpret the entire Black Flag album Damaged after not hearing it for almost 15 years.’ gets a nod from me. Here is “Gun Has No Trigger’ from their July 2012 release “Swing Lo Magellan”

So there is my six. I’d love to know your thoughts on these six. Hopefully you discovered something new today :)

Cheers,
Lila

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February 17, 2012

No Bullshit or Blowin’ Smoke……

By Lila Lyric

No bullshit or blowin’ smoke ever from Ryan Star.  A promise to fans on twitter follow him @RyanStar http://twitter.com/#!/ryanstar and he delivered.  Great new song, can’t wait for more.  Hopefully this single drops soon and gets picked up on radio.  I hear from rstar fans on twitter that it’s being played on some stations.  The Pulse http://www.siriusxm.com/thepulse on Sirius love Ryan and I keep listening hoping to hear soon….perhaps we can all request it!

Ryan’s on tour with Andy Grammar right now.  Catch a show, dates here http://www.rstar.net/tour-dates/

More links to check him out!

www.rstar.net

http://www.facebook.com/#!/ryanstar

Happy Family Day Weekend and/or President’s Day depending on if you are north of south of the US/Canadian Border.

~Lila

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January 31, 2012

Gambit – Take Off and Landing

By Lila Lyric

The quick and dirty of it as I gave it a listen this morning – great overall first impression.

Track listing

  1. This Town
  2. Maybe
  3. All the Time in the World
  4. Lovers in the Basement
  5. I’m Sorry
  6. Change in the Feel
  7. Things Aren’t So Bad
  8. Ask Yourself
  9. My, My,My
  10. Alibi

Digital on iTunes (Canada even) http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/take-off-and-landing/id492343833

CD – http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/gambit12

I need to listen again (and again), Tracks 1-3 were included on the free EP which have always been in heavy rotation on my iPod and ‘Maybe’ is on my half-marathon running playlist.  I love track 4, Miss Dallin Applebaum is a great addition.

The other standout after one listen is ‘Ask Yourself’ – I started chair dancing and then immediately added it to my ‘current’ playlist for running.  If it makes the run playlist it’s destined to be a hit with Beat & Lyric.

That’s it for now.  I wanted to get my first impression out there before it faded away and was lost forever.

Thanks for putting yourselves out there Gambit boys – enjoy the wave, there are more to come!

~Lila

 

 

 

 

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December 24, 2011

What 2011 Sounds Like

By Betty Beat

I like lists. I list everything – from things I have to do, to music I want to check out (a never-ending list), items that need to be remembered. I’m certain my list-making has been noted with interest on here over the course of the last year. Top Five lists in particular. I wonder if that means I’m somewhat indecisive – I can never pick just one. So I make a list.

I got an email notification the other night after Lila posted her song list for 2011. Imagine my delight at having a new list to read. The best part of reading lists created by others (especially those that hold music to the same standard I do) is that they make you think and consider what you would put on your own list of similar making.

I’ve spent the last couple of nights reveling in thoughts of the last year. Remembering the songs that stick out. Highlights of memories.. Perhaps it’s too early yet for this kind of reflection – don’t most people save that for a New Year? Regardless of timing, this is my counter to Lila’s 2011 list. My Top 13 songs of 2011. It should be 12. I’d say I’m being rebellious, but the fact is, I couldn’t cut any more out. I whittled it down so much already, I couldn’t bear to take another out. Every song is tied to a memory from the past year. Every song has been shared in some way with those closest to me. Some given to me, like small gifts. Some shared with those I hold in the highest regard. Each and every one part of the essential makeup of who I am, what I’ve done and where I’m going. They have shaped my year. Have a listen.

Ryan Star, Start a Fire

My year both started and ended with Ryan Star. A January NYC adventure with Lila to see Ryan, Hesta Prynn, Gambit and Hot Chelle Rae at Webster Hall. This was the show that began my year. Ryan Star opening for Goo Goo Dolls in Erie was the last concert I saw this year, again, with my favourite travel companion – Lila. Truly amazing that Ryan began and ended my soundtrack of the year.

Even better is that I have managed to influence others to his musical fortitude. My rides to work are laden with his music (shout out to Melissa, who I maintain will be in tow should Ryan Star ever announce a Canada concert date… she was an immediate fan).

Despite the changes the last year have brought, the ability to listen to Ryan’s music, sing along loudly, dance wildly when alone and run faster when it’s on my iPod has not wavered.

Pretty Girls Make Graves, The Teeth Collector

This is where Sean B. gets a huge shout out. The scene: At work. New guy sitting in the room, reading his books diligently. Until my phone alarm goes off and I’m begged to go turn it off. I walk in, do so and am faced with the question: “Hey, is that Florence + the Machine?” Instant musical friend. Sean B. has shared a great deal of musical talk and influence over the last year. A quintessential musical snob (never ever trash Depeche Mode to him and never ask him to listen to the Foo Fighters), he never fails to share music and thoughts. And even when we don’t agree, he is still one of my first go-to guys for musial knowledge.

Pretty Girls Make Graves was one of the bands shared with me almost one year ago. Hundreds of songs given all at once. And while Pretty Girls are no longer making music together, they were an instant favourite. Retro-90s-girl-grunge. The guy knows good music.

Girl Talk, Jump on Stage

Another Sean B. recommendation. Girl Talk gets on the list since it is my at-home pilates work out music. An eclectic mix of classics and modern pop. It is the only way I can remotely tolerate current “pop” music – all part of a great mix. Girl Talk was shared freely (literally – the music is free) with so many people over the last year. I’ve yet to meet anyone who hasn’t loved it instantly. The album All Day became an ice breaker at parties, the music I sweat to and a constant friend of my iPod.

Jump on Stage was chosen since it features sampling from Portishead.  ’Nuff said.  I had to.

Grab Girl Talk here: http://illegal-art.net/allday/

Beastie Boys, Don’t Play No Game I Can’t Win

Hot Sauce Committee Part Two. It was the album that revived my love of the Beastie Boys. Not that it ever really waned, but they became a part of my past soundtrack. Now, as part of my current soundtrack, I have shared my love of this album with many. A great return. Add in DJ Z-Trip’s phenomenal mix of past and present Beasties and it was music love.

The video for Don’t Play No Game? Classic. Who couldn’t love it?

Find DJ Z-Trip’s remix here: http://ztrip.bandcamp.com/album/z-trip-presents-all-access-a-beastie-boys-megamix

Hollerado, Got to Lose

Summer of 2011. I had held tightly a sense of musical snobbery, ignorant of much of the current Canadian indie scene. Got to Lose was shared with me and launched months of great music shared. With lyrics like “we sipped red wine with our lips upon the vine and our bodies got tangled in the night”, my interest was piqued. Maybe I was due for a change. It was likely a challenge of super hero-ish proportion to get me to pay attention.

Even now, their current release, “Good Day at the Races” makes me smile and sing. They are eclectic and fun.

Hey Rosetta, Welcome

A song that makes you pay attention to the detail. Whether it is how bright the stars are in the sky (something I’ve noted with increasing frequency this year – all because of those late night/early morning runs) or the guitar riff that plays two-thirds of the way through the song, the song became a reminder to appreciate the small things. And then to share them with those that will appreciate them with you.

Yoav and Emily Browning, Where is My Mind

The Pixies did it first. The Sucker Punch soundtrack reminded me of it. The soundtrack that played throughout my summer. The movie that played and reminded me how to be at my strongest. And when I heard the oldest of my “Little Beats” singing along to the Pixies version, my pride was strong.

This was a song played during nights of solitude. A bottle of wine, my thoughts and anticipation. A song just for me.

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Paris

Summer 2011 ended with a tour of Toronto with Lila and a meet-up with my favourite French Mafia member, Sophie and her cousin Jill. Sound Academy. Packed house and being blown away by the sheer power that is Grace Potter. I’ve loved her music for ages, but seeing her live was a great ending to my summer. Warm winds at the waterfrong, Ben Harper’s crooning voice after the electric energy of Grace Potter, fried dill pickles and amazing company. A stellar combination.

Young the Giant, My Body

My Body started it. I have to properly thank the superhero who shared this first. I had no idea. This was the song that made me run harder, run faster, run happier. At work, it came on the radios and the mood changed on the entire line. People smiled. Volume increased. Tapped toes. Bobbed heads and sang along. Watching a song change people this way and charge the atmosphere made me realize Young the Giant were something great.

Followed by the release of Cough Syrup, they have maintained their status as a favourite of the year’s soundtrack. Every time I hear Cough Syrup, I share that I’ve heard it and welcome the fact that there are people who listen for me when I can’t hear it. It makes me smile and remember and think of excellent things.

Even better will be to share Young the Giant at Sound Academy with Sophie in March. Continuing their inclusion in my daily soundtrack is a great thing.

Company of Thieves, Won’t Go Quietly

This is where I thank Lila. She has been my musical partner in crime for ages, but we have had an amazing 2011 together. We have shared great music (even when we disagree on it). She has been a truly amazing friend and I’m eternally grateful for her.

Lila shared Company of Thieves with me when Death of Communication came out. Then when Running for a Gamble dropped, she made sure I had it in my hands. Of course, it was immediately shared with those that influenced me the most this year. My gift back to them.

Florence + the Machine, Shake it Out

2010 had Flo on the soundtrack as well. Which means that when Ceremonials was released, it was immediately downloaded and reflected upon. And while there are some who claimed Shake it Out sounded like an 80s sitcom montage (I’m taking that as a compliment.. it means it’s a memorable song.. ha!), I instantly loved much of the album. The acoustic version of Shake it Out is what gets sung to the loudest. The lyrics resonate, Florence Welch’s voice gives me shivers and I dance wildly. A great vision.

Although Shake it Out and What the Water Gave me were both pre-released the remainder of Ceremonials didn’t disappoint. No Light, No Light has shown up on my running list countless times. An album that will likely show up on next year’s list as well.

Foo Fighters, Walk/These Days

I think if I was going to choose a single album of 2011, Foo Fighters’ Waking Light has to be it. Which is extremely surprising for me. Perhaps a sign of good influence showing me that not all great music is not “popular”.

It started with Randy Scott Slavin (of Hesta Prynn video fame) and his directing of a White Limo video. Parquay and crazy monkey business.

It finished with These Days being a near constant thought in my head. Music shared with those that are like-minded sounds better. Proof that old dogs (so to speak) can learn new tricks. Which is to say, I learned something this year. To listen better. To leave behind my snobbery and be open to new ideas.

Even Walk was a near constant shared listen. Even after it was noted to me that the video was based loosely on the movie Falling Down (one enjoyed ages ago and completely forgotten).

I took a poll of which song to pick. It was decided we couldn’t pick just one. Walk and These Days.

Foos have always been sort of background music (save for Everlong.. a truly great song). Never has a Foos song been so prevalent in my soundtrack. They’ve always been there – steadfast and good – to be sure. But not overtly current. Waking Light was a great album, at a great time, to have them at the forefront. Here is my appreciation to those that shared it with me and reminded me that, even I, could appreciate “popular” music. When it’s great.

I’ll take all that with a side dish of Cheese Whiz, please.

The Black Keys, Lonely Boy

Howlin’ For You was another one of those summer songs that made people smile and rock out while checking cars. Not that the Black Keys were off my radar before this song (Tighten Up was enjoyed), but it was the one I heard most this summer.

When El Camino was released, I had to have it. The pre-released Lonely Boy was another one of those shared songs. Even better was when I shared the video. Shared laughter. Was that really it? Best video ever. Followed by catching up on the SNL performance. Lonely Boy is one of those songs that makes me smile every time I hear it. Both because of its shared value and because it’s just a damn good song. It’s a song that makes me jump up to share it when I hear it. And I’m calling it now – Gold on the Ceiling from El Camino (which was performed at SNL) will be one of the songs to start my 2012 soundtrack.

Stay tuned.

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October 16, 2011

11:59 – A Betty-ful Take

By Betty Beat

No Sleep ‘Till Brooklyn.

This is what I dubbed my NYC trip to see Ryan Star, Gambit, Hesta Prynn and Hot Chelle Rae. Why? Because I existed on such little sleep, I’m actually amazed that I managed to do half of what I did. In a word: adrenaline. Who wants to sleep when they can hit NYC with a great friend and go to see amazing live music by phenomenal artists?

Lila got the details right, so I won’t bore everyone with them again. That said, I’ll add in my thoughts.

My adventure started out incredibly early one morning. I had managed a couple of hours of sleep between getting home from work, finishing packing, my own anticipated excitement and getting my ass to the train to get me to the airport.

Lila summed up nicely the timeline of our day. My take on things goes a little like this:

1. The train from Jersey to Manhattan? Very retro 70s wood panelling. And it smells of strong disinfectant. And it’s hard to sleep. Although I think that has more to do with my happiness in being in NYC and nothing to do with the uncomfortable seats.

2. The NYC subway is crazy. And damp when it rains. Like crazy damp/wet. And dirty. It’s interesting that everything is so old and interesting, but it’s so dirty. And the decay is crazy. And the subway is filled with cops (in some cases, hot cops). And I’m eternally grateful for iPhone apps that help you with the subways because it puts Toronto’s 2-line system to shame. The good thing is neither Lila or I had any moments of panic or anything when we got turned around. It was all very chill and “meh, let’s just backtrack a bit.”

Now all this said, the subway is still impressive, actually. It is this weird mix of history and the present. I don’t want to come off sounding too backwoods. I was in awe that every now and again you would glimpse a snippet of the grandeur that must have existed when the system was originally built. It’s intriguing. And there is no shortage of people to watch. And I never once felt that the decay and dirt impeded how impressive it is. I think it adds to it. Despite being wet and cold.

3. Driving rains and cold temps make for miserable walking. And the people of NYC – their umbrellas always looks kind of like they take a beating. Know why? Because they do. People smack your umbrella with their umbrella, the wind is crazy and you hit scaffolding constantly. My umbrella is now officially looking like a NYC-ified umbrella.

But still, even with the rain, just being there and looking at the shops and wandering around is ultra cool, I have to say. Not once did I think “this is so shitty.” It was more “rain sucks, but let’s wander around.” I jumped over puddles, I watched people, looked at amazing display windows, took in everything and loved it all. How you can go from seeing the super gloss of New York on the street front only to peek around a corner and see a less slick picture. Like what is behind a very pretty mask.

4. Hailing cabs in NYC? Ridiculously easy. There are 625283894 cabs. They’re everywhere. Like Starbucks. Except Starbucks are elusive. They can never be found until you are in the cab and are no longer looking for one. Then they’re all over the place.

5. Madison Ave, Broadway and 5th are all very long avenues. But all very cool. Even in the rain.

6. If you don’t get a good vibe from a restaurant, don’t eat there. Alternatively, if you wait and wander long enough, you happen upon an amazing restaurant find. That’s what happened to us. Attentive wait staff, amazing drinks, nice bathrooms and some of the best Vietnemese I’ve ever had.

7. People look at you funny while you brush your teeth and put on makeup in a Nordstrom’s bathroom. Even in New York.

8. It takes approximately 4 days to get your gloves dry after an entire day of getting them wet.

9. The one Starbucks in the East Village has what I think is the most disgusting bathroom in NYC. It was hideous and scary. Even the decor there was pretty banged up and worn. I was shocked a bit. But it’s busy and interesting and after my first impression, I was far more taken with the atmosphere than how clean it wasn’t. With lots of pretty people to watch.

10. When you are getting ready to go to a concert you’ve been waiting for forever, it doesn’t seem to matter that your clothes that you’ve been dragging around in your backpack all day are damp and cold. But the extra pair of socks you thought to pack? Those are heaven on feet.

11. Webster Hall is uber-hip. As is hanging out waiting to get in for the concert and chatting up random people who happen to know people. I think Lila and I look friendly because people chatted us up easily. Oh, and the bar at the door of Webster Hall charges $1 less for beer than the other bars at the venue. Just so you know.

12. The “It’s $9 beer night” joke from 40 year old virgin movie? I get it now. $9 beer and $12 shots. Crazy.

13. Small venues are the only way I will ever see concerts and this confirms why. High energy, not a ton of people and it feels more intimate.

14. Always bring a ton of cash with you to a concert. I was buying up shit left right and centre. I regret not buying the Ryan Star hoodie.

15. It’s official. I’m a Ryan fan. Maybe not the way Lila is (who could compete?! ), but he is nice. Just straight up a nice guy. And dedicated to his fans in a way most aren’t. He is funny and charming and a hell of a performer live. I actually prefer him live to recorded. His voice quality is stunning.

And he gives a pretty wicked hug.

16. Gambit? What can I say about Lyle et al? Gambit is what got me to NYC in the first place. I rode Lila’s Ryan Star fan coat tail (until I saw him live), but Gambit is why I wanted to go in the first place. And live? They didn’t disappoint whatsoever. Stage energy is always a huge draw for me with any band. And Gambit has it. Meeting Lyle after Gambit’s set was a definite highlight of my evening.

You know the line in “Maybe” that says, “dreaming of a sold out crowd who sang every word he wrote out loud”? That was me. I sang. Loudly.

17. Hesta Prynn. What can I say about her? I was still fairly new to her music when we went and her set confirmed me as a fan. Pepper was, by far, my favourite song of hers. You guys know me. I love a great cover. It’s the one I most often send to people to introduce them to her music when I recommend it. It’s usually followed by sending Seven Sisters. And I have yet to find anyone who doesn’t sit up and take notice. I was transfixed by her set as I often am with strong female artists. My CD was signed “Walk Fast.” A nice counter to Lila’s running comment. Funnily enough, my running has increased and, it seems, Hesta’s music always seems to pop up on a running playlist. Call it inspired.

18. Hot Chelle Rae. I’ll admit to it. I had no idea who they were. But they were cute and fun and light. Again, great live show in a small venue. Funnily enough, months later, I’d hear them on the radio constantly (Tonight Tonight). And I’d smile at the memory. Even better was the day I was watching TV with the oldest “Little Beat” and saw a Mini Pops commercial. What song did they cover? You got it. Tonight Tonight. Leaving me to ponder if having Mini Pops cover one of your songs is a sign of success of the mark of mortification for a band. I still wonder….

19. It’s refreshing to see all bands with such great energy. It makes for a very easy and fun night. Hypnotiq shots don’t hurt either.

20. Ryan Star has a huge teeny-bopper girl following. Some of them are excruciatingly annoying with their bouncy dancing and squealing. At least Lila – as an obsessive fan (ha ha) is cool about it. These girls need to learn subtlety.

21. Hanging out after the show and getting invited to after-parties? Totally worth the cold.

22. I think some people have apartments in NYC and decide to convert them to small bars, because that’s kind of where we were. But it was very kind of dive-bar cool. And it was useful that Lila managed to find outlets for our near-dead cell phones. Impressive, actually, considering the drinks consumed.

23. Vodka-water-bar-lime doesn’t taste as good when it’s NYC tap water.

24. Cab drivers with bad and smelly gas. make me sleepy. Or I was just bagged. Either way.

25. Some people (*cough* youknowwhoyouare) don’t realize you go under water to get to Jersey. Sorry Lindsay.

26. Airport chairs are super uncomfortable. And homeless poets you meet at McDonald’s know to take advantage of super sleepy girls. But not in a bad way. It was a most interesting encounter.

27. Sometimes you have to buy your karma. Giving the above mentioned homeless poet some money got us home in time (which I had to be, luckily, Lila speeds ).

28. McD’s at 3:30 am tastes delicious. For 5 minutes.

29. Porter’s Meal in a Box is my favourite. I heart it. And coffee. I really enjoyed their coffee. In mass quantities. Oh, and the little Wolfgang Puck express place in the Newark airport waiting lounge? Best lemon ginger muffins ever.

30. Stoney is hilarious. And he shares Tic Tacs, which is nice. Serena was a delight. She kept us entertained on our walk and was incredibly hospitable and warm to two complete Canadian strangers. All our encounters that night were just… nice. It was refreshing. No drama, no insipid bullshit. Just really good people who were a delight to meet and chat with.

31. Security doesn’t like it when you joke with them. Alternatively, if you are so tired you can’t think straight, rehearse your information in your head. Because when the guy asks what time you flew out and you utter one “uh” because you’re trying to remember you actually flew out early, but haven’t slept, so your cylinders aren’t all firing.. you get tagged. Customs people have had their seneses of humour permanently disabled.

32. I think my sarcasm amps up when I’m tired.

33. Lila is an awesome travel partner. Nobody freaked out and nobody cried.

 

 

Every moment of sleep deprivation was worth it for this trip. I love remembering it. I said, after re-posting Lila’s 11:59 Part Deux on Facebook the other day that this one whirlwind trip was the catalyst of an amazing year. The driving force behind it.

11:59 Part Goo drops in Erie in about a month. Another trip. This time we hit the road. It will be interesting since Rstar isn’t headlining this, he’s opening for the Goo Goo Dolls. I’m not even a Goo Goo Dolls fan (aside from knowing some classic 90s songs from them…). Debauchery is in the works and Beat & Lyric are looking for trouble… not to mention some great music.

Now, Lila.. give me my damn ticket and stop holding it hostage.

1 comment   |  tags: , , , , , , | posted in Concert Reviews

October 13, 2011

11:59 (Part Two)

By Lila Lyric

For 11:59 (Part One) – here http://beatandlyric.com/2011/07/11/an-1159-part-one/

Apparently the gestation period for blogging about a whirlwind trip to NYC to see a concert you were supposed to see in November is 9 months. I’ve reported the gist of the trip to friends and family, posted the pictures on Facebook for my inner circle to see, the ‘story’ has never been out there for the world (at the least the small part that reads what I write). I’m sure now, 9 months later it has solid lungs, it has 10 fingers, 10 toes and is ready for entry.

I must give credit, where credit is due. It’s all Lindsay’s fault. Chatting one night in October 2010, I mentioned that Ryan Star was playing a show in NYC the same weekend we had contemplated doing a road trip to Montreal (American Thanksgiving). Her response “let’s go there instead”. I had a ‘you don’t have to ask me twice’ light go off in my head and plans were made. Show tickets purchased, flights booked, swanky accommodations arranged. Excitement ensued.

Nine days, seriously nine days before departure news came that the show was being post-ponded until January 18th. I felt like the kid at Christmas that opens a present to find pajamas, the kid that opens the brown paper bag to find a ‘healthy’ lunch – total lunch-bag letdown. I’m not going to dwell on my disappointment as we went anyways and had a great weekend seeing the city.

Our accommodations were extraordinary (thank you Andrew) an apartment on the UWS, a terrace and roof-top access with a view of the park, Starbucks within spitting distance and an awesome breakfast joint perfect for indulging after a run through one of the most famous green spaces in the world. *Sigh*. We went, we had fun but there was unfinished business and I felt it brewing on the flight home.

Refunds for the concert tickets were available, but I couldn’t bring myself to cut the tie. I was willing to eat the cash in hopes that just maybe last minute plans could be made. The internal struggle became a battle in my head. A Tuesday night in January was difficult for me to get to Toronto so NYC was an entirely different dimension. Lindsay was a firm ‘no’ much to my dismay for she was an awesome travelling companion, even with her directionally challenged limitations, as January was her busiest time at work. I contemplated a trip alone, I looked into cheap hotels in the Webster Hall area and then I put it out to my inner circle. I received lots of “oh I would love to see Ryan’s show but it’s too far to travel on a weeknight” or “are you crazy?”

Right before the Christmas holidays I started to concede that this wasn’t going to happen. I was coming to terms with tucking the tickets away and forgetting about the show and continuing with the waiting game for a Toronto or Montreal date. But then a carrot appeared, a shiny golden carrot was dangled in front of me. Gambit and Hesta Prynn were announced as openers. Crawling out from her hole was Betty Beat, she caught a glimpse of the shiny and was in hot pursuit of the light.

Flights booked.

January 17, 2011 – weather forecast for January 18 in Muskoka is bleak. I realize I cannot risk missing a plane because the weather in my area is sucky. I make my way to Toronto a day early to avoid freezing rain and snow. I am eternally thankful for friends like Lindsay who live pretty much right next door to Toronto Island Airport. I arrive in Toronto with no problems, get myself a good night’s sleep and wake up ready for adventure.

Check flight – some delays.

UGH. No f*cking way. The threat of an ice storm in the New York vicinity is causing Porter Airlines to condense their flight schedule. I make the decision to head to the airport and meet Betty there and try and get on an earlier flight so at least we are in the city not worrying one bit if we can’t get out. Works like a charm, and no charge for changing flights either…..sweet!

Security on the other hand isn’t so easy. Porter Airlines is mainly a business class airline shuttling business types between Toronto, Boston, New York and Chicago. Two women travelling with no brief case, no business attire going to New York City for the day is apparently suspicious. We get tagged for full-on body scan and baggage search. They find nothing, because we are good girls and we are on our merry way. Side note: Porter Ginger cookies are the best and not just because they are free.

We get on the plane, get seated and continue to bounce in our seats from excitement. No wait that was turbulence! It was a bouncy ride the entire way to Newark…and not the good kind of bounce. Our descent seemed like eons, I do suspect anticipation was holding the clock still. We get through customs with no real problems, small rookie mistake of being slightly too chatty with the customs officer. I will forever adhere to the First Rule of Customs Chit Chat – THERE IS NO CHIT CHAT. Thankfully dude was as charming as charming
can be when you are in ‘customs’. Again, I suspect anticipation to be the culprit.

The train, oh the lovely retro train into Penn Station, it’s not the clickety clack type train that Sheldon Cooper loves, and likely we weren’t sitting in the optimal seats but we were just lucky to be seated. We arrive at Penn Station. Having been in this location previously I take charge and lead Betty along. Betty’s thoughts upon arrival “The NYC subway is CRAZY. And damp when it rains. Like crazy damp/wet. And dirty. It’s interesting that everything is so old and interesting, but it’s so DIRTY. And the decay is crazy. And the subway is filled with cops (in some cases, hot cops). And I’m eternally grateful for iPhone apps that help you with the subways because it puts Toronto’s 2-line system to shame. The good thing is neither Lila nor I had any moments of panic or anything when we got turned around. It was all very chill and “meh, let’s just backtrack a bit.”

My reflections on those moments leading up to and arriving in New York City now nine months later are strange. I do love the spontaneity but it doesn’t seem like a trip two thirtysomething-year-olds with kids(dogs), husbands, mortgages and that day-to-day life embark on. I think that is what makes it strangely special that it’s seemingly out-of-the-ordinary for woman like Betty and myself to even want to do a whirlwind trip like this, and it takes me back to a ‘moment’ that is significant. It’s an 11:59 moment that I didn’t know I had until reflecting right here, right now. Mrs. Wilson, Grade 11 art class, BCI – she was ‘that’ teacher, her job was to teach me the fundamentals of art, but she guided me creatively, she gave me the foundation for living in the moment. I arrived one day in class with red hair, a nice mahogany. I remember her watching me from across the room and sauntering over as I layered the thick oil paint onto canvas. She put on that art teacher look and examined my work and said “I really like the red” as she looked at the canvas. I was painting with blue. I looked at her from the corner of my eye perplexed and she continued “the hair, not the paint. I see you as the girl that keeps them guessing, just when they figure you out you go and change”. Nothing else was said but that is a moment that will live with me until the day I die, an 11:59. Perhaps my ramblings about Mrs. Wilson’s prophecies are a way of connecting the dots, connecting my youth to those moments on the night of January 18, 2011 more than 20 years later.

As we wandered around Penn Station looking for the train to take us to the vintage store that I had decided would be a fun addition to our day in the city I got a little cocky. Got on the train, the right train, got off at the right location, and then it started to turn. The store was nowhere to be found. Frantically we wander back and forth between a two to three block radius….in the rain no less. I made no ‘notes’ this trip, no intinerary….just Betty, me and my trusty phone. I realize as I look at the website for the vintage store on the small screen of my iPhone – I’m not all that and a bag of chips when it comes to navigation and travelling in a very large city. The store location – Brooklyn – not Manhattan. Lesson learned, Plan B in affect.

Plan B was non-existent, so we improvise. Jump in a cab and head to the area of Webster Hall. Food at this point is necessary. We find a noodle house and stuff our faces, drink a little and dry out (from the rain, we are drinking cocktails). Time starts to get the better of us and we leave, find a place to charge phones (Starbucks), then because this particular coffee house has the most disgusting bathrooms ever we wander again in search of a pleasant facility in order to change. Nordstom’s is the place to be….quite lovely.

We get to Webster Hall, get in line, get into the venue, and beeline for the bar and get a cocktail. Gambit plays first. The energy was amazing and both Betty and I were thrilled to see them live after many many rotations of their songs on our iPods. Lyle chatted with us after their set and thanked us for coming out early to see them. Well of course we were, he sent me stickers in the mail and we tagged Toronto with Gambit QR codes, it was mandatory that we be there in time to see this set. We sing along ‘don’t you keep your feet on the ground’……we live by this everyday. Gambit gives away tunes right now, so I suggest you click here www.gambitofficial.com and download now. Twitter feeds gambitofficial and email teasers suggest new music coming really really soon.

Hesta Prynn, the sexy flaming redhead that can sing, rap and dance, was up next. Describing Hesta Prynn and her music in one word ‘stylin’ – she’s uber cool and can belt it out. She’s describes herself on her website “I’m a child of the ’90s. I take all of these different sounds, influences and genres and come up with something cohesive and tangible. We kept calling it ‘post-everything.’ It’s post-hipster, post-genre and post-pop.” We’ve talked about her many times at Beat & Lyric, and it’s because we love her, she is fabulous. Many HP tunes are on my running playlist and now my EP even says ‘run fast’. Thank you HP, you get me up so many hills. There is much talk of new tunes on her twitter feed @hestaprynnmusic and her website www.hestaprynn.com Please check her out, you won’t be disappointed.

Band # 3, Hot Chelle Rae. While I liked them and looked them up after the show, I must say that they didn’t stick with me. They had a good set and it helped build anticipation within the crowd. I’m still not sure over 9 months later why they didn’t stick, perhaps they are a bit too pop, too much like everything else out there and there wasn’t a connection between me the concert goer and them the band. The other two openers were already on my iPod, they were friends and part of the inner-circle of the main attraction – Ryan Star – so perhaps I am discounting them for lack of knowing. Don’t let me influence you though, check them out www.hotchellerae.com

The main event – www.rstar.net Ryan’s set is EXPLOSIVE. After years of me wondering if I was insane to have this connection the music, always thinking perhaps I was delusional, perhaps it wasn’t as ‘good’ as I thought it was…..there was Betty transfixed and totally being drawn in by the music, by the passion. It was a moment of vindication and I was squealing with delight – it may even have been out loud. The set (thanks @videethis) Brand New Day, Right Now, 11:59, Waiting for Love, Last Train Home, Breathe, Psycho Suicidal Girls, The One You Know, Take a Ride, We Can Work it Out (nice Beatles tribute), Start a Fire, then the encore of Sink or Swim and Back of your Car, although somewhere in there was Losing My Religion came out, I know I heard it. I can’t say I hated any of it (and why would I?), the Beatles cover was a nice surprise but honestly I would have rather one my Youtube favourites that I have seen Ryan pull of – Leonard Cohen’s Everybody Knows. I suppose too melancholy for such an intense show? If the first three songs were a blur, then Waiting for Love snapped me back to reality, I still feel that song resonate through my ribcage from the night – the anticipation as it began, the arrangement live turns this ‘notsofavouriteonthealbumtune’ into one of the best of Ryan’s in live performance. I want to label this my favourite of the night, I want to but 9ish months later it’s hard to pinpoint, can I get a rewind and play again to make sure? I will remain non-commital.

Here is “Breathe” from that night straight from my iPhone.

Fast Forward to after the set.

Ryan is immediately at the Merchandise table to meet and greet fans (it’s his thing). We sort of stay back a bit but weasel up in a different direction. We are standing there watching him chit chat with others, sign things etc. He’s getting pulled in every direction because there are so many people that are friends, his family is there too. He was very gracious and did what he could to keep up.

At one point when I was standing RIGHT next to him the security person from the venue starts separating the crowd and telling them there will be no more – they want to close. Ryan of course pipes up “don’t yell at them please” then directs his attention to the herd getting booted “stick around outside, I will be out soon and will sign and chit chat more out there’.

My thoughts are no way am I waiting around in the rain so I grab his arm (nicely) and put my hand in his and say “He Ryan, we met back in Toronto when you played there, we flew in for your show tonight”. His jawdrops and he says “you came all the way from Canada?” then pulls his hand out of mine and gives me a hug.

He signs my CD cover, takes a photo, does the same with Betty and then thanks us for coming all that way. At this point I decide to go in for the kill.

Dino, I thank you for this.

I said “Ryan, I’m not sure how much you know about the lecture series that you may have a potential invite for at McGill in Montreal”. He looks at me with intrigue and then I say “my friend is the one that works there and I am the one that had her submit your name’.

Again the jawdrop. He says “THAT WAS YOU? Your awesome for doing that, I love when my fans do stuff like that” (insert giant hug #2 – not that I was counting).

At this point he says “there is an after party, Canada needs to come” pointing at me and Beth. Beth of course got her hugs too….as she was a ‘show virgin’ as he put it. I asked him where the ‘after party’ was and I he said ‘I will let you know’ but apparently he said “I will tweet the address”. He did tweet the address for others, and of course we made our way there.

I’m not going to bore you with the details of the after-party, how we made our way on foot there, or Ryan leading a band of young girls too young for the after-party outside the show in a thrilling rendition of “Oh Canada” but I will say a few things about Ryan’s amazing friends. Stoney is quite the conversationalist and I was glad to chat with him again, Serena is a sweet-heart and I am glad that we still connect online from time to time since this show.

I do want to tell you about our adventure after the after-party though. The cab ride to Newark was stinky, Mr. Cab Driver had the worst gas…..hard to sleep through. Homeless poets wondering the Food Court make for good stories and giving him the last of our US money likely bought us some karma with security coming back to Canada. Canadian Customs are just as suspicious of our travel habits as the guards entering the US. Good girls have nothing to worry about, even if they don’t declare the concert shirts and CDs they purchased (well one was a freebie).

A new adventure is on the horizon. Betty and I are making our way to Erie Pennsylvania to see Ryan open for the Goo Goo Dolls, shopping will happen this trip and we will subject two friends (if I can find any that don’t suck) to an RStar show, we will make them drink the cool-aid.

I leave you with a promise, a promise that Betty Beat will post a list, a giant list of her thoughts on the NYC overnight R-Star adventure. I know she will, and if she doesn’t then I will sell her ticket to the next adventure to the highest bidder ;)

~Lila Lyric

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August 24, 2011

Wicked Women of Wednesday

By Lila Lyric

Today’s blog is brought to you by the letter W. Inspired by Betty’s list making skillz, I thought it was that kinda of Hump Day. The songs I have picked for WWW (Wicked Women of Wednesday) are all empowering songs. One on the pop side that is a brush-off of sorts, one that gives you strength and takes you from being vulnerable to being powerful, and one that makes you heard very loud and very clear.

3) “Worried About”, by Illinois native Lissie (born Elisabeth Maurus). This track is off her 2010 album Catching a Tiger. It’s on the pop side of things, hinting on country. I like it’s catchy beat but lyrically I love that she concedes to being obsessed and how she turns the table around with a big ol’ brush off.

2) “Weak”, a 1996 tune by English band Skunk Anansie, which was re-released on their Smashes & Trashes, greatest hits album in 2009. Lead singer “Skin” (Deborah Dyer), is a fascinating woman that pulls off the beauty of bald. The song “Weak” is an anthem and it speaks for itself.

1) “Won’t Go Quietly” is a new song off Company of Thieves 2011 release Running from a Gamble. Unfortunately iTunes Canada does not have this available so you have to trust me that it’s a great tune and a great album and just go straight to Company of Thieves and order a hard copy. Funny thing I didn’t realize is that I have two artist from Illinois on my list….cheers to the windy city! Genevieve Schatz belts out this tune, the live performance I post below from the Bowery Ballroom in NYC is no exception. She gives it her all and makes me want to be there (must.see.live). The song reverberates through you, listen to it loudly and listen to it often.

Go forth….don’t be weak, don’t worry and most of all don’t go quietly.

~Lila

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July 11, 2011

An 11:59 (Part One)

By Lila Lyric

Today I spend less time worrying about what people think of me. I’ve realized there are few on this earth that get me and those that don’t I hope don’t judge and those that judge are insignificant in my life and won’t likely make my circle.

I like the word hipster, it sounds like someone I’d want to know, even though I think labels are useless the word hipster appeals to me. I’m not a hipster, I’m ok with that. I admit to giggling at the non-trends that so-called hipsters follow, it’s now trendy to be non-trendy and it’s always a competition to find the coolest most exotic and weird things out there, especially with music. I’ve been caught in that trap and I listened to some horrible tunes because they were perceived as cool. I’m done with that. It’s all about me now.

I’ve decided to let my ears, my heart, and my urge to chair dance dictate my likes and dislikes in music. The category that the tunes fall into is irrelevant and only will be used to search out the song to purchase it for replay. If my right butt cheek starts to bop up and down while seated, if my shoulders begin to sway, if my foot begins to tap and my head begins to bob then the tune is worthy in my little world. There is no shame in listening to Top 40 tunes and no shame in listening to country (really did I just type that?)….the only shame is listening to song you don’t like because of the perception of being cool. My ear is my own and I will own my preferences. I’m 38-years-old and the lesson has been on-going since I hit about 30, I’m finally passing with an A+.

In 2006 I tuned into yet another reality type TV show, Rockstar Supernova. I did so to support a Canadian artist who had made the cut. My quiet Canadian patriotism always comes to the surface when a musician or artist is showcased on the American airwaves. The other reason I watched – Jason Newstead – major teenage crush and love of long-haired bass players. What evolved while watching this show was not what I expected…at.all. I did not expect to become so attached to a musician that I become a cheerleader for him. Episode Two was a hook, line and sinker moment. I did not expect to put myself out there on websites and fan pages looking for voting to keep this guy on the stage. I joined Rockband Lounge – a website dedicated to the show where fans could get to know each other and chat and find out more about the artist they loved. Much to my surprise I found that the musician’s friends and family were joining in the chat and putting themselves out there with support. At this point I had already ordered previous CDs and found every tune on the internet and joined the musician’s forum on his website. I was quiet at first…but by Episode 5 I became vocal.

I want to say Ryan Star had me at ‘Hello’, as that would be witty and funny but he didn’t cover that song, his buddy David Cook did – but that’s another story. Ryan had me long before ‘oh life is bigger’…but that is the moment where I went from ‘oh this guy is cool’ – to – ‘oh this guy is freaking phenomenal’. I remember even Mr. Lyric was impressed and he was a hardcore Dilana fan (don’t get me started).
I don’t feel the need to go into the history of the show or jump into what happened from there, it’s pretty irrelevant in the grand scheme of this blog. It served a purpose, it introduced me the rstar world and am forever grateful. After Ryan was eliminated he toured. He toured extensively. Thankfully Toronto was a stop on the tour.

That first show, and meeting him and chatting with him prior to the show at the radio station and HMV where he gave an in-store performance solidified the ‘obsession’. Yes I recognize the obsession. He became real at that moment. Chatting with his friends and support team wasn’t just about being a fan, it was about meeting truly genuine people who were supporting a friend and intrigued by the droves of people there to see this phenomenon. I sensed that they got it, that they were privy to how it worked and treated each and every fan accordingly. I sensed no fakeness, no pretentiousness from anyone on the rstar team.

I have this quirk when meeting people, mostly meeting people that have some sort of notoriety. People like Ryan Star meet fans and new people every single day of their lives. From my limited experience it seems he is pretty good at being genuinely interested in each and every person, but I realize that most of them will be forgetful or that the faces and stories merge into one. I have this urge to stand out, this urge to be remembered. Natural I guess, but it’s something I am constantly striving for and it almost crushes me when someone I have met before (in any walk of life) says ‘oh I don’t remember meeting you’. It something I don’t understand, perhaps it’s my photographic memory and having a great ability to remember names and faces. The quirk to be remembered is that I plant a seed within that person so that the next time I see them or speak with them I can reference that seed. Sometimes the seed grows, sometimes it withers and dies. The first time I met Ryan he asked if we had any requests for the show. I dug the hole and planted the seed right then and there. I blurted out ‘Rainbow Connection’. I think I threw him for a loop. Here he is north of the border in Canada and some random chick asks him to sing the song from the Muppet Movie. He did the puppy dog head-tilt and look at me and said ‘how did you know that’. Michelle, his friend and part of his crew started to laugh and said ‘you must be on Rockband Lounge’. She of course had posted months before about Ryan liking to cover songs like ‘Rainbow Connection’ and other out-of-the ordinary tunes at his shows. He indulged me and sang a line from the song – he however did not sing it at the show that night. What I hoping for in that seed is that perhaps next time around I will be able to say ‘I’m the girl who requested Rainbow Connection at your Toronto show way back when’ and it will spark a memory. Silly, yes, but it makes me feel better knowing that I am remembered in some eensie weensie bitty way.

The Toronto show that night at Lee’s Palace (iconic Toronto venue – but somewhat stinky place, literally) was amazing, the energy was intense, but now we need to fast forward. The megafandom did not fade with time, it did not fade with the waiting and waiting and waiting (yes were all waiting) for the official release of 11:59. Each step that Ryan took was out there in cyber world from the day he left the show to being signed with Atlantic, to jumping on tour with David Cook, to the day the cd finally hit the stores.

The way artist promote and keep in contact with fans today is a phenomenon, it’s a life unto itself and it amazes me. Perhaps it my age and living through a major twist in how music comes to fans, but the connection between fan and artist is totally different than 20 years ago. When I first picked up Pearl Jam’s Ten it was all about seeing Eddie Vedder on Much Music and in video form, there was no website to stalk, no twitter feeds to follow, no Facebook group to LIKE. Ryan and the rstar team have their finger on the pulse as the beat of the rstar fan vibe strengthens. I attribute their touch and their connection with us fans as what keeps that beat going. I’m sure it’s a tough world to live in being on the verge of the ‘big time’.

From my perspective I see Ryan’s journey as a marathon, the first one out of the gate doesn’t win the race, it’s not even a race to win really, it’s about going the distance and pushing yourself forward. The pace he has set, the pace his team is keeping him on is all the momentum that is needed ‘right now’.

I write this piece to do my part in the momentum and hopes that even one follower of mine will see what I see, hear what I hear.

I leave you now with a promise of posting the “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” adventure where Betty & I take a whirl wind trip to NYC to see Ryan Star and friends (Hesta Prynn and Gambit) perform at Webster Hall. Promises of ice storm adventures, Porter Flights in the dark of night with free wine, bad navigational skills, yummy food talk, expensive shooters, great great music and energy, meeting all the right people, and even some poetic justice in the Newark Airport at 4:00am.
Ciao,
Lila.

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