And... Go.

DJ setlist, Pianos, February 3rd, 2010.

2010-02-10T16:48:00.004-05:00

Here's the set from last Wednesday's gig... Another week, another fun throwdown at Pianos. This one was a bit mellower than previous weeks, and I was once again kinda pushing to see what I could get away with. Trying to mix my familiar tunes in different ways, incorporate different material, and only reaching for the standby songs/segues when I got myself into a jam and needed a second to breathe.

The Rulers- Wrong 'Em Boyo
Lafayette Afro-Rock Band- Hihache
King Curtis- Sing A Simple Song
Cymande- The Message
Gang Starr- DJ Premier In Deep Concentration
Marlena Shaw- California Soul
Blackalicious- Deception
CSC Funk Band- Bad Banana Bread
The Meters- Chug-Chug-Chug-A-Lug
The Soul Lifters- Hot, Funky And Sweaty
Trinidad Tripoli Steel Band- Cissy Strut
6ix- I'm Just Like You
Rudy Robinson & The Hungry Five- Get It Together (pts 1 & 2)
Charles Wright- You Gotta Know Whatcha Doin'
The Jackson 5- How Funky Is Your Chicken
James Brown- Funky Drummer
The Mighty Hannibal- Somebody In The World For You
Norma & The Heartaches- Hot Pants Dance
Aretha Franklin- Rock Steady (alternate mix)
The Houseguests- What So Never The Dance (pts 1 & 2)
Big Daddy Kane- Ain't No Half Steppin'
Beck- Lloyd Price Express
De La Soul- Buddy (12" mix)
The Mohawks- The Champ
The Emotions- Blind Alley
The Pharcyde- Oh Shit
Heavy D (and everybody else from 1991)- Don't Curse
Tony Alvoin & The Belairs- Sexy Coffee Pot
Maceo & All The King's Men- Thank You Falletin Me Be Mice Elf Agin
Slick Rick- Children's Story
Outkast- Rosa Parks
Otis Redding- Hard To Handle
Marley Marl & The Juice Crew- The Symphony
Pete Rock & CL Smooth- Straighten It Out
The Gaturs- Cold Bear
A Tribe Called Quest- Steve Biko/Award Tour
Freddie Scott- (You) Got What I Need
Gang Starr (feat. Nice & Smooth)- DWYCK
The Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band- Express Yourself (alternate version)
Public Enemy- Shut 'Em Down (Pete Rock Mixx)
Mary J. Blige- Family Affair
Craig Mack- Flava In Ya Ear
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo- Ill Street Blues
Busta Rhymes- Woo Hah!! Got You All In Check
Mos Def- Universal Magnetic
Aaron Neville- Hercules
Alton Ellis & The Flames- Cry Tough
20th Century Steel Band- Heaven & Hell Is On Earth
Dandy Livingstone & Rico- A Message To You Rudy
The Brothers Seven- Funky Smunk
Jeff Beck- Come Dancing
Gang Starr- Check The Technique
Joe Beurger- Joe's Funky
Jungle Brothers- Because I Got It Like That
The Belle Stars- Iko Iko
Booker T. & The MG's- Melting Pot
The Pharcyde- Soul Flower (remix)
Brand Nubian- Slow Down
Super Lover Cee & Casanova Rud- Girls I Got 'Em Locked
Kid Cudi- Make Her Say
A Tribe Called Quest- Electric Relaxation (Propellerheads Mix)
Nice & Smooth- Hip-Hop Junkies
Das EFX- They Want EFX
Black Sheep- Flavor Of The Month
Jean-Jacques Perrey- EVA
Mickey & The Soul Generation- Soulful Sickness
Pete Rock & CL Smooth- T.R.O.Y.
Stevie Wonder- You Haven't Done Nothin'
The Clash- Rudie Can't Fail
Curtis Mayfield- Power To The People
The Bar-Kays- Soul Finger
The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band- Yellow Submarine
Jimmy Cliff- The Harder They Come

Shockingly, everything ended up sounding good and mixing well (even the hip-hop/soul/punk/soul/funk/funk Beatles cover/reggae run there right at the end). Fun times.

Gig announcements and more fun constantly posted at my professional twitter... For info on the home of my weekly Wednesday sets, see the Pianos Website.

[this post crossposted at musicwrite.blogspot.com]

DJ setlist (partial), bar 151, February 1st, 2010

2010-02-10T01:40:00.003-05:00

Here's the rundown of my set at 151 from a couple weeks ago... Or at least the first couple hours thereof. It was a slow night, and I decided to kick things off with a lot of stomping-skanking-honking grooves. Stuck in that vein 'til midnight or so, then transitioned to a funk/soul blend; cueing tracks back and forth between a few compilations, trying to get familiar with some reissues I'd recently acquired (and I stopped keeping a record of what I was playing at that point).

So. A set of ska/garage/r&b/soul titles for your perusal:

The Wailers- Tall Cool One
Baba Brooks & His Band- One Eyed Giant
Prince Buster- 7 Wonders Of The World
Shane Kai Ray- Jungle Talk
Calvin Cool- El Telecote
The Savoys- Slappin' Rods & Leaky Oil
The Four Sounds- Mama Ubangi Bangi
Baby Huey & The Babysitters- Monkey Man
The Maytals- Monkey Man
The Shardells- Black Crack
The Tennors- Ride The Donkey
Skip Cole- Do The Whip
Prince Buster- Madness
Clarence & Calvin- Rooster Knees And Rice
Richard Berry- The Mess Around
The Rulers- Wrong 'Em Boyo
The Kinks- The World Keeps Going Round
The Harry J Allstars- The Dog
? & The Mysterians- Up Side
The Untamed- I'm Going Out Tonight
Ramsey Lewis Trio- High Heel Sneakers
Booker T. & The MG's- Hip Hug-Her
The Skatalites- Garden Of Love
The Third Bardo- I'm Five Years Ahead Of My Time
The Creation- Ostrich Man (miscue)
The Music Machine- Talk Talk
Thee Midnighters- Thee Midnight Feeling
The Wailers- Seattle
The Aztecs- Damelo Baby
Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band- Brothers & Sisters
The Mighty Hannibal- Somebody In The World For You
Ernie & The Top Notes Inc.- Dap Walk

Anyhow. I spin at 151 every Monday, 10pm->last call, it's on Rivington & Suffolk in the Lower East Side. Nice spot, laid back, dark, funky, and I can just drop in and spin whatever I'm in the mood for. Some nights it's heavy funk, sometimes old-school hip-hop, often more of a rock and punk edge than my gigs in other venues... It's a good chill way to spend a school night. And as ever, gig announcements and more fun can be found thru my professional twitter.

[this post crossposted at musicwrite.blogspot.com]

DJ setlist, Pianos, January 27th, 2010.

2010-02-07T16:27:00.004-05:00

Here's my Wednesday evening set from two weeks ago, starting pretty heavy on the soul/bluebeat/ska/funk, and branching into more classic hip-hop and block party tunes as it goes... Been picking up lots more reissues lately, and trying to push myself a little harder to play less of my standby tracks / play familiar things in a different order. So, there's still plenty of faves, but not as I'd normally use 'em... Good to aim a bit out of the comfort zone once in a while.

Rico- Sea Cruise
King Curtis- Sing A Simple Song
The Paragons- On The Beach
Eric Morris- If I Didn't Love You
Alton Ellis & The Flames- Girl, I've Got A Date
Ike Turner & The Kings Of Rhythm- Getting Nasty
Tim Armstrong- Hold On
The Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band- Watts Happening
The Harry J Allstars- UFO
Eric Donaldson- Cherry Oh Baby
The Selecter- s/t
Don Covay- Sookie Sookie
Roger & The Gypsies- Pass The Hatchet
The Houseguests- What So Never The Dance (pts 1 & 2)
Sly & The Family Stone- Trip To Your Heart
The New Birth- Got To Get A Knut
The Temptations- Psychedelic Shack
Stevie Wonder- We Can Work It Out
Tony Alvoin & The Belairs- Sexy Coffee Pot
The Impressions- Check Out Your Mind
Al Green- Love Ritual
Little Jr Jesse And His Teardrops & The Tears- Funky Stuff
The Golden Toadstools- Silly Savage
The Fabulous Counts- Dirty Red
Ramsey Lewis- Do What You Wanna (Mr. Scruff mix)
DJ Shadow- The Number Song (Cut Chemist mix)
Main Source- Fakin' The Funk
Nice & Smooth- Hip-Hop Junkies
De La Soul- Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)
Artifacts- Whayback
Apache- Gangsta Bitch*
Stevie Wonder- You Haven't Done Nothin'
6ix- I'm Just Like You
Shuggie Otis- Aht Ah My Head
The Clash- Return To Brixton
EPMD- You're A Customer
Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band- Express Yourself (alt version)
Eric B & Rakim- Eric B Is President
The Emotions- Blind Alley
Gang Starr- Check The Technique
Big Daddy Kane- Ain't No Half Steppin'
The Unspoken Heard- Soon Come
A Tribe Called Quest- We Can Get Down
Public Enemy- Shut 'Em Down (Pete Rock Mixx)
Mary J. Blige- Family Affair
Norma & The Heartaches- Hot Pants Dance
De La Soul (feat. Mos Def)- Big Brother Beat
James Brown- Blind Man Can See It
Lord Finesse- Funky Technician
Das EFX- They Want EFX
The Willard Posey Reunion- Cissy Strut'n American Woman
Cymande- The Mesage
Pete Rock & CL Smooth- Straighten It Out
The Gaturs- Cold Bear
Dandy Livingstone & Rico- A Message To You Rudy
87th Off Broadway- Can't Get Enough
Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock- Keep It Going Now
Nas- Made You Look
Mickey & The Soul Generation- Soulful Sickness
The Pharcyde- Runnin'
Otis Redding- Hard To Handle
Booker T. & The MG's- Hip Hug-Her
The 20th Century Steel Drum Band- Heaven & Hell Is On Earth
Earth, Wind & Fire- Brazilian Rhyme
Babe Ruth- The Mexican
Eric B & Rakim- Know The Ledge
James Brown- Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved
Lords Of The Underground- Chief Rocka
Gang Starr (feat. Nice & Smooth)- DWYCK
EPMD- The Crossover
KRS-ONE- Sound Of The Police
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo- Ill Street Blues
Freddie Scott- (You) Got What I Need
De La Soul- Itsoweezee
Jimmy Cliff- The Harder They Come
Pete Rock & CL Smooth- T.R.O.Y.
The Harry J Allstars- Je T'aime
The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band- Yellow Submarine
Young-Holt Unlimited- Soulful Strut

*R.I.P. Apache, December 26, 1964 - January 22, 2010

Wrapped up with a 1-2-3 punch of ska-funk-soul-strumentals... That "Yellow Submarine" is SICK. From the self-titles Watts 103rd album. Well worth seeking out.

Gig announcements and more fun constantly posted at my professional twitter... For info on the home of my weekly Wednesday sets, see the Pianos Website.

[this post crossposted at musicwrite.blogspot.com]

DJing, Charlottesville VA, Wednesday January 6th 2010!

2010-01-05T19:49:00.003-05:00

If you are around in central Virginia tomorrow, you should come check this out.

...And if you're not, you should still look at the lovely event poster that my buddy James K. Ford and I made. The best imaginary vintage paperback cover never made, methinks. Very "Ace Double", in color scheme and layout.

Anyhow, DJ gig. In the hometown. With my buddy James (AKA DJ Hummingbird Feeder) and me. We'll start around 9/9:30/10pm and go 'til last call. It will rock, and funk, and do other genretastic verbjectives...

And it would be great to see you.

DJ setlist, Camino, January 2nd, 2010.

2010-01-04T17:09:00.003-05:00

My first DJ set of the new year, from Camino in Charlottesville, Virginia. Starts out with a mini-set of mellow Beatles covers, builds to a pretty solid run of funk and hip-hop tunes, wraps up in much the fashion it began... Lotsa classics, lotsa rare stuff, a few random bits of whimsy, and one point where the amp overheated and everything went quiet. Pretty alright.

Jimmy Ponder-While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Booker T. & The MG's- Lady Madonna
Overton Berry Trio- Hey Jude
Ramsey Lewis- Day Tripper
Harry J. Allstars- Don't Let Me Down
Booker T. & The MG's- Michelle
Harvey Averne- I Feel Fine
The Selecter- The Selecter
King Curtis- Memphis Soul Stew
Lee Dorsey- Four Corners (pt. 1)
The Fantastic Johnny C- Boogaloo Down Broadway
Marvin Gaye- Stubborn Kind Of Fellow
Jamie Lidell- Multiply
The Houseguests- What So Never The Dance (pts 1 & 2)
Johnny Cameron & The Camerons- Funky John
Tony Alvoin & The Belairs- Sexy Coffee Pot
Freddie & The Kinfolk- Mashed Potato, Pop Corn
The Bar-Kays - Soul Finger
Little Junior Jesse And His Teardrops & The Tears- Funky Stuff
The Clash- Return To Brixton
Slick Rick- Children's Story
The JB's- You Can Have Watergate
Brand Nubian- All For One
The Gaturs- Cold Bear
Pete Rock & CL Smooth- Go With The Flow
Big Daddy Kane- Warm It Up Kane
Chubb Rock- Treat 'Em Right
LL Cool J- Jingling Baby (remixed but still jingling)
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo- Poison
Bobby Williams- Funky Superfly
The Pharcyde- Soul Flower (remix)
Ramsey Lewis- Do What You Wanna (Mr. Scruff mix)
Stevie Wonder- You Haven't Done Nothin'
A Tribe Called Quest- Electric Relaxation (Propellerheads mix)
Salt N Pepa- Shoop
Diamond & The Psychotic Neurotics- Sally Got A One-Track Mind
King Herbert & The Knights- Cissy Strut
De La Soul feat. Mos Def- Big Brother Beat
The Soul Dukes- Soul-69
KRS-ONE - MCs Act Like They Don't Know
Big L- Put It On
The Pharcyde- Runnin'
Masta Ace- As I Reminisce
Beck- Lloyd Price Express
Jay-Z - Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
*OVERHEATED AMP*
Jay-Z - Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
Freddy Scott- You Got What I Need
The Emotions- Blind Alley
Marley Marl (w/The Juice Crew)- The Symphony
The Jackson 5- Can I See You In The Morning
The Fugees- Ready Or Not
Original Concept- Charlie Sez
Kid N Play- Gettin' Funky
3rd Bass- The Gas Face
Stezo- It's My Turn
James Brown- Blind Man Can See It
Special Ed- I Got It Made
Craig Mack- Flava In Ya Ear
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo- Ill Street Blues
Otis Redding- Hard To Handle
Busta Rhymes- Woo-Hah!
Ike Turner & The Kings Of Rhythm- Getting Nasty
Pete Rock & CL Smooth- T.R.O.Y.
Mickey & The Soul Generation- Soulful Sickness
Nice & Smooth- No Delayin'
Norma & The Heartaches- Hot Pants Dance
The Unspoken Heard- Soon Come
The Clash- Justice Tonight/Kick It Over
Vince Guaraldi & Bola Sete- I'm A Loser
Gershon Kingsley- Paperback Writer
Booker T. & The MG's- Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End

So, anyhow. Camino is a new Mediterranean restaurant downtown, run by a couple old friends, with awesomely high-quality eats and a great selection of wines and boozes. I guess this was the first musical thing they've hosted, and I'm hoping to spin there again whenever I'm in town. Good chill vibe, nice smallish space, great people. Fun gig. More soon, I hope.

DJ setlist, Pianos, December 16th, 2009.

2009-12-20T19:11:00.004-05:00

My set from Wednesday the 16th, 5-10pm, first of a two-night run of happyhour gigs. Mostly funk and hip-hop, with a bit of soul and ska and other surprises:

Maceo & All The King's Men- Thank You (Falletinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
The Impressions- Why Don't You Check Out Your Mind
The Temptations- Don't Let The Joneses Get You Down
King Curtis- Memphis Soul Stew
Pete Rock & CL Smooth- T.R.O.Y.
The J.B.'s- Pass The Peas
Milly & Silly- Getting Down For Xmas
Bob James- Take Me To The Mardi Gras
The Emotions- Blind Alley
Curtis Mayfield- Power To The People
Jimmy Cliff- The Harder They Come
The Harry J Allstars- Je t'aime
Bobby Williams- Funky Superfly (parts 1 & 2)
Big Daddy Kane- Ain't No Half Steppin'
Electric Jungle- Funky Funky Christmas
Jeff Beck- Come Dancing
Beck- Lloyd Price Express
Das Efx- They Want Efx
Nice & Smooth- Hip-Hop Junkies
Kid Cudi- Make Her Say
The Pharcyde- Runnin'
Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band- You Gotta Know What You're Doin'
Stevie Wonder- You Haven't Done Nothin'
6ix- I'm Just Like You
The J.B.'s- (It's Not The Express) It's The J.B.'s Monorail
The Gaturs- Cold Bear
Eric B. & Rakim- I Ain't No Joke
Charles Earland- Letha
Pete Rock & CL Smoooth- Straighten It Out
Heavy D + everyone in the world, circa 1993- Don't Curse
King Herbert & The Knights- Cissy Strut
Boogie Down Productions- My Philosophy ->
The Unspoken Heard- Soon Come
Joe Beurger- Joe's Funky
James Brown- Make It Funky
Gang Starr- Full Clip (instrumental->vocal)
A Tribe Called Quest- We Can Get Down
Public Enemy- Shut 'Em Down (Pete Rock Mixx)
Mary J. Blige- Family Affair
Marley Marl & The Juice Crew- The Symphony
Tony Alvoin & The Belairs- Sexy Coffee Pot
Outkast- Mrs. Jackson
The Clash- Return To Brixton
Slick Rick- Children's Story
Whodini- Freaks Come Out At Night
Jean-Jacques Perrey- EVA
Tom Tom Club- Genius Of Love
Salt N Pepa- Shoop
De La Soul Feat. Redman- Oooh
Busta Rhymes- Woo-hah! Got You All In Check
A Tribe Called Quest- Electric Relaxation (Propellerheads mix)
Gang Starr feat. Nice & Smooth- DWYCK
The Clash- Rudy Can't Fail
Eric B. & Rakim- I Know You Got Soul
The Fugees- Ready Or Not
Booker T. & The MG's- Melting Pot
Black Sheep- The Choice Is Yours (remix)
De La Soul- Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)
Sly & The Family Stone- If You Want Me To Stay
The Pharcyde- Ya Mama
Norma & The Heartaches- Hot Pants Dance
Doug E. Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew- The Show
Sly & The Family Stone- Everybody Is A Star
Whodini- Friends
Fresh 3 MC's- Fresh
Nu Shooz- I Can't Wait
Grand Puba- 360 Degrees
LL Cool J- Jingling Baby (remixed but still jingling)
The Herbaliser- Ka-Boink!
Del Tha Funkee Homosapien- Mista Dobalina
Freddie Scott- You Got What I Need

Not a bad set. Somewhat crippled by leaving an important box of discs at home by mistake, but there's times when limitations make you work harder... And guess this was one of 'em. Played a few more cheesy/classic things than usual, but it worked well for the crowd. Good times.

Gig announcements and more fun constantly posted at my professional twitter... Spinning at least once a week somewhere in the Lower East Side.

For info on where this was, see the Pianos Website.

[this post crossposted at musicwrite.blogspot.com]

"The Boys". Go see.

2009-05-25T01:07:00.002-04:00

I'm breaking a long silence here to mention a film that just opened in three cities. And if you know me (and if you're somehow reading this, I bet you do), please take my recommendation.

The film is called "The Boys". It's a documentary on Richard and Robert Sherman. Now, odds are you have no idea who those people are, but I'd bet good cash you know many of the songs they wrote. "It's A Small World". "The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers". "Tall Paul". "You're Sixteen [you're beautiful, and you're mine]". "I Wanna Be Like You" (from The Jungle Book). All the songs from "Mary Poppins", "Bedknobs And Broomsticks", "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang", "Charlotte's Web", and oodles of others.

And it's a film that shines a light on unsung giants of pop culture, provides a great portrait of painful family dynamics, and (vitally) pulls at the heartstrings with lots of great great music.

Now, there's been no publicity for this film, I only discovered it by mistake; I walked by the theater in NYC where it was playing, and decided I had to see it. And if you're in SF, LA, or NY, I encourage you to do the same. It's totally worth it, if only to remind yourself of how great the music truly is, and how vitally important it it to have these moments of genius that break through the treacle of American entertainment... And how one can create for all audiences without pandering. It's full of sounds and images that I've known all my life, but elicit emotions from me even today.

Much respect to Disney for putting this out. And thanks to the filmmakers and the Sherman Brothers. 'Nuff said.

(Film website here.)

Merry Rump-Mas!

2007-12-24T13:41:00.000-05:00

In the traditional fashion for this festive season, I hereby present your recommended dosage of holiday cheer: GIANT GLOWING INFLATABLE SANTA BOOTY!

Have a wonderful holiday season, and don't say I never gave you nuthin'.

-PAR

Recapping.

2007-11-12T02:00:00.001-05:00

And then (and yes I know I'm suddenly re-establishing contact after a long silent stretch), I was a bit older.

And what remained was a weekend's worth of memories made up of blurred recollections and amazing food and digital photos and falling over giggling and many many many many MANY drinks and old friends catching up and some newer friends suddenly being missed and yet more fantastic cuisine and getting distracted and wandering off and unrequited love and stupid jokes and stolen kisses and immense affection and loose ends and missing polaroids and a few long-time collaborators notable in thier absence and early mornings and late nights and intersecting social circles and intending to go somewhere and ending up somewhere entirely different by mistake and disorientation and selective equilibrium and unanticipated tenderness and music and fun and not a lot of sleep and holding one another tightly and missed connections and happy coincidences and no matter what details we'd tweak if we could, general awesomeness.

It was a great time. I look forward to reconstructing it someday, and in the meantime, moving full speed ahead.

Thanks to one and all.

-PAR

We now pause for a brief message.

2007-09-14T14:25:00.000-04:00

Quiet.

2007-08-31T22:23:00.000-04:00

Things have been kinda crazy since I got back from California, but I guess I just haven't felt much like talking. At least, not in this forum.

More when I begin feeling a little more conversational again.

-PAR

Off to the opposite coast.

2007-08-03T04:27:00.000-04:00

And with that, I run off to California. Back soon, getting settled, housewarming, and all that other stuff commences.

But 'til then... Ten days of beach and lovely weather and family and recreation. Awesome.

More soon (when I return if not before).

-PAR

Counting minutes and waiting and planning and worrying and dreaming.

2007-07-28T19:16:00.000-04:00

Five days 'til flying to California. Five days of organizing and getting things squared and not having time to spend with wonderful girl and working and shuffling things around from bag to bag so I have proper articles of clothing and other things needed for ten days of goofing off by the ocean. Started making lists of things as I think of them in order to forget as little as possible. Dealing with details of new apartment that will be sitting ready when I return, making sure things like electricity and some manner of sleeping arrangement are in place.

It's a stretch of inertia and powerlessness and desperation and heatwave and just-put-my-head-down-and-power-through-it-dammit that I know leads somewhere better, but is really frustrating in the meantime. Having just enough time to worry and overthink while not being able to set everything straight or participate in all the awesome things that're happening all around.

But it's only a few days. I keep reminding myself. And even in this, there's a few scattered seconds that remind me that it's all worth it. A quick quiet drink with the girl and stealing a moment away from everyone else. Ending up on a block I don't recognize and getting to explore another tiny piece of this crazy city. Even having a quick stretch at work when everything falls into place and I can get into a groove for a few minutes.

A few more of those, and I escape to the West Coast. And when I come back, a bunch of new adventures await.

-PAR

Currently:

2007-07-16T04:14:00.000-04:00

Exhausted. Run a bit ragged. Wistful for the ocean. Waiting for a moment to pause and think. In the final stretch to get finances and housing squared. Planning trip west. Up far too late. Trying to turn down the sound and images spinning in my brain. Wondering at the incredible city I live in. Wishing I had more time to devote to family. Imagining how music can fit together, and wondering if I have the means to execute it. Stressed. Stupidly busy. Somehow still moving forward. Excited. Determined. Hopeful. Totally smitten.

More soon.

-PAR

Today is a lovely day to run.

2007-07-07T18:00:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I wrote anything here. The last few weeks have seen my life turned upside-down in fairly comprehensive fashion, and I expect the next few will continue the trend.

The cafe has re-opened, and I'm back making coffee and working seven days / week (between two jobs). I've moved out of the apartment I was in for the past 4 years, put nearly everything I own into a Manhattan Mini-Storage space on the Westside Highway, and am staying on couches and floors of friends for the next few weeks. If all goes well, will have a new (bigger and better) place come August, living with my old pal Will in the Lower East Side. Gonna be DJing at NuBlu on the 20th of this month with a couple friends (which should be AWESOME). Have set August 3rd-13th as the dates for my next swing through California, staying in Santa Cruz with family, catching up with friends, and doing lots of wandering around.

And in the midst of all this, I somehow end up dating an amazing girl.

Days become a blur of work and running around and iced beverages and rock shows and movies and listening to music and dealing with realtors and going out dancing and making piles of boxes and figuring out how to pack bags and going to sleep and waking up and rooftop parties and plotting events for the next few months and falling head-over-heels for someone.

Ah, summertime.

-PAR

The Sound Of Summer.

2007-06-02T18:42:00.000-04:00

The song of the summer will be Kanye West and Daft Punk's "Stronger".

In-f***ing-credible.

I've so far only heard it as a minute-long clip on a mixtape and as an mp3 taken from a radio broadcast in the UK (which has the DJ talking over large portions of it). It's not officially released for a little while. And it's already my new favorite thing. It tears Daft Punk's classic "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" apart, and then rebuilds it as an unstoppable juggernaut of synth-fueled hip-hop grandeur. A beat to slay the mightiest dancefloor, and the best lyrics of anything Kanye's done by far.

"Let's get lost tonight. You could be my black Kate Moss tonight. Play secretary on the boss tonight..."

This is the jam. This will be the tune to drop at every party. This will create sex on the dancefloor in a way nothing has in a few years.

That is all. You heard it here first.

-PAR

Essential Services.

2007-05-21T21:08:00.000-04:00

It's funny, I've worn through probably four or five pairs of batts since moving to New York. And every time, I've just had to throw the old ones out and buy new ones. If only I'd known that there's a place on the Westside Highway that specializes in re-facking them...

-PAR

Images of springtime...

2007-05-17T15:35:00.000-04:00

A quick flip backwards through some pictures from the last few months. (Now that I'm able to get things from my Trekphone to my laptop again...)

Lots of crazy. Lots of fun. Lots more to come.

-PAR

Last Day At The Cafe.

2007-04-29T23:02:00.000-04:00

This past Monday was the final day of the coffeeshop. Before catching my bus down to Charlottesville, I dropped by, did shots with my bosses and coworker, chatted with my best buddy Angus (who's thwee and a hawf), made fun of the guy who was asleep against the memorial wall, and spent a few last minutes goofing around at Alt.

In a few weeks we'll rise again, like a phoenix from the ash and rubble. Renovated, clean, more family-friendly, with expanded menu and a new name and logo... But this was a last huzzah for the old-guard East Village hang-out that we knew as Alt.Coffee. Nice way to go out.

-PAR

Nonsensical and awesome.

2007-04-21T20:53:00.000-04:00

Then, one day, it's seventy degrees outside and margaritas start seeming like the best idea in the world. Time to start seeking out rooftops and patios.

I'm catching a bus down to Charlottesville on Monday. Spending the better part of the week there, with few places to be or events to attend. An actual real-live vacation.

Yeah. Spring is thus far a totally disjointed series of phrases and images that I'm not even trying to form into a cohesive whole. It's just stuff happening and things flashing by and falling-over tired and laughing a lot. The music needs to be louder. Sure, I'd love another drink. You're doing what? I'd love to, but I'll forget, could you remind me later? We need more of that. Open the windows. Yes, move to New York. Check THAT out. Yeah, I should probably get more sleep. High-five! Yes, please. I'll get to that one in a second. You like-a that one so much, we playa it for you again now. Easy, buddy. Faster. Tomorrow? HELL YEAH.

Big complicated sandwiches. Grindhouse. Ted Leo. Booker T. & The MG's. The Orange Juice Man, in his BIG orange wig. Hot Dice! Kahlua and iced coffee. Wind whipping up Second Avenue. Patron on the rocks. Sgt. Fury & His Howling Commandoes. Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde. There's this girl. Old Elton John records. I wonder what I'll be like when I grow up. Cold, rainy evening. That issue where they have to help the Sub-Mariner, but he never finds out. Gotta pay taxes. Cameraphones. Stevie Wonder's "Down To Earth". Almost bedtime. North, South, East, West! Bears!

* * * * *

And I expect life'll only get more absurd as the weather gets warmer and my surroudings keep transforming. Awesome. It'll be fun to see what happens next.

-PAR

Third in a series.

2007-04-15T15:09:00.000-04:00

It won't stop raining in NYC. And it's not quite warm enough to be enjoyable. It's just a cold and wet and dreary. Rain not even coming down, but streaming horizontally so umbrellas don't make much difference.

Iced coffee is all that's coming between me and falling over, giving in to the 80-odd hour work week I'm winding up. Well, iced coffee and Mike Doughty's redition of "Looks" coming over the stereo. Perfect rainy day tunage.

This upcoming week: the last few days of working at the coffeeshop before we close for renovation/transformation. Seeing a rock show with a cute girl. General exhaustion, margaritas with friends, dealing with taxes, buying tix for my trip to Ch'ville at the end of the month.

Transmission continuing soon.

-PAR

Second in a series.

2007-03-25T15:47:00.000-04:00

...And the next thing you know, it's full-on springtime. Daylight savings shakes everything up, time starts accelerating, kick the windows open to get some fresh air and turn up the stereo. My life suddenly kicks back into high gear between theater gig, planning next visit back to Ch'ville, being smitten with girl and pop music, other as-yet-nameless project taking too much of my time, coffeeshop what I work at closing to renovate, planning next stage of DJ career, and all the usual idiot revelry that comes with the being young and foolish.

-PAR

First in a series.

2007-03-04T19:16:00.000-05:00

Yeah, so I've been quiet for a while... Busy with all manner of stuff. Friends visiting, applying for some theatre design work, spending the usual amount of time at my places of employment, listening to amazing pop music, going to incredible concerts, reveling in the craziness as winter shifts gears and begins tempting us with notions of springtime.

I offer this by way of explaining what I've been doing instead of writing here.

Ramblings, pictures, and other nonsense will now resume transmitting on a more regular basis. I hope.

-PAR

Items O' Interest.

2007-01-28T15:51:00.000-05:00

There's a bunch of new pics up on Mallfellows, taken over recent visits back to Charlottesville. (Two galleries by me, one by The Artist Formerly Known As benjones.)

Working on lining up a few more dance-party-DJ-things, both here and down in Chville. More info soon, with luck.

And let's not forget, it's almost January 31st! And you know what that means?

So stock up on bananas, pull your ape suit out of the closet, and enjoy this most festive of days. But beware of the odd abominable snowman wandering around amongst the apes... They can turn vicious.

(All the latest and most up-to-date gorilla suiting info can be found over at Mark Evanier's "News From Me", of course.)

-PAR

And Two-Double-Oh-Seven ensues.

2007-01-22T04:15:00.000-05:00

Back in the big city. Back for a week now, and just beginning to get back in the groove of everyday life.

Time in Charlottesville was fantastic. Saw nearly everyone I needed to see, played a couple great parties, designed a show that was everything I hoped, had plenty of time to just goof around and start feeling at home again. Long days, longer nights-into-mornings, walking and hitching rides and working hard and exploring the city I used to know backwards. Getting home as the sun's rising. Sleeping in far later than I should. Seeing the family, having a much-delayed holiday, eating, conversing, making merry. Afternoons reading and drinking coffee, or on top of a ladder moving lights about to create a space that I envisioned. Evenings in rehearsals or playing records, then to the teahouse for beverages and plotting the next stage of mischief. Impromptu after-hours rock shows. The C&O with bundles of friends, creating ruckus, conversing, catching up, cutting up, disrupting the nice quiet lives of the staff. Up late into the night playing Risk and pinball and Katamari, eating popcorn, rolling dice, drinking sake and rye whiskey and red wine, getting crushes on girls, watching old movies, being young and laughing a lot and generally having a blast.

Can't wait to do it again.

-PAR

Party People, Rock The House.

2006-12-28T13:34:00.000-05:00

In addition to the aforementioned James Brown Memorial Dance Party on Saturday night, there's more DJ insanity scheduled for the next couple weeks in Charlottesville...

As it stands: Saturday is the Soul Brother #1 tribute (in place of our annual pre-NYE shindig). Sunday I'm spinning all night at a New Year's party (details on request). Then, January 5th I'm the DJ for a big-ass throwdown at Live Arts. Mark your datebooks now...

More fun and excitement TBA. Stay Tuned...

-PAR

Saturday Night in Charlottesville...

2006-12-27T15:48:00.000-05:00

On Saturday night at the Tea House in Charlottesville, we're throwing a dance party...

----------
"WHY IS THAT, LADIES?" - A Dance Party Tribute To James Brown. With DJ J. Pinkerton and DJ Hummingbird Feeder. At the Twisted Branch Tea Bazzar on the Downtown Mall. 9PM-2AM. No cover, donations welcome.

----------

So yeah. I'm spinning (as DJ J. Pinkerton), my buddy James is also (as DJ Hummingbird Feeder). Because the passing of James Brown is something to be noted. If not for him, 99% of dance music would not be.

So show up, say hey, and bust a move to commemorate the Hardest Warking Man In Show Business.

-PAR

Ending radio silence...

2006-12-16T22:31:00.000-05:00

The holiday insanity is upon us, and I'm finally finding a moment to get back to my little corner of the internets.

So.

I'm gonna be in New York thru Christmas, then heading down to Charlottesville on the 27th. Will be in town thru January 12th or so, working on various projects and being my usual ne'er-do-well self.

On December 29th, we're throwing our annual pre-new-year's Hot Hot Dance Party. (Location TBA.)

January 5th, I'm DJing at Live Arts for a big-ass volunteer appreciation / year in review shindig. It's free, and it's a great space and great people.

January 12th, "Thom Pain" opens at Live Arts. I'm designing the lights and sound, and it will be awesome. Great show, great director, and my first work designing at Live Arts since I moved out of Chville.

There's more stuff afoot too, but I'll get to that later.

-PAR

Working Vacation.

2006-10-06T12:33:00.000-04:00

Heading to Charlottesville in a few hours... Gonna be hangin' around for a week. DJing an old pal's wedding tomorrow, spinning a gig at Rapture with some friends on Tuesday, then another gig on Thursday. In between, doing the sit around, catch up with people, drink coffee, and generally be a slacker thing. Back to NYC on the 13th.

Yeah.

-PAR

The Great Lakes Wu-Tang!

2006-09-20T00:58:00.000-04:00

I'm talking to a friend the other day about the long and storied career of the Wu-Tang Clan. And about the members of said hip-hop ensemble who have had, to put it bluntly, underwhelming careers. To say nothing of the innumerable side projects that the Wu have sponsored, lent variations on their logo to, or been loosely affiliated with.

And we hypothesized that U-God should've just been spun off years ago to captain his own, lesser chapter of the Wu elsewhere. Like the West Coast, no, not even... The Great Lakes Wu-Tang!

[If you happen not to be a comic book geek and a hip-hop fanatic, background on why this is funny can be found here and here.]

-PAR

Lost Dog.

2006-08-30T02:20:00.000-04:00

Spotted this taped to a phone booth on Avenue A.

-PAR

California part three: Santa Cruz & Capitola

2006-08-19T23:51:00.000-04:00

Snapshots from the remainder of the time spent on the West Coast. As ever, you can click on any of 'em to embiggen. I'm now back in NYC, and slowly getting myself up to speed again... Vacation over. Back to work, and life, and gigs, and all the rest.

-PAR

California part two: Santa Cruz.

2006-08-11T18:01:00.000-04:00

Snapshots of the first few days in Santa Cruz... Family, wandering the coastline, generally goofing around. More to follow.

-PAR

California part one: East Bay.

2006-08-11T16:38:00.000-04:00

Get to California. Spent a day in Berkeley, record shopping, lunching at Intermezzo (DUDE), then partying with friends all evening.

Then, down to Santa Cruz. More pics to follow.

-PAR

Snapshots of the old crowd.

2006-08-03T01:52:00.000-04:00

I finally got a new gallery up on Mallfellows. An incomplete, blurry, lo-res travelogue of my whirlwind trip to Charlottesville a few weeks back... And a kinda accurate representation of just how it seemed for me to be back in the old hometown for a few days, and catching up with everyone.

-PAR

Coming right up...

2006-07-31T00:59:00.000-04:00

Saturday evening I fly to California for nine days. See some friends in the Bay Area, then a little over a week in Santa Cruz. Sitting back and relaxing, enjoying incredible coffee and great food, seeing the family that I see far too rarely, real live vacation. It's been too long since I set foot in the Pacific, and it's almost time to remedy that.

But I've got a typically manic week in NYC to get thru first...

-PAR

"Meanwhile..." this Tuesday (7/25/06). ROCK BANDS, DJS, DANCING, FUN FOR ALL.

2006-07-24T02:05:00.000-04:00

This Tuesday on the fabled isle of Manhattan... The next installment of dance-party-rock-show-MAYHEM. Three live acts, two DJs, one awesome summer night.

My pal Stephen Thorne kicks things off with his inimitable singer-songwriter shtick, Tin-Pan Sioux follow with their distorto-bluesy goodness, and then Jersey's finest The Meltdowns will unleash their thrash-surf poppery upon an unsuspecting crowd. Three of my fave musical acts all on one stage...

And then, of course, it's time for the boogieing to ensue. I'm trading sets with my old pal ADDJ Padati (better known to some as Alex Jost), and we promise a late night filled with the funkiest sounds and the hottest beats. All for your enjoyment.

Show up and say howdy if you're around. It looks to be amazing.

-PAR

Whirlwind. Manic. Summer.

2006-07-22T19:18:00.000-04:00

I've not been writing much, as I've been non-stop busy doing things... Went to VA for five days, ran around, drank, saw old friends and made a couple new ones, finished a long-standing collaborative art project, DJed an art opening, returned to NYC, DJed another art opening, made ginsicles, went to parties and rock shows, sent flowers to a girl (in an uncharacteristic move), put together a new gallery for Mallfellows (which should be up by tomorrow), watched the weather turn absolutely crazy-go-nuts, all while still working endlessly. Have two DJ gigs coming up this week, trying to organize a bunch of stuff in Charlottesville in October, and running off to California in 14 days. Life is awesomely crammed full of stuff, and it's a blast.

More reports from the front soon.

-PAR

"Meanwhile..." this Tuesday night! AWESOME WILL HAPPEN.

2006-06-25T18:08:00.000-04:00

This Tuesday, New York City. The next in the ongoing saga of hot hot dance parties. Two bands and two DJs performing for your enjoyment. My good pals Paper Fleet will kick off the proceedings with a dose of intricate indiepop, followed by the US debut of In Corridors who will rock you with insane psychedelic dancepunk goodness (direct from Tokyo).

Then, of course, it's time to dance. My buddy Egg Foo Young and I will be swapping off on the ones and twos, mixing the hot beats and making the people shake.

It all happens downstairs at Lit Lounge, starting at 9:30. Drop in, say hey, and join us in the good times.

-PAR

"Quickly, Robin! Park the car! We haven't much time..."

2006-06-14T00:58:00.000-04:00

-PAR

Springtime Pop Prescription.

2006-06-06T14:53:00.000-04:00

Yeah, I know it's only June. But the new Sonic Youth album is a near-lock for best record of 2006. They've stripped back the excess, the lengthy instrumental interludes, the affectations, the trademark squalls of noise... And what's left behind here is the best set of songs they've ever crafted. The guitars still entwine, there's still judicious use of feedback and distortion, but these elements are employed to enhance the songs rather than becoming the focus. Clean, sharp, poppy, emotionally engaging; not neccesarily the first adjectives that one associates with NYC's art-punk standardbearers, but that's what's on display here. 25+ years into their career, SY still have the ability to surprise, and with this, they might've made thier best record to date; a mainline injection of melody and feeling. It hooked me on first listen (some two weeks ago now), and has only gotten better each succesive play...

It's the sound of spring and summer. It's in stores on June 13th. Go buy, listen, and be amazed.

-PAR

"Meanwhile..." tonight in NYC! DJs/Bands/CERTAIN DOOM!

2006-05-23T15:56:00.000-04:00

Tonight in New York City, we're throwing down. It's the fourth Tuesday, and that means we head to Lit, spin the hot tunes, and make the people dance.

Tonight's line-up features two bands earlier in the evening, and the special guest DJ Justin Carter from NuBlu. Justin's a good pal, and can rock a party like few others. I'm looking forward to spinning alongside him again.

So, drop by. It oughtta be great.

-PAR

Clearing out the cameraphone.

2006-05-11T03:14:00.000-04:00

DJing. Walking across Manhattan. Protesting the war. Eating sushi and drinking to excess. Working long hours at multiple jobs. Hanging out with old friends, and making a few new ones. Going out and listening to tunes. Rock shows. Hip-hop parties. Snapping pictures all the while.

-PAR

"Meanwhile..." tomorrow (4/25/06). Panic in New York City.

2006-04-24T16:09:00.000-04:00

Tuesday night in Manhattan, it's party time at Lit. I'm spinning with my good pals Denny Le Nimh and 24 Court of Hot Pink, and insanity will doubtless ensue. Insanity of the type that involves hot people jumping around, drinking, loud music, and general excessive good times. (Because this is New York Goddamn City, and that's how we roll.)

-PAR

Details, images, objectives.

2006-04-15T21:34:00.000-04:00

Springtime's in full effect and the city seems amplified, every element vying for attention... Iced coffee and gin & tonics provide the fuel for long hours of running about, working and playing and medicating oneself with pop music. Catch some sunshine at lunch in a park somewhere, a late night dinner and a few hours of sleep before starting another go-round. Attempting to plan DJ gigs, parties, and other fun to balance out the duties of life and survival. The next "Meanwhile" at Lit is coming up in nine days, and I've finally firmed up the DJ lineup (which is AWESOME, by the way). The rest of the coming week looks to be filled with designing and printing flyers for said Lit party, finishing up a couple sound-design-type projects, and possibly taking a one-day roadtrip to Charlottesville and back...

But for now, need to stop talking and get back to doing. More reports later.

-PAR

Last night. Awesome.

2006-03-29T14:21:00.000-05:00

Another great party at Lit yesternight. Lauren threw down another blinding set of ass-crazy electro jams, people danced and drank (as they should), and after a rather shaky set to start the night, I came on again around two and somehow found a groove that couldn't be denied. Played everything from LCD Soundsystem to Audio Two to A Tribe Called Quest to Luke Vibert to Jamie Lidell to Grandmaster and Melle Mel, and pretty much whatever else I could fit in. In all, a fantastic evening. Thanks to all who came out, and especially to Ms. Flax, my partner in DJ mischief.

(Now, on to setting up next month's party. Announcement of DJ and band line-up in the next couple days, with luck.)

-PAR

"Meanwhile..." this Tuesday night (3/28/06). DJ Action Rematch! Mayhem in New York!

2006-03-26T20:29:00.000-05:00

This Tuesday evening in Manhattan, it's the March installment of "Meanwhile...", downstairs at Lit. And it's gonna be incredible. Last month was such a blinding success, we're bringing back our special guest DJ Lauren Flax to tear it up again. My co-conspirator Justin won't be around, so it's gonna be longer sets and less people in the DJ booth... Just Flax and myself all evening. Two crazy kids playing hot tunes at each other until last call. Drinking, loud music, a dark space, the occcasional flashing light, and a bunch of people dancing their faces off.

In other words, a party you don't want to miss.

-PAR

Scrapbook, 2006 so far.

2006-03-04T22:16:00.000-05:00

Above, two pics of the Met from this afternoon. Below, a quick selection of snapshots taken since January 1st. I guess this is how the year looks, whenever I slow down long enough to notice...

-PAR

"Meanwhile..." this Tuesday (2/28/06). Rocking the tunes in NYC.

2006-02-25T16:39:00.000-05:00

This Tuesday night. New York City. The February installment of "Meanwhile...", downstairs at Lit. Three awesome bands, beginning at 9. In between their sets, and then from 11:30 'til close, it's DJ action. Myself, my good buddy Justin (from DFA), and this month's special guest, the inimitable Lauren Flax.

There's a $6 cover to see the bands, or it's free after midnight. Music will be played. Dancing will happen. Drinks will be consumed. Awesome will ensue.

-PAR

"Meanwhile..." tonight (1/24/06). NYC DJ excitement.

2006-01-24T00:01:00.002-05:00

Tonight in New York City. The third installment of "Meanwhile..." at Lit. Myself, my man Justin Miller (from DFA Records), my buddy Anna Bond (from Insound & Binder Records). And this month's special guest, Egg Foo Young (of Secret Frequency Crew).

It starts around 11. Goes 'til last call. There's no cover charge. And it will be awesome.

-PAR

"Dude, it's snowing."

2006-01-15T04:00:00.000-05:00

It's snowing. Yesterday was in the sixties, and we were all running around wearing t-shirts. Tonight, it's in the twenties and blustery, and there's snow swirling everywhere. And of course, I'm running around grinning like an idiot as a result.

Welcome to 2006. Hope you're all well. I'll write more soon.

-PAR

Party postmortem and thank-yous.

2005-12-30T05:06:00.000-05:00

Dance Party in Charlottesville was a bit of a success, it seems. A couple hundred people, music rocking 'til 4, an awesome opening set from my man Meffle, and a nice little work-out for my DJing skills. Aside from a couple minor setbacks (like blowing up the sound system and having to put the party on hold while we got a new amp), very little to complain about. Another awesome production from the posse. Thanks due to Bill (pictured above in the bowler), Jules, Kevin, benjones, and (as ever) all the peeps that came out to rock with us. Let's do this again soon, shall we?

-PAR

Tonight. Charlottesville.

2005-12-26T12:27:00.000-05:00

We will play music. You will dance. Awesome will happen.

Yep, it's time for an old-school Ch'ville dance party. Located at the artspace in Belmont, directly across the Belmont Bridge from Downtown. The corner of Graves and Avon (across from Spudnuts). Begins at nine (or so), goes until we can't go no longer.

Your hosts: Patrick A. Reed (behind the decks), Dr. William Hunt behind the bar. Special opening DJ set from Mr. Brian Meffle.

And you're cordially invited.

-PAR

Festive: 2005

2005-12-23T15:27:00.000-05:00

In keeping with seasonal tradition, I hereby present this year's dosage of GIANT GLOWING INFLATABLE ELF RUMP. (Now with free delivery!)

Happy holidays.

-PAR

Planning, scheduling, and plotting.

2005-12-09T15:49:00.000-05:00

I've finally figured out my holiday plans. Taking the bus to Charlottesville on December 23rd, arriving around 11:30 PM. Returning to NYC sometime on the 29th.

In the meantime, I plan to run around and see all my old friends. Spend time with the family. Drop by all the old haunts. Attempt to do my part to deplete Virginia's burgeoning alcohol supplies.

Oh, and on the 26th, we're throwing an awesome old-school dance party. (Details available soon.)

-PAR

Yes yes, y'all.

2005-12-09T15:47:00.000-05:00

My boy James Ford. Demonstrating the street style of the future, throwing up his best B-Boy Stance on Avenue A.

-PAR

Friday Night, ROCK AND ROLL.

2005-11-30T01:39:00.000-05:00

There's this fantastic weekly party here in NYC called "Hot Fuckin' Pink". It's held every Friday night, at Scenic on Avenue B. Two floors of DJs, music ranging from crazy electro to awesome old new wave to insane R&B to just flat out rock and roll. It's a bunch of people out to have a good time, dancing, drinking, generally making merry.

And this Friday, December 2nd, is my debut DJ appearance there. Hot DAMN.

Drop by if you can, not just for me, but because the joint will be on fire. It's a great party, I'm psyched to be a part of it, and I'm looking forward to bringin' the noise.

-PAR

DJ ACTION UPDATE.

2005-11-22T18:30:00.000-05:00

Assuming you for some life-threatening reason can't make it to the HOT HOT dance party tonight, it's looking like my next unmissable NYC gig will be December 2nd. More details as soon as it's confirmed. Watch this space.

-PAR

Mark your calendars!

2005-11-13T20:14:00.000-05:00

November 22nd. The Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Dance party in NYC. It will be incredible.

-PAR

Giant glowing beverage.

2005-11-12T21:14:00.000-05:00

It was my birthday. I went to Cheap Shots. I got served a PITCHER of Tanqueray & Tonic (seen above).

The next afternoon, I had the third hangover of my life thus far. Ah well. Such is the price of the rockstar lifestyle.

-PAR

A year of the Cheap.

2005-10-14T20:14:00.000-04:00

By complete coincidence, not only was yesterday the tenth birthday of The Mudhouse in Charlottesville (one of my fave hangouts in the ol' small town)... It was also the first anniversary of Cheap Shots, my dive bar of choice here in New York.

Ideaspace works in mysterious ways. Anyway. To Katie and Steven and Tim and the rest of my pals at th' Cheap... Glad to have you around. Here's to you kids.

-PAR

A decade of Mud.

2005-10-14T00:16:00.000-04:00

Today, October 13th, The Mudhouse turned ten years old.

So, to John and Lynelle, and all the employees who've passed thru their doors- Thanks. You make Charlottesville (and the world) rock just a bit more.

-PAR

Jerry Juhl.

2005-10-02T19:53:00.000-04:00

I'm gonna break here from my normal style of posting here. Normally this space is just pictures of my life and whatever words I throw together, but I'm pausing that for a moment. Because I feel the need to note that Jerry Juhl passed away on Monday.

Now that's probably not a name that many of you are familiar with, but Jerry Juhl was the man who, along with Jim Henson and Frank Oz, was primarily responsible for The Muppets as we know them. Starting in the early 60s, and continuing through Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper, Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas, Fraggle Rock, and plenty of other film and TV projects and appearances, he was the #1 writer for all things Muppet. And, as absurd as it seems, he made you believe that these characters were real breathing beings. Actual people with emotions and feelings and personality quirks, unpredicable, sometimes absurd, occasionally even inspirational.

I was lucky enough to meet the man last fall, for all of about five minutes (at the BAM Henson Retrospective), and he was everything you'd hope someone whose work you'd grown up on could be. Charming, funny, and possessed of an innate sense of positivity. Someone you speak to, and immediately think "this is a really great person". In fact, that was true of all the Henson people I met there.

Glad I got to meet him, thank him, and speak to him for a few seconds. I'd always suspected that the Muppets were as real and charming as they were because they mirrored the humans behind them. And in meeting Jerry Juhl, Jerry Nelson, Jane Henson, and others in attendance there, that was confirmed. And then some. They're all good, nice, truly wonderful people. They all believe they've somehow made the world better by manipulating these bits of felt and foam.

And they have.

So, to Jerry Juhl, the man who helped to create all those exchanges, those routines, those characters... Thanks. Again.

-PAR

Wednesday night expedition.

2005-09-08T18:44:00.000-04:00

So, finally a day off from work. It's time to assemble a posse and visit parts of the city I've never seen before. Grab Will and Chris Lamb, and walk down to Chinatown.

Go food shopping at the crazycheap asian markets. Wander around, getting lost, taking pictures. Head down a side street, looking to get dinner at whatever restaurant seems interesting. Stop to stare at the eels and fish and giant crabs in the tanks in the window.

And then, because it's a beautiful night, we walk the Manhattan Bridge to Brooklyn and back.

Just one more evening in the big city. Always something new to do, somewhere new to explore. You'd have to really work at it to ever get bored here.

-PAR

For when just "big" isn't big enough.

2005-09-01T17:44:00.000-04:00

A truck delivering beverages to a Chinese Food joint on Avenue A. 'Nuff said.

-PAR

Back to the boogie-down.

2005-07-29T19:39:00.000-04:00

It'd been a while since I'd been able to get out to a show. So yesterday I took the evening off and caught the 2 train up to the Bronx, heading to the final old-school jumpoff of the summer at Crotona Park. A beautiful summer evening, cool weather (for a change), funky beats, lots of people out to have a good time. A typical assortment of hip-hop pioneers onstage and throughout the crowd.

Then, back to Manhattan. Getting off the subway in Times Square and walking the rest of the way home, just becuase it was so nice out. Ah, summer in the city.

-PAR

Monday nights, starting tomorrow.

2005-06-26T20:30:00.000-04:00

As I noted earlier, I'm DJing at the Apocalypse Lounge every Monday night with my buddy Anna Bond. We were there last week for the first time, just testing it out and getting the feel of the place. Now it's time to do it right. Tomorrow night, we set it off in style.

Anyhow. It's not a dance party, it's not a big throwdown, it's a chill weeknight hang-out with good music. Expect to hear punk, indie, 50s R&B, shoegazer, 60s garage rock, britpop, new wave, old soul tunes, maybe even some classic hip-hop. And whatever else we feel like. Cheap drinks, no cover charge, two people spinning tunes just for you. It all goes down at 189 E. 3rd Street (between Avenues A & B), every Monday night, 10PM until last call.

Think of it as a really awesome weekly radio show.

Only with cool folks hanging out. And air-conditioning. And booze.

How can you resist that?

-PAR

The longest day.

2005-06-22T20:29:00.000-04:00

Being the first day of summer, margaritas were in order. So, grab the benjones, and head off to Greenwich Village. Sit on a patio. Watch the girls stroll by. Consume chips and salsa, and get slowly tilted on tequila.

And then, home. Pull music, while sobering up. And head to Pianos to DJ.

Somewhere around 3:30 in the morning, having kept people dancing and enjoying themselves all night, finally break down the equipment, pack everything back up, and head home.

The dance party was a success. More to come. Summer kicks off in fine style.

-PAR

Tonight in NYC.

2005-06-21T15:40:00.000-04:00

The ghettoflyer for tonight's party. Welcome to summertime.

-PAR

Dumpling victory!

2005-06-19T18:05:00.000-04:00

Well, as expected, Lucas the Dumpling Man scored an easy victory over the upstart that moved into the neighborhood. The dumpleganger has changed his logo to the much less derivative image shown below, and altered the menu to offer a more typical selection of chinese-style-food (not just the dumplings).

Huzzah! The path is now clear for the next step in Dumpling Man's masterplan to rule NYC...

-PAR

Cali Travelogue.

2005-06-18T23:13:00.000-04:00

Pictures of the swing thru California. Amazingly decadent sushi extravaganza in San Francisco, hanging out in Stockton, riding the rails south to Los Angeles, wandering the streets of Pasadena. Fun and excitement and weighty discussions and catching up with friends and family obligations and losing my fool head... In all a mostly wonderful, hugely surreal visit. (As ever, clicking on the pics makes 'em get bigger.)

-PAR

[a quick note on comments]

2005-06-18T22:48:00.000-04:00

So, it's always nice for me to see that there are people reading this thing. I greatly appreciate that you take a few seconds out of your lives to see what nonsense I'm spewing. And (even when I disagree with you) it's awesome that you sometimes take the time to post comments. HOWEVER... Henceforth, I will be deleting any comments that aren't signed. I have no problem with people declining to creating a blogger login, and posting as "anonymous". But if you're gonna do that, then just put your name or initials at the bottom. So I have some idea who's saying what, and know who's for real and who's just a troll.

That's all. Resume regular transmission now.

-PAR

If I ran the world (part one):

2005-06-17T20:10:00.000-04:00

This year's Nobel Prize for awesome goes to THE SUNDRESS.

Previous years' winners include: Iced coffee, the "Funky Drummer" breakbeat, Tanqueray lemonade, and The Pacific Ocean.

-PAR

SCHEDULE FOR SUMMER IN NYC (part one):

2005-06-01T20:59:00.000-04:00

This is, it seems, the summer where we take over New York.

ANNOUNCEMENT #1:

Dance party at Pianos on June 21st!
Tuesday night. 10PM. $1 to get in. DJs Patrick A. Reed and Egg Foo Young (of Secret Frequency Crew) provide the hot jams. This looks to be LOTS of fun. I'll be spinning my typical blend of rockin' hip-hop, squiggly electro, danceable rock, and whatever else I feel like (provided you can shake to it). I'm not sure what Egg Foo Young will be spinning, but it's bound to be funky.

Anyway, it's a Tuesday night in New York City. It's a dollar. It's cool people, strong drinks, and awesome music. You can't beat that.

ANNOUNCEMENT #2:

Beginning June 20th, it's a new sound in Alphabet City. Every Monday night for the summer, I'm spinning at Apocalypse Lounge with my buddy Anna Bond. She plays rock. I play everything. Expect to hear punk, indie, old R&B, shoegazer, classic hip-hop, 60s garage... Whatever strikes our fancy. The drinks are cheap, there's no cover charge, and the joint will be rocking. Every Monday night, 9PM until last call.

More announcements to follow shortly. This is only the beginning.

-PAR

Go West.

2005-06-01T20:36:00.000-04:00

At six in the morning, I'm catching a plane from JFK, going to California for eleven days. San Francisco, Berkeley, Stockton, Los Angeles. Friends, family, good food, excitement, the ocean. Recharge, explore, hit the ground running when I return to New York.

Adventure awaits.

-PAR

The Change Will Do You Good.

2005-05-23T18:56:00.000-04:00

Went to see Gang Of Four. Three times in two nights. (Twice at Irving Plaza, once in the basement of the Tribeca Grand.)

It takes a lot to get a New York crowd moving to a rockshow. These two nights, you couldn't keep them still if you tried. Maybe the most thrilling and visceral concerts I've ever seen. Music as energy and gut reaction. Lyrics and songs as scalpels, incisive and carefully guided. 100% pure f***ing awesome.

To hell with poverty. Let's get drunk on cheap wine.

-PAR

Dumpling Imposter.

2005-05-15T16:07:00.000-04:00

As in all things, success will bring imitation. Nowhere is this more apparent than here in New York, where you can walk down the street and be assailed by endless tables filled with "designer" handbags and genuine "Hilfigger" sunglasses for sale. It's an inevitability that any product that does well will be aped by those who're looking for a quick buck. Ofttimes, the knock-offs can't be spotted without careful inspection. The average passerby wouldn't know the difference.

So, do not be fooled. This is the real thing:

This is not:

Yes, it's true. There is a Dumplinganger. An upstart that not only moves into the same business that Lucas (the Dumpling Man) has so carefully cultivated, but rips off the distinctive logo. It's an incredibly brazen attempt to cash in on the goodwill and business that Dumpling Man has earned over the last six months. And whomever's behind it is so blatant as to position themselves only three blocks away.

Obviously, action is needed. And in addition to whatever legal channels may be pursued, the publicity campaign is underway.

Dumpling War has begun. I would say that I almost feel sorry for the "Plump Dumpling" people, but I don't. Not a bit. Not for a moment. They have NO IDEA what they're f***ing with.

(And all this is before even mentioning the plans for Dumpling Man evenings over the summer. Which I'll say more about soon. Watch this space.)

-PAR

Fleeting glances.

2005-04-29T21:47:00.000-04:00

Warm nights spent in search of friendly patios, enjoying cold boozy beverages with friends, days spent working and watching the city adjust to spring.

Along the way, somehow finding time to snap photos, steal onto a pier in the dead of night (and somehow not get arrested in the process), check out a hip-hop show, bartend another Jigsaw party or three, line up some lighting and sound gigs...

And then there's the fun moments, like when a wino stumbles into work and passes out on the floor (after serenading me with a verse of "Careless Whisper"), waking just long enough to ask me to cap his vodka bottle and give me the phone number for the police. ("No man... Call the cops. They'll get me out of here.")

Springtime in New York. Endlessly amazing.

-PAR

Status report.

2005-04-14T02:06:00.000-04:00

Recovering from the trip to Charlottesville and madness of the travel down and back. A madcap couple days of going home, bookended my minor eternities of waiting in airports while flights were delayed and shuffled about.

It was much fun. Running around to put together a lighting rig for a benefit fashion show at Fry's Springs Beach Club, this insane old building that was built in 1920 or so. Which, unfortunately, meant that we blew lots of fuses while attempting to get some light in the room. Still, it could have gone far worse. (We somehow managed to avoind burning the building to the ground...)

Somehow also found time to catch up with some of my friends. Went drinking with Sean Thomas, got to take Bill a birthday present and then sit around watching Homestar, had a good chat with Tony, hit up the C&Oa couple nights in a row. And of course, spent a morning on the patio at Mudhouse drinking some of the world's best coffee. Missed quite a few people, but hopefully I can catch 'em next time...

* * * * *

And now it's back in NYC and running around here. Trying to get my apartment back to being liveable, trying to handle the constant issues of rent and food, and just dealing with all the usual exhausting nonsense that comes with this rock star lifestyle.

Wouldn't have it any other way.

-PAR

Springtime sets in.

2005-04-05T21:39:00.000-04:00

It's been a week of pushing myself and sleeplessness. Rock shows, going clubbing, running about with people. Absorbing music and all the available input. On Thursday I'm flying down to Charlottesville for two days. Borrowing a bunch of lighting equipment from a few places, setting it up, running a fashion show (?), then breaking it all back down and back to NYC in time for work on Saturday...

This is looking to be a fun spring.

-PAR

Dumpling Notes.

2005-03-27T12:08:00.000-05:00

Well, Lucas the Dumpling Man is at it again, with the seasonal variations on his logo. Also, he's launched a DumplingBlog. He's set up a DumplingCam so you can keep an eye on things. He's got incredibly sweet new Dumpling T-Shirts. And while he expands the Dumpling Empire in all directions, he's still producing the best affordable meal in the East Village. How does this man do it?

-PAR

Phil.

2005-03-13T19:56:00.000-05:00

I got word from Waldo last night that Phil had passed away. And it really kinda shook me. Well, shook, but more saddened. I mean...

Phil. Buddha Phil. Phil Gair. There's a whole bunch of us, kids who hung out (and grew up) downtown, for whom Phil was just... He was a constant reassuring presence. Always there, always would be. Those big iron and wood Mall benches were there for him, weren't they? He was an original Mallfellow, there long before any of us even coined the term. His thick glasses and suspenders and snap-down cap and his child-like smile and his turns of phrase that didn't usually make sense, but really didn't need to. Talking with Phil didn't fall under rules that you'd apply to conversations with anyone else.

He said something to me once, I wish I could remember exactly... About how we had our own rainbows and didn't need to worry. From anyone else, it would've been laughable. But from him, there was a sincerity that made it real.

He also had a surprising degree of hidden talent. How many people who came in contact with him knew he was a world-class blues musician, I wonder? He was far too shy to play in public, but I was lucky enough to see him with a guitar in his hands one time... And he played "Sittin' On Top Of The World" like he was born to it. In fact, he didn't perform it so much as inhabit it, make it his own. He said something about having been in a band, way back when, to some degree of success. Opening for the MC5 at a festival somewhere in the late 60s, in front of many thousands of people. I'd love to find out when, and what his band was called...

* * * * *

When I lived Downtown, I'd see him every day. Two or three times, usually. At Chaps, over in front of the Paramount, sitting on a bench by Central Fidelity. Stop and talk, and he'd often be dispensing words of zen. Or sometimes giggling hysterically about something that he couldn't stop long enough to explain.

One time he was having a fit of laughter. High-pitched and falling in on itself... But he managed to pause for a second. Just long enough to lean over and whisper conspiratorially: "Hey Pat. Those kids over there? They got me HIGH." And then he was back into the whirlwind of giggling.

It was the same once I moved, and I'd be back to visit. Walk down the Mall, there's Phil. If it was raining, he'd be in a yellow poncho, but he'd still be there. And I'd stop, say hello. I'd get a quiet response at first. And then once he said my name, he'd begin to warm, and begin getting more comfortable. Even sometimes reaching out to shake my hand, with the world's gentlest handshake. Understand, NOT the 'dead fish' shake that I'm so loath to receive from anyone. Not at all. There was energy when Phil shook your hand, you knew there was someone on the other end. It was just... Gentle. Barely any grip, but a true commitment, I guess. I dunno.

I'd say it was nice to see him. He'd ask if I was gonna come back anytime soon, and I'd say I wasn't sure... But that I was confident in leaving him in charge of the Mall while I was gone. I'd thank him for being there, and he'd say that it was no problem.

It never really changed, even once I was just visiting from time to time. I'd still see Phil, still stop to talk.

Still, he did have his struggles. Some days, I'd walk by and he'd be somber. He'd be wrestling with an existential dilemma, and looking for reassurance: "Hey, Pat... Sometimes I just don't think the world is okay... Is it okay? Do you really think it's good?" And I'd do my best to lighten his spirits. It didn't always work completely... Sometimes he'd just decide that it needed more thought, say he wasn't really sure, go on looking concerned. But other times, it seemed to get through. Then, his eyes would go BIG behind his coke-bottle glasses, and he'd get a little grin. "You think so? You think it's alright?" Well, yeah Phil. I think it's alright. I'm here. I like it. "Oh. Good. 'Cause I think you'd tell me the truth about what you think. You wouldn't lie to me."

No, Phil. I wouldn't lie to you. I'm gonna miss you, though. The world will be a bit less subtle without you around.

Thanks for keeping an eye on The Mall for me. You did a great job. It looks wonderful.

-PAR

Lots of pictures. A few words.

2005-03-13T02:15:00.000-05:00

As usual, I've been neglecting to keep up to date here. I expect both of you reading have probably noticed. So, let's see...

There's been a LOT of snow. Obviously. Wintertime hitting hard, pausing for a day to psyche us all out... Letting everyone run around in the sun wearing t-shirts, then dropping a blizzard on our heads the next morning.

Most of the above pictures were taken a couple weeks ago, on a night that I'd just gotten home from work and gotten settled in... And then the news of Hunter S. Thompson's death hit, and sent us all back outdoors, right as a nice gentle snow turned into all-out insanity. Rounds of free whiskey, snowball fights with random strangers, and much lunacy ensued. (My buddy Lamb recaps the entire evening here, and gets it all exactly right.)

Other than that, it's been a string of crazy days and nights... A hip-hop concert here, a quick lighting gig there, a job interview that I never hear back about, an almost-constant reshuffling of schedules and plans, working nonstop, and even a four-day run down thru D.C. and Charlottesville to see a bunch of family and friends and a few rock shows. Where I got even MORE snow.

And lest I forget, I bartended the most insane Jigsaw party yet, complete with an alcohol sponsorship, five jillion people, and a go-go dancer in the window.

Perhaps the next few weeks will be a bit more sane, and I'll be back to posting more regularly... But somehow I doubt it. Life doesn't seem to be in danger of slowing down anytime soon. And I'd not have it any other way, really.

-PAR

Exploring The City.

2005-02-13T20:12:00.000-05:00

Had back-to-back days off, and spent them wandering around. Walking west, getting lost in the triangles of Greenwich Village, up to the edges of Chelsea, taking side-streets and alleyways, to the docks on the Hudson, reaquainting myself with the side of Manhattan I've not spent enough time in lately.

And of course, taking pictures along the way.

-PAR

Updating.

2005-02-06T20:57:00.000-05:00

Just finally getting around to sifting thru the pictures I snapped after the blizzard a couple weeks ago... I had a couple days off of work, designed lights for a play in SoHo, and enjoyed the snow.

-PAR

It's snowing.

2005-01-17T03:18:00.000-05:00

-PAR

Now, 2005.

2005-01-01T17:28:00.000-05:00

So, in the last few days of 2004, I:
Went to Charlottesville for Christmas (there's a small gallery up of pics on Mallfellows. Saw a million old friends that I needed to catch up with. Had a nice time with the family. Drank LOTS of coffee at The Mudhouse. Set up and DJed a crazy-ass dance party for 150+ people on a Monday night. Had a conversation I'd been waiting to for twelve years or so. Kissed the girl. Got next to no sleep. Found a ride back to NYC. Had many tiki drinks (see the "Penultimate Night" pictures below).

And I ended the year standing on a rooftop in Battery Park last night with a bunch of people, drinking wine, watching the fireworks go off over the Hudson River.

See, somehow in the waning moments of the year, everything turned around. I found reserves of energy that weren't being used. Began to have lots of fun again. Rediscovered the Strummer Effect, stopped caring too much, and just DID. And '04 was saved, right at the last minute.

It's a damn nice way to begin 2005. Energized, at full fighting strength, and not caring about what's important or a good idea or even possible.

Happy new year.

-PAR

Penultimate Night, NYC.

2004-12-31T17:59:00.000-05:00

This year, the annual celebration of Penultimate NIght (December 30th) was held at Otto's Shrunken Head, the Tiki dive bar on 14th Street. Jacket and tie were required (though one guy wore a tie and lab coat, and we decided that was okay). We all had fun. We all drank fruity tropical beverages with festive garnishes out of sculpted mugs. We all got quite cheerfully looped. Nice way to see '04 out the door.

-PAR

First Snow.

2004-12-23T17:12:00.000-05:00

Two days ago, it was in the low teens, and we had the first snowfall of the season here in NY.

(And today, it's in the low fifties, and raining. What gives?)

-PAR

Two pictures.

2004-12-18T14:04:00.000-05:00

A beautiful autummn day in the District Of Columbia:

And a cold night back in New York:

-PAR

Festive.

2004-12-11T15:39:00.000-05:00

Yes indeed. Nothing brings home the holiday spirit like GIANT GLOWING INFLATABLE ELF RUMP.

-PAR

Rock.

2004-12-07T01:55:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow I open the record store, then catch a bus down to D.C., where I see The Pixies two nights in a row. I'll be back in time to be at work by 11AM on Thursday.

I'm pretty damn excited.

-PAR

Dash for the finish line.

2004-11-29T01:15:00.000-05:00

Not much time to write lately. And not much inspiration. Just working all the time, selling some records, trying to make ends meet, doing my damndest to get thru to Christmas...

Still tho, managing to have some fun on the way. Despite myself.

Had a late-night field trip to Times Square last night to meet Mattie and Jo at an irish music session. Then walked about in the rain and got drenched while they got food.

Spent Thanksgiving in self-imposed solitude. Walked all over the city. Had a nice quiet dinner at an indian restaurant. Was actually pretty great for a holiday.

Now I'm working straight thru for a while. Finishing off a few more pieces for musicwrite. Get a couple days off in a row next week, and run down to D.C. to see The Pixies. Which will be awesome. And will make the next couple weeks bearable. Mostly tho, it's keep my head down and sprint to make it to the 24th and the bus out of NYC. Then, it's christmas, family, friends, Charlottesville. Throw a dance party. See friends. Shake up my life a little. Sleep. Have many cheap (and free) drinks. And take a few minutes where I remember who I am, get my bearings, and get ready to tear into another year.

Gonna be a fun December. Wreck my life, and then take on 2005 with all systems go and the Strummer Effect at full-blast. The next couple weeks are just what happens to get me there.

-PAR

Recap. Recoup. Push forward.

2004-11-14T04:11:00.000-05:00

Traveling. DJing. Rock Music. Friends. Excitement. Been real busy lately. Traveling. Crazy.

Last week I went to D.C. for an evening, then returned to NYC.

Then a few days later, went to Charlottesville for a couple days.

Ran thru in my normal fashion, hitting up all my favorite places... Bodo's, Christian's, Monsoon Cafe, and of course the C&O. Seeing friends. Hanging out. Making people dance. Playing the Live Arts gala was an absolute blast, and it looks like we're collaborating on a big all-out dance party down there at the end of December. (There's more Ch'ville pics up on Mallfellows, Should you care to see.)

I went to see my fave new band, The Futureheads.

And I was amazed by what a great live act they are.

I had a birthday, and saw a lot of people. Spent the evening at Jigsaw, enjoying the joint celebration with my friend Jennifer (as it was her birthday too).
Had a little bit of fun, drank well too much (and I'd barely sobered up from the one-two punch of election and visiting Charlottesville). Heard from lots of friends, many of whom I speak to far too rarely. I've had worse birthdays.

This week has been a mad rush of insanity. Working, hip-hop shows, writing, trying to stay awake and pay bills and rent. Decided to just go ahead and create a forum where I can write about music on a regular basis. Therefore, there now exists musicwrite.blogspot.com, so you can go and see what I'm currently crazy about. Because I might as well get some use out of spending all my days listening to and obsessed with music. Turn some of this input into output.

And now, it's on to trying to plan for the holidays. Make sure that I can catch up with all my old friends. Hopefully book another gig here in NYC before the end of the year. Organize the aforementioned dance party in Charlottesville.

I have a lot of work to do. It oughtta be fun.

-PAR

November 2nd.

2004-11-02T15:04:00.000-05:00

Vote.

That's all I'm saying today.

-PAR

Dumpling Man.

2004-10-28T19:40:00.000-04:00

Somehow in all this madness, I've forgotten too devote a space to the best new inexpensive food establishment in the East Village. Namely, Dumpling Man.

This is where I've eaten nearly half my meals since August. The owner is a fantastic fellow, it's a great space, the graphic design is top-notch, and (most importantly) they make incredible food.

So, I ask, how could it get better? Well... I don't know.

Oh wait! They could DECORATE FOR HALLOWEEN! WITH SPOOKY DUMPLINGS!

Now, I ask you... How cool is that?

-PAR

Now.

2004-10-28T19:39:00.000-04:00

The past couple weeks update: Working all the time at Etherea. And in my little spare time I'm hanging out with the peeps, bartending Jigsaw parties and hanging out after hours, seeing people who're visiting NYC and giving them items to return to friends, going out drinking in my favorite dive bars, walking around late at night taking pictures, remembering why I'm here, working to set up more DJ gigs, plotting world domination, planning my holidays, following politics and the end of the baseball season, and just enjoying the beuatiful autumn weather.

Also, got to spend some time with Tristan, who was here visiting for a week. Greatly enjoyed that; And now I've got one more reason to visit California again soon, and one more person to hang out with there.

I'll be DJing my buddy Graham's birthday tomorrow in Brooklyn. I'll be in Charlottesville next Friday and Saturday to play Live Arts' fundraiser gala and see some friends. I'm throwing a joint birthday party with my friend (and former co-worker) Jennifer on the 9th. And there's an incredibly important election somewhere in there too.

-PAR

Here Come The Drums!

2004-10-20T19:13:00.000-04:00

Some shots of Public Enemy performing at BB King's in Times Square on Monday Night. A spirited, politically charged evening (Living Colour was the co-headliner). P.E. had a live band and DJ backing 'em up, and were typically awesome... Urging people to get out and vote, rocking the hits, and jumping around like anything. They closed with a medley of "Fight The Power" ("TWO THOUSAND FOUR THE NUMBER! ANOTHER SUMMER!"), and a funky-as-hell cover of The Isley Brothers' "Fight The Power".

Not for the first time, I say it: I love living in this city.

-PAR

ZOOM.

2004-10-18T03:10:00.000-04:00

As benjones, Max, and I wandered back home this evening, we found a little plastic pedal tricycle on the street.

Max rode it all the way back. Pedestrians had to scatter to avoid being run over. It was AWESOME.

-PAR

October 13th. 10PM. NYC.

2004-10-07T14:50:00.000-04:00

This is the official invite / flyer (click to view full-size) for the CMJ Schematic gig. I start spinning at 10. It's $3 to get in. If you're in New York, be there. If you're not, tell your friends who are.

-PAR