HELP THE DEAD TREES

If you read my blog, then you already know that I LOVE the Dead Trees and have for quite some time. Dudes are recording an album right now, and they need your help! Please visit their Kickstarter page and pledge $$$ to help them make their album. These guys not only kick ass musically, but they are also genuinely NICE. The 3rd time I saw them live, they gave me a copy of their EP just cause I asked for one. And did I mention how CUTE they are? They have every flavor of hipster going for them: cherub in flannel, tattooed quiet guitar god, motorcycle mustache man, and quirky smiley drummer. How could you not want them to succeed? Watch the video below to get more info and watch out for cameos from all your faves: Fabulous, The Whigs, Wade from The Virgins, and everyone's favorite freak attack Adam Green.

I pledged my $$ today. Did you? DO it! Also catch them opening for AG at Bowery Ballroom April 23 and 24.

adam green and the dead trees open up for the cribs

So, last night the Dead Trees and Adam Green (supported by DT) opened for The Cribs at Irving Plaza/The Fillmore. Because I love both opening acts so much, they deserve their own post. The above pics are in opposite of chronological order from top to bottom. Dead Trees (now from LA?) started out with early songs "Television" and "Shelter." They played tight, clean Pavementy songs as usual, and I can't say enough about how underrated these guys are! (And sexy... my friend once called lead singer Michael a "fucking cherub," but my heart stops for guitarist/keyboardist/gray tee-shirt wearing skinny dream of a man Matt.) If you can't spring for their excellent album King of Rosa, then d/load their latest Daytrotter set.

Now, onto Adam Green. I kind of want to talk about him in the context of Julian Casablancas. My first exposure to AG happened at the Central Park Summerstage show The Strokes did in 2003. Adam opened up, and I was like, who is this freaky, skinny little Jules-Woody-Dave Grohl mix singing like Jim Morisson and dancing like a toddler? And I quickly learned and devoured his at-the-time tiny oeurve. Over the years, Adam has acted as the Hyde to Julian's Jekyll. As Julian's productivity petered out over the decade, Adam's spiraled to new heights (Garfield, Friends of Mine, Gemstones, Jacket Full of Danger, Sixes and Sevens, and the upcoming Minor Love). While Jules and Co. played bigger venues and became recluses in their own right (AHJ has a fucking cabin in the woods, people) Adam Green played free shows at Sidewalk Cafe, opened for pal Ben Kweller @ Southpaw, and made himself generally pretty accessible and friendly in real life (he'll always shake a hand, take a picture, or just smile like a happy little kid) and on the internet (Twitter, his blogge, etc.) And while Julian quit smoking and drinking and generally calmed down his early twenties antics in the favor of better health and family happiness, Adam Green has increasingly increased his increasingly increasified drug-fueled crazy train craziness.

I won't lie. I enjoy a freaktastical AG show just like everyone else (Santos Double Kokomo after his "Just a Friend" duet with Lissy Trullie kicked ass), but last night he kind of scared me a little bit. In the wake of people dropping dead from prescription painkillers and drugs all over this town (Dash Snow, Jay Reatard...???..., Brittany Murphy, Heath Ledger, M.J., etc.) I just want him to take care of himself. Yes, Adam always seems like he's one of the crowd, the joker, the class clown, and semi-in control of himself, but I would absolutely hate to lose him in the long list of (local) celebrity deaths that have plagued such young visionaries (I believe he is one) in our Generation. So I won't say more than that, just take it easy on the coke and what have you, and keep making music for my life. You kick ass, you're so much fun, and I want to see you play for a long, long time.

DEAD TREES @ cake shop

Dead Trees played the Scott Shiffman record release party at Cake Shop because DT bassist Todd Dahlhoff and his bro put out the Shiffman record. Adam Green, Matt Romano, and Wiz Kid rocked the crowd, and the Dead Trees kicked ass as usual. Love them.

Dead Trees and Little Joy= smiliest time at the Bowery Ballroom

I love the Dead Trees. I rave about them all the time to anyone who will listen because they kick ass, and they're better than so many of the opening bands that start things off at MHOW with either 56 people on stage with tambourines and kazoos or a gaggle of boys in too tight pants and ridiculous hairstyles. The Dead Trees can actually play their instruments and sound a little bit country, a little bit Pavement, and a lot a bit rock and roll. They've really only gotten better and better since the first time I saw them open for AHJ 2 summers ago.

Favorite Flavors

The Dead  Trees also never tire out, apparently, because they noted last night that this was their 43rd show opening for Little Joy, and guess what: guitarist Matt Borg and bassist Todd Dahlhoff play with Little Joy too. Double-setters, gotta love em. Stamina. Jack Dishel of Only Son also played w/ LJ.

She's hot!

Little Joy: Rodrigo Amarante has more happy charisma than anyone ever, and his live voice sounds just as great as his voice on record. Binki Shapiro's cute as a button, and all the girls want to be her and all the guys are in love with her. I haven't ever been to a concert where everyone in the crowd smiled the entire time, and I've never been at a show where the house lights were up the majority of the performance.

Matt Romano, maraca man.

Best part of the night was the final song "Brand New Start." Fabulous Moretti (recording with the Strokes NOW-- yessssssssss) came on stage with Regina Spektor and Mike and Noah from DT and 2 of the guys from The Teenage Prayers (and don't forget everyone's favorite Matt Romano has been playing drums the whole time). So imagine everyone singing, crowd included, and just absolutely happy to be there. Little Joy = the perfect name for this band, but they could get away with an upgrade to LOTTA JOY if they wanted.

Yeahhhhh Fab! RECORD RECORD RECORD.

Keeping up with these positive vibes: Dr. Dog on Saturday @ Prospect Park. Free, people, you have NO excuse not to go, AND this girl scored tix for Arctic Monkeys yesterday.

(All above photos by me. Please ask before using them, thanks!)

FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WELCOME BACK TO NEW YORK, FAB!

Last night Little Joy played its first NYC show at the Mercury Lounge. SOOOOOO GOOD! I think I can safely say this is my favorite Strokes side project so far. Rodrigo Amarante and Binki Shapiro are great musicians and together with Fab, they write cute, up-beat, refreshing songs that ROCK. I've never smiled so much at one concert! Joining the trio onstage were Todd of the Dead Trees on bass and everybody's favorite facial haired drummer, Matt Romano. Even Mike from the Trees came up to help out on "Brand New Start," so it was kinda like a Wiz Kid family affair. I felt such a positive vibe from this concert... like everything in this shit world is worth it, if at the end of the day you can go see quality music like this. Of course a lot of that smiley atmosphere was due to Fab's charming stage presence and anecdotes. At one point he threatened to "whip my dick out!" Joking, of course. But all in all, I had the best time I've had in a long time last night.......................................................... Also in attendance, according to the blogs, AHJ and Aggy. I saw Marc, AHJ's guitarist, on the side.

As for the Dead Trees, who went on before LJ, they killed it again. These boys break my heart... for me they're the American Cribs. Just a damn good, hardworking band that wants to tour around and get a great fan base so they can play their songs. I love their music... such a grungy/Pavement sound which contrasts perfectly with Mike's clean voice. LOVE IT!

We also caught Blonde Acid Cult........................................... um, the lead singer has a gorgeous face, complete with killer cheekbones, but he's a fucking crazy crazy camera happy egomaniac! Let's strangle ourselves with our microphone cord so we can get some pics on a blog somewhere! BORING.