Delighted and Amazed

Technology rears its lovely head again today. Andy (via Seth Godin) alerted me to something super cool that will change my life. The Stripe Generator. Those neat looking striped backgrounds on websites look really effortless but you'd be surprised what a PITA it is to make those damn things. Maybe I just don't know the "real" way to do it but now I don't have to know!


I like what Seth said about it:

Most people can't imagine why you'd want Stripe Generator. After all, it's just a free tool that... makes stripes.

But a few people will bookmark it and use it regularly. A few people will have their lives changed by it (in a good way).

Not a lot of room to make stuff that everyone thinks is great. I think you're a lot better off delighting and amazing the niches.

Food for thought, Seth. Food for thought.

Technology rules

JamBase HQ is currently being serenaded by the funny and talented Don McCloskey and thanks to Andy's new and special MacBook (I want one now!) with the video camera built in, I can share in the fun! He's singing his heart out over there! I can't help but blog while this experience is happening. There is a concurrent universe happening with this interweb thing bringing us all together. If only you could hug on the internet.

Vote for Rotary Downs!

Rotary Downs is in a contest to potentially win a recording session on Rolling Stone magazine and Hennessey's tab! Please vote for their song "Sing Like the Sun".

Go vote now: rollingstoneextras.com/hennessy

Never too early to start planning my birthday...

I just learned that Ani DiFranco will be performing at the Prospect Park Bandshell on July 18th aka my *gasp* 32nd birthday. This is exciting because while she certainly does kick ass, I am mostly excited for this spring / summertime thing to happen! Concerts in the park just a few blocks away! Yay!

I imagine the Celebrate Brooklyn page will be adding their events soon. Last year's list of events looked awesome!

So far, the only other shows on ticketbastard are this Ani DiFranco show and two Manu Chao shows on June 26 & 27... sick!

PGroove on The Stage

Here's a close look at my boys, Perpetual Groove, in a trailer for an upcoming episode of "The Stage" from Concerts4Charity. There are clips of songs from the new album, LiveLoveDie (which is amazing - more on this very soon), rare shots from the recording studio, background on a charity very close to Brock's heart, the Jolly Foundation, and clips of Adam Perry's brother on double neck guitar. It's pretty sweet. I'm not entirely sure when or where or how this thing is going to be shown in entirety but nevertheless, here's what we've got for right now:

Greetings from the West Side

Well, I didn't quite make it to Austin but I did manage to get out of that frozen place on Saturday night. So now I type to you from the 20-degrees-warmer San Francisco and it is quite pleasant. (Man, I hope Spring arrives in New York by the time I get back next week! I'm over it!) Had an extra day to chill before the work week so I got to see some of my SF peeps on a lazy Sunday. Not too much to report on at the moment but I want to share with you a few things from the interweb:

1) My Langerado review for JamBase. Basically it's a glorified photo essay captioning the amazing photos from Michael Jurick and George Weiss. I tried to cover it all!

2) Kayceman's rundown of SXSW. I woulda been right there with him if it weren't for those damn kids! Err.. uh... I mean, sleet.

3) Photos from the Bustle show that I missed in New Jersey on Saturday night.

Still icky out

Getting whiter out there. My chances of making it to Austin in time for the JamBase Showcase are getting slimmer with each minute. I think it's time to truly let it go at this point.

All packed up and no where to go.

SuperDee is stopped in her tracks!


See that? That's all my stuff in my suitcase ready to go to Austin. Today's post was supposed to be about me taking off for SXSW and then a week in San Francisco. However, this is what's going on outside:

It doesn't really look that bad but that stuff falling from the sky? That's ice. I guess they don't like to fly planes in that stuff. My lovely JetBlue cancelled 200+ flights today. They aren't the only ones.

Oh well. Looks like I'll have to live vicariously through The Kayceman's adventures this weekend. They will hopefully be flying planes again tomorrow so I can get to California.

The World is Spinning....

Check out the new Bisco video for "World is Spinning":

Langerado Look-See

As I collect my thoughts and reflect from the gloriousness of this past weekend in Florida, I wanted to share some of my favorite photos from my camera:

Oh that smile! Trey is rocking "Push On 'Til the Day" and lovin it.

Sharon Jones brought it and then some!

My friend Brian Coogan sitting in on keys with Galactic.

The Hold Steady bringin' lo-brow to 'rado.

Stephen Malkmus is just too cool.

Apollo Sunshine rockin' the early afternoon.

Brad Barr amidst his "Children of December" antics.

PGroove having a triumphant moment.

JJ Grey takin' it home (and looking hot).

Michael Franti is fabulous.

Mind-Blowing Jacket

Taj Mahal singing "Sweet Home Chicago" with Los Lobos.

Cat Power's Chan Marshall looking particularly breakable.

Matisyahu delivering to the masses.

Hassidim sliding down railings (!)

Explosions in the Sky = Emotional Intensity Through Sound (db)

New Pornographers

On Stage at Panic - Langerado was So Real!

Langer-Dee

In a few hours I'll be leaving for this year's Langerado Music Festival... yay! The snow in NY this week really just made me even more ready to get a few days of sunshine. Not only that! Lots of great smiley friends will be there to play with. And not only that! So very many of my favorite bands will be there. The only obvious missing piece for me is the Umph but most of the rest of the puzzle is there: Slip, Bisco, MMJ, Trey, Pgroove, TLG. It's a total Dee-Fest!

I'll see ya down there or I'll catch ya on the rebound.

Feel the music... for real.

I was thumbing through some girl magazine at the nail salon and found a piece on the clever lady-centric inventions that people have come up with to go with your ipod. There was a good one for jogging, a clutch and a purse that become boom-purses, a toilet paper dispenser... But the one that caught my eye was this one called the OhMiBod. "A whole new way to plug and play." I'll let you all investigate further on your own...

Fresh Air

Just spent an amazing weekend in Vermont with close family friends I have known since I was born. The son that is closest to my age now comes along with his lovely wife and adorable three-year-old daughter. Where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday WE were the kids at that house. We did manage to regress and act like adolescents as we raced each other down the mountain. The skiing at Okemo was wonderful - tons of fresh snow and great conditions all weekend. Made me sad that it was my only ski weekend all year but it felt great to get out there. There is just something magical that happens when you cross over the state line into Vermont. All time restraints and worries go away.

A few more musical mentions from last week... I went to the ASCAP showcase at The Annex on Thursday night to see Apollo Sunshine. Such a fun 5-song set which featured a newbie as well as the faves - Flip, Magnolia, Today. And on Friday, we had a fun night at Irving Plaza where we saw the "new" JJ Grey & MOFRO who is embarking on a huge tour to pimp the new album, Country Ghetto. I say "new" band even though the band of MOFRO is the same but they added a horn section for the tour which sounds amazing and there is definitely an effort to show that this band and its music are created by JJ himself. I've got to say, he is looking might fine these days too. Sharon Jones came out for the encore - she sang a bluesy medley and totally schooled JJ. It was pretty damn awesome.

Both Apollo and JJ Grey will be at Langerado this weekend and so will yours truly. Bring it on!