Sexy, Sexy

A Chinese, an Indian, another Indian and a half Mexican-half white guy walk into bar…

That’s pretty much what you’ll see at The Annex this Thursday, otherwise known as The Joseph King Trio (and yes, you counted right, there will be four members as opposed to three, which make a trio. But I guess The Joseph King Quartet didn’t sound as cool). Flavors of the world unite to make, what I like to call, sexy music. When I try to explain what they sound like I usually say, “It’s sort of a Ska-Rock-Folk sound…oh, and it’s sexy. Very sexy.”

Lead singer Joseph King makes every girl in the room blush with his lustful lyrics, sultry voice and tousled locks. And if you want to get up close and personal with a kick-ass drummer, don’t miss Alex Wong. His solo set will have you banging on the tables. The bassist, as cool a bassist there ever was, is my personal favorite. He might be a badass mofo on stage but offstage he’s just a loveable guy with good taste in clothes (sorry Mr. Jain!). Lastly, Mo, the latest addition and second brown guy to join. Though I have not seen him play, I have had the pleasure of hanging out with him. If he can play half as well as he can drink, well then, we’re in for a fantastic show!

Bottom line, check these guys out. You will not be disappointed. I’ll be the brown groupie in front, Killians in hand, howling and whistling.

WHEN: Thursday, January 25, 2007 @ 10:30pm
WHERE: The Annex 152 Orchard St. (between Stanton & Rivington) - $6 cover
www.myspace.com/josephkingmusic

Apple Killed The Video Star

OK, video was knocked out by DVDs some time ago, but I thought the title had a nice ring to it. Most of us are familiar with the catchy yet obnoxious 80s tune, “Video Killed the Radio Star” which launched one of popular culture’s most iconic turning points, MTV. The thought was that Music Television would bring you the marriage between music and moving image right into your home, giving birth to the music video -- so who would need the radio? 20 years later radio is still king of the airwaves and MTV is most certainly the god of anything music related on television. But what the MTV patriarchs did not anticipate is the colossal advancement in the 21st century.

On Monday, Steve Jobs, CEO and co-founder of Apple, unveiled the latest superstars; their very own mobile phone and what we will all learn to not live without, Apple TV. As we all know Mac is no timid freshman in the school of technology. It’s the quarterback, head cheerleader and valedictorian wrapped into one. Apple TV will be for video and film what iTunes was for music. One compact and concise unit to house all of your media, eliminating clunky discs – so, ultimately you can view everything on your big ol’ plasma while you sit on your ass. No trips to Blockbuster, not even a walk to your mailbox to pick up the latest Netflix package. All of those videos, television shows and films you downloaded to your iPod or computer can now be streamlined directly to your TV so you can watch it big and bold right in your living room. Of course, like any other initial product, it will take Apple TV and its competitors some time to warm up to consumers and prove its relevance in home entertainment.

Not impressed? You will be. Perhaps you're thinking like one of those non-cable-owning dudes from 1980 who were in denial until 1990 when they finally caved and joined the rest of the world, ‘what is this strange box? I can do without it. But why does everyone else who has it look happier than me?’ ‘Because it makes life easier and more fun A-hole,’ says the happy guy with cable/Apple TV. Don’t worry, you’ll catch on soon enough.

[My only concern with this shift is the quality of resolution. Will downloaded material be as good as a DVD? What about HD, can you even download it? If anyone can shed light on this please do.]

Falling In Love

The beauty of it is you never see it coming. It gives no warning and heeds no uncertainties. Love perches upon our minds and sends tingles to our face forcing uncontrollable smiles. And then it envelops you – so no matter where you turn all you see is love.

I pass it everyday in the projects that border my apartment building. I hear it in the homeless man’s chant on 9th and 56th Street. I taste it in my milky morning coffee from Amy’s Bread. I catch glimpses of it in the glittered high rises at 7pm. I feel it in the scoop neck dress from a Soho boutique. It hums from the street as the cars beat over pot-holed pavement. It pours from the roaring 1 train headed to the Union Square market. It dances around me in the shuffle of the East Village at 3am. It shines from the lights and hustle of Midtown. It peaks out at me from the hundreds of strange eyes I pass everyday. This, my friends, is falling in love.

People say New York makes you meaner, colder. I was afraid that this might be true until recently. You see, I had forgotten what it was like to be in love. I was beginning to think that I no longer had it in me. I’d be the last to admit that living in New York is a struggle -- but it is. There is a certain unexpected disconnect one experiences when first living here. In a city with so many different people and so much amusement, it makes it difficult to develop substantial personal relationships with people. But when you discover those relationships and when you find your place here, life becomes much more rich than you expected. I’m in love with all that is here in New York and it just took me some time away to realize it.