Millerton, New York

Crowded House rebuilding

Happy news. Neil Finn and Nick Seymour are planning to work together again. AP story here.

Great new website here.

More Las Vegas Rugs

Downstairs bar at Wynn Las Vegas
In-room carpetting at the Hilton Grand Vacation Club on the Las Vegas Strip
Corridor carpetting at the HGV Club

Say Goodbye

The call letters for one of New York's greatest rock radio stations have gone. WNEW-FM 102.7 hasn't been a classic rock station for several years. This past week the station became WWFS Fresh FM.

Here's a story about the switch in the New York Daily News.

WNEW was huge in the 1970s. There was also a sister station WNEW-AM which was the only station in New York playing standards that served a very distinct niche that has not been replaced.

Here's a story about WNEW-FM closing down in 2003 on CNN.

WNEW-FM put out a box set for their 25th Anniversary which pretty much sums up the kind of music they used to play. Amazon link and here is the WNEW Firecracker 500 from 1996.

I'm not sure who you are, but you look familiar

Here's a relatively tough picture quiz. A tiny bit of an album sleeve. You have to identify the artist and the name of the album. I found it quite easy to do nearly all the artists. Names of albums tougher. I guess artists brand themselves which makes it easier. Brought to you by our good friends at Capital Radio. "Well, this is 194, how are ya?"

Click HERE for joy, and a little frustration.

How to fold a t-shirt

Rock 'n' Roll remembers

Things blurred in the late 1970s and early 80s. I spent much time at Hurrah in the West 60s in New York City where many fine bands performed in a low-ceilinged space which was located in what felt like someone's windowless loft. Next door was the Coliseum -- the car show was a big deal there before the Convention Center was built -- now it's the Mandarin Hotel, Whole Foods and some of the most expensive restaurants in the world. Since I worked nearby at Lincoln Center -- or at least a block away -- I would often get there early because there wasn't anything to do in the neighborhood. So early, that I would be at the soundcheck. Aside: do not be tempted by the recently released "Live at Harrah" DVD. Even if your favorite band of all time is listed on there, you will be majorly disappointed. It SUX. So back to the pictures. Brother Marc may have taken this picture of Tina Weymouth -- heart be still, but she wasn't there (at Hurrah, I mean). I really, definitely, took the photo of Peter Perrett from The Only Ones. Alot of folks think they were marvy, just the bees-so-wonderful. Actually, they were quite smacked out faboo drone and really had one, yes one and only one, hit record -- Another Girl Another Planet. And it was into the haze from there. Love 'em. Meanwhile, Talking Heads played their first ever gig in England at the Rock Garden in Covent Garden. Tanya Hyde and the Tormenters opened and Tina hid behind a speaker stack for the whole show -- alot of information in a dysfunctional sentence! Those pictures to follow. John Cale and Brian Eno were in the audience and were jockeying for the chance to produce the next big thing -- The Heads. I guess that's what they were doing. I asked them to sign the only piece of paper I had on me. I clarify, I begged for an autograph from each deity. Somewhere I have a torn out NME crossword puzzle with their signatures in the margin. Keep checking eBay -- when I find it, you will see it there. There is no obvious connection between Peter Perrett and Tina Weymouth. It just amused me that they both seem to have the same hairdo.

Say Goodbye

Longtime New York City populist independent bookstore Coliseum Books closed this weekend. Having moved from 57th Street and Broadway a couple of years ago to 42nd Street opposite Bryant Park, it was a valuable resource. An Associated Press story can be read here.

Meanwhile in London the on-again, off-again Theatre Museum in Covent Garden has finally closed. It was always a little dusty and a little subterreanean, but it was a good thing that isn't any more. Here's a reference in Mark Shenton's Stage blog.

TriBeCa New York Evening

TriBeCa New York

Last chance for Christmas