Pleasantville Music Festival: July 10th

The 6th annual Pleasantville Music Festival with take place this year on Saturday, July 10th.

Announced acts include Jakob Dylan, The Bacon Brothers (snore), and Rusted Root. It's a nice way to spend an afternoon.

White Wine Bargains

There's nothing that Westchester Live loves more than a super dry white wine on a hot summer night. Now, just to be clear, Westchester Live likes his whites in the "French" style, i.e., like sucking on a piece of limestone. Not to everyones taste, for sure.

The tragic thing about this for Westchester Live is that wines like this (usually French burgundies) cost an arm and a leg. And, as you can probably infer, Westchester Live ain't exactly rolling in the scratch these days (blogging is primarily a past time of the under and unemployed) so he's always on the look out for cheap…make that inexpensive…make that, um, value wines that he can swill for a reasonable outlay of dosh.

All of this is just a long way of saying, here are a couple of wines that he's recently found that at least approximate his platonic ideal of a white wine:

1. Oxford Landing Viogner 2008. $7.99

2. Casal Branco Vinho Regional Ribatejano 2008. $8.99. Well worth the extra dollar.

Both of these tasty whites are available at the Westchester Wine Warehouse.

Clearwater Festival: Keller Williams

One of the highlight of this years Clearwater Festival will be Keller Williams, a one man band who creates songs on stage using loops.

Bonus: he's a really nice guy!

The National: Live on WXPN / NPR

The National out of Brooklyn is one of Westchester Live's favorite bands. Here's a link to a live show they recorded for NPR affiliate WXPN in Philadelphia (one of Westchester Live's favorite radio stations!)

The National Live on WXPN

No Westchester appearance is scheduled,though, and their Radio City Music Hall show on the 16th of this month is sold out. You're next chance to see them is in Montclair, N.J. at the Wellmont Theater on the 24th of September.

And, in case you're not familiar with them, here's a good (but unofficial) video for Fake Empire from their great 2007 album The Boxer.

Copyright Abuse

You know that hilarious "Hitler Finds Out About Michael Jackson's Death" video that Westchester Live posted last year? It's been removed from YouTube because the producer of the original film, Downfall, has claimed copyright infringement. In fact, all of the "Hitler Finds Out About…" parodies have been removed for the same reason. YouTube's policy is to remove anything that someone claims to own the copyright of.

There's only one problem. Parody, of which all of these videos are, is generally protected from infringement claims by the Fair Use clause (section 107) of the Copyright Act. So shouldn't YouTube require proof of infringement before removing videos?

Just askin'.

Clearwater Festival

The Clearwater Festival is, without a doubt, the best music festival in Westchester County and a highlight of Westchester Live's year. This years event takes place June 19th and 20th at, per usual, Croton Point Park in Croton On Hudson.

The line up includes:

- Steve Earle

- Rhett Miller

- Shawn Colvin

- David Bromberg

- Buckwheat Zydeco

- Jonatha Brooke

- the subdudes

- Joan Osborne

…and many, many more.

Steve Wright? Or Steve Reich?

I always get Steven Wright (6/10 at The Paramount in Peekskill) and Steve Reich confused. In my defense, they're both minimalists.

Steven Wright:

Steve Reich:

The Paramount in Peekskill

Ya' know, Westchester Live doesn't want to be an old crank but can't the Paramount in Peekskill do something to spiff up its schedule?

Here's what's coming up:

- 6/10 Steven Wright

- 6/18 Dion

- 6/30 moe.

- 7/2 Mary Chapin Carpenter

- 7/17 Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi

- 7/21 Happy Together Tour (I assume this must have something to do with The Turtles).

- 8/6 Chris Botti

- 9/24 Get the Led Out (Led Zeppelin tribute)

- 10/23 Ronan Tynan

Now, don't get me wrong, Westchester Live has nothing against any of the above artists (okay, except for moe) but this is one, um, uninspiring, list. It's a beautiful theater with great sound, he just wishes there was more there that he wanted to see.

That being said, Steven Wright is very funny. He killed at the Tarrytown Music Hall Last year. Here's a clip from Letterman:

New Album Streams from Spinner!

Cool album streams from Spinner include new releases from Tift Merritt and Paul Weller.

Here's a video of a cat on a Roomba:

Westchester Magazine: Why Are Our Taxes So #%*! High!

You want to know what really frosts Westchester Live's butt? People who can't understand why their taxes are so high, that's what frosts Westchester Live's butt.

You want to know why our taxes are so high? Here's the secret:

We want stuff.

Yep. That's it. That's the full story. Whether it's good schools, cops, new fire trucks, local governmental bodies, whatever, the reason our taxes are so #%*! is because we want government to supply goods and services.

We might disagree on what those services are (Westchester Live thinks suburban cops are way overpaid) but we want them nonetheless. So next time you want to bitch about taxes remember this: we have met the enemy and he is us. Or something like that.

Here's a link to the full article, Why Are Our Taxes So #%*!, in this months issue of Westchester Magazine.

Drive By Truckers at Tarrytown Music Hall

This Friday the 4th (tomorrow), the Tarrytown Music Hall will be presenting the Drive By Truckers in concert. DBT is a great roots rock band that focuses on the quotidian (love that word!) concerns of everyday people. You know, stuff like hating your job, crystal meth addiction, divorce, and unemployment, to name just a few.

I know, I know, you're saying to yourself. "Westchester Live?!? WTF!!! You must be crazy if you think I want to see that!! I've got enough of that in my own life!!!!"

Well, yeah, sure, but your life isn't set to tuneful, hook driven rock that reminds Westchester Live of a cross between Springsteen, Neil Young, and Lynyrd Skynyrd (at their glorious pre-crash heyday). So take that money you'd blow on blow and head down to the Music Hall.

Here's "That Fucking Job" from their latest album The Big To-Do as performed live on Letterman (yeah, I was wondering about that too…)

Great Old Films at Great Old Theaters

Here's a chance to see great old films at great old theaters.

This summer, The Paramount in Peekskill and the Tarrytown Music Hall will be presenting classic films the way they were meant to be seen.

In their classic film series, the Paramount is presenting a Jack Nicholson film fest:

- June 2: The Passenger

- June 9: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

- June 16: The Shining

The Tarrytown Music Hall is presenting two really cool screenings:

- June 12: The Golem.

A classic silent film with live music by the great guitarist Gary Lucas (best known as Captain Beefheart's guitarist).

- July 11: Lawrence of Arabia.

If you haven't seen this classic on a big screen, you haven't seen it.

So put away the iPhone, turn off the Hulu and git your butt down to a real movie theater. For further information:

Paramount Centre for the Arts

1008 Brown Street

Peekskill, NY

914- 739- 2333

Tarrytown Music Hall

13 Main Street
Tarrytown, NY 10591
914-631-3390

Nights of Cabiria at Jacob Burns

As Westchester Live said in his previous post, Fellini's Nights of Cabiria is the second saddest film ever made. It is also one of the finest. Giuletta Masina gives one of the great film performances ever. It just broke Westchester Live's heart into little tiny pieces.

It is playing at the Jacob Burns on June 4th and 6th as part of their Classic Italian Cinema series.

Classic Italian Cinema at Jacob Burns: June 4th thru 24th

Westchester Live loves him some Italian cinema!

The Jacob Burns Film Center festival of classic Italian cinema starts this Friday, June 4th. Some of the highlights include:

- Visconti's The Leopard and Ossessione (banned by Mussolini)

- Fellini's Nights of Cabiria (the second saddest movie ever made)

- Di Sica's Bicycle Thieves (the saddest movie ever made)

- Argento's The Bird With the Crystal Plumage (Westchester Live has never seen this one!)

- Leone's Once Upon a Time In the West

Here's the too cool for school trailer for Once Upon a Time In the West (Westchester Live suggests double clicking so you can view it in all its wide screen splendor on YouTube):

Cops Arrest 25 outside Tarrytown Music Hall

The police arrested 25 people outside of the Tarrytown Music Hall during and after a show by the Grateful Dead tribute band Dark Star Orchestra.

On the one hand, Westchester Live doesn't approve of people urinating in public. On the other hand, he's not sure how cool it was of the Greenburgh Alcohol and Drug Task Force to have targeted the concert.

Westchester Live attended last years show and found the packed crowd to be older and extremely mellow (if you catch my drift). Here's a video of Dark Star doing the Dead's "Terrapin Station". Uncanny.

Free Raul Malo tickets at Tarrytown Music Hall!

Win a free pair of Raul Malo tickets at the Tarrytown Music Hall on Sunday, July 26th at 7pm!

To enter, comment on the post, Direct Message me at Twitter http://twitter.com/WestchesterLive or friend me on Facebook at Westchester Live.

Free Robert Cray Tickets at the Tarrytown Muisc Hall!

Enter to win a free pair of Robert Cray tickets for this Sunday at the Tarrytown Music Hall.

Enter by commenting on this post or Direct Messaging me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/WestchesterLive

For more info on the show: http://tickets.tarrytownmusichall.org/

Arrival: ABBA tribute at the Music Hall 7/9/09

I'm a but stunned to say that I really enjoyed the ABBA tribute at the Music Hall last night. Yes, camp and kitschy, but a fun time.

ABBA's music is like an addictive combination of Kraftwerk and Phil Spector; the icy, mechanistic sheen of the former, the wall of sound and perfect hooks of the latter. It's superb pop music.

GWTW: Part 3

Interesting article about GWTW's director. From The New Yorker issue of 5/25/09

http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2009/05/25/090525crat_atlarge_denby

Also, for anyone who gives a shit, here's a link to the Wikipedia article on Reconstruction. As with all things Wikipedia, I can't really vouch for its accuracy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconstruction_era_of_the_United_States

Gone With the Wind Part 2

Gone With the Wind is without question one of the greatest films of all time. Iconic performances, incredible scenes and set pieces. Showing this Sunday at 6pm at the Tarrytown Music Hall, this is a rare opportunity to see this spectacular film on a big screen in a classic movie palace.

The burning of Atlanta is the most famous scene but my favorite is the incredible crane shot of all the wounded soldiers. I haven't scene this film in 30 years but I still remember this one.

It’s just too bad that all this great artistry is devoted to spreading the myth of the “nobility” of the Old South and The Confederacy. It was a huge part of the effort to rewrite history and pretend that the Civil War somehow wasn’t about slavery. Well, since the entire antebellum culture and economy of the South was based on human bondage, that just won’t fly. This would be a minor point except revisionist history like this was a huge impediment in the fight for civil rights.

It also advances the myth (that is still accepted wisdom by many people) that Reconstruction was a horrible exploitation of the South by Northern carpetbaggers. In truth, Reconstruction was a high water mark for African-America equality that has never been equaled. Its abandonment in the aftermath of the election of Rutherford B. Hayes remains one of the most shameful acts in American history.

And let’s not forget that when this movie came out, there were plenty of ex-slaves still alive. We should also remember that there are still plenty of people living today who personally knew ex-slaves. It’s not as far in the past as we’d like to pretend.

Anyway, see you there! I’m looking forward to seeing this most conflicting of films again.

For tickets: http://tickets.tarrytownmusichall.org/orderticketsarea.asp?p=999&a=541&backurl=default.asp

Upcoming Shows

Some upcoming shows that I'll be writing about over the next couple weeks:

At Tarrytown Music Hall:

- Robert Cray on July 19th
- Raul Malo on July 26th
- Hot Tuna (electric!) on September 6th

There are many more great shows coming to Tarrytown this fall. Look for some great announcements over the next few weeks.
For a complete list of Music Hall events:
Website: http://www.tarrytownmusichall.org/.
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/mugwfe.

At the Paramount:
- M. Ward on August 2nd (I know, I've already been banging on about this one.)
- Los Lobos September 16th

For a complete list of Paramount events:
Website: http://tickets.paramountcenter.org/

Also check out the Emelin: http://www.emelin.org/ and Irvingtown Town Hall http://www.irvingtontheater.com/

Hitler Learns About Michael Jackson's Death video

Old man moment: I just learned how to embed YouTube videos in my blog. Sigh.

This has nothing to do with Westchester but I thought it was funny. And then I learned that Hitler Learns That... is an entire subgenre on YouTube.

Pleasantville Music Festival

Being newish to Westchester (I know, I know, what the hell am I doing writing a blog about it?) I'm constantly stumbling across cool stuff I didn't know anything about. A good example is the Pleasantville Music Festival. It's the 5th one and is a cool combination of national, regional, and local acts.

Read about it here: http://www.pleasantvillemusicfestival.com/index.html.


I haven't seen most of the artists in the line up (a plus for me at a multi-stage festival; I like wandering around and discovering new stuff) but am eager to see Hill Country Review (http://www.youtube.com/hillcountryrevue). It's the new project by Cody Dickinson of the North Mississippi All Stars (and son of the legendary songwriter/producer/wild man Jim Dickinson).

It's also a great bargain with all sorts of deals for families.

And, check my Twitter feed tomorrow for a chance to win a free pair of tickets! http://twitter.com/WestchesterLive

M. Ward at the Paramount on August 2nd

I'm a big fan of M. Ward and was really happy to see the Paramount book him for a show on August 2nd. I ordered tickets immediately (note to the Paramount: it's a pain in the ass to have to call the box office to buy Members pre-sale tix) and got my favorite seats; 6th row, smack dab in the middle.

But I and a few other hardy souls seem to be the only ones excited by this show. If this show were in NYC it would probably be at a standing location like the Bowery Ballroom or Music Hall of Williamsburg and it would sell out. Me, being an old fart, I like to sit. So kudos to the Paramount for taking a chance on bringing this kind of act to Westchester.

Here's a couple videos:
- on Letterman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjkH40Mx0bc
- and another one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75Tvp4LfUpc

There's plenty of good seats left! Here's a link right to the seating chart; c'mon, take a chance!
http://tickets.paramountcenter.org/ordertickets.asp?p=294&backurl=%2FDefault%2Easp%3FSearchMonth%3D%26monthsubmit%3D%26SearchText%3D%26Go%2Ex%3D%26Go%2Ey%3D%26pg%3D1%23abc

Gone With the Wind Part 1

This Sunday the 12th, the Tarrytown Music Hall will be showing Gone With the Wind. It's the 70th anniversary of this beloved and creepy paean to the Old South and it's a fairly rare opportunity to see it on a big screen in an old fashioned movie house.

Just to be clear, I hate this movie. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's not an extraordinary and extraordinarily effective film. I just hate it's role in perpetuating the myth of some mystical Grand Old South. It's to the Confederacy what Triumph of the Will was to the Nazi's. Great film making with a repellent message.

The "grand" old culture of the antebellum South (neither grand or old), the death of which the film mourns, was a direct result of slavery. To celebrate and mourn the death of that culture and economy that is to implicitly embrace human bondage as a legitimate foundation for a society.

So I encourage everyone to go see the film and judge for them self. I'll be there (I haven't seen the damn thing in 30 years so maybe my opinon will have changed...)

Live Music: Week of July 5th

Busy week in music for Westchester County. Some highlights:

1. Arrival: An ABBA Tribute.
Thursday the 9th at the Tarrytown Music Hall. 8pm. Camp as Christmas and just as much fun. Please note: depending on how you feel about Christmas, this could be either good or bad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90BK75-Lwjg
Good tickets still available:
http://tickets.tarrytownmusichall.org/ordertickets.asp?p=929

2. Aimee Mann
Friday the 10th at the Paramount in Peekskill. 8pm. Terrific singer/songwriter performs with full band. WestchesterLive loves her CD's but hasn't seen her perform live since she was in the Young Snakes back in Boston in the early 80's.

"Freeway" from her predictably excellent new record. WestchesterLive is excited about this show!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQF5CXV9cos

Good tickets are still available:
http://tickets.paramountcenter.org/ordertickets.asp?p=289&backurl=default.asp


3. Yonder Mountain String Band
Also on Friday the 10th at 8pm. Tarrytown Music Hall. Alternative Bluegrass band popular on the Jam Band circuit (don't let that put you off, these guys are good).

First appearance at the Music Hall. Should be a younger crowd that likes to stand and dance so be ready for that if you choose to go. And remember, no pot smoking in the Music Hall!!! Not that WestchesterLive has anything against pot but it's an old wooden building...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERjlLEHlltQ

Great seats are still available:
http://tickets.tarrytownmusichall.org/ordertickets.asp?p=986

4. Dave Mason
Saturday the 11th. 8pm at the Tarrytown Music Hall. Classic rock funstravaganza. Mason's been around forever and really delivers it live; in fact his performances might be even better than in his 70's heyday.

A great guitar player who has written one of WestchesterLive's favorite break up songs; the unusually adult and compassionate "We Just Disagree". Here are two versions, one from the 70's and one from last year:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8_FOQ7-P30
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCpQLZs2Eh8&feature=related

Good seats are still available:
http://tickets.tarrytownmusichall.org/ordertickets.asp?p=986

One note about the Music Hall: the balcony is a bit uncomfortable (limited leg room, hard seats) but has great views and sound. WestchesterLive saw Sonic Youth last night at the United Palace and his expensive 5th row mezzanine seats were about as far from the stage as the last row from the Music Halls balcony.