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1 March 2010
American Idol faceoff: Steve Lillywhite vs. Ellen DeGeneris vs. Perez Hilton
Recently talk show host and comedienne Ellen DeGeneres replaced Paula Abdul as the fourth judge on American Idol. More recently the show’s signature presence Simon Fuller announced his departure.
Last week an actual credible record producer, Steve Lillywhite, went public with his go at auditioning for the show.
Having made records with a wide array of artists — artists with admiring constituencies of quite different types (i.e. U2, The Pogues, Dave Matthews, Phish) — he seems uniquely qualified to spot new talent. Maybe he wouldn’t be the best person to pick a flashy winner, but he could certainly narrow the pool. He is, however, not optimistic about his chances, telling the LA Times “I don’t think I have a chance in hell.”
Now why is that?
Posted by Alec Hanley Bemis
Tags: American Idol, Celebrity Culture, Ellen DeGeneres, I Can Be Unstable In a Very Entertaining Way, Perez Hilton, Simon Fuller, Steve Lillywhite, Video
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21 November 2009
Leonard Cohen: Poet, in a younger prime
The documentary is called Ladies & Gentlemen, Mr. Leonard Cohen.
This will expire soon — as will we — so watch. That’s the point, isn’t it?
UPDATED NOVEMBER 25, 2009: I’ve just found a suitably anecdotal quote that will serve as something of a replacement for when this video’s been taken down a few days from now.
- “I interviewed Leonard Cohen at every opportunity, including at the Zen Center on the edge of the tiny resort village of Mount Baldy, outside of Los Angeles. It was 1995 and Leonard had been living in a cabin no larger than a budget motel for about two years, so involved in the center’s lifestyle that he got up every morning at 3:00 a.m. to begin preparing the day’s first meal for Joshu Roshi, a spiritual leader. After our talk, Leonard, who had traded in his stylish suits for modest robes, invited me to stay for lunch, which was one of his soup specialities. I watched him labor over the various vegetables for more than an hour until he was satisfied. Afterward, he walked me to my car. When I opened the trunk, he noticed an open package of Fig Newtons that I kept for an occasional treat. Eyeing them, Leonard, speaking in a slow, deliberate style that seemed in keeping with the Zen Center itself, asked ever so politely, ‘Could I have one of those Fig Newtons?’ Being the generous guy that I am, I offered him the whole package. ‘Oh, no,’ he said, pointing to his spartan lifestyle. ‘Just one will be fine.’ As I drove away, I could see in the rear view mirror that he was staring fondly at it, presumably thinking about whether to take a bite now or save it for later.”
From Robert Hilburn’s Corn Flakes with John Lennon
Posted by Alec Hanley Bemis
Tags: Buddhism, Ethics, Internet, Internet Poem, Leonard Cohen, Literary Stuff, Robert Hilburn, Video
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23 October 2009
Simple is Good
Recently I spotted Alex from Arctic Monkeys in the DFW airport food court, a melancholy look on face, suit jacket well pressed. I was on my way back home from the Austin City Limits festival where his band had performed. I was on my way back to Brooklyn, where he reportedly now resides. I imagine this city — all its busyness & complexities — providing a new reserve of lyrical fodder for him, a singer of consummate wordiness. But, as this recent video shows, sometimes it’s a spartan approach that works best. It’s uncluttered, perfect — each small gesture has an effect more dramatic than an explosion.
Posted by Alec Hanley Bemis
Tags: Alex Turner, Arctic Monkeys, Minimalism, The Problem With Glamour, Video
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28 September 2009
Late night television
There have been two Dirty Projectors performances on late night television in September, their highest profile appearances to date. Earlier this month, they did David Letterman on CBS. Earlier today, Jimmy Fallon on NBC. The band debuted a new song there. You’re going to love it.
Sometimes, though, the backstage magic is as powerful than the on-stage magic. In the photograph above you can see Questlove from Fallon’s house band, The Roots, holding an iPhone. Without further adieu, here’s what he shot with it:
Read more »
Posted by Alec Hanley Bemis
Tags: David Letterman, Dirty Projectors, Jimmy Fallon, Surreal Life, The Problem With Glamour, Video
3 Comments
18 September 2009
Bon Iver covering Sarah Siskind’s “Lovin’s for Fools”
Tickets go on sale today for The New Yorker festival, the annual roundelay of uber-cultured readings, panels, concerts & events which — much like The New Yorker itself — are perhaps a bit too self-consciously about Culture with a capital C rather than about the culture (lower case c) that they are presenting.
Apologies for editorializing. I mean they did manage to managed to get Liturgy and my management client, Dirty Projectors, on the same bill, which is a pretty special thing. And they were also able to book this guy:
Beyond the weird & wonderful convergence that will be Dirty Projectors’ concert, the performance by Bon Iver (aka Justin Vernon) is the festival entrant I am most looking forward to catching. Wish me luck snagging tickets!
(And yes, I’ll be honest this post is mostly a lame excuse to show you the heart-arresting wonder that is that video clip. Note that it’s not an original but a cover of a song by Nashville songwriter Sarah Siskind which he used to close out most of his 2008 tour dates.)
After the jump comes another performance of the same song — this one with Siskind herself on guest vocals.
Posted by Alec Hanley Bemis
Tags: Bon Iver, Great New Music, Sarah Siskind, The New Yorker, Video