WE HAVE MOVED!

What Did We Do Before Chucks? has moved! We are now called: Idealize LA. Click here to go there and read the new posts (as well as the old stuff).

Something Big Is Happening Soon…

Check back on Halloween for a surprise.

PIANOS SATURDAY CMJ 2009

Very happy that we showed up early for Beast (and the free bloody marys), because they were awesome. They had great energy for a noon-thirty show, and their lead singer sounded like Edith Piaf plus Amy Winehouse (yeah I know that’s become a negative connotation, but face it–she has great pipes). Hear my favorite song of theirs:

Beast – “Satan” (myspace)

Another great set came from Silverlake darling Local Natives. I was kind of too busy enjoying their set to get any good shots, but check them out. November 17th they play Bowery Ballroom, and on the 29th they play the Varsity in Minneapolis. Listen to them.

Local Natives – “Wide Eyes” (myspace)

Select photos follow.

THE XX, SVIIB, PHANTOGRAM LIVE @ MHOW

Without question The XX are the most hyped band of the season. They played the Music Hall of Williamsburg last night to an audience of professional photographers. That’s what happens when five shows in less than the week that is CMJ doesn’t offer enough good chances to take a picture of the group. In all fairness to them, this was their most legitimate venue of the week. UPDATE: The XX played a show mere hours later at the Tribeca Grand Hotel around 1:30AM.

PIANOS THURSDAY CMJ 2009

Show of the day for me was Duchess Says. Hear “Black Flag” or visit their myspace.

Fall Mixtape, Vol. 1

The weather quickly turned cold and we bypassed normally enjoyable fall weather. As a kid I pictured Indian Summer as a wooden canoe on a lake surrounded by fall foliage. This photo seems to capture that essence I suppose. For me it’s Titanic (“I’m the king of the world!”), meets my dog riding up front.

I’ve rekindled my seasonal love for the Brazilian Girls by digging into their older albums, and this tape’s featured track comes from their self-titled debut:

Lyrics are normally lost on me, but on “Don’t Stop” Sabina Sciubba sings plainly about sex in the least vulgar and most carefree way. They are the kind of lyrics that are so straightforward they look like a joke written down. Songs about doin’ it usually look that way on paper though, this one just does it better than most, with the right amount of sincerity and aplomb.

And now,