GOOD SINGLES: Big Data

I heard this electro band BIG DATA this past week and dig them. I’m guessing the band’s name is a nod to gigantic data sets (Big Data). Cool. There are four tracks on their debut EP and the vocals are fun, sung with relish by Daniel Armbruster (JOYWAVE) on the track “Dangerous”. “Dangerous” sounds like a bass slapping convergence of Peter Gabriel, MGMT, and Discovery. By the way, I dig the fact that BIG DATA is from Brooklyn (where I live). And from what I understand, the band is the brainchild of producer Alan Wilkis.

The track “Big Dater” adds MUSE’s sound and a touch of 90s boyband aesthetic. Dig that old school modem near the middle. Nice touch.

Next, in “The Stroke of Return” the MUSE influence is present as well as GIORGIO MORODER’s sound – an interesting combination. It’s like the Neverending Story soundtrack meets MUSE!?! And the lyrics explore how we’re all giving our personal data up willy nilly to the cloud. And that is not good. Pretty relevant paranoia!

Shoot, they just played last night at the Brooklyn Bowl! Looks like this band is starting to get big, check out their debut EP ‘1.0’ released by Wilcassettes LLC on 19 August 2013.

Big Data – “Dangerous (feat. Joywave):

Big Data – “Big Dater”

Big Data – “The Stroke of Return”

The BIG DATA Facebook page

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Classical Music Drowned out by Religious Nut!

As I commuted through Fulton Street station yesterday, I heard wonderful classical music… and a woman’s voice. I soon passed two mildly amused classical musicians and saw the source of their disturbance: a religious fanatic had decided to park herself right nearby. She was belting out “religious” “songs”. If she hit a correct note, I don’t think anyone knew, including her. And, God bless her, she was so loud and off-tune she was actually competing with two stringed instruments! I almost broke. But I had to get to work. What a royal pain!

Category: Humorous, Live Events, Subway Surprises | LEAVE A COMMENT

Some Funny Music Videos

While I was waiting for a FedEx package that never arrived, I started watching music videos. And I suddenly realized “I have to make a list of some of the funniest.” So here we go, this is by no means complete, or the end of the effort. Enjoy!

Aqua – Barbie Girl

Electric Six – Dance Commander

Yo La Tengo – Sugarcube

Continue reading

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Writing a Music Video Treatment

I worked hard this week to submit a treatment I’m pitching to a band; It’s a music video for one of their songs. And I learned some cool stuff in the process, using the link below as reference.

Putting it together was fun, since I used photos to lay out the mood of the entire video. Basically, the photos are like a storyboard, which is helpful since I wouldn’t be able to draw that much detail! After I found the photos, I wrote the story out. I wrote the story around the photos, which were paired with each standza of the lyrics. It was a fun process, and I’m definitely going to use the technique again for the next music video treatment I submit!

How to Pitch Better Music Video Treatments – Radar Music Videos Blog

– The Wandering Humorist

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Amazingly Supportive Comments via Spam!

I didn’t realize how much spam would start pouring into my Akismet Spam Prevention Filter, but it’s coming in! The real curve-ball is how supportive and kind the messages are. Here are several that really impressed me:

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what the theme is named. Maոy thanкs!

And, the best for last:

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Such idealism and kindness! This is nothing like email spam. I want to allow it through, but I suppose that’s what the authors are betting on.

Perhaps I’ll receive some authentic comments in the future, but for now, I’ll take support where I can get it, from my comment SPAM!

-The Wandering Humorist

Category: Inspiring, Uncategorized | LEAVE A COMMENT

The Scene at Moscow57 and Meeting Randy Jones!

Gabriel Barbaro and Randy Jones at Moscow57
Gabriel Barbaro and Randy Jones at Moscow57

This past Sunday night, I had the pleasure of attending a party at Moscow57, the newly opened Central Asian/Russian restaurant owned by my friend and colleague Ellen Kaye. I met Ellen when I directed the following music video for Moscow57:
I’m Gonna Rob A Bank for Christmas

Sunday night’s party honored the unveiling of a restored photo of Zero Mostel, given to Ellen by her parents, and the actor  Jim Brochu who is starring in the play The Character Man. And Zero Mostel’s son Josh Mostel was there too! There was awesome live music and wonderful hors d’oeuvres.

Then the night got even more surreal when I met and chatted with Randy Jones. Randy is the Cowboy of the Village People! He was really nice and a lot of fun; full of positive energy! My buddy actor Tom Stratford took our photo (above). And when I posted it to Facebook, Randy even commented on the photo! What a nice guy.

Thanks to my wonderful hosts Ellen Kaye, Seth Goldman (Chef and partner) and Ethan Fein (Musician and partner) for a fantastic night!

-The Wandering Humorist

Category: Humorous, Inspiring, Live Events, People | LEAVE A COMMENT

Synthesizer – Electric Six

Electric Six is a rockingly cool and funny band. When my pal Andy introduced me to their music about three years ago, I became a fan. For those of you wondering, they’re best known for their hit “Danger! High Voltage” featuring Jack White. However, they have other really funny songs too. And singer Dick Valentine is incredible! He is intelligent, witty and completely silly and absurd.

Today, I’m going to share the video for their song “Synthesizer”:

This music video is awesome in so many ways, from the great retro aesthetic (thanks to Director Chris Chambless), to the absurdly funny lyrics. And of course, the incredible performance by lead actor Guy Perry. So weird, odd and funny. I had to leave a comment. And I can’t believe that he wrote me back. What a nice guy:

Guy Perry, lead actor in the music video Synthesizer by Electric Six, wrote me back!
Guy Perry, lead actor in the music video Synthesizer by Electric Six, wrote me back!

Long live Electric Six and Guy Perry!

– The Wandering Humorist

 

Category: Inspiring, Music Picks | 1 Comment on Synthesizer – Electric Six

England, orginator of ridiculous taxes!

Having just filed my taxes, I saw this article on DealNews.com (a favorite website because it’s written with wit) about weird taxes in history:

“Awful Historical Taxes That Make Yours Seem Not So Bad” by Jeff Somogyi, Media Editor at DealNews.com

This article proves why our early countrymen fought against the British. Just look at how many bizarre taxes they invented: A tax on soap and wallpaper? You’ve got to be kidding me – ATTACK!

-The Wandering Humorist

Category: Humorous, Live Events | 1 Comment on England, orginator of ridiculous taxes!