My Friends Write Cool Things [Links and Things I Say You Should See]

Per my last link round-up post, I sporadically feel the need to share a series of things. Today, those things were all things created by people I know. You should know them, too.

• Office neighbor, nearest daytime spiritual advisor, Director of Initiatives for Boys and Men at Moving Traditions, and Donkey Kong enthusiast, Rabbi Daniel Brenner asks whether men will stand up against the sex slave trade in Israel. This is what they call a “must read.” I appreciate being called out for all those times I breeze over a serious issue problem. [Moving Traditions, Huffington Post]

• Former bandmate, one-time songwriting-soulmate, musician, and writer Thom Dunn saves you the trouble buy creating a guide to pairing your comics with your beer. I’m mostly shocked this didn’t exist previously, but glad someone filled the void. [Thom Dunn, Quirk Books]

Pre-Thanksgiving Jitters [Links and Things I Say You Should See]

This could potentially be the first (but will likely be the last) of a weekly/monthly/annual/once-ly link round up! I felt like there was a handful of cool things going on in the past week and sharing them all on twitter just wasn’t cutting it.

Presents: Have Nots, The Band With The Fat Kids, Across The Aisle – 5/1 at Bushwick Music Studios

*** POSTPONED *** New Date TBA ***

Upcoming Gigs: March & April 2010

I realize we’re already halfway into March but I have three gigs left this month and April is already packed to the brim. I didn’t take the time to link every venue and band because you’re smart people and know how to use the google. These are gigs playing bass for Hey Stranger or guitar for The Hard Times unless otherwise stated. I will be continuously adding information to this post, especially in regards to the Zombie Apocalypse Survival Weekend as I have it.

*** UPDATED 4/5/10 5:11pm ***

Sunday, March 21, 2010
Bushwick Music Studios – 55 Waterbury Street, Brooklyn, NY
Royal City Riot (LI), The Pinstripes (OH), The Best Of The Worst (NJ), Hey Stranger (NYC)
Take the L train to Montrose Avenue
All Ages, Doors @ 7PM, $7
Facebook Event
*** Please note that Hey Stranger will not be playing Monday, March 22 at The Space in Hamden, CT ***

Thursday, March 25, 2010
“Reggae Hit The Town”
Ella Lounge, 9 Avenue A, B/w Houston and 1st
9pm, 21+, $6
The Forthrights, The Hard Times, Predator Dub Assassin
Facebook Event

Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Hannah Fairchild’s “Paper Kingdoms” CD Release Party
Bar 4, 444 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY
with Annie Ragz, Debbie Miller, Ten Antennna
I have the privilege of joining the backing band for singer-songwriter Hannah Fairchild.
Facebook Event

Saturday, April 3, 2010
Version City Monthly
Skinnerbox (Reunion), The Scofflaws, Eastern Standard Time, The Hard Times, The Forthrights, Late Night Version City All Star Jam
Knitting Factory, 361 Metropolitan Ave, L Train to Lorimer
7pm, All Ages, $10 adv/$12 dos
Facebook Event

Thursday, April 8, 2010
Zombie Apocalypse Survival Weekend Day 1
Presented by East Coast Collective
Bushwick Music Studios, 55 Waterbury St, L Train to Montrose
Hardcore Karaoke Pile On Extravaganza (Featuring Members of Hey Stranger)
Nix 86 (LI),  Hey Stranger, Curious Volume
7pm, All Ages
Facebook Event

Friday, April 9, 2010
Zombie Apocalypse Survival Weekend Day 2
Presented by Bronx Underground
First Lutheran Church, 375 Baisley Ave, Bronx, NY
Hardcore Karaoke Pile On Extravaganza (Featuring Members of Hey Stranger)
Endwell, Knuckle Up, Nix 86
Facebook Event

Saturday April 10, 2010
Zombie Apocalypse Survival Weekend Day 3
Presented By East Coast Collective
Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island, 38 Old Country Rd, Garden City, LI, NY
Hardcore Karaoke Pile On Extravaganza (Featuring Members of Hey Stranger)
Nix 86 (LI),  Hey Stranger, Hello Nurse, More TBA
All Ages, 6:30pm, $8
Facebook Event

Sunday, April 11, 2010
Zombie Apocalypse Survival Weekend Day 4
Past Thymes, 383 Main St, East Haven, CT
Hardcore Karaoke Pile On Extravaganza (Featuring Members of Hey Stranger)
Nix 86 (LI),  Hey Stranger, These Green Eyes, Honey Creeper
7pm, $10 Under 21, $5 21+
Facebook Event

Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Grace of Spades Presents Reggae Onna Bowery
Bowery Electric, 327 Bowery (at 2nd St.)
Wolf & Leopard, The Hard Times, The Equilbrians
8pm, $5, 21+

Saturday April 17, 2010
The Shrine, 271 Adam Clayton Powell Junior Boulevard, Harlem, NY
The Hard Times
Details TBA

Saturday May 1, 2010
Jacob Wake Up! Presents:
The Have Nots (Boston, MA), That Band With The Fat Kids (VA), More TBA
Bushwick Music Studio, 55 Waterbury St, Brooklyn, NY

The Hard Times Present “Reggae Hit The Town”

Flier by yours truly | Facebook Event | Press Release Below the Jump

OTiS Coverage Round Up

For the past month I’ve had the pleasure of working with the Brooklyn based Rock.Soul.Groove act OTiS. They recently celebrated the release of their debut self-titled album. The album will be released digitally on March 16 via Amazon.com, Emusic, and iTunes.

The Round Table Online included OTiS in their “Makin’ It” feature.

Rock NYC teased the new album and previewed 2 of the bands upcoming performances.

7duckets gives a nice walk through of the album, track by track, and previews the bands’ CD release show.

Music Matters in Brooklyn will be carrying copies of the CD.

Their MySpace page has a clickable banner as well as an updated bio.

Amazon.com already has audio previews of all the entire album.

A press release will be serviced this week.

Their very successful CD release party took place on Friday, February 26 at Sullivan Hall in the West Village of Manhattan, selling an unprecedented amount of Tshirts and CDs and an unprecedented audience filling the room.

OTiS on MySpace / OTiS Homepage / OTiS on Twitter

Murphy’s Kids, Nix86, The Best of The Worst, Bingus Jones – 12/28 – Bushwick Music Studios

Murphy’s Kids, one of the hardest working bands in ska/punk is passing through this December. Think Rx Bandits without the pretension and one of the most energetic live shows you’ve ever seen.  Download their music for free from Community Records.