Viva la Revolucion! Gogol Bordello play All Points West. Party!

Chaos, theatrics, shock value, and vodka-infused music is what makes Gogol Bordello one of the most intense and entertaining bands performing at All Points West on Saturday August 1^st. Gogol Bordello consists of 9 members from all different ethnicities, ages and races.

There are members from Russia, China, Ecuador, and other countries around the world.  My friends, Gogol Bordello, is the proverbial ethnic melting pot, and you know this Rock n Roll diva holds her torch for the fusion of nationalities, ethnicities, and cultures. That’s what makes our country great.


Based on a combination of punk and gypsy rhythms, with klezmer and polka undertones, the music is fast-paced and loaded with catchy lyrics featuring the latest dirty words. Gogol Bordello’s stage presence only enhances their unique musical energy. Don’t be shocked by their uncontrolled yelling, kicking, kissing and all around shenanigans on stage.

Gogol Bordello shows are some of the most absolutely wild shows that you may ever experience. Their mission is to break any and all social laws, provoke alarm, show people something that they have never seen, and by the end of the night, cause a mini revolution of sorts. 


The shows and the artists are so energetic and booze-infused that I am actually worried for the unsung production heroes who will be in charge of this thing. These guys have been banned from CBGB, Mercury Lounge, Fez and Bowery Lounge for being “too over the mother-kissing top”.

Forgive the above edit, but Miss Liberty has an editorial reputation to uphold.  But put it this way, it’s a kick-ass party and a half!


These guys have an interesting past as well. The initial members met in 1998 at a Russian wedding. They got to drinking, then got to jamming. Once they were officially a band, they quickly climbed to the top of their local music scene. Gogol Bordello played several festivals and recorded their first album Voi-La Intruder with producer Jim Sclavunos from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.

Some say it takes ten years of hard work to have overnight success.  Or it takes A&R ten years to figure it out.   Or it takes ten years for the music scene to catch up to what a particular group is doing.  And then it happens.

Gogol Bordello finally was recognized as a new sound in the music industry and are now internationally known for spreading their unique musical philosophy gypsy-punk genre. They have released 5 albums, with their most current called Super Taranta! In 2007.

This is one show that will bring me to get back to my Euro roots and make me get my drink on. Gogol Bordello will surely put on one of the best shows at All Points West. They are as crazy as they are talented which makes them an excellent addition to All Points West already super-fabulous lineup.

See you all at the show that is sure to cause a revolution, and you know a lot of great things start with a little revolution.

Rejoignez-moi pour la révolution à All Points West.

Vive la liberté… et la musique pour tous.

Miss L.

Buckethead and Hellzapoppin Sideshow bring guitar genius and danger to The Beach

Armed with a cult following including myself, Buckethead brings eccentric theatrics and guitar extravagance together as one. Due to perform at the NYC’s newest outdoor venue The Beach at Governors Island on September 26, he is sure to appeal to this lady’s freaky side.

In an effort to outdo my own very special, seven-spiked crown, Buckethead sports a KFC bucket and blank white facemask as headgear, and thrives in his personal anonymity and amazing guitar riffs.

Referring to himself as the “mutant guitar virtuoso”, he played with a multitude of bands, most notably Guns N' Roses and Praxis. He has countless solo albums and also played under a pseudo-name of Death Cube K.

His sound is phenomenal. Every release I hear is different. From fast-paced heavy-metal riffs to funk, this boy explores and pushes boundaries like no other. He takes his inspirations from a variety of sources ranging from Michael Jackson, Sci-Fi/ horror films, amusement parks, and athletes such as Michael Jordan, to name a few of his quirky influences.

Continuously voted into the top 50 as one of the fastest, weirdest, and best guitarists of all time, Buckethead has an interesting past. Not much is known about him and he keeps very private. In today’s celebrity driven culture, this chica thinks this speaks well of him as a performer. Music first.

Buckethead told me chickens raised him in a coop. Perhaps this explains the KFC bucket with “Death” written on it. As he tells the story, the chickens loved him so much they clawed his face, which explains the mask, or as I mentioned above, maybe he wants his music to be the memory you take away from his shows.

If Buckethead’s guitar virtuosity and quirks are not enough to make you score a ticket right now, the Hellzapoppin Sideshow rounds out the bill. Wow, what a day.

Calling themselves the greatest show in Hell, this burlesque group of performers, half-naked and drenched in tattoos, create a racy, no-boundaries performance, full of fire spitting and sword-swallowing. This grand dame of music has witnessed more than her share of freakiness in my time, but these guys really get my blood flowing.

Composed of a group of freak show acts and dripping of sex and danger, this show brings a bundle of entertainment to the hardest-to-please fans. It includes everything from a wolf-man, bearded lady, booby-tassels and body mutilation. Yes, Miss Liberty just used boobies in a sentence, but what can I say? Those are the facts, kids.

Hellzapoppin Sideshow also performs with a multitude of bands like Mudvayne and Black Label Society, making their shows even more badass.

What these guys don’t have in the freak-show lineup is a curvaceous, 120-ton woman, so I just might be tempted to get my ass off this pedestal and step over to The Beach at Governors Island to join the circus.

In the meantime, stay freaky New York, and I’ll see you at the show!

Miss Liberty

Rest in Peace

Miss Liberty is deeply saddened by the passing of the great Michael Jackson, King of Pop.

The icon drastically influenced the world of pop, rock and R&B.

He will always be remembered as a great performer and a musical genius.


His talent will be missed.


Sad L.

Miss Liberty shouts out to her BBV. Best Brooklyn Vegan!

Hey music lovers, the other day I was bored just standing here all day in the rain, so I decided to bust out the iPhone discretely concealed inside my twenty-three foot tablet.

I popped open up the Safari app, and went straight to Brooklyn Vegan, one of my favorite music blogs and concert announcement directories. They pretty much kick the most ass when it comes to New York area music news, as well as a prime source for all things All Points West.  How does one vegan go to so many shows a night?

So I was reading BV, and I stumbled upon an article that touched on a phenomenon in music trends that I have been considering myself. The blog references an article from Relix magazine, your source for all things jam bands. The article discusses how indie rockers should not completely distance themselves from the jam scene, even if they loathe them dirty hippies. 

Dreadlocked Hippie

I have witnessed my share of dreadlocks in my day, but also have been subject to some of the tightest jeans and shortest cut-off shorts at concerts on both sides of the Hudson. Though the fashions and attitudes may be on opposite sides of the spectrum, is the music really that different? 

Just your ordinary hipsters

I mean come on, is it really that much of a coincidence that Phish’s Trey Anastasio played the 2008 All Points West, a festival that primarily featured bands under the umbrella “indie rock” : Radiohead, Grizzly Bear, Animal Collective, CSS, etc…?

Trey Anastasio

Or, what about my friends at Liberty Event who co-produce the primarily indie-rock fest All Points West at the same time as doing primarily jam shows at Governors Island? This summer alone they will put some of the best indie rock at APW 2009 : Fleet Foxes, the National, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Vampire Weekend, etc… as well as the Grateful Dead tribute band Dark Star Orchestra and Keller Williams, two of the biggest representatives of jam rock at The Beach on Governors Island.

Yours truly has pondered this phenomenon for some time. Finally, thanks to the thorough investigative work of Relix magazine, there is proof that some indie artists have borrowed some aspects, here and there, from the jam band scene. Miss Liberty’s a little short on time so I will quickly highlight some APW artists who talk and show this cross-pollination.

MGMT will play All Points West on Sunday August 2 with Coldplay and the Black Keys amongst many others. Though known for being last year’s indie starlets, their music has clear psychedelic elements that stem from the Grateful Dead and arguably the long experimental jams of jam bands. The Relix article has a quote from their guitarist James Richardson, who says they once considered playing a 45-minute version “China Cat Sunflower” by the Grateful Dead.

Richardson – “"I think pretty much everybody in MGMT secretly loves jambands--well, not so secretly. We always have." (Relix)

MGMT

Or what about Vampire Weekend which plays on Friday July 31 with Beastie Boys, and many others? My fellow statue representing James Connolly in Union Park in Chicago spotted drummer Chris Tomson wearing a Phish shirt at the Pitchfork Media Music and Arts Festival, and according to Relix he did the same at Bonnaroo ’08. Relix also mentions how Tomson attended the first jam-oriented Bonnaroo ’02. 

Vampire Weekend

There may be nothing too over the top to make of all this, but it does make for an interesting discussion.  You know, the type of conversation that happens late at night, post concert, with a tall cold one.

Once again, thank you Brooklyn Vegan for the cool stories. I look forward to meeting the founding father of BV at All Points West 2009!  If you have not already been comp’d by my brothers and sisters at AEG, please contact Miss Liberty ‘cause this Rock n Roll Chica will hook you up.  I love Brooklyn and the mighty BV.

Peace and sunshine.

Miss Liberty

Comment dites-vous "dance party?" Etienne de Crécy plays All Points West

Great wine, seductive accents, and amazing bread are what I remember from my younger days in France. 

But now when I think of my birthplace I think of electronica dance loving people and artists, such as Daft Punk, Air, Justice, Digitalism, and Etienne de Crécy, who happens to be paying me a visit on Sunday August 2^nd at All Points West. I for one love French electronica dance musicians and I cannot wait to party with my fellow countryman, Etienne de Crécy.

Etienne de Crécy (Ay-see-en de Cra-see) from Lyon, France is a DJ and producer who has collaborated with other house artists such as Air and Alex Gopher. Crécy not only produces house music, but hip-hop as well. His first album Super Discount helped pave the way for house music to become synonymous with the modern club scene. Crécy has released two other albums, Tempovision (2000) and Super Discount 2 (2004) that are full of innovative party tracks.

Etienne de Crécy is on tour throughout Europe this summer, with All Points West as his only US performance. I’m very glad he decided to come to my party as his one stop across the pond. House music is always a blast outdoors, and with that bass in your face you might even see me fall of my pedestal.

Comedians bring laughter to All Points West in Liberty State Park

Miss Liberty has been holding the same facial expression for quite some time, all serious, and quite frankly, your divine Miss L is ready for a good laugh which is why I am very excited about the great comedians coming to the All Points West Music and Arts Festival.   

The APW comedy roster includes: Todd Barry who has appeared on Comedy Central several times, Janeane Garofolo who you may remember from the “Larry Sanders Show”, “Saturday Night Live” or the 1999 movie “Mystery Men”, and Michael Showalter who has made TV appearances on the Jimmy Fallon Show, Saturday Night Live and even has his self-entitled show, the "Michael Showalter Showalter", among others. Now, you all know how I love a good show, and this crowd is definitely one to keep a lady satisfied. 

Todd Barry is a New Yorker who moved to Florida to complete his education, then moved back to Manhattan to pursue his stand-up career. He received the Best Male Stand-Up comedian award at the 2003 Nightlife Awards.

Janeane Garofalo is originally from New Jersey but has lived in a variety of places. She was crowned the funniest person in Rhode Island when she entered a talent search sponsored by Showtime cable network. From there she went on to pursue a career in stand-up comedy with hopes of writing for the David Letterman Show. In this pursuit she has become a celebrity like myself, starring in several TV shows and movies.  If you look closely at the picture below, you will notice she's really trying to impersonate yours truly, but the dear Miss Janeane has to raise her hand a little higher for full torch effect.  But I do love this girl.  She'll say anything.  But she's in the right country to exercise this right.

Michael Showalter is also a New Jersey native. Not a New Yorker like myself, but everyone has their faults, I guess. He attended New York University where he joined an improv group entitled The New Group which later changed its name to The State and began creating video shorts for a MTV show called You Wrote It, You Watch It.  


Nice shades, Mike.  I can see myself : )

Each comedian brings a different style and flavor to the stage. You can see these performances as well as many other comedians and musical performances from July 31st until August 2^nd in Liberty State Park, at the All Points West Music & Arts Festival. I'll be there as the Grand Mistress, Master of Ceremonies, so bring your sense of humor for an unparalleled, entertainment experience.  


And get your tickets now before they sell out! You don’t want to be the person hearing about it; you want to be the person talking about it!


So make this girl happy and come to the best festival on the East Coast.  Mine.


Peace, love, freedom, and laughs...


Miss Liberty

The One-Man Jam Band, Keller Williams, performs at The Beach

Being a solo superstar myself, you can imagine my admiration for Keller Williams and his amazing one-man performances.  Starting out at the age of 17, Keller Williams performed solo gigs in his hometown of Fredericksburg, VA. He has since released twelve albums, in addition to releasing a “greatest hits” album and two live albums. Known for his unforgettable performances, Keller is literally a one-man jam band. Something that gets this lady very excited. 

On stage with a Gibson Echoplex Digital Pro looping unit, his famous custom made ten-string guitar, and unique, upbeat melodies, truly set the scene for a one-of-a-kind experience. His skill and stage presence keep me occupied for hours, and standing at 151 feet, I have higher standards than most. 

Keller Williams has worked with jam band icons Keith Moseley of The String Cheese Incident, Gibb Droll, Jeff Sipe from Aquarium Rescue Unite and Leftover Salmon, making up the band Keller Williams with Moseley, Droll and Sipe. Their collaboration can be caught on the recently debut album, "Live."

Keller will be rockin’ out July 11th at The Beach, located on Governors Island in New York City. He is set to perform with the legendary Grateful Dead cover-band Dark Start Orchestra and Pete Francis from Dispatch. The show is due to kick ass and I personally can't wait to see these guys live. 

The Beach at Governors Island is presented by the Highline Ballroom and produced by my friends at Liberty Event.

For information about the upcoming show, check out our website and blog.


Wishing everyone good music and happy jamming, 
Miss L

Lady Liberty Loves the Friends of Liberty State Park

Miss Liberty wants to give a big shout out and an ever-loving Thank You to the Friends of Liberty State Park.

The Friends are a volunteer and non-profit organization that devotes their time to protecting, preserving and promoting Liberty State Park.

Without them there would be no beautiful setting to hold the All Points West Music and Arts Festival, no space for people of all ages to play and relax, no free, public park for the city dwellers to bring their families and picnic behind the worlds greatest symbol of freedom and democracy, which of course happens to be me, yours truly.

Throughout the 19^th and 20^th century, the land that is now the park housed the Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal. The railroad played a major role in this region’s and our nation’s history. Two- thirds of the 12 million immigrants who went through Ellis Island came next to this hub to start their American lives where anything is possible.

However, the decline of the railroad industry brought on the fall of the Central Railroad and the land that is now Liberty State Park was reduced to nothing more than a desolate wasteland complete with abandoned, rail yards, decaying piers and piles of garbage.

Until a man named Morris Pesin came along with a vision. Miss Liberty considers him an American Hero for the gift he created for the public here in Jersey City.

The great Mr. Pesin had the idea to create the park on a traffic-filled day while taking his Jersey City family to visit me. He was struck by how close yours truly, Miss Lady Liberty, was to the derelict Jersey City shoreline.

A year later, with a reporter, he took a canoe ride from Jersey City to my island to dramatize our close proximity and to launch the campaign to make my eyesore neighbor into a free and green park with ferry access to me and Ellis Island.

He then spearheaded an 18 year citizens’ movement to establish the park which officially opened on Flag Day, June 14^th, 1976.

Today the park is an urban open space for picnicking and unstructured recreation, with miles of paths to enjoy.

In 1988, park-loving activists, guided by park pioneers Morris Pesin, Audrey Zapp and Ted Conrad formed The Friends of Liberty State Park. Yearly, from 2006-2009, their volunteers planted 60,000 flower bulbs and they spent $15,000 dollars on trees in an effort to beautify the park.

The Friends advocate for the welfare of the park and its users and have made it through some very difficult times, often needing to mobilize statewide coalitions to stop commercial plans such as a golf course and a commercial water park.

The park itself was a safe haven during the September 11^th attacks on the World Trade Center. On Arbor Day 2003, The Friends’ president, Sam Pesin, son of the park’s “father”, Morris Pesin, spoke at the dedication ceremony of the peaceful Grove of Remembrance, planted as a tribute to the New Jersey residents that were killed during the attacks.

Liberty State Park is a retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday city living.

To stand in the middle of the 1,122 acres paths, water, green meadows, and recreational space and see me holding my torch high and to overlook one of the most inspiring city skylines in the nation is an incredible experience.

I would just like to recognize the Friends of Liberty State Park for the huge role they play in making that experience possible. And to thank them for their blessing of the wonderful All Points West Music and Arts Festival which I hope will happen for a hundred years to come ‘cause you know Miss L loves her music.

Long live freedom, democracy, and my blessed Rock n Roll

Miss Liberty