Follow my Directions to All Points West Music and Arts Festival

Hello, my little darlings. I'm a little stiff and tight from all the rubber necking I've been doing.

The team at All Points West is creating an art filled wonderland for all of you to enjoy the great musical artists this weekend. You better have bought your ticket 'cause yours truly would hate to see you miss the show everyone will be talking about come Monday after Coldplay closes the festival on Sunday night.

The tents are up, Production Offices are in, and there's about a thousand people running around talking on cellphones and walkie-talkies.

These are some helpful directions for you to visit me, and get to the show.

Over in my other favorite venue, The Beach @ Governors Island, Liberty Event and New York Water Taxi are hosting "Turntables on the Hudson." Today's show features DJ's Nickodemus & Mariano + Nappy G & Christian Rogers on percussion. Also, The Pimps of Joytime LIVE with Special guest DJ set Jovanotti with Soleluna's Saturnino and more! The place is crazy, jumping and I'm looking forward to another Motz Burger, and a cranberry tea.

Don't forget. I love you all, and I want you to come and celebrate the greatest music festival since Coachella. Bonnaroo has camping. Big deal.

All Points West has ME, and the New York Skyline. See you soon.

The divine Miss L.

A killer ending to a phenomenal weekend of music and art: Coldplay closes All Points West

The biggest Pop Rock band in the world will be headlining All Points West on Sunday August 2^nd. No, not the Jonas Brothers, it’s Coldplay! This Grammy winning band from London, England has dominated the charts since their debut album Parachutes, featuring “Yellow” in 2000. Almost a decade later, Coldplay continues to be one of the biggest names in music.

It’s not worth it to me to describe Coldplay’s music because you cannot avoid hearing “Viva la Vida” from their latest album Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, everywhere. I have been a bit out of the loop because my crown was temporarily closed, but after this past 4^th of July weekend I must have heard “Viva la Vida” 100 times as people’s ringtones. I’m telling you, those cell phone speakers are just as good as those 80s boom boxes that used to roll through my head.

This may be a bit of a stretch, but I feel a bit connected to Chris Martin, Coldplay’s singer. His wife, actress Gwyneth Paltrow, went to The Spence School for high school in New York City. I used to watch her strut her stuff walking down those New York avenues, and I always knew she would be a star. 

Chris and Gwyneth must really love the Big Apple, considering they named their first born daughter after my great city. In fact, I recently learned that Apple Blythe Alison Martin is not the only apple in the Coldplay bushel. One of the band’s associates’ daughter is named Apple as well.

Coldplay’s magnificent live performances are filled with mellow rock songs that instill their audiences with a spiritual feeling. This show combined, with myself and Lower Manhattan in the backdrop, will surely be one of the most memorial experiences in my 200+ years of statuing. I just downloaded 9 of their songs for free from their website and am psyched for this show.

Coldplay is the icing on the cake for what will undoubtedly be the best weekend of summer 2009. Thinking about what I just said, this weekend will be one of the best events that end the first decade in the new millennium. Joined by legendary Tool and Jay-Z  with 60 other fantastic musicians and comedians, Coldplay will cement All Points West as the East Coast’s premier music festival.

How did I get so lucky that all of this is happening in my backyard? Patience truly is a virtue.

Miss L.

Elbow elbows their way to All Points West

It seems fitting, as the ambassador to immigrants and visitors to the U.S.A., that I get to host bands from all of the world to perform at All Points West. Coldplay, Gogol Bordello, My Bloody Valentine, Arctic Monkeys, The Ting Tings, MSTRKRFT, Mogwai and Etienne De Crecy are some of the artists making the trip abroad to rock the stage in Liberty State Park July 31^st – August 2^nd.

In addition to this multinational lineup is Elbow. This British Alternative Rock band has been recording and touring since 1990, opening for Coldplay and U2 on numerous tours. Although Elbow has not received commercial success like their musical counterparts, they continue to play with passion and for the love of music.

Elbow has recorded and released four albums. Their latest, The Seldom Seen Kid, came out on March 17, 2008, and features the songs “Grounds for Divorce” and “One Day Like This.” They have a heavy tour this summer spanning all over North America and Europe. I always appreciate foreigners with a strong work ethic, considering their ancestors built this great nation. Don't think I forget about the thousands of ships that have sailed past my home in the harbor.

Elbow has a truly unique and sensual sound. Lead singer Guy Garvey's deep voice and strong British accent makes this rock band a pleasant listen. Guitarist Mark Potter, keyboardist Craig Potter, bassist Pete Turner and drummer Richard Jupp provide the powerful musical elements that will make their performance at All Points West on Sunday August 2nd a must see.

With only 2 weeks until the festival I'm getting antsy on my pedestal. I need some music to blow me off my stand and onto the park. See all of you soon!

Miss L

From the mountains to the City: Northwest Indie Folk Makes it's Way to the Teeming Jersey Shores

What? You don’t think that indie buzz cred makes its way all the way to yours truly?

Just because I soar the skies of New Jersey does not mean I do not know what all you hip kids are listening to. Last year, like everyone else in the blogosphere, I fell in love with Seattle, Washington’s very own Fleet Foxes. Combining elements of indie and medieval folk to create what they call “baroque harmonic pop jams,” the five-piece are quintessential dudes with beards and plaid group.

But the Foxes stand above the rest with their hauntingly beautiful multi-person vocal harmonies (a rarity in today’s music), unorthodox song structures that retain a pop sensibility, and engaging lyrics that stem from nature, family and personal struggle. Those lucky enough to have caught them live in their short touring history are well aware of Fleet Foxes’ addicting transcendent live performance.

In 2008, Fleet Foxes released both their EP Sun Giant and their first full length Fleet Foxes to high praised reviews from throughout the world. The Guardian named the full length “a landmark in American music, an instant classic.” After catching the attention of multiple media sources, Fleet Foxes went from a small club playing band opening up for other small indie bands to international headliners, that are close to the top of every festival bill they play. 

A must see band, Fleet Foxes have announced on their MySpace that their September 16 show with Blitzen Trapper in Paris will be their last until they finish recording their next album, of which I, like the rest of the world, am particularly excited to hear.

The long-awaited return of Fleet Foxes to the New York area commences July 31, 2009 at the All Points West Music and Arts Festival that features Coldplay, Tool and Jay-Z . For more information go the Liberty Event and APW sites and follow libertyevent on Twitter. Buy your APW tickets and tell EVERYONE you know that this truly is one of those not-to-be-missed performances at this year's number one East Coast Festival.  

I’ll be leading the harmonies, and conducting the Foxes with my torch!

Grab yourself a bottle of “pop” and come on down.  I'll be flying my flannel.

Miss Liberty

Hell yea! The Yeah Yeah Yeahs come home to NYC to play All Points West

Yeah Yeah Yeah's originated as a New York City alternative rock band right across the Hudson River from the All Points West concert site in Liberty State Park.

Some might say the band is evolving, but your rock n roll diva, Miss Liberty, is somewhat concerned that the chic Miss O would leave her urban roots and relocate to Los Angeles, the land of smog, insane traffic, and generally artificial everything. I hope you know what I’m alluding to without getting into specifics, but we’ve all seen Nip/Tuck.

Karen O has the same gritty attitude as Lady Liberty, so it threw me for a loop that she’s now creating music from the land of make-believe. What was she thinking?

I also must confess that it took me quite some time to get into the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I never gave them a chance, until a friend insisted I give them a serious listen. Needless to say, It's Blitz has been repeating in my crown since its April release, and the triple Y’s are making great alternative music.

It’s Blitz is saturated with dancy synths but the band confirms to me that it, “still sound(s) like Yeah Yeah Yeahs.” Indie rock tastemaker Pitchfork calls their new dancy sound "compelling pop rock" made up of songs "in favor of detours, miniature grooves, and lengthy asides that produce the sensation of a band and a singer impulsively following their own emotional whims."

And you know how I adore anyone that follows their own independent spirit, and moves to their own damn drum beat.

I only have good things to say about Yeah Yeah Yeah’s third album, except maybe for its short duration.

Karen O is most known for her unique but stylish clothes. At this year's Bonnaroo, she was seen wearing tiger print tights and a bizarre kimono-like shirt with strange pink and blue patterns.


Regardless, she is still hot and easily today's Queen of Alternative Rock. I do believe Karen is taking her wardrobe cues from yours truly, but then again, who wouldn’t?

All Points West fans should expect more than just thrilling music from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs set this year. Besides the remarkable reviews across the spectrum of music journalism, Yeah Yeah Yeah’s were honored as musical guests on an April 2009 episode of Saturday Night Live where they played their new single “Zero” as well as “Maps” off their debut Fever to Tell.

Honestly, with all the attention the Yeah Yeah Yeahs has received in the last few months, I cannot wait for their performance on the first day of All Points West on July 31 at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, NJ.

Karen and the gang will be playing the same day as headliners Beastie Boys, as well as other indie starlets like the Vampire Weekend, the National and Fleet Foxes.

Don’t forget Tool and Coldplay headline Saturday and Sunday respectively. For more information go here, or here and follow us on Twitter. Buy your tickets here, and tell EVERYONE you know that this truly is one of those not to be missed concerts.

Karen, I implore you. Come back home. New York City considers you a hometown girl and I promise, I’ll look after you. Leave La-La land while you still can and while you’re still young. We want you back. But even if you stay in Los Angeles, we are thrilled you are playing All Points West.

See you at the show.

Lady Liberty

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