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Monthly Archives: July 2011

I imagine this band onstage when I listen to this album. Their name is The Paranoids and they’re from San Francisco. It’s rock and roll. The kind that grew up on a lot of blues and later became Glam Rock. I think the right word for this kind of music is “cool”. Like ice in your lemonade or 70 degrees on your AC during the New York City summer.

We were shocked and later saddened when we heard the news of Amy Winehouse’s death. We send a message of condolences and understanding to her parents and close family. She will be missed.

Hi everybody. Today I’m giving my secret recipe away. Pasta Bolognese. How do you prepare it? It’s quite easy. All you need is ground beef, the pasta of your choice and, here it comes (my secret), marinara sauce. You can buy many. I usually recommend the most inexpensive brand. If you look at it and you think it might be too sweet check the nutrition facts on it. The more sugar, the sweeter the taste. I like my marinara salty. Especially if it’s done by an old italian lady. You might even enjoy putting some sea salt on it but I don’t recommend it. It can turn out to be too salty. So… Back to our recipe. Pour two tablespoons of olive oil (your favorite) on a skillet at medium temperature stove top. (Oh, come on! Flame not too high, not too low.) Once it starts to heat put all the ground beef in. If you’re crafty you should know that onions and garlic will always make your day. That amount you decide. Try a little and then a lot. You’ll grow to love them. Also remember that the oil you use should be commensurate to the amount of beef you are using and will also depend on the skillet size you use. While you do all this, and believe me it’s quite simple, boil water and listen to some happy music. You should lower the flame a little. Music wise I always recommend something new. That way you concentrate on cooking and if you have company they can be entertained. Once you see that the ground beef has turned dark (no longer does it have traces of blood) pour the marinara in. Be careful, if you cook the beef too much it becomes dry and that’s no good. Again turn heat low and wait ’til your sauce starts popping. (It can be quite messy and you should clean as soon as you finish or if the mess is too much… Clean right away. Your mother will love you!) While you were preparing the sauce the water should have come to a boil. Put the pasta in and read how long you should have it in the boil. I prefer pastas that are quick to cook. The longer the boil the softer the pasta gets. Red wine should have been chilled but my favorite companion to food is Soda! I’m sure you have your favorite Soda and I think everybody should have some at home. It’s nice to have some stored in the fridge in case children come to visit. Then you can splurge on your sweet tooth. Just wash your teeth at the end of the day. Or if you prefer water, always have some that is cold. It’s not recommended to drink cold water in warm or hot weather but in New York City summer I couldn’t care less. Pour the pasta into the colander and… Voila! Dinner is served. Then kiss your husband or your wife. And you kid! Still don’t know how to cook? No wonder your single.

Oh! I forgot. Add cheese. There are many and parmesan is the household staple. If you are more adventurous try some mozzarella on it or ricotta. Don’t forget… Store any leftovers. I always enjoy the Bolognese on white italian bread!

How do you celebrate the 4th of July 2011? First you listen to Pantera’s “Vulgar Display of Power” followed by The Minutemen’s “Double Nickels on the Dime”. If you are lucky you are invited to a Barbecue. Walks are enjoyed and summer fashion is in place. Whether you were invited out or took the walk… You should have at least eaten some hot dogs!

Pigeons, Butterflies and Airplanes would like to salute the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and all military personnel on and off duty this July 4th 2011 as well as the National Guard, NYPD and FDNY. We hope  it has found you at peace and well rested.

There is a sound that was created in New York City. The only city in the world. By stray young men. Noisy, timeless. Undistorted. Poetic but showed no bliss. Jazzy, experimental, funky. Utterly unknown. The sounds of Television. The band not the artifact. You might ask:
“Have we not been here before and experienced these marvels a thousand times over?” Not if you haven’t heard Television’s Marquee Moon while waiting for a train, looking for your lover or waiting for the moon to show up in New York.

It is late Friday night. The closest city in sight is New York and in Brooklyn there seems to be a lot music going on. There are friends to be seen and women to encounter. I took a chance and seem to have been sidetracked to the wrong show, so I was unable to record the Dangerous Boys Club. They have an incredible live show, search for them and when in town see them. Fortunately I was able to interview their singer Erin Montaigne and this is what he spoke.

 

 For more information and music by DBC visit www.myspace.com/thedangerousboysclub

If you weren’t able to catch DBC’s performance Friday Night at Coco 66, they will be playing July 3rd 2011 at Mercury Lounge www.mercuryloungenyc.com

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