The term ‘experimental rock’ can sometimes conjure up images of unlistenable frequencies laid over even less listenable instrumentation, especially for those of us without the technical (and sometimes masochistic) craving for the likes of Frank Zappa or the Residents. Battles brings the genre home for fans of anything. Relatively straightforward drum lines by Helmet’s former drummer, and odd, piecemeal harmonies by former guitarists of Don Caballero and Lynx (as well as the avant garde jazz pedigree of Tyondai Braxton) come together to form something experimental without the pretentious sentiment often bundled with acts of the sort. It’s simply good listening.

Battles is playing a one-off at Terminal 5 (my favorite Manhattan venue) on September 4th. See it now or wait indefinitely for another record and another set of shows.

I lived in Bangkok from age zero to thirteen and only realized I took true Thai food for granted after I spent some time in the US. Yes, it’s true that there’s plenty of Thai folk working their culinary magic right here in America (especially in New York), but I’d given up hope for perfectly authentic Thai food until I experienced SriPraPhai, a little spot in Queens that made me miss home more than ever. The place is not exactly fancy, but that just adds to the effect, reminiscent of the Thailand I remember where the best food is at street level and won’t cost you much. While I’ve always favored beef noodle soup, that’s about the most basic thing on the extensive menu, which includes obscure items from every region. Go there once and take a Thai person with you. They’ll agree, the proof is in the spicy som tam.

It’s a nice day for an elevated stroll. Open today is the first section of High Line, a park built on out of commission elevated rail that JoshSpear.com has been following since the earliest stages its conception. Running from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to 20thth Street, between 10th & 11th Avenues. Upon completion it will stretch all the way out to 34th, making it a mile and a half long. The design by James Corner Field Operations, with architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro will include some interesting seating, lighting, and other fixtures. Details of the design are on the High Line website, along with a schedule of events including the benefit going on there on June 15th. Getting a table will help fund the maintennance and overall upkeep of this ridiculously awesome urban park. It’s just $15k per table, who is in with me?

The folks at All Day Buffet just launched an interesting new venture (and experiment) called By/Association. They’re seeking to reinvent the traditional notion of “networking” by enabling substantive interactions and long term relationships to people like you. After you apply and are accepted, you’ll receive one monthly introduction to another remarkable person in your city– all based on complimentary interests, goals, passions, and skills. And naturally with each introduction your own personal network will begin to grow.

The application process asks things like “What’s something you put into the world that didn’t exist before?” and “Describe the most recent time you had fun.” Only 125 words are allowed per answer, so you must be short, sweet, and interesting.

For more information, read their inspiring manifesto and if you think you fit the mold, go ahead and apply. Congrats guys, this is great stuff.

Comics meet couture in a clever mashup at Barney’s New York. This display for fashion designer Azzedine Alaia repurposes two mannequins as the iconic black and white spies from Mad’s long-running comic, Spy vs. Spy. Barney’s is known for its great windows, but the innovative aesthetics continue inside the department store, too. We love it!

We’ve just put up our 5000th post on JoshSpear.com. Pretty rad, right?  We think so too, so we’re celebrating by giving away a little special something — a trip to NYC. Here’s the deal:

I’ll fly anyone in the continental United States to New York City for dinner somewhere ridiculously delicious (think sushi) with yours truly and some very special guests who have been featured on the site before. We’ll have a rocking dinner, I assure you. Then I’ll put you up in a super-swanky hotel in Soho. Boast to your friends, or invite them all to jump on your bed at the after party.

Comment below and I’ll randomly choose a winner next week. Who wouldn’t want a free trip to the best city in the world?

(We’ll arrange a good time that works for you sometime this spring)

Some say if you want to know where you’re going, it’s best to take a look at where you’ve been. The Better History exhibition at New York’s American Standard Gallery certainly embodies that sentiment. The show, curated by Nick Poe and 7Eleven Gallery, and produced by O.H.W.O.W., is an ambitious mixture of established and up and coming artists who are linked by influence or personal relationship. It provides city art enthusiasts with an opportunity not only to see new talent, but also veteran artists. The event, which features luminaries like Fab 5 Freddy and Kenny Scharf, will take place on March 12 with a reception from 6 to 10 p.m. and will run until April 11. For more info on the exhibit and other artists involved check out the gallery site.

Any time we find ourselves watching movies from the 50s or reliving the last season of Mad Men, one thought persists, it was sweet when men wore hats. While the headpiece is no longer an essential part of looking professional, it has ascended to icing status. For slick looks, Still Life NYC has a plethora of options. From the classic looking Dumile to the slightly sportier Keo, the LES based boutique carries most items from their shop on their online store as well.

Countless new hip-hop acts  are loved for sounding like they came out 15 years ago — turning modern rap into an ironic party favor. Because ingenuity is rare, those looking for quality in boom-bap dig back. That’s what the Hoarsemen are doing. The sensibility of this four man group from New York-by-way-of-New Brunswick, NJ is not a throwback, or a style shift … or an adherence to a style. It starts from scratch.

With their debut album Snacks and Catastrophes out for about a year now, it’s a cure for the common record. But their live shows are what they stake their reputation on. The goal isn’t simply making interesting music, but to create an engaging performance to go with it. I’d always hoped someone would redefine hip-hop in some form without attempting to redefine it at all, and the Hoarsemen have delivered on this wish.

The producer of this outfit, Sonny Ray, lays down beats on an MPC and supplements sample cutting with his own instrumentation. MC Long Division delivers bars in a clean voice and a rhyme style fortified with hidden metaphors. Loosie, a vocalist with an original voice, grinds out dirty hooks contrasting with Long Div’s orderly flow. Cuts from outer space come courtesy of DJ Dialect. Together, it sounds a little bit like this.

We sat in Sonny Ray’s LES apartment — also home base for production of the band’s tracks — over home brewed beer and pizza, where we talked the story out.
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After years of kicking around the New York scene, Leif Parsons will be enjoying his first solo show this February. The artist’s personal work tends to stray towards the surreal, using unusual perspectives, unexpected line drawings, and a bold use of color. He pushes the viewer to contemplate the intention behind each piece, creating commissioned illustrations for such regarded publications as The New York Times. These images have more obvious social implications, but are no less thought-provoking. We’re hoping that when the show opens on February 20th, at the Wild Project gallery in New York’s East Village, the work he’s selected feature a mix of both.

As we reported to you in December, the Greener Gadgets 2009 Conference is a must for anyone interested in ecologically-friendly design. If the only green you’re lacking is in your wallet, Inhabitat is footing the bill for one lucky winner to get into the event taking place this February 27th in New York City. Head on over to their site, sign up for newsletter, and comment on your favorite of their greener gadgets for a chance to win.

Via Inhabitat

We have no idea yet whether or not Watchmen will be as appetizing as The Dark Knight or as revolting as Catwoman. But we do know is that it’s directed by 300’s Zack Snyder, so it has a fighting chance at being great. The film, based on the comic created by writer Alan Moore (who also published the super-dirty comic Lost Girls) and artist Dave Gibbons and set in an alternative 1985 where Nixon is still President, the U.S. is on the verge of going into nuclear war with the U.S.S.R. and superheroes aren’t just part of our collective imagination. In advance of blockbuster’s release later this year, eerie illustrator Alex Pardee’s company Zerofriends is selling a Watchman-inspired print at this weekend’s New York Comicon.

For those of you on the West Coast, Pardee will be a part of The Art of Rebellion, a one-night-only group art show for Harley Davidson held this Saturday (2/7) night at the Robert Berman Gallery in Santa Monica. Other artists at the event include Shepard Fairey, Frank Kozik, and Tara McPherson.

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Lou Reed’s voice has been at the forefront of rock ‘n’ roll since he first appeared with the Velvet Underground & Nico in the 60’s. The Brooklyn-born icon has influenced generations of musicians and writers, inspiring everyone from David Bowie to R.E.M., by portraying a level of both sexual and social honesty that had never before been heard in popular music. Beyond his accomplishments with the legendary experimental outfit, Reed has continued to push lyrical boundaries in his solo work from 1972’s landmark Transformer album to 2003’s The Raven. The power of Reed’s words will be on display Housing Works Bookstore Cafe at 7 p.m. tonight, as he reads from his new book, Pass Thru Fire: The Collected Lyrics. In addition to reading some of the three plus decades worth of poetic passages, the esteemed Mr. Reed will be taking questions and signing books. If you’re planning on going, get there early because this free event is sure to be packed.

Living on your own has its perks. For one, you’re not subject to the decorative whims of design-challenged parents or roommates who think Billy the Big Mouth Bass makes any living room complete. While you have plenty of taste, enhancing your abode is never as simple as finding a rug that really ties the room together. For those with a flair for interior design who have run a little dry on resources, we recommend checking out The Cultivated Home. The new blog from Nina Freudenberger, one of the principles at Haus Interior, spotlights specific vendors, new designers, events and stores in the NYC area that are sure to leave those with a specific interest in the beautifying of living space lusting for more.

When the Storefront for Art and Architecture renovated its New York City space this past summer, some things had to go. Among the items that got the ol’ heave ho were the iconic letters that adorned its facade since 1993. While the concrete creations by Steven Holl and Vito Acconci are no longer out front for visitors to admire, but that doesn’t mean you’ll never be able to the alphabetical art again. If you’ve got a few bucks you can have a historical memento. The Storefront is holding a 2008 Holiday Benefit Auction for four of these lovely letters ( T,F,G, and O). We recommend getting your bid in before the 12 p.m., December 20th deadline. No low ball offers though, as the the bidding starts at $1000 for each piece.