Last night I went to an event celebrating the launch of what could possibly be the greatest marketing idea of all time: Denny’s + late night menu + emos. Yes, that’s right–make way for the greatest invention of our time, the Denny’s All Nighter Menu.

According to the official press release:

To further expand its late-night menu, Denny’s has asked groups including Taking Back Sunday, Plain White T’s, Eagles of Death Metal and The All-American Rejects to help the chain dream up new dishes for rollout later this summer.

Yup, you read right: For the first time ever, Denny’s has specifically designed food BY DRUNKS, FOR DRUNKS!

At the event I was able to sample the rock-inspired items such as the “Plain White Milkshake” (a vanilla-flavored milkshake designed by the members of the Plain White T’s), as well as the “Hearts on a Plate” (heart-shaped pancakes covered in strawberry syrup and white chocolate chips, developed by Eagles of Death Metal’s Jesse Hughes–who was on hand at the event), alongside the new late-night menu items like “Potachos,” which are described as being “Freshly fried and seasoned kettle chips topped with crumbled sausage, bacon, bell pepper and onion mix, cheese sauce and shredded Cheddar cheese.”

Other “rockstar” items will include the “All-American SOS” (designed by the All-American Rejects) and the “Taking Back Bacon Burger Fries” (fries with all the fixings of a cheeseburger dumped on top of it, conceived by Taking Back Sunday). Sure, your cardiologist is hyperventilating at the sight of this menu, but your 3am beer-filled belly is jumping up and down.

The press release also reveals that the shift to late-night will not only manifest itself in the menu, but the actual atmosphere in Denny’s:

New Vibe
Additionally, Denny’s servers will swap their traditional uniforms for jeans and black “Get Your Crave On” t-shirts. Restaurants will play alternative rock music from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Oh hellz yes, you know you love it. Unfortunately, although the event took place in NYC, there are currently no plans to open up a Denny’s in the city. You’ll have to get your greasy spoon dipped whilst on the road, my friends.

Today Aussie drum and bass band Pendulum were on Jo Whiley’s Live Lounge (er… minus Jo, who was ill today) and as is tradition, they performed a cover version of a current popular song. Which did they choose? “Violet Hill” by Coldplay!

It wasn’t really my style of music, but it was definitely a re-imagining of the song, so I give them props for that.

You can listen to it on the BBC site, or download it below.

DOWNLOAD: “Violet Hill” by Pendulum (Coldplay cover) [mp3] (Link from Coldplaying.com)
Do you like it, Y/N?

The much-talked about John Hughes-inspired video for Vampire Weekend’s song “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” has been revealed on their MySpace page. There’s also a nod to “Thriller” in the second act of the video, with the band turning into a goth-y, Cure-loving looking band. (Probably a not so subtle mocking of VW’s perpetual preppiness as played up in the press.)

The resounding verdict? A big ol’ “HUH?”

Watch for yourself:
Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa

I liked the last video where they ripped off/made fun of Wes Anderson better, but still… can’t someone pitch more original ideas to these guys? This novelty video shiz is getting old real fast.

It’s Wednesday, which means two things: 1. A new episode of Project Runway and 2. Ryan Adams has a new website.

Leading off with a quote from the Buddah (“Doubt Everything. Find Your Own Light.”), this newest reincarnation of “Ryan minus Adams dot com” includes an abstract Cardinals logo, and prominent links to the Humane Society, Tibet.org, and the official site of Ram Daas.

In the upper right corner is a link to a “Personal Statement” where Ryan waxes philosophical about how he’s been working very hard, and hopes that his artistic endeavors speak for him. In addition to that, he reveals the following:

i’ve realized and accepted that if people decide to dislike me, they’re going to find reasons to justify disliking me. there’s nothing i can do about that. that said, it still does pain me to be accused of fictional crimes against innocents or to be implicated in romantic gossip involving the possibly reality-challenged–however unreliable the source or outlandish the accusations. in the end, however, i know that i have never done or even meant anyone any harm.

…which is surely a response to a recent diatribe by perennial crazy-person Courtney Love, where she accuses Ryan of stealing $858,000 from her daughter Francis Bean’s trust fund as a result of charging expenses to the recording of “Rock ‘n’ Roll.” (Funnily enough, in the midst of her crazy rant, Courtney does make a valid point–”Rock ‘n’ Roll” is probably one of Ryan’s worst albums EVER–”Demolition” aside.)
Continue reading ‘Ryan Adams: Spiritualized, and Talking Back to Courtney Love’ »

Bob Dylan must be jealous, and Duffy’s probably sad… according to MSNBC (via Access Hollywood) and NME, Jack White and Alicia Keys will record the new James Bond movie theme song–the first duet in Bond movie history.

Writes MSNBC: “Alicia Keys and Jack White will record the theme for ‘Quantum of Solace,’ Access Hollywood has learned. The new track, called ‘Another Way To Die,’ was written and produced by White.”

What are your bets for what it’s going to sound like?

Thanks to all the peeps who wrote in.

I’m usually not the kind of person to closely watch the openings and closing of bars, but of late, I’ve been keeping an eagle eye out for the opening of Whiskey Tavern [NOTE: Website not set up right at the moment, but soon???], situated at 79 Baxter Street between Bayard and Walker in Chinatown, as it is just a stone’s throw from the TMA headquarters. Last night I heard that there was some friends and family-type party activity over at the bar, so tonight the BSB and I headed over to see if the space we’ve been waiting for had finally opened, and indeed, it had!

Before the current bar-epreneur brothers George and Justin Ruotolo (also owners of the East Village watering hole Whiskey Town) took over the space, the bar was most recently known as the “Baxter Pub“–aka, that dive next to the bail bond places that was never ever open on weekends or past 5pm on a weekday, except on totally random days for unexplained reasons.

This Chinatown location has been serving up alcoholic brews since the the mid-1940s, so I’m sure it can stand up to ruining the livers of me and all my friends. The space has not completely been refinished–the floor and some of the former owner’s stools still remain–but some awesome booths, a sanded down bar, and a gorgeous backyard garden have me thinking that this place certainly has a chance.

Four flat-screened televisions are situated on the walls, making it the perfect spot for me to hanker down once football season gets started. Beers on tap include Guinness, Smithwick, and Miller Lite. You can find Corona, Bud Lite, Amstel, etc. on bottle and a variety of whiskey (natch). All the better, the bar will be serving up reasonably priced classics like hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, two egg sandwiches (all served with fries), and even a Hostess Cupcake or two, until 12 midnight on weekdays–a godsend for folks in the area who’s only late-night options up to this point have consisted of of eating late night dinners at Wo Hop, or trekking over to Good World on the LES.

Thankfully the place doesn’t have a trendy vibe, but there is a definite cool flair in the “old is new again” kind of way. Tasteful rock selections played over the sound system while we were there (Queens of the Stone Age, T. Rex, The Ramones, etc.) and when the guys sitting next to us ordered a plate of wings, we couldn’t help but notice how delicious they looked.

The garden will be open from 11pm on weekdays, 12 midnight on weekends in accordance with the community board. A full brunch menu is in the works, and according to Thrillist, the space will see the occasional DJ night.

So if you’re down in the ‘hood and need a break from ironic karaoke singing at Winnies, keep my new (and only) neighborhood bar in business and head over to the Whiskey Tavern for some good ol’ times and good ol’ drinks.

Yes, we know that this year’s Pool Parties have pretty much been kicking butt–but do you really have to rub it in our faces how popular you are, JELLYNYC?

Please get the site back up and running so I can see the latest love letter to someone spotted at the pool.

So after the Ting Tings/MGMT Pool Party I ended up and some random black metal concert taking place in a giant warehouse/workspace in Long Island City, right next to the Deitch Long Island City and just feet from the East River.

Needless to say, the view was awesome:

I have absolutely no idea what the name of the band that played was, nor who was actually throwing the party, but what I do know is there were two GIANT pigs roasting on sticks, that were eventually served as pork sandwiches.

Before heading home, I also shot this picture of the CRAZY sky:

Despite the inclement weather at the beginning of the afternoon (thunder–check, lightening–check), an enormous line fully wrapped around McCarren Pool by 2:00pm today for the free Pool Party show starring the Ting Tings and Brooklyn-rock darlings, MGMT. It was pretty nuts.

Once inside, it was just as insane–a sea of umbrellas and ugly DELL freebie towels littered the crowd. Around 2:45, the audience burst into uproarious applause as the Ting Tings took the stage. The dynamic duo of Jules De Martino (drums, guitar, vocals) and Katie White (vocals, guitar, bass drum) blew through their set with such enormous energy, enthusiasm, and elegance, they were by far the best thing to take the stage the entire day.

Hit songs “That’s Not My Name” and “Shut Up and Let Me Go” (you know, that iPod commercial song) stirred the crowd into a delicious tizzy, with the later featuring an extended ending that allowed for three double dutch jump ropers to perform tricks as Katie White banged on a bass drum emblazoned with the band’s name.

This guy could not hold it in long enough…he had to V.I.Pee against the brick wall…immediately.

By the time MGMT hit the stage, the venue was at full capacity, with folks peering behind the gates around the side of the pool, trying to get a glimpse (and a listen) of the happenings inside. The sky had cleared up, and the umbrellas collapsed, and the ponchos were put away.

The concrete pool is always greener from the other side, ain’t it?

I’d been quite excited to see MGMT, after falling in love with their two big singles, “Electric Feel” and “Time to Pretend,” but after hearing a little bit about their weird backstory, I knew that this performance had the potential to be amazingly awesome, or amazingly horrible. Well, it was neither–but it was far from amazing. A bit mundane, with little to no surprises.
Continue reading ‘Ting Tings Rule the Pool, MGMT Not So Much’ »

The Strokes’ “Is This It” and 19 others…

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