MNDR: Miaow!

MNDR's Amanda at 375 Hudson Street

In the past year she's toured with Duran Duran and Shiny Toy Guns. MNDR's Amanda Warner is a quirky cool cat, that's for sure. I asked her some Saatchi & Saatchi related music and advertising questions before she spun at their 'Thirsty Thursday' happy hour earlier today:

If you could license one of your tracks to an advert, which brand would it be for?

I am really feeling the Kmart ad campaign right now. However, I would love to have a song in the Channel and Louis Vuitton campaigns. The reason being is that they use music in such a powerful way that I stop everything I am doing to watch it and I donʼt even own a TV.

Youʼre a regular tweeter. What do you love and hate about Twitter and other social media sites?

I actually LOVE twitter and was one of the earlier people on twitter as an artist. I am very active on all of my social media sites such as my blog, facebook, twitter…etc. The thing I donʼt like about social media is when people buy “likes” or “followers”. It just makes the whole idea of building a loyal and true fan base worthless and cynical.

Which brands could you not live without?

My Sol Republic headphones, SoundToys VST Synths, and my Apple Computer, phone…everything.

Whatʼs the best use of music youʼve seen in an advert?

As of right now, I am obsessed with Kmartʼs use of Das Racist in their fall campaign. Every time I hear it I stop and stare.

You have the chance to invent a new variety of Cheerios. What flavor would they be?

Pizza, taco, and macaroni and cheese..rios

If you could go back to one era of time anywhere, where would it be?

I would love to be a fly on the wall during the formation of the United States of America. The founding fathers were such dreamers without restrictions. It changed the world. I would also like to be at the riots after the performance and ballet of Stravinskyʼs Rite Of Spring. Can you imagine art causing riots and fires? Amazing and powerful.

If MNDR was a color what would it be and why?

If you are an MNDR fan you know that my favorite color is chrome, because chrome has turned into a color and not a chemical process.

Video for #1 In Heaven

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Photography by Sophie Ellis

14th November 2012

375 Hudson Street

Jazz & Colors

'The Pond' in Central Park

Nuts were aplenty in Central Park this afternoon. Squillions of squirrels were cracking them open in their leafy dens. Branches laced with reds, yellows and greens hung above us beneath a clear sky. Autumn was out in full flirt and what better wingman than 30 bands in 30 Central Park locations with 1 set-list to make us fall at her feet in adoration.

Nut-cracking season in New York 

A free public concert, 'Jazz & Colors' took a four-hour residency in Manhattan's Mecca for nature-lovers. Map-in-hand I wondered from spot to spot to be greeted by topical tunes like 'Skating in Central Park' and 'Autumn in New York'. A mix of jazz standards also featured on the set-list, like 'Nature Boy' and 'Body and Soul', which I saw performed by championed soul-singer Stephanie McKay. 

Stephanie McKay with Jacques Schwartz-Bart Quartet

The park-wide concert ended with 'Empire State of Mind', the NYC themed collaboration between Alicia Keys and Jay-Z. This wasn't to the taste of The Wayne Escoffery Quartet, but featured-vocalist Carolyn Leonhart gave it a go anyway.

The Wayne Escoffery Quartet with Carolyn Leonhart

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Photography by Sophie Ellis

10th November 2012

Central Park

The Lake Poets: Touching New Video

Photo by Ian West - www.ianwest.blogspot.com

Just a quick one before I whizz off to work in the snow.  The Lake Poets posted a video for 'Rain' today. It got me all emotional! Martin Longstaff "and sometimes his friends"are from the Northeast - even better. Here it is:

New single 'Rain' is to be released on 3rd December

Grouplove: generic with a splash of colour

Grouplove @ Terminal 5, NYC

First night out since Sandy struck and I was keen for some feel-good beats... Sorry Grouplove, but I just wasn't digging it. The first two songs showed promise - I swayed amongst the High School Kids crowd. But what followed was, to be frank, dull. At one point the monkey in my head clawed at my brain in desperation.

Maybe I'm being a little harsh. My feet were killing from my New Look bargain brogues after all, and the iPhone-obsessed teens in front of me were treading on my toes. (I wasn't in the best of moods). But the only tunes that really razzled my dazzle (whatever that means) were 'Tongue Tied', 'Colours' and 'Itchin' On A Photograph'. And the latter only kept me awake for its first 54 seconds.

Most of the surrounding youngsters seemed to be in euphoria though, and the finale was truly a spectacle. A trillion shreds of brightly coloured paper pummelled at our faces. I was transported back to childhood, a toddler again, happily submerged in a pool of coloured balls.

Drowned in colour at Terminal 5

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Photography by Sophie Ellis

2nd November 2012

Terminal 5, NYC

Late October Photo Log

The Temper Trap @ Roseland Ballroom
12th October 2012

Robert Glasper Experiment @ SOB's
16th October 2012

Savoir Adore @ The Living Room
17th October 2012

Daughter @ The Slipper Room
17th October 2012

Little Green Cars @ The Slipper Room
17th October 2012

TOKiMONSTA @ Saatchi & Saatchi Office
18th October 2012

Gretchen Parlato & Taylor Eigsti @ The Jazz Gallery
20th October 2012

Billy Joel @ The Cutting Room
22nd October 2012

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Photography by Sophie Ellis

Rare Treat from Taylor Eigsti & Gretchen Parlato

Saturday night and I find myself in the front row of NYC's 'The Jazz Gallery', an intimate upstairs space at 290 Hudson Street. This is a special occasion, not only because Gretchen Parlato and Taylor Eigsti have only played a handful of shows as a duo, but it's likely the last time either of them will perform at this historical spot again due to venue relocation.

The pair start off the evening with a rendition of Herbie Hancock's 'Butterfly' and go on to play their soothing version of Simply Red's 'Holding Back The Years' to the audience's satisfaction. Throughout the set we are struck by the musical bond between Gretchen and Taylor, who we are told are "very fond of each other". 

Gretchen reflects on The Jazz Gallery's near-future move, saying, "It's very true, home is where the heart is so whatever venue they find we will create it and fill it with love. But it is nice to just appreciate this space because historically I'm sure we'll all walk by this corner and be like 'I remember when that was a jazz club'. And it's very special but we can definitely create this elsewhere."

Regulars are holding their breath for news on where the jazz hub will live next year. Wednesday night's second fundraiser concert, with performances from Brad Mehldau amongst others, could be the night when Deborah Steinglass, Executive Director, announces this. 

Parlato's popular cover of 'Holding Back The Years'

The Temper Trap: "Thank you for sticking it out"

TTT - Friday 12th October in NYC

Tonight most of the Big Apple's boys are huddled in bachelor pads cracking open bottles of beer and chomping chicken legs; it's the Yankees' end of season playoff. But New York City's Roseland Ballroom, teeming with giggling girls, has managed to kidnap the odd begrudging boyfriend for the next two hours. By the time The Temper Trap have finished, the game will be a distant musing to them.

There's a subdued atmosphere after a short set from support act 'The Neighbourhood' doesn't exactly end with a bang. The clock is ticking and we're restless for our Aussie sweethearts to assemble on stage. And when they do rock up, boy do we know it. Flashes of red and a heavy bass that could knock out an elephant hit us. We look up, noses vibrating, to see silhouettes slinking in and out of the strobe lighting.

TTT pull out material from their 2012 self-titled second album to welcoming ears. Songs like 'London's Burning' and 'Trembling Hands' are performed with awe-inspiring showmanship and conviction by lead singer Dougy Mandagi. And of course old favourites 'Love Lost' and 'Fader' result in screams of joy.

Time flies and soon enough we are pleading for the encore. "Thank you for sticking it out with us...I know (the second album) was a bit different" exclaims Dougy. The final stint of the show includes the usual water drumming, a heart-wrenching rendition of 'I'm Gonna Wait' and the classic 'Sweet Disposition'.

A good job well done by The Temper Trap. And the New York Yankees didn't come off too shabbily either, beating the Baltimore Orioles 3-1.

'Trembling Hands' from TTT's second album