Photos: Duffy In-Store at Virgin Megastore 5/13/08
I’m kind of a sucker for good pop music, and I’ve been listening to the new Duffy album since that widely read but misanthropic music industry guru Bob Lefsetz exhorted his readers to check out her single “Mercy” several months ago. I wanted to see her on St. Patrick’s Day at Hiro Ballroom, but it coincided with a show down the street from Hiro at Highline – one of my favorite 80’s bands, the Hothouse Flowers.
(Aside: As chance would have it, I left Highline around the same time that Duffy was leaving Hiro. I couldn’t resist a paparazzi moment.)
I love “Rockferry,” start to finish, but then again, a) I love Dusty Springfield, Lulu and Nancy Sinatra, and b) I think I might be getting old. If you can get over the ironic hipster in you, and the hipster-druggie tragedy that is Amy Swinehouse, and ride the wave of 60’s-styled British soulsters that the UK is churning out, there is something really enjoyable about this nod to the past. Although, my fandom did not extend to making an effort to catch her at the Apollo, my finger hovered over the “Purchase Now” button on Ticketmaster, and I closed the window. But then I heard she was doing an in-store appearance at Virgin Megastore I decided to pop in for a listen and some photos.
I WISH I’d gotten a shot of the little 10 year old boy who was literally weeping outside the store to meet Duffy. I want to be friends with that kid and go to shows when he’s old enough.
As luck would have it, I ran into a neighbor of mine – I live WAY uptown, so this was strange. My neighbor isn’t much of a music buff, but was drawn in to the excitement of an impromptu live show. I thought it was interesting to talk to someone who wasn’t steeped in the hype, and the detractors, and the musically savvy rhetoric and trends, etc, etc, etc. She said to me, after Duffy was finished, “Wow, she’s like a young Janis Joplin.” Another great belter to compare her to.
Three cheers for NYC darlings 
Finally, some solid news about The Cure's upcoming studio record!
After rescheduling tours, shifting release dates, and continuous streams of
inconclusive information from frontman Robert Smith, I am happy to report that
there's light at the end of the tunnel after all. 
Not everyone has Obama fever. Tickets for 
See that car on the right? Emo-rockers 
New York's 
A promo copy of Playboy landed in my work mailbox this morning, leading to confused/curious stares from co-workers. The magazine was sent to stir up excitement *cough cough* for March's annual music issue, which features a section dedicated to the year in rock and hip-hop. The eight-page feature includes a list of upcoming bands to watch (the bunny likes Vampire Weekend), a few interviews (words from Ghostland Observatory, The Raveonettes, Jamie T, etc), and the 2008 Playboy Music Awards (Radiohead's proudest moment). 
Annie Lennox, who you may have heard of at least 15,000 times in your time on this earth, was given the royal snub this week by her now ex-record label, Sony BMG. Lennox's contract was set to run out this week, and her repeated phone calls to the label were not returned.
Endorsing a politician is a very serious undertaking. Just look at karate expert Chuck Norris and his 
Roger Clemens might have company on the
‘I-Didn’t-Do-Steroids’ press conference circuit. 50 Cent, Timbaland, Wyclef
Jean, Mary J. Blige and actor Tyler Perry were among an A-list roster of
celebrities named in a probe by Albany County District Attorney David Soares.
The celebs allegedly ordered performance-enhancing steroids or human-growth
hormones from doctors and pharmacists under investigation by Soares’
department. According to published reports, investigators are looking into the
doctors and pharmacists, not the celebrities who’ve been named.
