I can't seem to stop taking pictures of my food! This is a spicy tofu empanada from Reuben's Empanadas on Church St in Manhattan

The guys behind the counter at The New York City Hot Dog Company were super nice, but upon seeing me across the restaurant taking this picture with my video camera, one of them said "Are you filming your hot dogs?"

It was funny.

Church and Chambers, NYC.

click here to watch video



This afternoon, I interviewed filmmaker Jamie Moffett about his upcoming film The Ordinary Radicals. The topic of Christianity and Homosexuality came up, which prompted him to send me this clip from the film. It is part of an interview with with author/ speaker/ general bad-ass Shane Claiborne.

I posted this on my podcast site but I would love to hear some feedback about it here too.

I just put up a new podcast here.

It's pretty much all music, here's the playlist:


Three Women - Stereolab
Morning After Midnight - Adam Green
Through the Night These Days - Jason Colette
The Very First Time - ABC
Sunrise - Yeasayer
Countdown - Jupiter One
Blame - Temposhark
Cloudhoppers - Matmos
AdÇu - u_mä
Skinny Love - Bon Iver
John Wayne Gacy, Jr. - Sufjan Stevens
Call Me Home - The Shanghai Restoration Project & Corey Frye

Kinda an eclectic fun mix and it's all legal which gives me some sense of satisfaction.

I don't think I have ever seen a picture of myself playing the piano till now. That's emily, the assistant stage manager for the show.

i made a springtime playlist and am live streaming it here if you wanna listen and chat!

My friend Alex has entered his short film Methods up in a contest kinda thing on NYC's TV channel 13. If he gets the most votes, it will be aired next Sat.

Won't you please click here and vote?

I was riding the subway home from a performance last night, and this really drunk black guy came stumbling down the center of the train, kind of dancing and croaking his way through "Got To Be There" by the Jackson Five. Right before he got to the really high part he plopped himself down next to me. I couldn't resist quietly singing along with the "besiiiide ME!" part, so of course we had a(n incoherent) conversation.

We talked a bit about New York in the 70's and his experiences until the conversation turned somehow to Teena Marie, as I had recently discovered and fallen in love with the tune "Square Biz" via a box set produced by sohipithurts. I thought perhaps this wise gentlemen could illuminate for me the meaning of this "Square Biz" term.

Though he was able to deftly slur his way through much of Ms Marie's rap from the tune, he knew not the mystery of the "square biz."

Can any of you help?

I went to eat with some friends from the show, at Lilly's Noodle House (i think that's the name) on 3rd ave and 85th. This shit was so fucking good. It's making me hungry again.

just because I can, I am playing DJ on ustream.tv today. all the 80's you can stand (minus, of course, the barfy stuff)

tune in (and chat) here:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/mikeypod-music

this is my view during the show.

NYC people, you should come see this show, we open this weekend!

In the interest of not overwhelming myself, here is my to do list for this week. The show I am musical directing opens friday, but during the day I have lots of time. I tend to want to get really productive in my head, but all of the tasks turn to mush. Break it down for me fellas.

The big list:
Write two songs for Angleton Grill (Bren and I are writing another musical together, she just sent me the latest version of the script.)
Update playgroundofsound.com with new class dates and times
podcast
do laundry
prepare for opening of A Grand Night for Singing this Friday
Start transcribing music for residency anthologies
Finishe review of Beartrap Island



Today:

Do some laundry
Record a podcast
Get caught up on e-mail
Print out Angleton Grill script
Clean Kitchen.
Meet Joey at 4 to retrieve video camera and eat at Zen Burger.
Read new version of AG on subway, and possibly the article about Andrew Harvey in The Sun
Reserve practice room time for tomorrow
Rehearsal 7-11

Tomorrow:

Teach at Park Slope
Practice
Home in time for phone interviews with Bicyclemark and Tim Corrimal
update playgroundofsound.com

My friend Jamie Moffett is working on a film. Here is a sample that I found really moving. It's followd by an email i sent him after watching it which kind of sums up how this makes me feel.

I would have no problem following the Jesus Aaron talks about in this video:



Jamie,

Yesterday, I was trying to make my way to a rehearsal in Manhattan and was stopped by Police at Park Ave and not allowed to cross the street. The Avenue was blocked off in both directions as far as I could see because the Pope was going to be coming.

This made me extremely angry. This religious leader in a stretch limo being escorted down the street by hundreds of motorcycle cops and secret service. People waving and trying to catch a glimpse. All of this pomp and circumstance and expense for someone who claims to be a follower of Jesus, who at the same time hoards massive amounts of money while people are starving, homeless etc...

So this morning I am watching your interviews from the upcoming film and I am reminded that it's not religion that's the problem, it's the people who distort it.

What you are doing is so valuable, my friend. I hope to see you when the tour comes through NYC. Maybe even a podcast interview soon?

Peace,
Mikey
www.mikeypod.com

i went to the emergency room friday.

I reviewed the nearby medical center on yelp. Check it out!.

a circle of friends with whom to see live music

making vegan jambalaya sat night that appealed to omnivores and vegetarians alike

fun game night hosted by brian and I in the jerz

finally tracking down the colourfield's album, virgins and philistines

my days at mcschool are numbered

my class in brooklyn was a success

cute moms all bringing their cameras for the last day of class

musical directing again

really settling into my (almost) veganism and delighting in exploring new foods

small cast, fun music

french pressed coffee

making books sing residencies are going well, and I am no longer deer in headlights

learning so much from working with low income/ inner city kids

oh yeah, this is new york and i likey

does anyone have a digital copy of the Colourfield's album Virgins and Philistines? I have been fiending for it forever and it appears to be completely out of print.

I know the internet is serious business and all, but boycotting LiveJournal?

Pointless wars that continue for five + years, homelessness, poor people without medical care, environmental catastrophe on the horizon....

So yeah, screw all that.... lets boycott a free internet service.

What?