All Along the Blogtower

postscript...

2008-05-26T23:03:00.001-04:00

Time - 38:13

Pace - 9:33

Doing it again!

Frank

T Minus 9 Hours

2008-05-25T23:43:00.003-04:00

to Life Goal.

So in just about 9 hours I will be stepping up to the starting line to run a 4 mile race. I've always wanted to do one of these, however my dislike of running has kept me away from it. So tomorrow I cross another Life Goal off the list when I cross the finish line. Ok - well "IF" I cross the line. I have little doubt I will finish and I'll have some support from a friend whom has been key in getting my running game up. Nothing like some friendly competition.

So in other good news - I'll be going back to school in the Fall on a scholarship to get my MSW from Hunter College. I'm one of 25 people to be selected for it, so I'm pretty happy about it. Although the idea of entering a classroom again, is a bit overwhelming. I'm also getting a promotion at work, to a position that is being created for me. So chalk that up to the good things category as well.

I've also been spending more quality time on the guitar, but away from the DJ decks. Which has some amazing pluses and minuses. The idea will eventually be an EP or possibly a full album of original tracks. Not to sell or promote, since it won't be making it to anywhere except the ears of a few great, supportive, tolerant and tone deaf friends.

I realized this blog has become all but dead. Obviously my own fault. Chalk it up to time and effort. I mean even my regular website hasn't been updated in years, and that can actually make me money. So as things come and go here - I will leave you with the fact that this blog will have an end. For many reasons. Lack of motivation, confidentiality and overall inability to keep this together. Those of you that care about this - will get to know what happens next. Those that don't, and find this through a Google search - will be left behind.

Essential New Music for 2008 - Vampire Weekend, Schocholautte, Nine Inch Nails, Goldfrapp, Counting Crows. All bands that I have, will and plan on seeing in 2008.

and on and on

2008-02-19T23:43:00.002-05:00

Typically I have avoided long diatribes about random topics here. It has all been loosely based around music, if nothing more than the title of the post. So I've promised many times to give a round up of music that I've liked over the past year. Now I'm not going to go nuts about each one. But here's the short and the long of it all. In no order - all about the album released in 2007.

Scouting For Girls
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
KT Tunstall
Alicia Keys
Nine Inch Nails
Eddie Vedder
Kanye West
Timbaland
Blake Lewis
Klaxons
Radiohead
Mark Ronson
Fountains of Wayne

Biggest Let Down:
Smashing Pumpkins

Biggest Expectation of Crap:
Britney Spears

So sorry there is not more detail. Just don't have the time to go album by album and give you the run down. There are many albums I discovered in 2007 and/or became popular in 2007 that are not eligible for the list - as they were not released in 2007 (Sorry - Lily Allen) but thats the way it goes down here at the Blogtower.

Yes - some of my pics are rather odd and some are fully expected. NIN - of course! Blake Lewis (from American Idol) Really? and I say yes! So I highly recommend getting the albums from that list of artists and let me know what you think about it. Till next time....

Frank

NSDPS

2007-12-27T17:52:00.000-05:00

Ah, make the most of what we yet may spend,
Before we too into Dust descend;
Dust into Dust, and under Dust to lie,
Sans Wine, sans Song, sans Singer, and--sans End!
-Edward Fitzgerald

This was read before these regular poetry readings back in Wroxton. We would go out behind the abbey and read either things either we liked or we wrote. It was a fun time that I will always remember. We called it the "Not So Dead Poets Society."
Writing songs has been a great way for me to take these things and put them out again. I've thought of putting things up here - but just never felt like the right place or time. I continue to write, some of them will see light in song and many will never even be read out loud.

I have been home sick for the past 2 days. And I assure you this has given a new definition to this old post. Not the way I wanted to spend Christmas and the last days of the year but sometimes...(wait for it...yeap)...shit happens. (Oh why am I not a comedian?)

In any case, I will post my top albums and songs for the year. However, I can barely remember what I bought or downloaded this year. I will say the new Alicia Keys album, is phenomenal. And a new British band called "Scouting For Girls" brings cheeky lyrics to a great pop song. So we'll see where the rest of everyone stands up. You'll have to wait and see. Enjoy the new year!

Frank

A long long time ago - I can still remember...

2007-11-25T23:54:00.000-05:00

I realize its been over 3 years that I've had this blog going. And WOW - what a difference a day makes. I was talking about starting my new job, getting engaged, spinning in Philly and the BoSox winning the series. So we're obviously in a different place now. With myself and the world. Very interesting to see how much of a change can happen when its actually documented. I have books that I write in, some of you may have seen them, but these books have been documenting things for me for over 10 years now. Which really feels insane in some ways.

So a few weeks back - I achieved another life goal. This one was standing in front of a crowd and playing songs. Both that I wrote and covered. Thanks to Kris for being an amazing friend and musician. Karen and Kris have provided me with what I think is the best gift I've ever received from someone I wasn't related to or sleeping with - an acoustic guitar. I haven't put it down for more than a few days in the past year. I've wrote 3 songs (4th on the way) and learned how to play a bunch more. I don't have that mac account anymore or else I would post some of them. Mainly the great cover of Soul Asylum's "Somebody To Shove." That was just amazing.

I believe I will check off more life goals as the next year goes by. Had a few this year already done - and maybe December - we check off one more. I'll let you know if that happens. Thanks for everyone that came out that night!

So Christmas is here. What? Yeap. Thanks Black Friday and bad radio stations. It's not even December and I'm already waiting impatiently to turn to the station when that damn Christmas Shoes song comes on. Now, yes - I admit being a hypocrite. I did buy the KT Tunstall Christmas CD from Target, but I haven't listened to it yet. BECAUSE ITS NOVEMBER! So step away from the garland and put down your red Starbucks cup and go on your MERRY way, as you would in June. Until Saturday, then GO, roast your chestnuts on an open fire and get sucked into every sale. Is 24 days really just not enough time to buy gifts for people? This year - I got it easy. The family is getting a collective gift. Either tickets to something (regardless of the strike), or a device that you probably are using at the current time.

I will say - I'm back in Philly next Saturday, Dec 8. and I love that city during the holidays. It should be fun!

It's not like he was Anne Frank or something...

2007-11-04T23:49:00.000-05:00

Ok - I'm sorry - and this will probably help my slide to hell. But I do find this very bizarre. Check out here and here to see what I'm talking about.

Frank

Up Above...

2007-11-03T01:55:00.001-04:00

Next Friday I will be playing in my first real show. Kris (Mr. 4Square himself) and I will be playing a 30- 45 minute set at The Cup. Here's the minimal details as of now:

2 Guitars
2 Original Songs Each
3 Cover Songs

I'll be sure to keep you all updated. Till then hope you can make it.

Frank

She blinded me with Science!

2007-10-07T23:29:00.000-04:00

Science! Ok yes a music reference - (Thomas Dolby) - however this article is very interesting. I mean what an idea for a study, and who approves this shit? I'm banking on grad students who got to spend a LOT of time talking to strippers and hanging out at strip clubs. Does this mean that women are better in bed during certain times of the month? Actually, I would say yes. I'm also sure both men and women would agree with me regarding that.

And now the next study should be what happens when the women start to get their cycle at the same time? Couldn't you see that on the billboard.

End of the Month Special
30 Girls! - Live and Ovulating
Cum get it! Before the next cycle!

That's all for now. Remember - it's nice to be important but its more important to know when your favorite stripper ovulates.

Frank

It's so sexy up here...

2007-09-17T00:48:00.001-04:00

Wow - its 12:50am. I'm not really looking forward to work tomorrow, but responsibility is necessary. It allows me to make money - spend it on myself and share it with my friends. I've had 4 days off in a row thanks to the jewish holidays. And i will say, I'm feeling fantastic. I don't think I've felt this good in a very long time. Probably several years. If you were seen or talked to this weekend - I just want to say thanks for making it a great few days.

These days included a few amazing highlights.
1 - Having work people over, sucking down a good amount of good beer and watching a NIN live DVD.
2 - Seeing Billy for the first time in months. Hanging out, talking, listening to music - going home with a tub of sausage and peppers.
3 - Friday night was my first official "Frank Rooftop Party." Yes - you should expect more. It was sort of a milestone for me. The first real party I've thrown outside of my parents house and probably the first one I fully did myself without the help of anyone. The roof looked AMAZING! and my own quote of the night at about 8pm - before anyone had arrived. "It's so sexy up here - I want to fuck myself." I was shocked at how great it looked and how much of a different type of event it was. I have a TON of extra beer and chocolate left over. So if you want to come and help me have some, just let me know. It was really indescribable at how awesome it made me feel.
4 - I woke to Laurita making me pancakes and talking about how great the party was. As I sat eating and listening to music, I was thinking about how great I felt. How much throwing the party meant to me. How happy I am with myself at the current time. I then spent part of the day cleaning and then getting all dressed up for a quintessential Manhattan wedding. It was a beautiful event.
5 - Today, I chilled out, went for a run and then spend the evening with Karen, Kris and Tommy. No not a blogger party - but a trip to the NY Philharmonic. Tonight was John Williams conducting the orchestra and it was amazing, as it always has been. We also had the best guacamole at Rosa Mexicano, and I even got to eat there during their chocolate festival. Dinner was on me, which was a big thank you to all of them for - well, everything. I am forever indebted to all of my friends for everything they've done for me - especially over the past year and a half.

So I'm hitting the bed. Gonna listen to the "Jurassic Park" soundtrack and sleep well. Thanks again to everyone.

Frank

PS - Pure in Philly on September 29

Around The World

2007-08-17T01:27:00.000-04:00

This clip might not hold you over till I get back from Sicily. But it'll make you chuckle and in case Daft Punk doesn't make you think of me already, you may now.

Random FM3 Fact: Daft Punk's "Da Funk" was the first dance CD single I ever bought and opened my eyes (and ears) to electronic music. Therefore being the song that really began my career (loosely used) as a club DJ. It also has an amazing video by one of my favorite directors, Spike Jonze.

BTW - Daft Punk ROCKED Coney Island last week. Despite the fact that they could have been doing absolutely nothing, it was an amazing show. Truly a spectacle. The Rapture was great as well. If you happened to make the show, you know that the Rapture song "whoo alright yeah uh huh" didn't apply to the thousands of dancing maniacs on infield of Keyspan Park. See you soon!

Frank

Been A Long TIme

2007-08-12T19:32:00.001-04:00

So I'm sitting here in my apartment. Finally having my PC with me. Not that that's an excuse for not writing in over 2 months... but its my reason.

I'm pretty situated here now. It's been an interesting few months. Moving out has been great for me and I'm really getting acquainted with the space and myself. Well not in that way. OK well in that way too. Since the last time I wrote, I've been to Ibiza, Spain again - which was great and in 5 days I leave for Sicily. I performed a few songs at my "whoops - I guess last year wasn't the last" 4th of July party.

But whatever - I've been writing a lot, writing some songs, and enjoying the quiet of not having to have someone yelling at me to do whatever it is. So along with some records, a kick ass sound system, my computer and a queen size bed - I'm out on my own. Which i know for many people its you're 27 - whaaaa? But if you're reading this, you probably know me and understand. If you don't know me or don't understand - feel free to drop an e-mail to someone else.

So it's definitely strange to live closer to one of my best friends at 27, than when we met at 4. Since we lived a whopping 2 blocks away - but now we live 2 doors away. Jack and his wife Laura have been great to me and its been great to have the ability to socialize, eat and drink with them whenever we desire. There is something college like to it. We've made jokes like "got an early class" to "shhhh, we don't want the RA to hear us." It also doesn't hurt that Laura is an amazing cook and that they always cook more than they can eat.

But in any case - I'm off to Sicily on Friday. I'm very much looking forward to it, as I've always wanted to go there. It'll be the longest flight I've ever been on by myself, and to think of it - I don't know if I've ever been on a flight by myself. So thats a bit odd, but I know I'll be sleeping most of it.

And btw - keep Friday September 14 open.

Frank

To The East Side...

2007-05-28T22:01:00.001-04:00

Wow - I'm tired. Surprised I even have the energy or the desire to blog right now. It's been a terribly long week, albeit a good one. There were some amazing events and quotes over the past week, but damned if i can actually remember most of them. But let's fill in some blanks - shall we?

Friday
Scene: KJ's Ale House - Staten Island Bar. Bandulos playing live. (Side note: they will be playing on the 4th of July @ My Family's House.)

A) I never ate cake at a bar before.
B) Got a call on the emergency phone for work while at the bar.
Parent: "Hi Frank, K--- didn't come home yet. Should I wait till 1am and then call the police?"
Frank: "If you could hunt her down and kill her that would be great."
Parent: "Oh no Frank, Don't put that on me."

Saturday
Scene: Headliner - Jersey Shore Fist Pump Palace
Girl: "Oh I'm from Staten Island - Went to Tottenville HS."
Me: "Oh I graduated in 1997 - you?"
Girl: "Me too"
Me: "I'm Frank and you are?"
Girl : "Alison S--"
Me: "Hmm... I don't remember you at all."
Girl: "Well I spend a lot of time getting high in the woods behind the school"
Me: "Gotcha"

Sunday
Scene: At house after dropping a load of money at Bed, Bath & Beyond
Me: "So you know what Mom asks me? - What color would you like to bring into the bathroom?"
Dad: "What color?"
Me: "Exactly - The only colors I bring into the bathroom and yellow and brown"

Sunday
Scene: Standing with Derek & Dustyn on 23rd St outside Gotham Comedy Club
Dustyn: "There are two things I love about the summer and girls wearing stuff like that (girl in short skirt and heels) is one of them."
Me: "What's the other?"
Dustyn: "More sunlight"

Scene: Inside Gotham Comedy Club - Dave Attell on stage
Dave: "Girls love flowers, I mean they really love flowers. You know what flowers are better than - getting kicked in the cunt. Girls do not like that. Flowers are up here - Getting kicked in the cunt is down there."

So kids - that was the weekend - today was filled with painting, sanding and trying not to kill my parents. I'm moving Friday. So I was just letting people do their thing. People would ask where I wanted things, I replied "wherever you want them to go." Because once I give my opinion - people aren't satisfied with it and they want to give me their opinion. No opinions - just do whatever you want. If I like it, great. If I don't, it'll be different the next time you come back. Thanks to everyone that helped today - especially my indentured servants Karen & Kris. I appreciate it!

Soon there will be a few small housewarming parties. Work friends, home friends, family, hookers. Not in that order. Hope you can make it.

Frank

Good Assjob

2007-05-17T23:04:00.000-04:00

In celebration of finding out the title of Kanye West's 4th album. I give you these links. Yes, Kanye has an name for his 4th album and his 3rd has yet to be released. His 3rd album coming this year is "Graduation." The 4th album "Good Ass Job." Or what would be the funnier title - "Good Assjob." Here's some other funny links. 1 to read, 1 to hear and 1 to watch.

Frank

I Hope This Girl Didn't Join A Sorority

Listen To Track 6 - Donkey Punch

Donkey Punch 2 (Thanks Tommy)

My Shitty Day

2007-05-16T23:48:00.000-04:00

So it's been a regular occurrence that something odd happens at my office. It could be arrests of my clients when they assault an officer. Could be bomb threats, fires, etc. Could be the smell of our security guards. Today was no exception to office craziness.

I typically go to the bathroom a few times during the day. I drink a LOT of water throughout the day and well sometimes have other duties (pardon the pun) have to be done. So Tuesday, I went to the bathroom and went to leave. Grabbed the door handle to feel something wet and mushy. Yes, you guessed it - Someone put shit all over the door handle. I mean ALL OVER IT. I almost vomited, right then and there. I used my left hand to turn on the faucet and then washed my hands like 4x. Then in order to get out - I had to grab toilet paper and open the door. I walked up to the front desk, and told them. They gave me some Purell. I told the appropriate people. I Purell-ed again. Washed about 3 more times and then Purell-ed about 5 more times. I was so grossed out it killed me. We're figuring it was a client. We hope at least.

My site administrator asked me if I knew this was in my job description, at least he knew I could laugh about it and wasn't going to like sue the building or some... (ready for it) shit. I can honestly say, I had the shittiest day on Tuesday.

Frank

Save Yourself...

2007-05-16T23:16:00.000-04:00

I'm a big believer in free speech - well maybe it's because my editing finger was too slow when playing songs like "Put It In Your Mouth" by Akinelye or "Killing in the Name" by Rage Against The Machine back at WFDM. So if you like internet radio, or care about the future of radio and subsequently free speech. Give these sites a visit. Soon enough - the government will take every piece of entertainment and censor it. When satellite radio and internet radio is being censored and penalized for providing entertainment to a non-public ear, the means of voicing your opinion (ie this blog) will be limited. That is the end of my diatribe. The second time I used that word today. Hopefully I'm using it correctly.

http://www.savenetradio.org/

http://peopleagainstcensorship.org/

Frank

Smashing of the Pumpkins

2007-05-09T20:49:00.000-04:00

Of course it always makes me excited when one of my favorite bands wants to release new stuff. However, the buzz behind the Smashing Pumpkins new album leaves me with a lot to be desired. I'll have to hear it before I can make a decision obviously. People are already billing it as the best album this year and yap yap yap. I will say that I've been pretty let down by Billy Corgan and company since the "Machina" album. I'm one of the few people that think "Adore" is an amazing album, just not traditional Pumpkins material. Now "Machina" was sub par and it was billed as by Mr. Corgan as the "best rock album ever." Needless to say - it's far from it. So was Zwan (the band post Pumpkins) and Corgan's solo record. I read an interview talking about how he didn't want to use crash symbol sounds on it. What the hell is that about? I mean it's one thing to limit your resources, but avoiding the use of certain type of cymbal? And I assure you - it's needed in that album.

James Iha will not be back, D'Arcy Wretsky could be dead for all anyone knows. These 2 people made up so much of what the Smashing Pumpkins were. I will still say, pop in "Siamese Dream" or "Mellon Collie" and you will remember what a great band this...I dare to say it...was. They're live show even went downhill. So... when July comes around. There'll be a new post about the album. These past few years have seen resurgences for bands like Nine Inch Nails and Pearl Jam. So will the Smashing Pumpkins be able to re-entertain their salivating fans and develop a new fan base? Or will this be the reunion / comeback album that should have never been. Unfortunately, I think the latter.

Frank

What Dreams May Come...

2007-04-25T00:50:00.000-04:00

Years ago, me and two friends decided that after college we wanted to travel to all the FDU campuses by land. Get it sponsored and document it all. It was more of an excuse to be nomadic rebels for a few months, and get something useful out of our already crippling student loans. This trip would start us at Teaneck, NJ then go to Madison, NJ across to Tev Aviv, Israel and then up to our final destination of Wroxton, England. Which meant - crossing the Bering Strait. Which is the gap between Alaska and Russia. Now - in case you don't know - its not really possible to do that without risking your life. Until now - if this goes through - FIELD TRIP! Start packing D & D.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/04/24/russia.alaska.tunnel.ap/index.html

Been A Long Time...

2007-04-23T23:34:00.000-04:00

I know this blog has been slacking - but I really have to say so have I. Getting time to do things like this have taken the back burner to other stuff. Like playing guitar (Finally wrote my 1st original song), going to the gym (lost about 20 lbs since July - I've been saying this since October as I snack on Starburst Jellybeans), writing (goes along with the song writing), and oh right work. I've also been hitting up a bunch of concerts.

So far since the end of March - Snow Patrol, Christina Aguilera, Vedera, Little Charlie, and tomorrow is Fountains of Wayne. I've also heard Superchumbo spin twice this year. So far - I have yet to be let down at all. Honestly, Christina put on one of the best shows I've ever seen. Granted her writhing around on an amusement park horse singing "Dirrty" may have done it alone (I almost needed a bathroom break). However, I've only had chills at a concert a few times. First time I heard Pearl Jam sing "Black" at MSG. Just about every time NIN plays "Hurt." When John Williams encored with the "Star Wars Theme." Every time Ben Folds pulls out "Evaportaed." And now add when Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful" to that list. I'm sure there were more. Maybe hearing the Smashing Pumpkins play "Drown" or Pearl Jam playing "Footsteps." Anyways - she was amazing. That girl can sing and perform and it's unreal. I never posted by best albums of last year - however - I assure you it's amazing and would've made my top 5 easy. Along with the Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado.

So that's been some of life. Music. DJing picking back up to a weekly event - which I'm happy about. I'm doing the after party for wedding on Sunday night for a person on NY1 TV. Whom I see just about every morning on "Your Staten Island News Now." Ibiza is booked again for July and Sicily is a dream come true in August. I'm back at Pure soon - either late May or early June. I'm also spinning at The Den in New Brunswick on May 11. That's a lot of the good.

The bad - lots of craziness. Watching friends and family falling hard, falling soft and falling out. Everything from visiting a friend in a coma who OD'ed to 3 hour drives about distraught families to the trials and tribulations of unemployment. This goes along with my own internal and external monologues with myself and those around me. Take that along with one of my close friends and co-workers leaving for Virginia to join his family. Which means back to crisis mode at work as well as losing a great person and worker.

But that's enough for today. I keep thinking of what to do with this here to make it more relevant and current. Maybe I'll retire it - like the Vixxen and start one over again. Who knows. To quote something I recently wrote and recorded - maybe you'll hear it sometime.

I'm picking my pieces back up - starting all over again
I'm picking myself back up - living life again.

If you do want to hear one of my tracks - there's a link in a previous post on this blog that will get you there. Or maybe somewhere in this one.

Frank

PS - FM3's Essential Listening: Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero

Tattoo

2007-02-17T15:58:00.000-05:00

So I've been thinking about getting a tattoo on my left arm - the only thing I know is that I want it to be the same size as the tattoo on my right arm. So I want it in a circle. Any suggestions? I've been contemplating making it a collection of different shapes and items that encompass myself. The other side already covers the 23 and the Star Wars. So what goes on the left arm? And I assure you I'm not this crazy. At least not yet.

However - many people are - so check this out for some crazy dedication fan tattoos. The last one of Adam Durtiz has to take the cake.

Frank

Valentine's Day

2007-02-14T21:39:00.000-05:00

So on this February 14 - I have actually been reminiscing. Back in my freshman year of college I was single. I had a number of friends that were girls, which were and many still are some of my best friends. Dana reminded me of the Star Wars Valentine's Day cards I gave to everyone. And I believe attached on each one was a small chocolate heart. This became the infamous line of being imitated by both Dana and her mother. The phonetic spelling is something like "chawklit hawtz." This became the line followed by "My Friend Frank" from her family, and pretty much still to this day.

Another though was the "Good Will Hunting" story. Go here to download and listen to it as broadcast on WFDM, back when I had a radio show.

Also up there is a leak of a brand new Nine Inch Nails track called "My Violent Heart." I'm pretty excited for music again this year. Looking very much forward to 2/27 for the new NIN DVD and to 4/17 for the new album Year Zero. In between those two amazing pieces of musical genius, I will get my fill from Timbaland on 3/27.

Frank

Midday at Chelsea Piers...

2007-02-08T21:58:00.000-05:00

...Dick in a box.

So I was at work yesterday rocking one of my favorite albums of the year. I mentioned to my intern I was pissed because I really wanted to go with my brother and his girlfriend's sister to MSG that night. Since Danny's girlfriend works for ticketing at MSG she sometimes is able to get some open spots in the luxury boxes. So Danny goes to the Justin Timberlake concert. Now - I know - I already defended "Prince" to Mike this week, so being told I squat when I pee or the ever original "and you're sure you're not gay" really has a lackluster effect on me at this point. Now, I like Justin Timberlake, I like this album and his first. I even like some of NSYNC's final stuff. In particular the BT produced "Pop." So it would've been entertaining for me. I do think he's talented and he does play a variety of instruments and even covered "Smells Like Teen Spirit" on his club tour. But I've missed shows before, and if I really wanted tickets I would've paid for them. But then...of course - my respect for this man goes up. With what will most likely be the ONLY live performance of this song. Yes - JT encores with "Dick In A Box."

I played this remix of it out last week at The Den in New Brunswick. It was the best crowd reaction I got all night. Individually, it was the guy who told me how great I was playing and he wasn't expecting to dance that hard. It was also about 12:30am at the time. Looks like I'll be going back there. Thanks to James for asking me to fill in!

And March 24 - Pure in Philly

Frank

My Favorite Movie of 2006

2007-01-03T23:49:00.000-05:00

I'm waiting for the sequel!

A Social Experiment

2006-12-18T00:17:00.001-05:00

2 examples of my of social experiences from the weekend and a video daily double.

In a bit of irony - this happened to me at a video game store the other day. The clue here is in the name of the um, um, clerk.

Frank - Do you have the Nunchuk for the Wii?
Clerk - We had 2 this morning, but they sold out.
Frank - They're sold out everywhere
Clerk - Yeah we got a whole box of them a week ago and people just went crazy and bought them all in a few days.
Frank - Wow
Clerk - Bunch of savages in this town.

Proceeded by laughter on both parts.

At a small bar where I DJed on Saturday. I will use WTB to stand for White Trash Bitch.

WTB - I don't know if you notice, but this isn't what people want to hear
Me - Oh, well I was told to play more dance and hip hop.
WTB - Maybe that's OK later, but we want to hear some 90s alternative rock and maybe 60s. But not the 80s, because that decade was terrible.
Me - Oh ok, I'll see what I can get on for you.
WTB - Obviously you have no idea what you're doing, you have to play better music.
Me - (sarcastic)Thank You
WTB - Oh my, thats the nastiest "Thank You" I've heard in a year and a half.
Me - (breaking and starting to laugh - but trying not to full out make this woman spit her 3 yellow teeth at me) - So, a year and a half ago, what happened then.
WTB - That's the last time someone said "Thank You" that nasty.
Me - Right

And the video daily double

What's Your Pop Secret? Mine is, yes that's Mike Musco and a bowl of popcorn.

Frank

A few odd balls

2006-12-17T23:49:00.000-05:00

Saturday Night Live finally has picked up their game in the last few seasons - mainly with the inclusion of a NOT live segment. This is known as "An SNL Digital Short." You may have seen "Lazy Sunday" or the classic "Natalie Portman Rap" which I know I posted about some time ago. So here's another one. Makes me like JT even more and gives you a great idea for that last minute Kwanzaa gift. Be careful - it's catchy!

http://video.nbc.com/player.html?dlid=51289

So after that you can look at this - Dance Trent, Dance

Now I'm excited - but NIN as Hot Dance Single? Even the NIN sites are sort of shocked - I assure you I never heard a mix of this on KTU. Oh maybe that's because KTU only plays music from 1996 and before. Hell I've never even played it out - and I just mixed NIN's Closer with Beyonce's Irreplaceable on Saturday night. There's a new NIN DVD coming out on February 27, 2007. It looks amazing. It's being released in DVD, HD-DVD and Blu-Ray. Not that anyone actually owns a Blu-Ray player yet. We're being told a new album will be finished in early 2007. Which if all goes well means we will see it in stores in 2009.

I'm slacking on my best of songs and albums for the year, but I assure you it is coming and there will be some really obvious choices and some odd balls. Really, what else would you expect from me.

In the helping a brother out category - I was sent some nice gifts the other day from axerecovery.com for the AXE Recovery Top Hangover Songs List. Check out the site (you do have to register and stuff) but it's sort of an interesting musical discussion. Take a quick guess which one I chose.

Sunday Morning - The Velvet Underground
Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd
Fairytale of New York - The Pogues
2000 B.C. - Basehead
Here Comes a Regular - The Replacements
One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer - George Thoroughgood
Louder - Lo Fi Funk
Power - Kid Congo Powers
Van Drunk - The Scud Mountain Boys
Low Side of the Road - Tom Waites
I Am Wasted But I'm Ready - Ben Kweller
May You Never - John Martyn
The Bar Is A Beautiful Place - Ryan Adams
Coffee and TV - Blur
Poison Cup - M. Ward

Finally - I will be checking out Kevin Devine at Maxwell's in Hoboken on January 5. Be sure to come and check him out and see why he made my list of the best albums of 2006. Whoops...

Frank

The Holiday Panic

2006-12-06T00:17:00.000-05:00

As much as I love the holidays - some people like them more. Like the people that are waiting in 30 degree cold at 9:45am waiting for Best Buy to open - are already playing Christmas music non stop - or um this lady.

Yes those are antlers on her VW. Maybe I'm just a bit behind this year. Maybe I need to dust off "A Very Special Christmas - Volume 1" and rock out to one of my favorite tunes - "Christmas in Hollis" by Run-DMC.

Frank

Chapter 11

2006-11-30T22:10:00.000-05:00

11 years ago - December 1, 1995.

My mother and my aunt decide to open up a store based on a store they frequented in Ozone Park, Queens. It was a place to have kids birthday parties and adult women to have a night away from their own lives. So "Plaster Art" was born. It quickly became a staple part of the community. My first girlfriend was their first worker and did so for about 5 years. Tommy's sister worked there. My cousin's worked there. My sister worked there. Actually, I think I may have even done a few parties there - and I know my brother did. Tommy's mother also spent many week nights there with a number of other women - and I believe there were even nights that alcohol was involved.

In short - you picked out a piece which ranged from cars to baseball plaques to large pedestals. Then you painted it however you'd like. Kinda like Kindergarten - except at a store. The kids loved it - as did the parents. It came at a time where kids parties were becoming increasingly more expensive - $18 a kid for bowling or a trip to "Fun Bubble."

Over the past few years - rent steadily increased and income did not go along with that. So today - after a 2 week sale - we sat and ate pizza for the last time there. Thought about the funny times and then tomorrow the doors will lock for good. It was very reminiscent of the last "Growing Pains" episode - if you remember that at all.

So - goodbye "Plater Art" - thanks for letting kids and adults get Plastered for the last 11 years.

Frank

Shortsheeted

2006-11-19T19:55:00.000-05:00

Watch this - it's funny and - well - I have an appearance. Good job Karen!

The biggest event of my career

2006-10-24T23:38:00.000-04:00

This event will be insane - the place will be at capacity - which is around 1300. The largest crowd I've ever played for. If you want to join me on my career pinnacle - let me know. And can you really beat an open bar for 1 1/2 hours?

I'm already nervous - but I'm so looking forward it.

Frank

Dance Your Cares Away...

2006-10-23T18:51:00.000-04:00

To the movie theatre - Fraggle Rock - The Movie/ I know its not a music post - well ok now it is.

Dance your cares away,
Worry's for another day.
Let the music play,
Down at Fraggle Rock.

Work you cares away,
Dancing's for another day.
Let the Fraggles play,
We're Gobo, Mokey, Wembley, Boober, Red.

Dance your cares away,
Worry's for another day.
Let the music play,
Down at Fraggle Rock.
Down at Fraggle Rock.
Down at Fraggle Rock.

Now life is again good.

2 Random Pics

2006-10-09T20:42:00.000-04:00

This one is of the Union Square clock - located on the south side of 14th st. As I sat down it had just turned Midnight - and was followed by a deep breath of relief. Oh and right - and fucking amazing hot chocolate from here.

In the bathroom at chocolate heaven - found the mirror funny - and found it more funny how the picture came out.

Flashback Friday

2006-10-09T01:09:00.000-04:00

So on Friday I went to see KT Tunstall at Webster Hall. Her opening act was a man by the name of Kevin Devine. I was very excited for this show. I had never seen KT live - and since her album is amazing, has one of my favorite tracks of the year on it and know that she uses lots of live loops and effects - I thought I'd go. Now Friday was the beginning of an interesting weekend, and despite a Yankee loss - it was a great night.

I walked around an area of Manhattan (3rd ave & 11th) for a bit - somewhere that reminds me of a very different time. Circa 1997-1998. When I used to go and hang out with him before he left NYU. Standing on the corner next to the movie theater - where I saw a movie that I shouldn't mention ever - it was very relaxing.

So on to the reason for the blog...

(I will be putting up the mp3s of these songs here - they're also linked below - this will not be up indefinitely)

This is the second time I've seen Kevin Devine perform live. Now this may not be a shock if I said that about most music acts - but it was about 11 years ago. At the JCC on Arthur Kill Rd which is approx 10 mins from my house. He was in a band called "Delusion" which was one of the biggest bands in the SI rock scene at the time. Yes there was a SI rock scene - and it was very popular. So I saw Kevin after his set, congratulated him on the show and the major label debut CD released next Tuesday and told him that I still had a Delusion 45 record. I also told him that "Falter" is still one of my favorite songs. (Side note - because of that song - "falter" is one of my favorite words. That would be my answer if I'm ever on Inside the Actors Studio) So I came home found the record and ripped it - and also found the lyric sheet. So there's song 1.

Pic of Kevin and KT Tunstall rocking out to The Flaming Lips "She Don't Use Jelly"

Delusion - Falter

I have to forget, you even exist
but I can't block it out
And I try to try
not to try anymore
it makes it all so trying

And I'd like to change,
but I waiver way too much
And I falter sometimes
because it's easy to stay the same

And I'd like to erase
the scar you put on my back
but I falter sometimes
it hurts too much
I cannot stop the bleeding

And I ask for you nothing at all
sometimes that's just what you give
sometimes that's just what you give
and I don't know
what you did what you did

why do I care anymore

And I'd like to change,
but I waiver way too much
And I falter sometimes
because it's easy to stay the same

And I'd like to erase
the scar you put on my back
but I falter sometimes
it hurts too much
I cannot stop the bleeding

It's everything I'd cry about
that isn't worth the waste of tears
and it's everything I'd laugh about
but it's everything I wish
That I feared

And I'd like to change,
but I waiver way too much
And I falter sometimes
because it's easy to stay the same

And I'd like to erase
the scar you put on my back
but I falter sometimes
it hurts too much
I cannot stop the bleeding

-------------------------------------------------------------------

KT Tunstall doing the solo Jackson 5 jam

So KT Tunstall rocked as well. She played every song on her album I think. Plus 2 or 3 from a live CD. As mentioned before - she played a Flaming Lips cover - however the best part was at the end when she gave us 1 more song which was a cover of one of my favorite songs EVER!!

Jackson 5 - I Want You Back

When I had you to myself
I didn't want you around
Those pretty faces always make you stand out in a crowd
But some one picked you from the bunch
when love was all it took
Now it's much too late for me to take a second look.
Oh baby give me one more chance
won't you please take me
back to your heart
Oh darlin I was blind to let you go
But now since I see you in his arms
I want you back
Yes I do now
I want you back
Ooh ooh baby
I want you back
Ya ya ya ya
Na na na na
Tryin to live without your love
Is one long sleepless night
Let me show you girl
that I know wrong from right
Every street you walked right on
With a tear stain on the ground
Following the girl
I didn't even want around
Let me tell you now
Oh baby all I need is one more chance
(to show you that I love you)
Won't you please take me
(back to your heart)
Oh darlin I was blind to let you go
(let you go baby)
But now since I see you in his arms
Uh-huh
A buh buh buh buh buh(5 times)
All I want
All I need
All I want
All I need
Spare me of this cause
Gimme back our love oh baby

While she was playing - I thoght "oh that's what the hell the words are!" So my reccomendation is to pick up Kevin's album on the 17th and try to catch KT when she comes around again.

Next concert is Wednesday - Basement Jaxx @ Webster Hall with Tom G. Which will really help in bringing this all full circle.

Frank

Cankles Thursday @ Roxy

2006-10-04T00:58:00.000-04:00

I absolutely laughed outloud when I got this e-mail the other day. It's actually pretty interesting. Who do I have to go down on to get to DJ This event? Um - Well... Nevermind.

Now I actually support her - not enough to shell out $50 on a Thursday night - but I support Hillary. If anyone goes - of if you know anyone that is going - please let me know. I'd love to know the setlist. Let's open up the comments for that. Person that comes up with the best 3 songs that should be played will - be the winner!

I heard that you save $10 if you show up wearing something that accents not having ankles.

https://contribute.hillaryclinton.com/events/newyork1012.html?sc=e170

1984

2006-09-20T21:42:00.000-04:00

So enter the obscure and the 80s. Howard Jones is one of those people whose songs you know - but have no idea who the hell he is. Well at least that was my case. Sirius helped me out with figuring out who sang "Things Can Only Get Better" which is one of my favorite 80s tracks of obscurity. Up there with Joe Jackson's "Steppin' Out" and Talk Talk's "It's My Life" - so accurately covered by No Doubt a few years back. Yes that was a cover.

So here's a track that could easily be covered by Ben Folds and make it sound just as good. As an added bonus - here's a link for Ben Folds covering The Postal Service's "Such Great Heights." Gotta love when indie covers indie.

Frank

PS - There are all links to iTunes above. I am going to try and start posting these songs as MP3s if I can figure out a good way to do it.

Howard Jones - No One Is To Blame

You can look at the menu but you just cant eat
You can feel the cushions but you cant have a seat
You can dip your foot in the pool but you cant have a swim
You can feel the punishment but you cant commit the sin
And you want her and she wants you
We want everyone
And you want her and she wants you
No one, no one, no one ever is to blame
You can build a mansion but you just cant live in it
Youre the fastest runner but youre not allowed to win
Some break the rules
And live to count the cost
The insecurity is the thing that wont get lost
And you want her and she wants you
We want everyone
And you want her and she wants you
No one, no one, no one ever is to blame
You can see the summit but you cant reach it
Its the last piece of the puzzle but you just cant make it fit
Doctor says youre cured but you still feel the pain
Aspirations in the clouds but your hopes go down the drain
And you want her and she wants you
We want everyone
And you want her and she wants you
No one, no one, no one ever is to blame
No one ever is to blame
No one ever is to blame

Ironic...and not Alanis

2006-09-07T23:06:00.000-04:00

2 songs - 1 you know - 1 you may or may not know. Let's start with the one you know.

Covered recently by the Counting Crows (and then Vanessa Carlton was added on) this song made a resurgence. It apparently was included in the movie "2 Weeks Notice" which, I will say, I have never seen. Written by Joni Mitchell and covered about a billion times, this one is obviously a classic. This was originally released in 1970, which I would say is ahead of its time, but I'm sure what was going on then, is very similar to now. Although, on good old Staten Island, I would say put up a parking lot, 18 row houses and 38 traffic lights. And that was last week alone. Oddly enough, this reminds me of this chick that was a secretary at my last job in Jersey. I copied the Joni Mitchell "hits" CD from her. On a side note, she's the only girl I've ever met that I know had a breast reduction. Which, I guess adds to the irony of this post.

Joni Mitchell - Big Yellow Taxi
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique
and a swinging hot spot
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

They took all the trees
And put them in a tree museum
And they charged all the people
A dollar and a half to see 'em
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And they put up a parking lot

Hey farmer farmer
Put away that D.D.T. now
Give me spots on my apples
But leave me the birds and the bees
Please!
Dont it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

Late last night
I heard the screen door slam
And a big yellow taxi
Took away my old man
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

So let's rewind a few weeks. Clerks 2. Aside from being a fabulous and hysterical movie, and a great scene about beast - um - ok - nevermind (Just incase Joel Siegel is reading). It did include some great songs. Soul Asylum, Jackson 5 (with a dance sequence) and this one. This was the opening sequence track. I had heard it years ago and have been listening to it a lot lately. I always like the Talking Heads and find this a song funny and sarcastic. It becomes more surreal as I run in the new park by my house and think about moving out. So this is the ironic flipside to Big Yellow Taxi.

Talking Heads - (Nothing But) Flowers
Here we stand
Like an Adam and an Eve
Waterfalls
The Garden of Eden
Two fools in love
So beautiful and strong
The birds in the trees
Are smiling upon them
From the age of the dinosaurs
Cars have run on gasoline
Where, where have they gone?
Now, it's nothing but flowers

There was a factory
Now there are mountains and rivers
you got it, you got it

We caught a rattlesnake
Now we got something for dinner
we got it, we got it

There was a shopping mall
Now it's all covered with flowers
you've got it, you've got it

If this is paradise
I wish I had a lawnmower
you've got it, you've got it

Years ago
I was an angry young man
I'd pretend
That I was a billboard
Standing tall
By the side of the road
I fell in love
With a beautiful highway
This used to be real estate
Now it's only fields and trees
Where, where is the town
Now, it's nothing but flowers
The highways and cars
Were sacrificed for agriculture
I thought that we'd start over
But I guess I was wrong

Once there were parking lots
Now it's a peaceful oasis
you got it, you got it

This was a Pizza Hut
Now it's all covered with daisies
you got it, you got it

I miss the honky tonks,
Dairy Queens, and 7-Elevens
you got it, you got it

And as things fell apart
Nobody paid much attention
you got it, you got it

I dream of cherry pies,
Candy bars, and chocolate chip cookies
you got it, you got it

We used to microwave
Now we just eat nuts and berries
you got it, you got it

This was a discount store,
Now it's turned into a cornfield
you got it, you got it

Don't leave me stranded here
I can't get used to this lifestyle

Hmm - where do we go next?

Long overdue...

2006-09-01T01:17:00.000-04:00

Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol

This officially becomes the first song I'm ever able to play on guitar. Which I will say - I'm pretty damn proud of. Granted, its simple, but its a great song. I remember listening to this and thinking about how this song really was scary. How it could be so close to what I was feeling, although the whole album is like that. "Gray's Anatony" used this song at the end of last season, which is most likely how it ever landed itself on Z100. Which was a shock to me and Jillian when we were eating pizza at 5am on the Lower East Side. Both our drunk asses couldn't believe that it was on. So now I play this just about every night before I go to sleep. To practice the guitar and think through the words of a great Irish band (move over U2 and the Cranberries).

We'll do it all
Everything
On our own

We don't need
Anything
Or anyone

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

I don't quite know
How to say
How I feel

Those three words
Are said too much
They're not enough

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life

Let's waste time
Chasing cars
Around our heads

I need your grace
To remind me
To find my own

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life

All that I am
All that I ever was
Is here in your perfect eyes, they're all I can see

I don't know where
Confused about how as well
Just know that these things will never change for us at all

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

-----------------------------------------------------
Sun Is Shining by Bob Marley vs Funkstar Deluxe

7 years ago I went to Wroxton, England. On what will end up one of the best and life changing experiences of my life. I was 19 and had no idea what to expect in a foreign land. I had previously been to Japan in the 8th grade, which was the extent of getting out of the country. I had actually never been west of Pennsylvania, aside from that trip. So I get there, thinking that I'm trying to be a DJ from NYC and that dance music will be a good thing for me to stock up on. I remember being in a record store - an HMV in Piccadilly Circus I believe, near the first H&M I had ever been in. This song was playing in the store and asked the guy what it was and if they had it. He said no, but it was coming out the following week. I did buy a double mixed CD called "Ibiza Euphoria," which was amazing, that day - but more importantly knew that this song was going to be one of my favorites. The next week I bought 2 copies of the CD single of Bob Marley vs Funkstar Deluxe - "Sun Is Shining." I sent one to Tommy for his birthday, who was still DJing at the time (and is instrumental in helping developing into the DJ I am today) for him to hear this amazing song. It didn't change his life the way it did for me, but every time I listen to this song it just makes life a bit better. Takes me back to a place that is soothing for my soul and makes me feel all warm inside. I guess you put some dance beats with Bob Marley and you can't really go wrong, although the follow up of "Rainbow Country" was less impressive. It became one of the best songs in 1999 in Europe, but most importantly became an anthem for our little class of 33. So for me, I know that at any given moment, I can put on that song and have it come "To The Rescue." As I listen to it now - 7 years has gone by. Unreal. Enjoy it - I'm jealous.

Sun is shining, the weather is sweet, yeah
Make you wanna move your dancing feet now

When the mornin´ gather the rainbow,
Want you to know, I'm a rainbow too
To the rescue, here I am
Want you to know, y'all, can you understand?

Sun is shining, the weather is sweet yeah
Make you wanna move your dancing feet now
When the mornin´ gather the rainbow,
Want you to know, I'm a rainbow too
To the rescue, here I am
Want you to know, y'all, can you understand?

Do you believe me? (x 5)

I'm a rainbow too (x 7)

But to the rescue, here I am
Want you to know just if you can,
here I stand

To the rescue, here I am
Want you to know, y'all, can you understand?
[Sun is shining, the weather is sweet yeah
Make you wanna move your dancing feet now]

To the rescue, here I am
Want you to know, y'all, can you understand?
[When the mornin´ gather the rainbow,
Want you to know, I'm a rainbow too]

Three's a crowd...

2006-09-01T00:47:00.000-04:00

So let's start back off - I'm adding this first Smashing Pumpkins song and then as promised almost 2 months ago, I will soon post about both Snow Patrol and Bob Marley vs Funkstar Deluxe.

Smashing Pumpkins - Muzzle

As I think I've said a lot - sometimes it takes a while for me to really get a song - or have it make sense in my own head. Mellon Collie came out in 1995 - got it a few days early thanks to a record store (Our Music Center) that used to sell new albums on the Friday they came in and not wait for the official release date on Tuesday. Yeah, it was more expensive, but to be the person that knew all the lyrics for the most anticipated album of 1995 before everyone else. That was heaven. I also remember getting it on my birthday and being so excited that I got it and even more excited there was a song called 1979. The year I was born. It was surreal for my 16th birthday. This was also around when Z100 was cool (yes, they were!!!) and they played a live Smashing Pumpkins show from Chicago on Monday night before the album release.

I listened to this whole album today - beginning to end - and almost forgot how great it was. Yeah some songs were loud and distorted (XYU) and some were really cute (Lily, My One and Only) but overall one of the best albums ever. I believe it still sits behind Pink Floyd's The Wall as the best selling double original album of all time. I've listened to Muzzle a million times and today - it jumps out at me. In a sort of hey shit happens - but life still goes on - sort of way. I guess I realize that when I think things are figured out, it's time to panic and wait for the unexpected.

I fear that I'm ordinary, just like everyone
To lie here and die among the sorrows
Adrift among the days
For everything I ever said
And everything I've ever done is gone and dead
As all things must surely have to end
And great lovers will one day have to part
I know that I am meant for this world
My life has been extraordinary
Blessed and cursed and won
Time heals but I'm forever broken
By and by the way...
Have you ever heard the words
I'm singing in these songs?
It's for the girl I've loved all along
Can a taste of love be so wrong
As all things must surely have to end
And great lovers will one day have to part
I know that I am meant for this world
And in my mind as I was floating
Far above the clouds
Some children laughed I'd fall for certain
For thinking that I'd last forever
But I knew exactly where I was

And I knew the meaning of it all
And I knew the distance to the sun
And I knew the echo that is love
And I knew the secrets in your spires
And I knew the emptiness of youth
And I knew the solitude of heart
And I knew the murmurs of the soul
And the world is drawn into your hands
And the world is etched upon your heart
And the world so hard to understand
Is the world you can't live without
And I knew the silence of the world

Tickets

2006-08-29T23:56:00.000-04:00

have fun with this
http://www.says-it.com/concertticket/index.php

here's an example of fun

http://img45.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ticketay5.jpg

Let's Play 2

2006-06-02T12:15:00.001-04:00

2 songs for you -

Keane is a band that somehow I think my grandmother would like, which is a good thing. The lead singer has a voice that reminds me of a traditional 50s singer but they really can make some great rock music. Their latest song "Is it any wonder?" is from a new album being released later this month.

The chorus of this song definitely explains me lately. An odd feeling of constant exhaustion, stress and uncertainty.

Keane - Is It Any Wonder?

I.. I always thought that I knew
I'd always have the right to
be living in the kingdom of the good and true
It's so long that now I think I was wrong
and you were laughing along
And now I look a fool for thinking you were on...

My side,
Is it any wonder I'm tired?
Is it any wonder that I feel uptight?
Is it any wonder I don't know what's right?

Sometimes it's hard to know where I stand,
It's hard to know where I am,
Well maybe it's a puzzle I don't understand.
Sometimes I get the feeling that I'm
stranded in the wrong time
where love is just a lyric in a children's rhyme.

Is it any wonder I'm tired?
Is it any wonder that I feel uptight?
Is it any wonder I don't know what's right?
Oh, these days, after all the misery made,
Is it any wonder that I feel afraid?
Is it any wonder that I feel betrayed?

Nothing left inside this old cathedral,
just the sad, lonely spires,
How do you make it right?

Oh, but you try,
Is it any wonder I'm tired?
Is it any wonder that I feel uptight?
Is it any wonder I don't know what's right?
Oh, these days, after all the misery made,
Is it any wonder that I feel afraid?
Is it any wonder that I feel betrayed?

Pearl Jam - Footsteps

This song has always been a favorite of mine. I heard it performed live for the first time last week. Absolutely amazing, those 4 minutes with the harmonica were worth the price of admission. This song is a part of the "Pearl Jam Trilogy" along with Once and Alive, which they played in order that night. The haunting chorus of "I did what I had to do. If there was a reason, it was you" has become a lyric I have thought about many many times, surrounding a certain past relationship. It's one of those dark night, all alone songs.

Don't even think about reaching me. I won't be home.
Don't even think about stopping by. Don't think of me at all.

I did what I had to do. If there was a reason, it was you.

Aaah, don't even think about getting inside. Voices in my head. Ooh, voices.
I got scratches all over my arms. One for each day since I fell apart.

Ooh, I did, oh, what I had to do. If there was a reason it was you.

Footsteps in the hall... It was you, you.
Ooh, pictures on my chest... It was you. It was you...

Ooh, I did a what I had to do. Oh, and if there was a reason... Oh, there wasn't no reason. no.
And if there's something you'd like to do. Oh, just let me continue to blame you.

Footsteps in the hall... It was you, you.
Ooh, pictures on my chest... It was you, you. Oh

Next: Snow Patrol, Bob Marley vs Funkstar Deluxe

Frank

the new ideas...

2006-05-26T23:08:00.000-04:00

So as I said I think i'm going to turn my blog into a music one. Where I list a song and write about it.

So I think the idea will be to include the mp3s of the song soon. i think i'm going to make a whole new blog - we'll see. So here's 2 songs for today.

KT Tunstall - Heal Over

The first time I heard this song, I was amazed. I hadn't felt the power of music in a long time. It's the warmest song I've heard in years. Just amazing production. Reminds me of the first Zero 7 album, and how I felt when i first heard it. This is another song that I listened to over and over on those quiet dark rides down the parkway from rehearsal.
KT is pretty amazing though and so is her entire album. It will definitely be making the top 10 albums of 2006 for me. The lyrics in this song are pretty amazing, and she's an amazing songwriter. I assure you this album will not let you down.

Next: Keane - Is It Any Wonder

It's been a while...

2006-05-24T23:19:00.000-04:00

So its been a long time since I wrote - and I'll assure you that this blog may not take a turn for the better. It may not be something that some people want to read (No, Jillian, no PETA pics). But I've avoided putting down things for longer than I would have liked out here. All over the internet.

I think what I will be doing for now is linking to random songs and lyrics that I either feel are hitting home right about now. Something inspired by this book. Now this will be both good and bad. Music's in my blood. So it's pretty appropriate to do this here. Or I could do the other idea I had. Which is make a new annonymous one. No links, or readers, just a place for me in my little head - documented on my computer, instead of in that book I carry around. Eh - who knows.

So a quick update on life and then onto the new idea.

Yesterday I DJed here. What a trip. I kinda felt cool doing this to be honest. Thanks to Peter for the reccomendation. I was a part of the show as I ham-ed it up with the host and then did a little 2 hour set for them. This company is amazing, and full of wonderful people, the quote of the day was from my brother said to me "I've been here for 4 hours, and still have no idea what this company does." I think I figured it out...eventually. Thanks to Kate, who told me is it now her mission in life to get me another DJ job. As much as that's really nice and I'm flattered, she needs to find a better life.

So that was all coming down from the high of the weekend in Philly. Returned to Pure for a wonderful night, and they're very excited to have me back in less than 3 weeks for the closing night of gay pride. Sunday, June 11. Where I will be playing what I believe is the longest set I've ever done. 9 1/2 hours. I already talked to James about getting some food up there or something. Karen may come along for the ride as well. Got to hear James and Jonathan spin seperately on Friday. Played a great set on Saturday night, and had 600 people singing along to "Express Yourself." I do believe I have to get an I (heart) Tre shirt for pride. Had 2 meals with Tommy, who was very proud of his latest work project which destroyed a huge pillar. Also spent some great time with Jeanette, a friend I haven't seen in a while, and whom I always forget I miss until I see her. We also ran into MJ (the light guy from Pure) on the street and hung out at his place for a while. Admired his cool eclectic taste in everything from paintings to furniture.

Oh, the play also finished up. All in all, it was fantastic. Had a blast. And it was only this week, that I really miss it. Well more I miss the great staff and the constant partying we did. I hear there will be a DVD soon.

So now for today's song. Hell - here's 2.

#1 Vedera - Lover's Lie

I listened to the acoustic version of this just about every night on the way back from rehearsal. Sometimes more than once. Check out Vedera on myspace.com if you want. Great band.

#2 Counting Crows - Anna Begins

I've heard this song a thousand times before. But something about it grabbed me a few days ago. As I listened to it over and over today. It kept digging in. When I read the lyrics, I'm not totally sure I get it. But thats the beauty of it, and well it's written by Adam Duritz; so you know 2 things for sure. It's about a girl and heartache.

So thats all for today

Frank

Performing for 30

2006-04-03T00:23:00.000-04:00

Tonight I got to go to the tech rehearsal for this. Needless to say it was fantastic - I saw Renee Fleming, John Williams, Itzhak Perlman, Kevin Klein and Peng Peng (pronounced Pong Pong) perform for about 30 people - most of which were staff for tomorrow's live show on PBS.com. As you know I'm a huge John Williams fan, and it was really amazing to hear the theme to "Schindler's List" conducted by the composer and performed by the person who recorded that sad violin.

2 quotes of the evening -

#1
Who: From man in tech booth to person on stage
Context: Itzhak Perlman not happy with sound
Quote: "Ask him if he was happy with the sound at the Oscar's"

#2
Who: Robin Williams via taped video
Context: Talking about Julliard
Quote: "It's kinda like jail - except with cellos"

This was all possible because Billy's partner Mitchell did the set design for it all. So thanks to both of them for remembering - I really appreciate it!! It couldn't have come at a better time.

Frank

New Blog to Read

2006-03-27T23:50:00.001-05:00

I would like to introduce to you the love child of the THS class president of 1996 and 1997. He was also a crossdresser in SING 97. The best to Anthony and GeriAnne!

http://www.mcmahonsbaby.blogspot.com/

Frank

If Only It Were Fiction

2006-03-18T16:52:00.000-05:00

Saranne 03: if only it were fiction

Sarah and I saw this a few weeks back while in the mall - and thought - what the fuck. Next week what is it? Backwaxing next to the Gap? Pedicures in the fountain outside Sears? Sometimes, this island is just so fucking scary. And to make matters worse there will be this.

The End Of The Day

2006-03-14T00:30:00.000-05:00

So after we had bomb scare #2 at work today - and waking up sick again - the day ended somewhat ok. I did book another wedding - which is very good obviously. However, it's kinda hard to go to work tomorrow and expect to actually get anything done - for the 4th day in a row. But just incase the day couldn't get any worse - I find this site. This is an audio daily double people - turn it up!!! I will be sure to write an uplifting gospel track about arthritis next week! Now I mean, there's PR, and then there's this. This makes me want to get Glaucoma so I can get high, and maybe then the song will be good.

Other than that - I'm off to bed - doctor in the morning and another sonogram tomorrow! Hopefully I won't be in the office if the terrorist fuck at work strikes again.

Frank

A little piece of everything...

2006-03-12T00:30:00.000-05:00

So it's been a bizarre week - as they all tend to be. However this one is a bit different. I had a lot of fun and a lot of disturbances, relaxing however - well thats happening now. 12:30am on a lonely Saturday night. I'm sure my parents are having more fun right now in Vegas.

So let's start with music and wrok our way on -
I've been listening to KT Tunstall for the past couple of weeks - I will say that - as the album isn’t earth shattering or all that inventive. “Heal Over” may be one of my favorite songs of the year - possibly falling even into the best of ever category. There’s so many things about that one song that make it so amazing, from the production to the hook and back again. The "warmth" of the song once it really kicks in is just mind blowing. She wasn't well known, but then you get a top album in the UK, and people start listening (also see Artic Monkeys). However, sometimes mainstream music is actually good. In Britain. Sarah also told me about Corinne Bailey Rae, my first reaction to the single being played on BBC1 on Sirius was that I was done with the post-Jem / Natasha Bettingfield chick electro pop with actual talent sound. I know you probably have no idea what that means. However, after listening to Corinne's other tracks - I was trying to find out where she was playing live on Monday in the city. In any case - she's also good. Either wait for the US release ofthe album, or simply ask me for it.

Speaking of Sirius - I finally heard my Area 33 mix. Granted it was the last 4 minutes of it as I left a post-work happy hour at 10:55pm. But I finally heard it. You can always check out my website djfrankmanzo.com for some of those sets. My site administrator has actually been listening when I tell him it's on - cool - and bizarre.

Now we move on to other things - the play has been going well. I think. Still paranoid that we're supposed to be "off book" in 3 weeks. Which to all those non-thespians - a word I did not know the definition of and I felt like an uneducated ass fuck at work 2 weeks ago - means to have your lines memorized. Yeah, no.

Now we talk about the bizarre. Part 1 - Bizarre - yet funny. Natalie Portman on SNL.

Part 2 - Bizarre - yet disturbing. This past week - we've had hate crimes, anti-semetic grafitti and a bomb scare at work. Now, I assure you - this isn't fun. And more distrubing about it - is that it's most likely an employee. Things are only getting a bit more scary - as Wednesday it was anti-semetic words written in 12 places on our walls. Thursday - it was water in the toaster and microwave - followed by 4 phone lines being cut. Then at 11:15am on Friday - BOMB - written on a piece of paper in the copy room. This obviously created panic all around. Stores evacuated - the whole deal. We were cleared to go back in - but everyone was left a bit shaken by the end of the day.
For me - my adrenaline was on - I tend to deal with crisis situations well, but I crash big time after them. And that was what happened.

Fortunately - last night was fun at the house - probably more fun than my parents had in Vegas!

Till next time.

Frank

Springsteen sings the PS3 Chorus

2006-03-05T11:09:00.000-05:00

I think when Bruce Springsteen begins to cover songs I sang in chorus in PS3 when I was 9 - he may have jumped the shark. However - it is nice to know who wrote some of these songs. Thanks to Pete Seeger - no relation to The Silver Bullet Band.

Springsteen's back with Seeger's songs

Frank

Disturbing..but not in a PETA way

2006-03-01T23:10:00.000-05:00

Sarah writes: I started to read it and then I got really upset and had to stop. It's so scary that people like that exist.

Sicko "Marriage Contract" One For The Ages

This is an article - no pictures of animals being mistreated. Unless however - by animal you mean "Travis Frey" and by mistreated you mean "should be shot" - than this article may be as disturbing as that link to the PETA video a while back.

Frank

Tonight we're gonna blog like it's 1998

2006-02-25T13:38:00.000-05:00

I've been doing a small amount of pre-Spring computer cleaning and found some good stuff. In particular saved pages from my old AOL website. Which, despite what Allison said about the internet, is not still there.

So if I get some time I will put the site up again, it's mostly text pages with the old school jpegs and gifs. However, what I did like most about my site was the collection of seemingly now classic "Random Thoughts." So I will give you a few till I figure out what to do with the rest of the pages. So here they come from some familiar readers here - ok well maybe one or two.

9/24/98 Monica Lewinski is getting paid $450,000+ to model in Milan because of her new found noterity--If all you have to do to get half a mil is blow the president...then show me to the oval office (Tom G)

10/17/98 "Bring Back The Richard Bey Show" (Tommy M)

11/16/98 Damn...you forget how much a shot of 151 hurts till you haven't had it in a long long time...(Jack)

Well on that note I'm going back to finishing up my next Sirius mix - make a few DJ phone calls - and actually send some time with the woman today.

Frank

The shit I get myself into

2006-02-21T23:56:00.000-05:00

For a while I've been intrigued by a photography book - Now this probably doesn't surprise many of you. I'm a fan of both porn and photgraphy. I remember seeing this book at a Barnes & Noble in the city with Sarah and calling her over to see it. I thought the idea was fantastic. Both clothed and nude pictures of porn stars. Really done in the most artistic way you could. I know what you're thinking, but look at the book if you get a chance. It's nudity not sex. Sounds like an arguement from my play.
In any case - HBO did a special called "Thinking XXX" on the photgrapher, Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, while making the book. This is because he's actually a highly regarded photgrapher and has done portraits of presidents.

So I'm watching it and I notice there's a gay male porn star that I recognize. Now, I will say I have seen 1 gay porn, ok 2 - 1 way thanks to my roomate freshman year at college who had to rent one for baseball initiation. However, he did decide to watch it...several times. The second was due to having actual gay roomates - that had porn. But I knew I knew him from somewhere else and I realised it is from working for Billy at a catering job, as a doorman. I did not realize that on 2 occacions it was the home of what seems to be (after a small google search) one of the biggest (on the HBO show - another man said he was the "biggest") gay porn stars around. Michael Lucas.
There are some days when I wonder how I get myself into shit like this, and somedays I kinda find it interesting.

So the past 3 posts should be enough links and reading for a while - enjoy.

Frank

Guido Fist Pump

2006-02-21T18:54:00.001-05:00

I'm pretty sure, this is funny. If nothing else, it's something I've seen a billion times. Well usually by those that were old enough to get into the club. Unlike the little Guido here.

Gino the Ginny

For actually a much less funny look at this kid - he's on myspace

See - fucking people don't learn - remember the "A Bronx Tale"? Now Mr. Staring Actor's in jail.

Some people need to take themselves out.

That's today's public service announcement by Frank M, MA in Psychology

Sometimes I Just Don't Understand...

2006-02-21T18:31:00.000-05:00

Here are two articles I read today - (Neither about PETA, Jillian!) The first is about these anti-gay protestors that picket at the funerals of those that lost their lives in Iraq.

The most disturbing line is this "His protesters carry signs thanking God for so-called IEDs -- explosives that are a major killer of soldiers in Iraq." Really what I do like about the article is they talk about the Patriot Guard Riders who are a group of 5,000 strong bikers that are there to counter the protestors.

Motorcyclists Roll to Soldiers' Funerals

Article #2 - Is this port selling debacle. Now I don't know how I feel - but it was funny since my Bush supporting father's first comment was that Mr. Pres would be outraged. On the contrary...

Bush Says Port Deal 'Ought to Go Forward'

So thats today's news - tune in next time where I will talk about how we almost went bowling in the city for $400.

Frank

Why I spent the day in bed...by Frank Manzo

2006-02-19T23:42:00.000-05:00

Last weekend - I spent a lot of time in bed. With Sarah, because - well - why not - but also because it was snowing a lot and we were in Philly. Today I spent the day in bed thanks to a night out with my friends. Now I'm what Goldman calls a "2 Beer Queer," however I call it "A Cheap Date." Which translates that I have a relatively low tolerance for alcohol and while drunk get very impulsive. So more beer sounds like a great idea after - oh let's say - 3 Irish Car Bombs. I don't remember how many drinks I had over the night - but it was a lot. Probably say - 1 Harp, 1 Coors Light, and 4 Guinesses. Aside from the Irish car Bombs.

So I woke up this morning feeling much better than I thought I would. Showered, got ready to go out, as I had a bridal expo and dinner with friends to get to - had some lunch and that's when God said - Boy! Are you fucking crazy? I was quickly banished and ordered to attend a prayer service in front of God, as he changed shape to a large porcelain object securely bolted to the floor and conveniently located in your bathroom. (Suddenly I feel like this should be done by Sweet Pussy Pauline)

Anyway - I called Sarah at several times during the day to tell her that I was about to leave since I felt better. All those times were again stopped with 15 minutes, by God saying - Motherfucker is you still there? (Ok now we're into Sweet Pussy Pauline) God really said - Lay down bitch, turn on the olympics and rest. If you don't I swear to Christ, my only son, that I will strike you down and when you wake up from your nap - NASCAR will be on and you will not have enough energy to change it and you may even find it interesting! So - well when God speaks - I listened. Or maybe not, because I was watching the Daytona 500 and found it interesting that 200,000 people were there watching this shit. I bet if you took the number of people there with mullets and divided by the number of collective teeth - you'd still have a number higher than all the brain cells there. In any case - Sarah yelled at me - which was a good thing. She told me (much like God did, she's my Goddess)- turn around girlfriend and listen to that boy's song - ok no - Sarah really said to stay in bed and stop trying to move, because then I'll still feel like shit tomorrow. She was right. In 5 minutes it will be tomorrow and as much as I feel better, I do hope tomorrow I can muster up the energy to do my laundry and whatever else I need to do.

However, on a good note - I did have a lot of fun with the crew. Glad we all got to go out and have fun - I think I may have taken the cake on stupidity, but really - such is life. So a much belated happy birthday to Fuji a man that would woop my ass in a game of Beer Survivor any time.

So I'm off to bed - despite kinda not being tired since I napped for several hours throughout the day. I will also leave you with this - www.xpeeps.com - which I believe is like myspace for porn.

Thank God (really thanking him) for not giving former Presidents eternal life. Because then tomorrow I would be working.

Frank

Maybe I'm just bored

2006-02-18T15:30:00.000-05:00

TEN Random Things You May Not Know About Me:
1. I have a bizarre photographic memory. I have memories of old experiences that are more like snapshots in my brain. Sometimes I can be in the photo, sometimes not. The first one I have is with my Grandma Helen on my Aunt Carol’s wedding day. It’s my only memory of her.
2. I was actually born in Long Island, and lived in Queens till I was 1 and then moved to Staten Island and have lived in this house since.
3. I’ve never broken a bone and have only had 1 trip to the ER when I was in high school. Knock wood.
4. My father wouldn’t let me go to Wroxton College unless I took a business course there.
5. I DJed my first party when I was about 12. I used a karaoke machine that had 2 tape decks and would cue up my cassette singles to when the song started to play music without stopping. I wouldn’t call it mixing – but that was the idea.
6. For as long as I can remember, the end of “Ghost” makes me cry.
7. I still have the address tag from my first dog Prissy. She was named after a character in Gone With The Wind.
8. I can’t throw things out. I collect everything. I have comic books, baseball cards, collector’s plates, autographs, cds, etc. I’m hoping one day I will sell them and make some money.
9. I tied my shoes in bunny ears until 1999. When 2 things happened – Sarah was appalled that I did that and I refused to tie steel toe Doc Martin’s with bunny ears.
10. I stare are everyone. When I’m walking in the city, or in the mall, or wherever – I tend to look at everyone. This has gotten me in trouble with a significant other and I’ve spotted a number of famous people.

NINE Places I've Visited: (without getting there by car, in chronological order)
1. Orlando, FL
2. Tokyo, Japan
3. Raleigh, NC
4. Wroxton, England
5. Brussels, Belgium
6. Paris, France
7. Venice, Italy
8. Rome, Italy
9. Chicago, IL

EIGHT Ways to Win My Heart:
1. Fun. Have it, love it, live it. Encompasses both in a foreign land and at home.
2. Take me on an adventure. A nice dinner somewhere random (White Castle or Sushi Samba) or a quest to find a dress for a party.
3. Do things because you know I’d like it, and actually enjoy it because I do.
4. Listen to music and really feel it.
5. Let me be stupid and laugh about it.
6. Sexiness. As a life choice. Can be anything from a wake up hug to a goodnight kiss.
7. Enjoys patiently educating my naive self.
8. Support me, in anything I feel passionate about. For example: Being ok with me DJing on weekends and telling me the Menlo Park mall is much smaller than the Woodbridge Mall.

SEVEN Things I Want to Do Before I Die:

1. Be on stage at Madison Square Garden in front of a sold out crowd.
2. Write a song.
3. To know that something I’ve said or done to someone has impacted or changed their life for the better.
4. Get my 15 minutes of fame for something good or fun.
5. Relax.
6. Live in Manhattan.
7. Have a three - never mind…

SIX Things I'm Afraid Of:

1. Heights.
2. Mayonaise.
3. Not being happy.
4. Failing.
5. Not being there when someone needed me.
6. My future children.

FIVE Things I Don't Like:
1. Mayonaise. Unless it’s the acoustic version of a Smashing Pumpkins song of the same name.
2. Bitchiness.
3. Conceit.
4. White Creamy Foods – I’m getting better.
5. Silence.

FOUR Ways to Turn Me Off:
1. Be disrespectful and not have remorse.
2. Do things to hurt someone on purpose.
3. Tell me something negative about myself when I’m already feeling vulnerable.
4. Be boring.

THREE Things I Do Every Day:
1. Listen to music.
2. Think about and talk to the woman.
3. Think about sex.

TWO Things that Make Me Happy:
1. Love.
2. Music.

ONE Thing On My Mind Right Now:
That I should be doing a million other things right now – but instead I’m doing this – which I’ve wanted to do for days. I’m thinking how I should be doing my next Sirius mix, but instead I’m listening to an amazing Jazz album by Herbie Hancock called “Possibilities.” How I’m glad I have the day to be able to do things like blog, listen to jazz, do my laundry and relax just a bit. I also hope that I can do the same thing once I’m married. Thinking about how the beginning of this version of “I just called to say I love you” is so amazing.

There’s probably only one time when there’s only one thing on my mind.

Weppa!

2006-02-07T02:26:00.000-05:00

Woke up in New York Ci-Tay! Ok, now most of you know I like a lot of bizarre things, do bizarre things and such. So tonight I went to - hold laughter - a Ricky Martin concert. Now before you start to yell GAY in Spanish (hold that for the weekend at Pure or that other night I'm still trying to forget) - understand that the place was filled with 95% women. So this may have been a single man's (and I AM NOT SINGLE) oasis. I watched women get hit on while walking up the stairs, and for the most part the crowd was very attractive. Ok now, I was expecting a boring experience. However, it was actually very different. To my surprise - the show was very good. There were video screens that could have been designed by the same people that do the Nine Inch Nails live video shows. Japanese anime with some pounding technoish music during his costume changes. That was a cool experience. A bunch of the songs went right with what was on the screens and there were 4 separate screens which really made an amazing visual experience to it all. Now, ok musically - the band was really good. They reinterpreted a lot of the hits. Which actually was really refreshing - since I was expecting it to be just played out song after played out song. There was one hit that used what sounded like "Pass the Courvoisier, Part 2" as the beat. Another sounded like if you mixed Busta Rhymes "Dangerous" with Nelly Furtado's "Powerless."
So the show almost ended with really long guitar solo that if it was Pearl Jam's "Alive" - would've had the place going nuts. However, it's Ricky Martin and people were bored. Until of course - he dropped that new reggaeton club banger which I believe made women scream at dB levels I didn't know existed. Only a gay guy can make a girl scream like that without touching her! When a girl screams like that in daily life, that means they call the cops. Oddly enough, I think I had more fun than my mother.

I actually ALMOST lost it when he started doing Capoeira and the band started singing "paranaue." If you don't get this - it's ok - see the awesomely bad movie "Only The Strong" and call up Mike Musco. If you don't have any idea what the fuck I'm talking about, you're actually wrong. You know this song. Anyways, Whoever conceptualized the concert was a genius. Too bad he's employed by Ricky Martin and not someone else.

To finish this talk - Pure on FRIDAY!!!! Will I play Ricky Martin's "I Don't Care (LEX Remix)" Probably not.

OK - so onto part 2 - I saw Tom Cavanaguh from my new favorite show "Love Monkey" while walking to the concert. This show isn't the best thing ever - but it really relates to me, my life, my massive collection of music information, the kind of job I wish I had, and most importantly my ADHD. Watch a show, get some cool indie-pop music in your life and see 20 second guest appearances. Ben Folds and LeAnn Rimes in the last episode. And we all know how many times I've seen that person on stage. Ben Folds that is! One Ricky Martin concert, let's not go Crazy. SONG TITLE by Artist! Damn - They should hire me to write for them.

Anyways - moving on - backwards - Sunday was the Superbowl - now I'm happy cuz she's happy. But if I hear "One for the Thumb" again - that thumb is gonna go somewhere the sun doesn't shine. Ok - stop - it was 1 fucking Ricky Martin concert!

Saturday night was really good. Sarah and I went to see Slava's Snowshow. A bizarre event that was sad, and funny and ended up with me having little pieces of confetti / snow in my undershirt. At the end of the show we had been hit with bubbles, water, smoke, tons of snow confetti and then balls. Ok enough with the Ricky Martin! Big blown up balloon balls that were hit around the audience. It was a fun experience all together. I think kids would really love it, as did the group of 7th graders behind us. They kept throwing all the snow onto their teachers. Hell if it's February in NYC and it's 60 degrees - I'll take snow any way I can!

After Sarah and I headed over to our new favorite place to eat - Punch. The food was excellent - all of it. It's rare that we go out and order appetizers, a meal and desert. But it was all just fantastic. Ok - the chocolate syrup tasted a bit burnt - but that was it! I'd go back in a second, and it's really priced moderately. A much better deal than many other places in the area.

Ok - So rehearsal went pretty well last week. At least I think so. Karen may stop blogging about it, but that's her business. She told me to settle down and stop being so nervous, which for me is pretty fucking impossible when I'm doing something like this. But I'm doing my best. We'll see how Thursday night goes! I have to be sure to tape Survivor.

So that's about it - so glad so many people are coming to Pure on Friday. It should be a hell of a time! We'll have a GAY OLD TIME!!!!!!!!!! (Best link of the day)

Ok - I think I need some sleep.

Frank

PS - I tried to find the translation to "Weppa" - but either it's not spelled correctly or doesn't technically mean anything. Anyone, anyone, Bueller?

Late at night, when the demons come...

2006-01-27T22:47:00.000-05:00

It's nights like tonight where I want to scream or maybe even cry. I went to the doctor yesterday and have fluid in my left ear. Now I didn't think this happened to anyone over the age of 4 - but obviously I'm wrong. So tack one more physical ailment in the past year and we're up to like 5 or 6. Which would be par for my brother, but not me.

Where this leaves me is in a nice little dark ditch where I feel like I'm going to stay for a while. Just about all of my forms of stress relief have been taken away from me and I'm screaming (inside) to let it all out. I guess this is the point of today's entry. I've actually been thinking of doing an anonymous blog so I can talk about all the shit going on without anyone knowing that it's Frank Manzo or DJ Frank Manzo. Since if you do a google search for either, this blog will appear, along with the stats of a same-named race car driver from NJ.

So what do I do to relieve stress on my own? Well #1 and the best one - DJing. Now it can be stressful, but it's usually a lot of fun. I'm been laid off from the Waterloo again, which is both a blessing and a curse. Blessing because it's boring as hell and can't deal with the regulars that want to hear reggaeton for 2 hours. Curse - I can use the money and there are some nights where I can have fun playing some really good music. I'm looking so forward to Pure on Feb 10 it's unreal. I'm also looking forward to stress reliever #2 - Vacation - that same weekend. Now a weekend in Philly, isn't exactly paradise, but it will be nice to be away from home, in a hotel, and actually share the weekend with a good group of friends and of course the woman. 4 of which are linked on the side there. So I assure you that Feb 10 will be a great night and I will stop at nothing to assure that the crowd leaves in a frenzy! At least, thats how I hope it ends.

#2 - Vacations haven't happened much lately - since Belize in 2004 for Sarah and I. It's LONG overdue and hopefully we can get away before we really get away for the honeymoon.

#3 - The gym and physical activity. Now I alluded to a physical ailment a few posts back, this has prevented me from going to the gym or any kind of exercise since November 14th. Well, except for Gay Ski Weekend. I was weighed yesterday at the doctors office at 178 lbs. Granted I was wearing a sweater and heavy pants (I usually do that in shorts and a t-shirt). I almost shit (which probably would've dropped me a pound or 2), since about 2 years ago when I was almost 180 I decided that was it! Off to the gym I went and at my peak was down to 157lbs. Far from skinny, but good enough to eat the way I wanted, feel and look good. So I'm feeling generally bad about this and myself, since I was doing quite well. So I just decide that eating chocolate (something I've done everyday since Thanksgiving - someone call Guiness) is a good idea, after lunch, maybe around 3pm and then obviously after dinner. Sometimes even before it. I mean I love the stuff, but being unable to do anything physical as really lowered my standard for what is good for me. It's very much a "well what the hell - I can't eat this shit when I'm healthy" feeling. Cue What I Craved last Thursday night.

-side note - James Anthony just calls to tell me my Sirius mixshow is on. It is 11:15pm and Frank is now happy for the 2nd time today. First time was when Sarah gave me these as a suprise. More junk food.

Anyways -# 4 and 5 are other stress relievers that a bit more private. Ones you engage in by yourself (#4), or with a partner (#5). Well if you're lucky, there's 3 of you (# in my dreams). One friend yesterday was appauled and said he could never do that for even a day, and that a typical day is around 3 private moments with himself. Another friend simply shouted in a recent car trip "SINCE NOVEMBER." Believe me it's been frustrating, and I haven't been abiding by Dr's orderers totally. Let's be reasonable here. See this for reference

So I hope after my doctor appointment on Monday, I will be able to keep the tradition of going on the Annual Super Bowl Sunday Ski Trip to PA.

So I will use this blog to bitch and complain and spill my life out onto the internet in hopes that it will not come and bit me in the ass. And hopefully the play will provide the non-physical, non-sexual, non-vacation, non-musical stress relief and fun I need to get me through till I can get back to life as I knew it.

I leave you with this from "In the Line of Fire" -

Mitch Leary: What did happen to you that day? Only one agent reacted to the gunfire, and you were closer to Kennedy than he was. You must have looked up at the window of the Texas Book Depository, but you didn't react. Late at night, when the demons come, do you see the rifle coming out of that window, or do you see Kennedy's head being blown apart? If you'd reacted to that first shot, could you have gotten there in time to stop the big bullet? And if you had - that could've been your head being blown apart. Do you wish you'd succeeded, Frank? Or is life too precious?

Tonight, life is just too precious.

Frank

Disturbing

2006-01-26T02:03:00.000-05:00

Ok I'm not a big PETA lover or anything - but when this comes across my eyes. I had to pass it on. Click here for video
Now I don't know how I feel that PETA wants you to spam people in order to win a fucking Ipod, but after watching the video - spam just isn't a good word. Do NOT view within 30mins before or after eating anything that has ever taken a breath.

As if i didn't already feel like shit - I watch this and now I'm also disturbed.

Need to attempt sleeping - although that hasn't been working lately.

Frank

Scene 1

2006-01-25T00:32:00.000-05:00

So tonight was the rehearsal and I didn't know what to expect. For all I knew tonight we were going to be drilled on our lines while getting initiated by the boy scouts that are in the hall before we are. Fortunately, the boy scouts only had pine races on their minds and there was no initiation.

It was relatively painless and I was told that I did a good job, despite reading a few words wrong and stumbling a few lines. Although everyone screwed up at some point. I was just the first to do it. I definitely feel wierd, as everyone else is a "theatre person" and I'm just someone that likes a good play every so often, the occacional musical and a good show from time to time. So I know nothing about what is supposed to happen.

Donna told me I couldn't be any worse than the Philip in the production at BSC, which is a backward compliment. Much like the pep talk we got from a bleeding Karen. Sounds like there was a low audition turnout, but she's very happy with the cast. And so am I!! The 2 leads are actually dating - which is kinda cool. Also means they should be able to practice a lot more than the rest of us. It also means that scene 3 may be a little more realistic than the Grandparents in the front may be able to handle.

This play is not um - clean. My character yells "Penis" within the 1st 15 mins and "Fuck" is also a favorite of Philip. Unfortunately, I don't get to drop the one and only use of the C-Bomb in the show.

Well, in case you are wondering about what the C-Bomb is - its when our next rehearsal is... C U Next Tuesday.

I'm off to bed - in order to wake up for what hopes to be a great meeting in the city, but I'm more of a skeptic. The first one made me feel like I was at a Black Panters meeting, and the following one was a debriefing of that meeting. Nothing like a debfiefing 6 months later, what are we the ACS / DYFS?

Well, in case you are wondering about what the C-Bomb is - its when our next rehearsal is... C U Next Tuesday.

Frank

Secretions, Secretions are no fun - I mean Secrets!

2006-01-23T01:18:00.000-05:00

Well there's a few things that have been kept under wraps lately - that are going to be blown out of the water. See I know most of you reading this are well aware of what's going on - but I'll put it here for your amusement and to kill just a few more moments of your day and deter you from going to myspace.com.

Secret #1 - I'm really a woman. Ok joking. I'm not a woman. However, my health at the current time is in limbo as I'm having physical issue number 128 since last years superbowl. Need details? E-mail - I'll explain - it involves an attractive girl and and uncomfortable position; among several other doctor visits and such. The story is both funny and alarming. Feel free to call me, then sit down and laugh out loud.

Secret #2 - I have a Sirius mixshow - its done - go to djfrankmanzo.com to download the set and give it a listen. I will post when it will air for those of you that have Sirius and can listen. Although I believe out here on the east coast - its would air between 9am-10am and 9pm-10pm. Odd times I will say. It's very very mainstream, but its a fun mix.

Secret #3 - In high school I was involved in the student run musical knows as SING. Which we won (twice, kinda). He was the director and he was in the chorus (1 of 4 guys). I became the backstage director, mainly due to my amazing building skills (or great help). Since my stage fright could be more anxiety provoking than having to eat a mayonnaise sandwich at 100 ft (that would be torture) I always opted to be behind the scenes and almost shit myself when after we won our senior year and I was hoisted up by the backstage crew to see a full crowd of people looking at me.

Now since those days - I have gotten better. DJing has lowered stage fright exponentially, I've also had to do lots of other public speaking things, role plays, presentations and ran counseling groups. So I decided to take the advice that someone gave me in a counseling course about 4 years ago and pursue acting.

Karen is directing "The Shape Of Things" and I figured it would be fun to audition. I thought - well Karen is directing so it's a bit less pressure to try out and I maybe could give me a tip or two. It's also at the Radburn Players which doesn't get a huge crowd to some of their shows. Although their last production of "Man of LaMancha" was a HUGE success and I will say a great great production. Honestly, their productions have become better over the few years we've been going to see Karen in them (even those where Karen is in her underwear or gets felt up). So last Monday, I detoured away from some traffic and hit speeds upwards of 80mph on the NJ Turnpike in order to make it to the audition about 15 mins late. With that said I read for both parts and ended up getting the supporting role of Phillip. Fortunately I do not have to kiss anyone as the main character does, which obviously was a controversial subject that was avoided.

So for those of you that would like to see my acting debut and prefacing panic attacks come here

So I'm working on this next week's Sirius mixshow that will be more trancey and will air on Area 33. I haven't DJed trance in a long time, so this will be interesting and fun.

And for some real tribal house fun - Pure in Philly on Friday Feb 10. It's a 1/2 post party for the Gay Men's Chorus and 1/2 a "Best of Billy Carroll Presents Month." It will be me - doing what I do best - which is having a lot of fun and playing some great music. Lots of people coming down for the event - which always makes it better!

So there you go - all my secretions... I mean secrets. I need to sleep.

Frank

Money

2006-01-16T00:13:00.000-05:00

Not an exciting news day really...Just a keep me busy because lying is bed appears to be bad for my mental health at the moment.

I walked into the mall today to and my cousin was working at Express. Those of you that a) frequent the SI Mall and b) know my cousin - understand this is not an uncommon event. However, after I said hi, she said "I still owe you money" which I actually had forgotten about. So I think it would be a good day if more people said that to me. Here's a list of people that owe me money and how overdue it is.

Jarod R - $100 - the balance of a DJ job from FUCKING JULY!!!!
Chris V - $100 - the balance of a DJ job from last night
Danny M - $600? - the balance of his lifestyle for the last 5 years or so

I think thats about it. Which is good. Anymore and I might need to hire "the man" to start knocking on doors.

I did make some extra money this weekend as both Friday (at the Loo - thanks to a bunch of people drunk and on Xanax) and Saturday (at the Wedding - thanks to a bunch of people drunk and on the dancefloor) we went for extra time. The wedding was actually a lot of fun and went really well. We all had a blast. That included the 15 people in sailor hats doing the YMCA. It was that kind of night - not that I've ever had a night like that previously. Despite what you may think!

Tomorrow brings a day of working on all things dj - a trip to West Orange to check out catering hall and then working on my mixes for Sirius. Maybe a drink with Jack - maybe a night thinking - maybe I'll gear up for my hectic week.

Or maybe I won't

Frank

Young Hearts Run - Like HELL!!

2006-01-12T22:12:00.000-05:00

I read this article and was a bit disturbed. This might be worse than leaving the cake out in the rain.

Young Hearts

An exclusive first listen to my new Sirius Mixshow on Monday to the first person to tell me title and artist of that reference. Yes - thanks to James "Mr Freestyle" Anthony, I will have my own mix show on both The Beat (Ch 36) and Area33 (Ch 33).

I never posted my top 50 tracks of 2005 - Hopefully I'll do that on Monday.

I'll also talk to you about how much fun it is to spend 7 hours in the Psychiatric Emergency Room.

Frank

Albums of 2005

2005-12-28T21:07:00.000-05:00

Ok so once again we're doing the Top 15 Albums of the Year...
Feedback always welcome. Hope you enjoy it.
In addition to the Top 15, there's a bonus 5 Biggest Disappointments!

Frank

all can be purchased or scoffed at here - Top 15 - Disappointing 5

1. Nine Inch Nails – With Teeth
If you didn't see this one coming, than you may not know who I am. However, this album really is the best album of the year for me. It's a huge departure and not a letdown. It makes you listen to the last NIN album and question it a bit. A solid collection of 12 songs that have no cohesion - which is odd for a NIN album. However, this is a concept album - the concept is that all the songs are good.

2. Veda (Verdera) – Weight of an Empty Room
Of all the albums I picked up this year, this was a huge suprise. I saw them live openeing for #4 on the list and it's the only 1st opener I've ever seen that left you wanting more. The album is great. Girl singer and no piano! So it's a bit atypical of my tastes. However, each song is a solid pop rock song with well written lyrics and a subtle fierceness that really makes you want to start the whole album over again...and again...and again...

3. The Bravery - The Bravery
This year's answer to the Killers, except not bitchy and obnoxious people. It takes the whole 80s synth pop and makes it dancey - not club, but jump up and down fun. And they're New Yorkers.

4. Dredg – Catch Without Arms
Here's a band a friend of mine has liked for a while and once I started hearing them for myself, I knew why he was so attached to them. It's a great combonation of what is left of grunge with a smoother feel and a couple cool electronic sounds and instruments. It's the indie rock answer to pink floyd, or maybe more like Yes.

5. Ringside - Ringside
Another friend sent me this albums months before it came out, and I was going crazy over it. Originally "tired of being sorry" was called "spanish faster" - and if you hear it makes more sense. Another band that can actually sing and play. I don't think they'll ever make it anywhere, sounds like they're more about the record company paying for them to tour instead of actually playing shows and jobbing it. So if you buy it, remember its supporting corporate america.

6. Fall Out Boy – From Under the Cork Tree
Ok aside from all the songs having a twist on a famous movie quote, it's the best faux punk album since last year's Green Day album. "Sugar, We're Going Down" is the one of the catchiest songs all year and the rest of the albums backs it up with the same feel. Definitely a good driving cd.

7. Superchumbo - Wowiezowie Much like the NIN cd, you'd expect this from me. Superchumbo finally releases a full disk, and its chock full of dancefloor gems. "U Know I Love It" makes me want to turn the bass up on life and sing along. Or maybe do a whole lot of dancing in the DJ booth at Pure in Philly.

8. Gorillaz – Demon Days
What happens when you put a bunch of cartoon monkeys in a studio for the second time? Bach? Gershwin? Another great album that blends all genres and makes rap actually rock? Yeap. that it does.

9. Ben Folds – Songs for Silverman
What you'd expect from this man. A great album of cheeky piano driven rock songs and a few slow ballads about an old man or 2. "Gracie" is a song about his daughter, which really reminds you why you should love Ben Folds.

10. Switchfoot – Nothing is Sound
This band keeps suprising me. It's the only Christian Rock band I really like, and have a lot of respect for them for this reason. The lead singer posted on the bands website how to rip the cd into your computer in order to put it on your ipod or make a copy of it. Thou shall not steal apparently doesn't apply to the record industry, I think we may all agree on that. "Stars" is a great song and it's another great CD to just throw in and listen to.

11. Beck – Guero
Beck makes a return from his last venture which was full of acoustic songs. More hip hop laced and keeps the feet moving. "Hell yes" and "Clap Hands" (on the remix cd) are the 2 highlights. and "hell yes" has a great video.

12. Little Brother – The Minstrel Show
Oddest cd of the year, hands down. It's a cool kinda tounge in cheek album where they makes jokes while actually singing and it really draws your attention in and there's a vocal appearance by Chris Hartwick (from MTV's Singled Out). A must have for all those that loved Spike Lee's "Bamboozled."

13. Lil Kim – Naked Truth
Lil Kim picks up her game and throws it in the face of those punk ass mcs that think she can't hold it down no mo! "Kitty Box" (which i think needs a house mix) is my favorite. Lil Kim definitely for the pick of the litter for beats and ripped it on the vocals.

14. Suzanne Palmer – Home
This is more what the Madonna album should have been in my opinion. An album of dancefloor tracks that can be played as is. It's nice to have a full album of Suzanne Palmer as you usually only heard her amazing voice on a song that came out every few months. The cover of "fascinated" really drives the dancefloor nuts and the rest of the tracks would be just about perfect for anyone to drop at peaktime.

15. Acceptance – Phantoms
This was an iTunes special. It was a free download and then that turned into a great album. Just listening to the clips on iTunes makes me want to pop the album in.

and now the disappointments...

1. Kanye West – Late Registration
The albums's 1st track ends with the words "wake up mr. west" - an understatement. However, when you make such a great CD out of the gate, there's only 1 way to go. This cd has 3 great songs... track 2, 3 and 4. and then you have to suffer through the rest of a disjointed mess. sometimes you will find some solace only to be disturbed again by a massacre of an album. The 1st cd was an album - and made sense from beginning to end. when you get to the end of this cd, you get screwed up. You have track 19 called "gone," then a bonus track of the original "Diamonds from Sierra Leone" - but the song is has nothing to do with Sierra Leone and was originally titled "Diamonds are Forever." But then there's another fucking track called "Late." So goodbye album flow at all - whatsoever - in the least. BOOOOO TO KANYE!!!

2. Madonna – Confessions on a Dancefloor
Madonna's comeback to dance music, this album had so much buzz. Everyone was talking about how great it was gonna be - fans placing it above Erotica and Ray of Light. Before anyone ever heard a single note. Then there's "Hung Up" - you gotta be kidding me. Then there's the rest of the album to this resurgance to dance music. Maybe if you're in a lounge in Paris or something - but thats not dance music to the US. Especially in NY where freestyle is still a staple part of people's diet, this really isn't the massive impact we were hoping for. At least not the one I was hoping for. Now don't get me wrong the disk isn't all bad. "Jump" (not a Pointer Sisters nor Van Halen cover) is a highlight and really is well done.

3. Garbage – Bleed Like Me
I think that record companies have to stop making bands fulfill contracts. I think thats what happened here. Just months after making their 2nd bad album in a row they broke up. This band made 2 of the best albums ever "Garbage" and "Version 2.0" - and really fell hard. So sad...

4. Fiona Apple – Extrodinary Machine
If you don't know the drama behind this album - here's the short short version. 2 different producers same set of songs - long hold out by record label, lots of drama. Unfortunately, this really doesn't give you the feel that "Tidal" did, and picks the worst songs from "When The Pawn..." to elaborate on. It's up for a Grammy, I dunno.

5. Billy Corgan – The Future Embrace
This man needs to swallow his pride and make some good music. Stop talking about theory and shit and DO SOMETHING PEOPLE WANT TO LISTEN TO!!!! In an interview, he discusses how there are no "crash" symbols used on the album and that it made them have to work harder to go from verse to chorus and such. Crash - the sound the cd made when I threw it at the wall of disappointment.

Questions? Comments? Spelling Errors?

Coming soon - the Top 50 Songs of 2005.

Jews On Christmas

2005-12-08T00:13:00.000-05:00

In case Adam Sandler and Kyle from South Park wasn't enough - we get Sarah Silverman taking a stab at it. 2005's Jew's angry at Christmas Song. I will say, however, that jew can sing (if it's really her).

Kanye West has already started to say his last album, "Late Registration," should be album of the year. First off, if "College Dropout" didn't win, this one will definitely not.

It will however top this list:

2005's Top 5 Albums - Biggest Dissapointments

1. Kanye West - Late Registration

Now I will say that this does not mean that these albums are all bad. Just huge dissapointments. Any suggestions? Madonna perhaps? More next time...

#1 On My Christmas List

2005-12-01T00:02:00.000-05:00

I hope one day someone will auction off something that I used to clean my ass. Maybe I should start saving used toilet paper. Go here for more items

CONTEST ALERT:

Guess how much this will auction for. Winner get a free package of toilet paper that I've personally used!!

WHAT THE-?!

Frank

What The-?!

2005-11-30T00:12:00.000-05:00

Back in the day there was a comic book by Marvel Comics called "What The-?!" It was a comic about nothing reeally, it was Mad Magazine but with all the Marvel characters all drawn wierd and screwed up without a plot line and such. Here are some links to this week's real life WHAT THE-?!

Q-Unit - Somehow if 50 makes it to jail, he'll be singing these songs

I wish I was 13, Jewish, female, and oh right filthy fucking rich (Another Q-Unit appearance)

My own "What The-?!" moment happened on Sunday. Here's the short short version. Saw Rent at the movies, bought senior tix in order to save $3.75 a ticket. Drop $180 for dinner at Sushi Samba. WHAT THE-?!

Although I will say it was a great movie and meal. Honestly, one of the better weekends I've had in a long time, and I believe Sarah agrees.

See you in December...

Frank

want an x-box?

2005-11-22T20:19:00.000-05:00

At this point its about 9 hours after most of the x-box's in EST have gone onsale. Now just for the record - there are over 15,000 on ebay. 15,000!!! And so far they have sold for over $3000. Now next year, I will be sure to be the dickhead waiting in the rain for a Nintendo Revolution with about 5 other people and then sell them all in order to bring myself some good old fashioned price gauging - i mean christmas cheer.

and apparently the only thing I can do to get some good comments is to comment on the invention of the internet and the fact that x-box should not be on the news.

in any case - next year is the new Nintendo Revolution system and that will be what you want to buy. X-box?? what the fuck? sounds like what happens what you call when you bang a person you've broken up with. or not...

and now for the what the fuck moment of the day - which few of you will actually care about.

The Radio Chick has jumped back to teressterial radio (aka the shitty kind) and is now gonna be on WXRK. Now I could be wrong but the dumbest move ever in radio history could be to lose the #1 radio talk show host ever and then choose to make your station all talk. Aside from that, we now have NO modern rock radio in NY, and didn't they learn their lesson with WNEW and their all talk format?

I'm pissed because the Radio Chick was one of my favortie shows and used to listen before O&A everyday. With O&A on XM and the Chick back to FM, it leaves with me Stern in January (which I'm really not a huge fan of) and OutQ. The Gay Talk Channel. Which as the fiancee also agrees with, its pretty damn good!

So I'm glad I got to have my remix played on the Chick's show the week before she left. Oh well...

Frank

walk the line

2005-11-21T18:49:00.000-05:00

As December comes along there's something that we have to deal with. Lines. No, not the kind you'd like to do in order to make your mall shopping more tolerable. But long lines of people waiting to buy their loved ones gifts. Now - with the invention of the internet (by Al Gore) you would think lines would be a thing of the past for many items. Now I understand, lines to the bathroom, lines at a resturant, even waiting on line to get a ticket to a movie.

there was a time where you'd have to wait online to get concert tickets. Even get up at 2am and go over or sleep out to make sure you were first online or make sure you get tickets at all. OR when they had those wristbands that had a random number and then it was sort of the luck of the draw.

Ticketmaster is pretty much only online, with the exception for a few outlets. But you'd also think with all these other sites around, there would be no need for a bunch of people to be lining up to get an x-box 360 the day before it goes onsale. I mean what the fuck? Is it really necessary to waste your time waiting in the cold and the rain in a shopping mall to buy an x-box 360? Now I would hope that this means the people will open it when they get home and play whatever game comes with the system. But are these people waiting online to wrap this up for christmas?

Is it really going to be that difficult to get one of these? Especially with the great name of 360 and its not even fucking round! So thats today's piece of shit for the day...

moving forward?

2005-11-12T20:34:00.000-05:00

Last night I worked back at the Waterloo. Now aside from the typical douchebags (Danny's friend and the guy that swore I called him a pussy and was going to hit me) it was a pretty good evening. I was excpecting the worst, but actually had a good time. However, it seems that Mr. Greek (the owner) is having a "I fucked things up" moment. So he's doing what he can to rope old people back in, just the ones he likes though. Which I guess is a category I fall into. He offered me Thanksgiving Eve, which is definitely a nice gig. As well as a return to my post of Friday night resident. Now, see its one of those things where it has been miserable there, but it still can have some potential. As long as they get their shit back together. So as of now and until the new year - Frank will be back on Fridays at the Waterloo.

One possible change is if he manages to rope back in old bartenders - mainly two that worked with me just about every Saturday for like 2 years. If they come back on Saturday night, then I will go back on Saturday night. And it was pretty much put that it's a package deal. When bartender (we'll call her) Fake "D" told Mr. Greek that she won't work unless I do, he didn't understand and questioned what the DJ has to do with anything. However, we get it. We understand what that means, how to work with each other. That she tells me I'm playing too loud, that people want that new afro-cuban polka trip-hop track or Pearl Jam, and the way I know she'll dance everytime I play September(Remix) by Earth, Wind & Fire. My role is to ask her to make 5 shots for someones birthday (and forget to charge me at the end of the night), to charge my friends a bit less, and to make sure I get a drink even if the place is packed wall to wall.

A better situation would be to have two other bartenders back. But I don't really think (we'll call her) Real "D" and Big G will come back. So with that said - the only way we all go back to working on Saturdays if if the old team is back together. We don't need any Terrell Owens' around - although D-Ball would be a great addition.

So I don't know if i'm moving forward or not, but it is kinda nice to work again since I don't have a DJ job set up until February (2/10 @ Pure In Philly) and oddly fun to play some hip hop. Got some extra christmas money now, funny cuz I was thinking of getting a retail job for the holiday season.

Frank

4 and 5; Therefore 9

2005-11-09T22:30:00.000-05:00

That comes from a Soul Coughing song called 4 out of 5. Now it really has little to do with today, but it just reminded me of this movie Derek and some people were shooting in college about going to the bathroom. The ending sequence was me sitting on a toilet (pants up) talking about how I sing that song in my head in public bathrooms when the whole male pee shy thing comes along. I actually still need a copy of it along with the other movies I was in.

Anyways - let's work backwards - for the past week or so my Dad got this idea to hire roofers to redo the roof as we had a leak and while this was going on bumping out the garage a bit more. So my Dad hired 2 Polish guys to do the roof. I don't know where he got these people from, not really important. So apparently one of them likes to drink - a lot - while working - on A ROOF!!!! Fortunately he's not dead. However we got a good amount of rain today (and a bolt of lightning that I swear hit our neighbors house) - and well a roof is supposed to prevent rain from coming in the house typically. Apparently Polish roofers don't find that to be a priority, so there is water leaking from the same spot where it was leaking. We had a small leak and it is now a big problem. Oh happy day.

I also can't watch tv in my room as they had to cut one of the lines of cable - so i have my computer and tv in the living room and porch - but incase you don't know my family - its a bit difficult to sleep due to noise forget about watching Lost where if I miss a logo on a shark or something I will seem really dumb at work tomorrow. Woe is me (I kinda feel like like Karen)

(Side Note - I watched it - and with my family in and out I almost LOST my fucking mind! At one point my Mom says that her and my sister are done in there so I watch it in there and they start talking while it's on, so I had to go back and fourth. When will I get cable back?)

As many of you know I work for a Jewish organization. Some of you are still amused, I know, but today I had a sureal experience. I arrive at the 57th st office at 9am (I was actually early) and was waiting to get into the elevator. Now the building is old and so are the elevators and there are like 12 floors and 2 elevators. So I'm behind a Hasidic Jewish man (or as Sarah calls them "Jews in Costume")and a white woman. The elevators open some people file in and the Jewish man was being a bit slow and the elevator closed at 1/2 capacity. The woman behind me says loudly "Oh Jesus Christ." No lady - probably not.

Finally - I have been intrigued by a group of anonamous bloggers. There's the stripper (this one about the foo fighters is priceless), the bouncer and this one - the lawyer. Now she's had some drama that you can read if you desire. She's landed herself in NY Times and has a book deal due to her blog. However, I think some of us can relate to this post in particular. I know I can. However I will say this year I am winning 2-0 against the Senior. (And after this roofing issue, it's like a empty net goal)

Expect some more sooner than later - I've had some more time and the Fiancee is off to Texas this weekend. Which means lots of time sitting at home at my computer! I'm so fucking cool! Actually I hope to get out a lot this weekend. We'll see...

Frank

One of these blogs

2005-11-06T00:51:00.000-05:00

So we're back at filling in blog for a song lyric...

so far today I haven't done much. I slept in late, which was odd because my time was so throw off, as it tends to be when I'm at Sarah's since the only clock I can see with my glasses off is the regular one with hands and that doesn't make much sense to me just as my eyes open. Takes too much thought really.

So this blog will jump all over the musical spectrum as does my brain. Or as my supervisor called it yesterday ADHD. But that's another conversation that should probably be done with someone that can prescribe medication.

So its been a few weeks now since I've DJed and its been a bit odd. Although I did get booked for February 10th in Philly. It's some special event that "I would be perfect for." Which means - play your wedding heart out you cheesy SOB. But that is what I do. On any given night. So I'm excited, as usual.

My remix "If Madonna calls...Hang up" has made my website explode. I'm up hundreds of hits and visits. And most importantly downloads. It's pretty damn cool still, and Derek and Romaine continue to play it. If you don't have it yet - www.djfrankmanzo.com - get it there. It'll also be on James Anthony's next Sirius Mixshow, right after Ricky Martin. My Mom will be so proud. He's spinning at Avalon Sunday - so go check him out.

Jump to Thursday. I went to the Nine Inch Nails concert at MSG. Now typically these concerts are sold out (which it was) and getting rid of an extra ticket is easy. Not in this case. I couldn't scalp it - even for face value. It sucked. So at that point I just wanted someone to go and not waste a ticket. So luckily Alaina (who I was giving 1 ticket to) called Jonah and he stopped skating over at Bryant Park and came over. Gave me $20 for the ticket - which was a $75 ticket - and we all went in. Now I must say - the show was amazing. Probably the 2nd or 3rd best NIN show ever. I was definitely excited to have been there and experienced it all. NIN always makes concerts an experience, and there were Hurt video-esque moments with a big screen with projections on it. At one point there was a picture of George Bush dancing with Laura and the place went bonkers. Mainly since the lyrics in the song were:

What if everything around you
Isn't quite as it seems
What if all the world you think know
Is an elaborate dream?

As I've said the show rocked. And I ran into people I haven't seen in years outside of the show, also cool.

On the way to the car (tip: to avoid paying $40 to park when going to MSG or nearby, park on 29th St off of 10th Ave. It's a little walk, but its worth it) I heard a remix of "food" by Common & Kanye West. I thought I may be one of few people that knew every NIN song as well as this remix. Which I don't think is a bad thing, it's just weird. So let's continue with the weirdness...

So in the coming weeks there's Happy Potter & the Goblet of Fire and Rent hitting the theatres. I'm excited for both, more so for Rent. It's a favorite, and really seems promising. I want to get some people together to see this on opening weekend - anyone wanna come?

So I spent another Saturday night not doing much - sitting here blogging obviously. Which isn't a bad thing really, just very odd for me. I've been toying with the idea of doing a podcast type of thing or a weekly mixshow for this site and djfrankmanzo.com. Even making them different - make this one like a radio show and the other one a DJ mixshow. We'll see - it sounds good on paper. er - the screen.

Sorry - got interrupted by the emergency phone from work. A kid is most likely AWOL AGAIN!!!! As Chad's Dad says - there are 2 ways to do things - the easy way and the hard way. This boy is taking the hard way to a new level.

Frank

Music Blog Link

2005-10-24T12:10:00.000-04:00

Got a little write up here - cool beans

http://digitaleargasm.blogspot.com/2005/10/material-girl.html

Cool Blog site as well.

So we survived the weekend of mixed messages, unexpected issues, overpriced hotel rooms, rain, raw pizza, and the wonderful town of Essignton, PA

In any case - Pure was great. I did a lot of jumping and had a ton of fun. We managed to polish off a bottle of vodka between 3 of us. I also had a beer with dinner, a drink before the club and then another drink or 2 after the vodka was gone. Now for me thats is A LOT of alcohol, but i amazingly felt really good today. Oh and I did all that jumping before I was carrying out my bag and missed a step at which point i thought my ankle was broken. its just a bit sprained.

So the madonna song went over well, as did a lot of the other fun things i was doing. heard some cunty, this is acid, this time baby, and lots of new stuff- like mariah carey and shit like that. In any case it was a lot of fun - despite lots of things that kinda sucked. Like how long our breakfast at Denny's took. um - yes - um Denny's. I got the Sausage Sampler - and that was after a night at Pure.

so been getting e-mails here and there about hearing the madonna song on Sirius, so it's prety damn cool still.

However - uncool - is that I have the emergency phone for work for the next 2 weeks I think.

Frank

If Madonna Calls Hang Up

2005-10-21T02:12:00.000-04:00

So it's been a crazy week and I'm now 26 and have a load of money to spend at express and more chocolate to last me - well for me probably only till Sunday. I also have spent some time over the past few days shaking. No not cuz my Dad has yet to turn the heat on when it hits 50 over night. But Because I've dipped into that 15 minutes of fame everyone gets. So here's minute 2:30 of fame I guess.

Madonna has a new single called "Hung Up" and I think it pretty much sucks, however the love of my life was listening to the Derek and Romaine radio show on the OutQ station of Sirius and they're talking about how the new single reminds him of "If Madonna Calls." A song from like 10 years ago thats was a bitchy house track, something I tend to enjoy.

So on my day off on Tuesday (October Jewish Holiday # 4 1/2) and decided to put those two together and do a remix / mashup kinda thing. I sent it to Derek and to tell him what I did and figured he may get a kick out of it. In the back on my mind hoping they would play it and I'd be touring the country by November.

So Wednesday morning, Derek emails me this: "Frank - You are a fucking genius! When I heard "Hung Up" my first thought was "If Madonna Calls" is the perfect companion song. So we played the two of them back to back and I think it sounded great. However, I love your merged version. It's perfect. The crowd is gonna shit when they hear it in Philadelphia. Great job! - Derek."

Followed by a phone call that Sirius's dance channel wants to put it into rotation on Area 33. So needless to say I was pretty fucking excited. My friend James says he'll put it on his mixshow which also airs on Sirius - um and on KTU but thats one with guido 80s music. So I spent the day hoping it would come on, but never heard it.

After a long long day at work - I'm late to come home for my birthday dinner and I put on the Derek and Romanine show. They're talking about how some pregnant chick was so happy that Romaine gave her these items (er, um toys?) that would help strengthen musicles in her - um - area. So they go to break, promote their website and say "sign up for our newsletter and you'll recieve a link to our favorite song a Sirius exclusive "If Madonna Calls, Hang Up" by DJ Frank Manzo." At which point I had to pull over and change my depends. I mean yelled holy shit. So after a few minutes I called in and was tld to call back in 5 minutes cuz they wanted to spend some time with me.

I come home, set a tape, take a piss and get on the phone. a 5 minute interview with them, several website plugs, a plug for Saturday in Philly and then they played it. Now this is what I call a birthday gift from God or something. So if you want to hear the interview or the song go to my website www.djfrankmanzo.com and check'em out. I've some e-mails regarding the song as well and have put some people on my list for Saturday.

Oddly enough, this is kinda stange as some people that I'm close with and are huge house fans & even DJs - don't like the mix. I mean it's not the best thing I've ever done, as I said before I think the Madonna song sucks - but its the idea behind it. It's kinda like when I did Nelly Furtado's Forca. It's more about getting noticed because of it. With Forca I was contacting people at Dreamworks I never thought I would have, and even got a copy of it into her own hands; and have a signed copy to boot for myself. That mix is a great one to listen to, but not a good one for the dancefloor. This mix was not for the dancefloor at all, but I had to make it work. I was talking to another DJ friend of mine a few months ago, and he said that evertime he felt like he should stop something would happen. So within 3 days I went from "I don't have another DJ gig lined up" to "DJ Frank Manzo is on the fucking radio!" Welcome to this week.

So aside from - after Midnight struck - I'm pissed as shit cuz we're staying at a hotel about 20 mins from the club and no one (including myself) is happy about it. But we'll make the best of it and go from there. Hopefully the best will include a bottle of vodka - and um "If Madonna Calls, Hang Up" of course.

So I'm 26 - had my first radio interview as a DJ - and had a mix of mine played on the radio. Tomorrow I have chocolate chilli, a chocolate calzone, chocolate cupcakes and chocolate cake to look forward to. As I said - enough chocolate till Sunday.

(Cue Sia - Breathe Me)
This week also had some sad moments involoving the grandmother (great aunt really) of my best friend. Not to bring up back story, but I knew Grandma very well years ago. And she will be missed, but never ever forgotten. She's touched my friend's life more than anyone else has and will continue to do so until we all meet again. It makes you think, remember what's important.

Thanks -

Frank

2005-10-13T01:50:00.000-04:00

As usual - this is long overdue.

Work's been crazy - and great. Yesterday - our new worker Jill D started. Now thats not to mix her up with the other Jill B I work with. and to make it more conmfusing - Jill B reccomended Jill D for the job, so they know each other.
Why would anyone care? you really wouldn't. Although it's the only other person i've met that is also 3/4 Italian and 1/4 Polish. And most importantly she seems cool - and makes my work load a bit lighter.

i spent most of the day configuring digital cable in my house - that was after i had a 1/2 day at work (thanks to the jews) and had a cavity filled (thanks to hershey's). They don't all work yet - hopefully by tomorrow.

I'm getting all geared up for next Saturday in philly - where I'm hoping to have the most people come and see me down there. This will rival the 1st saturday I played in April of 2004 in terms of how many friends I will have there. Getting some good tunes together to have a fun night again.

As a follow up tyo my last racial filled blog - Fuji and I showed off our German pride this past friday with Matt. and between us all - we um aren't even a bit German. However Mike said that the Germans invaded Poland so it's kinda like we're German. I must say Zum Schneider is a good place to eat, drink and get stupid with some strangers from San Francisco.

The big discussion of the night was about um - um - statistics. Now before you start thinking we're talking about anything that is remotely educational - realize who I'm talking about. This is a statistic that Goldman discovered that only 50% of people have sex on their wedding night. Well ok - 1/2 of the couples - cuz if only the bride had sex - I think thats a shitty way to start a marriage. But what do I know? Nothing, but i have just under a year to figure it out. The theme to that night became "don't be a statistic!!"

So tomorrow I will enjoy my 3 1/2 jewish holiday off this month - and look forward to 2 more. And my birthday next Thursday. but more importantly is that Sarah doesn't need to go to Greenville, SC for work that day. On friday we get to see my cousin's boyfriend perform at the St.George Theatre on Staten Island with the Alvin Ailey Dance Co. He's the white guy in the show.

I'm sure I'll let everyone know how Pure goes. If it's 1/2 as good as the last time I'll be very happy.

Frank

Everyone's a little bit racist

2005-09-20T23:30:00.000-04:00

First off - let's start with a long overdue event - frank joining myspace.com

so you can go to www.myspace.com/frankmanzo and check me out over there. I'm mainly using it for dj-ing. At least that's my plan.

second - is my rant for the week - now - on Sunday night I was in the city - went down to the Puerto Rican parade between Houston and canal. I'm sorry - I mean the San Gennaro Feast. However, the last time I checked reggaeton, tacos and everyone loves a Puerto Rican girl shirts were not Italian. Also not Italian - people speaking Spanish. I'd also say that also not Italian are black people - but we all know that its pretty close. So I'll let that go.

Now don't get me wrong - last year Sarah and I found ourselves at a Brazilian festival and just hung out. And I'm spent time at Newark Portuguese festival as well. However, I did not see zepolles, canollis, pizza and sausage and peppers there. AND WOULD NOT EXPECT TO!!!!

I think the "Bella Taco" stand was the worst - which I guess would be ital-ish - or span-ilian - the equivalent of spanglish for Italians and Spanish. Although Bella is the same in both languages. Now the translation means "beautiful taco" and I'm all for a nice pretty taco. But I don't buy mine on the street - some of you may. Some may call them up on the phone. Now I'm talking about "Bella Rosa Taco." Go ahead translate.

In any case I finally made my way down to get surrounded by yentas talking about how it's so crowded. and now what were some of these other people eating? Pizza? nah - sausage and peppers? nope eggplant parm? Still wrong - how about GYROS!!!!!! Cuz nothing saying I'm supporting my Italian heritage like FETA CHEESE and pita.

There was also an annoying guidette yelling in a high pitched voice about how she wanted to come earlier and now its too crowded. I watched "Brooklyn Own Joe Causi" host a canolli eating contest. (A better contests would've been guess Joe's weight.) Finally got away from the reggaeton to hear the music of my people. Not Polka (that's the polish part), no no not Sinatra, or Dean Martin. But the (sorry James) teeth itching beats - that makes every guido do the 80s fist pump. FREESTYLE!

So after I had some really good friend calamari and a chocolate canolli - I made my way out. Now I don't know why I go every year. It's the same thing. Except this year with less Italians. They can't even fill the end block anymore. I'm sure in due time little Italy will be less than the 1 block it still is. but I'll go back in hopes to see people that look more like john gotti, my late uncle pete and the cast of the sopranos. As much as I dislike that whole scene - it is the stereotype of what NYC Italians are - and stereotypes are based on truth (See ave q).

so all in all I had a great weekend. Friday night had an absolute blast going out the whole night. I haven't walked out of a club in daylight in a long time. Nothing like hearing Danny Tenaglia again as well. Saturday and Sunday were good also - getting to spend some desperately needed time with Sarah in the comforts of the W in Union Square. With $8 bottles of water in an amazing comfy bed.

so I'll wait for the hate mail.

Frank

What in the world is our country doing?

2005-09-08T01:00:00.000-04:00

As every other blogger in the US - here's my Katrina post. Enjoy the awfulness and somewhat hilarity that is our country and media.

(what the fuck is man even talking about???? So poor and so black - chalk one up for whitey!)
http://newsbusters.org/media/2005-09-01-CNNTSRBlitzer.wmv

(Just watch the first 3 mins or so)
Video Link

(Ranting with Mr. Cooper! Ripping the senator a new asshole! - the smartest line "The president WILL be here tomorrow! - we think")
http://movies.crooksandliars.com/Anderson-Cooper-Landrieu-Katrina1.wmv

(humor - cuz we have to laugh at some point about this - you might have to scroll down for this)
http://movies.crooksandliars.com/The-Daily-Show-Katrina-Disaster.wmv

(one for the ipod - kinda)
http://www.moceanworker.com/mowo/nolaaintrighttonight.mp3

(I knew it i'm surrounded by assholes - oh i'll just e-mail a pic from my digital camera to have a place to stay - i'll do that ONCE WE GET FUCKING POWER IN LOUISIANA!)
http://www.gawker.com/news/weather/manhattanites-come-to-the-aid-of-katrina-refugees-124157.php

I promise to wite about the other things I previously said I'd talk about soon. Not that people need to be reminded - but give to the red cross and vote for people that you feel can actually get the job done. I'm oddly enough kicking myself for not going to the red cross a month ago the way i wanted to - in order to sign up for any type of emergency services I can lend. I'd say too little to late - but another crisis WILL happen! We just have to be prepared the best we can.

Are we - we are. Are we - we are the waiting

2005-09-02T02:00:00.000-04:00

I've been meaning to blog for a few days now - notably to bring back some past events and items that need some mentioning really just for amusement purposes. and I guess that's where we'll start today. First off - upcoming posts will include "fucking clitoris" and "razmatazz." Some of you will get both of those - some of you will wait very impatiently to know what that means - or not. (Wacky radio voice) So let's take a trip down memory lane - Summer 1994.

Now summer of 1994 is a very memorable one for me. I got my first girlfriend - watched Woodstock '94 on TV which introduced me to my favorite Nine Inch Nails - and we'd play hockey just about daily in 90 degree heat. In a time where Scott Matika and the rest of us were still mourning the suicide of Kurt Cobain, we were huge music buffs. However, when I think back to Summer 1994, I cannot forget about those sweet words - "when masturbation's lost it's fun, you're fucking lazy." Green Day's Dookie is an absolute classic. And we must've listened to that album in my backyard a thousand times. Most people own that album, and many of you even have the case that had a brown colored spine. I also remember getting a Green Day shirt and wearing it to school first day of sophomore year and then meeting Donna Rubin - cuz she was wearing an MTV Unplugged T-shirt. Remember when the most important thing in school was establishing your coolness the first day? No? Me neither - I was never really cool.

So anyways - why do I bring this all up? Cuz I just got back from Green Day at Giants Stadium. Which was great! I was pleasantly surprised - kinda forgot how many great songs they have and they played some great covers including Shout and We are the champions. However if I never hear "YEAH - NEW JERSEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYY" again - it'll be too soon. Now that's all with the concert review - if you were one of the 50,000 or so - you know what it was like. If you didn't go - I'm sure it'll be in the Star Ledger today. Now Green Day has come a long was from 1994 and has put out an absolutely amazing album known as "American Idiot" just under a year ago (which in hindsight - should've been on my top 15 of 2004) - and now they're popular with the kids. The 14 year olds that are going into high school - like my sister. The first concert I've gone to with my sister and her first rock concert (the only other "real" concert she's seen was Alicia Keys - the rest were um c-rap). She seemed to have a lot of fun and her friend used to "like" them and after the show "loves" them. So I found it really cool - and oh so ironic (and yes uncomfortable when Billie Joe starting playing with himself and they had it on all the big screens) that 11 years after an album that helped shape my adolescence - I was enjoying with my 14 year old sister who is currently experiencing her own adolescence - probably stressing out about what shirt to wear to her first day of school on Tuesday.

The quote of the evening goes to this random encounter with a girl that looked so damn familiar but I couldn't place it -
Me - Excuse me - I know this is wired - but you look familiar - are you from Staten Island?
Girl (Who's name I swear is Deanna - no idea why) - Um Yeah
Me - you go to Tottenville?
girl - no
Me - I dunno - what is is then - I know you from somewhere
girl - maybe I hooked up with you when I was drunk one night
Me - no that's it - ok...

Matt - you know people everywhere
Me - I know
Matt - that was a bizarre response from her
Me - yeap

So I want comments on what my answer should've been - a fill in the blank - the best one will win a copy of my new demo CD - whenever I get it done. Hopefully this weekend so I can send James to AC with one - He's spinning at Club Tru down there.

Girl: Maybe I hooked up with you when I was drunk one night
Me:___________________

ok - along with "fucking clitoris" and "razmatazz," I will also discuss the wired and at times inappropriate / disgusting car ride to Long Island from earlier today. Off to bed - to nap for a few hours before work.

how many assholes we got on this ship?

2005-08-24T22:01:00.000-04:00

YO!

Well I'm going to tell you about the asshole that works with catering at Eisenhower Hall in West Point.

Mike Musco and I are changing to go home out of our ugly penguin costumes. This guy walks into the bathroom all bloddied up. Talking to his other friend about how he got fucked up. Now I'm not sure who this guy is - so I'm don't know if he was at the wedding and got into a fight or fell down the stairs drunk or whatever. I look at the guy who now has about 7 bandaids on his face in all different places. So now I ask...

Me - "Bro, what happened?"
Guy - "I was in the back"
Me - "you work here?"
guy - "yeah - so one of the ladies goes what are we gonna do with the wedding cake?"
me - "uh huh"
Guy - "the lady says, 'just throw it out' - so I'm all - you're not gonna throw it out."
Me - "Um - Ok"
Guy - "the lady goes what are ya gonna do with it? I say 'this' "
Mike - "oh man - there's like shelves and posts in there"
Guy - "yeah well I know that now - I won't be doing that again - If I would've known that there was stuff in it - I wouldn't have slammed my face in it as hard as I did - it was full force"
Me - "wow that really sucks - well hope you feel better man"
Friend - "Man you are really fucked up"
Guy - "yeah - we could tell a story about getting in a fight"

So my wise words to you - don't slam your face into a wedding cake - you will fuck up your face. Which is good to know as my family and friends have always had a knack for getting violent with cake.

six feet under - forever

2005-08-22T01:39:00.000-04:00

wow - tonight's series finale of six feet under was amazing. I can't even begin to explain what the last 10 minutes of this show felt like, but i'm gonna try. First they used a song called Breathe Me by Sia. Which I heard her perform live with Zero 7 last year. Just amazingly beautiful. And so is the Mylo remix.

Since 2001 - I've watch the show just about every week. In college I had friends tape it for me, and had to tape it at home, or catch the re-run on Monday night. I'm very sad to have to let this go, because somehow the Fisher's have become part of my weekly life.

I'm able to see part of me in every character and it still amazes me how they could recreate life so vividly.

I'm definitely said to see it go, I was worried about the ending not living up to its potential and agreed that this show may have actually never hit its prime. However the last 10 minutes of this show made 5 years of watching it all worth it. There's only a few pieces of entertainment - song, movie, tv or book (not that i do that much) that made me feel what I felt tonight. And I praise them for that.

Ben Folds Five - Evaportaed
Ghost (at the end - yes, I know)
Love Actually (other circumstances involved)

Those are 3 things I can rememeber that actually made me cry and can still do that. I welled up at a Ben Folds concert when I heard the opening chords, and when Ghost is on - I turn it off. Love Actually I've been able to watch again, so I think that has passed.

Why do I bring this up? The show ended, I called Sarah and needed to talk to her. Told her I loved her, and told her I was sad about the show. She asked what happened and I wept. Probably the hardest I've cried since giving a eulogy in the rain at my Uncle's funeral back in December.

I think I threw her off, cuz I was fine after about 3 minutes. But as she well knows, sometimes you cry to feel better. and I do. Well maybe until tomorrow when I watch it again. I'm not sure if the final episode is something you can watch if you've never seen the show before. But if you have an extra 75 minutes and hbo (or bittorent) I would watch it. It puts things in perspective, that life is about being happy and being sad and losing your mind and working hard and making decisions that sometimes suck and other times are great. Unfortunately it also puts into perspective that we can be taken off this planet at anytime.

Once you lose someone, you only have what you've let them leave behind in your heart and soul. and that may never be enough.

and in case you didn't hear me through my tears before - I'm so happy I'm doing this with you.

Frank

- tomorrow hopefully we'll be back to the normal stuff about why you should never slam your face into a wedding cake. i'll explain...

don't stop believin'

2005-08-21T19:18:00.000-04:00

well - i'm not sure where to start - but as usual we'll recap -

i'm sore today from moving lots of equiptment yesterday for this person's son's wedding. It was a great wedding - they really wanted wedding material -like cheesy dances and such - but watching the General do the electric slide with a 5 year old in hand was cute as hell!!

Than there was the little wacky chick with HUGE boobs and her robot dancing boyfriend. It was so strange. this song was a highlight.

Aside from that word has been crazy the past week. my co-worker is leaving and so are my 2 supervisors. which leaves us all in a pretty wierd place. i was told that if i had been there longer i'd be up for the supervisor position which was a great compliment (from both supervisors, seperately and unprovoked)

and now on to last week in philly...

nothing realy to report except that it was the best night i've ever dj-ed ever. Despite one issue that have been discussed with appropriate parties - it was just amazing. People showed up really early thanks to the promoter so we rocked it from about 12:45 to close at 3:20. So many people said it was great, including staff. I was visited in the dj booth by Guido Osorio. In the 90s he teamed up with a person by the name of Razor, and but out a song called "do it again." This is probably the definition of progressive house. Everything I play to an extent. That man comes up to me and tells me I'm doing good, which was absolutely amazing.

So I'm going back for my birthday party on Saturday October 22. I am definitely looking forward to going back.

I was talking to my friend John Rizzo about 2 weeks ago and he said "Everytime I really have thought of stopping doing music, something changes and I get a kick in the ass." Its funny how he said that to me the same week I get complimented at my day job and have my best dj night ever.

and now its a sad night as six feet under will be no more... How's it gonna end?

shut up bitch

2005-08-10T09:06:00.000-04:00

i thought this was funny

going to Philly to spin @ pure, have a mini vacation with the woman - and oddly enough - see like 7 of my friends. I got lots of good new music! Should be a blast - until next time listen to Darth!

give it up, baby give it up

2005-07-30T02:26:00.000-04:00

So its 2:30am - and for the first time in about 2 weeks I'm not going crazy. All week I've been preparing for a wedding I was djing - and I'm very proud to say that all the preparing paid off well! The party went great, despite a bit of a rocky start. We played an extra 20 mins at the end, until the staff of the place told me I needed to cut the music. Now, I didn't charge for the extra time, however we were tipped REALLY well!
There were some things I had never done before at any party. a) play "hooked on a feeling" coming out of a house set.
b) played o.a.r. - "a crazy game of poker" for anyone that cares
c) watched a man dance so much, sing so hard, and have so much fun that he had a halo of sweat around the top of his shit
d) only played 7 songs that were my own pick. I must say, they really knew their crowd.
e) arrived over 2 hours early!

Now - the best man - yes his speech sucked - yes it was long, boring went nowhere - and used the "last time (insert groom's name) will have the upper hand in the relationship" gag. yes, it did set EVERYTHING back like 15 mins, and people were so happy he was done. now with that said - the videographer did not need to call the groom an "asshole" - repeatedly. Of course not to his face, but to me. Why did he do that? Cuz the videographer was (you guessed it) an asshole. He was complaining about how the speech took up too much time on the film and they won't have as much video of them dancing now. Went on to say he's been doing this for 25 years, yap yap yap. The man at 1 time had 3 drinks, he needed a haircut STAT! Cuz his baldness isn't conducive (spelling?) to have some long hair in the FRONT! The best part, is that he's supposed to be gone at 11pm. Now cake is at 11pm. So he asks to have it moved up to 10:45pm. So I make a comment to the maitre'd about how the guy is being a dick, and he says fuck him we're gonna keep the cake at 11pm. Making him stay against his will. Now we watch him sitting down, taking it easy - I mean this guy could not have been less interested if he was dead. But unfortunately he was very much alive - and a pain in the ass.
so that guy being a douchebag is one of the reasons why we stayed late and didn't even say anything. I mean they asked for an encore. And we gave them a good 25 minute one.

so anyways - I have Philly again in 2 weeks from now (aug12), which should be a whole lot of fun - as it usually is! And def since I have some people coming down for it. I'm also looking to spending the whole weekend in Philly.

I also have to figure something out about work. Which as per the article about the lady that fired her nanny - I will not discuss here. What does suck is that one of my co-workers is on early maternity leave and another is leaving in September. Which makes an interesting workload for the rest of us. and being that 2 people are on vacation next week. There will be 3 of us in the 6 person office next week.

I think that is all to update.

Stop this bus! Ok thanks

2005-06-25T11:45:00.000-04:00

Man - I'm actually sitting down - its been a crazy couple of weeks - since I last posted... I've had 7 DJ jobs - all over NY, NJ, and PA. Had another laser eye evaluation - had massive amounts of lack of sleep - and have spent about 8 waking hours with the fiance. Oh right an the 40 hours a week at my counseling job.

but all for the most part is good. Lots of random spur of the moment DJ jobs - all which have gone reasonably well. Had some great nights (St. John's Sorority Formal) - and some not so great nights (Marvin's brother's graduation party) - oddly enough I just named the 1st and last parties.

Then we had some strange ones in between - Pride in Philly (very fun, despite an inconsistent crowd till 11pm - still wonder why they hire the straight guy to do pride? - not complaining - trust me)
and there was the show with Kukurudu - first time with a live drummer - well aside from me bring drunk on new years or 4th of July. And I guess that's really just me playing with myself. Anyways! There was also a belly dancer - We should have pics of that really soon. As well as some backwards pics of me drumming and Jamie with headphones on.

So today I'm off to my friend Adam's "I was supposed to married today party" - which will be an interesting day - and as I've told him I hope it doesn't become a "I want to jump off a bridge party"

And tonight and tomorrow - I actually get to see the fiance - which is nice - and I only know what she looks like over the past 3 weeks as a) asleep or b) before I'm fully awake. She is wearing a skirt today - that makes me happy.

4th Of July

2005-06-07T23:23:00.000-04:00

So here's the invitation you've all been waiting for. Sneak peek for those that view my blog :)

Come one, come all - just come!

4th of July

Pure on Sunday

2005-06-07T23:14:00.000-04:00

here's something that made my day - hope there's a good turn out sunday!
Right click and go to "play" to start and stop the animation or click here for a fullscreen shot.

This will only be up for a few days - cuz i'm sure it'll annoy the hell out of everyone. Kinda like the whistling - and the girls voice.

*links removed*

let's hug it out bitch!

2005-05-29T03:02:00.000-04:00

the best ad for a show - man this is too damn funny. Download the song! Watch Season 2! Too funny!

and remember - let's hug it out bitch!

Frank

Sa-tur-day, Sa-ta-day, Saaaa-tur-day...

2005-05-29T02:05:00.000-04:00

Sometimes you go out on a Saturday night and you get home early - like 1:15am - which to me is kinda like leaving in the 7th inning of a baseball game in order to beat the traffic. Something that shouldn't happen often. However you come home and realize that high school still exists - that other people are online at 1:15am on a Saturday night. I guess everyone abided by their curfew this evening. Some people got high and were looking at stuff on ebay - some were sleeping - and some were well - frustrated...

FM3Red5: I thought you were going down the shore tonight?
NACatarino: i will give u 3 guesses as to what happened
FM3 Red5: um ok
NACatarino: 3 answers on the board
NACatarino: 100 people surveyed
NACatarino: what are the most common causes of going down the shore and being back within 2 hours
FM3 Red5: oh dear - line was too long?
NACatarino: good answer that's # 3
FM3 Red5: ok 2 more answers
FM3 Red5: um - you couldn't find your friends?
NACatarino: good answer again that's # 2
NACatarino: do want to play or pass
FM3 Red5: hahahaha
NACatarino: and the number 1 answer on the board is....
FM3 Red5: um i guess i'll pass (to who i have no idea)
NACatarino: WIFE FORGETS ID!!!!!!
FM3 Red5: oh fuck
NACatarino: yup
FM3 Red5: see - the thing is - how many times has that happened to you?
NACatarino: 0
FM3 Red5: it happened to me - 1x i think, maybe 2
NACatarino: yeah, i gave her a pass on the 1st time
NACatarino: next time, there will be troubles

until next Saturday night...

Frank

All through the blog...

2005-05-25T00:50:00.000-04:00

I got a message the other day that read "It's been a month. Update your blog!" So I'm guessing I should. It's almost midnight and I've been out and about all day - but I'll keep my fans happy - and give you some insider info - since I assure you I will be too lazy to update my website. Which needs a massive fucking overhaul.

the short short version - last week was both nine inch nails @ hammerstein and Star Wars: episode 3. Oddly enough - both were partially a let down. For NIN, it wasn't the best show I've ever seen them do. some of the old favorites given a break for a few rarities and new tracks. which tends to happen when bands make a new album. but I digress. the crowd was full of fans - which also included david bowie (who we saw on the balcony), chris rock and matt pinfield. Trent's grandfather also on the balcony. not that I have any idea what he looks like - but it was reported. You know you're getting old when they play "wish" and the crowd can't mosh for the whole song. All together a really solid show - the hand that feeds rocked live, and so did eveything really - a straight set of like 19 songs - no encore - the way shows should be! We all had a blast - me, fuji, karen and danny - Danny came out of the pit with a guitar string from a broken guitar - it's now in "the box" along with my other NIN memorabilia.

Speaking of memorabilia - onto the dark side of the force - episode 3 - a good movie - finally this whole thing really comes to a close. I don't think the 3 prequels did the star wars saga justice. as I keep saying - acting, directing and script are not george lucas' strong points. I think he managed to masacre the 2 most critical parts of the entire star wars universe. as a whole - it was good. not great. but good. I think in order of how I like them:

Episode 4 - A New Hope
Episode 6 - Return of the Jedi
Episode 5 - Empire Strikes Back
Episode 3 - Revenge of the Sith
Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace
Episode 2 - Attack of the Clones

So again - as a whole it was really good, the special effects rocked and the fight scenes were amazing. But despite it all - it makes me want to pop in one of the 4 original trilogies I have on VHS to remember why I love it all so much. and why I have it on my arm and why it's the basis for my dj logo and why I'm all together fucking crazy.

I no longer work at the waterloo - which is a nice break! I've worked Saturdays for the past 3 years. Even when I had off on a Saturday, I usually switched for a different night or something. So I have some private parties - and 2 club gigs.

Sunday, June 12 - Pure in Philly - Pridefest - 6pm-12am
Thursday, June 23 - Karma Lounge - with Kukurudu doing live drums - 10pm-4am

So those should be a blast! Make it out for either of those. more infor to come on djfrankmanzo.com soon.

So - the day job is going well - but I've had these trainings in the city which can be long tedious days - no I need to get to bed to get a whopping 5 1/2 hours of sleep now. Hopefully i'll update again sooner than later - lots more to bs about

Frank

I get so mad...

2005-04-20T23:36:00.000-04:00

when i go to someone's blog and its not updated - hello mr. pot, hello mr. kettle. So i figured - I needed to update. I mean thats what this is here for. I'm currently listening to the new NIN cd that i downloaded 2 weeks before it comes out. I'm thoroughly confused as to what is going through Mr. Reznor's drug and alcohol free head. We have the most radio friendly song since "closer" hit the airwaves, and i think its fantastic. It's called "The Hand That Feeds" or THTF for short. And then they release the song via nin.com for the public to remix. i mean i now have a NIN acapella. Things I never thought. Other than that, ben folds new album out next week, last week was Garbage's Bleed Like Me. It's another time where I get to hear lots of good new music. For a new good cd - pick up Ringside. It's like $7 in best buy this week. and WELL worth it! Oh right - and there was a new Beck album a few weeks ago - the best track on that is only on the special edition. It's called "clap hands" and sounds like a Neptunes production. Much better than the Neptunes most recent - B-A-N-A-N-A-S - joint. (If you don't know what i'm talking about, turn on z100 for about 20 mins - extra points if you hear the Staten Island parody version - 1 hint - G-A-R-B-A-G-E - I have yet to hear it)

So let's see - aside from music - i've been working a whole lot, and looking for a break - which i'll get tomorrow night as i go out to hear billy carroll and then my favorite superchumbo. - which i guess is still talking about music.

i got my 6 month evaluation at work today - on a scale of 1-4 i got all 3's and 4's - which i was pretty happy about. mostly due to this little devil conscience sitting on my shoulder telling me about how i'm going to get fired. But i think i'm good at what i'm doing now.

well i just got a call about possibly djing at Temple (across from Roseland) on Friday - we'll see how this going. Damn - straight clubs - whats that like? Oh right "how many people can you do?" - "there will be 3 djs over the whole night" - but it's getting my foot back into the giant door of NYC. -

ok i'll put it up here - this is 90% done -

Friday April 22, 2005
Temple
240 52nd st (btw 8th ave and Bway) (Across from Roseland Ballroom)

Doors @ 10pm
Free till Midnight
Open Bar till 11:30pm

More details to follow...

thats all for now...

whir yourself around

2005-04-01T00:06:00.000-05:00

i'm very tired...so much going on - i don't even remember when the past post was. I had a funeral yesterday, for hmm..how do i put this...my mom's sister's husband's father. my grandfather-in-law? well his other son (not my uncle) is tazz from the WWE. so when it was brought to my attention from friends that tazz's dad died - it was kind of violating - to ME! very strange to me, and the first time I thought how it must suck to be famous. but i've moved on since then, and i'm doing better now.

I was sick as hell last week and still haven't gotten better...and you know what - i need sleep - and i'm going to continue this tomorrow...until then read these...

An interview with Billy Carroll that mentions me

An article that has to do with me, unemployment, pearl jam and the woman

An article about hating jews...seriously...some of the quotes in here are quite shocking. I really never thought FDU was that jew-ey (jon stewart term).

finally - Terri Schiavo is dead - (great transition, as her maiden name is Schlindler) - which sucks - because death sucks - I just hope that I never have to see anyone on TV suffer like that again. Fucking horrible. I don't really have a pull the plug opinion in this case - however I just hope the media now pulls the plug on this. I watched South Park last night -Kenny's last wish - not to be seem on TV like that. And for a woman who was bulimic - to be seen like that on the CNN news ticker - i'm sure that if she could think coherently - she would've been pretty fucking upset that her vegitative state was all over the tv.

thats my innapropriate political statement for the day. - and to quote jon stewart "if you needed to know how sick you have to be for the government to care about your health - there you go"

to bed - talk more about having what i have been calling "something like the flu" - Pure in Philly, feedback from the Kirtzman wedding - and whatever else comes up - tomorrow - or whenever i get to it.

Frank

take it

2005-03-18T00:18:00.000-05:00

i don't have a total point to this - lots of my stress is gone - so very happy right now. Over the weekend I had 2 dj jobs that were crazy. Friday was the new club - I made my money - but it wasn't the best turnout - and they weren't that into club music. or any music for that matter. Some of them were really into complaining though!

The gay wedding I DJ-ed went amazing. And i got a voice mail from Billy Carroll today telling me that groom and the groom loved me. So i was (still am) very happy about it. One of them is a pretty high profile individual. I will tell you that Sam Champion is a queen. And to quote Marvin - "oh i've seen him in heels at the roxy." Funny Shit! When I told Sarah's uncle he immediately yelled "i knew it" - apparently Sarah's aunt and uncle had a discussion about Sammy a few months back.

So now next friday - it's back to philly - which I'm very happy about. I'm also excited for some new music coming around - like the new NIN - the hand that feeds. And looking forward to may to see them live - again.

Sarah's off to LA for the weekend - so i can sleep late Saturday - which is kinda nice. I'm happy I have a weekend mostly free. Kinda nice. So if you're around - feel free to give me a ring - i'm looking to get out for a bit at some point. possible options - clubs, skiing, music shopping, working on car, nothing, star wars trilogy. and anything else that may come up.

take it

Frank

Holy CRAP!

2005-03-06T21:39:00.000-05:00

Ok that link - its the new usher - and it might be the worst written song ever! You decide right here. Man - how does someone make money doing that. makes my think britney could sing the Anamaniac's "Countries of the World" and it be a hit. God - how do the ears of human beings not just turn off forever when you hear this heartfelt ballad by usher - "oo baby if you log onI'll make you dot com" - fuck! Makes Right Said Fred a lyrical fucking genius and maybe "I'm too sexy" deserves a Grammy. FUCK! Ok I'm done - I hope.

This comes at a time where I'm actually pretty happy with music. The new alt rock coming around is phenomenal. Not that I like it all, but its refreshing none the less. Noteable are The Bravery. A new band from NYC, thats been getting lots of buzz. Check'em out if you get a chance. iTunes has some of their stuff. Nine Inch Nails, Garbage and Beck all have new albums by May. So I think I should make up a new music fund. Although this has been helping me get some new music and enjoy my favorite soda. (as reported in the last post)

So much has gone on - and so much is coming up. I really can't believe it's been a month without updating this. There's been so much going on - we'll recap.

I'm almost healed from the whole snowboarding protien bar impalement senario. Got an x-ray, no problems. Just 6 weeks of feeling like a complete tool. Hoping to get back to the gym this week or next week. Just in time to drop $200 for membership. Been working a lot, and there's been a lot ging on all around. I did get to go to lake placid and do some cool things. I posted 2 pics below - Bob-O-Sledding - Craziness at 60mph.

This past weekend was Sarah's birthday extravaganza. From a great sushi dinner to a trip to the met - She seemingly shook out of the birthday funk she was in. I'm sure she'll tell everyone about it.

As for me - a few other things. This Friday - March 11 and Friday - March 25

There's a big private party this coming Saturday which I hope goes well. After all that we're almost in April - which is def crazyiness. So till next time.

Frank

2005-03-06T21:35:00.001-05:00

That's me before I fear for my life in a crazy 35 seconds

2005-03-06T21:35:00.000-05:00

The Miracle on Ice

life is viewtiful

2005-02-09T20:05:00.000-05:00

nothing says fun like online controversey. Here I am putting myself out there, really for no reason but to be a pain in the ass. Well thats and this blog needed an update.

First - I'm in pain, physical pain. I bruised a rib snowboarding on Sunday. I fell on my protein bar on my first run down the mountain. Well really a hill. Mt. Snow is a mountain. Camelback is nice, but its not much of a mountain. So it's wednesday and I'm still in pain. I thought I was getting better, but some activity yesterday seems to have made it hurt a bit more all day. But, on Tuesday I see a doctor for the first time in years, which I'm excited about. Not for my ribs, but just for a checkup. I am excited for health insurance.

2nd - iTunes rocks - aside from free songs every week. Pepsi teamed back up with apple to give away free songs. You buy a 20oz Pepsi, or in my case, a Diet Pepsi and 1 in 3 bottles wins a free song. The best part is you can cheat. You can angle the bottle a certain way to always buy a winning bottle. I bought 6 bottles the other day, all winners! So you end up paying like 50 cents for a diet pepsi. I mean this is almost like heaven to me - I love music, I love Diet Pepsi, and I love free stuff!!!

Aside from that, work has been pretty stressful this week, so like our little vixen, I will be taking 1/2 of friday to chill out and take some personal time. I earned all that comp time already this week, so it's actually fine that I leave early.

So aside from that things are good. Dj-ing been picking up, so I'm happy about that. Until the next time.

Frank

Say what? 80s Disco all night long

2005-01-26T23:25:00.000-05:00

so here we are - face to face - a couple of .....

ok lets start over - few things to report -

a) cam'ron has a new track that uses the music to hill street blues.

b) I feel like Sarah promoting random blog sites - but i like this one http://www.stereogum.com/ It's all about music, and its also kind of random. They seem to have fun with it.

c) It looks like I'm going to DJ a gay wedding in March. The main dilemma is that i don't really know what 80s disco is. Now before you people start going all "ah ah ah ah Staying Alive" on me - I said 80s disco. So it will be an educational evening musically. And it'll be cool to attend a gay wedding, despite I guess that it is technically illegal activity. But who cares really. As I keep hearing - why should we ban gay marriage - they should have the opportunity to be just as miserable as straight married couples are. Whoo Hoo! October 7, 2006!

Aside from that gearing up for next tuesday, Feb 1. Why do you ask? I'll tell you! It's the first day I get health insurance!!! Yeah - Yeah! And that will be just in time for the superbowl ski day! Which will be followed by fireworks inside Tommy's house.

Tomorrow is aparently the apocolypse - so none of this will matter. I'm excited - I can't wait to tell my kids about the day the world ended.

Be excellent to each other.

it's been a hard day's night and I've been working like a blog

2005-01-20T01:15:00.000-05:00

Well its been a while since I've last posted. Lots gone on - so let's start

(Casey Kasem Voice) First - we go to Frank from Staten Island - while on my little ski vacation in Vermont with 4 gays guys - I got a voicemail from my friend Adam. Adam said he was reading my blog about my favorite albums of the year. He saw that I had listen Jamie Cullum's Twentysomething as #7. Adam mentioned he had been looking at the cd in a store, but did not buy it. After reading my blog, he thought "well if it's one of Frank's top CDs, it must be good." Adam purchased the CD and said it is an amazing CD and loves it very much. Adam died - no joking. Casey, can you please play "twentysomething" for Adam in New Jersey, as he's going through what Sarah and Tomato Nation call a 1/4 life crisis. Frank, here's your request and dedication. Fucking Ponderous.

So back to life as we know it. Work has been crazy this week. One of my kids decided to celebrate MLK day by going crazy. She's made it MLK Makes me C-RA-ZY week. So i'm on the edge of my seat with her. But life will go on, well for me. You know it's bad when your supervisor tells the kid "you can run away, but i'd wait till June when it's warmer."

Had some fun (isn't it always) car trouble. One of those instances where you bring it in for 1 thing and they find somethign else wrong with it. As a co worker put it - it's like going to the doctor for a cold and finding out you have cancer.

back to the dedication - We did have a fantastic time skiing - and i'm looking for round 2 on SUPER(bread)BOWL(with chilli)SUNDAY. Hopefully this year we'll actually get to see this year's "wardrobe malfunction."

This Saturday me and the woman are going scuba diving - well training for it. Which will be really bizarre since it's going to snow on Saturday night. Well thats about it - ok I lied - I'm getting very excited as Nine Inch Nails have announced that they will be touring really soon. 2 dates already set in London. I can't wait for a date around NYC, and for their new album "with teeth" set to come out around May. But we'll see, Trent is infamous for delaying albums and tours.

Back to the waterloo for me Saturday. Oh yippee... I updated www.djfrankmanzo.com (well Sarah did) so go check out the set from the last time in Philly. I'll be keeping you posted on some new stuff going on as well. till next time -

keep you feet on the ground and keep giving a reach around

Frank

iTunes Top 15 Albums of 2004 Link

2005-01-05T01:48:00.000-05:00

Go here with iTunes and you will be able to see tracks from my top 15 albums of 2004. That way all those that care (or have tons of time to kill) can get to listen in on what I think is the best music of 2004.

Look for an iTunes Top 50 Songs of 2004 coming soon.

Happy 2005

2005-01-04T21:31:00.000-05:00

well we're here now in 2005 - so I figured I'd wish everyone a happy new year to all and hope your new years resolution isn't failed 4 days in. I haven't come up with one yet. Possibly to accurately count the number of people attending a bash at 174 Foster rd. This year's original count was 9. And we ended up with about 50. But it was a blast. Club Manzo was in effect - raving in the living room to some great progressive house tracks. From what I remember - songs like "Final Chapter," "La La Land" and "Sandstorm" were played - rather loudly. We had a teriffic time, and I can only hope we can do that again. Thanks for all those that came, those that cleaned up, those that tried to take out my contact lenses and those that were very nice to me in my day of being hungover. Obviously the last 2 involve the person that still wants to spend the rest of her life with me.

So anyways - Here we go with that top 50 list of my favorite songs of 2004. However I must say 2005 has already been musically educational. Check out a band called "the bravery" and I finally listened to the Green Day CD, which would've made it to the top cds of 2004 if I had listened to it before Jan 2nd. So here you go - I'd love all comments. I'm ready for them.

1. Kanye West – Jesus Walks
Just an amazing track – He explains why this track rocks in his lyrics
2. Britney Spears – Breathe On Me
Ok I know – It’s Britney – But the song is wonderful and sexy. And not in that I’m a white trash whore kind of sexy. You can make a good song – but you can still be trash
3. Shape UK – Lola’s Theme
A house track with trumpets! That’s the Shit! Oh right the lyrics make me jump up and down so hard I skip the record at Pure
4. Nelly Furtado – Forca
If I explain I’ll be beating a dead horse
5. Keane – Bend and Break
One of my favorite bands of the year – best track on the album
6. Snow Patrol – Run
See Above
7. Switchfoot – Meant To Live
One more time – See Above
8. Superchumbo f/ Celeda – DirthyFilthy
The best dirty tribal track I’ve ever heard. So much fun!
9. Jamie Cullum – Frontin’
A jazz cover of Jay-Z and Pharell - Genius
10. Jem – 24
This chick is awesome, and this is the best song on her album
11. Utada – Devil Inside (All Mixes)
Every mix, including the original, makes this song so great. Listen to it over and over
12. The Killers – Somebody Told Me
Jump up and down to some electronic punk rock. And a damn catchy line!
13. Rachael Yamagata - Worn Me Down
Again – the best track off a great album. A great live performer as well, unlike #49.
14. Maroon 5 – This Love
Played out? Hell Yeah. Love it? Yeap
15. Outkast – Roses
They can do no wrong. Caroline!
16. Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out
In the same line with the Killers. Catchy as shit.
17. Nelly w/ Tim McGraw – Over and Over
Ladies – for the ladies. Finally something new – hip hop and country! What?
18. Sia - Breathe Me (Mylo Remix)
You’ve prob never heard it, unless you listen to Zero 7. This is the 2nd sexiest song of the year. Hmm.. Maybe the word Breathe is just sexy
19. David Morales – How Would You Feel
He brings back some needed soul into house music again
20. Gavin DeGraw – I Don’t Wanna Be
guitar + angst = my adolescence / softer sound. Takes me back, in a Pearl Jam’s “Daughter” kinda way
21. Linkin Park / Jay-Z – Numb/Encore
because mash-ups are cool for 2004
22. Stacy Burket f/ Audio Angel – Shakedown (Superchumbo Mix)
Another dance track that stands above the rest
23. Ben Folds – Give Judy My Notice
Ben goes back to write good old pop love songs
24. John Legend – Used to Love U
hip hop - or soul - or both. New voice - old school feel
25. Modest Mouse – Float On
Once again - a great song - catchy as shit - album blows
26. Nina Sky – Move Ya Body
this gets the award for the slowest house song - this one got sped up right away. this will get play for years
27. Destiny’s Child – Lose My Breath
it was only a matter of time till the "drumline" movie had a theme song. makes me want to march in place really fast
28. Kaskade – Steppin’ Out
slowing down house music and making it nice and groovy
29. Kylie Minogue – Slow (Chemical Brothers Remix)
Sexy track #3 - Chemical Brothers makes Kylie even hotter than the video for this song
30. Dave Armstrong – Make Your Move
80s sample? check! Repetitious beat? Check! All over it like white on rice? CHECK!
31. John Mayer – Daughters
Sometimes I'm a sucker for a sappy track.
32. No Doubt – It’s My Life
best 80s cover of the year - however they get the award for the most random cover that made me play the original more than anything else.
33. Blink 182 – I Miss You
Blink 182 does their best attempt at Green Day's "Time of Your Life" - except this one didn't get played out
34. Counting Crows – Accidentally In Love
Stupid stupid stupid! Shrek Shrek Shrek!
35. Green Day –American Idiot
In 94 - it was about being too lazy to masturbate - in 04 its being too lazy to think (for ourselves) - and I can still relate
36. Jill Scott – My Petition
As read above - this is my favorite track from her album. Honestly - there's something really cool about this song. Sounds like an old Diana Ross track.
37. Velvet Revolver – Fall To Pieces
Scott Weiland is back - a radio friendly track - but reminds us that he's still able to belt out a great song. I'm sure that belt is than used to tie off his vein, but what ya gonna do
38. Mike Doughty – Move On
Mr. soul coughing makes a track that makes me want to vote for Kerry - like I needed more reasons
39. Mobb Deep – Got It Twisted
80s sample? check! Thick hip hop beats? Check! Holy shit - She Blinded me with science! Creative Genius!
40. Lisa Hunt – The Joint is Jumpin’ (BlueRoom Mixshow)
This track makes me scream for more - a dancefloor jam for peak time.
41. Zero 7 – In Time
slow it way way down - the feel good song to listen before bed
42. Josh Rouse – James
a free itunes download - worth every penny
43. Scissor Sisters – Take Your Mama
No it's not Elton John, but it might as well be. Catchy and cute - but I dunno who's Mama they want to take out
44. Yeah Yeah Yeah’s – Maps
this gets the Nirvana award for most unintelligible track of the year. But sometimes understanding words don't mean shit.
45. Beyonce – Me, Myself and I
Ok so - This is 1 of 2 songs that I must admit I really liked this year. And #49 is coming soon.
46. Frou Frou – Holding out for a Hero
The best reinvention of an 80s song - its on the Shrek Soundtrack - sounds so damn cool! Whoo Hoo Frou Frou
47. Sondre Lerche – Two Way Monologue
Probably the oddest song - his voice is wierd and so is his sound. And shit so is his damn name! But this song makes me wonder what else he can come up with.
48. Usher f/ Ludacris & Lil John – Yeah!
Played out? YEAH YEAH! WHAT? OKAY! Does it make people dance? YEAH! YEAH! WHAT? OKAY!
49. Ashley Simpson – Pieces of Me
Ashley Simpson blows - and the twat can't sing. Her songwriter and producers came up with a great song here. Wish it was someone else that we would remember in years to come.
50. Mase – Welcome Back
Mr. Slow Rappin' comes back with a track - with a sample. A 70s sample here. From Welcome Back fuckin' Kotter. What thinks of this shit? Why can't I do that?

So there you have it. Enjoy - or berate me. I'm can take take!

Frank's Top 15 Albums of 2004

2004-12-29T01:46:00.000-05:00

Ok so here you go - My Top 15 Albums of 2004. Feedback always welcome. Hope you enjoy it. In the next few days I will post my Top 50 Tracks for 2004.

Frank

1) Kanye West – The College Dropout
This was long anticipated and well worth the money. This is one of the most creative and genre blending albums to come out in a long time. Finally a heartfelt rap album that isn’t talking about niggas, ho’s and chedda. Although there are a few references to Jacob the Jeweler.
2) Keane – Hopes and Fears
One of the surprise albums of the year. This band made an amazing album that gives Coldplay a run for their money. If their second album has a hit like “Clocks,” the world will understand the hype.
3) Rachael Yamagata – Happenstance
This girl is my fill for Fiona Apple while she tries to get her 3rd album released from the wretched record label. Lots of piano, lots of feeling, lots of talent. Sometimes you just get lucky buying a promo EP on a whim.
4) Snow Patrol – Final Straw
I got “Run” as a free download on iTunes. This album is obviously my favorite one of the year from this Irish band. They rock, makes me remember what rock is really like.
5) Jem – Finally Woken
Again, free iTunes download, turns into a great album. British chick rock over electro hip-hop beats. Sound odd? Yeap! So great!
6) Switchfoot – The Beautiful Letdown
My favorite Christian rock album of the year. This album goes to many musical places. An album that can stay on repeat.
7) Jamie Cullum – Twentysomething
My weakness for pianos comes again, and its not over. This reinvention of “Frontin’,” makes this a must buy all alone. Neo-jazz rock for the 21st Century.
8) The Killers – Hot Fuss
Electro-rock rocks my radio with this one. Expecting a flop, much like the Modest Mouse album. But It held through to make it to my favorites. The album isn’t necessarily an album, but a collection of very good singles.
9) Zero 7 – When It Falls
Did anyone get their 1st album? No one listened when I praised it did you? Go back and get it! And get this as a follow up. The 1st album “Simple Things,” was groundbreaking, this one doesn’t do anything new, but you can’t expect a band to break new ground and then do it again so quickly.
10) Shrek 2 – Soundtrack
Ok – I know. It’s a soundtrack. Counting Crows “Accidentally in Love” and Frou Frou’s “Holding Out For a Hero” makes this cd great. Oh right there’s like 12 other tracks that keep you entertained till the Shrek karaoke finale.
11) Jill Scott – Beautifully Human – Words and Sounds, Vol. 2
A nice follow up to her first album. This album is not as good as her past ones, however it manages to do something amazing. There are a few tracks that bring you so far back you would think they belong on a Motown compilation. Amazing production by DJ Jazzy Jeff.
12) Utada – Exodus
I have to thank the woman for this one. She heard the a remix of “Devil Inside” and told me about it. It was instantly one of my favorite tracks. This is the 1st of 2 albums I did not buy. The album from this Japanese woman reminds me who’s in charge of electronic companies.
13) Sia – Colour the Small One
The second album that I did not buy. This one sounds a lot like the Zero 7 album with downtempo beats that take chillout to a new level. Sia has a voice that is amazing and the track “breathe me” makes me melt.
14) Scissor Sisters – Scissor Sisters
They do a great job of bringing back a sound that many thought (including me) should be left alone to die. The upbeat Elton John mid-70s sound. The only thing more weird on this album is the upbeat “Stayin’ Alive”-esque cover of Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb.”
15) John Legend – Get Lifted
I bought this album today. The single “Used to Love U” is a current favorite of mine. I believe this will be an influential album for 2005. It’s already had 3 spins in the car. He’s being called the male Alicia Keys. Kanye West also produced it, which obviously got my attention.

Goodbye Chistmas...

2004-12-27T18:51:00.000-05:00

well its been a crazy couple of weeks...to say the least... my uncle's wake and funeral - work - and of course Christmas. It all ended up pretty good. Got some fun gifts and gave some good ones too. In particular a photo-calender book i made for the fiancee. So it was a light christmas, and ended with a white one. But all in all - a good christmas. I hope everyone else had a good one too.

Oh well on the 18th I was down in Philly to DJ again, the fiancee and ms. biscuit came down to have fun, which we all did. Had some good sushi, and this tapioca ice drink. Very odd, very fun, very not for winter. Oh and we had a wonderful fire drill sunday morning, that was great. But Pure was great, and we had lots of fun.

So aside from that - I was able to do lots of returning yesterday at the P-burg mall in NJ. Yes its the last exit in NJ, yes its small. however, it has an H&M and it is never crowded. and i mean never. We showed up 1 hr before closing, and returned to Gap, Bath and Body works, Victoria's secret, Sears, and a sports store - and had about 1/2 hr to shop. And that was the day after christmas!!!!! So that rocked...

Had some dinner, went to the movies - saw "closer" which was good - however pulled up some old emotions and feelings.

Today I saw Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events - which I must say was a pretty good movie. Very creepy, dark, left it open for a sequel, very cool. Jim Carey doing a good job. But i must say the girl (http://www.emily-browning.org/) did a great job in this.

Well thats it for now. hope everyone enjoyed their holiday.

Frank

wow

2004-12-13T01:39:00.000-05:00

i just wrote a blog that was really long - and i went to spell check it and it's gone. I'm sure you'll hear what I have to say at some point. Lots of craziness this week. Glad I just wanted another hour of my life so the blog could dissappear.

Frank