09/29/07 Sound Tribe Sector 9 @ Nokia Theatre, New York, NY

I wish I could remember something about this show that caused me to miss Talib Kweli, A-Trak and Hifana's only U.S. appearance, but I can't.

09/30/06 Tokyo New York Fest @ Central Park SummerStage, New York, NY

Unfortunately, I had previously signed up for a Sound Tribe Sector 9 show, so I only saw the Japanese jazz group Pe'z.

Had I known better, I would have stuck around for the incredible drum machine breakbeat duo Hifana. Luckily, I managed to snag a couple of their CD+DVD releases - Fresh Push Breakin' and Channel H. I still throw on the DVDs every now and again when minds need melting.

I also met up with my burger-flipping, beat-making buddy Tash and his fellow Japanese beat-making friend, which would eventually lead to the sole recording of my stagnant hip hop career.

Listen to my music HERE.

09/22/07 Travis Sullivan's Bjorkestra/Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey @ Gramercy Theatre, New York, NY

While the headliner here had been garnering press for the novel concept of transcribing Icelandic pixie Bjork's music for a big band, the draw for me was the severely underrated JFJO.

09/09/07 Jewzapalooza @ Riverside Park, New York, NY

This sometimes annual celebration of Judaism featured the two hippie Jew bands of my slightly more religious days - Soulfarm and the Moshav Band.

The Moshav is the settlement where all the vagabond hippies live in Israel. It was started by the original rabbi to the hippies, Shlomo Carlebach.

09/02/07 Zen Tricksters @ South Street Seaport, New York, NY

This free Sunday Seaport show featured veteran local Grateful Dead tribute act, the Zen Tricksters.

08/31/07 Battles/Deerhunter @ South Street Seaport, New York, NY

The South Street Seaport is one of the multitude of places in NYC hosting free music on a weekly basis in the summertime. This one just happens to be in the midst of a tourist trap.

It is always fun to watch the mix of mall shoppers and indie rock fans.

Deerhunter was enjoyable, if not memorable.

Battles was a truly mindblowing spectacle that had the entire Seaport shaking with sheer force of rock.

08/25/07 Sabbra Cadabra (Black Sabbath tribute)/The Rub @ The Yard, Brooklyn, NY

This was a day of discovering new waterside venues. After departing Governors Island, we headed out to Brooklyn to checkout The Yard alongside the Gowanus Canal.

We played Scrabble and drank BYOB-style in the cool shade of the aptly named Yard.

The music was provided by the seemingly incongruous pairing of hip hop DJ collective The Rub and a capable Black Sabbath tribute band.

Eventually the landlord of the spot figured out that the spot had become one of the best party spots in the city and raised the rent accordingly, putting the kibosh on yet another great live music venue.