Honestly, I spent most of 2011 obsessing over mod music and glam rock from the ’60s and ’70s, and so I don’t feel quite equipped to compose an authoritative or complete list of the year’s best new sounds. (Besides, the Internet is populated by young bloggers on the hipster tip who are doing just that for me—not that I was into Real Estate, Youth Lagoon or Lana Del Mar in the slightest.) I did, however, spend hours obsessing over certain songs. Below are the five I repeated to an embarrassing degree.
Violin-playing performance artist shares her New Year’s Eve with Albuquerque
By Jessica Cassyle Carr
Bitch is a multi-instrumentalist—electric violin, ukulele, bass, keyboard—and solo performance artist. The one-woman band was once upon a time half of Righteous Babe Records alumnus Bitch and Animal. On her own, the exuberant, Technicolor, gender nonconformist singer released her first solo album on Kill Rock Stars and now runs her own label, Short Story Records. Trained as an actor as well, she starred in acclaimed feature film Shortbus by John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch). Her music has appeared on “The L Word,” and she’s worked with the likes of JD Samson, Ani DiFranco and the Indigo Girls.
On 6 Times around the Sun, hubkaphonist Mark Weber presents an abundant collection of strange and wonderful music, teaming up with nine adventurous musicians on 38 improvised duet tracks recorded over six years.
The poster for Alfred Hitchcock’s 1958 classic thriller now serves as the announcement of a New Year’s Eve party at Dad’s House. Gusher, Great White Buffalo, Fart House, Music is the Enemy and Sputniq play beginning at 9 p.m. (Jessica Cassyle Carr)
Mayo Lua de Frenchie's Golden Legends Variety Show • burlesque, comedy
By Rini Grammer
Tap your way over to the local Downtown tavern Sister this Sunday, July 30, to support Albuquerque's very own nationally renowned burlesque dancer, Mayo Lua de Frenchie. For just $10 (and tips for the performers!), you can watch the best of the best local entertainers perform in Mayo Lua de Frenchie's Golden Legends Variety Show Fundraiser to support of Frenchie, who is a top contender for the Golden Legends Champion Challenge. Come for the sideshows, stay for the stripping … and comedians, live music, dancing, drag and more!
There is a striking absence of good rock music on the airwaves today. We have passed the glory days when kids and adults alike bonded over a couple of guitars and a drumset, as new heads try their hand at the more accessible sounds of electronic music and rap. There are those of us, however, who have not forgotten the thrill of playing air guitar and belting along to your favorite song. In his efforts to reaccess this primal energy, Robert Schwartzman—the mastermind behind the once-upon-a-time inescapable worm of a tune “Where Did Your Heart Go Missing”—has reformed his band Rooney. Armed with the upbeat verve of power pop and teeming with inspiration from British Invasion rock, Rooney will be bringing their revival efforts to Launchpad this Tuesday, Aug. 1. The opening performance at this 13+ show will be provided by the somehow simultaneously buoyant and melancholy indie jams of Run River North. The cost to share in the spirit and enthusiasm of revitalized musicians will be a mere $17, so don’t miss out!
