NYDiscovery

Passionate and Super Talented: Ha Ha Tonka live @ The Bowery Ballroom

What better event to celebrate Oliver's and my 20th anniversary than attending a concert? Granted, we could have went for dinner but a passionate show is still one of my favorite pastimes.

In less than 1 year, I've seen Ha Ha Tonka live for 4 times: July 2009 @ The Bell House, October 2009 @ The Higline Ballroom, February 2010 @ Pianos and now at my most favorite venue @ Bowery Ballroom!

Brian and Lucas (in this picture), Brett and Lennon get better and even more enjoyable with each gig! This has been their best New York show yet and Brian confirmed this, when I chatted with him after the show. They'll be back later this year... another chance for me to admire their live energy and to get inspired. 

I have no doubt, although it's such a tough business, that they will make it big! They are just way too good and talented to not aquire a huge followership. It takes time. It takes passion. It takes self-confidence and this "little bit of luck" that you always need. 

Recently, Ha Ha Tonka landed on the radar of Stephenie Meyer (Twilight series) and for what it's worth, maybe (hopefully for them, because it means EXPOSURE to a broad audience!) they'll even land on the soundtrack of Twilight #3.

I am not taking pictures at every show I go to, because usually you can't bring good gear anyway and I also enjoy to just dig the atmosphere without capturing it. But whenever I do bring my camera, I'll end up with at least one shot I am absolutely in love with. And this is the one! Although a tiny bit blurry, I love its vitality. The other one is Brian... and there will be more pics on Flickr...

Thanks for an awesome show, guys and for really great music!

-- By Elke

Becoming a Brooklynite

Alea jacta est. I'll be leaving the Lower East Side! I'll be leaving a neighborhood that was always so dear to my heart and I though I could never, ever leave.

I also thought, I'd never, ever want to live in Brooklyn! Turns out, there are some lovely neighborhoods and the most appealing for me, in my current state of life, is Williamsburg, or Hipstertown as I like to call it.

Turns out, some of my favorite colleagues live in Williamsburg as well as some of my favorite bartenders and some of my best friends. It's family there! very friendly and very artsy. This is what I love so much about it.

And of course the fact that I'll have an extra bedroom! YEAH! An extra bedroom for a our macs, and our music gear... and a place for guests to stay.

Good-bye Manhattan, ciao East Williamsburg!

-- Elke

You look like a hot European Rock Star!

What a great start into a new day!

On my way to work, on 18th street and almost there, a guy comes running (!) after me, stops me and makes me take down my headphones. He starts the conversation with "where did you buy these headphones from" but I can't believe him that he's really interested in THAT kind of info. And he isn't. Without stopping a beat he compliments me on my looks with "You look like a hot European rock star" and asks me if I am into R&B. I decline.

He wants to know more and mentions that he's working for Universial Music (I should have asked him for his business card!) and that he could get me into cool R&B concerts. Hey, not interested, dude!
Then he gets personal and wants to know whether I'm into black guys and luckily I can answer "I'm married" - "but where's you're ring" - "I'm European, it's on my right hand!". (What is it with guys that they need these signs of "being taken". Cant' they just take a woman's word for it?!)

The conversation lasted long enough already and I really need to go to not miss my morning meeting.
We shake hands and he gives me another compliment on my way, something like "your husband is a f'cking lucky guy!".

And I am a happy gal :D

-- By Elke

Paperless Ticket - The End of Scalping? Not so fast...

Thom Yorke and his Atoms of Peace are trying the Paperless Ticket Concert which attempts to eliminate the middle man aka scalper!

By limiting the number per tickets per person to 2 and requiring the ticket holder to show up with his/her ID and the credit card the purchase has been made, they are hoping to help fans having to only pay ticket face value.

Scalping still works though! How do I know? There was this Texan couple behind me yesterday at the first of Thom Yorke's two shows and during the long DJ pre-set, we came to chat a bit and the tiny woman told me that she easily paid off her own ticket by selling her other, 2nd ticket to somebody else. Her companion did the same. So they both bought 2 tickets each, just to sell one of them for USD 150 or more!

Well, as long as there are still people willing to pay those ridiculous prices, scalping will bloom...

-- By Elke

Thom Yorke and Atoms of Peace at the Roseland Ballroom - Concert 1

For the first time ever, I'll visit two concerts by the same artist back to back! Well, it's not just "a" artist, it's after all Radiohead's Thom Yorke!

When Oliver and I first heard about Thom Yorke giving two shows in New York, we were super excited, of course, but were also afraid that our usual un-luck with getting such much coveted tickets would strike. Come ticket purchase day, we nevertheless, made sure to have all our laptops and Mac machines fired up, and while Oliver tried to get tickets for the Tuesday show, I tried for the Monday one and what can I say?

We BOTH got lucky! Since this is a paperless ticket event, where they try to keep the scalping as low as possible (people still scalp though!) one needed to appear with credit card, and ID in order to get access. Still not being fully back home from my recent South America trip, I did not have the credit card with me I ordered the tickets with, but with the help of my American Express Gold Card as well as the original email confirmation available in my iPhone, we got access!

What can I say about a concert by Thom Yorke? It's awesome and breathtaking - of course! The bar is set so high! The fellow musicians are at their best and know exactly what they do.

It was an awesome show and makes me want for more...

... lucky me, I will get more. Tomorrow!

-- By Elke

Tonight: Ha Ha Tonka taking the stage @ Piano's

One of my favorite bands, Ha Ha Tonka from Springfield, MIssouri, will be back in New York to give another concert. 

They're touring a lot and yet I missed them in December because I myself was on vacation. This time however I am here and won't miss their gig at Piano's which is right around the corner from my home. Not even 5 minutes by foot away... It's a no brainer, isn't it?

But even if I had to leave Manhattan to see them in Brooklyn, as I did last June, I would totally do it. Because - they are so much fun! Here some photos from their concert at Bellhouse, in Brooklyn. Last Summer...

... ah Summer! It's not yet Summer, not even close! But I'll leave cold New York soon anyway and until then, I am digging a couple more concerts, like Kendra Morris or by the end of the week Muse and Silversun Pickups!

But first things first: Ha Ha Tonka tonight at Piano's! And this is me with Brian Roberts, last year in October! 

-- By Elke

New York Snow Day Photos

There seems to be a lot of snow around this year all over the northern hemisphere. Friday, we had yet another big snow storm in New York and this time Elke and I managed to go out and shoot. Above is a quite big snowman on Union Square. More photos are here.

Falling in love with...

... Williamsburg!

This old Brooklyn neighborhood got quite some attention in recent years: lots of new high rises and posh new buildings among old townhouses or old commercial units.

Oliver and I accomplished so much this past weekend and enjoyed a sunny afternoon strolling through Williamsburg. We were discussing the possibility of moving there... the possibility... nothing's set in stone! Our lease is up in June and we'll start looking in April. Once we're back from our South America trip!

Of course, we'd also like to negotiate our lease because, honestly, who likes moving?

-- By Elke

New York 2010 Blizzard - Lower East Side View

Ever since this morning, it's snowing without missing a beat! Snow flake after snow flake floats down to the ground and ads itself to all the other snow flakes. All these snowflakes have gathered to an impressive ~30 centimeters snow fall. And there will be more! No end in sight - yet! Many of us have been working from home today which is no problem at all in an Social Media profession. Everything's virtual and online anyway! Weather appropriate, I am listening to STING's x-mas CD called IF ON A WINTER'S NIGHT which our friend Tim sound edited. It's so far Tim's most famous project and I understand that he's proud of it. The recording is amazing!

And so appropriate! I just wish, as Sting currently sings, the snow would melt already...

-- By Elke

New View on Manhattan from the East River State park

Last week, while strolling through Williamsburg, we discovered the East River State Park, which features views like the one above. The park itself still looks pretty rough, but hopefully that changes in the summer time.