Astoria Music & Arts

Wretched Reflections with EKRA

Every week we're going to talk with a new discovery from Terrible Tuesday.  This week we're talking with Ekra - a husband-wife combo from Jackson Heights.  She plays the drums, he sings and plays bass  and together they make some of the tastiest noise-pop I've ever heard.   

Cocktails with Confidence: the Kenneth

Being a bit of a manchild, I never really learned how to cook. Oh sure, a burger, a basic salad, a steak, top ramen, little bits of choziro with brie on top (I'm serious - DELICIOUS. Also not proscribed for anyone planning on running or biking a significant distance afterwards.), basic stuff. Nothing that would blow you or a romantic date away.

However, being in the Rock Industry, I have developed a healthy alcoholism over the years, and being a Classy Gentleman, I can't just be drinking Jim Beam out of the bottle 24/7. So I've become something of an amateur mixologist, and I wanted to share a little concotion with you today that was developed in lovely Astoria and should be imbibed by anyone who loves our little country.

Your Week with AM&A (i.e., another week of ROCK HEAVEN)

Short but very sweet this week.

Tuesday, April 27th: Terrible Tuesday! Let's get terrible with Jump for the Sails live at 8pm and open mic thereafter (SIGN UP AT 8pm!) at the Shillelagh!  Hosted by the one and only David Guevara. The men want to be him and the women want to be with him, and YOU do not want to miss this night.

and then....

Saturday, May 1st: Saturday at the Quays! Obviously, you know, at your favorite bar, the Quays (45-02 30th Ave.) With the inestimable Lorrie Doriza! The cuddliest name in rock and roll Bluedog! And linkless but timeless Slumberjack!

Show starts at 8:30pm and goes until the cows come home (or you stumble home drunk, whichever comes first).

 

Hey There, Internet

Hey there Internet. My name is Josh Thunder, and I'm here because I was kindly invited by Jamie of The Jamies (the best all-girl rock band since The Shaggs) to update all of Astoria and beyond about things like music and my feelings. I haven't done the blog thing since Livejournal was overrun by Russian emo girls so if there's a lot of nervous energy before I get comfortable doing this, that's because there is.

TOMORROW!!!! The Best Day of Rock and Roll Will Happen to You.

This Saturday, May 22nd, at the original Astoria Beer Garden - Bohemian Hall - we're throwing our annual blowout fundraiser for this year's Astoria Music Now! festival.  With the help of some of our finest local stars we are going to conjure a day-long event so thick with the glory of pure ROCK you're literally going to need a machete to claw your way back to Sunday.

It's Always Power Moves with AM&A

Big brain trust powwow last night at the Beer Garden. I got there early and had some delicious Spaten and then some Krusovice... joined shortly thereafter by Kerrianne Eames, who brought the spectacular posters and postcards of her very own design for the May 22nd Fundraiser (at the very same beer garden).

After that, the celebrities just started pouring in: Liz Nieves, Justin of Bliminal, Jamie and Angela of The Jamies, Liam from Illimanjaro, Josh from Thunderbang!, Brian from Rattrap Bumpkin, Mike and Bernadette from Mainline Gypsy, Dave Guevera of Digamy, and yours truly of The Missing Teens ...  it was like the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, if the Treaty of Versailles was signed by total rock stars.

Also present was Derek Micalchek, who is a gentleman and a half.  Let me tell you, from years of booking assorted venues in this town, it is always a Godsend to deal with a booker who is on your side, and on the side of Rock in general, who is excited to put on a live show rather than constantly squirmimg over this or that. With Derek on our side, the good guys just got a big boost.

We hammered out details and laid plans and I think the central committee can guarantee you SUCCESS, SUCCESS, SUCCESS on May 22nd... the Rock Dragon shall rise and scorch the earth. And you're going to be there, making history with us, drunk on delicious Czech beer and basking in the mid-May weather, on a Saturday starting at 2 in the afternoon and going into the wee hours of the morn'...

Yes, you shall.

What's the deal with new contributor James Call?

Hey kiddos! New AM&A contributor James Call here. I'll be posting about the many fantabulous goings-on that AM&A cooks up both in the short term and the long term, our many live music shows, festivals and other shindigs... but first let me introduce myself, quick and dirty-like.

I've been working with AM&A for about a year, putting on shows at the Quays, Shillelagh's, and elsewhere; I'm the lead singer and songwriter of The Missing Teens, America's favorite band; I draw a cartoon and have a blog and I like long walks on the beach and my favorite color is "ROCK."

You'll be seeing me around the neighborhood and here on the internet, so feel free to yell "HEY JERK!" or just shoot me an email with any questions or commentary you might have.

And now back to the show!

Your Week with AM&A

Monday, April 19th: MANIC MONDAY! Sean Wiggins and the Shrimps - basically the best time you will ever have on Earth - 9pm, FREE. @ the Quays.

Tuesday, April 20th: TERRIBLE TUESDAY! Oh yes it's ladies night, and the feeling's right! All female performers are encouraged to come out and rock the mic. Sign-ups at 9, stage opens up at 10, $2 Brews... with your host, the terrible Jamie Stellini. @ Shilleleagh, 47-22 30th ave.

Friday, April 23rd: HOLY FREE SHOW starting at 9pm, Batman! Celebrities galore including: John Keegan (of Bliminal) * Sam Rasiotis (of Dirty Wings) * Steve Mall (of Bull Moose Party) * Jimmy Artache (of Little Creatures). This is like Christmas plus Bonnaroo combined. @ Shillelagh 47-22 30th ave

Saturday, April 24th: NERD-CORE DEVASTATION! - Hops and Schaffer the Dark Lord @ the Brewhouse. This is bigger than Eminem teaming up with the cast of the News Hour with Jim Lehrer... Doors open at 9 p.m., $7. Astoria Brewhouse: 28-50 31st street

Sunday, April 25th: STEINWAY STREET FESTIVAL! Bliminal, Silbin Sandovar and The Jamies play on stage @ the corner of Steinway and Broadway. Combine your beautiful Sunday stroll with the finest rock money can buy, except in this case, there's no money involved! FREE mini music festival! Starts at 3:00 p.m.

Only the Strong Will Survive

Tonite, we'll be celebrating with Mr. Ran Craycraft over at Studio Square to celebrate the 4,000 member mark/2 year anniversary for Why Leave Astoria?!.  It should be one of those real hootenannies.

And! This Saturday:  don't miss our spectacular Unicorns vs. Robots show at the Shillelagh Tavern with James Call, Thunderbang! and Bob Muir and the Enemy Below.  The cover is $5 but all proceeds will go towards saving your soul. (i.e. AMandA's Astoria Music Now! festival this summer)