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Boat bars.
Fred likes floating. Always has, always will. So now that he’s in New York, Fred and a group of us FOF's followed the ever-popular summertime trend of boat bar hopping. We started with the New York Water Taxi sunset cruise, hit a few forgettable rockin’ booze barges, and ended up at one of the best bars in the city: The Staten Island Ferry. This watering whale has no cover charge, ample seating, $2.75 Bud Tallboys, picturesque views and a new crowd every 25 minutes.
posted by William E. Ocean |
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Yacht Rock or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Kenny Loggins.
Channel 101, for those who haven’t searched the Andy Samberg back catalog, is an online network of low budget viewer-generated television programming. Largely hit or miss, the channel certainly scored a major hit with Yacht Rock, a show that coined a musical catch phrase and spawned a new generation of Doobies fans. [viewer discretion advised]
posted by William E. Ocean |
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ASOBI SEKSU
Citrus
[Friendly Fire]
Listen to audio
[steaming / asobiseksu]
Watch video
[streaming / YouTube] |
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3 out of 4 pirates agree that Citrus, the new record from Asobi Seksu, cures scurvy. And if there’s one thing that scurvy-battling pirates know, it’s the Brooklyn-based Japanese shoegaze scene. So take their word for it. This record is legit. Fred says: “We’re Cibo Matto, and with us tonight on guitar is Kevin Shields from My Bloody Valentine! Enjoy the show!”
posted by William E. Ocean |
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Five greatest Yacht Rock album covers.
See the video section above for a Yacht Rock introduction. Below are visual icons of the newly minted genre.
posted by William E. Ocean |
5. Captain & Tennille / Song of Joy
There's simply no question as to who The Captain is, thanks to the captain hat worn always by The Captain. Tennille points to where his beard should be. |
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4. Christopher Cross / Christopher Cross
Sailing, Ride Like the Wind. Spires of the Yacht Rock cathedral. On the cover: a regal pink flamingo as seen through a yacht cabin portfhole. |
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3. Seals & Crofts / Summer Breeze
A soft watercolor in the dulcet tones of summer coastal sunsets. Seals gazes port, Crofts starboard. Clearly, these men are no strangers to the life aquatic. |
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2. Loggins & Messina / Full Sail
All the elements are here, in one groundbreaking image. Palm tree borders, a captain's wheel, a white Fedora hat and Kenny Loggins. Lightning in a bottle. |
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1. Bertie Higgins / Just Another Day in Paradise
Few images in western art can evoke the raw sensual power of a shirtless Higgins lounged on a wicker throne. Add a crayon drawing of the tropics and you have our #1. |
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Hon. Mention: Air Supply / The One That You Love
Recognizing in the early 80's that Yacht Rock's days were numbered, the dynamic duo of Russell & Russell bet heavily on the next big thing: Dirigible Rock. Only time will tell... |
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Anatomically complex.
Looking for something askew from the typical NY gallery, journey to the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors. Void of four-hour tape loops or sculptures made of shoes, permanently displayed are meticulous paintings straddling the gap between science and spirituality. This is the work of Alex Grey, who has gained some pop culture prominence with his designs for the last two Tool albums. His paintings, best described as psychedelic medical illustrations, concern the human body and it’s connection with spiritual energy. The chapel is split into two main rooms, the right door leads to the actual sacred mirrors, sixteen life-size paintings of the human body, and all it’s various systems organic and ethereal. The left door leads to work concerning Alex’s own spiritual journey and shamanistic experiences.
Talking about his work can in no way do it justice; each piece is crammed with enough detail to make any obsessive compulsive proud. See-through bodies reveal every possible medical detail overlaid with chi points and chakras. Sound like mumbo-jumbo? You needn’t be a believer to enjoy the work, so take a break from the all-pink canvases and toenail sculptures and trek to 540 West 27th Street between 10th and 11th Avenues. Admission is five bucks.
posted by Arthur Beard |
Chapel of Sacred Mirrors |
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The Low Brow High Life.
Mary, a Germanic septuagenarian professed “There is nothing better in life than cold Beer and Hot Pizza.” The owners of The Crocodile Lounge took this statement as their maxim; every beer served comes with a free pizza. I’ll say that again so you won’t need to reread it, every beer served comes with a free pizza. Bear in mind it’s a humble cheese pizza, narrow in breadth, bereft of toppings, not likely to win awards or impress critics, but it’s free by Jove and it’s hot and did I mention the beer? Just cheese you say, well they have other toppings; mushrooms, pepperoni, olives and other staples of the pizzasphere, but they’re all much less free. Better than peanut butter and jelly this combination will cure depression, relieve heartache, rekindle lost love, bring light back into world, or at least smother your hunger. Beer. Free pizza. Go. Located on 14th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenue.
posted by Arthur Beard |
Crocodile Lounge |
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