FRESH AIR As an American journalist in Japan, Jake Adelstein uncovered a world unknown to many of the Japanese public, let alone to foreigners: the world of organized crime. For 12 years, he investigated for Japan’s largest newspaper, the Yomiuri Shinbun. In his final story, Adelstein went toe-to-toe with one of the country’s most notorious crime bosses, a discovery that led to death threats for him and his family — death threats that have yet to be lifted. His new memoir about his experiences is called Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan. After leaving the […]
MASERATI: Live At First Unitarian Church
Video: Maserati Interview [Breakfast at Sulimay’s] on Scrapple TV NEW YORK POST: An indie-band drummer from Brooklyn fell to his death today after trying to leap from a freight elevator at a tony Williamsburg fund-raiser, police said. Jerry Fuchs, 34, who drummed for West Coast dance-punk band !!! (pronounced “chk chk chk”) and the Georgia-based psychedelic instrumental ensemble Maserati, tumbled five stories shortly after 12:30 a.m. inside 338 Berry St., cops said. “It’s a manual freight elevator, and it stopped somewhere above the fifth floor,” said Buildings Department spokesman Tony Sclafani. Sources said Fuchs and his pal opened the elevator […]
CONCERT REVIEW: Wolfmother + Mom = FAIL
[Photo via INDYPRESS] BY JAMIE DAVIS For my first concert review for Phawker, I asked if I could cover the Wolfmother show at the Electric Factory on Saturday. Fine, says Phawker. Problem is, I can’t take the car out past 11 PM as I am only 17 and only have my Cinderella license, so I thought I’d let my friend Sasha drive. He said that he could and everything was cool, or so I thought. A few hours before the show, as I was printing the directions, his mom calls and tells me that Sasha has to be home by […]
PHAWKER TAWK: Q&A With The Kronos Quartet
[Photograph by Jeppe Gudmundsen-Holmgreen] BY DAVE ALLEN Any discussion of modern American music, especially in the last 30 years, has to start with the Kronos Quartet. But thanks to their efforts as commissioners and promoters of vital new work, both by composers from the US and all over the world, the discussion doesn’t end there. With their dedication to touring, recording and continuing to take on exciting and ground-breaking work, the Kronos Quartet have earned a spot in the pantheon — not just in classical music, not just in world music, but purely as musicians. I spoke with David Harrington, […]
NPR FOR THE DEAF: We Hear It Even When You Can’t
FRESH AIR As manager of President Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, David Plouffe stayed behind the scenes. Now, 10 months after Obama took office, Plouffe has written a memoir about the campaign, detailing the victory and the ways it changed the concept of campaigning. From the indecision surrounding Obama’s choice to run, to the Iowa caucus win, and through the final stages of the general election campaign against John McCain, Plouffe helped guide the campaign to a historic victory. His book offers an insider’s tale of a campaign that managed to harness — perhaps for the first time — the expansive […]
ALBUM REVIEW: The Flaming Lips Embryonic
THE FLAMING LIPS Embryonic (Warner Bros.) The Flaming Lips are one of those bands you first heard about back in high school from the cooler kids who hung around in skinny jeans and wore Fugazi T-shirts. “You’ve gotta check em out man, it’s like Floyd but like… weirder.” You could never tell if they were telling you this to prove how much more music they knew about; or if it was more like a passing of the torch, a sacred gift from one generation of wouldbe hipsters to the next. Seeing as how I am currently in high school, take […]
BREAKING: New Spoon Album Comes Out Jan. 26th
NASTY LITTLE MAN: Britt Daniel, Jim Eno, Eric Harvey and Rob Pope — collectively known as Spoon — have confirmed the release date of their first album in over two years and seventh overall: Transference will be released in the U.S. on Merge Records on the 26th of January 2010. Produced by the band, Transference is made up of 11 new gems that honor the Spoon tradition while pushing the envelope of the band’s sound ever further. “Before Destruction” opens proceedings with a transfixing air of foreboding before “Is Love Forever?” and “The Mystery Zone” kick in with hooks that […]
TONITE: Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun
SUN RA ARKESTRA under the direction of Marshall Allen Halloween! Saturday, October 31, 8pm International House Philadelphia, 3701 Chestnut Street $20 General Admission Join us for this special and spectacular Halloween performance of the Sun Ra Arkestra. Founded in 1958 under the leadership of Sun Ra, the Arkestra pioneered a unique brand of afro-futurism, forging intersecting musical pathways that explore outer space and Egyptian mythology. Drawing on the work of Duke Ellington and Fletcher Henderson, the Arkestra are pioneers of the bop-derived avant-garde and collective improvisation. Their work has had tremendous impact on scores of musicians including MC5, Sonic Youth […]
CONTEST: Tix To Making Time Halloween Freakout!
The first emailer to feed@phawker.com wins two tix. Include your cell number for confirmation. Good luck!
TONIGHT: As It Is Written, So It Shall Be
BY PHILLYGRRL Looking for some authentic Philly beats to spice up your Friday night? Look no further than Germantown hip-hoppers WrittenHouse, who play tonight at the Draught Horse. WrittenHouse, composed of producers Chris Conway, Kush Shalimar, hypeman Somerville Sleeves and emcee Charlie K, released their mixtape Sunshine Philadelphia Vol. 2 this past summer to critical acclaim. The members of WrittenHouse, Philly natives, have been active on the Philadelphia music scene as individuals since 2000, but started collaborating in 2007. They are known for their dynamic stage performances, strong lyrics and ah yes, tight beats. Tonight’s set list includes a crowd […]
MUST SEE TV: Spike Jonze Smacks Kanye’s Bitch Up
NEW YORK MAGAZINE: To promote yesterday’s iTunes release of the pair’s new short, We Once Were a Fairytale, Spike Jonze posted this medium-funny behind-the-scenes video of him pretending to slap a distracted Kanye West on the set. Given Kanye’s popularity these days, this seems like pretty smart marketing. MORE
BREAKING: Dennis Hopper Stricken With Cancer
[“Dennis Hopper 1971” by ANDY WARHOL] ASSOCIATED PRESS: Dennis Hopper has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and is canceling all travel plans to focus on treatment, his manager said Thursday. The 73-year-old actor and artist is being treated through a “special program” at the University of Southern California, said Sam Maydew. Asked about Hopper’s prognosis, Maydew said, “We’re hoping for the best.” He would not elaborate on the actor’s condition. MORE RELATED: Q&A With Dean Wareham [Video: Dean and Britta @ Prospect Park: Dennis Hopper Screen Test]