DAILYSESSION

By Rob Harvilla – The Village Voice

“What rhyme with ‘asshole’? Asshole.” Thereby does Terius Nash, a/k/a deliciously absurd r&b semi-superstar The-Dream, deliver the best five consecutive words of 2010. A perfectly executed terrible joke—the hokey throat-clearing sound between the two “asshole”s seals it. And so it goes with the whole of “Florida University,” triumphant closing track to his third-straight deliriously triumphant solo album, the modestly titled Love King.

It’s a wantonly juvenile kiss-off, the song, a poppy frat-party trifle you’d despise if, like, LMFAO or Maroon Five or whoever, was behind it, particularly given the lyrics. The last line before the chorus is, “So forget you ever heard of me/This is short for ‘Florida University’ “; the chorus, designed to be shouted en masse, is “Eff you/Eff you/Eff you/Eff you.” Ridiculous. A fifth-grade sensibility at best—maybe fourth-. Plus it can’t help but remind you of Tim Tebow. No way. You know better than to find this song amusing. And yet in Dream’s hands it is profoundlyamusing, and amusingly profound. The genius here lies in taking objectively terrible ideas—getting emotionally involved with this guy, for example, given his penchant for “Patrónin'” and general sexual profligacy—and making them seem like brilliant ideas. [Read More]

By MELENA RYZIK – NY Times

A proclamation from Marty Markowitz, the excitable Brooklyn borough president, is no rarity. But receiving it under the head of a quasianimatronic wolf-creature, while, around the corner, a guy upholsters a seat cushion in brown argyle, and another blends cocktails by bike — that is something special.

At a party for its fourth anniversary last month, 3rd Ward, the arts and design collective in Bushwick, received a commendation from Mr. Markowitz for its program giving free bicycles to members. But 3rd Ward hardly needed the boost: hundreds of people had come to its brightly painted labyrinthine space to celebrate. Outside were bands and burgers; inside there were demonstrations of screen-printing, woodworking, weaving, designing jewelry and welding, as well as vodka-spiked strawberry lemonade. (A bike was powering the blender.) [Read More]

By RANDY KENNEDY – NY Times

Rammellzee, an early graffiti writer, hip-hop pioneer and performance artist whose style influenced the Beastie Boys and Cypress Hill, died Sunday in Far Rockaway, Queens, where he was raised. He lived in Battery Park City in Manhattan.

He was 49 and died after a long illness, said his wife, Carmela Zagari Rammellzee. [Read More]

By Lex Records

Crook&Flail (aka Andy Broder of Fog and Adam ‘Doseone‘ Drucker) created and curated the soundtrack to Unearthing – the forthcoming audiobook box set written and narrated by Alan Moore with images by Mitch Jenkins. Available to pre-order from Lex Records online shop.

The band will be playing with Alan reading live at 2 exclusive shows in London (info here) and will also be playing a music-only show on the following night (info here ).

As an insight into the influences behind their original score and musical direction, Crook&Flail have assembled and blended a free, promo-only mix.Download link and track list HERE.

By New York Press

Where to go get your gay on this week

oming Out: A Historical Retrospective of New York’s Trailblazing LGBT Institutions

This exhibit spotlights the people who changed the history of Harlem, including Black AIDS Institute and FIERCE. Through July 12, Casa Frela Gallery, 47 W. 119th St. (betw. Lenox & 5th Aves.), 917-991- 4760, www.casafrela.com.

Quentin Crisp in Black and White: Photographs by Martin Fishman

Black-and-white photos of the wit and Naked Civil Servant author, snapped by Martin Fishman, will be on display. Through June 30, Broadway Gallery, 473 Broadway (betw. Broome & Grand Sts.), 212- 226-3400; www.broadwaygallerynyc.com.

The 2010 Great LGBTQ Photo Show

This exhibit showcases the work of more than 80 photographers, with a special June 29 discussion with photography critic Allen Ellenzweig. Through July 10, The Leslie/Lohman Gay Art Foundation, 26 Wooster St. (betw. Grand & Canal Sts.), 212-431-2609, www.leslielohman.org.

Too Much PRIDE Makes The Baby Go Gay: 30 Gay Plays in 60 Straight Minutes

New York Neo-Futurists presents 30 short plays that reveal the struggle, the joy, the power of being out and proud in NYC. June 25 & 26, The Kraine Theater, 85 E. 4th St. (betw. Bowery & 2nd Ave.); 10:30, $20. [Read More]

By MONICA DRAKE – NY Times

If there were such a thing as a punk-rock festival checklist, an event taking place in downtown Brooklyn this weekend would cross off all the items. Seminal band? Check. Accompanying skate park? Check. Vendors offering the latest gear? Check.
In addition to those requisite markers, this one has one more: diversity. Welcome to the Afro-Punk Festival. [Read More]

GET INVOLVED IN THE MARKET HOTEL PROJECT! ANNOUNCING – a new initiative to create a sustainable, all ages, open-to-the-community, 7-nights-a-week home for independent music and art, in the Market Hotel space. Market Hotel has existed for over two years and in that time has hosted countless legendary events and drawn huge international notice… all of this under the constraints of operating completely underground and with no budget. Now the time has come to channel that momentum and create a fully realized space that serves the whole community, that will help define the NYC / Brooklyn scene into the future.

MARKET HOTEL PROJECT is a new not-for-profit organisation dedicated to swiftly reopening and improving the Market Hotel space, by making the venue more viable, comfortable, safe, and better able to weather legal attention. Especially in these days of ever-encroaching commercialism and corporatism in “indie rock,” we envision a space that is a non-commercial “spiritual home” for independent rock music and independent art – but also is sustainable and sanctioned enough to expand the horizons of independent-minded tastes, and open our doors to music and art from the rest of our diverse Bushwick community. [Read More]