Interview: Lizzi Bougatsos
April 29, 2009
The other day, I had a chance to pick the brain of Gang Gang Dance’s eclectic lyricist and drummer, Lizzi Bougatsos, who tipped me off to her favorite NYC hot spots, inspirations, and a sneak preview of her band’s next album…
Your style has been discussed and featured in both fashion and music magazines throughout your career. How would you define your personal style?
Ghetto,worn,boho,beachy chic and Gangsta! I’m an accessories chick but I try to lay it on light. Drumming with rings doesn’t work. I like men’s clothes. I try to keep it real and represent the east coast rappers while i play. I adore YSL always and think Balenciaga is future music!
What exactly can folks expect from a Gang Gang dance show?
Hopefully a search into the inner self and exploration. I’ve been thinking of our shows as spheres lately. A place where you can get in your own zone and not care of others around you. Kind of like the dubstep motto…dancing in the dark. Anything goes…
Favorite NYC hangout?
Well I’d have to say Bacaro. It’s close to my house and I love the owners and the fungi gnocci. I want it right now. I also like Whole Foods cause they have great windows and a stellar location. Tomkins Square Park is a rad freak show although I spend more time at the South Street Seaport on benches watchin the waves and eating oysters on the streets.
You are very passionate about visual art and have had exhibits at galleries throughout downtown. What inspires you, aside from music?
Sorry have to turn to music for a sec…..
Reggae, true souls that are struggling, people that have no choice but to exist and become stronger. That’s how it is in the Ghetto. It’s survival. Be strong and do good. Everywhere you go let yourself go…..kind of ideals.I can relate to the music that speaks of this. It centers me and clears my priorities like I’ve found a sense of purpose. Living in NYC all these years has been a struggle. One has to let down their pride often. Sometimes there’s nowhere to turn. You have to learn to live cheap. Like eat pizza even if you wanna go raw food! Ha. People kept me here. I’m inspired by the ones I love and I am loyal. This is true inspiration. Friends. People that live on the streets. Homeless people. It’s getting worse and worse with Obama elected……I’m sad to say.
Fill in the blank: I cannot live without….
Dark Chocolate
Another fill in the blank. On Saturday morning, you can find me…
In bed with my dude
Who was the first person that inspired you to make music?
Genesis P-Orridge. The video “Discipline”
First thing you do when you wake up…..
Coffee or foaming bathtub.
What musical artists you have been listening to/enjoying lately?
Mary Margaret O’hara always. I’ve been compared to her and stayed at her house in Vancouver. Aster Aweke and this song that my friend Jimmy Hay made us a cd of. I don’t know the artist…but it’s been trailing in my head! I’m a lyricist so Howard Devoto…Suede…Shit now I’ve been into Beyonce but I feel like she’s stealin some juice. I don’t have any albums tho. I love Antony and the Johnsons. Last Poets….Live I looovvvvveee Tunde and Ryan Sawyer’s project. It’s invigorating. Matteah Baim’s new album is pretty sweet. I liked Linda Perhacs album with the moon on the front. But Mary Margaret is my heart.
Saint Dymphna was my favorite album of 2008. Tell me a little bit about the next Gang Gang album? What can we expect sonically?
Aerial Bliss and more pop songs!
St. Vincent @ 92Y Tribeca 4.14.09
April 15, 2009
photos by Greg Jacquin
Last night, as a promotion for her upcoming tour, St. Vincent aka Annie Clark played to an invite only crowd in Tribeca. The lucky guests were directed to an intimate room the room at the 92Y Tribeca with about 10 two to three person tables in the front and a few people standing in the back. All in all, it was a truly magical performance by Annie, who whirled through most of her new songs. Her show was the perfect balance between gorgeous vocal melodies and downright nasty guitar shredding. To end the set, she quieted things down by taking a seat on the ledge of the stage to play a new acoustic version of the song, “The Party”, set to be released on her new record, Actor (available 5/5), As if the music wasn’t enough, Annie charmed the crowd with a nice variety of witty banter in between songs; she is truly a gem.
Eat Your Heart
April 14, 2009
Upon first listen of Micachu’s Rough Trade debut, it may be hard to believe that Mica Levi spent her teen years producing tracks for some of the UK’s best grime/garage acts and writing an orchestral piece for the London Philharmonic Orchestra. The 21-year-old Levi and her two bandmates, the Shapes (led by the charming Raisa Khan), use an array of unorthodox instruments including a modified guitar called a chu that Levi plays with a “hammer action,” and they’ve created an album chock full of artful and deceptively complex pop-punk tunes. Produced by Matthew Herbert, the 30-minute, 13-song record is perhaps the ultimate paradox; the listener is taken on a trip through the mind of an artist who wears her influences on her sleeve, and then takes those influences and filters them quite literally through a Hoover vacuum (i.e. “Turn Me Well”). Album highlight “Calculator” playfully bridges noisy garage band guitar riffs, Wire circa 1977, and witty, yet childish lyrics (“Grab your calculator…’cause I don’t think I can work this one out”). One of 2009′s most buzzworthy acts, I still have yet to wear Jewellry out. One can only wonder how this former child prodigy will channel her musical energy in the future.
High In The Cinema
April 13, 2009
There’s this band that I’ve been obsessed with lately called Pens; they just did a little bit of a tour in the UK with Wavves. Essentially, it’s three girls playing very simple pop songs. The set-up consists of stand-up drums, keyboard, guitar, and they write songs about getting high and going to the movies. What could be bad? Full length is set to be released this year on De Stijl Records; in the meantime, check out the demos.Pens – Demos
Yeah Yeah Yeahs @ Santos 4.12.09
April 13, 2009
SETLIST
- Heads Will Roll
- Black Tongue
- Human Fly (Cramps cover)
- Phenomena
- Dull Life
- Gold Lion
- Art Star
- Skeleton
- Hysteric
- Down Boy
- Zero
- Maps
- Y Control
Crowd request encore: Turn Into, Date With The Night, Poor Song
Yeah Yeah Yeahs secret show
April 12, 2009
Tonight, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are performing a secret show at Santos Party House in downtown NYC. Freshkills are opening. I will try to get pictures up as soon as possible after the show, so check back late tonight or tomorrow. Also, I will be tweeting live from the show if you are interested in seeing the setlist…twitter.com/beachgoth.
