NYC Music Scene: KimberlyNichole & RAHBI

In a city like New York talent is found in every corner but its  few the times you stumble upon something magnificent. This past weekend I caught one the most amazing shows I've seen in a while! I was at the Triad Theater to see the incredible KimberlyNichole and all her musical styling.  A special treat for all was her surprise opening act who goes by the name of RAHBI!  Exuberating and Energetic Talent is the best way to describe this duo.

KimberlyNichole does not come in your standard musician package. And isn't that what talent should be? From the very first time I saw her on the stage of The Village Underground she has intrigued me.  She's a unique talent who's musical influences oozes out of her effortlessly. She has style, power, music, confidence, fabulousness... she's a START! Her sound  can best be describe, in my personal view, as a saucy pop-rocker.  
Her album The Yellow Brick Journey is on a constant loop on my iPod.  And trust me it is something you will want to include in your music library. I am IN LOVE WITH HER SOUND and you will fall in love too.

Rahbi! WOW! This man had me on the edge of my seat. I was in total awe of him that I simply wanted to put him in my purse and keep him for ever and ever.  He's... indescribable.  You want to see this for yourself.

For a full review of the show visit Kitchen Sofa.
Video Source [SuperiorSoul TV]

Vampire Weekend | "Giving Up The Gun" Music Video

I am all over VAMPIRE WEEKEND's new video for "Give Up The Gun"!  

The cameos by Joe Jonas, Lil' Jon, and RZA from the Wu-Tang Clan was brilliant. But who took the cake was a very cocky and drunk Jake Gyllenhaal - hilarious! 

Neutral Colors & an Aggy Fashion Stumble

I'm seeing a lot of celebrities wearing neutral colors with subtle black accents and I'm loving it! I certainly own more than enough black accents but I'm torn on the main piece.  The dresses are all lovely and appealing. 

I'm personally loving Alexis Bledel dress which unbelievably is from H&M.  My second favorite would have to be Agyness Deyn dress - I'm not sure of the designer though.

Poor Aggy by the way.  She was strutting down the runway in a 7" Burberry platform shoes but just kept falling.  Its really quite adorable and she handled it with such grace.  I adore her.  See the cute video below.

Pics and vid all courtesy of Just Jared.

Beyonce's "Single Ladies" Band Rehearsals

I have many friend who are musicians and I often get to see them rehearse before a show.  Rehearsals to me are sometimes better than the stage show because everyone is so chill and enjoying themselves - no pressure.

This video has nothing to do with my friends but it reminds of the fun of rehearsals and pure jamming.  This is Beyonce and her badass band rehearsing to "Single Ladies".  They are J-A-M-M-I-N-G!  Enjoy!

Chat Gem Photography | 3

Battery Park - Summer of 2009

"I'm always thinking about creating. My future starts when I wake up every morning... Every day I find something creative to do with my life. - Miles Davis"

J.D. Salinger's Refusal

I am a very late bloomer to J.D. Salinger. So late in fact I first heard of him roughly three months ago.  Three months ago!! Whe curiously picked up 'The Catcher in the Rye". Why so late you may ask? Well the only fair answer I can think of is I moved a lot as a kid. I think that by default I may have skipped that one school that was ready to introduce me to his literature. But better late than never right? Lately I've been on a reading rampage trying to catch up to everything... everything I should have read in Elementary/high school. 'The Catcher in the Rye' being one of them.

Strangely enough I'm glad I read it as an adult. Its' a powerful book and I think I would have interpreted the characters differently had I read it in high school. As an adult I understood the complexity of the character - I understood Holden Caulfield. I sympathized with him and almost felt protective of him. I admired how he chose to view life, the world, his world. I cried hard, real hard when I finished the book.  I felt that Holden was misunderstood and left for "sick" when in fact he was the most aware and honest person in the entire story. Sad.  

I fell in love with the book and I wanted nothing more but to discuss it but I felt strange saying this.  After all I should have known about this much earlier right?  It troubled me for some time. It honestly did.  To this day I see the cover and it does something to me.  I love it. I love the story and I think everyone should read it twice; as a teen and then again as an adult. I'm sure there will be 2 different views.  

Continuing on my Salinger high I immediately went and read 'Nine Stories'.  The very first short story however ends in brutal suicide! Needles to say I had to put the book down for a few days; I was already shaken with Catcher in the Rye and this one now barely in the first few pages gives me the full shock effect. Well, I finished it and I've since moved on to other non Salinger books. 

On Saliger's death: when I learned about his death I felt a tug... a real good tug in my heart. We lost an iconic writer. I struggled on weather to acknowledge it here on my blog and if so what to say. There isn't much to say really; the man in his own right was a brilliant storyteller. So i figured I'd leave well enough alone until i came across this.  

Since the books release in 1951 it has been no secret that actors, directors and screenwriters have eagerly sought out J.D. Salinger to convert the book in big screen project.  Salinger on the other  has adamantly refused to release the rights.  Now this here is a gem. I've attached  a letter Salinger wrote in response to Mr. Herbert detailing his reasoning for not releasing the rights. Love it! (click on the image to view larger)

Source [Letter's of Note]
Click on the Image to view larger.