MAROONED

A music blog by Staten Island Advance's Ben Johnson

Aha. Ha. Haha. I remember the days of moshing. I was at a community center dance once, rockin' it in the mosh pit to Metallica's "Wherever I May Roam," and this kid who was swinging hard punched me square in the nose. Man, was that a bloody one. He was nice though--helped me walk to the bathroom and apologized all over the place. The gross part was, I sneezed when I got in there. Blech. Moshing is one of those things you can only really do for a short period of your existence. And even if you don't really want to get hurt, you can still do it, thanks to these kids...

APTwo suits at the opening press conference. At least Billy Joel has a nice pair of shades.

It's about time. New York City has for many years been pretty much it as far as rock and roll for any musician. When I went to a Wolf Parade show at Terminal 5 recently, one of those dudes said something about how playing New York was "so intimidating." Why? Because it matters when you play here. There's a history of greatness. A fraternity/sorority of excellence in the city where Bowie can be peeped ducking into Piano's in the LES, or Byrne can turn a old building into an instrument. Yes, CBGB's is closed and this isn't a living, noisy club but a museum of artifacts, but that doesn't mean that rock 'n' roll is dead. Or..does it?

AP PhotoRob Halford of Judas Priest

So Rob Halford was cool. He answered some of your questions, but also spent of time waxing positive about reuniting the band and getting out on the road again. Cue my best English accent..."Yea it's just great man, playing together again..."

Every once in a while I seemed to get his blood up--when I asked about the "Rockstar" thing, or acknowledged that the band's new double-disc, "Nostradamus," has garnered mixed reviews. But all in all, my 14:02 minutes with Halford was a pretty cordial conversation. As far as whether it offered any revelations about the band or metal in general, you be the judge:

AP Photo by Jae C. HongRob Halford of Judas Priest

21st Century journalism is a conversation. At least that's what they tell me.

So here it goes: do you have questions for the lead singer of Judas Priest? Yeah, that's right. I'm talking to Rob Halford this afternoon. I've interviewed him before--he's a nicer guy than the studs and leather might suggest--and I felt like it was a good idea to open things up to you Priest fans out there.

I can't guarantee I'll ask your question, but I can promise you I'll consider whatever you suggest. Halford's an interesting dude--what with the Harley stage entrances, the subliminal Message Trials, and the fact that he may be the most famous gay metal singer ever.

Let 'em rip!

I'll admit, for a long time I wasn't into the heroin-tinged gospel rock of Spiritualized. But eventually, they grew on me. The band's new record, "Songs in A & E," is solid. Here's a cut they performed on Letterman the other night. Am I wrong to feel like this clip feels super 90's?

Put together by the Dog and Pony Show guys, the new Avon Junkies video for "Let Me In" is sweaty and suggestive. It's also impressively put together, with nice close-up shots of the band, crowd, and couple celebrating the Devil's music at the 13th Hour Pub. Check it:

MySpaceTeyana Taylor

It had to happen sometime. Eventually, somebody was going to write "Google Me Baby" into the chorus of their single. You know what though? She may be a 21st century rising celeb--meaning her music career started after being on a TV show (MTV's "My Super Sweet Sixteen")--but Teyana Taylor's new song has potential of becoming a hot late-summer track. And tonight, she's playing Staten Island.

I don't think I have to say anything about this. It's just a cool video.

If I said what I really wanted to say about this video--in which Miley Cyrus and her buddy make fun of some other manufactured up-and-coming tweenage pop star, I guess because one of them is dating the Jonas brother the other one used to date?--I'd probably be fired.

Cerys MishaJulius C

Julius C is technically still on their summer camp tour, but members of that band, along with other Staten Island acts Matt Wilson, Paragraph, and The Heavenly Tenants will be putting together a night of good ol' SI sounds at The National Underground tonight. I've you've been paying some attention, you already know about these bands, so I won't say more. Just show up and support, and continue the pattern of young Staten Island talent making noise beyond our shores!
Time: 8 p.m.
Cost: $10
Location: The National Underground, 159 East Houston Street, Manhattan

Man, they can't even make a music video like a crappy normal band. Instead, they use new technology being developed in the graduate catacombs of UCLA to make a video that actually has nothing to do with using video cameras. Oh Radiohead, you're so damn sophisticated and awesome. You'll even tell me how big my carbon footprint is after I go see one of your shows. I nominate Radiohead for the AWE Readers' Poll category of future supreme rulers of the planet. "Making of the video" video (which they actually used cameras for), after the jump.

MySpaceRadium Dial

First things first: Tom Wrobleski works at the Staten Island Advance reporting on all things political, so, you know, full disclosure and all.

Tom's non-political hobby, playing guitar, is in full evidence at the MySpace page for Radium Dial--an apparent collaboration between him on guitar, his wife on vocals/violin, and some other friends.