Before The Music Ends: 9.23.09

When is it too much?

What takes a local joe blow from being another guy in a local band to an international rock star is not the amount of bling hanging from his neck, or the number of tattoos on each arm. It's the fans. Without the fans, they are nothing, a bunch of nobodys. But where do they cross that line from being a devoted fan to become more?

Having been in this industry for a while, I've seen all kinds of fans. And depending on who it is, I fit different kinds of fans. However, I had an encounter with some mega uber fans this past weekend that made me rethink the way we define what a "fan" really is. Having scored two second row tickets to the sold out The Killers' show in Las Vegas, we were surrounded by "victims", the most exclusive and most hardcore of fans of this group. Now, I consider myself to be a HUGE fan of The Killers, but I would never pay to join a club that takes your money in return for some sort of validation that you could maybe be of some importance to a group that already makes millions. But hey, thats just me. One girl had the audacity to try to push my sister out of the way because it was her last The Killers' show on her mini tour-- meaning this girl had been going to every single show for the last two weeks, and sadly it was coming to an end. Sorry, little victim, but you're not going to get any sympathy from me; this was my sisters' first Killers concert, and this was my one and only show of their tour. I just simply had more important things, like a life, to do than to blow $1000 bucks to see the same show 10 times.

So, does it make me less of a fan if I'm not out chasing a tour bus or checking my twitter every 2.3 seconds to see if the guys have tweeted their exact location? No. But it makes me think about why I am a fan. Let's face it, the Killers are not known for their existentialist lyrics, but rather far from it (i.e., somebody told me you had a girlfriend that looks like a boyfriend that i had in february of last year... what?? huh??) They are a fun and entertaining group. They put on a hell of a killer show (no pun intended), and I pride myself in knowing that I've seen them develop as artists. Yes, and Brandon Flowers is one sexy mo-fo.

But then I look at myself as a fan of someone like, say, Springsteen. What he stands for, and what he sings about, combined with his talent as a musician and as an artist makes him the ultimate artist to me. Yet, i still wouldn't travel the world to watch him perform the same 1.5 hour long set 17 times. What differentiates me from the "victims" of the music world is that I live for listening to the messages that these people put across, and for the once in a lifetime experience that I get from every tour. Had I seen the Killers the same amount of times as any of those people at the show would have, for me, taken away from the magic that is to see your favorite performer on stage. So, I will apologize to the girl in front of me who was upset I called her ridiculous for twittering every song they performed and for having seen them 8 times in the last week, but, call me a bitch, or call me a snob, music and the performance of it, tends to have somewhat of a bigger significance to me. (I know, I'm going to get a lecture from our wonderful editor in chief, and uber Britney stalker for this one... but we still love him!)

Music for the week:

Two things I am BEYOND obsessed with. One track of the week, and one album of the week.

1) Track of the week is The Bravery's new single, Slow Poison, which makes me just want to wear my tightest skinny jeans, bright red lipstick, and head to the trendiest hipster spot and break out in an 80s dance. Enjoy!

2) Album of the week: The Pains of Being Pure At Heart's self titled Debut. Think late 1980s-early 1990s new wave pop-punk-grunge. Think The Smiths, Sleepyhead, and everything in between. New Wave is coming back, or as I call the the second wave. I hope you are all as obsessed with this record as I am!

Before The Music Ends: 9.16.09

I've known exactly what I wanted this post to be about since the last post, The Breakup Playlist. However getting down to it has been quite an ordeal since a playlist generally consists of about 22-25 songs...

We're just around the corner from the official end of summer. Our white pants are pushed to the back of the closet to bring them back next Memorial Day. The BBQs are being given a rest, and the snack shacks at the beach are shutting down until next summer.... I always hate this time of year. It's the end of concert season, and the beginning of a long period of hopelessly waiting for it to come back. However, its also a good time to look back at some of the best music released that year. There's just something about summer music that feels so... summery. What makes a great summer playlist is having songs that bring back those memories of laying on the beach, driving across country on vacation, or simply being lazy by the pool. The point is, it reminds us of the great moments we had that summer. To create this playlist (which has been in the works for quite some time) I simply looked at my ipod to the most played playlist, then combined it with my favorite radio stations and websites. I took all the songs that were in common... my original play list at first had about 85 songs. After deciding and redeciding and rewriting a million times, I finally compiled the perfect

The Men's Fashion Blog Official Summer 2009 Playlist:

1. Crystal Antlers- Andrew

2. Gayblades- O Shot

3. Hearts Revolution- Ultraviolence

4. LaRoux- In For The Kill

5. Of Montreal- For Our Elegant Castle

6. Phoenix- 1901

7. Spinerette- Ghetto Love

8. Stardeath and the White Dwarfs- I Can't Get Away

9. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart- The Tenure Itch or Higher Than The Sun (Couldn't pick one!)

10. The Softpack- Brightside

11. White Rabbits- Percussion Gun

12. Iglu & Hartley- In This City

13. Owl City- Fireflies

14. Passionpit- Sleepy Head

15. The Tough Alliance- NeoViolence

16. Empire of The Sun- Walking on a Dream

17. The Bravery- Slow Poison

18. Air France- No Excuses

19. Metric- Help! I'm Alive

20. The Drums- I Felt Stupid

21. White Lies- Death (Crystal Castles Remix)

*Note: I've highlighted in RED my favorite songs of the summer!

Enjoy!!!!

If you have any suggestions, comments, or additions, feel free to email me at Dalit@themensfashionblog.com

Before The Music Ends: 8.25.09

I've been moving around in the last week from city to city (hello Los Angeles!) and amidst all the packing, I came across remnants of my late high school years and early college years. There were pictures, diaries, notes from friends, ticket stubs, and lists I had been compiling over the years for CD mixes that I had planned to make.  So, I've decided to go ahead and finish my lists, look them over, and narrow them down to bring you a weekly playlist of songs to listen to for any given occasion. This week we're starting with the dreaded, yet highly entertaining list to research.... The Break Up Mix.

One of the reason I got into music in the first place is because of it really is universal. Name any emotion, and I guarantee you there is a song somewhere that will help you get passed it, or simply describe exactly what you're feeling. Music is something that people can always fall back on as a support system. I'm choosing to start with The Break Up Mix because a breakup is something that everyone goes through at some point. And during that time (assuming you were the dumped) you feel alone, sad, depressed, and like no one understands what you're feeling. Chances are, you're also asking yourself "why me?" and "will I ever survive this?" or something along those lines. Well guess what?!? Turn on the radio. You're not alone!! Did you know that songs about relationships ending account for about 70% of the music out there? Just a little trivia for you.  Someone somewhere has already gone through what you're going through and has decided to turn it into music for you to listen to when you need to get all those tears out, or when you want to feel angry at the asshole (or bitch) that left you, or when you're simply reminiscing. During breakups, some people fall into their Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream modes, or sappy chick flicks like The Notebook... I choose to make a mixtape (CD, playlist... whatever theyre called these days). So here is my list. There are PLENTY more I have on there, but I can only write so many... Feel free to add your comments and suggestions.. I'm always looking for new songs to add to my mix!!

Don't Think Twice,  It's Alright- Bob Dylan

   "I'm walking down that long, lonesome road, babe. Where I'm bound, I can't tell. But goodbye's too good of a word, gal. So I'll just say fare thee well. I ain't sayin' you treated me unkind. You could have done better, but I don't mind. You just kinda wasted my precious time. But don't think twice, it's alright."

Last Goodbye- Jeff Buckley

   "Well this is our last embrace. Must I dream and always see your face? Why can't we overcome this wall? Baby, maybe it's just because I didn't know you at all"Somebody That I Used To Know- Elliot Smith

   "I had tender feelings that you made hard. But its your heart, not mine, thats scarred. So when I go home, I'll be happy to go. You're just somebody that I used to know"

You're ExLover is Dead- Stars

   "There's one thing I want to say, so I'll be brave. You were what I wanted. I gave what I gave. I'm not sorry I met you, I'm not sorry it's over. I'm not sorry there's nothing to save"

Walk Away- Ben Harper

   "They say time will make all this go away. But it's time that has taken my tomorrows and turned them into yesterdays"

I Wanted You To Feel The Same- The Radio Dept.

   "It breaks my heart to say that when I was in pain, I wanted you to feel the same. But nothing gets you really, it's a shame. Can't believe you didn't feel a thing"

Skinny Love- Bon Iver

   "I told you to be patient. I told you to be fine. I told you to be balanced. I told you to be kind. And in the morning I'll be with you, but it'll be a different 'kind'"

The Fight Song- The Appleseed Cast

   "We're finding fault, when you kissed her, or you slept with him, or you didn't care. Now it all breaks, disintegrates. Well this is the last thing I'll take, cause I can't face you now."

Shespider- Mew

   "In right wing fashion with paste and generosity because no one is safe from someone, somewhere's embrace, and so I have decided to dislike you now."

Kill- Jimmy Eat World

   "I can't help it, baby, this is who I am. Sorry, but I can't just go turn off how I feel. You kill me, you build me up, but just to watch me break. I know what I should do, but I just can't walk away."

Don't Come Around Here No More- Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

   "I've given up. Stop. You tangled my emotions. I've given up, honey. Please admit its over. Don't come around here no more"

With or Without You- U2

   "My hands are tied. My body bruised, she's got me with nothing to win and nothing to lose"

It's Cool, We Can Still Be Friends- Bright Eyes

   "And you say that I hurt you, in a voice like a prayer. Yeah, well maybe I hurt you sometimes, but let's contrast and compare. Lift up your shirt. The wound isn't there"

Go Your Own Way- Fleetwood Mac

   "If I could, then I would give you my world. How can I? When you won't take it from me"

And others...

- Sometime Around Midnight- Airborne Toxic Event

- How's It Gonna Be- Third Eye Blind

- Backyard- Guster

- Boo- Pinback

- Hope You're Happy Now- The Sounds

- Song For The Dumped- Ben Folds Five (hilarious!)

- It'll All Work Out- Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

- It Ain't Me, Babe- Bob Dylan

- The Winner Takes All- ABBA

- I've Been Loving You Too Long- Otis Redding

And I have to end my list with The Killers'- "Mr Brightside" simply because I WAS Mr. Brightside and the song describes it for me perfectly.

So go ahead... comment your own picks... becuase I know there's more out there that I forgot! And in the meantime I'll leave you with a cool song by an awesome new band called White Rabbits... "Percussion Gun" There's no way this song can't cheer you up after going through all those breakup songs!

Dalit

dalit@themensfashionblog.com

Seasonal Cookery

Plan ahead when in the kitchen and use what nature provides for you. Using seasonal vegetables guarantees dishes with great flavors every time you cook. Use this guide to match recipes with the best each season has to offer.

 

spring Prepare light entrees and salads that emphasize spring vegetables like asparagus, leeks, and green onions. Also use fresh herbs, such as basil and cilantro.

 

summer Use your grill to prepare seafood, poultry, or meats and serve with the season's ample bell peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, green beans, greens like arugula and spinach, snow peas, tomatoes, and zucchini.

 

autumn During this time of the year include the best of the harvest in your menus with mushrooms, onions, potatoes, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes.

 

winter Use your broiler to prepare hearty recipes using winter's supply, including hearty greens, winter squash, and root vegetables. Incorporate the flavors of winter by using fresh herbs like sage and rosemary.

 

Got questions or comments? Email me!
 
-Matt
matt@themensfashionblog.com

Sale of the Day

James Pearse Toast Linen Button Up

Org: $196.00

Sale: $74.99

http://www.bluefly.com/

Scarves: The Must Have Accessory This Fall

Fall is just around the corner, and a scarf can add a lot more to your look than just keeping you warm. In the many cultures, a simple scarf can mean a lot of different things. For example, Religions such as Judaism under Halakhah (Jewish Law) promotes modest dress code among women. Married Jewish women wear scarves to cover their hair. The Tallit is commonly worn by Jewish men especially for prayers. However, in most circumstances today, scarves are worn for fashion purposes. Scarves are a great way to make any plain outfit, into something a little more unique. You can wear them with a coat, or with a tee shirt. Anyway you decide to choose to wear your scarf; you need to remember a few simple rules. First off, just wrap the scarf around your neck once, and let the rest go. We don’t want to get carried away and look like Randy from A Christmas Story. Second, pick out a color that suits you and your features, but do not go over board. Pick something with 2 or 3 colors, or 1 color with several shades. This color scheme tends to go with more in your wardrobe. Third, Make sure your scarf is long enough. We don’t want to make you look like a fat man in a little coat. When purchasing a scarf, go ahead and try it on, and make sure the length goes with your body height. When it comes to thickness of your scarf, be careful. If you purchase a really thin white scarf, it may look like you wrapped your self in toilet paper; but if you buy a overly intense thick scarf, you may look like you have a neck brace on. So guys, before the weather starts to change, go grab your self a scarf, it is sure to give you instant sex appeal this winter.

Riverfront Park Fashion Show Series Denver,CO

Living in the western United States, we usually are not fortunate enough to experience high end fashion shows. Well for the past 3 months, Denver has hosted a series of fashion shows at the exclusive Riverfront Park neighborhood in downtown . The show has featured designers such as Betsey Johnson and Robert Rodriguez. The show also features different cuisine's,drinks, and salons. I had the opportunity to speak with Laura Anderson, a marketing director for various well known brands in the hospitality sector who was enjoying the show.

Joey: Thank you for speaking with me after this amazing fashion show
Laura: Your welcome, and thank you to The Men's Fashion Blog.
Joey: How does marketing help a brand?
Laura: Marketing has alot of potential to make a unknown label into something huge. For Example, many people do not know about Robert Rodriguez, and marketing his line here at Riverfront is a great way to reach a new target audience.
Joey: What was one of the best features here at Riverfront?
Laura: The variety of entertainement. You have fashion, food, and great people to look at.
Joey: Is there a color that is in right now for men's fashion?
Laura: Definitely purple. Purple on a man is sexy and sleek.
Joey: Laura thank you for your time and enjoy the after party!
Laura: Thank you.

For more information on Robert Rodriguez and Betsey Johnson, please visit:
http://www.robertrodriguezcollection.com/bio.html
http://www.betseyjohnson.com/

Drink of the Week

The Peanut Butter and Jelly Shot:

Ingredients:
3/4 oz Frangelico liqueur
3/4 oz Chambord liqueur

Preparation:
Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Shake well.
Strain into a shot glass.

ENJOY!

Sale of the Day

Ed Hardy New York City Shield Sunglasses

Orig. $250.00

Now $124.99

http://www.macys.com/

Grilling Basics Made Easy

Grilling is an easy way to cook, and it turns out in wonderful flavors and appearances that are only possible when foods are exposed to the heat of an outdoor grill.

 

prepare in the morning  On days that you plan to use the grill for dinner, check supplies and get the grill set up and ready to use. You will have less to do when it's time to fire it up and cook.

 

clean the rack  Use a wire grilling brush with a scraping tool to clean the grill rack. Make sure to clean it twice. You never want to taste what was left on the grill the last time you cooked. When desperate measure calls and your tool is M.I.A., you can use an onion. Just cut the onion in half and use the open side face down. Before you begin cooking remove any accumulated debris. For future use after cooking while the rack is still hot, clean the grill again. Just before putting the food on grasp a wadded-up paper towel with tongs, dip it into some vegetable or olive oil, and use it to lightly oil the grill rack.

 

avoid flare-ups  Flare-ups, which occur hen the fat drips from the food onto the fire, can give food and unpleasant taste and appearance. If they occur, move the food to a cooler area on the grill, and be sure the grill is tightly covered.

 

give it a rest  Allow grilled foods to sit briefly before serving. This gives the juices time to redistribute themselves throughout the food, producing a more evenly moist result.   

 

Got questions or comments? Email me!
 
-Matt
matt@themensfashionblog.com

 

 

 

 

Cruisin'......

Hi Everyone!
I just want to let you know, this week will be verrrrry short on posts. I'm gonna be on a cruise!! I will still have access to email on my Blackberry so continue to send in your emails about the site. I love hearing from you all. I am returning to the site (and real life) on August 23. In the meantime, I invite you to read back to the beginning of TMFB in our archives and come back on August 23rd for an update and hopefully some pics and video from the cruise. I'll be sure to get pics of the Do's and Don't's of cruise-wear. Have a fantastic week!

-Farzad
Editor-in-Chief, TheMensFashionBlog.com
farzad@themensfashionblog.com

Quick Tips.

Traveling? Here's a quick tip to help keep your luggage light.

For weekend getaways and short business trips, only pack one pair of pants. That's right....ONE pair. If you pick the right jeans or slacks, you can mix and match with different shirts, tees, sweaters and blazers. For example, the right pair of straight-leg or skinny jeans can look great when worn slightly rolled up with Converse and just as good when rolled down with classic wingtips.

Also, if you're flying, wear your blazer/sportcoat so it won't get wrinkled in your luggage.

In days when airlines are charging extra for your baggage to travel with you, I hope this tip will keep you traveling right and light.

-Farzad
farzad@themensfashionblog.com

Before The Music Ends: 8.12.09

Being the music buff that I am, one of the constant things I get asked is, "where do you get all your new music from?" If you take a look at my i-pod and my CD collection (yes, I do still buy CDs), most of the stuff I have is underground music or literally, barely up and coming musicians- musicians that have a demo or an EP to their name. Well I thought I'd be nice for once, and let you all in on my daily life of scanning the internet. I live by certain websites (as I hope you will one day live by what I write) that I read and re-read every day. Through these websites comes new music, new artists, and new ideas. So take notes by little butterflies:

My Top 8 Music Websites (In No Particular Order):
1. All Music- This website is dedicated to giving you all the information you could possibly want regarding any musician, group, composer, writer, producer, you name it. There is a full biography, full discography (by both albums and songs), credits, and any awards they have received. While this site is really dedicated to the information about a particular person or group, every now and then brand new music pops up. I use this website to look at upcoming album release dates and such.

2. Hypebot- Quite possibly my favorite blog, but I can only assume that most of you will just find this one boring. This one is one that I consider my bible as it relays up to the minute information about all music industry information. Whether livenation decides to merge with Ticketmaster, or whether Amanda Palmer of The Dresden Dolls made $10,000 in one night via Twitter... all that is in this lovely little blog. There is even a community network you can join where you begin to network with people from all aspects of the community to give each other advice, suggestions, etc. If you're really into whats going on in the business side of the industry, then this site is for you.

3. Pollstar- This website is the free version of Pollstarpro.com, which is a magazine/website used for industry professionals in the concert aspects. The free version just gives up the minute details on all concerts going on around the world. Its a bit hard to get your concert dates added if you are a brand new musician, since this website is regulated by major booking and promotion companies, but it still serves a great purpose for the rest of us out there who just want to know the next time Bruce Springsteen will be in town!!!

4. Stereogum- Ahhh! Now here's one you're sure to be interested in. This website dedicates itself to all things indie and alternative. This includes news on upcoming projects and upcoming bands. But the best part about this website is that it has daily free downloads that are completely and legally free!! Keep in mind that this is still indie music, so if you're looking for something that sounds like Katy Perry, Britney Spears, or Akon, then you're better off heading over to MTV.com. 

5. Pitchfork- This, my friends, is the go-to website when it comes to ANYTHING underground or indie. Pitchfork does have the reputation of being the leading new independent music website, but it also has the reputation of being the biggest snob about music. Getting music reviewed by Pitchfork can be one of the highest honors (if you even get them to look at your demo, be honored then too), but they also have the ability to tear you to pieces. Their reviews and articles are superb, and you must have the patience and humor to deal with the things these writers say. But hey, through Pitchfork I discovered some of my now favorite bands (Bon Iver, M85, Animal Collective). While you can't download mp3s from here, they do have a player with their picks of the best new music, most of which I can guarantee you won't ever have heard. Swing by, I think you'll be impressed.

6. New Music Tip Sheet- This website is great to stay on top of upcoming releases, TV listings, and news. This is directed more towards the general population and mainstream music realm, but it does what it is supposed to do, and it has become a tool for the industry to look into music placement as well. For all of you who couldn't find your music at Stereogum or Pitchfork, you may just find it here.

7. Artist Rise- Okay, so as a manager to a local band, I LOOOOOOOVE this site. This in a way, is sort of like pollstar, only for up and coming artists. While for the time being, this is directed towards the Los Angeles and New York music scenes, it is a great way to see what new artists are playing where. Artist Rise is sort of like a facebook or myspace, except that once a profile is created (whether your an artist, band, venue, booker, promoter), you use your profile to network and get gigs. 

8. Crazed Hits- So this technically is another industry site, but don't worry. This could potentially be the best website to find completely unknown music. It is an industry A&R website which takes unsigned bands or artists, places their music on this website, and distributes it to labels, publishing, other a&r agents, etc. Through this site, a virtually unknown artist has the chance to become the next Justin Timberlake (horrible analogy, but I thought I'd talk in simpler terms). For example, some of the artists that were featured on this site before they were signed to major labels are: Katy Perry, Iglu & Hartly, Drake, LMFAO, and a tons others. 

So there you have it... my top 8 websites that I go to daily as both a music fan and music manager. But there are hundreds more that can tell you about upcoming music. Just one word of advice, you may be overwhelmed over just how much new music is out there. Myspace helped for a while in this area, but new blogs are taking over, and they are wayyyyy better.

Happy Searching!

Dals

Black: The Must Have in Every Guy's Wardrobe

Black, a color that makes you look depressed, or is it the new power color. Many music artists have worn black to show resistance, mystery, and cultivation. Black has become in recent years classy and stylish, adding dominance and confidence to yourself and what you wear. So you’re probably telling yourself right now, that I want you to go out and paint your nails black and put on 500 pounds of piercings, but that black was for the 90s. The new black I consider to be a power color that can transform any guy into an instant hit at a party or any social gathering. Let’s start with the basics. First of all, please do not wear white socks and black shows. If you do, you just transformed a power look, into a clown suit. We are going black and not coming back, so from top to bottom, BLACK. Start off with some shiny black shoes, but don’t go over board and get disco looking ones, simple and modest are the way to go. When choosing your pants, go with a sleek modern fit, or a classic dress pant. The belt should have a silver buckle, not gold. We are not the sopranos. When picking out a shirt, go with a slimmer fitting button down, and leave the top two buttons undone, or for a more casual look, go with a slim fit short sleeve tee and add a silver plated watch. If you have a few black items in your closet, play around with them and see what goes best with your features. Boom, you just have transformed your look, into a power look. GO BLACK!

Drink of the Week.

I'm very happy to announce that TheMensFashionBlog.com now has a Designer Drink Guru. Collin Miller has created a fantastic drink menu for the Oasis Lounge at the Plaza Theatre here in El Paso. Using the films being shown during this years film festival as inspiration, Collin has mixed up something to accompany any one of your favorite movies.

As Paulina (TMFB photographer) and I sat at the bar, Collin made us the delectable "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious"; a carrot cake martini that is part of the Mary Poppins section of the menu. We also enjoyed the "Fred & Ginger" for the Top Hat section and another Mary Poppins selection, the "Spoonful of Sugar". He also used us as his test subjects for his deliciously limey Key Lime Pie martini, which is not yet on the menu.

If you're in El Paso, I highly suggest you stop by the Oasis Lounge, directly next to the Plaza Theatre, and enjoy a sandwich and (a few) delicious drinks created by Collin Miller.

Today, as Collin's first Drink of the Week selection, he presents to us the "Blueberry Muffin" from the Breakfast at Tiffany's section of the Oasis Lounge's special Film Festival drink menu.

Equal Parts

Vanilla Vodka

Blueberry Vodka

Splash of Frangelico

Shake and Enjoy! (Garnish with 3 fresh blueberries)

-Farzad

farzad@themensfashionblog.com

Update.

Coming this week on TheMensFashionBlog.com....
- New Articles from Matt
- more 5 Minutes with TMFB
- New Articles from Joey
- More Quick Tips.
- and more.....

If you've got questions or comments pertaining to our site and content, we welcome your emails and comments! Let us know what you think. After all, we're here for you...

-Farzad
farzad@themensfashionblog.com

Quick Tips.

This weekend, I discovered something quite valuable. You see, in the past 3 weeks, I've lost 10 lbs and about 11 inches around my "midsection".

My dilemma: T-shirts. I do usually buy size Medium t-shirts but I've found that, regardless of the brand, t-shirts shrink. Sizes vary, no matter what the label says, from brand to brand.

My solution: Find a t-shirt that fits just right and buy one size bigger. Go home and before wearing it, wash it in hot water and tumble-dry on low heat.

I tested my theory this weekend on about 5 t-shirts that I just recently purchased and have not yet washed. 1 from Alex&Chloe, the rest from Target. The results were juuust right! I tried them on before and they were loose and not well fitting. After, they fit perfectly with the exception of a couple being just slighty too long for my taste.

Considering that many of the designer and pricier t-shirts tend to shrink (no matter how you wash them) this little tip could come in handy next time you're shopping for t-shirts.

-Farzad
farzad@themensfashionblog.com

Before The Music Ends: 8.9.09

Before I get into my post, which is long overdue, I have to start off with a quick HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our awesome blog editor Farzad... yes, he is one year older and I highly suggest you bombard his email with reminders of him getting old and crusty! It's been a while, but I'm back from vacation with lots of things to write about: concert reviews, music reviews, new music, and my usual ramblings. But I don't want to bore you so I'll stick to my review of the weekend concerts here in San Diego. One thing I did discover on my travels throughout Spain.... I realized just how much I hate techno/trance/house music. Sorry.

As I get ready to make my big move from San Diego to Los Angeles in the next week, I decided to spend my last weekend checking out tons of shows. To start off: The Airborne Toxic Event at the Del Mar Racetrack. Now, every year after the races, an artist or band perform in the middle of the racetrack. This year though, they moved it to the courtyard, which makes for less space for people filled with obstacles (fountains, bushes, etc), but also makes for a better sound. The band went on stage to a crowd of about 500 people and they rocked!! They played most of their self titled debut album including their very first single Does This Mean You're Moving On? and the current chart toppers Sometime Around Midnight and Wishing Well. They did a cover of The Smiths and with lead singer Mikel Jollet's vocals, he sounded very close to Morrissey on This Charming Man. Here's whats cool about this band; aside from the traditional ensemble of drums, guitar, bass, and vocals, they also have a classically trained violinist, Anna Bulbrook, who is just breathtaking all around. If you haven't heard of these guys (and girl) I HIGHLY suggest you do, as they were named by Rolling Stone Magazine one of the top 25 bands of 2006. Another highlight of the weekend was the No Doubt Reunion show. I'm going to say this even at the risk of being murdered by fans, I'm not a big No Doubt fan. I'm what I call a whatever fan. But I will say that they do put on a fantastic show, not to mention that Gwen Stefani has the best abs I've ever seen! My main focus at this show was the opening act, The Sounds. They are one of my favorite bands around, and I really do consider them to be the new Blondie. Maja, the lead singer is one of my rockstar hero(ine)s and although they only played 5 songs off their new album, Crossing the Rubicon, and 2 from their first, Living in America. I can not wait for their headlining tour this fall. The second opening act was none other than Panic! At The Disco... or whats left of them. Since Ryan Ross leaving the band, there seems to be a void to what Panic used to be. Ross was the brains behind the band, having written both the lyrics and the music. Brandon Urie is still singing away and continues to be the face of the band, but he just doesn't have IT anymore. His voice was pretty bad last night. I hate to say it, but its true. It's like he can't go as high as he used to, which marked his signature singing style, and he would crack and trail off. There were points where my friends and I would look at each other and go... what....?? It is with a heavy heart (lol) that I say that this seems to be the end of Panic! At The Disco. They had a sophomore slump with their second album, trying too hard to be the new Beatles (it aint gonna happen boys!) and now with Ross out of the picture, there just doesn't seem to be anywhere for them to go from here. Sorry all you tweens who are probably crying your eyes out.

I also attended the North Park Music Thing, but I will not bore you on all the amazing panels I sat through and all the information I got- if you want to know anything about the panels and information about the industry, email me dalit@themensfashionblog.com. But I will say that Dynamite Walls, a local San Diego band, performed and although they played a random set (2:00 pm in the close to empty beer garden), the few people that were there seemed to have enjoyed it tremendously. I am using this as my transition into this week's new music obsession: Dynamite Walls. They formed in 2006 and are lead by Tom Pritchard who also serves as the songwriter. These guys take what they do seriously, making music their entire life. And it shows with their music, as well as when you watch them perform. I've had the priviledge of watching them several times around town, and once as a band I once worked with, War Stories, opened for them at the Beauty Bar. Their songs are a blend of happy songs that make you laugh ("Sold drugs to pay the rent.... I made a fortune") to songs that describe the hopelessness of the American life. I'm sitting tight waiting for these guys to blow up, I really am. So because of that, I'm including the video for their song "Kiss & Ride"... enjoy and love it like I do.



I have TONS of stuff the write about this week, so keep checking in... this was the sunday night/weekend update, so this week you'll be getting a SHIT TON of new music for your lovely little ears.

Keep on Rockin'

Dals

Film Festival.

Today marks the beginning of El Paso's Plaza Classic Film Festival. Running for 10 days (Aug. 6-16), the festival will be bringing some old favorites back to the big screen. Last year, I had the pleasure of watching a few movies there and it really was like watching them all for the first time. To have them presented on the big screen, the way they were meant to be seen, is truly a unique experience.

Just a few of the movies this year are Some Like It Hot, Goldfinger, Bride of Frankenstein, Reservoir Dogs and Gone with the Wind [which coincidentally celebrates it's 70th anniversary this year]. Movies will be shown in the restored Kendle Kidd Performance Hall and the smaller Philanthropy Theatre. A few movies will even be shown outdoors in the Arts Festival Plaza. These films include: A Hard Day's Night, Blazing Saddles and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, patrons are even encouraged to dress the part!

If you're looking for something to do this coming week in El Paso, definitely check this out.

Tickets are available on Ticketmaster.com and at the Plaza Box Office. Prices range from Free[for the outdoor showings] to $6 [for Kendle Kidd Performance Hall evening shows].

Check out the full listing of Movies and showtimes HERE.

Action!!

-Farzad

farzad@themensfashionblog.com

Drink of the Week.

Vodka/Tonic

Perhaps one of the simplest drinks to make, and one of the best. Use the right vodka (*cough, CIROC cough cough) and a twist of lime and you're sure to have a drink to please any palette.

2oz. vodka [preferrably Ciroc... ;-)]

3-5oz tonic

lime

Mix and serve over ice.

-Farzad

farzad@themensfashionblog.com