we interrupt your regularly scheduled music programming to discuss what has been happening in the united states, and particularly new york city, over the last several days. as a nyc resident, i have been particularly affected by the current situation, though i know not as terribly as those who have lost family and friends in this senseless act of violence and hatred. my prayers in particular go out to the families of chris jones and maria santillan, both of whom worked for cantor-fitzgerald in tower one, a company that has not yet found any of nearly 700 missing employees.
though i work several blocks from the WTC, in midtown manhattan, the bomb threats and evacuations in times square, penn station, and grand central, the arrests at JFK airport, and the evacuation of my own office building yesterday after the report of a fire on the floor below mine, have been very frightening.

tonight i participated in a candlelight vigil/march in park slope, brooklyn and it was absolutely amazing. i've never seen anything quite like it in my life. literally thousands of park slope residents crowded onto 7th avenue at 7pm and walked a few blocks down to our local firehouse, squad 1, which was one of the first stations to respond tuesday morning, and lost nearly half its firefighters in the world trade
towers. the amount of solidarity the people of our community had, to join together singing, waving flags (teenagers, adults, and even babies), and lighting candles was beautiful. when we got to the firehouse many layed down flowers, candles, and notes in front of the station, which had a list of the missing firefighters on the wall outside.

i hope everyone had the opportunity to participate in something like this in your neighborhoods, whether in nyc or elsewhere. it was just incredible to see the
way people have really come together as a community here, and definitely lifted my spirits in a time of such tragedy. even after the vigil, so many residents
were out on the streets tonight. i just moved to park slope a month ago, and am so glad i did, if for no other reason than what i witnessed tonight. businesses
are donating percentages of their sales to the squad 1 relief fund or putting donation jars on their counters, and residents are donating proceeds from garage sales. so many people i know have said that they have no idea what they can do in this time, that they feel helpless, and i think this was something where everyone involved felt like they were making a statement.

on that note, i invite anyone who is in new york to a small concert this sunday night in park slope.

cameron dezen has decided to make her show at great lakes bar on sunday a benefit for squad 1. admission is free, and all donations go directly to families of the missing firemen at squad 1. cameron's brother, alex, who is in a fabulous local band called the damnwells, is also playing sunday evening.

cameron has a song on her album called "firehouse" which seems particularly appropriate at this time, and you can download it from her website at
www.camerondezen.com. if you are in nyc and want to request it on WFUV (90.7) that would be cool too. :) FUV has suspended its normal programming and is only taking requests at this time. please feel free to download, send the song to friends, burn it, or whatever. another song of hers, called "here comes the night" (also appropriate) is on the site as well. please send this info to any friends you have who may enjoy her music.

ALEX DEZEN
CAMERON DEZEN
Great Lakes Bar
corner of 1st Street and Fifth Avenue in Park Slope, Bklyn.
Sunday, September 16th at 9pm.
From Manhattan: take the W or Q train to Pacific/ Atlantic Ave and transfer to the N/R
Get off Union Street. Walk one block north to 5th Avenue and down to First St.

if you can't make it to the show, you can send a check
to:

Squad 1 Firehouse
788 Union Street
Brooklyn, NY 11215

stay safe,
dana
posted by dana wagner 11:54 PM

8.25.2001

This was a very folk music filled week for me. I saw no concerts, but listened to CDs nearly 24-7. Holly Miranda, Erin McKeown, Dar Williams, Ani Difranco, Rose Polenzani, Indigo Girls, Meghan Toohey, Tegan and Sara.... some of the "heavy hitters" of the folk scene, so to speak. :) Tomorrow I am off to Philly for some fun indie folk rock acoustic intelligent pop.
Big news! You can now order Holly's demo CD for only FIVE DOLLARS through her website.

Why are you still reading? You should be on the aforementioned website right now.

Anyway, lots of great music is around us all the time, but sometimes we just don't know that it's there. Take time to seek out what may not be readily apparent.
On that note, check out this website: www.auralgasms.com. It will help you to unearth some beautiful gems.

posted by dana wagner 2:52 AM

8.22.2001

some concert recommendations just for you.

sat. aug 25
choose your own adventure:
TIVERTON, RI - house concert with DEB TALAN
(email pauline.rheaume@verizon.net for details)

or
PHILLY, PA - EMM GRYNER at the point, opening for stargazer lily
9:00pm
buy tickets in advance at www.ticketweb.com
come get your copy of "girl versions" (the new album!)

thurs, aug 30:
MEGHAN TOOHEY, DEB TALAN, & CLARE BURSON
nyc, ny
the bitter end
8:00pm
posted by dana wagner 3:47 AM

8.19.2001

thanks to everyone that actually emailed me and told me that they read this journal, and enjoy my musical ramblings. nice to know that some people actually listen to these recommendations, and download the mp3s, go to the shows, etc. it's a nice feeling.

not much else to report. i'm in LA now, and listened to the same old as i lounged out by the pool. holly miranda kicks ass. go listen. please. one of the songs on her demo, called "when you're not here" is so good, her voice so tinged with this aching desire, that my heart just aches listening to it. sorry to be so sappy, but i consider that a good thing with music.

listening to girl versions has also been very inspiring lately.

posted by dana wagner 2:37 AM

8.17.2001

this is my favorite song of the moment. you can guess who wrote it.

i think that i am losing you
and i don't know what to do anymore about it
cause everyday that i don't hear from you,
i feel like i'm losing a piece of me
and everday that i know you're not thinking of me,
i'm losing a place in your memory
in your beautiful mind
in your beautiful face
did i ever tell you that i saw my future in you
did i ever tell you that i saw our future in your eyes

oh but don't look at me that way
with that pity, and all that sorrow, and that sadness for me
cause i, i'm gonna be fine
i always am and i always will be
and you know that's my favorite line
and you should know by now, cause i use it all the time
when i'm dying inside

and i know that you are busy,
yeah i know that your life is crazy these days
or so you say
and i know that maybe in a year or so
you just think everything will fall into place
when you are ready
when you think i'm ready
but you know, i'm ready now and i am
losing faith

oh but don't look at me that way
with that pity, and all that sorrow, and that sadness for me
cause i, i'm gonna be fine
i always am and i always will be
and you know that's my favorite line
and you should know by now,
cause i use it all time
when i'm dying inside
i'm dying inside
without you, i'm dying inside

i think that i am losing you
and i don't know what to do anymore
about it

posted by dana wagner 2:04 AM

8.15.2001

Ok, I don't know, first of all, who reads this journal at all, except Jess W, and my mom, and maybe my sister sometimes. And furthermore, I don't know if those of you who read this also regularly read the public awareness tour diary. Maybe some. I hate repeating myself, but on there I have mentioned a singer-songwriter I've just discovered, thanks to Gretchen, named Holly Miranda. This girl is freaking amazing. I just have to say that. I need to tell SOMEONE because I am a bit stunned at how completely crazy I am about her music right now. I know that I go through phases and rave about certain people to death all the time. But oh my god. Holly is seriously rocking my world at the moment.
So, she is based in the Detroit area, but has been in NYC for the last week playing a couple shows. At Gretchen's insistence, I downloaded some of her stuff, liked it, and decided to check out her show last Friday at the Rising Cafe in Park Slope (Brooklyn). I was going to see Howie Day that evening at Bowery Ballroom, but since this place was about ten minutes from my apartment, and it was raining, and I figured Holly needs the support more because she's not opening for a big act like Edwin McCain, I went over to the Rising. And I was blown away and stunned by how incredible Holly is. She is one super rocker, that I must say. Go read what I wrote on publicawareness.net, cause I'm not going to repeat all that. But her guitar playing is so inspiring, it makes me want to pick up mine right away and start playing.

I saw her again tonight at the Sidewalk Cafe in the east village, and she was just as wonderful. Incredible stage presence. Her songs are beyond beautiful. A new song she sang both nights, called "Shadows on the Ceiling" is so so so so gorgeous, I just want to listen to it over and over again.

Your mission: go to www.mp3.com/hollymiranda and download her songs, and become as completely absorbed in them as I have become. Seriously, people, I cannot even begin to describe how fabulous she is. She reminds me a little of Ani in her confidence, guitar-playing, and songwriting, with a bit of Meghan Toohey-ness in her stage presence and charisma.

Some lines to leave you wanting more:

"If you can let my age confine and define and refine who you think I am... well I think you need to think again, cause it's all the same". (take that, CH)

"Don't look at me that way, with that pity and all that sorrow and that sadness for me, cause I'm gonna be fine. I always am and I always will be, and you know that's my favorite line, and you should know by now, cause I use it all the time, when I am dying inside."

just please go and listen. you won't be disappointed. in fact, you may even find yourself falling in love (gasp!).
posted by dana wagner 2:22 AM

8.9.2001

Another span of eternity between journals. Hmmm... Lots of shows recently. I just saw Meghan Toohey last night, who I haven't seen in about two months. So nice to see her rock out again. God, I love that girl just as much as the first time I saw her nearly a year ago. I think her band played some of the songs a little *too* fast last night (especially on "Fall" which I like slowed down a bit more), but overall she was a star, very charismatic and crazy on the guitar as usual. Treated us with a little "Like a Virgin," as well as "Brass in Pocket" (!) and two brand brand new songs ("Please Me" and "Silver"). Nice to hear lots of new songs from her. I adored Silver... wish I had recorded the set so I could listen again. Austin was a maniac on guitar last night, maybe better than I've ever seen him. I love him.

Shamsi was one of Meghan's openers last night, and well, I can't say enough about her. I really seriously think she is my favorite at the moment. Her music is so soulful, so passionate, she gives me chills just to listen. I wish I could see her play every night of the week. This one song, "Right Here" is gorgeous. So breathtaking. I'm also in love with a song she wrote about her younger brother (who was there playing drums with her) called "Carried Away." Amazingness. She also covered Lucinda Williams' "Sweet Old World," which was stunning. Please do check her out sometime if you have the chance. She's one of those artists who just inspires a sense of awe in me as I'm listening to her.

lalala...
So I'm probably going to see Howie Day tomorrow night (another one I highly recommend seeing), if it's not sold out, and Holly Miranda next week. Emm is back at the Point in Bryn Mawr, PA this weekend, so if you are near there, please do come out and support. I'm very excited about building her in Philly. :)

posted by dana wagner 9:26 PM

7.16.2001

album of the day has been death cab for cutie's something about airplanes., which i bought at other music yesterday. i cannot stop listening to this CD! i think it may even be better than their latest. please please go out and buy at least one of their cds. thanks, emm.

also got the doves album, lost souls, which is beautiful.

went old school today and listened to ok computeras well. my favorite radiohead album. i loved kid a, and am slowly getting into amnesiac, but i think that ok computer was the PERFECT radiohead album because it delved into this unexplainable, atmospheric experimental sound of alienation and fear on one hand and peace on the other, but still had the rock element to it, and thom's vocals were beautiful. now radiohead is almost too far "out there". don't get me wrong, i like the direction they've gone in, but sometimes i just need to listen to some good old guitar-based radiohead too.

my room is strewn with cds everywhere... the result of not putting cds back in their cases after i've listened. how will i organize all this when i have to move in a couple weeks?

oh, cameron did play "enough" at mercury lounge last week, which was just a fabulous fabulous show. lots of depressing, gut-wrenching songs about former relationships. just what i love. :)
if you are in the BOSTON area, cameron is doing a "thirteen hour tour" on wednesday that you do not want to miss. starting at 8:30am she will be on WERS 88.9, which you can listen to on www.wers.org if you are not in the area. then a borders in-store show at 3:00pm in chestnut hill, MA and later that evening her first boston club show at the kendall cafe, at 8:30. what a day! come join the fun.

posted by dana wagner 12:14 AM

7.7.2001

right now i'm listening to our lady peace's happiness...is not a fish that you can catch. in the mood to ROCK. especially while washing dishes.

after obsessing over shamsi ruhe's cover of shawn colvin's "i don't know why," i finally bought fat city and am loving it.
i remember jess weiser saying at a recent show that when she would cover tara maclean's "if only", so many people would ask her how to get tara's records that she'd sell more of tara's stuff than her own! well, that certainly worked with shamsi. of course i would buy her own record in a heartbeat if i knew where to get it. but she has no website it seems.
she was supposed to play at the bitter end yesterday, but when i called the venue to find out what time she was on, they told me she cancelled, and that it'll be NEXT thursday! i'll be at cameron's show at mercury lounge then, so i will have to miss shamsi. :( very sad. but maybe if cameron plays "enough" that will lift my spirits. :) thank god there are songs like that one in the world that can so entirely move someone like me to utter awe.

still hunting for an apartment. please email me if you have any good leads or suggestions for me. i'm focused right now on moving to park slope in brooklyn which is a wonderful area to live.

posted by dana wagner 12:12 AM

7.2.2001

happy canada day.
posted by dana wagner 12:13 AM