Met Lovin' Big Shots 2007

[Farmer Ted]

Hilary and her Swankness.

http://www.nypost.com/gossip/celebp/06132007/photo06.jpg

[metirish]

Mets fans?

] O'Reilly a non-factor in Mets clubhouse Bill O'Reilly's right-wing politics may rub a lot of people the wrong way in New York, but his views had nothing to do with his ejection from the Mets' clubhouse yesterday before their game against the Yankees at the Stadium. O'Reilly, the FoxNews Channel talking head, got inside the visitors' clubhouse before Stadium security realized that he was not wearing a credential granting clubhouse access. He and his party then were escorted out of the room. According to a reporter from The Record of Hackensack (N.J.), the Big Righty complained to the security officer, "You don't have to escort us out - we're going." Coincidentally, If there is some irony surrounding the incident, it's that MSNBC's Keith Olbermann was in the Mets' clubhouse before Friday night's game. Olbermann hosts the left-leaning "Countdown" on MSNBC and he and O'Reilly have frequently exchanged barbs on their respective programs. Olbermann, a regular at both New York baseball stadiums and a former ESPN anchorman, was granted clubhouse access because of his sports background and regular attendance, not because of his politics. O'Reilly may not have gotten to chum around with the Mets but - as always - his voice got heard. After exiting the clubhouse he went to the field, where the Yankees were taking batting practice. There, he was seen chatting with Joe Torre and GM Brian Cashman.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Olbermann is a MFY fan, though at heart he's a basebal historian who knows hsi stuff as well as any TV guy.

O'REilly can bite me. I hope Omar chased him away with a bat.

[Farmer Ted]

I don't care if they lean left or right, if they're Mets fans, that's cool. The BS comes when they use their media status to get in the locker room for no other reason than to rub elbows. If Olberman was working on a journalistic piece, I'll give him a pass. It appears he wasn't. So the both of them look like jerks to me.

[Guest Edgy DC]

A fair-weather fool, but an interesting Brooklyn cat who we must recruit for the light side. I appoint Gwreck to take the lead here.

July 5, 2007

http://gothamist.com/attachments/arts_jen/2007_07_arts_michaelhearst.jpg

Michael Hearst, Songs For Ice Cream Trucks

Michael Hearst, of Brooklyn book-rock collective

One Ring Zero

, is the man behind

Songs For Ice Cream Trucks

. As such, he has single-handedly reinvented the timeless sound we often hear on the street during the summer, some with a tinge of nostalgia, some sprinkled with noir and all leaving you wanting seconds.

Do you ever approach random trucks and give them your cd?

Actually, I have on a few occasions, but it usually turns out to be fruitless. For some reason I tend to be drawn to the least likely candidates�disenchanted old men who barely speak English and stare at me with utter confusion as I hand them my CD. "Seriously, you can play this on your truck. I'm giving it to you for free. It'll sound good, I promise!" For the most part, the ice cream trucks that have been using my music have all approached me, and very few of them are in New York. It seems Mr. Softee has a bit of a stronghold here, with their trademarked jingle. But that's fine, the album wasn't really written for just ice cream trucks. It's also supposed to be a fun album for anybody to listen to at home, in their car, at the office, wherever. It works especially well as a children's record.

What instrument do you think is best for an ice cream truck song?

In my opinion, for both practical and aesthetical reasons, I'd say high-end instruments seem to work best for ice cream truck music; things like the glockenspiel, accordion, various chimes, bells, etc. The speakers on most ice cream trucks are generally quite small, therefore it's important not have music that's going to sound distorted when played. Also, high-end sounds carry much better through the air and can be heard for several blocks, which is sort of the whole point, right? It was also my intention to write songs that were in the vein of what we already think of as ice cream truck music. I didn't want to totally go off the deep end and write a bunch of music that wouldn't make any sense coming from an ice cream truck, ie. heavy metal, rap, punk-rock. That said, I did write some fairly complex songs that have several key changes, diminished chords, and other geeky elements. I also used some rather unusual instruments

like the Claviola and theremin�instruments that I use quite often with my regular band, One Ring Zero. In fact, the music is not all that unsimilar to the stuff you would hear on an ORZ record. It's just a bit dumbed-down, perhaps, simpler and not as poppy.

Are you doing any collaborating with Matt Allen, the Ice Cream Man?

Yes, Matt has become a really great ally in this whole ice cream adventure. He first contacted me about a year or two ago after seeing my myspace page. I sent him some of the early demos, which he began using on his truck. Whenever he's in New York, we team-up on things: giving away free ice cream, and promoting "Songs For Ice Cream Trucks." Good times!

http://gothamist.com/attachments/arts_jen/2007_07_arts_michael.jpg

Do you have a favorite treat to buy from the truck?

When I was kid, growing up in Virginia Beach, I used to run after the truck with two fists full of change, and I'd buy as much as I could afford. Aside from ice cream, the trucks down there also sold candy. I remember buying things like jawbreakers, lollypop rings, and Fun Dip. I'd bring it to school the next day and compare with my friend's stash. Truth be told, at this point, I rarely buy anything from ice cream trucks. I've become too much of a food snob. The ice cream that is generally being sold from trucks is stuff that I really don't want to eat too often. Not sure what that stuff is, but I'm fairly certain it's not really ice cream. We need people like 5 Boroughs Ice Cream or Ciao Bella to start selling from ice cream trucks. Then I'll be happy.

Please share your strangest "only in New York" story.

Well, I don't know if this is an "only in New York" story, but here goes: I actually work one day a week at a small pasty shop in Park Slope called Colson Patisserie. It allows me to get away from my computer and music for a little while. Plus, they sell homemade gelato� and copies of my CD. Anyway, one afternoon it was really crowded, and there was this long line of people waiting to get coffees. As I approached the next lady in line, I noticed she was staring at my "Songs For Ice Cream Trucks" CD, which was on display by the register. She looked up at me and said, "You know, I was stuck in traffic the other day and was listening to the radio, and I happened to hear the guy who made this CD being interviewed. And I was thinking to myself, 'what kind of person has the time to sit around and write an entire album of songs for ice cream truck??'" I shook my head at her and said, "Man, whoever that is must be a complete moron!" She rolled her eyes in agreement. I then took her order, and went off to make her a double latte, or whatever.

Which New Yorker do you most admire?

I think I mostly admire New Yorkers who have achieved some great level of success, but still live their lives just like the rest of us. It always makes me happy to see David Byrne fly by on his bicycle, or hear about John Turturro shopping at the food coop, or even Mayor Bloomberg riding the subway for that matter. But I'm not sure who I admire the most. Right now I'm reading a book about Abraham Lincoln. We need a New Yorker like him. They just don't 'em like Abraham Lincoln anymore. I really admire a lot of my close friends, but then I guess that's whey they are all my friends, because I admire them.

You've taken a step towards changing the ice cream truck sounds that we all hear on the street...given the opportunity, how else would you change New York?

Wow. Do I really get to answer this? So many things. Lets see. I'm all for the flat fee traffic plan in Lower Manhattan. Way too many unnecessary cars in this city! Especially dumb-ass SUV drivers trying to double-park on 6th Ave. Like many Brooklynites, I'm also very anti Ratner. What else�. Trash! What's up with people blatantly dropping their trash on the sidewalk. I've seen people do this right in front of a police officer, and the officer did NOTHING! Also, it would be nice if fire engines and ambulances could turn down their sirens just a little bit, please? Come on, ice cream trucks aren't allowed to play little jingles while holding still (which, by the way, I think is a very good compromise), but Harley Davidsons and fire engines can race down a street blasting 150 decibels of noise, setting off every car alarm on the block. Oh, and that's another one: car alarms! What's the point? Can't we just outlaw those things all together? I mean, they make sense if you live in rural Idaho or somthing. But who's really gonna do anything about a car alarm going off in New York City? Okay, that's my kvetching for the day.

Under what circumstance have you thought about leaving New York?

Nuclear warfare. Dirty Bomb. But then it would probably be too late, wouldn't it? I think the only way I would leave New York at this point would be if all of my friends moved with me.

Do you have a favorite New York celebrity sighting or encounter?

For some reason, I rarely have celebrity sightings. I think I just don't notice people so much when I'm walking down the street. Also, I'm pretty out of touch with all that stuff anyway, that is, who the big celebrities are these days. But just to make everyone happy, here's a story: Back when One Ring Zero was performing off-Broadway with the Pumpkin Pie Show, Macaulay Culkin would come to see us once in a while. After the shows, we'd all go back to his apartment and play video games and skateboard around the living room. His brother Kieran would perch himself like a bird on the armrest of the couch, wearing black, fingerless gloves, ala Michael Jackson. I remember Macaulay had a "Home Alone" doll of himself sitting on the kitchen table. It was all so surreal and hilarious.

What's your current soundtrack to the city?

Um... Michael Hearst "Songs For Ice Cream Trucks" --- available from Bar-None Records.

www.songsforicecreamtrucks.com

.

Best cheap eat in the city.

I'm a big fan of B�nh m� (aka the Vietnamese Sandwich). My favorite place to get B�nh m� is at Ba Xuyen on 42nd and 8th Ave in Sunset Park. I'm still waiting for someone smart enough to open a Vietnamese sandwich shop in Park Slope. They'd make a million dollars on me alone. In fact, I actually considered opening one myself.

Best venue to see music.

Barb�s in Park Slope, of course. And not just because I'm good friends with the owners, or because One Ring Zero is on Barb�s Records, or because there's a big banner of ORZ permanently hanging in the back. Seriously, where else are you going to see Tuvan throat singers one night, Madeline Peyroux the next, and then Les Primitifs du Futur, all in a small, intimate room with only a tip jar being passed around?

Mets or Yankees?

I grew up watching guys like Daryl Strawberry play for the Tidewater Tides (former farm team for the Mets), and I was also born in St. Louis where my father and grandfather were huge Cardinal fans, therefore it would only make sense that I'd be a National League guy and fan of the Mets. However, I find it difficult to only root for one team. Perhaps I'm a bit fair weathered, but I tend to root for whichever New York team is doing best. Ultimately, I just want to win.

[metirish]

That answer sucks...

[Guest Edgy DC]

Yes, and we must tell him why.

[Guest sharpie]

I live 2 blocks from the patisserie he works at (been there, too many strollers) and the bar he references (been there too, have seen some good music there). I've seen One Ring Zero. They were okay, they commission lyrics from the likes of Michael Chabon and Margaret Atwood. The night I saw them (opening for someone else at Celebrate Brooklyn) Myla Goldberg (who wrote Bee Season sat in on flute.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I appoint Sharpie to join Gwreck in taking the lead here.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

I'm in favor of changing Ice cream truck music however. The dude in my hood plays his irritating electronic horn very loudly, and was doing so for weeks straight at 9:45 on Sunday nights:

a) waking my sleeping son
interrupting the conclusion of the Sopranos

I went out and asked him to turn it down once (he acted like the generator cooling the ice cream was so loud he needed to turn it up). When he came back again at the same hour & volume, I narced him at 311, feeling very much like an old man. Imagine my relief when I saw the same truck had pissed off someone else enough to make up & post posters encouraging irritated folks to call and complain. Same licence plate #.

I think there's a million dollars in creating "neighborhood friendly/environmentally friendly" bicyle-powered ice cream delivery route with old fashioned bells you have to physically shake. If I can recruit a college girl to operate it while wearing a bikini (she, not me), it's a 2 million dollar idea.

[Guest sharpie]

As of July 1 new NYC noice regulations prohibit ice-cream trucks from playing "music" while stopped, only while driving.

[Guest iramets]

Johnny Dickshot wrote: If I can recruit a college girl to operate it while wearing a bikini (she, not me), it's a 2 million dollar idea.

I can put you in touch with about 250 college girls looking for jobs at the moment. But you broach the whole bikini idea, okay?

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

While our family was in Chicago for the July 4th weekend, we took in a free John Mayer concert in Grant Park. The opening act was a funk/rock ensemble called Robert Randolph and the Family Band. Robert Randolph, the lead singer and guitarist, played the show in a blue pinstriped Carlos Beltran jersey.

Although I had never heard of the band, I enjoyed their set quite a bit. Of course, it didn't hurt that the leader of the band was dressed in classy, Mets gear.

[bmfc1]

Last Sunday, we saw Kevin James and Adam Sandler at Shea plugging "Chuck & Larry." On Tuesday, Sandler was on Letterman and he said that they took batting practice at Shea on Sunday and at Yankee Stadium on Monday. Sandler said that at Shea, he put on a Met uniform, even though he is a Yankee fan. But on Monday, Kevin James refused to put on a Yankee uniform during batting practice because he's a Mets fan.

Then on Thursday, Kevin James was on Letterman and he told us the name of his new baby girl: Shea. He said he suggested it because he's a Mets fan and his wife liked the name!

Way to go, King of Queens!

[stevejrogers]

Okay, he may be a fictional big shot, but the star of the short lived fantasy show Viking Quest. current star of NBC's Five Towns and known for countless of bit parts through the years, Johnny "Drama" Chase (of HBO's Entourage played by real life Met Loving Big Shot Kevin Dillon) was seen at a sports memorabilia auction sporting a 1986 Len Dykstra jersey.

[bmfc1]

SteveJRogers wrote: Okay, he may be a fictional big shot, but the star of the short lived fantasy show Viking Quest. current star of NBC's Five Towns and known for countless of bit parts through the years, Johnny "Drama" Chase (of HBO's Entourage played by real life Met Loving Big Shot Kevin Dillon) was seen at a sports memorabilia auction sporting a 1986 Len Dykstra jersey.

Given the Yankees support by Turtle and "E", seeing some Mets love on "Entourage" by Johnny Drama, especially after such a great win, calls for us to cry "VICTORY!!!"

[Guest Edgy DC]

The Next Karate Kid, who attended the sweep, returned for the revenge. Looks like she could use a less nerdy date.





No orange dot. So old school, she's going back to the Miyagi Dojo.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Who is that?

[G-Fafif]

bmfc1 wrote: ="SteveJRogers"]Okay, he may be a fictional big shot, but the star of the short lived fantasy show Viking Quest. current star of NBC's Five Towns and known for countless of bit parts through the years, Johnny "Drama" Chase (of HBO's Entourage played by real life Met Loving Big Shot Kevin Dillon) was seen at a sports memorabilia auction sporting a 1986 Len Dykstra jersey. Given the Yankees support by Turtle and "E", seeing some Mets love on "Entourage" by Johnny Drama, especially after such a great win, calls for us to cry "VICTORY!!!"

It is incumbent on every Mets fan to root for Kevin Dillon to cash in his Emmy nomination for best supporting actor in a comed series.

I can also now forgive him for worrying that he flipped away his Mickey Mantle card in "Heaven Help Us".

[Guest Edgy DC]

It's Hilary Swank.

Forgive Dillon because he was playing a doofus, and Heaven Help Us was awesome.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I was thinking it might be Hillary Swank, but, well...

I don't want to say she looks awful, but I've seen her looking better.

I guess that bottom picture is one of those unflattering pictures that can happen to anyone.

[G-Fafif]

Edgy DC wrote: Forgive Dillon because he was playing a doofus, and Heaven Help Us was awesome.

Agreed. Took me two years of "Entourage" to stop thinking of him as Rooney, who gave the best imaginable definition for The Holy Trinity, a topic for which he did not do his homework.

"The Holy Trinity...is a total mystery that cannot be understood."

"Heaven Help Us" was such a great movie that it made Andrew McCarthy appear as if he could act.

[Willets Point]

The Dodger program included Swank in a series of photos of celebrities who came to games at Dodger Stadium with no mention that she was there to watch the Mets.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

She was looking for a mate and thought Mettle the Mule might be still be there.

[Farmer Ted]

Travolta and Mork are filming a baseball movie and the Mets take center stage, supposedly.

http://i.cnn.net/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/0707/Caught.in.the.Act/images/9.jpg

[Guest Edgy DC]

I'm guessing neither Mork nor Vinny are Met-lovin'.

[metirish]

Williams is a Dodgers fan I think, Alyssa milano was at the Mets game the other night.Maybe the Mets are her second team.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I'm guessing ninth team for Milano.

[Willets Point]

Edgy DC wrote: I'm guessing ninth team for Milano.

Whatever fan base she can sell her MLB-themed clothing line to.

"Who's the Boss" was set in Connecticut. What team did Samantha root for?

[Guest Edgy DC]

I'm guessing that I'm over-using the preamble "I'm guessing... ."