Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Garage Dreamers/Olympic Achievers/Tropical Fevers
Hey kids,
It's been a while since my last blog and update… and there's kind of a long story about that too. I'll just say that I left my laptop backstage at a European festival (hence the lack of blogs) and was estactic when it was kindly returned to me by my old friend GW, who now sings in a well known goth/emo band.
That said, it's been an interesting summer full of sickness and heartbreak, hope and new music, and, you guessed it, an overly emotional Olympic "viewing" experience.
Russell came to NYC to play with Pin Me Down for a private V Magazine party curated by Hedi Slimane (the menswear designer for Dior Homme), the show was packed and went really well, even though I was sick, like I said I've been ill a lot recently.
Russell came back to the States a month later for some shows with Bloc Party, I've seen them play many, many times and I'm thrilled to say that these were certainly among the best! I also got to hear their new studio album, which I highly recommend. After the 2nd show at Webster Hall, we had a crazy night out hanging with friends and singing kareoke with our London pal Som from My Vitriol and the one and only Daniel Bedingfield, best known for his garage chart topper "Gotta Get Through This" and the songs he wrote for his sister Natasha. Daniel is one of the coolest, funniest guys ever and his voice and beat-boxing skills are incredible. I wish I had pictures of all of us rocking the Journey and Pat Benatar at a seedy, beer-soaked East Village bar at 3am, but my friend Dana Goldstein did take this snap shot of us, just before the real mania occurred. The bunny ears are curtesy of Mr. Bedingfield.
As for PMD, we just posted a new song "Ticking," to let you listen to some of the new stuff we've been working on. We've been writing a lot lately, in our quest to pen the perfect pop song. Jamie and Keith have been collaborating with us as well. Russell and I have also been contributing to remixes, but I can't say much about that right now. So what do you think of "Ticking"?
Check out these cool articles that came out about the band, the article below is from Just Jack.
and also this cool article in Bullet
Pin Me Down featured in Bullet Magazine
Priscilla made all of this cool merchandise. I've held it all with my own hands and I can say that the pieces are all really awesome, especially the guitar purse and the shoes.
OK, so it's no secret that I'm a DLSE - a Down-Low Sports Enthusiast. When I was 6, I watched my first Olympics and spent the rest of the year pretending I was a gymnast doing flips and balancing on a 4 inch beam... but then again, I had a lot of time on my hands. I think I was living out of the country during the last summer Olympics, so I was going to waste no time getting into it this year. Just imagine how shocked I was to hear that the greatest swimmer of all time, Michael Phelps, had our song "Cryptic" on his ipod playlist that he listened to before he swam for gold… that is so flattering, we are so honored. Note to Michael Phelps or Ryan Lochte: Give me a call anytime… I'm really good at swimming. I was also mesmorized by my gymnastic gals Nastia Luikin and Shawn Johnson and I still love you, Alicia Sacramone.
I mentioned earlier that I've been sick for much of the summer. First I had a cold, then a flu, then all these mysterious symptoms kept reoccurring a few weeks after I'd thought I'd kicked them. After going to several doctors, one recommended that I go to the rain forrests of Puerto Rico to drink nector from the accembe berry. Luckily Jetblue had cheap flights available, since Puerto Rico, in the summer, is the off-season for tourism. San Juan was beautiful, as was El Yunque (the rainforest). I hiked through the jungle and I found the berries I was looking for as well as natural water falls, cool lizards, beaches and the biggest leaves you've ever seen. I also found inspiration in El Morro, San Juan's oldest fort. The Puerto Rican people were among the nicest people I've ever met. I wish I could visit once a year. Here I am, only 23, and everyone in PR thought I was 17!
The rest of the summer I've just been working, hanging out in my back yard, catching sets by bands like Ronnie Spector and MGMT at McCarren pool in Greenpoint and Longwave at Glasslands. I'm sad that summer is ending so soon, but hopefully this autumn will compensate with CMJ, the election, and my favorite holiday, Halloween. Thanks to everyone who's been writing in.... keep those letters coming! What have you been up to?
Milena xx
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
London wrap up: Pin Me Down eats controversy for breakfast
It's been a while Look at these awesome things that people have sent in. Terra made these super cute PMD-themed pins and also this cartoon drawing. We love it
We want to thanks everyone who has been writing in to us, telling us about themselves and expressing their thoughts on the music and the remixes. We have posted some of the newer reviews on the main myspace page. We couldn't be more flattered with the response so far.
Our debut single "Cryptic" is almost out. In the UK, there is a digital iTunes UK exclusive release on May 26, June 2, the vinyl single and the digital release in Europe (and Japan). As a result "Cryptic" and many of its remixes have been getting played on the radio. Ooooo
So, we just got back from our first minitour of the UK (well... London, at least). We played 3 shows and got to know the city. Our first day, we rehearsed and spent time beating our jet lag in the pub. I kept getting in trouble because I was cracking jokes but not everyone understood my sense of humor, which varies, but at times is 30% confidence, 20% shock value, 50% sarcasm. Sometimes I wish I had a drier sense of humor, like my favorite characters (Gareth, Tim, Dawn) on the British version of The Office, but I'm more prone to be over-the-top, than understating... and sometimes it actually works in my favor. Jeremy tried to stow away in his bass amp flight case, while I flocked towards anything pink, err... in this case a pink wall.
Keith and Jamie, introspective in the pub
Our first gig was at the Water Rats at King's Cross, the next night we headlined The Fly on New Oxford Street, and the last night was at the Camden Proud Galleries. Each show was unique and each one was a blast.
There is a recording of the Proud gig on Youtube. The sound is a little muffled, but you get the idea. You can watch a live video of "Cryptic" here and it links to the other songs.
After the last gig, Jamie, Erik, Keith and I took a trip to check out Hampstead Heath. We caught views of London, climbed trees, created our own mystical folklore and ate dinner at the historic Spaniards pub, (which took forever - we were about to go all New York on them and demand our money back), we then moved in to another pub and let the beer do the talking. Erik and Jamie made funny faces. Keith tried out a London photobooth, found himself in a while alley, while I found my dream car.
After the boys left, I stayed in London for a few days to tend to some business and see friends. Russell and I went to Battersea park for a photoshoot and fed the ducks. I went to see our friends The Pity Party play at the Social with another Brooklyn band, A Place to Bury Strangers, who were one of the loudest bands I've ever seen, but I couldn't really hear the songs. It was a great night hanging out with Julie, Mark, Eddie, Pablo, and Som in Islington.
My new friend Emma Edmondson took me to all the hot vintage shops around Brick Lane and I snapped these pictures of really cool street art that I saw.
My last night in town Jamie and I caught a blistering set by The Raconteurs at the Hammersmith Apollo. Look at the photo Jamie took
The gigs were great, but so was the chance to get to meet so many amazing people - we got a few pictures of some of our new friends that we met at the shows. See below
Pin Me Down band and crew May 2008 (L-R Jamie, Erik, Larry, Jeremy, Milena, Russell, Alex, Keith, Chris)
We hope we can do it all over again very soon,
milena xo
3:35 PM - 9 Comments - 12 Kudos - Add Comment
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Pin Me Down has touched down in London
Our "Cryptic" single is coming out soon. May 19th is the iTUNES UK exlusive digital release, May 28th is the vinyl release, and June 2 is the European/japanese/possibly worldwide? digital release. Pitchfork Media just wrote this story about us and Russell's Bloc Party. Pitchfork news on PMD/Bloc
After several rehearsal filled days and sleep-less nights, myself and the New York-based Pin Me Down band, boarded a jet plane to England. It was fine until the delirium set in. Keith, our guitarist, had never been to Europe before. Watch him coming through the airplane gate.
The flight was smooth. I slept for four hours, Alex, the entire way, and Jeremy got some shut eye too. This is the dreamy vision that sat behind me... and I'm 100% serious. (Erik and Jeremy!)
Eleanor from the Fiery Furnaces was also on our plane, but we tried to play it cool and only sing "tropical ice-land, ice-land" at low volume levels from the back of the plane... we don't think she noticed. Her hair looked totally amazing with a Farah Faucett fringe. She is really a sweet gal and we love her band.
We arrived in London to absolutely perfect, sunny, blue skies, mid 70s degrees weather. In fact, I was even able to get some rays this morning... which is unheard of in London. We all got together yesterday to rehearse in a slightly run down rehearsal room, but it was nice to have Russell play some of our tunes with us.
After practice we went to the pub with our friend Jamie. Erik snapped this pic of Keith and I.
Jamie ordered a Shepard's pie which looked classic.
We have three shows this week. The first one is in a few hours from now. I will post the gig flyers below. If you're in the area, you should come out and say hello.
Tonight, Wed, May 7, Water Rats, 8.15 PM
Thursday, May 8, The Fly, 9.30 PM
Friday, May 9, Camden Proud Galleries, Vice Magazine Party, 9PM. We're playing with Yeasayer, who live in my neighborhood in Greenpoint - small world, eh?
milena xo5:48 AM - 4 Comments - 5 Kudos - Add Comment
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Links to buy advance tickets for our upcoming London shows
Hey,
many of you have been asking how to buy advance tickets for our upcoming UK shows. Here are the links to the tix lines-
London Waterats, May 7, 8:15 pm -
Waterats
London The Fly, May 8
The Fly
or
call 0844 847 2424
May 9, London Proud Galleries, Vice PartyNo advance tix. All on door as it's a club night that sells out
Hope to see you there,
PMD xo
3:48 PM - 6 Comments - 5 Kudos - Add Comment
Friday, April 11, 2008
Just a quickie.... one of the world’s great mysteries....
I had to post this article link because it's way too interesting. PMD is working hard to try to change this. You will see what I mean, when you catch us live. Proper update very soon. I promise
Look it's my favorite Canadian twin sister duo, Tegan & Sara. Guess what? their new record, The Con, is amazing.
Proof that if you start plucking, you start lucking out, ladies