ProductShopNYC :: The Politics of Pop Culture

PSNYC | New URL

Product Shop NYC can be found at www.productshopnyc.com. Please change your URL link.

Big kisses,
Jason

Product Shop NYC's "Let's Go Steady Debbie" Contest

Product Shop NYC and Crown Publishing Group are proud to announce the "Let's Go Steady Debbie" contest! We want to press 1000 cd singles for you, fly you to New York City for a showcase, and get you heard by a bunch of major music industry folks. Here's the deal:

Marc Spitz' brand new novel, Too Much, Too Late, is based on an imaginary band called The Jane Ashers, who score a hit with "Let's Go Steady Debbie". We are asking bands from all over America to read Marc Spitz’s book, and interpret and express what THEY think the fictional single “Let’s Go Steady, Debbie” sounds like since the novel only suggests it via intentionally minor descriptive detail. You write the lyrics. You write the chords. You sing it. You are The Jane Ashers.

All you have to do is:
1. Read the book (available in stores and on amazon.com)
2. Record your version of what you THINK the The Jane Asher’s biggest hit “Let’s Go Steady, Debbie,” in any style you like.
3. Send it to us, along with a 150 word band bio (photo is optional).

The winner will receive 1000 PROMOTIONAL COPIES of a CD SINGLE (A-side “Let’s Go Steady Debbie” b-side a recording of your band’s choosing) which will be distributed and promoted by Product Shop Records. The winning band will also receive airfare to New York City plus one night's hotel accomodations to play in a Fall 2006 showcase for invited music industry insiders at Lower East Side rock club, sponsored by Product Shop NYC.

RULES
The song must have the words “Let’s Go Steady Debbie” in either the verse or the chorus. If you just send us what you think is your band’s best song, we will know. Many of us are not stupid. “Let’s Go Steady” is, as written about, a power pop love song. Norwegian Death Metal and rhinestone country pop are eligible but you will not win. All entries must be in by June 14th, 2006. Entries will be reviewed by a panel of expert judges including Too Much Too Late author Marc Spitz, James Iha (ex-Smashing Pumpkins), Andy Greenwald (SPIN, author of Nothing Feels Good, Miss Misery), Chuck Klosterman (SPIN, author of Killing Yourself to Live), Alan Light (former editor-in-chief of Vibe, Spin, and Tracks, author of The Skills to Pay the Bills ) Sia Michel (former SPIN magazine editor-in-chief), Jason Product Shop NYC (Productshopnyc.com), Mary Huhn (New York Post) and Sarah "Ultragrrrl" Lewitinn (Head Honcho, Stolen Transmission Records).

INSTRUCTIONS
If you are sending MP3 versions of your songs, mail them to [email protected] or [email protected]. If you are sending cds or cassettes, mail them to: Jay Sones / Crown Publishing Group/Random House 1745 Broadway, 13-1 New York, NY 10019

Please note that the deadline for all material is June 14, 2006. Materials will not be returned and submission of content implies consent to use for promotion.

OPEN THREAD | Your Thoughts On Coachella 2006

This weekend was the 2006 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival. Were you disappointed by Madonna's short set? Was Depeche Mode really a letdown? Were the Yeah Yeah Yeah's sundown set a highlight? What was with all the shirtless performers (Devandra, Jack Scissor Sister, Dave Gahan)? Did you watch Tool? How were Clap Your Hands?

Discuss in comments.........

CHUCK KLOSTERMAN | Eating Pizza

In this weekend's New York Times Sunday Magazine, Chuck Klosterman wrote a humor piece about eating pizza at a lower east side establishment. As ever, his world is full of neurotic drama. It's like he's a fellow tribesman or something......

PSNYC'S THE READING FESTIVAL | Cancelled
PSNYC PARTY | It's Tomorrow Night! Klosterman, Spitz, Greenwald, Ultragrrrl, Ganz
CHUCK KLOSTERMAN | Goes All Zeppelin

RADIOHEAD | MSG Theatre, Onsale May 5th

As exclusively revealed on Product Shop NYC, Radiohead are playing two shows at Madison Square Garden's The Theatre. The shows will happen on June 13th and 14th, with tickets going onsale May 5th..........

RADIOHEAD | US Tour Tickets Onsale, iTunes?
RADIOHEAD | New York City Show Rumor?!?

MADONNA | Coachella Vs. Confessions

Coachella Sunday seemed to be all about Madonna and for all the hype, she turned in a twenty minute, six song set. Booo. And not just that, but security cleared the dance tent before her set and only let people in with special madonna bracelets! What the fuck.....

Madonna's Coachella Setlist
Hung Up / Get Together / I Love New York / Ray Of Light / Let It Will Be / Everybody

Madonna's Confession Tour Setlist (rumored)
Future Lovers / Get Together / Like A Virgin / Jump / Live To Tell / Forbidden Love / Isaac / Sorry / Like It Or Not / I Love NY / Ray Of Light / Drowned World / Paradise Not For Me / Music / La Isla Bonita / You Thrill Me vs Erotica / Lucky Star / Hung Up

POLITICAL JUNKIES | Stealing, Whoring, and Fighting

God bless America:

• USA ALREADY INVADING IRAN - Retired Air Force Colonel Sam Gardiner says a military operation has already begun attacks inside Iran. What ever happened to needing congresses approval to go to war?!?! What the fuck! Gardiner says, "Evidence is beginning to accumulate that a decision has already been made to use military force in Iran. Now, let me do a historical thing, and then I'll tell you what the current evidence is. We now know that the decision and the actual actions to bomb Iraq occurred in July of 2002, before we ever had a U.N. resolution or before the Congress ever authorized it. It was an operation called Southern Focus, and the only guidance that the military -- or the guidance that the military had from Rumsfeld was keep it below the CNN line....the War Powers Act would require the President to notify the Congress 60 days after the use of military force or invasion or putting military forces in a new country under that legislation, and the President hasn't notified the Congress that American troops are operating inside Iran. So it's a very serious question about the constitutional framework under which we are now conducting military operations in Iran." Read all here......
• SPEAKING OF ILLEGAL, WHERE IS THAT $4 BILLION DOLLARS - What's a missing $4 billion dollars when the President has already spent $101.8 billion this fiscal year, up from $87.3 billion in 2005, $77.3 billion in 2004 and $51 billion in 2003.....
• HOOKERS USED TO LOBBY REPUBLICANS - It seems that Poway defense contractor Brent Wilkes found an easy way to get into the pants of right-wing lawmakers and CIA officials: Hire hookers. And the limo company that Wilkes hired to escort the congressmen and the ladies to private hotel suites won a $21 million contract from the Department of Homeland Security. Something smells fishy....
• FEELING GASEOUS? - How awesome is it to be a oil tycoon! Not only can you retire with a $400 million Golden parachute, but you can report absolutely unbelievable profits this quarter. You know when they talk about our economy doing better? It's only because companies like Exxon skew everything with their robbery of people who are dependent on cars.....

MICHAEL SHOWALTER | Rififi, DJ'ing, No Stella

Now that Comedy Central has officially cancelled Stella, Michael Showalter has some free time to fill.

The former-Stateman will host The Michael Showalter Experience at Rififi every Tuesday in June (June 6,13,20,27) and every third Thursday of the month (as in May 18th), he'll be DJing at the bar Last Exit To Brooklyn on Atlantic Avenue in Cobble Hill.

Showalter is also going on tour with Eugene Mirman and Leo Allen. Here are the dates:
5/9 Toad's Place, New Haven, CT
5/10 Higher Ground, Burlington, VT
5/11 Lupo's, Providence, RI
5/12 Iron Horse, Nothampton, MA
5/13 Trocadero, Philadelphia, PA
5/14 Black Cat, Washington, DC
5/15 Relative Theory Record Store, Norfolk, VA
5/16 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA
5/17 The Earl, Atlanta, GA
5/18 Cat's Cradle, Carrboro, NC
5/19 Ottobar, Baltimore, MD

COMMERCIAL APPEAL | Jack White Vs Karen O

DOWNLOAD: Jack White - "What Goes Around (Coca Cola)"

                            VS.

DOWNLOAD: Karen O - "Hello Tomorrow (Adidas)"

So which on is the better song? And which one is the better commercial? (Thanks ThighHigh).......

ONE LOUDER | Tonight at Sin-E with Macaca Mulatta

The four man blogger crew One Louder are hosting a show at Sin-e with Macaca Mulatta (ex-Art Brut), Ciccone, Nous Non Plus, The Spies,and The Handsome Public. Tickets are $10.......