Bright Lights, Big City


For your inebriation, titillation, edification, emancipation,
and ultimate enjoyment... it's Tangled Up In Glue!

Mr. Lee and special guest DJ Ben Diesel (The Brought Low/Sweet Diesel) spin scorching sounds all night long... Strictly vinyl!

Friday, November 16th at The HiFi Bar
169 Avenue A, New York City
Kicks off at 10PM. No cover!

Modern Needs: My Life Is My Own


Modern Needs  is listening and dance party with special guest DJs and monthly musical themes, held monthly at the great Last Exit bar in scenic Brooklyn, USA... The December edition features very special guest, DJ BENZOIL (ex-Imaginary Icons/Pist-N-Broke).

Benzoil, and your Modern Needs host and boss DJ, MR. LEE (Dead Flowers Productions), will be spinning razor-sharp '60s soul, freakbeat, ska, rocksteady, garage, and British R&B sounds, all guaranteed to make you shake a tail-feather.

Friday, December 21st at Last Exit
136 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, U.S.A.
Kicks off at 10PM... No cover!

Real Cool Time


For your inebriation, titillation, edification, emancipation,
and ultimate enjoyment... it's Tangled Up In Glue!

Mr. Lee spins razor-sharp sounds.

Friday, November 16th at The HiFi Bar
169 Avenue A, New York City
Kicks off at 10PM. No cover!

Standing Together


At this past Tuesday's Modern Needs party we accepted winter coats as a part of the New York Cares 24th Annual Coat Drive, which started early this year to help those affected by Hurricane Sandy. We are very proud to say that we collected 26 donated coats! Thanks to everyone who came down to support for their neighbors!

There are so many still in need in our great city, and as such we urge you to help in some way, be it via donations or volunteering (check out Occupy Sandy and New York Cares for ways to get involved).

Also, our friends at Norton Records were hit particularly hard and still need tons of help (details here: Nortonville).

Modern Needs: Let It Blurt


Modern Needs is listening and dance party with special guest DJs and monthly musical themes, held monthly at the great Last Exit bar in scenic Brooklyn, USA... The November edition features a returning guest DJ, TOM DASH (ex-Imaginary Icons/Shop Fronts).

Tom, and your Modern Needs host and boss DJ, MR. LEE (Dead Flowers Productions), will be spinning only the finest in razor-sharp punk and power-pop sounds all night!

••• In a normal year, 90% of homeless adults need a new, warm coat each winter because they have no place to keep one over the summer months. But this year, it's not just homeless people who need our help; thousands of New Yorkers have been displaced and left out in the cold or in shelters as a result of Hurricane Sandy, creating unprecedented demand for warm coats. We'll be accepting coats as a part of New York Cares 24th Annual Coat Drive, which is starting early this year to help those affected by the storm. •••

Tuesday, November 13th at Last Exit
136 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, U.S.A.
Kicks off at 9PM... No cover!

Revolution In The Air


For your inebriation, titillation, edification, emancipation,
and ultimate enjoyment... it's Tangled Up In Glue!

Mr. Lee spins razor-sharp sounds.

Friday, November 2nd at The HiFi Bar *
169 Avenue A, New York City
Kicks off at 10PM. No cover!

* Canceled due to Hurricane Sandy.

Time For Action

DJs RaulTheHooligan, Mr. Lee, and E's E spin ska, soul,
reggae, garage, freakbeat, and mod revival sounds!

Banter, Brooklyn's best footy bar, features 24 craft beers on tap, and an impressive list of scotch and bourbons. Cozy into a nook, take a seat at the copper bar, or shake a tail-feather to the boss sounds.

Friday, October 19th at Banter
132 Havemeyer Street, Brookly, U.S.A.
Kicks off at 10PM... No cover!

Old Century Sounds


BENJAMIN HOWARD SMITH (The Brought Low)
with KEITH CHRISTOPHER (Georgia Sattelites/The Yayhoos)

Sunday, October 7th at The Treehouse (at 2A)
25 Avenue A (at East 2nd Street), New York City
Kicks off at 8:30PM... No cover!

Modern Needs: Living In The Past


Modern Needs is listening and dance party with special guest DJs and monthly musical themes, held monthly at the great Last Exit bar in scenic Brooklyn, USA... The October edition of Modern Needs features a returning guest DJ, the lovely and talented DJ LUPE LOOP!

Lupe Loop, and your Modern Needs host and boss DJ, MR. LEE (Dead Flowers Productions), will be spinning massive transworld funk, soul, psych, freakbeat, rocksteady, and British R&B sounds, all guaranteed to make you shake a tail-feather.

Tuesday, October 9th at Last Exit
136 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, U.S.A.
Kicks off at 9PM... No cover!

The 38th Annual Atlantic Antic... After-Party!


DJs PICK-A-BAR (45 Adapters/SPQR) and MR. LEE (Dead Flowers/ Modern Needs) spin top-ranking '60s rock, reggae, and soul action!

Sunday, September 30th at Last Exit
135 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, U.S.A.
Kicks off at 6PM... No cover!

Modern Needs: Never Forget!


The September edition of Modern Needs features returning guest DJs ERIC DAVIDSON (New Bomb Turks and Livids), BIRBAL, COOL HANDS LUKE, and others still to be announced — along with your host, and boss DJ MR. LEE of Dead Flowers Productions — spinning top-flight punk, power-pop, and rock'n'roll sounds from the '60s to the now.

All money earned by the DJs will be donated to the Stephen Siller Tunnel To Towers Foundation. We will also be collecting donations for this great charity at the party.

Tuesday, September 11th at Last Exit
136 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, U.S.A.
Kicks off at 9PM... No cover!

Brooklyn Yes Indeed... Photo Recap


The opening reception for the Brooklyn Yes Indeed art-show was a smashing success, with a true who's who of the NYC street-art and graffiti world, past and present, making the scene. The overflow crowd was so large, that much of the party ended-up, most appropriately, hanging out on the street in front of the gallery.

The show is up and running — with many pieces still available for sale — until the end of August. Urban Folk Art Studios is located at 99 Smith Street, right off of Atlantic Avenue in scenic Brooklyn, U.S.A. Gallery hours are Tuesday - Saturday, 12-9PM and Sundays, 1-8PM.


"B-Line Brooklyn" sculpture by RIBS (photographed by Jay Lajoie)

Modern Needs: Aspirin Aspirations


Modern Needs is listening and dance party with special guest DJs and monthly musical themes, held monthly at the great Last Exit bar in scenic Brooklyn, U.S.A. ... The August throw-down of Modern Needs features returning guest DJ ERIC DAVIDSON (author, and frontman of punk-rock heroes The New Bomb Turks and Livids).

Eric, and your Modern Needs host and boss DJ, MR. LEE (Dead Flowers Productions), will be spinning only the finest rock, punk, power-pop, and juvenile delinquent anthems until the wee small hours.

Tuesday, August 7th at Last Exit
136 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, U.S.A.
Kicks off at 9PM... No cover!

Brooklyn Yes Indeed!


"Style is knowing who you are, what you
want to say, and not giving a damn." -Gore Vidal  

Brooklynites have a pride that is unmatched, and while the borough has gone through many changes as of late, one thing holds true, Brooklynites from the '70s and '80s have style, and we know it. This style was exhibited in many ways, from the way we dressed, walked (with a knowing swagger), talked (despite mythology, there's more than just one Brooklyn accent), made a stoop our own, or how we wrote on subway trains, walls, and later, canvasses.

While street-art is often referred to as a worldwide movement — and it truly has has become one, co-opted by small commercial interests and big business alike — the art-form got its humble, ink-stained start in the five boroughs of NYC, kicked-off by city-kids for city-kids. The County Of Kings can lay claim to breeding and nurturing many a talented and acclaimed urban artist, hailing from places as diverse as Red Hook, Coney Island, Park Slope, and Bedford Stuyvesant.

The BROOKLYN YES INDEED show intends to highlight an art movement and subculture that has grown leaps and bounds from its insular D.I.Y. origins, by showcasing artwork that shows the trajectory of a clutch of legendary Brooklyn artists who have taken their work from the trains and walls of our great city onto the next level. In addition to canvas and sculpture work, the exhibit includes photography in an effort to give a context as to where the art was birthed, and by whom.

•••

Featuring artwork from legendary Brooklyn artists
JOUST • Mr. KAVES • KEO • RIBS • Jamel Shabazz • TRIKE
(Curated by David "CHINO" Villorente and Lee Greenfeld)

•••

Opening reception & party - Friday, July 27th at 7PM
Urban Folk Art® Studios, 101 Smith Street, Brooklyn U.S.A.

Show runs until the end of August.
Gallery hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 12-9PM and Sundays, 1-8PM

Ranking Full Stop


THE ENGLISH BEAT
DJ Mr. Lee (Modern Needs)

The Beat were formed in Birmingham, England in 1978, during a period of high unemployment and social upheaval in the United Kingdom. Ranking Roger, one of the band's vocalists, added a Jamaican vocal flavour to the band's sound with his toasting style. Jamaican saxophonist Saxa (b. Lionel Martin, 1930, aka Papa Saxa) added a Jamaican ska instrumental sound. Saxa had played saxophone with Prince Buster, Laurel Aitken and Desmond Dekker in the first wave of ska (as well as with The Beatles in their Liverpool days). He joined The Beat to record their first single, "Tears Of A Clown," a cover version of the Motown hit by Smokey Robinson.

Although The Beat's main fan base was in the United Kingdom, the band was also popular in Australia, partly due to exposure on the radio station Triple J and the TV show Countdown. The Beat had a sizable following in North America, where the band was known as The English Beat for legal reasons (to avoid confusion with the American band The Beat). The Beat toured the world with well-known artists such as David Bowie, The Clash, The Police, The Pretenders, REM, The Specials, and Talking Heads. Members of the band often collaborated on stage with The Specials, and in the early 1990s, Roger joined members of The Specials to form the new band Special Beat, which toured and released two live albums. They supported the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and participated in the collaborative recording "Nelson Mandela."

Thursday, July 12th at The Bell House
149 7th Street, Brooklyn, U.S.A.

Doors at 8PM. $25 cover.
(Tickets available via TicketWeb)

Modern Needs: Summer In The City


Modern Needs is listening and dance party with special guest DJs and monthly musical themes, held monthly at the great Last Exit bar in scenic Brooklyn, U.S.A. (and occasionally at other locales within the Five Boroughs)... The July edition of Modern Needs features special guest DJ RONIN THE SWORDSMAN (DoubleBarrel/Copasetic).

Ronin, and your Modern Needs host and boss DJ, MR. LEE (Dead Flowers Productions), will be spinning only the finest in punk slop, street-rock, power-pop, reggae, soul, and rock'n'roll!

Tuesday, July 3rd at Last Exit
136 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, U.S.A.
Kicks off at 9PM... No cover!

Talkin' About City Slang


THE SIGHTS
THE BROUGHT LOW
Plus: THE WICKED TOMORROW

Detroit's masters of heavy soul, The Sights, are a five-piece rock'n'roll band renowned for both their incendiary live shows and acclaimed song-writing. Think Big Star and Badfinger fronted by Steve Marriott and you'll get a pretty good idea of what makes these guys tick. Hailed by critics and fans alike, they continue to build on an incredible 14-year legacy of uncanny blues-rock meets power-pop.

Hard-rocking, outer-borough power-trio The Brought Low recently released their third full-length album, the aptly titled Third Record, to near-universal acclaim. The Obelisk called them "the best rock and roll band in New York" and The Big Takeover said "Previous albums have been excellent, but Third Record takes the group to a whole 'nother level, indisputably placing The Brought Low in the ranks of the Great American Bands."

Formed in NYC by kindred musical counterparts, Ian Jacobs (guitar/vocals) and Michelle Feliciano (drums/vocals), The Wicked Tomorrow have garnered attention for their visceral, raw and melodic sound citing comparisons to Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Black Keys, Velvet Underground, and The Kills, by press and fans alike.

Sunday, July 1st at Union Hall
702 Union Street, Brooklyn, U.S.A.

Doors at 7:30PM. $8 cover.
(Tickets available via TicketWeb)

Kings & Queens


"There’s a narrative at work in The Brought Low’s best songs, chronicling existence in the inner-cities outer boroughs and the pitfalls of hard work, hard liquor and hard time."

Dig: The Brought Low on Facebook

Video edited by Mr. Lee

"I Am The Magnificent!"


Come on out for a big night filled with soul, ska, garage, rocksteady, freakbeat, and other storming sounds as spun by the Double Barrel / Copasetic crew (Raul The Hooligan and Ronin The Swordsman), and special guest DJs Jonny Quest (SPQR) and Mr. Lee (Modern Needs/Dead Flowers Productions).

Banter, Brooklyn's best footy bar, features 24 craft beers on tap, and an impressive list of scotch and bourbons. Cozy into a nook, take a seat at the copper bar, or shake a tail-feather to the boss sounds.

Friday, June 15th at Banter
132 Havemeyer Street, Brookly, U.S.A.
Kicks off at 10PM... No cover!

Modern Needs: Rock Around The Clock


Modern Needs is listening and dance party with special guest DJs and monthly musical themes, held monthly at the great Last Exit bar in scenic Brooklyn, U.S.A. (and occasionally at other locales within the Five Boroughs)... The June edition of Modern Needs features very special guest, DJ BIRBAL.

Bribal, and your Modern Needs host and boss DJ, MR. LEE (Dead Flowers Productions), will be spinning eclectic and rockin' vinyl sounds all night long!

Tuesday, June 5th at Last Exit
136 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, U.S.A.
Kicks off at 9PM... No cover!

Gimme Gimme Gimme


CAROLINE AND THE TREATS (Norway)
with LES SANS CULOTTES and PARTY LIGHTS

What do you get when you mix one professional good-time-girl with one rock'n'roll genius, and two sexy punk-rockers? Yup, it's Caroline And The Treats and their explosive bubblegum rock'n'roll.

Featuring spoiled little brat, Miss Andersen, and guitar-hero Morten Henriksen (from The Vikings, The Cosmic Dropouts, The Yum Yums, and the Twisteroos) along with Geir Saanum on bass and Olle DeVille Hov on drums, the group play energetic, bubblegum rock'n'roll about the most simple and important things in life — like boys, candy, and hanky-panky... It's sinfull, it's delicious, it's... BAD ALL OVER. Let their tunes blow you away and rejuvenate every bone in your body. And we mean EVERY bone.

Caroline And The Treats are often described as a mix of The Donnas, The Ramones, Blondie, Nikki Corvette, Suzy Quatro, The Runaways, and The Devil Dogs, and are utterly explosive live... Every night is Saturday night when The Treats come to town!

Wednesday, May 9th at Union Hall
702 Union Street, Brooklyn, U.S.A.

Doors at 8PM. $8 cover.
(Tickets available via TicketWeb)

Modern Needs: Tuesday Night Fever


Modern Needs is listening and dance party with special guest DJs and monthly musical themes, held monthly at the great Last Exit bar in scenic Brooklyn, U.S.A. (and occasionally at other locales within the Five Boroughs)... The May edition of Modern Needs features special guest DJs ERIC DAVIDSON (New Bomb Turks/Livids) and HARRY HOWES (Last Laugh/Almost Ready Records).

Eric and Harry — your usual host and boss DJ Mr. Lee is on hiatus this month — will be spinning all your favorite rock'n'roll nuggets and juvenile delinquent anthems until the wee small hours.

Tuesday, May 1st at Last Exit
136 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, U.S.A.
Kicks off at 9PM... No cover!

Get Down With It!


THE SIGHTS (Detroit)
With NOUVELLAS and THE NUCLEARS

With Most Of What Follows Is True, Detroit's The Sights have achieved an unprecedented level of song and studio craftsmanship. In an era of soulless keyboards, drum machines and Autotune, The Sights respond with thrillingly catchy songs. No gimmicks, no studio trickery—just rock'n'roll from the heart. The Sights combine the unobtrusive honesty of The Band with countless slivers of influence from their own personal record collections: Ike & Tina, Solomon Burke, The Everly Brothers, Bob Seger, Tim Hardin, and all manner of raucous, infectious song-writing.

Raucous? Infectious? That pretty well sums up The Sight’s live shows as well. It’s a rocket-ride that has been experienced by countless audiences throughout North America and Europe. The Sights have shared the stage with some best in the business: Robert Plant, The Dirtbombs, Sloan, The Datsuns, The Donnas, The Kills, etc.

Thursday, April 26th at Union Hall
702 Union Street, Brooklyn, U.S.A.

Doors at 8PM. $8 cover.
(Tickets available via TicketWeb)

Be Here Now


The Grip Weeds are a critically acclaimed psychedelic-rock/power-pop quartet consisting of brothers Kurt and Rick Reil, Kristin Pinell, and Dave DeSantis. Surrounded by their vintage equipment, this talented four-piece band records slices of perfect, radio-friendly guitar-pop, psychedelic enough to appeal to record junkies and '60s-retro fans, but edgy enough to fit into a modern rock set... This is the group's first show of 2012, and also the debut of their new bassist Dave DeSantis (formerly of Laughing Soupdish).

The Above are a rock'n'roll group hailing from Brooklyn, New York. Some folks might call them a garage band... others might describe their sound as rhythm and blues... but regardless of how they are categorized, it is undeniable that their music compels some serious dancing. With tube amps screamin', drum kits stompin', and vocal harmonies wailin', these ambassadors of freakbeat are making good in the city where rock and roll will never die.

Friday April 20th at Union Hall
702 Union Street, Brooklyn, U.S.A.

Doors at 8:30PM. $8 cover.
(Tickets available via TicketWeb)

Modern Needs: World Beaters


Modern Needs is listening and dance party with special guest DJs and monthly musical themes, held monthly at the great Last Exit bar in scenic Brooklyn, U.S.A. (and occasionally at other locales within the Five Boroughs)... The April edition of Modern Needs features special guest DJ AGENT JAY from NYC legends The Slackers, as well as Crazy Baldhead and the long-running Move Your Mule DJ party.

Jay, and your Modern Needs host and boss DJ, MR. LEE (Dead Flowers Productions), will be spinning Afrobeat, Cumbia, Tropicalia, Arabic and Gypsy jams, transworld psychedelia, Yé-yé, South Of The Border garage, and American folk-rock.

Tuesday, April 3rd at Last Exit
136 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, U.S.A.
Kicks off at 9PM... No cover!