I was in Berlin last week - what an amazing city!!

Check out my photos!

I wish I was there for the encore of the Joseph Arthur show last night...

from Tripwire.com

OK, so the encore was mind blowing. Arthur came on to the stage in different clothes, now sporting a white suite with no shirt underneath. The band performed a new song of his, inspired by medication he had to take upon returning from Africa, which ended up having hallucinogenic properties. Then came the special guest. Could it be? Is that? Holy shit! Yes, that is Michael Stipe walking onto the stage! The two performed a duet of the song "In The Sun," alternating verses while Stipe allowed Arthur to take care of the chorus. While their voices together on stage sounded amazing, the most impressive part of this was watching the admiration that Stipe had for Arthur. He stood back and smiled while watching Arthur sing, even crouching down on the floor at one point to admire the beauty of the music. It was definitely one of those musical moments that I will never forget. The set then concluded with two old-school favorites, "Tattoo" and "Honey And The Moon."

I had my 35th birthday at that restaurant as well!!

From today's Page Six

JERRY Seinfeld played the loving husband Sunday night when he hosted a 35th-birthday party for his wife, Jessica, at Il Cantinori. Seinfeld took over the entire East 10th Street eatery for about 50 guests - including Anderson Cooper, Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, Oscar winner Rachel Weisz and director Darren Aronofsky, architect Charles Gwathmey and wife Betty Ann, Tribeca Film Festival organizers Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff, New York magazine owner Bruce Wasserstein, HBO biggie Richard Plepler, and Gina Gershon, who seemed to be with Ronald Perelman. George Stephanopoulos and his wife, Alexandra Wentworth, ignored the "no gifts" advisory on the invite and gave Jessica a big fake diamond ring. Seinfeld gave a heartfelt toast to his wife, the mother of three, about how she brings joy into everyone's life.

This is why I LOVE YouTube - vintage Afghan Whigs on MTV - enjoy!

...I don't agree with Mike Patton's diss of Wolfmother...they rule!

I wonder if Mike Patton knows he got a mention on a soap opera!

Take that Paris Hilton - I got into to that party!

Love this from Page Six today:

September 12, 2006 -- PARIS Hilton is not wanted at Ian Schrager's Gramercy Park Hotel. Last Friday night, after partying at Marquee and drinking "lots" of vodka and pineapple juice, Hilton tried to join Orlando Bloom, Winona Ryder and Josh Lucas in the hotel's Rose Bar, but bouncer Damien stopped her due to Schrager's decree that "the likes of Paris Hilton and her ilk are not welcome here."

My awesome friend Jen got me into that Raconteurs/Prada Fashion Week party. It was a blast! Orlando Bloom rushed by me and about 20 other people to cut in line in the washroom. I chatted with Winona Ryder for a while and she asked for a flyer for my weekly DJ night at Lit. (Maybe she'll stop by!). I met Jack from Raconteurs and Andrew from Wolfmother. And Josh Lucas even flirted with me. You missed out Ms. Hilton. Ha!

The President of Capitol Records Andy Slater doesn't mince his words

I got this tidbit from coolfer.com

Billboard wrote about poignant alt pop band The Decemberists and the band's upcoming album on Capitol Records. Part of the article is about Capitol's recent moves into indie and left field music. Other than The Decemberists, who were previously on Kill Rock Stars, the label has signed Interpol (formerly of Matador) and is attempting to develop UK buzz girl Lily Allen and the Austin band Sound Team.

"I'm interseted in the avant-garde," said label president Andy Slater. Maybe the avante garde is a good strategy. Something might strike gold eventually. The label's rock roster also contains Fischerspooner, the Magic Numbers and LCD Soundsystem, all bands short of stardom but well respected in certain corners of the music world. They've done no worse than the more mainstream acts on the label. Morningwood, a slick and commercial band from New York, has gone nowhere, and the last two albums by The Vines have been big disappointments. Marjorie Fair hasn't panned out yet. The Dandy Warhols faded into near-obscurity. The Shout Out Louds, The Music and Idlewild didn't bring their home country popularity to these shores. The Redwalls haven't even approached cult status. Outside of Coldplay and Yellowcard, Capitol hasn't had a mainstream rock hit this decade. (And let's not forget about OK Go, who is poised for a breakthrough.) Capitol's duality is striking. It is hedging its avante garde ambitions with success with R&B newcomes Corrine Bailey Rae and Letoya.

The VMA's invade New York...again!

Insanity ruled in New York this week. The MTV Video Music Awards came to town last night. There were a ton of pre-parties on Weds night and after-parties last night. I only got invited to one party BUT it was one of the hottest parties around. The Blender/vitaminwater party at Tao. More on that later...

If you click on the link above in the subject line to the MTV Overdrive page click on the VMA BACKSTAGE UNCENSORED ON DEMAND section. In the first backstage bit with STAGE LEFT interviewer Cipher Sounds heading to talk to LL Cool J and Andre 3000 in the make-up room then you can see me for a brief second standing in an bright orange T-shirt behind the security just before Cipher goes into the actual room. My one-minute of fame. Ha!!

I had the pleasure of working at the VMA's. It was my job to meet LL Cool J after he got off the red carpet and take him where he needed to be during the awards show. If you click on this link you can see thumbnails of him at the awards show and after party. Look for his beautiful and sweet wife Simone too!

So while I was waiting at the end of the red carpet and backstage, I had so many artists walk past me. It's kind of surreal to see some of these folks in person!
I saw Nas and his hot wife Kelis, Pink, Rev Run from Run DMC and his family, Fall Out Boy, Jack Black, The Rock, Lil Jon, Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, Shakira, Angels And Airwaves, Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Johnny Knoxville and the Jackass crew, Pharrell, Slim Thug, Nick Lachey and his girlfriend MTV VJ Vanessa Minnillo (separetly of course), All American Rejects, Chamillionaire, tennis player Andy Roddick, James Blunt & his girlfriend Petra Nemcova, 50 Cent, Queen Latifah, Busta Rhymes and Spliff Star, Kayne West, Ludacris, T.I., Wyclef, Ok Go, Olympic medalist Shaun White, Jared Leto, Jack White and The Raconteurs, Lou Reed, and Lil Kim.









LL Cool J was such a blast to work with. He was so nice and easy going. We talked for a while backstage, by the green room and when I took him to his seat. By the end of his time at the VMA's, he was calling me by my DJ name 'Catskillz' and he told me that he thought I looked like I was in my 20's. (Thanks LL!). That's always nice to hear when you are in your mid-30's.

After LL Cool J left the show, I was able to stick around and watch the awards from inside Radio City Music Hall. I also wandered outside the theatre by the lobby bar to chat up friends and music biz acquaintances. It was nice to see Nick from Atlantic, Scotty from The Lodge, rapper E-40, Cee-Lo from Gnarls Barkley, Diplomats capo Jim Jones, Kevin from MTVu and fellow Canadian Jeremy Bates who is the tour manager for The Killers.

Before he left the show, LL Cool J and his crew also invited me to his after party at Tao...but alas by the time I got there, the cops were shutting down the party. No one was getting in since it was at capacity. Boo!

You can check out who was there. Click here and here.

But then I ran into Jeremy again and The Killers. They were also trying to get into Tao and they were going to bring me in with them. But guess what? They also couldn't get in. It was pandemonium with cops shouting at everyone and flashing lights on us to get us to move. So The Killers decided to go to Beyonce's VMA after party/birthday party at the 40/40 Club. They invited me along. Woo!

People.com: B'DAY PRESENT

Beyoncé, who scorched the VMAs red carpet in her crystal-encrusted gown, switches into another party frock for her album release party that night at boyfriend Jay-Z's 40/40 Club. B’Day is due Sept. 5, the day after the singer rings in her 25th.

I walked along the red carpet with Jeremy & the band and got into the club but I didn't get into the VIP section with them. Oh well. I waited for a bit by the entrance and saw DJ/producer Alchemist (I used to work with him) and he also didn't get into the VIP section so then I didn't feel like the only one. Reagardless - it was still a fun time! The music was bumping and the crowd was hopping!

I had as much fun as I did when I worked the VMA's in 2003 with Redman. I have to say it was great to have all the action back in NYC...sorry Miami!

Here's a list if the winners (marked with a '*'.

Best Male Video
* James Blunt, "You're Beautiful"
Busta Rhymes featuring Mary J. Blige, Rah Digga, Missy Elliott, Lloyd
Banks, Papoose & DMX, "Touch It (Remix)"
Nick Lachey, "What's Left Of Me"
T.I., "What You Know"
Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx, "Gold Digger"

Best Female Video
* Kelly Clarkson, "Because of You"
Christina Aguilera, "Ain't No Other Man"
Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland, "Promiscuous"
Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean,"Hips Don't Lie"
Madonna, "Hung Up"

Best Group Video
* All-American Rejects, "Move Along"
Panic! At The Disco, "I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
Fall Out Boy,"Dance, Dance"
Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Dani California"
Gnarls Barkley, "Crazy"

Best Rap Video
* Chamillionaire featuring Krayzie Bone, "Ridin"
50 Cent, "Window Shopper"
T.I., "What You Know"
Busta Rhymes featuring Mary J. Blige, Rah Digga,
Missy Elliott, Lloyd Banks, Papoose & DMX, "Touch It (Remix)"
Yung Joc featuring Nitty, "It's Goin' Down"

Best R&B Video
* Beyonce featuring Slim Thug & Bun B, "Check On It (Pink Panther)"
Mariah Carey, "Shake It Off"
Chris Brown, "Yo (Excuse Me Miss)"
Mary J. Blige, "Be Without You"
Jamie Foxx featuring Ludacris, "Unpredictable"

Best Hip Hop Video
* Black Eyed Peas, "My Humps"
Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx, "Gold Digger"
Common, "Testify"
Three 6 Mafia, "Stay Fly"
Daddy Yankee, "Rompe"

Best Dance Video
* Pussycat Dolls featuring Snoop Dogg, "Buttons"
Madonna, "Hung Up"
Sean Paul, "Temperature"
Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland,"Promiscuous"
Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean, "Hips Don't Lie"

Best Rock Video
*A.F.I., "Miss Murder"
30 Seconds To Mars, "The Kill"
Panic! At The Disco, "I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Dani California"
Green Day, "Wake Me Up When September Ends"

Best Pop Video
* Pink, "Stupid Girls"
Christina Aguilera, "Ain't No Other Man"
Madonna, "Hung Up"
Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean, "Hips Don't Lie"
Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland, "Promiscuous"

Best New Artist in a Video
* Avenged Sevenfold, "Bat Country"
Angels And Airwaves, "The Adventure"
James Blunt, "You're Beautiful"
Panic! At The Disco, "I Write Sins Not Tragedies",
Chris Brown featuring Juelz Santana, "Run It"
Rihanna, "S.O.S."

Viewer's Choice
* Fall Out Boy, "Dance, Dance"
Chris Brown featuring Juelz Santana, "Run It"
Rihanna, "S.O.S."
Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean, "Hips Don't Lie"
Kelly Clarkson, "Because of You"

Video of the Year
* Panic! At The Disco, "I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
Christina Aguilera, "Ain't No Other Man"
Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Dani California"
Madonna, "Hung Up"
Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean, "Hips Don't Lie"