The Underrated Blog

Hottie Of The Week: Ilan D Hall, Top Chef

Okay, I know this is not music related, but I can't help myself. I love Top Chef. It's a fantastic show. I just finished watching last night's episode and I literally had my heart beating in fear that my lover dover Ilan might get voted off. That’s when I realized this crush had gotten a little bit out of hand. (I should have realized it when I dragged my friend to the restaurant he works at only to be too nervous to go inside). I won't ruin it for those who haven't had a chance to catch last night's episode yet. But I'm happy to say that my hottie is safe and sound.

Ilan happens to work at one of my favorite restaurants in New York City that I used to frequent on a regular basis. I was in love with him then, but am even more so in love with him now. Even when he makes fun of that little squirmy Marcel. Anyways, here's a toast to Ilan: let's hope he wins. But if he doesn't....let's hope he stays at my restaurant so that I can get up the confidence to go back in there and say hi.

I think it's the glasses.

Name: Ilan D Hall
Age: 24
Hometown: Great Neck, New York; Currently resides in New York City, New York
Profession: Line Cook
Education: Lorenzo de Medici Apicus Program and Culinary Institute of America

We're totally getting married.

The Walkmen - All Hands And The Cook

Hottie of The Week: Sufjan Stevens

I know what you are thinking.

1. It's been forever since I've posted a hottie of the week.
2. Sufjan really?

Really.

No, I didn't go see his 01928 shows this week. I've never really been the biggest Sufjan fan. I enjoy his music, sure. Just not enough to declare him the second coming of an indie savior, butterfly wings and all. But I'm looking through various reviews of his Town Hall shows and looking at the pictures and all of a sudden I find myself being very attracted to this boy, in a totally unexpected way. I never thought he was that hot before, but holy begeezes. He's looking pretty spiffy lately. I'm not sure if its the hair, or the muscles...maybe it's those wings. But wow. Okay.

Sufjan Stevens - Majesty Snowbird [via Ryspace]

For a complete recording of Friday night's show, head on over to Ryan's blog. It's almost like you were there...of course, without the hotness.

Look Who Got A Website | Ryan Adams

I'm sitting at work, minding my own business when I notice that my lover, Ryan Adams has decided to take upon himself to rap.

Yes, rap.

I have never laughed so hard, I had tears in my eyes. This may be the greatest thing I've ever heard.

Ryan Adams - Look Who Got A Website [via stereogum]

Ryan, I heart you. Call me.

Hotties Of The Week: Nick GoStation or Rob Diggs | You Decide!

So last night after I saw The Diggs at CBGBs (review coming up shortly), I found myself at The Skinny. Since I'm not a walk away from many of my favorite spots, I apparently find it a-ok to stay out til 2 and drink far too much.

But that's neither here nor there.

I found myself up in the DJ booth amidst a debate over who was the hotter of two of NYC's hottest bass players: Nick from The GoStation or Rob from The Diggs. Apparently it wasn't really a question (although I wont let you know who was the front runner) but I apparently had a harder time deciding.

So you decide. Let me know in the comments who you'd pick for this week's hottie.

Nick GoStation:

Rob Diggs:

Sorry ladies, both boys are taken. But feel free to drool.

Hottie of The Week: The French Kicks

So I'm sure you woke up this morning and thought to yourself - holy crap! It's Tuesday, which means it is Hottie of the Week time. You have been patiently waiting to see who I came up for this week. It's the highlight of your week. The bell of the ball. Or maybe that's just me.

So this week is a little bit different. Instead of one hottie, we've got a band. And instead of our usual format (likes, dislikes, fun fact, etc), I'm going to use this platform to tell you why I heart French Kicks.

So last night, I took my smoker self to the Camel sponsored French Kicks/Phoenix show. I have no real problem with this being sponsored by a cigarette company. It was a free show. Two great bands. And Phoenix is French, so it's totally ok for them.

So I was right up front. Not like towards the front, no. Pressed against the stage. I stood and twiddled my thumbs to the openers (my god) and then it was time for my little Brooklynites (not so little) to come on stage. I began telling Wes how my first real backstage experience was with The French Kicks over a year ago at this very same venue. And to continue with my random acts of nostalgia these past few days, here are some pictures from that.

That second picture caused a good amount of laughs from The Kicks and I. They insisted it should be the cover shot, but I had to disagree. Then they played one of the best shows I've ever seen. And it caused me to take my favorite concert picture ever:

And because I'm a huge nerd, I made them sign my CD booklet. It still is on my refrigerator a year later.

So yes, that was then. This is now. Since that fateful night [read about it at the original blog], I've seen them play twice and they've released their third full-length Two Thousand.

Last night came full circle. There I was again, not backstage, but right in front of the boys at Bowery. I had to endure three blonde girls next to me who kept on grabbing Nick's pants, and yet it reminded me just how much I seriously love this band. They only played one old song, but the new songs (and lineup) proved this band has got their act together. While not as dancey fun as headliners Phoenix, their dreamlike pop soared to new highs.

So after the set, I left the very front (those girls, my god) and headed upstairs to meet Nora. Nick was standing by the bar, so I thought it was time (and I had enough beers at that point) to go say hi.

Nora freaked out just a tad, and when I mentioned they would be my hottie of the week, she grinned from ear to ear.

"Nick Stumpf is hands down the sexist guy in a band, ever."

Seriously? Seriously.

So I went over and said hello to Nick. To my surprise he totally remembered me. I told him I loved the new album. He told me that I'm apparently famous in Cleveland. I told him he was lying to me. He said he'd never do that.

I'm still confused, but I still love this band.

A little French Kicks history lesson:

French Kicks - Down Now (from One Time Bells)

French Kicks - The Trial Of the Century (from Trial Of The Century)

French Kicks - So Far We Are (from Two Thousand)

French Kicks - No Mean Time (from Two Thousand)

Buy Two Thousand and their other albums on Insound.

More pictures from last night's show on flickr.

Hottie of The Week: Jason Schwartzman

I'll never forget the first time I saw Jason Schwartzman. It was the very first week of my first year at NYU, and I attended their annual "secret concert." One of the bands happened to be Phantom Planet, who I had heart rumblings off and a couple songs before hand. But I had yet to see them live. Schwartzman, who was in the band at the time, was on a drum riser with a pair of huge earmuffs on. He was the first drummer I had seen that combated with the lead singer for audience appreciation. It was brilliant. And yes, I formed a little bit of a crush. [Fun fact: Kirsten Dunst was at that show too, and I had a less than one minute conversation with her. She’s now in a movie with Schwartzman, see how that works!]

Since then, Schwartzman has made some of my favorite films, after (sigh) leaving Phantom Planet. But I suppose in this new arena, we get to see a little bit more of the scruffy cutie. Sure, some might not call him a typical hottie, but he sure has won my heart. Check out the trailer for his latest film, Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette here (worth it for the New Order track alone).

Name: Jason Francesco Schwartzman
Age: 26
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Status: not sure. last heard dating Christina Ricci earlier this year.
Likes: Flaming Lips, being open-minded, Jim Carrey in Cable Guy
Dislikes: Being on the road for long extended amounts of time, meat [he's now a vegan]
Fun fact: Schwartzman was originally cast for the role of Donnie in Donnie Darko, but was later replaced by Jake Gyllenhaal due to his scheduling conflicts.

Phantom Planet - Watching The Detectives (Elvis Costello cover)

Previous Hotties:

Ben Kweller

Chris McLaughlin, Aberdeen City

Russell Lissak, Bloc Party

Keith Murray, We Are Scientists

Nora Walker, i rock i roll

Jeremy Hanson, Tapes 'n Tapes

Antony Ellis, Five O'Clock Heroes

Tom Vek

Ryan Adams

Hottie of The Week: Ben Kweller

Ben Kweller was my first indie rock boy crush. I had a job in Connecticut the summer before my freshman year at college, which resulted in a 2 hour drive home every day stuck in traffic over the Tapanzee bridge. I would listen to Sha Sha on repeat, making sure I understood every vocal nuance and lyric for my eventual romantic fling. I then saw him make a surprise guest appearance at Radio City at a Guster show. It was that same show that the band played ten seconds of "Happy Frappy" (my all-time favorite Guster song), especially for me. Needless to say, it was a milestone moment.

Until the three minutes when I met Mr. Kweller.

He was doing a signing/performance at Tower Records. I think it was my sophomore year. I dragged one of my roommates over there 4 hours early to stand in line. We were third. I watched him perform and I tried not to sing along too loudly to avoid embarrassment. I stood in line afterwards to have my cd signed. He was much littler than I thought. I told him about the magazine. He seemed genuinely interested. I fell in love.

Too bad he's married and with a kid now, but nonetheless he'll be a hottie for me. Those sweaters. That hair. Those simple little ditties of songs that break my heart. Sigh.

Hottie of the Week: the one and only Ben Kweller.

Name: Ben Kweller
Age: 25
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Status: Married
Likes: Naming bands after Dr. Seuss books, being a musical prodigy, Wilco & Carole King, optimism
Dislikes: Elton John, record execs that don’t take chances, George W
Fun fact: According to YM, Ben Kweller is a master Boy Scout who can survive in the wild with carrot stick and a piece of scotch tape.

News: Ben Kweller, his third full-length album will be released September 19. Kweller has a bunch of tour dates up on his site including two dates at Webster Hall in October.

Previous Hotties:

Chris McLaughlin, Aberdeen City

Russell Lissak, Bloc Party

Keith Murray, We Are Scientists

Nora Walker, i rock i roll

Jeremy Hanson, Tapes 'n Tapes

Antony Ellis, Five O'Clock Heroes

Tom Vek

Ryan Adams

Hottie of The Week: Chris McLaughlin, Aberdeen City

When I was at Knitting Factory a few weeks ago watching Aberdeen City, I turned to Nora and said: I sense a hottie of a week. Any boy that sweats that much, flings himself around a stage in that manner, and still manages to play a mean guitar is top notch in my book. Chris McLaughlin is the spastic skinny boy on the left side of the stage in the Boston outfit Aberdeen City, and with a last name like that, my mom would definitely approve.

Name: Christopher Ryan McLaughlin
Age: 24
Status: Taken
Hometown: Chelsea, Massachusetts
Likes: Playing guitar with teeth, tight shirts, recording, LCD Soundsystem
Dislikes: Confined spaces

Hottie of The Week: Russell Lissack, Bloc Party

Day 2 in London, as exciting as the last. I spent the morning with my mom in Hyde Park and were courted by some top notch British weirdos. Lounged around for the afternoon and then we hit up my favorite shop ever, Top Shop. I could make a killing in that place. Then it was down to Canary Warf to meet my dad after work and knock back a couple bottles of wine. I think the jet lag has set in. It's 10 PM and I'm falling asleep at my computer. I've either become really old, or had too much wine. Maybe a little bit of both.

Without further adieu, here's what you all have been waiting for.

Hottie of the Week, UK edition: Russell Lissack, lead guitarist of Bloc Party

That baby picture alone does it for me.

Name: Russell Lissack
Age: 25
Location: London, UK
Status: Single
Likes: Being shy, keeping hair in face, being compared to Jonny Greenwood, late 90's Trance
Dislikes: Super Smash Brothers on Nintendo 64

Some news: New Bloc Party album early 2007

Hottie of The Week: Keith Murray, We Are Scientists

Another week, another hottie. This one comes from a request, and one which I will never deny. Get ready to drool.

Keith Murray, lead singer/guitarist of We Are Scientists:

Name: Keith Murray, aka Keith "the sex" Murray, Keith McDreamyMurray (the first is not mine, the second, sigh...is)
Location: Brooklyn, NY when not touring around the world
Age: 27
Status: ?
Likes: kittens, The OC, sweater vests, Bishop Allen
Dislikes: losing Worlds Sexiest Vegetarian to Natalie Portman

We Are Scientists will be djing Stolen Transmission this Thursday for Karen's birthday. I will probably go to swoon a little, then to hide my face in shame.