This is Sara Benincasa.

Miss Sara is the author of the new memoir “Agorafabulous!: Dispatches From My Bedroom,” which is based on her one-woman show of the same name. As a comedian, she sometimes pops up in places like HLN and FUSE to tell jokes about attractive, popular people. She is Vice.com’s GOP analyst and XOJane.com’s political ladyblogger. She used to be a high school teacher and occasionally dreams of being a college professor.

And at our show on April 26th, she’s telling her story based on “Survivor” by Destiny’s Child.

She is a fearless lady, that Sara Benincasa. I’ll tell you that.

Jamie Beckman isn’t a stalker. She just did what any of us would have done.

Photo by Spencer Ritenour

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Did you know that this song

is sampled in both this song

and this song

but in this song, Loleatta Holloway’s vocals are not only uncredited, but blatantly being presented as the talent of this…whoever this is.

Until last night, I did not know this. Thank you, David Crabb and JC Cassis.

Madonna & Me editor Laura Barcella remembers discovering Madonna, and the moment she first got “into the groove.”

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How awesome is it? Well, I’m glad you asked.

As you know, we are a monthly show in the Gallery at LPR (Le Poisson Rouge). The space that is currently known as Le Poisson Rouge has been many things in past lives, notably a venue called The Village Gate. The Village Gate opened as a club at 158 Bleecker in 1958, and in the 38 years it was known as the Village Gate, it hosted such acts as Billie Holiday, John Coltrane, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, and…

Jimi Hendrix.

Jimi Hendrix at the Village Gate, 1970

That link is to footage (without sound…boo!) of Jimi Hendrix playing the Village Gate in 1970. I don’t know about you, but seeing this and realizing that The Soundtrack Series is now housed at a venue that once hosted Jimi Hendrix?

Gives me goose bumps so severe they hurt.

It’s here–The Soundtrack Series’ inaugural publication of THE PLAYLIST PROJECT. Spearheaded by Miss Lauren O’Connor and published once a month primarily through Spotify, The Playlist Project is designed to highlight awesome new tracks and artists. But, to paraphrase Velma Kelly in Chicago, we can’t do it alone. It is developed each month by select contributors and tastemakers who include: the amazing Kirby Lee from Red Light Management; Blake Schernekau from My Socialist; Amanda Perlstein (A&R, Kanine Records, Mom + Pop Music, Redlight Management); Amy Nylund (aka DJ Pamypants) & Phil Coldiron; Glide Magazine’s Pete Zimmerman, Associate Editor, and Shane Handler, Editor; and Le Poisson Rouge’s very own Dustin Nelson.

There is so much cool in that last paragraph that just typing it forced me to put on skinny jeans and t-shirt that I don’t understand.

Anyway, have at it! And in addition, the playlist will also stream live as our pre-show mix at each of Soundtrack Series’ events (the next one is April 26th), so come out and hear it on speakers you could only dream of owning.

The Playlist Project March 2012

Track Listing:

**LITTLE OMAHA – The Hill & The Wood

This Charlottesville, Virginia based indie-folk quartet released their debut album at the tail end of last year. This track has a particularly brassy feel with a mariachi-like interlude. Lyrically complex, they just make you want to move.

**THINK OF YOU -Bleached

Sisters Jennifer and Jessica Clavin (of past Mika Miko fame) went out on their own in 2011 with new band Bleached, which is a clear-cut child of the SoCal surfer/garage/punk aesthetic that has become so ingrained over the past few years, but they bring a delightfully fresh approach to thegenre. With musical backgrounds that hark back to Fleetwood Mac and Metallica,the sisters Clavin have fun while playing, but their songs are in no way vacuous; rather, they’re hard-hitting, lean and filled with fantastic harmonies.

**SLOW IT DOWN – The Lumineers

This Seattle based band’s new album drops soon. One of our contributor’s favorite indie folk bands of late!

**GREEN – Swear and Shake

An amazing BK based band. Go see them this Saturday, March 31st at the 92nd Street Y in TriBeCa! Totally beautiful.

**SUNSICK – Fort Lean

While the lead singer may look like Joe Dirt, this band isn’t your average Brooklyn indie band. I saw them at CMJ and they were one of my favorites. I love the sunny self-titled EP, and this new track from their 7″ released via Neon Gold has been on repeat!

**GENESIS – Grimes

Grimes, Claire Boucher’s stage name, comes from Vancouverwith her dreamy synth-pop pieces, and in the course of just a few years she’s already grown tremendously and honed her ability tremendously. Where her early releases lacked a certain focus, new album Visions is a brilliantly executed piece of electronica, and matched with an equally infectious live show, Grimesis certain to explode in popularity.

**ONLY FOR YOU – Heartless Bastard

This band has never rocked so hard than in their new album, Arrow. Erika Wennerstrom’s voice is so complex, and lyrically, this is my favorite song on the album.

**NIGHT IN THE OCEAN – Young Magic

Seduction.

**ORIGINS – Tennis

Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley, a husband & wife duo, continue to enchant.

**BROTHERS – Tanlines

This band is going to blow up when this record is released.An 80s synth sound with fun, almost Caribbean sounding percussion (similar to Cut Copy or Yeasayer). All of this combined with my favorite album cover in awhile.

**MISS MERMAID – Writer

Released in 2011, Writer (brothers Andy and James Ralph) came out of the San Diego scene with their lead single “Miss Mermaid,” and immediately lit a spark with the electric track. There’s a sound to the piece that mimics an underwater drowning of the vocals, but it’s offset by an incredibly clean guitar line and big drum crashes. If this song is any indication of the brothers’ potential, we’re in for a really wonderful debut album.

**CHAMELEON/COMEDIAN – Kathleen Edwards

I love Kathleen Edwards so much and Voyageur really istaking her career to the next level. I chose this song because it really showcases the collaboration between Edwards and her beau, Justin Vernon (of Bon Iver), who produced the album. It’s one of the most catchy singles of 2012. Keep an eye out for her song CHANGE THE SHEETS too, in which Edwards lets herself rock out with just the right amount of vigor, all anchored by that incredible voice that draws you in from the first line.

**PLEASE DON’T GO AWAY – The Men

Their most recent record is great from start to finish but for some reason this song sticks out. Heavy and chaotic but also somewhat soothing. The song that has many layers of distortion paired with smooth vocals.

**LOVE INTERRUPTION – Jack White

Latest single from his forthcoming album Blunderbuss. I can’t get enough of this song (and the video). His solo tour has to be the most highly anticipated tour of 2012!

**HOLLYWOOD FOREVER CEMETERY SINGS – Father John Misty

To be released in May. I am a HUGE J. Tillman fan. While I love Fleet Foxes just as much as the next bearded-loving folkie, when I heard J. Tillman was off on his own, I was pleased and this first track doesn’t disappoint!

**LOVER’S GAME –Geographer

Synth-forward indie-pop band Geographer hails from San Francisco, but their infectious pop-leaning songs sound like a delicious hybrid between Brooklyn-chic and West Coast levity. They write tight, lithe and utterly engaging songs that both encourage dancing and swaying, singing along and grinning ear to ear. Lead singer Michael Deni brings a particularly enjoyable timbre above Nathan Blaz’s electric cello and Brian Ostreicher’s thoughtful drumming.

So! Our very own Off the Record crew were not the only ones at the last show with a camera. NY1 was also there, to film us for a segment on the show, and on the book Madonna & Me.

Writers Strike a Pose With Madonna & Me Anthology

It’s Off the Record from our March Madness Madonnathon–where the always inventing amazing new words (like, say, “penisly”) Bridget O’Neill interviews reader Laura Barcella, and audience members Brandi Bowles, Dawn Fraser, Jeff Sproul and more. Also, big ups (yeah, I said it) to Michael Lashutka for schooling Miss Bridget on EXACTLY who Jellybean Benitez is. It’s not everyday a man gets to flaunt his knowledge of Jellybean Benitez trivia.

This is Susan Shapiro.

And she is everywhere. Susan is a popular Manhattan writing professor (our very own Bridget O’Neill has taken her class) and the author of eight books, including Overexposed, Lighting Up, Only As Good As Your Word, Secrets of a Fix-Up Fanatic and Unhooked. Speed Shrinking and Five Men Who Broke My Heart have both been optioned for films.

This evening, Susan is reading from her Madonna & Me essay, which is titled “Madonna & Me”. So if essays were songs, Susan’s would be the title track.

Tonight, 8pm, The Gallery at LPR (Le Poisson Rouge). See you there, musicistas.

I’m sure you know, but in case you don’t, this is Gloria Feldt.

Gloria is the bestselling author of four books, including No Excuses: 9 Ways Women Can Change How We Think About Power. She’s also a former teen mom who went on to become president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. She teaches “Women, Power, and Leadership” at Arizona State University and is an inspiring keynote speaker whom Vanity Fair named one of “America’s Top 200 Women Leaders, Legends, and Trailblazers.”

We have a lot to thank her for. I’m glad I will get to do so in person.