2009: The Musical

Last year I made a playlist to represent the events and emotions of the year. Amazingly, people actually cared. So I've decided to make a tradition out of it. This year's mix is quite a bit longer than last years, which isn't surprising considering all that I have done in the past 12 months. It's been an absolutely amazing year with so many new and old friends who inspired a lot of the songs that make up this mix. So this is for the people who have made this year the best year I've had. I can't wait to see what songs will make up 2010.

I'm trying different hosting options so I'll have a link to listen to the songs and a widget to download any of the songs that you want.
The songs that make up 2009 are:

Delicate-Damian Rice
Bane of Progress-Jeff London
The Sweetest Thing-Camera Obscura
Because The Night-Cascada
Distance-Tiger Saw
Revolver-Isobel Cambell and Mark Lanegan
Never Had Nobody Like You (Featuring Zooey Deschanel)- M.Ward
Don't Forget Me-Mark Lanegan
People C'mon-Delta Spirit
The Gardner-Tallest Man on Earth
Detached-Pump House Gang
Sin-Nine Inch Nails
Clap for the Killers- Street Sweeper Social Club
Wish- Nine Inch Nails
World Spins Madly On- Weepies
Late Night Partner- Ed Harcourt
I'll Take Care of You- Mark Lanegan
Winter- The Dodos
Elephants and Castle- Houston Calls
Alameda- Elliott Smith
Revival- Soulsavers
Rumpus- Karen O. and the Kids
Red and Purple- The Dodos
You've Got Growing Up to Do- Joshua Radin
Sad Sad City- Ghostland Observatory
Scared Money- Saul Williams

Nothing But the Water- Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Wrong About Me- Brett Dennen
Messy Girl- Wakey!Wakey!
Elefantes y Ninas- Rauelsson
You Can Kiss Me-Matthew Dorian
Can't Go Back Now- The Weepies


Link to stream: 2009 Playlist



Addendum: I somehow managed to not add The Ofersures, which is basically a crime considering how important they were this year. So just know that Folk Song for Dogs belongs right after Wish.

Happy Listening

Three Months in Portland: A Recap

Portland has absolutely spoiled me. I’m not really sure what I’m going to do over the next couple years when I most likely won’t have the time, transportation or funds to go to as many concerts as I have been over the past three months. I still can’t believe that it’s already been three months. In that time I’ve gone to so many amazing shows and seen some of the most brilliant performances. The experience so far has been amazing and I guess that I’ve been so busy trying to live it that I’ve neglected my writing.

Bo Burnham performed at the Aladdin Theatre on Oct. 16th. Since I had just seen him in June I figured I would already know most of his routine, but really I had most of his songs memorized anyways so I guess I knew it the first time around as well. While Bo’s songs are hilarious and it’s definitely worth going even if just for those, it’s his interactions with the audience and his jokes between the songs where he’s absolutely golden. He’s so witty and quick with comebacks that you really do hope for a heckler just to watch Bo dismantle them in front of everyone. And thankfully, that’s what happened. Actually, no one is safe from Bo’s jokes. The girls in the front were made fun of for their names, the doorman for looking like Tay Zonday (he really did, it was amazing) and even the venue was made fun of when Bo said that he expected the old men from the Muppets to appear from the balconies they had on the side (A comment I had made earlier in the night and was very excited when Bo made the same observation). Bo Burnham is only 19 years old and he’s able to entertain an audience composed of every age and ethnicity. That’s just awesome and I’m so happy I’ve been able to see it so often and can’t wait to see him again.

The Dodos at the Aladdin Theatre, Oct 25th. I’m just gonna say this was the most disappointing show that I’ve been to. Not to say that it was a bad show, it just wasn’t the amazing experience that the other shows were. The problem was mostly that of the venue and not the bands. While the Aladdin Theatre is a perfect location for a comedian like Bo Burnham, it is most definitely not ideal for a performance like the Dodos. The seating causes everyone to be too quiet for a band that should inspire its listeners to get up and dance along. Because of this, the vibe was, like one of the guys from the opener, the Ruby Suns, said, like playing to a school auditorium. On top of that, I was stuck in the balcony where they had placed the minors. Now I appreciate that they had let the minors in at all, but seriously? The balcony? I hate it when the minors are separated and to put them so far away from the show as if they’ve been punished for not being old enough is insulting. But the show itself was fun. Listening to the Ruby Suns was like listening to island music on mars and made me want to make music videos with dinosaurs and astronauts to go along with it. The Dodos were fantastic and played almost every song that I wanted them to play. The highlight was then they turned off all of the lights to that the whole theatre was pitch black and then lit up balls of light on their drumsticks and the fingers of the guitarist. Watching the moving lights with the music was an amazingly surreal experience. Overall, it wasn’t the best show I’ve ever been to but it was fun and I’d definitely go again provided I could stand and dance along with the band.

Joshua Radin at the Aladdin Theatre, Oct. 30th. Joshua Radin is an amazing performer. He’s good looking, charming and an amazing musician. You can’t ask for a better show. Knowing that his music is rather relaxing, I wasn’t too worried about it being at the Aladdin Theatre because it would be nice to sit down and just enjoy his music. He told stories to every song, joked and interacted with the audience and wore a Powell’s Books t-shirt that had the outline of the state of Oregon, which of course caused everyone in the theatre to cheer. He played a fantastic mix of all of his CD’s including the one he’s currently working on. The show was simply fantastic and I am waiting for his new CD to drop and for him to go on tour again because there is no way that I am not going to be there. On top of all of that, I asked the light guy if he had the set list and he told me that if I waited by the door after the show, he’d try to get it for me and so when I waited at the door he came out with setlist; a nice souvenir for a fantastic show.

Ghostland Observatory at the Crystal Ballroom on November 8th. This was the first techno/dance show that I’ve gone to and I’m definitely a convert. It was brilliant. Non-stop dancing and excitement. It was everything that a show should be: a connection between the artists and audience. I knew that it was going to be a good show when we arrived and there were a few guys in capes already dancing along to the house music. This was also the first big show that I’ve gone to where I didn’t know a lot of songs from the band. I had briefly listened to their stuff that morning and so I had an idea of the kind of show it was going to be and had a few songs that I wanted to listen to. Not only did they play every song that I wanted to hear but every song that they played was great. The one thing that wasn’t awesome was how long they made us wait before the band arrived; the show didn’t start until around 10. But when they did start, they more than made up for the wait. The vibe and energy in the room was unparalleled and when the band left the audience didn’t stop the energy until we got two amazing encores that lasted just long enough to make sure I was thoroughly exhausted. The audience was one of the most diverse I’ve seen, and that’s saying something for Portland, and that everyone was so united for this show was a truly awesome experience.

Saul Williams at the Aladdin Theatre, Nov 15th. One of the coolest, most emotional concerts I’ve ever been to. The openers were good; they succeeded in pumping up the audience and all that jazz. But really, everyone was there for Saul Williams and you could feel the pent up energy as we all waited. When he finally did arrive, the theatre exploded, and for good reason. Arriving with his Mohawk of feathers in his hair, Saul Williams gets attention. If I remember correctly, he began the show with List of Demands, but don’t quote me on that. Regardless, every song performed, every poem recited was outstanding and by the time he covered Sunday Bloody Sunday it was one of the best audiences I’ve ever been a part of. There’s just something about Saul Williams fans that makes them awesome. It was by far the best show I’ve been to as far as range of fans go. I wish I could explain how electric the energy was. Being right against the stage, it radiated from all around me and the connection between everyone there was inspiring. Plus, I caught one of the feathers that he took out of his hair and threw to the audience. I'm gonna cherish it forever. Saul Williams said that he’s going to start working on his next album after this tour and when that album drops and he goes on tour to promote it, I’m going to be there in the audience because when Saul Williams performs, you don’t miss it.

Soulsavers with Mark Lanegan

First concert in Portland was an undeniable success. You can't get much better than Mark Lanegan.

We arrived in time for the opening act but I have no idea who they were. What I do know is that I'm still confused by what I saw. They were a pretty good band, I'll give them that. Kinda dark and ethereal and the lead singer was a woman with a pretty cool voice. Most of the songs were pretty mellow but they had a couple songs that were full of energy and I think that's where they shined. They actually reminded me a lot of The Duke Spirit, especially her voice. But I can't shake the feeling that the whole time she was performing she was seeing something the rest of us couldn't. I don't know if she was high or if it was all an act but her weird looks and antics kept me more than entertained. There was something about the whole thing that made it seem like some secret magical ritual and that she was actually casting a spell on us instead of just singing. Maybe we looked like idiots giggling throughout their set but I couldn't help it.

But then the Soulsavers came on and it was brilliant. They started off with The Seventh Proof, the first instrumental from their new album. They sound exactly the same, if not better, live as they do on the album. Although because it was an instrumental, Mark Lanegan didn't come out so when the song was ending and he came out by himself, the place blew up. It was obvious then that people were fans of Soulsavers because of Mark Lanegan and not really the other way around. Which isn't surprising considering I'm the same way. He started off with Ghosts of You and Me from their second album and hearing him sing the chorus

Some say this Highway seven
Is a long and lonesome road
Don't ask me little Rosa
Which direction I am going

actually gave me chills. Every song he did was just perfect. He barely acknowledges the audience, looks down almost the whole time, squints and closes his eyes but it doesn't matter. That's Mark Lanegan. He's the man with the voice that sounds like whiskey and cigarettes. Everything about him: his voice, his persona, it all hints at this man with a dark past. A man who survived so much that you'll never know about. And that's what makes his music so amazing. Especially when he sings the sweeter songs like Some Misunderstanding and You Will Miss Me When I Burn. Even though he didn't write those songs, it's obvious that he feels them and it's the layers and the softness underneath all his rough edges that make hims so fascinating.
And they didn't only play Soulsavers songs, the Wonder Ballroom absolutely erupted when they played Hit The City. You could hear people sing along and the energy in room absolutely engulfed everything. They also played Kingdom of Rain, a song of his that is also on the album. Since that's one of my favorite songs of Lanegan's it was just so wonderful to actually hear it live. You just can't help but melt hearing that gravely voice asking you

Would you put halos in your hair
Without a hope without a prayer
With lies close to your breast
You finally lay your shame to rest
Before I go, I'll hang in a cross on nails
I hung on for you in there
And every kingdom of rain comes fallin' down
Cause I loved you so long

Just like on the new CD, there was this Australian singer, Red Ghost, who accompanied him on some of the songs and even sang solo a couple times. Mark Lanegan always sounds fantastic when paired with a woman's soft voice. They compliment each other so well that they just make the other sound even more amazing.

Like every other concert I go to my only complaint is that it had to end. And before the encore they hadn't performed the one song that I desperately wanted to hear, Revival, or the song Sunrise but I would be able to handle not hearing that song performed. And so when they went away I could only hope that they would come back to perform it. When they did come back it was sans Mark Lanegan and Red Ghost sang one of her tracks on the album which of course was great but not what I wanted to hear. And then Mark Lanegan came back. And sang Revival. And at that moment, I could die happy.

I really hope that the concert was an omen for what the rest of this experience is going to be like but I doubt that any other show will match this one and I'm okay with that because this show was everything I could hope for.

All the songs that they played (fairly certain) but not exactly in order:

Ghosts of You and Me
Death Bells
Unbalanced Pieces
You Will Miss Me When I Burn
Some Misunderstanding
Hit The City
Rolling Sky
Jesus of Nothing
Paper Money
Jesus Just Left Chicago
Praying Ground
Revival

The Reason

I read somewhere that Amanda Palmer didn't get into music for the music but just as a way to connect with others. Ben Corman, a fantastic writer wrote this post about how he's a writer because that's the only thing he can be. And that lead me to a realization about myself. Everything decision I've made was based on connecting with others. My whole life, my reason for everything was around that goal. From soccer, to yearbook, to AcaDeca,the AmeriCorps and most definitely my reason for being in music was in order to be a part of something.

It's the reason why I'm here in Portland, the reason why I prefer cities, the reason why I love the Internet so much. I suppose there are those people who prefer to live their lives in their own bubble, who can allow the world to carry on without them having to be a part of it. But I want to be a part of everything. I hate sleeping because I know that things are happening that I am not a part in. The world is rapidly changing and I want to be in the midst of it. One of my greatest fears is to miss out on what is going on in our day and age. In the twenties I would have been a poet or a suffragette, the fifties and sixties I would have been involved in civil rights and peace protests. It's a good thing I wasn't alive in the seventies because that was all crazy parties and drugs. Ten years ago it would have been all about the tech boom but now, now it's the Internet and music. Now it's media and communication. And that's what I'm going to be in.

I don't want to live in a bubble. I want to be in the middle of the vortex.

Music is nothing without the people involved. The musicians need the artists as much as the fans need the music. Music has always been about "this is who I am" and the people who relate to that. And the Internet has taken it one step further. No longer is it just the musicians saying "this is who I am" but now the fan can say "and this is who I am".

Sam Potts is a guy in Boston. I'm think he has some sort of marketing company, but I'm not really sure. But he's a friend of Jonathan Coulton and I follow JCo on Twitter. When JCo tweeted about Sam Potts's new art project, Twitter on Paper, I listened. I followed Sam Potts and filled out the forms. Twitter on Paper was a project he was doing where anyone could request any of the tweets he had done and he would write them and send to you. It was like backwards technology and I loved it. I requested three, received them and they were fantastic. The best part was the note attached that had his address and said you were free to send anything you wanted to him. And even when the project ended, I continued to follow him. He's a really interesting guy and when I posted pictures of my framed Twitter on Papers he responded. When I asked him about his new project because it was going to launch on my birthday he explained and wished me a happy birthday in advance. Without the Internet, I never would have known who Sam Potts was. But my day is made with those kinds of connections. For me, life is all about those connections. I adore Sam Potts but I've never met him and I probably never will. And that's okay.

People scoff at social networking like blogs, Facebook and Twitter. They don't understand why you would want to know what everyone is doing. Why some lady would write about her five cats, or some guy the car he's building, or some kid about her love of music. But all we're doing is saying, "this is what I'm about, what are you about?" Because this blog, music, the AmeriCorps, and putting myself out there is what I'm about. What are you about?

Full Steam Ahead

I am moving to Portland. More or less. That's crazy.

I am so excited for the trip. I know that I'm going to volunteer and that my main focus has to stay on the work but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't equally looking forward to the musical possibilities.

First, the opportunity to work with one of my favorite record labels (fingers crossed). I have no idea how that is gonna work but I hope it does. I'm willing to do nearly anything for the label so it should be a learning experience, to say the least. Plus if it does work, I might get to hang out with some awesome musicians which would just be the greatest thing of my life. I'll find out when I get there if this dream is gonna become a reality or if I'm just chasing another dead end.

And the thing I'm most excited for, the shows. I have spent some major amounts of time looking up who's gonna be playing in Portland over the next couple months and it's looking pretty good.

Joshua Radin on Oct. 30th. There's almost no way that I'm gonna miss this show. His songs are just the sweetest thing and I'm already looking forward to it.

The Dodos on Oct. 25th. SO glad that I was recently introduced to them. They are amazing and they're gonna be even better live than on CD. Plus it'll be the perfect indie show considering the band and my location. I can't wait to see all the stereotypes fulfilled. I've been listening to a lot of the Visiter album and there are a couple tracks (Winter, Red and Purple) that I'm obsessed with.

Bo Burnham. Alright, so not your traditional music, but awesome nonetheless. I don't care that I've just seen him a couple months ago, he's the funniest nineteen year old alive and I adore him.

And the most exciting show and probably the least likely one I am to go to: Soulsavers feat. Mark Lanegan. As of right now, the fact that it's 21+ is proving to be a bit tricky but I'll see what happens as I may be able to get in. If I do get to go, I'm fairly certain I'll die. I'm currently listening to the new Soulsavers album, Broken, and it is brilliant. There's just something so perfect in this indescribable mix of rock and gospel and of piano, guitar and synths. And the singers are unbeatable. Of course Mark Lanegan sounds gritty and sad and haunting on every track he's on. The new female singer has a beautiful voice that holds it's own when matched with Lanegan and absolutely shines when it's on its own on the final track. I'm totally in love with the songs You Will Miss Me When I Burn and Some Misunderstanding. This CD has totally cemented my love and respect for Soulsavers and I just have to be able to see them live.

New music for a new adventure, what more can a girl as for?

Because the Night

Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to lust
Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to us
~Cascada

Friday night I went to UCSB for a free Cascada show.

After spending the day in SB with my friends (try Lilly's near State St. for fantastic tacos) we headed over to Storke Plaza where the show was to take place. We got there a bit before 9 o'clock and the battle of the DJ's that was taking place before Cascada had already started. I was lucky enough to hear that they were playing Basshunter's DOTA as we arriving and since I adore that song I took it as a good sign.

The first DJ's were alright. They played a lot of popular songs, had a pretty good mix, transitioned pretty well and had some songs that were really fun. They danced a bit and since it wasn't too crowded it was fun. They did have some issues though, they played songs for far too long and even I know that when DJing you gotta switch it up often enough to keep the people interested. Especially at the end when they played all of Shout. I mean, yeah, it's a fun song but there are a dozen spots in the song where you should change it to another song. It was their last song so I suppose they thought it would be fun to go through the whole thing but honestly, epic fail. It kind of ruined them for me.

The second DJ was absolutely fantastic. I wish I knew who it was so that I could mention him by name but I never caught any of their names. He had a great mix, fun popular songs and even the songs that I didn't recognize were still easy to get into and easy to dance to. He had some absolutely brilliant transitions that made everything really smooth and with the little studying that I did on DJing I recognize as being pretty fricken hard to learn. Not only that, but the DJ was really fun. He'd get in front of the mixtables dance, get really into it, and time it perfectly to be back and switch the song. There was this one moment where he had his arms thrown out in time with a crescendo, the stage lights created a back light and he looked truly epic. (Actually looked like Jesus). Watching him up there reminded me how much I want to learn how to DJ and get a crowd going in such an amazing way.

After the second DJ, the third is nothing to rave about. The majority of song choices were trance which I feel only those on drugs really are able to get into. He also made the same mistake the first DJ's did in letting the songs go entirely too long. Plus, the dude had the bad luck of being the last DJ before Cascada. By the time he started all I wanted him to do was stop so that we could get to the awesomeness that is Eurodance. On top of all of this, by this time the place filled up with annoying drunk girls who made it impossible for me to either see or dance. Honestly people, if you choose to come late to a show, you no longer have the right to for chains of 15 people and push your way to the front. One of these days someone is just going to get sick of it and punch these girls in the face. I only hope I'm there to see it.

Finally, at 1030, after an hour and a half of DJ's, Cascada took the stage. First, her accent is adorable. My brother compared her to a chipmunk and while accurate makes her seem more annoying than she it. She's so cute. So despite my initial apprehensions, she sounded fantastic. Just as good as on the CD. I was seriously impressed. The crowds made it really hard for me to enjoy the first couple songs but halfway through my brother and I moved to a spot on these steps that were near the stage and not only could I see but I had enough room to dance. Which is a godsend at a show like that. It's just not the same if you can't go crazy. If there is anything I would complain, and did complain, about her set it was that it was entirely too short. I know it was a free show and that seeing her at all is fantastic, but really 30 min? That's all? That's half a set and I was really hoping for more. Nevertheless, great beats and an amazing voice made it a show to remember. She really is a great performer and played all her greatest songs. It was a lot of fun and given the opportunity I would definitely go, and pay, to another show. My sore throat after the show only proves that it's the kind of amazing show where you can just let go and have an absolute blast with your friends.

I almost forgot the best part of the show; she had the corniest introduction ever. I'm so glad that someone recorded it and put it on youtube.



Set list:
Miracle
How Do You Do
Perfect Day
Because the Night
Everytime We Touch
What Hurts the Most

Preach

When music makes you feel happy to be alive, you’ve found something special. And I can honestly say that I have found that music. I hear a lot of talk about how there is no good music anymore, but any one who talks like that is fooling themselves. I don’t know how many of you have noticed that we’re in the middle of a resurgence of folk. And it is fantastic.

Paul (because I know he’ll want credit) recently introduced me to this site and the amazing music that this one person has been uploading. Specifically, The Tallest Man on Earth. His voice is astounding, and heart wrenchingly amazing. I’ll totally admit that one of his songs brought me close to tears, just because I fond it so pretty. I thought about keeping him a secret, not telling everyone I know about him. But I’m not a scenester and I can’t, nor do I want, to keep my mouth shut about this.

So, instead I’ve decided to share the music that I love in the most public way I can at this time. This is the music that I think everyone should listen to at least once. I personally think that these are some of the greatest examples of music ever and they make me so happy to be alive right at this moment in history.

Owen: I first heard Owen a few years ago when he was opening for Copeland. The first song I fell in love with is Bad News where he talks directly to a friend of his telling her “everything you think you are, you aren’t”. The song seems like an attack on the person until he sings “you don’t mean anything to anyone but me” and you realize how much he actually cares about this person. Listening to Owen sing is one of the most honest experiences you can have because it’s like listening to a person who is opening up their soul to only you. His music is absolutely beautiful and just creates the most bittersweet feelings. Songs to listen to: Bad News, Sad Waltzes of Pietro Crispi, Good Deeds

The Tallest Man on Earth: It’s almost like he shouldn’t be allowed to walk on this Earth. A voice like his just shouldn’t exist. But it does and it’s amazing in the very sense of the word. I already mentioned him earlier on so I don’t really want to go on about him but I will say this: If you listen to him and don’t love him, don’t let me know because I’ll never be able to comprehend it. Songs to listen to: Honestly, every song is perfect but I’ll narrow it down to The Gardner and This Wind

M. Ward: I heard one of his songs on the radio (YAY NPR) and immediately went home to find out what it was. He’s a little more rock than the previous two musicians I mentioned but he’s so cool. He has this fantastic rough voice despite not having the life style that you would normally attribute to a guy like this. His songs are a bit more fun, a bit more upbeat and oh yeah, Zooey Deschanel sings on a couple. His songs are fabulous, and the only way I can seem to describe them is…light. Listening to him sing, even his quieter more serious songs, just makes you feel content. And he does a great cover of Buddy Holly’s Rave On. Songs to listen to: Never Had Nobody Like You, Stars of Leo

Adele: As far as female vocalists go, she is by far my favorite. There is nothing better when driving than turning her music way up loud and belting out her tunes. She’s just the sweetest and her music is perfectly jazzy and her voice is unbelievably clear and powerful. Her cover of Bob Dylan’s Make You Feel My Love is one of the most touchingly romantic songs and I just adore her. I know that she’s already popular so there isn’t much need to go on and on about her. Songs to listen to: Daydreamer, Crazy for You

Beirut: I know that people seem to be divided over Beirut. They’re one of those bands that you either love or hate. I think they’re the best thing to come out of New Mexico. (I know that doesn’t mean much since it’s NM, but still, you get the point) Zach Condon has an almost hauntingly beautiful voice that seems too old for this twenty-something year old. But when combined with the music it’s not only one of the most original sounds I’ve heard, it’s really one of the best. No other band uses instrumentation like accordions as awesomely as Beirut. Their first CD sounds Eastern European and their other two EPs take from Mexican music and Holland’s electronic sound and do it without losing what makes Beirut fantastic. Songs to Listen to: Nantes, My Night With the Prostitute From Marseille

Wakey!Wakey!: This band got me through some kinda tough times. They are so incredibly fun and pretty and amazing. I already wrote about them here so check it out. I’m also fairly certain that they have all of 50 fans and so it would be great if they got some more because they deserve it. Songs to Listen To: Blame You, Crazy (Gnarls Barkley Cover)

The Weepies: They may be the cutest thing in the world. A married couple that writes the sweetest songs? You bet. (I follow them on Twitter and they seem really cool, too) The songs are very simply arranged and just flow perfectly with their harmonization. You can’t help but feel happy when listening to this band and I don’t know if there is anything better to listen to before bed. Songs to listen to: Can’t Go Back Now, World Spins Madly On

Ray LaMontagne: I don’t think there is that many people who actually pay attention to good music that don’t know who he is, or at least I hope so. This man has one of the greatest voices ever. Deep and raspy, it’s one of those voices that bypasses the ears and goes straight to the gut. I have spent days on end listening to his songs and will never get sick of him. Just do yourself the favor and listen to him if you haven’t. He’s my favorite lumberjack. Songs to listen to: Trouble, Narrow Escape

Mark Lanegan and Isobel Campbell: While both are outstanding musicians in their own right, their collaborative CDs are really where I love them both. Isobel Campbell describes Lanegan’s voice as perfectly American and I couldn’t agree more. It’s a voice that belongs in the Wild West and really is just one of the most badass voices around. Isobel’s voice on the other hand is majestically ethereal and compliments Lanegan’s like no other. Between the two of them are some absolutely fantastic songs. Sweet and dark all at the same time, you can’t help but love the creation from this truly dynamic duo. Songs to listen to: Honey Child What Can I Do, Deus Ibi Est

HoneyHoney: This is one of the sassiest bands and I love it. Suzanne Santos and Ben Jaffe are so great together. Between her jazzy vocals and his fantastic lyrics, some of the most fun songs are created. It’s true, they’re not exactly folk, actually more bluegrass and jazz, but I’ve obviously diverted from that genre. Anyways, they have a varied repertoire of fantabulous songs. They’re the kind of band that I would kill to see like because you just know that they are fantastic performers as well as musicians. Songs to listen to: Thursday Night, Sugarcane

Joshua Radin: This is a really hard one for me to talk about. There is something, I don’t know what it is, about this man and his voice that I can barely deal with. Listening to him is like getting a shot of pure emotion. It’s the most achingly sweet thing I’ve listened to. There is so much in his music that there are times where I can’t even handle it. The guitar and simple instrumentation are great, but his words and his voice are just…wow. You know how some people just give perfect hugs? That’s his music. It’s the perfect hug that you never want to leave. Songs to listen to: They Bring Me to You, Free of Me

There are so many more bands that I would love to rave about, but honestly, I think not only am I tapped out at this point, I think I’m stretching the point that people will continue to read. If people are interested, I’ll write more because there is always more great music.
Honorable Mention (because I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t at least mention them):

Fleet Foxes
Tiger Saw
Brett Dennen
Cold War Kids

I highly recommend that you check out each of these bands. And if you can, buy the music. But I’ll admit I’ve torrented most of them myself. Just please please tell people about this music. Because good music needs to be shared and great music—this music—needs to be preached.

Pump House Gang at The Troubadour

It's been over a week since I saw Pump House Gang live but I still get so excited thinking about how great they were.

First off, they're a great looking band, there is no denying that. Every band member is attractive and that's always a bonus.
But that doesn't mean that's all they have going for them. I've written before about how fantastic their music is. This was the first time I've seen them live and they are just as good live as they are recorded. That seems to be relatively rare. I've seen so many bands that are purely studio bands--sounds great through your headphones but horrible live. But these guys, they have it all.

We got invited to the show by the guitarist and decided to go since it was the first legitimate show of theirs that we could go to. The drive over was fun and traffic was good so we actually made it to The Troubadour in around 45 minutes, not bad for a trip to LA. Parking was a bitch, though. Is there easy parking for the venue or does everyone else have to drive around for twenty minutes making tons of u-turns only to end up paying ten bucks for parking? Another thing. When the show is supposed to start at 7:20 wouldn't it make sense to have the box office open at that time? Apparently not, since we had to wait for them to open up. But all's well that ends well and we managed to get in just as they were starting their first song.

Honestly, I was surprised by the amount of people there. Basically, I thought that there was gonna be people there. It is the Troubadour, it's not like it's someone's basement and yet, when we arrived there were about five girls and a whole bunch of family members. Sure, my friends and I added about another seven girls plus two boys who joined us a bit later. But really? This band is brilliant and now I feel like they're the best kept secret around.

And god damn, it was a great show. I have one requirement for a good show other than decent music: the band has to be having fun. If the band has fun, I have fun. And these guys were tons of fun. Garth, the bassist, was dancing while playing. The singer, Daniel, had tons of energy and engaged the audience (all 20 of us) between songs. They played a lot of new songs that I didn't know and I it was great hearing them but listening to the songs I already knew was absolutely fantastic. Standing front and center right on the edge of the stage, looking up at the band and singing along--it was perfect. The energy in the room was amazing and they knew just how to control it. They built it up, brought it down, played to the fans and we responded. They played for around forty minutes, I think it was around seven songs, and it ended way too soon. I'll admit, I was sad that they didn't play Detached, my favorite song, but after the show the lead singer promised to play it for me at the after party but sadly, I had to leave before that happened.

The band is brilliant. They're talented, they're good looking, they're great live. There is absolutely no reason for them not to be successful. So why doesn't anyone know who they are? It may take some time, but if they stick around, I think they'll be great.

Tweet-Twit-Twitter

I just checked the date of me joining Twitter: March 2008. That's insane, I can't even believe that I've been aware of Twitter, let alone actually a part of it for that long. Granted, I didn't start really using it until the election debates but nevertheless, I'm kinda pleased with myself for recognizing it as a good tool before CNN and the rest of the world discovered it.

I've had a lot of people ask me what the point of Twitter is, why would someone use it and why anyone would want to be constantly updated by their friends and people they didn't know. What I want to know it, Why WOULDN'T someone be on Twitter? Maybe it's because I'm the kind of person who is practically glued to my laptop but except for those times when I want to be totally shut off from everyone else, I love knowing what people are up to. I like being able to quickly publish my short thoughts and observations and I love reading the musings of others. Plus I think it's insanely cool that I have a direct connection to people like Stephen Fry and Trent Reznor. These are people who I have so much respect for and they're letting me into their life. I think that is brilliant.

And even if someone did not want Twitter for their personal enjoyment, it's a fantastic tool. For bands, musicians, artists and companies it's another way to reach out to your base and to keep people up to date with news, releases and promotion. It's all about permission marketing and having followers is exactly that. When you follow someone on Twitter (or even Facebook and other similar sites) you're saying that you want to hear what they have to say. That's why it is the perfect tool for bands. They have their fans right there. The fans are asking to be updated and told about tour dates, it's what they want.

So use it. Jonathan Coulton uses it to get requests for his shows. Trent Reznor uses it to tell his fans when to check the website. Saul Williams uses it for his wonderful, poetic musings.
There is no one thing that twitter can do. So it's up to creative people to come up with new ways to use it. And that's the best thing about it

2008 Music Timecapsule

(^adopted grandfather/blues musician at Disneyland)

2008 was a great year for me. I've attempted to encompass that great year in a mixtape (or playlist, if you will). And luckily for me, I figured out how to upload my songs onto a hosting site so that I can make it available for anyone to listen to.
So, here it is:
The CD all together

Individual Tracks:
Cheek to Cheek- Ella Fitzgerald
Loose Lips- Kimya Dawson
Got Me Thinking-Pump House Gang
Rollercoaster--Kimya Dawson
Kirby's House--Razorlight
Brat Pack--The Rocket Summer
Hair of the Dog--Nazareth
Paper Planes--M.I.A.
Maggie Mae--Rod Stewart
Wake the Sun--The Matches
17--Kings of Leon
Thursday Night--HoneyHoney
Slow Brains--HoneyHoney
Winding Sheet--Nick Jaina
Blame You--WakeyWakey!
Can't Go Back Now--The Weepies
Follow Your Heart--Brett Dennen
Against Privacy--Cold War Kids

The whole thing is linear, starting Jan 08 and ending with the what I hope to be the beginning of Jan 09. Some songs are supposed to capture the feelings of whole months, others represent specific events. If anyone has any idea what is going on in the CD, I'd love to hear what you think.

Happy Listening

Greatest Song of the 60's Ever

In 1968 one of the number one songs was released by Gary Puckett and the Union Gap. Young Girl, a love song like no other. Practically the Lolita of the music world. It basically proves that you can sing about anything as long as you make it sound nice.

Lyrics:
Young girl, get out of my mind
My love for you is way out of line
Better run girl,
You're much too young girl

With all the charms of a woman
You've kept the secret of your youth
You led me to believe
You're old enough
To give me Love
And now it hurts to know the truth, Oh,

Young girl get out of my mind
my love for you is way outta line
better run girl, your much too young girl

Beneath your perfume and make-up
You're just a baby in disguise
And though you know
That it is wrong to be
Alone with me
That come on look is in your eyes, Oh,

Young girl get outta my mind
My love for you is way outta line
better run girl, Your much too young girl

So hurry home to your mama
I'm sure she wonders where you are
Get out of here
Before I have the time
To change my mind
'Cause I'm afraid we'll go too far, Oh,

Young girl get outta my mind
my love for you is way outta line
better run girl, your much too young girl
(until fade)



I'm not sure if I can truly explain how much I love this song. It's absolutely ridiculous and hilarious. Awe-inspiring. Seriously.
How can older people complain about music today when they made this song number one in the 60's?

Long Time

Wow. It's been a long time since I've written anything. I'm hoping to change that and start writing more regularly. I suppose it should be a resolution of mine. I guess some updates are in order.

I've been really into mixtapes recently. Well, they're CD's but I prefer the term mixtape because there is something very old-school and organic about it and that's the way i've been doing them. I take a long time picking the songs and choosing the order that they're arranged. I also make CD booklets and covers and color them with crayons. There is something very theraputic about crayons. I highly reccomend everyone use them. I may post the tracklisting of some of them later, I really haven't decided. I wish that I could just post all of the songs but that probably is not very feasible. I had to laugh when my final in Communications was to create a mixtape that represented "who I was on the inside and who I was on the outside" because that's what I do for fun anyways. Yay for ridiculously easy classes!

I also want to learn how to DJ. It's incredibly difficult. I'm not ready to make the financial commitment so I've been working with a demo of some DJing software. I still have no idea what I'm doing. I think I'm gonna need someone to show me the ropes because I am not the kind of person to be able to teach myself this stuff. It should be interesting though, because I really do want it to be something I learn in the next year and a half.

I'm obsessed with a new band at the moment. Tiger Saw. They are a really really great funky, soulful band. They have three songs that I'm completely infatuated with; Distance, Kick and Snare, and The Big Bear Song are all very wonderful. Highly Highly reccomend that everyone checks them out.