Living Life from One Concert to the Next

Jared's Playlist via twitter 5

2011-04-27T15:04:00.000-07:00

April 27
Listen: Local Natives 'Wide Eyes', Beach House 'Better Times', No Age 'You're A Target', Real Estate 'Basement', Damien Jurado 'Cloudy Shoes

Ok. Start by downloading Girltalk 'Lover With An Attitude (Lover's Mix)' from iTunes.

April 20
Listen. The Strokes 'Taken For A Fool', Cut Copy 'Need You Now', Surfer Blood 'Catholic Pagan' Le Loup 'Forgive Me', No Age 'Glitter'

Coachella

2011-04-18T14:24:00.000-07:00

Sooo I don't even know what to say about Coachella. I couldn't accurately describe the sets listed below even if I tried so I won't. I'll say these are those shows I saw and I had a GREAT time and great really doesn't cut it. Much like my lack of words I also have lack of visual proof because I've started to become one of those people who doesn't see the value of interrupting a moment in a desperate attempt to forever encapsulate it. So I have few words or photos to share but I have a ton of memories. The bands, the people, the desert, the drive, the food, the drinks, the clothes I have it all. If you wanna know about it go and do it.

Friday
Odd Future
Lauryn Hill
Cold War Kids
Brandon Flowers
Cut Copy
Black Keys
Kings of Leon
Robyn
Chemical Brothers
Boyz Noize

Saturday
Two Door Cinema Club
Erykah Badu
Yelle
Mumford and Sons
Animal Collective
Arcade Fire

Sunday
City and Colour
Wiz Khalifa
Nas and Damian Marley
Best Coast
Foster the People
The National
Ratatat
Chromeo
The Strokes
Kanye West

Coachellaaaaaaa Prep

2011-04-08T18:02:00.000-07:00

In preparation for Coachella I'm trying to investigate as many new bands as possible because the only thing worse than missing your favorite bands show is missing you new favorite bands show because they weren't you're new favorite YET!
Friday
!!!
12th Planet
Afrojack Listened. Pass.
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti Listened. Pass.
A-Trak Heard of em. Curious. Listened. Leaning toward Pass.
Beardyman Listened. Pass.
Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears Listened. Undecided.
Boys Noize Heard of em. Curious. Listened. Pass.
Brandon Flowers Know em. Like em.
Brandt Brauer Frick Listened. Pass.
Breakage Listened. Pass.
Caifanes Listened. Pass.
Cee Lo Green Know em. Like em.
Cold Cave Listened. Like em.
Cold War Kids Know em. Love em.
Crystal Castles Heard of em. Curious.Listened. Pass.
Cut Copy Heard of em. Curious. Listened. Pass.
Emicida Listened. Pass.
Erick Morillo Listened. Pass.
Excision Listened. Pass.
Flogging Molly Listened. Pass.
Gayngs Heard of em. Curious.
Glasser Listened. Pass.
G.Q.
Hurts Listened. Like.
Interpol Listened. Pass.
Jakes
Kele Listened. Pass.
Kings of Leon Know em. Love em.
Kyle Hall Listened. Pass.
Magnetic Man Listened. Undecided.
Marina and the Diamonds Listened. Undecided.
Miguel Listened. Undecided.
Monarchy Listened. Undecided.
Mount Kimbie Listened. Pass.
Moving Units Listened. Like.
Ms. Lauryn Hill Know em. Love em.
Nosaj Thing Listened. Pass.
OFWGKTA Listened. Undecided.
Omar Rodriguez Lopez Listened. Lik-ish.
Ozomatli Listened. Pass.
Robyn Know of em. Undecided.
Sander Kleinenberg Listened. Pass.
Sasha
Scala & Kolacny Bros. Listened. Pass.
Skrillex Listened. Pass.
Sleigh Bells Listened. Lik-ish.
Tame Impala Listened. Pass.
The Aquabats
The Black Keys Know em. Love em.
The Chemical Brothers Heard of em. Curious.
The Drums Heard of em. Curious.
The Morning Benders
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
The Rural Alberta Advantage
Titus Andronicus
Warpaint
YACHT Know em. Believe I saw them open for Yeah Yeah Yeah's. Pass.

Saturday
Alf Alpha
Andy C
Animal Collective
Arcade Fire Know em. Love em.
Big Audio Dynamite
Bomba Estereo
Bright Eyes
Broken Social Scene Heard of em. Curious.
Cage the Elephant Know em. Like em.
Chuckie
Cults
Daedelus
Delta Sprirt
DJ Hype
DJ Kentaro
DJ Marky
EE
Elbow
Electric Touch
Empire of the Sun Heard of em. Curious.
Erykah Badu Know em. Love em.
Fedde Le Grand
Foals Heard of em. Curious.
Francis and the Lights
Freelance Whales
Gogol Bordello
Goth Trad
Here We Go Magic
Jenny and Johnny
Joachim Garraud
Laidback Luke
Lil’ B The Based God
Mariachi El Bronx
Mary Anne Hobbs
Mumford & Sons Know em. Love em.
One Day as a Lion
Paul van Dyk
Phosphorescent
Raphael Saadiq Know em. Love em.
Ras G
SBTRKT
Scissor Sisters Heard of em. Curious.
Shpongle presents The Shpongletron Experience
Steve Angello
Thao with the Get Down Stay Down
The Felice Brothers Heard of em. Curious.
The Henry Clay People Heard of em. Curious.
The Joy Formidable
The London Suede
The Kills Heard of em. Curious.
The Love Language
The New Pornographers Heard of em. Curious.
The Radio Dept.
The Swell Season
The Tallest Man on Earth
The Twelves
Trampled by Turtles
Two Door Cinema Club Heard of em. Curious.
Wire
Yelle

Sunday
Angus and Julia Stone
Axwell
Best Coast Heard of em. Curious.
Bloody Beetroots Death Crew 77
Caspa
Chase and Status
Chromeo Know em. Like em.
City and Colour Know em. Love em.
CSS
Death From Above 1979
Delorean
DJ Zinc
Duck Sauce
Duran Duran
Eliza Doolittle
Ellie Goulding
Fistful of Mercy Heard of em. Curious.
Foster the People Know em. Like em.
fun.
Good Old War
Gord Downie Know em a bit. Curious.
Green Velvet
HEALTH
High Contrast
Jack Beats
Jack's Mannequin Heard of em. Curious.
Joy Orbison
Kanye West Know em. Love em.
Kode9
Jimmy Eat World
Leftfield
Lightning Bolt
Lorn
Los Bunkers
MEN
Menomena
Nas & Damian Marley Know of em. Very curious.
Neon Trees Know em. Like em.
New Pants
OFF!
Phantogram
PJ Harvey Heard of em. Curious.
Plan B
Ramadanman
Ratatat Heard of em. Curious.
Riva Starr
Roska
Ryan Leslie Know em. Like em.
Rye Rye
She Wants Revenge
Sven Vath
Take
Terror Danjah
The National Heard of em. Curious.Listened. Pass.
The Presets
The Strokes Know em. Love em.
Thunderball
Trentemoller
Tinie Tempah Listened. Pass.
Tokimonsta
Twin Shadow
Wiz Khalifa Know of em. Undecided.
Zed Bias

Jared's Playlist via twitter 4

2011-03-23T16:08:00.000-07:00

03.13

Sunday listening. Tame Impala 'Why Won't You Make Up Your Mind', Gayngs 'Ride', Kurt Vile 'Baby's Arms', Beach Fossils 'What A Pleasure'

Rainbow Arabia 'Without You', Jimmy Cliff 'Many Rivers To Cross', The Rural Alberta Advantage 'Departing', Little Scream 'Your Radio'.

Last Minute Show

2011-03-23T16:03:00.000-07:00

Last night I saw City and Colour at the El Rey theatre here in Los Angeles. As the title indicates it was a last minute show my friends Erica and Rhian had bought tickets way back in November or so when they went on sale but Rhian inadvertently scheduled a tattoo session for the same night and was ultimately unable to go. Erica who's a huge fan of City and Colour had introduced me to the band via the song Sleeping Sickness when I was in Detroit feeling depressed and I became obsessed, I'd listen to (on YouTube but it seems since the birth of Vevo it's no longer available in the US) it four or five times in a row. I had always meant to go investigate other songs and eventually the albums but it was just one of those things that kept slipping my mind. So last night when we arrived at the El Rey which although I've only been inside once before it's one of my favorite venues. We missed the first opening act and most of the second waiting to see if Rhian could still make the show. We arrive and I'm excited but I still really only knew the one song and lucky for me I didn't have to wait long because City and Colour's frontman Dallas Green opened with it! Hearing my song first put me on cloud nine and I stayed there the entire evening thanks to the abundance of pretty melodies and lyrics that pierce your heart with ease that Dallas sings them. The frontman put on a great show bantering back and forth with the audience and at one point leading a sing a long to his tune What Makes a Man. During this song he beseeches the audience to forgo their tweeting, texting, picture taking and youtube recording to just as he put it "have a moment" from my vantage point most if not all obliged and once the moment was over he was sure to remark how good that had to have felt us not holding things up in the air in an attempt to remember forever a moment we'd be missing out on by trying desperately to capture it. He kept the evening going and before long he finished the set came back from an encore then sent us on our way. I have to say it was such a great show and if you get the chance, say at Coachella go check out City and Colour.

P.S.
On an just a funny note while standing outside waiting for what seemed like an eternity for valet to bring my Erica car around we spy Carey Hart. My roommate sees him first and before she can really ask did I see him I answer in the affirmative with a smile. After a few moments of agreeing on how hot he is his very pregnant wife appears! Then I love what happens next the very diligent security makes a path for her by shooing Erica and I away from the valet stand as if were going to mob Pink! It just makes me laugh because they were as they should be taking their job seriously but the only thing I would have found exciting enough to jump on her at that moment would have been if she had pulled up in my roomies car so I could get off the streets of Los Angeles at midnight and get to my bed!

Jared's Playlist via twitter 3

2011-02-20T21:01:00.000-08:00

02.19
The Joy Formidable 'Austere', Theophilus London 'Why Even Try', Jeff The Brotherhood 'U Got The Look', The Strokes 'Under Cover Of Darkness'

02.15
Listen. TV Girl 'It's Not Something', Warpaint 'Baby', Ricky Nelson 'Lonesome Town', Twin Sister 'Lady Daydream', Ghost Society 'Better Days

Jared's Playlist via twitter 2

2011-02-08T11:12:00.000-08:00

02.07
Plane Songs. Lia Ices 'Little Marriage', Devotchka 'How It Ends', New Order 'Ceremony', Snowden 'Innocent Heathen', The Cure 'Plainsong'.

02.01
Listen. Best Coast 'Our Deal', Deerhunter 'He Would Have Laughed', Fitz & The Tantrums 'MoneyGrabber' LCD Soundsystem 'All My Friends'.

Jared Followill on Twitter

New Feature

2011-01-24T12:03:00.001-08:00

Jared Followill is quite the tastemaker when it comes to new music. Anyone who follows his familal band Kings of Leon knows he's often credited with bringing new music to the rest of the band that influences and inspires them. A public facebook campaign was waged to get him on twitter and after reading this Rolling Stone article of his top songs of 2010 I personally sent him a message saying he should join Twitter or Tumblr if ony to tell us what music he's listening to (after downloading Yeasayer Odd Blood and Tennis' Marathon). And lo and behold he did! So I'll be keeping an archive of his selections for myself and anyone interested. Here's the back log

1.24
'Io' by Helen Stellar is blowing my mind right now

1.22
Listen. Santo & Johnny-Sleepwalk, Twin Shadow-Slow, Yo La Tengo-You Can Have It All, Zola Jesus-I Can't Stand, Nurses-Mile After Mile.

01.15
Listen. Washed Out 'New Theory', Wax Stag 'Folk Rock(Biblio Remix)', Wild Nothing 'Chinatown', Yeasayer 'I Remember' The Middle East 'Blood'

01.11
Listening to- The Morning Benders 'Excuses', Jónsi 'Go Do', Todd Rundgren 'I Saw The Light', Skeeter Davis "The End of The World

01.06. 11
Listening to- Broken Social Scene 'Lover's Spit', Ruby Suns 'Two Humans', Pinback 'Penelope', The Stills "Everything I Build', JJ 'You Know'

12.31
Blasting- Kisses "People Can Do the Most Amazing Things (Dye Remix) in my room

12.26.10
Listening to- Houses "Soak It Up" The Walkmen "Canadian Girl" Land of Talk "Quarry Hymns" Foals "2 Trees" Twin Sister "Phenomenons"

Jared Followill on Twitter

Baylin in the Basement

2010-08-12T06:33:00.001-07:00

Where to begin this one? Twitter was all aflutter at the announcement Jessie Baylin would be making her way across the country doing some residencies in an effort to get the new material from her forthcoming album out to the people. Naturally I jumped at the chance to see her in her new hometown of Nashville (which I consider my second home) even if it meant totally rearranging other priorities. I booked a flight at the behest of Carrie Linn, Alicia and Jessie herself! The countdown began and the day came and I had a huge suitcase packed to prove it. I would only be in Nashville four nights but I’d be leaving the south for the west coast and an extended stay with more good friends. I arrived on Wednesday to unrelenting heat and proceeded to my usual post plane meal Zaxby’s NomNomNom! The rest of the day was spent relaxing and browsing the interwebs. I went to bed high off excitement for what was to come!

The day of: I got ready in Murfreesboro and drove down 24E to Nashville. I met up with Carrie and we waited for Alicia, our road warrior to join us at their hotel. We were also waiting for my friend Angie (who wasn’t super familiar with Jessie but trusts my musical taste). Alicia arrived right on schedule and after a quick freshen up we were off for some pre-show grub. Cut to Burger Up interior. Burger up is Nashville’s new burger joint, the casual open seating is offset by the use of actual silverware, glasses and generous cloth napkins. It offers a good mix of upscale and relaxed with out making you feel undressed or like there should be a playscape nearby. I vaguely recall Nathan Followill tweeting something about Burger Up but we didn’t settle on it until Jessie herself suggested it. My friend Angie joined us here and completed our conformist manifesto by ordering the same burger all three of us had chose. I thought the overall experience was pretty good but I would have enjoyed it more if my burger had come cooked to my specification and the beer list was a tiny bit larger. The wine list from what I remember was quite extensive probably part of the draw for the Followill’s. On a full stomach it was time to head over to the venue. Carrie and Alicia went back to the hotel for just a second and Angie and I went to Grimey’s to get a ticket in advance just in case. Grimey’s is my new love! If I didn’t have to fly to LA and then to Detroit I would have definitely picked up some new vinyl. If you’re in town I implore you to check it out. With ticket in hand we went to the hotel to retrieve me car then right back to grab a parking place for the show.

The Show: The Basement is exactly that. It’s a small two-room space under Grimey’s. The first room has a bar in the corner, a small table, and the merch table. Into the second room you find the stage, the main bar tucked in the corner and standing room with a door to the back patio. There are just a few tables that line the stage and some stools along the walls. The ceiling is plastered with past show posters of small acts most of which I’d never heard of. We took a spot along the wall on a set of stools and before the show started Courtney Jaye came right over and gave us a couple of her CD's. The room starts to fill as people spill in from the first room and soon enough the show starts. Bryan Cates takes the stage and while I can’t really see him (illustrated in my pictures) I can hear him quite clearly. He himself jokes that his guitar only setup lends itself to sad and lonely songs and they do sound sad and lonely in a beautiful way that makes you think on Bon Iver. His set was fairly short with just seven songs. Jessie came on with what seemed like little commentary and went right into her set that went like this.

Little Spark
Whoo Hoo Oh Ey Hey Hey song
Love Is Wasted
Never See It Coming
I Feel That Too
Lonely Star Cracked Apart
Close Can We Be
Yuma
Greatest Thing
Honey Call Me (Dancer)
Leave Your Mark

Those were my song titles using the obvious parts of the songs and what I remember from reading the set list upside down from Bonnaroo!

Here’s the actual set list.

Little Spark
Hurry Hurry
Love is Wasted on Lovers
The Winds
I Feel That Too
Star Caravan
Sea Sick
Yuma
The Greatest Thing
Dancer
Leave Your Mark

What can I say about the new material for those who haven’t heard it…you need to hear it! It’s beautiful, it’s soulful and it is Jessie. I’m so glad I came down for a chance to hear the new songs again!

I feel like this is another album where you love everything but if I had to single some out for special attention it would be Hurry Hurry (which I have on good authority will be released soon as a single) Love is Wasted on Lovers, Sea Sick, YUMA, Greatest Thing and Dancer. Jessie was on stage not holding back (with the hair to prove it).

The album seems to have a theme of great love not your ordinary fall in and out but serious world shifting love but I could be just projecting. Mrs. Baylin-Followill ended her set with a familiar tune followed by many thanks.

Of course we hung out as most of the crowd cleared out. Jessie as gracious as ever took time for many and I think actually, for all who stayed behind... even this gentleman

who seemed although very eager very impatient (you had to be there). Jessie had already come up to us before the show started and gave hugs and hellos and made a point to do so after even breaking away from other people. We took pictures and chatted I pestered her again about her withholding this new album which she said because its different just needs more time but will be out in the new year so I promised not to ask again. We had purchased merch before the show and got our lovely free posters then as well. Our last task was getting back our tickets, which had been taken upon entering to be counted, and though we had to ask several people we finally found them. With tickets in hand we made our way out one last goodbye to Jessie who offered up kisses (so now we can all make shirts saying I’ve been kissed by a Followill!) and hugs and we were off. We headed to Loser’s for one last drink before parting ways. We talked and laughed and hoped that Jessie Baylin knew just how much we love her. I'm not sure if she knew but there was another JB in town putting on a little show down the road...that's right JUSTIN BEIBER but we did not succumb to Beiber Fever and we made to Jessie show instead! It was more memories made that I will hold on to for as long as I can. And I think Jessie will too, her parents made it out at the last minute and we later found out it was her first Nashville sell out show! I think I can safely speak for all the ladies in saying we were happy to play a part of that milestone.

I think if you're reading this I probably don't have to say but I will if she come to a city near you GOOOOOO! I think she is beyond talented, effortlessly beautiful and genuinely kind hearted.

THE END

Check out Jessie Baylin on her website, Twitter and iTunes.

JTNL and the great cupcake delivery!

2010-08-03T09:18:00.000-07:00

So this whole incident came out of no where. I wasn't looking for any shows because I already had an August show lined up with Miss Jessie Baylin and in light of my trip to Nashville and Los Angeles/Las Vegas I was definitely looking to conserve funds. I was doing my usually Twittering about and I noticed Nick and Emotion of Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights (one my favorite up and coming bands) tweeted about being in the Detroit area soon. Of course I extended an invitation to personally deliver some Suga' Tree Bakery cupcakes to them and wouldn't you know it Emotion (aka Mo) took us up on our offer! Through an exchange of tweets I learned she was particularly fond of Red Velvet and Strawberry cupcakes (two cupcakes I consider to standouts on our menu). The plan was set deliver cupcakey goodness to the band the following day.

I woke up early (relative to my normal schedule) I went on errands refilling supplies we were low on while my mom got started on the first batch of cupcakes. We baked classic white, chocolate, strawberry and red velvet. We topped the chocolate with chocolate ganache and half with our signature creamy butter cream and half with a buttery carmel frosting made with homemade carmel (I myself made). We did the same for the white cake. We topped the strawberry with the creamy butter cream as well and red velvet with creamy cream cheese buttercream.

My BFF and delivery assistant Violeta came with, we arrived at the Crofoot Ballroom (an excellent venue) just before the doors opened there was no one outside but we made or way in and wandered around till we found the band upstairs in the Pike Room. With cupcakes in hand I approached and said we have a delivery. Someone standing in front of a window with sunlight spilling all onto their face says "for who?" and I realize its Jonathan so I say "for you actually". I fill him in on the conversation I had with Mo via twitter and he's very very thankful! We make formal introductions and Jonathan invites us to stay since Mo is out getting food with some others. So we talk and I remind him of our first meeting back in LA. We met through a mutual friend who hand been telling me about their band and took me to see them at the Mint quite a while back. We all actually hung out after which all of us were a little fuzzy on the details of. Pretty soon Mo returned and we meet the rest of the band and pretty much just hung and until the show started. The members each gave high praises to the cupcakes to my sheer delight!

Their opening band (who I still don't know the name of) went on to a crowd of about ten people not including staff and members of JTNL. I'm not sure what to say about the opening band...I feel like I didn't really get a sense of them or their style. I felt like the lead singers vocal was overpowered by the band and I really didn't know what they were singing about. When they finished their set the place emptied out besides myself and Violeta. I was desperately hoping people had just gone to smoke (in light of Michigan's new smoking ban). JTNL was getting ready to go on and no one had come back in yet...but just before they went on stage the smokers came back! And a few others trailed in and after one or two song a few more came in. The crowd was about 20 or so people strong in the end. The set started out a little rough with some sound issues that Nick (the bassist) very quickly fixed. Jonathan joked that they would get it together and they did! Even with the small crowd, they put on a show! Once the tech issues were worked through and a round of whiskey shots were had by the band the atmosphere was relaxed with exchanges back and forth from the crowd and the band which included requests. They jammed on a few songs and in general were just fucking awesome. After the last song the crowd was rallied by a few to demand an encore which the band obliged only after making sure we really wanted it and of course we did. One of the instigators of the encore was called out by Jonathan to come up on stage to sing the song he had been requesting and he was anything but eager but the band wasn't taking no for an answer so he got up there and embarrassed himself to our entertainment. After the duet they finished up the song and ended the performance with an invite t the merch table.

We hit the merch table and got more compliments on our cupcakes which were down to the last few if any (my head was getting dangerously large)! Violeta and I both bought CD's and I even got two shirts! We hung out and talked with everybody a bit more and after a photo session we said our goodbyes and packed it up.

Mo walked us out and gave us her cd as well. It was a great night there aren't superlatives enough t describe it! I've said it before but f you don't know Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights get to know them and same thing goes for Suga' Tree Bakery!

Sun, Rain and hankies

2010-07-29T20:14:00.000-07:00

BEFORE

This gig has been a long time coming! I bought the ticket in March and I believe this is the ticket I pulled off the road while driving from Chicago to Detroit to go into a McDonald's to use the free wi-fi in order to get onto Ticketmaster.com! Yes it was THAT serious! So after the ticket was secured the next hurdle was a passport, something I should have had long ago but I'm lame and have never been anywhere (SAAAD). After I have a horrible photography session, I apply for the passport, get sent a letter saying my identity is questionable, send a bunch more papers FINALLY get the passport right before the fourth of July. Next hurdle figuring out accommodations after many hours on hotels.com and bing.com I settle on a hostel that some friends of mine had been to before and given a good recommendation. Now there's just days to go and all of a sudden pigeon-gate 2010! Huge uproar cane be heard on twitter and surrounding social networks. Chicago, Cleveland and then Toronto! So for those who don't know I live in Detroit, MI (born an raised so watch your mouth) about four and half hours from Toronto. I set out at around 11am on Tuesday morning my soundtrack starts with The Stills who are very appropriately playing as I cross the bridge to Canada. Getting to the border is the shorter part of the trip only about 45 minutes. The drive is quite nice not much traffic until I approach downtown Toronto. I arrive at my hostel within in five minutes of exiting the expressway. Clarence Castle is located on Clarence Square in an ideal area just southwest of central downtown. I believe it is in the entertainment district it was just down the street from CBC, Rogers Centre, the CN Tower and only 2.6 km from the Molson Amphitheater. So I'd highly recommend the place if you're traveling on a budget. But enough of that infomercial, back to business. Tuesday was check in day, I got my stuff inside and settled a bit, updated my FB (my form of communication with my family since I was not even thinking of paying roaming charges to use my iPhone), went out exploring and the to dinner, gave Katia (@ShesOnly17) a call to touch base and go over the plan for tomorrow (Show day).

SHOW DAY! I woke up really early, surprisingly early but I wasn't really awake until I seen a tweet that @ShesOnly17 knew where the Kings were then I was wide awake! I got showered, dressed and went over directions to the subway and the mall where I would meet Katia. Just before leaving I checked my order email to see what card I'd used to purchase the ticket with because I hadn't ben carrying all my cards in my smaller concert going purse. This is when things fell apart, I realize after checking the receipt which says my card ends in 4807 I have NO card that ends in 4807! Then I remember the day I bought the tickets something was weird with my card and I was sent a new card shortly after. Now I'm flustered on the verge on panic. I find a local number to Ticketmaster only to call and be put on hold FOR-ev-ver to be told I need to know the entire number (who knows the entire number to a card they are no longer in possession of!) I procede to call Bank of America who tells me they can't give that information out over the phone so I try to calmly ask him if he has any locations in Toronto, Canada OF COURSE NOT its called Bank of AMERICA so then I think you're going to have to give it to me the number via the phone! He finally says he can do it and gives me the number. So I call the local number for Ticketmaster back, I'm transfered to a customer representative who says she needs to transfer me to the Canadian side WHO THE HELL DID I JUST CALL!!! OMG DYING Dying dying! I get the Canadian representative who tells me they're going to charge the new credit card number I immediately say well where is my refund going to go he explains some circle logic I still don't get (and no refund has posted yet!) but I say whatever just do it then I'm all set. Now I'm back on track so I head out to meet up with Katia and her friend Claudene who are already at the mall. I walk down Front Street where all the action is including a tour bus! I run to catch up to where its pulling over but only a short guy with a laminate I can't make out get's off then back on and it pulls away again and pulls over in front of a hotel after I catch up with it again I realize I'm out front of the Intercontinental Hotel. A large group of men who appear to be roadies are getting on I scan the crowd but no familiar faces so I pick up my pace to get to the subway station. I get to the station and I really don't know what I'm doing but I just ask the attendant and I'm on my way. A quick ride and I'm at the Eaton Centre a huge mall. I try to quickly find the Apple store because I know they have internet I can use to DM Katia so I can tell her I'm here. I find two Bell stores and I go in the second one because they have computers and iphones so I figured they have working internet, NO! Not only was the internet not working but somehow I picked the laptop that was missing a key off the keyboard and of all thes to be missing it was the "e" after about 5 minutes of my tweets not going through I quit and continue to look for the apple store I only found it after asking someone at an info desk. The internet works perfectly I DM her and she's there within minutes! At last were all together and starved its time for food then time to wait it out fr the rest of the afternoon. Shortly after being seated we learn from Jon (@_Custard) there are already several groups of people in line so we all three inhale salads and book it to the venue. The paperless ticket system rears its ugly head again when Katia and Claudene are denied being able to line up because the ticket holder isn't there yet luckily we smooth talk our way in and the waiting commences. In the mean time we all get more aquatinted make friends, laugh at security, sweat it out uner the sun then get RAINED on and then it is time. We're about to get our wristbands and I look at Katia and say "I don't think I need to say this but if there a problem with my card leave me just be sure to save me a spot!" they open the gates and everyone does the fast walk to the ticket printer people. I get to the front of the line and my person walks away! His printer isn't printing! For CRYING OUT LOUD! I'm vocally disgruntled. By this time everyone else I'm with has been let through. I'm standing asking can someone else swipe my card like someone who's printer IS working! Then his printer gets going and he gives me my credit card back and hands me my ticket. I dash around a few people and make it to the wristband station set up just before you step in the pit. Two girls a couple people ahead of me get pulled out of line and they look crushed. The security assures them they aren't getting denied but they don't have tickets I think they had the same guy as me and they ran ahead without the tickets so as they're pulled to the side people behind them are continuing in so she starts whinily asking can the line be held he says yeah but he doesn't I get in before them along with a bunch of other people...I felt bad for them but this is kinda like war and all is fair in love and war. I get to Katia, Jon, Claudene, Dom (Katia's brother) and his date (?) who both had joined us about an hour after we arrived at the venue. We're all position right in front of Caleb. Jon and Katia are on the barrier. I'm a little on the barrier and everyone else is in row two. The stage is close, very close, the closest I've every been I think but pretty high up (my neck is still aching). So from then it was 30 minutes till show time the high I was on had started to die and I was fading but then the Stills took the stage.

MAIN EVENT
I have been waiting to see The Stills for what seems like forever! They are another band I was introduced to via Kings of Leon I have their debut Logic Will Break Your Heart newest album Oceans Will Rise both excellent! The Stills have a moody dark sometimes romantic sound. Even though I knew their songs I didn't know any bio info other than they were from Montreal so I had no idea who played what or what they looked like. When they took the stage I didn't have much reaction because I hadn't formed any idea in my head. I was happy that they were the only opener though because I would have a better chance at hearing all my favorites and I think they covered most of them. I was pleased by their set. They didn't talk a lot but they was a funny exchange from the lead singer about his guitar being slung way too high and not covering his man parts. The was some unintentionally humours moments including one of the songs where the bassist Olivier Corbeil doesn't play for the first 3/4 of the song and stood unmoving with a fixed gaze until I think he noticed us laughing at him and he started to crack a smile before regaining composure until his part came in. Another amusing thing was the guitarist Gregory Paquet who was nearly lifeless on stage people say Nathan shows no emotion this guy has him beat hands down. I kinda thought he was hot in a scary sexy kind of way he has beautiful blue eyes but I was most amused at his total nonchalantness I think people have more emotion practicing than he does performing.

The Stills wrap up and the guys come out and start tearing down. Of course that means Nacho comes out and gets to work, he's quite focused on his many tasks even though people are yelling his name all while he's working he does give a few nods and waves and continues to work furiously. Then theres some more wait wait waiting and then the lights go out the smoke starts and the lacrimosa plays! The guys come out and the smoke clears

Caleb is wearing a dark gray tee with the now infamous white jeans they kind of look super light blue or light gray but I guess they are white. His beard has been neatly manicured down to stubble but I actually havent been looking a pictures from the gigs since Bonnaroo so I really didn't even notice. Caleb did a nice speech about the fans being the best and greatly supportive he thanked the fans that are here now and the ones who have been here for a long time that got a loud cheer. He also remarked that they have had some good shows on this tour and some "funny" shows which got only a slight reaction from Jared. Caleb really seemed to enjoy himself I really got the full effect of his dancing for the first time and it was great watch those little hips go! Makes me smile just thinking about it. The crowd was particularly appreciative when he said we were one on the best crowds they've had on this tour.

Matt as usual has on layers a dark button up with a white shirt on underneath and I can't understand for the life of me how he can play like that. He's also looking the heaviest I've seen him and his hair is OUT OF CONTROL I'm missing the old Matt.

Nathan in all his glory had on a white cut off tee and thats pretty much all thats important there. I feel like I made serious eye contact with him but it was hard to tell with the angle we were on so who knows! What I do know is I will never forget him getting up from behind his set when it was all over and putting his hands together to form a heart I DIE! The man knows how to kill me HE KNOWS!

Jared was his best dressed self as usual he had on a cute red plaid short sleeve button up and tight fitting blue jeans and his hair was styled up like I like it. I realize now that when your that close up either Matt or Jared kinda get left out of the equation and usually I go to Matt's side but since we were all together I decided to stick with the group we were actually a little off from be dead center on Caleb so Jared, Caleb and Nate got all my attention and I forgot Matty existed until a solo came up which is usually what happens to Jared. But I have to say Jared made it worthwhile he was so into the show I was pleasantly surprised. He was giving good bass face, singing along to himself, smiling, making eye contact, I don't think he turned his back on us once and in general just being gorgeous. At one point I told Katia "I take every bad thing I've ever said about Jared back" he totally redeemed himself in my eyes.

the set list went like this

*Crawl
*Notion
*Taper Jean Girl
*Immortals
Molly's Chambers
*Fans
*Milk
*Closer
*Mary
*Four Kicks
*The Bucket
*Radioactive
*Where Is My Mind (Pixes Cover)
*Sex on Fire
*On Call
*Southbound
*Trani

< Encore >
*Knocked Up
*Use Somebody
*Black Thumbnail

My thoughts-
Immortals I always thought this was Radioactive and Radioactive was Immortals because it talks about going up yonder.
Milk again YESSS!
Mary, I think after the first couple bars of this song my stomach did a flip and a chill went down my spine (and I never get chills or the hairs on my arms standing up kind of feelings but I got it this night) and in the moment it overtook Southbound as my favorite new song.
Radioactive into Where is my mind AGAIN I was shocked! Of the three times they've played this I've been witness to two! And I like it better every time which is the same way I feel about Trani again shocked! I was never a HUGE Trani fan, in that it was one of the not often heard one I would beg for but with Bonnaroo and now Toronto I fall deeper in love with it each time I hear it live. Southbound just pumps me the fuck up! I just feel like it was made for me (self centered much?)!

Those were my highlights. It was a great night, with an awesome crowd in an amazing city I will never forget it. I won't forget how my ear was ringing with the screams behind me. I won't forget Katia's face after she caught the hankie. I won't forget those guys giving it their all. I don't think it could have gone better. :-D

Wakey! Wakey!

2010-06-23T09:38:00.000-07:00

So if you're perpetually 15 like me and still watch One Tree Hill though seven seasons in and the writing nor acting have gotten any better you may have come to know a character named Grubbs this season. Grubbs starts out as a mind-reading bartender (I know I KNOW the writing is BRILL) who is discovered to be hiding his inner singer songwriter from all his friends. Despite the writing or genius character development Grubbs can sing. After just a few clicks through the interwebs I find out Grubbs is actually the lead singer of New York based band Wakey! Wakey! (possibly the best band name in history) who just happens to be passing through my town. I immediately text my BFF and fellow OTH watcher Vee and alert her, she needs no convincing she's in!

Fresh off my Bonnaroo/Tennessee/New Tattoo high I head to Pontiac, MI where the venue Clutch Cargo's is located. I've been to this venue once before on a night where it was just a club but tonight there is a lounge area then a dance floor then the stage. Along the walls there booths and a few tables. The place wasn't at all packed mostly just the lounge area and table were occupied and the floor left empty. Two of the booths have been taken over by merch vendors more on that later. So me and Vee hit the ladies room which was interesting and entertaining in of itself. In the ladies room there is a bathroom attendant with the normal stuff gum, perfume, lotion standard stuff. On the way into the stall I notice one of her bottles of perfume is my ALL TIME favorite that is NO longer in production! It's Escada's Rockin' Rio and if you're familiar Escada has a long line of one season fragrances. Rocking Rio was introduced in 2004 someone gave me an Escada sampler and by the time I had used the tiny sample bottle and went to buy the real thing it was no longer being sold and they had moved to another fragrance. I look for this perfume EVERYwhere I go with no luck! So upon exiting the stall I ask to buy the entire bottle from the charming attendant who is sitting on a stool penning out loud a letter to her locked up love Lavell (I shit you not). After being declined and following up with $10 bid she accepts SCORE! My night is already a success.

Back to the msuic there are two opening acts before Wakey!Wakey! the first is a singer songwriter named Susan Calloway. Susan is from the metro area and quite good with a very nice voice and even did an impressive cover of the Beyonce (or BC Jean song depending how you see it) hit "If I were a Boy". She was very engaging we had a whole dialogue about facebook she seemed new to it. Vee was thoroughly impressed and even bought one of her CD's.

Next up was a very different style act called Haper Blynn according to their myspace they are Rock / Melodramatic Popular Song who also hail from New York. They were really fun and funny reprimanding the crowd for not getting of their asses to fill the void between the stage and the lounge area. Vee and myself were at least out of our seats and dancing but didn't venture to the empty dance floor what can I say group mentality is hard to overcome. I really enjoyed these boys and they did an awesome cover of another Beyonce hit Halo (which I had been thinking after the previous cover would have been a good choice).

After a quick reset Wakey!Wakey! took the stage for an eager crowd. The common thread throughout a lot of W!W! material is love lost and heart break this coming from a very tall bearded man makes it all that much more appealing I think. The songs are very bare your soul, lay everything on the line put it out there which probably explains the crowd being 90% female. And speaking of female empowerment I think there was a preshow meeting about covers for the night because during Grubbs solo set he covered Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun". I really enjoyed the show Grubbs was charming and funny. I loved that he was out numbered by girls in his band 2:3 with a girl on lead guitar, keyboard/bass and another on violin. He ended his set with the songs that could be heard on OTH and then encouraged everyone to come say hi at the merch booth.

Once they were leaving stage I kept inching closer to the stage along with another girl. We both knew what time it was although no one picked up set list to hand them to us we both just hopped up there and grabbed them! Vee not used to this activity was a bit startled and as I was explaining the procedure Grubbs walked out from backstage and we quickly accosted him for pictures he said something to Vee but took the picture anyway. As he walked away I realized he was telling her their was a line of people waiting I didn't realize that while I was stealing the setlist almost everyone in the venue had lined up and we had just jumped the line by getting him coming out of the door. WHOOPS! But I wanted my setlist signed and to buy stuff so we waited in line as the very last people until two other girls got behind us. We got to the front and took pictures

and I bought a Wakey!Wakey! Tshirt and some how I wound up telling them about the apostrophe fiasco with my middle name and laughing over that.

Once we got the goods from Wakey! we moved over to Haper Blynn where I bought a CD continued the apostrophe tales and had an interesting conversation about the bands chosen album art.

Everyone was really nice and engaging and we had as much fun talking to them all afterward as we did listening it was a great night!

If you want to check out any of the bands and I think you should you can find them at

Susan Calloway's Myspace, Facebook and Twitter

Harper Blynn's Myspace, Facebook and Twitter

Wakey! Wakey! on Myspace, Facebook and Twitter

Bonna-WHO? BONNAROOOOOO!

2010-06-17T08:06:00.000-07:00

Finally getting my life back in pre-Bonnaroo condition. So Bonnaroo, my first time, 'Roo virgin! I decided this was my year to 'Roo no matter what! I was still determined to go even after none of my friends we're going to be able to make the trip with me. So the adventure started Tuesday June, 8th I woke up and headed out only after getting my tire pressure checked and finding out one of my tires was in horrible condition so $137.00 and one new tire later I was on the road. The drive was easy breezy! 575 miles from Detroit to Murfreesboro spent listening to Bonnaroo artists. I spent Tuesday and Wednesday sightseeing, getting my last minute things together and seeing old friends.

Thursday I was ready to head to the farm. Since I knew Feli, Stacy, Liz and Nan were going I had the bright idea of meeting up with them on the way there so at least I would have some familiar faces as neighbors. Meeting up didn't quite work out the way I had hoped. Most of I-24 was clear until about exit 110 then it was bumper to bumper and people were just inching along down I-24E until exit 127 where most people were directed to get back on I-24 and head WESTbound back down to exit 112! I didn't actually do this because I was trying to catch the girls in the other car I had been 2-3 miles behind them and unable to catch up in traffic. So I was speeding down the highway because they were nearing the exit. I was talking to Feli on the phone trying to catch up and I sped right past them on the exit ramp of 127 I could hear everyone in the car let out simultaneous groans and wails of frustration. So I keep going down 24E looking for an exit but of course there wasn't one. Finally I saw the turnaround in the median for emergency vehicles and a pulled an (illegal) u-turn I speed to exit 127 on the westbound side only to be waved on by an officer blocking the exit. I called Feli to find out they they had been redirected back to 24 going west. I catch up to the ladies only for us to sit on the other side 24 for another three hours. We waited and waited then after inching along, bathroom breaks in highway brush and some aggressive and evasive maneuvers we get to the front of the line and get to the entrance.

We show our tickets get our wristbands watch kids get busted for pot wait a little longer only then do I realize Stephanie was in the car with them apparently she was tucked away in the back. We all stretch our legs and finally get directed to our camp site. I had asked my sister to look up sunset time for Manchester while we were nearing the entrance and she told me we only had an hour and a half of daylight left so upon arriving at our camp site everybody was hustling to get their tents up. I had done a run through at home so I was pretty good working by myself and got my tent up fairly quickly. I did not have as easy a time with my mosquito tent and even after I got help, called my brother in law back home (which was the last time I had cell signal) and ripped a hole in the mesh netting I still only managed to get it half way together.

In terms of shows the rest of the time went like this-

THURSDAY
Temper Trap
The XX
Wale

FRIDAY
Jessie Baylin
Gas Light Anthem
Kings of Leon
The Black Keys

SATURDAY
Johnathan Tyler and the Northern Lights
Brandi Carlile
Dan Rawlings Experience
Mumford & Sons
Dead Weather
Stevie Wonder
Jay-Z

SUNDAY
Ingrid Michealson
Regina Spektor
Kris Kristofferson
They Might be Giants
Phoenix
Mike Posner

Thursday
After getting the campsite pretty much together Feli, Stephanie and myself went to check out Temper Trap. I wasn't familiar with Temper Tramp and can't say I'm a fan even still but I was already feeling the festival-ness of it all come over me. We stayed at the same stage for The XX so we had a pretty good view. I really wasn't familiar with The XX either other than their AT&T commercial during the Olympics (and no Apollo did not make an appearance) but their buzz was big so I was excited to check them out. What I heard I liked but I decided to leave The XX early to see Wale. The first 30 minutes of Wale's set could be describe as WTF as in WHERE the fuck is Wale? Not on stage that's where! I was pretty annoyed by that and when he did come out I felt he did a bit too much talking. Because I left Feli and Stephanie at the XX I had to find my way back to camp solo BIG MISTAKE. I didn't know what pod we were in or what intersection and I walked for TWO HOURS trying to find it before asking several cab drivers that were of no help then FINALLY finding one that could help me get back to my camp.

Friday's sun came too early and now I see what Jessie Baylin meant about it being too hot to sleep late in the tents. I never slept past 7am because it was just too hot but hot or not we were all excited today was our big day Jessie Baylin and Kings of Leon! We showed up to Jessie's stage with more than an hour to spare. Upon arrival we were told we couldn't go to the barrier until an hour before. We were just hanging out when Carrie spotted me. I went over to grab some shade with her and meet some of the other girls. As it got closer to an hour before showtime there were quite a few people waiting around more than I had expected then I realized that it was because this "lounge" had not only tables and chairs but also electricity charging station for laptops taking this into account I realized we wouldn't have to fight the entire crowd for the barrier. When the lounge opened we quickly took our places with eagerness and speed that gave her drummer a good laugh. Not long after being at the barrier we spotted Courtney Jaye and then Jessie. Upon Jessie spotting Liz she came over to talk with her which turned her into a rockstar by association! Jessie took several pictures and was as sweet as always. Courtney Jaye even gave out a couple of her own CD's. There was murmurings of whether there would be a Nate sighting and sure enough he showed up. He stayed off to the right side hiding mostly out of sight but not well enough because he was soon spotted and while most of the crowd tried to play cool a few people went over to try to take pictures. Jessie's set started and she rocked it! She sang all new material besides "Leave Your Mark". Her hair was in big curls she wore and cool gray shirt, jean shorts, an Imogene + Willie necklace with a pair of very Jessie-esque boots. Her set was great I enjoyed the new material even more than I thought I would and Yuma was awesome! I think her album is even more anticipated than before if that's possible. For the last few songs of her set I broke out my hot pink sign that read "Jessie B. sign my sign for my next tattoo" (I forgot to take a picture of it). When the set was over I went around back for her to sign it and she was super sweet to me she recognized me for twitter (I was elated and embarrassed). I told her just how awesome I thought "Yuma" was and she seemed very appreciative. Just a few yards away Nate was acquiring quite a crowd and for some reason I decided to restrain myself and not to go over. Just before Jessie was whisked away on her golf cart Nate came over and congratulated her (I assume) and gave her a kiss it was cute beyond words. So when my Jessie Baylin experience was over the sun and heat was relentless so I decided to go check out Conan O'Brien in the air conditioned comedy tent. As I approached the tent a staff worker was circling the area in a cart telling people you had to have a ticket already to see Conan which I new nothing about so that plan ended there. Just then a girl asked me about just having been at Jessie Baylin I struck up a conversation and decided to go check out Gas Light Anthem with her and her friend. I didn't really know much about GSA but I had seen the lead singer in an interview and he seemed super cool so I wanted to see them. I really enjoyed their set and they definitely gained at lest one new fan. After GSA I was feeling a bit depleted so I decided to head back to the tent for some food and rest and sun relief. I thought it was gonna be a quick break and then I was gonna head back out for Damian Marley and Nas then She & Him but that never happened! I wound up eating then taking a nap in my car (with the air on of course). I didn't head back out until it was time for Kings by then the sun was going down as we set out for the main stage. I decided I wasn't going for the barrier earlier but Feli and Liz did so we got to the stage and found them in line with a ton of other people. As it got darker the line for the pit area got crazier, people gathered along the side of the barrier looking ready to jump the barrier to cut the line and that's just what happened. Chaos broke out people were pushing and shoving, people were getting squished and I think a few people actually fell down. It was horribly unorganized and I really feared for the safety of those involved. After a more people than I thought could even fit in the pit area got in then the craziness settled down.
After more waiting the show finally stared with pyro and smoke! They came out and got right into it with

* Crawl
* Taper Jean Girl
* My Party
* Be Somebody
* Immortals
* Molly’s Chambers
* Fans
* Milk
* Closer
* Mary
* Wasted Time
* Four Kicks
* The Bucket
* Radioactive
* Charmer
* Sex on Fire
* Where is My Mind (Pixies cover)
* Notion
* On Call
* Southbound
* Trani

< Encore >

* Knocked Up
* Manhattan
* Use Somebody

I relished every second of those new songs. I was all to pleased with Milk, Wasted Time and Trani and positively stunned with the cover a COVER a FREAKIN' COVER! I didn't take many pictures because I wasn't very close and I wanted to be sure I had battery for video. I had am amazing time watching with Stephanie, Nan and Stacy. I'm sure people around us thought we were freaks for singing along to Mary.

By Saturday I was in a comfortable rhythm. Wake up, walk to port-a-potty in hello kitty pajamas, eat a hot dog or hamburger for breakfast go sweat it out all day in the sun.
Up first Johnathan Tyler and the Northern Lights playing at the same small stage Jessie Baylin had played the day before. I was very excited to see JT and NL because I had been introduced to them by friends when I was living in LA and having seem them live once already I knew this would be a good set. They got off to a late (compared to Jessie the day before) and rough start, Nick the bassist was having audio issues through the first few songs. You could see some definite frustration but the band carried on. Jonathan came out of his shirt fairly quickly to the delight of many ladies. If you haven't heard JTNL they are southern rockers putting their own Texas twang on everything they touch. The four guys Jonathan, Jordan Nick and Kansas bring southern old school rock and Emotion Brown on tambourine and BGV's brings the old school soul and funk. Emotion actually took center stage during this gig and providing the lead vocal that included a rap which was pretty bad ass. The crowd seemed eager to hear more from her but that was all we got for this set. The band finished strong for the sizable crowd they had gathered wished us all well and dispersed from the stage.

Carrie had joined me in the crowd just as the set was beginning and we were festival buddies for the rest of the day. We left that stage to go to a tent where the next few sets we wanted to see would be. Brandi Carlisle, Dan Rawlings Experience and Mumford and Sons. I really only knew Brandi Carlisle's one big single so I felt a bit like an SOF fan when everyone around me was singing like every song. She had a good set and I realized just how powerful her voice is. I don't quite remember but we must have left to get water because our spots weren't nearly as close for Dan Rawlings Experience, we hung in the back sitting down in the sand. I think I must have been in an out of consciousness because I don't remember a lot about that set. I do remember Mumford & Sons and the large crowd that gathered for them. I especially remember the girls that had made shirts saying things to the effect of they wanted to give Mumford & Sons sons! We didn't stay long for M&S because we wanted to get over to the Dead Weather.

We trekked over to the big stage where we would be for the remainder of the evening to see Dead Weather, Stevie Wonder and Jay-Z. I think I was most excited for Dead Weather just because I really wasn't a fan yet. I had heard a few songs but Jack White had never really done it for me (blasphemy I know!). Just before their show time a light sprinkle came over the area it didn't last long but did give a reprieve from the sun. Jack White noted this when he took the stage, after being introduced by Conan O'Brien telling us to remember who brought the rain! A few songs in I started feeling exhausted so I spent most of their time lying down on my poncho in and out of consciousness but I do believe they made a believer out of me especially towards the end.

There was downtime before Conan came back out to introduce Stevie Wonder who had a great performance. I was very impressed by how entertaining he was, not sure why because he's been doing it since he was a kid so it shouldn't be at all surprising that he's so good at it. His set list was just hit after hit and he played all my favorites including Uptight (everything's alright). Jay-Z came to the stage (Conan didn't stick around for his introduction) in quite a good mood seeming happy and to be there. He ran through new songs and old jams that brought back memories from high school and college. Something I was surprised by was his production value and his set design it was very well done. He gave a shout out to Jack white but there was no duet and to the disappointment of some, no surprise appearance by Beyonce. The only there people on stage besides his band were Memphis Bleek serving as hype man and Bridget Kelly who sings Alicia Key's part in Empire State of Mind when Ms. Key's is unavailable the rest was all Jay. He was Jay-Z as you expect him and didn't disappoint even down to singles people out in the crowd as he has become known for doing which ed to a girl getting a special birthday moment when he brought her on stage and had the crowd sing happy birthday but not before a little language barrier between his NY accent and her (I assume) southern pronunciation of Maggie. I thought it was the perfect end to Saturday night.

Last day! Though I was sad it was going to be all over I was so excited by the thought of showering, real beds and toilets! However there was once concern...we were blocked in because there were people parked behind my tent which was behind my car which was behind Stacy's van. After I got up I started organizing things repacking, throwing away trash, disassembling and then I notice the people behind me were packing up so I casually asked them when they'd be leaving and they said soon in the next couple of hours (woot woot I was scared they were Dave Matthews Band fans and I'd be stuck till tomorrow), rejoice! Knowing I'd soon be free I packed up all my things so that after I saw my last show I could just hop in my car and drive away. After getting all of that together I set out to see and hear the last of Bonnaroo.

I had long been wanting to see Ingrid Michaelson live so I along with Feli and Stephanie headed out early to get a spot. Ingrid was hilariously entertaining! She had such funny commentary throughout her set I was actually quite surprised. She required a lot of crowd participation which include making hearts, "breaking that motherfucker" and jazz hands'ing it out. She was so funny and good I didn't hold it against her. The one not so good spot was her arrangement to her breakout hit "The way I am" tired of performing the same song she decided to change the arrangement (which is not uncommon the Yeah Yeah Yeah's did this with their big hit Map's). She took the midtempo song to a punk rock arrangement and it just didn't fly. But she did redeem herself with a cover of as she described an up and coming singer songwriter named... Britney Spears

which was followed by some AMAZING dance moves by her and her band skip to the 2:45 mark.

From there we went on to see Regina Spektor which was only ruined by it being a thousand degrees out with no shade in sight. Feli retreated quickly for shade me a Steph tried to tough it out but didn't make it though her whole performance. What I saw and heard reminded me of why I was supposed to go by her albums I had forgotten how much I liked her. When Steph and I left Regina's stage we went looking for Feli but instead found some band playing the ford fiesta garage with a lead singer/ Jesus impersonator as well as an clinically depressed angel playing violin

although they were riveting I left Stephanie to try to join Feli at Kris Kristofferson.

I wanted to check him out because Jessie Baylin is always professing sincere love for him and because he just an overall badass. I did a couple laps through the crowd but couldn't find Feli. I got a pretty good spot close to the stage. Kris was very old school country but as I was watching fatigue began to set in so I went and sat at a picnic table nearby but then proceeded to fall asleep so after dozing for a while I decided to get up and see if I could find Stephanie at They may be Giants stage. I didn't find Steph either but I did learn that TMBG was a comedy band which I had no clue of. After that was over I went to our meeting spot to meet up with the other girls before we were going to head to our last show together Phoenix!

While waiting at another table I was approached by a young man who after finding I didn't work at the festival proceeded to crush up a pill, snort it and continue on his way. Moments later I met up with Feli and then Steph we took one last trip to my car for them to grab some things and then we headed back to see phoenix. The area around Phoenix's stage was pretty densely populated so we hung way back. Stacy, Nan and Liz met up with us there, where we took one final group picture and I said goodbye to the gals.

I was on my own so I headed over to see Mike Posner to close out my Bonnaroo experience. His was in a tiny tent that seemed 15 degrees hotter than it was outside. The crowd was all super young kids that made me feel ancient, I think by the end of his set I had become a closet Mike Posner fan. But Mike put on a good show as he always does! Everyone knew all the lyrics to his songs he had the crowd rocking harder than everyone else I had seen all weekend and it was the perfect ending to my first 'Roo!

I trudged past all the DMB fans to make it back to my car. There weren't many cars on the roads so I was hoping I wouldn't be in line forever to get out but of course as I hit my street I see a long line of cars. I get to my car and get in line and it only takes me TEN minutes to hit I-24! I hit gas and wait for my cell reception to come back on the way to Murfreesboro.

THE END

P.S.
On Monday before I left Tennessee for Michigan I got my Jessie Baylin signature turned into a tattoo. It commemorates my first Bonnaroo and my time spent in Tennessee. In case you're unfamiliar the lyric comes from Jessie Baylin's song "See How I Run" and the context is "...You step left right you can't get confused..." and I adopted it as a mantra of mine a while back and it seemed all to fitting for me at this point in my life.

Hello Black Rebel, Goodbye Chicago!

2010-04-05T20:57:00.000-07:00

This concert experience was a little different than usual for many reasons but I'll start by saying that once again this was a band I discovered through my undying love for Kings of Leon. One day I was looking a photos of Caleb Followill because...well why not and I came across this Myspace campaign/ad photo.

This wasn't the first time I'd heard one of the members of KoL talk about Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. The guys had mentioned in several interviews they really liked BRMC's music and had toured with them and really enjoyed them overall. After seeing that photo I decided I probably needed to listen to this band so I went ahead and got their latest album at the time Baby 81 their fourth studio effort. Loved it, loved the sound, loved the hard rockness of it, loved it all. I kept two in heavy rotation All You Do Is Talk and 666 Conducer.

It wasn't until revisiting the whole album on my first trip from Detroit to Chicago that I decided this was a band I needed to see live! Lucky for me they had a show coming up in Chicago. Being quite eager about this show I purchased a ticket on my own though my roommates were interested and debating going. The night of the show I decided I wasn't going to go super early since this was a small club venue and all the tickets were GA. I also didn't want to go early because I was going solo (can we say I'm a pro at solo shows now)and I didn't want to hang around by myself plus the opening acts weren't that alluring for me.

I showed up about 30 minutes before the main event. The second opener Band of Skulls was ending their set and I didn't hear enough to even form an opinion. Another reason this show was different is because I didn't have a lot of prior knowledge about the band's lineup or catalog. I checked the BRMC wikipedia entry so I knew their had been lineup shake ups and I knew there had been quite a few albums prior to the current Beat The Devil's Tattoo which I had just downloaded from iTunes earlier that day. I was quite excited for all the unknown though.

The lights went down and the band came out and they went right to work. There wasn't a ton of interaction with the crowd from the three piece and their light show was far from extravagant. The show was great and felt like nothing was lacking. I felt the setlist could have flowed a little better but there was a great mix of songs I knew from the last two records and well as previous I wasn't familiar with.

I had a decent view of the stage from house-right but for future reference I would definitely go with house left (AKA Matt's side). The people around me were mostly cool except for the obligatory drunk girls who thought square dancing and falling all over everyone was appropriate. NOT! All in all I had a great time! The band was on fire and I got that feeling that I had been missing...that God, I LOVE a rock show feeling.

I encourage you to go see Black Rebel if they come to a city near you they don't disappoint!

If You Don't Know: Pt1-JTNL

2010-03-22T15:39:00.000-07:00

Get to know them! Check out their website, follow them on twitter and go see their shows. You're very welcome.

Wild Hare for Wild Times

2010-02-27T10:34:00.000-08:00

So if you don't know there's this guy named Kanye West he's kind of a big deal. He has this label it's called G.O.O.D. Music. He signed this young kid from Detroit, MI his name is Big Sean. Big Sean is up an coming, he's working hard to build a fan base and prepping to drop his third mix tape. Being a Detroit native myself, I try to keep my ear to the streets for what's coming out of Detroit. I've been following Big Sean for a little while now but I have to say he doesn't have the best track record with me. let's take this back a little to May of 2009 Big Sean was having a mixtape release party for his second mixtape "U Know Big Sean" at Les Deux in Los Angeles, CA. Les Deux is not a place I frequent mostly because it has gained popularity and notoriety from MTV's The Hills so you can imagine the clientele. Against my better judgment and because of my love for Big Sean I decided to go and drag my friend along (who's even less fond of Les Deux). We're on a list, we get in no problem we take a lap no performance is going on yet so we hang out in the main courtyard where the big stage is located. Although we are outside there is this foul aroma hanging in the air. So much so you can here other patrons mentioning it throughout the night. We stay, we power though watching skanky girls dance for guys dripping in Ed Hardy and even some wanna be French pop singer girl but no signs of Big Sean. We stay until just before closing without ever hearing so much as an announcement, a Big Sean song or catching a glimpse of him!

Cut to Chicago. I hear about an upcoming Big Sean show and as it turns out the venue Chicago's Wild Hare is on my street just a few blocks north from my apartment. Again it's a mixtape release party for his third mixtape. I didn't buy a ticket in advance so I figured I'd just show up at the door. I put on my Burn Rubber shirt to do my part in repping Detroit and head out. The Wild Hare is Chicago's reggae club and according to them known as "America's Reggae Capitol". The inside has yellow, red, green color scheme and covered is old show posters for Shabba Ranks and other well know reggae acts as well as obligatory Bob Marley posters. The room is just a long rectangle with bars on opposite walls. There is an upstairs balcony that's been relegated as a pen for the under 21 crowd.

The show starts and I'm quickly reminded why I don't go to rap shows there was like 50 million opening acts but no really there was over a dozen! I'll give you a brief synopsis

Act 1) B Money-couldn't hear any lyrics because his bass was so loud
Act 2) Impolite Society -two rappers one wearing a homemade cape and one wearing a head dress as if he were a Sheik besides their clothing the performance was riddle with technical difficulties including their drummer pounding so loudly you couldn't hear their lyrics
Act3) Ghost Writers-very unassuming not dressed up at all but brought some heat lyrically
Act4) Then came the R&B duo and all the guys in the crowd nearly turned their backs because between being dressed a like, lifting their beaters to expose their abs, using an incredible falsetto (SARCASM) and lyrics like "beau-coup booty" you just felt embarrassed for them
Act5) Buddy the Prince-brought out his local video vixens which were really three girls in leopard leggings and bad weaves one of whom looked high on something
Act6) J.O.-came to the stage with a live band including a drummer, bassist and keyboardist I wasn't into it until he dropped a Frankie Lymon reference so he won me over a little bit with that
Act7)K.M.-had decent lyrics although I felt there were a little to female centered for a crowd that was predominantly male.
Act8) Adilla-very nice lyrically and didn't bring a ridic entourage on stage
Act9) Aalyiah-the only female R&B artist of the night didn't have strong vocals, had an uber urban hipster look and her back up dancers looked like an asexual brother and sister combo.
Act10) B Fresh-the most memorable thing was I thought he was wearing a Kings of Leon t-shirt but he wasn't.
Act11) Rocky Fresh-was a small guy pretty decent, his sound went out and he kept going.
Act12) Youngster-a dude covered in tattoos that seemed to have a bit of a following but I wasn't feeling it
Act13) A wannabe Drake like rapper/singer with less skills rapping and singing

Before the next act the crowd had grown really restless and was starting to boo and Chant for Big Sean to come out which was met with scoff by the MC/Host Hustle Simmons

Act14) D. Meeks and Mickey Streets-eh
Act15) Street Click-eh
Act16) Geeze Louise-who's most memorable note was one of the dudes looked JUST like Chris Brown

At this point it's hard to remember but I think that was all the acts and by the last they decided they were behind and rushed the last act off halfway through their set. Big Sean came on stage and pretty much went right into it. He opened with Smoke and Drive but after just a few minutes a guy walked to the front of the stage which was crowded with people. He walks right to Big Sean taps him on the shoulder to get his attention, Big Sean looking a little confused hands over the mic he's gesturing for which we learn shortly was not a good idea. Once he has the mic in hand the guy let's loose a rant about not getting his chance (to perform I assume) (video below)

What you don't really see in the video is Hustle Simmons tackling the guy into the crowd causing mass confusion. After be Kanye'd (I love the irony of this) Big Sean tries to continue the performance but is getting reports that the owners want to end the show. Somehow they get things slightly back on track Big Sean performs a bit more and then the show ends. He performed for probably less than 30 minutes total. And although it was promoted as a mixtape release no mixtape was released. He did apologize and give an explanation saying that something else came up which took precedent and we'd understand later.

This is why I don't go to rap shows very few people can carry off rapping live. Too often these club shows are riddled with disorganization and TOO many people on stage (last nights incident would have probably not happened had there not been upward of 20 people on a small stage) and artist that don't have an understanding of putting on a show. I think Jay-Z, Kanye, Common, Nas people like this, true MC's, storytellers who are not just talking over music know how to put on a show. I think Big Sean could possibly be among that list but so far I'm 2 for 2 with less than stellar shows from him. With that said I still have love for Big Sean, I may try one more time seeing him live but I probably will not be going back to the Wild Hare.

If you are a fan of good hip-hop do check out Big Sean. He's on Twitter and has two mixtapes out. You can find the second mixtape as well as other music he's featured on available for download here on his blog.

So I'll leave with one of his most popular tracks off his second mixtape.

Cubby Bears and Mountain Men

2010-01-16T01:33:00.000-08:00

So you may have notice I missed my December show, FAIL! But I cut myself some slack seeing as how I got laid off, moved cross-country and started a new life in Chicagoooo! Can we sidebar for a few minutes and talk about how much I effing LOVE Chicago! I love the people, the trains and the buses! I love my new apartment and neighborhood and roomies (although they aren’t native Chicagoans they make Chicago even better)! I just love everything!

Okay with that said I was focused on getting back on gig track. I got on my laptop to look for a local show for January and what comes up…CRASH KINGS!
If you don’t know you’re about to know!
I have a little bit of history with this band. I met the lead singer/ keyboardist while living in LA on an all female compound located in a neighborhood on the western border of Koreatown, situated between a nunnery and a Korean BBQ restaurant, no seriously! The singer moved in and shook up our little place. Word quickly spread that the cute tattooed boy was a musician and we were all intrigued. We all spent a lot of the summer hanging out in our backyard filled with fruit trees sitting at a table talking and laughing.

Cut to Friday night-I hop on the #22 bus take a quick ride down to Wrigleyville and enter the Cubby Bear. The bar seems to be a Chicago institution located just opposite of thee Wrigley Field.
It’s a pretty large bar with a connected café that’s open during the day. On this evening there are two opening acts before we get to the Crash Kings. I can’t say I paid much attention to either. The first was a three piece consisting of a lead singer with Billy Ray Cyrus hair (present day), drummer who was sort of like an anime character the way he bopped around and grinned and a bassist that was fat that made me think of another bassist who almost didn’t become one because he said they’re always fat guys. The second band was a four piece with some interesting characters nothing to write home about there either.

Finally it was time for the main event and the crowd was very ready. The boys came on stage and started right in. Crash Kings is comprised of an unrelenting drummer Jason and the Beliveau brothers Tony on lead vocal and keys and Mike on bass. The band has a perfect mix of unique sound and interesting storytelling that I think really gives them their identity. I was happy to hear my personal favorite “14 Arms” early in the setlist and I wasn't the only person with prior knowledge of their catalog. There were lots of fans in the crowd who knew exactly who they were there to see. They were jumping up and down and singing all the words. The crowds enthusiasm even threw Tony for a loop who remarked that they weren’t expecting this since it was their first show of their first headlining tour! Tony, Mike and Jason BROUGHT IT! Mike was rocking it out on bass so much so in fact, he broke a string. String mishap and all the pressed on effortlessly, to me at least. They were tight, powerful and fun everything you want in a show. All three guys were giving all they had. Tony was funny and charming while talking to the crowd which I think is an important skill that doesn't come easy to all. Tony graciously informed the crowd that the love we gave made them feel like it was a hometown show or actually better because they don’t get nearly that kind of response in LA!

After the show I said a quick hi to Tony who was holding court by the merch table. A very nice fan took this not so nice photo but a memory nonetheless!

I was beyond proud to see them up their doing their thing and I implore you to see them live if they come to a city near you! Check them out on iTunes and Twitter.

If You Like Country Music...If You Like Music!

2009-11-29T21:02:00.000-08:00

So it's been a little while, since we last spoke I decided to up and move across the country all the planning and preparation was putting my November show at risk of not happening. I had planned to attend The Whigs show at the Troubadour on November 19th (with the lovely Feliciana Warren) but I had several other events going on that week so I was unable to make it. I researched shows in Michigan taking place when I would be there during the last week of November but didn't see anything that caught my eye/ear. I had all but given up hope when a friend told me that Corb Lund was going to be doing a set at The Hotel Cafe. I'd been dying to go there to hear anything and I'm a big fan of Corb Lund. I'd previously seen Corb twice at The Mint in LA and he never disappoints so I thought it would be the perfect event for my last LA show as an LA resident.

Corb is a tall, charming, Canadian cowboy, Alberta specifically (that's just north of Montana if you're wondering). He is a real life cowboy and has a long family history of ranchers and rodeo people. That family serves as inspiration for much of his songwriting in which he unfolds rich stories about his way of life and his fathers before him. Although country comes by him honestly he did not always showcase that side of his musicality. In prior music endeavors he was actually quite a bit more rock-n-roll with a stint in (what he refers to as a modern Black Sabbath) The Smalls from 1989-2001 although he had already began playing country gigs in about 1993 and did both for quite some time. In his current musical incarnation he's on his 6th album though it's his first American release. Corb Lund and his band have received high praise from many critics as well as accolades from the Canadian Country Music Association as well as Canada's JUNO awards.

In my opinion Corb Lund has three great things going for him (he has quite a bit more but let's keep it short)-
-Amazing presence
-Awesome band
-Fantastic songwriting

Corb Lund is probably six feet tall maybe a few inches more with curly hair usually topped by a large cowboy hat. He stands on stage with his guitar and his voice and he has you immediately!

His awesome band named The Hurtin' Albertans is comprised of
Kurt Ciesla on the upright bass who's so good his got a song dedicated to him and his bass.

Brady Valgardson as the band's drummer keeps time with the best of them and and naturally he comes from a family of drummers. Lastly sharing the stage is the 2008 CCMA Guitar Player of The Year winner Grant Siemens as lead guitar, lap steel and banjo player. I don't think Lund could ask for better guys to be on stage with!

And his songwriting, which is always the area that excites me most. He tells stories straight from his heart, straight from the daily news and straight from Canadian folklore. I asked him via twitter if song writing came easy and he replied no

though that's hard to believe and you wouldn't be able to tell from all the songs you hear from him filled with stories that keep you hanging on. Some of my favorites are "This is My Prairie"(below) which is off the latest album.

"Horse Soldier Horse Soldier", "Brother Brigham, Brother Young" off the previous record and his take on the classic "Rye Whiskey" which is probably my favorite uptempo song of his called "Rye Whiskey/Time to Switch to Whiskey" (seen below) though he's been playing it for a while it's just now made an appearance as a live recording on the newest album.

For his Hotel Cafe show Corb did lots of material off his new record which I'm instantly a fan of including "Devil's Best Dress" and "Long Gone to Saskatchewan". His set wasn't very long but as usual he didn't disappoint. Although I was sad this was my first and last show at the Hotel Cafe for the foreseeable future but I had a good time.

Corb is just wrapping up his tour so I'm sorry I wasn't able to get this review to you sooner but do check him out on the interwebs, myspace, twitter and iTunes!

Kings Come Home

2009-10-17T19:54:00.000-07:00

This show needs little introduction for some. I'll keep my back story on this one to a minimum. I've been a Kings of Leon fan for less than a year. I wan introduced through a friend soon after giving them a try I was hooked. I started consuming all things Kings of Leon related the whole catalog, every article, magazine spread, and any and every interview on YouTube. I snatched up a ticket to the LA show I had previously passed up and made plans to see them at Lollapalloza too. Both of the shows were great but after hearing about the Nashville date I couldn't resist. It was going to be the last show of an unbelievable tour in the boys hometown no less also a town I have significant ties to (by significant ties I mean a city I'm in love with)!

After months of watching the tour crisscross the globe and talking about this show with fellow KoL fans it was time to depart to Nashville. I arrived in Nashville Friday morning technically since it was after 12:00am, I woke up excited with my normal preshow mania. I had previously decided that we (me and my ex-boyfriend William who bought the tickets for us) should do a drive by at around noon to assess the line situation but before that I was already tipped of by Carrie that there were people already waiting in line at 10:00am! We get ready and have to make a few stops which include me buying gym shoes since I seem to have lost the only pair that I owned. We grab some fast food and hit the highway which is where I was when I got Nathan's second tweet about hot cocoa. I was already too excited to eat my fast food and his tweets were NOT helping! We got to downtown Nashville and I was immediately hit with an overwhelming flood of memories. I have missed this city!

We park around the corner from the venue and walk to entrance to meet up with the others I spot Carrie almost immediately and she points out the other HA'ers to me. There was lots of waiting in the cold and after a while William and I decided to go across the street to a cafe to get him some hot cocoa since there weren't many people in line anyway. While we were lingering taking advantage of being out of the cold I see a man in work clothes talking to the people who were lined up I tell William and he says he has brought them cocoa in shock I yell "He did not!" and he says "YES he did" I couldn't believe it but once again I feel reassured of my decision that Nathan is THEE best ever! We commence to waiting in line again and a while passes when people at the doors hear Frontier City being sound checked. I'm trying not to get ahead of myself but I feel like this has to mean our pleading has worked.

We wait wait wait until a guy come out and starts giving us instructions for entrance once the doors open at 6:30. I along with many other couldn't hear and the only problem with this is I had never been to and was not familiar the Sommet Center (formerly known as Gaylord Entertainment Center known around town as The Gec). I was worried that I wouldn't have a clear idea of where to go and I would waste precious seconds getting to the floor because it didn't seem they were going to do a lot to control the crowd or the running so I was preparing for mass hysteria. I put together what bit and pieces I heard and figured there were two entrances to the floor that were labeled and any other route would get us lost so I planned to go to the left entrance so I would be on Matt's side. As we inched closer and closer to 6:30 the crowd was clearly abuzz the minutes ticked past our deadline and everyone was antsy. Finally the doors opened and people started shoving but it didn't get terribly crazy. We got our tickets scanned and marked as well as our hands stamped and booked it to the floor where we were instructed to sit and I was quite glad for this.

I took in the Sommet Center it is quite a venue and chatted with people nearby. I stood up to look for other HA'ers we were all pretty close to the stage. We wait wait wait and then the lights go down and without any pomp Mother Father start their set. I was expecting the worst but they weren't too bad, they had a dark and moody sound but keep their set fairly short which I appreciated. Next up were the White Lies who I was looking forward to because I had heard god things about them. The did a pretty good job although some of their songs sounded a bit too much alike. I'll definitely give them another listen but I can't say the same for some of the audience members I was standing near. After several songs everyone was pretty anxious for them too get off stage and gave a loud cheer followed by a few groans after a song expected to be the last would end another would start. They were very gracious and thankful to the Kings and their staff and although they may have made a fan out of me I couldn't have been happier for them to end that set.

The lights go up and Nacho, Darrin and the rest of the crew get to work. Some fans call Nacho's name and he gave a wave and smile. I noticed there was a box of kleenex on Nate's drum riser and I hoped that Caleb was feeling better. We watched them work quickly on stage and eventually the lights went down and the crowd got crazy. It seems like it took a a long while but Lacrimosa came on and and the boys appeared!

The Setlist went as follows:

Closer
Crawl
Be Somebody
Taper Jean Girl
Molly's Chambers

Caleb gave a little speech about just playing whatever they wanted and I pretty much knew what that meant... then there was a bit of riffing before they went into
FRONTIER CITY!!!
And even though I had a feeling it was coming it took me off guard I couldn't believe they were playing MY song! I turned to tell William what was going on and I felt tears coming and my breath choking like I would hyperventilate. I pulled it together as to not miss the moment I'd been waiting so long for and recorded the whole thing despite being told previously that video recording want allowed. I did my best to stay in that moment and soak it up and it was awesome the concert could have ended there and I would have been on cloud nine thankfully for other people they continued on with:

Fans
Revelry
I Want You
My Party
Charmer
Four Kicks
The Bucket
Sex On Fire
Notion
Manhattan
On Call
Cold Desert
Slow Night So Long

The Encore included:

Knocked Up
Use Somebody
Black Thumbnail

Caleb made a few speeches through the night he couldn't believe they had packed the Sommett Center, he was happy their grandmother and come to her first KoL show although she wouldn't be back after hearing Sex on Fire and also gave his Nashville critics a few words.

Once again Cameron Matthew Followill got the gold star from me. There is just something about that kid on stage he just exudes rockstar badassness and I love it! The show was great, the boys were on the crowd was quite good although I feel like LA was a bit better. Everyone around me seemed to be singing along to everything one problem Nashville seemed to have an inordinate amount of annoying people from girls asking sing to trade places with you, people faking trying to get security to get to the front, guys getting physical with girls and people getting bitched out everywhere you turned there was a lot of hostility in the crowd.

At the end the lights came up and I felt great I had a smile plastered to my face and was hoping for a souvenir of some kind. Darrin collected the setlists and shoved them in his pockets. Some girls already had Caleb's cups in their hands but not sure how they had got them. Darrin pulled up one more setlist and pointed out someone who he wanted security to give it to and that was it. I made my way out and headed to the merch table I got my cherry shirt that I had been eying and I was done for the night.

It's been a long road to this date but it couldn't have gone much better. I was in a city I loved listening to a band I love and that's as much as I could ask for. I haven't really thought about how long I'm going to have to go before seeing them again I'm just holding on to what happened that night for as long as I can while dreaming about album number five.

Great Lake Swimmers

2009-10-17T13:55:00.000-07:00

I was very much looking forward to the Great Lake Swimmers show. I had just recently discovered them via Jessie Baylin. She was doing some self promotion and said one of her fave music blogs just did a little piece on her, and it included a live music session with her that made me fall in love with her music. I checked the website out some more and then one day I came upon the sessions for Great Lake Swimmers I was immediately hooked! The songs from their session were so raw but smooth and beautiful but brutal I loved it! Upon adding them to the iLike application on FB I started watching for shows in my area but nothing was coming up. After a while and out of the blue an LA show sprang up and I was all too ready to gobble up a ticket. From raving on Twitter I connected with some of their other fans one of them being none other than Mrs. Feliciana Warren. We made plans to go and all that was left was the wait.

The day finally came but with it bad news Feli was still suffering from a long lasting cough and wouldn’t be able to make it, I’d have to fly solo. I never did a real concert alone so that gave me some anxiety (silly I know, I can be full of silly anxiety at times) but I knew Great Lake Swimmers would be worth it. The El Rey theater is right down the street from my day job (I pass it often when I walk to various places for lunch or on errands) so I move my car down the street and got a perfect spot right across Wilshire Blvd directly in front of the theater. I read in my car for an hour because no one is there yet (something I not accustomed to after KoL shows).

After a couple chapters I make my way inside and take in the beauty of the El Rey. The whole venue is general admission. The walls seemed to be covered in red velvety material that was draped in bunches that hung from the ceilings. There were three massive chandeliers coming down the center of the rectangular room and half chandelier sconces hung on the walls.

There was a row of chairs lined along each of the walls and nothing but open space between them. I look around for a while then grabbed a drink at the bar at the front of the house near the entrance. Before heading to a seat I stopped off at the merch table.

After picking up a GLS tshirt

I head to the floor to claim a spot. There are two small steps to get down to the main floor and I saw others taking advantage of this as a seat so I joined. There were people spread out sparsely throughout the venue I was happy people were sitting because I felt this band was much more of a lay in a grassy field under the summer sun type band not so much a stand packed in like sardines band. But seeing as how this was an indoor concert on an October night I had actually been wondering would people really be standing. I took my seat and waited.

There were two opening acts first Laura Gibson and two gentleman who called them selves the Laura Gibson’s. She did a fine job with her interesting voice and her band mate’s wide variety of instruments. The Wooden Birds went on next hailing from Austin, Texas. They were very entertaining and fun and they closed with one song I particularly liked.

Finally Great Lake Swimmers were up, they went right into their set list and their lead singers voice was just a beautiful and serene as on their albums. They were very thankful to the crowd and congratulatory to their openers. The room wasn’t packed so many people were still strewn about the floor and sitting on the steps (which I appreciated) a small group had gathered right at the edge of the stage but the crowd was pretty relaxed. GLS played song after song with perfection that made me not regret coming out that night. I was just a tad bummed they didn’t play Various Stages which is a little obsession of mine. The audience did get a good collection of their four studio albums.
With songs like Pulling on a line, Let’s Trade Skins, Palmistry, and one of the standouts of their catalog to me Your Rocky Spine.

The show ended just after midnight (way past my bedtime for a Monday night). I would implore you to check out the Great Lake Swimmers their beautiful melodies and harmonies along with intriguing lyrics are crushingly beautiful songs and with that I leave you with a clip from their Laudromatinee Sessions which is a must see.

Great Lake Swimmers - Various Stages from LaundroMatinee on Vimeo.

Also if you haven’t seen Jessie Baylin's, or Bon Iver’s sessions check those out too!

Last minute with Mz.B

2009-09-29T21:39:00.000-07:00

So one day I'm at my part-time job where we listen to one of 3 stations we have 80's hits, 90's hits or Dance. My fav was on 80's hits and none other than Pat Benatar "Love Is a Battlefield" comes on I'm bopping around the store mouthing the words when a customer looks over smiles and chuckles a bit. She says you know Pat Benatar is going to be at the L.A. County fair on Sunday (the next day). I say no I didn't but thanks that's very tempting. My wheels start turning I put the word out via Facebook and Twitter to find some accomplices. I forget to check the ticket price and she times until it was already late in the afternoon when it hit me I just said aww bummer. The following day I go to work and a coworker asks about the concert and for some reason I go to the LA County fair website just to see and lo and behold I realize I actually hadn't missed it! The concert was the upcoming Thursday at 7:30 and then I realized that fair admission was only FIVE dollars after 5pm that day, not to mention fair food! I was SOLD! And so was my coworker.

Thursday we left work a bit early to drive to Pomona,CA where the fairgrounds are, traffic was thick most of the way and made me nervous. We go there just minutes before showtime. Upon arrival we were greeted with a long line at the ticket counters but we did confirm there was an opening act (Berlin) so I felt a bit more at ease. My ease soon dissipated when my co-worker Christy noticed a sign that said there were only a limited amount free general admission tickets which had started being distributed at three pm. We got our fair tickets and started hightailing it to the grandstand we can hear Berlin on stage. Once there we found the box office and there were still tickets left SUCCESS! We get in and take our seats.

We catch just the end of Berlin they sounded great and Terri Nunn looked great as well! Main event time the lights went down and people jot pumped up, Pat Benatar came out looking great and sounding even better. I was ery impressed as a person who longs to have been a teen in the 80's it was great seeing her up there doing her thing. On this tour they were celebrating their 30th anniversary as a band which was clearly seen in how tight and insync hey were on stage. I thought it was awesome that she has been touring with her husband who serves as lead guitarist Neil Giraldo for so long, just adorable and really a testament to their relationship I'd have to assume. They had an awesome setlist that included all the favorites. We Belong, Hit Me With Your Best Shot, Invincible (which she noted was in the worst movie of all time The Legend of Billie Jean,which I used to watch every time it came on TV!) Love Is a Battlefield and the closer of the night Heartbreaker. It was a really fun show and It was great to see the cross section she drew out that night. It put a smile on my face to see guys, soccer moms and young kids rocking out with Pat. I'm so glad I took the oppurtunity to see Pat Benatar live in concert she is truly great! I'd have to suggest buying her greatest hits album.

Backlog

2009-09-19T23:33:00.000-07:00

To get you up to speed.

July
07.13.2009
Incubus
Hollywood Bowl Los Angeles, CA

This was my first time at "The Bowl", I'd driven past numerous times and heard first hand accounts of how cool it is. It's definitely a cool venue! The seats I had weren't that great but I had a wonderful time. I think the sound quality could have been better but that may have been due to where I was seated. Incubus did not disappoint! Stellar in the night air and under the stars (what I could see of them for being in LA ie. Smog heaven and millions of lights) was all I needed and their cover of Prince's Let's Go Crazy was just the cherry on top.

August
08.07-09.2009
Lollapalooza
Grant Park Chicago, IL

Toooo many bands to name, so many I didn't get to see. Highlights Kings of Leon, Arctic Monkeys, Fleet Foxes, Cage The Elephant, Santigold and Passion Pit. Chicago lived up to all of it's hype that I had placed on it and I can't wait to go back!

08.22.09
Kings of Leon
The Forum Los Angeles, CA
I have an IN-DEPTH review here

September
09.17.2009
Yeah Yeah Yeah's
The Greek Theater Los Angeles, CA

I had been pining away over seeing the Yeah Yeah Yeah's before the year was out and my hopes kept being dashed! I couldn't make it to Sasquatch or any their other festival dates they played and I had missed shows in my area, then out of nowhere it seems this date came up. I was all over that presale like white on rice. And Just as I was securing the tickets for myself and five friends I heard the news they would be filling in for The Beastie Boys at Lolla. Which was just around the corner at that time. I got the tickets anyway and was quite alright with seeing them twice. My view at Lolla wasn't great, I kinda just hung back and watched the video screens because I knew I'd get my real show the following month.

Concert night. I finally figured out who was opening that day at work I checked out YATCH and The Breeders on MySpace neither left an indelible mark so I was okay with missing them. We got there at the end of The Breeders set who were having some sound issues as well as trouble wining over the crowd. They had a pair of songs which seemed to be mre popular and gained the a bit more love from the audience so they left the stage on a pretty good note.

The YYY's take the stage Karen O. is donning some dinosaur type onezie/suit complete with a headpiece and commences to do the things that makes me call her the best front woman in rock going right now. They blister through the set hitting all the right marks Runaway, Zero, Hysterics (my current FAV which Karen had a spot of trouble with and required a do over but in the most endearing way possible) as well as tracks off the previous record like Pin and Date With The Night and of course Maps which they do an acoustic version of now. I heard this version at Lolla and was a bit disappointed but when I heard it at The Greek it was great and didn't leave me wanting. Not sure if it was because I knew what I was gonna get or if it was the much better vantage point but that night the rendition was awesome. They released huge eyeball beach balls into the crowd I was obsessed with hitting one. I was standing next to a rather tall fellow who kept them just out of reach but I finally got a little touch in and that made me happy. In the end Karen O's voice along with pink and white confetti being blasted into the air was a magical feeling.

Setlist here

P.S. I love The Greek it's quite similar to The Bowl with the whole outdoor amphitheater but smaller (which I always prefer in a concert setting) not to mention cup holders in the bathroom stalls can you say GENIUS! And I'd be remiss if I didn't include the celeb sightings of Chris Kattan, Topher Grace, Kate Walsh and Sweet Pea (of Project Runway fame).

Introductions

2009-09-19T23:17:00.000-07:00

Hi.

Ni'Cole.
Twenty-five.
Los Angeles.
Female.

I've always been a huge lover of music but I never went out of my way to see shows. Recently I started listening to a band that tours nonstop and spends lots of time at international music festivals and it made me yearn for live music like never before. I've picked up this dirty little habit and I realized that I get through days and weeks of monotony by thinking about the next time I will be at a show. It dawned on me I'm living my life from one concert to the next and it keeps me happy and sane and away from sharp objects when life has me nearing a 5150 hold. After that realization I realized since July of this year I've been to at least one show a month soon after that thought I decided I should try to keep this up for a whole year, so here goes.

Before I start that let's get some things out there I'm not a writer, I'm not a music critic I am a girl who loves music like I need air in my lungs. This blog may or may not contain in-depth reviews of concerts and this blog may or may not contain in-depth reviews relating to said concerts so sit back relax and be happy with what you get.