Sunday, April 28, 2013

Baby D's Shuffle: Spring Edition

I have some stuff to blog about, but after writing so much yesterday I don't really feel like writing full paragraphs. Maybe I will later today. I think I'll do a shuffle in honor of spring. We've had some icky cold, rainy, and even SNOWY weather still in April so I am ready for some sun and warmth. Let's see what I can find for you. Instead of full random today, I'm going to search for keywords:

1. Fredrik - Rites of Spring
No. I'm looking for something more unplugged today. This just hurts my brain. This is not my type of music.

2. Liz Green - Who Killed Cock Robin?
Why did this happen?

3. Amos Lee - Flower
Sometimes I forget about Amos Lee, but I do like him. He comes up a lot when I'm on Pandora. It's not something that I intentionally go to, but I never seem to mind it when I hear it.

4. The Weepies - I was Made for Sunny Days
I've had The Weepies in my collection for a long time. They have a catchy sound, but their sound doesn't work for me every day. Still, good enough to listen to.

5. Beach Fossils - What a Pleasure
This song has a lot of plays in my iTunes, but I'm not sure why because I don't like it that much. Sometimes I forget and leave my iPod playing overnight, maybe it likes this song so plays it a lot when I'm not listening. It's not the worst song I've ever heard in my whole life, so it can stay.

6. The Empty Spaces - Holidays are Nice and Warm
A local band with potential. I haven't seen them live... but maybe I'll need to fix that problem soon. (Click the link above to download EP.)



7. Ben Weaver - Grass Doe
I do kind of like Ben Weaver. He's another I tend to listen to on Pandora a lot. I love his song, East Jefferson.

8. Lovehammers - Trees
Do you remember Marty from Lovehammers when he was on that Rockstar show? I do; he was one of my favorites. I still love this song of his... he sang it during the show and had recorded with his band as well. I don't really follow the band much, but this still gets listened to frequently. I like it's rock sound with a sweet message. Awww.

9. Steve Poltz - Slovenia Breeze
This is from his album, Noineen Noiny Noin, which is pretty hilarious to me. The song is a little draggy; has a retro sound that makes me think of that horrible song by the most horrible song ever recorded: America, A Horse with No Name.

10. Trampled by Turtles - Hammock Swinging
I felt a little guilty when I picked this one -- it felt like cheating because you already know I like TBT. I don't like this song though. I do like banjo music, but not this kind. It's a little too Deliverance for me.

I don't usually declare a Shuffle winner, but today I will. The winner is: The Empty Spaces.

Well, that's all for now. I have some grown up things to do, like laundry. I'm pretty sure laundry is what caused most of the dinosaurs to become extinct just to get out of doing it...



Saturday, April 27, 2013

Recently Unearthed: Quiet Corral | Rambling Around Town: Fitz & the Tantrums / Afentra's Prom

About a month ago I was whining about not going to SXSW and not making it to local shows due to budget restrictions. (Did you know that clicking on ads on my blog will help with my budget?) Finally, last night, I got to see a really, really, really (fill the rest of the page with reallys) good show and I'm so excited, invigorated. I feel certain this will be the best show of 2013, but hopeful that something might unseat last night's show.

Afentra's Prom is an event put on by our local radio station, 96.5 the Buzz. They do several free shows each year, but I've had a tendency to shy away. When I think free, I think packed to the gills with drunks and freaks. I probably have this impression because one fateful morning I made the error in judgment and attended their Kegs & Eggs event to see Bush and ended up shoved like sardines in a can in a bar at 7 am for two hours on a hot Kansas City summer day. By the time the band started, I had to leave because I had a 10:45 appointment across town. So, I got to hear one song before leaving. I was about to stroke out anyway, so I was going to have to go one way another.

A friend from work assured me that their other events are not like that, so when I heard that they were having Fitz & the Tantrums in town for the show, I just HAD TO GO.

This week my other friend said she'd heard that Quiet Corral was playing first at the show. I have some of their music and like it. I've even been to one of their shows, but left before they took the stage (bad venue, couldn't hack it).

I got there pretty early...the show hadn't even started. QC took the stage first and IMMEDIATELY I was thrilled. These guys are great. They didn't play a huge set, but it was awesome. Don't discount them just because they still kind of fall in that "local band" category, they put on a great, professional show. I can't even really describe their show and give it the proper justice, but let me say that as a person who dabbled at playing drums, having a six person drum/percussion "solo" for your last song is pretty much the greatest thing on earth. My friends arrived mid-set. One friend, with whom I particularly love talking music with said "You love them don't you? I knew you would!" I was in heaven. After their set, I wandered outside where a complete stranger came up to me and exclaimed "I have no idea what band that was, but they were awesome!" I don't like strangers, but I ended up talking to him about the set for the next 10 minutes or so. We were so excited, we practically hugged it out as we parted ways.




Next band took the stage: Beware of Darkness. I've heard some of their stuff, but it didn't seem to flow smoothly from Quiet Corral, plus some of their songs seemed to stumble through. I'm not sure how well the guy can really play guitar or if those were the sounds he was going for. They have a bit of an 80/90s hair band sound to me. That's not an insult by any means, it just didn't fit the other music. I guess since the next band was The Lemonheads, maybe that tied them in a bit. I still like their songs, it just seemed to be a mismatch.


Next came The Lemonheads. I owned a Lemonheads CD way back when people knew who they were. My old roommate and I tried in vain to like The Lemonheads since that seemed to be the thing to do. I still haven't. The band is not bad, they just don't do anything for me. There is plenty of music out there that makes me happy; there is no need to listen to music that makes me not care about it.

Last to play was Fitz & the Tantrums. I have been really excited about this band since seeing them on Live from Daryl's House (see past blogs) and even downloading their stuff from Daytrotter. Besides loving their music, I have some sort of chemical reaction to Michael Fitzpatrick that I will not go into detail about, but just know it exists. Well, you couldn't have made this fat kid happier by taking her to a candy store because they put on an incredible show. I didn't want it to end.

They have a new album coming soon. Guess who has pre-purchased.... ;)




Rambling Around Town: Flux Pavilion

If you know anything about me, you know I'm not a fan of instrumental music. In fact, just a couple of short weeks ago, I ended up at a show that featured MORE THAN ONE instrumental act and ended up watching (and even almost enjoying) a Screamo band on the patio (in about 40 degree weather) to avoid being ear-assaulted by David Hasselhoff on Acid and whatever horrible other band it was. Don't ask me the name of the Screamo band, I don't remember it either. It wasn't that good anyway.

This may not seem to relate to the story, but it does in my brain... a couple of months back, my friend ended up with Flux Pavilion tickets for really cheap. When she got them, she was like "Yay!" and I was like "Who? What?" then she said that fateful word --- "dubstep" and a shiver ran down my spine as I quickly shook my head back and forth in judgment: "No friend of mine shall attend a dubstep show (not with me in tow, anyway)". And so, time moved forward, as time finds a way of doing. I filed away in the back of my head that one day in the future my friend would go on her dubstep adventure without me and I would stay home and watch Glee while eating Ramen Noodles, which is still an improvement in my book.

On that fateful day, said friend emailed me that she couldn't get a sitter. Her boyfriend offered to sit on her kid, but her sister was busy so could not go with her. She could go to the show -- if only she could find someone to go with her. Apparently, every person she had ever known was "busy" that night. I think they just didn't want to say "um, no, actually, I do not want to hear any dubstep music, thank you." Me, being the most awesome friend in the whole world (no debating) said "Well, you know I'd rather shove an ice pick in my ear, but if you can't find anyone to go with you, I can go." She said "What is an ice pick?" but that is a whole other story about being friends with someone 10+ years your junior.

That evening, as I was preparing myself, I realized that I do not know anything about dubstep culture except what I've learned from Key & Peele's skit (I linked on a previous blog, you figure it out). The other thing I knew is that I was pretty sure that I was not going to just blend in with the crowd. I didn't even know what to wear. I wore one of my less-mom-looking shirts (I'm not a mom, but I'm old enough to dress like one) and headed out, still pretty sure I was going to hate life for the next several hours.

Met up with Miss Friend and she also had difficulty knowing what to wear. Doesn't matter so much when you're young and hot... but anyway, we headed to the destination of doom and as we got about a block away started noticing a lot of mostly naked young "ladies" in tutus and some sort of yeti legs heading in the same direction. I began to pray and say curse words at the same time. I am not a fan of all ages shows (or 16+ shows, which are just about the same thing) and this was going to be a weird, weird experience.

We arrived during the first DJ. Don't know who he was. It was okay. Really, it was. We went outside and watched some teenager puke 13 times (never a good sign if you puke 13 times before 9 pm) and came back in after awhile and there was another DJ. He was boring. Went back outside. Another DJ...this one in a mask. I didn't really get it either, but what I did think was H.I.L.A.R.I.O.U.S. was that this dude was flopping all around, I don't even know how to explain it. I tried to take a picture, but he was flapping his arms so fast they came out cone-shaped. How this dude did whatever you call what he was doing while flapping his arms so hard he probably threw both shoulders out of place I do not know. Anyway, tolerable. By this time, I was sitting on the floor watching the teenage freak show. I really have no desire to see teenagers in their underwear and sorta hope you do not either, but there were millions of them here. I kind of felt like I was going to get arrested just for having my eyes open.

What seemed like an eternity passed and finally, this Flux Pavilion fella finally took the stage. It was okay. Let me tell you, saying it was OKAY is like 1000000083 times better than what I thought it was going to be. There were 2 redeeming qualities: I didn't have to pay for it and um......... ...... ......... ...... ..... I'm sure there was another redeeming quality that I will think of someday.

I left less traumatized than I expected. Is that a redeeming quality?

Proof I was there.

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Recently Unearthed: Hey Marseilles

I'm broke and I have no groceries...hold on, there's a point to this story. So, I spent the weekend pretty much bored, doing laundry and trying to figure out how to make a steak dinner out of a can of corn and some cocktail weenies. I finally decided it can't be done. I remembered I had a coupon for two free tacos from Jack in the Box. I scrounged around and found it (it was expired). Too bad... I took the credit card to Jack in the Box anyway. For those of you familiar with Yelp, I'd like you to know that I am the Duchess of our local Jack in the Box. It's so cheap and yummy and trashy all at the same time.

There really is a musical point here. Anyway, for some reason I have to turn off my car stereo like a mile away from the drive thru so I can focus...I just have to do it. So I went and gave my order (in my PJs even) and turned on the radio while I was waiting for my food. This awesome song was playing, but I didn't know what it was. My radio has one of those digital displays that usually tells you the artist, but it wasn't displayed. I was frustrated, but took note of the time so I could go look it up on the website for 96.5 The Buzz. Then Meredith announces that it's Hey Marseilles performing in the studio. They even have a show tonight, but that's not in my budget, plus it's starting to storm and I have to work tomorrow. Anyway, Meredith has already posted a link to the songs they performed this afternoon. I only caught the last one and loved it, but you'll like the other two too. If you go to the band's website, they have a link for a free download at the very bottom.

You know I'm a sucker for fun videos:

Basic Rambling: Bad Dreams

The last twelve months seems to have had a theme: parents of my friends dying. Yeah, I bet you were thinking I was going to say something funny there, but I didn't. Life gets more real when you get to that age when the inevitable seems really, really inevitable. Last Fall, my dad almost died. In fact, he tried to do it a few times over several weeks. Friends' parents died from expected reasons to complete freak accidents; some suffered through illnesses, others happened quickly.

I think it has caught up with me. Last night, all I could dream about was my dad dying. He had a birthday recently, the same weekend of one of the most recent deaths. We went out for lunch and as we were leaving, he thanked me for coming home a day early from my vacation to spend the day with him for his birthday. I told him, "Yeah, well, thanks for having another birthday." That's about as sentimental as it gets around our house.

Back to my dreams last night. I'd wake up and tell myself I was dreaming and then fall back asleep and have a continuation of that same dream. I even got up for awhile and did some laundry to try to shake the dream off, but I still just kept revisiting the situation in my mind... the funeral, dealing with family, the house, etc. Today, a lazy Sunday, I keep nodding off on the couch due to lack of sleep, but the dreams are sticking with me.


Saturday, April 6, 2013

Endangered Species List: Purling Hiss

Purling Hiss is a band that you just crave to see perform live. They have that sound that belongs in one of those great dive bars that always have great bands, wobbly tables and seats upholstered with duct tape. Some bands just have that sound that needs to be heard live. While I do really like Lolita from their Daytrotter session and some of their other recordings, the recordings feel like you are missing out on something.

If you are in an area where you'd have an opportunity to check this band out live, do so. I'm not sure I'll ever get that chance, so I have to base my opinion on what I can download and because of that, they will have to stay on the Endangered Species List.

Dinomite Track: Dolly Varden

Sometimes I find a song that I like so much that I'm confident I want to tell you about the band, but then I start to listen to more of their music and find that the rest of their offerings just don't impact me in the same way. I'm having that experience with Dolly Varden and Delmar 1976 right now. I have a few tracks from Daytrotter. I immediately fell in love with Delmar 1976. The other tracks are tolerable, but nothing that really stands out to me. More listening on YouTube and their website left me feeling the same way.

It's okay to have one great song, it still puts you ahead of a lot of bands. I love the clear vocals, the soft guitar. This is music I want to listen to. I'd recommend you play their session on Daytrotter.


Recently Unearthed: Brick + Mortar

Brick + Mortar is another odd one for me, but if I think about it hard it makes sense. Alt-J is big in my area now. They don't have a sound I'd normally be drawn too, but there is something about them that is trance-inducingly weird, yet peaceful. Brick + Mortar has those same qualities for me.

Bangs is awesome. Watch the video and suddenly Bangs becomes awesomer. Seriously, one of the best videos I've seen for decades. I'm just going to stop right here for a minute, don't question it. You watch, then I'll go on...


See, I told you that was awesome.

Do you have any other questions? My only question is, if you have "20 cigarettes in a little red box" why are the cigarettes in the Thanks to You video Camels?

Recently Unearthed: STRFKR / Starfucker

Maybe I'm having an identity crisis. When I listen to the STRFKR tracks that I own intentionally (as opposed to when they come up randomly), I question why I keep giving their songs high ratings on my iPod. They really don't fit any of the normal criteria for songs that I like, but if I listen to their songs without analyzing why I like them, I fall right back into liking them all over again. I think it might be because each song is like 100 songs in one; it's very electronic and weird, but the melody changes a lot throughout, so if there is one portion that maybe is a little annoying, before long it changes to something else. Their music is like watching one of those fiber optic Christmas trees spin around... at first glance, those trees are kind of ugly and really plastic and weird, but you just can't help yourself from watching it spin around and slowly change colors. By the end you are like "I HAVE TO BUY ONE OF THOSE FIBER OPTIC CHRISTMAS TREES!!!" and you do, and you still have it plugged in and running in July and you are proud of it and it makes you happy and then you take a deep breath and eat some brownies and a whole bag of Funyuns at the same time because that IS how you roll, bro.