Music

Portland; All I Want For My Birthday

in

My birthday is October 20th.

All I want is

  • some people who can jam
  • a basement (or just anywhere music can be played loudly and uninterrupted)
  • a bottle of Jack Daniels
  • and a bunch of people who understand rock n' roll is a state of mind, not a drumbeat.

That's a serious inquiry. I miss music. I miss the act of entertaining. I miss the therapeutic escape of dancing to songs narrated with my own story.

So if that's your thing or know someone who'd be down or have a space where that can go down then hit me up.

That's just over a month away. We could have the party/house show on Saturday, the 19th and let it bleed into the 20th. 

Nothing too serious. Just whatever happens organically. We'll drink some drinks, smoke some smokes, and make some noise. 

I have no instruments. I've got a head full of words and come up with more all the time.  

Working on getting a tambourine. Tambourine! Yes! That sounds fun!

I just want to ramble words from my heartbox, semi drunkenly.  

Let's experiment, let's jam, let's see what happens. What do you say Portland? Anyone?

 

It's All Crazy. It's all False. It's All A Dream. It's Alright.

in

Upon the first listen to mewithoutYou's "It's All Crazy. It's all False. It's All A Dream. It's Alright." album in a great while; I must confess appreciating it's tone a lot more so than ever before.

Aaron Weiss is so brilliant. They all are, but Aaron's brain and translation of the arts deserves more gratitude than it receives. 

Free Box Finds! Records!

in ,

I found the most awesome records in a free box this evening. Nerdy but awesome. All kinds of old music and the records are in near perfect condition.

Also I should probably really invest in a record player. A record player and Eric Lubarsky to listen to this old classical music with me. 

Also, Portlandia is no lie. Maybe they're stereotypes but it's what drew me to this place. It's a whole new way of life. I love it.

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Sigur Ros - Kveikur

in

Finally listened to Sigur Ros's new album: Kveikur

 it's brilliantly dark, noisy, and oh so epic! The entire thing feels like a storm rolling in on an elvish village and the traumas that would naturally ensue.

I feel like unless you need the give the full album a listen for it to make sense. With the exception of the title track; it's a good stand alone track. So if you haven't listened to this album yet then give this song a listen and then support this magical band! 

Long Live The Chariot

in

Well it's happening... that time when one of those bands that mean the world to you comes to an end. I know it happens just kind of surreal.

I may  not listen to as much heavy music as I did when I was 18 years old but The Chariot is one of the three I still enjoy through and through.

They have only gotten better album by album and I'm bummed to see them go but they are leaving behind a great discography. I'm trying to throw all my feelings together really quick so bare with me. 

 Let me start out by saying The Chariot was my first real show. I saw them perform with Underoath, As Cities Burn, and mewithoutYou in December 2005 in Jacksonville, Florida at a venue that was called Plush.  

After seeing The Chariot and meeting Josh Scogin the first time; December 2005. 

After seeing The Chariot and meeting Josh Scogin the first time; December 2005. 

I remember meeting Josh Scogin after the show and my eyes were like a deer in headlights. This picture is right after seeing them the first time. This is actually the second picture because I was embarrassed of the first one because my eyes were even more star struck that I asked Josh for a do over.

 

 

Josh Scogin remains the only musician that made me go super fanboy. It took meeting him 3 times to realize he's just a normal dude. So normal and so down to earth; a good ole Georgia boy.

I discovered The Chariot after learning of Norma Jean and hearing that the singer had started a new band. I was in awe of the power in Josh Scogin's voice and wanted to be able to give a captivating live show like I had witnessed The Chariot put on.  

I have had the opportunity to share the stage with them numerous times and for that I am VERY grateful. My last band's final show was with The Chariot, too. I still reference to The Chariot when it comes to being in tune and entertaining live.

Being on stage and sharing a mic in the itty bitty 1982 Bar in Gainesville, Florida with The Chariot will be one of the greatest moments of my youth and of my life. 

I just hope they hit up Portland in their final tour; if not I'll be flying back to the East Coast for sure. 

Thank you The Chariot for inspiring me beyond words. 

It's the end of an era for the scene.

Long Live The Chariot!!! 

 

My Song Of The Day

in

Arcade Fire - Suburban War

Let's go for a drive
And see the town tonight
There's nothing to do but I don't mind when I'm with you

This time's so strange
They built it to change
And while we're sleeping all the streets, they rearrange.

And my old friends, we were so different then
Before your war against the suburbs began
Before it began

And now the music divides
Us into tribes
You grew your hair so I grew mine
You said the past won't rest
Until we jump the fence
And leave it behind

And my old friends, I can remember when
You cut your hair
I never saw you again
Now the cities we live in
Could be distant stars
And I search for you
In every passing car

The night's so warm
Yeah, the night's so warm
I've been living in the shadows of your song
Living in the shadows of your song

In the suburbs I,
I learned to drive
And you told me we would never survive
So grab your mother's keys we leave tonight

But you started a war
That you can't win
They keep erasing all the streets we grew up in

Now the music divides
Us into tribes
You choose your side and I'll choose my side

All my old friends, they don't know me now
Oh-oh
All my old friends, are staring through me now
Oh-oh
All my old friends, they don't know me now
All my old friends, they don't know me now

All my old friends wait

 

David Bowie - Valentine's Day

in

Sometimes I don't listen to music or watch music videos when they are first released because I am into another type of music at the time and don't feel I'm able to focus on the music whole heartedly and/or if I feel there is a lot of hype around it I wait it out for months sometimes even years to see how I really feel about it.

Such was the case for David Bowie's most recent single; Valentine's Day. I watched the first 3 singles as soon as they came out from this album but felt like I needed to wait to watch this one so I could appreciate it more.  

But holy wowzers!  This is the best LOOKING video from this album so far, and that's not undermining the others at all. But the colors and angles and crispness of this is absolutely wonderful.

Mister Bowie; you're looking just as powerful and mysterious as always!
 
And that guitar... So good!

This is definitely one of my favorite Bowie albums; very present but uniquely Bowie. I don't think it's caught on like it needs to yet. It kind of jumped out and slid into the shadows. I still hope Bowie does at least one live appearance in support of this album.

Don't Tell Me What "I Won't"

in , ,

I woke up still feeling a little altered, loving this city, this region of the the world, wanting to climb mountains toward the sky, and wanting to make music that gives people the feels of Sigur Ros with a grunge rock twist.

And that's exactly what I will do. Magic happens in moments, but echoes for a long time.  

Too many words to type and my break is almost over. I still have to make Middle America's coffee. But not for much longer; I have places to go and things to see. No time to be restrained by time and money.  

"Freedom's just another term for nothing left to lose" -Janis Joplin

 

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