Pull The Thread As I Walk Away

I heard "Undone (The Sweater Song)" by Weezer on the bus ride in this morning. That song is pure pop perfection. It's like candy. Like Sweet Tarts or Starbursts or lolipops. It's a smile maker. Take a listen.

Sing Songs Along

What is it about multiple voices coming together to create a unified, harmonic sound that both gives me the chills and warms my heart?

I recently joined a choir. A Lady Choir. A choir of gals that will be getting together to make choral arrangements of our favorite songs to, hopefully, perform at local establishments. We had our first meeting today. None of us are professionals. Yet, we started to sing and the blend was beautiful. It's really very magical how that happens.

Music is such an amazing thing.

On Saturday night, my friend Jen held a gathering at her house for her birthday. Her only request was that people either bring a poem/story to read (one they either wrote or just liked) or music to play, so I brought my guitar and sang a song. Two songs. One was the song she and I put together for one of her poems and performed at the Soap Factory a couple of months ago. It was nice to bring that back to life again. I also sang "Lord, I Have Made You a Place in My Heart" by Greg Brown. It's a cover I do often and one Jen seems to enjoy. I was somewhat nervous to sing around the campfire by myself in front of a group of mostly strangers. But it went well. It's such a relief that singing has become such a comfortable thing for me to do. Especially considering that I plan on playing out as much as I can. Each time gets easier. And I love it.

Everyone should sing. The world would be a happier place.

Almost

It's a rainy Saturday and it's really putting a damper on my plans. So, out of boredom, I thought I would run to DSW and see if I can find some boots. And I did. I loved them. They were exactly what I was looking for, they fit, they were comfortable.

They were $100. I couldn't do it. I just couldn't justify buying them when I could only think of one piece of clothing in my closet that I could wear with them.

No I'm sad. I should have bought them.

UPDATE: I bought these on Monday and I love them so much! Now, what can I wear them with?

This Drummer Rules

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High Violet

As I'm sure I've mentioned numerous times in this blog, I love The National. They have quickly jumped to the top of the pack as my favorite band. Just love them. I love the music, the lyrics, and the voice. Oh, how I love the voice.

Back on May 11th, they released their latest album, High Violet. I was so looking forward to it and, unfortunately, it hasn't quite lived up to my expectations. I think I really need to stop over-hyping things to myself so I don't continue to get disappointed by the musical releases by some of my favorite artists.

It's not a bad album by any means. It's just not quite there. It's missing something that I haven't quite put my finger on yet.

Right before this album came out, I purchased their self-titled debut album and loved it. Usually when you discover a band and work your way back through their discography, their early work doesn't quite live up to the more polished, put together sound of their breakthrough albums. But The National's early work is lyrically so great and a little more rockin' than what they've released recently. Especially compared to High Violet. And maybe that's what's missing.

The lead single off of High Violet, "Bloodbuzz Ohio" is an amazingly rocking tune. The drums are fantastic. The lyrics great. It certainly raised the level of anticipation for the album's release. But the rest of the album, barring a couple of tracks, falls a little flat. It hasn't changed my opinion of them, though. They still rule.

And this album does have the unbelievably gorgeous "Runaway" on it. So that right there is worth the price of the album.

I'm seeing them twice in August on back to back nights at First Avenue. I am prepared for the set to be filled mostly with these songs. And that's cool. That's what they are doing. Promoting an album. I am also prepared for a truly fantastic show, like the one they put on last year. Although, I will try not to overhype it in my head too much. Why set myself up to be disappointed?

Top Tracks on High Violet:
"Runaway"
"Bloodbuzz Ohio"
"Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks"
"England"
"Terrible Love"

My So Called Life

I just finished watching the one season of My So Called Life...again. I loved loved loved this show while it was on. I was a freshman in high school. I could relate. I ran with the Rayannes and Rickys and Jordans and Tinos. I knew the music. I knew the problems. They were happening to me.

I bought the DVDs when they came out. I was thrilled. I watched them right away and loved every minute of them. What I found most interesting is that I was way more invested in the storyline of Angela Chase's parents than I was with the kids. I suppose I relate to the problem's of the adults more now. And that's a good thing.

I also found myself questioning Angela's sanity with regards to her love for Jordan Catalano.

I get it. I guess he fits that dreamy, misunderstood, bad boy character that all high school girls are supposed to love. But have you ever really looked at him? He looks...well...kind of mentally challenged. His eyes are super close together, they almost cross. His dreamy vacant stare is way too vacant. And it doesn't help matters when you find out he can't read. Really, Angela? It also makes me wonder how he got his license if he can't read, but whatever.

This second time through the DVDS, I still enjoyed it, but I found myself cringing at most everything Angela does. When Jordan asks her: "Why are you like that?" I wondered the same thing. Why are you like that, Angela? Why do you do and say such stupid things? Maybe I'm just jaded now as an adult, but I couldn't even imagine saying the things she says to people as a teenager either.

But besides Angela and Jordan, the rest of the characters are fantastic. Ricky, Rayanne, Brian Krakow, Sharon, the never seen Tino...love them all. It was such a great show and as it ended last night, I was bummed that we will never find out what Angela really thinks of Brian writing that note. Or if she and Rayanne will ever be friends again. I'm not so naive to think Angela ends up choosing Krakow. Of course she would stay with Jordan. And that would make it very difficult to be friends with Rayanne again. Although, I'm not sure how I feel about the show saying it's okay to forgive the boyfriend, but not the friend. (If you don't know what this is about **SPOILER*** towards the end of the season, after Angela and Jordan break up, Rayanne sleeps with Jordan. It's crushing and also one of my favorite scenes in TV history and one of my favorite episodes in TV history).

Probably my biggest complaint about the entire show would be the portrayal of Angela's mother, Patty. She is so one dimensional and frigid. The woman never has any fun and never wants anyone else to have fun. She's a drag. She treats Graham, her husband, terribly. She is incredibly judgmental of anyone who does not come from a perfect little life or fit "the norm". She's a really bad character with zero depth. She sucks.

It still saddens me that shows like this and Freaks and Geeks never had time to grow. There was so much potential in both of these series. We get one season of these and yet 24 gets to regurgitate the same plot for something like 7 seasons. And I used to like 24. Prison Break got FOUR seasons. FOUR. Ridiculous. And I really really really love Prison Break. But it was crap. I know it. And I'm okay with it.

Good News!

How awesome that I get to kick off my June goal of a blog post every day with awesome news! I have TWO, yes TWO, shows booked for July! I am beyond excited.

First, I will be playing at The Coffee Grounds in Roseville, MN on July 2nd at 8pm.

Second, I will be playing at the Butter Bakery Cafe in Minneapolis on July 31st at 7pm.

I suddenly feel like I'm on a roll. It's incredibly exciting and terrifying all at once. My own shows! With my own set lists! I don't even know what to think about that. It blows my mind. I can't believe I'm at this place now when just 6 months ago I was terrified to even try an open mic.

Hmmm...now I should probably find out what kind of equipment is needed....