my first solo show

A Place to Bury Strangers at the Record Bar.

One of my favorite forms of entertainment is live music. At my age going to shows is becoming more and more difficult. Late nights (not really a problem for me), family, funds, other interest, conflicts etc. get in the way of going to shows. One of the biggest hurdles is finding someone who is like-minded to go to shows with. Your average mid-30 something guy isn't really into music or at least to the extent of shelling out 10 bucks to check out some obscure indie rock band that you know is on to something but is unknown to the public at large.

This was not problem when Brian was in town. He'd say "show?" I'd say "when?" But he has moved on to Portland and when he comes to visit we always find a good show. This year we have Cure tickets.

I still check the paper to see who is coming through town and have missed many good bands. So, I finally decided to go by myself. This is odd for me. I have always been a "have a friend with you sort of guy." I must admit I have always been afraid of standing around and looking out of place. I remember as a young kid seeing a guy eat alone at a diner and I felt sorry for him. I thought to myself, I will never eat alone (in public)- I can always get it to go and eat alone at home.

I realize now that it is a matter of confidence. So after the kids where tucked in bed, I went to my first show alone. It wasn't bad. When the bands were playing no big deal. The only awkwardness was between bands, when everyone tends to group up with their friends and you try to look purposeful.

I'll definitely do it again, but I will see if Looney or somebody wants to tag along. It is alway more fun to have someone to talk to.


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Listening:

The Seventy Sevens - the Lust, the Flesh, the Eyes, and the Pride of Life
Ladytron - amTV
The Jesus and Mary Chain - I Hate Rock N Roll
The Innocence Mission - Joan
St. Vincent - All My Stars Aligned

I Can't Resist...

I am an email junkie.

At work, I have my office email and my gmail opened all the time. When I see that I have new mail, I can not resist the urge to drop whatever I am doing to check it. I am doubly excited to check my gmail, because it will not be work releated.

However, I am not so excited to see the dreaded light on my phone indicating that I have voicemail. I am relieved when it is only my wife calling.

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Currently listening:

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Starflyer 59 - no revolution

Maps - it will find you

Run Lola Run - supermarket

Keane - a bad dream

Bill Mallonee/Victory Garden - flowers

What is going in my iPod...(cont'd)

Here are some older albums from my collection that I recently (in the last few months) loaded to my ipod: Shepherd - Committing to Tape

Ronnie martin put down the keyboard and created a really sparse guitar album of slow sad songs.

Portishead - Portishead

I love the sound, feel, and atmosphere of this spy sounding trip-hop album. Portishead is suppose to release a new album this year. It's about time.

The Verve - Urban Hymns

The Verve - A Northern Soul

I was in a Verve mood. I love both these albums. Very smoothy and vibey. The Verve broke up but are back together now recording new music.

Boards of Canada - Music has the Right to Children

Good electronic music.

Starflyer 59 - the Last Laurel ep

Starflyer 59 - Fell in Love at 22 ep

Starflyer 59 - Easy Come Easy Go (1994-2000)

Starflyer 59 - Americana

Okay, SF59, one of my all-time favorite bands. They do not dissappoint. I almost have their whole collection on my ipod - just a few more to download.

Sixpence None the Richer - Divine Discontent

I've been buying a lot of music similar to 6p, so it is only right the I dust off these old records. Another band that broke up and now is recording again.

February Music

Here are some albums I picked up this month:


Bill Mallonee - Circa
Listen here.

Circa is a compilation of 15 songs of the 50-100 songs he wrote and recorded for his fan subscription service. This album is raw and honest and contains some of Bill finest songwriting. The music is stripped down to mostly and acoustic guitar and voice, sometimes backed up with a piano and harmonizing vocals. With his lyrics, it really doesn't need much more.

Johann Johannsson - Englaborn

Listen here.

Johann is an icelandic composer of mostly ambient strings with slight electronics. I found this album in the symphonic section at the record store. I was in the mood for something different and out of the typical rock/song context.

Lucena - Mercury Light e.p. Listen here.

Thanks to the internet, I stumbled upon this band. For fans of Fold Zandura and Mortal, this is Jyro Xhans new band. I don't think he goes by that moniker anymore. Lucena picks up right where Fold Zan left off with their brand shoegaze/dreampop. This is just a 6 song e.p. (available on iTunes) done totally independent of independent labels. It's not bad at all and I look forward to a full release.

Minipop - A New Hope

Listen here.

A great dreampop album with a voice somewhere between the Sundays and Sixpence. It's funny that I mentioned Fold Zandura above, because one of Minipop's songs has a sound that reminded me quite a bit of Fold Zan back in the day.

The Brother Kite - Waiting for the Time to be Right

Listen here.

Sounds like a guitar jangle pop and dreampop mix somewhere between Toad the Wet Sprocket and the Lassie Foundation. Listen to Get On, Me on their myspace page. It is a perfect song. This album contains the sounds and feelings of everything I loved about my college music in the mid-90's.