Soo....I totes lied about updating my blog while I was Maine. Oops. Sorry, got busy.
But now I'm back south in Virginia after a crazy experience doing documentary radio at the Salt Institute in Portland, Maine. And I'm back to what's really important...making Top 5 lists!
Which maybe will help me in my life goal of being a relevant alt/indie blogger, surpassing the fame of Carles or Aquarium Drunkard
I realized while compiling this list that I've actually listened to a ridiculous amount of music this year. Probably not as much as I feel I should have, but enough that narrowing this list down to five was actually quite difficult.
So, without further ado....my Top 5 of 2011.
5. tUnE-yArDs - w h o k i l l
I got irrationally pissed off at this band that I had to look on Wikipedia to make sure I typed out their name and album correctly with the correct lower-case and upper-case spacing and whatnot. But this album is crazy and amazing, fusing together different musical genres and playing around with different arrangements. Horns come in and out. Sound cuts out sharply and comes back in. In "Gangsta", vocalist Merrill Garbus layers her voice to sound like a police siren. There's a sense of calculated randomness to the proceedings which turned me off at first, but then after 2-3 listens I was completely sucked in.
4. Wild Flag - Wild Flag
I was a big Sleater-Kinney fan and was super-stoked when I went to see Wild Flag in concert this year, curious to see a sort of girl band super-group, taking Carrie Brownstein and Janet Weiss from the aforementioned Sleater-Kinney, along with Mary Timony from Helium and Rebecca Cole who played with The Minders. This band made me so happy and this album is pure, catchy, energetic rock.
3. Destroyer - Kaputt
Please forgive the video posted above, which starts out like an ad for American Apparel and then just gets weirder. Kaputt combines elements of smooth jazz (a genre I normally find repellant) with 70s/80s-esque dream pop to create a rich collection of songs that wash over you. I feel like it's something that shouldn't work but it totally does.
2. Active Child - You Are All I See
Active Child is the moniker of Pat Grossi. And I have a hard time describing this album, but the best sort of genre description I can come up with is "ethereal R&B". There's beautiful orchestrations, and Grossi's vocals sound sort of church-like, if that makes any sense. Everything here is lush and ghostly. Also, Grossi plays the harp. THE HARP. You gotta love the harp.
1. Twilight Singers - Dynamite Steps
It's the Twilight Singers and motherfuckin' Greg Dulli. There's no way this could NOT be my favorite album of 2011. After most of the members of TS took time to do the Gutter Twins (the Dulli/Mark Lanegan collab of awesomeness), they came back this year with an album that was well worth waiting for. Dynamite Steps is a dark, hypnotic brew of solid, cinematic rock songs, the perfect soundtrack for a bar fight with your ex-lover who did you wrong or a melancholic last call on your last day on Earth.
In related news, the freakin' AFGHAN WHIGS are reuniting for at least two shows this year - one in London and one in New Jersey. I need to find a way to go.
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Monday, April 19, 2010
A Visit to Kurt Cobain's House
There was a time in my early teens when I was obsessed with grunge. I watched the movie Singles enough times that I can still quote very large chunks of dialogue from it (particularly any of the scenes that the members of Pearl Jam appeared in). I worshipped Eddie Vedder, grabbing any Pearl Jam related video or single or item that I could find. I stole my brother's Alice in Chains CDs. I read Michael Azzerad's book about Nirvana, Come As You Are, multiple times. On a related note, I also read Poppy Z. Brite's biography on Courtney Love several times (both are actually fascinating reads that I would recommend).
I suppose it was fortunate that I got my teenage angst phase over with pretty early. I look at that time now with some fondness, but mostly embarrassment. While I still love Pearl Jam, my obsession with most other music of that time has died down considerably.
However, this did not deter me from the somewhat morbid desire to visit Kurt Cobain's house in Seattle.
Yes, peeps, this is the place where, on April 5, 1994, Kurt Cobain took his own life. Supposedly. You might be a part of that "Courtney did it" camp or whatnot. Technically, it happened in a greenhouse on the property which has since been torn down.
We stared at the house from across the street for a few minutes, taking photos and feeling a bit awkward. I could picture the current residents of the house pulling aside the curtains and staring at us in disgust. The fact that the lights were on in the house did not help. I could only assume that they're used to people coming by every day to gawk, but I couldn't help but feel like a morbid, morbid tourist.
You don't really get a sense of Kurt Cobain looking at this house. A nice, big, but not ostentatious home in quiet residential Seattle on Lake Washington. It does not seem like the kind of house a tortured, drug-addicted, suicidal rock star would choose to live in. This is a man who used to sleep under bridges.
Right next to the house is Viretta Park, where Nirvana fans from around the world come to scribble messages on these benches.
One person saw it appropriate to leave a book.
Others saw it fitting to use the bench as a platform to spout some vitriol against Courtney Love.
Jimi Hendrix got a statue in front of a record store in Capitol Hill. Kurt Cobain gets scribbled-on benches. It seems fitting though. Nirvana's music spoke to a lot of people in a really personal way. It seems appropriate that they can personalize their own tribute to him. Despite the fact that some of the graffiti on the bench was stupid and non-sensical, there were plenty of ones that said things like "You changed me" or "Your music saved my life". Cobain never managed to overcome his depression, and we'll never know what more he might have done had he not killed himself. Hopefully through his music, he's managed to helped some others.
I suppose it was fortunate that I got my teenage angst phase over with pretty early. I look at that time now with some fondness, but mostly embarrassment. While I still love Pearl Jam, my obsession with most other music of that time has died down considerably.
However, this did not deter me from the somewhat morbid desire to visit Kurt Cobain's house in Seattle.
Yes, peeps, this is the place where, on April 5, 1994, Kurt Cobain took his own life. Supposedly. You might be a part of that "Courtney did it" camp or whatnot. Technically, it happened in a greenhouse on the property which has since been torn down.
We stared at the house from across the street for a few minutes, taking photos and feeling a bit awkward. I could picture the current residents of the house pulling aside the curtains and staring at us in disgust. The fact that the lights were on in the house did not help. I could only assume that they're used to people coming by every day to gawk, but I couldn't help but feel like a morbid, morbid tourist.
You don't really get a sense of Kurt Cobain looking at this house. A nice, big, but not ostentatious home in quiet residential Seattle on Lake Washington. It does not seem like the kind of house a tortured, drug-addicted, suicidal rock star would choose to live in. This is a man who used to sleep under bridges.
Right next to the house is Viretta Park, where Nirvana fans from around the world come to scribble messages on these benches.
One person saw it appropriate to leave a book.
Others saw it fitting to use the bench as a platform to spout some vitriol against Courtney Love.
Jimi Hendrix got a statue in front of a record store in Capitol Hill. Kurt Cobain gets scribbled-on benches. It seems fitting though. Nirvana's music spoke to a lot of people in a really personal way. It seems appropriate that they can personalize their own tribute to him. Despite the fact that some of the graffiti on the bench was stupid and non-sensical, there were plenty of ones that said things like "You changed me" or "Your music saved my life". Cobain never managed to overcome his depression, and we'll never know what more he might have done had he not killed himself. Hopefully through his music, he's managed to helped some others.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Top 5: Fleetwood Mac
Interesting fact about myself - Fleetwood Mac was my first favorite band. I was 11 or 12. My dad listened to them all the time and, as a result, I listened to them all the time too. Other kids were listening to the Spice Girls (OK, I did too, but beside the point), which I was bouncing along to Rumors and Tusk. Not sure why. Maybe it was their harmonies, their catchy, funky, melodic tunes, Mick Fleetwood's beard, or my desire to marry Lindsey Buckingham (see my "Top 5: Weird Crushes" list). A lot of it, I think, had to do with how much I loved Stevie Nicks.
Stevie Nicks had an amazing, unique voice - a little bit gravely, a little bit vulnerable, yet strong at the same time. I loved her witch-y, mystical persona, her personal, other-worldly lyrics...and her shawls, of course. It's still a childhood fantasy of mine to BE Stevie Nicks. Minus the coke addiction and tendency towards having affairs with Mick Fleetwood and Don Henley.
But at any rate - here are my Top 5 Fleetwood Mac songs!
5. "Second Hand News" from Rumours
4. "What Makes You Think You're the One?" from Tusk
3. "Gypsy" from Mirage
2. "Rhiannon" from Fleetwood Mac
1. "The Chain" from Rumours
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Top 5: Cover Songs
Yes, yes, I've been lazy about blogging again. I apologize. It's a shame, because there are plenty of things I could be blogging about, but I'm just too plain lazy! However, I was letting my mind wander at work and starting thinking of cover songs. I go crazy for cover songs. I don't know why. I love seeing what another artist will do with a piece of music. Hearing a different spin or different interpretation of something. Seeing how one song can have many layers of meaning. So I compiled a list of my top five favorite cover songs.
5. The Mountain Goats - "One Fine Day" (Carole King)
The lyrics of one fine day tell a tale of unrequited love, but Mr. Darnielle strips away the doo-wop poppiness of the original track and what we're left with is raw emotion and more than a little desperation.
4. Nirvana - "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" (Leadbelly)
Nirvana's haunting version of a classic Leadbelly song becomes a classic in and of itself. I've heard several covers of this song and Nirvana's is probably my favorite.
3. The Afghan Whigs - "Creep" (TLC)
Greg Dulli is a genius at covers. He takes something unexpected...say, a TLC song, and completely makes it his own.
2. The White Stripes - "Jolene" (Dolly Parton)
In the original version, Dolly Parton pleads with a woman to please not take her men. Jack White does the same...except his plead comes out as a desperate yowl.
1. Johnny Cash - "Hurt" (Nine Inch Nails)
No offense to Trent Reznor or anything...but I honestly think Johnny Cash's cover trumps the original. I find it much more moving, at least. Cash's version is more sparse than the original, and sung with the somberness of a man approaching the end of his life.
5. The Mountain Goats - "One Fine Day" (Carole King)
The lyrics of one fine day tell a tale of unrequited love, but Mr. Darnielle strips away the doo-wop poppiness of the original track and what we're left with is raw emotion and more than a little desperation.
4. Nirvana - "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" (Leadbelly)
Nirvana's haunting version of a classic Leadbelly song becomes a classic in and of itself. I've heard several covers of this song and Nirvana's is probably my favorite.
3. The Afghan Whigs - "Creep" (TLC)
Greg Dulli is a genius at covers. He takes something unexpected...say, a TLC song, and completely makes it his own.
2. The White Stripes - "Jolene" (Dolly Parton)
In the original version, Dolly Parton pleads with a woman to please not take her men. Jack White does the same...except his plead comes out as a desperate yowl.
1. Johnny Cash - "Hurt" (Nine Inch Nails)
No offense to Trent Reznor or anything...but I honestly think Johnny Cash's cover trumps the original. I find it much more moving, at least. Cash's version is more sparse than the original, and sung with the somberness of a man approaching the end of his life.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Near-Cult Experiences
It is hard to describe The Mountain Goats. The Mountain Goats usually refers to a man named John Darnielle, a former nurse in a psychiatric ward who started out writing an recording songs on his boombox. These eventually evolved into something closer to an actual band, though it still is mostly just Mr. Darnielle and his guitar. Sometime during my freshman year of college, Mallary introduced me to The Mountain Goats, through the classic songs "No Children" and "International Small Arms Traffic Blues". After falling in love with these songs, I bought the album Tallahassee, an incredible 14-song affair chronicling the destructive relationship of a couple who will eventually drink themselves to death. I was hooked. I moved onto the gorgeously beautiful and fragile songs of The Sunset Tree (I might have to do a write-up of later, because I love it so much), then We Shall All Be Healed, then All Hail West Texas, then anything else I could find. Mallary was a huge, invaluable help in this regard, having a near-complete collection of Mountain Goats songs...probably somewhere around 300...I never really counted, but it's a good guesstimate that they constitute 1/4 of the content of my iPod, easily. That same freshman year that I got hooked on TMG, Mallary and I trekked all the way up to Haverford College in Pennsylvania one adventurous Sunday night just to watch Mr. Darnielle and Peter Hughes play a show in the basement of a dorm.
Let's fast-forward to about...now.
A little over a month ago, Mallary told me that it was confirmed that The Mountain Goats would be playing a benefit for Farm Sanctuary near the tiny lakeside town of Watkins Glen, New York, called Zoop II (there was a previous Zoop in 2007). A brief description of Farm Sanctuary - FS tauts itself as "the leading farm animal protection organization". It rescues farm animals from abusive situations, rallies against factory farming, advocates a vegan/vegetarian lifestyle - all that jazz. The festivies of Zoop II would ibe a weekend long extraganza with shows by John Danielle, Peter Hughes, and John K. Samson of another of my favorite bands, The Weakerthans. And, of course, since in the past Mallary and I have proven ourselves dedicated fans of The Mountain Goats, it seemed only natural (i.e. completely batshit crazy) that we drive up to Watkins Glen to camp out for the weekend with 200 or so other rabid Mountain Goats fans.
So here's a brief pictoral run-down of the weekend.
Let's fast-forward to about...now.
A little over a month ago, Mallary told me that it was confirmed that The Mountain Goats would be playing a benefit for Farm Sanctuary near the tiny lakeside town of Watkins Glen, New York, called Zoop II (there was a previous Zoop in 2007). A brief description of Farm Sanctuary - FS tauts itself as "the leading farm animal protection organization". It rescues farm animals from abusive situations, rallies against factory farming, advocates a vegan/vegetarian lifestyle - all that jazz. The festivies of Zoop II would ibe a weekend long extraganza with shows by John Danielle, Peter Hughes, and John K. Samson of another of my favorite bands, The Weakerthans. And, of course, since in the past Mallary and I have proven ourselves dedicated fans of The Mountain Goats, it seemed only natural (i.e. completely batshit crazy) that we drive up to Watkins Glen to camp out for the weekend with 200 or so other rabid Mountain Goats fans.
So here's a brief pictoral run-down of the weekend.
Here are the cabins where John Darnielle and company stayed in.
And here is our little tent village directly across.
The evening started off with an excellent set by John K. Samson (who I later sat next to briefly at the post-show bonfire)
Here's John's bandmate Peter Peter Hughes, who did a most energizing solo set with a lot of danceable disco-opera songs about Aregentinian race car driver Juan Manuel Fangio (look him up). They caused Zoop-goers to randomly shout "Fangio! Juan Fangio!" for a good chunk of the rest of the weekend.
And here's Johnny!
It was great, epic set. The crowd got very rowdy during "This Year".
Cultimating in John Darnielle probably very nearly getting hit by this broken beer bottle.
A bonfire followed the concert (not pictured in this blog entry)...30 or so Zoop-goers gathered around, guitars were brought out and people drank and sang Mountain Goats songs til the wee hours of evening. John Darnielle made a surprise appearance to join the sing along and Peter and John K. Samson also stopped by. I have to tell you, it was kind of surreal. The next morning, Farm Sanctuary gave Zoop-goers a free tour of their facilities, and an oppurtunity to meet all of the animals. Including adoreable, huge cows.
Roosters.
Turkeys.
And Goats! (hehe) This goat here is Zoop, whom the event is named after. She only has 3 legs. She also likes to head-butt.
I see you.
A goat named Jerry Lee who most people simply call "The Pope".
This sheep fell in love with Mallary and wouldn't let her go.
And then a random goat escaped, causing staff to have the chase it and wrangle it back in.
This awesome woman and her husband made free t-shirts for everyone.
Now this here...is the infamous "Request Only Setlist" board. People were asked to write down any songs they wanted John to play during the Request Only show that night. They also were asked to donate money (which would go to Farm Sanctuary) in order to encourage John to play their song.
It rained a bit, then cleared up, causing an awesome and gorgeous sunset over the hills.
People gather around for the Request Only show.
I love John's enthusiasm and unabashed joy when he plays. It gets me every time.
The second, Request Only show was my favorite of the weekend. It was here especially that encapsulated the ...for lack of a better word,"specialness" and surreal, magical quality of the weekend. It's hard to really put into words. Maybe it was the environment, the setting, the people, the fact that everyone had travelled hundreds of miles just to see this guy that we all admire play songs that we all love in a barn in beautiful upstate New York. It was just incredible. I'd say you'd be hard-pressed to find someone happier to play in front of an audience that couldn't be happier to see him. Having everyone sing-along to even the most obscure of Mountain Goats songs...at one point John jokingly referred to himself as a cult leader (Mallary and I and others were also joking about a vague "cult-like" atmosphere to the whole Zoop experience. Anyhoo, during the show a sort of boundary between artist and audience was broken briefly. Like when John's guitar string broke right before the encore and he came out and led everyone in a sing-along, a cappella version of "No Children". Just...incredible. What amazing people. What amazing music. What an amazing frickin weekend. I'm afraid I'm going to find going to normal concerts at normal clubs and bars and typical concert venues really disappointing after this.
A bonfire followed the concert (not pictured in this blog entry)...30 or so Zoop-goers gathered around, guitars were brought out and people drank and sang Mountain Goats songs til the wee hours of evening. John Darnielle made a surprise appearance to join the sing along and Peter and John K. Samson also stopped by. I have to tell you, it was kind of surreal. The next morning, Farm Sanctuary gave Zoop-goers a free tour of their facilities, and an oppurtunity to meet all of the animals. Including adoreable, huge cows.
Roosters.
Turkeys.
And Goats! (hehe) This goat here is Zoop, whom the event is named after. She only has 3 legs. She also likes to head-butt.
I see you.
A goat named Jerry Lee who most people simply call "The Pope".
This sheep fell in love with Mallary and wouldn't let her go.
And then a random goat escaped, causing staff to have the chase it and wrangle it back in.
This awesome woman and her husband made free t-shirts for everyone.
Now this here...is the infamous "Request Only Setlist" board. People were asked to write down any songs they wanted John to play during the Request Only show that night. They also were asked to donate money (which would go to Farm Sanctuary) in order to encourage John to play their song.
It rained a bit, then cleared up, causing an awesome and gorgeous sunset over the hills.
People gather around for the Request Only show.
I love John's enthusiasm and unabashed joy when he plays. It gets me every time.
The second, Request Only show was my favorite of the weekend. It was here especially that encapsulated the ...for lack of a better word,"specialness" and surreal, magical quality of the weekend. It's hard to really put into words. Maybe it was the environment, the setting, the people, the fact that everyone had travelled hundreds of miles just to see this guy that we all admire play songs that we all love in a barn in beautiful upstate New York. It was just incredible. I'd say you'd be hard-pressed to find someone happier to play in front of an audience that couldn't be happier to see him. Having everyone sing-along to even the most obscure of Mountain Goats songs...at one point John jokingly referred to himself as a cult leader (Mallary and I and others were also joking about a vague "cult-like" atmosphere to the whole Zoop experience. Anyhoo, during the show a sort of boundary between artist and audience was broken briefly. Like when John's guitar string broke right before the encore and he came out and led everyone in a sing-along, a cappella version of "No Children". Just...incredible. What amazing people. What amazing music. What an amazing frickin weekend. I'm afraid I'm going to find going to normal concerts at normal clubs and bars and typical concert venues really disappointing after this.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Songs For Winter
So, I'm home because there's a big pile of snow on my front porch and in my street. And the closed the off-ramps that I would need to take to get to work. However, they've finally gotten around to plowing my frickin' streets, so now I just feel like a wuss. Oh well. I, like many living around the District, am afraid of the snow.
I spent the morning listening to some podcasts of "A Prairie Home Companion" (Garrison Keillor's voice seems so much more soothing when there's snow outside) and then watching another episode of "The Wire" and then part of Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus on HBO. If you have a fetish for seeing Robert Downey Jr. covered in hair, which I do of course, then it's a good film to see.
But on to my pertinent topic of the day.
What are some songs that make you think of winter? I mean, besides the obvious ones like "Winter Wonderland" (which mostly makes me think of Christmas). I was thinking about this while listening to Fleet Foxes and noting on how so many of their songs had a wintery theme. For good examples, you can check out the aptly titled "White Winter Hymnal".
Give me your suggestions for songs to put on my winter wonderland mix tape!
I spent the morning listening to some podcasts of "A Prairie Home Companion" (Garrison Keillor's voice seems so much more soothing when there's snow outside) and then watching another episode of "The Wire" and then part of Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus on HBO. If you have a fetish for seeing Robert Downey Jr. covered in hair, which I do of course, then it's a good film to see.
But on to my pertinent topic of the day.
What are some songs that make you think of winter? I mean, besides the obvious ones like "Winter Wonderland" (which mostly makes me think of Christmas). I was thinking about this while listening to Fleet Foxes and noting on how so many of their songs had a wintery theme. For good examples, you can check out the aptly titled "White Winter Hymnal".
Give me your suggestions for songs to put on my winter wonderland mix tape!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
It is...Complete!
I wanted to get this done BEFORE 2009, but it is New Years day so...close enough. After weeks of thoughtful review, I give you my annual list of my Top Ten Albums of 2008!
10. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
Bon Iver (real name: Justin Vernon) recorded this album while spending a couple months alone in a log cabin in the Wisconsin wilderness. How very Henry David Thoreau. What follows is a remarkable record that is beautiful and simple, lonely and haunting. I was intrigued at first by the raw emotion of the song "Skinny Love", but wasn't immediately taken with the rest of the album. A couple of listens later, and the songs really got under my skin.
Recommeded Tracks: Skinny Love, Lump Sum, The Wolves (Act 1 & 2)
9. M83 - Saturdays = Youth
M83 is the musical project of Frenchman Anthony Gonzalez and his latest offering, Saturdays = Youth sounds like the lost soundtrack of a John Hughes movie, if John Hughes perhaps made a movie right now. It's full of lush synch-laden orchestrations and other such ethereal sounds. It's gorgeous and sounds both retro and very modern at the same time.
Recommended Tracks: Kim and Jessie, Graveyard Girl
8. Adele - 19
This is nowhere near a perfect album, but it's a fitting debut for new British songstress Adele. It perfectly showcases her rich, powerful, bluesy voice, a voice that makes her sound much older than she is (I think she's 20 now). And, you know, with Amy Winehouse constantly being in rehab or whatever, we have a new need for that retro bluesy pop music. It's a breath of fresh air and hopefully a sign of even better things to come.
Recommended Tracks: Daydreamer, Hometown Glory, To Make You Feel My Love
7. TV On The Radio - Dear Science
Again, this is an album that took awhile to grow on me. After 2006's Return to Cookie Mountain (which topped many a critics "Best Of" list that year), it just didn't seem as...well...awesome. It was a little bit too funky for my test, less complex, less rockin'. However, I stuck with it, and with each subsequent listen I began to notice new things and pick up on new things that I loved. This album proves that TVOTR is still one of the best bands out there.
Recommended Tracks: Golden Age, Family Tree, Lover's Day
6. Robyn - Robyn
This album by new favorite Swedish pop mistress was release overseas awhile back, but didn't get an official U.S. release until this year. This album makes me wish that all pop music could be this good (as in, actually good and not just ironically good or mindlessly catchy). I think Leah Greenblatt from Entertainment Weekly describes it best:
An adorable blond pixie who bleaches her eyebrows white, worships the Wu-Tang Clan, and covers Prince's ''J--- U Off'' in a voice that sounds like a Smurf on poppers? Sweden doesn't make its pop stars quite like we do. Gone is the demure teen who hit the U.S. top 10 in the late '90s with hits like ''Show Me Love''; in her place is an autonomous, thrillingly eccentric dance diva capable of both wrenching techno ballads — yes, Virginia, it's possible! — and saucy, whip-smart kiss-offs.
Her music videos are always really cool too, so you should check out the links.
Recommended Tracks: Konichiwa Bitches, Handle Me, With Every Heartbeat, Be Mine!
5. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
This album feels like a relaxing drive through some back country road in the middle of fall or winter. It is both folksy and simple, in a Simon and Garfunkel sort of way, or old spiritual hymns, and yet very lush and orchestral in many places. The melodies evoke a peculiar sense of nostalgia, only nostalgia for a place you've never experienced, if that makes any sense.
Recommended Tracks: White Winter Hymnal (a cool video), Sun It Rises, Ragged Wood
4. She & Him - Volume One
Zooey Deschanel has always been a favorite actress of mine, but she's also an exceptionally awesome singer. Her voice reminds me of a weird hybrid between Karen Carpenter and Loretta Lynn or something. This album of musical stylings with her and M. Ward (the she and him, respectively) evoke 60s/70s AM radio nostalgia to magical effect. Hopefully the success of this album is a sign that Deschanel and Ward will collaborate more in the future.
Recommended Tracks: Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? , Sentimental Heart, You Really Got A Hold On Me
3. Los Campesinos! - Hold On Now, Youngster...
Cutesy Welsh septet Los Campesinos! had the distinction of releasing not just one, but two really excellant albums this year (the other is the slightly more recent We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed). Ultimately, this was the one I had to pick, because it was the one that made me fall in love with them and it is slightly better (but only slightly). Los Campesinos! are easily my new favorite band this year. Their brand of self proclaimed "twee-core" punk rock is a fun, loud, sarcastic, rebellious, witty, energetic mix that'll have you jumping around like a rabbit on speed. If there was any new band I'd recommende this year, it would probably be Los Campesinos!
Recommended Tracks: Death to Los Campesinos!, My Year In Lists, You! Me! Dancing! (another really cool video)
2. Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
A perfectly composed Brit-rock affair, that effortlessly spans between soaring, orchestral numbers like the album opener, "Starlings" and the dank, rockin' drinking dirge "Grounds For Divorce". You could compare them with some of their contemporaries, like Coldplay, but they're nowhere near as mediocre or pandering (that being said, I still consider Coldplay a guilty pleasure). I'm also terribly in love with lead singer Guy Garvey's voice, which makes him sound like a rougher-edged Peter Gabriel.
Recommended Tracks: Grounds For Divorce, The Bones of You, One Day Like This, An Audience With The Pope
1. The Gutter Twins - Saturnalia
Duh. This long-anticipated (at least by me) collaboration between Greg Dulli and Mark Lanegan certainly did not disappoint. The combination between Dulli's sexy, cat-on-a-hot-tin-roof yowl and Lanegan's cigarette-and-whiskey drenched growls and grumbles is just too perfect for words. This is some of the purest, darkest rock you're ever going to hear.
Recommended Tracks: Circle the Fringes, Idle Hands, God's Children, I Was In Love With You
Honorable Mentions:
Sigur Rós - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - Sundays At Devil Dirt
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!
The Killers - Day and Age
The Streets - Everything is Borrowed
10. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
Bon Iver (real name: Justin Vernon) recorded this album while spending a couple months alone in a log cabin in the Wisconsin wilderness. How very Henry David Thoreau. What follows is a remarkable record that is beautiful and simple, lonely and haunting. I was intrigued at first by the raw emotion of the song "Skinny Love", but wasn't immediately taken with the rest of the album. A couple of listens later, and the songs really got under my skin.
Recommeded Tracks: Skinny Love, Lump Sum, The Wolves (Act 1 & 2)
9. M83 - Saturdays = Youth
M83 is the musical project of Frenchman Anthony Gonzalez and his latest offering, Saturdays = Youth sounds like the lost soundtrack of a John Hughes movie, if John Hughes perhaps made a movie right now. It's full of lush synch-laden orchestrations and other such ethereal sounds. It's gorgeous and sounds both retro and very modern at the same time.
Recommended Tracks: Kim and Jessie, Graveyard Girl
8. Adele - 19
This is nowhere near a perfect album, but it's a fitting debut for new British songstress Adele. It perfectly showcases her rich, powerful, bluesy voice, a voice that makes her sound much older than she is (I think she's 20 now). And, you know, with Amy Winehouse constantly being in rehab or whatever, we have a new need for that retro bluesy pop music. It's a breath of fresh air and hopefully a sign of even better things to come.
Recommended Tracks: Daydreamer, Hometown Glory, To Make You Feel My Love
7. TV On The Radio - Dear Science
Again, this is an album that took awhile to grow on me. After 2006's Return to Cookie Mountain (which topped many a critics "Best Of" list that year), it just didn't seem as...well...awesome. It was a little bit too funky for my test, less complex, less rockin'. However, I stuck with it, and with each subsequent listen I began to notice new things and pick up on new things that I loved. This album proves that TVOTR is still one of the best bands out there.
Recommended Tracks: Golden Age, Family Tree, Lover's Day
6. Robyn - Robyn
This album by new favorite Swedish pop mistress was release overseas awhile back, but didn't get an official U.S. release until this year. This album makes me wish that all pop music could be this good (as in, actually good and not just ironically good or mindlessly catchy). I think Leah Greenblatt from Entertainment Weekly describes it best:
An adorable blond pixie who bleaches her eyebrows white, worships the Wu-Tang Clan, and covers Prince's ''J--- U Off'' in a voice that sounds like a Smurf on poppers? Sweden doesn't make its pop stars quite like we do. Gone is the demure teen who hit the U.S. top 10 in the late '90s with hits like ''Show Me Love''; in her place is an autonomous, thrillingly eccentric dance diva capable of both wrenching techno ballads — yes, Virginia, it's possible! — and saucy, whip-smart kiss-offs.
Her music videos are always really cool too, so you should check out the links.
Recommended Tracks: Konichiwa Bitches, Handle Me, With Every Heartbeat, Be Mine!
5. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
This album feels like a relaxing drive through some back country road in the middle of fall or winter. It is both folksy and simple, in a Simon and Garfunkel sort of way, or old spiritual hymns, and yet very lush and orchestral in many places. The melodies evoke a peculiar sense of nostalgia, only nostalgia for a place you've never experienced, if that makes any sense.
Recommended Tracks: White Winter Hymnal (a cool video), Sun It Rises, Ragged Wood
4. She & Him - Volume One
Zooey Deschanel has always been a favorite actress of mine, but she's also an exceptionally awesome singer. Her voice reminds me of a weird hybrid between Karen Carpenter and Loretta Lynn or something. This album of musical stylings with her and M. Ward (the she and him, respectively) evoke 60s/70s AM radio nostalgia to magical effect. Hopefully the success of this album is a sign that Deschanel and Ward will collaborate more in the future.
Recommended Tracks: Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? , Sentimental Heart, You Really Got A Hold On Me
3. Los Campesinos! - Hold On Now, Youngster...
Cutesy Welsh septet Los Campesinos! had the distinction of releasing not just one, but two really excellant albums this year (the other is the slightly more recent We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed). Ultimately, this was the one I had to pick, because it was the one that made me fall in love with them and it is slightly better (but only slightly). Los Campesinos! are easily my new favorite band this year. Their brand of self proclaimed "twee-core" punk rock is a fun, loud, sarcastic, rebellious, witty, energetic mix that'll have you jumping around like a rabbit on speed. If there was any new band I'd recommende this year, it would probably be Los Campesinos!
Recommended Tracks: Death to Los Campesinos!, My Year In Lists, You! Me! Dancing! (another really cool video)
2. Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
A perfectly composed Brit-rock affair, that effortlessly spans between soaring, orchestral numbers like the album opener, "Starlings" and the dank, rockin' drinking dirge "Grounds For Divorce". You could compare them with some of their contemporaries, like Coldplay, but they're nowhere near as mediocre or pandering (that being said, I still consider Coldplay a guilty pleasure). I'm also terribly in love with lead singer Guy Garvey's voice, which makes him sound like a rougher-edged Peter Gabriel.
Recommended Tracks: Grounds For Divorce, The Bones of You, One Day Like This, An Audience With The Pope
1. The Gutter Twins - Saturnalia
Duh. This long-anticipated (at least by me) collaboration between Greg Dulli and Mark Lanegan certainly did not disappoint. The combination between Dulli's sexy, cat-on-a-hot-tin-roof yowl and Lanegan's cigarette-and-whiskey drenched growls and grumbles is just too perfect for words. This is some of the purest, darkest rock you're ever going to hear.
Recommended Tracks: Circle the Fringes, Idle Hands, God's Children, I Was In Love With You
Honorable Mentions:
Sigur Rós - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - Sundays At Devil Dirt
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!
The Killers - Day and Age
The Streets - Everything is Borrowed
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Favorite Singles of 2008
I've been looking at all the "Best of" lists (and oh man...do I love "Best of" lists...though I'm not sure why). In fact, I've been working on my own "Best Albums of 2008" list for a few weeks now. I'm actually putting a lot more effort in that than is necessary, especially considering I don't think anyone reading is really going to care about my favorite records of '08. However, I do it every year, so you know...plus I like making lists. But since I'm still compiling that list, I instead bring you my top 10 singles/songs of '08! I'm not judging these tracks based on artistic merit or hipster cred, but based on how catchy and infectious I found them.
10. Beyonce - "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mVEGfH4s5g
I can no longer think of this song without either thinking of A) Drag queens dancing to it when I went to the annual High Heel Race in DC a few months ago or B) Justin Timberlake and Andy Samberg in black unitards and heels. Either way, this song is uber-catchy and danceable but it is forever associated in my mind with men in drag.
9. The Streets - "Heaven For the Weather"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XczLJ4-sd8M
I've loved the streets for awhile, and this has got to be their catchiest song and a really sing-able chorus.
8. Duffy - "Mercy"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE2orthS3TQ
I've had an debate waging in my head about which British songstress will take Amy Winehouse's crown - Adele or Duffy? I still haven't decided. I like them both. This single of Duffy's I like because it has a groovy, Motown edge to it.
7. Kanye West - "Flashing Lights"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a--Pc7R8PU
Oh, Kanye. There's something about this song that I really love, though I can't put my finger on. It has a bit of a Daft Punk element to it, kind of like "Stronger".
6. Adele - "Chasing Pavements"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz7vGW2_5c0
Adele has a bit of an edge in my Duffy vs. Adele debate. There's a sort of unrestrained, heartbreaking element to her voice.
5. The Killers - "Spaceman"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkfY58pWyOs
"Human" grew on me a lot after a couple of listens, but this song is more of a return to "Hot Fuss" era Killers. This song has a thumping chorus that'll get stuck in your head for days.
4. Ting Tings - "Shut Up and Let Me Go"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StP-yIQeT2o
More infectious than mono. And even harder to get rid of.
3. Black Kids - "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaa4eGOtrTg
I love the line of "You are the girl that I've been dreaming of ever since I was a little girl". This song is a wonderfully 80s-esque track that'll make you want to stomp and shout and dance.
2. Britney Spears - "Womanizer"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZSLIq6YiRY
Britney's back, bitch. For real this time. I had this stuck in my head for a week straight. Normally in circumstances like that, I end up wanting to kill myself, but for some reason I still relished any oppurtunity to sing along to this song loudly in the radio whenever I could. Also, the Chris Moyles parody of it ("Lorry Driver") is pretty good too.
1. Kings of Leon - "Sex on Fire"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHhhcKxflMY
I am pretty obsessed with this song. It's quite sexy in feverish, desperate sort of way. The lead singer wails and howls like he hasn't had any in months. He seriously wants this chick's sex. He wants it so bad it's on FIRE, baby. Either that or she has a venereal disease.
AND HONORABLE MENTION GOES TO...
New Kids on the Block feat. Ne-Yo - "Single"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY4W1b8WurU
This gets a nod for pure ridiculous-ness. Seriously, Ne-Yo...how did you get attached to this? Seriously! You're like, the hottest thing on the radio right now. You should know better. With this song and video, I think NKOTB tried to prove that they were still culturally relevant. However, when you're famous for being an 80s boy band of budding young heart-throbs, it becomes a little pathetic if you're still trying to keep the shtick up in your late 30s/early 40s. I think it's actually the video that creeps me out more than anything. It shows an attractive 20-something girl in a nightclub and all the members of NKOTB trying to pick her up (which she seems to be digging). I dunno, if the members of NKOTB tried to pick me up in a club, I'd be a bit skeeved out, considering they're all like...40 and don't have any business in those clubs anyway. Especially Donnie. Joey and Jordan might be able to pull it off. But it's still dubious. Ne-Yo can definetely stay though.
10. Beyonce - "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mVEGfH4s5g
I can no longer think of this song without either thinking of A) Drag queens dancing to it when I went to the annual High Heel Race in DC a few months ago or B) Justin Timberlake and Andy Samberg in black unitards and heels. Either way, this song is uber-catchy and danceable but it is forever associated in my mind with men in drag.
9. The Streets - "Heaven For the Weather"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XczLJ4-sd8M
I've loved the streets for awhile, and this has got to be their catchiest song and a really sing-able chorus.
8. Duffy - "Mercy"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE2orthS3TQ
I've had an debate waging in my head about which British songstress will take Amy Winehouse's crown - Adele or Duffy? I still haven't decided. I like them both. This single of Duffy's I like because it has a groovy, Motown edge to it.
7. Kanye West - "Flashing Lights"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a--Pc7R8PU
Oh, Kanye. There's something about this song that I really love, though I can't put my finger on. It has a bit of a Daft Punk element to it, kind of like "Stronger".
6. Adele - "Chasing Pavements"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz7vGW2_5c0
Adele has a bit of an edge in my Duffy vs. Adele debate. There's a sort of unrestrained, heartbreaking element to her voice.
5. The Killers - "Spaceman"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkfY58pWyOs
"Human" grew on me a lot after a couple of listens, but this song is more of a return to "Hot Fuss" era Killers. This song has a thumping chorus that'll get stuck in your head for days.
4. Ting Tings - "Shut Up and Let Me Go"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StP-yIQeT2o
More infectious than mono. And even harder to get rid of.
3. Black Kids - "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaa4eGOtrTg
I love the line of "You are the girl that I've been dreaming of ever since I was a little girl". This song is a wonderfully 80s-esque track that'll make you want to stomp and shout and dance.
2. Britney Spears - "Womanizer"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZSLIq6YiRY
Britney's back, bitch. For real this time. I had this stuck in my head for a week straight. Normally in circumstances like that, I end up wanting to kill myself, but for some reason I still relished any oppurtunity to sing along to this song loudly in the radio whenever I could. Also, the Chris Moyles parody of it ("Lorry Driver") is pretty good too.
1. Kings of Leon - "Sex on Fire"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHhhcKxflMY
I am pretty obsessed with this song. It's quite sexy in feverish, desperate sort of way. The lead singer wails and howls like he hasn't had any in months. He seriously wants this chick's sex. He wants it so bad it's on FIRE, baby. Either that or she has a venereal disease.
AND HONORABLE MENTION GOES TO...
New Kids on the Block feat. Ne-Yo - "Single"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY4W1b8WurU
This gets a nod for pure ridiculous-ness. Seriously, Ne-Yo...how did you get attached to this? Seriously! You're like, the hottest thing on the radio right now. You should know better. With this song and video, I think NKOTB tried to prove that they were still culturally relevant. However, when you're famous for being an 80s boy band of budding young heart-throbs, it becomes a little pathetic if you're still trying to keep the shtick up in your late 30s/early 40s. I think it's actually the video that creeps me out more than anything. It shows an attractive 20-something girl in a nightclub and all the members of NKOTB trying to pick her up (which she seems to be digging). I dunno, if the members of NKOTB tried to pick me up in a club, I'd be a bit skeeved out, considering they're all like...40 and don't have any business in those clubs anyway. Especially Donnie. Joey and Jordan might be able to pull it off. But it's still dubious. Ne-Yo can definetely stay though.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Strange Duets
I had a very exciting moment in my car on my way to work today when I switched on my XM radio, and realized that one of my pre-sets, U-Pop, which is advertised as the "international pop" station, had seemingly overnight changed into BBC Radio 1. BBC Radio 1 is kind of like a weird obsession for me. I'm pretty bored with Top 40 pop over here, so it's refreshing to hear some Top 40 from the UK. Actually, a decent chunk of it is the same, but it still seems like a novelty.
So it was here where I first heard that Jack White and Alicia Keys were doing the theme song for the latest James Bond film, Quantum of Solace (can someone please explain that title to me? I still don't get it!)
When the DJ announced they were about to play this song, I was immediately thinking, "HUH?" Seriously, that musical combination makes no sense to me. I mean, I like Jack White and Alicia Keys separately, but together? Not so sure. However, I thought, it could be good in that so-bizarre-it-actually-works-way, like when Snoop Dog did that country song. Or when Run DMC infamously paired up with Aerosmith. At any rate, after a listen, I've decided that this is actually a really cool song. And it works really well as a Bond theme.
While I'm on the subject of strange duets that actually work very well, I present you with the following.
Nick Cave & Kylie Minogue - "Where the Wild Roses Grow"
Mark Lanegan & Isobel Campbell - "Keep Me in Mind, Sweetheart"
Bing Crosby & David Bowie - "Little Drummer Boy" (adoreable!)
So it was here where I first heard that Jack White and Alicia Keys were doing the theme song for the latest James Bond film, Quantum of Solace (can someone please explain that title to me? I still don't get it!)
When the DJ announced they were about to play this song, I was immediately thinking, "HUH?" Seriously, that musical combination makes no sense to me. I mean, I like Jack White and Alicia Keys separately, but together? Not so sure. However, I thought, it could be good in that so-bizarre-it-actually-works-way, like when Snoop Dog did that country song. Or when Run DMC infamously paired up with Aerosmith. At any rate, after a listen, I've decided that this is actually a really cool song. And it works really well as a Bond theme.
While I'm on the subject of strange duets that actually work very well, I present you with the following.
Nick Cave & Kylie Minogue - "Where the Wild Roses Grow"
Mark Lanegan & Isobel Campbell - "Keep Me in Mind, Sweetheart"
Bing Crosby & David Bowie - "Little Drummer Boy" (adoreable!)
Monday, November 10, 2008
Barack'n'Roll
I had a case of the Mondays at work today and not much actual work to do. Still pumped from the outcome of this recent election, and inspired by a little poster in my cubicle that says "Barack you like a hurricane", I tried to come up with other ways that Barack can be incorporated with songs that have the word "rock" in the title. Here's what I came up with:
"Barack You Like a Hurricane" (The Scorpions)
"We Will Barack You" (Queen)
"I Love Barack and Roll" (Joan Jett)
"You're No Barack and Roll Fun" (Sleater-Kinney)
"Party Like Barack Does" (Shop Boyz...the original is actually "Party Like A Rock Star, but this wording sounded better to me)
"Barackin Around the Christmas Tree" (Brenda Lee)
"Barack Around the Clock" (Buddy Weaver)
"Barack the Kasbah" (The Clash)
"Barack and Roll All Night" (Kiss)
"I Wanna Barack" (Twisted Sister)
"Barack Lobster" (B-52s)
"Barack of Ages" (Def Leppard)
"It's Still Barack and Roll To Me" (Billy Joel)
"Barackin' in the Free World" (Neil Young)
Feel free to add your own and have at it!
"Barack You Like a Hurricane" (The Scorpions)
"We Will Barack You" (Queen)
"I Love Barack and Roll" (Joan Jett)
"You're No Barack and Roll Fun" (Sleater-Kinney)
"Party Like Barack Does" (Shop Boyz...the original is actually "Party Like A Rock Star, but this wording sounded better to me)
"Barackin Around the Christmas Tree" (Brenda Lee)
"Barack Around the Clock" (Buddy Weaver)
"Barack the Kasbah" (The Clash)
"Barack and Roll All Night" (Kiss)
"I Wanna Barack" (Twisted Sister)
"Barack Lobster" (B-52s)
"Barack of Ages" (Def Leppard)
"It's Still Barack and Roll To Me" (Billy Joel)
"Barackin' in the Free World" (Neil Young)
Feel free to add your own and have at it!
Saturday, November 8, 2008
I Wish Greg Dulli Had Stolen MY Phone
People who've known me long enough probably know of my incredibly, undying, obsessive love of Greg Dulli and everything he does. Afghan Whigs, Twilight Singers, and now Gutter Twins are pretty much my top music ever. This love has even extended to pretty much anyone that Dulli has ever played with or collaborated with. Dulli got me to love Mark Lanegan (who I've always liked but now my love has grown), Jeff Klein, Afterhours, Joseph Arthur, Howlin' Maggie, etc. I read Scott Ford's (his bassist) blog and listen to his radio show (which is really good, btw, the link is on your right). Actually, Scott Ford's radio show and podcasts were very helpful to me when I was studying for finals and writing my thesis before graduation. So, Scott Ford, if I never in fact meet you in person, I will say through my blog, thanks for your radio show, it kicks ass.
So, of course, I had to attend the Gutter Twins show. It was at the Black Cat in DC. This story will not be a story of how awesome that show was (which, you know, it was). It is a different kind of story.
After arriving at the venue, I made a beeline for the very front of the stage. To my surprise, standing there was Ryan, a guy that I had Arabic class with and did a study abroad in Morocco with, there with his fiancee and one other guy. We say hey and I asked, "What are you guys doing here? I didn't know you liked the Gutter Twins!" Ryan introduces me to his friend that's with them, who apparently dragged them there, and who "hates" Greg Dullli but has the biggest man-crush ever on Mark Lanegan. We chatted a bit throughout the evening about Mark and Greg and Queens of the Stone Age and all that cool stuff and he seemed pretty cool.
Throughout the set, he kept snapping pictures of Mark with his cameraphone. Either Greg Dulli got really tired of this or thought that the guy was constantly texting during the show...I'm not sure. For whatever reason, Dulli came over and smacked the phone out of the guy's hand. It fell onto the stage and Dulli kicked it under the drum set. If I were that guy, I'd be freaking out. For the next couple of songs, he kept elbowing me with increasingly worried expressions on his face. I said, "I'm sure you'll get it back, Dulli can't steal your phone!" I actually wasn't so sure of this, but it seemed logical. His phone remained there under the drum kit for at least four songs. After that, Dulli took the phone, me and the guy gave a sigh of relief that he might get it back. Instead, he took the phone and stuck it in his pocket. The guy looked pretty freaked out at this point. I'm also pretty sure this incident did not enhance his love of Greg Dulli. The Gutter Twins played a couple of more songs, after which Greg Dulli finally relinquished the phone, handing it to the guy while wagging his finger at him like a reprimanding schoolteacher.
The rest of the night, we couldn't get over the fact that, for a brief time, Greg Dulli had stolen that guy's phone. Or, as he put it, "Greg Dulli RAPED my phone!"
The possibly pathetic thing is, while the guy was understandably freaked and annoyed by this, I am so very, very jealous. I would give anything to have Greg Dulli steal my phone. After all, phone are replaceable...even if it is annoying cuz then you have to replace them, which is expensive, and get everyone's numbers again, but still...a phone is replaceable and a moment with Greg Dulli...that's priceless, man.
To top off the overall crazy evening, while at the concert I ran into T, of all people (first Ryan, then T, it was quite an evening for running into people I didn't expect at a Gutter Twins show) whom I still have a weird crush on. I asked him why he was there and he said he's always been a fan of the Afghan Whigs, which definitely makes him a cooler person in my book. We didn't talk terribly long, but then, after exiting the venue, my friends and I ran into this random group of cute, friendly guys from L.A. looking for places to bar-hop and one of them gave me his business card, which is a first for me, I have to say. All in all...crazy, crazy night.
So, of course, I had to attend the Gutter Twins show. It was at the Black Cat in DC. This story will not be a story of how awesome that show was (which, you know, it was). It is a different kind of story.
After arriving at the venue, I made a beeline for the very front of the stage. To my surprise, standing there was Ryan, a guy that I had Arabic class with and did a study abroad in Morocco with, there with his fiancee and one other guy. We say hey and I asked, "What are you guys doing here? I didn't know you liked the Gutter Twins!" Ryan introduces me to his friend that's with them, who apparently dragged them there, and who "hates" Greg Dullli but has the biggest man-crush ever on Mark Lanegan. We chatted a bit throughout the evening about Mark and Greg and Queens of the Stone Age and all that cool stuff and he seemed pretty cool.
Throughout the set, he kept snapping pictures of Mark with his cameraphone. Either Greg Dulli got really tired of this or thought that the guy was constantly texting during the show...I'm not sure. For whatever reason, Dulli came over and smacked the phone out of the guy's hand. It fell onto the stage and Dulli kicked it under the drum set. If I were that guy, I'd be freaking out. For the next couple of songs, he kept elbowing me with increasingly worried expressions on his face. I said, "I'm sure you'll get it back, Dulli can't steal your phone!" I actually wasn't so sure of this, but it seemed logical. His phone remained there under the drum kit for at least four songs. After that, Dulli took the phone, me and the guy gave a sigh of relief that he might get it back. Instead, he took the phone and stuck it in his pocket. The guy looked pretty freaked out at this point. I'm also pretty sure this incident did not enhance his love of Greg Dulli. The Gutter Twins played a couple of more songs, after which Greg Dulli finally relinquished the phone, handing it to the guy while wagging his finger at him like a reprimanding schoolteacher.
The rest of the night, we couldn't get over the fact that, for a brief time, Greg Dulli had stolen that guy's phone. Or, as he put it, "Greg Dulli RAPED my phone!"
The possibly pathetic thing is, while the guy was understandably freaked and annoyed by this, I am so very, very jealous. I would give anything to have Greg Dulli steal my phone. After all, phone are replaceable...even if it is annoying cuz then you have to replace them, which is expensive, and get everyone's numbers again, but still...a phone is replaceable and a moment with Greg Dulli...that's priceless, man.
To top off the overall crazy evening, while at the concert I ran into T, of all people (first Ryan, then T, it was quite an evening for running into people I didn't expect at a Gutter Twins show) whom I still have a weird crush on. I asked him why he was there and he said he's always been a fan of the Afghan Whigs, which definitely makes him a cooler person in my book. We didn't talk terribly long, but then, after exiting the venue, my friends and I ran into this random group of cute, friendly guys from L.A. looking for places to bar-hop and one of them gave me his business card, which is a first for me, I have to say. All in all...crazy, crazy night.
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