You know, for someone who isn't musically inclined, I sure do like it. In college I used to go to shows all the time, once every few weeks. As I got older, I kind of stopped going to shows, but since I've been in LA, I've been going more often.
Last night, L--- and E--- and I went to the Troubadour to see this band called Of Monsters and Men. They're Icelandic and...right up my alley. Very fun and cute. Like a less pretentious Edward Sharpe.
I fortunately have been seeing a lot of music in LA, and I love it. I guess cause LA is such an entertainment hub, it's totally possible to see up and coming music for less than $20 in a smallish venue. I'm hoping that this year, bands will trickle over from Coachella and do a bunch of secret shows that I'll be able to weasel my way in to. Except for Bon Iver. I can't stand him. The sound of his voice makes me wish I were deaf, and after seeing what a pretentious asshole he was at the Grammy's, he's made an enemy for life.
But this isn't about music I don't like. It's about music I do like. So, without further ado, I present the following bands that I can't stop listening to. I hope you enjoy.
Beirut - http://www.beirutband.com/
(I like his music, I love the gypsy influence. I love his face)
First Aid Kit - http://thisisfirstaidkit.com/
(They're Swedish! And sisters!)
The Drums - http://thedrums.com/
(E--- got me in to them, and we're going to see them next month!)
(I like this song. I always think they're saying, "Obama. I wanna go surfing.". President Obama. I do want to go surfing. )
Surfer Blood - http://www.surferblood.com/splash
(These kids are fun. I've seen them a couple of times, and they're really cute. They make me feel like my kids are up on stage playing, and I'm a doting parent in the back.)
Anna Calvi -
(J--- sent me this album the other day. She reminds me of PJ Harvey)
Youth Lagoon - http://youthlagoon.blogspot.com/
(Kinda reminds me of a less psychotic, more talented Daniel Johnston)
Of Monsters and Men - http://ofmonstersandmenmusic.tumblr.com/
(This band is going to get super huge and will probably be playing the Hollywood Bowl next year)
Santigold - http://www.santigold.com/
(Oh. How I love Santigold. She's like a better, less obnoxious MIA)
(This is an old song, but I love this performance. She's so pretty, and this song is the WINS)
Dustbowl Revival - http://dustbowlrevival.com/
(I finally saw them after a year of trying a few weeks ago. I love me some bluegrass, and that they're local. AND they sang Midnight Special as we were leaving!)
And of course...OCMS - http://www.crowmedicine.com/
(One of these days, you will come out west and I'll be able to see y'all live)
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
The Accidental Hangover
I'm accidentally hungover this morning, because I accidentally drank a bottle of wine last night.
I say accidentally because I had no intention of drinking a whole bottle last night, let alone as late as I did.
I was just sitting around the apartment last night, listening to some records and reading. It's been really weirdly cold in LA this past week, and my apartment is freezing. I was planning on going to be early to get up for yoga in the morning, but was pretty comfortable on the sofa with the dogs and my book. I decided to have one glass of red wine to warm me up, and figured it would also make me sleepy.
Cut to me an hour and a half later, with an empty bottle of wine, stumbling around the apartment trying to get ready for bed.
Needless to say, I did not make yoga this morning, and now am just miserable at work.
Stupid accidental hangovers..
I say accidentally because I had no intention of drinking a whole bottle last night, let alone as late as I did.
I was just sitting around the apartment last night, listening to some records and reading. It's been really weirdly cold in LA this past week, and my apartment is freezing. I was planning on going to be early to get up for yoga in the morning, but was pretty comfortable on the sofa with the dogs and my book. I decided to have one glass of red wine to warm me up, and figured it would also make me sleepy.
Cut to me an hour and a half later, with an empty bottle of wine, stumbling around the apartment trying to get ready for bed.
Needless to say, I did not make yoga this morning, and now am just miserable at work.
Stupid accidental hangovers..
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
SF Birthday Extravaganza
Just a quick one as I'm ass busy at work, and haven't uploaded pictures from the party yet.
Pisces' Twin birthday SF weekend extravaganza was banana's. D---- and D--- flew out to surprise the crap out of me at the Edison, and then went up to SF. The party was off the hook fun, and I'll post more details when I get those pictures up.
My quick weekend up north was topped off with gorgeous Baker Beach going weather with all of my best friends on Sunday.
Also, a special shout out to my grandma who celebrated her 90th birthday. A lot of people flew in for the party, and she seemed pretty happy. However, trying to get a 90 year old Alzheimers senior to focus when taking the rounds of pictures is like taking pictures with a baby. People kept having to jingle their keys to get her attention, and she'd nod off every few minutes.
Seeing everyone all together though was the ultimate wins. I'm tired, still residually drunk, and left my phone charger at my mom's house, but am still content.
Pisces' Twin birthday SF weekend extravaganza was banana's. D---- and D--- flew out to surprise the crap out of me at the Edison, and then went up to SF. The party was off the hook fun, and I'll post more details when I get those pictures up.
My quick weekend up north was topped off with gorgeous Baker Beach going weather with all of my best friends on Sunday.
Also, a special shout out to my grandma who celebrated her 90th birthday. A lot of people flew in for the party, and she seemed pretty happy. However, trying to get a 90 year old Alzheimers senior to focus when taking the rounds of pictures is like taking pictures with a baby. People kept having to jingle their keys to get her attention, and she'd nod off every few minutes.
Seeing everyone all together though was the ultimate wins. I'm tired, still residually drunk, and left my phone charger at my mom's house, but am still content.
Monday, March 5, 2012
TV rots your brains
In case you didn't know, I'm a TV monster. I used to get in all kinds of trouble as a kid for watching too much tv and it's probably why I have the attention span of a fly now as an adult.
However, the past few years, I've been living without cable, which greatly limits my tv consumption. I have all my usual favorite shows: 30 Rock, Parks and Rec, Modern Family and the 2 reality shows I allow myself to watch (Survivor and Amazing Race). And these are just network shows, forget about premium cable. I've had to wait till shows on HBO and A & E were out on DVD to watch, and now is no exception.
I finally got my disc one of the first season of Boardwalk Empire, and man..is it good stuff. In case you haven't heard of the show, it's set in Atlantic City during Prohibition. Enoch "Nucky" Thompson is city controller, and runs the liquor, women and gambling in town. He also owns the Mayor's office, and his brother is the Sheriff. I don't know a lot about AC, but it looks like a lot of these characters are based on real people, and it's a great period piece. Prohibition always seemed like the funnest time in American history, and while the presence of the Klan, and rampant government corruption isn't that fun, the parties sure do look crazy.
The biggest surprises for me though with this show are Michael Pitt and Steve Buscemi. You all may know about my weird secret crush on Steve. He's sooo weird looking, it's really attractive. He's really good on BE, and he plays the character with enough bravado, but it's made me realize how unattractive he is. Paz De La Huerta towers over him in all of their scenes, and while I knew nothing about her until I started watching the show (other than the fact that she's a hot drunken mess on and off the show), but theres something about him on this show that is putting me off. Maybe they're filming in high def, or layering him in too much makeup, but his weird unattractive/attractive face is now just unattractive/unattractive.
Which brings me to Michael Pitt. I hate this guy. I've always gotten him and Clea Duval mixed up, because they have the same hair, and play the same sullen girl in every single show/movie they're in. But he's so good on this show. I know this is going to sound really sexist, but, he's just so much more manly. He isn't all shifty eyed, and looking lost and forlorn. He stands up straight and looks people in the eyes, which is a big departure from the usual ultra whine-y, long haired havin', looks like he's going to start cryin', mopey, dopey claptrap he usually pulls.
The point is, now I kind of have a crush on him now.
(I mean...look at this fop)
And now..
Now, on the opposite end of the spectrum, I'm going to talk about a show I grudgingly have been watching. The New Girl. With Zooey Deschanel. It's really funny, and I don't want to like it, but can't help myself. She's really funny, and cute, but it's just impossible for me to believe that she can't find a boyfriend. I mean..she's too cute. It's annoying.
(I mean..I have glasses, I have bangs, I wear dresses. We're OBVIOUSLY the same person)
but my favorite character is Schmidt. Oh good God. Schmidt is one of the funniest characters. I want to know who writes him, and how I can hang out with them.
Cause who doesn't want to hang out in their 'mono on a Friday night.
This was something I couldn't stop laughing about either. It's from the episode where Jess sees Nick naked.
But the whole show is pretty solid. All of the characters are interesting although Nick and Jess' are most notably the most boring plotline, but they still have their own zingers. I'm actually quite pleased with the show, and even though I'm supposed to hate Zooey Deschanel as a mortal enemy, she has managed to win me over.
Well played Zooey. Well played.
However, the past few years, I've been living without cable, which greatly limits my tv consumption. I have all my usual favorite shows: 30 Rock, Parks and Rec, Modern Family and the 2 reality shows I allow myself to watch (Survivor and Amazing Race). And these are just network shows, forget about premium cable. I've had to wait till shows on HBO and A & E were out on DVD to watch, and now is no exception.
I finally got my disc one of the first season of Boardwalk Empire, and man..is it good stuff. In case you haven't heard of the show, it's set in Atlantic City during Prohibition. Enoch "Nucky" Thompson is city controller, and runs the liquor, women and gambling in town. He also owns the Mayor's office, and his brother is the Sheriff. I don't know a lot about AC, but it looks like a lot of these characters are based on real people, and it's a great period piece. Prohibition always seemed like the funnest time in American history, and while the presence of the Klan, and rampant government corruption isn't that fun, the parties sure do look crazy.
The biggest surprises for me though with this show are Michael Pitt and Steve Buscemi. You all may know about my weird secret crush on Steve. He's sooo weird looking, it's really attractive. He's really good on BE, and he plays the character with enough bravado, but it's made me realize how unattractive he is. Paz De La Huerta towers over him in all of their scenes, and while I knew nothing about her until I started watching the show (other than the fact that she's a hot drunken mess on and off the show), but theres something about him on this show that is putting me off. Maybe they're filming in high def, or layering him in too much makeup, but his weird unattractive/attractive face is now just unattractive/unattractive.
Which brings me to Michael Pitt. I hate this guy. I've always gotten him and Clea Duval mixed up, because they have the same hair, and play the same sullen girl in every single show/movie they're in. But he's so good on this show. I know this is going to sound really sexist, but, he's just so much more manly. He isn't all shifty eyed, and looking lost and forlorn. He stands up straight and looks people in the eyes, which is a big departure from the usual ultra whine-y, long haired havin', looks like he's going to start cryin', mopey, dopey claptrap he usually pulls.
The point is, now I kind of have a crush on him now.
(I mean...look at this fop)
And now..
Now, on the opposite end of the spectrum, I'm going to talk about a show I grudgingly have been watching. The New Girl. With Zooey Deschanel. It's really funny, and I don't want to like it, but can't help myself. She's really funny, and cute, but it's just impossible for me to believe that she can't find a boyfriend. I mean..she's too cute. It's annoying.
(I mean..I have glasses, I have bangs, I wear dresses. We're OBVIOUSLY the same person)
but my favorite character is Schmidt. Oh good God. Schmidt is one of the funniest characters. I want to know who writes him, and how I can hang out with them.
Cause who doesn't want to hang out in their 'mono on a Friday night.
This was something I couldn't stop laughing about either. It's from the episode where Jess sees Nick naked.
But the whole show is pretty solid. All of the characters are interesting although Nick and Jess' are most notably the most boring plotline, but they still have their own zingers. I'm actually quite pleased with the show, and even though I'm supposed to hate Zooey Deschanel as a mortal enemy, she has managed to win me over.
Well played Zooey. Well played.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
This past Dead President's day weekend we went to Truckee. M---, D---- and I drove up on Friday morning and waited for everyone to come up.
D---- very generously offered his family's cabin for us, and so we got to spend the weekend. It is a cozy cabin on a hill near Tahoe Donner. It was built by D-----'s grandparents in the late 70's, before everyone else wised up to how beautiful the land is.
I needed to just be away with my friends, and even though we all weren't there, it was just what the doctor ordered. It is also a dog friendly cabin, so I was able to bring K---- up for her first snow.
She has no idea
She was scared of it at first, but once she got her snow legs, she was a snowbunny.
It was Z--'s first snow too! Z-- and K---- were thick as thieves. They both were very sweet to each other, being gentle and sharing toys and food.
This was the backyard!
This is all of us before they all went to snowboard. K---- is camoflaged in there.
Saturday we all went sledding.
and
Karen is running ahead towards the trees
and...
D---- found this at the bottom of the hill
My antique cans!
All in all a good fun weekend. Beers, buds and boarding. What more could a girl ask for?
D---- very generously offered his family's cabin for us, and so we got to spend the weekend. It is a cozy cabin on a hill near Tahoe Donner. It was built by D-----'s grandparents in the late 70's, before everyone else wised up to how beautiful the land is.
I needed to just be away with my friends, and even though we all weren't there, it was just what the doctor ordered. It is also a dog friendly cabin, so I was able to bring K---- up for her first snow.
She has no idea
She was scared of it at first, but once she got her snow legs, she was a snowbunny.
It was Z--'s first snow too! Z-- and K---- were thick as thieves. They both were very sweet to each other, being gentle and sharing toys and food.
This was the backyard!
This is all of us before they all went to snowboard. K---- is camoflaged in there.
Saturday we all went sledding.
and
Karen is running ahead towards the trees
and...
D---- found this at the bottom of the hill
My antique cans!
All in all a good fun weekend. Beers, buds and boarding. What more could a girl ask for?
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
I am fucking amazing.
You know what word is totally and completely overused? "amazing".
Hearing that word is like hearing nails on a chalkboard. I fucking hate that word.
This is how I feel whenever I hear anyone describing something as "amazing":
Especially cause it usually isn't that amazing. It's just idiots who don't know any other words to describe how their coffee tasted that morning, or how great the parking spot is they just got.
You know what I think is amazing? The cosmos. Or how complex the human body is. Or the Grand Canyon. Not the fucking yoga class you took last week.
I, unfortunately know a bunch of people who use the A word. I, fortunately, am not friends with them anymore so I don't have to hear them jabber on about how "amazing" their nap was, or to describe how they're doing. That's another thing that really annoys me. When people describes their lives as being "amazing" What the fuck is so amazing about it? What are you doing that's so damn amazing?
Ohhh brother..
Hearing that word is like hearing nails on a chalkboard. I fucking hate that word.
This is how I feel whenever I hear anyone describing something as "amazing":
Especially cause it usually isn't that amazing. It's just idiots who don't know any other words to describe how their coffee tasted that morning, or how great the parking spot is they just got.
You know what I think is amazing? The cosmos. Or how complex the human body is. Or the Grand Canyon. Not the fucking yoga class you took last week.
I, unfortunately know a bunch of people who use the A word. I, fortunately, am not friends with them anymore so I don't have to hear them jabber on about how "amazing" their nap was, or to describe how they're doing. That's another thing that really annoys me. When people describes their lives as being "amazing" What the fuck is so amazing about it? What are you doing that's so damn amazing?
Ohhh brother..
Monday, February 13, 2012
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