Imogen Heap

The following is a video from the TED conference. An intelectual celebration of all things good and smart its a "celebration of ideas and creativity". Anyone who has spare time on their hands should head over to their website HERE and watch some of the videos, read some of the articles. It will make you feel better about yourself I promise.

The following is a musical performance from the conference from one of my favorite artists Imogen Heap. Its a stripped down version of her song "Wait It Out", and in this performance I think it shows quite well why this lady is in a league of her own. Nobody can touch this talent. Nobody.

The Ballad of Curtis Loew

Let me just say this my favorite Lynyrd Skynyrd song is not Free Bird.

**Gasp**

I know this is hard for many people to hear, but there is a Skynyrd song out there that is easily one of the best songs ever written, and many don't even know it was them. "The Ballad of Curtis Loew" is one of the best blues songs ever written. I got familiar with this song when listening to Phish. They do a great cover of it, but like most songs the cover is not better than the original, and this is so true with this song.

I just love it, can listen to it all day!

"Cause Curtis Loew was the finest picker to ever play the blues..."

The Kids Are Alright

Heading out tonight to see this movie. I'm really excited for it, looks super good!

Marina and the Diamonds

Well if this isn't one of the most exciting artists of 2010 I really don't know what is. "Marina and the Diamonds" (which actually refers to the lead singers original name, not the back up band) is poised and ready to do some havoc on our US soil. She has already made a name for herself in Europe with her unique style and influences. And to be honest listening to her album last night was like a breath of fresh air. Fantastic.

A good reason for this is her influences. People such as: Blondie, The Distillers, Patti Smith, Tom Waits, Nirvana, PJ Harvey, Elliot Smith, Dolly Parton and Madonna.

I'm excited to see where she goes in the future!! Check out the stripped down version of her new single "Hollywood" below.

Lighten Up

To help balance out the last post here is a super happy one. Watch what is probably the "happiest" music video of all time for Shawn Madden's song "Lighten Up". In a unique video he asked his friends, family and fans to send in video of them in "happy moments". What it turned into was a great video full of love.

Live Like You Were Dying

Okay, let me say this first. I hate country music.

Moving forward. I think that if everyone does one thing today it is watch this video and read the lyrics that come across the screen. I heard it last night come across my radio, then went back and listened to it four more times.

I love it.

Yet still hate country music. (I want to be clear here)

Any Day Now... I Shall Be Released

Weird day. Weird mood. This song best describes it.

Great Dylan tune.

"I see my life come shining, from the west to the east

any day now, any day now... I shall be released"

Toothpaste for Dinner

She and Him

The following video is one of my favorite new indie bands "She & Him" performing on Craig Fergusons Late Night Show. I obviously am showing you the video from youtube because well his show is one of the most annoying ones on late night. But he does get some great musical guests!

Love this song so much!

For Lea

This post is for my friend Lea. She highjacked my life last night and demanded that I watch this video. And I am here to admit. WOW THAT IS AWESOME.

Good job Lea.

Here is your shout out!

COMBO a collaborative animation by Blu and David Ellis (2 times loop) from blu on Vimeo.

Happy Birthday Maya Rudolph

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAYA RUDOLPH!!

I know this has little to nothing to do with music but she is one of my favorite actresses ever so I feel the need to give her a proper shout out.

Follow this link here to one of my favorite blogs

POP CANDY

And see a video from each one of her decades.

Her as Whitney Houston, never, ever gets old. Ever!

Heart of the Matter

Great song. Better artist. Beautiful cover.

Tonight - 8pm Flaming Lips Live

What are you doing tonight? Nothing? Typical Tuesday? Law and Order reruns?

Well I got something for you! Follow this link below:

RIGHT HERE

And watch streaming live the Flaming Lips show as part of Spin Magazines 25 year anniversary. Epic.

Carter Beauford

In my opinion, Carter Beauford is one of the top three drummers I have ever heard, and I say that confidently. The DMB drummer with his original style, swagger and movements easily has made his name for himself as one of the best.

Carter, who was first exposed to drumming at the age of three by his father, his interest for the instrument quickly took off. By age nine he was playing professionally, his inspiration, the infamous drummer Buddy Rich. Beauford taught himself to be completely ambidextrous, by accident. He would try so much to emulate Rich's drumming style, that he would set up his own drum kit as a kid in front of a mirror, using his left hand lead on a right handed kit and so on. He unknowingly set up his drums in reverse of whichever performer and set that he had in mind, in attempt to make the mirrored image of himself match that of the audience perspective, like he had seen on stage or TV.

This unique style and his ability to be ambidextrous proved to help him later on , carve a path for a new style of drumming especially with DMB. As one of the original members of the band, carter has had a heavy influence on the sound and tempo of their songs. Without him the band would just simply not be. I do believe he is the backbone and obvious tempo keeper of the entire band. His solos are unmatched, his style is beautiful and the sounds he can make those little drums make is truly unbelievable.

On Friday night he had his own solo at the show in DC. It was easily the highlight of the entire two hours. Unbelievable. I'm just glad that I'm able to see this man live, I know it will be a name my kids will talk about. (Well that is if I do my job right, and they are cool kids)....

Tight Rope

"Sometimes I think we are all tightrope walkers suspended on a wire two thousand feet in the air, and so long as we never look down we're okay, but some of us lose momentum and look down for a second and are never quite the same again: we know."

~Dorothy Gilman~

Graffiti Proposal

One of a kind. Good job dude.

Courage

My co-worker just printed this picture out and gave it to me.

It has made my morning!

So Hot Out

The image above perfectly depicts my friend Michelle and I when we got home from the Dave Matthews concert on Friday night. It easily was the hottest damn concert that I have ever sat through in my entire life.

There were points when we just looked at each other and thought "what the hell are we actually doing here?" I think a lot of people asked themselves that question on Friday night. It easily didn't go under 95 degrees the entire evening.

There was a lot of sweating, water, beer, semi-pathetic dancing, and tons of sitting in the hot chairs wondering where our nice summer down here in Virginia has gone. The band equally as hot, tried their hardest to play music that didn't require the crowd to do too much dancing (a feat virtually impossible).

But they did play a pretty show. A show full of slower type songs, I downloaded the show last night and while listening back realized that they played one of my favorite new songs. (I believe I was suffering major heat stroke at this moment). Yet the song below is just a fantastically written and performed song.

Tonight the 13 Year Tradition Continues

I saw my first Dave Matthews Band concert when I was 14 years old.

I have seen at least one every single summer since then.

Tonight the tradition continues up in DC with a show at Nationals Park. I will go up there with friends (some I have been seeing some of these shows with for years), and we will go stand out in the 100 degree weather for what hopes to be a fun show.

I see Dave Matthews because I still truly just enjoy his music. Some of the songs/cds I've listened to steadily for a majority of my life. I go to shows in hopes of hearing that one rare song that I've been waiting for, and tonight is no different.

Tonight I'm hoping for a "Spoon". Its easily one of my favorite songs they play and well its

Have a good weekend everyone!

"Come Together" Dance Mash-Up

Check out this cool video that I just stumbled upon; its a musical mash up combing The Beatles, The Beastie Boys and many more, set to an array of dance moves. Pretty entertaining!

from on Vimeo.

Best Dance - SYTYCD

Last night my friend Bonnie and I watched the latest installment of my favorite "So You Think You Can Dance". We easily agreed that the dance below was the hands down favorite of the night. The emotion alone had our jaws dropped. Bravo.

Happy Birthday

Today I would like to wish a very special 70th birthday, to the man, the myth, the legend that is....

GEORGE CLINTON

I have a feeling that I know what you will be doing to celebrate!

Quotations

Yesterday at work I was working on finding some quotations that perfectly described my job, volunteering and what it means to give back. I found some truly inspirational quotes, not only about volunteers but about life in general. It got me thinking about how much I enjoy quotes. Growing up I had a quote book, a place where I would collect all of my favorite ones. Yes I had my dork card quite early in life.

But quotations have followed me around for what seems like forever. I just love them. I like hearing what words of wisdom we can learn from people before hand, and well sometimes it just puts some things back into perspective. Then there are those that just make you laugh and remember to never take things too seriously.

So the following are some of my favorite quotes about what is important here.... MUSIC.

~Enjoy~

"Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music" -Angela Monet

"Music speaks what can not be expressed, sooths the mind and gives it rest, heals the heart, and makes it whole, flows from heaven to the soul"

"Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music" - Sergei Rachmaninov

"When people hear good music, it makes them homesick for something they never had, and never will have" - Edgar Howe

"Music is love in search of a word" -Sidonie Gabrielle

One Man Walk Across America

One of the cooler videos I have seen in a while. Here is the description:

"Peter and Blake, two young filmmakers, and founders of Conscious Minds Productions, recently launched grassroots work Project Beaker with their director friend Sam. Armed with just a camera, tripod, tape measure and a string with a blown-up paper protractor, the trio captured one guy's journey walking from the streets of New York to San Franscisco. 2,750 still frames, 14 days, and 2 pairs of Levi's jeans later is their video love letter."

Also, great choice of song.

Glow Stick War!

The scene: A Phish concert

The venue: SPAC June 19th 2010

The song: Suzy Greenberg

The crowd: Ready to throw down

The results: This fantastic video of the glow stick war that went down on the lawn.

I love this crowd!

Phish Glow Stick Party .

Red Band Trailer Episode 2

What happens when two of my favorite people on this planet converge on one screen for an interview? Just pure greatness. If you have the time please watch the interview below, my favorite screenwriter Diablo Cody (Juno) and Chelsea Handler sat down for Diablo's web series named Red Band Trailer. If only she would take the trailer to Richmond.... doesn't she know we would be friends :)

Tales of Hippie Crack

So anyone who goes to any of the fun summer festivals has seen the entire seen been run over by the "Nitrous Mafia". They control parking lots, they pop up out of bushes, they look like they don't belong yet over and over again in festivals up and down the east coast (especially in Philly) these people make themselves known.

Not much has been done about this group "thugs" for years and years.... well that is until now. The Village Voice published an article recently detailing this current problem and really exposed the inside operations of the entire crew.

Click Here For Article

Its a very interesting article and the effects of the article are far and wide. Reports from All Good festival this weekend said "no sign of any tanks". Maybe these people have been found out? Scared? Probably not. To be able to pull down hundreds of thousands of dollars each festival will mean we will be dealing with the multicolored balloon scene for a long time.

Fix You

Every summer I get really into this one tv show. Its really the only tv show during the summer months that I make sure to tape so that I can have it to watch at my disposal. It mixes some of my favorite things in the world and brings it to one stage. If the name So You Think You Can Dance, makes you think of a show you would not be caught dead watching. I really think you should take another look.

This show is for real.

Unlike American Idol or Dancing with the Stars, they bring out REAL DANCERS. Trained dancers. Dancers who are not trying to just make it, they are fantastic and are now just trying to get noticed. Big difference. Every year they introduce us to a crop of about 8-10 really fantastic dancers. They are matched with some of the best choreographer in the country and in a week time end up with dance pieces that are beyond beautiful. They range from hip-hop, to Bollywood, jazz, and contemporary, tap and even the samba. These dancers are pushed beyond their limit to find their true ability. That is why I love this show.

That and usually once or maybe twice a season you get that perfect match. The match of great dancers, with a choreographer telling a story, and the music just plays in perfect tune. It makes a magical piece. One that just brings you to silence and makes you stare at your tv screen.

This happened last week. In a piece by Travis Wall these two dancers took to the stage to tell a specific story. The story of Travis's mother's battle with illness and Travis's struggle as a son to keep her spirits going. I swear something came over these two dancers and what they did on this stage was unbelievable. The emotion that falls out of Allison's face is unlike anything I have ever seen before. This is defiantly the moment of the summer for this show.... beautiful.

So you think you can dance - Fix you - Robert & Allison .

Mumford and Sons

New favorites alert! Repeat, new favorites alert!

Please take note of the following band, they are about to break open and hit it really big here in the U.S. Mumford and Sons and their debut hit "Little Lion Man" are just great. The best way to describe them is, its dirty folk music.

My favorite kind.

Violin For Sale: Asking Price A Mere $18 Million!

Thats right, you heard the above title. A violin is for sale for an asking price of $18 million dollars. If sold, it will make it the most expensive piece of musical equipment in history. Crazy right?

View article here

This violin known as "del Gesu" is named after its famous maker Giuseppe Guarneri, known for making very robust violins with amazing sound.

Now I'm not going to sit here and pretend I know what I'm talking about when it comes to violins, but this headline just about knocked me out of my chair. $18 million, one musical instrument. Thats insanity.

Happiest DJ In the World

This video needs no introduction. Just watch and hope you love your job as much as this man does!

(favorite part is when he stands up and whistles)

Steve Poltz

On Saturday night I spent a good portion of my evening playing music on my deck. Its one of my most favorite things to do. All it is is me, the night sky, my radio and some old friends. And by old friends I mean my music.

Its a funny thing when you find peace. Its a quiet place once you find it, and once you are there you would do just about anything to hold on to it. For a moment that night I found my peace. I found my purpose and I felt complete. It was a funny feeling. Everything just seemed right.

I remember this moment because of this song. This song was on the radio around this moment. I remember thinking about how lucky I was to have all the things I have in my life and just sat there thinking of all of them. My great job, my amazing family and wonderful friends, an apartment to call my own, a pint of ice cream next to a bottle of vodka in the fridge, a weekend full of nothing. Was I lucky to be in that moment? Absolutely. Yet I was even luckier to realize it while the moment was happening.

Forever Young

I had a great night on Saturday night. I went out, I enjoyed the company of some of my friends, I listened to some good music, I danced, and ended the evening on my deck with my radio with the cool summer nights breeze. It was as close to a perfect evening as one gets. Yet there was still one other place that I would have rather been.

Thats right, in my hometown of Morristown, NJ. You see on Saturday night at the Famished Frog there was a CD release party.. .but this wasn't any old release party. It was a celebration. A celebration of the wonderful life of a dear friend Lauren. The CD was made at her memorial concert and a band that I am lucky enough to call my friends "The Blaire Reinhard Band" performed their magical selection of songs.

From what I hear the night was wonderful. Filled with family and friends, love and laughter, and a whole lot of what Lauren loved. Dancing. This night was a night to celebrate the passion of life and the pursuit of being happy.

Today a wonderful article featuring Blaire was posted online. Please follow THIS LINK to read. And if so inclined follow THIS LINK to purchase the wonderful CD, the proceeds will go to the Lauren's foundation.

SWIM

This song inspires me to go out and do something great...

"I swim for better days despite the absence of sun"

Christina Perri

While watching my daily dose of reality tv last night I came across a special performance on "So You Think You Can Dance". It was the debut tv appearance by Christina Perri, someone that I'm sure to be talking a lot about in the future. I loved her performance, her song, her style everything just worked. Not only is the song hauntingly beautiful but the tone of her voice fits it like a glove.

Oh and a fun fact about this girl. She was unknown before a dancer from the show used one of her pieces in their performance. The reaction to her song from that performance was so overwhelming that they asked her to come on Thursday night to perform. She was unsigned before her performance last night of this song. And yup, she woke up this morning as a signed recording artist. Crazy what one magical tv performance will do for a career.

"I hear you're asking all around

if I am anywhere to be found

but I have grown too strong to ever fall back in your arms"

40 Day Dream

There is not enough words for me to sum up how much I like this group. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros are welcome in my world anytime. Their music is such happy great fun music and their live performances are so full of emotion, its just a great time for everyone involved.

The following is one of my favorites of theirs and this particular video shows exactly what I mean about their live performances. They are having so much fun up there, you can see it in the way they move. This group is unlike any other. Please research more of their music. Its worth it.

Time Waster

Its Friday, if your like me and your waiting until you are told that you are free until Monday here is a site I think you would like.

www.songfacts.com

Go there. Indulge. If for no other reason then its Friday.