Event Tomorrow. My Thoughts on Today.

New Tenacious D!!!

Yes you read that correctly. I had to stop everything I was doing today when this little link was emailed to me. Its a new song by Tenacious D! I love that they are  back making music!

Wish I had more time to elaborate but for now just enjoy!

"I wanna be the very best....like no one ever was!!"

Run Run Run Run

Hello my friends. I would like nothing more than to sit here and update you on all things music today but unfortunately work has decided to rule my universe and take up all my time. (How dare it...)

I would like to say for the record that the only way that I am actually getting through today is that I have my ipod in my back pocket and both ear phones in. Blocking out everyone but my work is helping... a lot. 

I promise I'll be back. Maybe tonight. Maybe tomorrow... maybe Friday. Gasp. But know that I would much rather be here than doing seating charts. :)

Also my life is a lot like this next song:

"You got to run like an antelope out of control...."

Just In Case

There is a good chance that work is going to kill me today. If this happens, know that I love you all.

I really wish I was kidding.... 

Meet Birdy.

There are a few things I love about traveling. One of the best things about it is every time before I go I try and find a new artist that people are talking about yet I have yet to really give a time of day. I download their album, I listen to the entire thing either on the plane, or in the car and in most cases I am floored by my discoveries. 

Well I got a gem this past week. Her name is Birdy. Yes Birdy.

I don't know how the UK is doing it but they are producing some of the absolute best artists that I have heard over the past few years. Okay you ready for this girls story. Its a good one. 

Birdy was born in May of 1996 in Lymington, England. Yes I know this makes me feel like a huge slacker. Her mother was a concert pianist and Birdy learned to play piano at the age of seven and starting writing her own music at the age of eight. She currently is a student at the Priestlands School in Lymington. A small school that specializes in performing and visual arts. 

It was here in 2008 where she got the courage at the age of 12 to not only compete but win the UK talent contest Open Mic UK. She won both the under 18 category and the Grand Prize against over 10,000 other competitors. After the competition she was quickly offered a publishing contract with a label out of the UK who had worked with such previous artists as David Gray. 

In 2011 at the age of 15, she released a cover version of Bon Iver's song "Skinny Love" The song was her first hit on the UK Singles Chart. After this success she found many other success in covering such songs as "The A Team" by Ed Sheeran and "Shelter" by The XX's. 

Here is the Skinny Love cover:

Finally in debut album was released in July of 2011, where it has been breaking chart records ever since in the UK, Netherlands and in Belgium. 

Then last week happened. Last week she made her US debut on both the Ellen show and by contributing to the highly successful Hunger Games Soundtrack. 

I remember being in my kitchen fixing some food when I heard this voice come out from behind me. I couldn't believe that I was hearing a voice of someone so young. After going out and immediately buying her album it did not leave my headphones for my entire trip. I am officially obsessed. Her voice is just so pure, so simple and so perfect. It is exactly why I love music. 

Now to talk about the song that really solidified my obsession. "People Help the People". This song is one of the more amazing songs I've heard in a long while. The message of it to me is simple. Its about not judging people before you know them. That person may be crying because they have just lost a relative. That guy may be sleeping in doorways because no one was there to help him. This song is all about not judging a book by its cover. Just because we don't know somebody, it doesn't mean we can't help them. We are all human beings and should be there for each other, no matter who, when or where.

"God knows what is hiding, in that world of little consequence

Behind the tears, inside the lies

A thousand slowly dying sunsets

God knows what is hiding in those weak and drunken hearts

I guess the loneliness came knocking 

No one needs to be alone, oh save me

People help the people

And if your homesick, give me your hand and I'll hold it

People help the people

Nothing will drag you down

Oh and if I had a brain, Oh and if I had a brain

I'd be cold as a stone and rich as as the fool

That turned, all those good hearts away"

Fantastic Hall and Oats Cover!

Check out this fantastic Hall and Oats cover of "I Can't Go for That" by Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers. Best part... it was all filmed in the back of a car. Oh and an added bonus.... there is a kazoo. Ha!

Tebowed.

Yes that picture above is of the new NY Jets (backup... for now) QB Mr. Tim Tebow. While I get that he will fit in well with our offense, I do not like this move for many many reasons. 

1. The bandwagon Tebow fans. 

2. The pressure it will already put on our fragile QB Mark Sanchez who we just signed to a 50 million dollar extension.

3. The circus it brings. Really what back up QB holds press conferences?

4. Rex plus Tebow can not end well

5. How will this fix our locker room problems?

6. How will giving away draft picks help fill the many many holes we have including an O line, a RB a pass rusher and WR. 

7. NYC will eat this man alive

8. The first INT Sanchez throws we will hear chants of Tebow. Tebow. Tebow.

9. We continue to be the laughing stock of the league. Rather than putting our heads down and fixing our problems we go for media stunts. 

I know that there is some chance that this could all work out really well for the Jets and I will end up eating my words in about 8 months. But I'm sorry... I don't see it.

I'm Baaaaaack!

Hey Everybody, sorry for the complete lack of posts last week but I'm back from my extended vacation to California. (If you take a look at the picture above that I took from my balcony you can see why it was pretty tough to leave). But alas, I am back and it is a brand new week here. 

Also, good things will happen today on this blog. I  have a lot of music to cover and well I am pretty stoked to get it out here. 

Ever heard of Birdy? Well give me an hour and you will... :)

Leaving.

Later blog. Heading to California. Not really in a mood to post today. Sorry. See you next week.

Phish - Bittersweet Motel

I'm sorry that I'm extremely busy today with work and planning for my vacation at the end of the week but I promise you this post is a good one. For anyone who really wants to know why I listen to Phish and why I spend so much time and effort with them should take the next hour and watch this documentary directed by Todd Phillips (The Hangover and Old School).

Bittersweet Motel is the name of it and the band released in 2000. Its pretty amazing. And somehow I found an entire copy on youtube. Score!

Watch the whole thing right here. Right now.

Fun Facts about Queen

I love Queen. I do. Can't help myself. So here are some fun facts about that band!

-Their 1985 Live Aid Performance is regarded as one of the best live rock performances of all time.

-The name of the band was not for its regal sound, or anything to do with homosexuality. It was all Freddie's idea that the name be Queen after his grandmothers pet dog "Queenie". 

-Queen's original name was King, but Freddie Mercury altered it for fear it sounded 'too camp'. 

-Jimmy Page was a session musician for the album A Day As A Racist. This lead to rumours that he played guitar on every album Queen produced and that Brian May couldn't actually play at all. 

-On every album, there is at least 10 minutes of total silence, to build up tension, except A Day As A Racist, which contains a 20 minute guitar solo featuring only 3 chords. 

-Queen played their first gig in the basement of Roger's parent's house, to an audience of stuffed animals.

-When not recording, writing, touring or just hanging out, the remaining members of Queen take care of their herd of wild water buffalo and attend honorary university ceremonies.

-Freddie died the day after he finally announced to the world that he in fact had AIDS.

-The song "Who Wants to Live Forever" was inspired by watching the movie Highlander. The members were actually so taken with the movie, they started to write lyrics on the way home from the theater. 

-Lady Gaga took her name from their famous song "Radio Gaga"

-In January of 1985 they played to a crowd of over 180,000 in Brazil.

-The Queen logo was designed by Freddie

-Bohemian Rhapsody was their first Top 10 Hit in the US.

Music Break!

Last night I couldn't help myself but I watched "Exit Through the Giftshop" documentary again. If you haven't seen this street art film, stop what you are doing, go to your local red box or blockbuster store and go rent it immediately. Scratch that. Go and buy it. Its definitely a good one to own. Anyways, one of my favorite parts of the film is the beginning when they use "Tonight the Streets are Ours" as the background song to many of the artists works. Its a great use of music and imagery. I found the clip and have posted it below, and if you didn't know the song is sung by Richard Hawley. 

Bet You Didn't Know That....

Random Peyton Fact

Why not a random Manning fact to fit in with the theme of the day:

-Only three Hall of Fame quarterbacks won a Super Bowl and then finished their career with another team. Joe Montana, Joe Namath and Johnny Unitas. Brett Favre will soon join this list and Peyton Manning, who led the Colts to the title in 2006, will someday accompany them. 

More Randoms!!

This is actually turning out to be quite the interesting day. Twitter just exploded with the news that Peyton Manning is going to join the Denver Broncos. While I'm really glad he didn't land in Miami, I still yet to understand this decision. With teams like the 49ers interested, why choose Denver? We will see how this plays out. 

Anyways back to the important things... random facts! What a fun way to pass the day along, I can't believe its almost 2pm! Yay only about five more hours... :)

Here are some more facts:

-To win a gold disc, an album needs to sell 100,000 copies in Britain, and 500,000 in the United States.

-Elvis favorite collectibles were official badges. He collected police badges in almost every city he performed in.

-Before they were known as Journey, Steve Perry called his band Golden Gate Rhythm Section.

The Beatles holds the top spot of album sales in the US (106 million), followed by Garth Brooks second (92 million), Led Zeppelin (83 million), Elvis Presley (77 million), and the Eagles (65 million). Worldwide The Beatles sold more than 1 billion records.

-Johnny Cash was given the name “J.R.” because his parents could not agree on a name, only on initials. When he enlisted in the United States Air Force, the military would not accept initials as his name, so he adopted John R. Cash as his legal name. In 1955, when signing with Sun Records, he took Johnny Cash as his stage name. 

-In 1976 American singer and songwriter Barry Manilow released a chart-topping song titled “I Write the Songs.” Ironically, he didn’t write the song himself. 

-James Brown had 99 Hot 100 Billboard entries, yet never had a number one Hot 100 hit. 

-The rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd took their name from a high school teacher named Leonard Skinner who had suspended several students for having long hair. 

-The horse’s name in the song Jingle Bells is Bobtail. 

-John Lennon named his band the Beatles after Buddy Holly’s ‘Crickets.’ 

-The Japanese national anthem is expressed in only four lines. The Greek anthem runs 158 verses. 

-The most recorded song of all time – with more than 2,000 versions – is ‘Yesterday’. Included on the ‘Help!’ soundtrack, it was number one for four weeks in 1965.

Random Phish Facts

You knew this post was coming! Here are some random Phish facts for you right before lunch! 

-The band formed at University of VT, Anastasio and Holdsworth used to jam in Fishman's dorm room and Gordon answered an ad they put up on a bulletin board. 

-They never play the same set twice

-In 2000 at the height of their powers, the band broke up. They regrouped in 2002 but decided to limit their touring. This had the effect of making tickets absolutely impossible to get.

-The band is named after the drummer Fishman.

-They are known for bizarre stage antics. Some of the props they use include trampolines, vacuum cleaners and a slip and slide.

-They appeared on an episode of the Simpsons

-Holdsworth left the band in 1986 and became a born again Christian. He played with the band again on December 1st, 2003 at a concert in NY. Page joined the band in 1985.

-Phish covered albums in their entirety for several years at their Halloween shows including such classics as the Beatles 'White Album', The Who's 'Quadrophenia', Talking Heads 'Remain in Light', and the Velvet Underground 'Loaded" to name a few.

-At the time Phish's New Years Eve Millenium concert in Florida was the largest paid concert event in the world. They played from midnight until dawn without stopping.

-Trey wrote 'The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday" a nine song concept album as his senior thesis.

-Many sets have included just four songs.

-Over 60,000 people attended the IT festival in 2003.

-Their show "Live in Brooklyn" featuring guest star Jay-Z was shown live in movie theatres across the country

Random Facts - Part 2

Okay, as promised here are some more random music facts for you all to enjoy today. 

-The only guy in ZZ Top that doesn't have a beard is Frank Beard

- None of Elvis's films got nominated for an Oscar, but he did win three Grammy Awards.... for his gospel recordings

-John Lennon wrote Good Morning, Good Morning after hearing a Corn Flakes commercial

-Marilyn Monroe got a white poodle named Mafia from Frank Sinatra

-The first CD that was pressed in the US was Bruce's Born in the USA

-Before composing Beethoven dipped his head in cold water

-The first pop video was released in 1975. It was Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen

-When Madonna was 15, she got grounded for the whole summer, for sneaking out to see David Bowie in concert

-Termites will eat wood two times faster when listening to heavy metal

-House of the Rising Sun by the Animals was recorded in only 15 minutes because the band was on a tight budget

-When Billy Crystal was a child, his babysitter was the legendary Billie Holiday

Happy Monday (Random Fact Day!)

Well what do we have here. Yet another Monday.... On most weeks I do not look forward to this day but this week is a bit different. I only have three short days of work before a much needed break, so today is technically Wednesday and I'm okay with that. 

Since I'm a little busy with work today I'm going to have a theme day today on the blog to make things nice and easy. And todays theme is.... RANDOM FACT DAY. I will start it off with just a post about ridiculous fun facts followed by more posts that talk about random facts about my favorite artists. Should be pretty fun.

Now for the completely random!

- A cockroach can survive without food for a month, submersion for 45 minutes, regenerate lost limbs and being microwaved

- If Barbie were real, she would have a 28 inch waist and be 7 foot 6 inches tall

- 40% of McDonalds profits come from the sales of Happy Meals

 - J.K. Rowling was turned down by twelve publishers

- There has only been one Oscar winner named Oscar.

- More people in the world today have easier access to cell phones than toilets

- There is a 95% chance of human extinction in the next 9000 years

- The average chocolate bar can have up to 8 insect legs in it

- Children laugh at least 10 times as often as adults on a daily basis

- There was once Celery flavored Jell-O. It was used in salads. 

- Elvis was a black belt in Karate which he picked up in Germany in the late 1950s

- There is one cow per every 5 people on the planet 

- There are at least 3 reported deaths of people killed by robots

- Women are two times more likely than men to be able to touch their noses with their tongue

- The "Horror Frog" will break its own bones to make claws out of them, and use them as defensive weapons

- The average American sees 61 minutes of ads in any given day

Update: Springsteen Video

Here is an update to my previous blog post about the keynote speech that Bruce gave at SXSW yesterday. I finally have found video for it and well it is as amazing as I thought it was going to be!

Even Snoop Loves VCU

Looks like even Snoop Dogg is jumping on the VCU Bandwagon. Welcome!! :)

Repost: St. Patricks Day 2004

Don't have a ton of time today to write a full St. Patricks Day post so I will repost an article that I posted back in 2010. It is one of my favorites. Here it goes.

St. Patty's Day 2004....A Day I Wish I Remembered

Yes, thats right I'm writing this post in lime green in honor of today, the day we call St. Patrick's Day. This is the day where around the country people have an excuse to go outside, drink green beer, eat green food, acts like a fool and nobody even looks twice. It could be the greatest day of all days for that very reason, so may I ask. Is it a crime to treat this day just like any other normal holiday like Christmas? I say no.

St. Patricks Day 2004 was kinda like Christmas. We were seniors in college. Approximately 3 months out of graduation. To date we at the Elizabeth Street house had thrown our fair shares of parties and was down for throwing Sarah (whos birthday is actually today) an epic bday party. So we did just that. We ordered a Guinness keg (yes an entire keg, do you know that it requires a completely different tap...yeah that was a learning curve), we got all things necessary to have car bombs, we ordered a few other regular kegs. Midnight Spaghetti (yes a band) agreed to play a show in our living room, we invited everyone, and we were set. The party was a super huge success. I do not remember many of the details besides the next morning was probably one of the ugliest scenes ever witnessed inside E. Street.

Man was that a great day!

Happy St. Patty's Day everyone. I hope your day brings you as much cheer as the day in 04 brought to me. And finally, I have found a video detailing my exact reactions waking up that warm morning in 2004.

Truth.

Penguin Cam!

The weekend is almost here... how can I tell? I just got out of a meeting and the first thing I thought was... "I wonder how the penguins are doing?" That is right. I'm watching a live feed of a bunch of cute Penguins right now as I type this. Don't believe me? Click Here and Enjoy!

The Kooks Cover MGMT

Yay its Friday and now I'm officially in weekend mode. I know I have about five hours of work left and a huge meeting but something about that last cup of coffee made me realize how great these next week or two will be. This weekend we have the epic St. Patty's Day/VCU Basketball Saturday and then next week I board a plane to sunny San Diego. Can't help but be happy right? 

Enjoy this next cover of MGMT's "Kids" by the Kooks. I kind of love it, in that weird indie, acoustic way.

Dear Ticketmaster

Why don't you everyones lives easier and just get out of the whole ticket selling business. You are pretty terrible at it and well it sends me into an anxiety attack every time I have to use your services. 

Like this morning. I had 2 tickets reserved for my friend Christian so he could go to the Jones Beach show during the 4th of July. Instead of making this transaction easy you put me on a 45 minute adventure of error messages, customer service responses, twitter rants until finally I had an answer. 

There must be an easier way to do this.

Bruce Speaks!

If you have some spare time today may I recommend that you visit the link below and check out Bruce Springsteens speech from last night at SXSW. He talks about the meaning of music and how exactly it has affected his life and the lives of people around him. Well worth the listen. 

Oh and happy Friday! :)

Click Here

Just A Great Song

There is nothing much to say about this next cover song except for its just fantastic. It is Peter Gabriel with "The Book of Love". I know it because it was the song that played when one of my favorite series Scrubs came to a close a few years back and every time I hear it I get transported right back there. It is just such a sweet song. Enjoy.

"The book of love has music in it
In fact that's where music comes from
Some of it is just transcendental
Some of it is just really dumb
But I
I love it when you sing to me
And you
You can sing me anything "

Go VCU!

March Madness Begins Today!!!

Fiona Apple is Back!

Yay one of my favorites Fiona Apple has returned to the stage for the first time since 2005. She put on close to an hour long set last night at the SXSW Festival and from the sounds of it, she looked a little thin but sounded as great as always. She played some old tunes, played some new tunes but most importantly showed the world that she is ready to drop this new anticipated album. Well guess what Fiona.... we are ready!

Setlist:
Fast as You Can 
On the Bound 
Paper Bag 
Mistake 
Anything We Want* 
Valentine* 
Sleep to Dream 
Extraordinary Machine 
Every Single Night* 
Carrion 
Criminal 

Truth.

"I always wonder why birds stay in the same place when they can fly anywhere on the earth.

Then I ask myself the same question."

-Harun Yahya

Our Deepest Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking

So that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, like children do.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,

We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, 

Our presence automatically liberates others. 

-Marianne Williams

Best Concert Movies of All Time

Here goes another list. Everyone loves it right? Right. 

Rolling Stone has asked its readers to compile a list of their favorite concert movies ever released and well, its not a bad list. Not bad at all. There are a few that I have quickly added to my 'must see list' or my 'haven't seen in ages must watch again list'. Here is their top ten... do you agree with it?

10. Bullet in a Bible - Green Day 

9. Sign O' The Times - Prince

8. Shine a Light - Rolling Stones

7. Live at Pompeii - Pink Floyd

6. Gimme Shelter - Rolling Stones

5. Rattle and Hum - U2

4. Woodstock

3. Stop Making Sense - Talking Heads

2. The Song Remains the Same - Led Zeppelin

1. The Last Waltz - The Band

No arguments with Number 1 here.

Real Estate: Tiny Desk Concert

Above you will find a 12 minute 'Tiny Desk Concert' from the NPR website from a small band called Real Estate. Its pretty fantastic for a beautiful afternoon....

Summer Tour!

Its official, got my ticket hold last night. I landed all the Phish summer tour tickets that I need and that makes me a very very happy girl this morning! Looks like I'm headed to just three shows, two Portsmouth and one out at Star Lake (yay for camping!). This combined with some other fun and exciting things makes this one summer to really look forward to!

Okay enough fun, back to work. 

Who Is Gotye?

I have a feeling that I am late to the game on this one. Meet Gotye. I'm still trying to figure out exactly who he is but so far I have found this out.

-He is 31 and comes to us from Australia

-This next song "Someone that I used to know" is his first breakout hit even though it is off his third album

-The song was written and recorded in his home studio

-He tapped one of my new favorite female vocalists Kimbra to sing the female parts

-The video for this song has a ridiculous 109 million hits

-He kind of sounds like a mix between Sting and Peter Gabriel 

Enjoy this next song while I figure out more about this man.

Laura Marling - A Short Film by Fred & Nick

In October of last year I told you all about Laura Marling. I thought she was amazing and thought she was going places. Today while fooling around the internet I stumbled upon a short film dedicated to a part of her tour in India with the guys from Mumford and Sons. It was really nice to see a glimpse behind the scene of this young artist. If you have a spare 10 minutes and want to learn more about this artists that I'm sure is about to break loose here in the US, check out below.

San Diego or Bust

Next week I'm heading out to California to take part in one of my best friends weddings. It will be fun for many reasons. Want a few? 

1. Brianna and Brian's Wedding 

2. All my college friends in one place

3. Fish Tacos

4. The Beach

5. In-And-Out Burgers

6. Weather

7. I get to get out of town for a few days

8. No work

and most importantly.... I get to visit my favorite staircase I have ever seen. See below.

Seriously last time I was out there I spent an hour on this thing.

LCD Documentary Brings Out the Fans at SXSW

A few months ago I wrote a blog article you can read HERE. It was about the documentary for the LCD Soundsystems last concert at Madison Square Garden last year. Also wrote about that one HERE. Anyways, it looks like the documentary aired the other night at the SXSW festival to a very rowdy crowd. Wish I could have been in attendance. Read the review from Rolling Stone below.

" Some audience members literally couldn't sit still for the duration of the screening and took to the aisles during the live numbers. It was hard to fault them, what with the fantastic, chair-shaking sound installed in the venue. Twice, the audience burst into applause after songs. It's impossible to watch Shut Up And Play The Hits without being eager to see the upcoming full concert video, which, if there's any way to do it, should be screened in IMAX venues where the seats have been replaced with a dance floor."

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/lcd-soundsystem-documentary-brings-fans-to-their-feet-at-sxsw-20120312#ixzz1p0kwpVKL

How Will I Know - Vocal Track

I start off this Tuesday with something that has been going around on the internet since Whitney's death and well I can't not stop and listen every single time I find it so now I'm posting it here. 

It is the simple vocal track for "How Will I Know". Its untouched. Its pure. Its simple. Its absolutely amazing. If this doesn't make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, I don't know what will. 

My Morning Jacket - One Big Holiday

Well I found myself here at work with a few minutes to spare until this group shows up so I think I have time for one more post. Check out this throwback to 2004 where My Morning Jacket played Bonnaroo and threw down on their classic "One Big Holiday". Its easily one of my favorite songs the band has ever put out, and speaking of this band. Easily one of the more underrated bands around. Check them out!

The Shoes - Time to Dance

Okay one more before I go back to work.... I have to. 

Check out this next video for the song "Time to Dance" by The Shoes. Now while the whole dub-step is not my type of music, it is worth the listen just to watch the video in which Jake Gylenhaal plays an American Psyco type character who is a murder who kills hipsters to the soundtrack of the song. Very bloody, very crazy, but its worth the watch. Its like Donnie Darko all over again... ha.

Where Has Today Gone?

Welcome back to yet another week. I could have used at least one more day attached to this weekend but it was a good one so no wonder why I want it extended. I wish I could say the same about work today, instead its been all sorts of stressful and well busy. So busy that I have no time today to visit here. Sad face. I promise if I do get time later this afternoon or tonight I'll be back but until then I leave you with this hilarious song that well... I have no words for explaining except for when my friends and I heard it yesterday we were laughing for HOURS.

(Warning... it is by Coolio and by no means represents my musical tastes. Its just something that has made me smile for the last 24 hours.)

Truth.

Oh Dubstep.

I saw this last night on TV and it made me laugh so hard. Now I'm not going to say that I have never been to a dubstep show because I have and in fact they can when you are in the right mood be kind of amazing. But there is so much truth to this video I had to post.

"Its like a musical nightmare...yeah but in a great way"

Life Happens

Now this is a great song for a Friday afternoon. Its called Life Happens by the duo Brandon & Leah and while I'm not 100% sold on the actual song (I'm sure it will grow on me) the lyrics are great and right up my alley for today.

"Life happens

While you making other plans

Life happens

While you try and understand

You're kicking it in the shade

And you're thinking you got it made

Life is gonna happen to you anyway

Life happens, life happens

You're lost at sea like a ship without a captain

Drifting endlessly around imaginary islands

The things you're missing, the moments slipping

So stop your wishing and start listening

There's too much whining

Too much complaining

We should be laughing

We should be kissing

We should be here right now"

Why I Love William H. Macy

I know.. the blog today is all over the place. Blame my ADHD and the severe lack of supervision at work. Anyways, I just came across this picture from the ceremony that gave William H. Macy his star on the Walk of Fame yesterday and I can't stop laughing. Him and Felicity Huffman really do look like they have a good time... 

UPDATE: After reading the actual article I found out that she got her star too, and they are next to each others... awwww. 

Picture

Just found a picture of me from the protest last night, I'm all the way to the left. Again, feel really good about what we did last night. Bravo to the organizers. 

Happy Birthday Friends!!

Happy Birthday Friends!!!!

Special birthday blog post for two of my best friends with birthdays just around the corner. Happy Birthday Steve Tomorrow (10th) and Happy Birthday Nicole (the 20th). They are throwing a big bash in New Jersey next weekend that I'm trying to move heaven and earth to go to but in case I miss it I will be there with them in spirit. 

These two are two of the best people you can ever ask to be your friends. I'm very lucky to have both of them in my life. Hope you guys have a great next week and a half!!

Radiohead Tickets?

I'm having an internal debate with myself this morning over going to get Radiohead tickets tomorrow morning or not. Half of me wants to and half of me wants to save my money. 

Oh what to do... what to do.

RIP Christopher Wallace

Christopher Wallace aka the Notorious B.I.G. died on this day in 1997. While I'm not the biggest Biggie fan on the planet I still respect what he brought to music. For example his cds "Life after Death" were amazing.... and these are my favorite two songs he did. 

First is an easy one "Skys the Limit"

And the second is just a song that when I hear it it brings me back to high school.... fast. "Notorious Thugs"

Hello Friday!

Last night was a good night. A few friends and I went out to the Governors Mansion in downtown Richmond and held a silent vigil mourning him signing the intrusive ultrasound bill this week. It was really nice to see everyone out there supporting one another. No arrests. No crazy talk. Just there organized standing up for what we believe in.

And now it is Friday. Yay. We made it through yet another week. Hope everyone has wonderful plans even if it is as simple as my plans... I'm buying a bike! yessss. Have a great weekend everyone!

Top 10 Greatest Women In Rock History

Wow Katie that is quite the title you have there. Its pretty bold anytime you make a list of the top of anything in music. You will always have people disagree, always have people debate you that their favorites should have landed on the list. Well, start a blog and make your own list. This one is mine.

May I present to you... in my opinion... the Top 10 Greatest Women in Rock History with a few videos to show off their power. And if you don't know who some of these women are... shame on you!

10. Madonna

9. Ella Fitzgerald

8. Carole King

7. Debbie Harry

6. Patti Smith

5. Chrissie Hynde from the Pretenders

4. Billie Holiday

3. Bonnie Raitt

2. Janis Joplin

1. Aretha Franklin

That is my list and I'm sticking to it!

Hey Mary!

I caught about five minutes of Mary J. Blige on idol last night... she was trying to teach some poor girl to sing by singing in front of her. I don't know about this girl, but if Mary started to belt in front of me and wanted me to sing it back to her I would cry and walk straight out of the room. Nobody sings like Mary. Nobody!

I've been listening to Mary J since I was in middle school, and somehow she has never skipped a beat. I'm really glad that she made it through the music industry and is still on top. It is certainly deserved.

Angel from Montgomery

Here is the great Bonnie Raitt singing the famous John Prine song "Angel From Montgomery". Since it is International Womens Day I think I should focus on some women who have completely changed the game in the music business. Ms. Raitt being one of them. I think she has one of the purest voices ever to be recorded and I just love her style. Its hard for me to pick a favorite of hers between this one, "If I Had a Boat" or "I Can't Make You Love Me". They are all instant classics in my mind.

"Just give me one thing that I can hold on to

To believe in this living is just a hard way to go..."

Happy International Womens Day!

That is right its our day today! It is sad that as a world we have to create days like this in order to celebrate the things we are fighting for, but we do... and today I celebrate. I celebrate all the women in my life that have made such a big impact on me especially my own mother. She is a force of nature, and I couldn't love her anymore than I do. She stands up for what she believes in, she speaks out, and most importantly has taught me most of what I know. She makes me proud to be a woman, proud to fight for what I believe is right, and most of all to never feel inferior to anybody.

Tonight in honor of International Womens Day some friends and I will be out protesting at the Governors mansion here in Virginia. It is an ongoing battle this man has chosen to fight with us about the rights to our own bodies. Tonight I stand for those who can not be there. Tonight I stand for all the women who have to make a difficult decision regarding their bodies, and tonight most of all I stand for my mother. She protested Roe vs Wade and I would hate to stand back silently and watch all of her hard work go down the drain.

This is the way I choose to celebrate International Womens Day today... how will you honor those women in your life?

Now back to the music. Here is Whitney and Chaka Kahn siging "I"m Every Woman" 

A Few Words on Mr. Manning

I pause this music blog to bring you a sports related article. Anyone who has seen any type of news outlet in the last 48 hours has read that probably the greatest quarterbacks of our time has hit the free market. That is right, Peyton Manning is no longer a Colt. But where will he go? Will it be Arizona? Denver? Miami? or where I want him.... the NY Jets. The media is blowing most of what is happening out of proportion and it makes me not want to read anything... that is until my Dad sent me this article that came across his Jets Buzz. Written by Joe Caporoso its the best thing I've read about what will actually happen between the Jets and Manning. Its simple, uncomplicated and no need to be read over and over and over again every hour on the hour (looking at you ESPN) enjoy the article. I am pasting it below. 

"Considering how NFL news is being reported these days, I found it important to pass along the following information on the New York Jets pursuit of Peyton Manning. The following has been confirmed by a source 

- The New York Jets will inquire about Peyton Manning potentially playing for them.

- The New York Jets will determine how healthy Peyton Manning is.

- If Peyton Manning is healthy to the team’s standards and expresses a desire to play in New York, the Jets will make an offer to him.

- If he accepts that offer, he will be their starting quarterback next year.

- If he declines that offer, they will attempt to make nice with Mark Sanchez…and Sanchez will get over it and be under center for the Jets next year.

- Certain players on the New York Jets team think they’d be better off with Peyton Manning, others would rather stick with Sanchez.

My source? It is called common sense and it doesn’t need a headline on a New York newspaper or a bunch of asterisks next to it on Twitter (looking at you Incarcerated Bob).

Of course the New York Jets will inquire about Peyton Manning. Mike Tannenbaum would be negligent in his job if he didn’t. You know who else will inquire about Manning in the coming days, either publicly or not publicly? About 18 other teams. It is called doing your job. You at least research what Manning’s status is in terms of monetary demands and health.

If the Jets reach out, determine he is healthy to the team’s standards and he says, “hey, Mike, Rex, and Woody I want to be a Jet.” Guess what, folks? He is going to be on the team. Woody is too much of a star lover and Rex is too infatuated with Manning’s skills for it not to. Is that going to happen? Probably not. Is it a smart decision, if it does sign with them? Probably not, but that is an argument for a different day.

Finally if the Jets pursue Manning, fall short and turn back to Sanchez, he will deal with his “hurt feelings” that people are speculating about and remain their starting quarterback. People are talking like Sanchez is going to demand a trade the second the Jets call Manning’s agent. Where is Sanchez demanding a trade to? Where does he think he will be welcomed as an unquestioned starter? The kid isn’t stupid and he is a competitor. If given a chance to remain the Jets starter, regardless of a Manning pursuit, he will do it…he will do it because he will want to prove himself and the Jets will give him the best chance to do that. You think he wants to run off to Seattle to split snaps in camp with Tavaris Jackson? Stop it.

Finally, it isn’t news that “certain players” in the Jets locker room anonymously think Peyton Manning is better than Mark Sanchez. Manning is a first ballot Hall of Famer, it isn’t hard to find somebody to say they’d rather have him under center. But wait…maybe it is, since that person won’t reveal their name. I do know Nick Mangold, D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Dustin Keller, Muhammad Wilkerson, Darrelle Revis, Sione Pouha, Antonio Cromartie, and multiple others have put their name to supporting Sanchez.

Let’s not let the Manning madness blind us to the fact that the Jets have one safety under contract right now and are in a division with the New England Patriots, who have 2 of the 5 league’s best tight ends or that Wayne Hunter is still the starting right tackle.

I hope the common sense source continues to divulge knowledge for the rest of the off-season.."

Well Done Joe!!!