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!!!

The Shins At Oregon Public Broadcasting

Here is a sneak peek into the NPR special with The Shins at the Oregon Public Broadcasting Station. Here lead singer James Mercer gives a tour of his studio and describes the circumstances surrounding the changes to The Shins' lineup. And of course, he performs a couple of songs from his band's new album, Port of Morrow. Here is the cut "Simple Song". 

Cupcake ATM?

I read about this yesterday, but today I actually have seen the video and it is so much cooler than I originally thought.... and I don't even like cupcakes!!

So its a Cupcake ATM. It sounds simple and easy enough... I just can't believe someone didn't think of it sooner. I mean come on people we have ice cream vending machines, why not cupcakes all stocked in individual boxes. Again, fantastic idea. Bravo to the small genius who put the two together and is now probably a millionaire. 

I've got to start paying attention to life more. 

The First Time I Ran Away

Today is just creeping by. Nothing too crazy exciting to report. Just doing a lot of work....

This song just came across my pandora and I really liked it so I thought that I would share. Thats the reason I have this space right? 

Enjoy M. Ward "The First Time I Ran Away". Odd fact. He is Zooey Dechanel's brother.

Jason Mraz - I Won't Give Up

I like Jason Mraz. I don't know if its the whole "I come from this area so support the local kid" or the fact that he is just super talented. He is one of those artists that sounds the best when he just grabs the guitar and hits the stage by himself. With every album that he puts out I always find a song or two that I absolutely adore. 

This next song "I Won't Give Up" is off the new album set to release next month and he is currently making the late night talk show rounds with it. Its growing on me the more and more I hear it. Look forward to hearing the rest of the album. Good to see you back Jason, now go make Virginia proud!

RIP Robert Sherman

RIP to songwriter Robert Sherman who passed away yesterday at the age of 86. Name not familiar to you? He wrote classic songs for Disney including one of my all time favorites "It's A Small World". 

That song will live on forever....

Florence & The Machine Unplugged

Pretty excited to hear the news that next month one of my favorite artists at the moment Florence & The Machine will be releasing an album full of songs she recorded at an MTV Unplugged session back in December. From the looks of the set list below its going to be a great show!

-Only If For A Night

-Drumming Song

-Cosmic Love

-Breaking Down

-Never Let Me Go

-Try A Little Tenderness

-No Light No Light

-Jackson

-What Water Gave Me

-Dog Days are Over

-Shake It Out

Happy Birthday Emily!

Today would have been my friend Emily's 30th Birthday. She has been on my mind since the moment I woke up this morning. The world lost this beautiful soul about six years ago out in Seattle. She is missed by a slew of friends, family and I know her students. 

"Perhaps they are not stars but rather openings in Heaven where the love of our lost ones shines down to let us know they are happy"

Impressive Carrie Underwood

Ever since she took the title of American Idol I have always been a fan of Carrie Underwood. Girl certainly has a set of pipes on her, and while yes she is a full and proud country artist I am still a fan. The other night I got sucked into yet another tv show called "Smash". I know I am such a geek for music theater it is almost scary. Well at the end of the song one of the actors sang a song that I just fell in love with from the moment it started. After careful research on my computer I found that the song was originally written and sung by Carrie Underwood. I was certainly impressed by it. 

"Here's to you free souls, you fire-fly chasers.

Tree climbers, porch swingers, air guitar players.

Here's to you fearless dancers, shaking walls in your bedrooms

There's a lot of wonder left inside of me and you,

Thank God even crazy dreams come true"

Jack White on SNL

After thinking more and more about this weeks Saturday Night Live the more and more terrible I feel about Lindsay Lohans overall performance. Yes the Real Housewives of Disney sketch was hilarious but it was pretaped. Anytime the girl had to actual say lines live she reverted to reading them line for line off of cue cards with a pretty dead delivery. All and all I give her about a 3.9. 

The only savior for the entire evening was Jack White. He performed two songs with two completely different bands. One all girls, the next all guys. Hey, if you got the money to put on that type of show, why not right? I was really impressed by both songs and it solidifies the fact that his new solo album will most likely be one of the best of 2012. Bravo Jack.

Here is my favorite "Love Interruption"

Trey with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Phish lead singer and guitar player Trey Anastasio has been known to try out some pretty crazy things while his band is not on tour and this next video proves that. Just last month he decided to sit in with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and play a variety of covers and Phish originals. From the videos I've watched on youtube the entire thing is pretty amazing. I mean he must have worked pretty hard to rewrite some of the arrangements so that it would fit the sound of an orchestra. I know I would have loved to see it... 

Here is "Stash" from the concert on February 9th. 

Busy. Busy. Busy.

Things are insanely busy right now at work. Maybe things will free up this afternoon and I'll be able to pop on over here but for now I don't have much. Sorry! Hope everyone had a great weekend!!

For now here is a new Springsteen song from his new album "Wrecking Ball". He played it on Fallon last week and immediately after seeing the show I pre-ordered my copy!

Here is "Jack of All Trades" another good one to check out is "Death to my Hometown".

Florence Wins Big at NME Award Show

Florence and the Machine won big last night at the NME Music Awards, beating out Adele for Best Solo Artist and Best Song. Always fun to see award shows shake things up like these do. I mean for crying outloud the statues are of hands giving the middle finger. Also look at some of these categories. I completely agree with the last one. 

Best British Band - Kasabian

Best International Band - Foo Fighters

Best Solo Artist - Florence Welch

Best New Band - The Vaccines

Best Live Band - Arctic Monkeys

Best Album - Skying by The Horrors

Best Track - Shake It Out by Florence + The Machine

Best Dancefloor Anthem - Broken Record by Katy B

Best Video - Sunday by Hurts

Best TV Show - Fresh Meat

Best Festival - Glastonbury

Best Re-Issue - Complete Re-issues by The Smiths'

Greatest Music Moment Of The Year - The Stone Roses reunite

Philip Hall Radar Award - Azaelia Banks

Teenage Cancer Trust Outstanding Contribution To Music - Pulp

Godlike Genius - Noel Gallagher

Villain of the Year - Justin Bieber

Worst Album of the Year - Under The Mistletoe by Justin Bieber

Comeback Kings?

Rolling Stone.com has put out a list of the 10 artists they would like to see make a comeback. It is a very interesting list that spans many musical genres. I'm not going to lie it would be interesting to see some of these acts come back to see if they still got it. 

Here they are in order:

10. Fugazi 

9. Oasis

8. OutKast (hells yeah)

7. The Replacements

6. Talking Heads (again... hells yeah)

5. Beck

4. The Smiths

3. Pink Floyd

2. Led Zeppelin

1. David Bowie

Who wouldn't want to go see a Bowie show? I know I would sign up immediately.

Dear Peyton

You look good in Jets green. I'm just sayin....

Friday Cheers!!!

Its officially springtime in Richmond! How do I know this.... well the Friday Cheers line up is out!! Yay! What is Friday Cheers? Well its a concert out on Browns Island every Friday night in the springtime. Its got good food, good beer and good music! Can't wait for these to start up again! Check out the line up below.

Lyrics To Live By

Tumblr is awesome. It allows you to go on there and search through just about anything and find some pretty amazing blogs. The one that I have stumbled on today I could have easily written myself. Such a simple easy idea. "Lyrics 2 Live By" is the name of it and its exactly what the title says. Small bits of lyrics that can teach you lessons in your daily life. 

Here are some of my favorites:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two Recommendations Today

Here are two very awesome videos that I was pointed towards the other night by my music loving boyfriend. (man that makes things easier... I can't imagine dating anyone who doesn't share some sort of love of music)

Anyways the first is from another very good singer/songwriter named Eric Hutchinson and the song is "Watching You Watch Him" and its pretty fantastic. If you haven't heard of Eric before go get on youtube and listen to some of his songs, they are all pretty unique and genuine. The best part? Tie between it looking so easy and the lyrics. A tie of my favorite qualities. 

"I love you from the bottom of my heart

And that's not gonna change, but things are grim

When I'm watching you watch him

I give you the best... to give

But I'm not feeling brave

Chances are slim 

When I'm watching you watch him"

Okay that was the first video here is a second equal or even better one. Its Linkin Park covering Adele. Wait What? Yes, I said it. Linkin Park the band that hit it really big when I was coming out of high school has done one of the best covers of "Rolling in the Deep" that I have heard (and I've heard a lot). Chesters voice is just perfect for the song and they really do it justice. Bravo. Not what I expected, but seriously good stuff. 

Hope everyones Thursday is off to a great start. Its supposed to be 75 degrees here in Richmond today. How I'm going to get anything done is still being debated.