If Your A Dreamer Come In~

I'm actually continuing todays "Throwback Tuesday" with a different kind of throwback. I'm bringing it way back to childhood people. To one of the first authors I truly fell in love with. His name Shel Silverstein the books "The Giving Tree" and "Where the Sidewalk Ends". "The Giving Tree" was the story about a simple tree and how she loved this little boy who would come visit her day after day, year after year. And "Where the Sidewalk Ends" was a collection of poems and stories. I will never forget how this book started out.

"If you are a dreamer, come in.

If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar,

A hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer . . .

If you're a pretender, come sit by my fire,

For we have some flax golden tales to spin.

Come in!

Come in!"

If that doesn't invite childhood imagination I don't know what does. I credit this man for a lot of my childhood dreams and crazy thoughts. In his stories I read about a boy who turned into a TV set, a girl named Sarah who refused to take out the garbage, a place where you wash your shadows, your shoes fly and a place where sisters are auctioned off. If he was still alive today I would write him a thank you note every day for helping me become the dreamer that I am.

This is why I was so excited this morning when HarperCollins Publishing announced that a collection of up to 130 new works of his is set to be released next year. This is especially great because its only the second release of work from Silverstein since his passing in 1999.

I know that I will be one of the first on line to purchase this authors amazing work.

This Is How We Do It

Okay, I said today was gonig to be full of embarrassment and coming clean. Here it is. My first concert I saw with a group of friends. (The first actual concert I saw my dad took me to a Beach Boys concert...lucky right!) Unfortunately this concert experience looking was not as cool as I thought. I remember it like it was yesterday. It was Tara's birthday and her mother had bought us all tickets to the...get this. Montel Jordan/Boys 2 Men show at the PNC Bank Arts Center. My mother agreed to let me go, I think mostly because it meant that she didn't have to. And we left on what was to be the best concert ever. And well at the time it totally was. We had lawn seats, I stood on a garbage can for some of the performance, I remember dancing with 12 girls in circles to this song. I really truly thought that I would never see another concert as great as these two groups. Wow was I wrong. This hands down goes down as one of my most embarassing concerts I ever went to.

The following was my jam of the 90s. Yes. My jam.

Enjoy.

Throwback Tuesday

Well today with 3 people in the office. Yes I just said 3. I guess that I will probably stay here until about 1, which gives me time to do a project. May I welcome you all to Throwback Tuesday! Today I will go back through all of the music and videos that really were my introduction into music. Not the (Beatles, Who, Led Zeplin) intro that I got from my parents as a child. I'm talking about the music that I first purchased myself, my first tape single, my first concert. As bad as they were I'm coming clean today.

Here was my first tape single that I got from Scotties when I was in Middle School. I used to play it on repeat, over and over and over. I loved it, and you will to.

Lets have some fun today!

Life Is A Highway en Yahoo! Video

The Simpsons

Check out this super cute montage of famous movie kisses from last nights movie themed episode. While this show has fallen by the wayside the last few years last night it was in top form. And this clip is just too cute not to share.

First Listen: MGMT - Congratulations!!!

People what are you waiting for!

NPR has released a sneak peak on what is sure to be 2010's Album of the Year. MGMT's "Congratulations". Epic. Awesome. One of a Kind. Insanity. Are just some of the thoughts raging through my head at the moment.

Follow the link HERE to musical genius!

She & Him

Now I am not the biggest fans of actors turned musicians. I much rather prefer it the other way around, I do think that some musicians can pull off being actors. For some reason I find that a whole lot more do-able. Yet every once in a while there is an actor that peaks your interest with their voice. Maybe it started when they had a part in a movie and made it work from there. But not this project.

She & Him is an indie folk band consisting of Zoey DeChanel (Almost Famous, 500 Days of Summer, Elf) she sings and plays the banjo and her partner in crime is M. Ward who plays the guitar. The band's first album Volume One was released last year and gained a lot of critics praise. With a definite "California Vibe" to their music they defiantly have taken the high road and used Zoey's voice for the airy breezy tunes that it requires. This album is just really well made and produced. Check out their first single below "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?". I just love it. Its perfect.

Plans for their second album Volume Two and a tour is scheduled for 2010.

Vaporize

Over the last few weeks I have found my new favorite band. I know you all have heard me talk about them but were any of you really listening? No. Well your in luck today because I'm back with more from them. This is the second single off their self titled album called "Vaporize". Its amazing. Its everything I had ever wanted to hear in a song and more. Enjoy this while I get my brain together and start knocking out some actual work so I can do more real work on this blog.

DMB On Demand

Okay as most of you may know I have joined twitter for work but alas have kept it for myself. I'm not too keen on the updating people because I'm pretty sure that absolutely nobody including my best friends would care about that crap but the information on twitter is just absolutely amazing. I posted on Thursday that I started "following" this new guy who is running the @dmbondemand page and well he is making it his case to build the largest most comprehensive collection of dave videos on the internet and with that has completely stolen my heart. The videos hes posting are making me remember why it is I make a point to see this band at least a few times a year. Amazing musicians.

Here is one of the most heartfelt videos of Dave I think that has ever been caught check out this performance of "A Dream so Real" from Saratoga in 2008. I had read that they had played this, and I just wished that I could one day see it. Dave, on the piano, Tim Reynolds playing what is one of the sickest guitar solos ever, and the rest of the band playing and singing one of my favorite songs ever. My dream came through when the video was posted the other day. Now I know this will not be the last time I will post from this guys site. Its just too damn amazing. Especially for me the unapologetic Dave fan.

Garden State

Well I'm back after a few days of sunshine, relaxation and good times. I took a short break from the blog when the weather turned nice down here in Virginia. For some reason I could not justify sitting inside on a computer while there was running to do, shopping for St. Croix to complete and well just sunshine to soak in. So it was nice, but let me you the music that has been floating in my head for the last few days will take me a few days to get out but I will start out with what was my soundtrack for my life for the last few days. Its just about the best soundtrack that I believe has ever been made for a movie. Its the soundtrack to the Zack Braff movie "Garden State". I re-watched the movie this last night with a friend of mine and was reminded just how breathtaking the soundtrack is. I mean every single song had been picked perfectly, used in the right scene and really brings the movie to another level.

Here are some of my favorite songs from the soundtrack. If you do not own this one, please take my advice and buy it today. Its absolutely amazing.

So stay tuned people, keep an eye out for this blog. The music that will come across will make you laugh, cry and remember why it is that music is the thing that keeps me moving throughout the day. ~love~

- First song is "The Only Living Boy In NY" one of my favorite Simon and Garfunkel tunes. Its just amazing the way these guys voices are so evenly matched and accompany each other. One of a kind amazing.

-The second song is the reason why I love this soundtrack so much. It was the first time I had head of what has become one of my all time favorite bands. The Shins with "New Slang". This band is just absolutely amazing, if you have not listened to them before, again I STRONGLY recommend their first two albums. Do it. Now.

This video is well made with clips of the movie for you to enjoy. Great great great movie!

Best 45 Minute Lunch Ever

I love twitter. Wait did I just say that? Yes I think I did.

The one and only reason I do love twitter is somehow over the last two weeks the people I'm "following" have been giving me fantastic breaking news and random information that I actually do care about. Phish Tour, Alex Chilton news, Lost madness, Connecticut (Richmonds Indian) moving. Yes, there are some post that I could care less about but the one I got from @dmbondemand just made my entire lunch.

If you have about 45 minutes today I suggest you take the time out of your day and watch Dave & Trey (two of my most favorite people on earth). Its a documentary following their trip to Africa, and its quite amazing!

Check. It. Out.

Hollywood Stupidity

Dear Men in Hollywood. 90% of you are complete morons. Please explain to me who would cheat on these two? Anyone? Thats right...its because you are stupid people who don't understand the people that you have in your lives! Really? I'm sure a girl with tattoos on her face is so much hotter than Sandra Bullock.

Ugh. Okay I'm done. But they are still losers.

Just Haven't Met You Yet....

love. love. love. love. love. love. love. love. love. love. love. love. love

R.I.P Alex Chilton

Man, it feel like I do one of these once a week. Its really really tragic.

Yesterday the world lost one hell of a legendary musician in Alex Chilton. Born in 1950, this American songwriter, singer and guitarist is best known for his time spent with pop band the Box Tops and Big Star. His early success as a teen vocalist for the Box Tops garnished him his biggest fame but his star never dimmed as he carved his way through a fantastic indie music solo career on smaller labels. The man was such a talented songwriter, his songs were covered by numerous artists and still to this day you can hear his influence ring in such bands as REM.

This man has sang two of my most favorite songs of all time. He is a legend of his own time and his untimely passing yesterday will surely shake the music world.

-The first song "The Letter" is probably on battle with a Van Morrison song for my favorite all time song ever. I just absolutely love it, I love the rhythm, the lyrics the jam. And this mans voice. Do you know he was only 16 years old when he laid down this track?

-And now my all-time favorite cover of a Big Star song by the legend himself Elliot Smith. This song is so great, so haunting so beautiful. RIP Alex Chilton, and thank you for everything you contributed to this world.

How Do You Measure A Year?

What have you done today to change someones day? Have you smiled at a stranger? Held a door open for someone? No matter how big or how small making someone days should be the highlight of yours. The looks on their faces, the smiles, the laughs. Its all worth it for that little moment.

I bring to you a video posted by my genius friend Amy. Amy works for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and shared with me this touching video. Back when Rosie O'Donnell had her own TV show she was very supportive of CFF (her nefew has it) and so she did many fundraisers for the organization. At one of these fundraisers was a little girl named Stephanie who was 12 and gave a speech about her condition. Rosie was so moved that she brought the little girl onto her show and surprised her with a personal concert from the cast of her favorite musical. RENT.

It was amazing, and touching and most of all just showed me how little it takes to make someone smile today. That and this song has a personal meaning for me for it was one of my friends who passed away too early in life's favorite song. So as you can imagine, i've been crying for a few minutes here.

Enjoy this and then go out and make someone smile.

Cheshire Cat

"Only a few find the way, some don't recognize it when they do - some... don't ever want to."

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.

Strangely Beautiful

I find this song to be strangely beautiful.

Dashboard Confessional - Hell on the Throat (Acoustic)

A line of a strands to mark the trail

No one said it would be easy

I must admit I thought the risk

Was better waged in younger seasons

And all these years in the cold play hell on the throat

'Till everything I say burns like cinders

Well, its hard to belong to a girl or a song

In the crease of a strangling winter

It's strange to be lost, stranger to belong

On the strings of a twisting line

Along the way the turns are sharp

No one said it would be easy

I must admit I thought the trip

Was better made in the younger seasons

But all these years in pursuit made a man of a fool

'Till every word I say is unwavered

Well, its hard to belong to a girl or a song

In the case of a selfish believer

Its strange to be lost, stranger still to belong

On the strings of the twisting line

And when the path I have made from the grass to the grave

I will love you still

And when the sand turns to glass and all that's left is the past

I will still love you

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

29 Best Ways to Spend $50 This Summer

Thats right, you've heard the rumblings, the rumors, read threads on message boards for weeks now but last night it finally arrived. Phish summer tour 2010 is off and running. In their usual style the band took to its website to confirm many of the rumors flying around the last few days. They are back with a two leg 29 date tour, hitting states like, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Colorado, and California just to name a few. If you live within the US chances are they will be by you soon. But do not wait, get on these tickets fast because you know they will be gone like hotcakes. Especially after last years Phish 3.0 triumphant return of what I truly know as the best band playing music today.

I will see you down the road Phish. Defiantly here in Va, and up in Maryland but who knows maybe a Chicago or could there even be a Telluride in my future? Only time will tell.

Never Gets Old

This song just stumbled across my pandora and I forgot how good it was. Then I remembered how awesome the performance of Richard Ashcroft and Coldplay gave of it at Live 8 last year. So, I did what most people do. I tracked it down. And yes, its still as good as the day I watched it on my tv.

This is the definition of a song that never ever gets old. I will hopefully be 60+ still rocking out to it. Great melody. Great tune. Great lyrics. Perfect Combo.

Bravo.

Irish Music...Why Not

The sun is out, the snow is melting and its time to lighten up your life a little bit.

Meet Solas, the premiere band this year coming out of Ireland. They are currently kicking ass and taking names on a North American tour including this video shot at NPR studios.

Its such a great change of pace for the day, I've been running around doing thousands of things but literally just sat down indian style in the middle of my office and listened to this beautiful arrangement of music, and I'm ready for the day to continue.

Enjoy.

A Piece of History

Last night Phish was asked to perform on what was probably their biggest stage to date. They were asked to open, not just play but open the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony out in Cleveland last night. I mean the coverage landed them on the front of CNN's home page last night. Check it out!

Yes, thats right your seeing this correct Phish is the headline and lead article on CNN. haha. This is a once in a lifetime thing here. This band who has been around for 25+ years took them this long to get this press. Thats incredibly funny to me, considering their talent. Either way I'll take it.

So back to the story. Last night Phish was asked to induct Genesis to the Hall of Fame. Phish started the show off by playing a cover of Genesis's "Watcher of the Skies". This was absolutely amazing, even the members of Genesis tipped their hat to them on the stage saying "yeah we could never play it like that". They took a room full of big a list starts (Meryl Streep, Springstein, Eddie Vedder) and had them stopping and staring in amazement. After this song, Trey came out to give a heart felt speech about the influence that Genesis has had in his musical past. Looking back on the night I'm sure that they are glad to have picked Trey to give this speech. He was eloquent, smart, and real. He loves this band and it showed. Finally after Phil Collins and the boys took the stage to receive their award. Phish came back on stage one last time to tackle the classic "No Reply At All". Do me a favor and take some time out of your day to watch the video below, and you will know why they picked Phish to play these songs. Its an easy and simple reason. There is no other band out there that could play it, think about. Who?

Enjoy and congrats to Phish for hitting it big on the biggest stage in Rock n Roll.

Boombox Can Change The World

The SNL digital short this week did it again. Hands down the best part of the entire hour and a half episode.

Here are some of the best lyrics from the skit titled:

Boombox: A Cautionary Tale

• Every demographic was represented, it was a rainbow coalition of dancing
• Everyone was wearing fingerless gloves
• I saw a Spanish man doing the Bart Man
• The music was way too powerful
• Boombox can change the world.
• Yet this is only a cautionary tale.....BOOMBOX IS NOT A TOY.

The Boulevard

I have lived in Richmond on the Boulevard for the last five years and I must say that I absolutely love it. There is a little bit of everything, on the same street within walking distance you have a park, a shopping district, a slew of museums, baseball stadium, a brand new theater and many places to eat, run or just hang out.

Living by yourself is always a crap shoot. Will you feel comfortable? How will your neighbors be? Are you safe? I can say that for me, here in Richmond I feel as if the ONLY place I would live is the Boulevard. Easy reason why. The people! They are awesome and up no matter what time you come home at night or how early you leave to go for a run in the morning. No matter what there is always a friendly or drunk face on their deck waiving to you. Its just a very comfortable street.

A few years ago a neighbor of mine gave me the name of this blog written by some guys who lived on the Boulevard called www.boulevardizen.com. I have been a loyal reader ever since. They track everything that affects the people living on and around the Boulevard. Street closings, accidents, crime, etc. Even the ridiculous stories, like the following (which happens to be my favorite).

All Richmonders know that last year we lost our beloved baseball team The Braves. They played their games down on the Boulevard at the Diamond....it was a sad ending to a loved city team. Well this year baseball is back in Richmond and its with the...um...do I have to say...okay The Flying Squirrels. Yes the flying squirrels are Richmonds new mascot or shall I say "Nutzy" the official mascot.

Well back to business. When the braves were occupying the stadium they have a sculpture better known as "Connecticut". Its of an American Indian perching over the side of the stadium peering out to all who enter. Its actually a terrifying sculpture but a noticeable one either way. So its not a suprise that the flying squirels did not want this figure at their new stadium so it needed to be moved.

This is where the boulevardizen comes into play. They have been tracking its movements for the last few months and finally yesterday we got some updates.

He was officially moved Saturday. Yup thats right. Hes gone. This was the scene of him leaving. Its still terrifying.

Then in what was the most genius idea ever, they started brainstorming places where the head would fit here in Richmond. The results were nothing short of amazing. The following photo is my favorite. Not only is it still on the Boulevard but its plays into the "museum district" theme. I love it. And to anyone who lives here in Richmond and is interested in whats going on in the Fan check out their blog (link on side of page in blog list) its fun!

hahaha. Oh you!

Pearl Jam on SNL

The following videos is now on the top of my "Top Five Performances on Saturday Night Live" list. Yes its that good. Something about Pearl Jam being able to pull back their performance and make it as emotional as it would be acoustic in an intimate setting was wonderful. I really enjoyed this performance of their latest single "Just Breathe".

Enjoy.

And yes Eddie Veddor is stil as hot as he was when I was in middle school. Just saying...

Bittersweet Motel

Here is a treat for all you phish phans out there and for my friend from Jersey who shall remain nameless. She thought that I have been spending the last 10+ years of my life following a "band from the 70s around the country". haha. The mental picture of what she thought I was doing has landed me on the floor this afternoon...

So to all who wonder why I love this band. To what made me fall in love with them. To what makes me continue to see them. All the answers are found in the documentary below.

If you have an hour, its worth it.

Click here for full video

Rock n Roll

SPECIAL ALERT!!!!

Phish will be opening up the 2010 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony tonight! They will start the night out by playing a few songs by tonights inductees Genesis!

Tune in tonight at 8:30 on Fuse!

Nothing to Spare

Today is a bad day to have a blog. I'm way too busy with work and life. I'm sorry I know neglecting you like this today will just cripple you but I have to. Again I'm sorry. I promise some blogging tonight while I'm sitting at home watching The Simpsons.

Things like. Lady Gaga just announced her north american tour including a stop in Charlottesville on my birthday! Some disappointing news that people are still comparing Phish heads to druggies, article here. And finally I will bring you news about Pearl Jam kicking ass on Saturday Night Live this weekend. If you haven't seen it yet, its worth checking it out! Okay until later friends.

Gaga Update

To update my post earlier of her new video. Below is a stil shot from the video which should be all the convincing you should need to watch the epic below.

This is her rotary dial telephone headpiece. Yes she is wearing a telephone, talking on a telephone and singing a song called telephone all at the same time.

And the world won't stop talking about it today. Amazing.

Ring...Ring...Ring.

Pick up the telephone people. Lady Gaga is back with a brand new video that is nothing short of what expected. (Its soooo awesome...in my most giggly voice I have)

The latest video is a 9 minute epic duet with Beyonce called "Telephone". The video shot half in a jail setting and half in a diner is just amazing. Visually stunning. Musically amazing. Outfits. Well hold on that I will address those in a second. Overall this video had me again impressed on the music empire that is Lady Gaga.

Yet what I will say what I like most about this video is it is a throwback to the old music video epics, the "Thrillers", the "November Rain", music videos like Meatloafs "I would do anything for love". These videos were epics. Big production, big premieres, the world stopped for just a few minutes while these videos were shown.

Last night the world stopped again for the premiere of this video.

The things you want to look out the most for are of course the outfits. They are flippin' fantastic.

Examples:

-Gagas jail jumpsuits shoulder pads

-Using cigarettes as sunglasses

-Coke cans as hair rollers

-Caution tape body wrap

-Out fierce-ing even Beyonce

-Blue Rotary Phone headpiece

-The last outfits all together, and the Thelma and Lousie shout out.

Yeah overall. Kick Ass Video!

Shes Bringing...Jazz Back

I love her. I love her. Have I mentioned I loved her.

Not even worth explaining but Esperanza Spalding is single handedly doing her part in bringing jazz back to the main stream.

Check this out.