Flaming Lips - Great Picture

Check out the picture above of the front man of the Flaming Lips during their recent concert during Austin City Limits. Wayne Coyne is famous for doing this. He gets in a giant plastic bubble and literally surfs above the crowd. Its so genius! And this picture is awesome. 

Phish - NYE

My friend and I spent our Saturday morning camped outside a ticketmaster location here to grab one of the hardest Phish tickets of the year. Their new years eve show at the famed Madison Square Garden in New York City. I got to the booth so early that I was actually the first person on line. While I will still somewhat nervous about the ticket situation (i've had my heart broken before by ticketmaster) as soon as the clock hit noon we bum rushed mr. ticket man and started requesting tickets. 

About 20 minutes later when all the tickets were gone and we were able to actually look at what we bought I found out that I have landed FLOOR seats for nye. Thats right. The floor. I was there in 2003 when the boys came back from hiatus. And this year I will be back there again, with great friends and great music!

So I found this picture above. This is most likely what I will be seeing exactly at 12:01 in the year 2011. 

I can't friggin wait! 

The Miners are FREE!!!

Last night around 9:30 I watched as they lifted the first miner out of the mining shaft that he had been stuck in , in Chile for the last 69 days. This is the longest time anyone was rescued alive after being buried under ground. I couldn't help but get caught up in the emotions of the people and the family members who had waited over two long months for their loved ones to be rescued. 

One by one they brought the miners to the surface. One by one, they would open up the little capsule used to transport them and each one would show their gratitude in different ways. The first guy came out almost astonished to what had just happened. He stayed in the little capsule for a little bit longer then expected then emerged to the cheers of the nation. He looked for his son, a 7 yr old boy waiting in the wings and they ran for each other. Another guy came out and dropped to his knees in prayer, the next ran to the crowd to start chanting, others brought rocks up as souvenirs for their rescuers. All were grateful, smiling, happy to be alive. 

I mean could you imagine. Being trapped. Nobody can get to you. You endure 69 days of ridiculous living conditions to emerge as heroes. Nobody can prepare you for this. The emotions. I just am really really happy for the entire nation of Chile for this great accomplishment. Bravo. Bravo. Bravo.

Here are some of my favorite photos emerging....

WELCOME HOME

I'll Meet You At The Crossroads... So You Don't Get Lonely

Anyone who recognizes the lyrics above as the classic tune "Crossroads" by Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony, should go down to the Hat Factory immediately and pick yourself up a ticket to the show tomorrow night. Thats right BTNH (for short) are playing in Richmond tomorrow night and you can be sure that I will be there front row. 

BA BA BA BA BAA BA BAAA BA...

24/7 Music from NPR!!

Have you ever been at work and you want nothing else then to shut your door, close out the world, turn on some music and just sit. 

Well now you can. NPR's famous program "All Songs Considered" have finally made themselves a 24/7 music channel where they play only the songs featured on these 10+ years of broadcasts. Its a genius idea. Not only are the songs highlighted by this series some of the best ever made, but its free! 

And if you need any other reason to do it. I'm listening to it at this moment and we just went from Bob Dylan to MGMT. Genius! 

Click the link below.

HERE

127 Hours - Official Trailer

Okay I know I know, not music again but with when you put out a promotional poster for your movie like the one above its going to attract a lot of attention. This is easily one of the cooler movie posters I have seen in a while, and I go to the movies all the time! This new James Franco movie about the true story of a hiker named Aaron who actually had to cut his own arm off to save his own life after being stuck in a boulder for 127 hours. 

The movie is getting fantastic reviews. Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire) directed it so you know its going to be well made. I just can't wait for it. Enjoy the trailer below.... and fine I'll get back to music!

Rihanna - Only Girl

Warning. If you listen to this song it will not leave your head for at least 2 days. Let me introduce to you the new hit song on the radio that you will not be able to escape in the next few months (and well I actually like it...eeeks!)

Bob Dylan - Demos? YES Please!

Check out this wonderful link from NPR that gives you a first listen to Bob Dylan's: "The Witmark Demo's 1962-1964". This wonderful 50 song collection is truly magical. All recorded before the age of 24 it shows the raw talent of Bob Dylan. You really get the folk feeling that Dylan first started with that made him such a great artist. If you are doing anything today other then listening to this you have failed. 

Check out this version of "Mr. Tambourine Man".... just amazing.

Phish Halloween - Genesis?

So there is a new rumor going around about what Phish's musical costume will for their Halloween show in Atlantic City at the end of the month. On Sunday, some phishhead with a lot of time on his hands stumbled across the Genesis poster above from one of their concerts. The image you see.... is the exact image on the mail ordered tickets for Halloween. Coincidence? Maybe. Clue? Maybe. I mean it is the dog faced boy....

For Phish to cover Genesis would not be a crazy thought. Under a year ago it was Phish who took the stage to honor Genesis during their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominations. Check out the video below of the Genesis classic "Watcher of the Skies" and tell me you wouldn't be ecstatic to hear some more...

Happy 70th John Lennon!!!

Happy Birthday to the man, the myth, the legend that is John Lennon. 

Today you would have been 70 years young. 

In honor of that today I will highlight some of my favorite quotes of yours. 

"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality."

"Life is what happens when your busy making other plans"

"I believe in everything until it's disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exisits, even if its in your mind. Who's to say that dreams and nightmares aren't as real as the here and now?"

"I don't know which will go first - rock 'n' roll or Christianity."

"I'm not going to change the way I look or the way I feel to conform to anything. I've always been a freak. So I've been a freak all my life and I have to live with that, you know. I'm one of those people."

"If someone thinks that love and peace is a cliche that must have been left behind in the Sixties, that's his problem. Love and peace are eternal."

"Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one."

You are so awesome even Google dedicated today to you with the video below!

We miss you every day!

New Album - Guster

If you haven't already picked up your copy of the band Guster's new album Easy Wonderful you should probably go ahead and do that. This band who is celebrating their 20th anniversary this year is just spectacular. They are what I like to call an "effortless band", a band that makes it look so easy. Their songs are light, they don't sing about too heavy of a subject matter, they have a little different sound then most and finally they are really creative. These reasons and more explain why I have been seeing them live for over 15 years. 

I also enjoy what they do with their videos. They usually are a little bit off. Which is exactly my style. 

Take these first two new videos from their new album. They are fantastic!

Oh and did I mention that their album is a whopping $7.99 from itunes. yeah. No excuses now.

Do You Love Me from Guster on Vimeo.

And the second one just because its Friday. This is also my favorite track from the new album. 

Architects And Engineers featuring Singalong Paul from Guster on Vimeo.

Tea Party Convention vs Folk Festival

Uggggggh. All day long all I've been hearing about and sitting in the traffic of the Tea Party Convention that is set to kick off next door today at the Richmond Convention Center. Ugggggh. Meanwhile just across  Broad street another festival is set to take off and this one is one that I actually care about. The Richmond Folk Festival! 

How is it I live in a city that is so completely opposite. 

I really hope I don't run over any of these crazy Tea Party People on my way home today... 

Its Friday

Plans for weekend include Folk Festival>Phish Tickets>Folk Festival>Sleep

Here's some Tom Waits "All Is Green" while I figure out what I want to do before the above schedule begins. 

Roger Waters Performs The Wall - Live at MSG

Click this link HERE to read a great review of Tuesday nights concert at Madison Square Garden in NYC where Roger Waters performed the classic Pink Floyd Album The Wall in its entirety. From what it sounds like the show was epic for all the lucky attendees. Performing such classics as "Another Brick in the Wall" "Hey You" and "Comfortably Numb", I can't think of a better place to be on a Tuesday night...

Grace Potter & The Nocturnals

Grace Potter & The Nocturnals are a punk-funk-soul band based out of Vermont and they are a welcome distraction to the Justin Beiber pop music that is all over the radio these days. I saw them perform live version of the song "Paris" below on Ellen yesterday and it was just amazing. 

The lead vocalist is 27-year-old multi-instrumentalist Grace Potter, who attended St. Lawrence University for two years before pursuing music professionally. She plays the Hammond B3,Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer Electric Piano and electric and acoustic guitars. She is quite an amazing talent. Her stage presence alone is enough to make people notice but its her vocal talent and musical ability that have her grabbing peoples attention. 

Check out this song below and tell me that its not refreshing when she breaks into the chorus singing "And if I was from Paris...."

Ben Folds + Nick Hornby = Collaboration Heaven

What happens when you take one of my favorite singer/songwriters Ben Folds and put him in a room with one of my favorite authors Nick Hornby (High Fidelity) and have them collaborate on an album??? You get Folds/Hornby's newly released EP called Lonely Island. A collaboration in every sense of the word the album is full of tracks that are split between the two. Folds writes and produces all of the music and Hornby writes all of the lyrics, its a beautiful idea from two great creative minds. 

The first track off this album is called "Things You Think" and it uses another collaboration with the YouTube sensations Pomplamoose (who are famous for making videos where they show music videos broken down into instrument showing basically "every sound used to record the music, if you can hear it you can see it"). They join with Folds/Hornby to make a groundbreaking new music video. 

Check it out below. My favorite part is the way that Hornby delivers the lyrics. Simple yet haunting.

Kermit: Under Pressure

Now this is a great way to bring attention to a cause. 

That and how can you not love Freddie Murcury, David Bowie and Kermit! 

"Everybody Hurts" Tops List of Songs that Make British Men Cry

Its official. I don't know who actually came up with this list but its one of the more random music lists I have read in my life so I might as well share. Someone over there in the UK thought it was a great idea to compile a list of songs that "Make British Men Cry". I really would like this survey to be taken in my home state of NJ. Can't say that they would have a lot of responders. And if they did I bet you the songs are by either Bruce Springsteen or Frank Sinatra. ha. But in all seriousness, we actually do have a list to go off of for the men in UK and well as I said above. REM's classic "Everybody Hurts" is #1 on the list! 

The rest of the top 5 are: 

2. Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven

3. Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah

4. Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U

5. U2 - With or Without You

Nick Vujicic: Choose To Live Without Limits

Okay well the following has nothing to do about music but everything to do about life in general so I'm just posting because I think some people need to see it sometimes. 

Go to this link right HERE to read one of the more inspiring things that I have read in a long time.

Meet Nick Vujicic: "Many people look at me and simply see a man with no arms and legs. They pity me, failing to see my happiness beyond my circumstances--failing to see that I live a zealous life, characterized by a deep joy that is unhindered by my circumstances. Although I appear "incomplete" on the outside, I am whole on the inside. Sadly, there are so many people with arms and legs who are whole on the outside but are broken on the inside. Their lives are characterized by unhappiness, dissatisfaction and un-fulfillment. My mission in life is to resurrect strength in these individuals, inspire them to fulfill their potential and motivate them to live life without limits!

We have a daily choice: we can choose to be angry about what we do not have, or we can choose to be thankful for what we do have. Being angry is counterproductive and fear and pain can be destructive. I believe it is far worse to be in a broken home than to have no limbs. I never try to pretend that I understand your pain, but I am here to tell you that there is hope, whether you see it or not. Just because you cannot see purpose in your life does not mean there is none. You are here for a reason. Find it. Seek it. Live it. If my life's journey can inspire you to live life to the fullest, never give up, dream big and believe in your potential, I am fulfilled. Why? Because I have come to understand that even when the clouds in my personal storm do not part, I can still carry someone else through their storm. If I do not get a miracle, I can still be a miracle for someone else."

No words for this one right here. Just a promise to never forget Nick's story. 

More From KT Tunstall

I realized that one little post about this lady's new album is just not enough. And that could be because I am currently listening to the album while typing away at my desk, and I just can't get over the range of KT. She walks that fine line of having a really rough edge, but wide appeal.  She is unbelievable. No surprise, her music has been used oh such hits as "The Hills", "Ugly Betty", "Ghost Whisperer" "Greys Anatomy" and many many more. Her songs just connect to people. Whether its "Suddenly I See" from her last album that spoke about a woman coming into her own to "(Still A) Weirdo" from her latest album that speaks so truthfully about life and how its not always how we expect it to be. She really knows how to write about people. 

This latest tune "(Still A) Weirdo" is quickly bouncing to the top of my favorites from this new album. She talks how "I was going to be a treetop, a sea, a boat, a rock of ages" but somehow life has a way of making its own path for you. 

Trust me and just go get this album. You won't be disappointed. 

Fade Like A Shadow

If I were a rock star I would like to think I would be like KT Tunstall. This girl is so super talented! Not only does she play all of her own instruments, she single handedly created a her own little niche in pop music. You see her music is not really radio friendly but somehow she has made it so listener friendly that people can't help fall in love with her talent. That and shes badass. 

Her latest album "Tiger Suit" was released last week to stellar reviews. If you haven't purchased your copy yet, I highly recommend it. 

The following song is what I believe to be the best song on the entire album. "Fade Like a Shadow" is exactly what your looking for out of a song. Its catchy, the lyrics are great, the melody is smooth it has a beat and well the lady at the forefront is again kicking ass and taking names. She is a rock star. 

. -

Mash Up of the Year!

So I usually don't like videos like this. Videos from DJ's who use every song imaginable to try and "mash" the together to make new. But for some reason this one has really caught my attention. Its really well done. Like amazing. Check it out. It pulls from the following playlist. 

1. “Just The Way You Are” - Bruno Mars
2. “Nothing On You” - B.o.B ft. Bruno Mars
3. “Crazy” - Gnarls Barkley
4. “Hit Me, Baby, One More Time” - Britney Spears
5. “In My Head” - Jason Derulo
6. “My Love” - Justin Timberlake
7. “Just Dance” - Lady Gaga
8. “Bleeding Love” - Leona Lewis
9. “So Sick” - Ne-Yo
10. “Black or White” - Michael Jackson
11. “Sexual Eruption” - Snoop Dogg
12. “Eye of the Tiger” - Survivor
13. “Fifteen” - Taylor Swift
14. “Fearless” - Taylor Swift
15. “The Animal Song” - Savage Garden
16. “Signs” - Snoop Dogg ft. Justin Timberlake

MIA for a Moment

Sorry I've been MIA for the last few days. Had a major event going on at work and needed time to focus. That and the whole lack of internet at my apartment is starting to bug me. Must check finances and do something about that immediately. Blogging from Starbucks is no fun. Plus I think the money I spend on coffee here to "use their internet" would pay for the internet anyways. Must remember to use brain in future. 

See you tomorrow

If I Had A Boat...

Its been raining for three days here in Richmond. I don't really mind it because I work inside during the day and don't really see the outside until later on in the afternoon. And well lets be honest we needed the rain. This whole heat/summer needs to end and we need to hit fall. So bring it on. (As long as you stop for my work event on Saturday night we are good).

So here is a song for my friends who live downtown, because lets face it. You're going to be flooded. Shockoe Bottom can't handle this amount of rain so I'm sending you a song... to hold you over until you actually do get a boat and sail on up to the Boulevard to visit me :)

History of Rap - Fallon & Timberlake

If your a fan of any of the next three things you should watch this video.

1. Justin Timberlake

2. Rap Music

3. Talent

Justin stopped by Late Night with Jimmy Fallon last night and gave the audience a treat. The "History of Rap"... just watch. Its impressive. 

More Glee - Favorite Brittany Quotes

So I feel the need to elaborate on my love of Brittany's character on Glee. I mean this is the exact reason why I love having a blog. Especially one where no judgments are allowed. 

I think that I love the Heather Morris's character so much on Glee because well she wasn't supposed to be there. Formally a back up dancer for Beyonce Heather was asked to do an episode of the show that focused on dancing. She would join the squad and just be the badass dancer in the background. 

This would have been fine, I'm sure. Until the genius that is writer Ryan Murphy started writing her one liners that she literally would say with the most deadpanned look. Instant success. She quickly went from back up dancer to back up character to one of the best characters on the show! Unexpected success! What is better than that. Without her not sure I would find the show that entertaining.... 

So keeping with the theme today of Brittany. And because I just read the article on Entertainment Weekly. Here are the best Brittany quotes:

 "I find recipes confusing"

''Sometimes, I add a teaspoon of sand.''

"Mr Shue: Who can tell me what a ballad is?

Brittany: A male duck"

Mr. Shue: ''Brittany, take it away.''Brittany: ''Take what away?''

''She's the one they made me talk to when they found out I was keeping that bird in my locker.''

Santana: ''Having sex is not dating.''Brittany: ''If it were Santana and I would be dating.''

''Kissing my armpits is a really big turn-on for me.''

Brittany: ''Did you know that dolphins are just gay sharks?... Yeah.''

''Mr. Schue, is he your son?"

''When I pulled my hamstring, I went to a misogynist.''

''There are so many lyrics.''

some of my favorites... 

''I'm pretty sure my cat's been reading my diary.''

''I had a cold and I took all my antibiotics at the same time and I forgot how to leave.''


''People thought I went on vacation but actually, I spent the summer lost in the sewers.''

Love it! 

Glee - Brittany S. Pearce

Last night one of my favorite shows GLEE had their Brittany Spears episode and while it probably wasn't as good as their Lady Gaga episode it was certainly impressive. Impressive really because of Heather Morris. Heather who plays "Brittany" on GLEE was originally hired to be a back up dancer on the show, yet quickly rose to stardom from her great one liners like "Do you know Dolphins are just gay sharks?". 

Last night they finally gave her an entire episode and of course it was the Brittany episode I mean her real name is "Brittany S. Pearce" and "she has been living in the shadow of Brittany Spears her entire life" . I can't really complain. I mean I really think that Heather out danced even the real Brittany. Its impressive. Really impressive. Check out these moves... if you squint your eyes you will think its the real thing and forget all about Brittany's head shaving crazy real life.


Oh and yes that is John Stamos too! Double bonus!!