shows in Paris!

We have three good options for attending concerts in Paris when we're there in February--three bands I've read much about, but have never listened to:

Ra Ra Riot @ Fleche D'or
Gang Gang Dance @ Point Ephemere
Crystal Antlers @ Fleche D'or

My vote's for Ra Ra Riot.

Bon Iver's "Babies"

This was the song that made me cry last night at the Bon Iver concert. It's on their new EP.

more shows

WAY too many shows in the last few weeks:

The Sea and Cake: wrote a review here. I was kind. They were awful. Opener Death Vessel was great, though. This was the third show I've been to with Elizabeth, who still kindly goes to shows with me despite duds like this. Previously, I took her to see the Acorn (we were the only fans there) and Pale Young Gentlemen (we were the only fans there). Oh well!

Wheat: wrote a review here. This show was so much fun, despite the fact that E was in a horrible mood with a head cold. At least he was happy for Wheat's set (how could you not be?). What also made E happy was the guy in the above photo. I don't even remember who opened for Wheat, but E liked that dude in the band.

The Acorn / Calexico: wrote a review here. I totally overplayed the Acorn's album last Spring, so I hadn't listened to them in ages. It was nice to remember why I like them so much. They were awesome at the Somerville Theatre. It was also my first real exposure to Calexico. They were great.

M83: wrote a review here. This was the first show I went to with Luke and Laura, so that was really fun. The show was great, though taking photos was nearly impossible, since they played in the dark.

Lots and lots of concerts

I've clearly neglected this blog (no posts in over a month!). Long ago, I stopped writing anything intelligent and instead focused solely on music. And music's not really inspiring me much these days. I'll probably keep updating periodically until January, so I have a full year of posts.

That being said, I've gone to a lot of shows, so for the sake of consistency, I'll list them here. In addition to the ones on the sidebar, I've seen:

- Fleet Foxes (wrote a review here)
- Radiohead
- Wilco + Andrew Bird
- Wakey Wakey (where we ran into Ben Kelley)
- Matt Pryor (wrote a review here)
- Walkmen (wrote a review here)
- Low (wrote a review here)
- Dr. Dog + Delta Spirit (E wrote a review here. I thought the show was boring.)
- Elephant 6 Holiday Surprise (wrote a review here)
- Throw Me the Statue + Jukebox the Ghost (wrote a review here)
- Pale Young Gentlemen (wrote a review here)

Tonight, I'm going to see Wheat! Oh, I love Wheat. I'm pretty proud of this interview I did with them here.

I'm also going to see two more shows in the next week, so expect some more links to reviews soon.

Heir 2 tha Streetz

I can't tell you how many times E and I have spent Saturday night at home watching this local access hip-hop tv show. We even know all the lyrics to the intro. I'm afraid it might happen tonight, too. And somehow we still maintain a reputation for going out a lot. You have no idea.



P.S. E thinks Mosley needs to get a role in the opening credits, playing the part of "bad ass pit bull #2."

The Singing Saw at Christmastime

Anyone who knows me well knows my unhealthy obsession with Sufjan Stevens' Christmas box set. Even in the middle of summer, not a week goes by without me thinking, "Boy, I'd really like to hear "Get Behind me Santa" right now." Due to this intense love and my tendency to over play music, I limit myself to listening to it December 1st--January 1st. It takes discipline. I occasionally make the exception for "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing," because it's probably my favorite song (and favorite recording of it), and technically, it's not a Christmas song.

This year, I'm excited to have a new obsession (though not a replacement, of course). Julian Koster's putting out an album of all singing saw Christmas music. Here's Koster is in all his singing saw Christmas glory:


On a related note, I hear that Low is putting out a Christmas 7" on SubPop. When I saw them at the MFA last week, they played one of the tracks, and it was rather terrifying. To quote my review:

A new Christmas song started off innocently (“Tapping on the rooftop…”), but quickly turned menacing as Sparhawk yelled “Santa Claus is coming!” The words were not so much a gleeful declaration as they were a command to get the hell out of the house.

On a final note, for those of you who don't know, I finally bought a piano! And I'm in desperate need of good Christmas music. I have one book that I grew up playing, but the music's a little too basic. Let me know if you have any good sheet music I can borrow. Thanks!

last night's concert: low

E and I saw Low last night at the MFA. A review will be forthcoming. I wholeheartedly loved it. E? Not so much. One of the few music related things we disagree on. "Breaker" is my favorite song from their last album. And today I discovered the video (a year and a half after its release). So. disgusting. Naturally, that's why I'm posting it here.

Last night's concert: Matt Pryor

If your name is Jill and you sang "Campfire Kansas" on stage with Matt Pryor at Harpers Ferry in Allston, I have some cute photos. Write me a comment with your e-mail.

Here's my review of the show. It was good, nostalgic fun.

Mitch Hedberg

I'm dangerously close (one day!) to not posting for a whole month, so here goes. Today The New York Times informed me that my favorite comedian Mitch Hedberg died of a drug overdose, uh, three years ago (obviously, I don't follow comedy very closely). I watched some YouTube videos today to confirm that he was as funny as I remember. He was, indeed.

This was the first joke I ever heard from him, which gratefully someone put on YouTube:



This was Mitch on Letterman:

Airborne Toxic Event's "Does This Mean You're Moving On"

My new favorite song / video:

My Brightest Diamond's "The Gentlest Gentleman"

An absolutely stunning version of Shara Worden performing "The Gentlest Gentleman" is over here. Better than the one I posted here. I need to learn the ukulele fast!

I'm so desperate to play music lately that I've been playing my Philip Glass piano sheet music on the dining room table for lack of a piano. And today I looked up all the guitar chords to Neutral Milk Hotel's songs from In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. At least I have a guitar at home, but I stink big time. I'm thinking of trading my epiphone for a cheaper model whose action will make it easier to play.

Partisan Cookies Shack

This probably means nothing to you, but means everything to me. From Merge Records' blog:


While you're there, check out the new Music Tapes album Music for Clouds and Tornadoes. I've already pre-ordered the LP, because I'm obsessed.

The Walkmen's You and Me

I love the new album from The Walkmen so much. I'd try to write something intelligent about it, but that would take some effort. And no one reads this blog anyway. You can stream the whole album here.

a Roxbury sunset

Tonight's sunset from the roof. See all the photos here.

E turns 30

Photos from E's 30th birthday party are here. We had a lovely weekend with E's brother and his wife.

Weekend run down:

- Friday we did a highly recommended pub crawl: River Gods -- Miracle of Science -- T.C.'s -- our roof deck. On the way, we picked up some random musician, who crashed at our place.

- Saturday, we hit Carson Beach before the party (yeah, Boston beaches!).

- Sunday we walked the whole city, and E accidentally ordered $80 worth of crabs at the Barking Crab. His response to the mistake? "If I knew I was going to order an $80 entree, I would have worn pants."

And now I'm about to pass out from exhaustion.