Category: Music Page 9 of 10

Fun Fun Fun Fest Twittering

On November 4, 2007

Hi, all. I am in Austin for Fun Fun Fun Fest, a music festival with lots of awesome bands, some of which I’ll probably highlight tomorrow in a Music Monday post. I know those have gotten sporadic, but hey. I gotta have stuff to post in order to post, and this weekend I’ve got some.

I just figured out how to update Twitter from my cell phone, so I’m going to try Twittering stuff that goes on at the festival. Since I didn’t know how to do this yesterday, you may get some random things that actually happened yesterday but that remained Twitterable (I’m going to turn it into every part of speech, you watch). But you’ll never know which things they are! Heh. Anyway, if you’d like to get Fun Fun Fun Fest updates, check out my Twitter page (Twitter updates also now show on the right side of my blog, but it sometimes takes a little while for that to update). And hope for (not necessarily expect) a longer festival post with mp3s and stuff tomorrow.

Class connections…

By Jandy

On October 11, 2007

In Music, School

Two things I’m really grateful for at the moment.

1 – That I chose to do my short paper/panel assignment on Ellen Douglas’ Can’t Quit You Baby, because of all the books we’ve read so far in Southern Lit, it’s my favorite. Each one we read I like better than the previous one, which either means that I like the newest books the best (which is not usually true), that I’m very fickle (which is true), or that I’m getting better acclimated to the class and materials each week (which is probably true to some extent). Anyway, Can’t Quit You Baby has an awesome intrusive narratorial voice which makes me happy. I hope I can work it into my paper somehow. Or maybe write my long paper on this novel, too, and incorporate it (I haven’t even thought about the long paper yet).

2 – That I had the Harlem Renaissance class last semester, because the article we have to read and respond to in the paper/panel discussion is about the relationship between the white employer and the black employee who are the main characters in the book, and whether Douglas is co-opting African-American culture in the form of the black woman order to “save” the white woman from her detached and superficial life. That idea came up a lot in the Harlem Renaissance class, especially relating to music and the ways that white music producers took over jazz and blues and smoothed them out to sell them to white audiences (often with white performers). I haven’t finished reading the article yet, but I already feel like I have a grounding in the point of view the author is coming from, which is encouraging.

I don’t know what I’m going to write yet, or what tack I want to take in the short paper, but at least I won’t be completely lost, like I would’ve been if I’d had to write about some of the earlier books.

I’m also grateful for having acquired the other two Rilo Kiley albums I was missing (three if you include their first self-produced EP), but I think I’ve already done a fine job convincing everyone that I’m obsessed with Rilo Kiley at the moment. I wonder if that will happen every time I got to a concert, or if as I get more used to going to concerts the desire to listen to the band 24/7 for the next several days will go away. Meanwhile, I did find out that Inara George, the singer in The Bird and the Bee, also has a solo album called Rise Up (actually recorded before the band was formed), and based on the 30-second previews at the Amazon.com store, it’s just as good as The Bird and the Bee’s stuff. I wish there were a wishlist for the Amazon.com MP3 store. This is a problem with iTunes as well…I mean, just because the music is digital and I could have it right now doesn’t mean I have the money right now, and I might like to have a list of MP3s to remember to buy in the future when I have money. Just a thought.

EDIT: Third thing I’m thankful for in relation to the paper–there’s a whole Ingmar Bergman connection I think I can make, which will be AWESOME, because nobody else will do that for sure. The main character actually goes to see Persona at one point, there are some similarities between the Persona characters and the Can’t Quit You Baby characters, and none of the critics so far have even mentioned it or tried to examine what a Bergman-Douglas connection might mean! Plus I may even be able to bring in the Spiritual trilogy and its spider-god. It would help if I knew what the spider-god meant, but maybe I can read up on Bergman some, too, which would be good for me anyway.

Music Monday – Rilo Kiley In Concert Edition

By Jandy

On October 8, 2007

In Music

Do you know how many YouTube concert videos you have to look through to find ones that both look and sound decent? Lots. Many, many, many. But I think I have been mostly successful in order to bring you this (still grossly inadequate) approximation of last night. Thing to note. Amateur videos on consumer cameras DO NOT sound anything like as awesome as live sounds. Other thing to note–they are a pretty good visual approximation, since we were standing in almost the same place as most of these. Oh, and last thing to note–I did not take any of these, and none of them are actually from last night’s concert; but several of them are from earlier on Rilo Kiley’s current tour.

Grand Ole Party

This is actually a television show shoot, so the quality is better. But they messed up the drum placement–the three should be in a straight line. The song is called “Bad, Bad Man.”

Grand Ole Party – Look Out Young Son

MySpace

click the cover to go to iTunes; it isn’t available elsewhere until January

The Bird and the Bee

Last night, it was during this song, “I’m a Broken Heart,” that Inara George broke out the bubble machine. At this concert, she batted a balloon around a bit, but the bubble machine was cooler. Sorry people at that other concert.

And this is the video for the single “Again & Again,” which was probably my favorite of the songs they did. When she goes up for the “do it again,” it just sends shivers down my spine–love the ethereal tone.

The Bird and the Bee – Polite Dance Song
The Bird and the Bee – So You Say

click the covers to go to Amazon.com’s new MP3 store, which you should do because Amazon.com’s new MP3 store is awesome, DRM-free, cheaper than iTunes, and I’m so excited about it!

Rilo Kiley

By the time Rilo Kiley came on, I was exhausted. I’d been standing up for two and a half hours, and it was hot and crowded. But when they came out and Jenny Lewis started singing, it was all totally worth it, and everything was wonderful. If the concert videos don’t convince you how wonderful her voice is, and how perfect her stylings are, make sure to listen to the studio-produced recordings. Concert footage doesn’t always show tone quality, but the band also puts on a great show and I wanted to get that in here (which was why I was trying so hard to find passable videos).

“Moneymaker” is off the new album, Under the Blacklight, and they played it pretty early in the set. It’s really not much like anything else I’ve heard them do…but girls with guitars, I just gotta say. Good stuff. (The music video version is critiquing the porn industry, so while it’s a well-done video, I’ll leave it to your own judgment whether or not to seek it out on YouTube.)

“I Never” got probably the loudest, most sustained ovation last night. It was incredible, and deafening. Even Jenny was putting her hands over her ears! And they performed it pretty much exactly like this, only imagine about two solid minutes of applause and screaming before the crowd quieted down enough for them to play the next song.

And this is the video for the first track on the new album, “Silver Lining.” It may be more distracting than helpful as far as interpretation goes, but it is interesting to note that Jenny and Blake Sennett (the guitarist/singer who is also the groom in the video) used to date. And no longer do. But I don’t know if we’re supposed to read that into the song or not, and I don’t know the details. In any case, it’s a very pretty song and video both.

Rilo Kiley – With Arms Outstretched (from The Execution of All Things)
Rilo Kiley – Breakin’ Up (from Under the Blacklight)
Rilo Kiley – Under the Blacklight

click the covers to go to the regular Amazon CD store, because Rilo Kiley isn’t on the new MP3 store…yet…

Reasons Today Rocked (most of which involve Rilo Kiley)

By Jandy

On October 8, 2007

In Music

Met some interesting new people at church. Okay, this didn’t really rock that hard, but usually the greet-the-people-near-you part of the service (before the sermon) devolves into “hi, I’m ____, nice to meet you” unless I already sort of know the people near me. So it was nice to actually have a conversation.
Went to lunch with friends and had a caesar salad! I haven’t had a caesar salad for about two months, or salad at all really. I need a good salad once in a while, and the kind I try to make at home never turn out good.
Having lunch with friends for reasons apart from the caesar salad.
Almost spur-of-the-moment trip to Austin with other friends to see Rilo Kiley (tickets bought on Thursday, so it was planned, just not for long).
Introducing friends to Waterloo Records, which they loved as inordinately as I do. (Slight moment of suck encountered when I was unable to locate any of the supposed four copies of the Ingrid Michaelson CD they were supposed to have in stock–I find it rather interesting that a lot of the current crop of commercials that use indie pop songs are not very effective at getting me to by the product advertised, but are very effective at getting me to buy the CD with the song on it. Assuming I can find said CD.)
Suck caused by lack of Ingrid Michaelson CD countered by finding Sons and Daughters EP, which I have been sort of half keeping my eye out for since a friend sent me a mix with “Fight” on it.
Pulled pork sandwich at Stubbs! And being able to get to the bathroom without fighting my way through a room-full of partying people like the last time I was there.
First opening band Grand Ole Party, who none of us had heard of, and who rocked pretty hard. Most of the comparisons I’ve seen online tonight have been to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, which I can totally see now that I think about it. At the time, the closest I could come was a young, angry Gwen Stefani while with No Doubt (there’s a similar use of vibrato). Anyway. The weirdest thing is earlier in the day, we’d been mentioning the fact that very few drummers are also lead singers. Well, the lead singer of Grand Ole Party is a female drummer, which is awesome on both the drummer-singer level, and the female drummer level.
Second opening band The Bird and the Bee, who I hadn’t heard of, but one of my friends highly recommended. And they were really good, too, but very different. Really whimsical, sometimes ethereal, and a bit gimmicky, but in a GOOD way. She had a bubble machine, folks. A bubble machine. It was awesome. They were so adorable, I wanted to pack them up and bring them home with me.
RILO KILEY. RILO KILEY. RILO KILEY. When I first got into Rilo Kiley I passed up an opportunity to see them open for Coldplay (a double temptation, because I really like Coldplay too, and at the time, they were probably my favorite band), because the tickets were mucho expensive and I didn’t have anyone to go with. This was much, much better. Three times cheaper, plus twenty feet from the stage instead of who knows how far back at the big St. Louis auditorium they were at, plus friends. It was a great show–not sure if it was as good as Snow Patrol back in March, but pretty darn close (and since that’s all I have to compare it to…). And even though they’re promoting a new album (which I haven’t heard enough yet to know all the songs), they still did my two absolute favorites from earlier CDs, as well as a pseudo-cover of one of Jenny Lewis’s solo songs, which was fun. I’m hoping to resurrect Music Monday from its couple of weeks rest to post a song or two from each band.

American Idol: Top 24 Revealed

By Jandy

On February 14, 2007

In Music, Television

Here it is. The end of the audition round. I’m ready. :)

Sanjaya Malakar – I really like him. From what I’ve heard, everyone likes him. And he’s in! Yay!

Anna Kearns – I thought I’d seen her in the rooms, but I wasn’t sure. And she’s not in. I’m not surprised. I was a little surprised that she got as far as the top 40.

Bernard Williams – And this is the guy that Paula said was totally off-key. And he’s not in. And there’s Philip Stacy, so he did make the top 40. I couldn’t tell.

Eric Davis and Tami Gosnell – Tami was someone Simon really liked. I don’t remember seeing Eric before. Both are no.

Melinda Doolittle – She better get through. Because she’s amazing. Yay! She’s in.

Brandan Rogers – Ah, so he is there. I didn’t notice him last night. And he’s in as well.

Gina Glockson – And she’s in! She was in my second tier, but I’m really glad she made it, after making it as far as the room round last year.

Jimmy McNeal – Aw, I really liked him. But he and Errick somebody or other are both out.

Haley Scarnato – Yay! She’s the one that Simon called “cabaret” and I decided that cabaret must be my favorite. And she’s in. Woot.

Phil Stacy – I’m not horribly impressed by him. I mean, I like him, but his voice is too nasally for me. But apparently not too nasally for the judges. He’s in.

Chris Sligh – I like his sense of humor. And his voice. If he doesn’t make it through, I’ll be very surprised. Yep, he’s in. :)

Blake Lewis – I’m not sure his voice is quite up with all the others, but he’s certainly a great performer, and I really like him. And he’s through. :)

Thomas Lowe – Not through.

Rudy Cardenas – He’s borderline for me. Could take him or leave him. I guess we’re taking him; he’s in.

Paul Kim – Okay, we really didn’t need to know about the underwear. Really. NO REALLY. And he’s in. Please tell me that this lucky underwear thing allows for washing.

Jordin Sparks – HA! She is there. Okay, yeah, I did see her in the rooms, I just didn’t recognize her with her hair up. Good! I’m glad she made it in.

Okay, a couple of people we don’t know plus Tatiana McConnico, not through.

A.J. Tabaldo – Five times trying? Wow. And he’s through. Nice.

Tiffany Edwards – I remember seeing her last night, but not before that. She’s good. And in.

Leslie Hunt – Are they all singing that song? I mean, I like the song (one of Kat’s best performances last year, BTW), but still. And she’s in as well.

Nick Pedro – PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE I WANT HIM. Um, on the show I mean. Awesome! He’s in! Woot!

Hee. Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader. I might be amused, if I weren’t so embarrassed for the adults. Interestingly enough, when my mom or I forget something factual that we should know, we say “I knew it in fifth grade.”

Alaina Alexander – I liked her in the auditions…that Hollywood week performance wasn’t great, though. But it was good enough, apparently; she’s in. Simon was crushing on her in the auditions. Couldn’t’ve hurt. ;)

Chris Richardson – Yes! I thought I’d glimpsed him in the rooms. And he is IN! I like him, so that’s good.

Sabrina Sloane – First time we’ve seen her that I know of. And she’s in. I wonder how much time Simon spends thinking up all the ways to phrase the acceptance so it sounds like a denial. “We have decided not………to exclude you.”

Jerome Chisum, Joelle James, Matthew Buckstein (aka cowboy guy), Princess Johnson – most of whom we don’t know, all gone.

Lakisha Jones – She’s really really good. And the judges agree with me. Always nice when that happens. She’s in.

Nicole Tranquillo – I think I saw her several times last night, but not in the original auditions. In any case, she’s through.

Jared Cotter – Another new face, and he is in.

Amy Krebs – Yet another one not previously showcased, and yet another one in.

Antonella Barba and Marisa – I love me some Antonella, but I remember Marisa being really good, too. But please, Antonella, please. I hate when it’s down to two left. Oh, crap, Antonella, not lyric trouble. They HATE that. Whew. Antonella is through. I shouldn’t be surprised, though. They’ve really emphasized her throughout the audition process–apparently she’s one of the marketing darlings this year.

Tommy Daniels and Sundance Head – Both very good, though Sundance faltered a lot in Hollywood. I don’t remember seeing Thomas in Hollywood at all. I’m not sure I agree with putting Sundance through. I think they only did because he’s really different. But I guess that’s a fair reason, too.

So our top 24 are:

Alaina Alexander
Antonella Barba
Melinda Dolittle
Tiffany Edwards
Gina Glockson
Leslie Hunt
Lakisha Jones
Amy Krebs
Haley Scarnato
Sabrina Sloane
Jordin Sparks
Nicole Tranquillo

Rudy Cardenas
Jared Cotter
Sundance Head
Paul Kim
Blake Lewis
Sanjaya Malakar
Nick Pedro
Chris Richardson
Brandan Rogers
Chris Sligh
Phil Stacy
A.J. Tabaldo

And my prediction stats are 14/24, and 8 of the other 10 weren’t shown in the original auditions. Not bad.

edit to correct Amy’s last name 2/18/07