Adventures In Solitude

One of the perks of my job is getting to travel most anywhere (within reason) on the weekend instead of coming home.  For the last several months, I've been coming to Las Vegas each week and was asked to stay in there through Saturday this past week.  Though there aren't many to start with, I've done most every cultural activity that I've wanted to do in Las Vegas with few exceptions.  Instead of hanging around on Sunday, I caught a flight by myself to San Francisco to visit the city for my first time.

I started by taking BART from the airport to Union Square around 8:30 a.m.  I was rather unimpressed with Union Square as it seemed very generic.  If you're looking for a Macy's or Gap or the like, Union Square certainly could accommodate you.  Per some friend's of friend's recommendations, I ate breakfast at Café De La Presse.  The food and service were good, but I found perhaps the quote of the day from a patron that came in and sat near me at the bar.  The barista asked him what he planned to do for Easter Sunday.  His response was, "I think I am going to go to mass at Old St. Mary's and then head to the park to smoke some reefer."  I was amused.

After breakfast, I walked around Chinatown for bit.  I was really anxious to get some coffee.  I had heard about Blue Bottle Coffee from another recommendation.  I searched all over the Hayes Valley district for it until I found it in what looked like an alley.  There is a small line, but I finally got a soy latte.  Now I'm not much of a coffee person, but this was probably the best cup of coffee I have ever had.  Devotchka's How It Ends was a nice soundtrack to listen to while I got and drank my coffee.

I got lunch in the Mission District at a place called Atlas Cafe per another recommendation.  It took me a while to find it.  Once I did, I was impressed by the menu.  I was torn between several items, but I settled upon the apple and cheese sandwich, which had cheddar, apples, arugala, and olive oil on wheat bread.  It was quite good.  After lunch, I listened to Blonde Redhead's Misery is a Butterfly on my iPod as I went walking down Valencia in search of 826 Valencia's Pirate Supply Store.  I was disappointed when I got there and it was closed.

I spent the next hour or so walking the distance of Haight Street.  Parts of it were hilly and hard to climb up after I had been walking all day.  I stopped when I got to Buena Vista Park and relaxed for an hour or so and read.  It was a nice break.  I continued walking up Haight Street until I reached Amoeba Records.  This is probably the largest music store that I have ever visited.  I picked up Bon Iver's For Emma, Forever Ago and Tulsa's I Was Submerged.  I am still listening and evaluating them.  

At the foot of Haight Street is where Golden Gate park begins.  I walked through the park for a bit to reach the Japanese Tea Garden.  I walked through the garden and enjoyed the landscape and sculpture throughout.  I also really liked the many large koi fish that were in the stream.  I'm almost jealous because I know my koi's will never grow that big.  The pond they live in is too small.  I also really liked the large statue of Siddhartha Buddha near the front.  I wanted to sit down and enjoy a pot of tea there, but I did not have enough time.  I brought some back from their gift shop along with a few other items.  The tea garden was probably my favorite part of the trip.  The atmosphere was so relaxing.

I probably walked well over ten miles on Sunday.  There were many parts of San Francisco that I wanted to visit, but I ran out of time.  I certainly want to get back there and spend more time.  Maybe next time, I can convince someone to come along with me.  The rest of my pictures from the trip can be found here.

J's SXSW Days 3 and 4 Review

Day three might have been the best day for me of the festival.  I started out at The Current's Free Yr Radio Party.  This party was particularly great because each band was interviewed and broadcasted on live radio.  The first band that I was able to catch was The Duke Spirit from the UK.  They played two awesome tracks from their latest release, Neptune.  Shortly thereafter, She and Him took the stage for a few songs and to discuss the future for the duet.  I was happy to learn that this is will be a long term endeavor for them.  She and Him is the collaboration of singer/songwriter M Ward and actress Zooey Deschanel.  This was probably the my most anticipated act of the festival and did not disappoint.  His unique style of songwriting and her classic voice make this duo outstanding.  The next band I caught was the scratchy Times New Viking from Columbus, OH at Emo's.  I had to use my earplugs since their sound is often rough and distorted.  While this is not normally the type of music I listen to, I will say that I certainly did enjoy this show.  I walked back over to Red Eye Fly to catch a bit of Grand Ole Party again.  It may have been just hearing a different sound from the previous club, but I just couldn't get into this band on my second time around.  Around six, I made the trek over to the Auditorium Shores stage to catch Canadian alt-country band The Sadies.  I had some familarity with this band, but had never seen them.  I have to say that I was impressed with their style.  It is certainly unlike any alt-country band I have ever heard.

The night time started for me at Bourbon Rocks where I caught Seattle singer/songwriter Sera Cahoone.  This show got off to a rocky start as the sound crew at Bourbon Rocks seemed to have trouble keeping the equipment working properly.  Once they got that fixed, the show was outstanding.  I really like Sera Cahoone's soothing acoustic sound and look forward to hearing her new release.  I walked over to the Parish to catch the next few acts that would go on there.  The first was Radar Bros.  I found them to be rather ordinary and couldn't really get into them.  Following them were the Shout Out Louds.  I found this show of theirs to be much better than the one I had seen the day before at Flamingo Cantina.  The final act I saw at the Parish was She and Him.  This set was much longer than the one I had seen earlier in the day.   They reeled off many cuts from their upcoming (now released) album.  I tried to watch the Castanets at the end of the night but got too hungry to continue.

I spent most of the day time of day four at the Garden Party at the French Legation.  The first band I saw was Lightspeed Champion, whose eclectic power pop did very little for me.  I was impressed with Sons and Daughters, though it really isn't they type of music I normally get into.  I couldn't see the next two acts, J Mascis and Thurston Moore, but I did hear them and both sounded great.  The last act I caught was She and Him for a third and final time.  The show was quite similar to the night before.  They are still magnificent and probably my favorite act of the festival.

At night, I caught the first few songs of Boston, MA band Tulsa.  The first song didn't do much for me, but they sure did rock after that.  I have since purchased their CD.  I tried to catch the M Ward and Jim James show at St. David's Church, but for some reason, they wouldn't let me in.  They said they were filled to capacity, but all reports I heard said that they were not.  I heard I missed a great show.  I ended up at the Parish again.  The first band I saw there was The Most Serene Republic.  I didn't get too into them.  Musically they were good, but their singer weirded me out a bit.  Following them, the Constantines gave a rather nice show.  I had heard they were good but never really got into them.  It took me a few songs to get used to the scratchy voice of the singer.  I think I'll have to go back and listen to a few of the albums of theirs that someone gave me.  The last band I caught was Jason Collett.  This time I got to pay more attention to him and his band.  I enjoyed this show a lot more than the one at Emo's Annex on day one.  I tried to go by Emo's Annex to see The Spinto Band, but I guess I was just not in the mood for it.  I walked into the Thirsty Nickel to meet up with B and watch Kid Dakota.  He certainly got more into it than I did.  We tried to catch British Sea Power at the end, but nobody was really up for it, so we left.

This year's festival was as strong as ever.  I've found a few new bands to listen to and hopefully catch again.  I'll be reviewing those which I like in the coming weeks.  The rest of my pictures can be found here.  

SXSW 2008 - Day 4

Day Shows

The final day of SXSW started with a trip to see the Flatstock show at the Austin Convention Center. There were a number of exhibitors with stylish and artful posters and prints on display and for sale. After checking out the art work, it was time to walk to the day party so it was off to the French Legation Museum for The Garden Party sponsored by Harp Magazine and Press Here. This was a nice outdoor show with a solid line-up and $1 PBR. The downside was the long lines for the bar and bathrooms. I think they mis-judged the number of people that would attend.

Lightspeed Champion (2:20pm) - This band led by Devonte Hynes also features vocalist Emmy the Great and mixes a variety of genres. They made for fine background music while I read my free Harp Magazine.

Sons & Daughters (3:00pm) - It was good to see the Glasgow band (pictured) again. Adele Bethel's strong vocals and Scott Paterson's guitar were impressive. The tracks off their new CD sound really solid live, and it was a treat to her them play the song Johnny Cash off their debut, Love the Cup.

J. Mascis (3:50pm) - Best known for his work with alt-rock pioneer, Dinosaur, Jr. It was nice to get to hear the legend play a solo show. His singing my not be as dynamic as it once was, but he still plays a mean guitar.

Thurston Moore (4:30pm) - Another solo show from an alt-rock legend. Moore is best known for his work with Sonic Youth.

She & Him (5:15pm) - This was a third offering of M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel at SXSW 2008. I really enjoy their collaboration. Deschanel has written some fine songs and fits perfectly with M. Ward's lo-fi approach. I've since purchased the debut CD, Volume One, and recommend it.

Okkervil River (6:05pm) - I've yet to see a full set from this Austin band even though I'm a big fan. I saw them open for The Decemberists a few years ago and only caught the final two songs. The shows at The Garden Party day show had been running behind so G and I listened to a few songs before heading to get food and get in line for the first of the night shows. What I heard was great and maybe I'll be able to check their Dallas show in early April. Last year's CD, The Stage Names was one of my favorite releases of 2007.


Night Shows

Jacob Golden (St. David's Church, 8:00pm) - G and I were only in attendance so we could guarantee seats for the next 2 shows. The slow acoustic indie-folk almost put me to sleep.

M. Ward (St. David's Church, 9:00pm) - Since we arrived early, we were able to get seats in the front row right by where M. Ward was setup. This show was simply incredible. One highlight was Poison Cup from Ward's last CD, Post-War. Towards the end of the set, Jim James joined Ward. They played Ward songs and some My Morning Jacket songs. Video of Ward's Chinese Translation and My Morning Jacket's Golden courtesy of G.

Jim James (St. David's Church, 10:00pm) - Frontman for the indie rock group, My Morning Jacket continued after Ward departed. He even played some songs from the band's upcoming summer release.

Laura Gibson (The Thirsty Nickel, 11:00pm) - This Portland, OR indie-folk artist had the unfortunate luck of being stuck in this inappropriate venue. The stage was right near the street so street and bar noise drowned out some of her lovely songs. As the set continued I was able to get closer and really enjoyed what I heard. I picked up her latest release.

Kid Dakota (The Thirsty Nickel, 12:00am) - This guitar & drum duo from Minneapolis, MN played louder than Laura Gibson so they were able to overcome any extra noise problems. Their songs are pretty simplistic and have some odd phrasing, but I still found the music catchy so I picked up their latest CD.

British Sea Power (Maggie Mae's Rooftop, 1:00am) - For the final show of the festival, we walked down a few places to Maggie Mae's to take in the British indie rock band. I had not heard any of the band's new release, but was familiar with their previous work. It was enjoyable enough, but from where I was standing I was unable to even see the band.

And so ended another SXSW. It was a wonderful 4 days of music, both new and old. I look forward to next year's festival. More photos can be found here.

Best of the Day: M. Ward & Jim James

Best New Find of the Day: Laura Gibson

SXSW 2008 - Day 3

Day Shows

Day 3 started at the Free YR Radio Broadcast Corner hosted by Minnesota public radio station 89.3 The Current. These shows ran each day on the corner of 7th and Red River. The show was live on the radio and the host would ask a few questions of the artist followed by a short set.

The Duke Spirit (1:00pm) - G, J, and I arrived early and we were able to get a spot right in front. It was quickly announced that the band would only play two songs as lead singer Leila Moss was suffering from a scratchy voice. She was still energetic and sounded pretty good considering. This was my first exposure to the band other than a download of the song Lassoo from the SXSW site. I'm glad I was able to see the band, and I'm eager to hear their upcoming release Neptune. It would be good to see them do a full set as well.

She & Him (2:15pm) - There was a large crowd gathered for the SXSW debut of the collaboration between Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward. Host Mark Wheat started by asking about how the two met and if they would collaborate again. They indicated they would record again and hope to do a proper tour in the future. Zooey then introduced the band, and they played three songs off the new CD, Volume One, including the track This Is Not a Test (video courtesy of G).

The Sadies (Dirty Dog Bar, 2:40pm) - After the short She & Him set, it was off to Dirty Dog Bar to see the end of The Sadies set at the Yep Roc day party. I was only able to catch the last two songs of their set, but it was just as great as the previous night. These guys rock.

Fleet Foxes (Emo's Main, 3:30pm) - By this time the Pitchfork day party was in full effect. G and I stopped in to catch a few repeat songs of our favorite new band from the previous day. They were still very good.

Times New Viking (Emo's Jr., 4:00pm) - I knew going in to expect loud and raw from this Columbus, Ohio band, and I was right. But I was surprised at how fun it was too. Oddly enough their live sound is less rough than their latest CD, Rip It Off.

A Place to Bury Strangers (Emo's Jr., 5:00pm) - We stopped in for one song from Yeasayer over at Emo's Main, but it really did not sound good to me or G so we decided to grab a good spot for Strangers instead. I decided not to stand as close to the stage this time for the band. On Wednesday they really blew me away with how loud they actually play. They've earned the moniker, "loudest band in NY." At one point singer/guitarist Oliver Ackermann was swinging his guitar by the strings as they broke. Awesome fusion of rock and noise.

The Sadies (Auditorium Shores, 6:00pm) - Yes, it was off to see The Sadies again. This time at the venue on the banks of Town Lake. J and I found a nice spot for badge holders with free drinks and shade. The Sadies played the same set as the night before, but it didn't matter to me as they are just too good to miss in a live setting.

Night Shows

Ryan Bingham (Momo's, 8:00pm) - From Auditorium Shores, we walked a few blocks to Momo's for several performances. To start was local Americana/roots singer Ryan Bingham. He had quite a crowd gathered for his set, but I was really there to see the next two bands.

Future Clouds and Radar (9:00pm) - This Austin band lead by Robert Harrison is an eclectic art rock band that had a critically acclaimed debut double CD last year. The single Back Seat Silver Jet Sighter has become a new favorite of mine over the past month. You could see how much Harrison and his band loved playing, and it came out in their lively set. The bass player used to play for Spoon so there was a Britt Daniels sighting after their show.

The Submarines (10:00pm) - I was here to see this band based on one song called You, Me, and the Bourgeoisie. I'm very glad to have made that decision. Singer Blake Hazard is adorable and was so appreciative of the crowd. The crowd was appreciative right back for her and John Dragonetti's incredibly catchy songs. I look forward to their new CD release later this year.

She & Him (The Parish, 12:00am) - After Momo's it was time for a full set of She & Him. They were set to play a midnight show so I thought I'd catch a little of the Shout Out Louds who were playing before them. That was not to be. What met me was a long badge line at The Parish. G didn't make it in, but luckily I did about 10 minutes prior to M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel taking the stage. She seemed more comfortable during this set and really showed off some singing skills and play keyboard on a couple of songs. It was a well rounded set of tunes from their new CD. In my opinion the band is more than just some novelty interest because of the high profile collaboration.

Castanets (Central Presbyterian Church, 1:00am) - I've seen the Castanets on each of my three SXSW visits. This was a unique chance I thought to see them in a perfect venue. Last year I was able to see two shows (Shearwater, Vashti Bunyan) at the church, and both were great shows with amazing acoustics. Castanets frontman Raymond Raposa commented on the great venue. He and his backing band went on to play mostly cover songs (Suspicious Minds). It was an interesting show, but it featured more Castanets experimentation then a focus on their beautiful, haunting songs.

Favorite of the Day: She & Him

Favorite New Find: The Submarines

Sad to Have Missed: Tapes 'n Tapes, The Airborne Toxic Event, The Builders and the Butchers, Vampire Weekend, Plants and Animals

SXSW 2008 - Day 2

Day 2 started with an excellent lineup with the Under the Radar & Team Clermont day show at Flamingo Cantina. The sponsors gave out free issues and subscriptions of Under the Radar and copies of Image Comics Pop Gun, Volume One.

Elf Power (12:45pm) - The Athens, GA band started off the day for me, and they played a solid set featuring several tracks from their new CD In a Cave which will be released on March 25.

Fleet Foxes (1:35pm) - This Seattle, WA band filled the venue with three part harmonies and melodic indie rock. Their debut EP, Sun Giant, will be released on April 8. Luckily they had copies for sale, and I predict I will be playing it regularly over the next month. Check their myspace page and give the song English House a listen.

Akron/Family (2:25pm) - This band did not work for me on Day 1, but the rest of the day's lineup was a must. Flamingo has a rooftop so we headed up there to escape the sounds of Akron/Family.

The Helio Sequence (3:15pm) - I first saw this Portland, OR duo at last year's Sasquatch Festival. I enjoyed them even more this time. Drummer Benjamin Weikel was impressive and Brandon Summers easily captured the audience's attention with his vocals and guitar. I'll be picking up their new CD, Keep Your Eyes Ahead now.

Rogue Wave (4:05pm) - The California band played several tracks from their latest CD (like Lake Michigan) and also played Bird on a Wire and Publish My Love from Descended with Vultures. The band keeps things exciting by mixing things up on their songs. Always a band worth seeing.

Shout Out Louds (5:00pm) - I had only heard the song Tonight I Have to Leave It which although catchy, it still sounded like a band trying to be The Cure. Luckily, the band is not just a rip off band. They put on an energetic and entertaining show.

Night Shows

Li'l Cap'n Travis (Bourbon Rocks, 8:00pm) - The evening shows started with the popular local band who deftly mix country and rock.

The Evangelicals (Mohawk Patio, 10:00pm) - After Li'l Cap'n Travis, it was off to Mohawk to get a place for the 10pm show plus it's one of the better places to relax and enjoy the city and music. Unfortunately things were running 30 minutes behind so I saw the end of Brooklyn band Phosphorescent which included a Leonard Cohen cover, but not much else that interested me. They were followed by Bodies of Water which interested me even less. Finally at about 10:30pm The Evangelicals took the stage and kicked into their psychedelic rock reminiscent of fellow Oklahoma natives, The Flaming Lips.

Chatham County Line (The Continental Club, 11:00pm) - Prior to The Evangelicals ending it was time to catch a taxi to head to The Continental Club. The reason was for the midnight band, but it was a nice surprise to see this acoustic bluegrass band. Also in attendance was Mike Mills of REM.

The Sadies (The Continental Club, 12:00am) - G and I were able to snag a spot in front of the stage right in front of singer/guitarist Travis Good. I had seen The Sadies one other time when they opened for Neko Case a few years ago. Their blend of alt-country, spaghetti western, surf rock is a joy to see and hear. The Good Bros. are impressive guitar players and keep things lively with their gusto to perform. Video courtesy of G.

Black Mountain (Mohawk Patio, 1:00am) - This Canadian band can really rock. Their new CD In the Future has already been getting some regular playing time from me, and I was a fan of their debut as well. Things were still running late at Mohawk so they didn't start until 1:30am so it was a shorter set than I would have liked. I hope to see a full set from these guys sometime in the future.


Favorite of the Day: The Sadies
Favorite New Find: Fleet Foxes

J's Days 1 and 2 Reviews

Greetings from Austin. It's that time of year where thousands decend our lovely Texas capitol for four days of live music and great times. Here are my thoughts from Days 1 and 2.

Day 1

I spent most of the day with B though I got there later.  It's hard waking up.  After getting my badge and such, I headed over to Emo's to see The Ravonettes.  It had been a few years since I've seen or heard them.  I really enjoyed what they played from their latest release.  I hope to pick that one up soon.  I then walked across the street to Emo's Annex to see Jason Collett.  He's another that I had no listened to for a while.  He did not disappoint as he played mostly from his latest release.  I left there with Jim and headed over to the Day Stage to catch Akron/Family.  They were about the worst thing I saw and heard the entire day.  They seem to be playing a lot here.  I don't get it.  Next on the Day Stage was Ra Ra Riot.  Jim insisted that we go to this.  I was moderately impressed with their quirky indie pop style.  I really enjoyed the spoken word/poetry of Saul Williams.

The first night band I caught was Cincinatti's Chocolate Horse.  I was into it at first but lost interest rather quickly.  We moved on to Maggie Mae's for the Cotton Jones Basket Ride, whom I thought was just the singer from fellow Baltimore band Page France, but it turned out to be most everyone from the band.  The amazing thing is that they sounded nothing like Page France.  They sound bluesier and less subdued.  We turned the corner from there and headed to Latitude 30 to see Kitty Daisy & Lewis.  However, they were running about an hour or so behind. We got tired and decided to leave.  I hungout for a bit before going over to Emo's Lounge to see Kimya Dawson.  I was surprised that she started early.  Since she doesn't play very loud, I found myself easing up to the front to get away from all the talkers.  I was rather entertained by the few songs her's that I got to hear.  All were new to me since I am only familiar with the few songs from the Juno soundtrack and she played none of those.  I caught San Diego's Grand Ole Party.  This trio was probably the best find of the day with their jumpy, energizing sound.  I had hoped to catch Birmingham, AL band Wild Sweet Orange.  I was disappointed to find out that they cancelled.  Instead, I meet back up with B at the Maggie Mae's rooftop for Bon Iver.  I could only hear them, but their soft, melancholy sounds were enjoyable.

Day 2

I spent just about the entire day at Flamingo Cantina.  The day started with Elf Power, whom I had known about but never listened to.  They played mostly from their upcoming CD, In A Cave, which sounded incredible.  I can't wait for it to come out.  Even better than them was Seattle, WA band Fleet Foxes.  Their instrumentation and harmonizing reminded me of Denton, TX band Midlake.  I picked up their EP.  This may have been the best find of this festival so far.  Next up was Akron/Family, so we went to the upstairs to avoid them.  They were as obnixious as they were the first time.  We went back down Portland duo The Helio Sequence.  After listening to a KEXP in studio podcast with them last week, I was really antipating a good show from them.  I certainly got that.  I can't wait to hear more of this Sub Pop act.  Rogue Wave took the stage to entertain us all for about a half hour.  I might have enjoyed them more this time than when I saw them in Denton a month or so ago.  Finally, Shout Out Louds closed the day shows at Flamingo Cantina.  I have listened to them for a while, but never seen them.  I recognized many of the songs and enjoyed the show.

The first act I saw at knight was Jens Lekman at Emo's.  He played solo with an electric guitar and was quite entertaining.  This was my first time seeing or hearing his soft, story-like music.  I loved it.  Next, we went to Emo's Lounge to see Le Loup.  I remembered them from Amber and Jen's Best of 2007.  But nothing of what I heard sounded much like what was on the mix. We then walked over to Mohawk, one of the better venue's in the area, to see the much anticipated Evangelicals from Norman, OK.  I enjoyed the show, but wasn't blown away like I thought I would be.  Once they finished, I headed downstairs at Mohawk to catch San Francisco's Citay.  They are a six-piece that is mostly instrumental and appears a bit "jammy" at times.  I enjoyed listenting to them more on the studio recordings than I did live.  That could have had something to do with the bar area being a bit crowded though.  I finished the night at Mohawk listening to the Canadian band Black Mountain.  I was a bit out of it by then so I don't remember much about it.

Back with more later.

SXSW 2008 - Day 1

One of my favorite times of the year is here. Yesterday was Day 1 of the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, TX. This is my third year at SXSW, and the first two were wonderful. The day started with a quick trip through the badge line at the Austin Convention Center, and then I was off to start my week of music.

My first stop was the Austinist & Gothamist day party at Mohawk. The first band was the Boston/Dublin quartet, The Bleedin Bleedins at 12:30pm. They didn't do much for me really with two decent songs in the set. Next was the reason I was at this day party, the Brooklyn trio A Place to Bury Strangers. These guys were loud and great with a JAMC/Joy Division sound cranked up to 10.

Next it was off to Emo's Main for the 2:55pm show of The Raveonettes. First however I caught some of These New Puritans, but quickly made my way over to Emo's Jr. to see if there was something better. I managed to catch 2 songs from Headlights and was nicely surprised. I was glad to come across this band and will try to catch a whole set this week if possible. Prior to The Raveonettes was YACHT a band with Jona Bechtolt who was previously in The Blow. YACHT is really just a guy singing over laptop music which is similar to The Blow except without the entertainment value of Khaela Maricich. The real highlight at Emo's was The Raveonettes. The Denmark duo played several tracks from their new CD, Lust Lust Lust. I've been giving this CD a good amount of play time lately and really enjoyed hearing the songs live, esp. You Want the Candy and Aly, Walk with Me.

During the Emo's shows I was joined by friends Jim and J. We next headed across the street to Emo's Annex for free Lone Star and to see the Arts & Crafts artist Jason Collett at 3:50pm. It was a nice leisurely set with tracks from his latest CD, Here's to Being Here plus a few off his last release, Idols of Exile. Next was a folky, Americana set from Sean Hayes at 4:30pm.

Next was the SESAC showcase at the convention center. I unfortunately caught one song from Akron/Family. I had only heard one of their songs previously called Phenomena which I liked. The song I caught here I found annoying to say the least. I'll be avoiding these guys the rest of the week. Based on a recommendation from Jim, we stayed for the next band Ra Ra Riot. I wasn't crazy about the lead singer, but the band had a good and fun sound plus it was different from anything else I'd heard during the day. The SESAC showcase ended with Saul Williams who blends poetry and hip-hop, but here he focused on an acoustic set. That was the conclusion of the day shows.

The night shows started at 8pm and J and G joined me at Spiro's to see a Cincinnati band called The Chocolate Horse. They had a loungy sound that included a stand-up bass and flute. After a few songs we moved over to Maggie Mae's Rooftop to see a few songs from NY band Day for Night. I'm a sucker for bands named after movies so I had an interest in seeing this band. I did enjoy the 3 or 4 songs I caught. After Maggie Mae's it was a short walk down to the Soho Lounge to see The Cotton Jones Basket Ride. This band features several members from the Maryland group Page France. Although the bands have a common singer, the sound is quite different. I'm definitely interested in hearing more from this new band.

The plan was to next see the London band Kitty Daisy & Lewis at Latitude 30. First we sat through a partial set from the Nashville band, The Young Republic. They were a large band that didn't even fit on the stage. After waiting for 30 minutes for Kitty Daisy & Lewis to setup, we finally gave up and moved on to get ready for some shows at Antone's.

The next two shows at Antone's were the gigs I was most looking forward to for the day. Unfortunately things started off badly with a long wait in line at the door. It makes me question getting a badge to SXSW when this kind of thing happens. It's only happened to me really at Antone's and the surprise Flaming Lips and Beastie Boys shows 2 years ago. Those surprise shows made sense, but Antone's seems to have a problem with getting people into their establishment. However after getting inside things improved greatly when the Glasgow band Sons & Daughters hit the stage. They were energetic as they played through several songs of their new CD, This Gift. After their set, G headed to Emo's to check out the line for the 1am Black Keys show. I stayed at Antone's and found a nice spot mid-stage to catch the London duo, The Kills. I've been into the band for a few years now and this was my first chance to get to see them. It was a great show. They had lots of energy and guitarist/singer VV (Alison Mosshart) ruled the stage. Their new songs were great, and I can't wait to get the new CD when it is released. I was also very happy to hear the title track from their last CD, No Wow.

After The Kills I started to head to Emo's but quickly found getting into Emo's for The Black Keys would be futile as they were at capacity. So I met G and J at Maggie Mae's Rooftop to finish the night with Bon Iver. It had been a long day and although I did like what I was hearing, we decided to call it a night about half way through the set. So at 1:30am after getting to the convention center at 11am to start the day, it was time to head for the land of sleep and rest up for Day 2.

Favorite of the Day: The Kills

Favorite New Find: The Cotton Jones Basket Ride

Red Rock Canyon

I stayed in Las Vegas last weekend for work.  Rather than lose (more) money in the casinos, I opted to enjoy some of nature's majesty.  I went to Red Rock Canyon.  Click the link below to see my pictures.

Pictures from Red Rock Canyon

Oscar Predictions

It's time for the Oscars. Here are my thoughts on the main categories. I'll give the nominees, my prediction, and my personal pick.

Best Picture
Atonement
Juno
Michael Clayton
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood

Prediction: No Country for Old Men. This has generally been considered the front runner, and it is well deserving. The Coen Bros. adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's novel is a perfect blend of author and filmmakers. I've been a fan for many years so it would be thrilling to see the Coen's have a big night at the Oscars.

Personal pick: There Will Be Blood. As big a fan as I am of the Coen's and No Country, I still think this sprawling epic from director Paul Thomas Anderson was the better movie. I was fascinated from the first frame with the exquisite camera work and brilliant score from Jonny Greenwood. It's actually exciting to have two such dark and fascinating movies in the running for best picture.

Best Actor
George Clooney - Michael Clayton
Daniel Day-Lewis - There Will Be Blood
Johnny Depp - Sweeny Todd
Tommy Lee Jones - In the Valley of Elah
Viggo Mortensen - Eastern Promises

Prediction: Daniel Day-Lewis. I think this has to be the most "sure thing" along with the supporting actor category. Day-Lewis dominates as a oil tycoon who gains wealth and power while losing his humanity. It's a stunning performance and though still relatively unseen by the masses has spawned some catch phrases.

Personal pick: Daniel Day-Lewis. For full disclosure, Viggo Mortensen is the only other nominee I've seen to this point, but Day-Lewis's performance is really one for the ages.

Best Actress
Cate Blanchett - Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Julie Christie - Away From Her
Marion Cotillard - La Vie en Rose
Laura Linney - The Savages
Ellen Page - Juno

Prediction: Julie Christie. It has been 42 years since Christie won Best Actress for Darling. She's won several critics awards and she's given many fine performances in her career. The biggest marks against her is that the film was not widely seen and she hasn't done much to campaign for the award. I still think her long career will push her up to the podium.

Personal pick: Laura Linney. This is another category where I've not seen many nominees, only Ellen Page actually. Page was cute, but really Juno overall is a little too cute. Cotillard is probably the strongest contender outside Christie, but she does star in a foreign film which has been historically difficult for acting awards. I'm a Linney and Blanchett fan. They are always worth watching. Blanchett has won before, and Linney has been snubbed too many times so my sentimental vote goes to Laura Linney.

Best Supporting Actor
Casey Affleck - Assassination of Jesse James
Javier Bardem - No Country for Old Men
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Charlie Wilson's War
Hal Holbrook - Into the Wild
Tom Wilkinson - Michael Clayton

Prediction: Javier Bardem. This one has to be considered a lock. Bardem has dominated all other year end awards. His turn as Anton Chigurh, the unstoppable force of evil in No Country, is a stunner.

Personal pick: Javier Bardem. That's my call, friendo.

Best Supporting Actress
Cate Blanchett - I'm Not There
Ruby Dee - American Gangster
Saorise Ronan - Atonement
Amy Ryan - Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton - Michael Clayton

Prediction: Amy Ryan. This category usually ends up with a surprise win. That may not happen this year, but I think it is a three way toss-up between Ryan, Blanchett, and Swinton. The Academy loves Blanchett (see multiple nominations), but her movie was little seen. Ryan throws down a perfect Boston accent. Is Swinton, Hollywood enough? As for the others, Dee has too little screen time and Ronan is too young.

Personal pick: Cate Blanchett. She is always good, and she does Bob Dylan. But do we need to see her win for doing an impersonation again (The Aviator). She is capable of so much more.

Best Director
Paul Thomas Anderson - There Will Be Blood
Ethan & Joel Coen - No Country for Old Men
Tony Gilroy - Michael Clayton
Jason Reitman - Juno
Julian Schnabel - The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Prediction: Ethan & Joel Coen. Like Best Picture I'll be happy with a Coen Bros. win or Anderson. I've been a fan of both for years now. The Coen's won the DGA award and that is a very good predictor from year's past.

Personal pick: The Coen's and Anderson. Yes, I'm cheating and calling a tie. Anderson made the best movie of his career so far. The Coen Bros. have thrilled and entertained me for years. They should have more than a screenplay Oscar (Fargo) at this point anyway.

Best Original Screenplay
Diablo Cody - Juno
Nancy Oliver - Lars and the Real Girl
Tony Gilroy - Michael Gilroy
Brad Bird - Ratatouille
Tamara Jenkins - The Savages

Prediction: Diablo Cody. I think the former stripper will win because Hollywood likes to think it is young, hip, and makes a great story. My fear is that now we'll be getting copy cat movies that drowned us in pseudo-hip. Sure the movie has a distinctive flavor, but it is also too cute, too "wink-wink" hip, and too lightweight.

Personal pick: Brad Bird. Yes, I'll go with the animated movie. Come on, he made a rat who cooks entertaining, funny, and worthy of our compassion.

Best Adapted Screenplay
Christopher Hampton - Atonement
Sarah Polley - Away From Her
Ronald Harwood - The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Paul Thomas Anderson - There Will Be Blood
Joel & Ethan Coen - No Country for Old Men

Prediction: Joel & Ethan Coen. As mentioned before, I think this was a perfect match between author and filmmakers. The Coen Bros. have always had an great feel for dark stories. Their adaptation is very faithful, and although I love the Coen's original stuff, I'd like to see them take a crack at another McCarthy novel.

Personal pick: Joel & Ethan Coen. Yes, There Will Be Blood was my favorite film of 2007, but I've never read Oil! the story on which it was based. I have read No Country for Old Men. Loved the book, love the movie. It is one of the rare occasions where the movie is up to the challenge and matches the effectiveness of the book.

Best Animated Film
Persepolis
Ratatouille
Surf's Up

Prediction: Ratatouille. Pixar dominates this category as well it should. They always make quality product, and when Brad Bird is involved (The Incredibles) it is top notch.

Personal pick: Ratatouille. I've seen it a couple of times now. It's just a solid movie. I did enjoy Persepolis which has a great animation style, but Ratatouille really is more entertaining. Surf's Up just looked like a Disney reject, and I'm shocked it beat out The Simpson's Movie for the last nomination.

And to end with some quick predictions in some other categories:

Best Cinematography: Roger Deakins is nominated for No Country and Jesse James, but that means votes may be split so I predict Robert Elswit will win for the beautiful There Will Be Blood. I actually hope Deakins wins for one of them as he has never won, and I think he is the best cinematographer working today.

Best Film Editing: This one is made interesting by the name Roderick Jaynes (my prediction). Jaynes is not a real person. It's the pseudonym for the Coen Bros. who edit their films. With this, they are actually personally nominated for 4 Oscars giving them the chance to make some history if they win them all. Christoper Rouse is nominated for The Bourne Ultimatum, and although I like the Bourne movies, I'd rather not see it win an editing award. My pick would go to Dylan Tichneor for There Will Be Blood.

Best Original Score: Jonny Greenwood for There Will Be Blood was robbed by ridiculous Oscar rules and therefore this category does not matter. No other score this year came close to this one.

Best Original Song: Normally I wouldn't even mention this category as it has a history of craptastic nominees. However, this year the film Once is nominated with the beautiful and touching "Falling Slowly" by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. It was one of my favorite movies of the year and included several songs good enough to fit in this category. Hopefully the three Enchanted songs will cancel each other.

Best Documentary Feature: I normally see more of these, but I feel confident having only seen No End in Sight that it should take the prize. I think everyone should see this movie on how the Iraq invasion went wrong. It effects our present and future.

Best Art Direction: Sweeny Todd
Best Costume Design: Atonement
Best Makeup: La Vie en Rose
Best Visual Effects: Transformers. Giant robots fighting look COOL.
Best Sound Mixing: Transformers. Loud usually equals win.
Best Sound Editing: Transformers. For the past 40 years the sound mixing winner gets Sound Editing too. Could Transformers get 3 Oscars?

SXSW Preview, Part III

The official lineup was announced.  Thanks to The Austinist for providing us updates.

Citay (San Francisco, CA) - I was first turned on to this west coast band from today's KEXP Song of the Day podcast.  I listen to this podcast each day in hopes of finding something new and good.  I think I might have found that in Citay.  Their easy going rhythms and almost background-like vocals make the music sound almost completely instrumental and progressive, but not a "jam band" kind of way.  They are self-described as "Happy Hardcore/German Pop/Soul".  I am not sure if that is a joke, but whatever their music is, I like it.  I recommend Little Kingdom and Seasons Don't Fear the Year.  I am pretty sure that I want to see this band at SXSW.

Our Lunar Activities (Stornoway, UK) - I think I'll probably listen to any band that has some reference to the moon, sun, or animal in its name.  After listening to the UK band Our Lunar Activities, I question why I have such an odd selection process.  Their music reminds me of what bands like Snow Patrol have become.  This sort of Indie Pop is what will most likely become (or maybe already is) the next wave of popular music.  It's catchy and easy for the masses to like and adds a certain "feel good" quality.  Our Lunar Activities doesn't do anything special for me.  I'll probably skip their show.

Pterodactyl (Brooklyn, NY) - The word "Pterodactyl" is one of my favorite words.  And the band "Pterodactyl" would be one of my favorite bands if I found noise and screaming to be in any way pleasant.  

2007 Year in Review: Video Games

My game platform of choice is the XBox 360 so my favorite games of the year were all played on that system. In December I did play some games on the Nintendo DS, but none of those games could break into my top 5. All of these games were released in 2007.

5. Halo 3
I had not played any of the previous titles in this series where Master Chief battles a collection of alien races called The Covenant. Due to this, I wasn't invested in the storyline and working with the controls in the single combat mode took some time. However, the best part of the game is the versus mode. Battling a friend in the various maps is just a blast.

4. Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
I had previously played both versions of this game (new trilogy and original trilogy), but I was glad to get this new game that combined all 6 movies into one. This allowed you to play any of the characters throughout the saga. The game is great for all ages.

3. Crackdown
This game proved to be a very original third person shooter combined with a super hero game with some Grand Theft Auto action to boot. You play as a super cop that becomes more powerful as the game proceeds. Throwing cars, jumping across rooftops, and using powerful guns adds to the fun as you battle the mobsters that have overrun the city. The open feel of the game kept it fresh and fun through the whole story, plus it has a good replay value.

2. Assassin's Creed
This trailer shows some of the greatness of this game. The game has stunning graphics, a great story, and addictive game play. You play as Altair, an assassin during the Crusades, who must go on mission to find information and take out city leaders. Besides the original story, the game also features climbing features that allows your character to climb most surfaces. The ending had me eagerly awaiting a sequel.

1. Bioshock
When I first bought a 360 back in 2006 it was specifically to get Gears of War which remains one of the best games I've ever played. In 2007, the release of Bioshock caught me by surprise and blew me away. After a plane crash, you find yourself in the underwater city called Rapture. It's an idealistic, art deco city that has gone horribly wrong. You must find your way through the city and encounter many wondrous and disturbing things. The story, graphics, game play, and music are all top notch. The twist in the story leads to a great ending that had me eager to replay it and awaiting a sequel. It would be very interesting to see if a movie could be made from this game.

The other games I played this year on the XBox 360:

• MLB 2K7
• Spider-Man 3
• The Orange Box
• The Simpson's Game

The other games I played this year on the Nintendo DS:

• Brain Age 2
• Drawn to Life
• The New Super Mario Bros.

SXSW Preview, Part II

In Part II of my SXSW preview, I review three new bands.

Kitty, Daisy & Lewis (London, UK) - I had to do a double take to make sure I read the name of the city that Kitty, Daisy & Lewis are from.  I don't need to get my eyes checked, they are from London.  But judging by the sound, you'd think cross between country and big band were at least from somewhere in the states.  The first two songs (Mean Son of a Gun and Ooo Wee) sound a bit like something your mom and dad might have heard when they met at the high school dance.  I hope I can find time to check them out.

The Spinto Band (Wilmington, DE) - I seem to remember a song by this band a couple of years back called Oh Mandy.  So you can imagine my surprise when I went to their site and found that this was being dubbed as their "new single".  I remembered this song quite well, but the thing is, I didn't find the other two songs (Direct to Helmet and Mountains) on their site to sound much like Oh Mandy.  Oh Mandy sounds pop-ish, but in a cool way (and yes, there is such a thing).  The other two songs sound alternative with good rhythms.  I like it and I'd like to see these guys play during the trip.

Jandek (Houston, TX) - There are times that you listen to something so completely different that you can't determine if it is genius or crap.  That is where I am with Jandek.  Though quite minimalistic and often times lacking in an identifiable rhythm, I could see where this is the type of band that might be cool live, but their studio album leaves something to be desired.  Unfortunately, I am not inspired enough to find out.  I'll probably skip this one.

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year (SXSW Band Previews)

It's that time of year again where SXSW is nye upon us.  I am going to attempt to survey the list of rumored bands over the next month or so in search of something (hopefully many things) to get excited about.  So, I'll give as many bands as I can, in a random pecking order, at least two (maybe more) listens to and give my thoughts on them and some qualitative rating on whether or not I think they are worthy of one hour of my four days in Austin.  And in case your wondering, established bands that are playing (i.e. My Morning Jacket, Breeders, Nada Surf, etc.) will not be reviewed.  This should be exploratory.

Bear Hands (Brooklyn, NY) - A Brooklyn band at SXSW?  Wait, isn't that what SXSW is made up of these days?  I have come to believe that everyone who lives in the borough of Brooklyn is in a band.  After two listens of their three songs on myspace, they remind me a bit of Modest Mouse, particularly the song Bad Blood.  I like the guitar and rhythm in Golden.  Long Lean Queen might be a little too "poppy" for my tastes, but tolerable because everything I heard is promising.  I think I might take the opportunity to check them out should the schedule allow.

Birdmonster (San Francisco, CA) - I do make it a point to give any band with a silly name a listen. Birdmonster might make me regret this.  The song Ice Age starts off decently, but then erupts into thrashing guitar chaos which I find annoying.  Cause You Can sounds like cheesy rock trying too hard to be indie.  The only song I found tolerable was No Midnight.  Chances are I won't check them out unless they are playing ahead of someone I really want to see and I have to establish position.

Plants & Animals (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) - The first thing I learned about this band when I clicked on their website was that they have a sense of humor about the internet.  That is a great start in my opinion.  The trio are self-described as "Indie/Rock/Healing and Easylistening".  I found the two songs on myspace Lola Who and Faerie Dance to be a nice rhythmic mix of sounds and quite full for only three people creating music.  I like the changes in sound that complement each other throughout the songs that make each a suite-like song.  I can't wait to hear more by this band.  I am definitely going to see Plants & Animals.

Big McLargeHuge

And now for something completely different ...

From the great minds of Mystery Science Theater 3000.

2007 Year in Review: Books

This post will be slightly different in terms of my 2007 review. With books I'm usually well behind in reading recent releases so this list is based just on the books I read in 2007.

5. Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk
Every since the movie version of Fight Club, I've worked my way through reading Palaniuk's novels. I've enjoyed each one as they provide a twisted view of the world using satire and shocking characters. This novel focuses on a reporter that discovers a culling song that kills once read aloud. He goes on a journey to destroy all copies, but still has struggles with the power of death at his fingertips.

4. The Memory of Running by Ron McLarty
This novel fits right in with A Confederacy of Dunces. In this tale by McLarty, a loser named Smithy Ide makes a cross country journey by bicycle to identify his sister's body in L.A. It is a journey of discovery for the character and a look at America, the good and the bad.

3. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
This was my big surprise of the year. The description sounded like a cheesy romantic novel, but within a few chapters I realized this was much more. The characters and story quickly captured me. It combines a tragic romance with a sci-fi element that should easily fascinate more than the romance crowd. It will be interesting to see how Hollywood adapts it when the movie is released later this year. Thanks to D for this one.

2. I Am Legend by Richard Matheson
Forget the Will Smith movie and two previous adaptations (The Last Man on Earth, The Omega Man), read the novel for the real experience. Each adaption has some good moments, but they all miss the overall feel and horror of Matheson's novel. One last human dealing with his solitary state while living with the deadly attacks of world that has succumbed to a mystery change creates a haunting and unforgettable novel.

1. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah
I reviewed this autobiography in 2007. It is the tragic and touching story of a boy who survived being recruited as a soldier in the Sierra Leone civil war. It is a sad story of the world we live in, but shows the amazing ability for human survival and individual betterment.

The other books I read in 2007:

• An Unquiet Mind by Kay Redfield Jamison
• Cuba Libre by Elmore Leonard
• The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
• I Love You, Beth Cooper by Larry Doyle
• King Dork by Frank Portman
• Perfect From Now On by John Sellers
• Perfume by Patrick Suskind
• Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klosterman
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

2007 Year in Review: Television

I'm not a big fan of regular TV. I have a couple of shows that I make sure to catch weekly, ya know when there's not a writer's strike. I don't like reality shows, lawyer shows, doctor shows, cop shows so you can forget seeing American Law & Order's CSI ER Idol, or whatever on my year end list. So here are my top 5 favorite TV shows of 2007.

5. Rescue Me (FX)
One of the few shows that gives you something entertaining to watch during the summer. This year marked the fourth season of Denis Leary's show focusing on the professional and personal lives of a group of NY firefighters. Leary continues to shine on this show as one of the most real and flawed characters on TV. If you haven't seen it, I recommend picking up the season sets on DVD.

4. The Office (NBC)
The U.S. version of Ricky Gervais's classic British comedy is still one of the funniest shows on TV. Season 3 ended strong back in the spring of 2007. However, season 4 started out a little rough when the network decided to stretch the episodes into an hour. The show works perfect in a 30-minute format. The "Branch Wars" episode marked the high point for me when Karen tried to steal Stanley from the Scranton office. Michael's plan for revenge on the other branch office goes horribly and hilariously wrong.

3. Reaper (CW)
Easily the best new show of the fall season for me. When Sam Oliver (Bret Harrison) turns 21 he discovers that his parents sold his soul to the devil. The devil (Ray Wise) comes to visit and begins to employ Sam as his bounty hunter to hunt down souls that have escaped from hell. Sam is joined by two of his buddies, Sock (Taylor Labine) and Ben(Ricky Gonzalez). The show provides plenty of laughs as Sam deals with his commitment to the devil. Ray Wise is perfect as the devil giving him a sly personality with that hidden depth of evil. The CW is still showing reruns of this show on Tuesday nights. Definitely worth your time.

2. Heroes (NBC)
This would have been my favorite show of 2007, but the second season started off really slow. Hiro's (Masi Oka) time travels lasted too long, the Hispanic wonder twins were just awful, and Claire's (Hayden Panetierre) horribly misguided romance with loser flyboy West. The end of season one last spring elevated this show to my favorite show at the time, but the fall episodes did try my patience at times. Luckily creator Tim Kring realized season two was struggling and made changes. The final episodes in the fall put the show back in strong standing for me.

1. How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
This was the one show in 2007 that I watched every week whether it was a rerun or not. I first watched the show last spring with their Super Bowl episode where the group pledged not to watch the game until the next day when they can all watch it together. I was hooked on this clever show about Ted (Josh Radnor) who in the future is recounting to his kids the story of how he met their mother. Ted's friends are a fun bunch of characters especially Barney played by Neil Patrick Harris. I've since gone on to buy seasons one and two on DVD.

Some honorable mentions go to Gilmore Girls on its final season, The Simpsons for making me laugh on the small and big screen, Weeds for Mary-Louise Parker, and G4's Attack of the Show for covering all the things I need to know every weekday.

Next time, more favorites from 2007.

Year in Review - 2007

I've been thinking about 2007 and wanted to post some thoughts about some of my favorites things over the course of the year. I'm going to break this up into a few segments to cover books, comics, TV, music, movies, and video games.

Please check back over the next few days to see my thoughts on the year that was in entertainment.

Twin Cinema

It's rare that I watch one movie a month, but I was able to catch two movies over the weekend.  

The first was on Friday night.  I went to the Angelika Film Center in Plano to see The Kite Runner.  My friend K let me borrow the book months ago and I finally finished reading it this past week so that we could see the movie.  I really enjoyed reading the book by Khaled Hosseini and found his story captivating.  I thought the movie was a rather well done adaptation of the book.  The biggest change I noticed was that, while the book is linear in time, the movie is not.  It makes sense to me that director Marc Forster created it this way.  The movie begins by depicting the main character, Amir, as an adult receiving a phone call to return to Afghanistan.  Thoughout his journey there and back, the movie explains the events of his childhood that led to his return.  Four Stars.

The second was on Saturday night at the Angelika Film Center in Dallas to see The Savages.  Thanks to some nice gift certificates by my friend M, my friend J and I were able to enjoy the movie.  The film illustrates the hopeful Wendy (Laura Linney) and the cynical Jon (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) as brother and sister struggling to find the best situation for their elderly and estranged father who has recently been diagnosed with dimentia.  I was captured by the difficult struggle that both of them went through to provide their father with the best situation that they could find for him in the remaining days of his life, despite his lack of concern for them during his life.  Three Stars.

Best In Show

Each and every year, I make an effort to see about as many shows as I can. Last year was no exception.

I attended four music festivals (SXSW, Sasquatch, Lollapalooza, and Austin City Limits) and various other shows in various other cities. By far, SXSW was the best of the festivals. But it isn't really fair to put that in the same category as the other festivals. I really enjoyed the music and scenery at Sasquatch. The Arcade Fire, Spoon, Black Angels, Neko Case, The Long Winters, Ghostland Observatory, and Interpol along with the beautiful landscape at the Gorge certainly made a trip to central Washington state worth the effort. I also enjoyed Austin City Limits despite The White Stripes backing out. Wilco, The Arcade Fire, and Decemberists took the festival to a new ground. I found it refreshing to discover such wonderfully talented acts during the day times as The Heartless Bastards, Broken West, Fionn Regan, and St. Vincent. But Lollapalooza was, as a whole, the best of the big music festivals of 2007. The first night, I really enjoyed dancing wildly to the music of Daft Punk. The second night, Interpol reminded me again why they are truly one of the best acts in music today. And the third night, hearing Pearl Jam brought me back to my adolescent days of listening to music. There were wonderful acts thought each of the days. I found myself rushing from stage to stage to catch my favorite acts.

But my second trip to SXSW was pretty much was it is always about: discovering new artists. I remember leaving having purchased no fewer than a dozen CDs of artists that I had learned about there. Menomena was probably the most notable as I caught them three times during the week. Others that picked up that week included The Postmarks, Black Angels, Dirty On Purpose, Shearwater, and Loney, Dear. I am attending once again this year and am excited about what is in store.

I started the year by seeing a Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) solo show at the Granada (Dallas, TX). In retrospect, this was probably the show I enjoyed most throughout the year. While in New York City, I caught such great acts as Jesse Sykes and the Sweethereafter, Sparklehorse, Ben Kweller, Shearwater, Loney, Dear, and Low were amongst the best I caught at Webster Hall and Bowery Ballroom. And a Central Park show by the Decemberists and Grizzly Bear was unbelievably great.

I drove to Austin, TX to catch Page France and Bishop Allen. I then caught them the next night in Denton, TX. There was that span during the last two weeks of April and first two weeks of May where it felt like I was at the Granada weekly. I caught Tapes N Tapes for the first time ever, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, and the greatness of Blonde Redhead. It was also great to catch The Postmarks in another small venue and get to spend time talking to the band after the show. Modest Mouse with Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr was another outstanding show that I caught Nokia in Grand Prarie, TX. One of the best music nights of the year was going up to Hailey's in Denton to see The Wrens and getting to get up on stage with the band. I got to check out the new House of Blues in Dallas, TX twice seeing legendary bands Meat Puppets and Sonic Youth and then later The New Pornographers and Spoon. I capped off the year by catching the Polyphonic Spree Christmas Show at Lakewood Theatre in Dallas. It was outstanding to hear Tim and the rest of the band sing Christmas songs and get to sing along with them.

I was also so fortunate to catch the This American Life tour at the Lincoln Center in New York City to promote the TV show version of itself. I really enjoyed being in the same room as many of the contributors to the show such as Jonathan Goldstein and Sarah Vowell. But seeing show host Ira Glass was the real treat as I have always admired his vision for the show. Also, Mates of State were the music guest and they were great as always.

So 2007 was a great year for live music. I'll be writing about some of my favorite CD releases of the year next week. Stay tuned.

Return to the Sea

Dearest Blog Readers,

It is with great pleasure that I announce my return to the blogging world. Yep, it's new year's. And it is about that time that I make promises like this that are sure to be broken. So, the next few entries will focus on what I liked about last year (albums, shows, travels, etc.) and then what I am excited about for this year (festivals, upcoming releases, etc.).

Sincerely,
J