Music, er...Tuesday?

Normally I save stuff like this for a Friday, but I just can't wait. This is spectacular. Amazing.

Music Friday!

This my first mobile blog! I am typing this from my iPhone, so please forgive my brevity and misspellings! Since I am unable to post a video, today's installment of MF is merely a recommendation. I recently fell in love with a song and have been listening to it on repeat. It is Star Mile by Joshua Radin. I can't tell you how beautiful the melody is, there are no words. Go find it. Buy it. Steal it. Listen to a free clip, just find it. You will not be sorry! Love and bear hugs. -Mandy

Music Friday, Alive and Kicking!

Finally, finally, finally...back to the grind. Last night on Sycamore Church Road I had to brake hard to avoid smashing into an owl sitting in the middle of the pavement. In honor of that and in remembrance of this cool video, please enjoy MAYBE SPARROW by Neko Case!

Tori Amos

Hello! Pardon my absence. When I realized that I broke my goal of posting every day, I got depressed and blew it off. But I'm back, trying. I realized last night that I'm a very different person than who I used to be. I miss my old self. I miss the me who listened to Tori Amos obsessively--I think some of her magic leaked into me and made me more creative, whimsical and intuitive. I think I convinced myself that I had outgrown the obsession, that it was weird and strange to be that passionate about a single musician. Also, I haven't really connected to her last three or four albums (I bought them the week they were released, don't get me wrong, but then I failed to listen to them enough to actually form a relationship with the music). Today, I'm giving myself the goal/challenge/task to finally get caught up, to listen to all the albums I've missed since I stopped being me. Maybe I'll find myself in there somewhere. I'll keep you posted.

Honey, I Was Just a Kid...

Bubblegum on my shoe.

Up late listening to Ryan Adams, pouting because I have gorgeous VIP 7th row tickets to his show in St. Louis tomorrow and am not going. I couldn't even sell the tickets, so they are simply going to waste. Money is tight and I can't afford to drive to St. Louis and back right now, so I figure it's better to waste $70 than spend cash I don't have on gas and meals.

Damn, Sam.

It's probably all for the best because Ryan Adams makes me weepy and nostalgic for people who don't exist anymore. His music is so sad. I should probably stop listening, but I'm a glutton for punishment and harmonicas.

On his album HEARTBREAKER, there are four consecutive songs that might be my favorite four consecutive songs on any album ever.

They are:
Track7--Call Me On Your Way Back Home
Track8--Damn, Sam (I Love A Woman That Rains)
Track9--Come Pick Me Up
Track10--To Be The One

Now I sort of want to drink copious amounts of wine and pass out with headphones on. This is generally not a good idea, but in the spirit of pouting, brooding and remarkably quiet tantrums, I may indulge.

I think I'm going to listen to all the albums in chronological order. Just the full-lengths. Not including the Whiskeytown stuff, EPs or B-sides. Just Heartbreaker, Gold, Demolition, Rock & Roll, Love Is Hell, Cold Roses, Jacksonville City Nights, 29 and Easy Tiger. But that's like, nine hours of listening, so perhaps I will start tonight and continue it tomorrow during the day. I mean, it's not like I'd say up all night obsessing if I let myself. Not at all. Because that's totally crazy. Yeah. Crazy. Really crazy. Don't do that.

Another New Song

Now I can play 'Midnight Radio' from Hedwig and the Angry Inch!
It's structured Am F C G7 Am, then F C over and over, then F Am Dm G F C for the chorus. There's a funny E thrown in at the end of the last chorus before a funny Fm C bit at the end which resolves like a dream. I can only get 3 strings in the Fm, but it sounds OK anyway. My fingers are sore. Here's a vid of the song (the last scene of the movie--WARNING, there's a bit of nudity at the end that only makes sense if you know the story).

Muuuuuuusic!

Learned how to play a new song on the guitar tonite. It's the first track of the new Conor Oberst record. It's called Cape Canaveral, and it's super easy, G Am Em C D - THAT'S IT. I always fall in love with the simplest songs. Here's a vid of him doing it live in Vancouver. I can't do the picking, but it sounds ok anyway. Now I just need to memorize all those wacky lyrics.

Music Friday!

This edition of MF is a tribute to the lovely and talented Regina Spektor. Enjoy!

Music Friday--Choral Edition!

Ok, so the choral nerd in me is totally hot for Josh Groban. Props for his version of 'On Eagle's Wings' the most familiar and repellent Catholic Hymn of all time. It gets stuck in your head for weeks and you find yourself singing it in the shower like a total dork. I love his voice, though, so in asking forgiveness for my this befouling of churchly music, I shall forgive his cover. Below is a recording of the song Lullaby he did with Ladysmith Black Mambazo. I'm not sure who put all the photos of Africa together, but I found it whilst idling on YouTube and thought I would post as a resurgent edition of Music Friday! Enjoy.

now that i have all this time on my hands...

So, I got rid of my TV. I mean, it's still there, but when you turn it on, nothing happens. I can still watch DVDs, but I have liberated myself from reality shows, cable news nightmares and those godforsaken advertisements. It's only been a couple days, but I feel so much better already. I didn't really realize how infrequently I create a quiet space for myself. There is always some noise -- but now that the TV is off, I am enjoying much more silence than I did before. And while things are growing quieter (is that a word?) they are by no means completely silent. I am listening to a lot more music, and of course, making lists. Because the Mandy that everyone knows and loves would be up shit-creek without her lists. Also, as most of you know, my tastes change with the weather, so currently, here's the musical spectrum. I may look back on July of 2008 one day and say to myself, "What the hell was I thinking?" but for now, these are my faves (it's a long list, but my 'desert island' picks are at the top).

JULY 2008
Emjay’s Musical State of the Union

TOP FIVE ARTISTS (desert island):
Ryan Adams
Van Morrison
Stevie Wonder
The Beatles
Tori Amos

TOP FIVE ALBUMS (desert island):
Heartbreaker (2000) Ryan Adams
Astral Weeks (1968) Van Morrison
Stevie Wonder (1976) Songs in the Key of Life
The Beatles (1968) White Album
Tori Amos (1996) Boys for Pele

OTHER FAVORITE ARTISTS/GROUPS INCLUDE (in alphabetical order):
Aimee Mann
Ani DiFranco
Aqualung
Arcade Fire
Band of Horses
The Beach Boys
Beck
Ben Folds
Billy Joel
Bjork
BRMC
Bob Dylan
Bright Eyes
Bruce Springsteen
Calexico
Cat Power
The Clash
Coldplay
Colin Hay
Cursive
Damien Rice
DMB
David Bowie
David Gray
Death Cab for Cutie
Elliott Smith
Elvis Costello
Emmylou Harris
The Faint
Feist
Gorillaz
Guster
Howie Day
Imogen Heap
Indigo Girls
Iron & Wine
It’s Over!
James Taylor
Jane’s Addiction
Jay Clifford
Jeff Buckley
Jump, Little Children
Jeremy Enigk
Jimmy Eat World
Joanna Newsome
Joe Cocker
Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros
John Denver
John Mayer
John Vanderslice
Joni Mitchell
Jurassic 5
The Killers
Lauryn Hill
Le Tigre
Liam Finn
Live
The Long Winters
Manic Street Preachers
Marvelous 3
MC5
MGMT
M.I.A.
Modest Mouse
The Mooney Suzuki
Mountain Goats
Nat King Cole
Neko Case
New Pornographers
Nick Drake
Nikka Costa
Nina Nastasia
Nine Inch Nails
Nirvana
Oasis
Pavement
Pearl Jam
People in Planes
Pete Yorn
Pink Floyd
Pixies
PJ Harvey
The Police
Portishead
Radiohead
Rage Against the Machine
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Regina Spektor
REM
Rod Stewart
The Rolling Stones
The Roots
Rufus Wainwright
The Shins
Simon & Garfunkel
Sleater-Kinney
Sondre Lerche
Spoon
Sting
The Strokes
Sublime
Sufjan Stevens
Sunny Day Real Estate
Tom Petty
Tom Waits
Tracy Bonham
Travis
U2
Velvet Underground
Weezer
The White Stripes
Wilco
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yo La Tengo

Music Friday! Guilty Pleasure Edition...

Ok, so it's sort of a guilty pleasure, because American Idol is so cheesy, but I really like Carrie Underwood and her version of this George Michael song, PRAYING FOR TIME. Check it out!

Music Friday--Bleeding Heart Liberal Edition!

So, my friend Mary posted this on her MySpace page, and I loved it so much that I wanted to share it with anyone who actually reads this thing. It's powerful and inspiring and I can't wait for November. Enjoy!



"It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation. Yes we can. It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom. Yes we can. It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness. Yes we can. It was the call of workers who organized; women who reached for the ballots; a President who chose the moon as our new frontier; and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the Promised Land. Yes we can to justice and equality. Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity. Yes we can heal this nation. Yes we can repair this world. Yes we can. We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change. We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics...they will only grow louder and more dissonant. We've been asked to pause for a reality check. We've been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope. But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope. Now the hopes of the little girl who goes to a crumbling school in Dillon are the same as the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of LA; we will remember that there is something happening in America; that we are not as divided as our politics suggest; that we are one people; we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter in the American story with three words that will ring from coast to coast; from sea to shining sea -- Yes. We. Can."

Rock Music, Pizza, Flood Gates and Pirate Golf

So, I had the best weekend ever! My musician friends Bill, Jamie, Ryan and Glenn (KC band It's Over) came down to play a show in Springfield on Friday night. All the local openers cancelled on them, so there wasn't much of an audience. We spent 30 minutes before the show busking on the sidewalk trying to drum up interest for the show. I got to play the tambourine and sing along, I felt very cool. Unfortunately, the busking didn't have a real effect on drawing people in, so when they started the show, they basically played to an empty room.

I, however, danced like a fool during the show, even though there were only like, 15 people in the whole venue (including staff). Afterward, we drove down to Branson and the boys crashed with me. They met Lola and fell in love, of course. It was so fun to have musicians in the house, Jamie and Ryan immediately took my guitars and started practicing some new material. It was heaven.

In the morning, Jamie and I were the first to wake up. We spent an hour or so drinking coffee and digging into a really philosophical conversation--then decided to talk a walk through the neighborhood with Lola and talk some more. Jamie and I are just sort of on the same page, you know? We think about things in the same way, and somehow it just puts me at ease. There's something very comforting about finding people who see the world in the same way you do.

We all went to eat at Luigi's and they got to meet CJ, Bailey and Michelle. They loved the food and gave CJ one of the new CDs as a thank you. We left the restaurant and went down to Table Rock Dam and Powerhouse, where the flood gates were open for the first time in like, 10 years! It was amazing to see. We spent an hour or so fooling around, smashing boulders, skipping stones and taking ridiculous photos. After that we went to play miniature golf at Pirate Adventure, it was hilarious and more challenging than we anticipated. We said our goodbyes and they left for Little Rock around 7pm. It was so fun to spend the whole day with them! I need to book them some shows in Branson so they can come down to visit again! Here are some photos from Saturday...

Music Friday - March 14, 2008

Hello!

I am so excited about this installment of MUSIC FRIDAY! Below is a clip from my favorite KC band, IT'S OVER! They are such great guys and their music is unbelievably fun. It's influenced heavily by 50s and 60s dance music, with a modern edge. This video shows them performing their song "Hallelujah" live at The Outland in Springfield, MO last year.

FYI, they're playing at The Outland again, and very soon! Next friday, 3/21, be there or be square :) I'm pretty sure they're going to crash with me Friday night before driving down to Little Rock on Saturday. How cool am I? Very. The prospect of having some of my favorite musicians stay in my home is very exciting. I must tell Lola to be on her best behavior :)

They just finished recording their first full-length album, THAT GIRL, and I highly recommend it. You can purchase this fine record at Streetside Records in Kansas City, at one of their shows or by contacting the band. Tour and contact information is located on The Official IT'S OVER MySpace Page!

ENJOY THE CLIP!!!

Nina Nastasia

So, the concert on Friday was great, but they weren't serving alcohol.  The venue is an art gallery, so they don't have a full bar anyway, but sometimes they'll bring in wine or beer to sell.  Not Friday.  Boo, hiss!  Two local bands opened up.  The first one was called The North Decade, pretty good.  Flavored guitars and good compositions, but lacking a real presence.  The second band was pretty/ugly.  They were better than I expected, especially considering that they only play like, two or three times a year.  Great vocals, layered and sweet, hairy boys and mousy girls.  Nina came on like an easy dream.  A chair, a mic, her Taylor guitar and a table with some candles on it.  There were probably 60-75 people in the audience, small, quiet and sober.  She was phenomenal.  So easy and pure.  My favorite song (aside from Stormy Weather) was That's All There Is -- I wish I could find a clip of it online, but for now, here's the lyrics.  So great: 

My dreams have come and gone 
The world is spinning faster each day 
And I am not the one 
My future promised I'd be 
I'm not hiding anything 
I'm not trying to fool you at all 
You keep expecting everything 
We're not like our pictures on the wall 
There's nothing wrong with us 
We still belong 

But that's all there is 
So stop all your dreaming 
It makes me so sad 
Let's keep what we had 

Sunday's never last 
It seems like it's the only time you'll sleep 
And you can't help looking back 
At everything you promised we would see 
You go out almost every night 
Pretending you're like everyone we meet 
All I ever want is you 
All I ever want for you to see 
There's nothing wrong with us 
We still belong 

But that's all there is 
So stop all your dreaming 
It makes me so sad 
Let's keep what we had 

'Cause that's all there is 
So stop all your dreaming 
It makes me so sad 
Let us keep what we had

She commented on how quiet it was, and asked if she was the only one who was drinking.  Someone shouted, "Yes, unfortunately," because the gallery didn't have anything but coffee.  So she got up, went backstage, got a bottle of Jameson, filled her cup and sent it around for everyone to share.  I poured a shot in my coffee and felt at one with the universe.  It goes on my permanent list of memorable concert moments.

I went up to meet her after the show, and told her that this was the first concert I'd been to in a long time that I didn't have to review.  I could just relax and listen and not have to take notes.  I bought her most recent album and had her sign it.  She wrote: "Mandy--Thank you for coming to the show.  I'm glad you didn't have to worry about work."  Good times.

Music Friday...STOLEN!

So, to rip off my friend Jonathan and his Forgotten Beatitudes blog, it's MUSIC FRIDAY!  I'm not really stealing it, because I don't think it'll become a REGULAR thing.  Everyone who knows me knows I can't keep up with anything consistently.  I have the attention span of a gerbil.  Regardless, it is with much love, respect and admiration that I pocketed this idea from him.  Please do me a favor and visit his blog, he's a genius wordsmith and funny as hell.  Plus, it's LENT, so some beatitudes just might do you good. BACK TO THE MUSIC!  Ok, so there's a singer/songwriter named Nina Nastasia performing in Springfield tonight.  I downloaded some of her songs, and DAAAAAMN.  Good stuff.  I can't wait.  I'm trying to convince my nephew Bryce to come with me, but it's not really his kind of music.  Take a look at her performing 'Stormy Weather' here: