Earnestly Eclectic

Live in 2010: Part 4

2010-12-15T22:29:00.000-08:00

I return at last to complete my Live in 2010 series with what was my most highly anticipated live event of the year. In October, I saw Sufjan Stevens play the legendary Wiltern in Los Angeles in support of his new album, The Age of Adz.

I have to admit, I was skeptical about this new album at first. I had heard the rumors all year: that Sufjan was sick of the banjo, that he was going in a new direction with his sound, that the whole Fifty States project was a joke, and that the album as an art form is dead. I expected that any new music by Sufjan would be too experimental for me.

When I finally heard The Age of Adz, it was more accessible than I expected. Sure, it sounded different Seven Swans, Michigan and Illinois, albums that seem likely to maintain their status as a gateway to Sufjan fandom. But it was still distinctly Sufjan. The instrumentation may have changed, but the chanting, layered orchestration, switching time signatures, and earnest lyrics remained.

Also gone, obviously, is the minutiae-obsessed musical road trip through a state. Instead, this album draws inspiration from the art of the apocalyptic artist, Royal Robertson. With this as his inspiration, Sufjan takes the listeners on what feels like a cosmic journey into a tortured psyche.

This feeling was only enhanced during the experience of the live show, which Sufjan described as a "sonic voyage into the intergalactic psychobabble of my brain." Throughout the performance, psychedelic videos and lasers played images reminiscent of the artwork of Royal Robertson. I often attend concerts with a distracted mind. I am curious about the instruments used and the dynamic of the performers. I like to see how the musicians handle their instruments, and I often forget to simply listen to the music. However, between the imagery and the soundscape, I couldn't help but let go and follow Sufjan down the rabbit hole.

Sufjan played mostly songs from his new album and a few from the All Delighted People EP. I was glad to hear "The Age of Adz", and I thought "Vesuvius" was greatly improved by the live performance. I wish he would have played "All For Myself", but really I can't complain because instead we were given an awesome performance of the twenty-five minute opus, "Impossible Soul." It was a fantastic show--I hope I don't have to wait another five years before I get the opportunity to see Sufjan play live again....

Here is the set list:

Seven Swans

Too Much

The Age of Adz

Heirloom

I Walked

Futile Devices

Vesuvius

Now That I'm Older

Get Real Get Right

Enchanting Ghost

Impossible Soul

Chicago

Encore:

Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois

Casimir Pulaski Day

The Dress Looks Nice On You

John Wayne Gacy, Jr

Live in 2010: Part 3

2010-11-07T20:31:00.000-08:00

I'm back with two more live events from this past year to recap. For this one, I am moving away from music.

Remember in January when Conan O'Brien ousted off as host of The Tonight Show? The ugliness is now behind him and the first episode of his new show airs on TBS today (Monday, November 8th)! During his time off from television, Conan toured the country performing in the aptly named "Legally Prohibited from Being Funny On Television Tour", and I was able to go to the San Jose show.

I have been a fan of Conan for a long time, so I was so glad to see him live in person. I was only in New York once during the days of Late Night, and it just so happened to be during a the writers' strike in 2007 so there weren't any tapings. And when he moved out to L.A. for the Tonight Show, he was cancelled before I even got a chance to go.

The "Prohibited" tour was not a replication of The Tonight Show or Late Night. There were no special celebrity guests when I went (although I heard other cities had some celebs dropping in). Instead, it was all about Conan.

The show started with a video of Conan wallowing in misery after being cancelled, and then training to get in shape for the tour. After that it was live, with old pal Andy Richter again playing co-host. Conan's usual band was there (minus Max Weinberg) performing songs, and Conan performed with them for several numbers. I always knew Conan was an avid music fan, and I knew he played guitar. He performed and sang a few of songs throughout the night, and to me it seemed like that was the most fun part for him. It is something he seldom got to do on his tv shows, but he obviously loves to rock out. In between the songs Conan made light of his leaving NBC, told inside jokes for the San Jose office, and bantered with Andy.

I am glad Conan will be back on television again--I have missed getting my regular doses of humor which a mixture of silliness, self-deprecation, awkwardness and nerdy intelligence.

My friends and readers probably know that I am a huge fan of public radio (see previous posts), so you can imagine how eager I was to go to an event featuring Ira Glass of This American Life!

I really had no idea what to expect from the night. On This American Life, Ira is heard interviewing people and getting them to share their own stories. What would it be like to hear him--and see him--talking about himself?

Ira clearly anticipated this question, because the evening began as the lights went out and the audience was plunged into complete darkness. It was then that we first heard his voice--that oh-so-familiar, disembodied voice that often speaks in my head via headphones at work. It was far less jarring to start this way than if he just walked out on stage and started talking.

The night consisted of Ira telling stories that explained how he originally conceived This American Life, the elements of a good radio interview, and his belief in storytelling. He broke up his own chatting with audio clips from TAL as examples of what he was talking about. It was fascinating for a radio nerd like me. I was scribbling notes down in anticipation of one day getting a story on TAL or maybe even producing some of my own and posting them here.... I won't ramble on about everything he said, but here are a few things that stuck out:

According to Ira, one of the things that makes a story successful for the show is the element of discovery that occurs along the way. This is perhaps different than other news-style programs in which the interviewer and narrators take an authoritative position as they set out to educate and inform the audience on a particular topic. Instead, on TAL they allow you to hear how the interviewer learns, questions and is often surprised by what they hear during the course of the story. This is the key to good storytelling: a feeling of forward motion. To support his point, Ira mentioned the tales told by Scheherazade in "One Thousand and One Nights". Scheherazade saves herself by keeping the murderous king interested in a tale that keeps moving forward, hanging on cliff-hanger after cliff-hanger, night after night.

There was a time for questions from the audience at the end. When asked about what is ahead for show, his response was, "I don't have any other skills,"assuring us that there no plans for the show to end any time soon. I actually love that response from Ira. To hear him talk about creating This American Life, you realize that he was not setting out do anything other than tell stories in a way that he believed was the most entertaining and illuminating. It worked out rather well as we know--but I love stories about people who essentially invent their own careers by following their own passions. I imagine that such people are fulfilled in some way, whether they have measurable success or not, just from doing what they do.

Hey readers, think about leaving a comment, and don't forget to check back for the Part 4!

Live in 2010: Part 2

2010-11-01T23:42:00.000-07:00

I try to make it to the Hollywood Bowl at least once a year for a show. This year, I went twice!

The Hollywood Bowl is a huge venue, and typically I prefer a smaller setting where I can at least see the performer's faces. They try to make up for it there by using video screens which helps a bit. But what I love about the Hollywood Bowl is sitting in the open air, having a picnic dinner with friends, and people watching. I also love that feeling of nostalgia I get at the Bowl. The first time I saw the place was in the movie Anchors Aweigh. In one scene, Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra sneaked into the Bowl and run all the way down to the stage. The bigness of it on the screen was unbelievable to me, and it still catches me by surprise.

In May, I went with some friends to see Flight of the Conchords play at the Bowl. I was so excited to see them live. I fell in love with these guys while living in New Zealand a few years ago, and listening to them brings up a lot of good memories from that period in my life.

Eugene Mirman, Arj Barker and Kristen Schaal, co-stars from the Flight of the Conchords television show, opened up the night each doing their own stand-up. Kristen was especially hilarious, and I loved her bit about her Law and Order:SVU "audition". Look it up on Youtube when you have a chance!

Bret and Jemaine were funny and charming, of course, playing up the awkward naivete that is their signature. They are as funny live as on the show, and their acoustic versions of songs are perhaps better than the album. Here's the set list from that night:

The Humans Are Dead

The Most Beautiful Girl in the Room

Hurt Feelings

If You're Into It

Albee the Racist Dragon

Jenny

Korean Karaoke

To Woo A Lady

You Don't Love Me Anymore

Think About It

Business Time

Epileptic Dog

Intercity Life

I'm Not Crying

Oh My God--She's So Hot

Back On The Road

Demon Woman

Too Many Dicks on the Dance Floor

Rock the Party

Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros

Sugarlumps

*even typing up these titles makes me chuckle

Moving to a completely different genre, my second show at the Bowl was in August to see Harry Connick Jr. and his band perform with members of the L.A. Philharmonic Orchestra. I have been a fan of Harry Connick Jr. since high school and it was my first time seeing him live. I knew I was in for a treat when the saxophonist opened the night with a swingin' version of The Star Spangled Banner.

I knew Harry was some sort of piano prodigy, but after seeing him in person, improvising and riffing with his band, I really appreciate what that means. They had cameras trained on his fingers so the crowd could watch his performance on the screens. I spent the whole night in awe of his abilities. Harry is obviously talented musician, but he is also a showman--a complete ham! He was telling funny anecdotes, dancing around the stage, making fun of himself and his band. You could tell he was just enjoying every moment.

I lost my notes from that night, so no set list for this one, but come back again for Part 3 and 4 of Live in 2010!

Live in 2010: Part 1

2010-11-01T20:46:00.000-07:00

I'm rounding up all the live events I saw this year! I was able to check out an eclectic mix of venues and performers while having a few adventures along the way.

In May, I was desperately trying to get tickets to see Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes at UCLA on May 20th, but it was sold out. I had heard so many great things about their live shows. I was bummed to miss them, but then I found out that the band would be playing a free show on May 15th at UC Santa Barbara's annual Extravaganza, a free outdoor music festival.

So, I made the long journey from Orange County up to Santa Barbara. I battled traffic the whole way there and I was stressing about missing the show. When I arrived, I had to stand in a line two blocks long just to get into the stadium where the festival was being held. Before I got to the front of the line I heard a familiar sound drifting over the heads of the crowd: the opening percussion of "40 Day Dream".

Now I was frantic. I had driven for three hours and was about to miss the show. Luckily, the festival staff decided that the line was an unnecessary formality, so we all trampled our way into the stadium. I wedged myself into the sweaty crowd and got as close to the front as possible. They played "Janglin", "Carries On" and "Home"--and then they were done. They were great, but the set was so incredibly short that I felt a bit demoralized. I wandered around the stadium in a bit of a daze trying to decide if I should stay for Chromeo, or go home. In the end, I bought an Edward Sharpe sticker and left to explore Santa Barbara for the rest of the afternoon.

I began the long ride home down the 101 in the early evening. As I was passing a VW in the left lane, I noticed that the girl in the backseat had on a hat very similar to the one Jade of Edward Sharpe had been wearing on stage... I looked again. It was Jade! And she was with Nico and Nora from the band too! I honked my horn and held up my newly-purchased sticker, and they waved back. I laughed about it on the way home feeling that the coincidence made the rest of the day's craziness worth it.

A few days later, a surprise: my craigslist plea was answered and I had a ticket to the show at UCLA! My seat turned out to be near the front at Royce Hall, and I was so excited to see a full set this time. A solid local band named Haim opened the show, followed by Francis and the Lights whose performance resulted in head-scratching confusion (and later, mockery).

But it was all about Edward Sharpe for me. I was so happy to enjoy a full set this time. The audience was full of fans who were singing along, and everyone was on their feet for the entire set. I love watching Jade and Alex sing to each as if they were the only two people in the room. If you've only heard their album, Up From Below, you have had a small taste of the infectious exuberance that Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros bring to their songs. I am still blown away that I saw them twice in one week!

Here's their set list from the UCLA show:

Janglin'

Up From Below

40 Day Dream

Carries On

Come In Please

unidentified cover song (sorry!)

Black Water

Jade

Home

Om Nashi Mi

Check in again soon for Live in 2010: Part 2!!

And to Jade, Nico and Nora, it was great to run into you!

More Stuff I Made Myself

2010-10-08T19:54:00.000-07:00

I am back with some of my own art! I hope you enjoy it!

One of my favorite things to do is painting on vinyl records. It combines my love of music and my painting hobby.

I put teeth hooks on the back so they can be hung on the wall.

This one is inspired by the phrase that Woody Guthrie had scrawled on his guitar.

Here is the original inspiration:

Hopefully more coming soon!

Made It Myself

2010-10-01T19:56:00.000-07:00

A few years ago I began experimenting with stitching on painted canvases. Below you can see my most recent attempt at this style.

I call it Pirate's Gospel. The actual image is based off of artwork from the Alela Diane album of the same name. Instead of ink, I created the lines by stitching directly into the painted canvas.

I hope you like it! Make sure you check out Alela Diane's song, The Pirate's Gospel. Yo ho!

Radio Lab

2010-04-06T14:31:00.001-07:00

As a public radio junkie, I have a very full listening schedule throughout the week. I have to listen to the full hour of This American Life, even if it is a re-run. I catch up on the news with Morning Edition and All Things Considered, and even pop in for Marketplace once in a while. Morning Becomes Eclectic isn't as important as it once was since Nic Harcourt has left the show, but I have Planet Money and Fresh Air to fill the time. Yes, I love public radio.

These are all wonderfully entertaining, educational and benchmark shows, but recently I find myself most looking forward--and most consistently surprised by--a show called Radio Lab. Radio Lab explores the questions and mysteries of science in a artful and sometimes poetic fashion. The makers of the show describe Radio Lab as "a little movie for your ear." Hosts Jad Abrumad and Robert Krulwich have taken listeners on a journey through the brain, the microscopic world of parasites, and to that fuzzy border between being human and being a primate. Along the way the complicated ideas they present are underscored by sound effects and music that are at times haunting, surprising, or surreal. Radio Lab's sound design seems shaped to emphasize the mysterious and mystical side of our reality. The show frequently asks questions that "Science" is not able to answer, and then leaves us to wrestle with that unsettling fact. This is perhaps the most remarkable thing about the show: that science is revered and studied, but not the source of all that is knowable. Instead, science is the starting point to understanding our world, taking us to the limits of our knowledge, brain power, and technology.

Abrumad and Krulwich seem to understand that there is still so much we don't understand, so much that we may never be able to explain about our world and ourselves. And very often, things that we can explain are based on fact so strange and fantastical that you wonder if you've wandered into the realm of science fiction.

If you've never listened to Radio Lab, you are missing out! Check out their website where you can listen to shows, read blogs and encounter wonderful words like "stochasticity"! Let me know what you think.

Lyrics to Love

2010-03-26T12:10:00.001-07:00

I have written several songs over the years, and when I look back at them I can remember what songwriters I was listening to at the time. When I am creating, I always end up imitating--or copying--the artists who are inspiring at the time.

Mann, Jenny Lewis of Some influences or more subtle and indirect, like The Beatles or Paul Simon. Others--like Aimee Mann, Rilo Kiley, Bob Dylan, and Rosie Thomas--I have listened to regularly in the last few years and made a point to try and copy the things I like about them. I love Jenny Lewis' honesty and the way Aimee Mann can take a lyrical cliche in a new direction. I wish my songs could be as simple yet as beautiful as Rosie's. And Bob Dylan...he's in a league all his own.

So here is a playlist of some great songwriters and some of their best lyrics. Let me know what you think! Who are your favorite songwriters:

I also wanted to share the lyrics to a song I have written. Hopefully one day I'll be able to get a nice recording done, but until then, please enjoy the lyrics to my song "Smaller Than I Was".

When I was only five the things I said were cute
And when I'm sixty-five, they'll say I'm eccentric
But at the age I am today, all the things I do and say
just seem stupid

At age eleven I wanted to be famous
And at age sixteen I wanted to be beautiful
But when I turned twenty-four, I found there's nothing I want more
than to be loved

[CHORUS] They say that as we get older each year brings us greater wisdom
How can that be true when I feel smaller than I was?

By the age of two my mother knew I was stubborn
And by age eighteen I had moved far away
But everywhere that I go, I'm the same inside
You know that I'm not changing

[CHORUS]

Most days I just pretend that I'm a grown-up
That my thoughts are all rational and mature
And though I may have fooled the world, you know I'm really
just a girl

[CHORUS]

Mike Birbiglia: Live @ Brea Improv

2010-02-18T22:58:00.000-08:00

I hardly ever go to see live comedy shows, but when I heard that Mike Birbiglia was going to be in Brea, I had to go.

I first heard Mike on This American Life, and then later on The Moth. Mike tells jokes, but most of his comedy is storytelling. He can illuminate the humor in everyday moments and he's not afraid to mock his own foibles. You laugh with him and at him, and it begins to feel like listening to a friend tell a hilarious anecdote. Well--maybe not just any friend, but your funniest friend ever.

Check out Mike's website! If you want to hear my favorite story by him, you should listen to This American Life's show on the theme, "The Fear of Sleep". Mike has a sleep disorder which sucks for him, but makes for a really good story. Check it out here. If you've never heard him before, please tell me what you think!

Blogosphere Buddies

2010-01-20T00:34:00.001-08:00

It has come to my attention that I know a great number of incredibly creative and clever people. A few of them also happen to share their creativity and cleverness on equally creative and clever blogs. Here are a few that you should check out:

Criticism as Inspiration--thoughtful and critical musings on culture, politics, spirituality and the arts.

A couple of the Criticism as Inspiration fellows have started a new blog focused on culture and theology that promises to be as intelligent and cool as CAI. Check out Lost in the Cloud!

A friend turned me on to Adam Sjoberg's blog of photography and travel. Check out his images from a recent trip to Haiti.

Hopefully, this will encourage Michaela to blog more (!) because her artistic talent and insight needs to be shared.

Kristin's homemade crafts and DIY decor makes me want to learn to sew. But it's much easier to buy stuff from her!

I know there are more of you bloggers out there, so send me a link!

Beatles Rock Band

2010-01-19T14:13:00.001-08:00

Can we all agree that Beatles Rock Band is, in fact, the best game ever? After all, we can agree that The Beatles were the greatest rock band ever, so it's an obvious conclusion. Granted, my knowledge of video games is limited to stolen hours playing Tetris during study hall, a few rounds of Wii bowling, and a countless hours watching my brothers play original Nintendo.

Over Christmas I finally got the chance to play Beatles Rock Band and had such a blast that it inspired me to write this list of

FOUR FABULOUS REASONS TO LOVE BEATLES ROCK BAND

1) The Animation

The opening animation on this game is so entertaining and classically cool that it stands alone as a piece of art. Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSLLxRmR3nY

2) Kids

What could be more entertaining than listening to a five-year old sing, "We all live in a yellow submarine"? Or, a twelve-year old stumble through the twisty weirdness of "I Am the Walrus"?

3) Deeper Cuts

The game doesn't have the complete Beatles catalog, but it doesn't just stick to the most popular songs. There's "A Hard Day's Night" and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" but there's also "I Me Mine". Apparently you can download more tunes from the web, too. Maybe someday they'll make The Beatles Anthology Rock Band...

4) Harmonies

Now you're really a part of the band! You're singing harmony with Paul McCartney! You know you always try to sing the harmonies when alone in your car. At least now you can get the synchronization bonus for doing it!

The Best of 2009

2010-01-05T10:54:00.000-08:00

I emerge from my winter hibernation to share my Best of 2009 list. Instead of sharing several top ten lists, I decided to choose my absolute favorites from the year in arts and media. This means, of course, that there are plenty of great things that I won't mention, so I am guessing that I will hear from those of you who think I have made any gross oversights. In fact, I hope I do...

Best MOVIES:

The Fantastic Mr. Fox

Wes Anderson's latest brings together a retro claymation style with his usual blend of quirky, neurotic characters with family issues. The result is a kid-friendly film that is both heart-warming, humorous, and odd. I always love the off-beat pace of Anderson's films and here the cartoonish elements of his style are pleasantly exaggerated.

Best Parts: Ash's insistence that he is an athlete, the use of cuss, and the mystical appearance of the Wolf.

Where the Wild Things Are
This is another great example of a kids' book being interpreted and elaborated on in an intelligent and thoughtful way. Spike Jonze's version of Maurice Sendak's picture book brings to life the easily overlooked depth of the simple tale. The Muppet characters and set design haunted me for days later, but in a good way. Older kids would enjoy this movie--it's magical and kind of scary--but the film's themes of loneliness and isolation will resonate even more strongly with adults.

Best Parts: the best fort ever and the wild rumpus.

Best ALBUMS

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes - Up From Below

I hear they put on a killer live show that dwarfs the energy of the album by comparison. Even so, the band's debut album is my favorite one of the year. Ridiculously full of hippie swagger and joy, Up From Below is full of both complexity, fun, and catchy tunes.

Best tracks: Janglin, Home and 40 Days

Patrick Watson - Wooden Arms

This album is a sonic journey that takes you from haunting melodies, to soaring vocals, to home-made percussions. In this sense, Patrick Watson is both a storyteller and craftsman. From the nervous energy of "Beijing" to the pensive restraint of "Man Like You", this album impresses throughout.

Best tracks: Beijing and Big Bird in a Small Cage

Best SONGS

"Chains, Chains, Chains" by Elvis Perkins

"I and Love and You" by The Avett Brothers

"My Body's a Zombie for You" by Dead Man's Bones

"Wicked Blood" by Sea Wolf

"I Gotta Feeling" by Black Eyed Peas

Best of RADIO

All Songs Considered: Round Table Discussions

Bob Boilen is great on his own as he picks songs to showcase on All Songs Considered, but the show is at its best when he brings in Robin Hilton, Carrie Brownstien and Stephen Thompson for a chat. The result is much lively and intelligent debate about music and some friendly teasing and banter over musical tastes. Even if you can't stand the songs that they are showcasing, the round table shows are worth checking out for the non-musical entertainment.

Best example: The Holiday Mix Show

The Moth: "Gut Instinct" by James Braly

There are so many wonderful stories that I have heard on The Moth that to choose one is almost painful, but James Braly's tale of temptation and fidelity while on vacation has stuck with me months after hearing it. Braly's delivery of a simple story showcases his self-effacing sense of humor with painfully honest revelations. Listen to it here:
http://castroller.com/podcasts/TheMothPodcast/1182434

Best of TV

Glee

I had to check this show out for two reasons: first, it is a musical and I can't pass up a musical; second, I was sure it would be too horrible to stay on the air very long. On the latter point, I am delighted to be proven wrong. Glee is wickedly self-aware in its staging which makes the musical performances much less awkward than if it was a bit more conventional in its approach. It also helps that the songs are awesome. From Journey to Barbara Streisand to Beyonce to Creedence Clearwater Revival, there is a little something for everyone. The stand out performers here are Lea Michele as the budding Broadway diva and Jane Lynch as delightfully evil Sue Sylvester.

Best moment: Rachel performs "Rain on My Parade" at Sectionals

What did I miss? What are your favorites from 2009? Do you think I am wrong?

Can't wait to hear from you...

Books: The Giver

2009-11-16T12:13:00.000-08:00

I somehow managed to make it through both junior high and high school without reading The Giver by Lois Lowry--which is odd since I read nearly everything I can get my hands on.
But recently I decided to make up for lost time and read it. I didn't have any idea what the plot was, but it wasn't long before I was captivated by the story and plot. If you don't know, the story follows a boy named Jonas was he grows up in a "perfect" society. In this look into the future, useless members of society are quietly euthanized, marriages are carefully arranged by committees, conversations and behaviors are constantly monitored, and any pain is quickly eliminated with the aid of medicine. Jonas' role in this society is to keep memories from the messy past in order to help guide the future of the society. The knowledge he gains makes him question whether the supposed perfection in which he currently lives is not somehow inferior to the beauty and chaos of the past.
If there's one thing I love, it's a look out a dystopian future. I can't get enough of it. The Giver, along with the more recent City of Ember series by Jeanne DuPrau, is a dystopian social novel aimed for younger readers. While DuPrau's future is darkness moving towards an ever brightening future (both figuratively and literally), Lowry's future is much bleaker. The haunting ending of The Giver is almost shocking in comparison to the speedy pace and inquisitive tone of the novel. My expectations were constantly subverted as I read Jonas' journey towards wisdom. This is a book that raises questions about human nature and personal liberty, and Lowry is please to leave us without any easy answers.

If you read The Giver as a kid, read it again and let me know how your feelings then compare to now!

Patrick Watson at The Largo Coronet

2009-10-19T12:41:00.000-07:00

I was privileged to join a small band of fans to see Patrick Watson play in Los Angeles this weekend. Patrick is a Canadian musician who fuses complicated percussion, looping, and a feeling of improvisation with heartfelt melodies and earnest vocals. His music is lovely to listen to, but it is entirely different to see it performed. Patrick and the members of his band seemed to approach each song like a new creative endeavor as they built the sounds up using trickery and technique that you can't fully appreciate unless you see it being done. At any given moment, someone on stage was banging pots and pans, using a bow on a guitar, stomping their feet, or playing the saw. Patrick occasionally sang into a megaphone, and then mute it like a jazz trumpet player.
The show was lively and fun because it was clear that Patrick and the band were genuinely enjoying playing together. It felt like we were looking in on a practice rather than a performance at times--which is not to say say that they were lazy performers. It would be impossible to say that as Patrick even came out into the audience to sing one song, but I did feel like they didn't care whether or not an audience was there at all to see them play. There was just some serious love of music and each other going on that night.

If you haven't heard this talented and unique musician yet, here are a couple of songs by Patrick Watson for you to check out. Also, the set list from the show is posted below--except for one song I can't remember because my pen died and I couldn't write it down.

Go To FileFactory.com

Set List:
Tracy's Waters
Beijing
Wooden Arms
Big Bird in a Small Cage
Traveling Salesman
The Storm
Man Like You
Where the Wild Things Are
Hearts in the Park
Luscious Life

Encore:
To Build A Home
Bright Shiny Lights

Classic Film: Random Harvest

2009-10-09T12:17:00.000-07:00

I sat down to watch Random Harvest the other day without having any previous knowledge of it except that it starred the fantastic actress, Greer Garson. I had no idea the pleasant surprise that awaited me with this film from 1942.

The story is about an amnesiac British war veteran who marries a kind chorus girl named Paula. When another head injury restores his memory, the vet then loses all of his memories since the amnesia first set in. He returns to his former life, gets engaged to another girl--all without ever realizing that he has abandoned his first wife. If that wasn't twisty drama enough, Paula resurfaces in her husband's new life, but not in any way I expected.

I was never sure as the film progressed whether the ending would be a happy one or not. I was completely drawn into the story and the characters. For a film that is more than half a century old, Random Harvest never felt out of date.

Random Harvest came out the same year as another great Greer Garson film, Mrs. Miniver. While she may have won an Oscar for her role in Mrs. Miniver, I think Random Harvest might be an even better film. Has any one else seen both of these movies and would like to weigh in?

COMING SOON: THE MOTH

2009-10-06T13:50:00.000-07:00

My friend Kim and I are pleased to announce that The Moth is coming soon!

Save the date for TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27th!

For those of you who are not familiar with The Moth, it is a public radio program of true stories from life told without scripts or notes.

Our theme for the night will be, "The Maiden Voyage: Stories of First Attempts."

Storytellers for the evening will be:
Judy Smith
Monica Romig-Green
Danny Paschall

If you would like more info on The Moth, check out their official site: www.themoth.org

Invite a friend a come along!
Kim and Judy

Bon Iver at Hollywood Forever Cemetary

2009-10-03T09:54:00.000-07:00

Any Bon Iver fans out there?

Last weekend I was lucky enough to score a ticket to see the band play live. At 6am. In a graveyard.

Yes, you read that correctly. This was a unique concert that was the brainchild of Bon Iver's lead guy, Justin Vernon, and was put on by none other than my favorite radio station, KCRW.

The doors opened at midnight and although I was not among them, many people showed up the the Hollywood Forever Graveyard to camp out. There was music and entertainment throughout the night including a showing of Wes Anderson's Bottle Rocket. My friend Bethany and I ended up getting up really early and showing up just in time for a blessing by some Buddhist monks. It was nearly 6 by this time, still dark and appropriately misty. It would have been creepy if there weren't a couple thousand of us all crowded together in the dark.

When Bon Iver finally got onstage, the sleepy crowd roused themselves for an awesome show. As the show progressed, the sky when from dark, to pink, to blue as the sun rose over Los Angeles. It was an odd but perfect setting for a band that sounds as good live as they do on their albums. I'll include the set list below, but make sure to comment if you were at the show. Did you camp out? What was your favorite song of the morning? Post pictures if you got them!

I loved the banjo/fiddle on "Worried Mind" performed with members of the band Megafaun, but you can't beat "Skinny Love" or "Flume" in the morning: best wake-up call ever.

Set List:

Sum

Creature Fear

Brackett, WI

Flume

Skinny Love

Babies

Blood Bank

Beach Baby

Worried Mind by Megafaun

For Emma

Re: Stacks

Wolves

Stuck on Repeat: Chains, Chains, Chains by Elvis Perkins

2009-09-18T12:05:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while I hear a new song that I just can't get enough of no matter how many times I listen to it.

My latest song obsession is called "Chains, Chains, Chains" by Elvis Perkins. It has great musicality and a really focused and controlled performance by Elvis. I just love the way he semi-wails the word chains over and over. It's passionate but not over the top.

Take a listen and see if the song stands up to repeat listens for you:

- FileFactory.com

The Art of Making a Mix Tape

2009-09-17T22:53:00.000-07:00

I have made quite a few mix tapes in my day. I enjoy the challenge of trying to capture a person's musical taste while also surprising them with new songs and artists. Sometimes I give myself a theme to work towards like songs about America or songs featuring the banjo.

Over the years I have developed my own system of arranging songs in order to create a mix that flows while telling a continuous story with the music. To some extent I follow the technique explained by Rob in the movie High Fidelity:

"The making of a great compilation tape, like breaking up, is hard to do and takes ages longer than it might seem. You gotta kick off with a killer, to grab attention. Then you got to take it up a notch, but you don't wanna blow your wad, so then you got to cool it off a notch. There are a lot of rules."

Here are a few other tips from me:

--Never use two songs by the same artist.

--Include one good cover songs if you can.

--Inevitably you will have a handful of songs that you think are killer. Make sure you space them somewhat evenly in the mix.

--I like to end my mixes upbeat rather than with a slow song. It's a bit more unexpected.

What are you mix tape rules and tips?

Rodgers and Hammerstein at the Hollywood Bowl

2009-09-12T14:54:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to take in a concert at the Hollywood Bowl this past week. Not only is this one of my favorite venues, the show was all music from musicals—another one of my favorite things. And speaking of favorite things, the night was dedicated to the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein, the legendary duo that penned the music for Oklahoma, The King and I, and of course, The Sound of Music. And the icing on this cake was that the night was hosted by none other than Robert Osborne, film historian and host for the Turner Classic Movie channel! I loved hearing his off-the-cuff trivia and anecdotes about the movies and music, and it was great to see him live after years of watching him on television.

More than just music, the night was about movies. The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, led by David Newman (of the film-composing Newmans), played the musical score in synchronization with scenes from the movies played on a giant screen. The amazing thing is that this music-image combo was so seamless that we weren’t listening to the film’s soundtrack.

After playing some of the best-known songs from the Rodgers and Hammerstein songbook, the evening concluded with an audience sing-along of “Do Re Mi” from The Sound of Music. This is what I was hoping for all night! Until then we had been instructed to join in the music making, but finally we were able to belt out along with Julie Andrews—and all was as it should be.

Daytrotter Sessions: Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes

2009-09-04T12:26:00.000-07:00

Daytrotter.com (http://www.daytrotter.com) is one of my favorite websites for music. They have a huge variety of mp3s for FREE download on their site and it's all live versions of songs by indie bands. In the past they've had some favorites like Bon Iver, Cold War Kids, Aimee Mann and Andrew Bird.

All this week I have had the Daytrotter Session by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros stuck on repeat. So far this band's recent album, "Up From Below", is my favorite album of 2009. It's full of catchy and exuberant songs that feel like they've come out of some super happy hippy commune. From what I hear, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros put on a great live show that eclipses even the energy heard on the album. Hopefully, I can judge for myself when the band comes to the El Rey in Los Angeles later this month for a show--Anyone interested in going? Anyone have tickets you want to give me?

Until then, I am happily spinning their Daytrotter Session which gives a pretty good estimation of their odd wit and tight musicianship. "Home" is great and the live version of "40 Day Dream" manages to sound as big and sprawling as the album version. If I had to describe them (which I am terrible at) I would say it's something like a less sparkly and more folksy version of The Polyphonic Spree. Only maybe (probably) better.

Check them out and bask in the retro vibe:
http://www.edwardsharpeandthemagneticzeros.com/

The Moth

2009-09-01T22:41:00.000-07:00

The Moth is an organization dedicated to storytelling. They host evenings where people get up on stage and tell true stories from their lives without notes or scripts. You can listen to podcasts of stories on iTunes, or their website: http://www.themoth.org/

I love that there is a community of people out there dedicated to preserving personal narratives. I love it so much that my friend Kim and I have decided to host our own Moth night!

It's still in the works, but we have some really exciting plans in the works. We hope to have our first Moth Nighte in October and we are already getting some good interest generated among some of our favorite storytellers.

If you enjoy storytelling and you want to be involved or attend, be sure to let me know. If it goes well we may do these on a semi-regular basis.

And let me know if you have any good ideas for themes!

Before We Begin..

2009-08-30T21:48:00.000-07:00

...A word from me:
Welcome! This blog is will cover art, creativity, media and culture. This includes pop culture, indie music, classic novels, public radio, new movies, vintage albums, homemade crafts, or anything else that happens to interest me at the moment. I'm going to start there and see where this takes me. I invite you to comment, make suggestions, disagree with me, or share your own current interests.

And don't forget to invite a friend!

later days,
Judy