When I was in South America I noticed the music being played around me. There was REM's "Losing My Religion" in Santiago, La Ley on the bridge of the ferry boat, Pearl Jam's "I Me Mine" in El Calafate as well as the I Am Sam soundtrack. Oh and that damn Ketchup song was everywhere. Bus drivers where dancing to it even. On the occasions that there was a television where we were staying it would often end up on some music video channel. One song imparticular caught my ear and climbed into my head for a few days. I'd forgotten about it until not that long ago when I heard a clip of it playing on MTV and again just now. Inevitably I'll be walking the halls (um, if you work in a cube farm are they really halls?) with the song as the soundtrack to my day.
So did you listen to me about Mraz? Should be starting to hear his songs on the radio. I mean if it's playing in Montana world domination can't be too far behind. This month's musical suggestions are both Mraz inspired and are as follows:
Typically I don't dig the female artists. There are the few exceptions like Ani Difranco, Tori Amos, Dar Williams, and Shannon Worrell to name a few. Now I can add to that list Martina Sorbara. I caught her opening for Jason Mraz a few weeks ago in LA where I was selling merch for both Jason and her. Downloaded some songs the day before the show to get acquianted with what I'd be listening to. Vocally she reminds me of Jewel but not annoying. Ended up with a free copy of her cd after the gig (job perk) and it spun in my stereo for days afterwards and right now I think I'll have to put the album on. Do check it out for yourself though - I like "Bonnie and Clyde" and "Eggs over Easy".
Turin Brakes. So if you did Coldplay, Travis and British "Indie" sound you'll probably enjoy Turin Brakes. Their music came to my attention due to the fact that Mraz has started to cover "Future Boy" in his shows. Out of curiousity I downloaded some MP3s and a few days later I was in Borders checking if they had the album. They did. I bought. The end. Check out "Future Boy" and "Emergency 72".
I counted it up last night and I'm "currently" reading 5 books. Wishing I had a snow day like the East Coast to make some headway towards finishing some of them. That or maybe drive to the coast on Friday and read while the sound of crashing waves blur out society surrounding me.
The list:
Nick Hornby's How to Be Good Started last night as it's a borrowed book and the friend is heading back to Scotland at the end of the month. I liked High Fidelity (both the book and the movie) and recently watched "About A Boy" so that's that.
Henry Rollins' Black Coffee Blues Very unusual book. Puts some perspective spins on observations of life and these little worlds people live in. Yea - that's not really a good description. Email me if you have a better one.
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood One of those books that's been sitting on my shelf and I started to delve into it after finishing the last book for book club early. Not really grabbed by it yet.
Carl Sagan's Demon-Haunted World: Science As a Candle in the Dark Ahh yes. Carl Sagan. This would be the second book of book club and I'm about half way through. I've been told that it gets better at the end and I just need to skip through a few chapters but after a full day of work the last thing I want to come home and read about it something technical related.
The Best American Travel Writing 2000 Compilation of travel essays that I take with me, uh, traveling. Haven't been flying anywhere lately though and don't plan on it for a while.
Over Christmas I lost a number of cds and slowly I've had friends make copies of the lost discs but there's a few that I knew I would have to buy myself. That is, if I could find them. Once cd in particular has been elusive. Dog's Eye View. Band from the mid-90s that you might remember for the song "Everything Falls Apart." In my habitual perusing of used cds section I'd came across this cd numerous times, usually with a low, low price. While I figured that the album wouldn't be one that others would have (the fact that they don't is a shame...) so I was set to just go buy it for a low, low price. When I went to the first Wherehouse music here in Bakersfield I was a little surprised not to find it but figured maybe they'd finally weeded out those cds that just took up precious space that could be filled with more pop-crap music. Not a problem, I'll just drive to the Northeast Wherehouse music and find it there. Once again my quest for the precious was denied.
Now at this point I was resigned to the fact that I'd have to either buy the cd from amazon.com or Amoeba's in LA. So today when I was down in the south Southwest doing a drive-by on a potential house (to buy, not to shoot up...) I figured "what the hell" I'll try the only other Wherehouse music here in Bako. Three's a charm I guess. Found it for $4.99.
Such a scary thought that I've lived here in this dust-ladden city for over three years and now I might take action that would be considered "putting roots down." So yea, I called a realtor today - spurred on by the fact that I'm nearing the end of my lease here and once again the rent will be raised. Should be interesting (meaning you'll get sick of me) seeing as I had a hard enough time buying a new camera and my truck let alone a domicile. Next few months should be interesting indeed.
Yes I broke the law today and got caught. Official speeding ticket #1. Bleu was in the stereo. I blame it on that and my preoccupation with the state of my bladder. Yes, I had to pee.
Coming back down from that backbeat euphoria
Can still hear the chorus rolling through my head
Caught the Aware Tour tonight down at the House of Blues in LA. Oh so good. Headlining is Toad the Wet Sprocket - a band that holds a special place on the fictional (I wanted to use figmental but it's really not a word now is it) list of artists in my head. They are probably one of the bands that I've been listening to the longest. Started after my friend Adele suggested that they would be something I liked and soon after I saw the video for "All I Want" on MTV - back when MTV actually played videos. There's a good 10 years of listening history with them - and up until 6 months ago if I were asked to name one band I'd like to see play together again they would be it. Now I have - 3 times. Now I've also caught Glen Phillips solo at places like Largo but it's just not the same as seeing the full band on stage rocking. Glen rocking...yes, quite a sight.
The other Aware artists on the bill are Alice Peacock and Bleu. As mentioned in the previous post, I'm not so big on the female artists (as a friend put it today who has similar taste "i'm sexist when it comes to music") so it was no surprise that I only liked the couple of songs that I know from off the album. Bleu on the other hand blew me away (yea...I had to). His music has been on my radar for a while through his connection to Boston and Guster. Unfortunately I didn't realize that he was to be the first on stage of the three acts and we missed half of the set. What I did hear left my ears thirsty for more. Definitely going to have to catch a show next time through.
Nat and me in front of the HOB - showing off her souvenier.
