That which we call sin in others is experiment for us.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Experience," Essays, 1844
Time to blow the dust off this blog, eh? No I did not forget the challenge I presented to myself in my last entry but thanks for asking. I’ve been mulling it over since I last wrote. The topic, as decided by the This American Life archives, is small-scale sin. I’ve thought of the many angles I could “report” on this topic. Have I committed what some may believe to be “small-scale sin”? I am human, am I not? But I do not wish to incriminate myself in any way so that viewpoint was out. I tried free-writing in an attempt to answer the question “Is there such a thing as small-scale sin”? Unfortunately I began writing it on a day that I was struggling with the side effects of very little sleep and too much tea. The result was something that could very well be mistaken for a transcript of an interview with Charlie Sheen. I tried to salvage something (ANYTHING) from it but found it hard to stay on topic and not get side tracked by the issues I have with organized religion. The only part that actually pertained to the specific topic, besides the quote that precedes this entry, was the question “Who decides the scale of the sin committed?”
At last, I turned to my 7 year old son. A boy that has no formal training on the subject. A boy who, until recently, referred to any cross that he’d see as the letter “t”. As in: “Mom, why is that lady wearing a T around her neck?” Somewhere the Religious Right is gasping (along with a few family members, I’m sure). My son is a very intelligent young man, he just hasn’t had a continued dose of bible serum pumped in him for the past 7 years and I’m okay with that. Somehow, he has still managed to learn about God through friends, reading books on the subject, television and asking his parents various questions.
Moving back to the topic: one day, on the way home from picking him up from school, I asked him if he knew what the word “sin” meant. He said he’d heard it before but wasn’t sure. I explained to him what “some people” believe it to be and the potential consequences of the sinner’s actions. He thought about it for a moment and then spoke aloud, but not to me. From the back seat I heard, “Dear God, I promise to clean my room. And also, God, I am sorry for not respecting my parents.”
*******
Things I've enjoyed that pertain to this topic:
For your listening pleasure: This American Life: Small Scale Sin
Read it:
Both hilarious and informative
I also recommend:
Specifically, the play titled "No Exit"
Monday, March 21, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
New Beginnings: My American Life
Ok, so I know you’ve heard this speech from me before. Yeah, yeah, I know, it’s been almost 2 months and not a blog in sight. I am just as disappointed as you are. I cannot even tell you what I have been doing. First came the holidays, then my birthday, followed by a blur of uneventful days. I looked back at my calendar to see what I had scheduled for the month of January and this is what I found:
January 15th: Haircut – If you’re wondering where, why it’s only the best salon in Mankato – Raydiance http://www.raydiancesalon.com/
January 27th: Anniversary – yes that’s right, I put a reminder for my wedding anniversary on my calendar. This was done after I kept getting the date wrong (for some reason I kept thinking it was the 25th) and had to resort to looking at a photo album where our wedding date is engraved on the front. It’s been six years; you’d think I’d know by now. This event was celebrated at one of my fave restaurants in Mankato, Pappa George Restaurant & Bar.
January 28th: I had a reminder on my calendar to get my driver’s license renewed. This day was devastating, not only because I was reminded once again that I am getting older, but I also had to have my picture taken (my previous pic was soooo good). Do you realize how hard it is to get a good DL pic? I have since received my new one in the mail and I seriously look like a man. I had to check to make sure they didn’t actually put the letter M under Sex.
Before this turns into a page from Bridget Jones’ diary (too late), I’d like to get to the meaning of the title of this blog entry. I’ve decided I need to challenge myself more when it comes to writing. I thought starting a blog would do that but then I ran into the problem of not having much to write about. Well, friends, family, countrymen, I’ve found something that may work. Three words: This American Life. I am a HUGE fan of the radio show and of Ira Glass. As you may know, each week they choose a theme and report on stories that tie into that theme. Well I’ve decided to start a This American Life blog challenge. Challenge accepted! As of late, while I’m working I have been going through the archives and listening to past episodes on their website. My plan is to start from the first theme listed in the archives and go from there. Coincidentally, the first show is titled New Beginnings. I decided that my last blog entry could fall into that category as can this entry. I’m will try my best to have a new entry every week but would eventually like to reach a point where I’m blogging daily. We’ll see how it goes as some of the themes may prove to be a little challenging to come up with subject matter for. This is where family and friends come in as I may need to interview people for their stories if I am unable to pull from my own life.
In college I had the luxury of a professor giving me ideas and themes to ignite a writing spark. I was amazed at what came out of some very basic ideas, words, and themes. I’m hoping to recreate that with this challenge. I feel that I’ve been so busy with the day to day things that I’ve neglected the one thing I’ve been passionate about all my life: writing. I’ve made so many excuses as to why I am not doing it more that I’ve run out of excuses. I figure I can either look back and fret over all the “wrong” choices I made that have brought me to the undesirable job I am now working, or I can move forward and remind myself “it’s never too late”.
I am inspired daily by my seven year old son, whose wild imagination continues to amaze me with each story he writes and picture he draws. Even his journal entries are a delight as they enable me to see the world through his eyes. He writes more often than I do!
Let the blogging begin…
January 15th: Haircut – If you’re wondering where, why it’s only the best salon in Mankato – Raydiance http://www.raydiancesalon.com/
January 27th: Anniversary – yes that’s right, I put a reminder for my wedding anniversary on my calendar. This was done after I kept getting the date wrong (for some reason I kept thinking it was the 25th) and had to resort to looking at a photo album where our wedding date is engraved on the front. It’s been six years; you’d think I’d know by now. This event was celebrated at one of my fave restaurants in Mankato, Pappa George Restaurant & Bar.
January 28th: I had a reminder on my calendar to get my driver’s license renewed. This day was devastating, not only because I was reminded once again that I am getting older, but I also had to have my picture taken (my previous pic was soooo good). Do you realize how hard it is to get a good DL pic? I have since received my new one in the mail and I seriously look like a man. I had to check to make sure they didn’t actually put the letter M under Sex.
Before this turns into a page from Bridget Jones’ diary (too late), I’d like to get to the meaning of the title of this blog entry. I’ve decided I need to challenge myself more when it comes to writing. I thought starting a blog would do that but then I ran into the problem of not having much to write about. Well, friends, family, countrymen, I’ve found something that may work. Three words: This American Life. I am a HUGE fan of the radio show and of Ira Glass. As you may know, each week they choose a theme and report on stories that tie into that theme. Well I’ve decided to start a This American Life blog challenge. Challenge accepted! As of late, while I’m working I have been going through the archives and listening to past episodes on their website. My plan is to start from the first theme listed in the archives and go from there. Coincidentally, the first show is titled New Beginnings. I decided that my last blog entry could fall into that category as can this entry. I’m will try my best to have a new entry every week but would eventually like to reach a point where I’m blogging daily. We’ll see how it goes as some of the themes may prove to be a little challenging to come up with subject matter for. This is where family and friends come in as I may need to interview people for their stories if I am unable to pull from my own life.
In college I had the luxury of a professor giving me ideas and themes to ignite a writing spark. I was amazed at what came out of some very basic ideas, words, and themes. I’m hoping to recreate that with this challenge. I feel that I’ve been so busy with the day to day things that I’ve neglected the one thing I’ve been passionate about all my life: writing. I’ve made so many excuses as to why I am not doing it more that I’ve run out of excuses. I figure I can either look back and fret over all the “wrong” choices I made that have brought me to the undesirable job I am now working, or I can move forward and remind myself “it’s never too late”.
I am inspired daily by my seven year old son, whose wild imagination continues to amaze me with each story he writes and picture he draws. Even his journal entries are a delight as they enable me to see the world through his eyes. He writes more often than I do!
Let the blogging begin…
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
It's that Time of Year Again...
Ugh. Things I can be sure of this time of year: I will be swimming in a post Christmas funk, semi-dreading the end of another year in which I accomplished nothing spectacular and sweating the fact that I will soon be turning another year older. Why oh why must it be this way? I begin questioning all the decisions I've made in my life and wondering why, every year at this time, I seem to always feel the same way. It's like I've spent the entire year walking a long lap only to end right where I began. Oh sure there are a few changes. I notice a few more wrinkles, pluck a couple gray hairs, and watch as my son grows faster than a sea monkey. I can rarely find any accomplishments to take comfort in and the year begins covered in a sheet of melancholy (and snow).
At the onset of my end of the year crisis, I always reach for the same book. Whether I read it cover to cover or the occasional chapter or three, it has become an essential item to jumpstart the force that drives me. Although it is listed under "Self-Help", an area of the book store I don't often frequent for fear someone I know may see me, it is not your ordinary self-help book (yes I have read one or two). When I think of the term self-help, I think of the SNL character Stuart Smalley sitting in front of his mirror, telling his reflection "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me". Daily affirmations have never worked for me, mostly because I find someway to discredit them. That is the way my brain works. Apparently it likes to play devil's advocate with itself. Anway, back to the book. It is titled Revolution from Within: A Book of Self-Esteem by Gloria Steinem. Do not be discouraged by the title, rather, look at the authors name. Hello, it's Gloria freakin' Steinem. Credibility right there.
This book was first published in the early 90's and became a #1 national bestseller. I purchased it sometime around 2001-2002 for a Women Studies class I took in college. We were required to read some of the chapters but, at the time, I don't think I really absorbed the information. I knew who Gloria Steinem was from readings in other Women Studies classes but at that time in my life, I was so focused on looking at the outside forces that had and were continuing to affect my life rather than analyzing myself and my own behaviors. It wasn't until about 5 years ago that I actually read the entire book and felt that I actually learned things about myself and the people in my life. As I said, I have read "self-help" books before, even went to therapy for a while, but this book is different. Rather than advice, she shares stories about herself and others, history and research she has done or read about. It's an educational and comforting read. A book that should be required reading for everyone, women AND men.
The reason I find myself picking it up at least once a year (if not more) is to remind myself that (to steal a quote from the book) "We create much of the outer world from within ourselves". As weeks and months pass, I seem to lose site of this fact. It's hard to unlearn bad habits (most of which we adopt at an early age) and to retrain your brain to take a different path every time it's faced with unforeseen obstacles. So when I look ahead at a new year filled with the same struggles, it can be a bit daunting. I figure the more I read the book, the more I learn and unlearn, the more likely I am to change my way of thinking so that one day, hopefully in the near future, I can feel as if I am continuing on the journey instead of reliving it.
At the onset of my end of the year crisis, I always reach for the same book. Whether I read it cover to cover or the occasional chapter or three, it has become an essential item to jumpstart the force that drives me. Although it is listed under "Self-Help", an area of the book store I don't often frequent for fear someone I know may see me, it is not your ordinary self-help book (yes I have read one or two). When I think of the term self-help, I think of the SNL character Stuart Smalley sitting in front of his mirror, telling his reflection "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me". Daily affirmations have never worked for me, mostly because I find someway to discredit them. That is the way my brain works. Apparently it likes to play devil's advocate with itself. Anway, back to the book. It is titled Revolution from Within: A Book of Self-Esteem by Gloria Steinem. Do not be discouraged by the title, rather, look at the authors name. Hello, it's Gloria freakin' Steinem. Credibility right there.
This book was first published in the early 90's and became a #1 national bestseller. I purchased it sometime around 2001-2002 for a Women Studies class I took in college. We were required to read some of the chapters but, at the time, I don't think I really absorbed the information. I knew who Gloria Steinem was from readings in other Women Studies classes but at that time in my life, I was so focused on looking at the outside forces that had and were continuing to affect my life rather than analyzing myself and my own behaviors. It wasn't until about 5 years ago that I actually read the entire book and felt that I actually learned things about myself and the people in my life. As I said, I have read "self-help" books before, even went to therapy for a while, but this book is different. Rather than advice, she shares stories about herself and others, history and research she has done or read about. It's an educational and comforting read. A book that should be required reading for everyone, women AND men.
The reason I find myself picking it up at least once a year (if not more) is to remind myself that (to steal a quote from the book) "We create much of the outer world from within ourselves". As weeks and months pass, I seem to lose site of this fact. It's hard to unlearn bad habits (most of which we adopt at an early age) and to retrain your brain to take a different path every time it's faced with unforeseen obstacles. So when I look ahead at a new year filled with the same struggles, it can be a bit daunting. I figure the more I read the book, the more I learn and unlearn, the more likely I am to change my way of thinking so that one day, hopefully in the near future, I can feel as if I am continuing on the journey instead of reliving it.
Monday, December 6, 2010
3 Months Later....
Soooo much for my resolution to write more on my blog. It's been 3 months...3 MONTHS!! It feels like 3 days since my last entry. What the hell have I been doing? Well, let's see, I started a new job (not interesting enough to talk about), celebrated Halloween, went to two shows (Trampled by Turtles and Roma Di Luna), celebrated Thanksgiving and I am currently caught in the Christmas current and trying to keep my head above water. I LOVE Christmas but it is exhausting and when it's over, I have to admit, it is a relief.
As I was saying, I had the pleasure of seeing Trampled by Turtles perform at the Kato Ballroom in October and it was an amazing show. If you want to buy a CD (good x-mas gift!) that does not disappoint in any way, buy Palomino. MY. GOD. It is musical bliss. I can be having the absolute worst day and all I have to do is listen to the song Victory and I am instantly elated.
I'm not sure what the deal is with me being a drunk magnet but when I am at concert that serves alcohol, if there is an obnoxious drunk person (and there always is) they are right next to me, falling on me, stepping on my feet and spilling beer on me. If this was a blog entry that focused soley on this show, I would have titled it Trampled by Drunk Chicks. Luckily, half way through the show a nice young man let me take his spot by the stage so I was able to snap a few sweet shots and enjoy the show without being doused in alcohol.
In November I went to the Coffee Hag to see Roma Di Luna perform as part of the 89.3 The Current Road Trip. The entire band was not there but Alexei and Channy Moon Casselle (the husband and wife duo that started the group) were enough to captivate the audience. The voice that comes out of Channy seems other worldly. It's beautiful and moving and I don't think I've heard another like it, ever. I've been a fan ever since I heard These Tears Ain't Mine but nothing compares to seeing them perform live. The chemistry between Alexei and Channy was apparent while they were performing and when they were answering questions and giving the crowd some background info on how they got started.
I was so mesmerized by Roma Di Luna's performance that after the show, I forgot to go meet Jill Riley and Steve Seel and tell them how much I adore them and the Current and how they make my mornings at work bearable.
As I was saying, I had the pleasure of seeing Trampled by Turtles perform at the Kato Ballroom in October and it was an amazing show. If you want to buy a CD (good x-mas gift!) that does not disappoint in any way, buy Palomino. MY. GOD. It is musical bliss. I can be having the absolute worst day and all I have to do is listen to the song Victory and I am instantly elated.
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| Trampled by Turtles at the Kato Ballroom |
In November I went to the Coffee Hag to see Roma Di Luna perform as part of the 89.3 The Current Road Trip. The entire band was not there but Alexei and Channy Moon Casselle (the husband and wife duo that started the group) were enough to captivate the audience. The voice that comes out of Channy seems other worldly. It's beautiful and moving and I don't think I've heard another like it, ever. I've been a fan ever since I heard These Tears Ain't Mine but nothing compares to seeing them perform live. The chemistry between Alexei and Channy was apparent while they were performing and when they were answering questions and giving the crowd some background info on how they got started.
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| Alexi and Channy from Roma Di Luna performing at the Coffee Hag |
Thursday, September 16, 2010
If You're from Minnesota and it Doesn't Matter Where...
The next time you're in Minneapolis (on Hennepin in uptown to be exact) I recommend you stop by Savoy Pizza Uptown (http://www.savoyuptown.com/). Not only do they have great food, they also sell concert tickets. One concert they have tickets for is the Titus Andronicus and Free Energy this Friday at the Triple Rock Social Club, a show I will not be attending because I live about an hour and half away and it's my last day at my job and I can't leave early and I really want to because I love Free Energy and seeing them in concert would be musical bliss. Ah but I digress. Savoy Uptown has the best garlic cheese bread I have EVER devoured. I wasn't really in the mood for pizza (this almost never happens) so I tried the pesto turkey sandwich and it was delish. I love me some pesto. I am eager to go back and try their uptown veggie pizza (spinach, fresh tomato, artichoke, kalamata olives, feta cheese), sounds mouth watering, huh?
And since you're in the neighborhood, you should stop by Fifth Element (http://www.fifthelementonline.com/), which is less than a block away. Peruse the hip hop, buy some t-shirts or maybe see a local celebrity, like Slug from Atmosphere. That's right, I said Slug! (side note: not sure if I've mentioned this yet but I LOVE Atmosphere. Their music is on constant rotation in my car, ipod and home.) After eating at Savoy, we stopped by Fifth Element so I could pick up a Rhymesayers t-shirt and a CD or two. There I am sorting through the CDs when I hear the door open and a familiar voice speaking, I looked up to see Slug's head poking through the door. AND I almost fainted. He was unloading some shoes and stood at the counter the entire time I was in the store. I was freaking out (on the inside because I didn't want him to think/know that I am crazed fan) and I wanted to say SOMETHING but we all remember the incident at Soundset where I met him and the only thing that came out when I tried to speak was "I love you" when what I meant to say was "I love your music". He looked at me the same way James Caan looked at Kathy Bates in Misery when she told him she was his number one fan. In other words the "This bitch is crazy" look. Okay so I don't really know because he was wearing sunglasses but I'm pretty sure that's what he was thinking. So I went to the counter, paid for my t-shirt and CD and got the hell out of there before I embarrassed myself. I'm sure it's not a rare occurrence for someone who frequents Fifth Element to run into Slug, but walking into the store that Sunday afternoon, the possibility never crossed my mind.
One of my goals, I recently decided, is to get them to come play a show in Mankato (after all, they do give a shout out to Mankato in their song Shhh). I don't know how I'm going to do it but it has to be done. They recently released a new CD To All My Friends, Blood Makes The Blade Holy: The Atmosphere EP's [Explicit] (yes I already have it) and are touring right now. They'll be playing two shows at First Ave on November 27th and 28th and the only reason I do not have tickets yet is because I cannot find anyone to go with me. Either I need to meet people with better taste in music, or I just need new friends all together.
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| mmmm, cheesy bread |
One of my goals, I recently decided, is to get them to come play a show in Mankato (after all, they do give a shout out to Mankato in their song Shhh). I don't know how I'm going to do it but it has to be done. They recently released a new CD To All My Friends, Blood Makes The Blade Holy: The Atmosphere EP's [Explicit] (yes I already have it) and are touring right now. They'll be playing two shows at First Ave on November 27th and 28th and the only reason I do not have tickets yet is because I cannot find anyone to go with me. Either I need to meet people with better taste in music, or I just need new friends all together.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
A New Not So Miserable Experience
As you may have heard, last week I won tickets from www.vita.mn to see the Gin Blossoms perform at the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis. This was my first time seeing them live, as well as my first time dining at the Dakota Jazz Club. Overall, the experience was incredible. The age of the audience members ranged from gray hair to bleached blonde. We were located about 5 tables from the stage and enjoyed a great performance. The size of the club provides an intimate setting and the sound of the band playing the acoustic versions of their songs made it feel as if I'd plucked them from a stage and set them in my living room. Frontman Robin Wilson, or "Bif" as he referred to himself, has an amazing voice and is welcome to sing in my living room any time.
My only complaint, I would have liked them to perform longer (what female doesn't wish this at one time or another?). The show started at 7pm and was done by 8pm. They were performing again at 9:30 but with an hour and half of driving ahead and work the next morning, staying for the second performance was sadly not an option for me. I was elated to hear them play many of their old singles including "Til I Hear it From You" and "Hey Jealousy" but I think my favorite song of the night was "Lost Horizons". Listening to those songs again reminded me of high school days gone by and the very next day I ordered their New Miserable Experience
CD. So if you see a red Honda Accord driving down the road and hear the song "Found Out About You" blaring through the open windows, there's a good chance it's me behind the wheel. Oh, by the way, for all you Gin Blossoms fans, the band has a new CD titled No Chocolate Cake coming out Sept 28th and you can pre-order it on Amazon RIGHT NOW.
As for the Dakota Jazz Club, the food was pricey but about what you would expect in downtown Minneapolis. More importantly, it was gooooood. I started my three course meal off with Bay Scallop Seviche for the appeteaser (scallops w/ avocado, serrano chile, coriander) this was the first time I'd ever had scallops cold. My main course was steak and fries, (what can I say, I'm a meat and potatoes gal). The 10 oz sirloin was tender and delicious. For dessert, Hubbell (my blog name for my husband) and I enjoyed the Black Bottom Banana Cream Pie, very yummy and highly recommended. All in all, four thumbs up.
If there is one thing I have concluded from this experience, it is that I NEED a new camera!!
My only complaint, I would have liked them to perform longer (what female doesn't wish this at one time or another?). The show started at 7pm and was done by 8pm. They were performing again at 9:30 but with an hour and half of driving ahead and work the next morning, staying for the second performance was sadly not an option for me. I was elated to hear them play many of their old singles including "Til I Hear it From You" and "Hey Jealousy" but I think my favorite song of the night was "Lost Horizons". Listening to those songs again reminded me of high school days gone by and the very next day I ordered their New Miserable Experience
CD. So if you see a red Honda Accord driving down the road and hear the song "Found Out About You" blaring through the open windows, there's a good chance it's me behind the wheel. Oh, by the way, for all you Gin Blossoms fans, the band has a new CD titled No Chocolate Cake coming out Sept 28th and you can pre-order it on Amazon RIGHT NOW.As for the Dakota Jazz Club, the food was pricey but about what you would expect in downtown Minneapolis. More importantly, it was gooooood. I started my three course meal off with Bay Scallop Seviche for the appeteaser (scallops w/ avocado, serrano chile, coriander) this was the first time I'd ever had scallops cold. My main course was steak and fries, (what can I say, I'm a meat and potatoes gal). The 10 oz sirloin was tender and delicious. For dessert, Hubbell (my blog name for my husband) and I enjoyed the Black Bottom Banana Cream Pie, very yummy and highly recommended. All in all, four thumbs up.
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| Singing Hey Jealousy |
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Play it Forward
Good evening, Folliers!
For someone who LOVES to write, I haven't been doing much of that on here lately. I plan to make more of an effort from this day forward (just like me to make mid-year resolutions). I have a confession to make: I'm addicted to Twitter. If I could just cut my Twitter time in half, I would have so much more time to blog. BUT I do have to thank Twitter because if I wouldn't have been scrolling through the tweets of the 283 people, businesses, etc. that I follow, I wouldn't have won tickets to see the Gin Blossoms tomorrow night! I also want to thank www.vita.mn because they were giving the tickets away and I won them by simply tweeting "tickets, please!" If only everything in life could be that easy.
I'm hoping to have a good seat so I can snap a few pics and post them on here for my 2 folliers to enjoy. Also, they're playing at the Dakota Jazz Club (Minneapolis) and I've never been there and have always wanted to go (doubly excited).
Since we're on the subject of music, I feel the need to share the songs from my mixCD of the summer, which I cleverly titled "June 2010". The songs (purchased off iTunes) have been on constant rotation through out the summer. I found myself wondering if years from now, when I hear one of the songs from this mixCD, if I will think of the summer of 2010 the way I think about the summer of '93 when I hear Hey Jealousy from the Gin Blossoms. I love that music has that power (even bad music), to pull you back to certain moments in your life (even the bad ones).
So here's the list of songs I've been listening to a lot this summer (besides Atmosphere) and I feel you should get to know these bands (if you don't already). I owe 89.3 The Current a HUGE thank you as well because if it wasn't for listening to that station every day, I'm not sure I would have been introduced to such amazing music. Note: not all songs are new, as in released this year, but they are ALL good and that's what matters.
1. Free Energy by Free Energy - no this is not a misprint, the name of the song and the name of the band are one in the same. This song reminds me of youth. Pure and simple. Best line: "and I'm so disconnected, I'm never going to check back in".
2. American Slang by the Gaslight Anthem - this band has been around for years but I hadn't heard of them until The Current started playing this song. I was hooked. I like some of their other songs too but THIS one is my favorite. Also, I love Brian Fallon's voice.
3. Kick Drum Heart by the Avett Brothers - ahhhhh the Avett Brothers. I don't think I've ever heard a song from them I don't like but this one made the cut for this mixCD.
4. Crystalised by the XX - you know those songs you like, you can't explain why, you just do? Well that's how I feel about this song. Favorite line: "I'll forgive and forget, before I'm paralyzed".
5. Don't Haunt this Place by the Rural Alberta Advantage - another song about a break up, you ask? yes and it's a good one. I like quite a few of their songs but again, this one made the cut.
6. Set me Free by The Heavy - you've probably heard their song How You Like Me Now on that Kia commercial but this song is better.
7. Running with the Wolves by Cloud Cult - what can I say, I'm a sucker for MN bands. AND they make great music. Favorite line: "I need to feel something different for just a little while".
8. The Ends by Halloween, Alaska - Since they're a Minneapolis band, I'm hoping this means I'll be seeing them play live in the near future. Best line: "No matter what today pretends, no matter how you see the means, these are the ends".
9. Low Rising by the Swell Season - See previous post Better than Swell
10. The Cave by Mumford and Sons - this band just blows me away. First song I ever heard by them was Little Lion Man and I fell in love.
11. These Tears Ain't Mine by Roma Di Luna - another Minneapolis group! Supportin' local music y'all. I missed the chance to see them perform last week and I'm still kicking myself.
12. Setback by the Constellations - I REALLY like this band. Their beats, their lyrics.
13. Shadow People by Dr Dog - Never heard of this band until I heard this song. Check under music tab for further details.
That's it, Folliers. Good night and happy listening....
For someone who LOVES to write, I haven't been doing much of that on here lately. I plan to make more of an effort from this day forward (just like me to make mid-year resolutions). I have a confession to make: I'm addicted to Twitter. If I could just cut my Twitter time in half, I would have so much more time to blog. BUT I do have to thank Twitter because if I wouldn't have been scrolling through the tweets of the 283 people, businesses, etc. that I follow, I wouldn't have won tickets to see the Gin Blossoms tomorrow night! I also want to thank www.vita.mn because they were giving the tickets away and I won them by simply tweeting "tickets, please!" If only everything in life could be that easy.
I'm hoping to have a good seat so I can snap a few pics and post them on here for my 2 folliers to enjoy. Also, they're playing at the Dakota Jazz Club (Minneapolis) and I've never been there and have always wanted to go (doubly excited).
Since we're on the subject of music, I feel the need to share the songs from my mixCD of the summer, which I cleverly titled "June 2010". The songs (purchased off iTunes) have been on constant rotation through out the summer. I found myself wondering if years from now, when I hear one of the songs from this mixCD, if I will think of the summer of 2010 the way I think about the summer of '93 when I hear Hey Jealousy from the Gin Blossoms. I love that music has that power (even bad music), to pull you back to certain moments in your life (even the bad ones).
So here's the list of songs I've been listening to a lot this summer (besides Atmosphere) and I feel you should get to know these bands (if you don't already). I owe 89.3 The Current a HUGE thank you as well because if it wasn't for listening to that station every day, I'm not sure I would have been introduced to such amazing music. Note: not all songs are new, as in released this year, but they are ALL good and that's what matters.
1. Free Energy by Free Energy - no this is not a misprint, the name of the song and the name of the band are one in the same. This song reminds me of youth. Pure and simple. Best line: "and I'm so disconnected, I'm never going to check back in".
2. American Slang by the Gaslight Anthem - this band has been around for years but I hadn't heard of them until The Current started playing this song. I was hooked. I like some of their other songs too but THIS one is my favorite. Also, I love Brian Fallon's voice.
3. Kick Drum Heart by the Avett Brothers - ahhhhh the Avett Brothers. I don't think I've ever heard a song from them I don't like but this one made the cut for this mixCD.
4. Crystalised by the XX - you know those songs you like, you can't explain why, you just do? Well that's how I feel about this song. Favorite line: "I'll forgive and forget, before I'm paralyzed".
5. Don't Haunt this Place by the Rural Alberta Advantage - another song about a break up, you ask? yes and it's a good one. I like quite a few of their songs but again, this one made the cut.
6. Set me Free by The Heavy - you've probably heard their song How You Like Me Now on that Kia commercial but this song is better.
7. Running with the Wolves by Cloud Cult - what can I say, I'm a sucker for MN bands. AND they make great music. Favorite line: "I need to feel something different for just a little while".
8. The Ends by Halloween, Alaska - Since they're a Minneapolis band, I'm hoping this means I'll be seeing them play live in the near future. Best line: "No matter what today pretends, no matter how you see the means, these are the ends".
9. Low Rising by the Swell Season - See previous post Better than Swell
10. The Cave by Mumford and Sons - this band just blows me away. First song I ever heard by them was Little Lion Man and I fell in love.
11. These Tears Ain't Mine by Roma Di Luna - another Minneapolis group! Supportin' local music y'all. I missed the chance to see them perform last week and I'm still kicking myself.
12. Setback by the Constellations - I REALLY like this band. Their beats, their lyrics.
13. Shadow People by Dr Dog - Never heard of this band until I heard this song. Check under music tab for further details.
That's it, Folliers. Good night and happy listening....
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