19 posts tagged “music”
I had the wonderful opportunity to catch the Bowerbirds in concert last night and I'm just as much in love with them in person as I am by ear. We showed up a bit early for some of Al's Bar's famous sweet potato fries and waited in anticipation for a few hours until they took the stage. This venue is one of my favorites, not for the sound, stage, or lights but because it's so intimate. There is a tiny little stage, a few booths and tables, little to no lighting and truth be told its a complete dive bar, but we love it anyway! I stood front row center to sway, sing and tap to the beat of their music, which was just as beautifully preformed as I had expected. The band members we so down to earth and I almost felt bad for them because the turnout was like nothing I had expected. I thought there would be lines, I though there would be crowds but my guess is there were only about 20 people there to actually watch the band. I knew they weren't popular, but I had no idea how unknown they really are. So enjoy and spread the word!
So this year I'd like to share my summer songs with you:
A few days have passed since the concert and I'm still finding myself giddy from the whole event. It was an unbelievable experience and a memory I'll never forget.
Jon and I arrived a few minutes after the gates opened, we'd payed a little extra for premium parking because of the horror stories I had heard from people about leaving the verizon amphitheater. We parked two rows from the main gate and after a quick walk and simple search we were heading our way into the venue. My biggest concern was If I were to be allowed to bring in my camera, the policy was no professional SLR cameras but as I explained to the security woman about my camera she just waved me through! And I'm so happy she did because I was able to get some fantastic shots from our 18th row seats, thanks to my 12x zoom! We found our seats and watched, a band I could really care less about, the Liars. It wasn't a bad show in fact the front man was an absolute hoot on stage, but I'm just not fond of screeching amps and lyrics like "blood, blood, blood x 30. Our seats weren't half bad though we sat extreme far right and had to stand multiple times to let the people in and out of our row, thankfully most of them were sweet about it. I couldn't complain though because a few hours later we took a walk mid song towards the top of the amphitheater and the back of the lawn to see the view. It was awful! I was counting my lucky stars to have such great tickets as we fought through drunken crowds and horrible acoustic echoes.
When Radiohead took the stage Jon and I felt like little kids, we giddily jumped up and down trying to get the best views and cheered as loudly as we could. Hearts pounding they opened and played every single song we wanted to hear plus more, a total of 25 songs! Hours of music and we danced like idiots in our seats, smiling ear to ear.
1. All I Need
2. Jigsaw Falling Into Place
3. Airbag
4. 15 Step
5. Nude
6. Kid A
7. Weird Fishes
8. The Gloaming
9. You And Whose Army?
10. Idioteque
11. Faust Arp
12. Videotape
13. Everything In Its Right Place
14. Reckoner
15. Optimistic
16. Bangers and Mash
17. Bodysnatchers
18. Exit Music (for a film)
19. Myxomatosis
20. My Iron Lung
21. There There
22. Fake Plastic Trees
23. Pyramid Song
24. House of Cards
25. Paranoid Android
It was more amazing than I would have ever imagined. A concert to remember.
I'll be updating with more images and video clips of the show, so keep an eye here.
My anticipation was waining as I arrived at the venue fifteen minutes before the doors opened and found a spot in line behind another 50 wide-eyed fans. I thought for sure I would be out of luck with this show being general admission, I had hoped to possibly see the band for maybe twenty minutes between dodging heavy shoulders and bearded heads. Who would have imagined that upon entry we find a nice spot second row stage right behind two friendly girls who are shorter than my five foot nothing. It was pure and absolute chance but I sank right in behind them, commenting quickly on how us short girls need to stick together. Only another earthquake could move me from my spot, legs spread wide arms on hips, elbows out, with plenty of room to move. Being as claustrophobic in crowds as I am you'd think concerts would be hell but I'm fine as long as I have space to breathe and I will defend that space, elbowing and stepping on line cutters in the process. I'm not a bruit of any sort, I just stand my ground. The doors opened at 7:00 and the opener didn't start playing until 9:00 with the main act coming on stage a little after 10:00. By that time standing my ground was getting harder and harder, the persistent slow shove from behind and to my sides made my long standing feet feel worse and I had no opportunity to sit without losing my ground. As Iron and Wine took the stage I had lost my room to both sides and back, but had kept the two feet between the front row girl and myself, just enough space to keep me sane.
It was perfect in every way and as I left the venue I smiled, though it was 1:00am, I was hungry and had been standing in the same two feet of space for the past six hours, pain shooting through my whole body, I still smiled. It was a show I'd remember for ever, the night we drove to Louisville to see Iron and Wine, the creativity and sound of their music and the amazing second row views I had. Purely unforgettable.
I've always said "if I were to see only one concert before I die, it would be Radiohead." I had the opportunity to while in college and passed because it was finals, I've been kicking myself ever since. They haven't been on tour in the US for years...but... they announced their upcoming US tour dates yesterday. I was planning to order tickets on Saturday when they are open to the general public but this morning I randomly discovered that they started selling tickets on pre-sale at their website. I snatched up two reserved seats, I'm sooooooo excited I think I'm going to explode!
Update: It seems they started selling tickets at 9am, I randomly stopped by the website and bought mine (heart pounding in my ears) at 9:11am and by 9:15 they were sold out of pre-sale tickets. A fifteen minute window of pure luck!
Share a song you recently realized you can't get enough of... no matter how many times you listen to it.
Audio: What's your favorite carol or holiday song?
It's not one of the most traditional holiday songs, but this is always playing in my home around this time of year... in fact the whole five disk "Sujfan Stevens presents songs for Christmas" album is on repeat.
Oh my friends I've begun to worry right
Where I should be grateful I should be satisfied
Oh my heart I would clap and dance in place
With my friends I have so much pleasure to embrace
But my heart is returned to sister winter
But my heart is as cold as iceOh my thoughts I return to summer time
When I kissed your ankle I kissed you through the night
All my gifts I gave everything to you
Your strange imagination
You threw it all awayNow my heart is returned to sister winter
Now my heart is as cold as iceAll my friends, I've returned to sister winter
All my friends, I apologize, apologize
All my friends, I've returned to sister winter
All my friends, I apologize, apologize
All my friends, I've returned to sister winter
All my friends, I apologize, apologizeLa la la la la...
And my friends, I've returned to wish you all the best
And my friends, I've returned to wish you all the best
And my friends, I've returned to wish you all the best
And my friends, I've returned to wish you a Happy ChristmasTo wish you a Happy Christmas
To wish you a Happy Christmas
To wish you a Happy Christmas
Video: Show us a music video you'd gladly watch over and over again.
