I know I haven’t been the world’s best about posting Weekly Musical Discoveries. Maybe it should be re-titles “Randomly-Posted Musical Discoveries.” The sad truth is that I haven’t listened to much new music lately. I seem to replay the same songs every time I get in my truck, wishing I would put something new on my iPhone… but I don’t. However, I do love this song. I honestly feel like this sometimes, unfortunately. Give it a listen.

Wait, I’m wrong
Should have done better than this
Please, I’ll be strong
I’m finding it hard to resist
So show me what I’m looking for

CHORUS
Save me, I’m lost
Oh lord, I’ve been waiting for you
I’ll pay any cost
Save me from being confused
Show me what I’m looking for
Show me what I’m looking for…oh lord

Don’t let go
I’ve wanted this far too long
Mistakes become regrets
I’ve learned to love abuse
Please show me what I’m looking for

CHORUS
Save me, I’m lost
Oh lord, I’ve been waiting for you
I’ll pay any cost
Save me from being confused
Show me what I’m looking for
Show me what I’m looking for…oh lord

Show me what I’m looking for
Show me what I’m looking for
Show me what I’m looking for

CHORUS
Save me, I’m lost
Oh lord, I’ve been waiting for you
I’ll pay any cost
Just save me from being confused
Wait, I’m wrong
I can’t do better than this
I’ll pay any cost
Save me from being confused
Show me what I’m looking for
Show me what I’m looking for
Show me what I’m looking for
Show me what I’m looking for…oh lord

Sometimes shit goes wrong. A friend of mine just had her relationship end, and she doesn’t sound too happy about it. Vengeful, in fact. Nice time for this:

Links to included bands: Beck, Carolina Liar, Counting Crows, Elbow, Florence and the Machine, Frightened Rabbit, Incubus, Keane, The Low Anthem, Miike Snow, Pela, Pictures of Then, Radiohead, Secret Machines, The Stills, The Helio Sequence, The National

Massy Hall in, Toronto, is one of the best venues to see a concert, in my humble opinion. With its spectacularly charming character and vaudeville style architecture , it’s the jewel of old Toronto. One can feel the ghosts of the past performers that have graced that stage. With its intimate setting, the place just buzzes. I have seen so many fantastic artists there, Dallas Green , Hawskley Workman and Tori Amos. All AWESOME.

So, when I had the opportunity to see my Favorite artisit Rob Thomas there, of course I was all over that! I WAS THERE! My good friend agreed to go with me to the event. We have been there so many times we have a routine. We park at the Eaton Centre and got to Baton Rouge for a bite to eat before hand. Most of the time we do not know who will open the show, and we like the idea of being surprised and delightfully, always are.

Well, this night was no exception. We made our way over after eating dinner, and decided to go downstairs to check out the merchandise, when we got quite a surprise. What a thrill to see Carolina Liar! Such a great band! I had just given my niece my only cd of them, because I learned she liked them too. I had not yet gotten another copy for myself. Well, not only were they there but they were there signing autographs for the very same cd!

Talk about karma! Rob Thomas had brought my karma to Massey Hall! I was ecstatic!

Then, when we went to get our seats we realized that not only were Carolina Liar there, but One Republic was also there! WOW! What an awesome experience! One for the memory books! And of Course Rob Thomas’ performance was flawless!

Massey Hall never lets me down, and neither does Rob!

When was the last time you went to a rock concert? We hadn’t been in “too long to mention” and the experience certainly has changed.

We set out last might to see One Republic, Rob Thomas and Carolina Liar, at the beautiful landmark Beacon Theatre in New York City.

The show opened with a fairly new group called Carolina Liar. We had never heard of them before, but we did recognize “Show Me What I’m Looking For”, their current single.

The room was about 1/3 full at that point, but those of us that were there enjoyed their energetic performance.

We were struck by a group of  “50 somethings” swaying and dancing in front of the stage.  “Aww, how cute”, we remarked, ” They must be the band’s mothers!” It turned out they were not such an anomaly after all.

Soon after, One Republic came on, and truly rocked the house. The venue started to fill up, and by the time Rob Thomas stepped on the stage, the place was packed. What was shocking was the profile of those that were there.

Across the aisle, was a cute spectacle clad grey haired couple, on a big night out without the grandkids.

Gaggles of 40-ish woman wearing “mom jeans” and sipping Cosmos were on their feet, flabby arms in the air, swaying to the music. A well behaved but responsive crowd, singing along to the LITE FM hits.

As the show neared the end, a full 4 hours after it began, people were scampering for the door. Rushing home to relieve the babysitter, or just past their bedtimes?

We all enjoyed the show, (thanks, Walter!) and can’t wait to see another one. Apparently, we fit right in, although my jeans are way cooler, and my arms are much more toned!

“Just saying ……“

Photo: Indigo Jones

“Wait, I’m wrong
Should’ve done better than this
Please, I’ll be strong
I’m finding it hard to resist
So show me what I’m looking for
Save me, I’m lost
Oh Lord I’ve been waiting for you
I’ll pay any cost
Save me from being confused
Show me what I’m looking for”

So today I talked to Amanda. She got her acceptance letter from Midwestern.

I feel like I am so behind; Like mine are never going to come.

I applied online two weeks ago and I only got a confirmation email. The guy when I visited said three to five business days was the time it takes for them to respond through the mail. I am dying of anticipation. I want to know.

I want to be able to put my name on the college list. The top too, because I won’t be there past December.

“On aBut if we learn to think of it as anticipation, as learning, as growing, if we think of the time we spend waiting for the big things of life as an opportunity instead of a passing of time, what wonderful horizons open out! “
-Anna Neagle
 lighter note…James is a pretty good phone conversator. I enjoy talking to him.

Why don’t I talk to anyone else? Why have I seperated myself from my friends?

I don’t know but I am going to start making new ones and reunite with my old ones.

I need to make friends at church. I need to quit being antimidated.

You’re probably a group of four or three and after whatever it is that you had to do, you get into the car. So how is it that you’re sitting around in order to avoid an awkward situation?

Imagine there are two people who’re dating, and one other chic who’s just a friend. And it’s the chic’s car. So obviously, she’s going to be the one who’s going to be driving. So duh, the guy’s not going to sit in front with her. The girl is. And the guy sits right at the back, while the chics throw him sarcastic looks in the mirror.

And the next morning, he’s probably going to die of shame if he’s stooopid, because he would want to take the reigns (being steering wheel) and ride the horsie himself.

Or, the couple’s sitting in front and the other chic’s left at the back while the continue with their endearment and such making the circumstance not just awkward but also embarrassing

x EdgyShark x

“The latest magical collection of Thomas-crafted inspiration is his second solo album, cradlesong. The new album follows his 2005 multiplatinum solo debut, Something To Be, which made history as the first album by a male artist from a rock or pop group to debut at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 since the chart was launched 50 years earlier. The album earned a pair of Grammy nominations and spawned a string of hit singles, including the smash “Lonely No More” – which was #1 in 15 countries.” per Artist direct.com

Rob Thomas kicked off his US Tour, Cradlesong in September 2009, and is currently playing a few West coast venues. I just had the opportunity to attend the Gibson Amphitheatre show this week.

I actually received my free ticket for the event from my very unfortunate friend who ended up sick that evening. Her loss was my gain!! This isn’t a typical concert I would attend, but I was thankful for the opportunity to go experience new music. I enjoy and appreciate a wide realm of live music, and I must say, I was entertained all night long!

First off was Carolina Liar. This is a cool band that got things started that evening. We were running a bit late to arrive, dealing with L.A. traffic, but I liked what I was able to hear of Carolina Liar.

OneRepublic at Gibson Amphitheatre

OneRepublic took the stage next. I’ve heard a few of their songs before, but wasn’t really familiar with them. I thought they were fabulous, especially when they sang,  “All the Right Moves” (now playing on MTV and VH1) “Apologize“, “Secrets”, “Everbody Loves Me”, “Good Life”, ”Stop and Stare” and also when they sang, ”Shout” with the help of Carolina Liar. We were on our feet rockin out and already having a good time. I told my friends at the end of the set that I was already a very satisfied concert go-er!  …and we still had the main event next!

RT performing at Gibson Amphitheatre

Rob Thomas came on the stage, and everyone went wild, including my two friends. We were all on our feet dancing the whole time, which I love… I’m used to dancing through five-hour concerts, nonstop and I was afraid this crowd might just sit in their seats, but I was wrong! Everyone was dancing and smiling and singing along with the words to every tune. It was contagious.. even though I don’t know all of the words, a lot of songs were familiar and fun to hear performed live. I respect an artist or band when they sound even better in person, like they did that evening.

We heard “Something to Be” and, “Lonely No More“, from his first solo debut album, along with songs from the new album, including title song, “Cradlesong“, “Mockingbird“, and “Her Diamonds“, which is the first single from the new album, and was written about Rob’s wife, Marisol and her long time illness. This has been Thomas’ best performing single since his 2005 hit “Lonely No More.”

Rob Thomas performing in Los Angeles, Oct 2009

I have to admit though, my one friend, who is a huge Rob fan, had to say she had tons of fun, but she was hoping Rob would have brought it a little harder during the concert. I was surprised to hear that, but she is a true fan, so I had to take her word for it. My only negative observation was that his pants seemed a bit too tight. But there were no complaints, only kudos as we purchased our very cool concert t-shirts and blasted more RT music for the ride home.

When I got home, I looked up some of the recent shows, which included an epic show in San Jose with Carlos Santana joining in for the encore. 

There were songs Rob didn’t play in L.A., and my hopes are that he changes up his shows from concert to concert. I know I fully enjoyed the evening, and I would go again to see any of these three bands play in concert again.

I noted the upcoming show in Las Vegas this Saturday October 24th… and you know it’s ALWAYS a fun time in Vegas!  Great reason to go this weekend, especially if you are going to see a concert! They have tons of last minute deals on Vegas.com. And tickets to see Rob Thomas are still available through JiffyTickets.com.

Make plans to catch one of these concerts if you can… Good date night, or fun night out with the girls!!!

3 amigos...

(I apologize for the poor photo quality.. I was afraid they wouldn’t let me in the concert with my camera, so Blackberry had to do!)

(via misswallflower)

I might as well celebrate my comeback with new songs.

Carolina Liar – “Beautiful World”

I’ve noticed how I have been recently listening to music rather than the usual pop, Taylor Swift country, and show tunes that I listen to. “Beautiful World” is a beautiful song, and I think that the lyrics are just so amazing. The melody never fails to make me feel nostalgic about my last few days of summer. I enjoyed them alone, passing by buildings, watching people, riding trains, and being carefree for the first time in months. And I noticed, it really is a beautiful world.

Glee Cast – “Don’t Stop Believin’”

Now this song, I can’t get out of my head, from the moment I heard it. I have not yet heard the original, but I do think that the rendition is just so beautiful. The first few days of listening to this song just makes me feel emotional. I am reminded of my passion for performing, something that I hope to pursue in the future. Leah Michele’s voice is a lot like Lea Salonga’s which is amazing because I absolutely like the both of them. And her blending with Cory Monteith is just fantamazingly beautiful. The fact that Cory Monteith has no professional experience of singing in the past gives the song plus points just for.

Shiny Toy Guns – “Season of Love”

Taking the place of Bowling For Soup’s “I Melt With You” is a single by the Shiny Toy Guns. It’s definitely my all-time favorite song now. The lyric patterns and the melody are very repetitive, regardless, I have said it before and I will say it again – the song defines love so beautifully it’s hard not to love it.

Carolina Liar’s song Show Me What I’m Looking For has been in my head off and on over the long weekend. There’s some debate about whether the theme is about seeking guidance from God . . . Whether it was the band’s intention or not, I can see how this idea would come through the “save me” lyrics . . . 

You don’t want to know what your finger is capable of feeling like after writing 36 pages of a business studies paper. If you do, well, you can feel my pain. My finger HURTS. And that too, the one that’s the most vulnerable. *Aww* So how could I expect myself to play on a Fender Squier Strat after that?

By the way, band practice was fun That garage is really a cool place.

Although, everything’s so infuriating. I see shades of purple everywhere. I’m just so bugged.

And Jinx, I’m sorry but someone stole your jeans from my bag. I don’t believe how cheap people can be. I’d gone to give my exam and when I came back, it was gone and the contents of my bag were strewn everywhere.

I’m going to try and look for it.

They weren’t even insured. (D’affairs etudiez blague). While writing, I realized four out of the trente-six pages were wet. I was assured that I was insured for freight against that and would be receiving compensation in terms of Madame Sen Ghosh not asking me any questions as to whether I *sharked* on my paper.

I ate FOUR huuuge cookies today. If I’m not going to hell then who is?

Somebody do something to this sore finger, typing’s becoming an issue now! I’m not even closely excited about tomorrow. I’m just waiting for Sex And The City tonight which needless to say isn’t even all that great. And there’s no E! News, So You Think You Can Dance has all the shite dancers, I’m already done with today’s dose of Friends, and there wasn’t even any French to brighten up my spirit.

So I’m now taking a “Who Do You End Up With In A Jane Austen Book” quiz on facebook.

The verdict’s out. It’s John Willoughby. I’ve got to read Sense and Sensibility. Soon.

Oh Willoughby, you sneaky li’l thang.

x EdgyShark x

P.S. I don’t know why I said that (@ thang.)

I have had the song Show Me What I’m looking for by Carolina Liar stuck in my head for days now.  You most likely have hear the song some where.  If not give it a listen so it can be stuck in your head as well.

..

It’s weird how the senses work. Particularly considering the theory of conditioning, Pavlov’s dog and all of that stuff psychology majors love. How music can connect to a memory, a particular food to a time in your life. I was thinking about how many songs, foods, scents, even TV shows, remind of the most specific times in my life. Bon Iver’s “Skinny Love”=2nd semester freshman year, sitting in my dorm room. That song makes me think of cold dorm floors, fluoresecent lights, and Organic Chemistry. Somehow Poptarts remind me of that time too. I know whenever I listen to “Show Me What I’m Looking For” by Carolina Liar I will think of this summer, MCATs and headaches from staring at my computer screen. Car exhaust never fails to remind me of Asmara, Eritrea, when I visited back home with my family when I was 16. Cigarette smoke either reminds me of my first concert or anywhere in Paris. Bad coffee of sophomore year. Strangely, “You Found Me” by Kelly Clarkson=Veronica Mars & Logan’s motel kiss. And of course every good College Park student who goes to class will be reminded of their college days when they have blisters on their feet and are sweating after walking 25 minutes in the sun. Memory is totally weird.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkwVTK10cwQ

Darn I love it.

This song soars

Carolina Liar is a newer band with a southern-rock feel to their music.  Based off what I’ve heard from them so far, I like them.  I downloaded their song “Show me what I’m looking for” a few weeks back off of iTunes and it came on my ipod yesterday while it was on shuffle.  The lyrics really struck me more than they have all the other times I’d listened to the song.  Here’s the video/song:

In the video, you see the singer in different places representing what some people “are looking for” (sex, money, friends, fun) all the while singing:

Save me, I’m lost
Oh lord, I’ve been waiting for you
I’ll pay any cost
Save me from being confused
Show me what I’m looking for
Show me what I’m looking for… oh Lord

What are you counting on for peace and meaning in life?  There are three questions we all ask ourselves, and how we answer them will determine how we spend our lives:

1. Who am I? (Identity)
2. Why am I here? (Purpose)
3. Where do I belong? (Belonging)

This song reminds me of those questions and challenges me to constantly be reminding myself to cling to the knowledge that God made me in his image to serve and love him and to show his amazing love to others so that they would know His love too.

Where are you seeking answers to these big questions?

Jesus says: “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Have you ever fallen in love with a band, their lyrics, their sound, everything, only to find out later that they really aren’t very good without the help of sound equipment?

Carolina Liar quickly became my current musical band wagon to joy ride with as soon as I heard the song in the video above. Their lyrics, to me, have just the right mixure of 21st century cliche and enough originality that they still carry meaning:

“Don’t let go
I’ve wanted this far too long
Mistakes become regrets
I’ve learned to love abuse
Please show me what I’m looking for

Save me, I’m lost
Oh lord, I’ve been waiting for you
I’ll pay any cost
Just save me from being confused
Wait, I’m wrong
I can’t do better than this
I’ll pay any cost
Save me from being confused
Show me what I’m looking for”

Ahh…my inner masochist sings with delight!

Even so, today I heard them play live. Well, actually I watched it on YouTube, but you know what I mean. And you know what? They stink. The vocals are shaky at best, wavering in and out of tune and above and below key, and the music is not even sharp. The music video is good though, so just watch it.

This semester my classes are very diverse. I have a foreign language class with a teacher whose energy level, I feel, has the potential to change the world with its boisterous and bubbly quality (She’s hyper). A literature survey class with an equally hyper, slighly peculiar, but surprisingly brilliant hippie follows that one. Then I have a reading and discussion class on political theory, focusing on the writings of Rousseau and Machiavelli. There’s also a class on literary criticism that I fear may actually ruin writing for me…sometimes dissecting things is not a good idea. And finally, Creative Writing, the class I am both dreading and anticipating the most.

Needless to say, my spastic mind will have its work cut out for it with all the possible directions available to spin off into.

My worry is that the waterfall of thoughts I have been expelling lately will be damned up by the influx of information that will be force-fed into me this term. Will I still be able to formulate my own ideas while being taught to implement so many others?

As William Blake said: “I must create a system of my own or be enslaved by another man’s.” Thus, I feel that even though it is important to learn all of these theories and ideas that our “knowledge” is based upon, I still have to somehow formulate my own system of thought. I just don’t know how to do that yet. I feel like I’m painting the blank canvas that is my mind with white paint, like I’m not accomplishing anything but a tired spirit.

I am beginning to realize that the only thing I truly know how to do is learn. Being in school is all I have ever done…it’s all I know, and while I am fully aware that one never stops learning, I wonder how I will survive once I leave the safety of the classroom.

Oh well, I leave you with a new poem. It’s not complete yet, meaning I still am not comfortable with it fully so it might not be a finished product. Please let me know what you think.

Clean Slate

Peeling paint and tattered corners fade
            into pure white nothing.
                        The vast emptiness shines with contempt towards something.

With nothing to see, my eyes praise the darkness
            and I remain uninspired.
                       The emptiness calls for me to look but my eyes are too tired.

Empty walls fuel blind souls.
Blind souls paint empty walls.

“There’s a southern bound train tomorrow
Takes us out of this dirty town
Chase the sun back to the west coast
In eight hours, we’re California bound
We’re California bound“

- California Bound, Carolina Liar

I recently purchased the CD Coming to Terms by the band Carolina Liar and I am really loving the CD as well as their music. One of my favourite tracks is called “California Bound” where the lyrics above originate.

Listening to that song reminded me about this road trip my friends and I plan on taking. After high school, we plan on driving across Canada (via, of course, the Trans Canada Highway). We also would like to take the Pacific Coast Highway route and make our way across California. Hence the reason why I thought about this trip whilst listening to the aforementioned song.

I’ve got a lot of things that I’d like to do once high school is over. First and foremost, though, I hope to be able to take a road trip with 2 of my very dear friends. It should be a lot of fun, we’ll get to drive and maybe, just maybe we’ll be able to do the trip with a red jeep that my friend is so desperately wanting. We’ll get to put down the roof, listen to some great music and let our hair billow in the wind… It should be fun.

Or have I been hearing that song, “Show Me What I’m Looking For” by Carolina Liar, just about everywhere I turn? I say this because I had just watched season 3 episode 2 of Kyle XY, where this song was blatantly featured. Yes, it is a bit late for me to be watching Kyle XY, for the series finale had aired months ago. But that isn’t the direction that I’m headed with this blog.

This song really is everywhere, from television show promotions, to movie trailers, to commercials. Is exploitation the right word? I suppose not, because the people who wish to use the song in their advertising must ask for permission to use it. But, isn’t it extremely overdone, or perhaps, overrated? Don’t get me wrong, I think the song is great. I have it on my iPod myself. The first time I heard it, I enjoyed it very much. But I can’t help but think that such a great song will become a mainstream advertising staple.

So far, I can think of two movie trailers, two televisions promotions, and one television show that used this song. I don’t think these are the last ones.

Not a big deal, just a thought.

Remember that one time at blog camp when I accepted the fact that I was going to see Post Grad because of its impressive trifecta of attractive male leads, excellent supporting cast members, and an infectious final song at the trailer’s end?  Sure, that song has elsewhere been described as mediocre, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t grab you by your ovaries (real or imaginary) and make you swell up with the sort of emotional angst and swooning romanticism that can only happen when your pop culture diet includes Josh-Schwartz-produced teen soap operas and the entirety of of Mandy Moore’s filmography.  Seriously, it’s the trailer song that just doesn’t quit (at turning you into an teenage girl):

Oh man, is it my heavy flow day for my wide-set vagina?  Nope, it’s just the inimitable sounds of Carolina Liar that have you rooting for Alexis Bledel to figure out her post-grad work situation and get her man.  That’s just how generipop works.

But, before I told you, I bet you too were asking yourself, “Just what the hell is that damn song in the Post Grad trailer?” when you first heard it.  I asked that question months ago and Shmathan quickly provided the answer.  Little did I know I’d apparently asked my first Hard-Hitting Question, a question that hits so hard that plenty of others (likely teenage girls) found themselves Googling the same question.  And so now there’s this:

Nobody Puts Baby in a Horner is the number one blog in telling you what the song in that Post Grad trailer is!  So kiss my grits, real websites like Trailer Addict and MTV.com; and eat my shorts, Pajiba!  Nobody Puts Baby in a Horner has beaten you all (at asking questions most pertinent to teenage girls).  That’s certainly a thing to be number one at, right?

Whatever, I’ll take it!

A whole lot of crooning after and debating about whether Romain Jerome’s classier than Rolex, I fished down some cannelloni *Sin for the day committed* a few puchkas, although they weren’t even worth it, and then just enjoyed the drive back home listening to Carolina Liar.

Tomorrow’ll probably be more productive, so to speak.

x EdgyShark x