There is no moon
Reflecting in your eyes
No romantic midnight skies
No motive to disguise

*jules

You only love me when I’m leaving,  
You only love me ‘cause I’m leaving,
You only love me when I’m leaving,
You only love me ‘cause I’m leaving tonight!

[EDIT: This didn't work the first time I posted it, as I didn't understand how to embed the YouTube links properly. All is now well!]

Hey all! I told Brian that when we started this blog that we should have a little back-and-forth about various music that we really dig. Then he farted. These aren’t in any order – just listing them as they pop in my head.

Tenth Planet – Ghosts (Vincent de Moor Remix)

Not a huge dance/trance fan, but I like Vincent de Moor’s remix of Tenth Planet’s “Ghosts.” My favorite part starts around 2:10. Not sure where I originally heard this one. Think it may have been on somebody’s World of Warcraft PVP video. Wow, what does that say about me?

DeVotchKa – How It Ends

This is one of those tunes that you come across when a friend-of-a-friend mentions this group in passing and this is the first result that pops up in a Google search. Then you go find that friend-of-a-friend and do a jumping high-five!

Mae – We’re So Far Away

I seem to remember liking this song a little more about, say, 3 to 4 years ago when I first heard it. However, I still always enjoy a good piano-based tune. The lyrics kinda suck – yeah, I said it! – but the general melody and the moment at 2:20 (right after the stupid “stars” noise – you can’t miss it, unfortunately) make up for it. Not bad, it just didn’t age well in my personal music timeline.

Kim Sa Rang – Innocence

Hey, remember the group Limp Bizkit? Well this is what they’d sound like if Durst sang in Korean. And the band was good.

Yasunori Mitsuda, Composer / London Philharmonic Orchestra – Zarathustra (from the game Xenosaga)

A fucking orchestra? You’re damn right, asshole! I’ve been a gamer my whole life, and as I age I need my games to mature along with me. I didn’t start listening to video game soundtracks and scores until about 10 years ago, but when there’s movie-quality scores being composed by the likes of Yasunori Mitsuda (presented here) or Nobuo Uematsu, I’m kind of upset I didn’t start paying attention sooner. This song STILL gives me chills at the 1:11 mark, and I don’t think anyone could have done it better than the London Philharmonic!

Well, I think it’s best to top off at five when linking to so many videos. I hope this catches on, and I’m interested what bro has for his first few selections!

–Brent

One of my favorite things to do in the 21st century is burn CDs for people. Partly, it is the narcissistic belief that I listen to cooler music than anyone else on earth (Not true! My friends constantly surprise and delight me with new and wonderful music I have never heard before.)

Anywhatthehellhappenedtonapster, I made a CD for a friend and I’ve pretty much been listening to it on repeat for a week or so. (Eventually, I will give her the CD – just.not.yet.)

So I wanted to share it with yalls tonight because obviously, in my infinite wisdom narcissism, I have chosen songs that are ideal for a nice, leisurely jog in the park. Some of them are new, and some are pretty old, but all of them are awesome.

My morning jacket – one big holiday (live)
elbow – the bones of you
matisyahu – one day
Del tha funkee homosapien feat. dinosaur jr. – missing link
Toots & the Maytals – Take me home, country road
Devotchka – queen of the surface streets
Wilco – Jesus, Etc.
Jimmy eat world – bleed american
Raconteurs – steady as she goes
Them crooked vultures – mind eraser, no chaser
The Shins – Phantom Limb
Deadboy & the Elephantmen – Stop, I’m already dead
dangermouse & jemini – ghetto pop life
Dropkick Murphys – Shipping up to Boston
Them crooked vultures – new fang
social d – dear lover
XTC – Dear God
de la soul, teenage fanclub – Fallin’

I go through phases – sometimes I’ll go for weeks on end listening to nothing but death metal, then I’ll listen to ambient/electronic. Then bluegrass. This week, I appear to be on an alt rock kick.

Pay special attention to Them Crooked Vultures – Keith Buckley of Every Time I Die says this band just might save rock n roll…

I think he’s right.

• La otra orilla – Los Enemigos
• Fallen from the sky – Glen Hansard
• Venus – Air
• Friend is a four letter word – Cake
• Til the end of time – Devotchka
• Back to the start – Polly Paulusma
• Black gives way to blue – Alice in Chains
• William’s last words – Manic Street Preachers
• Where did all the love go? – Kasabian
• Secret door – Arctic Monkeys

Here is a nice, self-indulgently moody mixtape for the fall weather. I’m not one to give you background music, so there are a few strange tracks in there, but I hope you enjoy it anyway.

The Greatest Conversation – Autumn Mixtape

Download

Tracklisting:

1. Portishead – Deep Water

2. Marianne Faithful – Witches’ Song

3. DeVotchKa – This Place Is Haunted

4. Röyksopp – Silver Cruiser

5. Clark – Frau Wav

6. Elbow – Weather To Fly

7. Ralph Towner – Élan Vital

8. Kyle Eastwood – September Nights

9. The Swell Season – The Rain

10. Keith Caputo – The Girl I Love (Unfinished)

11. Strength in Numbers – No Apologies

12. Ólöf Arnalds – Englar Og Dárar

Hola a todos,  espero puedan ayudarme con mi trabajo de tesis contestando una pequeña encuesta:

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gracias de antemano:

y como recompensa mas fotos de chicas

Y la primera aparicion en este Blog de Megan Fox no podria ser de otra forma

I’m just on the way to the Stadio Olimpic to try and get this ticket, it doesn’t sound overly promising though from what people have been saying. Also, as I don’t have a passport even if they are selling them to foreigners they might not let me get one without it, hopefully my driving license will be enough if it does come to that.

The stop where we needed to get off the metro and grab a bus is right near the Vatican and as it was 11:45 on a Sunday, The Big P was in the middle of his stuff. So we went and had a butchers at that.

On the way down there was a nun with a massive arse in front of us and as I pointed this out to my Australian pal, I tripped over and nearly went flying. Divine intervention? Who knows but I wasn’t risking any further wrath in case a vilolent thunderbolt with my name on it was next up.

I’m not religous (agnostic as it happens) but it was pretty special to see The Pope in a place as powerful as that. I’ll go back to Vatican City on Tuesday and see the Cathedral, museum etc. then.

Well that was a complete waste of time, half the day pretty much gone and I won’t be seeing Roma vs Livorno. After loads of messing about walking around the ground and surrounding areas and getting conflicting views from various people (official and otherwise) about where and if you can get tickets, it finally seems that for security reasons tickets are only in sale to Rome residents. Boo. I hope Livorno leather you Roma (which as it transpired is what happened, well Livorno won 1-0 anyway).

I can’t say I’m enjoying my Rome experience overly so far, I’m not having much luck. Though there’s that much to see I’m sure I’ll have enjoyed it a lot more by the time I leave.

Now I’m going to take a few sights in on my way to a bar that is supposed to be showing the City vs Fulham game.

Castel Sant Angelo, Piazza del Popolo, the Spanish steps (not very impressive) and the Fontana di Trevi (very impressive) were all gazed upon. The bigger stuff like the Pantheon (this trip has been enlightening as I used to think that and the Parthenon were one in the same which always had me confused) and the Colosseum will all be done properly on Tuesday, hopefully with transit between them being via a hired PX125.

I found the pub, an Irish one (of course) named Scholars Lounge and it was absolutely heaving because of the Liverpool vs Rags game. 85% of them were Scousers (well, it sounded like 0.3% of them were actual Scousers, but they were supporting Liverpool anyway). The bar staff ensured me that the City match would be on the other big screen and indeed it was, I however was the only person in a completely full pub glancing that way.

At 5 and a half € a pint I felt it wise to do my best student impression and nursed one for the whole game.

It was annoying to only come away with 1 point when we were cruising easily to 3, it was a very sloppy way to surrender the 2 extra points. But other results weren’t too bad so it’s still very tight at the top.

Today while mooching around Rome I’ve been listening to ‘How it Ends’, which is an earlier album by DeVotchKa than the one I mentioned yesterday. It’s very much with the same dark film score vibe, haunting and rewarding. I’m going to have to try and get hold of the rest or their stuff because it seems right up my cul-de-sac.

I’ve just purchased my train tickets for tomorrow, the return train is just over an hour after I get to Napoli but that should be more than long enough to pick-up my documents and get back to the station. What a ball ache though.

Now I’ve just ordered gnocchi alla Bolognese from a cafe near the hostel, €7. I won’t mind so much if it’s nice and a decent portion. It’s a shame the hostel doesn’t have a kitchen or I’d save a decent wedge. The days of a drink with my tea are long gone, Western Europe is a different beast.

It was pretty nice but I’m still starving, it felt like a starter.

Rome certainly is a place full of historical wonders and amazing architecture, but it is a bit too touristy for my liking, in terms of the tourists themselves and the ecosystem set up around them. I think I would hate it in the peak season. I much prefer the naturalness of Naples.

One of my very favorite movie series is “Rocky.”  Sylvester Stallone admirably wrote the scripts for these movies, scripts Mr. Stallone says were inspired by the word of God and would not have happened without God’s assistance. 

Sylvester Stallone has stated, with regard to his Rocky scripts, that he believes “…we need the God-fearing script, the script that really deals with compassion and deals with the word of Jesus and God.  The last thing Rocky hears before he enters the ring in Rocky VI is scripture, and that’s what gives him strength.  People need to hear that sort of message.“  So true Mr. Stallone, so true. 

With “Rocky Balboa,” Stallone has stated that he wanted the movie to reflect his (Stallone’s) conviction that life “…is about following Christ, not battling it out alone.”  These movies all impart a message of redemption, of perserverance against all odds, of unwavering faith, of integrity, of courage, of love, committment and dedication and, ultimately, of victory and purpose.

The last entry in the “Rocky” series – “Rocky Balboa” – is perhaps one of my favorites.  There is a scene wherein Rocky is attempting to obtain his boxing license.  He is appearing before the boxing commission/board and they are denying Rocky his license. With a passage that strikes close to home for a multitude of reasons, Rocky tells the commission -

“I mean you shouldn’t be asking people to come down here and pay the freight on something they pay it, but it still ain’t good enough, I mean you think that’s right? I mean maybe you’re doing your job but why you gotta stop me from doing mine? Cause if you’re willing to go through all the battling you got to go through to get where you want to get, who’s got the right to stop you? I mean maybe some of you guys got something you never finished, something you really want to do, something you never said to someone, something… and you’re told no, even after you paid your dues? Who’s got the right to tell you that, who? Nobody! It’s your right to listen to your gut, it ain’t nobody’s right to say ’no’ after you earned the right to be where you want to be and do what you want to do!… You know, the older I get the more things I gotta leave behind, that’s life. The only thing I’m asking you guys to leave on the table… is what’s right. “

Powerful indeed, and dead-on accurate.  There is another incredibly moving scene wherein Rocky is talking to his son – a son with whom Rocky is having a rather tenuous relationship.  Rocky tells his son:

“You ain’t gonna believe this, but you used to fit right here. [taps on the inside of his hand]   I’d hold you up to say to your mother, ‘this kid’s gonna be the best kid in the world. This kid’s gonna be somebody better than anybody I ever knew.’ And you grew up good and wonderful. It was great just watching you, every day was like a privilige. Then the time come for you to be your own man and take on the world, and you did. But somewhere along the line, you changed. You stopped being you. You let people stick a finger in your face and tell you you’re no good. And when things got hard, you started looking for something to blame, like a big shadow. Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that! I’m always gonna love you no matter what. No matter what happens. You’re my son and you’re my blood. You’re the best thing in my life. But until you start believing in yourself, ya ain’t gonna have a life. Don’t forget to visit your mother. “  [Adrian has passed away at this point - having died of cancer.  Rocky is referring to visiting her grave.]

I discovered this montage/tribute a while back, made by SaiyanImpostor1, over on Youtube and was always impressed by it.  This tribute utilizes “How It Ends” by Devotchka and is, frankly, an incredibly beautiful and moving tribute to Rocky.  It captures well the messages of “Rocky Balboa” and I felt it was – finally – worth sharing here.  Enjoy:

On the way to the station today I saw those savoury delights that I had 2 of yesterday for tea. I can confirm that they are called a Panini Napoletani (or Naples butty to you and me, though my predictive text just tried to change it to Naples bitty which is something very different indeed). I’ve now had 3 of them in the space of 17 hours.

As per usual I just made the train, after getting my ticket via the machine and my cash card. I noticed it said remember to stamp the ticket before boarding, I didn’t see anywhere to do this though and as it was about to leave I just got on anyway. I played the dumb tourist (rather too well) and the inspector explained the process to me but let me off the €50 fine. Phew.

First task when I get to Rome, get a ticket for the match tomorrow. I’ve compiled a list of places that sell them, now I’ve got to hope one of them is close enough to the hostel for me to get there before it closes. Wish me luck readers.

On the train I’ve been listening to DeVotchKa who I’d heard of but never heard anything by before. An American girl in Montenegro recommended them so I looked them up on Spotify.

‘A Mad and Faithful Telling’ is an album that won’t be for everyone but it’s bewildering mix of styles and dark film score qualities appeal to me greatly. It’s a strange fusion of Balkans (the good kind!), Mariachi, French accordion, Russian folk, gypsy jazz (I may have just made that term up) and sweeping strings all fronted by someone sounding like a Feargal Sharkey. It’s blended together with magnificent results.

When I arrived in Rome my day begun to take a turn for the worse. As I checked into the hostel they asked for my passport and it then dawned on me that it was sat safely in the locker (together with my spare cash card and the paper part of my driving license) that I had handed the key over in the morning at my last hostel in Napoli. Brilliant.

It was lucky I had the card part of my license as I wouldn’t have even been able to check in to this one. I’ve spoken to the bloke at the one in Napoli and he has it waiting for me so I will have to get the train there and back again on Monday which will pretty much take most of the day leaving me only 1 proper full day (if I get to go to the footy tomorrow) to see Rome. It will also cost me another 20 odd Euros in fares.

Oh well, it could be a lot worse as at least I know where it is. That’s the problem when you’re tired trying and constantly organising loads of stuff though, at some point you are bound to make a mistake.

So by the time I’d sorted all this out it was too late to attempt to get a ticket for Roma vs Livorno. Now I have to hope that you can get them on the day from somewhere.

As was expected with the way things were going, my evening eating ventures didn’t work out too swell. Me and a lad from Australia (an Aussie in a hostel, fancy that) went looking for some cheap grub but with all the tourists about there aren’t too many places that fit the bill and you have to pay just to sit down in most of them. Eventually we found a little bistro doing spinach, ricotta and meat ravioli at a decent price (about €6 I think). What came was a tiny portion of pasta in a bit of cheese sauce and drowned in peas, I’m not a big peas fan. Not very filling or satisfying at all really.

So I got a slice of pizza on the way back and I even managed to bugger that up, what I pointed look like a meaty mother. It was actually meaty looking tomatoes, now I’m not keen on pees but I positively despise tomatoes that aren’t in a paste or liquid format. Mingin’. One of those days eh.

This hostel will be comfortable enough but I don’t really like it. It’s one of those that you can see that it’s more about the bottom line than a good hostel experience. Fair enough they are businesses but I’ve seen enough of them to know that they can be successful and offer a nice service too.

What I really feel like doing now is getting on a scooter and tearing round Rome on it. And with the help of these fellas that is just what I intend to do sometime soon. They do a 3 hour tour of Rome on classic scooters (some even from the 50s) but at €120 it’s well out of my price range. You can rent a PX though and I will try and do this for Tuesday, then I can get round all the sights quicker and have a good time doing it. It’s also quite pricey at €60 for 24 hours but I’d love to do it. I just hope I can get one on the day as they don’t have many and I’m not riding one of those ‘orrible automatics.

One good thing about this hostel though, I saw the below on one of the walls. It’s the very same picture I once used for a custom t-shirt I had made.

Or who that mysterious voice is on the other end of the phone? Let us introduce ourselves!

Left to right, top to bottom:

Jenna:  Jenna is our full-time receptionist. She enjoys reading, lolcats, and she and her husband Mike are expecting their first child in May.

Gerry:  Geraldine, or Gerry as we know her, is our office manager and dedicated CSR. She enjoys playing with her 3 grandchildren, gardening, eating healthy, and being outdoors.

Jackie:  Jackie is our resident cat expert, pickup coordinator, and CFK CSR.  She enjoys showing her Cuddlebug Persians and spending time with her other kitties.

Sara:  Sara is our shipping clerk. When you receive supplies, you better believe Sara had a hand in getting them to you! She enjoys spending time with family and taking long drives in the nearby Rocky Mountains.

Emily (me):  Emily is a CSR and writes for the CFK blog, Twitter, Facebook and Myspace.  She is originally from California, makes her own jewelry, and  loves cooking and being with her husband Jon, and dog Ruby.

Renee: Renee is an Administrative Assistant and CSR.  She is a vegetarian and she enjoys Indian Food, Indie Rock, and spending time with her husband, Austin, and kitty, Nakira.

This is Anna. She moved away in August to attend graduate school at Emerson College, but continues to write for the CFK blog, Facebook, Twitter and Myspace.  She enjoys drawing, painting, and Awkward Family Photos.

And Last but not least, our fearless leader Kerrie. Kerrie likes killer tunes, skinny jeans, and spending time with family and friends.

Now that you know who we are, tell us know who you are! Comment on our blog and tell us about yourself and your school.  Send us stories, pics and recycling ideas! send them to contact@cartridgesforkids.com

We are looking forward to it!

Saturday at Austin City Limits the rain came down and drenched Zilker Park. Festival goers went undeterred as the puddles turned into seas of mud. The first band I saw was Mute Math, who played a mean version of 
”Spotlight.” MUTE MATH mashes electronica and hard rock. These New Orleans musicians are excellent entertainers putting on quite the show. Lead singer and keyboardist Paul Meany literally did flips while playing his keys. Also MUTE MATH has a wonderful collection of interesting instruments from space-age synthesizers to wild effects pedal boards. Following Mute Math, I caught part of Canadian singer-songwriter Sam Roberts’s set under the tent. I heard someone describe Sam Roberts as the Canadian Bruce Springsteen and certainly the comparison seemed apt.

The rain really started to fall as Citizen Cope took the main stage. Despite the rain Citizen Cope served up some spectacular music. His laid back flip-flop rock lightened the mood with   “Back Together“
  and
  ”107°.”   And a mean version of the protest song “Bullet And A Target”  brought energy to the wet crowd.
 Clarence Greenwood aka Citizen Cope capped the set with the ballad  ”Sideways.”

Next Jamaican reggae superstar Eek-A-Mouse filled the Wildflower tent with reggae lovers and good vibes.  This unique singjay performed his smash hit  ”Ganja Smuggling”  to a most appreciative audience. Interesting enough the Mouse also performed a cover of Dolly Parton’s classic country song
 “Jolene.”  It was amazing. The Mouse soaked up the Texas outlaw sound dropping gun-slinging rhymes and rawhide whips.
 Eek-A-Mouse is quite the entertainer demanding crowd participation and ensuring sweet reggae grooves. With the crowd shouting “Irie” the Mouse dropped the reggae classic  ”Wa-Do-Dem” and closed with  ”Sensi Party.”

Mos Def performed on the AMD stage playing a red hot version of 
”Casa Bey”  from the new album The Ecstatic. The Brooklyn rapper also covered one of Bobby Brown’s love songs “Roni.”  The smooth voice and bass heavy beats of this young rhyme sayer leaves fans bobbing their heads.

Devotchka turned out to be the highlight of the evening. In fact, I consider Devotchka to be the nicest surprise at the festival this year. I knew certain bands would kick ass. But I wasn’t even planning on seeing Devotchka until some of my friends talked me into seeing them. The Denver-based band of gypsies rocked and rollicked. One amazing performing burlesque artist glided above stage on a giant red curtain. Devotchka includes multi-instrumentalists Nick Urata (vocals, guitar, trumpet), Tom Hagerman (violin, accordion), Jeanie Schroder (sousaphone, bass), and percussionist Shawn King. I highly recommend seeing this band. You will not be let down. Their music is beautiful and fun. One of my friends said she liked to listen to this band when she cleaned. I can see why. It doesn’t matter if your are cleaning or standing in the mud Devotchka deserves a listen.

The Dave Matthews Band headlined Saturday night. The group played my favorite song off the new album Big Whiskey And The GrooGrux King entitled  ”Funny The Way It Is.” Also from the new album the boys kicked out “Shake Me Like A Monkey” and “Spaceman.”  The Dave Matthews Band played some classic tracks, including “Jimi Thing” and
 “Cornbread.”
 And after a brilliant cover version of the Talking Heads song “Burning Down The House,” launched into the crowd pleasers
 “So Much To Say,”  
”Ants Marching,” and  ”Two Step.”

Nick Urata: Devotchka

He is so friggin fine, his voice is so beautiful (it makes my heart flutter), their music is unbelievable, and their live set at Austin City Limits 2009 was PHENOMENAL!

I reccomend everyone go watch them when they come to your town. One of the best shows ever.

I haven’t posted over the weekend because I was lost in the quagmire that was ACL.  Think I’m kidding?  This was ACL 2009:

my mud covered feet

In an effort to reverse last years dust-storm, the leaders of ACL arranged for about a 3 inch down pour ALL day Saturday leaving not a trace of dust in sight.  Instead, Zilker park was a HUGE mud bath.  There was much conversation going around about what was worse:  dust so thick you couldn’t breathe or mud so thick you couldn’t walk.  It’s a toss up.  But J said that at least he wasn’t sneezing like crazy this year.  Again there were a lack of port-o-potties.  Come on guys–just bring ‘em in from all over the state and at least double the number next year.  And clean them out during the day, too, don’t just wait until after 10.  They should put me in charge!  :-)

BUT–the absolute highlight of the festival was Michael Franti and Spearhead.  HE ROCKS!!!!

Spearhead

I know the picture stinks but I used my iphone.  There’s no way I’m carrying around our big camera in addition to a backpack and chair.  But back to Spearhead–what an awesome show.  I saw him at the Gypsy Tea Room in Dallas before it closed, and he’s good in an indoor venue but he rocks a festival.  I didn’t stop jumping/dancing/singing for an hour.  There’s just no time to stop he’s so intense.  The whole thing was amazing.

I also loved, loved, loved K’Naan, but I’ve liked his stuff for a while–just hadn’t seen him live. Raul Malo was so sexy, as usual.  He’s really good live. Mos Def rocked.  What a hottie.   And the big surprise for the weekend was some band called DeVotchka.  Never heard of them but they, too, were amazing!  If you didn’t make it out to ACL–check out their website for some tunes.  If you did, let me know how you made the mud!

Un chiste Geek:

Un verdadero Geek sabe donde están los puntos L, pero no sabe donde esta el Punto G

Claro que para entenderlo tienes que saber que es un punto L. Los que no lo sepan pueden consultar aqui

Y por el bien de ustedes espero que sepan que es el Punto G.

La tira es de palomitas y maíz

East of Ealing at Bearded Theory Benefit gig SEP 26 City Club, Guildford

East of Ealing play a fun mix of roots rock fused with traditional brick built and foundry forged foundation folk.

Folk songs are commonly regarded as the songs that express something about a lifestyle that existed in the past or is about to disappear- but that sense of the melancholy does not dominate the music of EoE. Instead, their songs are a lot of fun and puns are in abundance, with musical interludes sometimes surprising the audience when they rise up without warning, like the musical equivalent of Pop-Tarts.

The band also remembers that traditional folk music is an experience shared across the world. So, like Druhá Trava or Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, East of Ealing provides lessons aplenty on the subject of how folk music has evolved into what we now consider to be popular music and how the traditions have merged, emerged and altered into the various distorted forms we now recognise, along the way.

They provide some interesting and unexpected variations, along this tortuous path, and their shared sense of fun is welcome, as is their undeniable virtuosity.

For example, in an imaginative and fun song ‘the Great Unknown’, Moorish influences prevail, but the melody just puffs along like a ska number with Balkan folk flourishes. And for those who did not know that punk rock is a direct descendant of folk music (and I’m not kidding) East of Ealing provides plenty of references to this musical criss-  crossing from the reels, hornpipes and jigs of pure folk to the analytical and sparse punk melodies that can be heard in work by the early Pogues, and even The Clash

Along the way, there’s plenty of fun in the East of Ealing musical repertoire, with puns a-plenty and twinkle in-the-eye tongue-in-cheek antics, as we try to keep pace with the myriad of tiny musical one-liners and punch lines. But the substance of East of Ealing is dances, jigs and general merry-making. And the crowd at the City Club Guildford responded to the music with a hearty gusto …. reeling, jumping and dancing into the warm evening air.

There are large portions of Eastern European sounds in the EoE tunes-  in particular in the single ‘Black Ship’, and these sounds cross-over to more traditional Romany music and then back to punk rock, like other brands of rebel music similar in style and heart to that of Gogol Bordello and DeVotchKa. Pre-Raphaelite beauty Stephanie Graffiti squeezes out some amazing sounds from her electric violin-  from Pink Floyd-esque ‘synth’ lushness all the way through to Led Zeppelin-style screeching ‘guitar’ breaks.

Jim Bean provides most of the voice and the looks (if the whole Pirate Shipmate look is your bag, baby), with a neckerchief, hearty hat and superficial smile. He plays a beautiful acoustic bass and also employs, at times, an electric squeeze-box to give the sounds more depth of image. Paul Castleman on drums, cannot be ignored. Paul is a talented drummer with a superb sense of the mischievous. Mik P plays the electric and acoustic guitars and often provides the kind of rawness and energy that lifts East Of Ealing from their trad-folk roots and prods, pushes and squeezes their sounds towards more lofty rock horizons.

East of Ealing are folksters tinged with rocker irony like ‘The Knitters’  and rockers mixed with folksy irony like ‘Korpiklaani’. I like that.  Get up and dance. Are we there yet?

© Neil_Mach
September 2009

http://www.myspace.com/eastofealing

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As promised, the ACL preview continues with my picks for bands to see on Saturday.  Don’t forget to come back tomorrow to see Sunday’s line-up!

2:00 pm

!!!

Dance-worthy mash-up tunes by a band whose name can’t be pronounced.  Now, that’s ACL!

3:00 pm

Grizzly Bear

If you missed my review of Grizzly Bear’s latest, read it here and check out this sure-to-be interesting show.

4:45 pm

Federico Aubele

This show offers a refreshing break between indie bands with breezy genre-blending Latin sounds.

The rest of the day, after the jump!

5:30 pm

Eek-A-Mouse

You probably won’t want to miss the eccentric reggae DJ legend.

6:00 pm

Mos Def

7:00 pm

Devotchka

Intense gypsy band Devotchka is one of the most interesting to play on Saturday.

8:00 pm

Ghostland Observatory

The live music pros and Austin faves were pitted against Dave Matthews in the lineup.  The bottom line, if you want an insanely exciting show to end your night, check out Ghostland (and read my review of their latest album here!).

]]> http://thinkingoutrageously.wordpress.com/2009/09/17/concert-envy/ Fri, 18 Sep 2009 02:55:21 +0000 thinkingoutrageously http://thinkingoutrageously.wordpress.com/2009/09/17/concert-envy/

Dang. The Pogues and DeVotchKa together is one killllllller concert. Too bad it’s US$45.00-US$67.00, before adding the other extraneous fees they always charge you. Also too bad it’s the day before I leave for Nepal. Daaaaaaaaang.

One day down.  Saturday starts out with an intense desire to get right back to Zilker park, but my mild-medium hangover usually hinders my ability to move with my regularly gazelle-like quickness.  This year is going to require my “A” game.  First band is up at 11:45.  Ugh.  That just looks early to me.

Get comfortable, and get that mouse ready.  Give it a few clicks off in the black space on either side just to check the action on that baby. You’re going to find some gems today, I can feel it!

Deer Tick – 11:45 at the Dell Stage

These guys popped up on my radar just a few weeks ago when I was running down the CMJ chart.  They have a song called “Houston, Tx.” Naturally I gravitated towards it, because, really, no one gives a damn about Houston in the music industry.  Bands routinely pass Hell City by (I say routinely as if it were an active admission of the artists that they were skipping the 4th largest city in the nation when I’m sure it doesn’t even make the top 20 list of cities they want to tour), we’re used to it.  Anyways, “Houston, TX” isn’t really about Houston, just another sad relationship-gone-wrong-because-it-wasn’t-right-to-begin-with track.  And I like it.  Muchly.  I also like to start ACL with a country feel in the mornings.  Though if Mastadon played at noon I would so be there.

These videos are all live performances, but sound pretty damn good and give you a good feel of their tunes. Houston, TX Goodnight Irene (yup, the Leadbelly cover) Spend the Night (KEXP studio session – I heart KEXP tons)

The Raveonettes – 1:15 at the XBOX360 Stage

My brother in law lives in Copenhagen Denmark.  He could be described as the 40 year old version of myself.  He spins records at several clubs, festivals and the like and has played with a fair share of seriously great European acts. For Christmas a few years back, my wife and I received a stack of CD’s including The Raveonette’s LUST LUST LUST.  Sex sells, kiddos.  Don’t ever forget it.

Here they are on Jimmy Kimmel Live performing Love in a Trashcan from their new album.  This kind of music was made for festivals.  Surfy guitars echoing out to the far reaches of the crowds while the pair sing blissfully an octave or so on top of the riffs.  It’s fun.

!!! (Chk Chk Chk) – 2:00 at the AMD (West) Stage

Um. This is another one of those bands that I’d lose credibility on if I told people that I couldn’t name one song.  I know that I’ve heard them and never seen them and really know nothing about them.  I don’t know any huge fans.  BUT.  I only hear goodish things about them and that they’re dancy indiepop type stuff.  In my mind, that qualifies as listenable.  The alternative is Mute Math (yyaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwnnnnnnn). So I’ll see you at the AMD stage.

Scope these awesome euro boardshorts! really? that’s what he went with?

And as an afterthought, I do remember loving the track “Me and Guliani Down by the School Yard” a few years back.

Grizzly Bear – 3:00 at the Dell Stage

Ohhhhhhh man.  Very very excited.  Last year, there was Vampire Weekend, this year it’s Grizzly Bear.  I’m very, very excited.  Before I knew anything about them I happened upon a video on the YouTube Takeaway Shows channel (which I’ve talked about before).  Maaannnnn they sound so clean and so, um, pretty?  Pleasant? Mellow? Soul warming? These guys could be serial killers for 20 years and no one would know it so long as they sing so sweetly to the world.  Listening to them gives you this sense of awe when confronted with sublime beauty.  No chills, no dread, just happiness in four part harmony.

The video for “Two Weeks” is fantastic.  Watch the Hi Def version if you have the bandwidth.

Citizen Cope – 4:00 at the LIVEStrong (EAST) Stage

I love the Shazam app on my iPhone, much to the chagrin of my wife and pretty much all my friends.  I tune people out REAL fast when I hear a catchy track.  Two Citizen Cope tunes that I’ve heard and Shazam(ed) were Let the Drummer Kick and Son’s Gonna Rise. Both are pretty radio friendly tunes but I like their style.  He does give off a little  Everlast vibe, but with, I think, a more positive message.  Should be a good show.

Bon Iver – 5:00 at the Dell Stage

Yeah, Grizzly Bear has a rival in the most beautiful music category.  And it’s Bon Iver’s falsetto imitation of sonic heaven (and, absent Fleet Foxes’ as well).  It seems everyone in the Pacific Northwest has been taking voice lessons at the same school.  I don’t hear a lot of complaints though.  Bon Iver’s Takeaway shows might be even more amazing than Grizzly Bears.  The group’s a capella in the doorway of a French apartment house is a stunning take on For, Emma.  My personal favorite on the LP is Skinny Love – this is a performance on Later, With Jools Holland (love his program).  As far as the performance goes, Bon Iver could sing Miley Cyrus covers for all I care and I’ll enjoy myself.

Mos Def – 6:00 at the AMD (West) Stage

Austin City Limits is not very good about bringing a large hip hop contingent to the Festival.  But when they do land acts, they are usually pretty ridiculously talented guys.  Last year Pharrell and Chad of N.E.R.D. had a wild set and Del the Funky Homosapien rocked the stage as well.  This years rhyming genius is Mos Def who released The Ecstatic earlier this year, his 4th solo.  Though, really, Hip Hop is seldom a solo effort and it will be interesting to see if any of the talent on The Ecstatic will show up (can you say Slick Rick?!).  And excited to see Casa Bey live too.  Especially if some of the instrumentation is live.  Solid album.

The Decemberists – 7:00 at the Dell Stage

The first time I saw this act, they were touring for their second release, Her Majesty, and my brother begged me to go to Rudyard’s to see them.  I almost left early, the opening band was horrific – some godawful project called Meowcifer. But while I watched The Decemberists get their stage together complete with squeezebox, upright, and violin, I knew I was in.  There were MAYBE 12 people there to witness the show.  Colin took requests after much begging and pleading and it stands as one of my all time favorite shows ever.  The following year they played to an overcrowded Fat Cats throng which is now the douchetacular Pearl Bar.  Effffffin’ Houston I tell ya.  Back to the band.  New Album. Meh.  Supposedly it was originally a screenplay that turned into a music project.  New drummer. I still think the first 3 albums were the best.  Having seen the Decemberists on a few occasions, I’m skipping them this time for these next guys.

Devotchka – 7:00 at the Wildflower Center

So you’re watching Donnie Darko with friends and you can’t understand why you’re crying and everyone around is crying and goddamn this song is so beautiful and…just….goddamn.  It’s not the scene.  It’s the music.  It’s always the music.  Okay, so it wasn’t Devotchka, but their story is a little similar when they leased a track for the Gears of War 2 commercial.  It’s called “How It Ends” and I must have watched the thing 3 times on the internet wondering if the artists had the song in mind before they even storyboarded the advert.  ‘Cause it.  Just.  Fits.  The new album is on a short list of records I bought on vinyl before I had even heard the whole thing.  Most likely related to the grip on my heart they pulled of with a friggen video game commercial.  Seriously.  Here’s the official video. This album is great in that the music is light without being soulless.  It has a great Eastern European feel with horns and strings and will likely be very exciting on the stage.

Ghostland Observatory – 8:00 at the AMD (West) Stage

So last year? Two years ago? Yeah. I went to see the Decemberists instead of Ghostland, an Austin native band that I had never heard of.  I have heard droves of Austin rock projects and decided that I could live without one more.  I should have learned by now to listen to my friend Robin.  While I was boorishly standing 50 feet behind the sound booth at Decemberists I took a look over at what I thought was an alien craft landing on the Ghostland stage amidst 50,000 ravers.  There were lights, there were dancers, there might have been some recreational drug use involved in that massive party.  I was at the point of no return.  I was stuck at the blah show.  I’m ready for Ghostland this year.  I may even go buy some American Apparel glittery running shorts and a vintage softball tourney shirt and rock a sweatband.  I’m ready for hipster dance party 1999.  Or 2009.  There’s a 40% chance that a spontaneous grass fire erupts at the AMD stage due to Flashdance like rocking.  Regardless, Dave Matthews is going to have to turn on all his douchy charms to woo people to his stage.  Ugh.  Eff that guy.

Sad Sad City from their recorded Austin City Limits.  Tell me this cat doesn’t have moves.  Also, that track Piano Man.  THAT’S how to start an album.

Post festival plans include rehydration, shower, late night rally for more drinking, and eventual collapse.  Sunday is another big one.