I Declare October to be "Good Music Month"

I am so looking forward to October. For the cooler weather, the pumpkins everywhere, and most definitely for all the good music that awaits me. Calhoun, one of Josh's bands, will be playing at the Fort Worth Music Festival on October 1st. Later that evening, none other than Dawes will be taking the other stage, with lots of other local bands preceding them as well. Should be a great day of friends and fun!

Calhoun:


That's my husband on drums, isn't he a cutie? On October 13th, the girls and I are going to see Dawes again at Club Dada. Can you believe our luck? Two Dawes shows in two weeks! It's a Halloween miracle!

Dawes:


That alone would make October a pretty rockin' month, right? But October 24th we'll be headed right back to Club Dada to see Deer Tick. We saw both Deer Tick and Dawes on the same bill on St. Patrick's Day of this year, and I'm really excited to get a chance to see Deer Tick again so soon.

Deer Tick:


And then, there's this show which I must admit at the moment I am most excited about. Calhoun is opening at KXT's 2nd Anniversary show on October 26th, and headlining is Fitz and the Tantrums. I really loved them when they were on Conan earlier this year, and I am very much looking forward to seeing them live.

Fitz and the Tantrums:

This Is a Raid

So very busy, all of the time, it seems. This past weekend I went out and had a fabulous time Friday night for my pal Holly's birthday. The Levon Helm show the night before that was fantastic too. Then, the rest of my weekend can be more or less summed up with Network. I have a paper due tomorrow, analyzing several scenes from that movie. I ended up watching it THREE full times, plus re-watching several scenes. I guess if I'm being honest, there were also quite a lot of potato chips involved in the weekend too. But snacking was the easiest meal when I'm stuck in full movie mode.

I'm registered for my classes for next semester now. I'm taking Comp II, History 1302, U.S. Government, and my next batch of developmental math- Intermediate Algebra. My current math teacher, whom we all really like, is only teaching one class next semester. I changed my whole schedule just so I could stick with him, so it better be worth it, ha. Instead of the Tuesdays and Thursdays I've been doing this semester, it'll be Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. I'll be at school an hour later too, but I start an hour later, so there's some pay-off there. I'm just going to need to be more rigorous on keeping my work hours up due to this change. My math class has a great vibe, and hopefully some of the other students are going to be continuing with Dr. Stewart as well, so maybe that'll carry over to next semester. Plus, he's the VP of Teaching & Learning Services on our campus, and got his Masters and Doctorate from the university I'm hoping to transfer to- hello, recommendation letter.

The semester is coming to a close; I finish up in just one month. Naturally, I can barely keep up with all the ideas I have for my free time over winter break. And naturally, there won't be nearly as much as I think there will be, ha. I've got a few frames arriving today from Pottery Barn so I can finally make some progress on putting family photos up in our hallway. And I'm hoping to clear out the freezer, and then restock it with a lot of casseroles and the like for next semester. Of course there's the obligatory Christmas shopping, decorating, and 3 family celebrations. Also, probably absurdly, hoping to push a reset button on my health. I haven't been exercising lately, and my eating habits have definitely gone downhill (see potato chips above). But I'm looking forward to veggie-filled soups and at least making an attempt to get into a bit better shape before our cruise in February. I know that is pretty unrealistic in the season of gingerbread and candy canes, but it can't hurt to try, right?

This song has very little to do with all the crap I rambled about above, but I am so in love with it, and am enjoying the whole album. I'm really connecting with this tune lately and decided I should share it for that reason alone. It's Mavis Staples and Jeff Tweedy performing "You Are Not Alone", from the album of the same name.

Dirt Farmer

This week has been packed with work, school, and CONAN! We had a premiere party Monday with some friends which was tons of fun, but the best is that every night I get to watch Conan before I go to bed. It's like my life is finally back to normal!

Tonight Josh and I are going to see my all-time favorite drummer, Levon Helm. I'm super excited! Here's a video of Levon on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Like how I worked both bits of this post into one clip? :)

Still Dawesome

Saturday night Holly, Stephanie P, Amanda and I went to Sons of Hermann Hall to see Dawes. You might remember that name from when I gushed about seeing them the first time back in July. I seriously, seriously love this band. LURVE. Last time the girls got pics with some of the guys, and I was stuck taking most of them. This time around I made sure that I got pics with the cute boys. Amanda and I even got to chat with the singer/guitarist Taylor while we were standing out in front of the club before they played. I told him he was so cute that I wanted to pinch his cheek. So, basically, I came across as crazy. But whatever, it's true. I was right up front for the whole show, making some major eye contact with him, and singing along to every song (except for a couple of the new ones which I only half remembered from the last show). Snagged the pics after the show, and then we all made our ways home. Holly and I grabbed some late night grub from Whataburger, since we didn't eat before the show. And I fell asleep with pretty songs in my head. :)



Top to bottom: me & Taylor (guitar/vocals), me & Alex (keys), me & Griffin (drums) , and me & Wylie (bass)

Dawesome

Feeling much better, thinking that I just had a bad allergy flare up. I rarely have allergies, but after a whole weekend of cleaning and organizing dusty, neglected spaces and Josh mowing the front and back yard, I think it got my sinuses going.

That isn't the point of this post though. The point is that you need to start listening to this band, NOW. I went to Casa Manana with Holly, Stephanie, and Amanda last night to see Telegraph Canyon, which I've shared about here before, and an up and coming band from LA, Dawes. If you listen to KXT, then you're surely already familiar with them. And perhaps you're already familiar with them through some other vein. But if you aren't, you need to be. Gorgeous songs, reminiscent of The Band, and to my mind just a tinge of The Grateful Dead. Luverly alt-country-folk-rock. That's a wide description, but just listen and enjoy. I couldn't embed any of their official videos, so you can go here to see them. Here is a decent video of "When You Call My Name", which is a favorite of the KXTers.

She & Him, Volume Two

Just in case you don't already know, you can hear the new She & Him Album Volume Two in it's entirety here, thanks to NPR. I've already taken full advantage.

In The Sun

Yay!

Got Soul?

It's holiday time, which for most of us means a lot of time in the kitchen. Might I suggest what might be the best classic soul play list of all time? No joke, my personal mix cd was a big hit at work back in the day. It was discovered by a manager in the office, and she asked if she could copy it. She then made more copies and gave them to some of our co-workers who would randomly come up to inform me that they'd gotten a copy and that I was chocked full of soul. It's just that awesome. Guaranteed to have you dancing while you dice, and singing while you stir. To be played in this order (for reals, it's an important part):

"Superstitious"- Stevie Wonder
"Papa Was a Rolling Stone"- The Temptations
"Here I Am (Come and Take Me)"- Al Green
"I Heard It Through the Grapevine"- Gladys Knight and The Pips
"Respect Yourself"- The Staple Singers
"Mother, Mother"- Marvin Gaye
"Let's Stay Together"- Al Green
"Superfly"- Curtis Mayfield
"Try a Little Tenderness"- Otis Redding
"Mercy, Mercy Me"- Marvin Gaye
"Midnight Train to Georgia"- Gladys Knight and The Pips
"I'll Take You There"- The Staple Singers
"Sittin' On The Dock of The Bay"- Otis Redding

Feel free to omit the last song if you feel it's a bit predictable. I feel that way sometimes, but it is a good song so it doesn't hurt the groove of the playlist at all.

Swell Season

Not on the list below, but also high on my excitement meter is the upcoming Swell Season concert. Got the new album the other day and I am smitten with it and them. The last time I saw them was one of my best concert experiences and I can only assume this time will be even better. Especially since last time it was standing room, and this time we will have seats. Good seats. Great seats, you might even say- 5th row center. Get their new album and be smitten along with me.

Rainy Day Music

We left the sun behind us in California to come back to the cloudy, damp weather that seems to be becoming the norm around here as of late. Which of course calls for some John Coltrane.

Greatest Night of My Life

Again, no exaggeration, the McCartney concert was the greatest night of my life. It was filled with joy, gratefulness and emotion. Thirty-five songs, new and old favorites, including a Buddy Holly cover he only played because it's Texas. I teared up when he came out on stage, tears slowly rolled down my cheeks during "The Long and Winding Road", followed by a steadier stream during "My Love" and "Here Today". And then when he played "Calico Skies" I was a sobbing mess, holding on tight to Josh's hand. I will never, never, for-as-long-as-I-live-and-breath, forget seeing Paul McCartney sing the song that I walked down the aisle to. It's transcribed deep within my heart.

Saved

Tonight we're going to see Paul McCartney. There is no possible way I could express my excitement and anticipation through a little blog post. I often say The Beatles saved my life, and people probably think I'm being silly or over dramatic. But I'm not. When I was 14 I fell into a big pit of despair. That was my first episode of depression, and it was terrifying. To be 14 and think that you're losing your mind is a very scary experience. I stopped going to school, cut myself off from all my friends, didn't do, or care, about anything. And it was like that for months and months. But in the fall of 1996 The Beatles Anthology came on television. I had loved The Beatles as a kid, but they had somehow slipped out of my head as I grew older. But now I remembered how much I had loved them, and I had something to care about again. I listened to the music endlessly, watched their movies repeatedly, and read every book about them I could get my hands on. They really were a net that caught me in my free fall. And through the years they've continued to buck me up. And tonight I get to stand with my husband and my best friends and see Paul McCartney.

D-Day

Dylan Day that is, Bob Dylan Day! Today I'm going with our friend and Josh's bandmate, Jason, to see Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, and Bob. This will be my 7th Dylan concert, but the excitement and anticipation never seems to lessen. And I'm really excited to go with Jason, because he's a big fan but has never seen Willie or Bobby. Going with people who have never seen him before helps keep the concerts fresh. And Bobby is playing a lot of songs from the new records, so I'm guaranteed to see stuff I haven't seen before. So excited!! Dylan is one of the greatest storytellers of our time and I love the yarns he spins.

Rain Drops

Rainy day here, which is not the summer norm for us. Especially since it's supposed to continue on and off the rest of the week. When I was in second grade our teacher would play this song at the start of every rainy school day. I hated it. I'd hardly say that I love this song now, but I think it's engrained in my deepest gray matter to think of it when it rains.

Lola's

Holly and I are hopefully going to Lola's tonight to see Josh's band mate Tony along with Chris Johnson from Telegraph Canyon. I am really looking forward to a nice Thursday night out, especially since this week I'm back to my regular no-work Fridays! Here's Telegraph Canyon at the Modern Art Museum earlier this year.

So Swell

Josh and I went to see Iron & Wine and The Swell Season last night. Incredible. My favorite moment at any concert is almost always when everyone lifts their voices up to sing that one song that we all know by heart. Last night that moment lasted half of the Swell Season's set. Most notably, of course, was "Falling Slowly". Without a doubt the best concert moment I've had in a long, long time. I love having that fleeting connection with a roomful of strangers, and with the music-makers themselves. And I love cute Irish boys, of which there were more than one on stage. :)

The Waifs

In 2003 Steph and I saw this Australian band open for Bob Dylan. I fell in love with them. They've got a new album out, which I've got to get this weekend. I was listening to them earlier and decided I should share. The Waifs are a trio, two sisters and a gent. They all met while wandering around Australia as musical troubadours. Their bluesy, country folk sound is great. I've never seen a chick play harmonica like Vikki does. Anyway, here are two of my favorite songs that I wanted to share. :)

Lighthouse


Crazy Train (live)

Court and Spark

Last year Josh's Uncle Gary bequeathed to us his turn-table and LPs. It's really been a joy having the sound of vinyl in our little apartment. It seems silly, but there really is such a different feel to music when you hear it in this way. I was just discussing it with Steve & Meri the other day. Steve felt that the physical action of turning the album to side two makes you more conscious of what you're going to hear. The past few days I've been listening to Joni Mitchell's Court and Spark. I love Joni Mitchell, and this album is really good. It has songs that are really enjoyable, with little notes and phrases that make me smile.

What Did I Do With My Saturday Night?

Rock out to the stylings of Professional Juice and That1Guy, of course.

Music To My Eyes

Despite the fact that it feels like the local music scene is shriveling ever smaller lately, I did receive a pleasant surprise within the latest issue of Blueprint. Their School Of Rock article featured not one, but 2 bands with a DFW connection. Now, I know that Midlake has more or less made it big. I mean, not obnoxiously big, but Spin runs announcements for their latest concert and EP release. I think that counts for something, especially when you're a band from Denton, TX. So, I'm not surprised that they get press. But I am surprised when I see them in my Martha Stewart publication, ya know? I mean, to be in a Martha Stewart magazine is a whole new kind of famous in my mind. And, I was so shocked by this that at first I didn't realize that they also gave a shout out to The Earlies, a UK band featuring the former front man of the now-defunct Dallas based The Danes. I was reminded of the article when Midlake's drummer came out to the Chemistry Set show this past Saturday. Every time I see the Midlake videos I remember how we went over to their house with Cory and I got to see the fox head just sitting around while we listened to the barely finished Roscoe.