It's funny when things become so obsolete and desolate in the course of the day to day, you forget what keeps you connected, unless you've reflected on certain elements that bring out the best in you. Tonight was a revival of my spirit in the sense that music is truly where my heart belongs because I want to be there to witness it, document it and dwell in it.
The show that brought upon this feeling? Jenny Lewis with The Heartless Bastards. WOW! First, The Heartless Bastards rocked the stage. Erika Wennerstrom's voice resonates from a place deep within all of our brooding spirits that we cannot help but feel connected and at peace when she sings. Her natural charisma and slick guitar playing make her music all the more enjoyable and what I love about her lyrics are that they are real, simple and poignant all at the same time. I am most certain that now I am going to purchase their album The Mountain, even though I listen to it on Grooveshark all the time.
Then came the wonderful, magnificent and majestic workings of Jenny Lewis. Her band was simply ON IT tonight. There were no flaws, no pauses, no times when there was a nagging in my mind that wondered when the show would be over. It was in general one of the best shows I have been to in my entire life. It was epic, bold, powerful and beautiful. Hearing her play Trying My Best To Love You live and with guitar instead of piano was an excellent transition for the song to be taken to the stage. Loved it. Her rendition of Handle With Care, originally by The Traveling Wilburys was amazing as well. I loved that she closed the show with Born Secular, giving Barbara, the drummer, a chance to shine with her amazing drum solo that closed the show for the night. The lights, the smoke, the low-down gritty blues twang that emanated from the guitars was enough to make the house hop, drop, sweat and bleed for more as Lewis took her final bow. I even stayed behind in hopes of getting an interview with her for The Daily Texan, but after such an amazing show, she was pooped. But next time!
Man, I am exhausted after such an amazing show that I think it is about time to turn in, seeing as how I have class tomorrow. By the way, I have to review a CD for this band called John Paul Keith and the One Four Fives. Don't waste your time with it. The elements of a good album are there, but the execution is what brings the entire thing down. I think there are only three songs that are listenable at best. Maybe it's the singer's voice, either way, it's not that great. I wouldn't recommend it.
Peace! Love! Good things for everyone!
Monday, June 22, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
So Much, So Much
Well, let's just start this one off with a bang!
I recently got hired at The Daily Texan, which is the University of Texas official student newspaper. It's one of the top college newspapers in the country, so the fact that I got hired makes me want to install rockets in my shoes and take off right through my ceiling. I got hired for the Life & Arts section, in which I will be writing CD reviews, concert previews and feature pieces depending on if they like my ideas.
I've already had two articles published. One article was a review on an art exhibit and the other article was a preview about Santigold, who played here in Austin on Monday.
Recent CD Purchases: The Black Eyed Peas - The E.N.D. I reviewed this CD for the Daily Texan, but the story didn't get put in the paper, due to spacing issues. Also, the CD itself is a futuristic club dance pop crazy psychosis of synths, beats and smooth raps. While this may sound like a good enough compliment, let me halt you right there. The album is decent in the fact that they portrayed whatever it is they were trying to portray; however, the album itself became kind of monotonous and seemed to go only in one direction and never veered from that. I think what made The Black Eyed Peas a house-hold name is the fact that they are very diverse and touch upon many genres; however, with this album they stuck to one genre, and while it was good, it wasn't legendary, which is what they promised.
On another note, I am going to see Jenny Lewis w/ The Heartless Bastards Monday night at Stubb's. I'm muy excited. I love The Heartless Bastards and I love Jenny Lewis, so the fact that they're playing a show together means that I'll probably die of a heart attack or take like 4 rolls of pictures that won't come out good anyway because venues suck if you don't have good flash, which I don't. Either way, I'm very excited. That's all I got for now. Peace and love!
-Mark
I recently got hired at The Daily Texan, which is the University of Texas official student newspaper. It's one of the top college newspapers in the country, so the fact that I got hired makes me want to install rockets in my shoes and take off right through my ceiling. I got hired for the Life & Arts section, in which I will be writing CD reviews, concert previews and feature pieces depending on if they like my ideas.
I've already had two articles published. One article was a review on an art exhibit and the other article was a preview about Santigold, who played here in Austin on Monday.
Recent CD Purchases: The Black Eyed Peas - The E.N.D. I reviewed this CD for the Daily Texan, but the story didn't get put in the paper, due to spacing issues. Also, the CD itself is a futuristic club dance pop crazy psychosis of synths, beats and smooth raps. While this may sound like a good enough compliment, let me halt you right there. The album is decent in the fact that they portrayed whatever it is they were trying to portray; however, the album itself became kind of monotonous and seemed to go only in one direction and never veered from that. I think what made The Black Eyed Peas a house-hold name is the fact that they are very diverse and touch upon many genres; however, with this album they stuck to one genre, and while it was good, it wasn't legendary, which is what they promised.
On another note, I am going to see Jenny Lewis w/ The Heartless Bastards Monday night at Stubb's. I'm muy excited. I love The Heartless Bastards and I love Jenny Lewis, so the fact that they're playing a show together means that I'll probably die of a heart attack or take like 4 rolls of pictures that won't come out good anyway because venues suck if you don't have good flash, which I don't. Either way, I'm very excited. That's all I got for now. Peace and love!
-Mark
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