posts from another era
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MUSIC
I'm a little light today, but check this out:
Nearly every time I turn the radio on and hear a great band and am unsure of who it is, 80% of the time it's Passion Pit.
Back in October, Tallest Man on Earth opened up for the Fleet Foxes at the Metro. Now he's got his own Take Away show at La Blogotheque.
Tallest man on earth - These Days (Nico Cover) - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.
Don't forget to head over to Steve McCoy's blog for his Music Monday post. It's always good.
I'm heading up to a cabin in Wisconsin with about 20 of my closest friends. Actually, I don't know all of them, but by the end of the weekend I plan on it.
I should have some great photos by the time I get back.
In the mean time, take a look at what came out of another trip to a cabin in WI.
[For those who are wondering, this is not turning into a music blog. This post is as much of a thanks to Stephanie and Micall as it is an appreciation for Andrew Bird and his great musical talent.]
After Thursday night's awesome Bon Iver show, I didn't think my weekend would get too much more musical. But I was wrong.
At approximately 5 pm on Friday, I got an email from Stephanie, stating that she got some information from a friend of hers that Andrew Bird was playing a secret show at Ronny's in Logan Square. She couldn't verify the info, but her source seemed credible.
If any of you know me, I mean really know me, then you would know that many months ago, when I thought I would have to be leaving Chicago due to the lack of a job, my target date to leave this great city was the 4th of September. A Thursday. Who leaves on a Thursday? Well, it wasn't a randomly selected Thursday, but rather it was the Thursday after Andrew Bird played a free concert at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millenium Park. One of the more anticipated concerts that I had waited to see. It was the first and only time I had seen him.
However, this particular Friday Micall and I had planned to have our Christmas, go see the Lincoln Park Zoo Lights and have some time together. Alas, I would not see this show.
But upon mentioning this to Micall, she exclaimed, "Well, let's go! We can see the Zoo lights anytime."
YES!
Ronny's is a dive. A serious dive. One that sells PBR for $3 in cans (MSRP: $0.50). But as we waited through the sound check and starred through the glass door. Andrew Bird was sound checking his violin and whistle (his mouth). He played about an hour, mostly new stuff, and an old song that I hadn't heard before. It was great. And I was this close to him... Yeah that close. At one point, he couldn't find his shoulder pad thingy for his violin and I pointed it out to him. He head-nodded in gratitude. Yeah, I got a head-nod.
He has a new album coming out in January. Keep an eye out for it. And he's touring the US. He'll be in a city near you soon enough. Even Tulsa.
I made sure I remembered my camera this time. I was purposeful in doing so.
And what do I hear as I'm waiting outside to sell my extra ticket? "No Cameras." Dang it. And while I felt comfortable sneaking in a burrito, if my camera got confiscated, I would not have been happy.
On another note. People: if you're going to a concert and taking photos, please don't use your flash. Especially if you're in the balcony. It won't reach that far. It'll distract from the lighting that trained and paid professionals have set up already. Turn your ISO up on your camera and convert to black and white.
The music was great though and I bought my first vinyl. I feel this beginning to be a long downward spiral. But a warm sounding one.
Last night at Berwyn, the Women's Guild put on a Christmas Musicale; a Lessons and Carols service. Scripture and reflective readings were read. I was told I had 10 minutes for a sermon. That's normally a warm up for me-- or at least, I'd like it to be. This one came in at 11:45.
And the volume goes up to 11 also.
