Opened like a lily...

Two whirlwind days have passed. Walking back into my house a few moments ago to the quiet felt a little awkward (and this wasn't the only awkwardness of the last few days), but I have no doubt that I'll sleep soundly tonight.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of hosting the folks from the band, Ezra Furman and the Harpoons. They were passing through town and playing tonight at 3rd and Lindsley, here in Nashville. Since my home has most recently become a place for bands on the road to stay, I figured I'd offer up my home, hospitality, and hospitalization to the folks.

We had a lovely time. We watched the last game of the Grand (National) Series. A serious game of Monopoly took place, while discussion of capitalism ensued. Sabine fell in love with the bottom of Ezra's shoe, which I'm pretty sure smelled like freedom to her.

This evening, I parted ways with the band, while they went off to play their show- and Art and I headed to the Leonard Cohen show. While I had been told that Cohen has been playing three hour shows, we planned to leave from Cohen just in time to catch the Harpoons.

So, yes, the Cohen show.

(Speechless, totally speechless)

We ran into Jenn in the lobby, while fighting our way through the Will-Call line. Jenn and I discovered upon buying our tickets months ago, that our seats were next to one another. So, the three of us proceeded to have our souls stirred and shaken by the magic of Leonard Cohen for three hours. It was beautiful. There were a few times I got misty-eyed...and lucky for my companions, I only got completely teary-eyed once. While this video isn't from the show, I felt I needed to document what it was that took me over the edge.



"And I´m still working with the wine,
Still dancing cheek to cheek.
The band is playing "Auld Lang Syne"
The heart will not retreat.
And maybe I had miles to drive,
And promises to keep
You ditch it all to stay alive
A thousand kisses deep."
-Leonard Cohen

Now, although I was completely moved...I don't like to complain...but I must. One of Cohen's band members- the master of air- as he referred to him- drove me insane. While I understand his contribution to the band (the guy was a very talented musician), I knew right away we wouldn't be Facebook friends because of his bright white tennis shoes. And beyond that, he was horribly distracting. I found myself drawn to his dance moves while playing his electronic instruments- instead of watching the humble Cohen kneeling and serenading. I also did not appreciate his "I'm oh, so cute and adorable" antics. Not cute. Not adorable. I'm just not sure I want anyone taking my attention away from Cohen. And he shouldn't have. Shame on you.

Enough now. Back to praise. The show had several encores. I am unable to think of any song that I wished he had played that he didn't. And his moves- are utterly fantastic- from his prancing off stage to his fancy footwork while performing. I think I'm crushing on Leonard. Yes, even at his age now.

I did take one short video...of which the audio is much better than the video. Enjoy.



After the show, to our surprise, Art and I WERE able to find the car and make our way over to our second show of the evening at 3rd and Lindsley. We walked in to discover the Harpoons had just finished their set about 10 minutes before our arrival. Woe is me. Another time, fellas.

Now, I'm back home. I've got a full weekend of paper writing and quietness ahead of me. While I miss all the excitement, I'm looking forward to a couple of days hibernating in my house.

A baguette, the Jewish Hospital, and KISS

I have an absolute fear of social holidays. I hate them, generally. I hate them because of the pressure that is implied in having a great time. You know, the 4th of July, Halloween, New Years. Every year as they approach, I begin the difficult task of planning the event. And then last year on Halloween, it dawned on me- there is a certain way to ensure you'll have a great time. Go to a rock show. Last year, I attened the Hold Steady show at the Ryman. This year it would be Monsters of Folk at Louisville Palace Theatre. While you might originally think that The Hold Steady would be far and away more raucous than a band called Monsters of Folk. You would be sorely mistaken.

My dear friend, Art and I made the journey to Louisville on Saturday night. And what can I say about the show? It was incredible. Absolutely incredible. While I was initially disappointed that the band didn't dress up, my disappointment was quickly dismissed when they returned after the intermission dressed as KISS. They played some covers and some originals in those classy silver heels. It was beautiful.

For me, getting the chance to see Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis is also full of memories. I always feel awkward saying it- and I never want it to sound like it will always sound- but the two are old friends of mine, so getting to see them and spend some time with them is always a treat. Luckily, that happened, though no without our fair share of hardships.

While Mike provided us both with after-show passes, we waited (read: finished our drinks) about 15 minutes after the show before proceeding to the backstage area. At this time, we were informed by the lovely authorities (read: security) that we had "missed the boat," "didn't make that train," "were too late for the flight." Yes, I'm kidding about the last one, but there were a series of transporation metaphors to tell Art and I that our passes were no longer valid. Luckily, we ran into the tour manager, who was able to tell the lovely authorities that they were in fact wrong and that we had every right to be mean to them.

Now, I could regal you with stories about our time back stage, but I won't. Because, well, I shouldn't. We had a great time. We met some lovely folks (of whom I'll tell you more about at a later date) and shenanigans ensued. I fully blame "shenanigans" for my loss of my cell phone on the tour bus and my solo journey through the streets of Louisville...but like I said, that is best left unsaid. On a more positive note, here are pictures from the trip. And some videos for your enjoyment. (Warning: the sound gets a little unbearable toward the last few videos, so turn it down before playing).

I'd like to say thank you to Conor for the baguette, to Mike for the tequila, to Roy for knowing about STATA, and Matt Ward for standing within five feet of me.

Monsters of Folk Trip to Louisville

My name is not Justin Vernon and my thesis is not Bon Iver.

One awkward fall break.

While it is true that I took a page from Justin Vernon's book when I decided to hole up in a cabin for most of my fall break to produce what I hoped would be similar to the Bon Iver album, I have a feeling that my "cabin" experience was a little different from Vernon's. Not to mention, I'm pretty sure that NPR will never discuss my thesis.

I took three nights and four days to stay in a Bed and Breakfast in Monterey, Tennessee. While I had imagined a secluded cabin all to myself, I also find myself nervous about a complete disconnect from civilization (and honestly, the Blair Witch Project has left some lasting images in my mind for way too long). So I opted for a B&B, where I would be served breakfast in the morning- and I could trust that there was someone being paid to be sure that I had a pleasant experience. Mike, he was.

Apparently, these types of places typically serve the needs of a limited group of people- those getting married, those celebrating their anniversaries, or those having a romantic weekend away. Yes, I was very out of place. It was also pleasant to be constantly reminded that I was not in fact there for the same reasons. Why a constant reminder?

During my third day at the Inn, I was informed that there was limited space in the dining room- and I would need to sit with another couple for breakfast. I was also informed that one couple had already denied me- they didn't want to share their anniversary breakfast with me. Those cruel, cruel people. I did get the opportunity instead to meet some lovely couples during my last two mornings at the Inn. But that's the thing when you stay at a place like this- investment, personal investment in other people.

I did have a lovely time. I was successful in finishing a first draft of my thesis, which will now be subjected to the harsh eye of Tepper- but nonetheless, it was useful way to spend my fall break. And restful in a way.

After returning to the world of the living, I discovered an old friend (David Dondero) would be in town performing at a house party in Nashville. I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than good friends and good music- and a house party. And so we did. While the show was scheduled to begin at 4pm, we were informed upon preparing for the party (read: imbibing) that it would actually begin closer to 8 or 9pm. Needless to say, it was a long night. Awkward and spectacular.

I could summarize quickly by saying that I tormented young hip kids for several hours while stealing away their beer...I watched a very, talented musician get cheated out of his money for the night...and I saw a dear friend of mine pass out in my chair. Regardless, enjoy some of the photos from the trip... and enjoy a short video that we took at the show.

I've mentioned before, but if you haven't familiarized yourself with the work of David Dondero- you should. And you should do it now.

From South of the South Video

Otis Redding and Red Wine in the Mountains

I swore to myself I'd stay off the internet for the entire three days of my thesis vacation. I swore I wouldn't use the internet features on my phone either. Well, I lied. You have no idea how addictive it is to check your email. I had to forcibly hide my phone and I had to turn off the wireless function on my computer-- but I've decided to be thoughtful in my use. It will be a reward, much like the 5 magazines and 3 books I also bought for my trip- you know, the trip I was suppose to work the entire time. Distractions are surrounding me.

And I see updating my blog as a treat, a reward...for me, of course.

Regardless, one of the wonderful things about taking a trip like such- is getting to listen to music. And tonight on the agenda has been Otis Redding.

It did get me thinking about the first time I heard the song, "Try A Little Tenderness"- it most certainly wasn't Otis- in fact, it was Jon Cryer acting it out.



So, then I got curious- who else has done this song (read: distraction)-
Michael Buble, Chris Brown (hmmm), Three Dog Night, Percy Sledge, Nancy Wilson (are you kidding, why don't I own this?), Michael Bolton, Etta James (again, why am I missing this?), Perry Como, Rod Stewart, David Hasselhoff, Frank Sinatra and certainly the best version Mel Torme. I'm totally buying Torme later.

But where did it come from you ask?
Here are some facts (wiki-style)- written by Irving King (James Campbell and Reginald Connelly) and Harry Woods. Initially recorded in 1932 by Ray Noble Orchestra with Val Rosling on vocals. The Otis version is no doubt the most popular. And apparently placed 204 in the Top 500 greatest songs of all time by Rolling Stone.

So, here you go- because I've got purple teeth and all- you should watch Otis sing it too.




I'm back to outlining a paper now. Enjoy.

No excuses, but zombies.

While catching up on work today, I also took the time to catch up on old podcasts of All Songs Considered on NPR hosted by Bob Boilen. I now hypothesize that listening to good music increases my productivity more than working from the couch while watching bad movies on TBS. Thanks, Bob.

In addition, I came across this wonderful, wonderful song- and an album that I will anticipate for the next 3 days. The song "My Body's a Zombie For You" is one of the most wonderful songs I've heard recently. Why you might ask?

Well, for one, it is a sing-a-long (I absolutely love any type of sing-a-long). Two, the band is headed up by Ryan Gosling (who I have an incredibly, inappropriate crush on...which forces me to watch the movie The Notebook every single time it comes on television.) Three, it is perfect for Halloween (which I also adore). Four, it is about zombies (which reminds me of Becky and Art).

Here is the link to the Pitchfork page about the release. You can also listen to this beautiful song here.

So, go enjoy. Trust me, you'll love it.

Interpretations of a mix.

While we are all familiar with the difficulties in making a mix tape/cd (I'm old school, I still shudder at saying "mix cd"), there are also the difficulties of interpreting the mix tape, urgh, cd. While many have written about the art of making the mix (see Hornby quote below), I'm wondering about the countless hours that the recipient spends in analyzing the content of the received mix. Certainly, some mixes are not intended for a purpose, while others are created with the intention of communication.

Then there is the case where you receive a mix that you haven't a clue about. Last weekend, through a series of happenstance decisions, I ended up (at a very late hour) in a neighbor's home that I had only briefly met. Okay, I'll level with you. I ran into her in the local bar (though, I also have decided today that it sounds much better to refer to them as pubs--thanks, Art!). She invited me and my next door neighbor back to her house for a night cap.

Upon arrival, we discovered our new friend is a DJ. She proceeded to play us music while we ruminated on life, love, and work. I should also mention we spent an inordinate amount of time on a letter her doctor wrote her excusing her from work, but I digress.

Toward the end of the evening, our lovely host decided that both my neighbor and I deserved a mix cd of her making. She set out to make a mix for my neighbor, Ashley, first. In what seemed like an extremely long process of selection, she finally burned a cd for Ashley. I thought we were in the clear- in that I assumed she would quickly burn the same copy for me. But no, I would be wrong.

She informed me that I needed a different mix and a different order. In what felt like another hour, she re-ordered the cd and proceeded to burn it. I feel ashamed to admit, but I didn't actually listen to this cd until this week. And while I appreciate the genuine time and energy that went into this project...I'm just captivated by the song choice and the order.

Here is the song listing-

Track 1- A song by Playboy Tre (I still can't figure out the song title, but the theme is "you can't break my heart.")

Track 2- Time of the Season- The Zombies

Track 3- Pressure- Playgroup

Track 4- Mailman- Soundgarden

Track 5- Get Even- Kelis

Track 6- She wants to move- N.E.R.D.

Track 7- Bad Girl- Usher

Track 8- Epiphany- Chrisette Michele

Wait, Soundgarden? The Zombies? Were these put in a strategic place simply because she thought it might communicate something I needed to know? Or did these two songs simply find a placement based on what she thought she knew about my musical taste? And Soundgarden? Really? I hope I don't communicate that to people.

All of that being said, I love the mix. It serves as a relic of an evening. And I actually enjoy many of the songs, well, except the Soundgarden song.


"To me, making a tape is like writing a letter- there's a lot of erasing and rethinking and starting again, and I wanted it to be a good one...A good compilation tape, like breaking up, is hard to do. You've got to kick off with a corker, to hold the attention (I started with "Got to Get you off My Mind," but then realized that she might not get any further than track one, side one if I delivered what she wanted straightaway, so I buried it in the middle of side two), and then you've got to up it a notch, or cool it a notch, and you can't have white music and black music together, unless the white music sounds like black music, and you can't have two tracks by the same artist side by side, unless you've done the whole thing in pairs, and...oh, there are loads of rules." -Nick Hornby

Just the music.

I have this thing about listening to new music. People send me a mix or a new album and I tend to comment, "I need a good road trip to really engage with the music." Even when I make inappropriate late night iTunes purchases, I generally need some time on the road (read: long road trips) to feel like I've fully engaged with the album as a whole.

The other night (thanks to Jenn's post about listening to vinyl), I decided to spend some time with my music collection. I put an album on and I simply sat in my latest furniture purchase (a red swivel Lazyboy, which has now been claimed by a cat) and listened. I just listened.

It was then I realized how few and far between I just sit and listen to music. I feel like I use to do this all the time, but now I listen to music while I'm writing, driving, working. It becomes background, as opposed to front and center. It felt nice to just dedicate time to listening, really listening.

So, here is my suggestion- find one night that you can just sit and listen to albums or mp3s- but just pull out some music and listen to it. I swear it feels different. And I miss it.

Perhaps I should steal my new chair from Sabine (the cat) and move it next to the record player.

San Francisco in August

While I'm still processing my first trip to the ASA conference in San Francisco, I do have some photos to share. Now, you might be wondering- where are all the pictures of the conference? Trust me, pictures of conference presentations and a lobby filled with sociologists talking, networking, job hunting (all while running on only a handful of hours of sleep each night)- would not have been as interesting as the pictures I collected of street art and drinks. Trust me. So, here you are. Some pictures.

San Francisco August 2009

And a lovely video from my last night at Johnny Foley's with Bobby, Lauren, Danielle, and Edson. While you can hear Edson asking a question, Bobby asking if I'm going to blog about this, then running in front of the camera- you can also carefully overhear someone making the statement, "I said, you are married and I have a boyfriend." Where was that conversation taking place?

Golden Gate Bridge

When I thought about songs that remind me of San Francisco, I immediately thought of David Dondero's "Double Murder Ballad Suicide." While I failed in finding a version of the song to share with all of you- I suggest you listen to it. Now.


And here is a video I found. Two of my favorite people involved here- Bob Boilen and David Dondero. I had the chance to interview both in the last couple of years for the Music is Memory project and can honestly say they are both very lovely people. More to come on this at a later date. Enjoy.

Gogol Bordello vs. M. Ward

Lately my life has been all about contrasts. I'm not sure why, but I'm finding myself looking for contrasts, happening upon contrasts, and discovering contrasts. I think with all that has been taking place lately, it is necessary. And important.

Last week, I attended the Gogol Bordello show at the Exit/In.















Prior to this show, I had always maintained that the band, Prabir and the Substitutes were the hardest working band in rock n' roll....I'm sorry boys, you've been replaced. Gogol Bordello is. Upon arrival to the Exit/In, we all discovered the air conditioning was broken. I wonder if the gypsy punks arrived early, cut the A/C cords- just to create the mood for the evening. With no air conditioning, you'd think this might discourage people- or that people might leave early, not a chance. I had been told that Gogol Bordello has been known to run circles around the audience. I finally understand- it isn't often that you attend a show where the band maintains more energy than the audience for the duration.. By the time of encore, many of us were soaking wet with sore throats- perhaps hoping it was coming to an end, but the band played on showing no signs of exhaustion or letting up.
















The picture above is of two of my favorite Gogol Bordello fans. These two fellas danced and sang out every lyric all night long. Fans of GB seem to come from all across the spectrum, though one thing rings true- all of them really engage in the sublime experience of the show. Well, almost all of them- except this fella below.



















This poor fella had his hipster outfit planned out weeks before the show. And you could tell that he was suffering through a minor heat stroke. While sweating and straining to maintain his cool (albeit, rigid) poses, he did not dance, move, cheer, or smile- not once. And I thought, how horribly boring. It was this contrast between the dancing sprites above with this dead-to-the-world hipster that I realized- give me the dancing sprites any day. At least they have a sense of community, lightness, and fun.


In contrast to the Gogol Bordello show, last night I attended the M. Ward show at Cannery Ballroom. I had suspected that the show might be in direct contrast to my experiences with Eugene and folks. And it was. Don't get me wrong, the show itself was fantastic. Matt Ward has an incredible ability to soothe my soul, as I think he does for most people. Endearing and hilarious was the fact that I think a majority of the audience thought Jim James was on stage because they happened to see a fella with a beard. "Look! It's him. It's Jim James or Yim Yames." Not too surprisingly, I'm thinking alot of the folks there came because of the She&Him project- and perhaps were expecting Zooey Deschanel to make an appearance. She didn't. And you shouldn't have thought she would.

Whatever the issue was- there was no sense of community at this show. There was a strong disconnect between the performers and the audience. The folks at the show were not talking with one another, well, wait, let me retract that. Tons of folks were standing around talking to the folks they came with, while the performance took place. And from where I was standing- no one was dancing or seemingly enjoying themselves.

Where, oh where, were my dancing sprites? Where were the people who would give themselves up to the experience of the show and the music? That's right folks, the jaded and disinterested attitude ends here. Leave it at home.


And here is a short video I took. I recognize you can't see anything, but I wanted to give you the simulated experience I have in clubs.