Proof of Existence

Read. Rejoice in the entry "Being Extremely Egotistical" and the picture of Noel Gallagher. Have a lovely weekend/week.
By the way, I really wish Muse were touring. They're so much fun.

Wombatties

Go and find the Wombats' "Let's Dance to Joy Division" and enjoy the blissful irony of life. That is all.

Random Shite

When I'm not archiving or answering the phone (and confusing people), I goof off by looking at the more respectable websites that are book-marked here at home. These are two informative/hilarious tid-bits that I found whilst at work and didn't want to forget:

Your final score was 99/180
Birthday Party DJ (73-108 points)
You are a rabid consumer of music. You get a rush every time you hear something new but remain faithful to those artists you love. Your music collection represents who you are and what you care about and your home may even bear the tell-tale signs of your affections – posters, old band t-shirts and the odd music biography. But you aren't a completest, you know what you like and make sure you have it. Simple as that. To expand your repertoire, perhaps there are some genres that you'd benefit from giving a little more attention to – perhaps now is the time to hear something new or get hold of that missing album from your collection. [Music IQ quiz, taken from an article at Drowned In Sound]

Jakob Dylan will be playing at the Admiral Benbow in Wichita, Kansas next week to promote this album. His father will not be paying attention. [A comment by Haden in response to this article {second comment down if you won't the full comment}]

In other news, The Fratellis have perfected the medium-tempo song on their new album. All of which means, there's a better chance of understanding them the first time 'round. Not a guarantee since the lead singer has a thick accent (somewhere between Kate Nash's over-annunciated cockney and Ryan Jarman's under-annunciated Yorkshire), but a much better chance.

An Honest-to-God Review

I know, as shocking as this, it's a real review of the White Rabbits show last night. Brace yourself.

It's not often a band can fool you into thinking their penultimate night of touring is actually their first night of touring. But given the amount of energy the White Rabbits had last night (about the same amount as 20 unmedicated ADHD kids) you wouldn't be faulted for thinking just that. Although the audience seemed almost incapable of moving the band more than made up for the lack of energy emanating from that part of the room. The set, which seemed particularly short for a headlining act, was fast paced with only a handful of slow song to change the pace for the stagnant audience. The band, made up of two drummers, three guitarists, and one keyboardist, seemed to be having a ball though which in the end is all that matters sometimes.
Openers Greenland, a local DC and, kept a fast pace more akin to the White Rabbits than Miles..., who wouldn't maybe been more at home opening for the Walkmen. All in all the gig was good, no matter how apathetic the audience seemed.

White Rabbits

1. Standford Town/Sea of Rum
2. While We Go Dancing
3. Dinner Party
4. Navy Wives
5. Fox Hunting
6. ?
7. Fort Nightly
8. I Use To Complain Now I Don't
9. The Plot [with three tambourines]

Encore

• Take A Walk Around the Table
• Maggie's Farm [a Bob Dylan cover]

There Are Things I Should Be Doing

The world, as I see and experience it, has no love for me. Yesterday there was the horrible weather that left me with soaking feet and standing at the train station for two hours waiting for my sister to pick me up. Today, there's a Lily Allen/Kaiser Chiefs collaboration. Some might question my response to this fact, but then again those same people may question why I think dying your hair pink is a bad idea too. Of course dying your hair pink and getting shit-faced isn't exactly a guarantee of horribleness, the only female singer-songwriter/Kaiser Chiefs collabo I want to see is Kate Nash/Kaiser Chiefs. I guess I just don't see the LA/KC styles meshing very well, no matter how much Mark Ronson magic is added. I guess I'll just have to wait until next year :crosses fingers: to see.
Also, White Rabbits concert tonight. I won't be able to function at all tomorrow, but I'll still be working.

Your So Vain

There are times when I miss my days of insane fanaticism, at least for Kaiser Chiefs. Lord knows I'm still insanely fanatical about DW. But yeah, there are days when I miss being insane, not just because things were simpler then, but also because I could laugh when members of the band said ridiculous things. Like, "Oasis have disappeared up their own arse." I could enjoy that sentiment so much more if I wasn't a semi-rational human being. Granted I can still enjoy the quote because I think the Gallagher brothers have long since taken up residence in their own arses, but that's a different thing all together. Because, you have to understand, the reason I dislike the Gallagher brothers so much is the same reason why, when I read the rest of the article, I wished so desperately that I could be a bubble headed fangirl. Back then, I could swallow the inherit shallowness of the rest of what Rick says, because...I wouldn't have seen it that way. I would have agreed wholeheartedly. Now though, it's just rubbish. Vain, pompous, rubbish. Nevertheless, I trust their manager more than I trust Rick, so I'm very excited about getting the album next year ;D

A Quick Note to Potential Parents

Here's just a little piece of advice from me to you: For the love of God do not let your child play a string instrument, such as a violin, unless you are completely and utterly certain that they will be good. Qualities such a child might possess is a good sense of tonality and well developed motor skills. If your child doesn't possess one of these qualities (preferably a good sense of tonality) do not let them near a violin, viola, or cello. Please. My ears don't like bleeding. 0_0

Alright, back to work. I've finally gotten to last week in the archives. Tis exciting.

Suit

So today was a rather big gig for le Kaiser Chiefs and NME, in their typically hypocritical way, covered it like it was the biggest fucking gig of the year. I think it's because the band is working with Mark Ronson, but I'm paranoid about NME giving any band too much exposure. Anywho, in their exuberant coverage, they decided to include a couple of pics in their weekly round-up of music news. Per usual, I immediately freaked out when I sited said picture, because I'm not right in the head. However, once I got over myself, I noticed what Monsieur Ricky was wearing. A suit. Sadly, the two pictures posted at the NME site are basically shite for facial expressions, but still. A suit avec tie. My fevered fangirl brain went positively berserk. So yeah, I just wanted to point that out. Have fun dissecting my insane psyche.

Work

Imagine getting lost on your way to an interview. In a skirt. Now imagine developing blisters because you've been walking for twenty or so minutes in the wrong direction in poorly chosen shoes. Add all of this with a heaping dose of nerves and you've got my Wednesday morning. Okay, now we're going to fast forward to the offices of WPFW. I'm sweaty, nervous, and a minute late for my interview. My feet are also killing me I can't wait to get home. I've basically got the job bagged because the station is that desperate for help. Everything is going nice and smoothly. I figure, a half hour and I'll be on a train back to my bed and my last of "Law and Order" binging.
Around 3:45 that same afternoon I leave the offices of WPFW, after all the shows from about mid-January of this year to the end of February. I'm exhausted, both physically and mentally, and my feet are still killing, only a lot worse because I had to walk around some more to find some place to eat for lunch. However, I did find out that I like falafel. I'll be going back to the station tomorrow, and this time I will be wearing sneakers instead of unbroken-in mary jane's. Despite everything, life is good.
So that's basically been the major events of this last week. I started my first "real" job archiving Gloria Minott's shows from this year and starting this week I'll also be shadowing her producer during the show, which should be fun. Life is indeed good.
Other interesting things:

• The House season finale made me cry. It was both heart-wrenching and very embarrassing.
• Fox was incredibly stupid in cancelling Firefly. It's the best damn show I've seen in ages, at least on this side of the pond.

Well that's it pretties. I'll write sometime in the future.

Official Set Lists From the Past Month (Literally)

Kate Nash, 9:30, 4/17/2008

1. Pumpkin Soup
2. Shit Song
3. Stitching Leggings
4. We Get On
5. Birds
6. Nicest Thing
7. I Hate Seagulls
8. Dickhead
9. Pickpocket
10. Paris
11. Skeleton Song
12. Mariella
13. Mouthwash
14. Foundations

Encore:

• Dont You Want to Share the Guilt
• Model Behaviour
• Merry Happy

General Summary: Started strong and then began introducing her more acoustic side and a shitload of new songs, thus loosing all momentum. Not brilliant, but not horrible.


Flight of the Conchords, Lisner Auditorium, 5/9/08

1. Robots
2. ? [My Name's Tim?]
3. The Most Beautiful Girl (In the Room)
4. Thing About It
5. Bowie
6. ? (new)
7. Bus Driver's Song [From BBC radio series]
8. Bret, You Got It Going On
9. Mutha'uckas
10. Bret, You Got It Going On
11. If You're Into It
12. Business Time
13. Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros
14. Albie the Racist Dragon

Encore:

• Inner City Pressure
• There Are Angels [new]

General Summary: You know how funny the TV show is? You know how great the songs are? Well, add improv and you've got the gig. Very funny, horrible seats.


The Swell Season, Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 5/17/08

1. Say It To Me Now
2. Lies
3. This Low
4. Moon
5. When Your Mind's Made Up
6. Love Makes Me Cheerful [new]{Your Love Makes Me Cheerful}
7. I Have Joy [new]{I Have Loved You Wrong}
8. Falling Slowly
9. Leave
10. What Happens When the Heart Just Stops?
11. ? {Astral Weeks - Van Morrison cover}
12. ? {Your Face}
13. If You Have to Go, Go With Happiness {Go With Happiness}
14. Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy
15. Once

Encore:

• If You Want Me
• Blue Shoes [Colm Mac Con Iomaire]
• Fitzcarraldo
• Star Star**

General Summary: See previous entry. {Edits with thanks to PlayedLastNight.com, which allowed me to download this magnificent performance}


What's Next: May 28th will see the fifth (or fourth, I can't remember) time I've seen Ben Folds live, June 5th will see a welcome return of the White Rabbits at the Black Cat and in August I'll be seeing We Are Scientists, despite the fact that their new album pretty much sucks. It's going to be a busy summer for me :D

Thank You So Much

When Glen Hansard was twelve he somehow wondered across the National Concert Hall in Dublin. Young Glenny (as I affectionately called him all last night) wondered in and seeing no one but a cleaning lady, after asking said cleaning lady, went up on the stage with his guitar and played a song. At this point in Mr. Hansard's story I was grinning like a mad fool because playing on a concert hall stage is something one never forgets and I can only imagine what it would be like for an aspiring musician/twelve year old. In any event, Glenny was amazed and also determined to play such a venue again. Well, last night, along with the rest of the members that make up the Swell Season, he did and in my ever so humble opinion, it was amazing. Last night's show is the reason I go to see live rock concerts, no matter the venue (except of course the Sonar.) Without a doubt last night's show was the single best performance I have ever seen. And that's all I can say. Best gig ever.

Update on Things to Come

It's my dad's birthday today so I have to be nice to him. :sigh: Anywho, some happy updates on my list of upcoming things:

• Volunteer! Hopefully I'll be doing some volunteer work for the public affairs division of WPFW, but that means an interview which scares the shit out of me. At least I've got my travel route all planned.
• Set list postings! I'll be doing that whole thing shortly after this Saturday's Swell Season show. I'm quite excited.
• Grades! Well, they turned out about where I thought they would, and I'm in good academic standing in terms of my major and in an overall sense. I'm not thrilled, but I'm not failing, even by my fucked up terms.
• Duffy! Which I'm getting today, goddamit.
• No more rain! My hopes came true and we've been rain free for two days! Hurrah!
• [new item] Firefly marathon! If all parties can their collective shit together there will be a marathon of potential awesomeness. And possible brainwashing. Mwhahahahahahahaha

Well that's it. I'm currently rating my entire music library and I'm only at the Beatles. And there's a shitload of Beatles. Ta.
P.S. My dad hated Juno but for some reason doesn't think Belle & Sebastian could possibly be twee. I'm thinking of getting him to listen to some of their earlier stuff, just to prove the point that he's very wrong.

Things to Come

Some things that might be (or, in certain cases, will be) happening this week:

• A massive post of set lists! But no reviews sadly.
• Volunteering! At WPFW if the stars are lined up correctly
• Grades! I just want to know for fucks sake, I just want to know!
• Duffy! Yes her name is ridiculous (what's wrong with Amie?) but she's awesome!
• No more rain! This one's mostly just wishful thinking, but it has to stop raining eventually right?

And that's about it. Look forward to writing here again sometime in the far, far future.

Maturity

In case any of you were wondering how I might react to a Macca*/KC union, here's a little picture:

Oh yeah, I'm mature.
In other news Amy Winehouse has been arrested on suspicion of drug possession and I turn twenty in two days. Yay.


*For those who don't get the reference

And In the End

I move out tomorrow. Next semester I'll be living with a girl named Kathy in Arrington which means I'll have a five minute walk to Pollard instead of a 15 minute walk and A/C during those first two months of hell. There was some choas getting to that point, but I think it will be well worth it. I'm ending the semester not so much on a bang but on a puff, if that, but at least I've got lots of electives and my good grades from last semester to cushion the fall. All in all I've made it through this only slightly scarred and learned quite a lot in the process. It's been a good year.

Exam Week Interruption

:Minor brain explosion: (See here for reason)
I haven't actually read the article (don't have time don't ya know) but just the headline causes my brain to explode ever so slightly. That and the photo, but really that's to be expected.
I'll be off then. Cheers.

Three Weeks

The following is three weeks of Friday Fives. I'm bored and stressed and need something to take my mind off of my stress and boredom. That and Dr. Baker scares me and I need to focus on something other than that.

1. Whats harder to live without, chocolate or alchohol?
Chocolate, since I don't really like alcohol to begin with.

2. Does the colour yellow remind you of anything?
PEO? My Kaiser Chiefs tour shirts? The Yellow Pages?

3. Who most annoyed you last week?
You mean besides my roommate? And my relatives? (Yes I am answering everything in question format because it's fun)

4. Do you have a cutesy romantic nickname for your partner (or previous partners)?
No. -_-

5. What is your favourite Stephen King movie?
I don't have one! Ha ha!

1. Love at First Sight: Fact or Fiction?
I want it to be fact, I really, really do!

2. Fortune Telling: Fact or Fiction?
Fiction, unless you're in a movie in which case it's fact.

3. Other Life: Fact or Fiction?
Other life? What the hell does that mean? Parallel universe kind of stuff? If so, then in between the two.

4. Afterlife: Fact or Fiction?
Gah. Dunno.

5. Bigfoot: Fact or Fiction?
FACT!! Because that would be awesome.


1. If you had the ability to legally change your name, would you? To what?
Yes and I would change it to Trillion or Fenchurch, just for shits and giggles.

2. What do you with with change that you receive from banks/purchases/find on the ground?
Well most of the time I use it to buy junk food and soda, but yesterday I divided up my spare change between by two roommates because I was feeling particularly nice.

3. If you could travel back in time to change the course of one historical event, what event would it be?
I wouldn't because then Reapers would come and destroy the world.

4. Would you rather live a safe, stable, moderately interesting life or one where every day was dangerous, volatile, and different?
Can I have a mix?

5. What do you think you'll be remembered for when you die and, if you could, would you change it to something else?
Being an absolute looney and no I wouldn't change that. I like being known as an absolute looney.

Mercurial

Well things have improved dramatically since last night, at least in terms of my "home" situation. It's amazing how mercurial she is.
In other news, Last Bus Home wrote an interesting entry that oddly enough reflects many of the entries I've written over the past four years. Namely, the pointless entry for the showing off of X. Or this entry actually. Anyway, I would have something else to write about if NME.com would load. But it's not, so I have nothing. Sorry.
Ta until laters.

Lord Get Me Through This

So, I've been having a bad time of it lately, mainly because it's the last week of classes and don't handle the end of the year/semester that well. I never have and I suspect I never will, but nonetheless it is a very stressful time of the year. What doesn't help, however, is the fact that my New England roommate has turned into an iceberg around me. She barely acknowledges me presence and when she does her tone is just slightly above civil. So I'm being made to feel like a piece of shit by one of my roommates which only compounds the stress I'm feeling from finals. Last night I went in my stocking feet down to the basement and when I found that place had people in it, I speed walked my over to the practice rooms at Pollard. In my bare feet without my key-card. Granted I did feel a lot less stressed when I was done, and didn't have to wait at all for someone to show up to let me in, but I don't think I should be in such a desperate state as to walk out of my dorm in my barefeet, just so I can get away from my roommate(s). Sadly, there is nothing to be done about it. B**ch roommate handles stress one way and I handle it in a very different and opposing way and ne'er shall the twain betwixt. Or something like that. I just wish my life wasn't such in such a shitty place right now. Thankfully I have my classes and my time away from my room to counteract the horribleness of my "home" life. I just wish I never had to "home."

My Lyrics are Bottomless

I have said this before, but I will say it again: Ain't no party like my nana's tea party! Hey! Ho!
God I love Flight of the Conchords sometimes.
Edit: There is something to be said for either an artist or a band that insist on being fair to their fans. Case on point, Alex Turner side project The Last Shadow Puppets have released their single "The Age of the Understatement" in the US through someone other than iTunes. It makes me happy, what can I say. Also, I miss Muse. I really want to see them again. 0_0 They're so much fun!