May 24, 2007If anything could ever be this good again... [05.24.07]I just got really excited.  It's been ten years (May 20, 1997) since one of my favorite albums EVER came out: the Foo Fighters are re-releasing The Colour and the Shape on July 10th. A pinnacle album of my lifetime, I can still remember being a high-schooler and rocking out in my room when I first heard "Monkeywrench" on the radio. When the album came out, I was amazed at the fact that I loved every single song. "Walking After You," "Everlong," and "Hey, Johnny Park!" remain my favorites. Foo Fighters were also my first concert (with Ben Folds Five). So, what does this reissue offer me??? MORE SONGS! According to this article: In addition to the original album on its first disc, the new version will feature covers of Killing Joke's "Requiem," Gary Numan's "Down in the Park" and Gerry Rafferty's "Baker Street," plus the B-sides "Drive Me Wild," "Dear Lover" and "The Colour and the Shape." I understand that I could probably get those b-sides if I wanted, but the Foo Fighters are so ingrained in my brain as 90s, that I never associate the band with all the downloading and technology goings-on. Does that even make sense? For instance, if I hear The Killers have a b-side I can download, I'm there - but downloading never comes to mind for Foo Fighters. They're currently recording with Gil Norton, producer of Colour. Is it just me, or have most of their albums post-Colour been not as awesome? I still enjoy them, but nothing can touch those songs. Maybe it was the time, the era. Hm. In summary, I'm ready. Currently working on: - Oh, DJ Rosstar, how you're guiding my music catologue-ing. I'm in a group here on Buzznet called "5 Songs That Changed My Life." I have everything written out, I just need to find time to post it with a picture. You can bet a pick off Colour is on my list. - DJ Rosstar also recently asked the top five albums you can listen to all the way through. Upon thinking about it, it's kind of hard. I have to rethink a list I already posted over at my livejournal two years ago...it's new criteria, and it's definitely changed. Erica & Bree & John & Michelle already have awesome lists ! Um, who's as stoked on 90s alternative as I am?? I need to go listen to some Garbage now or something...
Posted on 05/24/2007 11:59 AM Comments (4)
May 15, 2007Easy Tiger - Ryan Adams. Get Stoked. [05.15.07]Okay, I'm pumped.
Ryan Adams just added a new song, "Two" to his MySpace page.
I think it's amazing. It gives me goosebumps. I'm a bit of a Ryan Adams maniac, if you didn't know. I'm ecstatic for this album. I know there's a lot of bootlegs floating around the internets, but I just have to wait for June 26th and take it in all at once. And then over and over and over again...
Stephen King (yeah, that dude!) wrote a a little bit about Ryan that's currently displayed in the product description for Easy Tiger on Amazon. Apparently he's a fan, and I kind of love it:
It was, Ryan Adams says, this girl he's been spending time with; the title of this album is her fault. "She wanted to go out to dinner at eight; I wanted to go right away. She said, 'Easy, Tiger.' And that hit me. It stuck with me to the point where I called up Neal [that would be Neal Casal, guitarist of The Cardinals] and left a message on his answering machine with those two words. 'Don't forget this,' I said, 'cause I want to use it.'"
Adams laughs and adds, "I think he's still got that message." And I understand that. Some things you just save, because they're worth playing over again. I think there are really only two kinds of pop music CDs these days. There are the ones you listen to only once or twice, maybe downloading the single good song to your iPod or computer; then there are others that grow stronger, sweeter, and more necessary each time you play them. Gold was that way; Cold Roses was that way; so was Jacksonville City Nights. I won't say Adams is the best North American singer-songwriter since Neil Young...but I won't say he isn't, either. What I know is there has never been a Ryan Adams record quite as strong and together as Easy Tiger; it's got enough blue-eyed, blue-steel soul (with the faintest country tinge) to make me think of both Marvin Gaye and the Righteous Brothers. Probably ridiculous, but true. And the songs themselves are beautiful-- the lyrics tightly focused and brief, the feeling one of melancholy calm that will probably be a revelation to fans that remember the old, sometimes angry Ryan Adams. He agrees that the tone of Easy Tiger is different-- not dark, just different-- and suggests in passing that it may have something to do with both sobering up and growing up (he's 32). Then he goes on to talk about the process, which is clearly something close to his heart. "I write on a manual typewriter," he says. "I get up, I have a cup of coffee, I sit down at the typewriter. I never spent a useless day behind a typewriter." I say amen to that, but he's already going on. "It's like-- I don't know, sometimes it's like chasing a pretty girl on the beach. And things I never thought I could do...I can do." I mention how prolific he is, aware that I might be touching a sore point. After all, there are plenty of critics who seem to think that's a bad thing. Adams, however, just laughs. "Yeah, yeah, in America people give you shit for working hard," he says. "But...it's process, that's all. I process things. I went into the dream business. If people need 'em, I've got extra." He talks enthusiastically about all the unreleased material he hopes to set free in a box set, maybe at the end of the year ("If people hear it all, then they'll get the connections," he says), but that's then. Now there's this, maybe the best Ryan Adams CD ever. And I know you want to listen to it right away. But slow down. Take your time. This album asks for that, and it will reward your full attention. In other words-- easy, Tiger. --Stephen King Oh heyyyy tracklisting:
Track Listing
01. Goodnight Rose 02. Two 03. Everybody Knows 04. Halloweenhead 05. Oh My God, Whatever,Etc. 06. Tears Of Gold 07. The Sun Also Sets 08. Off Broadway 09. Pearls On A String 10. Rip Off 11. Two Hearts 12. These Girls 13. I Taught Myself How To Grow Old I'm interested to see where tracks like 4 & 5 (which sound like titles off his hilarious website project) fit in with song titles like 11 & 13.
Am I the only one who's completely, out-of-my-mind STOKED?!
Posted on 05/15/2007 7:30 AM Comments (3)
May 10, 2007BAMBOOZLE [05.10.07]What better to bring me back to this journal than Bamboozle? Plus, I finally have a bit of time to waste at work, and this weekend ruled my life. Might as well tell you about it. I did last year.
On Friday night I was going to head out to that new buzzed-up-the-ass place Angels&Kings (aka the Crush Bar) for the return of the Stolen Transmission party (Ultragrrrl&KarenPlusOne's dj sets always rock this body!) but LeBoy had me itching to see him in New Jersey. He'd been gone a while, see.
The next morning LeBoy and I headed to Giant's stadium after a solid brunch with the Great American Freedom Machine. Seriously, I ate everything off my plate, and days later I still remember this meal [I am still enjoying this gum! ]. But don't let me fool you - this mere moment of tasty bliss was not the highlight of my day!
There was a lot of people there. Sweating. Heat. Emo kids. Hardcore kids. Parents. Jersey parents (more on that later). Band dudes. VIPs. Internet celebs (Jeffree Star is one skinny dude). Expensive foodz. Merch. Hos. Bros. People I don't exactly "get" ( Cute is What We Aim For fans, high-profile groupies, that HeyChris dude, Yellowcard). Rides. Fake band names. Band names that really should be fake (The Devil Wears Prada , Elmo's Big Band).
To quote Erica: "Don't you feel like you're just standing in a vat of ketchup?"
Yes. And some of those kids' fashion choices literally almost made me vomit. Nip slips and overhang and people who should keep their t-shirts on...sends shivers just recalling it all.
LeBoy and I checked out Limbeck, whom I've actually never heard before, but I think I might like them if I got their stuff. We got our picture taken by the AOL blog PopEater because LeBoy has some sort of cred or something - I don't quite know what for, as I don't really know him all too well.
LeBoy's friend Trevor Kelley was there, as was his co-author, Leslie Simon, who's a little bit of a hero of mine. She's the managing editor of Alternative Press magazine. She was super nice, and sorry if I sound uber-dorky here saying that I was ecstatic to be introduced to her. Leslie & Trevor just released a book you should pick up and read at night right before you cry yourself to sleep on that homemade pillowcase with Gerard Way's face on it. Everybody Hurts: An Essential Guide to Emo Culture. Get into it.
Backstage I ran into my friend Emily & Shawn Harris from The Matches. Shawn was wearing red L.A.M.B. sweatpants. Emily turns to me and goes, "I got those at the sale you told me about!!" Then to Shawn: "I wouldn't have even gotten those for you if it wasn't for this girl." And Shawn thanked me. I have to admit, that was pretty sweet.
Also backstage, LeBoy and I ran into Jeff from Cartel...whom I know from doing the "Say Anything (Else)" video. However, LeBoy's former booking agent put money down on a challenge between these two involving a certain talent they both purportedly have -- and the opponents haven't even met. I think they'll be saving the challenge for tv -- if you haven't heard, Cartel's doing Band in a Bubble - they go into a glass house here in NYC for a month to record their new album for the MTV cameras. So...file that under "coming soon."
And then I saw Gerard Way -- and oof, that food poisoning does not look fun. Mikey Way & Alicia were there too, though, I don't think he was playing. LeBoy tells me they have a really cute puppy, but, alas, I was not around to see it. I also saw that assface Shaant and he was looking grody and tre doucheslutty.
A bunch of people apparently wanted LeBoy's autograph (why?!) and so I found the Curbside Gang and we settled at the back of the massive main stage crowd for Cartel. Solid, fun set! After a quick run to the port-o-potty (shudder) and some slight LeBoy stalking (you're still signing shit?!) I headed back for Say Anything.
The girls and I decided to get into the crowd for this one. While we were waiting among the sweaty teens, we saw a guy walk by holding up a sign he had made out of the side of a cardboard box and a sharpie. It read: "Rachael Sanborn your boyfriend misses you. He's right here" with an arrow pointing down. Hilarious. Then Say Anything finally came out with "Alive with the Glory of Love" and the crowd obvs flipped. This blond highschool age bro in front of us looked back at one point and said, "Hey - wanna go up?!" FALSE, kid. Crowdsurfers are beyond obnoxious, just sayin.
Well, after almost being pummelled to death by those rabid Say Anything fans, we decided to hang out in the back with the cool kids. You know, who are 45 and looking at their watches and plugging their ears while trying to keep track of their offspring. Whatevs. When they played "Wow I Can Get Sexual, Too" we had a little Curbside danceparty.
Breaktime. We were eagerly anticipating the Great American Freedom Machine's set. We sat on a curb (like ya do) and I played with a stick (yeah, I don't know...) and then we headed into the crowd for the show. Basically, GAFM is a Motion City Soundtrack tribute band. And when I say tribute, I mean they eerily looked exactly like them, too. It was all our fave songs, and we rocked out. I seriously almost lost my voice, and I know I'm a total nerd for admitting that. GAFM shows have always been fun. Always! They even covered Motion City's new song, "This is For Real," and since I spent hours watching the YouTube video, I sang along as much as I could. I was the only fist-pumper during that song...whatevs. The keyboards though, he rocks a little too fast for love, I think. Also, he's kind of super-hot. Don't tell LeBoy.
After their set, the girls headed back to the city and I went in search of LeBoy because I realized I hadn't seen him in a while. I found him backstage all sweaty (seriously, I didn't even ask what he'd been up to) and then we decided to make use of our VIP wristbands and drink for freeeeeeeee. Trevor & LeBoy exchanged stories about meeting Michael Stipe (Trevor, FTW) and then we raced with our beers out to watch Muse.
I've never seen Muse live before. Oh. Wow. I was blown away. Okay, I was a little inebriated, but when I heard the beginning of "Time is Running Out" (possibly my favorite Muse song) I flipped and almost spilled my beer everywhere.
LeBoy and I left a few songs into My Chemical Romance's set. We were flippin' exhausted and didn't think we would be able to make it into the city for the Bamboozle Afterparty at--you guessed it!--Angels&Kings. We got invites to the Giants Stadium Players Club to watch the Mayweather vs De La Hoya fight. Yeah, apparently the fight was a big deal. I was there for the free beer.
MC Hammer was also there, and but $1000 on Mayweather to win. At the end of the night we spotted him counting out a bunch of bills to this seven year old kid. What? Yeah, well, he was stoked.
Jeff from Cartel and LeBoy almost threw down in their challenge, but the bar was not equipped to handle such a monumental task. We hung with Neil Rubenstein, LeBoy's comedian friend, who's pretty damn hilarious. They asked him to hand out the Bamboozle awards. LeBoy gladly accepted "Bamboozle Class Clown" for the Great American Freedom Machine (I guess he kinda looks like the keyboard player?) and Neil wanted to keep Cute is what We Aim For's "Class Flirt" award and pawn it on eBay. Guessing by the amount of kids I saw decked in Cute Is Whatlaksjdf;asdkf merch that day, he'll probably make a pretty penny.
We saw some more of LeBoy's friends as the hours wound down... We finished the night dancing with inebriated members of Limbeck and trying to find a cab to the hotel. It was completely deserted at 3 am and the ferris wheel (of death) was even creepier.
DAY TWO!
Wow, this is one long-winded post, huh?!
We got there just in time for The Matches set. Their live shows always rock. You can't beat great songs + good live shows. How disappointing is it when your favorite band's live show sucks but their songs are so good? The Matches rule!
Neil did his comedy routine on the Pass the Mic stage - it was hilarious, even though it's soooo not the right venue for good comedians. At one point this woman in the front row dressed in denim shorts, a shirt off one shoulder, gold necklaces, beer in one hand, and big curly hair (oh riiiiiight, we're in New Jersey!) came running into the front obviously excited. Why? The Rangers just scored! Yeah! ...wait, what?
I was super-stoked for Sunday because one of my favorite bands evar, Monty Are I, was playing! I've known those dudes forever, and I was just soooo excited to see them, their set (which never, NEVER disappoints) and all the people they always bring (Ben! John!). Their set was AMAZING - they get better every time. They bring that epic shit and I pump my fist in apprecation always. It was pretty hilarious after the show when I wanted to say hi to Steve, but he was bombarded with fans. It kind of made me proud - is that weird? Anyway, after a few minutes of lollygagging around, I finally got to catch up with my old friend. Of course, the first thing I pointed out was that his Brandon Flowers-attempt-at-a-blazer was actually a woman's blazer (who's having Office flashbacks?!). They're touring with Amber Pacific and Powerspace right now - so check them out if you haven't already!
Also, Andrew told all the guys to greet me as "Hey, Spanish." Thanks, I'm Panamanian - not Spanish! And this coming from the dude who gave me the nickname Jessiska. FanxxxxxxMontyAreI.
Notables: I got to meet Steven from Steven's Untitled Rock Show - another friend of LeBoy's. They were filming a Fuse segment with Andrew McMahon. Steven was awesome, though I didn't say much, because if I did it would have probably been along the lines of "Yo, I watch you every night at 7 on Fuse. I love when you answer viewer questions from fans like fobatthedisco873!" And that would be me. Classic Awky Jessica. I decided not to embarass LeBoy.
Then LeBoy and I decided to be reckless...and...go on the Ferris Wheel (Of Death)! After waiting in the line for a while, we got LOCKED in and basically it just twirls with the weight of the car, except you can use the wheel to turn the car however you please. LeBoy thought it would be hilarious to twirl A LOT. So, I almost got sick...a lot. But it was fun. I enjoyed watching the beginning of Jack's Mannequin's set upside down 500 feet in the air (that measurement is a total guesstimation, as I have no real concept of space...at all). I also enjoyed trying to have a romantic kiss up there, but that probably would have ended up in *us* barfing and not the usual cast of spectators we induce vomiting in. Sexy!
We caught the rest of Jack's Mannequin's set - I got what I wanted: "Dark Blue" and "Bruised." Then we chatted a bit with Steve again, Erin G., and Dan from Sherwood. Dan is one of the nicest dudes evarrrrrr. Seriously, so sweet.
Said bye to Steve and then headed to the VIP tent again. Beer me! We then caught Weird Al's performance which was hysterical! We were also laughing really hard due to the massive consumption of beer we'd just had, though I think LeBoy took it harder than me. At the end of Al's set, I was all ready to go because we had agreed to skip out on the lamest Bamboozle headliner ever, Linkin' Park, but apparently LeBoy had to get out some male aggression. We set our scene in the Atticus tent with a few other VIPs who decided to go CRAZY to LP's first song - which apparently is popular and the only song LeBoy's heard of theirs, but I have no idea what it was. Classic stuff. At one point he fell back into the Atticus merch boxes, collided his skull with his friend Christian's, and basically was doing a lot of yelling and moshing. Oh the drunkeness. I have pictures, and you will be seeing them soon.
Exhausted, we finally headed back to our hotel. But then we got a second wind and decided to go to a nearby Chili's restaurant. LeBoy and I are the only ones sitting at the bar and we decide to get margaritas and have a nice chat (our conversations could go on for hours) when I see Powerspace walk in with their tour manager Bob D. Bob D. recently friend requested me because Steve from Monty Are I told him to. I'd never actually met him, so with a bit of tequila in me I did the honorable & awkward thing and said my hello, congratulated the band on a good set, and told him that Steve says hi. I don't think they're old enough to drink yet, plus, they'd just gotten there. Who's this awkward girl?!
So, back at the bar, LeBoy and I are talking and then Shawn from The Matches walks in with their guitar tech, Ben. They sidle in next to us and we order another round of margaritas and decide to play uno. At the bar. At Chili's. In Secaucus, New Jersey. Shawn won three times, I won once, and LeBoy won twice or something. I really sucked for some reason. I usually win A LOT at uno.
It was a good ending to Bamboozle. I probably wouldn't have recovered too well if I had gone out and partied crazy every night (last year was a bit like that...). I mean, I needed to get back to the city Monday morning! Working Girl Are I. Though I still haven't caught up on my sleep. Gah.
If you get through this entry, YOU WIN AT LIFE. This is such a tl;dr post.
Posted on 05/10/2007 1:24 PM Comments (14)
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