k, I changed my mind and don't feel like writing about all the things I should be getting for free right now.
It occurred to me during some recent pondering that we speak in our society about how older generations often work to try and create a better world for younger generations. Parents especially are usually viewed as working hard so that their kids can have better lives, have more than their parents had, etc. So why bitch at younger generations then for wanting more than their predecessors? Is it OK for older people to want things to be better for the young, but not OK for the young to want it for themselves? That's silly.
Apparently, generation Y is quite demanding in the workplace about being able to have flexible schedules, being able to have activities in their lives other than work, all that jazz. And I seem to hear/read a lot that this is impertinent and snotty to the older workforce. Whatev, man. I understand that there has to be limits to flexibility--rolling into work at noon every day in a business that operates on a normal 8-5 schedule really does not help the overall workplace. However, I see no reason why it's impertinent to want time to take classes, go to the gym, etc., especially if you are willing to accept the fact that you won't get overtime pay if you leave on time most days. Really, of course, it all boils down to money and money being more important than anything in the whole wide world. Which it isn't. I want my company to be productive and successful, but I can accomplish that without killing myself. And yes, maybe having reasonable work hours means you will never have the richest, most powerful corporation in the world. But honestly, I'm OK with that. I think riches and power are overrated. I'm not naive--I know money is important, and when you REALLY do not have any, it becomes pretty much the only thing that matters. I fully appreciate being able to eat and pay for heat, and yes, that takes money. But money isn't everything. It really isn't. Besides, if you can learn to utilize your people and resources in a truly efficient, well-thought-out way, you might not need people to work 80-hour weeks.
Tru' dat, DOUBLE TRUE!
Friday, December 19, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Ah, yes, another article about GenY in the workplace. Lovely.
I do not like broad generalizations or "hasty generalizations" as you may call them if you took logic with me. They happen all the time, but that doesn't make them good arguments. This article is actually complimentary to GenY'ers, so I'm more addressing some of the comments left under it. (For the record, I do not know one person who would ever dream of bringing his/her mother to a job interview. (emphasis added) This doesn't mean it does not happen--but please do not make some overreaching judgment that all 20somethings are incapable of making their own decisions because some fool couldn't handle an interview without his/her mum. Puh-lease.)
Grazing the internets, these seem to be the main points regarding the perception of GenY in the workplace:
Yay!: team-oriented, champions of diversity, tech-savvy, enthusiastic, and hard-working (when they want to be), can have fun at work
Boo!: lazy, demanding, feel entitled to things they don't deserve, need their moms too much, too casual, need too much praise and encouragement, have too much fun at work (I'd bet having piercings and spiky hair rank up there, too, in many people's opinions. The shame.)
I want to address my feelings on some of those (the boo's! especially) in-depth. My own best F*$9U&ing News Team exclusive report, if you will (is that phrase copyrighted Comedy Central?). I am said best F*$9U&ing News Team.
So tomorrow, we'll examine the entitlement thing. That drives me up the wall and off a cliff. Actually, the fact that some people seem to regard it as a childish sin to want to balance work and life or to have a world outside of the workplace makes me crazier. SORRY. Yes, giving myself an ulcer working 80 hours a week to make enough money to pay for some silly, overpriced SUV I don't need makes much more sense.
Lighten up.
I do not like broad generalizations or "hasty generalizations" as you may call them if you took logic with me. They happen all the time, but that doesn't make them good arguments. This article is actually complimentary to GenY'ers, so I'm more addressing some of the comments left under it. (For the record, I do not know one person who would ever dream of bringing his/her mother to a job interview. (emphasis added) This doesn't mean it does not happen--but please do not make some overreaching judgment that all 20somethings are incapable of making their own decisions because some fool couldn't handle an interview without his/her mum. Puh-lease.)
Grazing the internets, these seem to be the main points regarding the perception of GenY in the workplace:
Yay!: team-oriented, champions of diversity, tech-savvy, enthusiastic, and hard-working (when they want to be), can have fun at work
Boo!: lazy, demanding, feel entitled to things they don't deserve, need their moms too much, too casual, need too much praise and encouragement, have too much fun at work (I'd bet having piercings and spiky hair rank up there, too, in many people's opinions. The shame.)
I want to address my feelings on some of those (the boo's! especially) in-depth. My own best F*$9U&ing News Team exclusive report, if you will (is that phrase copyrighted Comedy Central?). I am said best F*$9U&ing News Team.
So tomorrow, we'll examine the entitlement thing. That drives me up the wall and off a cliff. Actually, the fact that some people seem to regard it as a childish sin to want to balance work and life or to have a world outside of the workplace makes me crazier. SORRY. Yes, giving myself an ulcer working 80 hours a week to make enough money to pay for some silly, overpriced SUV I don't need makes much more sense.
Lighten up.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Re-vamp
After careful consideration and some reading (literacy (w)rocks!), I've decided to do something new. There was an MSN link the other day to some top HR jobby-type blogs. I checked one or two out, and then ended up spending most of the day perusing various blogs, mostly links from my favorite the Punk Rock HR Blog. Being an opinionated individual myself, I had many...opinions...on various items on these blogs. I also decided my age group (and younger, really...I keep forgetting that I get older every year) is underrepresented in the business blogging world. I fall into the "Millennials" generation, though personally, I think due in large part to the fact that I was raised in a home with two overly-hard working parents with a very modest income and an older brother, I really see myself as a mish-mash of the GenX/Millennial generations. I constantly read about how narcissistic, lazy and "entitlement"-y the Millennials act. Now, putting aside the fact that I don't know of a younger generation yet that was not lambasted by older peeps for being immoral, being lazy, wearing too much eyeliner or listening to that gol-darned "rock music" too loud, I get quite offended by many people's opinions of Millennials. I'm sure some of it's true. (Though who is really to blame for such things? If "kids today" are entitlement-spoiled and believe themselves special because mom and dad constantly told them they were, can you really only blame the kids? No.) However, generalizing an entire generation is always kind of a douchebag thing to do, and I won't stand for it. So. I am a college educated twentysomething, intelligent, capable, goal-oriented, etc., etc., gal whose "professional" life looks somewhat like the career embodiment of a Jackson Pollack painting. Messy, splattered, and hard to interpret. (And if you are my friends and me, something you go look at knowing beforehand you'll probably just be making fun of it the entire time. Sorry Pollack fans.) I'm joining in the chorus. This is going to be my attempt to blog about a somewhat-normal young woman's attempts a figuring out this "career" thing in the modern world, and I'm hoping in the process that I can defend my age group a bit and give people some insight into how I/we look at careers, the job-world, and other such exciting topics. No one will read this at first. But who knows...maybe I'll have my own Carrie Bradshaw worthy book-party one day.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
It's getting cold again...
We might kiss when we are alone
When nobody's watching
We might take it home
We might make out when nobody's there
It's not that we're scared
It's just that it's delicate
So why do you fill my sorrow
With the words you've borrowed
From the only place you've know
And why do you sing Hallelujah
If it means nothing to you
Why do you sing with me at all?
We might live like never before
When there's nothing to give
Well how can we ask for more
We might make love in some sacred place
The look on your face is delicate
So why do you fill my sorrow
With the words you've borrowed
From the only place you've know
And why do you sing Hallelujah
If it means nothing to you
Why do you sing with me at all?
--damien rice
When nobody's watching
We might take it home
We might make out when nobody's there
It's not that we're scared
It's just that it's delicate
So why do you fill my sorrow
With the words you've borrowed
From the only place you've know
And why do you sing Hallelujah
If it means nothing to you
Why do you sing with me at all?
We might live like never before
When there's nothing to give
Well how can we ask for more
We might make love in some sacred place
The look on your face is delicate
So why do you fill my sorrow
With the words you've borrowed
From the only place you've know
And why do you sing Hallelujah
If it means nothing to you
Why do you sing with me at all?
--damien rice
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
All the pretty faces...
Not enough to do at work...
It's strange how quickly feelings can come back. Maybe that is why I don't like winter. The air feels totally like fall today--it's cold, in other words. And I've been listening to the Killers again for pretty much the past two days straight. If there is anything that reminds me of Los Angeles, for some reason it's the Killers and the first breath of cold air in the fall. It makes me miss the city more than almost anything else. I've had my love/not so love relationship w/ Flowers & Co. I could never make myself love Sam's Town as much as I wanted to. I like it, sometimes significantly, and the emotional baggage that goes with the Killers makes me like it that much more. And let's be honest, sometimes Mr. Flowers can be a dick. Especially considering how much I love Panic at the Disco. I just read an interesting interview he did with NME, though, and it made me thoughtful for him again. Plus, I do still love their music. Dick or not.
So, I distinctly remember driving into the parking garage at my apartment building in los angeles, and hearing Somebody Told Me on the radio (this would have been July circa 2004). I'd heard it before, and I thought it was really catchy, but for some reason I just clearly remember this time, thinking "I LOVE this song. I HAVE to get these guys' album." And thus it was born. It's one of those random, vivid memories, and it makes me nostalgic.
That to the right is my apartment building in L.A., the Metropolitan. I didn't actually live where that red line is pointing--but I lived about there, only facing the other side. I looked out towards Beverly Hills and Hollywood. Sigh.
I usually don't like to talk about it.
"Another head aches, another heart breaks
I am so much older than I can take
And my affection, well it comes and goes
I need direction to perfection, no no no no, help me out."
--Brandon Flowers
Friday, August 29, 2008
Obama
"And I've seen it in this campaign. In the young people who voted for the first time, and in those who got involved again after a very long time. In the Republicans who never thought they'd pick up a Democratic ballot, but did. I've seen it in the workers who would rather cut their hours back a day than see their friends lose their jobs, in the soldiers who re-enlist after losing a limb, in the good neighbors who take a stranger in when a hurricane strikes and the floodwaters rise.
This country of ours has more wealth than any nation, but that's not what makes us rich. We have the most powerful military on Earth, but that's not what makes us strong. Our universities and our culture are the envy of the world, but that's not what keeps the world coming to our shores.
Instead, it is that American spirit — that American promise — that pushes us forward even when the path is uncertain; that binds us together in spite of our differences; that makes us fix our eye not on what is seen, but what is unseen, that better place around the bend.
That promise is our greatest inheritance. It's a promise I make to my daughters when I tuck them in at night, and a promise that you make to yours — a promise that has led immigrants to cross oceans and pioneers to travel west; a promise that led workers to picket lines, and women to reach for the ballot.
And it is that promise that 45 years ago today brought Americans from every corner of this land to stand together on a mall in Washington, before Lincoln's Memorial, and hear a young preacher from Georgia speak of his dream.
The men and women who gathered there could've heard many things. They could've heard words of anger and discord. They could've been told to succumb to the fear and frustration of so many dreams deferred.
But what the people heard instead — people of every creed and color, from every walk of life — is that in America, our destiny is inextricably linked. That together, our dreams can be one.
"We cannot walk alone," the preacher cried. "And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back."
America, we cannot turn back. Not with so much work to be done. Not with so many children to educate, and so many veterans to care for. Not with an economy to fix and cities to rebuild and farms to save. Not with so many families to protect and so many lives to mend. America, we cannot turn back. We cannot walk alone. At this moment, in this election, we must pledge once more to march into the future. Let us keep that promise — that American promise — and in the words of Scripture hold firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess."
This country of ours has more wealth than any nation, but that's not what makes us rich. We have the most powerful military on Earth, but that's not what makes us strong. Our universities and our culture are the envy of the world, but that's not what keeps the world coming to our shores.
Instead, it is that American spirit — that American promise — that pushes us forward even when the path is uncertain; that binds us together in spite of our differences; that makes us fix our eye not on what is seen, but what is unseen, that better place around the bend.
That promise is our greatest inheritance. It's a promise I make to my daughters when I tuck them in at night, and a promise that you make to yours — a promise that has led immigrants to cross oceans and pioneers to travel west; a promise that led workers to picket lines, and women to reach for the ballot.
And it is that promise that 45 years ago today brought Americans from every corner of this land to stand together on a mall in Washington, before Lincoln's Memorial, and hear a young preacher from Georgia speak of his dream.
The men and women who gathered there could've heard many things. They could've heard words of anger and discord. They could've been told to succumb to the fear and frustration of so many dreams deferred.
But what the people heard instead — people of every creed and color, from every walk of life — is that in America, our destiny is inextricably linked. That together, our dreams can be one.
"We cannot walk alone," the preacher cried. "And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back."
America, we cannot turn back. Not with so much work to be done. Not with so many children to educate, and so many veterans to care for. Not with an economy to fix and cities to rebuild and farms to save. Not with so many families to protect and so many lives to mend. America, we cannot turn back. We cannot walk alone. At this moment, in this election, we must pledge once more to march into the future. Let us keep that promise — that American promise — and in the words of Scripture hold firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess."
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Changing
Well, I may feel a little guilty right now, but I'm changing things up a bit. It's hard to keep a very type-specific blog going when there isn't enough information immediately available to make it interesting or worthwhile. We shall see how things go in the future, but for now...
Project Runway!
Last night's episode had the designers working with materials from Saturn cars (Saturn happens to be a big sponsor of PR, go figure...that little in-between commercials of past runway contestants designing outfits inspired by various Saturn cars? Lame. Sorry, Bravo.)
So Leanne won (black dress to the right):
I love this black dress, especially the top. She has those weird stand-out wing things on the hips, which usually the judges hate, but it worked with the proportion on the rest of the dress (sort of. If I was actually going to buy this dress, I'd want those things to be smushed down, myself.)
Keith got voted off, finally. (Dress below)
Guess what Keith. Your dress was boring, your other ones have been mostly ugly, and you annoy me. So I'm not that sorry to see you go. That may be uncharitable, so here's a compliment--you don't annoy me as much as Season 3 Laura, who was a guest judge fill-in last night. Why are the producers of this show trying to bug me? Laura is like the wicked witch of the west if she had red hair, wore a lot of dresses, and lived in NYC.
Other observations from this week: I still don't like Kenley, I want Heidi's hair, and to be honest, I was only half paying attention, because it was kind of boring this week. Doesn't ANYONE on this show ever hook up? I wonder what the show will be like on lifetime. Will they encourage crying and emotional breakdowns? Will there be interventions headed by Sally Field? Will a pick-up truck be involved somewhere?
Project Runway!
Last night's episode had the designers working with materials from Saturn cars (Saturn happens to be a big sponsor of PR, go figure...that little in-between commercials of past runway contestants designing outfits inspired by various Saturn cars? Lame. Sorry, Bravo.)
So Leanne won (black dress to the right):
I love this black dress, especially the top. She has those weird stand-out wing things on the hips, which usually the judges hate, but it worked with the proportion on the rest of the dress (sort of. If I was actually going to buy this dress, I'd want those things to be smushed down, myself.)
Keith got voted off, finally. (Dress below)
Guess what Keith. Your dress was boring, your other ones have been mostly ugly, and you annoy me. So I'm not that sorry to see you go. That may be uncharitable, so here's a compliment--you don't annoy me as much as Season 3 Laura, who was a guest judge fill-in last night. Why are the producers of this show trying to bug me? Laura is like the wicked witch of the west if she had red hair, wore a lot of dresses, and lived in NYC.Other observations from this week: I still don't like Kenley, I want Heidi's hair, and to be honest, I was only half paying attention, because it was kind of boring this week. Doesn't ANYONE on this show ever hook up? I wonder what the show will be like on lifetime. Will they encourage crying and emotional breakdowns? Will there be interventions headed by Sally Field? Will a pick-up truck be involved somewhere?
Monday, July 28, 2008
New!
OK, it is sad that I already am slightly neglectful. Blame my new second full-time "job." Anyways:
New Shows: The Billiken Club fall line up
New Videos: The Audio, Gentleman Auction House, Jon Hardy and the Public
New songs: The Audio
New compilation: The Space Parlour 2008: Live in St. Louis track list! Congrats to all the bands on here!
New Shows: The Billiken Club fall line up
New Videos: The Audio, Gentleman Auction House, Jon Hardy and the Public
New songs: The Audio
New compilation: The Space Parlour 2008: Live in St. Louis track list! Congrats to all the bands on here!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Play:STL '08 Festival...
...is happening September 18-20, in the Loop.
PLAY:STL '08 Rocks Your World.
Yay! And I'm working on it, so drop me a line if you have questions.
If you play music and want to submit to be in the festival through sonicbids go here.
And you're going to be hearing about it a lot, so get used to it, my lovelies.
Oh, and PS...I'm also going to start writing content for Playback:STL, so I'll be looking for local music news, and musicians who want to be interviewed/featured/watched/listened to/my new friends. I'll be contacting people myself, once I get going, but again, you can always contact me.
PPS. Sorry for the somewhat shameless self-promotion, but I'm excited for the festival.
PLAY:STL '08 Rocks Your World.
Yay! And I'm working on it, so drop me a line if you have questions.
If you play music and want to submit to be in the festival through sonicbids go here.
And you're going to be hearing about it a lot, so get used to it, my lovelies.
Oh, and PS...I'm also going to start writing content for Playback:STL, so I'll be looking for local music news, and musicians who want to be interviewed/featured/watched/listened to/my new friends. I'll be contacting people myself, once I get going, but again, you can always contact me.
PPS. Sorry for the somewhat shameless self-promotion, but I'm excited for the festival.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Title
There is a new Throwback Track of the Week above. Yay! This is one of my favorite new weekly tasks, one reason being that it makes me smile maniacally when I listen to all these old bands again. Leaping lizards, is there anyone more nostalgic than current twenty-somethings?! So I'll try and do a real update tomorrow with whatever news I can scrounge up. For now, listen to Nerve, and pour some out for one's homies (um...sp?) because an era is ending soon. Bernie and Barbara McDonald are ending a VERY long stint of performing at McGurk's in Soulard in September, and Monday nights will never be the same. THIS IS TRAGIC. Furthermore, our favorite McG's bartender Justin has decided to further wreck my world, and his last day is next Monday. C'mon people, you can't just lay this all on me in one sitting. So I'll be working on some kind-of B&B tribute, and in the meantime, go hear them Sun/Mon at McG's while you still can.
*unrelated note of glee-OK, read the note about "woot" above in the TTW disclaimer. Seriously. It came from D&D? Even if this is not true, I am going to pretend it is, because that. is. awesome.
current music: david & the citizens
*unrelated note of glee-OK, read the note about "woot" above in the TTW disclaimer. Seriously. It came from D&D? Even if this is not true, I am going to pretend it is, because that. is. awesome.
current music: david & the citizens
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
midweek
There is a new weekly addition to the blog above. Forgive me for having downloadable mp3's on my site (hence the disclaimers).
For your weekend planning, there are many good shows this weekend but don't forget Saturday is the Southside Rocks Off benefit for good ol' KDHX. You can support local music AND your local public radio station all at the same time for just a $5 wristband! Think how self-satisfied you will feel! Here's the lineup ahead of time:
Mangia Italiano: Dub Kitchen, the Epic Mayhem, Strawfoot (11 pm)
Erato Wine Bar: The Long Shot, Sarah McCracken, Common Roots (9 pm)
Mekong: Tomorrow's Rumor, the Humanoids, the Monads (11 pm)
For your weekend planning, there are many good shows this weekend but don't forget Saturday is the Southside Rocks Off benefit for good ol' KDHX. You can support local music AND your local public radio station all at the same time for just a $5 wristband! Think how self-satisfied you will feel! Here's the lineup ahead of time:
Mangia Italiano: Dub Kitchen, the Epic Mayhem, Strawfoot (11 pm)
Erato Wine Bar: The Long Shot, Sarah McCracken, Common Roots (9 pm)
Mekong: Tomorrow's Rumor, the Humanoids, the Monads (11 pm)
Friday, July 11, 2008
The Bluebird is turning one big years old July 14th! From today until the 15th they'll have drink specials in celebration of this grand event. Happiness to one of my favorite places to go in St. Louis!
Ok, July 18th is Pokey Lafarge's cd release at off broadway, and if you aren't aware, the first 50 people to buy tickets get to go to a pre-show BBQ, which is hilarious. I don't know if those lucky 50 are all taken yet, but it's worth a shot to see. Mmm...bbq is good.
Gentleman Auction House and the Wooden Kites have new tour dates up for the fall. Send me a postcard.
There are lots of shows this weekend--go see one!
Ok, July 18th is Pokey Lafarge's cd release at off broadway, and if you aren't aware, the first 50 people to buy tickets get to go to a pre-show BBQ, which is hilarious. I don't know if those lucky 50 are all taken yet, but it's worth a shot to see. Mmm...bbq is good.
Gentleman Auction House and the Wooden Kites have new tour dates up for the fall. Send me a postcard.
There are lots of shows this weekend--go see one!
Monday, July 7, 2008
My heart could use some swagger, too.
OK, not wanting to add too much to any feared "overexposure", I will try to make this ditty about Gentleman Auction House's CD release show a study in brevity. Though it probably will flunk.
Ok, I got there right around 10, when colourmusic [british sic] started playing. There was a lot of white on the stage. White drums, white guitars, white matching jackets...I would imagine a fair amount of white person sweat, because it was hot and most of them had on long sleeves. The band is from Oklahoma, where the corn is as high as an elephant's eye. I remember it being very loud. They had three guitar players! Madness, you say? I think I felt my sternum vibrate, which may or may not have been healthy, but it was fun. If you would like a sample of the music, go here. I've decided I don't like comparing bands to "sounds like" bands, so just take five minutes of time and listen to it yourself. Their cds were creatively packaged each in a real actual book (like, made out of paper), which I found nifty. Especially the old-school sesame street book.
The Hibernauts played next, for which I was quite excited. They only have four people in the band, which I'm guessing was the minimum requirement for the night. This not being their first time sharing the evening with GAH, there was nice brotherly-love stemming from the stage during their set, which was very entertaining and catchy (in the best way possible). It was fast and strong (seriously, their arms were blurry they played so fast) and good. Again, listen to the songs, if you can. Oh, and the background on their myspace page is them pouring milk all over each other, vaguely reminding me of the gasoline scene in zoolander, and alluring in its own special way.
So then Gentleman Auction House took the stage with the stompingclappingshouting goodness that is ABCDEFGraveyard (the song). OK, I realize they may not be for everyone, and so if you don't like their music because it's not your style, fine. Please do not hate because they actually are making a name for themselves, though. I think I mentioned this before, but I am actually a late-comer to GAH. I just happened to see them at the Bluebird in February, but within about a minute, I was sold. I hate to say this at a moment when it may seem trite, but I really do love these guys. Fo' tru. Their live show is just incredible; there is so much energy and joy and fun on that stage, it's insane. And I do believe I have listened to ABCDEFGraveyard (the album) on repeat pretty much nonstop since about 1:07 AM Sat. night/Sun. morning (much to the chagrin of my neighbors). Anyway, they kept saying how nice it was to be back home, and everyone seemed to be having good times. They played a lot of material off the new record, which was lovely, and did a groovy soul coughing cover. And naturally, there was a lot of plaid (this makes more sense if you have been reading their blog). They all sounded incredible, there was much dancing, and celebration. OK, I'll stop. It was really, really good, and I'm sorry if you missed it.
This entire show is why I LOVE st. louis local music, and I don't understand people who are mean about it.
current music: Gentleman Auction House (I have an mildly obsessive personality. Leave me alone.) - We Used to Dream About Bridges
Ok, I got there right around 10, when colourmusic [british sic] started playing. There was a lot of white on the stage. White drums, white guitars, white matching jackets...I would imagine a fair amount of white person sweat, because it was hot and most of them had on long sleeves. The band is from Oklahoma, where the corn is as high as an elephant's eye. I remember it being very loud. They had three guitar players! Madness, you say? I think I felt my sternum vibrate, which may or may not have been healthy, but it was fun. If you would like a sample of the music, go here. I've decided I don't like comparing bands to "sounds like" bands, so just take five minutes of time and listen to it yourself. Their cds were creatively packaged each in a real actual book (like, made out of paper), which I found nifty. Especially the old-school sesame street book.
The Hibernauts played next, for which I was quite excited. They only have four people in the band, which I'm guessing was the minimum requirement for the night. This not being their first time sharing the evening with GAH, there was nice brotherly-love stemming from the stage during their set, which was very entertaining and catchy (in the best way possible). It was fast and strong (seriously, their arms were blurry they played so fast) and good. Again, listen to the songs, if you can. Oh, and the background on their myspace page is them pouring milk all over each other, vaguely reminding me of the gasoline scene in zoolander, and alluring in its own special way.
So then Gentleman Auction House took the stage with the stompingclappingshouting goodness that is ABCDEFGraveyard (the song). OK, I realize they may not be for everyone, and so if you don't like their music because it's not your style, fine. Please do not hate because they actually are making a name for themselves, though. I think I mentioned this before, but I am actually a late-comer to GAH. I just happened to see them at the Bluebird in February, but within about a minute, I was sold. I hate to say this at a moment when it may seem trite, but I really do love these guys. Fo' tru. Their live show is just incredible; there is so much energy and joy and fun on that stage, it's insane. And I do believe I have listened to ABCDEFGraveyard (the album) on repeat pretty much nonstop since about 1:07 AM Sat. night/Sun. morning (much to the chagrin of my neighbors). Anyway, they kept saying how nice it was to be back home, and everyone seemed to be having good times. They played a lot of material off the new record, which was lovely, and did a groovy soul coughing cover. And naturally, there was a lot of plaid (this makes more sense if you have been reading their blog). They all sounded incredible, there was much dancing, and celebration. OK, I'll stop. It was really, really good, and I'm sorry if you missed it.
This entire show is why I LOVE st. louis local music, and I don't understand people who are mean about it.
current music: Gentleman Auction House (I have an mildly obsessive personality. Leave me alone.) - We Used to Dream About Bridges
Friday, July 4, 2008
Happy Day I am Glad I don't have to go to work
Little snippets:
Vintage Vinyl has apparently decided the Loop likes to block party, so the first Saturday of every month DJ Needles (& guests) will be 'spinning' outside VV, whipping it up into a frenzy. So that would be tomorrow for the month of July, FYI.
I just read about this yesterday on iChannel, so sorry if I'm late, but there will be a big concert on August 16th called iFest. It's at the St. Charles Family Arena and starts at 2 pm, and there will be a whole host of bands there, including the Feed, Go Van Gogh, Building Rome, Greenwheel, the Marquette Weekend, Northside's Sweet Revenge, Ocean Rivals, Standpointe, Tomorrow's Rumor, Walk Sophie, and two yet-to-be-announced. Tickets go on sale July 8 for $10 and will only be $15 the day of show. I think it will be interesting to see how this goes.... Congrats to all the bands playing!
That's My Daughter has new songs posted on their myspace. Their CD release is Aug 2 at off broadway too!
have loads of explosive fun tonight, just don't hurt yourself too much.
current music: the white stripes, rag and bone
Vintage Vinyl has apparently decided the Loop likes to block party, so the first Saturday of every month DJ Needles (& guests) will be 'spinning' outside VV, whipping it up into a frenzy. So that would be tomorrow for the month of July, FYI.
I just read about this yesterday on iChannel, so sorry if I'm late, but there will be a big concert on August 16th called iFest. It's at the St. Charles Family Arena and starts at 2 pm, and there will be a whole host of bands there, including the Feed, Go Van Gogh, Building Rome, Greenwheel, the Marquette Weekend, Northside's Sweet Revenge, Ocean Rivals, Standpointe, Tomorrow's Rumor, Walk Sophie, and two yet-to-be-announced. Tickets go on sale July 8 for $10 and will only be $15 the day of show. I think it will be interesting to see how this goes.... Congrats to all the bands playing!
That's My Daughter has new songs posted on their myspace. Their CD release is Aug 2 at off broadway too!
have loads of explosive fun tonight, just don't hurt yourself too much.
current music: the white stripes, rag and bone
Monday, June 30, 2008
News snippets of enjoyment:
This is on the RFT A to Z blog as well, but Victoria apparently is no more (well, after two final shows they will be). :( It's always sad to hear of a good band breaking up, but we wish the guys luck in whatever they do next.
The Wooden Kites (see, they are everywhere) is the lucky local artist of the week in KDHX's local spotlight. The short interview/snippets of songs airs twice a day on your fantastic community radio station 88.1. yay!
Gentleman Auction House's CD release party for "Alphabet Graveyard" is this Saturday evening at the bluebird! eep! Darn it all, but I love these kids. I realize I am a bit behind the times on this one, and I just happened to see them by chance actually one night, but this should be such a fun show.
I'm sure there is more going on in STL, but I'm not supposed to be blogging at the moment, so that's it for now. I'm working on a big calendar, but these things are more time consuming than one might expect when embarking, so be patient, please.
julie "if she's a lady, i'm a vermicious knid" smailys
This is on the RFT A to Z blog as well, but Victoria apparently is no more (well, after two final shows they will be). :( It's always sad to hear of a good band breaking up, but we wish the guys luck in whatever they do next.
The Wooden Kites (see, they are everywhere) is the lucky local artist of the week in KDHX's local spotlight. The short interview/snippets of songs airs twice a day on your fantastic community radio station 88.1. yay!
Gentleman Auction House's CD release party for "Alphabet Graveyard" is this Saturday evening at the bluebird! eep! Darn it all, but I love these kids. I realize I am a bit behind the times on this one, and I just happened to see them by chance actually one night, but this should be such a fun show.
I'm sure there is more going on in STL, but I'm not supposed to be blogging at the moment, so that's it for now. I'm working on a big calendar, but these things are more time consuming than one might expect when embarking, so be patient, please.
julie "if she's a lady, i'm a vermicious knid" smailys
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Caleb Travers & the Wooden Kites at the Taproom
Maybe I've never been much of a reviewer because I love bands too much, especially good local ones. It gets mildly redundant to say "it was so good!" over and over.
Well, last night at the Schlafly Taproom was Corey Saathoff, Caleb Travers & the Big City Lights, and the Wooden Kites. I got there too late to see Corey (I am a bad person), but such is life. Caleb played with just Scott Swartz, not the full band (they will be at Union Station for a free show July 17, in case you're interested). This was my first time seeing him, though I've seen his name all over the place. He played a quiet, stripped-down set that I was really glad I got to see. He writes beautiful, sweet songs, and has a rich voice to go with the acoustic guitar. I saw myself listening to his songs on a night-time summer road trip with the windows down, the wind blowing. That kind of thing. He was just a bit cheeky in between songs, too. It made me want to catch his open mic at Atomic Cowboy on Tuesdays, because I think he could probably amuse me in a casual, carefree kind of setting. He did make the comment that if anyone had come alone that night they might want to "end it" after his set because of the level of mellow-ness. A joke, of course, but he has some very haunting songs. I love that though, so if you get a chance, I recommend going to see him. Maybe bring tissues.
The Wooden Kites played next and warned all our eardrums of impending noise. Aw, OK. These guys had a bit of a rough night. Brian's mic kept mysteriously deciding to not work, then work again without any discernible reasoning. The guys kept pounding out the sound though--kudos to them. Everyone helped out by yelling the lyrics when the mic went out. It was a team effort. Even with these problems, the WK were bushels of fun! They play mostly upbeat, fast-moving songs that one could bop around to if so-inclined. It's a little country, a little rock, a little keyboard...but totally rock-out good. They put on an energetic live show, and they have catchy, loud music. I danced, I won't lie. I can't help myself, usually. I hope to see the WK again, soon, and I'll bring friends (their next show is July 4 at the Way Out Club, so be take your jello-molds and bbq and go see them). They have that kind of music that I find it difficult to resist because it is fun -- it doesn't take itself too seriously, it moves, it isn't pretentious. I hope they stick around. I bought their new album, the Orchard, and put it in as soon as I got in my car, so that was a plus. And I'll give it a review posthaste after a few more listens. So congrats guys--they've gotten a lot of good press recently, and it's well deserved.
I need to finally join the twenty-first century and get a digital camera, so I can take pictures of these things.
Well, last night at the Schlafly Taproom was Corey Saathoff, Caleb Travers & the Big City Lights, and the Wooden Kites. I got there too late to see Corey (I am a bad person), but such is life. Caleb played with just Scott Swartz, not the full band (they will be at Union Station for a free show July 17, in case you're interested). This was my first time seeing him, though I've seen his name all over the place. He played a quiet, stripped-down set that I was really glad I got to see. He writes beautiful, sweet songs, and has a rich voice to go with the acoustic guitar. I saw myself listening to his songs on a night-time summer road trip with the windows down, the wind blowing. That kind of thing. He was just a bit cheeky in between songs, too. It made me want to catch his open mic at Atomic Cowboy on Tuesdays, because I think he could probably amuse me in a casual, carefree kind of setting. He did make the comment that if anyone had come alone that night they might want to "end it" after his set because of the level of mellow-ness. A joke, of course, but he has some very haunting songs. I love that though, so if you get a chance, I recommend going to see him. Maybe bring tissues.
The Wooden Kites played next and warned all our eardrums of impending noise. Aw, OK. These guys had a bit of a rough night. Brian's mic kept mysteriously deciding to not work, then work again without any discernible reasoning. The guys kept pounding out the sound though--kudos to them. Everyone helped out by yelling the lyrics when the mic went out. It was a team effort. Even with these problems, the WK were bushels of fun! They play mostly upbeat, fast-moving songs that one could bop around to if so-inclined. It's a little country, a little rock, a little keyboard...but totally rock-out good. They put on an energetic live show, and they have catchy, loud music. I danced, I won't lie. I can't help myself, usually. I hope to see the WK again, soon, and I'll bring friends (their next show is July 4 at the Way Out Club, so be take your jello-molds and bbq and go see them). They have that kind of music that I find it difficult to resist because it is fun -- it doesn't take itself too seriously, it moves, it isn't pretentious. I hope they stick around. I bought their new album, the Orchard, and put it in as soon as I got in my car, so that was a plus. And I'll give it a review posthaste after a few more listens. So congrats guys--they've gotten a lot of good press recently, and it's well deserved.
I need to finally join the twenty-first century and get a digital camera, so I can take pictures of these things.
Friday, June 27, 2008
OK, here's what...I am not a Tom Waits expert, and I would not insult those who are by claiming to be. However, I could probably write a small treatise on the show last night alone. I'll try and sum it up as much as possible. Of course, it was amaz-ing. I have never seen anything like this man, nor do I think I will again. Seriously, if you ever get the chance--go see him. It's worth whatever paper dollars you will have to pay.
So first, big long will-call line. Whew. Really, it seemed to be moving fairly quickly, but I had my ticket mailed, so I bypassed the standing and into the Fox I went. I love the Fox; we really are lucky in our city to have such a beautiful, old theatre around still. Lots o' people were in the lobby, but sometimes I don't do well with crowds, so I looked around for just a bit then went to my seat.
Everything got very dark, then happiness sprung up as the show began with much stomping and dust. (do they tote dirt around, or is it local? I couldn't help but ask myself.) We grooved in our seats to Mr. Waits and his band's bluesy goodness. Sitting in seats is hard at a concert, especially with such music as this that makes you want to move. I was amazed by the sounds coming from the stage, though. He can move from ballads that bring tears to the eyes to full-on carnival soundtracks. It's fantastic! His voice is so gritty it's almost unreal, and I believe this music to be perfect for seduction on a steamy June night. I wish I had had someone next to me to seduce.
Interlude in which Tom Waits plays piano-lovely songs and discusses with the audience such topics as not eating in restaurants that are on fire in Oklahoma and buying rare things on e-bay. I think I would like to be friends with this man. He seems like a nice guy, with a good sense of humor, and that's what every gal wants, right?
After the beautiful piano, we move back into groovin' circus-style and makin' it rain (not in the clubbing sense, thank you fat joe featuring lil' wayne). Amazing song and it came complete with glitter! so that pretty much made my night complete. For the rest of the night, Tom Waits had a slight golden sparkle in my eyes. He handled responding to nonsensical outbursts from the audience with class and provided us with an encore of goodness.
So really, he is not like anyone else I have ever heard. I marvel at how a mind comes up with this music. And in such variety, with such beauty, and with so many elements working together. It was an awesome, mind-blowing, earth-rocking show (literally. I thought the Fox was going to split in two at one point.) that I am glad I had the good fortune to see.
fin!
So first, big long will-call line. Whew. Really, it seemed to be moving fairly quickly, but I had my ticket mailed, so I bypassed the standing and into the Fox I went. I love the Fox; we really are lucky in our city to have such a beautiful, old theatre around still. Lots o' people were in the lobby, but sometimes I don't do well with crowds, so I looked around for just a bit then went to my seat.
Everything got very dark, then happiness sprung up as the show began with much stomping and dust. (do they tote dirt around, or is it local? I couldn't help but ask myself.) We grooved in our seats to Mr. Waits and his band's bluesy goodness. Sitting in seats is hard at a concert, especially with such music as this that makes you want to move. I was amazed by the sounds coming from the stage, though. He can move from ballads that bring tears to the eyes to full-on carnival soundtracks. It's fantastic! His voice is so gritty it's almost unreal, and I believe this music to be perfect for seduction on a steamy June night. I wish I had had someone next to me to seduce.
Interlude in which Tom Waits plays piano-lovely songs and discusses with the audience such topics as not eating in restaurants that are on fire in Oklahoma and buying rare things on e-bay. I think I would like to be friends with this man. He seems like a nice guy, with a good sense of humor, and that's what every gal wants, right?
After the beautiful piano, we move back into groovin' circus-style and makin' it rain (not in the clubbing sense, thank you fat joe featuring lil' wayne). Amazing song and it came complete with glitter! so that pretty much made my night complete. For the rest of the night, Tom Waits had a slight golden sparkle in my eyes. He handled responding to nonsensical outbursts from the audience with class and provided us with an encore of goodness.
So really, he is not like anyone else I have ever heard. I marvel at how a mind comes up with this music. And in such variety, with such beauty, and with so many elements working together. It was an awesome, mind-blowing, earth-rocking show (literally. I thought the Fox was going to split in two at one point.) that I am glad I had the good fortune to see.
fin!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Busy days at work...
mean there is little time to post, especially when it's a show night.
But in case you want to hang out where I will probably be on Saturday, I will be at the Taproom.
Who will be joining me you ask? Well, my friends, that would be Corey Saathoff, Caleb Travers & the Big City Lights (who does open mic night on Tuesdays at one of my favorite places to frequent), and the Wooden Kites (who released the album The Orchard earlier this month!).
I'm quite looking forward to the show, and it's FREE, so you should go, too.
Ok, no time, no time. If I could, I would put a full list of weekend goodies, but for now, just try this.
Off to Tom Waits! Later people!
current music: Rats and People, Sorry to Miss the Affair
But in case you want to hang out where I will probably be on Saturday, I will be at the Taproom.
Who will be joining me you ask? Well, my friends, that would be Corey Saathoff, Caleb Travers & the Big City Lights (who does open mic night on Tuesdays at one of my favorite places to frequent), and the Wooden Kites (who released the album The Orchard earlier this month!).
I'm quite looking forward to the show, and it's FREE, so you should go, too.
Ok, no time, no time. If I could, I would put a full list of weekend goodies, but for now, just try this.
Off to Tom Waits! Later people!
current music: Rats and People, Sorry to Miss the Affair
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Innocent Magic
So last night was the rum drum ramblers, john barrett’s bass drum of death, and dax riggs at off broadway. first of all, I don’t know how much you kids know about dax riggs’ band history, but let’s just say I felt a little...out numbered...by men...wearing black t-shirts. There were a lot of them. Really, I always end up being somewhat surprised by the crowds at concerts. I don’t know why. I know about Acid Bath and Agents of Oblivion. So I guess it wasn’t surprise, just a slightly raised eyebrow at the level of testosterone. Moving on…
The Rum Drum Ramblers were just voted best americana/folk group in the 2008 RFT music awards (congrats), so I was excited to see them, and I had a second good opinion, due to my concert-going compadre Lindsay also working with the guitar player (that happens frequently). I wasn’t disapointed, which is always nice. These guys give credit to white boys playing the blues. They are GOOD, so if you get the chance, go see them. Their next show is Saturday at the City Museum, so not only would you get to see their awesomeness, but you get to see it in City Museum joy-land! While you wait, go to their myspace page and listen to/watch the magic. C’mon seriously, they use the much undervalued kazoo in a song, murder the harmonica, and don’t even hardly need the microphone to project the vocals. Thoroughly enjoyable and danceable, which is always a plus with me, and saying a lot considering I danced while still very full from mexican food (el scorcho!). I wanted to Charleston through half the set. Yay! They don’t have a record out yet, but I’m hopeful. (Put one out, guys.)
So then JBBDD (yeah, I’m not going to type out their whole name a bunch of times, sorry) took the stage. They weren’t on the billing, so confusion occurred for some minutes while we wondered “who are these guys and can that kid be out after curfew?” OK, no offense meant, honestly. JBBDD was really good. And I’m not good at judging ages; he just looked, well, young. It’s not a bad thing. And who really cares, cause he plays guitar really, really well. Quick and dirty. He came out and played multiple instruments with Dax as well, so it’s obvious this kid has a lot of multi-talents. I love random amazingness like that. So check out his stuff too. The crowd seemed to get into, too, after the initial “what’s going on?” wore off. Kudos OB crowd.
So then, of course, was Dax, of many bands fame including Acid Bath and deadboy and the elephantmen. IF you don’t know who he is, you should, for shame. I almost feel bad reviewing shows that I really wanted to see, because naturally, I have a bias going into it. Anyway, Dax is playing/releasing under just his name right now, which is fine with me. I saw deadboy when they were at blueberry hill...a while ago...and that was amazing, but his solo stuff is fantastic as well. The boy (can I use that term? he’s older than me. boy it is.) is talented. He has the most. amazing. voice. ever. EVER, people. I LOVE watching him live. He sings with his soul. That’s what I was thinking when I was watching him last night. It almost breaks my heart some of the time, because he just sings with this passion that aches through so much of the music. Granted, as I commented after the show, the lyrics are not often the most cheerful, so they add to the effect. But it feels like he is just putting his whole being into these songs, and his voice is so unique and soulful anyway, putting that much fire behind it makes for an incredible experience. OK, I’m just gushing now, so I’ll wrap it up. But please, listen to him, buy an album, go see him. He is a talent not to be missed, if one can help it. Oh, and he played much of the set on an acoustic guitar. For the encore it was just him and his guitar, which is my most favorite thing in the world. Someone with a beautiful voice playing beautiful songs, just them and a guitar. Seriously, as much as I love to rock out (and my car’s speakers will tell you, I do), there is nothing better to me than that. It’s just a spiritual experience, sharing that kind of, well, intimacy almost, with a songwriter who loves what they are doing. So, thank you Dax. It was an amazing show. fabulousness.
All right. Good show times three. Tomorrow night is Tom Waits at the Fox, which I’m predicting with fair-to-middling certainty will be incredible. You can still go, if you have some (ok, quite a bit of) expendable income lying around. Or are just willing to forgo food and an oil change for concerts. (Julie’s neon really needs an oil change.) Au revoir.
Music of the moment: the raconteurs, carolina drama
The Rum Drum Ramblers were just voted best americana/folk group in the 2008 RFT music awards (congrats), so I was excited to see them, and I had a second good opinion, due to my concert-going compadre Lindsay also working with the guitar player (that happens frequently). I wasn’t disapointed, which is always nice. These guys give credit to white boys playing the blues. They are GOOD, so if you get the chance, go see them. Their next show is Saturday at the City Museum, so not only would you get to see their awesomeness, but you get to see it in City Museum joy-land! While you wait, go to their myspace page and listen to/watch the magic. C’mon seriously, they use the much undervalued kazoo in a song, murder the harmonica, and don’t even hardly need the microphone to project the vocals. Thoroughly enjoyable and danceable, which is always a plus with me, and saying a lot considering I danced while still very full from mexican food (el scorcho!). I wanted to Charleston through half the set. Yay! They don’t have a record out yet, but I’m hopeful. (Put one out, guys.)
So then JBBDD (yeah, I’m not going to type out their whole name a bunch of times, sorry) took the stage. They weren’t on the billing, so confusion occurred for some minutes while we wondered “who are these guys and can that kid be out after curfew?” OK, no offense meant, honestly. JBBDD was really good. And I’m not good at judging ages; he just looked, well, young. It’s not a bad thing. And who really cares, cause he plays guitar really, really well. Quick and dirty. He came out and played multiple instruments with Dax as well, so it’s obvious this kid has a lot of multi-talents. I love random amazingness like that. So check out his stuff too. The crowd seemed to get into, too, after the initial “what’s going on?” wore off. Kudos OB crowd.
So then, of course, was Dax, of many bands fame including Acid Bath and deadboy and the elephantmen. IF you don’t know who he is, you should, for shame. I almost feel bad reviewing shows that I really wanted to see, because naturally, I have a bias going into it. Anyway, Dax is playing/releasing under just his name right now, which is fine with me. I saw deadboy when they were at blueberry hill...a while ago...and that was amazing, but his solo stuff is fantastic as well. The boy (can I use that term? he’s older than me. boy it is.) is talented. He has the most. amazing. voice. ever. EVER, people. I LOVE watching him live. He sings with his soul. That’s what I was thinking when I was watching him last night. It almost breaks my heart some of the time, because he just sings with this passion that aches through so much of the music. Granted, as I commented after the show, the lyrics are not often the most cheerful, so they add to the effect. But it feels like he is just putting his whole being into these songs, and his voice is so unique and soulful anyway, putting that much fire behind it makes for an incredible experience. OK, I’m just gushing now, so I’ll wrap it up. But please, listen to him, buy an album, go see him. He is a talent not to be missed, if one can help it. Oh, and he played much of the set on an acoustic guitar. For the encore it was just him and his guitar, which is my most favorite thing in the world. Someone with a beautiful voice playing beautiful songs, just them and a guitar. Seriously, as much as I love to rock out (and my car’s speakers will tell you, I do), there is nothing better to me than that. It’s just a spiritual experience, sharing that kind of, well, intimacy almost, with a songwriter who loves what they are doing. So, thank you Dax. It was an amazing show. fabulousness.
All right. Good show times three. Tomorrow night is Tom Waits at the Fox, which I’m predicting with fair-to-middling certainty will be incredible. You can still go, if you have some (ok, quite a bit of) expendable income lying around. Or are just willing to forgo food and an oil change for concerts. (Julie’s neon really needs an oil change.) Au revoir.
Music of the moment: the raconteurs, carolina drama
First
When I was in middle school, a DJ came to St. Louis radio for one year. His name was Tim Virgin. (He’s on the air now somewhere in Arizona. You can listen online, thank you world wide web.) Anyway, he was quite possibly the best DJ in the history of the world, and I adored him. I taped many of his shows, just his normal daily radio stuff, and I still have a lot of the tapes in my underground vault. It was a golden age for the Point, as I recall (um, which days are gone. LONG gone.) So, I wanted to be a DJ for about four years after Tim Virgin. Which I realized a couple of days ago is the longest I’ve ever wanted to be anything, for a straight period of time. Why didn’t I end up becoming one? I talked myself out of it. It wasn’t intellectual enough...or something… So I made the brilliant move of studying philosophy, a topic we will reserve for a later time. Since I gave up that dream, I have spent, oh, about nine years trying to figure out what in the name of all that’s holy I should do with my life. What the hell is the point? It seems St. Louis is starting to have a local music scene again. I remember when it was booming. (and I’m not that old, kids. It’s marginally sad that I can already “remember when” about this.) Maybe I haven’t paid enough attention, but since I moved back to the STL three or so years ago I haven’t felt a wealth of love and attention for our local bands, but that trend seems to be changing. For good reason; we have a lot to be proud of, really. Now if you have been a steadfast fan, I am not saying we had NO local music for the last howevermany years, just that it hasn’t seemed very promoted. I am swiftly becoming obsessed in our scene again, and while I don’t necessarily want to grace the airwaves with my dulcet tones, I do want to get involved on the production/marketing side of things. Hence, I shall be trying out KDHX soon. As long as my paltry expendable income holds out, though, I will try to see more local shows and buy (yes buy, purchase, pay money for. or borrow. Suck it, I’m poor) local releases. And I shall, because I want to impart my views on the world, review said local things and promote what I can online. That being said, tonight I’m going to see Dax Riggs at Off Broadway. He isn’t local, but the show should rock. I love music and I love musicians and who knows...maybe I was on the right track in high school and got diverted unnecessarily by ivory towers, espresso and the glamour of eating thirty different kinds of cereal anytime I wanted. There is something to be said for a University Education. OK, this is the beginning of a new-stage-in-life (that’s really overdramatic) chronicle. 26-year olds should not have new-stage-in-life-chronicles, but there it is.
Go see a show.
Go see a show.
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