it’s the side effects that save us…there’s a science to walking through windows without you

I woke up this morning and couldn’t really swallow.

I knew it was the start of strep throat. Everything felt swollen and I had no other cold symtoms besides a fever. Also my ear was sore, but that’s normal.

I called in sick and then passed out again in my bed until about 3pm.

While lying in bed I scrolled through some music news and found out that The National had done a BBC 6 music interview and played some new songs.

I turned up the volume on my phone and set it next to my pillow and closed my eyes and let the music wash over me.

Pure bliss.

Honestly, (good) music heals. Especially when it’s your favourite band.

I conjured up the energy to go to the clinic where I found out I have a double ear infection and strep. Got my Amoxicillin, picked up soup and popsicles and went back to my bed, fired up my media player and put all three new tracks on repeat.

I will admit, this winter was rough on me and I think part of the reason why is because I stopped listening to music.

Remind me never to do that again, eh?

I am not my rosey self, left the roses on the shelf. Take the white ones they’re my favourite…

currently…

digging the cover below lately.

excited for next week and visits from the east coast.

hoping all the drama and paperwork involved with importing  a vehicle will be handle soon. complete mess.

determined to tackle the heaps of laundry in my bedroom. mainly, so i will be able to close the closet door. it’s been a month of living out of a suitcase, time to start fresh.

remembering how much i love peanut butter and bananas.

currently…you are?

and i keep having these dreams

Perfect song for Sunday listening.

I love the video as well.

not many can rock blue polyester

Even the roadies were dressed like mini versions of him.

Black dress shirt, black pants, blue tie and hat. Both males and females.

While they set up inside the theatre, outside there was a literal mob at the merch table. I’ve never seen anything like it before. They really shouldn’t have allowed credit/debit and had more than two people running it. Posters and the LP sold out so quickly, but I managed to get a few souvenirs, and dash back in before the opening band started.

I don’t recall which song Jack played first, just that it was a White Stripes one. The third, Sixteen Saltines, will be a performance I never forget. He grabbed ripped the jugular from the song, threw it against the wall, and it bounced back into the crowd.

After the song finished, I turned to my friend, gobsmacked, and mouthed “amazeballs” – there was so much intensity. It helped that the crowd was electric too. Normally, I enjoy a bit of banter in between songs, and there was a bit, but his performance was enough. The main banter came when the crowd sang along, he seemed to enjoy that we knew all the words, or enjoyed the vocal break. I’ve only ever seen that much ferociousness in one other band, The National.

It was a thrill to hear White Stripes songs played with a full band. I’m almost glad I never saw them live – I think my enjoyment would have been a bit different. The crowd went wild for Seven Nation Army. I hope he puts out a live CD with this tour.

I don’t need to see another concert this year.

The two hours Jack White lit up the stage was more than enough.

What was the last piece of music that gave you goosebumps?

let it always be known that i was who i am

As much as I enjoy concerting, I would greatly appreciate it if artists embraced the weekend show. These mid-week concerts are killing me. I might have to start drinking caffeine in the morning. Radical, I know.

Last night, Westcoast Walker and I took in Andrew Bird at the Vogue Theatre and it was a blast. The perfect combination of violin, whistling and handclaps. I’ve never seen someone play the violin with such vigour before. He played a lot of his older songs, which brought out the guitar, which was something I really missed on his last album.

Before his encore, he ended with a perfect rendition of Fake Palindromes that brought everyone to their feet. Twas great.

Laura Marling opened. This was one of the songs I enjoyed from her last night.

do you hear the crickets?

“Why are you standing? Sit down.”

Stephin Merritt’s opening remarks to the crowd gathered to see The Magnetic Fields at the Vogue theatre last night in Vancouver.

I immediately tucked away my earplugs, there would be no angering the tinnitus after this concert.

I also learned last night that Merritt himself suffers from tinnitus and likes to keep their concerts on the mellow side. Finally, a rock star after my own heart.

If you’ve never listened to The Magnetic Fields you should start with 69 Love Songs and then watch Strange Powers. The wonderful group of audiophiles I attended the concert with last night were musing over how to best describe Merritt. We seemed to all come to the consensus that he was a bit like Morrissey, but I would argue a little more bitchy and humourous. Although there are 4 other musicians on stage alongside Merritt, he is complimented most by Claudia Gonson, who in addition to playing piano, drums and providing vocals also manages the band. She brings things back down to earth and it’s refreshing to see the two of them play off each other.

And who couldn’t love a band who introduces a song with this preface, “In the 1900s in one of our many hometowns, Boston, there was once a accident at a molasses factory and smouldering hot molasses flowed, slowly, into the streets. Sadly killing many animals in its wake. This song is slower than that molasses.” 

Although I would have liked to hear a bit more of their older material, it was still a fine show, and I can cross them off the list.  I am so glad that I dragged myself out of bed, not feeling well, as the band were all drinking hot water, lemon and honey as I have been all weekend. If they can play sick, I can surely listen.

Who is on your concert dream list?

currently…

Just finishing uploading this weeks podcast for your listening pleasure. Stream or Download.

Looking forward to this weekend as Barbara is visiting the coast and not only do we have plans to see The Magnetic Fields, but there will be some wandering and thrift store shopping with some other friends as well. I’m hoping cake too. Because, well, why not.

Thinking this is one of the better responses I’ve seen to the Kony 2012 campaign. Also if you haven’t already, go over to Visible Children and read some facts about Invisible Children.

Realising I might have an addiction to Draw Something. Also spin class.

Reading my second book on the Kindle. I’m finding I read books much quicker than I do with a tangible copy. Strange, isn’t? Still nothing will replace a real book.

Wondering, what’s your favourite word as of late?

Currently…you are?

but i thought you loved music?

How do you not know that song? I thought you loved music? 

Someone said this to me yesterday when referencing the song, which I had to Google, Moves Like Jagger.

Audiophiles reading this might wince at the mention of that song, or if you’re like me and had never heard it (now I wince as I listened), it will be met with a blank stare. And I say this not to be a music snob, it’s merely that I do not listen to radio outside of the stations here in Vancouver/Seattle or my own music collection. I don’t have cable, so I don’t watch a lot of television on networks either. Some may call this a bubble, but hey, it’s well insulated and I serve lots of tea.

I dislike statements or questions like the one posed to me; which is essentially saying because you’re a fan of something means you should know everything about that one thing. Same thing used to happen with me when I was a film student; How have you not seen that? I thought you studied film? What do you mean you don’t like so and so – it made Xillion dollars at the box office.

Hey, there is a lot of art out there and I’m a firm believer that it comes into your life when you’re ready for it.  Also, if one spent their days just watching films or listening to music non-stop, it would actually make living your life a bit difficult and if you can’t do the latter it’s going to make your appreciation and understanding of all that art suffer.*

But it’s so popular, how do you not like it?

To me this is the difference between carrots and asparagus. I can never go back to just normal carrots when I’m cooking veggies. I’ve been ruined by the good stuff. I will add carrots, or dip them in hummus when I’m lazing on the couch on a Saturday afternoon, but I will never just steam carrots as a side when asparagus is out there.

This is how I feel about music and film.

Sometimes I wish I could watch a film without the lense of a film student, or listen to music without the ear of having been a lifelong fan of many different genres, it’s very hard to shut those voices off.  They can be subdued in the right moment, to a whisper, and you know, sometimes they need to be. Yet, they are always crawling their way back up.

And man, do they hate carrots.

*My rationale for why I waited so long to watch Star Wars and Lord of the Rings.

into the abyss

It’s Friday, and that means a new podcast for your weekend listening!

Stream it.

Download it.

And in addition to musical goodness I’m going to leave you with this link and two minute video below. It’s describing a dive to the Mariana Trench, the oceans deepest point, which James Cameron will attempt this month. I’m not a fan of his films, but I think the potential for scientific discoveries revolving around this dive are quite fascinating. The article is an interesting read.

this is not a podcast: episode 2

Amazing how putting together a playlist can be the most relaxing thing.

Episode 2 – stream or download

I’d go with the download route, as the stream sometimes crashes.

Song you’ve had on repeat lately?