Carolina Liar on the rocks please

Well, I figure why not pick up my blogging once more. I mean, life after graduation is at a standstill. As I wait to see if Warner-Chappell is going to go ahead and give me the chance to prove to them that I CAN handle the A&R position, I'm spending my summer enjoying the music that Southern California has to offer. As I have done in the past, I headed to another private listener party on the Hornblower Cruises. What's great about these shows is that we literally get to watch an intimate performance on the deck of a cruise as we sail around the San Diego harbor for 2 hours; the boat takes off as the sun sets and returns well after all the lights of the San Diego skyline are on-- and frankly, San Diego has got the best and prettiest downtown skyline I've ever seen (take that New York!)

Tonight we got to see Carolina Liar do an acoustic show on the smaller boat, the Hornblower Adventure. I can honestly say that I had never really listened to these guys other than their two songs that are constantly on the radio, but I figured that there is nothing that beats live music, so why not? I took Ginger with me to bring back memories of our concert summers, and we had just as awesome of a time as we had two years ago. Chad and Rikard (I don't know how you spell it, he's Swedish, and hot) kicked it off with the perfect song, California Bound as the boat was sailing away from the harbor. So we had the San Diego bay backdrop, and halfway through the song, a Navy plane flew overhead very low, which made for an AWESOME special effects. 

All in all, I have to say that the show was... ehhhh.... Chad's voice was a little off, and Rickard kept talking between songs sometimes saying things that were just completely out of left field. However, they did get the crowd going and clapping. During Last Night people got up and started dancing- something about songs about drinking and one night stands always get people, I guess. They finished off the set with I'm Not Over You and by this point most people were already up. I was distracted by an old man in the front row who was bumping and grinding with the people next to him which was AWESOME!!! That's the kind of old man I want at my wedding to make sure people get up and dance!

The rest of the cruise was pretty random. Since it was a 21 and up event because of the bar, I can only assume that the two skinny bobble head girls were recent 21 year olds (or had fake IDs) that seriously made me feel a little more dumb every time they opened their mouths-- I'll take "The Hills" anyday now. There was the one guy trying to sell his book about how to swim to Angola and how to survive there. According to him, the New York Times dubbed him the modern day, real life Indiana Jones, but even that didn't convince us to pony up $30 for his book. There was, as Ginger called him, the D.I.L.F. (yes, like MILF) who while hugging his wife with one hand, was rubbing his wife's friend's back and butt secretly. There was the extremely wasted guy who was with the two scary lesbians who looked like he was about to puke in his seat the minute the show started and his friends only kept pushing him around more. And there was the awkward run in with the band. Chad was pretty good about chatting, but Rickard on the other hand would just ignore people and jump over the chairs to chat with the hot girls with big boobs... figures....

one day i'll have my big boobs and I'll use them to score a decent conversation....

just kidding...

:)

a dynamic afternoon with dynamite walls

I quit writing in my blog for some time, to focus on school and work. However, I just chatted with a local band from san diego, and I had to post a review of the guys.

One of the great things about living in Southern California is the richness and variety of music that we have. In San Diego, it doesn’t hurt that we’re just two hours south of Los Angeles, the center of the music industry. It’s hard to go through every single band in San Diego because there are so many, but one does stand out among the others. This band is called Dynamite Walls.

            Based out of Encinitas in San Diego, the band has been around for about 5 years, made up of members of other local bands. The guys came together one by one through mutual friends until they each decided to leave their respective bands and form a new one, Dynamite Walls. The four members are Tom Pritchard, the founding member and lead singer and guitarists, Allan Bates, the bassist, Alex Blundell, the guitarist, and Paul Kimmel, the keyboardist and drummer. I had the privilege of meeting Dynamite Walls a while back and not only do they play well together, but they also get along great. One of their “traditions” to keeping the brotherly bond is to challenge a different member of the band every week to some kind of food or action challenge. For example, the day after I met them, it was Paul Kimmel’s turn to attempt to eat 100 McDonald’s chicken nuggets in under an hour. I later found out, he didn’t make it past 45.

            Dynamite Walls’ sound could best be described as an Americana folk-pop sound, with their influences, which include San Diego based surf band The Hot Licks, not even remotely visible. Instead, their music ranges from so many great artists before them on a song to song basis. Some songs remind you of Coldplay and John Mayer, while others have a Van Morrison and even Beatles feel. That’s what makes a band like this great; the fact that they can shift their music around to fit several different corners of music genres makes them a more well rounded band, that is easily liked by all.

            I asked Pritchard what he considers his songwriting style to be like, and he told me, “Radiohead, hands down”. I had to ask why he dared compare himself to a band of that caliber known for writing some of the most prolific songs out there. I didn’t mean that to be demeaning in any way, but when you compare yourself to a band that has revolutionized the way we hear music, I have to know. He told me that he believes in Thom Yorke’s system of songwriting as a way of storytelling by keeping the audience always in mind. Sounds about right. And it’s hard to understand after hearing this, how so many bands do not take their audience into consideration. Alex Blundell, the guitarist, tells me that “we’re still a young band pulling from our individual lives and influences” and that the purpose of a great song is to tell a story that will touch the lives of both young and old. Their latest single, “Kiss and Ride”, starts off with Sold drugs to pay the rent/ And in the end covered in sweat, I made a fortune. This kind of  songwriting engages and brings out the truth, in a cynically sarcastic way, about life.

            When Dynamite Walls for got together, they began playing at showcases both in San Diego and Los Angeles with the hope of landing a record deal from a major company. They soon realized that the industry went “from a lot of talk to a lot of nothing”, and although they definitely generated a lot of buzz and gained big name fans in the industry, they found that dealing with labels and agencies meant putting the rest of your life on hold. They jumped in the studio, where they recorded a new EP produced by big time producer, Paul Fox (who produced for XTC and 10,000 maniacs) and began shopping it to labels once more, this time getting picked up by Sony. Unfortunately, as is the case all to often, they were dropped from the label without a release.

            The band continues to shop for labels, although they have been signed on to a well known and very reputable management company. Since then, they have just recorded a new full length CD, recorded a video for their song “Kiss and Ride” and play shows weekly around San Diego and Los Angeles. They’re a regular fixtures at both the Casbah and The Beauty Bar, where they draw in about 120 people a night- Not bad for a small town band.

            Every band has got to have a timeline they wish to follow, so I asked Tom Pritchard what his expected timeline was for him and the guys and he said that for now, the guys will continue to play their weekly shows, but because of the economy, they can’t afford to all quit their jobs and focus on the band. However, thanks to the internet and social networking site like myspace and facebook, they are able to promote their music and shows without having to leave the house or work, and that has helped them out a lot. In fact, the only promotion they do for their upcoming gigs is through myspace and facebook, and whatever the venue does to help them out. Their only challenge continues to be selling their music. Pritchard sat across the table from me, slightly reclined, with a confident smile. I couldn’t help but ask him why he was so sure that they could make it, especially without a label, and without nationwide touring. He answered “I can see everything coming together at once, where we eventually get a label that’s really behind the music and the band, and for now, we’re just preparing for it to blow us and everyone else away.”

            Sticking to the main purpose of this paper, I had to ask them why they considered themselves a native San Diego band when half of the members aren’t even from the city. He answered me with a very logical answer, “how many native San Diegans are there really?” Which is true. Most people I’ve come in contact with in San Diego are from a million other places other than San Diego, myself included. But, he says that there is a distinct feel to the music scene in San Diego. It’s more friendly, more homey, and almost inviting you to become a part of it. Not like Hollywood, he says, where you just constantly have to prove to everyone that you’re barely good enough to call yourself a musician; where you are constantly being judged and compared and everyone is just waiting for the chance to shoot you down artistically. The idea of living and being a part of a scene in which you feel as though you are family, even though you don’t all know each other, is a unique characteristic to San Diego.

            I decided to break away from the history of Dynamite Walls and get to know the guys a little better. If they could play with any band or musician, dead or alive, who would it be? All four guys gave me four way different answers. Pritchard shouts out “The Beatles or The Beach Boys!” while from the other three I get a mixture of Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and even some more modern artists like Nirvana, Velvet Underground, and The Killers. Hey, all those sound great to me. But I asked them to narrow it down, basing it on their style of music and performance, and come up with a collaborative answer and it took them a good ten minutes of deliberation before Blundell finally says “ we’d be awesome playing either on tour with or on stage with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers or Fleetwood Mac. With that answer, I think that these guys are probably the coolest guys I know!

            Most bands could go on for days talking about themselves, but what makes Dynamite Walls so awesome is that they don’t have egos and they aren’t music snobs. Allan Bates says that now they want to know just who they’ve been talking to (me) and says: “without time to think, name what CD is in your car right now!” I answer confidently that I’ve got the new Silversun Pickups playing, “Swoon”. Some of the guys say things along the lines of “nice!” while I also get “that’s crap!”. Bates then shouts “again without thinking, top three artists/musicians”. This one takes me by surprise, but nevertheless I answer “Dylan, Springsteen, and Petty.” With this answer, I get an honorary invite to be a part of Dynamite Walls. Great… now if I could only learn to sing or play.

            The afternoon with Dynamite Walls ends with me being challenged to a beer chugging contest with Blundell, which I have to refuse because somehow I have to manage to drive home. I get my honorary membership taken away for that one… but I promise to make time to complete another one of their challenges soon. Maybe I will do that at their next show, on May 13 at the Viper Room in Los Angeles.

            

going away for a while...

Decided to just focus on school...

hmmm just a thought

I know I said my next real entry would be about The Gaslight Anthem (Rysaac... don't forget what I said), but I had one of the most random, spontaneous, and all around best nights I've had in a while. Good food, good people, good fun. What more can you ask for?

Let's back up a little in the life of Dalit. When I first decided I wanted to work in the music industry, I discovered a local record label that was starting up and needed interns: Banter Records. They were looking for interns with experience, and "how are you supposed to have experience, when no one will give you experience without it?" But, being the charming, stubborn, and giant pain in the ass that I am, I bugged and harassed the hell out of Matt until he agreed to interview me, and gave me the "job". It was an untraditional and unconventional internship. I would show up at 8 pm and would work until midnight or later in the makeshift office of Matt, Tyler, and Caleb's living room. Don't get me wrong, I had my own desk and all, but I would stay up putting stickers on millions of CDs. It was a great time. Thanks to Tyler, I discovered my love for alcohol and cigarettes (I quit smoking now) at the tender age of 20. There was never a night when I wouldnt come in to an ice cold beer waiting for me... Those were fun times, its like I had three new brothers. I mean, one of the best shows I've ever seen in my life was Bright Eyes in Hollywood, and that was thanks to them taking me.

Well, just the other day, I got back in touch with Tyler (who calls me Dalai Lama) who filled me in on Matt moving to San Francisco and him joining in 6 months, and that The Antiques, our number one band, had split up and now Joey was trying his hand at The Traditionist. He also told me that Banter Records was moving away from being a label and more into the PR and management side of things. Smart move. He told me about The Traditionist playing tonight.

So I went. I took Ashley and we met up with Ryan at the Waterfront- only the best burger dive bar in San Diego. It's a total dive bar that is packed from 10 am to 3 am. We chowed down on our Waterfront Burgers and headed to Subtext, the grand opening of an art gallery where The Traditionist would be playing. It's been a while since I had been in that "scene". Since my ex, Dan, would take me to art galleries and displays, I hadn't seen the whole "hipster scene" in a while. It took Ashley a little getting used to. She's from Lake Jackson, Texas--- yeah..... its exactly what you're thinking.... I ran into Tyler in the courtyard and I said hi, and then the band started playing.

What is the Traditionist?  Oh boy. The best I can do is (and bear with me): The Album Leaf meets The Mother Hips meets Iron and Wine meets Bright Eyes with a hint of Pink Floyd. I KNOW!!!!!!!! I love Joey to death, but I feel like his thing is more about the lyrics than about the music, because it's the same notes over and over, and everyone playing the same note at the same time. It would get to a point where it would feel a little dull. I definitely liked him in The Antiques a whole lot better. The band played in the courtyard with a garage door that led to the street completely open. About halfway through the set, the cops showed up, attempted to stop the show, couldn't, so they gave up and left. It was awesome.

After the show, I stayed and talked to Tyler a little more, and I believe he tried recruiting me to San Francisco after graduation to work with him and Matt again. When I told him I would either be in LA or NY, and that I now have interviews lined up with Harry Fox, PopGun, and Warner-Chappell, he told me he would get me in touch with as many people as he knew down at Warner... and that we should sit and talk one day and catch up for real. Then, the girl I think was his girlfriend was getting restless, so we said bye and left.

Met up with Joe at his house, but not before making a bathroom break at Ralphs, and leaving the store with a pack of chocolate chip cookies. Ashley and I knew the code to his apartment so we just went in, past the concierge and got his ass out of his house and into my car. First stop was Shout House to watch the dueling pianos because neither Ash nor Joe had ever seen them. But, it was military night, so that was an instant no go. Second stop, Whiskey Girl. The line was around the corner with a ratio of 8 guys to 1 girl. Again, no go. Third stop, Fleetwood. But halfway there, we decide to go to  Jolt'n Joes instead to play some pool. SO RANDOM... neither one of us three is the pool playing especially on a Friday night, type of person. And then, as the drinking games got under way, David showed up. I thought David hated me, but I guess not. 

As usual, David left early cuz he's an old geezer, but it was good to finally see him again. I lost. A lot. It turns out, I suck at pool. But good thing is that for some reason I was craving beer ( I don't drink beer!) so that made my "getting drunk" not so drunk. If anything I was hyper. Pool playing plus alcohol, plus pool balls and pool sticks = a lot of dirty jokes. A  LOT OF THEM. And lots of laughing. too much. my cheeks hurt. Probably haven't been this hyper since highschool. 

2 am: striking up a conversation with the guy at the bar lands us a free dinner at the Ocean Air Room across the street. Why? Because the guy was the head chef there and he was doing Restaurant Week, so if we go in before Wednesday, we'll get a free dinner. 

2:30 am: Zach sends a cab to get me from Ashley's house. Zach never does stuff like that. Too bad I wasn't at Ashley's anymore. I was already on my way home. 

And now...... thinking that maybe New York is not the place for me to live. I love it too much down here in Cali. And my friends are here. And my work is in LA. so now, I'm having second thoughts..... as I'm packing for my week in NYC where I'm interviewing for jobs... GREAT

And now.....

hmmm

Did anyone else notice that The Decemberists "Infanta" has a very Muse "Kinghts of Cydonia"-like feeling to it? Just checking...

help wanted....

Ok. I'm trying to get my blog up back to the way it used to be. You know, before SOMEONE went into my account and erased the entire site. Real mature...

I had someone who was helping out in pimpin' my blog up and makin' it all hip and awesome and linked out, but now that person is no longer in my creative circle (seems to be a pattern..) and am currently looking for someone to step up to the plate and re-vamp my new site. 

    * If you're interested and are more skilled with these things than I am, email me at dalittroyce@gmail.com

I'll also be spending more time writing entries for y'all to read, and am getting back on my address book to get my old readers to re-sign up... but this time around it will be better. Promise. That was my new year's resolution*

Keep an eye out for my reasons as to why you should be as hooked on The Gaslight Anthem as I am. (I'll give you a hint: The Gaslight Anthem v. Springsteen)

Stay Fabulous!

* Okay that wasn't really my new years resolution. Cut me some slack...

No Retreats, No Regrets

So, as you may or may not know, I'm headed to New York City next week. I'm going to find a job. Let's face it, the economy sucks. And as my dad's friend told me, my personality is what hooks people. So I've got to use it to my advantage. Rather than just send out resumes all over the place and wait for them to come to me, I'm going to them. And I'm going to keep going and going until I find what it is I want, and I get what I want. Sounds a little arrogant, but trust me, in this situation, its your attitude thats going to make the biggest difference...

In preparing for the upcoming interviews, I am counting on that one (or two) question/s (remember, I'm in the music industry), who did I get into music, or who influenced me music wise? I figure that in prepping my answer, I'll use this as my moment to let you in on why it is that I do what I do, and why I am so passionate about it.

Most people that I know within the industry got into music because of their upbringing. Most of the people that I actually ask this to are into somewhat the same style in music in me too, so that should also be taken into consideration. I'm used to getting answers like "I grew up listening to my dad's old Beatles records" or "My mom and dad were huge fans of Pink Floyd" or "there was always some Miles Davis or Billie Holliday playing at my house growing up." Seems fitting. It's kind of like that whole "nature v. nurture" debate. If you grow up listening to something, it should sort of stick with you, right? But what if you didnt grow up with it?

I didn't. In fact, growing up I would wake up every Saturday morning to my parents BLASTING the Mexican Mariachi group Los Trio, or my dad's extensive Yanni collection of records AND videos. In fact, the closest thing to rock n roll (or "good music" as I like to call it) is my dad singing The Doors' "Light my Fire" every birthday we celebrated at the house whenever we lit the birthday candles, and I had no idea what it was until years later! At the same time though, one of my best memories are when I would drive from El Paso to Chihuahua (in Mexico) with my dad on his business trips every couple of months and we would put Cher's "Still in Love With You" on repeat and we would both sing it at the top of our lungs in my dads beat up little white truck. Yeah, its Cher. But I am not embarassed to admit that she is one of my musical heroes (heroines??) I'm pretty sure that wasn't even a released single ever, but I knew every word to that song, and I would sing it like I was still in love with someone at the age of 8.

Unless it was traditional Mexican music (or Yanni/Enya), music in my house wasn't a big deal. So, my getting into music was by complete accident. In the summer of '96, Donna Lewis' song "I Love You Always Forever" was a huge hit. Now when I listen to it, I'm like 'what is this?' But I loved it, and with my allowance I had my mom drive me to Blockbuster Music where I bought my first music item... Donna Lewis' "Now In A Minute" CASSETTE TAPE, with that song on it. I remember asking my dad why the tape was called Now In A Minute if there wasnt even a song by that name, and he explained that an album is the title of the entire collection of songs recorded in it. There you have it... my first real music fact!! And a few years later, I bought my first CD- The Offsprings "Americana" because of that song "Pretty Fly For A White Guy". As soon as my parents saw the cd booklet inside with pictures of a kid with mutant limbs, they took me straight to Wal Mart and demanded that I get an exchange. I opted for N SYNCS debut self titled album. There began my boy band fanaticism.

The N Sync album didn't have the lyrics inside, so I sat for hours and hours listening to each song, puasing and playing after every three words, so that I could write them down. Eventually I had the words written and memorized (years later I found out I had heard the words wrong), and I still have that notebook with me. My love for "rock" music developed in high school when I began to hang out with friends of mine (Aryan and James!) that played the guitar and I started to find out about bands like The Goo Goo Dolls, The Foo Fighters, A.F.I, etc. *I must say though that I was still a huge pop fan with a huge obsession for BSB, NSYNC, Enrique Iglesias, and still Cher--- I snuck into her concert and watched her from the front row all by myself*

By the end of high school my KaZaA (I know...) had about 3,000 songs and my CD collection had grown to about 300 CDs. Living in El Paso, there isn't much of a music scene, so my new musical tastes came from the exact following way: I would go to CDnow.com and get all the song names from an artist I wanted to download on Kazaa, and then I would go to recommended artists, and download those, and so on. I was able to discover Sugarcult, MXPX, The Movielife and Pollyana that way. Senior year of high school I started to go to house parties where bands would play, or I would spend Saturday nights at Double Dave's Pizza where a local band from high school, Toast, would play. That's how I got into live music, but my friends werent as into it, so I never had a chance to go to shows. 

When I moved to California in 2003, it all changed. The first time I opened The Reader and went to the music section, I immediately called my friend Aryan and I perfectly remember saying something along the lines of "I can't believe it! Most of the bands on my computer are playing shows here! The Ataris, Dashboard Confessional, Taking Back Sunday, Something Corporate!!" I was absolutely in awe, but had no friends yet, so I had to miss those shows too...

Then, I met Ginger. I still consider her one of my best friends, and if it weren't for her, I probably wouldnt be where I am right now... working with her at Chevy's I found out we had the same musical tastes. We would swap CDs at work, and eventually we started going to shows together. She would stay with me til the end and we would meet the band, and take pictures, and buy merch. I think the summer we met, we were at a show about 2-3 a week, and we started going to music festivals and we continued to get more into the San Diego scene. If it weren't for her coming to those shows with me, I wouldn't have felt the need to keep searching for new music to show her, and never realized that my real passion was in fact the promotion of new music. *Ginger-- wait til I get a car finally, and wait til Eva Lily becomes a little rockstar, and everything will pick up right where we left it*

Three years after that, here I am, with two record label internships, one music management internship, and one booking job under my belt, and headed for the Big Leagues. Without really realizing it, I fell into this industry. My itunes collection now boasts 9,000+ songs and I still continue to buy CDs, and my most prized posession is my autographed Tom Petty "Hard Promises" Vinyl. I have written and am in the process of getting published, a Bruce Springsteen Rhetorical Criticism, and can beat most of my friends at music trivia. 

Ok, so I may not have grown up listening to Elvis Presley or Bob Dylan, but I'm 23 years old, and am unbelievably proud to say that I think I have made up for that by now, and actually today, listened to Bob Dylan's bootleg album "No Direction Home" while driving through town.. and probably being affected by his music just as much as the people who first heard him at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival were.

Closing out 2008...

Well, as 2008 comes to end, its that time again to think back, rearrange, rethink, and reorganize everything. Unfortunately, since my blog was entirely deleted not too long ago, I don't have my old entries from the whole year to use as a guide and reference for next year. So, with three measly entries in 2008, 2009 is my chance to start all over.

2008 has been a CRAZY year, but by far the most interesting, intense, absurd, and wonderful year ever. I was thinking about this past year today and came up with a list of things I learned throughout the year: 

1. No matter how hard you try, you can't make someone love you. 

2. Put yourself and your feelings first; at the end of the day you're still the only one completely there for yourself.

3. Be sure of what you want. If you're not sure, you leave room for doubt, and one small doubt is what can make you or break you.

4. Everyone you come across in your life serves a purpose. Each and every person has something to offer, so be sure to keep your eyes and your ears open.

5. Your personality really is bigger than your physical. 

6. Life is simple. Keep it that way (FARZAD!!!)

7. If you're going to do something, do it with style (no matter what style you choose)

8. Prepare yourself for the obvious

9. If you're unsatisfied with something in your life, be ready to do something about it.

10. Don't fight who you are

11. Its okay to laugh and cry. Its what makes us human. Never apologize for showing your feelings.

12. Time DOES heal all wounds. Just be patient enough to wait for it.

13. Take LOTS AND LOTS of pictures. Each one has the capacity to make you smile.

14. You'll never know unless you try.

15. It takes years to build up trust and only seconds to destroy it.

16. Your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people you don't even know.

17. Never pass up the opportunity to go on an adventure (big or small)

18. A sense of humor makes life better.

And finally:.....

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a friendship... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it.

On April 5 of last year, I experienced one of the hardest things I have ever had to deal with. My close friend, my sister, and my partner in crime Yahel Silva passed away in a car accident. She would have been 23 just a month ago today. While its been over a year, she is constantly present. Being the amazing individual that she was, it was through her that I have learned my lessons, and I choose to strive to be half the person that she was. She lived her life to the fullest. As cliche as it sounds, for Yahel, it defines every bit of who she was. At just 22 years of age, she left us having done everything she ever planned or wanted to do. She has become my inspiration for who I would like to be. On November 29, I sat at her uncles' bday party, which was on what would have been her 23 birthday, and as we made a toast to her, I sat beside her parents and listened to something that was being read. This has to be hands down the most valuable and most important information that has ever been given to me, and as we gear up for another year, I share this with all of you, so as to hopefully touch you and give us all some hope in each other and ourselves. 

Happy New Year to everyone and may the coming year be filled with peace, love, health, and never ending happiness!

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.  When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly.  They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually.  They may seem like a godsend, and they are.  They are there for the reason you need them to be.  Then, without any wrong doing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.  Sometimes they die.  Sometimes they walk away.  Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand.  What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled;  their work is done.  The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on. When people come into your life for a SEASON, it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn.  They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.  They may teach you something you have never done.  They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.  Believe it!  It is real!  But, only for a season. LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons; those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.  Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person/people (anyway);  and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.  It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Third Eye Blind Plays the college crowd (or the drunk crowd)

Everyone laughed when they heard I was going to Third Eye Blind. Most reactions I got were along the lines of "What are we? in 1997?" Laugh it up, but just like you laugh so did many people when New Kids on the Block got back together AND SOLD OUT THEIR TOUR! (Dammit...  I missed seeing Jordan Knight who seems to get better with time). Well, I jumped at the opportunity to see Stephen Jenkins and the guys play, because frankly, I was a HUGE fan, and living in the musically obscured town of El Paso, Texas, I never got to see them play live. 

I remember perfectly the summer before seventh grade I invited my two friends Sheena and Vicky over to my house to jump on my trampoline and eat watermelon that I had grown in the backyard. We were inside for a break and we had the TV on to MTV and we were watching the show Say What... the one with Dave Holmes hosting and the lyrics to the music video would scroll at the bottom of the screen... and we were singing along to "Semi-Charmed Life" trying to keep up, and thinking that those were the dumbest lyrics ever, and not really knowing what it meant. I remember Vicky specifically asking what crystal meth was after the "doing crystal meth will lift you up until you break" and none of us not knowing what that even meant. 

Stephen Jenkins looks exactly the way I remember him. He had that clean cut face but with that look of "I might just kick your ass". And he walked across the stage like he was Axl Rose. Almost 12 years after I first saw Third Eye Blind on TV and Jenkins is still hot. He still seems like a preppy- bad ass kind of dude. And I'm still turned on by it. His intro was a bit dragged out, maybe to build up the anticipation for the crowd who hadn't seen/heard these guys in years, but after a bit, it was time to get the show on the road. They all came on stage wearing sunglasses. That, I'm not so sure about that. I wore sunglasses to my senior homecoming because I thought I was cool. Rockstar or not, its lame.

The show opened with "Losing A Whole Year" and I was surprised to see that the crowd knew the words and Jenkins left it up to the audience to sing the choruses. I was surprised because the crowd consisted of USD students in the age range of 18-21 and a few of us non USD-ers who were there to see this band of the 90s rock out. These "youngsters" reminded me of my little brother, wasted and making a scene for the sake of being college kids, which at times was annoying when they would start squealing and hugging each other through songs like "Crystal Baller" (one of my favorites) and drunkenly stepping on my feet. 

Of course they played their classics ("How's it Gonna Be", "Jumper", "Graduate") and threw in some of their most recent songs ("Never Let You Go", "Crystal Baller") but they also tried to move away from their signature 90s songs and played songs off their upcoming record. Those didn't fare so well with the young and drunken crowd, although they were pretty good songs. I figure its because Third Eye Blind will forever be seen as the "Semi Charmed Life" guys and playing songs that no one knows 12 years later makes the crowd lose interest. 

Personally, I think Out of the Vein was a great album... my favorite TEB song is for sure "Can't Get Away From You" which floods me with memories of senior year of high school, but unfortunately they didn't play that song (understandably so, its a slow song), nor did they play their hit "Blinded". 

They did put on a great show. They had the crowd very excited- whether it was because of alcohol or not- and there was even crowdsurfing. They "finished" off the night with, of course, "Semi Charmed Kind of Life", which I pride myself in knowing all the lyrics thanks to Say What, which EVERYONE sang the "do do do, do do do do, do do do, I want something else, to get me through this, semi charmed kind of life", and then they thanked everyone and ran off. A few people made their way to the door, but most stayed. Within seconds everyone was yelling "Encore!" and they came back out and finished it off with "Narcolepsy" and "Jumper"

90s band or not, these guys can still rock, and Jenkins can still pull off the leather jacket with chains. They can still make the crowd jump, and they can still make people come to their shows. Laugh at me all you want, I am glad I went to their show, I'm glad they're still around, and I'm glad they're coming out with another album. 

The Greatest Singers of All Time

In response to Rolling Stone Magazine's recent cover story "100 Greatest Singers of All Time", I decided to write my own list. I've really only ranked my top 10, and I'll list others in a random order, but I have to say why I am doing this, and how I am doing this. 

Rolling Stone has a history of putting together "lists". There's nothing wrong with that, only that each list gets a ton of "controversy" around it. Let's face it, when it comes to music, there's no right or wrong answer, and it is inevitable that someone will be disagree. This list was compiled by votes turned in from music journalists and singers (my hero, Springsteen voted too). I think it is because of this that it is being received slightly less enthusiastic by RS's readers. But come on guys, do we as the public have that much opinion nowadays anyway? I'd love to say yes, and I at least try to make my voice be heard as much as possible, but think at the People's choice awards. It is not choice by the people- its chose by the a very small group of people who think they can speak for everyone else. Even the so called Democratic government we live in, isn't about our choice. 

However, I am not offended that this list was chosen by people in the industry. I say this because if you take a look at the voters, it is mostly musicians, but it is musicians and singers that I feel they themselves had a huge impact on all of us, so their say is just as important, if not even more personal and more sincere.  A singer's voice is a personal account that has the ability to touch us and move us in a way that gets a reaction out of us. 

I'll make one thing clear, this list was compiled by ME. I asked and surveyed people in order to be able to make an informed decision, and be open to people that I wouldn't normally consider. So, while I am prepared to get criticisms, I also stand behind my list. Also, thanks to everyone who submitted their lists, you all had great ones (but, I cant bring myself to put Kenny Rogers mom...). Feel free to leave comments, thoughts, suggestions.

The Following is My List: (the popular opinion is after)

1. Alison Krauss- While not my favorite artist, she definitely has a voice that shatters your emotions. My sister laughed at my a while back when I said she sings like an angel. She has this way of singing softly but each line penetrates and because her songs are usually songs about heartbreak, you end up feeling like crap. But, its a good crap, its a crap that makes you  believe every single word she sings as if she's singing for you of an experience you had, or felt like you had. 

2) Jeff Buckley- a second generation folk singer, all his songs are haunting yet beautiful with his voice bringing out intense emotion.

3) Ben Harper- I know, I know, I'm probably going to get a bunch of emails on this one, but you know what? I consider him great because he has the innate ability to sing through different various genres (reggae, blues, folk, country, to name a few) with a soft voice that also evokes emotion. He is one of the few singers that can bring out the Woody Guthrie-esque sound of the folk movement of the 1960s while being able to maintain the level of eclecticness. (I'm looking into whether or not this is even a word..)

4) Elliot Smith- I had a hard time trying to figure out where to put him on this list. Part of me wanted him at the top spot, and part wanted him lower down. His style give me mixed feelings and makes me feel so many different things that ultimately confuse me. He was a sad musician, and his sadness transpires through every single song and I think he was hands down the best Acoustic Performer of the last 30 years.

5) Otis Redding- The epitome of soul music. Enough said.

6) Freddy Mercury-I have no better way to describe Freddy Mercury and his singing style than as simply "magnificent". No other rock star has come to the level of singing as Mercury, often sounding operatic and dramatic., with a voice so stunning that felt more like you were away at some intergalactic opera.

7) Bono- As a singer and performer, he manages to connect with every single person in the audience, and when he belts out choruses of his songs (like "With or Without You"'s chorus) you get the sensation that he's singing that with feeling from the top of an Irish mountaintop. But most importantly, what stands out is that Bono has an incredible connection with the music AND the message.

8) Raine Maida- Here's another one that people will be like, what???? Well, who knew it was possible to orchestrate a folk song full of violins and pianos, and harmonicas? Maida, best known for his whiney vocals in Our Lady Peace has always been a singer that catches my attention because of the use of his voice. Having recently released his solo CD confirmed my ideas on his singing and continue to draw me in. He has the innate ability to make a statement with his lyrics and his voice that make you have to listen to it again, and with each time you listen, a new message or meaning appears.

9) Frank Sinatra- Do I REALLY have to explain this one, or will you guys bombard me again with angry messages?

10) Billie Holliday- I consider her to be the greatest jazz vocalist of all time. Her voice sings of the emotion and the hard times she went through, with a rough sound to it. When I visited Harlem for the first time a few years ago, walking through one of the streets was a plaque as a tribute to her, because knowing stories of life in Harlem, her voice and her music resonates that, bringing to life the lives of people and Holiday during that time. Her music transports me to a different time, bringing out new feelings and emotions and a bit of hopelessness that, if listened to at the right time and place, has the ability to bring you to tears.

Others I wanted to put on the list but couldnt quite make the top 10: Jay Malinowski (Bedouin Soundclash), Cher (laugh it up!), Chris Cornell, Roy Orbison, Stevie Nicks, Dolly Parton, Robert Smith, Bob Dylan, Robert Plant, Neil Diamond, Joseph Arthur, Bon Iver

The Top 10 I compiled based on peoples opinion:

10. Brian Wilson

9. Eddie Vedder

8. Dean Martin

7. John Lennon/Paul McCartney (I averaged it out and decided to put both together)

6. Johnny Cash

5. Marvin Gaye

4. Bob Dylan

3. Frank Sinatra

2. Etta James

1. Robert Plant

And here are some more interesting ones that were submitted: Springsteen (my hero!), Liam Ghallager, Brandon Flowers, Debby harry, Rod Stewart, Caleb (from Kings of Leon), Steven Tyler, Conor Oberst, David Gray, Stevie Wonder, Brad Delp (Boston), Ryan Adams, Jack White, David Byrne, Elvis Costello, Celine Dion (that was my mom....), Barbara Streisand (again my mom...), Neil Diamond, Barry White, Barry Manilow, Neil Young, Johnny Mathis, Louis Armstrong, Scott Weiland, Jim Morrisson, David Lee Roth, James Brown, aaron Neville, Peter Gabirle, Serj Tankian, Jack Black (JAKE THAT WAS YOU!), Perry Ferrell, Smokey Robinson.

PLEASE keep submitting, compiling this list never gets old. And if you're like me, the list switches around constantly.

I wanted to leave you with a couple of songs that I think everyone should listen to, my top 5 songs of all time, fell free to add on to those as well:

1) Honey and The Moon- Joseph Arthur (my favorite ever)

2) Maggie May- Rod Stewart

3) Sitting On The Dock of a Bay- Otis Redding

4) Romeo and Juliet- Dire Straits

5) Jolene- Dolly Parton

This Modern Love

Today in class I had to present in a roundtable discussion (kind of like a debate) within my group the issue of same sex marriage. Touchy subject, I know. I'm for it. I think. This was probably one of the hardest assignments I have ever had to do because I was debating others lives for them, or against them. And what was worse is that I wasn't sure where I stood exactly or if I was even close to qualified to be answering this question. But, for the sake of passing the class and graduating in June, I decided to stick to one side, which is what I've been working on in class all semester. Well, today was the day to present it.

I chose a different approach to it. I chose to be pro-gay marriage. Once I heard everyone else's arguments, I'm not so sure I'm for it just yet anymore (thats a whole other story which I will NOT get into here). That's not to say I don't approve of gay relationships, its just that it would entail a snowball effect to get polygamists, and other unusual forms of relationships legalized...

However, my approach was that of my upbringing both at home and at my religious Hebrew school were contradicting themselves. On one hand, I'm being told that its a sin to be gay, but on the other hand I'm being taught that we must treat others as we would like to be treated. In fact, that was the most important rule I learned in all my years at Hebrew School. I remember my Rabbi saying that if I could only learn one thing from the Torah, it should be that lesson.

Anyway.... when panelists began raising the questions to each other (us), I got asked a question that caught me so off guard that I had to come to my blog for it. How do I define "Love"? It's tough because we all think we know, but try to answer it and you'll see you have NO idea.

This makes me think a lot about all the things I've dealt with since my senior of high school. I look back now and realize how silly it was to consider Daniel Roytman (my "boyfriend" of 1 month when I was 16) to be my first love. I was 16 and his promise bracelet that he gave me had the word "blowjob" spelled out in beads... hows that for love? I got into my first real serious relationship a few years after that in which for the first time I felt what it was to be loved. To be truly loved. I didn't get understand it and it scared me. To have someone need to hear my voice first thing in the morning and last thing at night was beyond me. I always said to him "why can't you just fall asleep? why can't you just let me fall asleep if I want without having to call you?" To have someone who lived 7 hours away drive 14 hours in total to see me for 2... To send me a dozen pink roses (my favorite) once a month and on special occasions that called for it (my first day at a new job) with cards saying "if you dont dazzle them, at least you still dazzle me". It sounds corny. I know. I hated it with a passion... To find out that 3 years after it all ended, your picture still sits on his desk...

Then you come to the serious relationship in which you finally feel what its like to love someone yourself. Prior to that moment for me, loving someone was just being able to actually say "I love you" to them, but not having to mean it. When you get to the point in which you do, it something unexplainable... something undefinable. As much as the relationship in which I understood what it was and what it felt like ended in a not so friendly way to say the least, I still appreciate and carry with me what it made me feel like at the time, and thats what I have left to base my definition on.

When you're truly in love (** keep in mind that these are all my own opinions based on my own experiences), nothing else matters. Literally. The only things that truly matter are those moments when you are with the person you love, every other moment without them is just a filler. Something that takes up space until the next moment you are with that person. Love is the inability to hold back a smile no matter how much you want to when you see that person, and the harder you try to hold the smile back, the bigger you smile. Love is when every imperfection is perfection. A nasty gross scar on the person's forearm is just another part of that person that makes them who they are. Love is recognizing by smell and touch who that person is (im not talking colognes here). I remember distinctly saying "my favorite thing about you is the way you smell". I know it sounds weird, but its true. At its highest point, love makes you want to scream of frustration because there just isnt a way to express just exactly how much you feel for that person. Love is willing to piss off your entire family to just "see what happens". And most importantly, love is when you want to hate them so bad with every fiber in your body, and you know that just one look will tear you all down again.

As for now, I'm not in love. Yes I was, but its over and for a reason. I don't dwell on the negative reasons anymore, but my reason now is that it ended in order to teach me what lies ahead, only bigger and better. 

Love is the Bob Dylan and David Bowie of Feelings. I say this because just like Dylan and Bowie, there are so many faces, so many characters, and so many reasons behind that one word. How do we define it? We can't. We experience it. Many times. And each time, the definition changes. 

I'm going to post the lyrics to two of the greatest love songs of all time, in my opinion. Two very different aspects of it, but two very true aspects of it. The first is by my hero, Bruce Springsteen "Secret Garden" off the Jerry McGuire Soundtrack, and the second is Rod Stewart's "Maggie May" which is genius in the portrayal of love. 

Love cannot be defined. Songwrites, poets, artists, etc. have been attempting to do so for hundreds of years. There is no one definition. That is the glory of emotion. I know that by the time I post this, since I had to restart my entire blog from scratch, I don't know how many readers I have at this point again (both subscribed and unsubscribed), but feel free to leave comments.

And  before I post the lyrics, I just want to conclude that because love is so broadly "defined" then how do we define marriage from a non legal standpoint? I would say that marriage is the ultimate goal/institution to display your love someone else... so would that mean to say then that if two men love each other, they can be married???????? hmmm.... got you thinking....

"Secret Garden"

Bruce Springsteen

She'll let you in her house If you come knockin late at night She'll let you in her mouth If the words you say are right If you pay the price She'll let you deep inside But theres a secret garden she hides She'll let you in her car To go drivin round She'll let you into the parts of herself Thatll bring you down She'll let you in her heart If you got a hammer and a vise But into her secret garden, dont think twice Youve gone a million miles How fard you get To that place where you cant remember And you cant forget She'll lead you down a path Therell be tenderness in the air She'll let you come just far enough So you know shes really there She'll look at you and smile And her eyes will say Shes got a secret garden Where everything you want Where everything you need Will always stay A million miles away

"Maggie May"

Rod Stewart

Wake up maggie I think I got something to say to you Its late september and I really should be back at school I know I keep you amused but I feel Im being used Oh maggie I couldnt have tried any more You lured me away from home just to save you from being alone You stole my heart and thats what really hurt The morning sun when its in your face really shows your age But that dont worry me none in my eyes youre everything I laughed at all of your jokes my love you didnt need to coax Oh, maggie I couldnt have tried any more You lured me away from home, just to save you from being alone You stole my soul and thats a pain I can do without All I needed was a friend to lend a guiding hand But you turned into a lover and Mother what a lover, you wore me out All you did was wreck my bed And in the morning kick me in the head Oh maggie I couldnt have tried anymore You lured me away from home cause you didnt want to be alone You stole my heart I couldnt leave you if I tried I suppose I could collect my books and get on back to school Or steal my daddys cue and make a living out of playing pool Or find myself a rock and roll band that needs a helpin hand Oh maggie I wish Id never seen your face You made a first-class fool out of me But Im as blind as a fool can be You stole my heart but I love you anyway Maggie I wish Id never seen your face Ill get on back home one of these days

Bon Iver and his gift of making you feel...

Well it seems that my old blog has been deleted.... And it wasn't by me. In fact I'm pretty certain a specific insecure asshole decided to go through my account (just like my facebook account) and erase it. Oddly enough I was going to go in and start over... not erasing my old stuff... but just take a different approach. I'd rather write about things that I truly care about. 

In the spirit of my success of my ideological rhetorical criticism on Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA" (which i will have to post at some point, it's just way too long), I have decided to start analyzing songs that I think are amazing. And by analyzing them, I am not going to be going so much in depth as I would in a normal rhetorical criticism, but rather I am going to analyze them to what THEY mean to ME.  "Life is like a movie, It's up to us to make the soundtrack"

Music has the ability to move people. It has the ability to call for change, and most importantly it has the ability to give voice to an issue, a cause, a reason, or a person who would otherwise may not have it.

I could easily go into the ideologies that are the basis for the folk movement, but I really know that this being a blog will only bore you - whoever you are because this is a brand new blog- so I will just get straight to it. 

The Song: Skinny Love

The Artist: Bon Iver

The Album: For Emma, Forever Ago

Come on skinny love just last the year
Pour a little salt we were never here
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Staring at the sink of blood and crushed veneer

I tell my love to wreck it all
Cut out all the ropes and let me fall
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Right in the moment this order's tall

I told you to be patient
I told you to be fine
I told you to be balanced
I told you to be kind

In the morning I'll be with you
But it will be a different "kind"
I'll be holding all the tickets 
And you'll be owning all the fines

Come on skinny love what happened here
Suckle on the hope in lite brassiere
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Sullen load is full; so slow on the split

I told you to be patient
I told you to be fine
I told you to be balanced
I told you to be kind
Now all your love is wasted?
Then who the hell was I?
Now I'm breaking at the britches
And at the end of all your lines

Who will love you?
Who will fight?
Who will fall far behind?

So let's start with the music. The soft strumming starts a bit low and starts to pick up, but it never reaches the tempo to be considered poppy. The guitar at the beginning sounds a bit like a banjo but then I realized it was the guitar- silly me! I originally had this song on my breakup soundtrack of 2008 part 1 because it's not a sappy heartbreak song but it does give that feeling of loneliness and a bit of despair. I kept it on there because it seemed like all the other ones where it was mopey but without giving the idea of laying on the ground crying my eyes out in the dark. Rather, it gave me the sense of "you broke my heart and you ruined it and its your loss". But then when I got passed the chorus and the mellow and soothing yet foot tapping guitar, I realized that IT IS a breakup song, but its the other way around. 

Come on Skinny Love just last the year/Pour a Little Salt We Were Never Here/My, my, my.../Staring at the sink of blood and crushed veneer. The first line is like a lover begging the person to wait it out through the rest of the year. To give it another chance. The second line is attempting to cover up what ever incident/argument/situation happened that led up to this point and the decision that seems to have been made. The last line can be seen two ways. The first is that the sink of blood and the crushed veneer are the consequences of a fight, the aftermath if you will. Arguments get heated, and inevitably tempers will flare. Physical things may be broken. But it can also be a symbolism of the the emotional aftermath of the fight. I begin to think of a scene were the couple have just had a heated argument and after the fighting, they cant even look at each other, so they stare at some inanimate object to avoid the conflict or the resolution. So, to me, the essense of the first verse is that of a couple fighting and one makes a decision and the other is attempting to change that.

I tell my love to wreck it all/Cut out all the ropes and let me fall/my, my, my, my/Right in the moment the order's tall. Straying away from the first verse, the second one switches the view to the person that is making the decision. Person A (who is breaking up with Person B) is trying to end things as quietly as possible and as painless as possible. "Wreck it all, Cut the ropes and let me fall" is a clear way that, maybe not in those words, I have understood both from personal experience and just in the discourse itself, to mean 'Just end it now before it gets worse, just end it once and for all' The very last line is that final decision that at the precise moment seems like its the right thing to do. If Person A is breaking Person B's heart, it is definitely easier and to make the decision and move on before you begin to question. I am a strong believer that if a person already has the doubt in the first place to even consider making that decision, then its time to go. Call me a pessimist, but I can't help but sympathize with Person B. I've been there and back.

I told you to be patient/I told you to be fine/ I told you to be balanced/ I told you to be kind/And in the morning I'll be with you/But it'll be a different kind/I'll be holding all the tickets/An you'll be owning all the fines. This chorus just moves me. Maybe its because Justin Vernon is singing it with a sort of indignation that is pretty much blaming his love for having to break up with her. It's like he's saying "i told you not to be this way, or act that way, and you didn't, and because of that I now don't have a choice but to end this."  The metaphor of holding the tickets and the owning of the fines is symbolic of the power struggles in that relationship. And while it's not explicitly stating that exact point, it's an excellent play on words on placing  blame.

And while I sit here listening once again to the album, For Emma, Forever Ago  I decided to stop analyzing the song because it's too much to do for one blog entry, but rather I should tell you why I like it and why I think its one of the best albums of the last 8 years. 

Let's face it, Bon Iver isn't a great singer. His voice doesn't have that powerful "boom" and tonality as does, say, Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera, or Bono. Just like Bob Dylan, his voice is scratchy, and kind of winey. But it's honest. In this song you can hear the pain in his voice when having to make this hard decision. The slow strumming of the guitar that builds up at the chorus emphasizes the emotion that he portrays. That's what makes a great singer, one that can clearly send the message of the song across even with the lack of the "beautiful" voice. The clapping at the end of this song makes for a perfect ending because of the duality of this song. 

Move on to the song "Blindsided". His voice in this song is so quietly and it goes high at the end of every other line, and its got the drum beat in the back simulating a heart beat. The quiet voice speaks louder that it sounds because of the raw emotion in his voice. Blindsided is so genuinely open, that Justin Vernon is opening himself up, revealing himself entirely i'm crippling slow... i am blindsided , It's been a while since an artist opens himself up to the degree in which you feel your heart break with his as he sings Would you really rush out for me now? Maybe it's just me, but this song reopens old wounds but at the same time the sincerity in his voice makes me feel better to know that someone else felt that way, and got past it. It sends a glimmer of hope of survival for whatever the issue is. I'm not entirely convinced this song is about a breakup, but it is about the end of something, something big, something that leaves us, as the title states, Blindsided.

For Emma gives a twist that most people don't know unless they look at the lyrics as Vernon rights it. This song is a breakup song, but every other line is by him and her. She is breaking up with him. But the musical value in this make it for a a friendly end "with all your lies, you're still very lovable".

All in all,  For Emma, Forever Ago is an album that is great for listening to it loudly, alone, and better in the dark, where you can appreciate every line of every song to appreciate the personality behind this album, and you can relate to it all. Vernon locked himself in a cabin in Wisconsin for a winter to write this album, and that is clearly felt throughout each and every song. If you're open to feeling lonely, sad, and heartbroken, I highly suggest this album. As I said before, it's open, its honest, and most importantly its touches each of your senses. It really does. listen to it more than once and each time, each song will make you feel or think something different, and when that happens, I believe the singer has gotten his job done.