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Like a dream: Hot Men. Hot Music. Hot Wings.

December 12, 2011 in Music, So Cal, Uncategorized | 2 comments

There are some nights you never want to forget. This was one of ‘em.I saw a handful of amazing bands as part of KROQ’s Almost Acoustic Christmas concert at Universal Citywalk’s Gibson Ampitheater. My date? My KPCC buddy, Paige. We found that each band brought something different to the table.

Foster the People

I had never listened to their music. I ran into their blonde drummer once in the hallway at work. He had just finished a radio interview with our afternoon on-air host. CUTIE. I recognized him as soon as Foster started their set. I nibbled on buffalo hot wings in my orchestra seat just rows away from the stage. I said to my friend Paige “I couldn’t have even dreamed this.” I kinda have an unhealthy obsession with hot wings, so the fact that this was happening was part of my dream. The sexy men played upbeat rock/pop/indie music.  I bobbed my head until the next band started.

Cage the Elephant

I had never really listened to them much, either. They put on an energetic set that you had to stand for. Hell – you had to DANCE for. They kinda remind me of the Strokes. Or what maybe the Rolling Stones were like back in the day (that might be granting them a little too much cred). The lead singer jumped into the pit at least three times. He was howling at the top of his lungs.

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds

I told Paige: “I don’t know who this is so we can go to the bathroom at this point.” She’s like “Dude, it’s the guy from Oasis.” Oh, no way! It totally was! I missed a lot of this set which I will regret for awhile. But I did see Noel sing “Don’t Look Back in Anger.” There was lots of swaying in the crowd. Lovely.

Florence + The Machine

Florence wore this long draped gown. I loved that she stopped in the middle of her set to fling off her high heels. Go girl! She had this magical – what Paige called “mystical” – kinda floaty presence to her. She kind of reminds me of a gypsy. But she has the most beautiful voice. It filled the entire theater. Everyone in the crowd was going wild. She has such incredible energy and her smile…it was real. You could tell she was really enjoying herself. We enjoyed her, too. I’ve been wanting to Florence live for so long and she was everything I could have hoped for. I only wished she had played a song off her last album called “Drumming Song.” It’s my favorite – so intense and sexy.

Death Cab for Cutie

They are nostalgic for me. This was my third time seeing Death Cab and I felt comfortable with my expectations. After seeing so many “new” bands, it was soothing to see a band I was very familiar with. Death Cab for me is like drinking a cup of tea after a long day. They played a scatter of songs from various albums. I’m really glad because I love singing along. And of course when they play live, Death Cab is all about its instrumentals. They want to show off their endurance…often playing 8 minute long sections. I’m impressed by that. Ben Gibbard (in plaid of course) is looking sharp, too. He has a slight emo shag of hair that he waves around,  but he definitely doesn’t look as messy as I remembered him. This show was good for the soul.

Mumford and Sons

AH-MAY-ZIIIING. I know this sounds corny, but Mumford and Sons make me believe in love. They sing about a lot of pain, they sing about awakening. They sing about things that are lost, regained. Whatever it is, they sing with passion. They show you that the things worth caring about are worth fighting for. They have the cutest Irish accents and one of the bandmates was wearing a coon skin hat. It was all too appropriate. I only wished my friend Karen had been there. I thought of her because she listens to their albums on repeat all the time.

The Black Keys

Sexy rock and roll. I shook my hair out, swayed my hips. A lot of people had cleared out next to me and I was like “Good! More room to dance!” Poor Paige and I were running short on energy from a long weekend, but we kept the good fight. I don’t have any Black Keys albums in my iPod or anything, but after this show…I’m planning on it. They were so classic.

We ended up leaving before Black Keys finished to beat post-concert traffic. Janes Addiction went on after them, but we’re like meh…not so much interested in Janes. I know they’re legendary, but I had seen them once before and they’re just not for me.

All in all this was definitely the best concert of my life. I became acquainted with some new bands, I delighted in some of my favorites. It made me feel so ALIVE. I will cherish it forever.

CD’s – what’re those? A random dump of my musical upbringing

October 9, 2011 in Music, Reflection, Uncategorized | No comments

I found my old leather case that holds dozens of CD’s close to my heart. Well, let’s say 13-year-old version of me would be devastated if something ever happened to this leather case. These are songs I grew up on…all the way up until whenever I got an iPod. I never even saved them to my computer. Yikes! I keep them in my car just in case all other modes of entertainment fail. I cleaned out my trunk today and BAM I saw my leather case of CD’s. So here are the first five discs I pulled out and what I recall about them:

 1. Album: Revolver Artist: The Beatles

I lucked out on grabbing a “cool” album from the bunch. My friend, Julie, burned this for me when I was 16. We went through a Beatles kick. I had never really listened to them before. I experienced this intense head-over-heels falling in love moment with the Beatles, just like I imagine my mom did in the 60′s. My European History teacher Mr. Glassman taught a unit all about them and I fell in love.

Song to listen to: Eleanor Rigby

2. Album: ?? Artist: The Weepies

I LOVE finding CD’s that have no writing on them. I pop it in my trusty Mac. All the songs are labeled “track 1…track 2…track 3…” OOOooooOoohh! The mystery! Come to find out – it’s The Weepies. My friend, Katie, burned this for me my freshman year of college. I’ve been in love with the folksy, upbeat, good country-living songs of this husband-wife duo. Turns out they live in Topanga. Not surprised.

Song to listen to: Jolene

“I only think about you when it’s raining or it’s not.”

3. Album: Celebrity Artist: N’Sync

What 13 year-old American girl DIDN’T love boy bands? Okay. Not all of us, but most certainly me. I won this album from a contest on a local radio station. This was back in the day when you had to actually wait for a CD to come out in a store, run to the store after school and throw your allowance out the window. So I got THIS album the day BEFORE all my friends. I felt SO COOL. The music video for Pop is still awesome…but mostly for nostalgia, cheesy graphics and cheesier dancing. P.S. I still have a mad crush on JT.

Song to listen to: Pop

4. Album: Love 2 Artist: Air

So to be honest, I’ve never listened to this album. My friend, John, burned it for me a couple years back. He was going through an “Air” kick. They’re kinda ambient, transcendental, electronic…and French. They’re great tunes to listen to when driving through the forest. I have a feeling that if you were going to get abducted by aliens, really chill aliens, they would play Air. I’m listening to this album for the first time, now.

Song to listen to: African Velvet

5. Album: The Reason Artist: Hoobastank

Hoobastank…stinks like stank. It’s just entirely too emo for me. I bought this “rock” album solely because my friend, Alex, and I loved the hit single, “The Reason.” I’m pretty sure there’s video out there of 14-year-old us dancing and belting out loud the lyrics. The drummer grew up in Arcata, my hometown. There’s a plaque for him at the local middle school. Tee-hee. Wonder if it’s still up considering they’re not doing much anymore?

Song to listen to (obviously): The Reason

Okay…now it’s your turn. And don’t cheat. I really wanted to cheat and “re-pick” a new CD for this list of randomness. Report back! :)

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This song is so cheesy and I love it

September 26, 2011 in Music, Uncategorized | No comments

I’ll eventually piece together a playlist of musical desserts…just waiting until I find the right ones. :)

The street lights…the people! My first concert at the Wiltern in LA

September 24, 2011 in Music, Uncategorized | No comments

My new fellow-reporter friend, Andrea, invited me to tag along with her to see Two Door Cinema Club this week at the Wiltern. It’s a historic theater in LA. “Everyone good plays there.” That’s what I’ve been told by several people. I felt like such a country-bumpkin venturing down Wilshire Blvd. in the dark of night. The big blue lights of the Wiltern greeted me. I walked in and the antique feel captured me. “The bathroom looks like it would be in an 80′s movie.” It was bright magenta. No joke – loved it!

Back to the music…I enjoy the indie cheerful (and at times emo) beats of Two Door Cinema Club. They pop up on my Pandora stream regularly. I felt kind of left-out when I couldn’t sing along with every other die-hard in there. Half the time I couldn’t decide if they were actually as awesome as the crowd made them out to be. Could it be the excessive strobe lights? Maybe. The $14 beers? Eh, probably didn’t hurt. I swayed and bounced the entire time. I looked behind me and a balcony of hipsters were screaming like they were 16-year-old girls watching the young-version of the Beatles. I don’t know if I would give them another look necessarily…there were so many frills at this show. Made for good photos…but I honestly think I prefer small intimate shows where half the people moshing next to you are your best friends.

Song to listen to: Undercover Martyn

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September 16, 2011 in Music, Uncategorized | No comments

California Gurls…We’ll melt your popsicle.

August 15, 2011 in Adventures, Music, So Cal, Uncategorized | No comments

A post-teenage dream became a reality this weekend. I saw Katy Perry. In. The. Flesh. The best part? My DAD took me to her concert. AND it was his idea!

I’ve been obsessed with Katy Perry for about a year now. Every time the song “Teenage Dream” hums on the radio, I burst out in song and pump my arms. I roll down the windows. I feel the bass getting a little shaky in my back speakers. I don’t care. There’s something about that song that reminds me of every awesome girlfriend I’ve ever had. Almost every time in the past year that I’ve had a pack of girls in my car, that song comes on. It’s the sound of going to the beach in a cute bikini. It’s the sound of anticipation of a great night out. It’s the sound of drinking wine in your sweatpants and having an impromptu dance off in someone’s living room. It’s girl power.

I experienced this “girl power” first hand, in the form of a purple wig. I decided that if I’m going to go see Katy, I gotta look the part. I buy a white wig, chop it off to shoulder length and spray paint it purple. I tie cupcake and ice cream cone-shaped suckers down a green silky dress. I wear obnoxiously pink lipgloss. I put some high wedges on. I’m ready to go.

My dad, Michelle and I pull up to a parking lot near the Santa Barbara Bowl. As soon as I get out of the car, I feel a little self-conscious. EVERYONE is pointing, staring, whispering and giggling as I walk by. Is this a mistake? I had that feeling. Then I lifted my chin up and strutted toward the concert seating. A few 13-year-olds said I looked awesome. The compliments steadily flowed from there. People yelled out of cars at me. Men complimented my lilac locks. Women asked for candy off my frock. I felt like a star.

The real stardom came when I got to my seat. This one guy wanted to take a photo with me. It was like I was Katy! This drunk woman next to me was convinced we were new best friends. She picked candy off of me all night (borderline groping, but hey, best friends are allowed, right?)

Katy opened the show with none other than… TEENAGE DREAM! Yes!!! I of course fist pumped my arms and belted out. I didn’t have my best girlfriends with me, but the thousands of moms, daughters and friends buzzing throughout the crowd made me feel like I was in my car or my living room. Actually, better.

I was very impressed that my dad and Michelle got into the “Katy” spirit, too. I got them glow necklaces. Michelle got a ring pop. I got my dad a zebra print cowboy hat. Hahhahahaa! He rocked it though.

Katy Perry? She rocked it, too. Santa Barbara is her hometown, so she pulled out all the stops. She was flirty. She was sexy. She was cute. She costume-changed like it was nobody’s business. There were lights and smoke billowing across the stage. In the middle of the performance, she did acoustic versions – “Katy-oke” of “Whip My Hair,” “Big Pimpin’” and “Friday.” Yes!

Of course, she closed with California Gurls. And all us California girls were diggin’ it. Bouncy balls were flying. Katy sprayed the audience with a big peppermint striped water canon. Cotton candy floated into the moonlight. It was so much fun! I feel like I could be 12…ahem, 23…forever….

The Weepies <3

July 5, 2011 in Music | No comments

The Weepies released their tour dates for the summer! I’m going to see them at the Troubadour in Hollywood. I was also very stoked to find out they’ll be playing in my hometown in Arcata at Humboldt State University. They sound like a rainy day, and a sunrise and sunset. They’re rollerblading tunes. They’re drinking coffee melodies. They’re just…happy. I learned about them from my friend, Katie, about five years ago. I always have good memories with this band and it turns out they live just a hop, skip and a jump away from me!  Listen to: “Be My Thrill.”

Make Music Pasdena – my review

June 19, 2011 in Adventures, Music, So Cal, Uncategorized | No comments

A dude's lone leg flailed about as he crowd surfed during a performance by Best Coast.

The crowd was full of plaid-clad, pierced, urban outfitter-accessorized teens and 20-somethings. We were plopped together like sardines, elbow-to-elbow and hip-to-hip. We were waiting for a band to start. Make Music Pasadena is a big music fest (that’s FREE) that takes place on the streets of yuppie old Pasadena. It’s very cute and posh. The main stage was set up in the middle of a boulevard where a fire lane had to be kept open. Some people didn’t understand that, crowded into the lane and caused some shows to start late. I went to see Best Coast, a surf-rock garage like band originally from Glendale. It was so hot! The sun was beating down on me and we all had to wait like 40 minutes for the band to start. I had never really listened to them. I wasn’t that invested in waiting. My real goal was to wait it out so I could clobber my way to the front of the crowd for the next show: Ra Ra Riot. I was successful. :) There were two other bands I wanted to see, but these kids wore me out! Check out indie tropical band “Kisses.”  They kind of remind me of Kings of Convenience if they were more happy. They are so cute and fun to dance to! Also, Jenny O! She is cute and loves Arcata. She filmed her music video for “Well OK Honey,” there!

The music:

Best Coast. Their lead singer Bethany Cosentino sounds like Jenny Lewis. It’s sweet. Nothing that original though. Sounds like something from the 60′s. It’s something I would imagine playing in the background while doing something really “PG” – like baking cookies or riding a beach cruiser.

Song to listen to: “When I’m With You.” (The video is pretty cute/funny)

Ra Ra Riot: AH-MA-ZZZING! Emphasis on the zing! I think there is always a special connection when you recognize songs when you’re at a show. This happened for me. They had a cello, tambourines, a violinist. The lead singer, Wes Miles, seemed kind of emo, but by the end of the show I was in love with his hair-flipping ways. They all wore bright turquoise, yellows, reds. Very happy seeming indie band.

Song to listen to: “Can You Tell.”

George Clinton talks f-u-n-k to ME

January 28, 2011 in Design, Music, Writing | No comments

Witness the multi-media machine that is Ashley Bailey. I am in love with musicians. I think this means that I should either:

a. Date a musician

or

b. Learn to play an instrument.

Maybe both?

Anyway, click on the names below to see more great interviews with bands this week. This is what I do at my bat cave (an office with no windows!) a.k.a. work:

• George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic

• JT Nero – acoustic folksy guy from Chicago, he’s a ginger, too! Moksha – a Las Vegas jam band that’s been playing at the Jambalaya once a month

• Entertainment Roundup -  I offer suggestions for awesome local shows to check out!

Day 13 and 14: Lyrics

October 23, 2010 in Adventures, Music | No comments

I’ve never played an instrument. Shocking, I know. Considering my deep appreciation for music, it seems kinda backward that I haven’t taken a stab at it myself. Sure, I can play a few tunes on the piano (“Pop Goes the Weasel” and “Heart and Soul” are some of my mastered works), but I can’t read a lick of music. Maybe it’s something I’ll take up during the Humboldt winter – a time of darkness, cold weather and excessive family bonding.

Anyway, music captivates me. I listen to it when I get up in the morning, in the car, on walks and before I go to bed. A few lines have stuck with me lately. Maybe because they are really enlightening or maybe because they are just sung in a very catchy way?

“Don’t waste your time or time will waste you.” -from “Knights of Cydonia” by Muse.

Epic song, sounds like a rock n’roll medieval battle. I do a lot of fist pumping and exaggerated singing whenever I hear this song. I found a cool blog that is completely dedicated to finding meaning in lyrics called “Lyrical Wisdom.” It said the quotation from Muse was actually first said by William Shakespeare – “I wasted time and now time doth waste me.”

“Well they tried to stay in from the cold and wind
Making love and making their dinner
Only to find that the love that they grew in the summer
Froze.”

-”Gatekeeper” by Feist. I actually prefer the cover done by Pomplamoose.

I don’t really have a lot to add to this, without getting too personal, but I can definitely relate.

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